cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modeling CO2–H2S–water–rock interactions at Williston Basin reservoir conditions

Abstract A series of laboratory experiments, field observations from a small-scale CO 2 enhanced oil recovery project, and numerical modeling of geochemical reactions have been conducted to determine the chemical kinetics of potential mineral dissolution and/or precipitation caused by the injection of CO 2 and of sour gas. Kinetic experiments were conducted using core samples from potential Williston Basin storage formations. Two sample sets consisting of 16 samples each, under the same experimental conditions, were “soaked” for a period of 4 weeks at 172 bar and 80 °C in synthetically generated brine conditions. Over that time period, one set was exposed to pure carbon dioxide and the other to a mixture of carbon dioxide (88 mol%) and hydrogen sulfide (12 mol%). The analysis of obtained reaction products suggests that (1) there is no strong evidence for higher reactivity of samples exposed to a mixture of CO 2 and H 2 S if compared to the pure CO 2 stream; however, (2) if H 2 S is present in the stream, it seems to be more dominant in the reactions; and (3) reactivity of the sample is strongly driven by its mineralogy.
Music as Representation

In contradistinction to common adages proclaiming music’s inability to represent anything other than itself, there are remarkably complex ways in which identities—both embedded within music and appropriated from the extramusical contexts in which music takes place—actually engender culturally distinctive representational processes. The very possibilities to represent music or to be represented by music differ from culture to culture, and they necessarily reveal distinctive ontologies of music. Ethnomusicology’s particular concern for the representation of music deserves special attention, not least because of the discipline’s historical need to recognize the ways music relates to what it is and what it is not—that is, to musical texts and contexts. A framework with ten different processes provides the theoretical core of an examination of music as representation. Five sets of contrastive pairs articulate the larger framework, which consciously and dialectically includes theoretical approaches from all dis...
The Spray and Engine Combustion Performances of Ethanol-Biodiesel Fuel Blends

Some research has studied the effects of ethanol blended diesel (E-diesel) on emissions due to the availability of ethanol. However, a co-solvent or emulsifier is needed to provide better mixing of these two fuels, which would complicate the production process. In recent years, researchers have reported that biodiesel is a good co-solvent in terms of its miscibility with ethanol. Therefore, the present study utilizes the name “E-Biodiesel” representing the blend of ethanol and biodiesel as an alternative fuel. In this paper, the effects of blending ratios (B100, B80E20, and B60E40) of ethanol-biodiesel on viscosity, spray vaporization, engine combustion, and exhaust emissions are investigated. The viscosity measurements show that appropriate ethanol-biodiesel blends could approach the viscosity of ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD). The effect of blends on fuel spray structure is investigated by using two single-hole injectors with different nozzle orifice diameters (80μm and 150 μm) and high-speed Schlieren imaging. The results indicate that different patterns of spray vaporization are observed due to the addition of ethanol at different ambient pressure. The combustion and emission tests are carried out in a multi-cylinder high-speed diesel engine, and the effects of E-Biodiesel are significant with respect to the power output, fuel consumption, and emissions. As a result, nitrogen oxides (NOX ) and particulate matter (PM) could be reduced simultaneously by the adjustment of injection timing and exhaust gas recirculation (EGR). Therefore, with proper blending ratios of biodiesel and ethanol, E-biodiesel could be considered viable as an alternative fuel in the future.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Hepatitis C Virus Infection Does Not Preclude Standard Breast Cancer–Directed Therapy

In the United States, over 3 million people are infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), and over 200,000 women develop breast cancer annually. Yet, no published studies have investigated the tolerability of breast cancer- directed therapy among women with HCV infection. We reviewed records at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and identified 35 patients with chronic HCV infection who were treated for breast cancer between the years 1991 and 2005. One (2.9%) of 35 also had chronic hepatitis B virus infection. There were no complications related to HCV infection during or after surgery or radiation therapy. A total of 29 (82.9%) of the 35 patients received chemotherapy for breast cancer. Of the 29, only 4 required chemotherapy delays or adjustments in dosing because of HCV infection. In conclusion, breast cancer therapy was well tolerated among women with HCV infection. Considering the paucity of complications, routine screening for HCV infection is not warranted among women with breast cancer and no defined risk factors for HCV infection.
Assessment of Anterior Segment Tumors with Ultrasound Biomicroscopy versus Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography in 200 Cases

Purpose To compare ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) versus anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) for imaging of tumors of the anterior segment of the eye. Design Retrospective, noninterventional case series. Participants We included 200 patients. Methods Review of medical records of patients who underwent both UBM and AS-OCT for evaluation of anterior segment tumors. Main Outcome Measures Comparison of tumor surface and internal visualization. Results There were 200 eyes with anterior segment tumors involving the iris stroma in 96 (48%), ciliary body in 14 (7%), combined iris and ciliary body in 32 (16%), iris pigment epithelium (IPE) in 44 (22%), conjunctiva in 6 (3%), sclera in 4 (2%), and others in 6 (1% each). The diagnoses included nevus in 75 eyes (38%), melanoma in 47 (24%), cyst in 48 (24%), epithelioma (adenoma) in 5 (3%), metastasis, melanocytosis and melanocytoma in 4 eyes each (2%), and others (1% each). Image analysis (UBM vs AS-OCT) revealed adequate visualization of all tumor margins (189 [95%] vs 80 [40%]), posterior tumor shadowing (9 [5%] vs 144 [72%]), and high overall image quality (159 [80%] vs 136 [68%]). Comparison for better image resolution (UBM vs AS-OCT) disclosed UBM provided better overall tumor visualization (138 [69%] vs 62 [31%]) and better resolution of the posterior margin (147 [74%] vs 53 [27%]), whereas AS-OCT provided better resolution of the anterior margin (40 [20%] vs 160 [80%]) as well as better overall resolution of anterior segment anatomy (41 [21%] vs 159 [80%]). Better resolution was found with UBM for pigmented tumors (n = 162; 107 [66%] vs 55 [34%]) as well as for nonpigmented tumors (n = 38; 23 [61%] vs 15 [39%]). Regarding location, iris tumor resolution was similar with each technique (49 [52%] vs 45 [48%]). Conclusions For anterior segment tumors, UBM offers better visualization of the posterior margin and provides overall better images for entire tumor configuration compared with AS-OCT. Financial Disclosure(s) The authors have no proprietary or commercial interest in any of the materials discussed in this article.
Phototherapy Enhanced Exclusion of Aneurysms From the Cerebral Circulation

Accumulated experience using flow diverters in humans suggests that complete cure of the aneurysm is usually a protracted process that can last up to twelve months [1]. While it is well established that a properly designed flow diverter serves as a scaffold for neointimal proliferation, the process of its formation over the aneurysm neck is delayed until the aneurysm cavity itself is occluded by a thrombus, negating flow of fresh blood through the neck, and thus allowing the neointimal formation to bridge the aneurysm neck. The notion that induction of some injury to the luminal surface of the aneurysmal tissue, particularly to the endothelium, may result in a healing response that is faster than just placing a flow diverter and waiting for thrombus formation within the aneurysm has been tried in the past using various experimental models. Some of the injuries to the aneurysm tissue that have been tried in the past include mechanical scraping, thermal heating and UV irradiation. All these attempts, while showing that hastening the thrombus formation is feasible, have not resulted in any success due to the fact that the processes that were tried suffered from lack of proper control to be implemented in actual aneurysmal tissue that is weakened and diseased a priori.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Effect of Using Pediatric Emergency Department Virtual Observation on Inpatient Admissions and Lengths of Stay

Abstract Objective To determine whether using emergency department (ED) virtual observation for select pediatric conditions decreases admission rates for these conditions, and to examine effects on length of stay. Methods The option of ED virtual observation care for 9 common pediatric conditions was introduced in 2009; associated order sets were developed. Retrospective secondary analyses of administrative data from our tertiary care pediatric ED and children's hospital were performed for the year before (year 0) and after (year 1) this disposition option was introduced. The proportion of visits admitted to the inpatient unit and length of stay (LOS) were determined for all visits considered eligible for ED virtual observation care on the basis of diagnosis codes for both study years. Results There were 1614 observation-eligible visits in year 0 and 1510 in year 1. In year 1, 18% (n = 266) of observation-eligible visits received ED virtual observation care. Admission rates for observation-eligible visits were similar after this model of care was introduced (25% year 0, 29% year 1, P = .02). Median LOS for ED virtual observation visits was 8.8 hours (interquartile range 6.5–12.4). ED LOS was shorter for ED discharges (5.6 hours year 0, 5.1 hours year 1, P P = .41) after introducing ED virtual observation. Conclusions Admission rates for observation-eligible visits were not lower in the year after ED virtual observation care was introduced. LOS decreased for ED discharges and was unchanged for admissions. Reevaluation of the effects of pediatric ED virtual observation on admission rates and LOS after longer periods of use is indicated.
Ontogeny of Deeveya spiralis Kornicker & Iliffe, 1985, collected in anchialine caves in the Caicos Islands (Crustacea, Ostracoda, Halocyprida, Deeveyidae)

ABSTRACT Three juvenile instars (A-3, A-2, A-1) of Deeveya spiralis from caves in Cottage Pond, North Caicos Island, and Conch Bar Cave, Conch Bar, Middle Caicos Island, are described and illustrated. The ontogeny of the species is compared with that of Deeveya bransoni Kornicker & Palmer, 1987. The changes that take place during the ontogeny of members of the genus are described.
Survival and Quality of Life of Patients with Resected Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Treated with Adjuvant Interferon-Based Chemoradiation: A Phase II Trial

Purpose We conducted a phase II trial to assess the survival duration and quality of life of patients who received adjuvant interferon-based chemoradiation for pancreatic adenocarcinoma after pancreaticoduodenectomy.
Preparing for Change: A Case Study of Successful Alignment between a Pre-K Program and K-12 Education

(2009). Preparing for Change: A Case Study of Successful Alignment between a Pre-K Program and K-12 Education. Childhood Education: Vol. 85, No. 3, pp. 173-178.
Behavioral Interventions for Incontinence in Ambulatory Geriatric Patients

Behavioral intervention is a group of therapies used to modify stress, urge, or mixed urinary incontinence by changing patient bladder habits or by teaching new skills. Three broad categories of behavioral treatment are reviewed: pelvic muscle exercise, biofeedback, and bladder training. The literature concerning each of these methods indicates that the treatments are effective for most community-dwelling older adults. More research is needed to identify the best methods for implementing these treatments, to explore the role of various components of treatment packages, to examine issues of durability, and to improve adherence to behavioral protocols necessary for long-term effectiveness.
Time series outlier detection and imputation

This paper proposed the combination of two statistical techniques for the detection and imputation of outliers in time series data. An autoregressive integrated moving average with exogenous inputs (ARIMAX) model is used to extract the characteristics of the time series and to find the residuals. The outliers are detected by performing hypothesis testing on the extrema of the residuals and the anomalous data are imputed using another ARIMAX model. The process is performed in an iterative way because at the beginning the process, the residuals are contaminated by the anomalies and therefore, the ARIMAX model needs to be re-learned on “cleaner” data at every step. We test the algorithm using both synthetic and real data sets and we present the analysis and comments on those results.
Predictors of outcome for children with perforated appendicitis initially treated with non-operative management.

Background: Initial non-operative therapy for children with perforated appendicitis has become increasingly popular with the advent of powerful broad-spectrum antibiotics. However, there is no cons...
The Performance of a Noncoherent FSK Receiver Preceded by a Bandpass Limiter

Many applications of the bandpass limiter involve either coherent or noncoherent demodulation following the limiter. In this paper we study the performance of a noncoherent frequency-shift keying (FSK) receiver when it is preceded by a bandpass limiter. In particular, we obtain expressions for signal suppression- factor, output signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and error probability from which one can assess the degradation in performance of the receiver due to the presence of the limiter. Both narrow-band and wide-band cases are treated thus covering situations where no frequency uncertainty exists (i.e., known carrier frequency) as well as large-frequency uncertainties. Also discussed is the first-order signal plus noise probability density function (pdf) following noncoherent demodulation.
Multiple tubulin forms are expressed by a single neurone.

Microtubules are a key cytoskeletal constituent of the eukaryotic cell, being involved in mitosis, cell division, cell shape, intracellular transport and motility1. They are composed of tubulin, a 110,000-molecular weight (Mr) protein which is a dimer of 55,000-Mr α and β submits2. Multiple forms of both α-and β- tubulin have been demonstrated biochemically by gel electrophoresis3,4, column chromatography5 and peptide maps6; immunologically by monoclonal antibodies7; and genetically by mapping multiple tubulin genes in the eukaryotic genome8–10. There is evidence for multiple tubulin mRNA species11,12,13, but some of the microheterogeneity may also arise from posttranslational modifications such as phosphorylation14 and glycosylation15. Tubulin microheterogeneity is most dramatic in the brain where it could be the result of cellular heterogeneity or a multiplicity of specific functions within each cell, such as neurite extension and axoplasmic transport1,16. Functional specificity has been demonstrated in particular tubulin subunits in other tissues9,16,17. To determine whether multiple forms of tubulin coexist in single cells, we have purified and characterized the tubulin of single, isolated sympathetic neurones grown in primary cell culture18. We show here for the first time that tubulin can be isolated and characterized from a single mammalian neurone. Single neurones exhibit multiple tubulin isoelectric forms, suggesting that structurally different forms of microtubules have functionally different roles in a single cell.
Theorem for high-resolution high-contrast image synthesis

We show that a band-limited function that has zeros at a prescribed finite number of points within an interval of finite extent can always be found, regardless of how small the bandwidth is. This means that a one-dimensional image that crosses a given level at a number of prescribed points can always be constructed at the output of a diffraction-limited system, regardless of how close the points are, i.e., superresolution in image construction is feasible.
Variance of estimated DTI-derived parameters via first-order perturbation methods.

In typical applications of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), DTderived quantities are used to make a diagnostic, therapeutic, or scientific determination. In such cases it is essential to char­ acterize the variability of these tensor-derived quantities. Para­ metric and empirical methods have been proposed to estimate the variance of the estimated DT, and quantities derived from it. However, the former method cannot be generalized since a parametric distribution cannot be found for all DT-derived quantities. Although powerful empirical methods, such as the bootstrap, are available, they require oversampling of the dif­ fusion-weighted imaging (DWI) data. Statistical perturbation methods represent a hybrid between parametric and empirical approaches, and can overcome the primary limitations of both methods. In this study we used a first-order perturbation method to obtain analytic expressions for the variance of DTderived quantities, such as the trace, fractional anisotropy (FA), eigenvalues, and eigenvectors, for a given experimental design. We performed Monte Carlo (MC) simulations of DTI experi­ ments to test and validate these formulae, and to determine their range of applicability for different experimental design parameters, including the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), diffusion gradient sampling scheme, and number of DWI acquisitions. This information should be useful for designing DTI studies and assessing the quality of inferences drawn from them. Magn Reson Med 57:141–149, 2007. Published 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. †
Towards a covered and connected body sensor network for healthcare applications

Radio transmitters of an implanted sensor circuitry during their operation dissipate energy which results in rise in temperature of its surroundings. The human body can tolerate such increase in temperature only up to a certain threshold value beyond which serious injury may result. To prevent this sensors must be implanted in a way that ensures the surrounding area temperature to remain within the threshold. Using a thermal model for heat distribution from multiple heat sources (radio transmitters), we observed that if the implanted sensor nodes are placed sufficiently apart from each other, then the temperature of the surrounding area does not exceed the threshold. This minimum separation distance constraint gives rise to a new variation of the sensor network connected coverage problem that has not been studied earlier.
The Consideration of Rape: The Effect of Target Information Disparity on Judgments of Guilt1

We hypothesized that increasing the amount of individuating but case-irrelevant information about a target in a date-rape trial (i.e., either the defendant or the victim/witness) would increase attributions of responsibility for that target and would thus influence judgments of defendant guilt. As predicted, merely adding trivial information, such as the victim's age, college major, and city of residence, to the rape trial vignette decreased judgments of guilt for the defendant; whereas adding corresponding information regarding the defendant increased judgments of his guilt. Ratings of perceived similarity to defendant and victim correlated significantly with responsibility and guilt, but were unaffected by the information manipulation. We suggest that target information increases target salience, which results in an increase of attributions of responsibility.
Transactivation of the rous sarcoma virus long terminal repeat promoter by Marek's disease virus

Abstract Transient expression of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) was used to study Marek's disease virus (MDV)-mediated transactivation of the Rous sarcoma virus long terminal repeat (RSV-LTR) promoter. Cotransfection experiments in primary avian cells were conducted using MDV high-molecular-weight DNA and plasmid pRSVcat. Increased CAT activity, relative to controls, was consistently observed in the presence of MDV. Enhanced CAT activity, expressed via the RSV-LTR promoter, was strictly dependent on the presence of MDV DNA or virus, suggesting that activation of the RSV-LTR promoter was due to factors expressed in MDV infected cells. Differences in transactivation efficiency were observed between various strains and serotypes of MDV. In particular, high- and low-passage pairs of serotype 1 MDV showed marked differences in their ability to increase CAT activity in pRSVcat-transfected cells. Attenuation of viral pathogenicity and decreased expression of some cell surface glycoproteins occur in high-passage MDV strains. Decreased transactivation ability in these same strains suggests that continuous passage in culture and attenuation may perturb a regulatory mechanism operating by transcriptional control. In addition, transactivation of the RSV-LTR promoter suggests that increased incidence of avian leukosis following vaccination by MDV may be due to MDV-mediated transactivation of endogenous ALV proviral LTR promoters. MDV-mediated transactivation was not limited to the RSV-LTR promoter. Serotype 3 MDV (HVT) efficiently transactivated the herpes simplex virus (HSV) alpha 4 (ICP4) and β-TK promoters as well as the human cytomegalovirus (hCMV) immediate early promoter.
Fast pulsar in SN 1987A: Candidate for strange-quark matter.

All known pulsar frequencies and masses can be accounted for by plausible neutron-star models with the exception of the new fast pulsar. To withstand its rotation frequency the central density of the star must be so high that the constituents cannot be individual hadrons. If strange-quark matter ({ital u},{ital d},{ital s} quarks) is the absolute ground state, a star of such matter can be stable against mass loss at the frequency of the new pulsar. An essential difference between neutron stars and strange stars is the binding force, gravity for ordinary stars, and confinement and gravity in the case of strange stars.
Deciding what's right: The role of external sanctions and embarrassment in shaping moral judgments in the workplace

Abstract We assert that previous research has overlooked the pervasive ambiguity in ethical situations in organizations, as well as how people pierce through this ambiguity to realize new distinctions between right and wrong. Focusing on well-intentioned individuals who unknowingly transgress, we present a theory of how they come to recalibrate their moral judgments. We begin by discussing the composition and nature of a moral judgment. Building on this discussion, we then consider how external sanctions can be used to shift moral judgments. Finally, we posit that internal emotional responses to sanctions (namely embarrassment) will facilitate this shift by triggering a sense of moral deficiency. More specifically, we assert that embarrassment will focus the transgressor's attention on what went wrong. This reflection provides an opportunity for the recalibration of the initial moral judgment. We conclude with a discussion of the implications of our theory.
The Integrated Photon Echo and Solvation Dynamics

The time-integrated three-pulse photon echo is discussed in terms of the line-shape functions which are shown to be directly related to the solvation dynamics. By using the short-time approximation to the line-shape function, an algebraic form of the three-pulse photon echo signal SPE (τ, T) is obtained as a function of two delay times, τ and T, between pulses. On the basis of the approximate form of the photon echo signal, the echo peak shift with respect to the second delay time (population evolution period) is derived and found to be linearly proportional to the time-dependent fluorescence Stokes shift function for times greater than the bath correlation time, τc. In the case of intermediate inhomogeneous broadening, the asymptotic echo peak shift magnitude is found to be useful in estimating the static inhomogeneous width. To illustrate the theoretical results, an analysis of the echo peak shift measurement of IR144 in a room temperature glass, PMMA, is presented.
Complementation and chief factors III

The concept of infused formations, a proper subset of the saturated formations, is introduced. Localization of the infused formations is investigated with respect to OutG (H/K) for a chief factor H/K in a group G in conjunction with the existing formation function due to saturation. As a result, each saturated formation is contained in an infused formation, i.e. infusion creates an umbrella for saturation.
Spontaneous duodenal-caval fistula with embolization of intestinal contents

We describe the second example of a duodenal-caval fistula in a patient with peptic ulcer disease. This condition was complicated by embolization of intestinal contents to the lung, with abundant intravascular mucin. This is the first histological documentation of intravascular mucin apart from amniotic fluid embolism. It is well known that mucin may activate coagulation. We propose that intravascular mucin activated the coagulation cascade in our patient, causing disseminated intravascular coagulation and adult respiratory distress syndrome.
Identifying genes involved in cyclic processes by combining gene expression analysis and prior knowledge

Based on time series gene expressions, cyclic genes can be recognized via spectral analysis and statistical periodicity detection tests. These cyclic genes are usually associated with cyclic biological processes, for example, cell cycle and circadian rhythm. The power of a scheme is practically measured by comparing the detected periodically expressed genes with experimentally verified genes participating in a cyclic process. However, in the above mentioned procedure the valuable prior knowledge only serves as an evaluation benchmark, and it is not fully exploited in the implementation of the algorithm. In addition, partial data sets are also disregarded due to their nonstationarity. This paper proposes a novel algorithm to identify cyclic-process-involved genes by integrating the prior knowledge with the gene expression analysis. The proposed algorithm is applied on data sets corresponding to Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Drosophila melanogaster, respectively. Biological evidences are found to validate the roles of the discovered genes in cell cycle and circadian rhythm. Dendrograms are presented to cluster the identified genes and to reveal expression patterns. It is corroborated that the proposed novel identification scheme provides a valuable technique for unveiling pathways related to cyclic processes.
Trypsin digestion of fragmented sarcoplasmic reticulum

Abstract Short incubation of fragmented sarcoplasmic reticulum with trypsin produces inhibition of ATP dependent calcium accumulation, while ATPase is activated. The addition of trypsin to loaded vesicles causes a rapid calcium leak, suggesting that certain easily digestible peptidic bonds may contribute to the maintenance of semipermeability in sarcoplasmic membranes. A small amount of calcium is still taken up by partially digested membranes, independently of the presence of ATP. This uptake is due to binding to the membrane itself and is competitively inhibited by other cations. ATPase is inhibited by longer digestions, while obvious structural changes appear throughout the thickness of the membrane. This indicates that either ATPase is extended into the deeper layer of the membrane, or it is very resistant to trypsin attack. A parallel pattern of inhibition is produced by trypsin on ATPase and ADP-ATP exchange, indirectly suggesting interdependence of these two activities. Depending on the time of digestion, more or less marked alterations of the membrane structure can be observed on electronmicroscopy (negative staining with phosphotungstic acid): disappearance of an outer granular layer, irregular thickness of the membrane, opening of the vesicles and aggregation. Suspensions of fragmented sarcoplasmic reticulum digested with trypsin, undergo a rapid decrease in turbidity, likely due to a change in the state of aggregation of the vesicles.
Fruit and vegetable intake among rural youth following a school-based randomized controlled trial.

Abstract Objective We implemented a theory-based randomized controlled trial (Living Free of Tobacco, Plus (LIFT +) in ten rural middle schools and assessed impact on tobacco use and fruit/vegetable (F/V) intake in 2008–2010. Data on F/V intake at baseline, immediate post intervention, and 1-year follow-up are presented. Methods Schools were randomized to intervention or control groups. Goal setting, peer leaders, and class workshops with parent involvement, were intervention features; community partners were supportive. Seventh graders filled out surveys on health behaviors, psycho-social variables, and demographic characteristics. Adjusted models comparing intervention and control conditions were analyzed. Results Sample (n = 1119) was 48.5% female, 50% White, with a mean age of 12.7 years. Mean F/V servings were significantly higher in intervention schools at immediate post (3.19 servings) and at 1-year (3.02 servings) compared to controls (2.90, 2.69 respectively). Knowledge of 5-a-day recommendation was significantly higher in intervention schools at immediate post test (75.0%) versus controls (53.8%) but not at 1-year follow-up. Conclusions Intervention schools reported significantly higher mean F/V servings at post intervention and 1-year, and for knowledge of F/V recommendations at immediate post compared to controls. Higher levels of parent and community involvement may further increase F/V intake in future interventions. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01412697 .
An investigation of the relationship between public relations activities and budget allocation in public libraries

Abstract Due to the financial crisis many public libraries are experiencing, research was formulated to ascertain whether libraries could gain higher budget allocation if they employed public relations activities. Business and industry have successfully done so, openly acknowledging the importance of the public relations function and of its directing specialist. The following hypothesis was formulated: Libraries that engage in public relations activities will show a higher public support as evidence by a higher budget allocation than libraries who do not engage in public relations activities. The method of data collection was a twenty-six item questionnaire sent to Connecticut libraries servicing a population of twenty-five thousand or more. When the questionnaires were returned the answers were translated into a numerical code, giving each library a weighted composite score along with the budget allocation, which was considered in terms of percentages of the total town budget. The correlation coefficient (Pearson r) between public relations score (the weighted composite score) and budget allocation was calculated to be 0.53 with a standard deviation of 0.13; between public relations score and per capita expenditures was 0.75 with a standard deviation of 0.08 thus indicating a significant relationship. Summary of the findings: (1) The hypothesis is supported. (2) The activities that appear to closely correlate to a higher budget allocation are the managerial or administrative aspects of public relations: research, planning and evaluation. (3) The size of the population is not a critical variable influencing public relations activities. (4) The patterns of employment that seem to correlate to higher budget allocation are (a) full/part time specialist on staff, (b) possibly a joint combination of public relations/programming position; and (c) a high involvement of the Directors, Assistant Directors, and Trustees.
Using the Healthy Eating Index (hei) to rate the Diets of First Year Medical Students

Abstract LEARNING OUTCOME: To use the HEI to compare the dietary quality of first year medical students (MSI) with that of a representative sample of the US population participating in the Continuing Survey of Food Intake by Individuals. The first year of medical school is especially busy and stressful, and many MSI complain that they don't have the time to eat well in spite of their commitment to a good diet and a healthy lifestyle. The newly proposed 10 item HEI includes 5 Food Guide Pyramid (FGP) scores and 5 scores based on the US Dietary Guidelines (DG) (total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, and variety). Subjects were MSI (n-52:♀ 20,♂ 32; xAge=25.1±3.9; xBMI=24.0±2.7) who completed a 3 day diet record and a computerized nutrient analysis (Food Processor Program) for a required medical nutrition course. These were reviewed by an RD who calculated the variety scores and the FGP scores using the students' food records, the HEI recommended number of servings per day for women 11-50 years and men 19-50 years, and the FGP guidelines for serving sizes. Scores for the remaining 4 DG components were determined from the computerized nutrient analyses. The mean HEI score (76.4) for these MSI was about 12 points higher than that observed in the representative US population (63.9). On the HEI subscores, the MSI scored lower on vegetables, milk, and sodium, higher on fruits, meat, total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, and variety, and about the same for grains. The distribution of the HEI for the MSI was skewed to the upper ranges (61-90), while the scores for the US population were more evenly distributed. Overall men tended to score slightly lower than women with absolute differences of about 4 points for total HEI scores in both groups: US representative population (:♀≈65.3;♂≈61.0)v.s. the MSI sample (:♀=78.3;♂ =74.1). The mean HEI score for this group of students (76.4) was about 8 points higher than that of a sub-group of the US population with >4 years of college (≈68.1). Therefore, in general, it appears that these students are able to maintain adequate dietary quality in spite of their very hectic schedules and long, stressful days and that the HEI is a relatively simple yet comprehensive means of assessment for these dietary "snapshots".
FORCED FLOW NEAR A HEATED ROTATING DISK: A SIMILARITY SOLUTION

This paper presents an analysis of the flow and heat transfer between two parallel infinite disks that are separated by a distance L. One of the disks is solid, heated, and rotated; the other disk is porous, unheated, and stationary. Fluid is injected through the porous disk normal to its surface and toward the rotating disk. The three-dimensional Navier-Stokes and energy equations have been reduced to a system of ordinary differential equations by means of a similarity transformation and have been solved over a range of values of the two Reynolds numbers Reωequals; L2ω/νL and Reν = LU/νL, for two values of the temperature ratio Tr = (Ts - TL)/TL, of 0.001 (constant property flow) and 2.33. For Tr = 0.001 the velocity profiles are independent of the temperature profile which is determined for Pr = 0.67; for Tr = 2.33, the velocity and temperature profiles are determined for helium. The assumptions made in the analysis are shown to be valid provided that the mixed convection parameter , is small. Velocity ...
Teacher Leadership and Teacher Preparation: A Personal Narrative

AbstractThis personal narrative describes the efforts of a teacher education institution to understand and introduce teacher leadership into the preparation of teachers. The author provides the history and context of the institution as well as the structures and processes the institution used to achieve these goals. The article concludes with lessons learned from the case.
Dealing with the spatio-temporal interactions among transient power, supply noise and timing

An ideal power supply network would provide a steady unvarying power to all components of a system. But because physical power supply networks are not perfect, they also communicate unintended information (in the form of power supply noise) between different components of a system. This power supply noise modulates various aspects of the behavior of the system components, and in particular their delay. Accounting for these delay variations is difficult because of the exponentially large number of behaviors that the system can exhibit, and the large number of resulting patterns of delay variation across the system. Some existing approaches to this problem attempt to find a "worst case" switching behavior, assuming that the condition of maximum power supply droop will most severely constraint the system performance. But timing setup and hold tests deal with racing paths, so the condition which most severely limits performance will not necessarily be one of maximum supply collapse, but instead one which creates the largest difference in delay variations along the critical paths involved in some critical timing test. Recent work has attempted to use superposition to worst timing condition by separately characterizing the power distribution network response to a current demand impulse at each node of the network and then posing an optimization problem to determine the spatial and temporal weightings of these impulses which cause the worst slack for some test. These weightings may not be physically realizable, however, due to the behavioral characteristics of the system, and can therefore give a pessimistic result. We will examine how one might reduce this pessimism by limiting a superposition-based analysis to realizable conditions. We will also examine how such an analysis framework can be used to design the system to control global patterns of activity and thus reduce the timing impacts of transient power supply noise.
Spectral sensitivity curves of diurnal squirrels

Abstract Spectral sensitivity curves were constructed for four species of ground squirrel, two species of tree squirrel and one species of chipmunk using the stimulus intensity required to produce a constant etoctroretinogram as the criterion. All these species have an apparently pure-cone retina although the retinal structure of the two tree squirrels differs somewhat from that of the ground squirrels and chipmunk. There was no evidence of a Purkinje shift. The spectral sensitivity curves of all seven species were very similar. The curves showed two maxima, one at about 535 mμ, the other at about 490 mμ. The relative heights of these maxima varied from one experiment to another but the factors responsible for this variation could not be determined. Adaptation to blue light depressed the maximum at 490 mμ while adaptation to green or orange light depressed that at 535 mμ. Evidence was obtained that the mechanisms responsible for the two maxima were to some extent antagonistic. The possible nature of these two mechanisms is discussed in the light of recent work on the photosensitive substances extractable from the retina of the common gray squirrel. There was some evidence for a further mechanism maximally sensitive between 450 and 460 mμ at least in some of the species investigated.
Early Paleozoic continental margin sedimentation, trilobite biofacies, and the thermocline, western United States

The Upper Cambrian Whipple Cave Formation and Lower Ordovician lower House Limestone of eastern Nevada contain algal stromatolites, flat-pebble conglomerate, lime grainstone, and other carbonate rocks inferred to represent shoal-water depositional environments. Coeval parts of the Hales Limestone, 170 km to the west, consist of dark-colored lime mudstone and wackestone interbedded with coarse-textured alloch-thonous gravity-flow and slump deposits interpreted to have formed in a deeper water slope environment. The Whipple Cave Formation and some allochthonous gravity-flow deposits of the Hales Limestone contain trilobite genera typical of the North American Faunal Province, whereas in situ deeper water limestones of the Hales contain trilobite taxa that are widespread in northwestern and southern China. An abrupt biofacies change between shelf and deeper water sites may be analogous to major changes with depth shown by Holocene marine isopod crustaceans in low latitudes, where the permanent thermocline is a major barrier to faunal dispersal. Thus, caution should be exercised in using faunal resemblance data for early Paleozoic plate-tectonic reconstructions unless the habitat and marine climatic preferences of the faunas are known.
Atomic Layer Deposition of Solid Lubricant Thin Films

Tungsten disulphide (WS2 ) and molybdenum disulfide (MoS2 ), which belong to the family of transition metal dichalcogenides, are well known for their solid lubricating behavior. Thin films of MoS2 and WS2 exhibit extremely low coefficient of friction (COF ∼0.02 to 0.05) in dry environments, and are typically applied by sputter deposition, pulsed laser ablation, evaporation or chemical vapor deposition, which are essentially either line-of-sight or high temperature processes. With these techniques it is difficult to coat surfaces shadowed from the target, or uniformly coat sidewalls of three-dimensional or high aspect ratio structures. For applications such as micromechanical (MEMS) devices, where dimensions and separation tolerances are small, and aspect ratios are large, these traditional deposition techniques are inadequate. Atomic layer deposition (ALD) is a chemical vapor deposition technique that could overcome many of these problems by using sequential introduction of gaseous precursors and selective surface chemistry to achieve controlled growth at lower temperatures, but the chemistry needed to grow transition metal dichalcogenide films by ALD is not known.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Esophageal Atresia and Tracheoesophageal Fistula: Preoperative Assessment and Reduced Mortality

Abstract One hundred twenty-nine infants with esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula were reviewed from 1955 to 1978. The overall mortality was 38%. Factors associated with the increased mortality include prematurity, pneumonia, and congenital defects other than this anomaly. A classification based on these factors is introduced, which provides the clinician with a prognostic survival rate greater than 90% with only physical examination, chest and abdominal roentgenography, and intravenous pyelography. Postoperative mortality was reduced to 11% in the last five years of the study; this is attributed to the exclusive use of the retropleural approach to the esophagus, more intensive postoperative ventilatory support, and routine use of parenteral nutrition.
The Amino Acid Content and Availability of Different Samples of Poultry By-Product Meal, and Feather Meal

Abstract Eleven samples of poultry by-product meal or feather meal were studied. These included feather meal and poultry offal meal which had been cooked separately, then blended; also samples which were blended and cooked together. The materials were processed by both the batch and continuous equipment. Data obtained suggest that more uniform products were produced when the feathers and offal were processed separately. The amino acid availability data also indicated that with a blended product the materials which were processed separately and then blended were higher in quality than when the feathers and offal were processed together.
Quaternary sedimentation and paleoenvironmental studies off Namibia (South-West Africa)

Abstract An examination of sediment from piston cores and 3.5-kHz seismic reflection profiles from the northern Cape Basin and southern Angola Basin reveal a contrasting history of depositional processes in these adjacent basins. Pleistocene sedimentation in the southern Angola Basin was characterized by extensive deposition of turbidites and hemipelagic sediments derived primarily from the discharge of the Kunene River. Slumping of sediments and highly mobile debris flows have also contributed in the basinward transport of sediments in this region. In contrast, the northern Cape Basin can be characterized as a “starved” basin. Because of the low coastal rainfall and extremely low level of river discharge, the marine sediments along this margin are essentially pelagic in origin. Slumps and slides have disrupted portions of the continental margin but the morphology of the slope is very smooth in contrast to the margin north of the Walvis Ridge where canyon cutting has played a major role. The low sedimentation rates in the northern Cape Basin in conjunction with a moderate to strong bottom-water circulation has resulted in an extensive erosional zone along the lower continental rise off southwest Africa. The effects of a changing climate (interglacial—glacial) on marine productivity and sedimentation are documented by the faunal and isotopic record in a piston core on the continental rise south of the Walvis Ridge.
The metabolism of magnesium and calcium by the rat.

Abstract 1. 1. The metabolism of Mg 28 has been compared to that of Ca 45 when both were present in equimolar amounts and in the form of the chloride. Oral doses were contrasted to those given via intraperitoneal injection, and the effects of age were investigated. 2. 2. Magnesium was more readily absorbed than calcium and was excreted into the urine and feces in greater amounts than calcium. Few differences due to age were uncovered. 3. 3. The maximum uptake of radioactivity by bone occurred at 1 hr. for magnesium and at 16 hr. for calcium; more calcium was accumulated than magnesium. The soft tissues showed more magnesium than calcium. The discrimination factors at the various sites of selection were calculated from the data. 4. 4. When the proportions of stable calcium and magnesium in the dose were varied it was found that the inclusion of magnesium increased the uptake of Ca 45 by bone beyond that expected, while raising the calcium and lowering the magnesium at first improved the Mg 28 uptake by bone and then reduced it below the expected value.
Age-based correlates of substance misuse among convicted felons in Georgia.

Objective: This study sought to identify variables that independently correlate with age and substance use among a sample of 187 convicted felons in Georgia. Results: Results of regression analysis indicated that younger inmates were 2 times more likely than older inmates to report the occurrence of alcohol use (RR 2.07; 95% CI .37, 11.6) and three times more likely than older inmates to report some history of marijuana use (RR 3.07; 95% CI 1.52, 6.11). In addition, younger inmates were half as likely or less to report using sedatives (RR .53, 95% CI .22, 1.29), tranquilizers (RR .49, 95% CI .22, 1.29), crack or cocaine (RR .33, 95% CI .18, .62), heroin (RR .48, 95% CI .16, 1.25), and to having ever received treatment for a drug problem (RR .46, 95% CI .23, .90). Conclusion: In conclusion, age-based factors correlate with participant's history of substance use. Ascertain- ment of these variables among inmate populations has the potential to improve treatment decisions both during and after incarceration.
Approximation schemes for covering and packing problems in image processing and VLSI

A unified and powerful approach is presented for devising polynomial approximation schemes for many strongly NP-complete problems. Such schemes consist of families of approximation algorithms for each desired performance bound on the relative error e > O, with running time that is polynomial when e is fixed. Though the polynomiality of these algorithms depends on the degree of approximation e being fixed, they cannot be improved, owing to a negative result stating that there are no fully polynomial approximation schemes for strongly NP-complete problems unless NP = P.The unified technique that is introduced here, referred to as the shifting strategy, is applicable to numerous geometric covering and packing problems. The method of using the technique and how it varies with problem parameters are illustrated. A similar technique, independently devised by B. S. Baker, was shown to be applicable for covering and packing problems on planar graphs.