cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Traveling Electrical Waves in Cortex: Insights from Phase Dynamics and Speculation on a Computational Role

The theory of coupled phase oscillators provides a framework to understand the emergent properties of networks of neuronal oscillators. When the architecture of the network is dominated by short-range connections, the pattern of electrical output is predicted to correspond to traveling plane and rotating waves, in addition to synchronized output. We argue that this theory provides the foundation for understanding the traveling electrical waves that are observed across olfactory, visual, and visuomotor areas of cortex in a variety of species. The waves are typically present during periods outside of stimulation, while synchronous activity typically dominates in the presence of a strong stimulus. We suggest that the continuum of phase shifts during epochs with traveling waves provides a means to scan the incoming sensory stream for novel features. Experiments to test our theoretical approach are presented.
An Evaluation of Strategies for Selective Utterance Verification for Spoken Natural Language Dialog

As with human-human interaction, spoken human-computer dialog will contain situations where there is miscommunication. In experimental trials consisting of eight different users, 141 problem-solving dialogs, and 2840 user utterances, the Circuit Fix-It Shop natural language dialog system misinterpreted 18.5% of user utterances. These miscommunications created various problems for the dialog interaction, ranging from repetitive dialog to experimenter intervention to occasional failure of the dialog. One natural strategy for reducing the impact of miscommunication is selective verification of the user's utterances. This paper reports on both context-independent and context-dependent strategies for utterance verification that show that the use of dialog context is crucial for intelligent selection of which utterances to verify.
CONTROL OF THE TEMPORAL LOCATION OF POLYDIPSIC LICKING IN THE RAT

We studied the variables controlling the temporal location of polydipsic licking. Four rats were trained on a mixed fixed-ratio 10 (no tone) chained fixed-ratio 10 (no tone) fixed-ratio 90 (tone) schedule and on a multiple fixed-ratio 10 (tone) fixed ratio 100 (no tone) schedule. On the multiple schedule, drinking followed pellets if a fixed ratio 100 was upcoming for all four subjects and for two of the subjects if a fixed ratio 10 was upcoming. On the mixed schedule, drinking preceded the fixed-ratio 90 component of the chain. Two subjects also drank after pellet delivery on the mixed schedule before both the fixed ration 10 and the chain components. The number of licks was greater following a pellet than following a response. In a second phase with two of these subjects, the total response requirement of the chain was held constant at 100, while the size of the two ratios that constituted the chain was varied inversely. The tone signaled onset of the second link. Drinking followed the tone when it signaled fixed-ratio 90, 95, or 100 but not when it signaled fixed ratio 75, 80, or 85. These results show, on the one hand, that polydipsic licking is controlled by discriminative properties of the pellet rather than by its eliciting or "thirst-producing" characteristics. On the other hand, the fact that drinks were longer following a pellet than following a response suggests a contribution of thirst to polydipsia.
Use Of Series Expansion And Envelope Function For Interferometric Reconstruction Of Continuous Flow Fields

Series-expansion methods for interferometric tomography of continuous flow fields are discussed. The techniques are based on series expansion by orthogonal polynomials and circular harmonics multiplied by an envelope function. These methods employing continuous basis functions are appropriate for reflecting an peculiar characteristics of interferometric tomography of fluid flow fields, namely, continuity, data sparsity, and nonuniform sampling. The high approximating power of the methods allows accurate representation of fields with a small number of series terms. This generates enough redundancy for a given number of data points in setting up a system of linear algebraic equations. The data redundancy thus generated yields accurate reconstruction even under ill-posed conditions including limited view angle, incomplete projections, and high noise level.
Abstract A90: Reducing colorectal cancer risk among Chinese Americans

Colorectal cancer rates are increasing among Chinese Americans, and this trend seems to be reflected among Chinese Americans in Texas. Data from the Texas Cancer Registry indicates that colorectal cancer is among the top three most frequently reported cancers among Chinese Americans. Case control studies among Chinese Americans in other parts of the U.S. suggest that risk factors for colorectal cancer may include high body mass index, inadequate physical activity, low fruit and vegetable consumption, high saturated fat consumption, longer exposure to high fat diet, low fiber diet and tobacco use. The Asian American Health Needs Assessment (AsANA) study collected self reported risk factor data from over 400 Chinese and 400 Vietnamese randomly selected households in the Greater Houston area. The data showed that among Chinese Americans in Houston, 62% reported no leisure time physical activity, 19% were obese, and that as years in the US increased, the percent of Chinese with less than 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day increased from 41% to almost 80%. Approximately 34% of Chinese adult males smoked cigarettes as compared to the Texas rate of 20%. The AsANA data also showed that only 25% of the Chinese respondents 50 years and older had had colorectal cancer screening as compared to 53% of Texas adults. Research is needed to identify cultural and access barriers to early detection and screening for colorectal cancer among Chinese Americans in Texas. In addition, culturally tailored educational programs and lifestyle interventions should be developed to educate this population on how to modify behaviors to reduce colorectal cancer risk. Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2010;3(1 Suppl):A90.
Epidural hematoma after immobilization of a "hangman's" fracture: case report and review of the literature

Abstract Background context Neurologic deterioration after immobilization of traumatic spondylolisthesis of the axis rarely occurs because of the decompressive nature of the injury itself and the large amount of space available for the cord in the upper cervical spine. Purpose To document neurologic deterioration after reduction (without the use of traction) and halo immobilization of a Type IIA traumatic spondylolisthesis of the axis (hangman's fracture) secondary to an epidural hematoma. Study design/setting Case report. Patient sample and outcome measures The patient population consisted of one patient; no outcome measures were used. Methods The medical record and radiographic studies of a 27-year-old patient involved in a motor vehicle crash that resulted in a traumatic spondylolisthesis of the axis were retrospectively reviewed, and a review of the English literature was performed. Results Upon evaluation, the patient was found to have, in addition to other injuries, a Type IIA hangman's fracture of the C2 vertebra, which was stabilized in a halo. Shortly thereafter, the patient developed a gradual progressive neurologic deficit. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed the presence of a large epidural hematoma with cord compression treated with posterior laminectomy and transdural decompression of an anterior hematoma. Postoperatively, the patient's neurologic examination improved and returned to normal within 6 months. Conclusion An epidural hematoma can occur after traumatic spondylolisthesis of the axis, but its symptoms may not present until after the spondylolisthesis is treated.
The J. Otto Lottes Health sciences library and the microcomputer learning laboratory

Opened in 1985, the J. Otto Lottes Health Sciences Library at the University of Missouri-Columbia has adapted to changes in information technology by installing a fiber optic backbone, establishing local area networks and file servers with databases and software programs, establishing a microcomputer learning laboratory, and responding to the needs of a problem-based learning curriculum. The library works cooperatively with the Medical Informatics Group, which is housed in the library and runs the micro laboratory, to support student and faculty computing.
Autofluorescence quantification of benign and malignant choroidal nevomelanocytic tumors.

Importance Accurate diagnosis of choroidal melanoma is challenging and has important implications for both physicians and patients. We assessed the utility of quantification of fundus autofluorescence in the evaluation and follow-up of choroidal nevomelanocytic tumors. Objective To assess the utility of autofluorescence quantification in distinguishing clinically diagnosed choroidal nevi, melanoma, and indeterminate nevomelanocytic lesions. Design, Setting, and Participants A retrospective observational study from 2006 to 2012 of patients with choroidal nevomelanocytic lesions who had digital autofluorescence and color fundus imaging performed at the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center. Intervention ImageJ software was used to output autofluorescence gray-scale values for each pixel of a 500 × 50-pixel region within each lesion and a corresponding adjacent control region. Main Outcome and Measure A single value was generated, termed theIndex of Retinal Autofluorescence (IRA), to represent the total difference in gray-scale values between the 2 regions in each affected eye. Results Thirteen of the 14 clinically diagnosed nevi exhibited an IRA less than 150 gray-scale intensity squared (gsi2). Eight of 9 clinically diagnosed melanomas exhibited an IRA more than 150 gsi2. An IRA of 150 gsi2distinguished nevi from melanomas with a sensitivity of 0.89 and specificity of 0.93. Fifteen of 19 patients with indeterminate nevomelanocytic lesions underwent clinical assessment and initial imaging with clinical follow-up at a median of 10 months. All 3 patients with an IRA less than 150 gsi2showed no evidence of clinical progression and 6 of 12 lesions with an IRA more than 150 gsi2showed clinical progression to melanoma. An IRA of 150 gsi2identifies indeterminate lesions that progressed to melanoma with a sensitivity of 1.00 and specificity of 0.33. Conclusions and Relevance Quantification of digital autofluorescence images can differentiate between clinically benign and malignant choroidal nevomelanocytic lesions and may be predictive for clinical progression of indeterminate lesions.
Predictors of abortion provision among practicing obstetrician-gynecologists: a national survey.

Objective The objective of the study was to identify the factors that predict whether physicians include pregnancy termination in their practices. Study Design We surveyed all 5055 obstetrician-gynecologists who became board certified between 1998 and 2001 about personal characteristics, career plans, intention to provide abortions before residency, residency training, and current abortion practice. Results Of 2149 respondents (43%), 22% had provided elective abortion in the past year. In multivariate analysis controlling for preresidency intentions, personal beliefs, and other variables, the following were independently associated with current abortion provision: completing a residency program with abortion training (odds ratio [OR], 1.6; confidence interval [CI], 1.1-2.3; P = .007) and performing a greater number of abortions during residency (>25 abortions: OR, 2.8; CI, 1.9-4.1; P P P Conclusion Regardless of intention to provide abortion before residency, abortion training availability was positively correlated with providing abortion in future practice.
Making some sense out of the census: one way of handling U.S. censuses.

Abstract United States census materials are difficult to handle in a Government Publications Department. An explanation is given of one way of handling these. The background and the processing of the change at San Diego State University is given. The goal, hopefully achieved, was to keep the censuses in a logical order but with enough cross references and explanations to make them findable no matter what the approach.
Esophageal and tracheobronchial foreign bodies in infants and children

In an effort to improve the diagnosis and management of children with agpiration or ingestion of foreign bodies we reviewed 100 con- secutive cases of esophageal (49) or tracheobron- chial (51) foreign bodies occurring over a 6-year period. While the incidence of positive physical findings in the esophageal group was low, the combination of plain and contrast radiography was positive in 96% (47/49). Of the patients with tracheobronchial foreign body, 78% (40/51) had lateralizing signs on physical examination and 80% (41/51) had abnormal inspiratory/expira- tory radiographs. Disimpaction of esophageal for- eign bodies was carried out using a combination of techniques with 100% success and no complica- tions. All cases of tracheobronchial foreign bodies were managed with the rigid bronchoscope with 98% success (50/51) using a variety of instru- ments. Complications secondary to the foreign body itself rather than its management were seen in 9 patients, and were often due to a delay in di- agnosis. A careful history and physical examina- tion along with appropriate radiographic studies will result in a correct diagnosis in virtually all cases of esophageal and tracheobronchial foreign bodies. A liberal indication for endoscopy using an approach tailored to the particular case will al- most always be successful.
Changes in Initial Treatment for Prostate Cancer Among Medicare Beneficiaries, 1999–2007

Purpose In the absence of evidence from large clinical trials, optimal therapy for localized prostate cancer remains unclear; however, treatment patterns continue to change. We examined changes in the management of patients with prostate cancer in the Medicare population. Methods and Materials We conducted a retrospective claims-based analysis of the use of radiation therapy, surgery, and androgen deprivation therapy in the 12 months after diagnosis of prostate cancer in a nationally representative 5% sample of Medicare claims. Patients were Medicare beneficiaries 67 years or older with incident prostate cancer diagnosed between 1999 and 2007. Results There were 20,918 incident cases of prostate cancer between 1999 and 2007. The proportion of patients receiving androgen deprivation therapy decreased from 55% to 36%, and the proportion of patients receiving no active therapy increased from 16% to 23%. Intensity-modulated radiation therapy replaced three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy as the most common method of radiation therapy, accounting for 77% of external beam radiotherapy by 2007. Minimally invasive radical prostatectomy began to replace open surgical approaches, being used in 49% of radical prostatectomies by 2007. Conclusions Between 2002 and 2007, the use of androgen deprivation therapy decreased, open surgical approaches were largely replaced by minimally invasive radical prostatectomy, and intensity-modulated radiation therapy replaced three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy as the predominant method of radiation therapy in the Medicare population. The aging of the population and the increasing use of newer, higher-cost technologies in the treatment of patients with prostate cancer may have important implications for nationwide health care costs.
Combinatorial synthesis of oligo(phenylene ethynylene)s

Abstract The combinatorial synthesis of oligo(phenylene ethynylene) tetramers, both in solution and on solid support, is described. These products are of interest for molecular electronics applications. An iterative sequence, coupling of aryl halides to alkynes under Sonogashira conditions, was used. Five monomers functionalized with electron-donating or electron-withdrawing groups were synthesized, and used to generate a library of 25 trimers in a solution-phase based process. A library of 24 tetramers was prepared by subsequent protodesilylation and coupling with the alligator clip 4-iodo-1-thioacetylbenzene. The solution-phase based sequence was successfully adapted to a higher yielding directed split-and-pool solid-phase process, with average yields of 78–86% for each step over seven steps. A triazene linker group was used to attach the starting monomer to the polymer beads. At the completion of the solid-phase-based process, traceless cleavage of trimers from the resin was achieved by sonication of the resin in 10% HCl/THF solution. The released products were then poised for the final step in the sequence, attachment of the alligator clip.
Oxygen transfer characteristics of the blood of reedfish, Erpetoichthys calabaricus.

1. 1. Oxygen transport characteristics and phosphate compounds were measured in the blood of reedfish, Erpetoichthys calabaricus, a bimodal breather. Blood from reedfish possessed the following values (X ±SD): hematocrit (21.7 ±0.4%), hemoglobin concentration (7.53± 1.75g%), red blood cell count (0.45 ± 0.10 × 106/mm3) and oxygen capacity (10.1 ± 2.3 vol%). 2. 2. Although hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration, red blood cell count and oxygen capacity were all highly intercorrelated (P < 0.01 in all cases), none of these parameters were significantly correlated with sex, weight or length in our sixteen fish sample. 3. 3. Erythrocyte volumes equalled 480 μn3, showed less variation (CV = 10.4%) and did not correlate with any other measured variable. Blood oxygen dissociation curves were sigmoidal and the P50's equalled 17.34 ± 3.04 at 1% CO, and 25°C. Mean Bohr shift (Δlog P50/ΔpH) was −0.274 ± 0.087. Temperature strongly influenced blood oxygen affinity. At 1% CO2, Δ log P50/ΔT equalled 0.026 ± 0.006 (X ± SD). These hematological properties indicate that the blood of reedfish is similar to those of other tropical air-breathering species. 4. 4. Concentrations of total phosphate in the erythrocytes and percentage of total phosphate bound as nucleotide triphosphates were high. Surprisingly, 2,3diphosphoglycerate was found which has been reported in the erythrocytes of only two other fish species. 5. 5. Blood characteristics of reedfish exposed to air for 4 hr with one exception (Hill numbers) were not significantly different from water exposed controls. This suggests that the reedfish does not possess blood respiratory mechanisms to facilitate respiration solely by air-breathing.
Diagnosis and management of inflammatory bowel disease in children

Upwards of 100,000 children and adolescents are affected by inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in the United States, and the incidence of IBD appears to be increasing worldwide. Although the diagnosis and differentiation of Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis is still based on clinical, radiographic, endoscopic, and histological findings, newer less invasive serological tests are being employed to help distinguish these disorders and provide prognostic information to possibly guide therapy. Videocapsule endoscopy has increased our ability to detect previously unrecognized small bowel inflammation in selected patients. Whereas initial therapy has historically included aminosalicylates and corticosteroids, recent data suggest the limited efficacy of aminosalicylates in Crohn’s disease and the high likelihood or corticosteroid dependence in patients with either Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. The early use of immunomodulators has become standard-of-care in both disorders and has decreased corticosteroid dependence. The advent of biologic therapy, primarily with infliximab, has dramatically improved short-term outcomes in both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Longer-term data on whether infliximab changes the natural history of these disorders (eg, requirement for surgery) awaits further study. As more aggressive therapy is being increasingly employed, rare complications such as lymphoma or opportunistic infection have developed.
Characterization of Native and Recombinant Bone Sialoprotein: Delineation of the Mineral‐Binding and Cell Adhesion Domains and Structural Analysis of the RGD Domain

Bone sialoprotein is a small, sulfated, and phosphorylated integrin-binding glycoprotein apparently found only in tissues that eventually mineralize. Nondenatured bone sialoprotein (BSP) purified from rat osteosarcoma cell line (UMR 106–01 BSP) culture media is shown to have a hydroxyapatite Kd ≈ 2.6 × 10−9 M, perhaps the strongest affinity for this mineral of any of the matrix proteins. Both native BSP and a 47 kD fragment of UMR-BSP (Fragment 1 ∼133A–∼265Y) are more potent inhibitors of seeded hydroxyapatite crystal growth than recombinant human BSP fragments lacking post-translational modifications. The recombinant proteins, however, do show reproducible inhibitory activity, suggesting that at least some of the strong mineral-binding properties are encoded directly within the protein sequence itself. BSP facilitates the adhesion of several cell types through its integrin binding (RGD) tripeptide sequence. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis of a15N-enriched 59 amino acid recombinant domain containing the RGD tripeptide shows that the structure of this isolated domain is highly flexible with or without 5 mM calcium. Previous work has also shown that an endogenous fragment of UMR-BSP (Fragment 1) supports cell adhesion in the absence of the RGD sequence. In this report, non-RGD cell adhesion sites are localized within conserved amino- and carboxy-terminal tyrosine-rich domains of recombinant human BSP. Given the proximity of the latter non-RGD cell adhesion site to the RGD tripeptide, a model of BSP-receptor interactions is presented.
Approximations for discrete scan statistics on the circle

Abstract Discrete scan statistics are used for testing the null hypothesis that the observations are identically distributed against a clustering alternative that specifies an increased incidence of observations in a connected subregion of the circle. To implement the testing procedures based on the scan statistics, accurate approximations are needed for their tail probabilities. In this article we derive accurate product-type and Poisson-type approximations for the probabilities of discrete scan statistics for the binomial and the Poisson models. Numerical results are presented to evaluate the performance of the approximations derived in this article.
Multiscale variability of deep convection in relation to large-scale circulation in TOGA COARE

Deep convection over the Indo-Pacific oceanic warm pool in the Tropical Ocean Global Atmosphere Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere Response Experiment (TOGA COARE) occurred in cloud clusters, which grouped together in regions favoring their occurrence. These large groups of cloud clusters produced large-scale regions of satellite-observed cold cloud-top temperature. This paper investigates the manner in which the cloud clusters were organized on time and space scales ranging from the seasonal mean pattern over the whole warm-pool region to the scale of individual cloud clusters and their relationship to the large-scale circulation and sea surface temperature (SST). The dominant convective variability was associated with the intraseasonal oscillation (ISO). A large eastward propagating ensemble of cloud clusters marked the ISO's progress. The meridional structure of the ISO was strongly affected by the seasonal cycle with a southward shift from the Northern Hemisphere in October-November to the Southern Hemisphere in January-February. The SST had an intraseasonal signal in lagged quadrature with the cold cloudiness and rainfall in COARE. The SST increased (decreased) during the convectively suppressed (active) phases of the ISO, Enhanced low-level westerly winds occurred toward the later stages of the enhanced-convection periods of the ISO, though not always centered at the equator. The strongest westerlies tended to be located between two synoptic-scale cyclonic gyres, which were often not symmetric about the equator in the low-level. wind field. This asymmetry in the anomalous equatorial low-level westerlies may have different implications for the oceanic response in the coupled atmosphere-ocean system than those centered on the equator. The cyclonic gyres contained highly concentrated deep convection, and, in four cases, the gyres developed into tropical cyclones. Within the envelope marking the convectively active phase of the ISO, cloud clusters were frequently concentrated into westward-propagating disturbances with a local periodicity of similar to 2 days. These 2-day disturbances have been identified in earlier spectral studies and appear to be related to westward propagating inertio-gravity waves. In COARE, they typically contained numerous cloud clusters, which underwent a distinct diurnal cycle. Most of the cloud clusters embedded in the 2-day disturbances moved westward, though some were stationary, and a few moved eastward. A cloud-duster tracking program identified groups of clusters (lime dusters) that exhibited continuity in time and space. In the most convectively active period of the ISO, the tracking program identified almost the entire ISO cloud ensemble as a long-lasting, trackable superconvective system. This observation indicates the lack of a distinct scale-separation between convection and large-scale disturbances during the most intense convective periods in COARE.
Activation of α1D Adrenergic Receptors in the Rat Urothelium Facilitates the Micturition Reflex

Purpose: Previous studies have revealed that the activation of α1 adrenergic receptors in urothelial cells releases neurotransmitters. We determined if α1D adrenergic receptors are expressed in the urothelium of the rat bladder and if inhibition of these receptors affects reflex voiding.Materials and Methods: Female Wistar rats were used in the experiments. Receptor expression was evaluated by Western blot. The effects of receptor activation were studied using cystometrograms, measurement of adenosine triphosphate concentrations in the bladder lumen and afferent nerve recording. The α1D antagonist naftopidil (0.75 to 1.66 mg/kg) was administered intravenously into the external jugular vein.Results: The expression of α1D adrenergic receptors was detected in urothelial tissue with Western blot and immunohistochemistry. The α1D receptor antagonist naftopidil prolonged the intercontraction interval during continuous infusion cystometrograms in conscious rats (143% of the control value) and suppressed the exci...
Penalty approximation of a Sobolev optimal control problem with state constraints

In this paper, we study the approximation by the penalty method of a control problem governed by a pseudo-parabolic equation with a noncoercive control functional and with control and state constraints. The existence of solutions to the penalized problems is established. In addition, the convergence of the penalized problems to the solution, the Lagrange multipliers, and the minimum value of the original problem is studied. The results apply to Sobolev and parabolic equations as well.
Plasma membrane surface potential (ψpm) as a determinant of ion bioavailability: A critical analysis of new and published toxicological studies and a simplified method for the computation of plant ψpm

Plasma membranes (PMs) are negatively charged, and this creates a negative PM surface electrical potential (ψ PM ) that is also controlled by the ionic composition of the bathing medium. The ψ PM controls the distribution of ions between the PM surface and the medium so that negative potentials increase the surface activity of cations and decrease the surface activity of anions. All cations reduce the negativity of ψ PM , and these common ions are effective in the following order: Al 3+ > H + > Cu 2+ > Ca 2+ ≈ Mg 2+ > Na + ≈ K + . These ions, especially H + , Ca 2+ , and Mg 2+ , are known to reduce the uptake and biotic effectiveness of cations and to have the opposite effects on anions. Toxicologists commonly interpret the interactions between toxic cations (commonly metals) and ameliorative cations (commonly H + , Ca 2+ , and Mg 2+ ) as competitions for binding sites at a PM surface ligand. The ψ PM is rarely considered in this biotic ligand model, which incorporates the free ion activity model. The thesis of this article is that ψ PM effects are likely to be more important to bioavailability than site-specific competition. Furthermore, ψ PM effects could give the false appearance of competition even when it does not occur. The electrostatic approach can account for the bioavailability of anions, whereas the biotic ligand model cannot, and it can account for interactions among cations when competition does not occur. Finally, a simplified procedure is presented for the computation of ψ PM for plants, and the possible use of ψ PM in a general assessment of the bioavailability of ions is considered.
Cometabolism of trihalomethanes by mixed culture nitrifiers.

Abstract Three mixed-culture nitrifier sources degraded low concentrations (25–450 μg/L) of four trihalomethanes (THMs) (trichloromethane (TCM) or chloroform, bromodichloromethane (BDCM), dibromochloromethane (DBCM), tribromomethane (TBM) or bromoform) commonly found in treated drinking water. Individual THM rate constants ( k 1 THM ) increased with increasing THM bromine-substitution with TBM>DBCM>BDCM>TCM and were comparable to previous studies with the pure culture nitrifier, Nitrosomonas europaea . A decrease in temperature resulted in a decrease in both ammonia and THM degradation rates with ammonia rates affected to a greater extent than THM degradation rates. The significant effect of temperature indicates that seasonal variations in water temperature should be a consideration for technology implementation. Product toxicity, measured by transformation capacity ( T c ), was similar to that observed with N. europaea . Because both rate constants and product toxicities increase with increasing THM bromine-substitution, a water's THM speciation is an important consideration for process implementation during drinking water treatment. Even though a given water is kinetically favored, the resulting THM product toxicity may not allow stable treatment process performance.
Kierkegaard and Camus: either/or?

The philosophies of Soren Kierkegaard and Albert Camus have typically been considered as inverted images of each other. Kierkegaard turns to faith in God as a path of redemption from meaninglessness while Camus rejects faith as a form of intellectual suicide and cowardice. I argue that an analysis of key terms of contest—faith and lucidity, revolt and suicide, Abraham and Sisyphus, despair and its overcoming—serves to blur the lines of contrast, making Kierkegaard and Camus much closer in their views of what sort of life we should live in face of the forsakenness of our condition than they seem at first glance.
CCAAT/enhancer binding protein epsilon: changes in function upon phosphorylation by p38 MAP kinase.

C/EBPe, a member of the CCAAT/enhancer binding protein family, is a transcription factor important in neutrophil differentiation. We have determined that it is phosphorylated on multiple serine and threonine residues and can be a target for phosphorylation by a number of kinases. We identified a threonine at amino acid 75, part of a consensus mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase site within the transactivation domain of C/EBPe, as being phosphorylated only by p38 MAP kinase. Phosphorylation of this residue resulted in enhanced transcriptional activity on a myeloid-specific promoter in in vitro transient transfection reporter assays. We also determined that phosphorylation at Thr75 yielded a protein that was more effective at binding its cognate DNA sequence compared with the wild-type nonphosphorylated C/EBPe. Stable expression of C/EBPeT75A in interleukin 3 (IL-3)–dependent 32Dcl3 did not result in the up-regulation of expression of secondary granule genes compared with wild-type C/EBPe or C/EBPeT75D. Therefore we suggest that C/EBPe is a target for p38 MAP kinase activity.
Parameter optimisation of Ti-DLC coatings using statistically based methods

Abstract The influence of process parameters on the mechanical properties of magnetron-sputtered Ti-C:H films was investigated using fractional factorial experimental design. The parameters studied included substrate bias voltage, acetylene flow rate, and argon and nitrogen partial pressures. The results indicated that bias voltages in the range −20 to −60 V had little or no influence on the mechanical properties. The acetylene flow rate, which controlled the titanium content in the Ti-C:H layers, exhibited the most significant effect. An explanation based on the relationship between relative film thickness and critical applied loads is provided for the coating failure mechanisms.
Modeling the vapor source term associated with the spill of LNG into a sump or impoundment area

Abstract The recent publication of evaluation protocols for vapor source term models and vapor dispersion models have influenced the modeling approaches that can be used for approval of new and expansion projects at LNG receiving terminals. In the past few years the scientific basis of integral vapor source term models has been questioned with growing concerns regarding their validity. In this paper, the shallow water equations (SWEs) were solved to study the characteristics of the evaporating LNG pool associated with a constant flow rate spill of LNG into a concrete sump. In the early stages of pool spreading, the leading edge thickness profile of the SWE model scales with the square root of the distance from the leading edge as the pool spreads. After the edge of the pool reaches the wall, the reflected wave forms a hydraulic jump that travels back towards the center of the pool at a speed that is considerably slower than the initial spreading of the pool. Once the hydraulic jump reaches the center, the pool assumes a nearly flat free surface for the rest of the spill. The pool spreading and the rate of evaporation from the SWEs were then compared to the solution provided by the integral model, PHAST. The two approaches were found to agree well with one another. The SWE model was also used to demonstrate the influence of an elevated spill source. With an elevated source, the LNG pool spreads faster, significantly increasing the initial rate of vaporization and peak vaporization rate. This increase in the initial rate of vaporization could lead to an increase in the vapor cloud hazard distance. The SWE model was also used to demonstrate the influence of an inclined sump floor in the shape of an inverted cone where the spilling LNG accumulates in the low vertex of the cone. Inclined sump floors can be used to significantly reduce the cumulative evaporation, making them attractive as a possible mitigation approach in cases where a containment sump is located close to a property boundary.
Computational Studies of Non-Equilibrium Molecular Transport through Carbon Nanotubes

The transport of methane molecules into several open-ended carbon nanotubes is studied with classical, nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations. The forces in the simulations are determined using a reactive empirical bond order potential for short-ranged interactions and a Lennard-Jones potential for long-range interactions. The simulations show that until the carbon nanotubes are filled with methane molecules up to a specific cutoff molecular density, the molecules move forward and backward along the axis of nanotubes in a “bouncing” motion. This bouncing motion is observed for molecules inside both hydrogen-terminated and non-hydrogen-terminated opened nanotubes and is caused by a conflict between the molecules’ attractive interactions with the interior of the nanotube and their response to the molecular density gradient down the length of the tube. At molecular densities above the cutoff value, the molecules flow into, through, and out of the nanotubes in a linear manner. The effects of molecular density, nanotube diameter, and nanotube helical symmetry on the results are analyzed.
Limited, Cumulative Evidence: Divining Justice Department Positions on Alternative Electoral Schemes

The Department of Justice has never explicitly stated a policy regarding the appropriateness of alternative, non-district electoral systems, such as limited voting, cumulative voting, or preference voting, to remedy minority vote dilution under the Voting Rights Act, except to say that they may be appropriate in certain circumstances to correct the problem of under-representation of minorities. However, an examination of the Department's administrative preclearance determinations, and the position taken during litigation, reveals certain patterns in Department treatment of these issues. Specifically, the Department supports the use of such systems, provided that the minority group is sufficiently numerous to make use of them, and provided that a sufficiently ambitious voter education program is used to ensure that voters understand them.
Instantaneous, predictable balloon system descent from high altitude

Abstract The 13 inch diameter helium valve has long been the only method for initiating and controlling balloon system descent. As greater altitudes have become standard, the 13 inch valves have become less and less effective. It takes as long as a half hour or more to effect a noticeable descent, even with two or three valves, at altitudes in excess of 120,000 ft. The project that prompted this study called for a descent rate of >1000 ft/min from 131,000 ft to 60,000 ft. The method by which this was accomplished is presented along with recommendations for future work to provide closer control of rapid descents such as this.
Optical design of the tofi (time-of-flight isochronous) spectrometer for mass measurements of exotic nuclei

Abstract The design of a novel recoil time-of-flight isochronous spectrometer for systematic mass measurements of nuclei which lie far from the valley of β-stability is described. Using a four identical cell approach, optical aberrations of the spectrometer are minimized resulting in a calculated flight-time mass resolving power of m Δm = 2000 . With the spectrometer designed for a solid angle acceptance of μ = 2.8 msr and a momentum over charge acceptance of ( Δp ze )/( p ze ) = ± 2% , use of the high intensity proton beam at LAMPF will facilitate good statistics experiments yielding new direct mass measurements with uncertainties of 30 keV to 1 MeV (depending on production rates) for nuclei with A
Igneous Graphite in Enstatite Chondrites

Igneous graphite. a rare constituent in terrestrial mafic and ultramafic rocks. occurs in three EH and one EL enstatite chondrite impact-melt breccias as 2-150 Ilm long euhedrallaths. some with pyramidal terminations. In contrast. graphite in most enstatite chondrites exsolved from metallic Fe-Ni as polygonal. rounded or irregular aggregates. Literature data for five EH chondrites on C combusting at high temperatures show that Abee contains the most homogeneous C isotopes (i.e. delta(sup 13)C = -8.1+/-2.1%); in addition. Abee's mean delta(sup l3)C value is the same as the average high-temperature C value for the set of five EH chondrites. This suggests that Abee scavenged C from a plurality of sources on its parent body and homogenized the C during a large-scale melting event. Whereas igneous graphite in terrestrial rocks typically forms at relatively high pressure and only moderately low oxygen fugacity (e.g., approx. 5 kbar. logfO2, approx. -10 at 1200 C ). igneous graphite in asteroidal meteorites formed at much lower pressures and oxygen fugacities.
Nonaxisymmetric Dynamic Instabilities of Rotating Polytropes. I. The Kelvin Modes

We study the dynamic instabilities of rotating polytropes in the linear regime using an approximate Lagrangian technique and a more precise Eulerian scheme. We consider nonaxisymmetric modes with azimuthal dependence proportional to exp (im), where m is an integer and is the azimuthal angle, for polytropes with a wide range of compressibilities and angular momentum distributions. We determine stability limits for the m = 2-4 modes and find the eigenvalue and eigenfunction of the most unstable m-mode for given equilibrium models. To the extent that we have explored parameter space, we find that the onset of instability is not very sensitive to the compressibility or angular momentum distribution of the polytrope when the models are parameterized by T/| W |. Here T is the rotational kinetic energy, and W is the gravitational energy of the polytrope. The m = 2, 3, and 4 modes become unstable at T/| W | ≈ 0.26-0.28, 0.29-0.32, and 0.32-0.35, respectively, limits consistent with those of the Maclaurin spheroids to within ±0.015 in T/| W |. The only exception to this occurs for the most compressible polytrope we test and then only for m = 4, where instability sets in at T/| W | ≈ 0.37-0.39. The eigenfunctions for the fastest growing low m-modes are similar to those of the Maclaurin spheroid eigenfunctions in that they do not show large vertical motions, are only weakly dependent on z, and increase strongly in amplitude as the equatorial radius of the spheroid is approached. The polytrope eigenfunctions are, however, qualitatively different from the Maclaurin eigenfunctions in one respect: they develop strong spiral arms. The spiral arms are stronger for more compressible polytropes and for polytropes whose angular momentum distributions deviate significantly from those of the Maclaurin spheroids. Nevertheless, our approximate Lagrangian method, which explicitly assumes nonspiral Maclaurin-like trial functions, yields reasonable estimates for the pattern periods and e-folding times of unstable m = 2 modes even for highly compressible and strongly differentially rotating polytropes. Comparisons for m = 2 between the linear analyses in this paper and nonlinear hydrodynamic simulations give excellent quantitative agreement in eigenfunctions, pattern speeds, and e-folding times for the dynamically unstable modes.
Explaining Changes in Tax Incidence in the States

This study examines state and local tax incidence over time in the fifty states. The use of new data (McIntyre et al. 1991) allowed me to test a num ber of explanations for variation in incidence change from 1985 to 1991. I found that while 1991 incidence was largely a function of 1985 incidence, other variables were also important. Economic growth, the lack of structur al impediments to raising income tax rates, and, to a lesser extent, the presence of Democratic governors all appeared to be associated with great er progressivity over time. The strength of labor, relative to business, also appeared to be an influence for greater progressivity.
A bioenergetic analysis of factors limiting brown trout growth in an Ozark tailwater river

We examined prey utilization and energy consumption by brown trout, Salmo trutta, in a cold tailwater (Little Red River, Arkansas, USA; LRR) having low biodiversity and low availability of fish as prey. Stomach content analysis and age estimation were performed on thirty brown trout (10 each of three size classes for a total of 710 trout) collected monthly from an upstream and downstream site over a 1-year period. Diet diversity was low at both sites, as 80% and 70% of all prey consumed by upstream and downstream brown trout, respectively, were isopods. Piscivory (<0.5% of individuals sampled) and consumption of terrestrial invertebrates were rare. There was no relation between diet diversity and trout age, and a very small ontogenetic shift in brown trout diet. Second, we investigated brown trout growth rates relative to prey consumption and temperature. Temperatures and availability of prey were less than required for maximal trout growth. However, prey availability limited trout growth directly, but sub-optimal temperatures probably buffered the effect of this reduced energy consumption by reducing metabolic energy expenditures. Brown trout growth was 54.8–57.0% of the maximum predicted by a bioenergetics model. Instantaneous growth rates for age 1 and adult brown trout were slightly higher for those downstream (0.195) versus those upstream (0.152). Although isopods are abundant within this tailwater to serve as a forage base, the displacement of native fish fauna and subsequent lack of establishment of cold-tolerant forage fish species due to the thermal regime of hypolimnetic release from Greers Ferry Reservoir probably serves as a major barrier to brown trout growth.
Incarcerated Chinese Men. Their Life Experiences and Criminal Onset

This research investigates the influence of bonds and negative associations on criminal onset. The research hypothesis is that the lack of bonds, negative associations, and failures decrease the age at which the first conviction is committed. A sample of 1,011 Chinese male prison inmates participated in the survey. Research subjects provided self-reported life events and offending history. In their progression of criminal onset, normal bonds were lacking in early days of their life. The Chinese subjects also demonstrated later onset ages and later ages in decreasing criminal involvement than western lawbreakers. Insights for future research, policy, and intervention are suggested. Limitation of the study and caution for interpreting research findings also are stated.
The MAT-sf: Identifying Risk for Major Mobility Disability

Background. The assessment of mobility is essential to both aging researc h and clinical geriatric practice. A newly developed self-report measure of mobility, the mobility assessment tool-short form (MAT-sf), uses video animations as an innovative method to improve measurement accuracy/ precision. The primary aim of the current study was to evaluate whether MAT-sf scores can be used to identify risk for major mobility disability (MMD). Methods. This ar ticle is based on data collected from the Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders study and involved 1,574 older adults between the ages of 70–89. The MAT-sf was administered at baseline; MMD, operationalized as failure to complete the 400-m walk ≤ 15 minutes, was evaluated at 6-month intervals across a period of 42 months. The outcome of interest was the first occurrence of MMD or incident MMD. Results. Af ter controlling for age, sex, clinic site, and treatment arm, baseline MAT-sf scores were found to be effective in identifying risk for MMD (p < .0001). Partitioning the MAT-sf into four groups revealed that persons with scores <40, 40–49, 50–59, and 60+ had failure rates across 42 months of follow-up of 66%, 52%, 35%, and 22%, respectively. Conclusions. The MA T-sf is a quick and efficient way of identifying older adults at risk for MMD. It could be used to clinically identify older adults that are in need of intervention for MMD and provides a simple means for monitoring the status of patients’ mobility, an important dimension of functional health.