cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Labor and Birth Improvements at Mercy Hospital St. Louis

Poster Presentation Purpose for the Program Mercy Hospital St. Louis is ranked among the top 20 hospitals in the nation related to birth volume, and approximately 8600 neonates are born there annually. In 2009, it became obvious the labor and birth unit in this hospital needed significant updating so the decision was made to build a new unit. In the months post move, the team recognized that many of the workflow processes and culture needed to change based on new demands. Proposed Change To begin the process, the organization turned to Lean daily huddles called "innovation time." This protected time with no meetings allowed all unit leaders, managers, and senior staff time to take Gemba walks, observe unit operations, seek improvements, and remove barriers in the moment. This approach has dramatically improved team understanding of accountable metrics and has led to ideas to improve those metrics and communication across the organization. With new coworker engagement, the unit embarked on a 9‐month Lean project to evaluate current processes and clarify future goals. Each month a group of frontline coworkers and supervisors came together for a week‐long rapid improvement event (RIE) to work through A3 process improvement methodology, observe the current state, trial new solutions, study results, and create a plan for implementation. Implementation, Outcomes, and Evaluation Major improvements were seen in scheduled induction times and operating room (OR) cesarean birth and recovery times. Only 47% of women were being seen on time for scheduled inductions, which decreased patient and physician satisfaction and influenced women to seek health care at competing hospitals. By creating standard work in the process, the patient satisfaction rate increased to 85% within the first month and was 98% by March. The rate of on time cesareans increased from 52% to 74% through reassigning staff roles and implementing standard work. With a 2‐hour recovery time for these cases, only 29% of women met that goal, and most fell into a 2½‐ to 3‐hour recovery period. After the RIE, 50% of women met the goal. Implications for Nursing Practice The labor and birth unit at Mercy Hospital St. Louis is experiencing a 6.8% growth, whereas the overall local market is down 3.8%. The desire to continue to provide exceptional care while being reminded of the current dynamic health care environment motivates us to continuously improve and maximize value for our patients.
Blunt trauma to the abdomen

There is general agreement that physical examination alone is inadequate for abdominal evaluation in the multiply injured blunt trauma patient; but controversy exists regarding the preferred method of detecting intraabdominal injuries requiring celiotomy. Both peritoneal lavage and the newer computed tomography imaging techniques have advantages and disadvantages. Direct comparisons of the two techniques have not determined a preferred method. When used as complementary rather than competitive studies, diagnostic peritoneal lavage and computed tomography imaging provide more information than either test alone.
Comment on two articles, 3 September 2001 issue of Eos

In “Reassessing Past European Gasoline Lead Policies” by von Storch et al., beginning geophysics students will be impressed by the superb precision in Figure 1, which relates to 110 587.9 ton of European lead emissions in 1965. Recalling their freshman physics, they will note that the last digit given has some significance; that is, it is presumably close to 9 and is not 8, nor is it 0. Thus, the full number should be meaningful to plus-or-minus 0.1 ton, which happens to be about my mass. Hence, the number is apparently good to one part in 10,000,000; the reader is invited to search for similar precision in geophysics.
An approximate theory for high-frequency vibrations of elastic plates

Abstract Two-dimensional equations of successively higher orders of approximation for elastic, isotropic plates are deduced from the three-dimensional theory of elasticity by a series expansion in terms of simple thickness-modes for infinite plates. For each order of approximation from the zeroth up to the fourth, kinetic and strain energy densities, stress-strain relations and displacement equations of motion for both flexural and extensional vibrations are presented. Dispersion curves for real and imaginary as well as complex wave numbers in an infinite plate are explored in detail and compared with the solution of the Rayleigh-Lamb frequency equation from the three-dimensional theory.
Statistical Aspects of Genetic Mapping in Autopolyploids

Many plant species of agriculture importance are polyploid, having more than two copies of each chromosome per cell. In this paper, we describe statistical methods for genetic map construction in autopolyploid species with particular reference to the use of molecular markers. The first step is to determine the dosage of each DNA fragment (electrophoretic band) from its segregation ratio. Fragments present in a single dose can be used to construct framework maps for individual chromosomes. Fragments present in multiple doses can often be used to link the single chromosome maps into homologous groups and provide additional ordering information. Marker phenotype probabilities were calculated for pairs of markers arranged in different configurations among the homologous chromosomes. These probabilities were used to compute a maximum likelihood estimator of the recombination fraction between pairs of markers. A likelihood ratio test for linkage of multidose markers was derived. The information provided by each configuration and power and sample size considerations are also discussed. A set of 294 RFLP markers scored on 90 plants of the species Saccharum spontaneum L. was used to illustrate the construction of an autopolyploid map. Previous studies conducted on the same data revealed that this species of sugar cane is an autooctaploid with 64 chromosomes arranged into eight homologous groups. The methodology described permitted consolidation of 54 linkage groups into ten homologous groups.
On Reversibility and Irreversibility in Optics

Some of the physical operations that can be performed on a beam of light are reversible; others are irreversible. In many situations the distinction is obvious. In other situations, especially where no absorption occurs, it may not be obvious whether a postulated operation is reversible. An experimenter might try to produce a result that is basically impossible of achievement.Fortunately, simple thermodynamic considerations provide a complete interpretation. Thermodynamic considerations are applicable because all sources of visible light are thermal in nature. Planck’s formula for blackbody radiation leads directly to once well-known expressions for the temperature and entropy flux of a beam of light of given wavelength, direction, polarization, and spectral radiance. By analyzing the temperature and entropy changes involved in any given optical operation, the reversibility or irreversibility is easily established. The method is applied to various principal types of optical operations, including those entailing reflecting, condensing, dispersing, diffusing, beam-splitting, polarizing, and depolarizing.
Effect of hypocapnia on intracellular pH during metabolic acidosis.

Abstract Separate and combined effects of acute metabolic acidosis and hypocapnia were determined in skeletal and cardiac muscles of intact rats. Normocapnic metabolic acidosis, imposed by intraperitoneal injection of hydrochloric acid (6 mEq/kg), did not change skeletal muscle intracellular acid-base parameters. Hypocapnia, induced by mechanical hyperventilation, resulted in intracellular alkalosis within skeletal muscle during both respiratory alkalosis and compensated metabolic acidosis; changes of skeletal muscle intracellular bicarbonate concentration per unit change in carbon dioxide tension were identical during these procedures. These data suggest that processes other than physiochemical buffering neutralize protons taken into skeletal muscle cells during acute metabolic acidosis. The acid-base state of the heart was quite stable during these experimental manipulations; thus, it appears that cardiac muscle has an extraordinary buffering ability. Moreover, our date suggest that processes other than physicochemical buffering maintain cardiac intracellular pH normal during hypocapnia.
TREM-1 as a Potential Therapeutic Target in Psoriasis

Our group recently described a population of antigen-presenting cells that appear to be critical in psoriasis pathogenesis, termed inflammatory myeloid dendritic cells (CD11c+/blood dendritic cell (DC) antigen 1−). Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells type-1 (TREM-1) signaling was a major canonical pathway in the published transcriptome of these cells. TREM-1 is a member of the Ig superfamily, active through the DAP12 signaling pathway, with an unknown ligand. Activation through TREM-1 induces inflammatory cytokines, including IL-8, MCP/CCL2, and tumor necrosis factor. We now show that TREM-1 was expressed in the skin of healthy and psoriatic patients, and there was increased soluble TREM-1 in the circulation of psoriasis patients. In psoriasis lesions, TREM-1 was colocalized with DCs, as well as CD31+ endothelial cells. TREM-1 expression was reduced with successful narrow band UVB (NB-UVB), etanercept, and anti-IL-17 treatments. An in vitro model of peptidoglycan-activated monocytes as inflammatory myeloid DCs was developed to study TREM-1 blockade, and treatment with a TREM-1 blocking chimera decreased allogeneic T-helper type 17 cell activation, as well as IL-17 production. Furthermore, TREM-1 blockade of ex vivo psoriatic DCs in an allogeneic mixed leukocyte reaction also showed a decrease in IL-17. Together, these data suggest that the TREM-1 signaling pathway may be a previously unidentified therapeutic target to prevent the effects of inflammatory myeloid DCs in psoriasis.
CEREBROSPINAL FLUID EXCITATORY AMINO ACID LEVELS IN NEUROLOGICALLY NORMAL NEONATES. † 2252

Excitatory amino acids (EAA) have been implicated in the mechanism of neonatal brain injury. Normal values for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) EAA in newborns of varying gestational age are not known. The purpose of our study was to describe the range of EAA values in newborns of varying gestational ages. After obtaining informed consent, we collected lumbar CSF from newborns being evaluated for suspected sepsis. These infants did not exhibit any clinical signs of encephalopathy. The amino acid content was analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography with pre-column derivatization. 16 infants were studied. Gestational age at birth was 25-29 wks. in 4, 30-35 wks. in 6, and > 35 wks. in 6 infants. Postnatal age at the time of lumbar puncture ranged from 1-83 days.
An evolutionary biochemist's perspective on promiscuity.

Evolutionary biochemists define enzyme promiscuity as the ability to catalyze secondary reactions that are physiologically irrelevant, either because they are too inefficient to affect fitness or because the enzyme never encounters the substrate. Promiscuous activities are common because evolution of a perfectly specific active site is both difficult and unnecessary; natural selection ceases when the performance of a protein is ‘good enough’ that it no longer affects fitness. Although promiscuous functions are accidental and physiologically irrelevant, they are of great importance because they provide opportunities for the evolution of new functions in nature and in the laboratory, as well as targets for therapeutic drugs and tools for a wide range of technological applications.
Six Sigma helps a company create a culture of accountability

How do you make employees feel more accountable for results? With many opinions but no hard facts about how to achieve this, one company turned to Six Sigma to find the answer. Six Sigma methodology, no longer confined to production departments, helped this company discover that a culture of accountability, first and foremost, is a function of strategically aligned employee expectations and an effective system of rewards and consequences. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Today's second generation: evidence from the 1990 U.S. census.

The prospects for today's second generation will be considerably shaped by their current social, economic and demographic status. This article provides a statistical portrait of children of immigra...
Low-Cycle Fatigue Behavior of Internally Pressurized Boxes

Abstract : One phase of a continuing study of the low-cycle fatigue behavior of metals for deep submergence structural applications involves the validity of simple specimen results when applied to complex structures. As a part of this study, the lowcycle fatigue performance of twelve internally pressurized boxes was investigated. The boxes were constructed from 1-inch thick plate of six materials consisting of three steels, one aluminum alloy, and two titanium alloys. The boxes were cyclically pressurized at peak nominal stresses up to about 80 percent of the yield strength of the base metal. The results are compared with data previously obtained for simple laboratory specimens. The results of the box tests tend to confirm two general conclusions reached previously from simple specimen tests, that is: (1) increases in low-cycle fatigue strength for a given life are not commensurate with increases in yield strength, and (2) lowcycle fatigue life is closely related to total strain range and appears to be independent of both structural metal and strength level in the life range of 1000 to 30,000 cycles.
Metal-catalyzed Oxidation of α-Synuclein HELPING TO DEFINE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OLIGOMERS, PROTOFIBRILS, AND FILAMENTS

Oxidative stress is implicated in a number of neuro-degenerative diseases and is associated with the selective loss of dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra in Parkinson's disease. The role of alpha-synuclein as a potential target of intracellular oxidants has been demonstrated by the identification of posttranslational modifications of synuclein within intracellular aggregates that accumulate in Parkinson's disease brains, as well as the ability of a number of oxidative insults to induce synuclein oligomerization. The relationship between these relatively small soluble oligomers, potentially neurotoxic synuclein protofibrils, and synuclein filaments remains unclear. We have found that metal-catalyzed oxidation of alpha-synuclein inhibited formation of synuclein filaments with a concomitant accumulation of beta sheet-rich oligomers that may represent synuclein protofibrils. Similar results with a number of oxidative and enzymatic treatments suggest that the covalent association of synuclein into higher molecular mass oligomers/protofibrils represents an alternate pathway from filament formation and renders synuclein less prone to proteasomal degradation.
Gravity Currents in the Environment and the Laboratory

A large variety of geophysical phenomena can be considered examples of gravity currents, normally thought of as the horizontal or quasihorizontal penetration of a light fluid by a plume of denser fluid. In Gravity Currents in the Environment and the Laboratory, Simpson discusses both the basic physics and real-world applications of gravity currents and related phenomena such as hydraulic jumps, undular bores, and the spread of buoyant plumes. This book is a considerable expansion of an earlier edition published a decade ago and represents the accumulated wisdom of a career devoted to observation and laboratory simulation of small-scale environmental fluid mechanical phenomena. The result can be recommended enthusiastically both to experts in the field and readers who have more general interests in meteorology, oceanography, or other areas of fluid mechanics.
Rheumatoid factors in immune complexes of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Substantial evidence indicates that humoral immunity through antigen-antibody complex formation contributes to the pathogenesis of RA. Several studies have examined the composition of immune complexes present in the synovial fluid of patients with RA. The constituents of these immune complexes have been immunoglobulins and complement components. Only a few polypeptides in these immune complexes have not been identified. These unidentified components account for only a few percent of total proteins present. These results suggest that rheumatoid factors and their antigens are quantitatively the important ingredients of immune complexes in synovial fluid of patients with RA. The immune deposits in the superficial layers of articular cartilage from patients with RA contain RFs and antibodies to type II collagen.
Is abdominal wall contraction important for normal voiding in the female rat

Background Normal voiding behavior in urethane-anesthetized rats includes contraction of the abdominal wall striated muscle, similar to the visceromotor response (VMR) to noxious bladder distension. Normal rat voiding requires pulsatile release of urine from a pressurized bladder. The abdominal wall contraction accompanying urine flow may provide a necessary pressure increment for normal efficient pulsatile voiding. This study aimed to evaluate the occurrence and necessity of the voiding-associated abdominal wall activity in urethane-anesthetized female rats
Nonadiabatic theory of atomic line broadening: Final-state distributions and the polarization of redistributed radiation

The close-coupled theory of atomic collisions in the presence of a radiation field may be used to calculate the distribution of final atomic states which results from absorption of polarized light during a collision. The theory applies equally well to optical collisions (line broadening) and to radiative collisions (laser-induced collisional energy transfer). For an optical collision the detuning ..omega..-..omega../sub infinity/ is restricted to be larger than either the Rabi frequency or the widths due to natural, Doppler, or pressure broadening. The radiation field is assumed to be weak enough that the transition probabilities are linear in field intensity. The molecular picture is emphasized in which the wave function is expanded in a basis of field-free molecular states and the Hamiltonian is blocked in accordance with molecular quantum numbers. The quantities needed to predict experimental observables are reduced radiative scattering S-matrix elements s/sub ..omega../ in the asymptotic Hund's case-(e) representation. The theory of product orientation and alignment is equivalent to that which has been developed for molecular photodissociation. It requires coherent sums of s/sub ..omega../ matrix elements from different transition branches, that is, for P-, Q-, and R-type transitions corresponding to changes of -1, 0, and +1 in total molecular angularmore » momentum. On the other hand, the total absorption coefficient and the branching ratio to different final fine-structure states irrespective of orientation or alignment depend on incoherent sums of the same matrix elements.« less
Dysplasia Has A Differential Diagnosis: Distinguishing Genuine Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) From Mimics, Imitators, Copycats and Impostors

Just as a pawnshop owner who is unable to distinguish a genuine Rolex™ watch from a cheap knockoff courts financial ruin, the physician who fails to discriminate between authentic myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and conditions resembling MDS risks misinforming or harming patients. This review summarizes minimal criteria for diagnosing MDS and discusses common diagnostic challenges. MDS needs to be separated from numerous neoplastic and non-clonal hematologic disorders that can mimic MDS, including other myeloid neoplasms, nutritional deficiencies, toxin exposures, aplastic anemia, and inherited disorders (e.g., congenital sideroblastic anemia). Some distinctions are more critical therapeutically than others; e.g., recognizing B12 deficiency is more important than parsing high-risk MDS from erythroleukemia. Diagnostically ambiguous cases may be assigned holding-pattern terms, “idiopathic cytopenia(s) of undetermined significance” (ICUS) or “idiopathic dysplasia of undetermined significance” (IDUS), while awaiting clarifying information or further clinical developments. In the future, advances in molecular pathology will improve diagnostic accuracy, especially in morphologically non-descript cases.
Optimizing the spatial resolution of photonic crystal label-free imaging.

A theory is derived to describe the relationship between photonic crystal (PC) label-free imaging resolution and PC resonance spectral linewidth and location. PCs are fabricated and patterned with a resolution standard photomask in order to verify this relationship experimentally. Two distinct linear resolutions of <1 μm and 3.5 μm are demonstrated in orthogonal directions on a single device, where the former is limited by the imaging system optics and the latter is constrained by finite resonant mode propagation. In order to illustrate the utility of improved design control, the spectral response of a PC is optimized for label-free imaging of immobilized DNA capture spots on a microarray.
Hormonal regulation of androgen receptor mRNA in the brain and anterior pituitary gland of the male rat

To determine possible cellular mechanisms governing androgen action in the brain, we examined the hormonal regulation of androgen receptor (AR) mRNA in neural tissues by Northern blot hybridization and RNase protection analysis. While a single hybridizable species of AR mRNA of approximately 11 kb was found in the anterior pituitary gland (AP) and ventral prostate gland (VP), an additional species of AR mRNA, approximately 2 kb smaller, was revealed in neural tissues. Furthermore, in these neural tissues, hormonal regulation of the two species of mRNA was coordinated; long-term castration increased levels of both forms, while testosterone replacement reduced them. The same pattern of regulation was observed for the single 11 kb form in the AP. An RNase protection assay was validated and utilized to quantitatively analyze the hormonal regulation of AR mRNA. Castration (4 days) resulted in significantly increased AR mRNA in the AP and hypothalamic-preoptic area, but not the amygdala, which subsequent administration of dihydrotestosterone (DHT; 1 day; 2 mg/animal) significantly decreased. In the AP, administration of estradiol benzoate (EB) for 1 or 5 days also reversed this effect. However, EB treatment increased the amount of total RNA isolated per gland. Consequently, when the data are normalized to RNA content per gland, 5 days of EB treatment resulted in a significant increase in AR mRNA content. These findings suggest that in contrast to the AP and VP, two forms of androgen receptor mRNA exist in the brain. In addition, there appears to be tissue and hormone specific regulation of AR mRNA.
5-Lipoxygenase Deficiency Prevents Respiratory Failure during Ventilator-induced Lung Injury

Rationale: Mechanical ventilation with high VT (HVT) progressively leads to lung injury and decreased efficiency of gas exchange. Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) directs blood flow to well-ventilated lung regions, preserving systemic oxygenation during pulmonary injury. Recent experimental studies have revealed an important role for leukotriene (LT) biosynthesis by 5-lipoxygenase (5LO) in the impairment of HPV by endotoxin. Objectives: To investigate whether or not impairment of HPV contributes to the hypoxemia associated with HVT and to evaluate the role of LTs in ventilator-induced lung injury. Methods: We studied wild-type and 5LO-deficient mice ventilated for up to 10 hours with low VT (LVT) or HVT. Results: In wild-type mice, HVT, but not LVT, increased pulmonary vascular permeability and edema formation, impaired systemic oxygenation, and reduced survival. HPV, as reflected by the increase in left pulmonary vascular resistance induced by left mainstem bronchus occlusion, was markedly impair...
Paediatric uses of atypical antipsychotics.

Antipsychotics are commonly prescribed to children and adolescents. With the relatively recent availability of the atypical antipsychotics, physicians have begun prescribing these agents to young people in the hope of finding safe, effective alternatives to the typical antipsychotics. This report reviews what is currently known about the use of the atypical antipsychotics in young people. Most of the currently available data are based on case reports and case series. The results of only a handful of prospective trials pertaining to the use of the atypical antipsychotics in youths have been reported. Based on the available information, it appears that clozapine has a role in juvenile treatment resistant schizophrenia. When considered as a group, the ‘first-line’ atypical antipsychotics risperidone, olanzapine and quetiapine appear to have promise as treatments for several neuropsychiatric disorders in young people. These conditions include psychotic, mood, disruptive, movement and pervasive developmental d...
Diagnosis and treatment of the plasmon problem of hot QCD

Abstract One loop calculations of the damping rates for gluons give gauge dependent results. The correct diagnosis of the problem is that higher loop diagrams also contribute at leading order in the coupling constant g. The problem is treated by resumming hard thermal loop corrections into effective propagators and vertices. The complete damping rate to leading order in g is given by one-loop diagrams constructed out of effective propagators and vertices and is gauge invariant. The damping rates for gluons at 0 momentum and at large momentum have been computed explicitly.
Uninsured Latino Children: A Call to Action: In Reply

We thank Ms Garvin for her letter regarding our article1 and commend her early interest as a medical student in advocating for immigrant children and their families. We agree wholeheartedly that pediatricians can and should play an important role in shaping immigration policy. We take issue, however, with the statement that pediatricians have not traditionally engaged in shaping immigration policy. Indeed, there is clear and abundant evidence to the contrary. For example, several pediatricians recently testified on behalf of the American Academy …
Catalytic Photooxidation of Pentachlorophenol Using Semiconductor Nanoclusters

Pentachlorophenol (PCP) is a toxic chlorinated aromatic molecule widely used as a fungicide, a bactericide, and a wood preservation, and thus is ubiquitous in the environment. We report photooxidation of PCP using a variety of nanosize semiconductor metal oxides and sulfides in both aqueous and polar organic solvents and compare the photooxidation kinetics of these nanoclusters to widely studied bulk powders such as Degussa P25 TiO2 and CdS. We study both the light- intensity dependence of PCP photooxidation for nanosize SnO2 and the size dependence of PCP photooxidation for both nanosize SnO2 and MoS2. We find an extremely strong size dependence for the latter which we attribute to its size-dependent band gap and the associated change in redox potentials due to quantum confinement of the hole−electron pair. We show that nanosize MoS2 with a diameter of d = 3.0 nm and an absorbance edge of ∼450 nm is a very effective photooxidation catalyst for complete PCP mineralization, even when using only visible-lig...
Electromagnetic scattering by an aggregate of spheres: far field

In electromagnetic multisphere-scattering calculations the reexpansion method for seeking a single-field representation of the total scattered field is found impracticable because of severe numerical problems. We present a simple single-field expansion of the total scattered far field based on an asymptotic form of vector translational addition theorems. With this asymptotic expansion of the far field, we derive analytical expressions for the scattering properties of an arbitrary aggregate of spheres. Resulting formulas are free from numerical problems in practical applications. Theoretical predictions from this far-field solution for various aggregates of spheres that we tested agree favorably with laboratory microwave scattering measurements. Some numerical results are presented and compared with experimental data.
Molecular organization of the basement membrane zone

The dermal-epidermal basement membrane is a complex assembly of proteins that provide adhesion and regulate many important processes such as development, wound healing, and cancer progression. This contribution focuses on the structure and function of individual components of the basement membrane, how they assemble together, and how they participate in human tissues and diseases, with an emphasis on skin involvement. Understanding the composition and structure of the basement membrane provides insight into the pathophysiology of inherited blistering disorders, such as epidermolysis bullosa, and acquired bullous diseases, such as the pemphigoid group of autoimmune diseases and epidermolysis bullosa acquisita.
Weak temperature dependence of stress relaxation in as-deposited polycrystalline gold films

During deposition of polycrystalline gold thin films, a compressive stress develops that reversibly changes during interruptions of growth. One model for this mechanism posits that this reversible stress change is related to adatom diffusion into and out of grain boundaries and recent work has established a relationship between the reversible stress and grain size. In the current study, the dependencies of the relaxation of the compressive stress during growth interruptions on the initial stress and substrate temperature have been studied. Stress was measured in situ during growth and during interruptions in growth. The stress relaxation over a fixed time was found to be proportional to the stress when growth was terminated and the effect of temperature was found to be very weak. These results suggest that grain-boundary diffusion is not a factor in the stress relaxation.
Sex differences in fearfulness: Verbal report, overt avoidance and demand characteristics

Abstract Sixty male and sixty female undergraduate subjects verbally reporting high or low fear of snakes were administered a behavioral avoidance test (BAT) under low or high social demand conditions. Overall, males displayed significantly less avoidance as well as more frequent snake contact and task completion than females, although the sex differences held only among high fear subjects and no sex effect was found on other measures. Reported fear level was significantly associated with latency to touch, approach score, touch frequency, and task completion (high fear subjects displayed less boldness) but, on all measures except latency, this was true only for female subjects. High demand conditions produced significantly more approach, target contact, and task completion than low demand. The highest correlation between reported fear and BAT behavior accounted for less than 25% of the variance common to verbal and overt responses.
Characterization of the mid-IR image quality at Gemini South

To help the prospective observer take full advantage of the mid-IR capability of Gemini South, we characterize a key aspect of the mid-IR performance of the 8-meter telescope at Gemini-S, namely, the appearance and stability of its delivered mid-IR image profiles, with the goal of demonstrating that it can be used with a level of precision not used before. About 2000 images obtained with T-ReCS (a facility mid-IR camera at Gemini-S) between late 2003 and early 2009 were used for our image quality analysis. All targets are flux standards and recorded at one or more of the four bands Si-2 (8.74 μm), N (10.36 μm), Si-5 (11.66 μm), and Qa (18.3 μm). A non-linear least squares fitting of three profile models (Lorentzian, Gaussian, and Moffat) was performed on each image, and key parameters such as FWHM, ellipticity, position angle and Strehl-ratio were measured from the fitted profile. We find that the long-time-scale image quality is quite stable in terms of profile width or ellipticity, though short-time-scale variation is evident. We also examined the correlation between image quality and many ambient parameters and confirmed the interdependence between the image quality in the Qa band and the ambient humidity. The ellipticity of the profile was analyzed statistically as well. The average profiles for different filters can be used as important references in the future when a high-quality profile reference is not available during an observation.
Considering prior plausibility in clinical trials does not mean ignoring scientific evidence.

The response of Rutten et al. to our recent article [1], in which we contend that it is unscientific and unethical to test highly implausible treatments such as homeopathy and reiki in randomized clinical trials (RCTs), represents a common and misguided complaint by advocates of alternative medicine against interpreting clinical trials through the lens of prior plausibility. It is a complaint that is, from a scientific viewpoint, unjustified and relies on a misunderstanding of the history of science, a straw man characterization of arguments for science-based medicine, and an incorrect interpretation of Bayes’ theorem applied to clinical trials of homeopathy.
Humorous Stories And The Identification Of Social Norms: The Senate Club

The literature of formal organizations holds that stories handed down by word of mouth are important for understanding prescribed behavior and attitudes in organizations. In this study, the author ...
Editing Carver's Tell the Women We're Going

(2008). Editing Carver's Tell the Women We're Going. The Explicator: Vol. 66, No. 4, pp. 235-237.
Nonlinear Tropical Air-Sea Interaction in the Fast-Wave Limit.

Abstract The fast-wave limit is an approximation useful for understanding many aspects of tropical air–sea interaction. It is obtained when the time scale of dynamical adjustment of the ocean by equatorial waves occurs fast compared to the time scale on which the system is evolving through coupled processes. The linear and nonlinear behavior of a simple coupled model is examined for the Pacific basin. It consists of an SST equation for an equatorial band, shallow-water ocean dynamics in the fast-wave limit governing the thermocline, and an embedded surface layer for equatorial Ekman pumping; it may be characterized as a simple fast-wave limit version of the Neelin model, which is in turn a stripped-down version of the Zebiak and Cane model. It offers a converse approximation to simple models that retain wave dynamics while eliminating SST time scales. This simple model produces a rich variety of flow regimes. The first bifurcation can give westward-propagating, stationary, or eastward-propagating variabil...
Temporal Aspects of the Involvement of the Uterus and Prolactin in the Establishment of Luteinizing Hormone-Dependent Progesterone Secretion in the Rat

This paper deals with some of the temporal aspects of the inhibition by PRL and the promotion by the uterus of the development of a crucial need for LH (LH dependency) in the maintenance of progesterone secretion by the rat corpus luteum. A severe and permanent fall in the concentration of progesterone in the serum and a shortening of the duration of the vaginal diestrus in response to 0.5 ml of a specific antiserum to LH, injected sc on the morning of day 9 of pseudopregnancy (day 1 = ovulation), confirmed the presence of LH dependency. In rats hysterectomized before the induction of pseudopregnancy or on days 2, 3, or 4 of pseudopregnancy, LH antiserum did not induce luteolysis, but in rats hysterectomized on day 5, it did. In rats subjected to chronic PRL treatment (through the homotransplantation of a rat pituitary beneath the kidney capsule) from day 2 onward, LH antiserum did not induce luteolysis if the uterus was removed on day 5, 6, or 7; if the uterus remained in place until at least day 8, howe...
Comparative capitular morphology and anatomy of Coreopsis L. and bidens L. (compositae), including a review of generic boundaries

The capitular and floral morphology and anatomy ofBidens L. andCoreopsis L. were studied. All the North American species ofCoreopsis were studied. Selected species ofBidens from North and South America andCoreopsis from South America were included. The results were compared with previous observations on African species ofBidens (incl.Coreopsis). Emphasis was given to character states of the ray florets, paleae, stylearm apices, outer phyllaries, achenes, and pollen grains. Some of the character states are unique features ofCoreopsis, e.g., globular and elongately conical receptacles, deltoid outer phyllaries, truncate and indistinctly 3–5-dentate, 3–4-lobed ray florets, narrowly spathulate paleae, subulate paleae with linear-filiform upper half, hairy and apically 3-cleft paleae, truncate, convex or shallowly conical stylearm apices with the sweeping hairs limited to the area above the stigmatic surfaces and the orbicular to circular achenes. The cylindric setaceous pappus bristles so commonly encountered inBidens are unknown inCoreopsis. The pappus bristles inCoreopsis are paleaceous but similar, though thicker ones are also found in African species ofBidens (incl.Coreopsis) with winged achenes. Twin-celled hairs (setulae) with differing degrees of wall thickness are found on the achenes ofCoreopsis sect.Pseudoagarista (Mexico and South America),Coreopsis sect.Pugiopappus (California), AfricanBidens with winged achenes (e.g.,B. prestinaria, B. macroptera) and some North AmericanBidens (e.g.,B. aristosa). Similar sclerotic parenchyma make up the achenial wings of species in both genera. These may be interpreted as homologous structures, indicating the underlying similarity of these taxa and their derivation from a common ancestral stock.
On the precursor of fragment radicals in the radiolysis of normal alkanes

It is found that the yields of fragment radicals produced in the radiolysis of n-hexane are not significantly affected by the changes in the ion recombination processes that occur when HI is added to the system. From this observation it is concluded that in the radiolysis of normal alkanes, carbon-carbon bond rupture results predominantly either from high energy processes that do not directly involve ionic precursors or, more likely, from the dissociation of the initial ions at very early times (<10-11s) before a substantial fraction of the geminate ions undergo neutralization.
The effect of latent heat on weakly non-linear morphological stability

Abstract During directional solidification of a dilute binary alloy, the release of latent heat plays an important role in the determination of the weakly non-linear morphological stability of the solid-liquid interface. The non-linear stability of an initial planar interface is examined by using a Stuart-Watson type of approach, according to which the planar interface is subject to a two-dimensional perturbation that is predicted to be marginally stable by linear theory but no longer has an infinitesimal amplitude. In previous work of this nature, the latent heat of fusion, which appears explicitly in the equation describing the local balance of energy across the solid-liquid interface, was neglected. Allowing for a finite latent heat results in positive values of the Landau coefficient, and hence two-dimensional bands of small stable amplitude, for a much enhanced range of growth conditions, especially at low solute concentrations. We also find that the magnitude of n , the ratio of the thermal conductivities of the solid and fluid, can either augment or diminish the latent heat effect. For values of n less than unity there are values of the distribution coefficient for which no regions of weakly non-linear instability exist, while n greater than unity always admits the possibility of weakly non-linear instability. In general, it appears that two-dimensional bands with small stable amplitudes are favoured by a steep thermal gradient in the solid relative to that in the liquid.
The transition from explosive to effusive eruptive regime: The example of the 1912 Novarupta eruption, Alaska

The shift from explosive to effusive silicic volcanism seen in many historical eruptions reflects a change in the style of degassing of erupted magma. This paper focuses on such a transition during the largest eruption of the twentieth century, the 1912 eruption of Novarupta. The transition is recorded in a dacite block bed, which covers an elliptical area of 4 km 2 around the vent. Approximately 700 studied blocks fall into four main lithologic categories: (1) pumiceous, (2) dense, (3) flow-banded dacites, and (4) welded breccias. Textural analyses of the blocks indicate portions of the melt underwent highly variable degrees of outgassing. Vesicle populations show features characteristic of bubble coalescence and collapse. A decrease in measured vesicularity and increased evidence for bubble collapse compared with pumice from earlier Plinian episodes mark the transition from closed- to open-system degassing. Block morphology and textures strongly suggest the magma was first erupted as a relatively gas-rich lava dome/plug, but incomplete out-gassing led to explosive disruption. Heterogeneous degassing of ascending magma began in Plinian Episode III and resulted in instability during Episode IV dome growth and a (series of) Vulcanian explosion(s). Modeling of the dynamics of explosion initiation and ejecta dispersal indicates that a significant concentration in gas is required to produce the explosions responsible for the observed block field dispersal. The amount of gas available in the hot pumiceous dome material appears to have been inadequate to drive the explosion(s); therefore, external water most likely contributed to the destruction.
Calcium ionophore A23187 as a secretagogue for rat mast cells: does it bypass inhibition by calcium flux blockers?

It is widely accepted that an increase in cytoplasmic calcium activity is a stimulus-secretion coupling event required to initiate secretion in mast cells and basophils. This study is concerned with the notion that inhibition of secretion by certain agents thought to be calcium influx inhibitors, including dibutyryl cyclic AMP (db-cAMP), quercetin, verapamil and ruthenium red can be ‘bypassed’ with the calcium-carrying ionophore A23187. The importance of the bypass concept lies in its implication that, in the absence of A23187, these agents inhibit secretion solely by impairing physiologic calcium gating.
Alternate control-structures and plant-model mismatch for fed-batch bioreactors

Optimal feedback control of a fed-batch bioreactor may be implemented by regulating the feed rate or the feed concentration and either may be used to optimize the same performance index. The latter approach, however, offers several advantages. In two bioreactors operating to maximize the instantaneous product formation rate, one with feed rate and the other with feed concentration control, the same amount of nutrients are fed to both fermenters. At the end of fermentation the fermenter with feed concentration control produces higher antibiotic concentration in a lesser volume than the other. The feed rate strategy, however, is more tolerant of the errors in the model than its counterpart. Such robustness is because of the complex volume effects which are absent with feed concentration (the feed rate is constant). The feed concentration strategy uses more information described in the model and hence is more sensitive to the errors. When the volume dependence is removed by implementing the control in the mass variable forms instead of the commonly used concentration forms, the feed concentration strategy becomes more robust and consequently less sensitive to the modeling errors. An ability to implement the feed concentration structure in either the mass or the concentration forms allows for a choice between sensitivity and robustness. Higher sensitivity would be desirable during system identification studies where parameters are estimated from data, whereas higher robustness would be preferred during plant operation.
Weak solutionsu(x, t) to parabolic partial differential equations with coefficients that depend uponu(yl, σ, (t, u(x, t))), 1 = 1, … k

The existence of weak solutionsu(x, t) to parabolic partial differential equations with coefficients that depend onu(yl, σl(t, u(x, t))), l = 1,… k, is demonstrated using a retardation of the time arguments in the coefficients along with regularity and compactness results for solutions of linear parabolic partial differential equations.
Biosolid and alum effects on runoff losses during turfgrass establishment.

Abstract Large, volume-based rates of composted biosolids (CB) enhance turfgrass establishment and soil properties, but nonpoint-source runoff losses could occur during production and after transplanting of sod. The objective was to evaluate runoff losses of N, P, sediment, and organic C during establishment of sprigs or transplanted sod of Tifway bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L. Pers. X C. transvaalensis Burtt-Davey) with and without CB and aluminum sulfate (Alum). Four treatments comprised Tifway sprigged in a sandy loam soil with and without incorporation of 0.25 m3 CB m−3 soil and Alum. In four additional treatments, sod transplanted from Tifway grown with and without CB was established with and without a surface spray of Alum. During early establishment, CB incorporated in soil before sprigging reduced runoff loss of sediment and total N to amounts comparable to transplanted sod. In contrast, mean runoff losses of total dissolved P and soluble-reactive P (SRP) were more than 50% greater for CB-amended sod than for fertilizer-grown sod or Tifway sprigged in soil with or without CB. Yet, the surface spray of Alum reduced runoff loss from sod more than 88% for SRP and 41% for dissolved organic C. Both surface sprays and incorporation of Alum effectively reduced SRP runoff loss from CB, soil, and turfgrass sources during turfgrass establishment.
Transgenerational effects of neonatal hypoxia‐ischemia in progeny

Neonatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI) affects 60% of low birth weight infants and up to 40% of preterm births. Cell death and brain injury after HI have been shown to cause long-lasting behavioral deficits. By using a battery of behavioral tests on second generation 3-week-old rodents, we found that neonatal HI is associated with behavioral outcomes in the progeny of HI-affected parents. Our results suggest an epigenetic transfer mechanism of some of the neurological symptoms associated with neonatal HI. Elucidating the transfer of brain injury to the next generation after HI calls attention to the risks associated with HI injury and the need for proper treatment to reverse these effects. Assessing the devastating extent of HI's reach serves as a cautionary tale to the risks associated with neonatal HI, and provides an incentive to create improved therapeutic measures to treat HI.