cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ground- and excited-state prototropic equilibria of some hydroxylated benzo(a)pyrenes

Abstract Fluorescence excitation and emission spectroscopy are used to determine the ground and excited-state acid dissociation constants for 3-OH- and 9-OH-benzo(a)pyrene as well as the 4,5-, 7,8-, and 9,10-dihydrodiol derivatives. These constants and spectral shifts arising from substituent placement are used to show that in the vicinity of the hydroxyl substituents there is a greater charge localization for 9-OH-benzo(a)pyrene than for 3-OH-benzo(a)pyrene in both ground and lowest excited singlet states, and that for 9,10-dihydrodiol there is greater charge localization than for 4,5- and 7,8-dihydrodiol in the ground state. These results are briefly correlated with the carcinogenic potential of benzo(a)pyrenes.
Peritonitis caused by rothia mucilaginosa in a peritoneal dialysis patient

Peritonitis is an important cause of morbidity in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis. Rothia mucilaginosa has been reported as an unusual cause of peritoneal dialysis associated peritonitis. Difficulty in the management of this microorganism lies in the absence of uniform recommendations for anti-microbial therapy directed against this pathogen. The current report describes the clinical course of an episode of peritoneal dialysis associated peritonitis caused by Rothia mucilaginosa. Treatment options for this organism are summarized.
Understanding The Interfacial Structure Of Aqueous Phospholipid Monolayer Films Via External Reflection FT-IR Spectroscopy.

Monolayer films of dimyristoyl-phosphatidic-acid (DMPA) at neutral and basic pH exhibit first-order phase transitions in their pressure-area curves. In situ external reflection FT-IR studies in the CH, stretching bands over this phase transition region exhibit a --6 cm-1 shift similar to that observed in previous studies of dipalmitoyl-phosphotidylcholine (DPPC)1. The acid form of DMPA at pH 3.0 does not exhibit the first order phase transition, but a ~1cm-1 frequency shift is observed in the liquid condensed phase and is also present in the neutral pH form. A solid-solid phase transition is proposed. Examination of the polar headgroup region (1300-960 cm-1)for acidic, neutral, and basic forms of DMPA give characteristic bands of each protonation state of PO3.
Lung cancer rate vs. mean radon level in U.S. counties of various characteristics.

Plots of lung cancer rates corrected for smoking prevalence vs. average home radon levels are presented for U.S. counties with a wide variety of socioeconomic characteristics. The data are generally well described by the same negative slope linear, plus positive slope quadratic, "standard" curve. Plots are presented for geographic regions and these are also reasonably well fit by the standard curve. The findings are not consistent with predictions based on a linear no-threshold model.
Positive Versus Negative Comparative Advertising

Two studies examined cognitive responses to comparative advertising that was valenced, i.e., was either negative or positive. Negative comparative advertising featured the advertised brand derogating the comparison brand (I'm OK, you're not OK). Positive comparative advertising claimed superiority over the comparison brand in a nonderogatory manner (You're OK, I'm more OK). Subjects were exposed to either a negative comparative ad or a positive comparative ad. In study 1, the ad featured either a high or low share advertised brand and either a high or low share comparison brand while in study 2, the ad featured advertised and comparison brands with either a strong or a weak reputation. Across both studies, it was found that negative comparative advertising evoked significantly higher counterargumentation and lower claim acceptance than its positive counterpart. Also, when the advertised brand had a high share relative to the comparison brand, counterargumentation was lower and claim acceptance was higher vis-a-vis when the advertised brand had a low share relative to the comparison brand. Findings pertaining to brand reputation were mixed. Managerial and future research implications of the findings are discussed.
A Screening Tool to Medically Clear Psychiatric Patients in the Emergency Department

Abstract Background: Emergency physicians are frequently called on to medically clear patients presenting with a psychiatric complaint. There is limited guidance on how to conduct this clearance. Objective: This study evaluated the usefulness of a screening tool in ruling out serious organic disease in emergency department (ED) patients with psychiatric complaints. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed on 500 consecutive adult ED patients with primarily psychiatric complaints who were evaluated using the tool, and then subsequently transferred to a psychiatric crisis center. The screening tool consists of a series of historical and physical examination criteria derived from the literature intended to identify patients who have a psychiatric manifestation of an organic disease. The physician filled out the screening form and if the proper conditions were met, the patient was transferred to Psychiatry without further laboratory or imaging studies. We reviewed the charts of both the ED visit and the psychiatric crisis center visit to determine if any of the patients required further medical treatment or a medical admission rather than a psychiatric admission. Results: Five hundred consecutive ED patient charts were reviewed. Fifteen of the corresponding charts from the psychiatric center could not be found. Of the remaining 485 patients, 6 patients were sent back to the ED for further evaluation. After laboratory work and imaging, none of these 6 patients required more than an outpatient prescription. Conclusion: The screening tool proved useful in determining if a psychiatric patient needed further medical evaluation beyond a history and physical examination before transfer for a psychiatric evaluation.
Effects of light on the orientation of the snail Physa pomillia in a weak magnetic field

1. The orientation of fresh-water snails (Physa pomillia) in a symmetrical magnetic field was studied from February to March and from September to October, 1965, during the hours 8:30 to 17:30. 2. The orientation of the snails was studied in an augmented magnetic field, 9 times that of the earth's field at Gainesville, Florida, with a bar magnet aligned parallel and at right angles to the earth's magnetic field. Control experiments were performed with the bar magnet removed from the apparatus. Possible effects of the magnetic field were tested under two different light conditions, using a window centered above the orientation platform, and one placed above and ahead of it. 3. Under the given experimental conditions the snails showed no significant right- or left-turning. 4. The time of year did not appear to affect the behavior of the snails in the arena. 5. Snails moving in the uniformly diffuse light from the centered window scattered over the whole range of the arena. Snails in the light gradient caused by the eccentric window oriented toward the point on the floor of the arena at which the light intensity was greatest (positive phototaxis). 6. Physa pomillia did not orient with respect to the direction and strength of the magnetic fields used.
Consistency proofs for applied mathematics

In 1948, Hans Reichenbach distributed a mimeographed set of notes, entitled Theory of Series and Godel’s Theorems’, to members of his advanced logic class at UCLA. A part of this material has been published for the first time (Reichenbach, 1948). This portion contains Reichenbach’s highly interesting and provocative discussion of the importance of consistency proofs for pure and applied mathematics.
Location and geometry of Alleghanian dispersal-related strike-slip faults in the southern Appalachians

The ductile parts of some terrane dispersal-related strike-slip faults may be exposed as Alleghanian shear zones in the southern Appalachian Piedmont. Mesoscopic structures in the Brevard fault zone, Central Piedmont suture, and Eastern Piedmont fault system all indicate dextral strike slip on moderately to steeply dipping shear zones. Seismic reflection profiles suggest that some of the shear zones flatten at depth and merge with subhorizontal detachments in the middle crust. I propose that the listric geometry of the Alleghanian structures reflects strike slip on resurrected subhorizontal detachments that were established in earlier Paleozoic collisions or in an earlier part of the Alleghanian orogeny.
Detection of extrasolar planets via a network of robotic imaging telescopes

ABSTRACT A network of three longitudinally-spaced robotic imaging telescopes is described. So far planets have been found only around bright stars (m <-' 1O). Employment of thenetwork and the photometric method for the detection of extrasolar planets will lead to the discovery of planets around stars of much fainter magnitudes (m <' 19m). Keywords: extrasolar planets , photometry, transit method, photometric method, photometric precision,telescope network 1 Introduction Since ancient times the question of whether there is extraterrestrial intelligent life has been one of the mostprofound questions of philosophy, religion, and science. This question is at the forefront of public interest asexemplified in the possible discovery of ancient microbial life in a Martian meteorite. The prerequisite for theexistence of extraterrestrial intelligent life is the existence of habitable worlds, that is, extrasolar planets andsatellites.In the past few decades, significant advances have been made in our understanding of how stars and planetarysystems are formed. In the last few years both extrasolar planets and brown dwarfs, whose masses are between
Origin of surface states on Si(111)(7×7)

First-principles pseudopotential total-energy and electronic-structure calculations are reported for two Si(111)(\ensuremath{\surd}3 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} \ensuremath{\surd}3 ):Si adatom geometries. Based on these calculations, a theory of the electronic structure of Si(111)(7\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}7) is formulated, and the binding energy of Si adatoms on Si(111) is determined.
Velocity Vector Determination from Multiple-Sensor Pneumatic Probe Measurements

Theme D data for compressors are often derived from measurements made with multiple-sensor pneumatic probes. Although it is generally admitted that the presence of a probe alters the flow to some extent, few attempts have been made to evaluate and to correct probe readings for the interference that they produce. The goal of the present work was to measure the velocity distribution between blade rows of a small transonic compressor (11-in. o.d. and 2-in. blade height), operating subsonically. Different probes were used in the compressor annulus and were also applied to measure uniform temperature flows in pipes, free jets, and annular ducts. A useful method for representing probe characteristics and correcting for the presence of flow boundaries was devised. The probe calibration away from boundaries was represented by two interrelated polynomials for the pitch angle and velocity magnitude. In application, the probepressure measurements were reduced, using a computer offline and distribution of temperature (measured separately) to velocity magnitude and pitch angle. The departure of probe measurements near a flow boundary was then treated as being a self-induced flow effect. The effect was examined in known flows and represented analytically. The analytic representation of the calibration and of the corrections allowed a routine reduction of probe data from compressor surveys. The method can be applied generally to probes having four or five sensors for the measurement of pitch angle, yaw angle, and velocity magnitude. The measurements made with different probes near to flow boundaries showed that errors could be surprisingly large or very small depending on particular design features. A new probe which also incorporated a temperature sensor was designed and used successfully to transonic Mach numbers.
Microscopic superconducting parameters from tunneling in A15 Nb-Sn

High-quality tunnel junctions have been fabricated on thin films of $A15$ Nb-Sn (20-25 at.%) using oxidized $a$-Si tunnel barriers and Pb counterelectrodes. These junctions have been used to measure changes in the gap, the transition temperature ${T}_{c}$, and the tunneling density of states with composition in this important high-${T}_{c}$ superconductor. With the use of the proximity-effect-modified data reduction scheme developed by Arnold and Wolf, values for ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}^{2}F(\ensuremath{\omega})$ and ${\ensuremath{\mu}}^{*}$ are obtained. As the Sn content approaches stoichiometry, the lowest-energy phonon branch in ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}^{2}F(\ensuremath{\omega})$ both increases in weight and shifts to lower energy. These two effects combine to produce the increases in $\ensuremath{\lambda}$ as stoichiometry is approached, and at the same time can account for the observed increase in $\frac{2\ensuremath{\Delta}}{{k}_{B}{T}_{c}}$. The values of ${\ensuremath{\mu}}^{*}$ remain essentially constant as a function of composition, and hence show no evidence for an increased Coulomb interaction with increasing disorder as recently proposed by Anderson et al.
Three-dimensional gauging with stereo computer vision

Three-dimensional gaging involves the measurement and mapping of 3-D surfaces. Gaging accuracy depends on measurement accuracy in the images, image scale, and stereo geometry. Multiple cameras are often needed to provide adequate stereoscopic coverage of the object. This paper reports on an automatic 3-D gaging system that is being developed at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. A portable 3-D target field, consisting of 198 targets each identified with a bar code, is used to determine the interior and exterior orientation parameters of each camera. Image-processing algorithms have been developed to identify conjugate image points in stereo pair of images, and the object-space coordinates of these points are computed by stereo intersection. Software has also been developed for analysis and data editing.
Henoch-Schönlein purpura with intracerebral hemorrhage: case report.

We report the case of a 5-year-old patient with Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) who had a large intracerebral hematoma (ICH) in the left parietal area. HSP complicated by ICH is rare, with only three cases reported in the literature. Conservative treatment with steroid therapy in this patient was successful and no further major neurologic sequelae occured.
Factors of trees

Abstract Two criteria for a tree to have an f-factor and (g,f)-factors are presented, respectively. They simplify, respectively, Tutte's condition for a graph to have f-factors and Lovasz's condition for a graph to have (g,f)-factors. An O(|V(T)|) algorithm and an O(|V(T)|2) algorithm for f-factor and (g,f)-factor problems for trees are given, respectively.
Prognostic implications of age in breast cancer patients treated with tumorectomy and irradiation or with mastectomy.

Abstract Conservation breast treatment is of particular interest to young women, but whether saving the breast carries a penalty in shorter survival or local-regional recurrent disease has not been well-established. At The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute at Houston, 1161 patients treated prior to 1983 with Stage I or II breast cancer were reviewed. Of these patients, 378 were treated with tumorectomy plus irradiation, and 783 were treated with radical or modified radical mastectomy. The two patient groups were compared relative to local-regional disease recurrence and overall and disease-free survivals. Local recurrences in the breast appear to be more frequent in patients ≤35 years of age treated with tumorectomy and irradiation than in patients older than 35 years, but in patients aged ≤50 or >50 or ≤35 or >35 years, there was no significant statistical difference between tumorectomy and irradiation or mastectomy nor was there a difference in disease-free survival. Overall survival rates favored patients treated by tumorectomy and irradiation.
Integration of business function models into an aggregate enterprise systems model

Introduced are methods that combine models of distinct business functions into an aggregate model of an enterprise system to assist management’s strategic decision making. Models of individual business functions are reviewed, and equations quantifying relationships presented. Using methods of system theory, including block diagrams, non-dimensionalization, and state equation methods, these business function sub-models were assembled into a composite enterprise systems model. The formulated aggregate model is illustrated with industry examples for tire companies; nonetheless the aggregate model can be used to assess other industries. Values of parameters for the system model were determined from data obtained from annual reports of publicly owned companies. Simulations closely matched the companies’ published performance over ensuing years. The developed aggregate enterprise model has significant predictive capabilities for modern corporations.
Basolateral targeting and microtubule-dependent transcytosis of the aquaporin-2 water channel

The aquaporin-2 (AQP2) water channel relocates mainly to the apical plasma membrane of collecting duct principal cells after vasopressin (VP) stimulation. AQP2 transport to this membrane domain is assumed to be a direct route involving recycling of intracellular vesicles. However, basolateral plasma membrane expression of AQP2 is observed in vivo in principal cells. Here, we asked whether there is a transcytotic pathway of AQP2 trafficking between apical and basolateral membranes. We used MDCK cells in which AQP2 normally accumulates apically after VP exposure. In contrast, both site-specific biotinylation and immunofluorescence showed that AQP2 is strongly accumulated in the basolateral membrane, along with the endocytic protein clathrin, after a brief cold shock (4°C). This suggests that AQP2 may be constitutively targeted to basolateral membranes and then retrieved by clathrin-mediated endocytosis at physiological temperatures. Rab11 does not accumulate in basolateral membranes after cold shock, suggesting that the AQP2 in this location is not associated with Rab11-positive vesicles. After rewarming (37°C), basolateral AQP2 staining is diminished and it subsequently accumulates at the apical membrane in the presence of VP/forskolin, suggesting that transcytosis can be followed by apical insertion of AQP2. This process is inhibited by treatment with colchicine. Our data suggest that the cold shock procedure reveals the presence of microtubule-dependent AQP2 transcytosis, which represents an indirect pathway of apical AQP2 delivery in these cells. Furthermore, our data indicate that protein polarity data obtained from biotinylation assays, which require cells to be cooled to 4°C during the labeling procedure, should be interpreted with caution.
Divergence of biological and chronological aging: Evidence from rodent studies

Literature on aging populations of rodents supports the intuitive view that significant functional variation exists among like-aged, elderly individuals: chronological age as a solitary measure is a poor indicator of biological age. In this report, we review a variety of studies which classify aged rodents based on genetic and/or behavioral similarities, in addition to chronological age, and have provided valuable neurobiological and physiological information on age-related changes which accompany functional impairments, or the lack of them. Beyond their descriptive value for gerontological research, these findings suggest ways in which biological aging can be manipulated to promote good function in aged individuals.
‘Smart’ Defense From New Threats: Future War From a Russian Perspective: Back to the Future After the War on Terror

In 2012 Vladimir Putin pledged that Russia would over the next decade invest in a smart defense, embracing new technologies to modernize its conventional forces and its strategic nuclear arsenal to ensure strategic stability in Eurasia. At the core of the demands for Russian military modernization is a very pessimistic appraisal of the current capabilities of Russia’s conventional forces and the future deterrence power of its strategic nuclear forces in the face of emergence US ballistic missile defenses and global precision-strike conventional systems. Driving the Russia’s notion of future war is threat environment that is complex and raises risks of local crises leading to foreign military intervention. These threats include a persistent terrorism within its own territories and Central Asia, an ideological fear of psychological subversion from the “color revolutions” of the last decade, the geopolitical threat of NATO expansion into Post-Soviet territory, and the stated fear that US military modernizati...
Alfven Wave Reflection model of field-aligned currents at Mercury

An Alfven Wave Reflection (AWR) model is proposed that provides closure for strong field-aligned currents (FACs) driven by the magnetopause reconnection in the magnetospheres of planets having no significant ionospheric and surface electrical conductance. The model is based on properties of the Alfven waves, generated at high altitudes and reflected from the low-conductivity surface of the planet. When magnetospheric convection is very slow, the incident and reflected Alfven waves propagate along approximately the same path. In this case, the net field-aligned currents will be small. However, as the convection speed increases. the reflected wave is displaced relatively to the incident wave so that the incident and reflected waves no longer compensate each other. In this case, the net field-aligned current may be large despite the lack of significant ionospheric and surface conductivity. Our estimate shows that for typical solar wind conditions at Mercury, the magnitude of Region 1-type FACs in Mercury's magnetosphere may reach hundreds of kilo-Amperes. This AWR model of field-aligned currents may provide a solution to the long-standing problem of the closure of FACs in the Mercury's magnetosphere. c2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty for tricuspid stenosis: hemodynamic and pathological findings.

L'insuffisance tricuspidienne apres cette technique a necessite la mise en place d'une prothese
World-Wide Distribution of Natural Radiocarbon

The natural radiocarbon content of biological materials collected from locations widely scattered over the earth's surface have shown no evidence of the latitudinal variation which would be expected were the turnover time for the biosphere comparable with the mean life of radiocarbon. The strong dependence of the intensity of the cosmic-ray neutrons, which produce the natural radiocarbon, on latitude would be expected to cause this effect. Since it is expected, however, on geochemical evidence that the turnover time for the biosphere would be very short compared to the mean life of radiocarbon, the observed uniformity is not surprising.
A fluvial record of active fault‐propagation folding, Salsomaggiore anticline, northern Apennines, Italy

[1] Fault-propagation folds offer the potential to relate folding to underlying fault propagation and slip provided that fold kinematics can be established. Fluvial terraces have been recognized as kinematic indicators, but precise relationships between surface uplift and various folding mechanisms remain largely unexplored. This study takes advantage of a well-preserved, progressively deformed suite of middle Pleistocene to Recent fluvial terraces above a growing fault-propagation fold at the Apennine mountain front, northern Italy, to constrain the recent fold kinematics and place them in the context of a longer growth history gleaned from older growth strata. The geometry of straths and overlying terrace deposits defines a fixed anticlinal hinge, a rolling synclinal hinge, proxies for fault tip propagation rates, rock uplift rates, and tilting rates, and how these features and rates vary over the last ∼800 ka along ∼15 km of strike length. Field studies are augmented with DEM-based quantitative geomorphic analyses that document catchment hypsometry, mean anticlinal hinge elevation, and long profile form. Notably, long-term rock uplift rates (using incision as a proxy) are uniformly correlated with fault propagation and associated synclinal hinge migration, mean anticlinal hinge elevation and variations in catchment hypsometries. Channels that cross the forelimb at a high angle to the fold hinge generally have higher concavities, but channel steepness, commonly thought to reflect rock uplift, is more strongly adjusted to rock type. This study elucidates a new understanding of a complex fold growth history extending back at least 10 Ma and provides a novel demonstration of how fluvial terraces may be utilized to constrain fault-related fold kinematics.
News programs: Designing MSNBC.com’s online interfaces

In this essay, I use Law’s framework of heterogeneous engineering in tandem with insights from other sociologists of systems and scholarship on organizations, as a springboard to examine a number o...
Contribution to the modified z-transform theory

Abstract In this discussion, a useful theorem applied to the modified z -transform (1,2) 2 is introduced and verified. This theorem is fairly general and covers a few special cases that found many applications in the study of pulsed-systems. These mentioned cases are discussed extensively and documented with examples and a short table in the Appendix. Various other cases of the theorem and its extension are pointed out in this paper.
FEASIBILITY OF PRODUCING DISPERSION-STRENGTHENED CHROMIUM BY BALL-MILLING IN HYDROGEN HALIDES*

Chromium, with and without 4 vol.-% thoria, and nickel powders were ground to fine powder sizes by ball-milling in gaseous hydrogen halides. After reducing the milled chromium in flowing hydrogen under pulsating pressure at ∼680°C, submicron-size powders with 4–500 ppm residual halogens were obtained. The compacted chromium–thoria alloys had interparticle spacings ranging from 2·1 to 6·5 μm. After 100 h at 1318°C the interparticle spacing of the 2·1-μm alloy increased to 5·2 μm. Submicron-size chromium and nickel powders were also obtained by pulsating hydrogen reduction of their chlorides.
Spatial Organization of Transcription Elongation Complex in Escherichia coli

During RNA synthesis in the ternary elongation complex, RNA polymerase enzyme holds nucleic acids in three contiguous sites: the double-stranded DNA-binding site (DBS) ahead of the transcription bubble, the RNA-DNA heteroduplex-binding site (HBS), and the RNA-binding site (RBS) upstream of HBS. Photochemical cross-linking allowed mapping of the DNA and RNA contacts to specific positions on the amino acid sequence. Unexpectedly, the same protein regions were found to participate in both DBS and RBS. Thus, DNA entry and RNA exit occur close together in the RNA polymerase molecule, suggesting that the three sites constitute a single unit. The results explain how RNA in the integrated unit RBS-HBS-DBS may stabilize the ternary complex, whereas a hairpin in RNA result in its dissociation.
Harbor maintenance trust fund

The status and the performance of the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF) are evaluated. The harbor maintenance tax (HMT) and HMTF were established by Title XIV of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986. The HMT is applied as a 0.125% ad valorem fee on the value of commercial cargo loaded or unloaded on vessels using federally maintained harbor projects. The HMTF is authorized to be used to recover 100% of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers eligible operation and maintenance (OM as a result, the U.S. Customs Service halted HMT collections on U.S. exports in fiscal year 1998. However, the revenue stream from HMT collections on imports, domestic shipments, passengers, foreign trade zone cargo, and interest earnings should be sufficient to recover eligible expenditures for the foreseeable future.
Idealism and Pragmatism: “Transcendent” Validity Claims in Habermas’s Democratic Theory

In her recent article “Realism and Idealism: Was Habermas’s Communicative Turn a Move in the Wrong Direction?” Maeve Cooke examines the evolution of Jurgen Habermas’s thought over the past five decades. According to Cooke, Habermas’s so-called “communicative turn” was a necessary step in his philosophy’s systematic attempt to derive a universal norm from the immanent context of human practices and institutions. In her opinion, however, Habermas is unable to uphold his pragmatically-based claim to “transcendence from within” without encountering problems of epistemic justification when it comes to his theory’s treatment of normative validity claims. Cooke believes that despite Habermas’ exhaustive efforts, any political theory that discredits the possibility of metaphysical truth inevitably relinquishes the “context-transcending moment” that his idea of validity is meant to capture. In this essay, I examine how Habermasian philosophy attempts to assimilate such criticisms by deriving its normative ideals from the Theory of Communicative Action. In conclusion, I seek to characterize the dilemma thusly: the epistemic criticism raised by Cooke places her in the unenviable position of defending metaphysically-justified validity claims—a pitfall that Habermas’ theory is designed to avoid.
Plant lampbrush chromosomes.

Abstract Loop processes similar to those previously described on lampbrush chromosomes occur on some regions of diplotene chromosomes of Allium cernuum , the nodding onion. Some strands also appear to connect chromosome arms. The loops disappear by diakinesis, but connecting strands sometimes persist. The difference between lampbrush diplotenes and the normally fuzzy non-lampbrush diplotenes may be interpreted as one only of degree of expression of the same phenomenon.
THE CONSULTANT'S CORNER: "Music Therapy in the Special Education Setting"

(2000). THE CONSULTANT'S CORNER: 'Music Therapy in the Special Education Setting' Journal of Educational and Psychological Consultation: Vol. 11, No. 3-4, pp. 379-391.
Flame synthesis of hybrid nanowires with carbon shells and tungsten-oxide cores

Abstract We report the flame synthesis of hybrid nanowires composed of tungsten-oxide cores covered with uniform carbon shells. The synthesis is performed using 1-mm diameter tungsten probes inserted in an opposed-flow methane oxy-flame. The unique thermal and chemical composition of the generated flame tends to convert pure (99.9%) bulk tungsten into 1-D structures of unique morphology. The physical characteristics of the nanowires grown on the 1-mm diameter tungsten probe include lengths of up to 50 μm and diameters ranging from 20 to 50 nm. A two step hybrid nanowire synthesis mechanism is proposed. The initial step forms tungsten-oxide nanorods in the oxygen-rich flame region. The second step involves rapid formation of carbon shells from hydrocarbons transferred from the carbon-rich zone of the flame during the probe removal.
On the solution of an eigenvalue equation of the Wiener-Hopf type in finite and infinite ranges

The purpose of the paper is to present a formulation of the eigenvalue matrix equation of the Wiener-Hopf integral equation defined in finite and infinite ranges. The method provides a simple means for obtaining the eigenvalue equation and indicates a way for obtaining the eigenfunctions and the eigenvalue. The important contribution of the paper is the direct rather than the transform method of solution. Such a formulation is also helpful in the solution of inhomogeneous Wiener-Hopf equations in finite and infinite ranges.
A comparison of perceived injection pain with and without anesthetic between elderly and young female subjects.

Several reports have indicated that the perception toward pain declines with age. However, since pain thresholds have been reported to be lower in females than in males, studies to detect pain perception may be more sensitive in females. In dental care, the injection of local anesthetics with a needle is used to abrogate subsequent pain from treatment. However, the anomaly of using one potentially painful procedure to prevent subsequent pain often hinders patients from seeking dental care. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the perception of pain from needle-sticks with and without anesthetic between young and elderly female subjects. We compared the perception of pain stimulated by needle-sticks without (NS) and with (NS-I) 0.3 mL of local anesthetic injected into the oral mucosal tissues of a group of 20 young females (aged 19–24 yrs) and a group of 18 elderly females (aged 70–75 yrs). A Verbal Pain Scale (VPS; descriptors assigned, 0–4) and a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS; 0–10 cm) were used to measure pain intensity. Statistical analyses by AN OVA and Fisher's Exact Test were used where appropriate. The VPS and VAS scores for perception of pain in elderly females were lower than the scores from the younger subjects. No differences between Ns and Ns-I in either age group were found. Study limitations included potential periodic hormonal imbalances in both groups of females as well as untested diminished cognitive function in elderly subjects. However, we conclude, with the noted cautions, that pain perception between the two groups was not significantly different.
Recent Advances in X-Ray Optics

Recent developments in x-ray optics are reviewed. Specific advances in coded aperture imaging, zone plate lens fabrication, time- and space-resolved spectroscopy, and CCD x-ray detection are discussed.
High ductilities in physically vapor-deposited nickel

Abstract Two thick films of physically vapor-deposited Ni were prepared on either side of the Movchan-Demchishin T1 transition temperature. Both deposits were fine grained and columnar, but the lower temperature deposit contained a fine dispersion of pores. During high temperature deformation, the fully dense deposit behaved erratically owing to abnormal grain growth. The porous deposit transformed to a microstructure consisting of fine equiaxed grains interspersed with voids. This transformed structure deforms by grain boundary sliding. The measured activation energy is 116 kJ mol−1 corresponding to grain boundary self-diffusion. The creep stress exponent is found to be 3, and the grain size exponent is -1. This porous physically vapor-deposited Ni attains steady state elongations that are far superior to those of conventionally processed or larger-grained Ni.
Cut me some security

Computer security is currently fraught with fine-grained access control policies, in operating systems, applications and even programming languages. All this policy configuration means that too many decisions are left to administrators, developers and even users to some extent and as a result we do not get any comprehensive security guarantees. In this position paper, we take a stand for the idea that less policy is better and propose that limiting the choices given to parties along the development and deployment process leads to a more secure system. We argue that other systems processes like scheduling and memory management achieve their goals with minimal user input and access control configuration should also follow suit. We then suggest a technique to automate access control configuration using graph-cuts and show that this gets us closer to achieving our goal.
Protective and exacerbating factors in children and adolescents with fibromyalgia.

OBJECTIVE To investigate protective and exacerbating factors in the adjustment of youth with juvenile primary fibromyalgia syndrome (JPFS), we examined the relationship of stress, coping strategies, social support, and self-efficacy to quality of life, pain, and depression. METHOD Participants were 57 youths (ages 10 to 18 years) and their parents from rheumatology clinics at 2 children's hospitals. The youths self-reported daily hassles, coping strategies, social support, self-efficacy, quality of life, pain, and depression. Parents reported on the youths' major life events and quality of life. RESULTS In regression analyses, daily hassles, catastrophizing (a coping strategies scale), and self-efficacy predicted child-rated quality of life; self-efficacy predicted pain; and daily hassles predicted depression. Self-efficacy and familial social support moderated the relationship between daily hassles and depression. CONCLUSIONS Daily hassles may be associated with health outcomes for youth with JPFS more than major life events are, and catastrophic thinking and self-efficacy beliefs could be appropriate intervention targets.
Analysis of cycle stealing with switching times and thresholds

We consider two processors, each serving its own M/GI/1 queue, where one of the processors (the ''donor'') can help the other processor (the ''beneficiary'') with its jobs, during times when the donor processor is idle. That is the beneficiary processor ''steals idle cycles'' from the donor processor. There is a switching time required for the donor processor to start working on the beneficiary jobs, as well as a switching back time. We also allow for threshold constraints on both the beneficiary and donor sides, whereby the decision to help is based not only on idleness but also on satisfying threshold criteria in the number of jobs. We analyze the mean response time for the donor and beneficiary processors. Our analysis is approximate, but can be made as accurate as desired, and is validated via simulation. Results of the analysis illuminate principles on the general benefits of cycle stealing and the design of cycle stealing policies.
RPGR-containing protein complexes in syndromic and non-syndromic retinal degeneration due to ciliary dysfunction

Dysfunction of primary cilia due to mutations in cilia-centrosomal proteins is associated with pleiotropic disorders. The primary (or sensory) cilium of photoreceptors mediates polarized trafficking of proteins for efficient phototransduction. Retinitis pigmentosa GTPase regulator (RPGR) is a cilia-centrosomal protein mutated in >70% of X-linked RP cases and 10%-20% of simplex RP males. Accumulating evidence indicates that RPGR may facilitate the orchestration of multiple ciliary protein complexes. Disruption of these complexes due to mutations in component proteins is an underlying cause of associated photoreceptor degeneration. Here, we highlight the recent developments in understanding the mechanism of cilia-dependent photoreceptor degeneration due to mutations in RPGR and PGR-interacting proteins in severe genetic diseases, including retinitis pigmentosa, Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA), Joubert syndrome, and Senior-Loken syndrome, and explore the physiological relevance of photoreceptor ciliary protein complexes.
Extinction and expression of the ribose-positive phenotype in hybrid Novikoff hepatoma cells

Expression of the ribose-positive phenotype was examined in hybrids obtained from the fusion of parental pentose-negative Novikoff hepatoma cells and ribose-positive variants. The two ribose-positive variants used differed phenotypically in their ability to use pentoses other than ribose for growth. One variant used D-ribose, D-xylose, and L-arabinose for growth, while the other variant used only D-ribose. Each variant was fused to pentose-negative parental hepatoma cells, and resultant hybrids were tested for the ability to use ribose. In both instances extinction of ribose utilization was the primary event, suggesting the existence of a trans-acting negative control element in the parental cells. In addition, hybrids from both fusion experiments eventually reexpressed the ribose phenotype. The rate of reexpression, however, was different for the two fusion experiments. Reexpression of ribose utilization in hybrids derived from the nonspecific variant occurred at approximately 10(-3) segregants/cell/day. Reexpressing segregants arose from the specific-derived hybrids at a rate of 0.5 segregants/cell/day. Possible reasons for this difference include a differential rate in chromosomal segregation or a difference in the regulation of ribose metabolism.
The Role of Cyclic Nucleotides in Pituitary Lactotroph Functions

Lactotrophs are one of the five secretory anterior pituitary cell types specialized to synthesize and release prolactin. In vitro, these cells fire action potentials spontaneously and the accompanied Ca2+ transients are of sufficient amplitude to keep the exocytotic pathway, the transcription of prolactin gene, and de novo hormone synthesis continuously active. Basal cyclic nucleotide production is also substantial in cultured cells but not critical for the action potential secretion/transcription coupling in lactotrophs. However, elevated intracellular cAMP levels enhance the excitability of lactotrophs by stimulating the depolarizing non-selective cationic HCN and background channels, whereas cGMP inhibits it by activating Ca2+-controlled K+ channels. Elevated cAMP also modulates prolactin release downstream of Ca2+ influx by changing the kinetic of secretory pores: stimulate at low and inhibit at high concentrations. Induction of prolactin gene and lactotroph proliferation is also stimulated by elevated cAMP through protein kinase A. Together these observations suggest that in lactotrophs cAMP exhibits complex regulatory effects on voltage-gated Ca2+ influx and Ca2+-dependent cellular processes.
An optimizing compiler for FP*-a data-parallel dialect of FP

The authors present an overview of a compiler for the functional language FP* that generates programs suitable for execution on massively parallel architectures. Data-parallel programs are naturally expressed using FP* functionals, which map efficiently onto massively parallel architectures. However, the creation of large and unnecessary intermediate results is a general source of inefficiencies in functional programs. The FP* compiler uses an optimization technique that significantly reduces such unnecessary copying of data structures, thereby minimizing inter-processor communication in massively parallel computers. The technique uses a set of axioms and inference rules to formally analyze FP* programs. The compiler is specified by a formal compilation scheme which produces efficient data-parallel programs. >
A prospective evaluation of novel methods to intraoperatively distinguish parathyroid tissue utilizing a parathyroid hormone assay.

Background Frozen section analysis has traditionally been used to confirm the identity of parathyroid tissue intraoperatively; however, it is time-consuming and costly and requires the excision of a significant portion of tissue. An intraoperative biopsy and analysis with a parathyroid hormone (PTH) assay is a possible alternative; however, this technique has not been perfected. Methods Two hundred twenty-three tissue specimens were collected prospectively from patients undergoing neck exploration. Each specimen was sampled intraoperatively using three different biopsy techniques: a fine-needle aspiration (FNA) with 10 passes of a needle (FNA10), a FNA with 20 passes of a needle (FNA20), and a tissue biopsy of approximately 1.0 mm 3 (BIOPSY). The PTH concentration of each sample was determined via the Elecsys® 1010 PTH immunoassay. The final tissue diagnosis was determined by histology or operative data. Results Parathyroid samples from all techniques had higher median PTH concentrations than nonparathyroid samples. However, the accuracies for the detection of parathyroid tissue varied markedly (PTH cutoff of 1000 pg/ml): the accuracies of the FNA10 and FNA20 were 71 and 80%, respectively, while the BIOPSY was 99% accurate. Conclusions This is the first prospective study evaluating multiple methods to diagnose parathyroid tissue intraoperatively using a rapid PTH assay. We conclusively show that the BIOPSY technique is 99% accurate for the diagnosis of parathyroid tissue, and therefore, should be the method of choice when the intraoperative confirmation of parathyroid tissue is needed.
Electronic states and stability of GeC2N radical

Abstract Electronic states of the GeC 2 N radical are explored at various theoretical levels including complete active space multi-configuration self-consistent field followed by complete active space perturbation computations. Ten minimal energy isomers and 10 interconversion transition states are found. The thermodynamically most stable isomer is a linear form GeCCN 1 which is qualitatively described as a resonance hybrid of ∣Ge C C N∣, ∣Ge C -C N∣, and ∣Ge C C N∣ forms, with the second one contributing to a greater extent suggestive of a radical adduct between Ge C and C N. The second low-lying linear isomer GeCNC 2 (21.9 kcal/mol) has resonating structures ∣Ge C -N C∣, ∣Ge C N C∣, and ∣Ge C N–C∣ .
An orthogonal approach to distribution: An introduction to the Vitruvian framework

Distributed systems are becoming more prevalent as the demand for connectivity increases. Developers are faced with the challenge of creating software systems that meet these demands, while still trying to achieve basic quality goals such as good modularization, performance, and maintainability. The challenge is even greater when requirements for distribution are introduced late in the development cycle. This paper introduces a development framework, called Vitruvian, that allows programmers to create software systems with class hierarchies that are close to the problem domain and independent of distribution decisions. Then at any point in the development cycle, developers can declare what is distributed, at virtually any level of granularity from high-level objects down to individual attributes. To minimize impact on the development life cycle, Vitruvian supports access and location transparency, plus a wide range of replication strategies.
Transmission of H.263 video over wireless channels

The effects of digital transmission errors on H.263 codecs are analyzed and the transmission of H.263 coded video over a TDMA radio link is investigated. Numerical results for the channel SNR required for providing acceptable video quality under various channel coding and interleaving strategies are presented. Fading on radio channels causes significant transmission errors and H.263 coded bit streams are very vulnerable to errors. Therefore, powerful forward error correction (FEC) codes are necessary to protect the data so that it can be successfully transmitted at acceptable signal power levels. However, FEC imposes a high bandwidth overhead. In order to make best use of the available channel bandwidth and to alleviate the overall impact of errors on the video sequence, a two-layer source coding and unequal error protection scheme based on H.263 is also studied. The scheme can tolerate more transmission errors and leads to more graceful degradation in quality when the channel SNR decreases. In lossy environments, it yields better video quality at no extra bandwidth cost.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.