cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sedimentary Facies Patterns and Geologic History of a Holocene Marine Transgression

Studies of Holocene sediments in coastal Delaware show complex sediment distribution patterns resulting from lateral and vertical movement of successive environments of deposition over a Pleistocene unconformity. These sediments are infilling a drowned topography with a local relief of 70 ft and possibly up to 125 ft eroded on highly variable Pleistocene sediments. Identification of the Pleistocene surface remains a problem. However, it may be recognizable at the unconformity as a soil zone or intermixture of firm marsh clay-silts with Pleistocene sands, as well as on the basis of radiocarbon dates. Larger depositional features forming around eroding Pleistocene headlands and infilling the estuaries include characteristic shoreline environments, such as spits, dunes, baymouth barriers, an intermeshing network of tidal deltas, nearshore marine erosional-depositional sands and gravels, and lagoons or estuaries with fringing Spartina, Distichlis, and Phragmites marshes, which form the westernmost edge of the transgressive units. The thickness and areal extent of the sedimentary bodies are to a large degree controlled by the morphology of the Pleistocene unconformity. A large portion of the Holocene sedimentary units is being eroded by the transgressing Atlantic Ocean. Cores of sediment under the shallow lagoons, such as Rehoboth, Indian River, and Assawoman Bays, and in the fringing marsh environment, show that the depositional units are thin, highly irregular in areal extent, extremely variable in thickness, and difficult to project. Sedimentary processes active in the shallow bays include shoreline marsh erosion and the formation of thin, possibly ephemeral, beach-dune washover complexes consisting of clean, well-sorted sand, with typical beach and washover sedimentary structures. These wash-over beaches are an anomaly completely surrounded by Spartina marshes on the landward side and extremely muddy sands grading into dark gray lagoonal muds on the bay side. It appears that distinctive sedimentary structures and sediment size-sorting relationships, such as those that characterize the larger, more common sedimentary units of the coastal area, may be formed in miniature at the very thin edge of transgression and may lead to considerable confusion in the interpretation of sediments of this type in the geologic record.
Current Density versus Potential Characteristics of Dye-Sensitized Nanostructured Semiconductor Photoelectrodes. 2. Simulations

The impact of changes in various parameters on the steady-state current density−potential (J−E) characteristics of dye-sensitized nanostructured semiconductor photoelectrodes has been evaluated through a series of simulations. The model parameters can be divided into three classes, designated as type I, type II, and type III, respectively. Type I parameters primarily affect the open-circuit potential without changing the overall shape of the J−E curves. Type II parameters primarily affect the limiting quantum yield for photocurrent production. Rate constants for injection and quenching of the excited state of the dye by the contacting phase are type II parameters, whereas the rate constant for the direct electrolyte reduction reaction, the reduced equilibrium constant for iodine formation, and the rate constant for recombination are type I parameters. The rate constant for regeneration affects both the shape of the J−E curves and the limiting quantum yield for photocurrent flow, and it is therefore designated as a type III parameter. Variation of the diffusion coefficient parameter for electrons in the semiconducting membrane produces a mixed response having both type I and II characteristics. Comparisons between simulations and experimental data have delineated the factors that should be manipulated to increase the energy conversion efficiency of photoelectrochemical cells that utilize nanostructured TiO_2 electrodes.
Analytical methods in the theory of psychophysical discrimination II: The Near-miss to Weber's Law, Falmagne's Law, the Psychophysical Power Law and the Law of Similarity☆

Abstract We examine the possibility of accounting for an empirical phenomenon in auditory psychophysics called the “Near-Miss to Weber's Law” [Jesteadt, W., Weir, C., & Green, D. (1977). Intensity discrimination as a function of frequency and sensation level. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America , A , 61 , 169–177], within the framework of Fechner's Psychophysics. To this end, we introduce a pair of Psychophysical Laws governing the behavior of Weber sensitivities. One of these, the Power Law, embodies ideas that Jesteadt et al. introduced in their original discussion of the near-miss phenomenon. Falmagne's Law captures ideas of Falmagne and colleagues [Falmagne, J.-Cl. (1985). Elements of psychophysical theory . New York: Oxford University Press; Doble, C., Falmagne, J.-Cl., & Berg, B.G. (2003). Theoretical note: Recasting (the near-miss to) Weber's Law. Psychological Review , 110 , 365–375]. These two laws, which account for the near-miss phenomenon in quite different ways, are shown to be special cases of a more general Psychophysical Law of Similarity. We find all (smooth) solutions of this Law of Similarity that are compatible with Fechnerian psychophysics. Of the 11 solutions, four are relevant to the near-miss phenomenon; two of these solutions reproduce the models of Jesteadt et al. and Doble et al. and the other two solutions each provide a new accounting of the near-miss phenomenon. We discuss the possibility of distinguishing among these four models in empirical data.
Crossing borders, crossing cultures: Barriers to communication about cancer prevention and treatment along the U.S./Mexico border

Abstract Objective To describe cultural barriers to cancer prevention and treatment efforts among Latinos living along the U.S./Mexico border. Methods In-depth interviews with 8 Mexican immigrants who are residents of a Texas colonia were conducted to understand the roles of culture and poverty in their experiences with cancer. Questions were asked about participants' cancer experiences, religiosity, medical establishment barriers, and cultural identity. Narrative and thematic analysis was used to highlight dialectical tensions inherent in the stories. Results The participants' narratives illustrate how poverty and Latino cultural beliefs create barriers to effective cancer prevention and treatment based on: (1) metaphysical beliefs about how they developed cancer and religious beliefs about how it was cured; (2) gender identity and treatment in the U.S. medical system and; (3) national/cultural identity and treatment in the U.S. medical system. Conclusion Structural and cultural barriers interact in complex ways as low-income Latino/a patients and their families attempt to receive cancer care on the U.S./Mexico border. The manner in which these patients negotiate the tensions may reinforce barriers and inability to access health care and should be specifically addressed. Practice implications Immigrant populations worldwide are especially vulnerable to health care disparities. Effective cancer prevention and treatment messages must be constructed to help patients and families reconcile cultural and economic tensions in ways that allow them maintain their identities but still receive the necessary health care.
Biotin transport into fully differentiated 3T3-L1 cells.

Summary The fully differentiated 3T3-L1 cell, like an adipocyte, contains high levels of the biotin-dependent enzymes pyruvate carboxylase and acetyl CoA carboxylase. We have shown that biotin transport into these cells demonstrates many of the characteristics of a carrier mediated mechanism. The uptake process illustrates a non-linear dependence on external biotin concentration, marked temperature dependence and considerable substrate specificity, as evidenced by studies with biotin analogues. These results may indicate that biotin transport into biotin dependent mammalian cells occurs via a specific membrane carrier.
Depth cues of disparity and relative size added to Necker cube.

A stereogram was prepared in which one of the alternating facets of the Necker cube was drawn with uncrossed disparity and a reduced size relative to the opposite facet. During a 2-min. stereoscopi...
Blood and Rumen Changes Following the Intra-Ruminal Administration of Glycogenic Materials

Summary An over-all study was made of blood and rumen changes taking place in fistulated steers following intraruminal administration of propylene glycol, sodium propionate, sodium lactate, calcium lactate, mixed lactates, and sucrose. Additional specific studies were made on the relative proportions of administered sodium lactate that were fermented and absorbed, and on the glycogenic effect of various propionate-butyrate mixtures. Propylene glycol gave the greatest response in blood glucose. Propionate increased blood glucose more than any of the lactate treatments. Sucrose did not escape fermentation and rumen intermediates were not favorable for increasing blood glucose. Lactate absorption increased while lactate fermentation decreased with increasing solubility of the lactate administered. Lactate fermentation resulted in the greatest increase, based on molar ratios, in propionic acid followed by butyric acid and lastly by acetic acid. Higher rumen concentration of lactate increased the percentage loss by absorption and decreased the percentage loss by fermentation. The loss by fermentation remained nearly constant when rumen concentrations ranged from 200 to 1,000 mg.%, with little absorption occurring below 200 mg.% Intraruminal dripping of propionate-butyrate mixtures showed gradual increases of blood glucose and decreases of blood ketones as the proportion of propionate increased.
Residual-stress measurements in time-controlled quenched austenitic stainless steel

This paper presents experiments to determine the residual stresses generated during the low-speed quenching of austenitic stainless steel. Austenitic stainless steel was chosen because it does not undergo any phase transformation during quenching. As a result, the resultant residual-stress pattern depends only on plastic deformation taking place during the quench. Different quenching rates were used in the experiment to quantify their effect on the generation of residual stresses. These stresses were measured along the surface of the specimen in a direction parallel to the quench direction and in depth below the surface.
Phenotypic detection of mec A-positive staphylococcal blood stream isolates: High accuracy of simple disk diffusion tests

Detection of oxacillin-resistance in staphylococci by phenotypic methods remains problematic. Although standardized susceptibility test methods are adequate for Staphylococcus aureus, many are less satisfactory for the coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS). We have studied 108 consecutive blood culture isolates of staphylococci. The mec A gene was detected by PCR in one S. aureus and 55 CNS isolates. Susceptibility testing was performed as follows: oxacillin (1-microgram), ceftizoxime (30-microgram), and cephalothin (30-microgram) by disk diffusion; oxacillin, ceftizoxime, cephalothin, methicillin, ampicillin, ampicillin/ sulbactam, penicillin, cefazolin, imipenem, and meropenem by the broth microdilution method. In addition, isolates were tested by the oxacillin agar screen plate method. The single oxacillin-resistant S. aureus strain was detected by all oxacillin susceptibility test methods and by the ceftizoxime disk and MIC methods. Two oxacillin-susceptible S. aureus were intermediate (minor error) by ceftizoxime broth microdilution (MIC, 16 micrograms/mL). The most sensitive, simple phenotypic methods for detection of oxacillin-resistant CNS (mec A positive) were as follows: oxacillin disk diffusion at 98%, oxacillin screen plate at 91%, oxacillin broth microdilution at 87%, ceftizoxime disk diffusion at 100%, ceftizoxime broth microdilution at 87%, and methicillin broth microdilution at 83%. These results indicate that oxacillin and ceftizoxime disk diffusion tests are the most accurate phenotypic methods in routine clinical use for detection of oxacillin-resistant CNS. Oxacillin broth microdilution MIC testing (2% NaCl supplement) would perform more satisfactorily (100% sensitivity) with an adjusted interpretive breakpoint at < or = 0.5 microgram/mL, in contrast to the lower accuracy of the "so-called" reference agar screen test.
Site and mechanism of enhanced gastrointestinal absorption of aluminum by citrate

Site and mechanism of enhanced gastrointestinal absorption of aluminum by citrate. Clinical and experimental studies have shown that citrate markedly enhances the intestinal absorption of aluminum (Al), but the site and mechanism of enhanced absorption are unknown. To determine where in the gastrointestinal tract aluminum citrate (Alcitr) was absorbed, Alcitr was gavaged with D-[1- 3 H] glucose in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Plasma Al levels increased rapidly and simultaneously peaked with D-[1- 3 G] glucose, suggesting early proximal bowel absorption. In in vitro duodenal and jejunal everted gut preparations, Alcitr incubation resulted in increased tissue Al levels and markedly enhanced transmural transport of Al and citr. Unlike citr, the transmural movement of Al was independent of temperature (37°C vs. 4°C). On the other hand, Al lactate (al Lac) increased tissue associated Al levels but had no effect on transmural Al movement. To determine if this large flux of Al following Alcitr administration was due to paracellular movement, ruthenium red and Ussing chamber studies were used to evaluate the morphologic and functional integrity of cellular tight junctions. Alcitr, as opposed to A1C1 3 , markedly increased ruthenium red deposits in intercellular spaces, especially around goblet cells, and induced a prolonged significant reduction in transmural resistance. Alcitr also resulted in rapid and nearly complete (99.7%) chelation of free calcium, an event known to disrupt cellular tight junction integrity. Taken together, these data suggest that enhanced Al absorption following administration of Alcitr occurs in the proximal bowel via the paracellular pathway due to the opening of cellular tight junctions.
Activation of NFκB and MnSOD gene expression by free radical scavengers in human microvascular endothelial cells

The effect of nonprotein thiol (NPT) free radical scavengers WR-1065 (SH) and WR-33278 (SS), the active thiol and disulfide metabolites of amifostine, N-acetylcysteine (NAC; both L- and D- isomers), mesna, captopril, and dithiothreitol (DTT) on NFkappaB activation in human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC) was investigated and contrasted to TNFalpha. The use of each of these NPTs at millimolar concentrations independent of oxidative damage-inducing agents resulted in a marked activation of NFkappaB, with the maximum effect observed between 30 min and 1 h after treatment. Only the SH and SS forms of amifostine, however, were effective in activating NFkappaB when administered at micromolar levels. Using a supershift assay, SH and SS equally affected the p50-p65 heterodimer, but not homodimers or heterodimers containing p52 or c-Rel subunits of NFkappaB. Neither catalase nor pyruvate when added to the culture medium to minimize hydrogen peroxide production had an effect on NFkappaB activation by SH. Thus, while oxidative damage is known to activate NFkappaB, the intracellular redox environment may also be affected by the addition of free radical scavenging agents such as NPT, and these in turn are capable of activating the redox sensitive transcription factor NFkappaB. There does not appear to be a significant role, if any, for the production of H(2)O(2) as an intermediate step in the activation of NFkappaB by either the SH or the SS form of amifostine. Rather, the underlying mechanism of action, especially for the SS form, may be related to the close structural and functional similarities of these agents to polyamines, which have been reported to be capable of activating NFkappaB. In contrast to TNFalpha, exposure of cells to either 40 microM or 4 mM of SH for 30 min did not induce intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) gene expression, but did increase manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) gene expression. MnSOD expression rose by 2-fold and remained elevated from 4 to 22 h following SH exposure.
Effect of lung volume reduction surgery on diaphragmatic neuromechanical coupling at 2 years.

Study objectives We previously reported that patients with emphysema show an increase in diaphragmatic neuromechanical coupling at 3 months after lung volume reduction surgery. Diaphragmatic neuromechanical coupling was quantified as the quotient of tidal volume (normalized to total lung capacity) to tidal change in transdiaphragmatic pressure (normalized to maximal transdiaphragmatic pressure). As such, neuromechanical coupling estimates the fraction of diaphragmatic capacity used to generate tidal breathing. The present investigation was conducted to determine whether benefit is maintained at 2 years. Subjects Fifteen patients with severe COPD, 8 of whom completed the 2-year study. Methods Lung volumes, exercise capacity (6-min walking distance), diaphragmatic function (maximal transdiaphragmatic pressure and twitch transdiaphragmatic pressure elicited by phrenic nerve stimulation), and diaphragmatic neuromechanical coupling were recorded before surgery, and at 3 months and 2 years after surgery. Results Two years after surgery, lung volumes deteriorated to preoperative values, but patients showed persistent improvements in 6-min walking distance (p 10% of preoperative value in half of the patients who concluded our study, and neuromechanical coupling was > 10% of preoperative value in three fourths of the patients who concluded our study. Patients who maintained their gains in neuromechanical coupling also maintained their gains in 6-min walking distance. Conclusion Patients undergoing lung volume reduction surgery can maintain early gains in neuromechanical coupling and exercise capacity 2 years later.
Regulation of gastric acid secretion by secretin and serotonin

Summary We have tested the interaction between serotonin and secretin in pentagastrin-induced gastric acid secretion in six dogs prepared with Thomas gastric and duodenal cannulas. We further examined the effect of methysergide, a serotonin antagonist, on gastric acid secretion. The intravenous administration of serotonin or secretin alone significantly inhibited pentagastrin-induced gastric acid secretion. The combined administration of serotonin and secretin inhibited gastric acid secretion to a greater magnitude than either secretagogue alone. The administration of methysergide diminished basal concentrations of secretin and abolished the inhibitory effect of secretin on gastric acid secretion. Methysergide also enhanced the stimulatory activity of pentagastrin-induced gastric acid secretion. The inhibitory action of intraduodenal acidification of pentagastrin-induced gastric acid secretion was reversed by methysergide.
Active depth-locking handheld micro-injector based on common-path swept source optical coherence tomography

This paper presents a handheld micro-injector system using common-path swept source optical coherence tomography (CP-SSOCT) as a distal sensor with highly accurate injection-depth-locking. To achieve real-time, highly precise, and intuitive freehand control, the system used graphics processing unit (GPU) to process the oversampled OCT signal with high throughput and a smart customized motion monitoring control algorithm. A performance evaluation was conducted with 60-insertions and fluorescein dye injection tests to show how accurately the system can guide the needle and lock to the target depth. The evaluation tests show our system can guide the injection needle into the desired depth with 4.12μm average deviation error while injecting 50nƖ of fluorescein dye.
Pancreatic Islet Immunoreactivity to the Reg Protein INGAP

The Reg-related protein family member INGAP (islet neogenesis-associated protein) is a pleiotropic factor enhancing islet neogenesis, neurite growth, beta-cell protection, and beta-cell function. Using an antibody to the N-termini of INGAP, we have identified that immunoreactivity to INGAP localized to the pancreatic endocrine cells in mouse. INGAP- and insulin-immunoreactive cells are mutually exclusive, with INGAP-immunoreactive cells being preserved after streptozotocin-mediated destruction of beta-cells. Glucagon- and INGAP-immunoreactive cells colocalize, although respective antigen expression occurs in different intracellular locations. These data suggest that INGAP-immunoreactive cells include alpha-cells; however, detection of single INGAP-immunoreactive/glucagon-negative cells indicates that this may not be exclusive. In addition to mouse, detection of islet endocrine cells that were INGAP immunoreactive/glucagon immunoreactive/insulin negative was also observed in islets from human, monkey, and rat. These findings reveal that INGAP and/or related group 3 Reg proteins have a conserved expression in the pancreatic islet.
Transonic Aerodynamics of a Wing/Pylon/Strut Juncture

The Multidisciplinary Analysis and Design (MAD) Center at Virginia Tech investigated the strut-braced wing (SBW) design concept for several years. Our studies found that SBW configurations had savings in takeoff gross weight of up to 19% and in fuel weight of up to 25% compared to a similarly designed cantilever wing transport aircraft. In our work we assumed that computational fluid dynamics (CFD) could be used to achieve target aerodynamic performance levels. However, no detailed CFD design was done. This paper uses CFD to study the transonic aerodynamics of the wing/pylon/strut juncture of an SBW configuration. This is the critical aspect of the aerodynamic design. The goal was the reduction or elimination of interference drag at this juncture. Inviscid CFD analysis has been used to investigate the flow characteristics at this juncture. Initial results showed the presence of strong shocks at the juncture. Our analysis showed that the strut/wing intersection was behaving like a twodimensional nozzle between the bottom of the wing and the top of the strut, choking the flow at the minimum area point and expanding the flow downstream resulting in a strong shock near the trailing edge of the strut. We also found that the pylon did not have a major influence on the flow characteristics at the wing/pylon/strut intersection. Geometry changes were made to reduce the shock strength at the wing/pylon/strut intersection, eliminating the nozzle effect. Results showed that this design effectively reduced the shock strength and in some cases eliminated it.
Rank-order analysis for robust multiresponse, multiblock comparisons : evaluation of herbicide interactions

Studies of interactions among bioactive compounds are often difficult to interpret unambiguously. A priori assumptions about the nature of such interactions can seriously distort analysis of the data. By applying a rank order analysis appropriate to the naturally ordinal scale of response to xenobiotic insult, several co-herbicides were successfully identified from among numerous candidates in an experiment involving multiple blocks, rates and species. Moreover, underlying herbicide interactions were substantiated and identified which were not apparent by more traditional parametric analysis.
Transient multiwave mixing and diffraction with nonsinusoidal intensity-dependent index grating in a nonlinear medium

We study the effects of an intensity dependence in the nonlinear index change coefficient on transient and steady-state optical wave mixing and self-diffractions, using the temperature-dependent thermal index change of a nematic liquid crystal as a model material. We show that the nonsinusoidal index grating created by a sinusoidal optical intensity grating has significant influence on the phases and amplitudes of the multiwave mixing processes. Experimental results on the intensity distribution of the multiorder diffractions in a nematic liquid-crystal film near the phase transition temperature are also presented to illustrate the basic effects.
Exploiting processing locality through paging configurations in multitasked reconfigurable systems

FPGA chips in reconfigurable computer systems are used as malleable coprocessors where components of a hardware library of functions can be configured as needed. As the number of hardware functions to be configured typically exceeds the underlying chip area during the execution of an application, previous efforts have introduced configuration caching. Those efforts, however, have focused on two run-time-reconfiguration scenarios, which consider a single application running on the reconfigurable system. In the full reconfiguration scenario, functions of an application are arranged into blocks each of which has enough functions to fill the entire chip. The blocks are configured in a deterministic sequence needed by the application based on the a priori knowledge about the application. In the partial reconfiguration scenario, each function is configured or replaced on a function-by-function basis, based on the application needs. In the former technique, spatial processing locality is well exploited. In the latter, only temporal processing locality is exploited. In this work, we propose a technique suitable for multitasking and for cases of single applications that can change the course of processing in a non-deterministic fashion based on data. In order to exploit processing locality, both spatial and temporal simultaneously, the proposed model groups hardware functions into hardware configuration blocks (pages) of fixed size, where multiple pages can be configured on a chip simultaneously. By grouping only related functions that are typically requested together, processing spatial locality can be exploited. Temporal locality is exploited through page replacement techniques. Data mining techniques were used to group related functions into pages. Standard, replacement algorithms as those found in caching were considered. Simulations, as well as emulation using the Cray XD1 reconfigurable high-performance computer were used in the experimental study. The results show a significant improvement in performance using the proposed paging technique.
A FRAMEWORK FOR THE STUDY OF COMPUTER-ORIENTED HUMOR (COHUM)

ABSTRACT All humor is to some extent cultural and, perhaps to that same extent, humor serves to define, explain and enhance our understanding of a particular culture. The computer industry, now over 50 years old, is a mature culture characterized by industriousness, creativity, energy, bureaucracy and wit. The computer itself has lately become something of a cultural icon or signpost. Yet the computer industry has always seemed to breed its own special brand of humor − intelligent, somewhat superior, slyly subversive − even from its very earliest days. This paper is to explores computer-oriented humor (COHUM) in order to provide a framework, and a comprehensive categorization, and to place COHUM in the context of the much broader study of humor. In investigating COHUM some of the most interesting findings were: the abundance of antiestablishment humor and of hermetic, knowledge-based humor. Recognition of the importance of bonding humor and especially the I-get-it variety of bonding humor. As so often happens, an intimate investigation of the specific has led to innovations in the more general field of humor study.
Optical Interconnects for Board-Level Signal Distribution at 10 Gb/s Using Hybrid Integration

A board-level optical-to-electrical prototype for 10 Gb/s signal distribution over each of four channels is demonstrated. An improved multimode interference (MMI) splitter and the simultaneous alignment between waveguides and photodetectors make the prototype fully functional.
Communicating with Communities about Emergency Research

The challenge of effectively communicating with communities about research is particularly salient for investigators who are conducting emergency research with an exception from informed consent. The authors discuss the ethical basis for the community consultation requirement and describe the nature and extent of the consultative process required to achieve these ethical purposes. The findings of the consensus conference are summarized as follows. 1) The requirements for community consultation and public disclosure for exception from informed consent studies serve important ethical purposes and should be retained. 2) Community consultation allows investigators and institutional review boards to obtain input from the community regarding planned research. The process serves to facilitate understanding, promote trust, ensure justice, and protect research participants. 3) Community consultation is a process that requires active participation by community members; however, it does not require their approval, consent, or consensus. The practical challenges involved in conducting meaningful community consultation are also discussed: defining the community and its appropriate representatives, methods to actively engage the community, the lack of uniformity among institutional review boards in required community consultation activities, and the lack of measures to evaluate the adequacy and appropriateness of community consultation. The recommendations of the consensus conference regarding future research about community consultation are summarized. Priorities include identifying best practices; defining effectiveness and developing measures to evaluate community consultation; evaluating alternative models and potential infrastructures to facilitate, conduct, and/or oversee effective community consultation processes; and developing educational modules for community members to empower their active participation in discussions about emergency research in their communities.
THE ROLE OF FEEDBACK IN VOLUNTARY CONTROL OF BLOOD PRESSURE IN INSTRUCTED SUBJECTS

Forty normal male volunteers were randomly assigned to one of four experimental conditions and instructed to raise and lower their systolic blood pressure. Subjects received either beat-to-beat feedback contingent on pressure changes, noncontingent beat-to-beat feedback, noncontingent feedback presented randomly with respect to the occurrence of each heart beat, or instructions alone. The order of increase and decrease trial blocks was counterbalanced across groups. Subjects receiving contingent feedback were monetarily rewarded for appropriate pressure changes. Subjects receiving noncontingent feedback received rewards and feedback equal to the mean received by the contingent group. Subjects in the instructions-only condition were also paid this bonus but were informed of their earnings only at the conclusion of the experiment. Results indicated that in the presence of instructions, feedback, whether contingent or noncontingent, added little to subjects' ability to control pressure during a single session. Theoretical and clinical implications are discussed.
Strategies to Enhance Interpersonal Relations in Academic Advising

The relationship between interpersonal skills is positively correlated with effective academic advising. Professional academic advisors feel significant pressure to meet a wide array of student needs, increase retention rates, help students in their efforts of academic achievement and career exploration, and support institutions to excel in scholarship. These demands make the skills needed for effective academic advising more professionally demanding than ever before. An advisor's skill level in interpersonal relations is critical to advising success. In this article, I share the foundation for interpersonal relations proficiency, communicate the challenges in interpersonal skill areas, and provide strategies with examples designed for advisors to enhance their proficiency in their relationships with advisees.
On dynamic scheduling of stochastic networks in heavy traffic and some new results for the workload process

Dynamic scheduling of stochastic networks has applications to the control of modern telecommunications, manufacturing and computer systems. Most models of such networks cannot be analyzed exactly, and one is naturally led to consider more viable approximations. As one approach, Harrison proposed Brownian control problems (BCP) as formal heavy traffic approximations to dynamic scheduling problems for stochastic networks. Subsequently, various authors combined analysis of BCP with interpretation of their optimal solutions to suggest original and attractive policies for certain specific stochastic network control problems. Despite these successes for specific problems, there is, as yet, no general rigorous approach to analyzing BCP, inferring good policies from their solutions, and proving asymptotic optimality of such policies. We are interested in developing such an approach. This paper is a step in that direction. In particular, we (a) provide a detailed stochastic network model, (b) give a fluid model interpretation of the notion of heavy traffic, (c) derive a formula for the dimension of the workload process in terms of basic model parameters, and (d) identify a mild condition under which the components of the workload process are all nonnegative.
Clinical Application of Intraductal Ultrasound During Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography

Intraductal ultrasound (IDUS) used during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) can facilitate reliable evaluation of biliary and pancreatic disorders. The smaller diameter, flexibility, and the image quality offered by IDUS devices makes them ideal for evaluating a variety of difficult biliary and pancreatic diseases, especially in undefined strictures, luminal filling defects, and ampullary neoplasms. This article examines the numerous possible roles for IDUS in the evaluation of biliary and pancreatic conditions, as well as in ampullary neoplasms. IDUS is a simple, easy to learn, and safe technique that should be considered an integral tool in the therapeutic endoscopist's armamentarium.
Alternatives to the ISS Plasma Contacting Units

A spacecraft in a high-density equatorial LEO plasma will float negative relative to the ambient plasma. Because of the electron collection of exposed conductors on its solar arrays, it may float negative by up to its array voltage. The floating potential depends on the relative areas of electron and ion collection of the spacecraft. Early estimates of the International Space Station (ISS) potential were about -140 V relative to the surrounding plasma, because of its 160 V solar array string voltage. Because of the possibility of arcing of ISS structures and astronaut EMUs (spacesuits) into the space plasma, Plasma Contacting Units (PCUs) were added to the ISS design, to reduce the highly negative floating potentials by emitting electrons (effectively increasing the ion collecting area). In addition to the now-operating ISS PCUs, safety rules require another independent arc-hazard control method. In this paper, I discuss alternatives to the ISS PCUs for keeping the ISS floating potential at values below the arc-thresholds of ISS and EMU surface materials. Advantages and disadvantages of all of the recline loss will be presented.
The Influence of Age on the Morbidity and Mortality of Pedestrian Victims

Objectives. The present study examined the influence of age on the morbidity and mortality of pedestrian victims while controlling for confounding factors. Methods. The Pedestrian Crash Data Study (PCDS) database was used for a cross-sectional study to compare the outcome of senior (age ≥60 years) and adult (age 19 to 50 years) pedestrian victims. The outcome measures were the Injury Severity Score (ISS), Maximum Abbreviated Injury Score (MAIS), Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS), and Mortality. Logistic regression models were used to estimate age-associated risks while controlling for confounders such as vehicle type, impact speed, and pedestrian height, weight, and gender. Results. Compared to the adult victims, the seniors had a higher average ISS (23 vs. 16, p = 0.018) and higher mortality (30 percent vs. 11 percent, p ≤ 0.001). The seniors were also more likely to have an ISS ≥9 (odds ratio = 2.72; 95 percent CI: 1.31–5.68) and to die (odds ratio = 6.68; 95 percent CI: 2.37–19.88). The seniors were appro...
Lasing emission of InGaAs quantum dot microdisk diodes

An improved three-arm airbridge contacted microdisk diode structure is presented. Continuous-wave lasing from InGaAs quantum dot (QD) in a /spl sim/4-/spl mu/m-diameter microdisks is reported with the threshold current /spl sim/40 /spl mu/A at T=5 K. With the increase of injection current, the QD's emission blueshifts due to the band-filling effect, while the laser mode peak redshifts by thermal effect. When the QD's gain spectra shift out of alignment with the lasing mode, the next available whispering gallery mode starts lasing from QD wetting layer. The thermal heating effect is discussed by investigating the modes redshift with respect to injection current.
“Integral to the Plot, and in No Way Gratuitous”? Constructing Creative Freedom in the Liberalization of Canadian Content Regulation:

This article analyzes proceedings of the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council as a discourse on tensions between creative freedom and social responsibility. While scholarship on censorship emphasizes the productive and constructive dimensions of prohibitive regulation, this article explores the imbrications of a more permissive style of regulation and its targets. The council’s administration of various self-regulatory codes tends to limit the potential overreach of social responsibility provisions. In particular, its reading practices allow remarkable authority to the coherence and integrity of screen realities. Ultimately, this weight on the “realistic” suggests the discursive and institutional complexity of liberalization. Rather than a simple movement from active intervention to passive permission, or a simple recognition of an already-formed creative freedom, the council follows a particular construction of creative freedom— produced in readings that actively exclude specters of regulable irresponsib...
Autonomic Dysfunction in Fabry Disease

In Fabry disease, progressive accumulation of glycosphingolipids (GL-3) in various tissues and body fluids such as the cornea, sweat glands, myocardium, kidneys, and blood vessel walls accounts for failure of multiple organs. At the level of the nervous system, primarily small fibers are susceptible to lipid infiltration resulting in impaired cold and heat perception, altered pain perception, as well as neuropathic pain with constant or episodic burning or tingling pain in hands and feet triggered by hot weather, fever, exercise, stress or alcohol. In addition, GL-3 accumulation results in autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction. GL-3 storage in the widespread central as well as the peripheral ANS accounts for reduced sweating, impaired pupillary constriction, diminished saliva and tear formation, disordered intestinal motility and diminished cutaneous flare with scratch or intradermal histamine. Many patients suffer from postprandial cramping, episodic or chronic diarrhea, recurrent abdominal pain and feeling of fullness. Young adults frequently experience strokes due to cerebrovascular and autonomic dysfunction compromising cerebral autoregulation. Small fiber dysfunction and GL-3 storage in central autonomic neurons may compromise the arterial baroreflex function. Overall, symptoms of autonomic dysfunction are rather debilitating and reduce the patients’ quality of life. Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) is essential to improve autonomic Fabry neuropathy. In a homogeneous group of 22 Fabry patients, we showed improved small fiber neuropathy, normalization of cerebral perfusion, cerebral autoregulation and of baroreflex function after 18 or 23 months of consequent ERT. Still, further studies are needed to assess autonomic control or peripheral organ perfusion and skin blood flow.
Measurement of the Room Temperture R 1 Line Width ofForty-two Rubies

Accurate measurement of the room temperature R1 fluorescent line width of forty-two ruby laser crystals a pressure-scanned Fabry-Perot etalon. In forty-one of these rubies the chromium has been made using the same, and the R1 line width for all was 5.0 ± 0.3 A, in agreement with present content was nearly theories.
Positron Emission from Np 234

An investigation of ${\mathrm{Np}}^{234}$ with a trochoidal analyzer revealed the presence of positrons having an endpoint energy of approximately 0.8 Mev. The ratio of positron emission to electron capture was found to be (4.6\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.0)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}4}$.
Esiste Piu di un Modo per Risovere un Problema: Cambio di Clima Negli Statiti Uniti: Ultimi da ti Prima Dell Insediamento Della Nuova Amministrazione (There Is More than One Way to Skin a Cat, Climate Change in the United States: Ongoing Activity Prior to the Inauguration of a New Administration)

Whatever the outcome is of the 2008 presidential election in the United States, it is probable that the stance of the new administration regarding international treaties and climate change will be different from that of President Bush (Candidates Clinton, Obama, and McCain are all favorable to some federal involvement). And, independent of new leadership of federal officials, legal initiatives will continue to be numerous. In this article we review the status of controversies regarding global warming in federal courts, in the Congress, and in state courts, including those involving private litigation.
Confusion in the Courts: Managed Care Financial Structures and Their Impact on Medical Care

Recent years' sweeping changes in health care financing and delivery have posed powerful challenges for the courts that must fairly assign the blame and the costs when things go wrong. As courts forge new common law in this rapidly-changing realm, their task often requires knowledge, not just of law, but of complex economic arrangements. Unfortunately, courts do not always understand those arrangements as precisely as good adjudication would require. This Article examines three recent cases in which high-level courts have made important decisions at least partly on the basis of inaccurate or inadequate conceptions about the financial structures of managed care, and their financial, medical, and legal implications. Those cases are: Petrovich v Share Health Plan of Illinois, Inc., Herdrich v Pegram, and In re. U.S.Healthcare, Inc. (Bauman v U.S. HealthCare). In each case the problems lie, not in the court's final conclusions, but in the reasoning by which the court reach its conclusions, and in the dicta in which the court comments on the merits of the case. If future courts take those comments seriously, as often happens in a common law tradition, such errors could adversely influence the ways in which health care is financed and delivered, as the nation struggles to find a reasonable balance between cost and quality of care.
Reconsenting patients with cancer on clinical trials: Does added risk influence continued participation?

e15610 Background: The general policy endorsed by multiple professional societies and cooperative groups regarding patients on cancer clinical trials states that subjects should be informed of new ...
Political Participation and Government Responsiveness: The Behavior of California Superior Courts

Students of democratic politics have long been concerned with the role of political participation in linking government and the people it serves. Whereas participation is generally defined in terms of voting, this article defines participation as the communication of citizen preferences to public officeholders. We show that aggregate sentencing decisions of California superior courts changed to reflect more closely prevailing public opinion after a large percentage of the populace expressed their preferences on a marijuana issue. The fact that members of California superior courts are seemingly immune from any effective electoral sanction serves both to underline the importance of this form of participation to a responsive system of government and to caution against conceiving of the participation-responsiveness relationship only in terms of punitive electoral devices.
Principles of Bracing for the Anterior Cruciate Ligament-Deficient Knee

The preceding discussion has profiled the three different types of knee braces available on today's market. It has attempted to discuss the controversies surrounding these braces and to analyze the scientific data presented to date. Prophylactic braces have been shown to be ineffective in preventing knee injuries in their present-day design. Evidence has also shown that their use may even lead to increased knee injuries. On the other hand, rehabilitative braces do serve a useful purpose in regard to the operative and nonoperative treatment of ligamentous knee injuries. With their use in the application and control of joint motion, they are an important addition to the surgeon's armamentarium. One must keep in mind, however, that these braces provide little static anterior/posterior control and the hinge settings may not actually reflect true joint motion. Functional knee braces may play a role in the treatment of patients with pathologic laxity owing to an injury of the ACL. Combined with an adequate rehabilitation program and activity modification, these braces do limit excessive anterior tibial translation under low-loading conditions. However, under conditions of high loading these braces provide little or no resistance to anterior translation. Therefore, in most sporting activities, their efficacy is questionable. Knee bracing continues to be a complex and controversial topic in the field of orthopaedic surgery. The answers for the design of the "ideal" brace are being continually worked out and the need for more detailed, well-controlled studies continues to be great.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Coping after 9/11: Deep Interconnectedness and Struggle in Posttraumatic Stress and Growth

A woman sits, as usual, on the balcony of her 36th floor apartment, gazing contemplatively at the open sky beyond the harbor. Suddenly, the oddly appearing shape of the first plane looms in the near distance and crashes into the first tower of the World Trade Center. She instantly recoils with horror: “People are dying!” After phoning her family, in deep distress she returns to the balcony, only to see the second plane, heading directly toward her (”I’m going to die!”) then swerving to strike the near tower. In the all-to o-real, gradually tumbling view four blocks away, her familiar world crashes down. That life-shattering event turned into a long journey of recovery for the witness, the New York poet Lee Briccetti. Here is her poem about that experience, written during the long aftermath of recovery, leading to “the abundant new morning light” that would eventually emerge.1
The Concept of Disease

Diagnosis is the process of giving a name to a particular condition, usually thought to be a disease. Before discussing the process of diagnosis, then, it will be useful to examine more closely what we mean by the term “disease.” “Disease” can refer to the class of all diseases. It can also refer to various subsets of this class, such as pneumonia, and further subsets, such as bacterial pneumonia and viral pneumonia. Finally, “disease” can refer to a single instance of a particular subset of disease such as viral pneumonia. Furthermore, several terms such as “disease,” “illness,” and “sickness” are used in common parlance in an imprecise manner. In addition, virtually all disease classifications, which are called nosologies, include entities such as injuries, disabilities and deformities, which most people would not consider to be diseases. How we classify these conditions will be the topic of chapter 5. For now, my task is to examine the concept of disease itself.