cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Effectiveness of the DoD/VA Mobile Device Outcomes-Based Rehabilitation Program for High Functioning Service Members and Veterans with Lower Limb Amputation.

INTRODUCTION The objective was to determine if the Mobile Device Outcomes-based Rehabilitation Program (MDORP) improved strength, mobility, and gait quality in service members (SMs) and Veterans with lower limb amputation (LLA). METHODS Seven SMs and 10 Veterans with LLA enrolled and were trained to use a mobile sensor system, called Rehabilitative Lower Limb Orthopedic Analysis Device (ReLOAD). ReLOAD provided participants with real-time assessment of gait deviations, subsequent corrective audio feedback, and exercise prescription for normalizing gait at home and in the community. After baseline testing, prosthetic gait and exercise training, participants took ReLOAD home and completed an 8-week walking and home exercise program. Home visits were conducted every 2 weeks to review gait training and home exercises. RESULTS Significant improvements in hip extensor strength, basic and high-level mobility, musculoskeletal endurance, and gait quality (P < 0.05) were found at the completion of the 8-week intervention. CONCLUSION Preliminary MDORP results are promising in its ability to improve basic and high-level mobility, lower limb strength, and gait quality in a group of SMs and Veterans with LLA. In addition, "booster" prosthetic training may be justified in an effort helps maintain an active lifestyle, promotes prosthetic use, and mitigates secondary health effects.
The Relation between Methods of Graphing Student Performance Data and Achievement: A Meta-Analysis.

This meta-analysis investigated the effects on achievement of type of graphing paper employed in displaying student performance data collected over time. The data source was 15 controlled studies w...
Household motor vehicle ownership and obesity among Indian females and males: 2005-2016.

BACKGROUND To determine associations between household motor vehicle ownership and obesity among Indian adults. METHODS Bivariate and multivariable analyses were conducted using the 2005-2006 and 2015-2016 Indian Demographic and Health surveys, with over 800 000 respondents. RESULTS Obesity prevalence (body mass index ≥25 kg/m2) rose in females (16.87% to 20.35%) and in males (12.55% to 18.74%). In 2005, having both types of vehicles (motorcycle/motor scooter and car) significantly increased the odds of obesity in females (OR, 1.63; 95% CI 1.50 to 1.76) and males (OR, 2.49; 95% CI 2.24 to 2.77) as well as in 2015 (OR, 1.10; 95% CI 1.07 to 1.13 and OR, 1.56; 95% CI 1.45 to 1.68, respectively). The wealthiest were more likely to be obese in 2005 (OR, 14.95; 95% CI 16.06 to 17.12 for females; OR, 12.69; 95% CI 10.17 to 15.70 for males) and in 2015 (OR, 7.69; 95% CI 7.43 to 7.95 for females and OR, 6.40; 95% CI 5.40 to 7.01 for males). Higher education levels, being younger and rural residence were significant protective factors in 2005 and 2015. CONCLUSIONS After adjusting for confounders, motor vehicle ownership was significantly associated with obesity at both time points, but the effect of vehicle ownership presents differently by gender. With obesity prevalence increasing in India, policies promoting active vs motorized transport could attenuate this problem.
Liability for Prescribing Intravenous Injection Equipment to IV Drug Users

In the absence of widespread publicly sponsored needle exchange programs, the proposal has been made that physicians prescribe syringes and needles to intravenous (IV) drug users in order to reduce the risk of infection from HIV and other diseases that could result from needle sharing. One question is whether physicians who engage in this behavior, as well as pharmacists who fill the prescriptions, face a significant threat of malpractice liability if the IV drug user or someone else, perhaps an innocent bystander, is harmed as a result of the prescribed equipment. No such cases have been reported, per- haps because the practice is not yet frequent. For the reasons explained in the analysis that follows, it is unlikely that any malpractice suits would be brought successfully in the future.
Using e-health tools and PROMs to support self-management in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: The use of digital health or e-health is growing. The potential positive impact on IBD care from supported self-management using these tools emerged from a literature review carried out...
Seed Predation of Interseeded Cover Crops and Resulting Impacts on Ground Beetles.

Interseeding cover crops into standing grains can promote both agronomic and environmental benefits within agroecosystems. Producers must decide which cover crops are the best fit for their goals, and whether diverse cover crop mixtures provide benefits that are worth the increased seed cost. Broadcast seeding is an accessible strategy to try interseeding but can lead to patchy establishment; it is unknown how much seed loss is due to seed predators. In a two-year study, six cover crop species—planted as either single species or mixtures—were interseeded into standing corn. We evaluated seed predation at the time of seeding, agronomic impact through cover crop, and weedy biomass at the end of the season, and conservation impact through activity-density of ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae). Cover crop seeds were vulnerable to seed predation, primarily by vertebrate seed predators, and seed loss varied across cover crop species. Cover crop biomass did not differ according to cover crop diversity and weedy biomass was not affected by cover crop presence or species. Cover crop diversity effects on carabid activity-density were inconsistent: carabids were higher in diverse mixtures in 1 year of the study, but only predicted by vegetative cover, not by cover crop, in the second year. Interseeding cover crops into corn has potential benefits for ground beetles, although the value of mixtures must be further explored.
Correlation between Channels of Perceiving the Information and the Characteristic of Perception about the PM 2.5 Pollution in Bangkok, Thailand

This research has the objective of studying the channels of perceiving the information, the characteristic of perception on the effects of PM2.5 pollution and the correlation between the channels of perception and the characteristic of perception on the effects of PM2.5 pollution in Bangkok. The random searched sample group consisted of working people in Bangkok by stratified sampling, using levels of education as criteria of stratification. A total of 384 persons in the sample group is from Krejce and Morgan chart. Tools are questionnaires; statistic is by mean, pearson’s simple correlation moment product. From the study it is found that 1) The overall level of the channels of perceiving the information on PM2.5 pollution in Bangkok is at a high level 2) The overall level of the characteristic of perception on the effects of PM2.5 pollution in Bangkok is at a high level 3) People with a Bachelor’s degree or higher educational levels, has, overall, a higher level of using the channels in perceiving the information than those with lower educational levels with statistic significant at .01 4) People with a Bachelor’s degree or higher educational levels and those with lower educational levels, overall, the characteristic of the perception on the effects of PM2.5 pollution in Bangkok, has no statistic significant different 5) The channels of information perception and the characteristic of perception on the effects of PM2.5 pollution in Bangkok, overall, has a moderate level of correlation with statistic significant at .01, correlation coefficient at .545.
Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage survivors show long-term deficits in spatial reference memory in a pilot study of a virtual water maze paradigm.

Abstract Background Limited data exists on the long-term effects of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) on spatial memory. Herein, we used a computerized virtual water maze to evaluate the feasibility of spatial memory testing in pilot cohort of ten patients who survived previous SAH. Methods Ten SAH survivors (5.8 ± 5.1 years after initial hemorrhage) and 7 age-matched controls underwent testing in a virtual water maze computer program. Additional subgroup analyses were performed to evaluate spatial reference memory correlation for ventricular size on admission, placement of an external ventricular drain and placement of a shunt. Results With respect to the spatial memory acquisition phase, there was no significant difference of pathway length traveled to reach the platform between SAH survivors and control subjects. During the probe trial, control subjects spent significantly longer time in target quadrants compared to SAH survivors (F(3, 24) = 10.32, p = 0.0001; Target vs. Right: Mean percent difference 0.16 [0–0.32], p = 0.045; Target vs. Across: Mean percent difference 0.35 [0.19–0.51], p Conclusions Our data demonstrate that SAH survivors have persistent spatial reference memory deficits years after the hemorrhage. Hydrocephalus at presentation and external ventricular drainage were not found to be associated with poor spatial memory outcomes in this pilot cohort. Therefore, other causes such as global cerebral edema or magnitude of initial ICP spike, need to be considered to be examined as root cause as well in subsequent studies. The protocol described in this manuscript is able to demonstrate a spatial reference memory deficit and can be used to study risk factors for spatial memory impairment on a larger scale.
Distressed Communities Index in Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation in an Affluent County in New York.

Background. The clinical impact of the distressed communities index (DCI), a composite measure of economic well-being based on the U.S. zip code, is becoming increasingly recognized. Ranging from 0 (prosperous) to 100 (distressed), DCI’s association with cardiovascular outcomes remains unknown. We aimed to study the association of the DCI with presentation and outcomes in adults with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis (AS) undergoing transcatheter aortic valve intervention (TAVR) in an affluent county in New York. Methods. The study population included 286 patients with severe symptomatic AS or degeneration of a bioprosthetic valve who underwent TAVR with a newer generation transcatheter heart valve (THV) from December 2015 to June 2018 at an academic tertiary medical center. DCI for each patient was derived from their primary residence zip code. Patients were classified into DCI deciles and then categorized into 4 groups. The primary and secondary outcomes of interest were 30-day, 1-year, and 3-year mortality, respectively. Results. Among 286 patients studied, 26%, 28%, 28%, and 18% were categorized into DCI groups 1–4, respectively (DCI 30: n = 52). Patients in group 4 were younger with worse kidney function compared to patients in groups 1 and 2. They also had smaller aortic annuli and were more likely to receive a smaller THV. No significant difference in hospital length of stay or distribution of in-hospital, 30-day, 1-year, and 3-year mortality was demonstrated. Conclusions. While the DCI was associated with differences in the clinical and anatomic profile, it was not associated with differences in clinical outcomes in this prospective observational study of adults undergoing TAVR suggesting that access to care is the likely discriminator.
Visualizing transiently associated catalytic domains in assembly-line biosynthesis using cryo-electron microscopy.

Abstract While cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) has revolutionized the structure determination of supramolecular protein complexes that are refractory to structure determination by X-ray crystallography, structure determination by cryo-EM can nonetheless be complicated by excessive conformational flexibility or structural heterogeneity resulting from weak or transient protein–protein association. Since such transient complexes are often critical for function, specialized approaches must be employed for the determination of meaningful structure–function relationships. Here, we outline examples in which transient protein–protein interactions have been visualized successfully by cryo-EM in the biosynthesis of fatty acids, polyketides, and terpenes. These studies demonstrate the utility of chemical crosslinking to stabilize transient protein–protein complexes for cryo-EM structural analysis, as well as the use of partial signal subtraction and localized reconstruction to extract useful structural information out of cryo-EM data collected from inherently dynamic systems. While these approaches do not always yield atomic resolution insights on protein–protein interactions, they nonetheless enable direct experimental observation of complexes in assembly-line biosynthesis that would otherwise be too fleeting for structural analysis.
REinforcement learning to improve non-adherence for diabetes treatments by Optimising Response and Customising Engagement (REINFORCE): study protocol of a pragmatic randomised trial.

INTRODUCTION Achieving optimal diabetes control requires several daily self-management behaviours, especially adherence to medication. Evidence supports the use of text messages to support adherence, but there remains much opportunity to improve their effectiveness. One key limitation is that message content has been generic. By contrast, reinforcement learning is a machine learning method that can be used to identify individuals' patterns of responsiveness by observing their response to cues and then optimising them accordingly. Despite its demonstrated benefits outside of healthcare, its application to tailoring communication for patients has received limited attention. The objective of this trial is to test the impact of a reinforcement learning-based text messaging programme on adherence to medication for patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS AND ANALYSIS In the REinforcement learning to Improve Non-adherence For diabetes treatments by Optimising Response and Customising Engagement (REINFORCE) trial, we are randomising 60 patients with suboptimal diabetes control treated with oral diabetes medications to receive a reinforcement learning intervention or control. Subjects in both arms will receive electronic pill bottles to use, and those in the intervention arm will receive up to daily text messages. The messages will be individually adapted using a reinforcement learning prediction algorithm based on daily adherence measurements from the pill bottles. The trial's primary outcome is average adherence to medication over the 6-month follow-up period. Secondary outcomes include diabetes control, measured by glycated haemoglobin A1c, and self-reported adherence. In sum, the REINFORCE trial will evaluate the effect of personalising the framing of text messages for patients to support medication adherence and provide insight into how this could be adapted at scale to improve other self-management interventions. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION This study was approved by the Mass General Brigham Institutional Review Board (IRB) (USA). Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals, clinicaltrials.gov reporting and conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04473326).
Lymphoma and gout coexisting in the same joint fluid.

![Figure][1] A 45-year-old man with a history of gout for 6 years was maintained with allopurinol. One and a half years prior to admission, he was diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (germinal center type) with primary orbital presentation. He failed combination chemotherapy with
Effect of the Space Age on the Engineering Profession

The space age has created many problems for the professional engineer by increasing the demand for engineers, by accelerating the rate of technical obsolescence, by merging the role of scientist and engineer and by creating greater management responsibilities. Analysis of these problems indicates that more and better educated engineers will be needed in the space industry in coming years. Although, the trend is to curricula emphasizing engineering science and interdisciplanary subjects, our rapidly expanding technology will require the engineer to continue his practical education in his field. The specialized areas of space technology tend to serge scientific and engineering positions so that the work of one overlaps that of the other to the dissatisfaction of both. The challenges presented to the engineer are greater than ever before; this stimulus acts as a powerful motivation to continued professional growth. Additionally, increasing attention must be given to the training and development of engineering managers and administrators. This area of professional development cannot be considered as solely evolutionary, but must be taught and developed in the engineer, who will frequently be required to perform in areas in which both engineers and scientists are associated, thus complicating management.
High-Intensity Telemedicine Decreases Emergency Department Use for Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions by Older Adult Senior Living Community Residents

Abstract Background Emergency department (ED) visits for ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSCs) are common among older adults. The high-intensity telemedicine model of care has been proposed as an innovative approach to expand access to acute illness care, thereby preventing ED visits. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of a high-intensity telemedicine program for senior living community (SLC) residents on the rate of ED use for ACSCs. Methods We performed a prospective cohort study at a primary care geriatrics practice that provides care to 22 SLCs. Six SLCs selected as intervention facilities, with the remaining SLCs serving as controls. Consenting practice patients at intervention facilities could have patient-to-provider, real-time, or store-and-forward high-intensity telemedicine services to diagnose and treat illnesses. The primary outcome was the rate of ED visits for which the primary diagnosis was an “ambulatory-care-sensitive” condition by the Institute of Medicine, which we compared between control and intervention participants. Results During the study period, control participants had 310 ED visits for ACSCs, for a rate of 0.195 visits/person-year. Intervention participants visited the ED for ACSCs 85 times, for a rate of 0.138 visits/person-year [unadjusted rate ratio (RR): 0.71, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.53–0.94]. Among intervention participants, ED use for ACSCs decreased at an annual rate of 34% (RR: 0.661, 95% CI: 0.444–0.982), whereas, in the control group there was no statistically significant change in ED use over time (RR: 1.01, 95% CI: 0.90–1.14). Conclusions Providing acute illness care by high-intensity telemedicine to older adults residing in SLCs significantly decreases the rate of ED use for ACSCs over 1 year, compared with no change in the rate of ED use for ACSCs among the control group.
Chlamydia infection and epidemiology.

The intent of this introductory chapter is to review the nature and extent of the human burden of chlamydial disease and its complications and to describe the diseases and complications that are all too familiar to everyone involved in the clinical care of patients and in the larger public health efforts to control the chlamydial infections. Chlamydia causes substantial and important veterinary disease, but the author has mainly considered the human pathogens C. pneumoniae and C. trachomatis and the ability of different C. trachomatis serovars to cause diseases as distinct as ocular trachoma and sexually transmitted infections. A primary end point in human vaccine trials directed against genital disease might well be reduction in clinically apparent pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) rather than a reduction in infection acquisition; rate of incident infection, bacterial load, and infection duration may serve as secondary outcomes. The chapter focuses on infections caused by C. trachomatis and C. pneumoniae, since they are the common chlamydial infections in humans. Frequent treatment failures related to antibiotic resistance are not evident clinically. Several chronic diseases have been putatively linked to C. pneumoniae, including asthma and atherosclerosis. The major challenges to progress toward worldwide public health goals of reducing the burden of sequelae caused by C. trachomatis infections relate to the common clinical themes of prolonged infection, repeated infection, scarring complications of infection, and their underlying biological mechanisms.
TH-A-141-04: Localization and Quantification of Gold Nanoparticles Using L-Shell Fluorescence Imaging with a Benchtop X-Ray Source

Purpose: To develop a high sensitivity L‐shell x‐ray fluorescence imaging system that locates and quantifies sparse concentrations of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) using a polychromatic benchtop x‐ray source. Methods: An L‐shell x‐ray fluorescence imaging system was built with a benchtop polychromatic x‐ray source and a Si‐PIN detector. Water‐filled cylindrical tubes (12 mm in diameter) loaded with GNPs at 2%, 1%, 0.5%, 0.05%, and 0.005% GNP by weight were served as calibration phantoms. An imaging phantom was created using the same cylindrical tube but filled with water‐equivalent gel containing structures mimicking GNP‐loaded blood vessel and 1 cc tumor. The phantoms were irradiated by a 3‐mm diameter 65 kVp x‐rays filtered by 1 mm aluminum. Fluorescence/scatter photons from the phantoms were detected at 90° with respect to the beam direction using a Si‐PIN detector with a pin‐hole collimation. For the imaging phantom, the detector was translated horizontally and vertically in 0.3‐mm steps to create a 2‐D fluorescence image of the phantom. The net L‐shell fluorescence signal from GNPs was extracted from background, and then corrected for detector efficiency and in‐phantom attenuation using a fluorescence‐to‐scatter normalization algorithm. The corrected signal from the calibration phantoms was used to create a calibration curve showing a linear relationship between corrected fluorescence signal and GNP mass per image voxel. Results: The results suggest that the current setup can detect a GNP mass of 500 ng (or 0.5 ppm) contained within each image voxel (0.0173 cc). The 2‐D fluorescence image properly correlated the known spatial distribution and amount of GNPs within the imaging phantom. Conclusion: L‐shell fluorescence imaging can be a highly sensitive tool that has the capability of simultaneously imaging the spatial distribution and determining the local concentration of GNPs presented within ex‐vivo samples and superficial tumors during pre‐clinical small animal studies. Supported by NIH/NCI grant R01CA155446; NIH/NCI grant R01CA155446
Characterization of low pressure deposited diamond films by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

Abstract X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) has been utilized to study the electronic structure of carbon films grown by a low pressure hot filament assisted chemical vapor deposition technique with a view to optimizing the growth parameters for the diamond films. A constant flow of a mixture of high purity methane and hydrogen was maintained at a pressure of 25 Torr in the reaction chamber. The films were prepared at three different concentrations of methane: 0.25%, 0.5%, and 1.0% by density. The XPS C 1s core level and valence band spectra of these films are compared with those of graphite. Diamond has covalent sp 3 bonding while graphite has sp 2 bonding. XPS spectra exhibit features related to the difference in bonding. The plasmon loss shoulder (characteristic of graphite) associated with the main C 1s peak is found to be absent in the spectrum of films grown when the gas composition contains 0.25% methane, while it is found to build up with increasing concentration of methane. The binding energy position of the C 1s peak shows that appreciable charging occurs for the 0.25% methane concentration film. These results show that the films grown with 0.25% methane concentration closely resembled diamond. The valence band region for films grown using a gas composition consisting of 0.25% methane concentration shows considerable s-p mixing as compared with graphite. The core level and valence band results show that the film grown with a gas composition consisting of 0.5% methane concentration represents a composite of diamond and graphite. Scanning electron micrographs and Raman spectra support the conclusions drawn on the basis of XPS investigation.
The action of steroidal alkaloids on the ground meristem tissue of the root axis of lettuce seedlings.

Abstract Results from a histological study on the effect of steroidal alkaloids showed: (1) a progressive inhibitory effect from tomatine, solanine and chaconine on cell enlargement of the ground meristem tissue, (2) an increased necrosis and darkening of the outer ground meristem and protoderm, and (3) an increased lateral root initiation.
Genotoxicity assessment of hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX).

Hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine, a polynitramine compound, commonly known as RDX, has been used as an explosive in military munitions formulations since World War II. There is considerable data available regarding the toxicity and carcinogenicity of RDX. It has been classified as a possible carcinogen (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Integrated Risk Information System, 2005, www.epa.gov/IRIS/subst/0313.htm). In order to better understand its gentoxic potential, the authors conducted the in vitro mouse lymphoma forward mutation and the in vivo mouse bone marrow micronucleus assays. Pure RDX (99.99%) at concentrations ranging from 3.93 to 500 μg/ml showed no cytotoxicity and no mutagenicity in forward mutations at the thymidine kinase (TK) locus in L5178Y mouse lymphoma cells, with and without metabolic activation. This finding was also confirmed by repeat assays under identical conditions. In addition, RDX did not induce micronuclei in mouse bone marrow cells when tested to the maximum tolera...
Mixed tunneling and avalanche mechanisms in p-n junctions and their effects on microwave transit-time devices

Analytical models of dc and small-signal characteristics for Read-type diode structures are given which incorporate both tunneling and avalanche mechanisms. A "dead-space" analysis is shown to be fundamental to accurate models of thin generation regions. Pure tunneling and pure avalanche appear as the two limiting cases of the general models. In the pure tunneling limit, the diode oscillator will operate in the tunnel transit-time (TUNNETT) mode. The TUNNETT oscillator would be attractive for low-noise and medium power and efficiency applications. For diode structures which operate between the pure TUNNETT and IMPATT modes, there exists a noise performance-output power tradeoff. Computer solutions of the analytical models, for specific diode structures and operating conditions, are given, and the results are discussed and compared with experimental results whenever possible.
Computational Analysis of a Diesel Engine Autoignition, Combustion, and Emissions Using Injection Rate Shapes

Injection rate shaping is a method used to control the instantaneous mass flow rate of the fuel during an injection event. The rate at which the fuel is delivered affects the composition of the combustible mixture and its distribution in the combustion chamber, thereby has an impact on the combustion process in the diesel engine. This paper investigates the effects of five different types of injection rate shapes on diesel engine autoignition, combustion, and engine-out emission trends using a three-dimensional computational simulation approach. For this purpose, an n-heptane fuel model is utilized. Initially, a tophat rate-shape, characterized by the constant mass flow rate of the fuel, is assumed to represent the actual injection profile of an actual engine. Then, in order to develop sufficient confidence in the simulation predictions, this assumption together with the calibrated CFD models are validated by reproducing the cylinder gas pressure, the rate of heat release, and engine-out emissions trends for two sets of engine operating conditions. Later, using all the rate shapes the investigation is conducted for one test point considering two different cases of fuel injection: Case 1 - same SOI and duration of injection (DOI), and Case 2 - same combustion phasing and DOI.The results obtained from the computational analysis show that the injection rate shape affects the autoignition, combustion, and emissions of a diesel engine. It is observed that the rate shapes, characterized by high injection rates at the beginning of the injection event, enhance the formation of negative temperature coefficient (NTC) regime. Therefore, the mole fractions of different species are determined during the NTC regime in order to examine the processes relevant to the formation of the NTC regimes for these rate shapes. Further, for the same SOI and DOI case, significant differences in the ignition delays between each rate shapes are observed. The maximum deviation of the ignition delay from the reference tophat is found to be 37%. Furthermore, the paper highlights the differences in the cylinder gas pressure, gas temperature, and rate of heat release due to different fuel delivery rates of different rate shapes. Finally, the comparison of the engine-out emissions for different rate shapes for both the cases of injection are presented and discussed in detail.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Polymorphic Transitions in Anhydrous Sodium Sulphate

THE heat capacity of anhydrous sodium sulphate has been measured recently in a water calorimeter by Kreidl and Simon1, who observed only one high-temperature transition, at about 238° C. However, there are two known polymorphic transitions between room temperature and 300° C.: (1) the transformation of the stable low-temperature form V to the intermediate form III and (2) transformation of III to the stable high-temperature form I. The heat of transition observed by Kreidl and Simon was nearly equal to the sum of the heats of the two known transitions. They concluded that in the presence of water, the transition V→ I occurs directly and reversibly, and supported this conclusion with X-ray diffraction data. More recently, Bird2 has reported an irreversible transformation, V→ I, upon heating sodium sulphate in the absence of water. This occurred at a considerably lower temperature of about 176° C., and is based on comparison of high-temperature X-ray diffraction patterns.
Refractivity of Air in the Near Infrared

Recent measurements are reported for the refractive index of air in the infrared up to 2 microns. These are both absolute and relative in nature, the latter being more precise. It is concluded that the measurements support the validity of Edlen’s refractivity formula in this region.
Predicting the risk for aggression in the workplace: Risk factors, self-esteem and time at work.

Time spent at work was examined as a predictor of aggression experienced in the workplace relative to identifiable job risk factors and victim characteristics (i.e., self-esteem). Based on past research, it was expected that job risk factors and self-esteem would predict aggression experienced at work. The expectation that time spent at work predicts aggression in addition to these variables is premised on the assumption that increased "exposure" time increases the probability of being victimized. 115 students completed a survey on the aggression they experienced from others over the course of summer employment. A hierarchical regression analysis provided support for all propositions. Aggression experienced at work was significantly predicted by job risk factors, the target's self-esteem, and the number of hours worked per week, with the latter contributing an 8% increment in predicted variance.
The Role of Gonadal Hormones on Opioid Receptor Protein Density in Arthritic Rats

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of the gonadal hormones on the opioid receptor protein levels of Freund's adjuvant-treated (arthritic) male and female Lewis rats. Following a paw pressure nociception assay, the midbrain and spinal cord tissues were collected for comparison of mu, delta, and kappa opioid receptor protein levels. The effects of Freund's adjuvant-induced hyperalgesia resulted in significantly decreased nociception thresholds in both males and females, compared to vehicle treated animals in the paw pressure test. It was hypothesized that the presence or lack thereof of gonadal hormones would alter nociception, an effect temporally correlated with a change in opioid receptor protein expression. Nociceptive thresholds were altered by arthritis in both sexes, but not further altered by gonadal changes in males. A small, but significant increase in threshold was shown in ovariectomized females. In spite of the small gonadal-induced changes in the nociceptive threshold sensitivity to pressure, significant changes in the plasticity of the opioid system were observed. There was a significant increase in kappa opioid receptor protein levels in the spinal cord of arthritic ovariectomized females. Mu opioid receptor and kappa opioid receptor protein levels in the spinal cord tissue of non-arthritic male rats were significantly higher than in arthritic rats, a difference eliminated by gonadectomy. Gonadectomy produced similar results in the mu opioid receptor protein level in the male midbrain tissue as well. Sex differences were observed in both the mu and kappa opioid receptor protein levels. The spinal cord tissue of male rats, regardless of the presence of gonads or arthritis displayed significantly greater levels of mu opioid receptor protein levels than females. The removal of gonadal hormones appears to have opposite effects in males and females in terms of opioid receptor proteins, but not nociception as quantified by the paw pressure test. The role of changes in the plasticity of the opioid systems in response to arthritis or gonadal hormones remains to be elucidated.
Freeze-preservation of protozoa

In this presentation an attempt will be made to summarize briefly our present state of knowledge pertaining to the freeze-preservation of protozoa. Most of the accomplishments in this field have been concerned chiefly with the development of preservation techniques. Accordingly, t’his summary will deal primarily with the technological aspects of the subject. In particular, it will cover protective agents and t,heir use, cooling rates employed in freezing, storage temperatures, and methods of thawing frozen samples. The use of freezing techniques for the preservation of living protozoa was first instituted by Coggeshall in 1939.’ Prior investigations into the effects of flreezing on protozoa, which, according to Smith,“” extend back t,o the work of Antony van Leeuwenhoek in the 17th century, dealt primarily with observations on resistance of protozoa to low temperatures (see Luyet and Gehenio,” and Smit,h3” for reviews of early literature). In the pioneering investigations of Coggeshall’ the erythrocytic stages of two malaria parasites, Plasmodium knowlesi and P. inui, were frozen at -76”C, and a.fter storage at this temperature for 70 days were shown to have retained both viability a,nd pathogenicity. Encouraged by this demonstration, other investigators attempted the freeze-preservation of different species of protozoa as well as the preservation of other malaria parasites. As a result of these efforts, some 44 species representing 9 families ha,ve been preserved in this manner. All except one, Tetrahymena pyriformis, are parasitic. A list of species which have been freezepreserved is presented in Table 1. It includes only those species for which a successful storage time of seven or more days has been recorded.
A Hydrodynamic Model for the Formation of the Galactic Center “Minicavity”

The minicavity in the streamer to the southwest of the dynamical center of the Galaxy and the unique, nonthermal radio source Sgr A* appear to be physically connected by a chain of plasma "blobs" that may be in transit from the latter to the former. Recent observations at radio and infrared wavelengths have provided clear evidence that the cavity has an opening radius of ~1'' ≈ 0.04 pc and radiates with a power Lcav ≈ 6 × 1037 ergs s-1. Here, we model the formation of the cavity as the result of an impact between the streamer gas and the post-bow shock gas collimated by a massive (~106 M☉) black hole coincident with Sgr A*. Multiwavelength observations, including those of He I, Brα, and Brγ line emission in the inner ~0.3 pc region of the Galaxy provide strong evidence for the presence of an ambient Galactic center wind with velocity vw ≈ 500-700 km s-1 and mass-loss rate ~3-4 × 10-3 M☉ yr-1. We show that the Bondi-Hoyle process responsible for the accretion of ~1022 g s-1 by Sgr A* also produces a downstream, focused flow with a radius very similar to that of the minicavity and a mechanical luminosity about 2.5 larger than Lcav. In addition, the size and density of the blobs appear to be consistent with the gas characteristics in this flow.
Content Analysis of the Pond Management Literature

Abstract Pond management information available to the public was assessed by content analysis of the 56 educational bulletins provided by 79 state and federal agencies in 43 states. This review indicated that an abundance and a high diversity of pond management information is available to the public in most states, except for those (primarily western states) with limited surface water resources. Certain pond management practices (stocking, population balance, weed control, fertilization, and construction) dominated the literature; fish health, habitat management, and socioeconomic aspects were treated less comprehensively. Suggested improvements to subsequent bulletins include: (1) updating the content to reflect changes in management knowledge; (2) clarifying the economic and ecological consequences of herbicide, piscicide, and fertilization applications; (3) expanding coverage to include socioeconomic benefits and liabilities of ownership; (4) developing regional or multistate sponsored bulletins to fac...
Measurement of mutual diffusion coefficients and thermal diffusivities by quasi‐elastic light scattering

Quasi-elastic light scattering techniques have been employed to measure the mutual diffusion coefficient DAB as a function of concentration in eight binary mixtures and the thermal diffusivity x in nine pure liquids and two binary mixtures. The mass diffusivities obtained are typically accurate to 3% while thermal diffusivities are known to be accurate to 5%; both types of values are in substantial agreement with the available bulk values. Under most circumstances light scattering is found to offer distinct advantages over the standard techniques for determining mass and thermal diffusivities.
Who knew this "experiment" would be so successful?

Focus Center Research Program executive director Betsy Weitzman looks back at the genesis of the FCRP, and looks forward to more groundbreaking research through multiuniversity collaboration and an industry-government-academia partnership.
Japanese Immigration Policy at a Turning Point

This article looks into how the Japanese government has recently been changing policies and discourses on immigration. I begin by sketching the historical background of immigration policy. Then, I discuss policies, proposals and reports made in the 2000s, paying close attention to documents produced after 2005. Since then, the Japanese government, confronting the domestic problem of demographic change and the global competition for human resources, has become seriously concerned about the integration of foreign residents and has also come to engage with the question of how to expand the admission of foreign workers. In discussing this change, I am particularly interested in shedding light on how the idea of multiculturalism has been applied to the context of Japan, as this idea presents a challenge to the dominant discourse of mono-ethnicity in postwar Japan. Japanese immigration policy is at a turning point not only in the sense that it has become more inclusive but also in the sense that it has come to ...
Particulate and trace gas emissions from prescribed burns in southeastern U.S. fuel types: Summary of a 5-year project

Management of smoke from prescribed fires requires knowledge of fuel quantity and the amount and composition of the smoke produced by the fire to minimize adverse impacts on human health. A five-year study produced new emissions information for more than 100 trace gases and particulate matter in smoke for fuel types found in the southern United States of America using state-of-the-art instrumentation in both laboratory and field experiments. Emission factors for flaming, smoldering, and residual smoldering were developed. Agreement between laboratory and field-derived emission factors was generally good in most cases. Reference spectra of over 50 wildland fire gas-phase smoke components were added to a publicly-available database to support identification via infrared spectroscopy. Fuel loading for the field experiments was similar to previously measured fuels. This article summarizes the results of a five-year study to better understand the composition of smoke during all phases of burning for such forests.
Thermodynamics of complexation of aqueous 18-crown-6 with potassium ion: apparent molar volumes and apparent molar heat capacities of aqueous 18-crown-6 and of the (18-crown-6 + potassium chloride) complex at temperatures (278.15 to 393.15) K, at molalities (0.02 to 0.3) mol · kg−1, and at the pressure 0.35 MPa

Abstract We have measured the densities at temperatures T = (278.15 to 363.15) K and heat capacities at T = (278.15 to 393.15) K of aqueous solutions of 18-crown-6 and of (18-crown-6 + KCl) at molalities m = (0.02 to 0.3) mol · kg−1 and at the pressure 0.35 MPa. We have calculated apparent molar volumes Vϕ and apparent molar heat capacities Cp,ϕ for 18-crown-6(aq), and we have applied Young’s Rule and have accounted for chemical speciation and relaxation effects to resolve Vϕ and Cp,ϕ for the (18-crown-6: K+,Cl−)(aq) complex in the mixture. We have also calculated estimates of the change in volume ΔrVm, the change in heat capacity ΔrCp,m, the change in enthalpy ΔrHm, and the equilibrium quotient log Q for formation of the complex at T = (278.15 to 393.15) K and m = (0 to 0.3) mol · kg−1.
Magnetic susceptibility of instrument materials below iok

Abstract Measurements were made of the magnetic susceptibility in the temperature range 2K–10K of twenty-nine samples of materials and components used in the construction of cryogenic instruments. The use of SQUID-based superconducting susceptometers allowed high resolution. The data was fitted to a Curie law form and the values of the coefficients were determined. The remanent magnetization at 2K of several of the samples was also measured.
An All Digital Implementation of Constant Envelope: Bandwidth Efficient GMSK Modem using Advanced Digital Signal Processing Techniques

Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying (GMSK) has been the most common modulation format belonging to the class of partial response Continuous Phase Modulation (CPM) scheme. It is primarily adopted in the GSM standards (B=0.3) for land mobile radio communication systems because of its high bandwidth efficiency and constant envelope modulation characteristics. The focus of this paper is the design of the demodulator wherein we demonstrate an all digital implementation of sub-optimal synchronization techniques for a GMSK modem based on two Laurent Amplitude modulation pulse (AMP) streams approximation representing the matched filter. In this all digital implementation, we perform a joint estimation of the symbol timing and carrier offset wherein the symbol timing is performed using interpolation techniques.
Effective anonymization of query logs

User search query logs have proven to be very useful, but have vast potential for misuse. Several incidents have shown that simple removal of identifiers is insufficient to protect the identity of users. Publishing such inadequately anonymized data can cause severe breach of privacy. While significant effort has been expended on coming up with anonymity models and techniques for microdata, there is little corresponding work for query log data. Query logs are different in several important aspects, such as the diversity of queries and the causes of privacy breach. This necessitates the need to design privacy models and techniques specific to this environment. This paper takes a first cut at tackling this challenge. Our main contribution is to define effective anonymization models for query log data along with proposing techniques to achieve such anonymization. We analyze the inherent utility and privacy tradeoff, and experimentally validate the performance of our techniques.
Laser light scattering spectroscopic immunoassay in the agglutination-inhibition mode for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and human luteinizing hormone (hLH).

Abstract A laser light scattering immunoassay was used to measure concentrations of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and human luteinizing hormone (hLH) in urine. In this assay quasi-elastic light scattering spectroscopy is used to detect the inhibiting effect of hCG and hLH on an hCG-hLH co-specific rabbit antibody, which acts to agglutinate hCG coated latex spheres. The results obtained with this assay are quantitatively accurate and the sensitivity of the assay is found to be about 0.015 i.u. (U.S.P. standard)/ml of hCG or hLH experiment. This sensitivitiy permitted the measurement of the pituitary hLH stimulus for ovulation in the menstrual cycle. The agglutination-inhibition mode permits one to assay for a wide variety of molecules including haptenes.
Puma Lentivirus Is Controlled in Domestic Cats after Mucosal Exposure in the Absence of Conventional Indicators of Immunity

A high percentage of free-ranging pumas (Felis concolor) are infected with feline lentiviruses (puma lentivirus, feline immunodeficiency virus Pco [FIV-Pco], referred to here as PLV) without evidence of disease. PLV establishes productive infection in domestic cats following parenteral exposure but, in contrast to domestic cat FIV, it does not cause T-cell dysregulation. Here we report that cats exposed to PLV oro-nasally became infected yet rapidly cleared peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) proviral load in the absence of a correlative specific immune response. Two groups of four specific-pathogen-free cats were exposed to PLV via the mucosal (oro-nasal) or parenteral (i.v.) route. All animals were PBMC culture positive and PCR positive within 3 weeks postinfection and seroconverted without exhibiting clinical disease; however, three or four oro-nasally infected animals cleared circulating proviral DNA within 3 months. Antibody titers reached higher levels in animals that remained persistently infected. PLV antigen-induced proliferation was slightly greater in mucosally inoculated animals, but no differences were noted in cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses or cytokine profiles between groups. The distribution of virus was predominantly gastrointestinal as opposed to lymphoid in all animals in which virus was detected at necropsy. Possible mechanisms for viral clearance include differences in viral fitness required for crossing mucosal surfaces, a threshold dose requirement for persistence, or an undetected sterilizing host immune response. This is the first report of control of a productive feline or primate lentivirus infection in postnatally exposed, seropositive animals. Mechanisms underlying this observation will provide clues to containment of immunodeficiency disease and could prompt reexamination of vaccine-induced immunity against human immunodeficiency virus and other lentiviruses.
Computer simulation of a continuous membrane column

Abstract The continuous membrane column can be viewed as a general case of a single stage membrane permeator. By altering the feed location, other permeator arrangements are realized including the conventional permeator and the recycle permeator. Due to stability considerations, a new numerical technique is required in order to develop a reasonable optimization scheme. Orthogonal collocation is found to be a good technique for this purpose. Results of the two methods are compared for the separation of O 2 and N 2 .