cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Formation of metastable structures and amorphous phases in Pu-based systems using the sputtering technique

The triode sputtering technique with a split-target arrangement was used to obtain metastable crystalline and amorphous phases in ten binary systems of Pu with Si, Al, V, Fe, Co, Pd, Ta, Re, Os, and Ir. In addition to metastable extensions of solid solubility occurring from the binary sides of some systems, wide ranges of metallic glass formation have been observed in several systems. Extended bcc solid solution ranges were observed in Pu-Ta and Pu-V systems. Unlike in the case of many liquid-quenched alloys, the ranges of amorphous phase formation obtained with sputtering appear to have little to do with the form of the corresponding phase diagram. However, the extent of the observed ranges on the Pu-rich side was found to obey approximately the atomic size mismatch relationship. The nearest neighbor distances (NNDs) evaluated with X-ray diffraction show many unusual deviations from an assumed Vegard’s Law, which can be interpreted in relation to the changing electronic configuration of the Pu atom when present in different environments. Exposure of several amorphous alloys to severe oxidation environments did not results in observable corrosion.
Behavioral resistance to the sterile insect technique by Mediterranean fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Hawaii

A pilot test of the sterile insect technique (SIT) program against the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), in coffee plantations in Hawaii failed after several years of continuous releases apparently, at least in part, because native C. capitata females from the treated area on Kauai altered their mating preferences and began rejecting most laboratory-reared males during courtship. In outdoor field cage experiments, females from other non-SIT Hawaiian islands did not change their mating preferences over the same period and accepted laboratory males 5–10 times more often than did resistant Kauai females. Two indices were devised to quantify the degrees of mating compatibility between laboratory-reared, sterilized flies and wild flies. The relative isolation index compares the numbers of homotypic (laboratory to laboratory or wild to wild) matings with heterotypic (laboratory to wild) matings, thus measuring the extent of departure from random mating conditions. The relative sterility index measures the proportion of wild females mating with laboratory males, thus providing a field cage level estimate of induced sterility. The results and implications of a series of field cage mating tests are discussed in the context of tephritid SIT programs worldwide.
Horizons in Therapy for Corneal Angiogenesis

Corneal neovascularization can lead to a devastating disease process that involves the breakdown of the limbal barrier and the formation of blood vessels in the cornea, leading to severe visual impairment. This review discusses the delicate balance between antiangiogenic and angiogenic factors that govern the antiangiogenic privilege of the cornea. Current treatment methods, clinical trials, and future prospects in the management of corneal neovascularization also are discussed.
The spatial distribution of pollutant transport to and from indoor surfaces

Abstract Spatial distributions in surface flux and concentrations complicate the assessment of indoor mass-transfer coefficients and can bias the resulting estimates of indoor exposure. To better understand these phenomena, we quantify the spatial distribution of ozone flux and mass-transfer coefficients for indoor surfaces in several field locations using NaNO2 coated filters. The 12-h average transport-limited deposition velocity for ozone, v ¯ t , ozone , corrected for the diameter of the filters, ranged from 1.2 m h−1 on a wall to 18.7 m h−1 near an operating recirculation supply vent in an apartment. For 10 filters distributed evenly around walls of a laboratory, large multi-person office, apartment with recirculation on (excluding a near-supply vent sample) and apartment with recirculation off, the average v ¯ t , ozone were respectively, 3.3±1.1, 3.5±1.3, 2.8±0.8 and 2.3±0.8 m h−1. We observed (1) a tighter distribution of flux for filters placed near one-another than for filters separated by greater than one meter, (2) higher fluxes near sources of air movement such as supply vents and computers, and (3) consistent results in a single location over 5 days. Measurements obtained with devices such as coated filters can be corrected for size by using a range of device sizes during an experiment. We find the mass-transfer coefficient in a room-sized laboratory chamber to be proportional to the device diameter raised to the power of −0.45.
Bioventing for in situ remediation

Abstract The availability of oxygen generally controls the rate at which aerobic in situ bioremediation proceeds. Bioventing, which couples soil venting with bioremediation, is often the most effective means of supplying oxygen to unsaturated zone soil. Laboratory treatability studies were conducted which showed that bioventing could be successfully applied to compounds ranging from light hydrocarbons, such as gasoline or diesel, to heavier hydrocarbons, such as fuel oils, as well as other volatile and semivolatile compounds. In many cases, the promotion of biological activity through the addition of nutrients and moisture, and optimization of the bioventing flow rates, may achieve greater contaminant reductions than venting alone.
Bis(indenyl)hafnium chemistry: ligand-induced haptotropic rearrangement and fundamental reactivity studies at a reduced hafnium center

The chemistry of reduced bis(indenyl)hafnium compounds has been explored. Sodium amalgam reduction of (η5-C9H5-1,3-(SiMe3)2)2HfCl2 was studied in several different solvents. While reduction in tolu...
Thermodynamic Stability and Flexibility of CXC Chemokines

Chemokines are a family of small signaling proteins that are responsible for an array of biological processes ranging from the chemotaxis of leukocytes to more general homeostatic activities. Despite a high conservation of tertiary structures across all chemokine subfamilies, the quaternary structures of CC and CXC dimers differ greatly. The configuration of a dimer is largely controlled by residue interactions at the inter-monomer interface. Moreover, different chemokines can mix to form heterodimers, if the residue interactions at the interface are energetically and sterically more favorable leading to a lower energy state. Importantly, the biological activity of individual chemokines changes significantly due to their heterodimerization, therefore it is critical to predict which heterodimers will form. However, due to the complexity of residue interactions, this task is both computationally expensive and experimentally exhaustive. In this study, we focus on a CXC-type chemokine CXCL7 and investigate the properties of CXCL7 monomer as compared to the CXCL7 dimer in an attempt to better understand the physico-chemical basis of CXC dimer formation. We apply a computational model called the minimum Distance Constraint Model (mDCM) to obtain quantitative stability/flexibility relationship (QSFR) for CXCL7, including the free energy landscape as a function of protein flexibility, backbone and side-chain flexibility profiles and co-rigid/co-flexible residue-residue couplings. The unfolding of CXCL7 is followed experimentally using circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy in order to obtain the necessary thermodynamic data for the parameterization of mDCM. This study is our first step towards predicting the interactions between chemokines leading to the formation of dimers vs. heterodimers and to gain the insight on how the protein-protein interface affects functional activity.
The impact of interdisciplinary research in the environmental sciences: a forestry case study

Interdisciplinary research has been identified as a critical means of addressing some of our planet's most urgent environmental problems. Yet relatively little is known about the processes and impacts of interdisciplinary approaches to environmental sciences. This study used citation analysis and ordinary least squares regression to investigate the relationship between an article's citation rate and its degree of interdisciplinarity in one area of environmental science; viz., forestry. Three types of interdisciplinarity were recognized: authorship, subject matter, and cited literature, and each was quantified using Brillouin's diversity index. Data consisted of more than 750 articles published in the journal Forest Science during the 10-year period 1985-1994. The results indicate that borrowing was the most influential method of interdisciplinary information transfer. Articles that drew information from a diverse set of journals were cited with greater frequency than articles having smaller or more narrowly focused bibliographies. This finding provides empirical evidence that interdisciplinary methods have made a measurable and positive impact on the forestry literature.
The prevalence of allergic skin test reactivity to eight common aeroallergens in the U.S. population: Results from the second National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Abstract Immediate hypersensitivity skin tests to eight select allergens were performed on a sample (N = 16,204) of the civilian noninstitutional population of the United States, 6 to 74 years of age, in the second National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES II). The eight allergens were house dust, cat, dog, Alternaria, mixed giant/short ragweed, oak, perennial ryegrass, and Bermuda grass. Skin test reactivity was defined as a mean erythema diameter ⩾10.5 mm at the 20-minute reading. Overall, 20.2% of the participants reacted to at least one allergen. Peak reactivity occurred in the 12 to 24-year-old age group. Reactivity was higher in blacks versus whites, but the difference did not reach statistical significance (23.2% versus 19.8%; p >0.05). Male participants had an increased prevalence of reactivity versus female participants in whites (22.0% versus 17.6%), but not in blacks (23.2% versus 23.3%). Skin test reactivity increased in both whites and blacks with increasing income and education. The prevalence of skin test reactivity was higher in urban versus rural areas, but the difference was statistically significant only for whites (whites, 21.6% versus 16.4%; blacks, 23.8% versus 18.4%; p >0.05). With logistic regression, the most important predictors of skin test reactivity in whites were age, sex, urban residence, and poverty status. In blacks, the most important predictors were age, urban residence, and poverty status.
Orbitally degenerate spin-fluctuation model for heavy-fermion superconductivity.

In this paper, a generalization of standard spin-fluctuation theory is considered by replacing the simple Hubbard interaction by the screened Hartree-Fock interaction for [ital f] electrons. This model is then used in both an [ital LS] and a [ital JJ] coupling scheme to construct the particle-particle scattering vertex. In an on-site approximation, this vertex is shown to lead to an instability for a superconducting pair state which obeys Hunds rules, with [ital L]=5, [ital S]=1, and [ital J]=4, whereas for near-neighbor pairing, the most attractive instability is for [ital J]=0. The degeneracy of these multiplets is broken by anisotropy of the quasiparticle wave functions. Detailed calculations are presented for the case of UPt[sub 3].
Representational complexity of reactive agents

Reactive agents are an important part of video games and numerous tools have emerged to facilitate the rapid construction of such agents. While the ability of the commonly used reactive techniques to express agent specifications is roughly equivalent, the authorial burden of constructing these specifications varies. In practice, this means that identical agent behavior may be more difficult to create in some architectures than others. In this paper we introduce the notion of representational complexity that relates to the authorial burden of constructing such agents and theoretically compare the representational complexity of finite state machines, behavior trees, and subsumption architectures. Our key finding is that hierarchical subsumption architectures have significantly lower representational complexity as compared to hierarchical finite state machines and behavior trees, which makes subsumption the best choice when developing authoring tools for non-expert users.
The planning, execution, and evaluation of a breast cancer detection awareness program

A Breast Cancer Detection Awareness Program (BCDAP) was conducted in Western New York during the spring of 1987 in conjunction with a national effort by the American Cancer Society. The importance of screening mammography was promoted by public education through the media combined with promotion of breast cancer screening services available from 26 health care providers. Women were instructed to call a hot line to receive a coupon for a low-cost mammogram, if eligible to participate. A provider directory was included to facilitate scheduling appointments. The program resulted in 6,355 women requesting a coupon. From this population 3,178 women utilized the coupon to receive a mammogram. Although the screening rate of 50% was encouraging, approximately half of the callers to the hot line did not receive a mammogram. To increase the screening rate in future programs, it would be useful to determine why some women did not take advantage of the discount coupon.
Early encounters, lifetime effects: hormones in the intrauterine environment.

, the proapoptotic neurotrophinreceptor, also increased by 48 h afterinjury. Estradiol treatment attenuatedthese markers of apoptosis, stronglysuggesting that it exerts its neuroprotectiveactions by suppressing factors thatmediate apoptotic pathways of cell death.These studies complement others thatsuggest that estradiol acts on multiplesteps of the apoptotic pathway to tip thebalance in favor of cell survival and todecrease the chances of cell death.An important aspect of the currentstudy is that it was performed on malegerbils. This confirms the findings ofothers that estradiol is protective in bothsexes [2–4]. The data suggest that ifestrogens could be designed so that theydid not feminize but exerted protectiveactions, they would be useful therapies formen as well as women.
Mapping the Territories of Privacy: Textual Analysis of Privacy Frames in American Mainstream News

In the attempt to shed light on the multifaceted complexity of privacy, this paper explores the frames that emerged in American coverage of privacy since the 1980s. Informed by framing theory, this study assumes that media frames represent an important component of how society approaches and discusses issues. The author collected 2,473 articles covering privacy published in three timeframes. The author identified seven frames of privacy and developed dictionaries to automate frame detection. Then, the author explored the occurrence and co-occurrence of frames combining qualitative and quantitative textual analysis techniques. Results reveal that American media consistently implement four main frames: the value of truth, expected flow, fundamental privacy, and trading privacy. Three secondary frames emerge: privacy is dead, relationships, and users' responsibility. Results also reveal that the framing of privacy as a fundamental value is declining whereas the portrayal of the commercial value of personal data is increasing.
Helianthus annuus ssp. texanus has chloroplast DNA and nuclear ribosomal RNA genes of Helianthus debilis ssp. cucumerifolius.

Abstract Heiser [Heiser, C. B. (1951) Evolution 5, 42-51] hypothesized that Helianthus annuus ssp. texanus was derived by the introduction of H. annuus into Texas and subsequent introgression of genes from Helianthus debilis ssp. cucumerifolius into H. annuus. Although often considered to be one of the best cases of introgression in plants, alternative hypotheses to introgression, such as convergence or the joint retention of the ancestral condition, could not be ruled out in the original study. To test for the occurrence of introgression we examined 14 populations of H. annuus ssp. texanus, 14 allopatric populations of H. annuus, and three populations of H. debilis ssp. cucumerifolius with reference to diagnostic chloroplast DNA and nuclear ribosomal DNA markers. Thirteen of the 14 populations of H. annuus ssp. texanus had chloroplast DNA and/or ribosomal DNA markers of H. debilis ssp. cucumerifolius. In contrast, no chloroplast DNA or ribosomal DNA markers of H. debilis ssp. cucumerifolius were found in the 14 allopatric populations of H. annuus. Our findings provide strong support, therefore, for the hypothesized introgressive origin of H. annuus ssp. texanus.
Communicating efficiently on cluster based grids with MPICH-VMI

Emerging infrastructure of computational grids composed of clusters-of-clusters (CoC) interlinked through high throughput channels promises unprecedented raw compute power for terascale applications. Projects such as the NSF Teragrid and EU Datagrid deploy CoCs across multiple geographical sites providing tens ofteraflops. Efficient scaling of terascale applications on these grids poses a challenge due to the heterogeneous nature of the resources (operating systems and SANs) present at each site that makes interoperability among multiple clusters difficult. In addition, due to the enormous disparity in latency and throughput of the channels within the SAN and those interlinking multiple clusters, these CoC grids contain deep communication hierarchies that prohibit efficient scaling of tightly-coupled applications. We present a design of a grid-enabled MPI called MPICH-VMI for running terascale applications over CoC based computational grids. MPICH- VMI is based on MPICH implementation of MPI 1.1 standard and utilizes a middleware messaging library called the virtual machine interface (VMI). VM enables MPICH- VMI to communicate over heterogeneous networks common in CoC based grid. MPICH-VMI also features novel optimizations for hiding communication hierarchies present in CoC based grids. We also present some preliminary results with MPICH-VMI running on the TeraGridfor MPl benchmarks and applications.
Use of Advanced Information Technologies for Marine Accident Data Analysis Visualization and Quality Control

With increasing attention being given to vulnerable U.S. transportation system infrastructure, several different types of risk assessments are being performed. As this applies to marine transportation, one area of risk analysis is safe transport on the inland waterway network. Along the approximately 10,000 miles of navigable waterway in the United States reside major bridges, locks and dams, and population centers. Not only could an incident affect human health, property, and the ecology, but were it to make the network impassable, this could also cause a ripple effect throughout the U.S. economy. This article explores how advanced information technology can be used for identification and visualization of hazardous locations along U.S. navigable waterways. The initial intent of this research was to identify these locations using Geographic Information Systems technology. However, it soon became apparent that there were significant quality issues with the U.S. Coast Guard accident data. Consequently, visu...
Frostbite: Review and Current Concepts

Background: A literature review was conducted to analyze developments in the epidemiology, pathogenesis, treatment, and prevention of frostbite injury. Increased participation in outdoor activities, as well as the epidemic of homelessness, makes knowledge of the treatment of frostbite crucial for physicians in both rural and urban areas. Methods: A literature search, using the key words “frostbite” and “cold,” was done using MEDUNE and Index Medicos. This search focused on the epidemiology, pathogenesis, treatment, and prevention of frostbite. Results: Research done during the past 15 years has clarified the pathogenesis of frostbite injury and led to a better understanding of how to limit tissue loss. The etiology of frostbite is commonly related to alcohol use, psychiatric illness, or motor vehicle problems. The pathogenesis is linked to tissue freezing, hypoxia, and the release of inflammatory mediators. The initial clinical manifestations of frostbite injury are similar for superficial and deep tissue damage, so early treatment is identical for all injuries. Optimum therapy is based on the rapid reversal of tissue freezing by rewarming in 1 04-108°F water and the institution of oral and topical antiprostaglandin therapy to limit the release of inflammatory mediators. Conclusion: Rapid triage and treatment of frostbite can lead to dramatic improvements in outcome and prognosis. Increased awareness of antiprostaglandin therapy and preventive measures is crucial for physicians in diverse practice environments.
Treatment of Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis Using Homeopathic Preparation of Common Allergens in the Southwest Region of the US: A Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial

BACKGROUND:Studies using homeopathy have reported beneficial effects from treating allergy-related conditions.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of a homeopathic drug prepared from common allergens (tree, grass, weed species) specific to the Southwest region of the US.METHODS:A 4-week, double-blind clinical trial comparing homeopathic preparations with placebo was conducted in the Phoenix metropolitan area during the regional allergy season from February to May. Participants included 40 men and women, 26–63 years of age, diagnosed with moderate to severe seasonal allergic rhinitis symptoms. Study outcomes included allergy-specific symptoms using the rhinoconjunctivitis quality-of-life questionnaire (RQLQ), functional quality of life using the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (MOS SF-36), and the work productivity and activity impairment (WPAI) questionnaire.RESULTS:Scales from the RQLQ, MOS SF-36, and WPAI questionnaire showed significant positive changes from baseline to 4 weeks in the homeopathic ...
Variants of thymic stromal lymphopoietin and its receptor associate with eosinophilic esophagitis

Background The genetic cause of eosinophilic esophagitis (EE) has been largely unexplored until a recent genome-wide association study identified a disease susceptibility locus on 5q22, a region that harbors the thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) gene. However, it is unclear whether the observed genetic associations with EE are disease-specific or confounded by the high rate of allergy in patients with EE. In addition, the genetic contributions of other allergy-associated genes to EE risk have not been explored. Objective We aimed to delineate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that associated with EE apart from allergy. Methods We used a custom array containing 738 SNPs in 53 genes implicated in allergic responses, immune responses, or both to genotype 220 allergic or 246 nonallergic control subjects and a discovery cohort of 170 patients with EE. We replicated a statistically significant SNP association in an independent case-control cohort and examined the induction of the candidate gene in primary esophageal epithelial cells. Results A single SNP residing in the TSLP gene reached Bonferroni linkage disequilibrium–adjusted significance but only when patients with EE were compared with allergic control subjects (rs10062929; P = 4.11 × 10 −5 ; odds ratio, 0.35). A nonsynonymous polymorphism in the thymic stromal lymphopoietin receptor (TSLPR) gene on Xp22.3 and Yp11.3 was significantly associated with disease only in male patients with EE. Primary esophageal epithelial cells expressed TSLP mRNA after Toll-like receptor 3 stimulation. Conclusion These data collectively identify TSLP as a candidate gene critically involved in EE susceptibility beyond its role in promoting T H 2 responses.
A Chick Battery Brooder Designed for Nutritional Research

Abstract EXPERIENCE with commercial types of chick battery brooders at this laboratory has show that they possess many features which are objectionable for nutritional research purposes, although not necessarily so for commercial use. Accordingly, a battery brooder was designed from the nutritional research standpoint. Two of these have been built and have been in use for more than a a year with very satisfactory performance. Advantages for the design illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 3 are several; namely: 1. Chick cages are entirely separate from each other. They have separate food and water troughs and droppings pans. Each cage can be removed independently of the others. This in a convenience when weighing or examining chicks. 2. There is no possibility of accidental transfer of food or water between cages or of contact between chicks in different cages. 3. The electrical heating system employs two 250 watt heating units giving a . . .
The Precious and the Precocious: Understanding Cumulative Disadvantage and Cumulative Advantage Over the Life Course

The explanation of increasing heterogeneity and inequality within aging cohorts is a central concern of the life-course perspective and common ground for demographers, economists, historians, sociologists, and psychologists alike. Income and wealth inequality among the aged is one area of shared interest where cross-disciplinary fertilization is occurring. While indices of aged economic inequality applied across different data sets replicate the level of inequality among the elderly, theoretical and methodological concerns are focused more and more on identifying and specifying the long-term interactions between institutional and life-course processes producing this outcome. Institutional mechanisms incorporated in opportunity structures such as labor markets and pensions stratify the availability of resources and rewards, and they interact with life-course processes related to labor force history and job mobility to produce complex patterns of cumulative advantage and cumulative disadvantage. However, the examination of long-term mechanisms of stratification requires finer-grained observations of work, employer, and pension histories than current data-collection strategies afford. Two biases--the steady worker bias and the one pension bias--are inherent in most longitudinal data bases and hamper progress in our understanding of the production of aged inequality.
Is a long-acting inhaled bronchodilator the first agent to use in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease?

Purpose of review This article reviews findings from recently published randomized controlled clinical trials to address the question whether a long-acting inhaled bronchodilator should be the initial choice for maintenance therapy in patients with stable, symptomatic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Recent findings Results of recent clinical trials suggest that a long-acting inhaled bronchodilator, either once-daily tiotropium or twice-daily salmeterol or formoterol, has advantages over a regularly-scheduled short-acting anticholinergic inhaled bronchodilator (ipratropium) as initial maintenance therapy in patients with at least moderate, stable, symptomatic COPD (forced expired volume in 1 second ≤ 60-70% predicted; mean, ~37-45% predicted). For tiotropium, these advantages encompass several important outcomes, including lung function, rescue inhaler use, dyspnea, frequency of exacerbations, and hospitalization for COPD, in addition to greater convenience and therefore potentially better adherence to prescribed therapy, whereas side effects are similar except for a greater incidence of dry mouth. Summary Current evidence supports the recommendation of the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease guidelines of at least one of the two classes of long-acting inhaled bronchodilators as initial maintenance therapy for symptomatic COPD. In patients who do not respond satisfactorily to tiotropium or a long-acting inhaled β-agonist as the initially prescribed single maintenance agent, the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease guidelines recommend the addition of the alternate class of long-acting inhaled bronchodilator as the next step. Further clinical trials are required to investigate whether this recommendation is preferable to that of adding an inhaled corticosteroid, which has been shown to have additive benefits to those of a long-acting β-agonist with respect to bronchodilation and, variably, dyspnea, rescue bronchodilator use, and quality of life. The choice of agents will depend ultimately on how well the patient responds to a trial of the drug in terms of both efficacy and side effects, and patient preference and cost.
The Effects of Snow Depth Forcing on Southern Ocean Sea Ice Simulations

The spatial and temporal distribution of snow on sea ice is an important factor for sea ice and climate models. First, it acts as an efficient insulator between the ocean and the atmosphere, and second, snow is a source of fresh water for altering the already weak Southern Ocean stratification. For the Antarctic, where the ice thickness is relatively thin, snow can impact the ice thickness in two ways: a) As mentioned above snow on sea ice reduces the ocean-atmosphere heat flux and thus reduces freezing at the base of the ice flows; b) a heavy snow load can suppress the ice below sea level which causes flooding and, with subsequent freezing, a thickening of the sea ice (snow-to-ice conversion). In this paper, we compare different snow fall paramterizations (incl. the incorporation of satellite-derived snow depth) and study the effect on the sea ice using a sea ice model.
Threshold-based priority policies for parallel-server systems with affinity scheduling

We study the dynamic scheduling of multiclass parallel-server stochastic networks and propose a general class of threshold-based priority policies. A number of examples are considered to illustrate the use of our algorithm for determining the placement of thresholds and to quantify the benefits of the proposed policies. We derive approximate formulas for the queue lengths under our threshold-based priority policies and we illustrate how these formulas can be used to obtain optimal threshold values.
Effect of Assessment Task and Letter Writing Ability on Preschool Children's Spelling Performance.

The purpose of this study was to examine whether spelling performance in preschool children varied as a function of the method of assessment and letter writing ability. The authors manipulated the motoric element and memory demands of the task by having children spell single words using letter tiles, orally, and by writing. The authors also assessed their letter writing abilities. The results of this study indicated that spelling performance did not vary by task once children could write approximately 19 letters adequately. That is, once children reached a certain threshold of orthographic knowledge, the type of assessment task did not impact spelling outcomes. Prior to reaching that threshold, tile spelling was superior to oral and written spelling and oral spelling was superior to written spelling. This study provides additional evidence for the contention that letter writing ability is an orthographic knowledge skill rather than a pure motoric ability and that this linguistic skill influences spelling ...
Mental Health Practice with Arab Families: The Implications of Spirituality vis-à-vis Islam

In the aftermath of September 11, 2001, it has become apparent that the inclusion or acknowledgment of spiritualism is critical to mental health practice regarding Arab families. Regretably, research on Arab families today is all but non-existent. Islam is the fastest growing form of spirituality in Central Asia. Practitioners who do not acknowledge this fact will be at a severe disadvantage in their attempts to treat Arabic clientele. It is not compulsory that practitioners endorse client belief systems or other aspects of their spirituality, but practitioners should acknowledge said systems as a critical point in the client's frame of reference. In the interest of social justice they are thus challenged to develop creative treatment strategies less confined to Western bias.
Adolescent Clothing and Adjustment

The major objectives of this research were to explore two basic general questions: (1) does race, sex, or grade influence clothing and social and personal adjustment variables, and (2) what are the relationships among clothing attitudes and adjustment variables? The subjects were 213 fe males and males (age range 14–19), Blacks and Whites, ninth and tenth grade, in a city high school. Demographic facts of race, sex, and grade were transcribed from school records. A question naire was designed in three sections to collect data for clothing attitudes and social and personal adjustment variables. Differences in race, sex, and grade were tested by analysis of variance. Chi-square statistics were computed to test that the coefficients of correlation were from the same population. Race, sex, and grade did not have an effect on the clothing attitude, dressing for self. Sex had an effect on feelings of clothing deprivation, with females experiencing more deprivation than males. The effect of sex on dressing for others indicated that females more than males were likely to dress for others. The white subjects regarded dressing for others as more important than the black subjects. Tenth grade subjects regarded dressing for others as more important than 9th grade sub jects. Self-acceptance was affected by sex. Females had lower self-acceptance than the males, with black 10th graders having the lowest self-acceptance. Black subjects accepted Blacks socially, and Whites accepted Whites.
Serum corticosterone level predicts the magnitude of hippocampal primed burst potentiation and depression in urethane-anesthetized rats

Electrical stimulation of the hippocampal commissure with a pattern of pulses that mimics specific aspects of hippocampal physiological activity results in a long-lasting enhancement of the CA1 evoked response. We refer to this pattern-dependent increase in response as primed burst (PB) potentiation (Diamond, Dunwiddie, & Rose, 1988; Rose & Dunwiddie, 1986). The primary finding of the present study is that, in the urethane-anesthetized rat, there is a negative linear correlation between the magnitude of PB potentiation and elevated levels of serum corticosterone (r = −.76, p .1). In addition, we observed a novel form of long-term depression of the population spike amplitude (PB depression) in recordings from 4 animals that had very high levels (> 60/μg/dl) of corticosterone. The magnitudes of PTP were not different across groups that developed PB potentiation (n = 9), no change in response (n = 7), or PB depression (n = 4). These findings suggest that corticosterone exerts a concentration-dependent inhibitory influence on long-term, but not short-term, hippocampal plasticity in the urethane-anesthetized rat. The present findings complement previous work indicating that stress-related adrenal hormones, and corticosterone in particular, can modulate behavioral learning and hippocampal plasticity.
Effect of Bacterial Quality and Density on Growth and Whole Body Stoichiometry of Culex quinquefasciatus and Culex tarsalis (Diptera: Culicidae)

Growth characteristics and whole body carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) concentrations were examined for the southern house mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus Say, and Culex tarsalis Coquillett, reared on chemostat-grown bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Whole body percentage of C, N, and P of Cx. quinquefasciatus larvae did not differ significantly across three bacterial concentrations (1, 5, and 10 mg of dry mass/liter) and two bacterial quality treatments (culture medium containing 5 microM P versus 50 microM P); whereas the P content of Cx. tarsalis larvae differed between the bacterial quality treatments. Low concentrations of high or low P bacteria decreased mass-specific growth rate (MGR), whereas intermediate and high bacterial concentrations affected MGR asymmetrically, depending on species. High concentrations of P-rich bacteria enhanced the growth rates of Cx. quinquefasciatus larvae relative to growth on the low P diets. Cx. tarsalis larvae reared on low P bacteria grew approximately 3- to 4 times faster than larvae reared on high P bacteria. The observed asymmetric response in MGR may have been because of differential tolerance in larvae to putative toxins present in P. aeruginosa and may provide one reason why Cx. tarsalis larvae are not found in hypereutrophic aquatic habitats.
Temperance in Relation to Emotion

Within Aquinas’ account of human psychology, his treatment of emotion and its relation to virtue emerges from the relationship of virtue to the sensitive appetite and details the emotions relevant to each. In this chapter I critically analyze the relationship between these two faculties of the sensitive appetite. I appraise the manner in which temperance and courage are posited as the moral response to the initial movements of emotion that arise from these two faculties. Furthermore, I show how temperance is related to prudence and is essential in the process of moral judgment. Finally, I propose the idea that temperance may be considered analogous to what some modern cognitive emotion theorists call the coping mechanism.
Some approximation algorithms for multi-agent systems

This thesis makes a number of contributions to the theory of approximation algorithm design for multi-agent systems. In particular, we focus on two research directions. The first direction is to generalize the classical framework of combinatorial optimization to the submodular setting, where we assume that each agent has a submodular cost function. We show hardness results from both the information-theoretic and computational aspects for several fundamental optimization problems in the submodular setting, and provide matching approximation algorithms for most of them. The second direction is to introduce game-theoretic issues to approximation algorithm design. Towards this direction, we study the application of approximation algorithms in the theory of truthful mechanism design. We study both the standard objectives of revenue and social welfare, by designing efficient algorithms that satisfy the requirement of truthfulness and guarantee approximate optimality.
Viscoplasticity of Transversely Isotropic Clays

A viscoplastic constitutive relation of the endochronic type (i.e., the inelastic strain increments are characterized by an intrinsic time) is formulated to describe the behavior of transversely isotropic clays produced by one-dimensional consolidation. The formulation contains eight material parameters in addition to those needed for isotropic clays. The hardening and softening functions and the densification-dilatancy function are assumed to be given by the same expressions previously found for isotropic clays, but the invariants involved in these expressions are replaced by the proper transversely isotropic invariants. The pore pressure is determined from the volume change and the compressibility of the water, and the constitutive relation is written in terms of the effective stresses. The elastic moduli are assumed to be functions of hydrostatic stress and inelastic dilatancy, and they are correlated with the consolidation stress. Experimental curves of axial strain for various anisotropically consolidated clays have been fit by a time-independent version of the theory, and a satisfatory agreement has been achieved.
Terahertz Spectroscopic Studies and Molecular Modeling of the Far-Infrared Properties of Electro-Optic Polymers

We present far-infrared spectra obtained through terahertz spectroscopy of electro-optic polymers and compare those measurements with molecular modeling simulations of the spectra in the 0-5 THz region.
Color-selective photocurrent enhancement in coupled J-aggregate/nanowires formed in solution.

J-aggregates are ordered clusters of coherently coupled molecular dyes,(1) and they have been used as light sensitizers in film photography due to their intense absorptions. Hybrid structures containing J-aggregates may also have applications in devices that require spectral specificity, such as color imaging or optical signaling.(2) However the use of J-aggregates in optoelectronic devices has posed a long-standing challenge(3, 4) due to the difficulty of controlling aggregate formation and the low charge carrier mobility of many J-aggregates in solid state. In this paper, we demonstrate a modular method to assemble three different cyanine J-aggregates onto CdSe nanowires, resulting in a photodetector that is color-sensitized in three specific, narrow absorption bands. Both the J-aggregate and nanowire device components are fabricated from solution and the sensitizing wavelength is switched from blue to red to green, using only solution-phase exchange of the J-aggregates on the same underlying device.
Logical appropriateness as a variable in a compound paired-associate learning task

In a compound response paired-associate learning task (e. g., blue- then color) 20 Ss made more correct anticipations when the connective coupling the response to the stimulus word was logically appropriate for the word-pair class to which the stimulus and response words belong than when it was logically inappropriate. The appropriateness value of each connective was computed as the relative frequency with which 45 Ss selected it as the best connective to use between each wordpair class.
Depressor action of bradykinin agonists relative to metabolism by angiotensin-converting enzyme, carboxypeptidase N, and aminopeptidase P.

AbstractBradykinin (BK) receptor agonists and antagonists contain modifications that confer resistance to specific peptidases. In control studies, rat plasma degraded BK (10.3 ± 0.3 nmol/min/ml) via angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE; EC 3.4.15.1; 5.2 ± 0.3 nmol/min/ml), carboxypeptidase N (CPN; EC 3.4.17.3; 3.2 ± 0.4 nmol/min/ml), aminopeptidase P (APP; EC 3.4.11.9; 0.6 ± 0.2 nmol/min/ml), and other (unidentified) activity (2.1 ± 0.6 nmol/min/ml). In contrast, BK agonist analogs were hydrolyzed more slowly due to selective resistance to these plasma peptidases. In addition to Lys-Lys-BK (B1087), which is partially resistant to ACE, [Hyp2,Phe8-r-Arg9]BK (B7642) was completely resistant to ACE, CPN, and the unidentified plasma activity (1.9 ± 0.3 nmol/min/ml), and D-Arg0[Hyp3,Phe8-r-Arg9]BK (B7644) was resistant to all plasma hydrolysis, including APP (<0.2 nmol/min/ml). In vivo ACE-resistant B1087 exhibited a depressor potency and duration of action greater than BK and equivalent to that of BK in the pres...
T-cell selection in the thymus: a spatial and temporal perspective.

The ability of T cells to respond to a wide array of foreign antigens while avoiding reactivity to self is largely determined by cellular selection of developing T cells in the thymus. While a great deal is known about the cell types and molecules involved in T-cell selection in the thymus, our understanding of the spatial and temporal aspects of this process remain relatively poorly understood. Thymocytes are highly motile within the thymus and travel between specialized microenvironments at different phases of their development while interacting with distinct sets of self-peptides and peptide presenting cells. A knowledge of when, where, and how thymocytes encounter self-peptide MHC ligands at different stages of thymic development is key to understanding T-cell selection. In the past several years, our laboratory has investigated this topic using two-photon time-lapse microscopy to directly visualize thymocyte migration and signaling events, together with a living thymic slice preparation to provide a synchronized experimental model of T-cell selection in situ. Here, we discuss recent advances in our understanding of the temporal and spatial aspects of T-cell selection, highlighting our own work, and placing them in the context of work from other groups.
Connective tissue diseases: Targeting type I interferon in systemic lupus erythematosus

Type I interferon (IFN) is an attractive therapeutic target in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a notion bolstered by the positive results of a recent clinical trial of the anti-IFN antibody sifalimumab in patients with SLE. Interestingly, sifalimumab worked best in patients with high expression of IFN-induced genes, supporting the idea that subgroups of patients might be targeted specifically.
Combined alfentanil-methohexital anesthesia in electroconvulsive therapy

Eight patients receiving electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) were anesthetized with alfentanil, 25 mcg/kg, plus 20 mg methohexital, alternating with standard methohexital anesthesia. Combination alfentanil-methohexital anesthesia was associated with a 45% increase in EEG seizure duration. Preliminary evidence suggests that ECT anesthesia using short-acting opiate compounds may prove to be a promising alternative to standard modified ECT, especially for patients with brief seizures.
Observer Evaluation of a Metal Artifact Reduction Algorithm Applied to Head and Neck Cone Beam Computed Tomographic Images

Purpose and Objectives To quantify, through an observer study, the reduction in metal artifacts on cone beam computed tomographic (CBCT) images using a projection-interpolation algorithm, on images containing metal artifacts from dental fillings and implants in patients treated for head and neck (HN 5 = no artifacts). Second, the standard deviation of different regions of interest (ROI) within each image was calculated and compared with the mean rating scores. Results The interpolation-substitution technique successfully reduced metal artifacts in 70% of the cases. From a total of 60 images from 15 H&N cancer patients undergoing image guided radiation therapy, the mean rating score on the uncorrected images was 2.3 ± 1.1, versus 3.3 ± 1.0 for the corrected images. The mean difference in ranking score between uncorrected and corrected images was 1.0 (95% confidence interval: 0.9-1.2, P P Conclusion The interpolation-substitution algorithm is efficient and effective for reducing metal artifacts caused by dental fillings and implants on CBCT images, as demonstrated by the statistically significant increase in observer image quality ranking and by the decrease in ROI standard deviation between uncorrected and corrected images.
Positive Psychology and LGBTQ Populations

Extant research suggests that there are benefits and positive aspects of LGBTQ identities and relationships. For example, many sexual minorities report increased confidence, more positive self-regard, and greater empathy for others as a result of publicly and openly identifying as LGBTQ. Despite limited conceptualizations of LGBTQ issues within a positive psychological framework to date, exploring strengths and positive psychology can be useful for understanding many of the facets of LGBTQ identity that may have psychological benefit: freedom from socially restrictive views of gender expression and sexual identity; multiple psychological benefits from same-sex relationships and families including the emphasis on relationship equality and shared labor division, as well as expansive gender roles among children of LGB couples; and strengths gained through forming LGBTQ communities of support and participation in social justice movements.