cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Health manpower supply and demand: The case of a family practice residency program

Abstract In view of increasing requirements for health care and climbing costs that reflect scarcer resources, it is necessary that new health care delivery facilities and medical personnel training programs be carefully planned. Care must be taken not to concentrate efforts on progress in medical science technology exclusively. Basic problems exist in the delivery of health care, e.g. maldistribution of physicians by specialty and geographic location and inequitable patterns of availability of health care facilities and personnel. A number of techniques have been used by health planners to forecast the need for, demand for and supply of health manpower at a specific time and place. The basic models for estimating these requirements include those based on: (1) professionally defined criteria, (2) current utilization rates of comprehensive pre-paid group plans, (3) medical personnel to population ratios, and (4) economic systematics. Some of these models address need (quantity of medical care that ought to be consumed to be as healthy as medical technology permits); others focus on supply and demand (actual use of medical services by consumers as a function of age, income, education, travel costs, and other social, economic and demographic variables). After a review of the available models, it was felt that the economic types were most useful because they allow for the simulation of change in the health care environment and accommodate “what if” questions, thereby allowing for the consideration of contingencies in the environment. One example of a significant change in the health care environment in the United States would be the decrease or elimination of foreign medical graduates; FMG's accounted for 47% of the newly licenced physicians in the U.S. in 1974. The economic model presented in this study was used to assess the supply of and demand for primary care physicians, particularly family practitioners in metropolitan northern Virginia. The demonstration of the model reveals its great flexibility b.y presenting four alternative situations for each of the study years 1978, 1988 and 1993. The statement of demand for family practitioners in this region was incorporated as a major phase of a feasibility study by the Medical College of Virginia for a family practice residency program at the Mount Vernon Hospital.
Perspectives on the use of factor IX complex concentrates in the treatment of bleeding in persons with acquired factor VIII inhibition.

In contrast to the type of bleeding encountered in congenital hemophilia with inhibitors, the diathesis toward bleeding exhibited by patients with spontaneously acquired factor VIII (FVIII) inhibitors often is severe and life threatening. Large hematomas and retropharyngeal or central nervous system hemorrhage may appear suddenly. Thus, a high premium is placed on rapid therapeutic intervention. Several treatment options are at the physician's disposal. The role of factor IX (FIX) complex concentrates, both standard and purposely activated, is discussed. The FIX products are also known as prothrombin complex concentrates (PCCs). Prudent choice of any treatment modality requires weighing its benefits and shortcomings. Advantages of PCCs—particularly the activated products—include availability, ease of reconstitution and administration, and at least partial efficacy; control of bleeding episodes can be achieved with PCCs in many (but not all) instances. One salient disadvantage of therapy with FIX complex concentrates is that they are not subjected to such rigorous viral-attenuation processes as are most of the currently marketed FVIII products. Therefore, a small but definite risk of infection with hepatitis B or C (HBV, HCV) remains. An assay that detects antibodies against HCV has been licensed and is being used to screen blood donors. Nevertheless, up to the present time the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has ruled that HCV screening of plasmapheresis donors should not be performed for plasma collections destined to be pooled for fractionation and that units of HCV-positive source plasma (e.g., that provided by American Red Cross donors) found to be HCV positive be sent for fractionation. The starting plasma from which FIX complex concentrates and human FVIII concentrates are made thus contains some HCV and may also contain some HBV. Because nonhemophiliacs with acquired antibodies against FVIII are unlikely to have had prior exposure to blood products and are unlikely to have been vaccinated against HBV, they are at risk of viral hepatitis and its sequelae when treated with FIX complex concentrates. Furthermore, therapy with FIX complex concentrates is not always effective in controlling bleeding in persons with FVIII inhibitors, its mechanism of action in bypassing the need for FVIII remains unclear, very large doses are required, and it has an attendant risk of several adverse effects when used in large, repeated doses. These include disseminated intravascular coagulation, thromboembolism, and acute myocardial infarction. Thus, FIX complex concentrates may play a useful role in the treatment of bleeding in nonhemophiliacs with acquired inhibitors against FVIII, but one must carefully consider their disadvantages profile. Their use probably should be restricted to patients whose bleeding fails to respond to safer products such as porcine FVIII, highpurity, viral-attenuated human factor, or recombinant FVIII.
The Effect of Registration Laws on Voter Turnout

After the drastic relaxation of voter registration requirements in the 1960s, do present state laws keep people away from the polls? More specifically, which provisions have how much effect on what kinds of people? We have answered these questions with data from the Current Population Survey conducted by the Census Bureau in November 1972.State registration laws reduced turnout in the 1972 presidential election by about nine percentage points. The impact of the laws was heaviest in the South and on less educated people of both races. Early deadlines for registration and limited registration office hours were the biggest impediments to turnout.Contrary to expectations, changing these requirements would not substantially alter the character of the electorate. The voting population would be faintly less affluent and educated; the biggest difference would be a matter of one or two percentage points. In strictly political terms, the change would be even fainter–a gain for the Democrats of less than half a percent.
Intermediate storage and operation of batch processes under batch failure

Abstract The role of intermediate storage in buffering a process train from the effects of periodically reoccuring losses of batches of an intermediate material caused by failure to meet quality specifications is studed. For the building block 1-1 system, simple analytical expressions are obtained for the limiting volume of intermediate storage as a function of the frequency of batch failure by using Fourier series expressions. The effects of both deterministic and stochastic variations in the failure frequency and recovery time on the required size of intermediate storage are investigated. A dynamic operating policy is proposed which reduces the need for excess storage by switching the discharge rate between the nominal or a throttled value depending upon system conditions.
Clouds, the earth's radiation budget, and the hydrologic cycle

Abstract Water vapor plays a key role in climate change scenarios through the water vapor feedback loop. The distribution of water vapor obviously controls the distribution of clouds, but the opposite is also true because clouds carry out important vertical redistributions of the vapor. This paper presents comparisons of water vapor observations with general circulation model simulations of the distribution of water vapor and its effects on the Earth's radiation budget. The ability of the model to simulate the seasonally changing cloud radiative forcing is also discussed. Finally, the need for long-term monitoring of these fields is emphasized.
Loss of chondroitin 6-sulfate and hyaluronan from failed porcine bioprosthetic valves.

Explanted porcine bioprosthetic valves have a thinned spongiosa, partially because of an overall loss of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). We measured the concentrations of specific GAG classes in explanted bioprosthetic valves (n = 14, implanted 12.0 ± 4.7 years) compared with glutaraldehyde-fixed porcine controls. After extraction with NaOH, GAGs were analyzed using either a hexuronic acid assay or fluorophore-assisted carbohydrate electrophoresis to quantify the individual GAG classes. The total GAG concentration in explants was 198 ± 95 pmol/mg wet weight—93% less than freshly fixed controls. Explants also contained altered proportions of the different GAG classes relative to controls. The proportions of hyaluronan and chondroitin/dermatan-6-sulfate were reduced from 39 to 7% and 34 to 18% of total GAGs, respectively. The predominant explant GAG class was chondroitin/dermatan-4-sulfate (proportion elevated from 14 to 70%). This GAG is commonly found in the collagen-associated proteoglycan decorin, which is likely well crosslinked by glutaraldehyde. Chondroitin-6-sulfate is commonly found in the water- and hyaluronan-binding proteoglycan versican, which is likely poorly crosslinked. The loss of versican and its associated water-binding capacity is consistent with the thinned spongiosa. The resultant compromise of hydration, compressive resistance, and viscoelasticity may be responsible for the deterioration of the bioprosthesis in vivo. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 65A: 251–259, 2003
Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 is anchored to the actin–spectrin junction and knob-associated histidine-rich protein in the erythrocyte skeleton

A distinctive pathological feature of Plasmodium falciparum malaria is the endothelial attachment of erythrocytes infected with mature asexual-stage parasites in microvessels of the major organs. Electron-dense protrusions described as knobs are displayed on the surface of parasitized erythrocytes and act as attachment points in cytoadherence. Parasite-encoded knob-associated histidine-rich protein (KAHRP) is a major component of knobs found on the cytoplasmic side of the host cell membrane. P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) is a family of parasite-encoded cytoadherence receptors localized to knobs on the surface of parasitized erythrocytes. Despite its high antigenic diversity, PfEMP1 has a remarkably conserved cytoplasmic domain. We demonstrate in this study that the cytoplasmic domain of PfEMP1 (VAR(CD)) binds to host spectrin and actin and to full-length KAHRP in vitro. Apparent dissociation constants determined for VAR(CD)/F-actin and VAR(CD)/KAHRP interactions are 44.9+/-6.4 and 10. 7+/-2.2 nM, respectively. Further, we provide evidence that KAHRP polypeptides self-associate in solution to form structures similar to knobs and show binding of self-associated KAHRP clusters to spectrin-actin-protein 4.1 complexes. Findings in this study suggest that PfEMP1 is localized to the knob in P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes by binding to the host spectrin-actin junction and to self-associated KAHRP through its conserved cytoplasmic domain.
Response suppression in the CER paradigm with extinction as the aversive event

A pair of albino rats, responding on a VI 15-sec reinforcement schedule, were exposed in a yoked procedure to response-contingent and response-independent periods of extinction preceded by a 15-sec warning signal. Only response-contingent extinction produced a pronounced suppressive effect during the warning signal. When extinction was response-independent, some decrement occurred during the warning signal, but this effect was no greater than when the warning signal preceded a period of stimulus change unaccompanied by extinction, The results, interpreted as passive avoidance of the extinction period, support the contention that a period of extinction constitutes an aversive event for a deprived organism, although the pronounced conditioned emotional response usually produced by aversive electric shock was not evident in the present study.
An overview of binary taste–taste interactions

The human gustatory system is capable of identifying five major taste qualities: sweet, sour, bitter, salty and savory (umami), and perhaps several sub-qualities. This is a relatively small number of qualities given the vast number and structural diversity of chemical compounds that elicit taste. When we consume a food, our taste receptor cells are activated by numerous stimuli via several transduction pathways. An important food-related taste question which remains largely unanswered is: How do taste perceptions change when multiple taste stimuli are presented together in a food or beverage rather than when presented alone? The interactions among taste compounds is a large research area that has interested electrophysiologists, psychophysicists, biochemists, and food scientists alike. On a practical level, taste interactions are important in the development and modification of foods, beverages or oral care products. Is there enhancement or suppression of intensity when adding stimuli of the same or different qualities together? Relevant psychophysical literature on taste–taste interactions along with selected psychophysical theory is reviewed. We suggest that the position of the individual taste stimuli on the concentration-intensity psychophysical curve (expansive, linear, or compressive phase of the curve) predicts important interactions when reporting enhancement or suppression of taste mixtures.
Smuts and Weizmann

Perhaps few personal friendships have so influenced the course of political events during the twentieth century as the relationship between General Jan Christian Smuts, South Africa's celebrated prime minister, and Chaim Weizmann, the charismatic Zionist leader and Israel's first president. But the importance and significance of this little publicized relationship far transcends the personal elements involved or its contribution to Zionist success; rather, it helps to throw into perspective both the contradictions of western liberalism and the psychological climate which rationalized the dominant position of a white minority in South Africa on the one hand and of a new European settlement in Palestine on the other. Both Weizmann and Smuts stood in much the same way towards their respective "constituencics" and both represented in their "constituencies" the imperial factor in its economic, political and strategic dimensions. Without Weizmann there would have been no Balfour Declaration and without Smuts the Union brought forth in 1910 in South Africa might well have foundered. On the personal level it must be noted that during the entire thirty-three years of this relationship, extending from 1917 to Smuts' death in 1950, both men took for granted the moral legitimacy of each other's respective position. Thus, not a word is to be found in Weizmann's correspondence or writing questioning the racial basis of the South African state on which Zionism was so dependent or Smuts' own role in upholding its racist system. Similarly, Smuts assumed without question "the right" of Jewish settlers to occupy Palestine without regard to the rights of the indigenous Palestinian Arabs. In both cases, Smuts and Weizmann projected at the highest level the capacity
Subtidal Sea Level Variability in a Shallow Mississippi River Deltaic Estuary, Louisiana

The relative roles of river, atmospheric, and tidal forcings on estuarine sea level variability are examined in Breton Sound, a shallow (0.7 m) deltaic estuary situated in an interdistributary basin on the Mississippi River deltaic plain. The deltaic landscape contains vegetated marshes, tidal flats, circuitous channels, and other features that frictionally dissipate waves propagating through the system. Direct forcing by local wind stress over the surface of the estuary is minimal, owing to the lack of significant fetch due to landscape features of the estuary. Atmospheric forcing occurs almost entirely through remote forcing, where alongshore winds facilitate estuary-shelf exchange through coastal Ekman convergence. The highly frictional nature of the deltaic landscape causes the estuary to act as a low-pass filter to remote atmospheric forcing, where high-frequency, coastally-induced fluctuations are significantly damped, and the damping increases with distance from the estuary mouth. During spring, when substantial quantities of controlled Mississippi River inputs (−q = 62 m3 s-1) are discharged into the estuary, upper estuary subtidal sea levels are forced by a combination of river and remote atmospheric forcings, while river effects are less clear downestuary. During autumn (−q = 7 m3 s-1) sea level variability throughout the estuary is governed entirely by coastal variations at the marine boundary. A frequency-dependent analytical model, previously used to describe sea level dynamics forced by local wind stress and coastal forcing in deeper, less frictional systems, is applied in the shallow Breton Sound estuary. In contrast to deeper systems where coastally-induced fluctuations exhibit little or no frictional attenuation inside the estuary, these fluctuations in the shallow Breton Sound estuary show strong frequency dependent amplitude reductions that extend well into the subtidal frequency spectrum.
Knowledge-based system for task analysis and reliability enhancement

Abstract The system presented here is a computerized knowledge-based package. It is intended to be used in the analysis and improvement of human-based tasks for space operations. Improvements may be done in areas such as task reliability, task simplification, safety, duration, and labor intensiveness. The system works in two main stages. The first stage is a description stage in which the user describes the task under study narratively and by arguments or parameters. The second stage is the analysis in which the task is “challenged” for improvement(s) by applying specialized models pertinent to the areas of analysis. Task performance is evaluated with respect to the criteria under study through specialized components. The system is knowledge-based in the sense that the user may “consult” pre-stored methods, techniques, and tools which may contribute to better task performance. It is designed to be implemented on a microcomputer, in an interactive mode which enables performing sensitivity analysis for tasks under study.
Exquisite odor: the Colosseum, a garden of serendipitous procreation

But soil that exhales thin mists and winding vapours,That drinks up moisture, lets it out again with ease,That ever decks itself in its own herbal green,That galls not the iron with rot or salty ru...
EFFECT OF OVEN CONDITIONS AND SAMPLE TREATMENT ON WATER LOSS OF DRY COOKED BOVINE MUSCLE

The influence on water loss rates of beef muscle of varying the rate of air flow past the cooking muscle, the orientation of the muscle fibers relative to the direction of air flow, and the postmortem treatment of the muscle prior to cooking in a controlled environment oven was evaluated. Variation in flow rate did not change the basic mechanism of water transport (i.e., did not change qualitative features of the emission curve) but did increase the water emission rate in the constant rate period and the first falling rate period. Perpendicular fiber orientation with respect to air flow direction gave a higher rate of water loss in the early staees of cookina. Muscles that entered rieor in a restrained position gave higher water loss rates than those that entered rigor in an unrestrained position. Scanning electron microscopy showed looser structure of the myofibrils in the restrained muscle which could account for the higher water loss rates.
A Reasoned Ethical Incoherence

How should we consider moral or ethical disagreement?-as a demonstration of ethical relativism, where right and wrong, good and bad, are simply expressions of arbitrary differences? Or as a sign of bad times where people refuse to see what is right and good? Given the pronounced pluralism of our culture, this issue of ethical disagreement penetrates deeply. For not only does it touch such theoretical problems as whether our ethical positions are relative to persons or to culture or instead reflect some absolute in existence, and whether or how our principles and ideals bear on our world; but it also concerns the immediate and practical issue of our attitude toward those who disagree with us. How should Martin the pacifist regard Daniel the revolutionary-as a fool? Or how should Paul, who condemns abortion, consider Judith, who defends it-as evil? perverted? just different? To deal with these issues we need to recognize with our decade's resurgent idealism the necessity of system, but we also must remember well the limitations of system. We need, in short, a reasoned ethical incoherence. Such an incoherence will be no mere common incoherence, flighty and impulsive, occurring by default rather than as the result of thinking. And it will be no mere paradox either, as when Mao legitimizes adopting "contradictory and strange" alliances with enemies of communism; for these are justified by the systems in which they occur-as when Mao claims that the end justifies the means and that these "contradictions" will further (Maoist) Marxism. No, we will need here neither unthinking nor seeming but reasoned incoherence: where our ethical position cannot be fully jus-
Live and Learn? Contradictions in Residential Patterns and School Demographics.

Educational and sociological scholars frequently debate how racial dynamics between neighborhoods and their public schools can maintain or exacerbate educational inequality. Drawing on secondary data from the Georgia Department of Education, 2000 Census Bureau, and attendance boundaries for metro Atlanta public high schools, this study investigates the following: To what degree do Atlanta-area racial and ethnic segregation patterns in public secondary schools reflect those in residential catchment areas? I find that in areas with the greatest racial heterogeneity and the greatest potential for diversity in educational settings, the public schools least reflect the racial composition of the neighborhoods. These results can inform policy makers and administrators on neighborhood and school-level factors which have implications for minimizing ethnoracial differences in education.
Competitive strategy: the link between service characteristics and customer satisfaction

Purpose – This study aims to examine how firm strategy may affect customer satisfaction in relationship to service the characteristics of quality, servicescape and value. Specifically, this research utilizes Porter's depiction cost leaders and differentiation strategy to suggest customers may be satisfied even if they rate value or quality lower than for another similar firm. Design/methodology/approach – This research utilizes survey data gathered from 179 customers of four services representing two industry segments. Analysis of variance is utilized to test four hypotheses proposing firm strategy may affect customer rating of a service characteristic, while customers may still remain loyal with high levels of customer satisfaction. Findings – The results support the assertion that customer expectations of firm strategy may enable firms in the same industry to receive very different ratings on service characteristics such as value, quality and servicescape, while having equally loyal and satisfied custom...
Predicting the Interpersonal Targets of Self-Serving Attributions☆☆☆

People will, under certain conditions, attribute failure to an external target to avoid an unfavorable self-evaluation. But to what external target do people attribute failure? Based on Fritz Heider’s analysis of similarity and attribution, we predicted that failure—a negative event—would be attributed to a similarly negative external target. Participants worked on a task ostensibly created by three other people and received failure feedback. Self-awareness was either high or low, and people believed that their likelihood of improving in the future was either high or low. The valence of the fictional group members was manipulated such that one member was positive, another was mildly negative, and the third was highly negative. As in past research, highly self-aware persons who could not improve their failure attributed failure externally, relative to the other conditions. Consistent with Heider’s analysis, these participants perceived the negative group members as being responsible for their failure relative to self and the positive group member. Implications for the self-serving bias are discussed.
Solution and solid state studies on the interactions of protonated cytosine salts. III. Interpyrimidine base stacking and asymmetric interbase hydrogen bonding in the structure of 1-methylcytosine hemihydroiodide hemihydrate

Abstract Structural and spectroscopic data are presented on the compound 1-methylcytosine hemihydroiodide hemihydrate. In the solid, a 1:1 triply hydrogenbonded complex consisting of one protonated and one neutral 1-methylcytosine base is observed. The hydrogen bonding in this complex is asymmetric, and the asymmetry in the interbase hydrogen bonding is stimulated, at least in part, by base stacking considerations. The hydrogen-bonded base pairs associate into dimers about a crystallographic center of symmetry; the base-base stacking mode is strong [mean stacking distance = 3.22A] and is such that the molecular overlap is between protonated and neutral 1-methylcytosine molecules. The asymmetric, interbase hydrogen bonding and the protonated over neutral base stacking mode coexist in a synergistic interrelationship which maximizes molecular association and crystal packing. Intermolecular hydrogen bonds involving the 1-methylcytosine bases, the water of crystallization and the iodide anion also contribute to the overall crystal stability. Infra-red and 1H nmr data are also presented.
In retrospect chosen by Keith Stewart Thomson

Natural Theology; or Evidences of the Existence and Attributes of the Deity Collected from the Appearances of Nature by the Reverend William Paley (1802)
Structural transformations of cytochrome c upon interaction with cardiolipin

Interactions of cytochrome c (cyt c) with cardiolipin (CL) play a critical role in early stages of apoptosis. Upon binding to CL, cyt c undergoes changes in secondary and tertiary structure that lead to a dramatic increase in its peroxidase activity. Insertion of the protein into membranes, insertion of CL acyl chains into the protein interior, and extensive unfolding of cyt c after adsorption to the membrane have been proposed as possible modes for interaction of cyt c with CL. Dissociation of Met80 is accompanied by opening of the heme crevice and binding of another heme ligand. Fluorescence studies have revealed conformational heterogeneity of the lipid-bound protein ensemble with distinct polypeptide conformations that vary in the degree of protein unfolding. We correlate these recent findings to other biophysical observations and rationalize the role of experimental conditions in defining conformational properties and peroxidase activity of the cyt c ensemble. Latest time-resolved studies propose the trigger and the sequence of cardiolipin-induced structural transitions of cyt c.
Strategies for Performance Enhancement of Tesla Turbines for Combined Heat and Power Applications

A small, efficient, and robust turbine is essential to the development of a small-scale (∼10 kWe) Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Rankine cycle system. While the Tesla turbine design offers a versatile solution with a low manufacturing and maintenance cost, its successful use in systems of this type hinges on development of a design that also offers high energy conversion efficiency. The investigation summarized here explored the parametric trends in Tesla turbine efficiency using model analysis of the turbine performance in tandem with experimental testing of a small scale Tesla turbine. The experimental data were used to evaluate the accuracy of trends predicted by the model analysis. Results of this evaluation show agreement between calculated and experiential efficiency. To further test the model, several non-dimensional parameters that arise from the model analysis were used to predict design modifications to the existing turbine that would improve turbine performance. Several of these modifications were fabricated and tested. Results show that the model is able to accurately predict efficiency variations that result from changes in turbine design. The model is then used to project new turbine designs that will maximize the efficiency of the turbine and recommendations are made for further improving Tesla turbine efficiency. Lastly, improved Tesla turbine designs are discussed in terms of their appropriateness for use in CHP Rankine cycle systems.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Efficacy of exercises to rehabilitate dysphagia: A critique of the literature

AbstractPurpose: This review critiques the benefit of commonly used rehabilitative exercises for dysphagia.Method: Common goals of rehabilitation for dysphagia and principles of neuroplasticity are introduced as they apply to swallowing and non-swallowing exercises. A critique of published studies is offered regarding their evidence for showing benefit from the exercise.Result: One of five swallow exercises had preliminary evidence for long-term benefit and two of four non-swallow exercises have strong evidence for long-term benefit.Conclusion: Only a minority of exercises prescribed for patients with dysphagia have sufficient evidence for long-term improvement in swallowing.
Analysis of cooked muscle meats for heterocyclic aromatic amine carcinogens

Abstract A number of related heterocyclic amines that are mutagenic in bacterial test systems and carcinogenic in animals are formed during the cooking of food. The most commonly reported and abundant compounds are PhIP, MeIQx, DiMeIQx, IQ and AαC. Using analysis by solid-phase extraction and HPLC, amounts found in foods range from less than one ng/g for products from fast-food restaurants, up to 14 ng/g in commercially cooked products and over 300 ng/g for well done flame-grilled chicken breast meat. Interestingly, marinating meat for 4 h greatly reduces the amount of PhIP produced during cooking, but not MeIQx. Comparing mutagenic activity in meat samples to the mutagenic activity accounted for by the known heterocyclic amines shows that most samples have activity that cannot be accounted for by the aromatic amines we can currently identify. This suggests that additional compounds are present in these foods and need to be investigated, particularly those grilled over open flames.
Thermodynamics and the potential energy of an elastic body

In this paper we consider an elastic body subject to conservative loads and immersed in an environment that is thermally passive and at constant temperature. We show that the potential energy in a configuration μ is greater than that in a configuration κ whenever the body reaches κ in a process from μ.
Transport coefficients from computer experiments: A stochastic Ising model

Transport coefficients for a two-dimensional stochastic Ising model with conserved energy and magnetization are calculated by computer simulation. Transport coefficients are derived from the current-current correlations in the hydrodynamic regime. Energy and magnetization currents are evaluated by a Monte Carlo method. By summing these currents over finite space-time regions (bins) it is possible to circumvent many of the statistical problems associated with the $(\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{q}},\ensuremath{\omega})\ensuremath{\rightarrow}0$ limit. The limiting forms of the autocorrelations of such currents for large bin sizes are related to the transport coefficients. The coefficient of spin diffusion is also calculated from the mean-square distance that a spin travels in a given time interval. The spin diffusion $D$ and the kinetic coefficients $\frac{\ensuremath{\chi}D}{\ensuremath{\beta}}$ and $\frac{\ensuremath{\kappa}T}{\ensuremath{\beta}}$ are calculated for the case of zero net magnetization over a range of energy (temperature) values. Here $\ensuremath{\chi}$ denotes the susceptibility and $\ensuremath{\beta}$ the inverse temperature $\frac{1}{{k}_{B}T}$, ${k}_{B}$ being the Boltzmann constant. High- and low-temperature behavior is discussed. Dips are observed at temperatures where the specific heat of the corresponding finite Ising model has a maximum. It is argued that this reflects the critical behavior of transport coefficients, which has not previously been observed in the computer studies of transport coefficients. The methods developed are applicable to other, physically more-realistic systems.
Platelet activity and outcome after intracerebral hemorrhage

There are few data on platelet function in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). We prospectively enrolled 69 patients with ICH and measured platelet function on admission. Aspirin use before ICH was associated with reduced platelet activity. Less platelet activity was associated with intraventricular hemorrhage (516.5 [interquartile range (IQR), 454-629.25] vs 637 [IQR, 493-654] aspirin reaction units; p = 0.04) and death at 14 days (480.5 [IQR, 444.5-632.5] vs 626 [IQR, 494-652] aspirin reaction units; p = 0.04). Objective measures of platelet function on admission are associated with intraventricular hemorrhage and death after ICH.
Anterior cruciate ligament elasticity and force for flexion during the menstrual cycle

Background A high occurrence of knee injuries have been observed in women during the menstrual cycle (MC). As a result, numerous studies have been conducted regarding knee ligament elasticity during the MC. Some researchers believe that since estrogen receptor b exists in ligaments and tendons in the knee, estrogen may modulate towards a state of laxity. However, increased tissue temperature also observed during the MC can predispose ligament and tendon laxness. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess in women the relationship between Estradiol (E2) serum concentrations and tissue temperature during the MC and their combined effect on knee laxity.
Visible Absorption Bands of Colorless Liquids and Their Relation to Infra-Red Bands

The absorption of ten representative organic liquids has been studied in the visible spectrum by photographic means. Cell lengths up to 6\textonehalf{} meters were employed. The near infra-red spectra of these same substances have been obtained. A good correlation of the bands of the two regions has been secured; the bands of the visible region seem to be higher members of series previously detected in the infra-red.
Diode laser measurements of temperature-dependent collisional-narrowing and broadening parameters of Ar-perturbed H2O transitions at 1391.7 and 1397.8 nm

Abstract High-resolution absorption lineshapes of two H 2 O transitions near 7185.60 and 7154.35 cm −1 have been recorded in a heated static cell as a function of temperature (296–1100 K) and pressure (6–830 Torr) using two distributed-feedback diode lasers. The measured absorption spectra are least squares fit to both Voigt and Galatry profiles. Strong collisional-narrowing effects are observed in the Ar-broadened H 2 O spectra at near-atmospheric pressure due to the relatively weak collisional broadening induced by Ar–H 2 O collisions, while collisional narrowing is not significant for pure H 2 O absorption lineshapes. Line strengths and self-broadening coefficients are inferred from the pure H 2 O absorption spectra and compared with published data. Temperature dependences of the Ar-induced broadening, narrowing, and shift coefficients are determined using Galatry fits to the absorption data. The measured collisional-narrowing parameters have similar temperature dependence to the collisional-broadening coefficients.
Sanfter Rückprall des zerbrechlichsten aller Moleküle

Das Heliumdimer He2 ist das im Grundzustand am schwachsten gebundene, bekannte Molekul. Dass es ohne zu zerbrechen von einer Wand zuruckprallt, widerspricht den Gesetzen der klassischen Physik. Ein Experiment am Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft hat nun gezeigt, dass Heliumdimere durchaus zerstorungsfrei zuruckgestreut werden konnen. Die Erklarung liegt in der Quantenreflexion, die bereits vor der Oberflache stattfindet.
Surface Harmonics for Shape Modeling

We present an approach for three dimensional (3D) shape modeling using Jacobi polynomials based surface harmonics. Because we construct a set of complete hemispherical harmonic basis functions on a hemisphere domain from the associated Jacobi polynomials, our shape modeling method work efficiently on the open hemisphere-like objects that often exist in medical anatomical structures (e.g., ventricles, atriums, etc.). We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach through theoretic and experimental exploration of a set of medical image applications.
RFI study for the SMAP radar

The Soil Moisture Active/Passive (SMAP) mission has the scientific objective of measuring both soil moisture and freeze/thaw state from space. The mission will make both active radar and passive radiometer measurements at L-Band in order to retrieve soil moisture. Some studies, however, indicated that these measurements are susceptible to radio frequency interference (RFI) in several geographic locations. As SMAP is a global mission and its mission life is 3 years, it is crucial for SMAP to understand the RFI over the whole globe and its temporal behavior. There will be impacts to the instrument system design and ground data processing in order to mitigate RFI. In this paper, strategies and procedures for performing this RFI study will be presented, and some results utilizing the RFI observed in the ALOS PALSAR data are described. The nature of the observed RFI is characterized and suggests some bands are relative free of RFI. The SMAP radar system will use a 1 MHz bandwidth, which can be placed within these suggested “clear” frequencies. The ALOS PALSAR data covers 28 MHz within the 80 MHz allocated for active L-Band remote sensing. In addition, an initial analysis with UAVSAR data, which uses the entire 80 MHz allocation, indicates the relative severity of RFI over the whole band. An algorithm to remove RFI is suggested and its performance is shown for some data from ALOS PALSAR and UAVSAR.
Improved domino structures effective for high performance design

Two new domino structures with improved logic evaluation accelerators and output drivers are proposed. They achieve ~30% performance improvement with negligible power increase and small area penalty.
Atg8 transfer from atg7 to atg3: a distinctive e1-e2 architecture and mechanism in the autophagy pathway.

Summary Atg7 is a noncanonical, homodimeric E1 enzyme that interacts with the noncanonical E2 enzyme, Atg3, to mediate conjugation of the ubiquitin-like protein (UBL) Atg8 during autophagy. Here we report that the unique N-terminal domain of Atg7 (Atg7 NTD ) recruits a unique "flexible region" from Atg3 (Atg3 FR ). The structure of an Atg7 NTD -Atg3 FR complex reveals hydrophobic residues from Atg3 engaging a conserved groove in Atg7, important for Atg8 conjugation. We also report the structure of the homodimeric Atg7 C-terminal domain, which is homologous to canonical E1s and bacterial antecedents. The structures, SAXS, and crosslinking data allow modeling of a full-length, dimeric (Atg7∼Atg8-Atg3) 2 complex. The model and biochemical data provide a rationale for Atg7 dimerization: Atg8 is transferred in trans from the catalytic cysteine of one Atg7 protomer to Atg3 bound to the N-terminal domain of the opposite Atg7 protomer within the homodimer. The studies reveal a distinctive E1∼UBL-E2 architecture for enzymes mediating autophagy.
Comparative mineral composition among canola cultivars and other cruciferous leafy greens

Abstract The potential of canola ( Brassica napus L.) leafy greens as a food source for human consumption is being considered to increase the variety of nutritious vegetables available to consumers. Scientific evidence supports that the consumption of cruciferous vegetables may reduce individual risk factors for some diseases. Five canola cultivars were grown at Alabama A & M University, Winfred Thomas Agricultural Research Station, in Hazel Green, AL, USA, and were analyzed to determine mineral composition of raw canola leafy greens for comparison to those of collard greens ( Brassica oleraceae var. viridis), kale ( Brassica oleraceae L. acephala) and cabbage ( Brassica oleraceae L. var. capitata). Results showed that collard greens were significantly higher in potassium (K) than the other crops tested; however, canola was significantly higher in K than cabbage and kale. The essential micronutrient, iron (Fe), (24.77 mg/100 g dry weight), was significantly higher in canola and lowest in cabbage (7.65 mg/100 g dry weight). Zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn) contents of canola (3.00 and 16.40 g/100 g dry weight, respectively) were greater than cabbage and collard. Among the three canola harvest stages (rosette, budding and blooming), K content increased with growth, while Fe and aluminum (Al) decreased; sodium (Na) was lowest at the budding stage compared to the other two stages. The results of this research indicate that canola greens can be an acceptable substitute for traditional leafy green vegetables.
Simplified medium for ampicillin susceptibility testing of Haemophilus influenzae

Recent reports of bona fide ampicillin resistance among strains of Haemophilus influenzae have emphasized the need for improved methods of susceptibility testing of clinical isolates. A simplified medium composed of only Mueller-Hinton medium plus supplement C (yeast autolysate and hematin) was used successfully for ampicillin susceptibility testing of 20 recent clinical isolates of H. influenzae , including six strains with confirmed ampicillin resistance. With this medium, susceptible strains were inhibited by less than 1 μg of ampicillin per ml, whereas resistant strains had minimal inhibitory concentrations of 8 μg or greater per ml. This medium can be used for either disk diffusion, tube dilution, or agar plate dilution methods of susceptibility testing. It has the practical advantage of simplicity of preparation and retains the light color and transparency of Mueller-Hinton medium. This medium can also be used for preparation of an inoculum suspension that can be adjusted to a standardized turbidity.
Effects of prolonged fasting on plasma cortisol and TH in postweaned northern elephant seal pups

Northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) pups rely on the oxidation of fat stores as their primary source of energy during their 8- to 12-wk postweaning fast; however, potential endocrine mechanisms involved with this increased fat metabolism have yet to be examined. Therefore, 15 pups were serially blood sampled in the field during the first 7 wk of their postweaning fast to examine the changes in plasma concentrations of cortisol and thyroid hormones (TH), which are involved in fat metabolism in other mammals. Cortisol increased, indicating that it contributed to an increase in lipolysis. Increased total triiodothyronine (tT(3)) and thyroxine (tT(4)) may not reflect increased thyroid gland activity, but rather alterations in hormone metabolism. tT(3)-to-tT(4) ratio decreased, suggesting a decrease in thyroxine (T(4)) deiodination, whereas the negative correlation between total proteins and free T(4) suggests that the increase in free hormone is attributed to a decrease in binding globulins. Changes in TH are most similar to those observed during hibernation than starvation in mammals, suggesting that the metabolic adaptations to natural fasting are more similar to hibernation despite the fact these animals remain active throughout the fasting period.
Younger and older adults' schematic representations of intergenerational communication

The current paper examines younger and older adults’ cognitive representations of intergenerational conversations. In interviews, younger and older adults were asked to imagine various types of conversations with older and younger targets. They were prompted to provide a wide variety of information about the targets and the conversations. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed to uncover types of conversations commonly reported. Through a combination of coding and hierarchical cluster analysis, a hierarchical arrangement of types of conversations emerged in younger and older adults’ descriptions. Each of the types is described in detail. In a second study, exemplars of each type were sorted by younger and older adults and subjected to multidimensional scaling and cluster analysis. The results supported the validity of the types from Study 1, and suggested dimensions underlying this arrangement (positive‐negative and helping‐not helping for the younger adults; positive‐negative and high‐low change or...
Rheumatoid lung sine arthritis – An unusual case mimicking idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

We present the case of a 72-year-old male, with no history of connective tissue disease or musculoskeletal symptoms, who presented to our pulmonary clinic with five years of worsening dyspnea and presyncope with exertion. Pertinent findings on evaluation were computerized tomography of the chest showing diffuse honeycombing, pulmonary function tests demonstrating an intrinsic restrictive ventilatory defect, labs significant for an elevated C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and serologies remarkable for positive rheumatoid factor, positive anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies, and positive anti-nuclear antibody. Despite never having articular or other systemic manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the patient was diagnosed with rheumatoid lung disease, started on definitive therapy and referred to rheumatology. An awareness of this unusual presentation of connective tissue related lung disease is critical to prevent misdiagnosis as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, so proper management and optimal patient outcomes are ensured.
Assessing the Supply Chain Efficiency of Hardwood Sawmills in New York State through Case Study Analysis and Data Envelopment Analysis Modeling

Abstract Hardwood sawmills throughout the United States were under severe financial pressures during the 2007 to 2009 recession. This was attributed to demand weakness, profitability challenges, and supply chain inefficiencies. The focus of our study was on hardwood sawmills in New York State. A supply chain assessment tool was created to evaluate the supply chain processes of 15 sawmills that had the capability to produce from 3 to 20 million board feet of lumber per year and accounted for 31 percent of the hardwood lumber produced in New York. We collected data that allowed us to rate each sawmill's supply chain and computed their relative efficiency using a mathematical modeling technique called Data Envelopment Analysis. We then used a Pearson correlation analysis to compare our sawmill assessment scores and the relative efficiency score from each sawmill and found a significant correlation of 0.716. The assessment tool we developed can help hardwood sawmills find opportunities to improve their supply...
Passgate resistance estimation based on the compact EKV model and effective mobility

A method to approximate nFET passgate resistance using the compact EKV model is presented. The model picks a mobility that has a greater effect on channel current than higher-order MOS effects in order to approximate the worst-case current over a drain-source voltage range. The model is compared to data taken from an IC that was fabricated in a 0.5µm, scalable CMOS process available through MOSIS.