cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cognitive functions in young adults with generalized anxiety disorder.

Abstract Background Anxiety and worry are central symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) that have been theorized to negatively impact cognitive functions. However, most of the research has focused on threat-related or emotionally-charged stimuli, and a surprisingly small number of investigations examined ‘cold’ cognitive functions using classic neuropsychological tests. Such investigations are particularly important given that some theoretical models suggest compensatory mechanisms associated with anxiety that in certain circumstances may result in intact performance. The aim of the present study is to assess the neuropsychological profile associated with GAD, using a comprehensive neuropsychological battery. Methods A sample of 23 college students meeting criteria for DSM-5 GAD and 20 control participants completed a psychometrically valid comprehensive computerized neuropsychological battery and clinical questionnaires. Results The GAD sample presented with significantly elevated symptomatic rates of anxiety, worry, depression and stress. However, no significant differences were found on any neuropsychological outcome measures or domain indexes. Effect sizes were small, some of which favored the GAD sample. Conclusion Despite substantial psychopathological burden, GAD exhibited intact cognitive functioning. These results support the Cognitive Control Theory of Anxiety, suggesting that elevated primary anxiety may not impact ‘cold’ cognitive functions in the absence of threat or substantial cognitive load. Given that this is one of the only studies employing a comprehensive neuropsychological battery in GAD, more research is needed in this population to replicate these results and to examine the impact of anxiety on cognitive functions at varying degrees of cognitive load in this population.
Millimeter-Wave Wideband Array for Vehicle to Vehicle Communication

Millimeter-waves (mm-wave) provide opportunities for wide bandwidth, required for future high speed and vehicle to vehicle (V2V) communications. In this paper, we present a mm-wave phased array based on tightly coupled dipole elements, operating from 17.7GHz to 32.8GHz for V2V applications. The proposed array is low profile with unit cell dimension of 5mm × 5mm. Full wave simulations, assuming infinite array, show that the single element achieves a gain of 4.09dBi at 28GHz. In addition, a link budget analysis to study the communication range among vehicles is provided by considering different finite array dimensions. The estimated link budget shows that for a 4 × 4 and 8 × 8 element arrays, the maximum range to transmit signals at a speed of 1Gbps is 170m and 700m, respectively.
Exploring landowners’ post-construction changes in perceptions of wind energy in Michigan

Researchers have suggested that residents’ acceptance of wind turbines follow a U-shaped curve over time, starting with generally positive attitudes about wind energy, dipping once a project is proposed, and then rebounding after construction. This research considers how residents’ perceptions of the benefits and negative impacts of wind turbines shift post-construction by surveying the same individuals (n = 520) at two time periods after a nearby wind project became operational. We find that residents’ perceptions follow two separate trajectories based on their perception of the fairness of the wind siting planning process and—to a lesser extent—whether they have a direct financial stake in the wind project. Residents who perceived a fair planning process tended to perceive greater benefits of wind turbines, job creation, and revenues for landowners specifically, while residents who perceived an unfair process perceived significantly greater negative impacts, including visual and noise problems, reduction of nearby property values, and human health problems. These results suggest that while energy business models that extent direct financial compensation to more landowners impact the attitudes of residents in the short-term, resident attitudes about procedural justice may have implications that extend well beyond the project planning stage, impacting long-term support for adding new and repowering old turbines.
Snapshot 3D tracking of insulin granules in live cells

Rapid and accurate volumetric imaging remains a challenge, yet has the potential to enhance understanding of cell function. We developed and used a multifocal microscope (MFM) for 3D snapshot imaging to allow 3D tracking of insulin granules labeled with mCherry in MIN6 cells. MFM employs a special diffractive optical element (DOE) to simultaneously image multiple focal planes. This simultaneous acquisition of information determines the 3D location of single objects at a speed only limited by the array detector’s frame rate. We validated the accuracy of MFM imaging/tracking with fluorescence beads; the 3D positions and trajectories of single fluorescence beads can be determined accurately over a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. The 3D positions and trajectories of single insulin granules in a 3.2um deep volume were determined with imaging processing that combines 3D decovolution, shift correction, and finally tracking using the Imaris software package. We find that the motion of the granules is superdiffusive, but less so in 3D than 2D for cells grown on coverslip surfaces, suggesting an anisotropy in the cytoskeleton (e.g. microtubules and action).
THE HEAD AND TAIL OF THE COLORED JONES POLYNOMIAL FOR ADEQUATE KNOTS

CODY ARMOND AND OLIVER T. DASBACHAbstract. We show that the head and tail functions of the colored Jones polynomial ofadequate links are the product of head and tail functions of the colored Jones polynomialof alternating links that can be read-o an adequate diagram of the link. We apply thisto strengthen a theorem of Kalfagianni, Futer and Purcell on the beredness of adequatelinks.
Autonomic dysfunction secondary to Whipple’s disease: a rare complication of a rare disorder (P5.315)

Objective: To report the first case of autonomic dysfunction secondary to Whipple’s disease. Background: Whipple’s disease is an uncommon systemic disorder caused by the bacterium, Tropheryma whipplei. While it is primarily a gastroenterologic disorder involving the small intestine, extra-enteric manifestations include cardiac and neurologic complications. Design/Methods: Case report Results: A 59-year-old woman with past medical history significant only for psoriasis presented to an outside facility with new onset seizure. She had reported nausea and poly-arthralgias of unclear etiology for the preceding several years. Subsequent workup included MRI brain which demonstrated evidence of cardioembolic infarcts in the setting of blood culture-negative endocarditis. This ultimately resulted in valvular dysfunction for which she underwent mitral and aortic valve replacement, 3 months post initial presentation. Vegetation cultures were positive for T. whipplei by PCR. She was treated initially with ceftriaxone (intravenously for 4 weeks), followed by prolonged oral sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim. She presented to our institution approximately 6 months post-initial presentation for further evaluation of persistent neurological symptoms including cognitive and behavioral changes, i.e. emotional lability, as well as profound and debilitating nausea and vomiting, lightheadedness, fatigue, early satiety and 35-pound weight loss over the antecedent 3 months. Repeat MRI brain demonstrated chronic cortical infarcts, as well as multifocal areas of cortical hemosiderin deposition, suspected of representing Whipple’s related amyloid angiopathy. Cerebrospinal fluid testing was normal with negative T. whipplei PCR. Autonomic reflex testing showed evidence of an autonomic neuropathy with cardiovagal, cardiovascular, adrenergic, and postganglionic sympathetic sudomotor failure. Treatment for her autonomic dysfunction included use of conservative strategies and pyridostigmine, though benefits were only mild at best. Conclusions: While autonomic impairment has been associated with other infections, to our knowledge, this is the first reported case of autonomic neuropathy due to Whipple’s disease. Disclosure: Dr. Grill has nothing to disclose. Dr. Grimsrud has nothing to disclose. Dr. Goodman has nothing to disclose.
Democracy, dictatorship, and economic freedom signals in stock market

The performance of 87 stock markets around the world is examined over the period December 1995 through June 2016. Market responses to democracy or dictatorship and several economic freedom measures are estimated. The democracy/dictatorship measures are based on the Cheibub, Gandhi, and Vreeland data system. Measures of economic freedom, property rights, and corruption are taken from the Heritage Foundation indices since inception. Data are used as first differences to capture any response to new information. Democracy/dictatorship has a significant impact on returns; that is, added risk commands a higher return. The stock markets react positively to the release of economic freedom index data. The adjusted change in economic freedom scoring and corruption has a positive impact on market returns, but no effect was found for property rights. These results are consistent with increases in “perceived risk” impacting returns. Lower corruption (a higher freedom from corruption score) should lead to better returns as cash off flow should diminish and either be paid out to the investor or reinvested in the firm. Key conclusions are as follows: Required investment compensation is lower in a democracy than a dictatorship, a reduction in corruption is associated with improving returns, the region of the world where the stock market index is located matters, and positive changes in economic freedom are associated with a positive market return change.
Emerging novel therapies

Abstract This chapter describes two forms of emerging therapies to treat nocturia. The first form is related to new drugs, new drug combination, or new routes of administration of drugs that are in the existing class of therapies, which frequently results in improvement of efficacy and/or tolerability. This chapter discusses how they improve the efficacy and/or tolerability compared to those currently used in the clinic. The second form of emerging therapies involves new molecular targets, which is especially beneficial to patients who have failed current therapies or found current therapies unsatisfactory. This chapter discusses each type in this category. It includes Nocturol or Paxerol (same product but different tradenames), a novel formulation of prostaglandin inhibitors, to target nocturnal elevation of urinary prostaglandins in nocturia patients. It also includes Fedovapagon (VA106483), which is an agonist of the renal vasopressin V2 receptors, to induce antidiuretic effects during sleep hours.
Geographic Variations of Potentially Curative Treatments for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in the United States: A SEER-Medicare Study

BACKGROUND Transplantation, surgical resection, radiofrequency ablation, and percutaneous ethanol injection are generally considered potentially curative treatments for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). With the increasing incidence of HCC, it is critical to investigate geographic variations in curative treatments and their associations with survival among patients. METHODS A total of 6,782 patients with HCC during 2004 to 2011 were identified in the SEER-Medicare linked database and placed in quartiles based on the proportions undergoing potentially curative treatments per hospital referral region (HRR). Hierarchical Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine the association between regional potentially curative treatment patterns and survival across quartiles. RESULTS An average of 16.9% of patients with HCC underwent potentially curative treatments during 2004 to 2011, varying substantially from 0% to 34.5% across HRRs. Compared with patients residing in the lowest-quartile regions, those in the highest-quartile regions were more likely to be of other races (vs white or black), be infected with hepatitis B virus, and have more comorbidities. The 5-year survival was 4.7% in the lowest-quartile regions and 11.4% in the highest-quartile regions (P<.001). After controlling for confounders, patients in the highest-quartile regions had a lower risk of mortality (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.72-0.85). CONCLUSIONS Patients with HCC who resided in HRRs with higher proportions of potentially curative treatments had better survival. Given its proven survival benefits, prompt clinical and policy actions are needed to reduce variations in treatment utilization.
Chapter 7 – SYNAPTIC COMMUNICATION

Publisher Summary This chapter describes how cells communicate with each other. The most common form of synaptic transmission is chemically mediated. The depolarization reaching the presynaptic terminal evokes a secretion of a chemical transmitter, which diffuses across the synaptic cleft to the postsynaptic membrane and leads to its depolarization or hyperpolarization, depending on the transmitter, the membrane properties, and the direction of the electrochemical gradient. The effect of transmitters on the postsynaptic membrane cannot be reproduced by applying polarizing electrical stimuli. Presumably the transmitter opens specific, postsynaptic ionic pathways. When the transmitter has fulfilled its function, it is inactivated by appropriate enzymes on the postsynaptic membrane. In the neuromuscular junction, which has served as a model for transmitter action, that even in the absence of presynaptic depolarization, there is a continuing release of acetylcholine, which acts as an excitatory agent on the postsynaptic muscle.
A Summative Content Analysis of Stress and Coping among Parents of Children with Autism

Sixty-nine married couples who had a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) described their experiences in an online survey. Using Grounded theory thematic analysis and summative content analysi...
Mimetic Pressure for Sustainability Efforts in a Metropolitan Area

Metropolitan cities can serve as laboratories of sustainable development by experimenting with innovative sustainability programs while leveraging advantages of metropolitan areas. With the importa...
Functional and survival outcomes in elderly patients undergoing transoral robotic surgery.

Abstract Objectives To determine if elderly patients (≥70 years) have differences in functional and survival outcomes compared to non-elderly patients ( Materials and methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted on patients undergoing robotic surgery for head and neck cancer at a tertiary institution from 2011 to 2016. Functional status was evaluated with diet, enteric feeding status, Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS), tracheostomy tube placement, and unplanned readmission. Kaplan Meier method and Cox proportional hazard model were used to assess overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) between elderly and non-elderly patients. Results Two hundred and forty-six patients met inclusion criteria. The mean age of the cohort was 63.5 ± 9.74 years. There were 64 patients (26.0%) that were ≥70 years. Elderly patients were more likely to be discharged with enteric access (p Conclusions Elderly patients are more likely to require perioperative enteric feeding, but 3-month, 1-year, and 2-year functional outcomes are comparable to younger patients. Survival outcomes are similar in both populations.
The Unfulfilled Promise of Korean Telecommunications Reform

The deployment of telecommunications services in Korea represents one of the great technological success stories of the developing world. In a remarkably brief period, the penetration of local telephone service, wireless telephony, and broadband technologies has soared to among the highest levels in the world. The history of Korean telecommunications thus provides a useful case study for other developing countries seeking to expand and modernize their telecommunications infrastructures. At first blush, the explosive growth of telecommunications services has appeared to go hand in hand with the liberalization of Korea's telecommunications markets. A review of the history of Korean telecommunications reform reveals that the market liberalization that did exist was largely the result of foreign pressure. Moreover, although Korea took steps towards liberalizing its telecommunications markets, culminating with the substantial reforms announced in 1995, it has backslid since that time, allowing the industry to engage in a disturbing degree of re-concentration. As a result, Korea has not received the full benefit of the enhancements to consumer welfare, efficiency, and innovation that traditionally result from competition. It also suggests that, notwithstanding pronouncements to the contrary, the traditional pattern of direct governmental involvement in industrial policy remains firmly in place.
Phase Change Model: Stefan Problem

The Stefan system is a well-known moving-boundary PDE system modeling the thermodynamic liquid–solid phase change phenomena. The associated problem of analyzing and finding the solutions to the Stefan model is referred to as the “Stefan problem.” It is named after the Austrian physicist Josef Stefan, who was one of the most distinguished and influential physicists of the nineteenth century, celebrated for his numerous contributions to thermodynamics and heat transfer from the experimental perspective. Perhaps Stefan’s name is more recognized for the Stefan–Bolzman law, which revealed that a material with temperature T in absolute unit emits a radiative heat transfer which is proportional to T4, through Stefan’s experimental work and his student Ludwig Boltzman’s work on the theoretical foundation.
Comparing dysmenorrhea beliefs and self-management techniques across symptom-based phenotypes

Objectives To compare beliefs about dysmenorrhea and self-management techniques across three dysmenorrhea symptom-based phenotypes. Background Many reproductive-age women experience dysmenorrhea, with varying symptoms and intensity. Dysmenorrhea symptom-based phenotypes have been identified in previous research, defining distinctive phenotypes of mild localised pain, severe localised pain, and multiple severe symptoms. It is unknown if women from different phenotypes hold different beliefs about dysmenorrhea or if they engage in different self-management techniques. Design Quantitative secondary analysis of cross-sectional survey data. Methods This online study surveyed 762 women with dysmenorrhea in the United States. Participants reported their dysmenorrhea symptom intensity, beliefs about dysmenorrhea (i.e. beliefs about consequences, timeline, controllability, symptom severity, normalcy, emotional response to symptoms and treatments) and self-management techniques to prevent or treat symptoms. Beliefs regarding dysmenorrhea and types of self-management techniques used were compared across three phenotypes utilising ANOVA tests and Tukey's HSD for pairwise comparisons. Reporting followed the STROBE guidelines. Results Women with multiple severe symptoms had significantly more negative beliefs regarding dysmenorrhea and utilised significantly more self-management techniques than women with severe localised pain and women with mild localised pain. Women with severe localised pain had significantly more negative beliefs regarding dysmenorrhea and utilised significantly more self-management techniques than women with mild localised pain. Negative beliefs regarding dysmenorrhea included: consequences of dysmenorrhea, timeline of symptoms, personal and treatment control, symptom severity, normalcy of symptoms, emotional response to symptoms and willingness to utilise complementary medicine. Conclusion Results further support the distinction between dysmenorrhea symptom-based phenotypes. Not only do women in different phenotypes experience different severity and number of dysmenorrhea symptoms, they also perceive and manage their dysmenorrhea differently. Relevance to clinical practice These findings have implications for tailoring interventions to different dysmenorrhea symptom-based phenotypes.
Trade policies and growth in emerging economies: policy experiments

This paper analyzes a dynamic endogenous growth model to quantify the channels through which international trade affects longer-term growth of an emerging economy, with an emphasis on the role played by trade policies. In the model, trade can promote (i) labor migration from agricultural to non-agricultural sectors and (ii) the inflow of foreign knowledge to enhance productivity in non-agricultural sector. The model is estimated to match with the data from selected advanced and emerging economies. Policy experiments suggest that openness to trade and elimination of trade barriers would raise annual real GDP growth by up to three percentage points for decades.
MOV-RCD Snubber Design for Medium-Voltage SiC-Module Based Solid-State DC Circuit Breaker

Because of the lack of natural zero-crossing point and the existence of line inductance in a DC power system, the huge inductive energy can result in serious dv/dt issue across a DCCB during turning off, which could destroy power devices. RCD snubbers have been proposed to solve the dv/dt problem. However, investigations are still required to compare performance of RCD snubbers at different current magnitudes and different snubber capacitances. This paper proposes the design methodology of the MOV-RCD snubber for a medium voltage solid-state DCCB. Two prototypes are implemented to interrupt currents with different magnitudes. Experiments have validated that MOVRCD snubbers can achieve smooth dv/dt with a fast response speed; besides, the response time depends on the current magnitude, implying that an MOV-RCD snubber can achieve the best performance only when the current is in a proper range.
Computed tomography used in weld inspections at NASA

This paper describes an application of computed tomography (CT) for an evaluation of a series of welding-end hydraulic accumulators in use at Kennedy Space Center, which were suspected of possibly containing fatigue cracks in their welds, the failure which could result in a high-velocity or high-volume leakage of hydraulic fluid. The accumulator welds were evaluated in terms of incomplete penetration, porosity, and incomplete fusion. Out of 43 accumulators examined, six were given the ranking of 'good', i.e., having no incomplete penetration, and only slight porosity and incomplete fusion. These were selected for use in most critical locations of the hydraulic system used to load the Magellan spacecraft into the payload bay of the Space Shuttle Discovery, with the resulting successful loading and subsequent launching of the Magellan spacecraft.
Temporal predicate transition nets and their applications

A new class of high-level Petri nets is defined, which is a combination of predicate transition nets and first order temporal logic. By combining these two formal methods, one can explicitly specify the structures and specify and verify various properties of parallel and distributed systems in the same framework, which cannot be achieved by using either one of the formal methods individually. Therefore, a more powerful methodology for the specification and the verification of parallel and distributed systems is obtained. The application of temporal predicate transition nets is illustrated through the specification and the verification of the five-dining-philosophers problem. >
Private Equity and the Heightened Fiduciary Duty of Disclosure

In the first six months of 2007, four major cases in the Delaware Chancery Court relied on the disclosure duty to enjoin pending acquisitions. Based on these holdings, scholars identified disclosure as the next battleground in the tug of war between Delaware and the SEC over corporate governance. However, eleven of the next twelve cases seeking a disclosure-based injunction were denied. The question this Article answers is why there was such an abrupt turnaround; and, by answering this question, it provides a deeper understanding of how and why Delaware courts are invoking the fiduciary duty of disclosure. This Article argues that it is not, or at least not primarily, the SEC that the Delaware courts are responding to; but rather it is the relatively recent rise to prominence of a new type of transaction - the private equity deal - that led to the Delaware court’s assertion of influence.In several recent opinions, the Delaware courts have explicitly described their concern over potential conflicts of interest inherent in private equity transactions. This Article argues that the courts are addressing these concerns, not by using the duty of loyalty as one might expect, but rather by invoking the fiduciary duty of disclosure. Part I describes the rise of the private equity industry in the middle of this decade, its sudden and dramatic collapse in the fall of 2007, and the potential for conflicts of interest in private equity deals as identified by the Delaware Chancery Court. Part II discusses recent cases that raise the fiduciary duty of disclosure, drawing a distinction between those where transactions were enjoined and those where the court found no violation. This Part concludes that courts are scrutinizing private equity and similarly conflicted transactions more closely than other transactions where disclosure violations have been raised, and are using the disclosure mechanism to partially remedy loyalty concerns. Part III assesses the significance of this strategy by the Delaware courts. It first identifies this approach as another strategic use of indeterminacy in Delaware law. It also praises the effort as an example of judicial modesty, but warns that the approach brings the danger of under-enforcing conflicts of interest and misshaping the disclosure doctrine.
A fast rise-rate, adjustable-mass-bit gas puff valve for energetic pulsed plasma experiments

A fast rise-rate, variable mass-bit gas puff valve based on the diamagnetic repulsion principle was designed, built, and experimentally characterized. The ability to hold the pressure rise-rate nearly constant while varying the total overall mass bit was achieved via a movable mechanical restrictor that is accessible while the valve is assembled and pressurized. The rise-rates and mass-bits were measured via piezoelectric pressure transducers for plenum pressures between 10 and 40 psig and restrictor positions of 0.02-1.33 cm from the bottom of the linear restrictor travel. The mass-bits were found to vary linearly with the restrictor position at a given plenum pressure, while rise-rates varied linearly with plenum pressure but exhibited low variation over the range of possible restrictor positions. The ability to change the operating regime of a pulsed coaxial plasma deflagration accelerator by means of altering the valve parameters is demonstrated.
Can zebrafish be used as a model to study the neurodevelopmental causes of autism

The zebrafish has proven to be an excellent model for analyzing issues of vertebrate development. In this review we ask whether the zebrafish is a viable model for analyzing the neurodevelopmental causes of autism. In developing an answer to this question three topics are considered. First, the general attributes of zebrafish as a model are discussed, including low cost maintenance, rapid life cycle and the multitude of techniques available. These techniques include large-scale genetic screens, targeted loss and gain of function methods, and embryological assays. Second, we consider the conservation of zebrafish and mammalian brain development, structure and function. Third, we discuss the impressive use of zebrafish as a model for human disease, and suggest several strategies by which zebrafish could be used to dissect the genetic basis for autism. We conclude that the zebrafish system could be used to make important contributions to understanding autistic disorders.
Can't I Just Listen to That Online?: Evaluating Electronic Access to Audio for Music Libraries

Abstract There has been little published research on the use of electronic audio reserves and music libraries. There have been several studies published to date regarding the use of electronic print document reserves. User responses in these studies are very positive in that they appreciate 24-hour access from any computer with an Internet connection. It is likely that what holds true for electronic print resources will also hold true for electronic audio reserves. This paper seeks to determine how electronic audio reserves are being used now and what their use might mean for the future of the physical musical library. This and other questions are addressed through analysis of written surveys given to students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who use electronic access to audio and analysis of usage statistics on the audio file server. It was determined that students greatly prefer to use electronic audio reserves to those physical sound recordings found on reserve in the Music Library. T...
Fatigue Effect on Lifting Acceleration in Frequent Lifting

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of fatigue, caused by frequent manual lifting, on lifting velocity and lifting acceleration. Ten male volunteers performed lifting at a rate of 4 times per minute, continuously, for two hours using the free-style posture. A box (30cm × 30cm × 20cm) with a fixed weight (15.9 kg) was used as the load for lifting. Heart rate, oxygen consumption, and EMG were also measured to estimate the level of fatigue. The posture as well as acceleration was recorded. The results show that the lifting acceleration at the end of two hour increased significantly (20%, p < 0.001) compared to the acceleration after fifteen minutes of lifting. It was also found that subjects changed their lifting postures as the result of fatigue. All subjects also indicated pain in their upper legs and the lower back at the conclusion of the experiment.
Thermal transport in the anisotropic Heisenberg chain with S = 1/2 and nearest-neighbor interactions

The purpose of this note is to connect early work on thermal transport in spin-1/2 Heisenberg chains with uniaxial exchange anisotropy and nearest-neighbor interactions that was based on a moment analysis of the Fourier transform of the energy density correlation function with subsequent studies that make use of thermal current correlation functions.
Social Assessments for Better Development: Case Studies in Russia and Central Asia

Social Assessments for Better Development: Case Studies in Russia and Central Asia. Michael M. Cernea and Ayse Kudat. eds. Introduction by Johannes Linn and Ismail Serageldin. Washington, DC: The World Bank, 1997. 207 pp.
A Review of “An Introduction to Community Development”

This comprehensive textbook takes the reader through the various steps of community and economic development from theory to practice. Twenty-four chapters are organized into four major categories: ...
Recent Changes in the Prevalence of and Factors Associated With Frequency of Indoor Tanning Among US Adults

Reducing indoor tanning is a Healthy People 2020 objective and an important strategy for preventing skin cancer.1 We examined changes in the prevalence and frequency of indoor tanning factors associated with frequency of indoor tanning among US adults.
Civic Attitudes, Political Participation, and System Stability in Japan:

The argument has been made that Japan's democratic polity is unstable, and that the reason for this instability is that political cynicism is peculiarly frequent in Japan, and that political cynicism (particularly when in combination with high political efficacy) conduces toward unconventional or radical individual political behavior, and that such behavior in turn is destabilizing to the polity. The conclusions of this article are that (a) the Japanese are no more politically cynical than citizens in other, unarguably stable, democracies; (b) the Japanese are no more prone to approve of or participate in unconventional protest demonstrations, or to approve the use of violence in settling political disputes, than citizens in other, unarguably stable, democracies; (c) although cynicism plus efficacy lead toward protest behavior, they lead even more strongly toward conventional forms of participation and away from violence; (d) protest behavior as it commonly occurs in Japan does not constitute a destabiliz...
Child life services.

Child life programs are an important component of pediatric hospital-based care; they address the psychosocial concerns that accompany hospitalization and other health care experiences. Child life specialists focus on the optimal development and well-being of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults while promoting coping skills and minimizing the adverse effects of hospitalization, health care encounters, and/or other potentially stressful experiences. In collaboration with the entire health care team and family, child life specialists provide interventions that include therapeutic play, expressive modalities, and psychological preparation to facilitate coping and normalization at times and under circumstances that might otherwise prove overwhelming for the child. Play and developmentally appropriate communication are used to (1) promote optimal development, (2) educate children and families about health conditions, (3) prepare children and partner with families for medical events or procedures, (4) plan and rehearse useful coping and pain-management strategies with patients and families, (5) help children work through feelings about past or impending experiences, and (6) partner with families to establish therapeutic relationships between patients, siblings, and caregivers. Child life specialists collaborate with the entire interdisciplinary team to promote coping and enhance the overall health care experience for patients and families.
Synthesis and metabolism of prostaglandins E2, F2α and D2 by the rat gastrointestinal tract. Stimulation by a hypertonic environment in vitro

Abstract Whole cell preparations of rat stomach corpus, jejunum, and colon were incubated and the released prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), PGF2α, PGD2, 15 keto-13,14 dihydro PGE2, and 15 keto-13,14 dihydro PGF2α were measured by combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. All regions made PGD2 and possessed a high capacity for producing 15 keto-13,14 dihydro derivatives of both PGE2 and PGF2α. Hypertonic sucrose solutions resulted in concentration-dependent increases in prostaglandin release, particularly of PGE2 and its metabolite. It is suggested that PG's may play a role in the local effects of luminal hyperosomolarity on digestive tract functions.
Foraging ecology of temperate-zone and tropical woodpeckers

The foraging behavior of II species of woodpeckers in Guatemala, Maryland, and Minnesota was studied in order to test the seasonal stability hypothesis. This hypothesis predicts that specialization and species richness should be no greater for tropical wood-excavators than for those in the temperate zone because wood-excavators in both regions are buffered against seasonal change. Niche breadth values for six variables that describe foraging methods and perches were calculated by two methods. Unweighted niche breadth values were similar for tropical and temperate wood- peckers for all variables except foraging technique; in this case the temperate species are more specialized. With weighted niche breadth values temperate species are more specialized for two variables and less specialized for two others. Thus there is no consistent tendency for tropical species to be more specialized. However, the excavating guild includes twice as many species in Guatemala as in either of the northern study sites. Two of the three "additional' species in Guatemala use a configuration of foraging methods and perches not used by northern woodpeckers. Hence the larger number of tropical woodpecker species can be attributed partly to the greater range of resources available in the struc- turally complex rain forest.
A COMPUTER SIMULATION USED TO EVALUATE ALTERNATIVE FINANCIAL STRATEGIES

THE PURPOSE of this dissertation is to evaluate the effects of financial alternatives on the value of a firm's common stock. The method of study was computer simulation. The simulation system was based upon the Klein-Goldberger econometric model as programmed by Fraser G. Wallace for his dissertation, A Computer Simulation of Financial Hypotheses Describing Investment Behavior of a Firm That Is Situated Within an Economic Environment, extended to include a model of the financial markets.
Effect of noncircular cross section on the forwardscattering pattern of side-illuminated unclad fibers

The geometric ray-trace theory has been modified to predict the intensity maxima and minima of the forwardscattering pattern for unclad fibers with noncircular cross sections. The cross section is represented by a Fourier series, and the effect of the presence of various foils (harmonics) is demonstrated. The results show that the magnitude of low-order foils, specifically the second, third, fourth, fifth, and seventh, can be determined by observing the pattern at ~12° scattering angle and monitoring the interference fringe movement as the fiber is rotated axially. The effects of elliptical fibers on fiber diameter determinations from measurement of the scattering pattern are discussed.
SPECT attenuation correction: An essential tool to realize nuclear cardiology’s manifest destiny

Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) myocardial perfusion imaging has attained widespread clinical acceptance as a standard of care for cardiac patients. Yet, physical phenomena degrade the accuracy of how our cardiac images are visually interpreted or quantitatively analyzed. This degradation results in cardiac images in which brightness or counts are not necessarily linear with tracer uptake or myocardial perfusion. Attenuation correction (AC) is a methodology that has evolved over the last 30 years to compensate for this degradation. Numerous AC clinical trials over the last 10 years have shown increased diagnostic accuracy over non-AC SPECT for detecting and localizing coronary artery disease, particularly for significantly increasing specificity and normalcy rate. This overwhelming evidence has prompted our professional societies to issue a joint position statement in 2004 recommending the use of AC to maximize SPECT diagnostic accuracy and clinical usefulness. Phantom and animal studies have convincingly shown how SPECT AC recovers the true regional myocardial activity concentration, while non-AC SPECT does not. Thus, AC is also an essential tool for extracting quantitative parameters from all types of cardiac radionuclide distributions, and plays an important role in establishing cardiac SPECT for flow, metabolic, innervation, and molecular imaging, our manifest destiny.
Inhibitory Effects of Induced Hypercalcemia on Secretion of Parathyroid Hormone

ABSTRACT Phosphate clearance (Cp) was measured before and 8 to 10 hours after the induction of hypercalcemia in euparathyroid and hyperparathyroid subjects. In patients with phosphaturia of secondary hyperparathyroidism the Cp fell to within the normal range after standard calcium infusion, whereas in the phosphaturia of intrinsic renal tubular disease no such change occurred. In euparathyroid subjects, calcium infusion resulted in a significant fall in Cp even when the control values were above the levels considered normal. In hyperparathyroidism with parathyroid tumor, an insignificant fall in Cp followed induction of increased hypercalcemia, even when the control levels of Cp were normal or slightly elevated. Preliminary studies indicate that in hypercalcemic states other than hyperparathyroidism, induction of further elevation of the serum calcium level does not reduce Cp. This technique of study provides a much sharper definition of change in phosphorus excretion than does the use of 24-hour measurem...
Immunofluorescent studies of the skin in cryoglobulinaemic vasculitis.

SUMMARY.— Six patients with vasculitis and cryoglobulinaemia have been investigated. In all but 1 the cryoglobulins were of the mixed variety. On immunofluorescence of the acute vasculitis lesions deposits of immunoglobulins of the same classes as those found in the cryoglobulins were detected in 4 patients; other immunoglobulins not present in the cryoglobulin were additionally present in 2 of the 4 and no or only weak deposits were present in 2. Fibrin and complement were found in all. The pathogenesis of vasculitis in cryoglobulinaemia is discussed.
Virtual Exertions: Physical Interactions in a Virtual Reality CAVE for Simulating Forceful Tasks

This paper introduces the concept of virtual exertions, which utilizes real-time feedback from electromyograms (EMG), combined with tracked body movements, to simulate forceful exertions (e.g. lift...
Moving in the Labor LAANE

Moreover, the state’s labor movement— anchored by over eight hundred thousand members in Los Angeles County (about 18 percent of the workforce)—waged effective electoral campaigns last November so that every statewide office is now held by a Democrat, including the governorship (now held by Jerry Brown). The L.A. County Federation of Labor has an impressive political mobilization apparatus that puts thousands of working people into the streets during election cycles to support pro-labor candidates.
Surfactant can be supplemented before the neonate needs it.

Pulmonary surfactant is a complex mixture, but clearly has one main component, dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine, or DPPC. The respiratory distress syndrome, RDS, a condition afflicting the baby born too early, is caused by a deficiency of pulmonary surfactant. When this was first realized, attempts were made to treat the condition by supplying DPPC, the main component of the missing surfactant. These first attempts to supplement the pulmonary surfactant were unsuccessful, however, and with the bubble surfactometer, it is clearly seen that DPPC alone does not have the needed surface properties. The adsorption rate is too low, i.e., DPPC only is very slow in forming a film at the air-liquid interface. Natural surfactant on the other hand has the capacity to form a film instantaneously. Therefore, if natural surfactant is supplied in the upper airways prior to the first breath, it will immediately upgrade the maturity of the neonate's lungs; aeration is facilitated and the lungs are given stability. With a surfactant preparation, consisting of the lipids extracted from calf lung lavage, a randomized clinical trial was carried out on infants at particularly high risk of developing RDS. Of the 39 infants receiving surfactant prior to the first breath after birth, only one died neonatally; whereas, of the 33 controls, six died.
Dehydration of iron(II) sulfate heptahydrate

Abstract We studied the dehydration behavior of iron(II) sulfate heptahydrate (FeSO 4 ·7H 2 O) as part of NASA's in situ resource utilization program for the recovery of water on Mars. We examined the effect of the variables important in using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The temperatures at which waters of hydration are removed and the enthalpy values for the various dehydration steps were measured using DSC. For the dehydration of FeSO 4 ·7H 2 O, a particle size As discussed above, proper selection of DSC and TGA operating parameters and baseline analysis technique is required to obtain accurate thermal results.
Prolonged residence times for the youngest rhyolites associated with Long Valley Caldera:230Th—238U ion microprobe dating of young zircons

Abstract We describe a new ion microprobe method for dating magmatic zircon growth that is based on in situ measurement of the magnitude of238U—230Th disequilibrium. Our results support independent inferences that zircon can remain suspended for long periods (> 100 ka) in the convecting potions of the magma from which it crystallizes. Because the crystallization ages date when the magma cooled to its zircon saturation temperature, even when the zircons have long magmatic residence times,238U—230Th zircon dating can be used to constrain the thermochemical evolution of silicic magmas. 238U—230Th ages have been determined for individual zircons from rhyolites associated with the Long Valley magmatic system of eastern California. The samples are from Deer Mountain, an 115 ± 3 ka low-silica moat rhyolite, and from the coarsely porphyritic, low-silica rhyolite of South Deadman dome, one of the ∼ 0.6 ka Inyo domes. Previous investigations have suggested that the two lavas were derived from the same magma reservoir. A few of the zircon model ages, calculated with respect to the isotopic characteristics of the whole rocks, are within error of that for eruption of the Deer Mountain rhyolite. However, the majority of zircons from both lavas cluster around an age of ∼ 230 ka. This common interval of zircon nucleation and growth, for petrologically similar lavas, suggests that the younger Inyo dome lava may have tapped the same magma body from which the Deer Mountain rhyolite erupted more than 100 ka before. On the other hand, most of the zircon model ages are younger than previous episodes of silicic volcanism in the Long Valley Caldera, suggesting that the rhyolites may have been generated during development of a silicic upper crustal magma chamber in the western portion of Long Valley caldera. Zircon saturation temperatures for the rhyolites studied (795–810°C) are the same as those obtained from coexisting Fe—Ti oxides (809 ± 4°C), showing that the magma cooled to
Soot particle disintegration and detection by two-laser excimer laser fragmentation fluorescence spectroscopy.

A two-laser technique is used to study laser–particle interactions and the disintegration of soot by high-power UV light. Two separate 20 ns laser pulses irradiate combustion-generated soot nanoparticles with 193 nm photons. The first laser pulse, from 0 to 14.7 J/cm2, photofragments the soot particles and electronically excites the liberated carbon atoms. The second laser pulse, held constant at 13 J/cm2, irradiates the remaining particle fragments and other products of the first laser pulse. The atomic carbon fluorescence at 248 nm produced by the first laser pulse increases linearly with laser fluence from 1 to 6 J/cm2. At higher fluences the signal from atomic carbon saturates. The carbon fluorescence from the second laser pulse decreases as the fluence from the first laser increases, suggesting that the particles fully disintegrate at high laser fluences. We use an energy balance parameter, called the photon/atom ratio, to aid in understanding laser–particle interactions. These results help define the regimes where photofragmentation fluorescence methods quantitatively measure total soot concentrations.
Selective blocking action of LSD on inhibitory dopamine receptors.

Dopamine-induced postsynaptic responses of both excitory and inhibitory types were recorded from identified neurones of Aplysia ganglion. A 30 sec exposure to 0.1 μm d-lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) significantly depressed the inhibitory responses to 1 mM dopamine, while a 60 sec exposure to 10 μm LSD did not alter the excitatory responses to 0.1 mm dopamine. Dose-response curves obtained from cells with inhibitory receptors indicate that the mode of LSD interaction was non-competitive.
Venera‐9 magnetic field measurements in the Venus wake: Evidence for an Earth‐like interaction

Venera-9 magnetic field measurements in the Venus wake provide additional support for the hypothesis that Venus has an intrinsic planetary field. The observed field is in the direction expected for a northward moment, and is similar to that observed in equivalent locations in the terrestrial magnetosphere, both in its temporal and spatial behavior. In particular, Venera-9 appears to have observed a plasma sheet expansion, field-aligned currents, and tail-field dipolarization.