cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Harnessing the power of social media: how can it help in axial spondyloarthritis research?

Purpose of review Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is a chronic inflammatory rheumatic disease that is relatively unknown among the general public. Most patients with axSpA are young or middle-aged adults and more likely to use some social media. This review highlights trends in the application of social media and different ways in which these tools do already or may benefit clinical research, delivery of care, and education in rheumatology, particularly in the field of axSpA. Recent findings This article discusses four areas in the biomedical field that social media has infused with novel ideas: (i) the use of patient-generated health data from social media to learn about their disease experience, (ii) delivering health education and interventions, (iii) recruiting study participants, and (iv) reform, transfer, and disseminate medical education. We conclude with promising studies in rheumatology that have incorporated social media and suggestions for future directions. Summary Rheumatologists now have the opportunity to use social media and innovate on many aspects of their practice. We propose further exploration of multiple ways in which social media might help with the identification, diagnosis, education, and research study enrollment of axSpA patients. However, standardization in study design, reporting, and managing ethical and regulatory aspects will be required to take full advantage of this opportunity.
Visualization of Occupant Behavior in an Open Academic Space Through Image Analysis

Between agent simulation and circulation diagrams within design pedagogy, the prediction of occupant movement in space is integral to the informed design process. At the same time, trends in higher education have led to more open-ended spaces that are then studied for the unexpected ways in which students collaborate. These studies, by the unpredictable nature, must be done post-occupancy. In this paper, occupant behavior is visualized from an image dataset over a 9 day period in an open student environment. The methods for extracting behavior through this large dataset are presented. The results are then reflected on in regard to the role of circulation diagrams for interior design and spatial planning.
A sharp interface model for deterministic simulation of dendrite growth

Abstract A high order level set model is developed for deterministic simulation of dendritic growth in unstable solidifying systems. The model captures motion of the front implicitly on a structured finite difference grid, enables calculation of its geometric properties and also applies boundary conditions on the immersed interface. Interfacial capillary effect is incorporated in the model through the Gibbs-Thomson condition. Canonical problems for evaluating grid convergence of the numerical method and validation tests for stability of a growing nucleus in the presence of isotropic surface tension are presented. The growth morphology of solidifying nuclei in undercooled metallic melts is quantitatively analyzed. Effects of crystal anisotropy and melt undercooling on the front geometry, propagation speed and formation of branched dendritic structures are examined. The complex morphological changes, such as remelting of secondary perturbations under specific conditions of undercooling, are also captured during the quantitative analysis.
Can hospitalization be hazardous to your health? A nosocomial based stress model for hospitalization.

Abstract Objective Hospitalization places patients at elevated risk for the development of “nosocomial” or hospital acquired complications, ranging from multidrug resistant infections to delirium and physical deconditioning. Adverse nosocomial psychological effects of hospitalization may also exist. This paper introduces a nosocomial based stress model, conceptualizing hospitalization as a unique period of biopsychosocial vulnerability, due to physiologic effects of acute illness and psychosocial variables of the hospital experience. Method A research synthesis and narrative review was performed to evaluate evidence supporting this model, integrating existing knowledge of the psychological and physiological effects of acute life threatening events, with known sequelae associated with hospitalization. Result Psychosocial factors during hospitalization may act as independent predictors of recovery following hospitalization, moderating variables impacting ongoing physiologic changes due to acute illness, and/or dynamic bidirectional elements, influencing medical and psychological outcomes in the near and long-term setting. Conclusion The Nosocomial Stress model provides a novel framework to understanding the biopsychosocial interactions between the psychological and physiologic processes associated with illness and hospitalization. Based on this model, a research agenda is proposed to assess the contributions of acute illness, the hospital experience, and their interactions on the recovery of patients following hospitalization.
Antimicrobial Stewardship Review of Automated Candidemia Alerts Using the Epic Stewardship Module Improves Bundle-of-Care Adherence.

Background Antimicrobial stewardship interventions utilizing real-time alerting through the electronic medical record enable timely implementation of the bundle of care (BOC) for patients with severe infections, such as candidemia. Automated alerting for candidemia using the Epic stewardship module has been in place since July 2015 at our medical center. We sought to assess the impact of these alerts. Methods All adult inpatients with candidemia between April 1, 2011, and March 31, 2012 (pre-intervention), and June 30, 2016, and July 1, 2017 (post-intervention), were evaluated for BOC adherence. We also evaluated the impact on timeliness to initiate targeted therapy, length of stay (LOS), and 30-day mortality. Results Eighty-four patients were included, 42 in the pre- and 42 in the post-intervention group. Adherence to BOC was significantly improved, from 48% (pre-intervention) to 83% (post-intervention; P = .001). The median time to initiation of therapy was 4.8 hours vs 3.3 hours (P = .58), the median LOS was 24 and 18 days (P = .28), and 30-day mortality was 19% and 26% (P = .60) in the pre- and post-intervention groups, respectively. Conclusions Antimicrobial stewardship program review of automated alerts identifying patients with candidemia resulted in significantly improved BOC adherence and was associated with a 1.5-hour reduction in time to initiation of antifungal therapy. No significant change was observed with 30-day mortality or LOS.
Development of multi-objective core optimization framework and application to sodium-cooled fast test reactors

Abstract The optimization of a Sodium-cooled Fast Reactor (SFR) core is a challenging process, due to the large number of design parameters, the nonlinearities among inputs and outputs, and the complicated correlation among output parameters. This study attempts to develop a generalized framework for the SFR core optimization by coupling the sensitivity analysis, advanced optimization algorithm, and optionally the surrogate modeling. The framework is built based on the fast reactor modeling capability of the Argonne Reactor Computation (ARC) suite and the sensitivity analysis and optimization modules embedded in the DAKOTA code, both have been integrated within the NEAMS Workbench. The genetic algorithm is selected as the optimization method for its robustness, while the option of surrogate modeling is also explored to alleviate the computational burden caused by employing the ARC direct core physics simulation and thus enhance the efficiency of the optimization. Finally, the normalized deviations of performance parameters of the near-optimal solution from those of the ideal core are calculated and used as criteria to down select the final core design. The developed framework is applied to the Advanced Burner Test Reactor (ABTR) core, and optimal solutions are determined by balancing various objectives simultaneously, including peak fast flux, core volume, power, reactivity swing, plutonium mass feed, while at the same time satisfying the predefined constraints due to safety or economics considerations. The optimal ABTR core design obtained using the direct physical simulation and surrogated model are compared and discussed. It is found that using the accurately constructed surrogate models can significantly reduce the required computational time while maintaining satisfactory accuracy.
Shock compression response of diamond single crystals at multimegabar stresses

Shock compressed diamond response at multimegabar stresses---of fundamental interest to high pressure science and relevant for high energy density experiments related to inertial confinement fusion---is often assumed to be hydrodynamic. To examine this assumption, plate impact experiments were conducted to measure wave profiles in diamond single crystals shocked to $\ensuremath{\sim}900\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{GPa}$ elastic impact stress (EIS). For the [110] and [111] orientations, two-wave structures (elastic-inelastic response) were observed to \ensuremath{\sim}900 GPa EIS; in contrast, single (overdriven) waves were observed at 480 GPa EIS and above for the [100] orientation. The elastic wave velocities for the [110] and [111] orientations were significantly larger than those for the [100] orientation. Strong orientation dependence was also observed for the elastic wave amplitudes; for [110] and [111] diamond, the amplitudes increased significantly with increasing elastic impact stress. The observed two-wave structures and the strong orientation dependence (elastic wave speeds and amplitudes) demonstrate unequivocally that the shock response of diamond single crystals is not hydrodynamic at stresses below the melt transition. As such, appropriate elastic-inelastic material descriptions are needed to accurately model the high stress response of diamond and other strong solids.
Research Participation and Employment of Persons with Autism Spectrum in Library and Information Science: A Review of the Literature

Persons with autism spectrum disorder are a growing population and important to library and information science research and employment in libraries. Including them in all stages of research about the neurodivergent experience is valuable, and their input and participation is increasingly used in technology research, particularly usability studies. Neurodiverse persons also have unique abilities that align with a wide array of information professions and accommodations can be made that allow them to thrive in the workplace. It is critical that meaningful involvement of autistic individuals is a component of making policy at all levels.
Space Chicken: A Historical Look at How the Critical Path Changes over a Mission's Development

The critical path in schedule analysis defines the series of tasks that have no schedule slack leading to the delivery of a system. The critical path for NASA science missions, which typically runs through a spacecraft subsystem or a scientific instrument, is dynamic and changes over the development lifetime of a project. Often the critical path at the start of preliminary design will be through a specific spacecraft subsystem while the final, delivered critical path item is often a scientific instrument that is delivered late. The research for this paper looks at the postulated critical path at different milestones, and the actual critical path item at final delivery, for a variety of NASA science missions to understand what elements are impacting the delivery schedule the most. Recommendations are made based on these quantitative results relative to what elements should potentially be considered more often in early development schedules to more robustly plan for development issues.
Military Forces, Coercive Signals, and Disaster Response Effectiveness

AbstractWhy do governments deploy their armed forces to respond to certain foreign natural disasters but not others? What factors influence successful coordination between national and foreign mili...
Correlates of Neural Adaptation to Food Cues and Taste: The Role of Obesity Risk Factors.

Identifying correlates of brain response to food cues and taste provides critical information on individual differences that may influence variability in eating behavior. However, few studies examine how brain response changes over repeated exposures and the individual factors that are associated with these changes. Using functional MRI, we examined how brain response to a palatable taste and proceeding cues changed over repeated exposures and how individual differences in weight, familial obesity risk, dietary restraint, and reward-responsiveness correlate with these changes. In healthy-weight adolescents (n=154), caudate and posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) response increased with repeated cue presentations, and oral somatosensory cortex and insula response increased with repeated milkshake tastes. The magnitude of increase over exposures in the left PCC to cues was positively associated with BMI-percentile (r=0.18, p=0.026) and negatively associated with dietary restraint scores (r=-0.24, p=0.003). Adolescents with familial obesity risk showed higher cue-evoked caudate response across time, compared to the low risk group (r=0.12, p=0.035). Reward-responsiveness positively correlated with right oral somatosensory cortex/insula response to milkshake over time (r=0.19, p=0.018). Results show that neural responses to food cues and taste change over time, and that individual differences related to weight gain are correlated with these changes.
Identification of a novel TPM4 isoform transcript and comparison to the expression of other tropomyosin isoforms in bovine cardiac and skeletal muscles.

In mammals, there are four tropomyosin (TPM) genes (TPM1, TPM2, TPM3, and TPM4) each of which generate a multitude of alternatively spliced mRNAs. TPM isoform diversity in bovine unlike in humans are not well characterized. The purpose of this investigation is to perform an extensive analysis of the expression of both transcripts and corresponding protein of sarcomeric TPMs in bovine strated muscles. We have cloned and sequenced the transcripts of the sarcomeric isoform of the TPM4 gene designated as TPM4α as well as a new splice variant TPM4e from bovine striated muscles. Additionally, we have determined the expression of various sarcomeric TPM isoforms and TPM4e in bovine heart and skeletal muscles. Relative expression as well as absolute copy number determination by qRT-PCR suggests that TPM1α expression is significantly higher in bovine cardiac muscle, whereas TPM2α is higher in skeletal muscle. The relative expression of TPM3α in bovine heart and skeletal muscle is very similar. The relative expression of TPM4α and TPM4e is higher in bovine heart and skeletal muscle, respectively. We have evaluated the protein expression levels of various TPM isoforms by 2D western blot analyses in commercially available protein extracts of heart and skeletal muscles with the CH1 monoclonal antibody against TPM. Protein from each CH1-positive spot was extracted for LC-MS/MS analyses, which show that bovine heart extract contains 91.66% TPM1 and 8.33% TPM2, whereas skeletal muscle extract contains 57% TPM1 and 42.87% TPM2. We have failed to detect the presence of unique peptide(s) for TPM3α, TPM4α, and TPM4e.
Methodology for performing biomechanical push-out tests for evaluating the osseointegration of calvarial defect repair in small animal models

Abstract Push-out tests are frequently used to evaluate the bone-implant interfacial strength of orthopedic implants, particularly dental and craniomaxillofacial applications. There currently is no standard method for performing push-out tests on calvarial models, leading to a variety of inconsistent approaches. In this study, fixtures and methods were developed to perform push-out tests in accordance with the following design objectives: (i) the system rigidly fixes the explanted calvarial sample, (ii) it minimizes lateral bending, (iii) it positions the defect accurately, and (iv) it permits verification of the coaxial alignment of the defect with the push-out rod. The fixture and method was first validated by completing push-out experiments on 30 explanted murine cranial caps and two explanted leporine cranial caps, all induced with bilateral sub-critical defects (5.0 mm and 8.0 mm nominal diameter for the murine and leporine models, respectively). Defects were treated with an autograft (i.e., excised tissue flap), a shape memory polymer (SMP) scaffold, or a PEEK implant. Additional validation was performed on 24 murine cranial caps induced with a single, unilateral critically-sized defect (8.0 mm nominal diameter) and treated with an autograft or a SMP scaffold. • A novel fixture was developed for performing push-out mechanical tests to characterize the strength of a bone-implant interface in calvarial defect repair. • The fixture uses a 3D printed vertical clamp with mating alignment component to fix the sample in place without inducing lateral bending and verify coaxial alignment of push-out rod with the defect. • The fixture can be scaled to different calvarial defect geometries as validated with 5.0 mm bilateral and 8.0 mm single diameter murine calvarial defect model and 8.0 mm bilateral leporine calvarial defect model.
Why food matrices are more potent against cancer as compared to their isolated bioactives (647.39)

Our preliminary data shows that bioactive compounds delivered within a food matrix are involved in molecular multitasking (affecting multiple genomic targets) and deliver their biological punch thr...
Multilevel secure teleconferencing over public switched telephone network

Two-way group voice communications, otherwise known as teleconferencing are common in commercial and defense networks. One of the main features of military teleconferences is the need to provide means to enforce the Multilevel Security (MLS) model. In this paper we propose an architecture and protocols facilitating MLS conferences over Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). We develop protocols to establish secure telephone conferencing at a specific security level, add and drop conference participants, change the security level of an ongoing conference, and tear down a conference. These protocols enforce MLS requirements and prevent against eavesdropping. Our solution is based on encryption methods used for user and telephone authentication and message encryption, and trusted authentication centers and certificate authorities. We provide an initial estimate of signaling delays of our protocols incurred due to the enforcement of the MLS requirements.
Art and Desire: A Study in the Aesthetics of Fiction

Art and desire objections from historical realism objections from moral realism objections concerning language objections concerning affect recapitulation and analysis analysis - "Wuthering Heights". Appendix: the justification of criticism.
Cutting Edge: An In Vivo Reporter Reveals Active B Cell Receptor Signaling in the Germinal Center

Long-lasting Ab responses rely on the germinal center (GC), where B cells bearing high-affinity Ag receptors are selected from a randomly mutated pool to populate the memory and plasma cell compartments. Signaling downstream of the BCR is dampened in GC B cells, raising the possibility that Ag presentation and competition for T cell help, rather than Ag-dependent signaling per se, drive these critical selection events. In this study we use an in vivo reporter of BCR signaling, Nur77-eGFP, to demonstrate that although BCR signaling is reduced among GC B cells, a small population of cells exhibiting GC light zone phenotype (site of Ag and follicular helper T cell encounter) express much higher levels of GFP. We show that these cells exhibit somatic hypermutation, gene expression characteristic of signaling and selection, and undergo BCR signaling in vivo.
Reference interval for rectal temperature in healthy confined adult cats

Objectives:Despite the common use of rectal temperature for assessing health and identifying infectious diseases in cats, there is little evidence to support frequently cited feline reference inter...
Knowledge with and Without Belief

This article argues for the thesis that the distinction between propositional and doxastic justification should be extended to knowledge. A consequence of this thesis is that there is a type of knowledge that requires belief and a type that does not. A familiar example strikingly similar to the sort of example used to introduce the propositional/doxastic justification makes a prima facie case. Additional theoretical advantages are revealed when the distinction is applied within the context of some recent epistemological debates. These include debates over the knowledge account of assertion, testimonial knowledge, self-deception, and the question of whether knowledge can be essentially based on falsehood. It is contended that the sort of distinction offered here provides a way to settle these debates and, at the same time, acknowledge what is correct in the opposing positions.
Encoding context in spatial navigation: one role of dentate gyrus

A simulation of hippocampal fields CA3 and CA1 that encodes information necessary for spatial navigation is extended to incorporate dentate gyrus. Dentate gyms’ projection of mossy fibers to field CA3 is presumed to carry information that takes advantage of its unique anatomy and physiology. It is hypothesized that these projections, based on context-specific activity in dentate, radically influence the specific recurrent dynamics in CA3 by governing its principal cells’ excitability. The simulation reveals an ability of the hippocampus to differentially encode associations between familiar stimuli depending on context, and demonstrates this ability in its navigation of two distinct three-dimensional “worlds.”
Ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane catheter for chronic abdominal pain.

Background and Objectives: Neural blockade of the thoracolumbar nerves supplying the anterior abdominal wall through transversus abdominis plane (TAP) has been investigated for different applications mainly for the acute pain management following abdominal surgical procedures. The role of this block for chronic pain syndromes is still to be discovered, and its value in chronic abdominal pain needs to be studied. We are presenting new application of the TAP technique for management of chronic abdominal pain syndrome using the continuous infusion. Case report: We present a case of an 18-year-old girl who underwent an uneventful laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Postoperatively, patient complained of chronic pain at the site of the surgery. All diagnostic and imaging studies were negative for a surgical or a medical cause. Multiple interventions including epidural blocks, transcutaneous electrical neural stimulation, and celiac plexus blocks had failed to relieve the pain. After discussion with the patient about the diagnostic nature of the procedure and the likelihood of recurrence of pain, TAP block was performed on the right side with significant improvement of pain for about 24 hours. The degree of pain relief experienced by the patient was very dramatic, which encouraged us to proceed with an indwelling TAP catheter to allow for continuous infusion of a local anesthetic. The patient was sent home with the continuous infusion through a TAP catheter for 2 weeks. From the day of catheter insertion and up to 9 months of follow-up, patient had marked improvement of her pain level as well as her functional status and ability to perform her daily activities, after which our acute pain team stopped following the patient. Conclusion: A successful TAP block confirmed the peripheral (somatic) source of the abdominal pain and provided temporary analgesia after which an indwelling catheter was inserted, which provided prolonged pain relief.
Constraint effects observed in crack initiation stretch

The currant paper characterizes constraint in fracture: J-modifled resistance (J M R) curves were developed for two tough structural materials, 6061-T651 (aluminum) and IN718-STA1 (nickel-base superalloy). A wide variety of configurations was tested to consider load configurations from bending to tension including three specimen types (compact tension, center-crack tension, and single-edge notched tension), and a range of ligament lengths and thicknesses, as well as side-grooved and smooth-sided ligaments. The J M R curves exhibited an inflection point after some crack extension, and the data were excluded beyond the inflection. Qualified J M R curves for the two materials showed similar behavior, but R-curves were identical for equal ligament length-to-thickness ratio, RL, for the aluminum alloy, with increasing slope for increasing R L , while for the nickel, the resistance curves aligned for equal ligament thickness, B, and the slope increased for decreasing B. Displacements at the original crack tip (δ 5 ) were recorded throughout the test for several specimens. δ 5 -versus-crack extension curves were developed, and data were excluded beyond the inflection point (as with the J M R curves). The data collapsed into two distinct curves, thought to represent the surface, plane stress effect and the central, plane strain effect. This was observed for both materials. A technique called profiling is presented for the aluminum alloy only, where the crack face displacements are recorded at the final point of the test as a function of the position throughout the crack cavity, along with an effort to extract the observations in a usable form. Displacements were consistent throughout the cross-section at and behind the original crack tip. In the region where the crack grew, this displacement was developed by a combination of stretch and crack growth. The stretch required to initiate crack extension was a function of the depth beneath the surface into the cross-section.
Symmetry perception for target screening

A shape-based algorithm, designated SPOT, is applied to the output of ARL"s, contrast-like feature based, FLIR anomaly target detector in an effort to improve clutter rejection. The shape-based algorithm uses a spatial symmetry operator that discriminates man-made structures in imagery. The method uses no predetermined templates or filters, which would be range and/or aspect dependent, but rather generates templates on-the-fly from the input data. Results explore the application of one such symmetry operator, and present a comparative analysis of target detection performance, based on ROC curves and detection histograms.© (2005) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Influence of electron relaxation on electron tunneling

It is shown that the current–voltage characteristics of a three-terminal tunnel junction depend on the energy relaxation time. If the electrodes are made of transition metals, one may extract the fundamental parameters on the spin dependence of the hot electron relaxation time from magnetoresistance measurement. Furthermore, an enhanced tunnel magnetoresistance is predicted.
Counting neurons is not as easy as ‘one-two, three’

An accurate determination of the number of neurons in a segment of bowel is fundamental to establish population norms and identify neurodegenerative conditions, including age-related loss of myenteric ganglion cells. Although the latter phenomenon has been observed by several laboratories in various mammals, in this issue of Neurogastroenterology and Motility, Gamage et al. present evidence that colonic myenteric ganglion cells are maintained in aged mice. These discordant findings prompt a thoughtful consideration, the range of variables affecting the accuracy of neuronal counts and the survival of neuronal populations in aging animals.
A constrained wavelet smoother for pathway identification tasks in systems biology

Abstract Metabolic time series data are being generated with increasing frequency, because they contain enormous information about the pathway from which the metabolites derive. This information is not directly evident, though, and must be extracted with advanced computational means. One typical step of this extraction is the estimation of slopes of the time courses from the data. Since the data are almost always noisy, and the noise is typically amplified in the slopes, this step can become a critical bottleneck. Several smoothers have been proposed in the literature for this purpose, but they all face the potential problem that smoothed time series data no longer correspond to a system that conserves mass throughout the measurement time period. To counteract this issue, we are proposing here a smoother that is based on wavelets and, through an iterative process, converges to a mass-conserving, smooth representation of the metabolic data. The degree of smoothness is user defined. We demonstrate the method with some didactic examples and with the analysis of actual measurements characterizing the glycolytic pathway in the dairy bacterium Lactococcus lactis . MATLAB code for the constrained smoother is available as a Supplement.
Humans can discriminate more than 1 trillion olfactory stimuli

Humans can discriminate several million different colors and almost half a million different tones, but the number of discriminable olfactory stimuli remains unknown. The lay and scientific literature typically claims that humans can discriminate 10,000 odors, but this number has never been empirically validated. We determined the resolution of the human sense of smell by testing the capacity of humans to discriminate odor mixtures with varying numbers of shared components. On the basis of the results of psychophysical testing, we calculated that humans can discriminate at least 1 trillion olfactory stimuli. This is far more than previous estimates of distinguishable olfactory stimuli. It demonstrates that the human olfactory system, with its hundreds of different olfactory receptors, far outperforms the other senses in the number of physically different stimuli it can discriminate.
Review of domain-decomposition methods for the implementation of FEM on massively parallel computers

The finite-element solution of electromagnetic phenomena, involving electrically large and complex structures, is a major challenge, since both accuracy and efficiency are hard to obtain. The authors introduce the different methods for performing the domain decomposition for distributed memory, multiple-instruction multiple-data (MIMD) multiprocessors. In discussing the advantages and disadvantages of the different methods, we assume that an iterative-matrix method, such as the conjugate gradient method, is used to solve the matrix equation. >
Heuristics for join processing using nonclustered indexes

The author examines join processing when the access paths available are nonclustered indexes on the joining attribute(s) for both relations involved in the join. He uses a bipartite graph model to represent the pages from the two relations that contain tuples to be joined. The minimization of the number of page accesses needed to compute a join in the author's database environment is explored from two perspectives. The first is to reduce the maximum buffer size so that no page is accessed more than once, and the second is to reduce the number of page accesses for a fixed buffer size. The author has developed heuristics for these problems. He gives performance comparisons of these heuristics and another method that recently appeared in the literature. Results show that one particular heuristic performs very well for addressing the problem from either perspective. >
The Nature of Symbols in the Language of Thought

: The core of the language of thought program is the claim that thinking is the manipulation of symbols according to rules. Yet LOT has said little about symbol natures, and existing accounts are highly controversial. This is a major flaw at the heart of the LOT program: LOT requires an account of symbol natures to naturalize intentionality, to determine whether the brain even engages in symbol manipulations, and to understand how symbols relate to lower-level neurocomputational states. This paper provides the much-needed theory of symbols, and in doing so, alters the LOT program in significant respects.
Patterns of Teacher–Child Conversations in Head Start Classrooms: Implications for an Empirically Grounded Approach to Professional Development

Research Findings: This article is based on the premise that the field of early childhood education needs to begin to study the details of teacher–child interaction if it is to understand fully what aspects of classrooms foster development and to create effective professional development interventions. To this end, we report analyses of four Head Start teachers as they talked with children in two settings (blocks and dramatic play) on three different occasions. The conversations were transcribed and coded for teachers' use of strategies that prior research on language development has found to be supportive of language learning. All teachers were found to adopt some strategies likely to foster language growth, but the frequency of strategy use was low. Practice or Policy: Classroom context affected teacher–child conversations for all teachers, supporting the claim that consideration of teacher behavior across contexts can help reveal features of classrooms that shape conversations and that attention to how...
A component analysis of problem-solving skills training

This study examined the effects of training in the components of D'Zurilla and Goldfried's (1971) problem-solving model on the problem-solving skills of patients enrolled in alcohol treatment. Unlike previous research, this study evaluated the additive contributions of problem-solving component skills to the production of effective solutions. The participants' responses to socially validated problems were used to assess problem-solving skill level. Using a multiple-baseline design, training in three problem-solving components (problem definition, solution generation, predicting consequences) was introduced sequentially. The results showed that training in defining problems, generating solutions, and predicting consequences produced corresponding increases in the participants'skill level. However, the effectiveness of the participants' chosen solutions was not affected by training in any of the problem-solving component skills. The differences in training and assessment between this study and prior research that might account for these results are discussed.
Efficient Raman enhancement and intermittent light emission observed in single gold nanocrystals

This paper reports two fundamental observations on the size-dependent optical properties of colloidal gold nanoparticles. First, faceted gold nanocrystals in the size range of 63 ± 3 nm have been found to be highly efficient for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). These nanocrystals are identified from a heterogeneous population for large optical enhancement at 647-nm laser excitation. Second, spatially isolated single gold particles emit Stokes-shifted Raman photons in an intermittent on-and-off fashion. In contrast to population-averaged studies, blinking surface-enhanced Raman scattering is a signature of single-particle (or even single-molecule) behavior. By directly measuring optical enhancement and time-resolved emission on single nanoparticles, this work opens new possibilities in studying the mechanisms of SERS, in developing metal tips for near-field optical microscopy, and in designing new nanostructured materials.
Effects of Team Building and Goal Setting on Productivity: A Field Experiment

A field experiment conducted with 53 hard-rock miners in an underground metal mine examined the effects of two interventions, team building and goal setting, on miners' productivity and strategy de...
Association of the Hermit Crab Pagurus Longicarpus Say, 1817, With Symbiotic Hydroids: Consequences of Predation By Lobsters

Previous studies indicate that symbiotic hydroids of the genus Hydractinia protect hermit crabs from certain predators, but have little effect on others. Laboratory experiments were performed to elucidate the relationship between the long-clawed hermit crab, Pagurus longicarpus, and its symbiotic hydroid, Hydractinia symbiolongicarpus, in environments with and without a predator, the lobster Homarus americanus. Hydroids did not protect P. longicarpus from predation by H. americanus. P. longicarpus escaped predation by burrowing into the sand or fleeing. The presence of H. americanus had no effect on the preference of P. longicarpus for hydroid-covered shells, further supporting the hypothesis that H. symbiolongicarpus does not protect P. longicarpus from predation by H. americanus. Overall, P. longicarpus showed no preference for shells with or without hydroids, suggesting that the costs of associating with hydroids roughly equal the benefits.
The decline of Ricardian politics: Some notes on paradigm-shift in economics from the classical to the neo-classical persuasion

Summary Whether hailed as a triumph of analytical progress or decried as a sorry retreat into apologetics, the ‘transition’ from classical to neo-classical economics bears an interpretation that has hitherto been left unexplored. It is argued here that empirical and ideological embarrassments apart, the declension of the Ricardian paradigm had to do with sheer irrelevance once the policies it was linked to had been consummated. Practical success presaged decline, the demise of Ricardian economics being written indelibly in its politics. This paper offers a new perspective for understanding paradigm-shifts in economic theory.
Structure and Reactivity of Water Layers on Defect-Free and Defective Anatase TiO2(101) Surfaces

The adsorption of thin water overlayers on the (101) surface of TiO2 anatase has been studied through Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics (CPMD) simulations. We compared the structural and dynamic properties of one and two H2O monolayers adsorbed on defect-free and partially reduced surfaces at 160 K. As for an isolated adsorbed H2O molecule, we found that water dissociation is possible only on the defective surface. With respect to a single H2O, the interaction between H2O molecules reduces the dissociation barrier: a water molecule incorporated in a monolayer (ML) or a bilayer (BL) over a defected surface dissociates spontaneously at 160 K. On the perfect surface, a water ML forms a regular array of Ti-coordinated molecules, whereas on the defective surface some molecules shift coordination from Ti to a bridging (O2c) oxygen, leading to a mixed ML state with molecular water adsorbed on two different sites and two hydroxyls resulting from the dissociation. Only after adsorption of a second water layer O2c...
Toward Improved Control of Medium Wave Directional Arrays

Relatively few types of variable power division circuits have been used in medium wave directional antenna feed systems, most of which suffer phase variation as the power division is adjusted. This paper discusses a class of circuits which can be used to implement a phase invariant adjustable power divider. Also discussed are variable phase shifters which have limited effect on power distribution. These features can simplify the original tuning and possible periodic maintenance. A computer analysis of the probable performance of such devices is presented. The associated problem of system analysis is discussed, particularly the inclusion of the effects of the antenna element coupling. To this end a lumped passive element model for a generalized linear reciprocal N port is presented.
First Report of Hibiscus latent Fort Pierce virus in New Mexico

During the summer of 2003, foliar symptoms including chlorotic spots and chlorotic mottling were observed on Hibiscus rosa-sinensis and H. syriacus plants in and around Las Cruces, NM. Detection of...
Models for organometallic molecule-support complexes. Synthesis and properties of cationic organoactinides

Chemical and TC CPMAS NMR data suggest that cationic species play a major role in the surface and possibly catalytic chemistry of actinide alkyls (and by inference, of many other organometallics) on electron-deficient metal oxide supports (e.g., el-Al2O3). Straightforward solution routes to model cationic organoactinide alkyls and complexes free of coordinating bases would be highly desirable, and the authors report here the first efficient synthetic approach as well as initial observations on the properties of the products. Base-coordinated Cp2Zr(Me)L complexes have recently been prepared via a completely different route.
Generalization and Statistical Inference From Snowball Samples1

Generalisation et inference statistique a partir des echantillonnages en boules de neige. La capacite de generaliser a partir des boules de neige depend de la maniere dont les echantillons de l'etape zero sont obtenues. Si ceux-ci sont choisis par facilite ou sur des criteres ethnographiques, des inferences statistiques ne peuvent pas etre faites. Cependant, le generalisation est possibie dans trois cas: (i) comme des donnees ethnographiques detaillees, les resultats des boules de neige peuvent etre etudies comme des donnees du terrain; ( ii) des boules de neige peuvent etre rendues plus representatives d'une population par l'attribution de poids a la maniere de Schmeidler; (iii) en prenant des sites tels que des sujets et des boules de neige comme mesures repetees des reseaux sociaux informels de ces sites, la generalisation par repliquation devient possible. L'echantillonnage des sites est suggere comme une approche possible; par exemple, en employant des profils de site avec des attributs jour/nuit, de...
Women Incumbents, Elite Bias, and Voter Response in the 1996 and 1998 U.S. House Elections

Abstract Recent literature on the role of gender in U.S. House elections shows little evidence of discrimination against women candidates by parties, potential donors, or voters. However, virtually no attention has been paid to the fate of women incumbents. ln this paper, I provide an examination of the types of challenge faced by women incumbents. Based on data for U.S. House incumbents in 1996 and 1998, I report that women incumbents faced better funded challengers than did comparable men, even after we control for first term status and district partisanship. Further, in one of the two years, electoral vulnerability appeared to impact women incumbents more than it did men incumbents.
Semikinetic modeling of the outflow of ionospheric plasma through the topside collisional to collisionless transition region

A collisional semikinetic model is applied to the study of the topside ionosphere transition region. The paper considers the transition from (1) O(+) to H(+) dominance; (2) subsonic to supersonic H(+) flow; and (3) collisional to collisionless plasma. The H(+) ions flow upward from a relatively low altitude of 500-1000 km to a high altitude of 7000 km. These ions are subjected to collisions with O(+) ions and self collisions, as well as the effects of macroscopic forces such as the magnetic mirror force, gravity, and the ambipolar electric force. When supersonic outflow occurs, the H(+) velocity-distribution function shows a large departure from Maxwellian with a large positive and then negative heat flow, particularly in the region where the flow Mach number passes through one. In cases where subsonic outflow occurs and the H(+) density is relatively low, distribution functions with two peaks can occur. In these situations the H(+) ions have large parallel temperatures and large heat flows when the two peaks are of unequal height.
Estimation of Patient-Specific 3D In Vivo Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Strain

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) is a localized permanent dilatation occurring in abdominal region of the aorta. Nearly 8% of the population above 65 years old is diagnosed with this disease [1], which has been shown to be associated with smoking history, heredity, and male gender. As it is asymptomatic, vascular surgeons may opt for surgical intervention or follow a wait-and-watch strategy if their assessment of the risk of rupture is low. During surgical intervention grafts are placed inside the aorta. Design of such intravascular devices as well as monitoring the progression of the disease by means of scientific approach may benefit from information on the strains that occur in the aneurysmatic region at different instances due to cyclic internal pressurization during cardiac cycle.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Formation of Diamond by Explosive Shock

Samples of graphite have been recovered after exposure to explosive shocks of 300,000-atm estimated intensity. X-ray and electron-diffraction examinations prove the existence of diamond in this material. The mechanism proposed for the formation of diamond under these conditions is simple compression in the c-axis direction of the rhombohedral form of graphite.
Stimulation of Armillaria mellea growth by plant hormones in relation to the concentration and type of carbohydrate

Thalli of Armillaria mellea grew vigorously and produced abundant rhizomorph after 21 days of incubation on a glucose-L-asparagine medium supplemented with auxin, but grew poorly and failed to produce rhizomorphs on a non-supplemented medium or on one supplemented with either gibberellic acid or kinetin. Replacement of glucose in auxin-supplemented medium with arabinose, fructose, galactose, maltose, sucrose or starch resulted in poor thallus growth and a lack of rhizomorph development. The superiority of glucose as a carbon source for thallus growth appears to be related to its superiority as a substrate for metabolism by A. mellea.
Effectiveness of nonnarcotic protocol for the treatment of acute exacerbations of chronic nonmalignant pain.

Abstract Introduction Emergency department (ED) overcrowding is a growing problem. Frequent visits for chronic pain are a significant subset of patients. The use of narcotics in these patients is controversial. The purpose of this study was to test a strict nonnarcotic protocol in reducing need for and number of ED visits for chronic pain while at the same time addressing their pain. Methods This was a prospective observational study. We identified patients with more than 10 ED visits for exacerbations of chronic nonmalignant pain in the last 12 calendar months. Each patient and their physician were sent letters informing them of the concern of frequent ED use and the use of opioids for rescue therapy. Furthermore, the patient would receive medications other than narcotics in subsequent ED visits, and follow-up with the primary physician for alternatives was encouraged. Use of the ED for pain-related visits was then monitored for the subsequent 12-month period. Clinic use and outpatient medication uses were also monitored. Results Fifteen patients were identified for the initial study. These patients averaged 19 ED visits per 12 months for pain-related complaints. All of them had a regular physician. After notification of the new protocol, ED visits decreased to an average of 2 visits per year. Visits with primary care physicians also dropped from an average of 19 visits per year to 7 visits. There were 7 patients who had been weaned off narcotic medications, 4 who had been converted to methadone maintenance, and 1 who had been switched to a fentanyl patch. Conclusions Initiation of a strict nonnarcotic protocol for treatment of patients with frequent ED visits for chronic nonmalignant pain results in a significant drop in the number of pain-related visits to the ED. These visits were not offset by a significant elevation in the number of clinic visits for pain complaints, and many were weaned off narcotics. Nonnarcotic protocols for acute exacerbations of chronic nonmalignant pain may be a viable alternative for reducing frequent pain-related ED visits in a select population.