cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
White Social Workers' Attitudes about People of Color

Abstract This study evaluates the utility of a measure of White social workers' attitudes about people of color and provides some preliminary normative data to facilitate more systematic evaluation in practice, education, and research. The Cognitive and Affective Racial Attitudes Scales of the Quick Discrimination Index (QDI) (Ponterotto, Potere & Johnson, 2002) were completed by 257 White members of the National Association of Social Workers. Results strongly support the use of these scales among professional social workers and indicate that most respondents in the study were positive and supportive of people of color and of the concept of multicultural diversity. Nevertheless, a closer examination of specific professional vulnerabilities suggests that these social workers' cognitive attitudes were more positive than their affective attitudes, that they possess the same ambivalence and social distance about race that characterizes contemporary American society, and that 12% do not believe racism is a maj...
Dynamic Viscoelastic Properties of Cholesteric Liquid Crystals

Abstract Propagation of ultrasonic shear waves at frequencies from 2.4 to 18 MHz was studies in three 18-carbon unsaturated fatty acid esters of cholesterol, cholesteryl obleate (CO), cholesteryl linoleacte (CL), and cholesteryl linolenate (CLn), and three mixtures of the esters, 80% CL-20% CO, 95% CL-5% CO, and 80% CLn-20% CO. The oleate and linoleate esters are of biological importance because they comprise about 70–80% of the cholesteryl esters contained in atherosclerotic plaque. A shear wave pulse superposition technique was used to obtain the complex shear mechanical impedance and, hence, the dynamic shear viscosity and dynamic shear rigidity. The reflectance technique permits the study of liquid crystals whose long axes are oriented, in the plane of shear, with respect to the shearing direction of the ultrasonic wave. Falling ball viscosity measurements using a Hoeppler precision viscosimeter were made as a function of temperature from 35 tc 55°C. Shear wave measurements of dynamic shear rigidity a...
Intestinal transit and body weight responses to ovarian hormones and dietary fiber in rats

A two-part experimental design was used to study the effects of ovarian hormone cessation, hormone supplementation, and dietary fiber composition on body weight, appetite, and intestinal transit. In Part 1, effects of ovarian hormone status on body weight and baseline and stimulated intestinal transit were measured in chow-fed rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were ovariectomized (OVX), then injected daily (22 days) with estrogen (E), progesterone (P), the combination (E + P), or placebo. Controls were sham operated and placebo injected. Among OVX rats, E and E + P had the least body weight gain (9%, 6%); placebo and P had the greatest (36%, 34%). In OVX-P, baseline intestinal transit (measured in anesthetized rats as distance traveled by a charcoal marker) was relatively low, but vagal stimulation via centrally administered thyrotropin-releasing hormone evoked an increase significantly larger than that in other groups. In Part 2, experiments probed the interacting effects of ovarian hormone cessation and dietary fiber composition on body weight and baseline intestinal transit. Caloric intake was measured to determine the contribution of altered appetite. Rats were OVX or sham operated, then fed liquid diets with or without dietary fiber (25 days). OVX fiber-fed rats had significantly higher caloric intake, weight gain, and baseline intestinal transit than other groups. Caloric intake did not fully account for group differences. These results demonstrate modulation of GI function by ovarian hormones and dietary fiber.
Extremal Analytical Solutions for Intermediate-Thrust Arcs in a Newtonian Field

The variational problem of determining optimal trajectories of motion with constant exhaust velocity and limited mass-flow rate in a central Newtonian field is considered. The first-order necessary conditions of optimality reduce the problem to a Hamiltonian canonical system of equations for intermediate- and maximum-thrust arcs, both of which have no complete analytical solutions to date. The approach used in this work is based on the analytical integration of the canonical system by employing its first integrals and invariant expressions. Several new classes of extremal analytical solutions for planar intermediate-thrust arcs with free and fixed flight times are presented. The solutions describe families of spiral trajectories around the center of attraction. The main result of the paper is that, in their current form with known integrals, the differential equations of the variational problem for intermediate-thrust arcs are integrable in elementary functions and quadratures, and the solution of this problem with such arcs can be reduced to a system of algebraic continuity equations formed for each junction point. These solutions can be used as representative reference trajectories for guidance algorithms and to compute initial values of Lagrange multipliers for high-fidelity trajectory optimization software. As an illustrative example, the transfer maneuver to a given elliptical parking orbit using an intermediate-thrust arc is discussed. Results of simulations for three study cases containing the change of eccentricity and semiparameter of the parking orbit and specific impulses are presented.
Constraints on Hadean geodynamics from mineral inclusions in > 4 Ga zircons

Abstract The inclusion mineralogy of 1450 zircons over 4 billion years in age from the Jack Hills, Western Australia, was characterized for composition and phase assemblage. Results confirm that the inclusion population of these largely igneous zircons is dominated by muscovite and quartz (~ 75%). If the inclusions are original to the igneous zircons, this observation alone restricts the host melts to formation at pressure–temperature (P–T) conditions of ~ 650–800 °C and > 4 kbar. Several lines of evidence support the view that most of the analyzed mineral inclusions are primary, including their lack of association with cracks, magmatic crystal forms, and lack of exchange with fuchsitic (Cr-rich) micas in the host conglomerate. The application of Ti-in-zircon thermometry, and phengite, Ti-in-quartz, and Al-in-hornblende barometry to these inclusion assemblages yields estimates of magmatic P–T conditions from 5 to > 12 kbar and 700 ± 40 °C. These data indicate zircon formation along geotherms of ≤ 60 °C/km and imply conductive near-surface heat flow of
Extinction limits and associated uncertainties of nonpremixed counterflow flames of methane, ethylene, propylene and n-butane in air

Abstract Fundamental flame characteristics derived from counterflow flames are routinely used in chemical kinetic model optimization and validation. This paper reports an experimental and computational investigation aimed at understanding and quantifying the source of uncertainties associated with such characterization of extinction limits of fuel–air mixtures, ranging from low extinction strain rate methane–air flames to high-extinction strain rate ethylene–air flames. In the experiments, two pairs of convergent nozzles with exit diameters of 7.9 mm and 14.5 mm were used to introduce opposed jets of nonpremixed fuel and air to establish a planar flame in the counterflow mixing region. Velocity profiles and extinction data were measured using both LV and PIV setups. Experiments were conducted at various nozzle separation distances to investigate potential differences in axial velocity profiles along the axial and radial directions and the corresponding local extinction strain rates. The slope of axial velocity in the axial and radial directions at the air outlet boundary was found to increase with decreasing nozzle separation distance. The variation of local extinction strain rate with changes in separation distance was within the uncertainty of experimental data. Using a C1–C4 chemical kinetic model, quasi one-dimensional computations have been performed to quantify the experimentally determined boundary condition effects on the predicted extinction strain rate of counterflow flames.
Efficient and reliable perceptual weight tuning for unit-selection text-to-speech synthesis based on active interactive genetic algorithms: A proof-of-concept

Unit-selection speech synthesis is one of the current corpus-based text-to-speech synthesis techniques. The quality of the generated speech depends on the accuracy of the unit selection process, which in turn relies on the cost function definition. This function should map the user perceptual preferences when selecting synthesis units, which is still an open research issue. This paper proposes a complete methodology for the tuning of the cost function weights by fusing the human judgments with the cost function, through efficient and reliable interactive weight tuning. To that effect, active interactive genetic algorithms (aiGAs) are used to guide the subjective weight adjustments. The application of aiGAs to this process allows mitigating user fatigue and frustration by improving user consistency. However, it is still unfeasible to subjectively adjust the weights of the whole corpus units (diphones and triphones in this work). This makes it mandatory to perform unit clustering before conducting the tuning process. The aiGA-based weight tuning proposal is evaluated in a small speech corpus as a proof-of-concept and results in more natural synthetic speech when compared to previous objective and subjective-based approaches.
High cholesterol absorption efficiency and rapid biliary secretion of chylomicron remnant cholesterol enhance cholelithogenesis in gallstone-susceptible mice

The study of chylomicron pathway through which it exerts its metabolic effects on biliary cholesterol secretion is crucial for understanding how high dietary cholesterol influences cholelithogenesis. We explored a relationship between cholesterol absorption efficiency and gallstone prevalence in 15 strains of inbred male mice and the metabolic fate of chylomicron and chylomicron remnant cholesterol in gallstone-susceptible C57L and gallstone-resistant AKR mice. Our results show a positive and significant (P<0.0001, r=0.87) correlation between percent cholesterol absorption and gallstone prevalence rates. Compared with AKR mice, C57L mice displayed significantly greater absorption of cholesterol from the small intestine, more rapid plasma clearance of chylomicrons and chylomicron remnants, higher activities of lipoprotein lipase and hepatic lipase, greater hepatic uptake of chylomicron remnants, and faster secretion of chylomicron remnant cholesterol from plasma into bile. All of these increased susceptibility to cholesterol gallstone formation in C57L mice. We conclude that genetic variations in cholesterol absorption efficiency are associated with cholesterol gallstone formation in inbred mice and cholesterol absorbed from the intestine provides an important source for biliary hypersecretion. Differential metabolism of the chylomicron remnant cholesterol between C57L and AKR mice clearly plays a crucial role in the formation of lithogenic bile and gallstones.
Implications of nonspectator B-meson decays and B-lifetime measurements

The nonspectator contributions to the $B$-meson decays are calculated with use of the measured ratio $\frac{{\ensuremath{\tau}}_{{D}^{+}}}{{\ensuremath{\tau}}_{{D}^{0}}}$ and the assumption $\frac{{f}_{B}^{2}}{{f}_{D}^{2}}=\frac{{m}_{D}}{{m}_{B}}$. We find $\frac{{\ensuremath{\tau}}_{{B}^{+}}}{{\ensuremath{\tau}}_{{B}^{0}}}=1.4 \mathrm{to} 1.8$. From the measured values of $B$-meson lifetime, the semileptonic branching ratio, the ratio $\frac{\ensuremath{\Gamma}(b\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\mathrm{ue}\ensuremath{\nu})}{\ensuremath{\Gamma}(b\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\mathrm{ce}\ensuremath{\nu})}$, and the $\ensuremath{\epsilon}$ parameter, the constraints on Kobayashi-Maskawa angles are evaluated and their implications for ${m}_{t}$, $|\frac{{\ensuremath{\epsilon}}^{\ensuremath{'}}}{\ensuremath{\epsilon}}|$, ${B}^{0}\ensuremath{-}{\stackrel{-}{B}}^{0}$ mixing, and $K\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\pi}\ensuremath{\nu}\stackrel{-}{\ensuremath{\nu}}$ are presented.
You be the jury: was the standard of care met?

Nicki Gilboy, Nurse Educator, Emergency Department, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Boston, Mass. Trisha Flanagan, Risk Coordinator, Program for Patient Safety & Quality, Children’s Hospital, Boston, Mass. For correspondence, write: Nicki Gilboy RN, MS, CEN, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115; E-mail: ngilboy@partners.org. J Emerg Nurs 2007;33:579-81. 0099-1767/$32.00 Copyright n 2007 by the Emergency Nurses Association. doi: 10.1016/j.jen.2007.09.017
VLSI research in the U.S.A.

Abstract Co-operative R&D in Advanced Information Technologies is not a Japanese privilege.
A galaxy of rustling stars: places on the Web and other library and information paths for the deaf

While one's route on the World Wide Web (WWW) may not be “straight on 'til morning,” it can be nearly as exciting. Sometimes the promise of a WWW file is not fulfilled, or different titles yield the same file, or one receives a message claiming that a server is not accessible; however, there are many good resources for the deaf that are under construction on the Web. Creative, responsible people are trying to arrange information to make it accessible for everyone. In spite of current limitations, the World Wide Web is an excellent platform on which everyone can share information and compare almost instantly the information and knowledge found.
Analysis of Benzonatate Overdoses Among Adults and Children from 1969–2010 by the United States Food and Drug Administration

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To augment the December 2010 United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Drug Safety Communication on accidental ingestion of benzonatate in children less than 10 years old by summarizing data on emergency department visits, benzonatate exposure, and reports of benzonatate overdoses from several data sources. DESIGN: Retrospective review of adverse-event reports and drug utilization data of benzonatate. DATA SOURCES: The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (AERS) database (1969-2010), the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-Cooperative Adverse Drug Event Surveillance Project (NEISS-CADES, 2004-2009), and the IMS commercial data vendor (2004-2009). PATIENTS: Any patient who reported an adverse event with benzonatate captured in the AERS or NEISS-CADES database or received a prescription for benzonatate according to the IMS commercial data vendor. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Postmarketing adverse events with benzonatate were collected from the AERS database, emergency department visits due to adverse events with benzonatate were collected from the NEISS-CADES database, and outpatient drug utilization data were collected from the IMS commercial data vendor. Of 31 overdose cases involving benzonatate reported in the AERS database, 20 had a fatal outcome, and five of these fatalities occurred from accidental ingestions in children 2 years of age and younger. The NEISS-CADES database captured emergency department visits involving 12 cases of overdose from accidental benzonatate ingestions in children aged 1-3 years. Signs and symptoms of overdose included seizures, cardiac arrest, coma, brain edema or anoxic encephalopathy, apnea, tachycardia, and respiratory arrest and occurred in some patients within 15 minutes of ingestion. Dispensed benzonatate prescriptions increased by approximately 52% from 2004 to 2009. CONCLUSION: Although benzonatate has a long history of safe use, accumulating cases of fatal overdose, especially in children, prompted the FDA to notify health care professionals about the risks of benzonatate overdose. Pharmacists may have a role in preventing benzonatate overdoses by counseling patients on signs and symptoms of benzonatate overdose, the need for immediate medical care, and safe storage and disposal of benzonatate. Language: en
Miniature High Stability High Temperature Space Rated Blackbody Radiance Source

This paper presents the design and test performance of a conical cavity type blackbody radiance source that will meet the requirements of the Halogen Occultation Experiment on the NASA Upper Atmospheric Research Satellite program. The thrust of this design effort was to minimize the heat losses, in order to keep the power usage under 7.5 watts, and to minimize the amount of silica in the materials. Silica in the presence of the platinum heater winding used in this design would cause the platinum to erode, changing the operating temperature set-point. The design required the development of fabrication techniques which would provide very small, close tolerance parts from extremely difficult-to-machine materials. Also, a space rated ceramic core and unique, low thermal conductance, ceramic-to-metal joint was developed, tested and incorporated in this design. The completed flight qualification hardware has undergone performance, environmental and life testing. The design configuration and test results are discussed in detail.
Electrophysiologic effects of encainide (MJ 9067) on canine purkinje fibres

Abstract Microelectrodes were used to characterize the actions of a new antiarrhythmic compound, encainide, 4-methoxy-2′-[2-(1-methyl-2-piperidyl)-ethyl] benzanilide, on transmembrane potentials generated by isolated canine Purkinje fibres in tissue bath. Encainide, 1×10−7 M, had no effect on resting potential (RP) and action potential (AP) of stimulated fibres or automaticity of spontaneously fibres. Encainide (1×10−6 M) shortened phase 2 and action potential duration (APD) at 50, 75 and 100% of repolarization; AP rate of rise (Vmax) decreased only ∼15% at 3 h exposure, while RP was unchanged. Higher concentrations also shortened phase 2 and APD, markedly decreased Vmac, depressed the membrane responsiveness curve and increased conduction time. Encainide, 1×10−6 M, increased ERP/APD100. These effects were rapidly reversed by washing with drug-free solution. Encainide (1×10−5 M) decreased the automatic rate of spontaneously beating untreated fibres and stretch-depolarized fibres, but had little effect on catecholamine-enhanced automaticity. Encainide, 1×10−5 M, delayed the onset of ouabain toxicity. These findings suggesting that the antiarrhythmic effect of encainide may arise from its depression of Vmax and memrane responsiveness, increase in ERP/APD100 and inhibition of automaticity, are discussed in light of the similarity of the actions of this new drug to the known properties of lidocaine and quinidone.
The Challenges and Impact of Evolving Competency- based Medical Education and Practice

In clinical care, much of the emphasis is appropriately focused on evidence-based practice, atient safety, and quality outcomes. However, a closely related evolving dynamic is aimed at ssessing, attaining, and maintaining competence in practice. This evolution has the potential for ajor, even revolutionary, changes in medical education and practice at all levels. Medical education in the United States has undergone a significant transformation over he past several decades, ranging from medical school (undergraduate medical education UME]), to residency training (graduate medical education [GME]), and continuing medical ducation (CME). In some respects, this evolution has occurred in each area independent of he others, but clearly there are overlapping themes, with significant impact on the rofessional activities of both experienced and neophyte physicians. Each of these arenas of education is governed by separate professional accrediting rganizations, ostensibly independent of each other but, again, coordinated in regard to ertain strategies and policies. UME is directed and monitored by the Liaison Committee on edical Education (LCME), which governs U.S. medical school curriculum content and tructure to ensure standards of basic education and training of physicians. GME is ontrolled by the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), which ets institutional standards for organizations that sponsor GME, as well as common program equirements, which govern the structure and function of all ACGME-accredited residency raining programs. In addition, the ACGME is organized into 26 residency review commitees (RRC), which set standards for training in each medical specialty (including physical edicine and rehabilitation [PM&R]), as well as first postgraduate year training programs. he Accreditation Council on Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) in turn sets policies nd accrediting standards for any organization that desires to designate educational activiies for the American Medical Association Physicians’ Recognition Award category 1 CME redits. Each of these organizations periodically surveys its constituents regarding complince with established standards (the LCME surveys medical schools, the ACGME RRCs urvey residency programs, and the ACCME surveys CME providers), with varying cycle urations, depending on the degree of compliance. Another organization with roles in both UME and GME, the Association of American edical Colleges (AAMC), initiated a debate regarding learning objectives for medical tudents, which culminated in the Medical School Objectives Project in 1998, which dentified the following attributes of medical school graduates: altruistic, knowledgeable, killful, and dutiful [1]. More or less concurrently, the ACGME undertook a process to better define and haracterize physician “competence,” and, in 1999, evolved a 4-phase “Outcome Project” 2], with goals for assessing resident performance and instilling specific knowledge, skills, nd attitudes in 6 “core” or “general competencies”:
Is It Family Structure or Socioeconomic Status? Family Structure During Adolescence and Adult Adjustment

This study investigates the long-term effects of family structure during adolescence on adult adjustment, using data from the 1972-1986 General Social Surveys. Men and women from intact families, mother-headed single-parent families, and reconstituted families are compared, taking into account whether parents' marital disruption resulted from divorce or the father's death. We find that the long-term effects of family disruption on adult adjustment do not differ by gender. When socioeconomic status during adolescence and current socioeconomic status are controlled, a few adverse effects of parents' divorce, but no effects of father's death remain. Moreover, the effects of divorce depend on whether the adult lived with the mother only or with the mother and a stepfather. Socioeconomic status during adolescence and current socioeconomic status affect nearly all aspects of adult adjustment. The high divorce rate in the United States during the last two decades has generated widespread concern about the impact of family structure on personal and social adjustment. Most research has focused on the impact of the father's absence (Demo & Acock 1988), while less is known about the effects of living in reconstituted families, whether the reason for the absence of the biological father matters, whether adverse long-term psychological consequences are more severe for men or women, or the importance of family structure compared with that of socioeconomic status.
Detection of one versus two objects in structure from motion

The ability of subjects to detect whether a structure-from-motion display depicts one or two rigid objects was examined in the presence or the absence of noise points. Each object was composed of a set of points chosen randomly within the volume of a sphere. The objects rotated rigidly about different axes passing through the center of the sphere. For displays without noise points, detection increased with larger angles between the rotation axes and with more points in each object. For displays in which noise points were present, detection was above chance but, in general, worse than that for displays without noise points. The implications of these results for image segmentation in complex motion patterns is discussed.
Direct Controlled polymerization of a cationic methacrylamido monomer in aqueous media via the RAFT process

Controlled radical polymerization (CRP) combines the benefits of the robust nature of conventional radical polymerization with the ability to prepare advanced macromolecular architectures common to living polymerization techniques. Of the major CRP techniques, the reversible addition−fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) technique appears to be the most tolerant of aqueous reaction conditions and a variety of monomer functionalities. To date, however, there have been no reports of the RAFT polymerization of a cationic (meth)acrylamido monomer directly in aqueous media. Herein we report the polymerization of N-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]methacrylamide (DMAPMA) directly in aqueous media utilizing 4-cyanopentanoic acid dithiobenzoate (CTP) as the chain transfer agent (CTA). Polymerization in water at neutral pH allowed a moderate level of control over the polymerization up to 50% conversion. Polymerization in an aqueous buffer (pH = 5), on the other hand, afforded excellent control up to 98% conversion (Mn = 38 ...
Artemisinin-derived dimer phosphate esters as potent anti-cytomegalovirus (anti-CMV) and anti-cancer agents: A structure–activity study

We recently reported the anti-cancer and anti-cytomegalovirus (CMV) activity of artemisinin-derived trioxane diphenylphosphate dimer 838. To probe the relationship between chemical structure and anti-CMV and anti-cancer activities, we now report synthesis and evaluation of a series of eight new dimer phosphate ester analogs of 838. This series of novel molecules was screened against human foreskin fibroblasts (HFFs) infected with CMV and against the human Jurkat T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line. This SAR study confirms the very high anti-CMV and anti-cancer potencies of dimer diphenyl phosphate ester 838 without its being toxic to normal cells.
Chasing Headlines: Setting the Research Agenda On War

This article explores the claim that scholars and policy analysts should direct their attention to understanding new and contemporary conflict phenomena . The idea that contemporary political event...
Computer aided reliability modeling and applications in semiconductor manufacturing

Abstract We present a computerized reliability model based on evolving Markov processes. The model has the capability to self-organize and adopt. The differences between knowledge engineering methods and the proposed model are also discussed.
Drag Reduction on SUVs and Trucks by Wake Control

Road vehicles such as SUVs or pickup trucks are described as bluff bodies. When the air flow passes over the road vehicles the flow will separate at the rear of the vehicle, forming a large low pressure turbulent wake region behind the vehicle. The formed pressure drag posts resistance on the road vehicles and thus increases the work done by the engine to propel the vehicle. The purpose of this paper is to present the development and design of drag reducing devices for SUVs by studying the SUV’s aerodynamics. Numerical simulations using commercial software package — FLUENT were performed in order to study the aerodynamics behind the vehicles. A computer model of the Ahmed Vehicle Model was selected as a benchmark test. This Ahmed Model is a simple geometric body that retains major flow features where most part of the drag is concentrated. Seven different spoiler designs for the SUV have been studied. Their results for the SUV’s aerodynamics have been presented through velocity vectors, pressure contours, and aerodynamic lift and drag plots. One spoiler design was found to be able to reduce aerodynamic drag and others were found to be able to reduce the lift.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Comparison of four methods for identification of gram-negative non-fermenters: organisms less commonly encountered in clinical specimens.

Four commercial kits - Oxi/Ferm (OF), API 20E (AP), Minitek (MT), Flow N/F (NF) were evaluated, without additional tests, for identification of 105 opportunistic Gram-negative non-fermentative rods. OF correctly identified 42% of strains, with 35% as part (but not first) of a spectrum of identifications (SI) and 23% incorrect identification. MT yielded 75% correct identification, with 12% SI and 13% incorrect. AP correctly identified 64% of strains, with 26% SI, 10% incorrect. NF correctly speciated 70% of strains, with 24% SI, 6% incorrect. All 4 methods show deficiencies in identification of these rare but increasingly clinically encountered organisms. Addition of new tests/modification of existing ones would render these systems more capable of identifying this organisms group.
RECONSTRUCTABILITY ANALYSIS OF MULTI-DIMENSIONAL RELATIONS: A Theoretical Basis for Computer-Aided Determination of Acceptable Systems Models †

Reconstructability analysis is viewed as a process of investigating the possibilities of reconstructing desirable properties or overall systems from the knowledge of the corresponding properties of their various subsystems. Overall systems are represented by n-dimensional relations, each of which is viewed as a finite set of aggregate states (n-tuples) formed by individual stales of n variables. Depending on the context or investigation, the relations may include various measures defined on them, such as probability distributions or fuzzy set membership functions. Each subsystem is defined as a projection of the overall relation into k or its n dimensions (k < n). Every set of subsystems or an overall system is referred to as a structure system and is viewed as a possible basis for reconstructing specified properties of the overall system This paper focuses on the problem of generating, in an orderly fashion, all meaningful structure systems of a given overall system which ore desirable in each particular...
The context of MTV: Adolescent entertainment media use and music television

(1987). The context of MTV: Adolescent entertainment media use and music television. Popular Music and Society: Vol. 11, No. 3, pp. 1-9.
The Impact of Asian American Value Systems on Palliative Care: Illustrative Cases From the Family-Focused Grief Therapy trial

Background: Clinicians meet people from different ethnic backgrounds, yet need to respond in culturally sensitive ways. This article focuses on Asian American families. Methods: Within a randomized controlled trial of family therapy commenced during palliative care and continued into bereavement, 3 families of Asian American background were examined qualitatively from a cultural perspective by listening to recordings of 26 therapy sessions and reviewing detailed supervision notes compiled by each therapist. Results: A synopsis of each family’s therapy narrative is presented. Prominent themes include family closeness, respect for hierarchy within the family, gender-determined roles, intergenerational tensions, preoccupation with shame and limited emotional expressiveness. Conclusions: Family therapists working with culturally diverse families need to pay thoughtful attention to ethnic issues as they strive to support them during palliative care and bereavement.
Relativistic many-body calculations of energies for core-excited states in sodiumlike ions

Energies of ${2s}^{2}{2p}^{5}{3l3l}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ and ${2s2p}^{6}{3l3l}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ states for sodiumlike ions with $Z=14--100$ are evaluated to second order in relativistic many-body perturbation theory starting from a neonlike Dirac-Fock potential. Second-order Coulomb and Breit interactions are included. Correction for the frequency dependence of the Breit interaction is taken into account in the lowest order. The Lamb shift correction to energies is also included in the lowest order. Intrinsic particle-particle-hole contributions to energies are found to be 20--30 % of the sum of one- and two-body contributions. Comparisons are made with available experimental data. These calculations are presented as a theoretical benchmark for comparison with experiment and theory.
Activation and assembly of the inflammasomes through conserved protein domain families

Inflammasomes are oligomeric protein complexes assembled through interactions among the death domain superfamily members, in particular the CARD and PYD domains. Recent progress has shed lights on how the ASC PYD can polymerize to form filaments using multiple domain:domain interfaces, and how the caspase4 CARD can recognize LPS to activate the non-classical inflammasome pathway. Comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms of inflammasome activation and assembly require more extensive structural and biophysical dissection of the inflammasome components and complexes, in particular additional CARD or PYD filaments. Because of the variations in death domain structures and complexes observed so far, future work will undoubtedly shed lights on the mechanisms of inflammasome assembly as well as more surprises on the versatile structure and function of the death domain superfamily.
Muscle edema in musculoskeletal tumors: MR imaging characteristics and clinical significance.

To determine the frequency and clinical significance of tumor-associated muscle edema, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings in 46 consecutive patients with benign or malignant musculoskeletal lesions were reviewed. Increased muscle signal intensity on T2-weighted, STIR (short-inversion-time inversion-recovery), and gadopentetate dimeglumine-enhanced TI-weighted images was present in 41 cases, with the clearest delineation of tumor margins seen on T2-weighted images. Typical peri/paratu-moral edema (PTE) was present in equal proportions of malignant (25 of 37) and benign lesions (six of nine). Massive edema involving the entirety of at least one contiguous muscle-to the authors' knowledge, a previously undescribed finding-was identified on MR images of eight malignant and two benign lesions (22% of both groups). All cases of massive edema had a substantial soft-tissue component and involved muscles disrupted by tumor at the point of attachment to bone. Malignant tumors associated with massive edema were larger than those with typical or no PTE, showed a poorer response to initial chemotherapy, and had a higher frequency of metastases at diagnosis. Thus, the presence of massive muscle edema appears to be an ominous clinical finding in patients with malignant musculoskeletal lesions.
The class I major histocompatibility complex related Fc receptor shows pH-dependent stability differences correlating with immunoglobulin binding and release

Maternal immunoglobulin G (IgG) in milk is transported to the bloodstream of newborn rodents via an Fc receptor (FcRn) expressed in the gut. The receptor shows a striking structural similarity to class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, being composed of a related heavy chain and the identical light chain (β2-microglobulin). FcRn binds IgG at the pH of milk in the proximal intestine (pH 6.0-6.5) and releases it at the pH of blood (pH -7.5). We have compared the stability of a soluble form of FcRn in these two pH ranges and find that the heterodimer is markedly more stable at the permissive pH for IgG binding. Using the rate of β2m exchange as a correlate of heterodimer stability, we find that exchange is more than 10 times slower at pH 6.1 compared to pH 7.8. Thermal denaturation profiles of FcRn heterodimers at pH 8.0 indicate a two-step, sequential heavy-chain (T_m = 52 °C) and β2m (T_m = 67 °C) denaturation. By contrast, at pH 6.0, a single transition is observed, centeredat 62 °C, corresponding to denaturation of both chains. The striking difference in stability does not appear to be correlated with the binding of peptide as in class I MHC molecules, because analysis of purified FcRn by acid dissociation and sequencing suggests that FcRn is not associated with cellular peptides. These results are indicative of pH-dependent conformational changes in the FcRn heterodimer, which may be related to its physiological function.
Gibberellic-acid-stimulated Ca(2+) accumulation in endoplasmic reticulum of barley aleurone: Ca(2+) transport and steady-state levels.

The steady-state levels of Ca2+ within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the transport of 45Ca2+ into isolated ER of barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Himalaya) aleurone layers were studied. The Ca2+-sensitive dye indo-1. Endoplasmic reticulum was isolated and purified from indo-1-loaded protoplasts, and the Ca2+ level in the ER was measured using the Ca2+-sensitive dye indo-1. Endoplasmic reticulum was isolated and purified from indo-1-loaded protoplasts, and the Ca2+ level in the lumen of the ER was determined by the fluorescence-ratio method to be at least 3 μM. Transport of 45Ca2+ into the ER was studied in microsomal fractions isolated from aleurone layers incubated in the presence and absence of gibberellic acid (GA3) and Ca2+. Isopycinic sucrose density gradient centrifugation of microsomal fractions isolated from aleurone layers or protoplasts separates ER from tonoplast and plasma membranes but not from the Golgi apparatus. Transport of 45Ca2+ occurs primarily in the microsomal fraction enriched in ER and Golgi. Using monensin and heat-shock treatments to discriminate between uptake into the ER and Golgi, we established that 45Ca2+ transport was into the ER. The sensitivity of 45Ca2+ transport to inhibitors and the Km of 45Ca2+ uptake for ATP and Ca2+ transport in the microsomal fraction of barley aleurone cells. The rate of 45Ca2+ transport is stimulated several-fold by treatment with GA3. This effect of GA3 is mediated principally by an effect on the activity of the Ca2+ transporter rather than on the amount of ER.
Natural Phase Matching in Microdisk Cavities

We identify new approaches to achieve natural phase matching in microdisk cavities for widely-spaced wavelengths across the visible and telecom bands.
Carrying your long tail: Delighting your consumers and managing your operations

The growing ability to sell a wider range of goods, in smaller quantities, while still making a profit, is now widely called a long tail strategy. Profiting from greater product diversity represents a real change in optimal business strategy, which is based on real changes in customer behavior. Many firms want to develop long tail strategies, avoiding competition in mass market fat spots, and harvesting the superior margins available through selling in market sweet spots. Sweet spot offerings resonate with customers, allowing customers to find what they truly want and to avoid compromises; consequently, customers pay more while remaining happier with their purchases, and firms earn more and are more profitable. Evidence from earlier recessions suggests that in an era of excess capacity and pressures on consumers to find the best possible prices, competing through resonance offerings may represent an important source of protected profits. And yet, carrying a long tail and selling into sweet spots requires new skills, both for locating targets of opportunities and for controlling costs.
Are frequent inner cannula changes necessary?: A pilot study

Abstract OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of obstruction and colonization in adult patients in the surgical and medical intensive care units who received inner cannula changes daily versus those who did not. DESIGN: Quasi-experimental prospective study using a convenience sample of patients randomly assigned to one of two methods. SETTING: Mid-Atlantic university-affiliated tertiary care center. PATIENTS: Sixty patients within 24 hours of receiving a surgical tracheostomy. OUTCOME MEASURES: Obstruction and bacterial colonization of inner cannula. INTERVENTIONS: All inner cannulas were checked daily for obstruction and cultured on postoperative days 1 and 3. RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was noted in colonization (p = 0.13) between protocols, and no obstructions were noted in either. CONCLUSION: The study suggests that the routine practice in critical care units of changing tracheostomy inner cannulas may be unnecessary. Although the results of this study are limited, and may not be generalized to other populations, it demonstrates that practice standards related to the care of tracheostomy inner cannula need to be challenged.
Planar array synthesis with prescribed pattern nulls

A novel synthesis method for planar arrays that is applicable to polygonal arrays with a general triangular lattice is presented. The method fundamentally requires specification of pattern nulls which may be arbitrary and utilizes a two-dimensional convolution process and a four-element canonical array. The design procedure is noniterative and does not require separable illumination, but bas at least the same number of degrees of freedom as those methods relying on separable illumination. The method is illustrated through several examples of synthesis which include diamond, regular hexagonal, and stretched hexagonal arrays. The aperture illumination efficiencies of the designs are computed. Although only examples of sum patterns are shown, it may be used to synthesize difference patterns as well. Also the method can be used to synthesize optimal patterns in designated planes. The null synthesis method has an important advantage over other synthesis techniques. The algorithm for determining the array excitations is trivially different for different array boundaries and lattices and can be implemented on a small computer.
Combustion Research Related to Utilization of Coal as a Gas Turbine Fuel

A nominal 293 kw (1 MBtu/hr) atmospheric pressure, refractory-lined combustor has been used to investigate the effects of a number of combustor and fuel dependent variables on combustion efficiency and flue gas characteristics for minimally cleaned, coal-derived gas (MCG) and coal water mixtures. The variables which have been evaluted include: percent excess air, air distribution, combustion air preheat temperature, swirl number, fuel feedrate, coal particle size, coal loading in slurry, and slurry viscosity. Characterization of the flue gas included major/minor gas species, alkali levels, and particulate loading, size, and composition. These atmospheric pressure combustion studies accompanied by data from planned pressurized studies on coal-water slurries and hot, minimally cleaned, coal-derived gas will aid in the determination of the potential of these fuels for use in gas turbines.
Linking planning, quality improvement and IR: Los Angeles City College

Stung by a negative accreditation review, Los Angeles City College established an administrative position and a planning process that is successfully creating a culture of continuous improvement. At the core of this success is a “plan-act-check” reinforcing systems loop that links planning, budgeting, and institutional research.
Evoked potential correlates of generalization

Late components of evoked potentials recorded during the occurrence and nonoccurrence of generalization are different. During generalization the evoked response waveshapes resembled those elicited by the conditioned stimulus during correct performance. The differences are statistically significant.
Fostering a Community-Based Learning Culture: A Model for Success and Institutional Barriers

This article offers a case study in Community-Based Learning by describing a collaborative gang-intervention effort developed for children in Los Angeles. Project GOLD (Goal Oriented Life Decisions), is an educational-intervention effort designed by representatives from Occidental College, Garvanza Elementary School, the LAPD, and the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office and implemented in the elementary school. Both authors are directly involved with the program and offer a first-hand description of the project. They also detail some of the obstacles and barriers to the program's sustainability. Even as Community-Based Learning (CBL) has become more acceptable and its value as a pedagogical approach is gaining attention, Project GOLD remains vulnerable because the resources are not yet there. Project GOLD and efforts like it will only truly succeed when CBL becomes institutionalized in colleges and universities, releasing professors and students into communities with the resources and support necessary for long-term success.
The Isolation and Structure Elucidation of Tasiamide B, a 4-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-phenylpentanoic Acid Containing Peptide from the Marine Cyanobacterium Symploca sp.

A new cytotoxic peptide, which displayed an IC50 value of 0.8 μM against KB cells, has been isolated from the marine cyanobacterium Symploca sp. The planar structure of tasiamide B (1), deduced by 2D NMR experiments, contains the unusual amino acid-derived residue 4-amino-3-hydroxy-5-phenylpentanoic acid (Ahppa). The configuration of 1 was deduced by HPLC analysis of degradation products.
Giant magnetoresistance in an electrochemically synthesized regimented array of nickel quantum dots

Abstract Giant magnetoresistance (GMR) due toremotespin dependent scattering of electrons has been observed in an electrochemically synthesized structure consisting of a two-dimensional, quasi-periodic array of nickel dots (diameter ∼100 A) overlayed with a thin copper layer. Current flows exclusively in the copper layer, but the electrons scatter from the magnetic moments on the remote, underlying nickel quantum dots. Since the scattering cross-section depends on the magnetization of the dots, the resistance of the structure can be altered with a magnetic field which then gives rise to the GMR. The magnetoresistance is about 3% of the zero-field resistance up to a magnetic flux density of 2 tesla at room temperature.
Design and analysis of an asynchronous WDM local area network using a master/slave scheduler

We describe an architecture and medium access control (MAC) protocol for WDM networks. The system is based on a broadcast star architecture and uses an unslotted access protocol and a centralized scheduler to efficiently provide bandwidth-on-demand in WDM networks. To overcome the effects of propagation delays the scheduler measures the delays between the terminals and the hub and takes that delay into account when scheduling transmissions. Simple scheduling algorithms, based on a look-ahead capability, are used to overcome the effects of head-of-line blocking. An important application area for this system is in optical access networks, where this novel MAC protocol can be used to access wavelengths in a WDM passive optical network (PON).
Microstructural scale effects in the nonlinear elastic response of bio-inspired wavy multilayers undergoing finite deformation

Abstract Materials with wavy microstructures span disciplinary boundaries, yet relatively little systematic work has been done to characterize their thermo-mechanical response. Motivated by recent work on the elastic–plastic response of wavy periodic multilayers, and the discovered layer thickness effect in the post-yield domain, we extend our finite-volume based homogenization theory in order to investigate the effect of microstructural refinement, as well as geometric and material parameters, in this class of periodic materials in the finite-deformation domain. Micromechanical analysis of a model wavy multilayered system which mimics certain biological tissues quantifies the importance of layer thickness, and hence the microstructural bending stiffness, on the stiffening stress–stretch response. The role of the matrix phase in the unfolding process is also highlighted. The results provide insight into the design of materials intended to mimic the response of a certain class of biological tissues with stiffening characteristics such as chordae tendineae.
Effect of ethylene on cellular differentiation in etiolated pea seedlings

Ethylene (50 ppm) and 2,4-D (1 mM) inhibit xylogenesis and completely prevent fiber lignification in the third internode of etiolated pea seedlings (Pisum sativum var. Alaska) during 96-240 hr of treatment. When ethylene is removed after 72 hr, normal differentiation resumes; thus the gas causes no irreversible damage to the cells. A combined treatment with 50 ppm ethylene and 50 uM 2,4-D or treatment with 1 mm 2,4-D alone causes inhibition similar to that observed with 50 ppm ethylene, and 50 uM 2,4-D is partially effective. The inhibition of xylogenesis and fiber lignification caused by 2,4-D is partly or wholly due to auxin-induced ethylene production.