cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The role of Indigenous knowledges in psychedelic science

This paper reflects on potential contributions from anthropology to the field of “psychedelic science.” Although the discipline’s beginnings went hand in hand with colonialism, it has made signific...
Panel Bias During Sexual Assault Courts-Martial

This article examines criticism from the scholarly community and findings from the military's Judicial Proceedings Panel that training in the U.S. Department of Defense Sexual Assault Prevention and Response program biases panel members during courts-martial. The topic is examined from the perspective of psychological science. Studies on jury bias, stereotypes, decision-making dynamics, and behavioral conditioning are applied to the question of whether sexual assault prevention training can bias panel members. Analysis of the subject suggests that servicemembers are subjected to a range of bias-inducing mechanisms that arise within the military context. This article concludes that expert witnesses in behavioral science should be called during courts-martial to explain how judgements may be influenced by institutional training. Reinforcing the integrity of the military justice system has implications for protecting individual liberties.
Seoul Virus Infection and Spread in United States Home-Based Ratteries: Rat and Human Testing Results From a Multistate Outbreak Investigation.

BACKGROUND During 2017, a multistate outbreak investigation occurred after the confirmation of Seoul virus (SEOV) infections in people and pet rats. A total of 147 humans and 897 rats were tested. METHODS In addition to immunoglobulin (Ig)G and IgM serology and traditional reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), novel quantitative RT-PCR primers/probe were developed, and whole genome sequencing was performed. RESULTS Seventeen people had SEOV IgM, indicating recent infection; 7 reported symptoms and 3 were hospitalized. All patients recovered. Thirty-one facilities in 11 US states had SEOV infection, and among those with ≥10 rats tested, rat IgG prevalence ranged 2%-70% and SEOV RT-PCR positivity ranged 0%-70%. Human laboratory-confirmed cases were significantly associated with rat IgG positivity and RT-PCR positivity (P = .03 and P = .006, respectively). Genomic sequencing identified >99.5% homology between SEOV sequences in this outbreak, and these were >99% identical to SEOV associated with previous pet rat infections in England, the Netherlands, and France. Frequent trade of rats between home-based ratteries contributed to transmission of SEOV between facilities. CONCLUSIONS Pet rat owners, breeders, and the healthcare and public health community should be aware and take steps to prevent SEOV transmission in pet rats and to humans. Biosecurity measures and diagnostic testing can prevent further infections.
Flexible Low-Power Superlattice-Like Phase Change Memory

Flexible electronics involving applications in wearable health monitoring systems such as electronic skin [1] and Internet-of-Things (e.g. environmental or food monitoring) require integrated memory and low power consumption [2] , [3] . Although phase-change memory (PCM) has already been adopted in commercial products and its process temperature (<200°C) is compatible with flexible substrates like polyimide (PI) [4] , integration concerns remain over its relatively high reset current ( I reset ) and power ( P reset ) [5] , including on flexible substrates [6] .
Mormons in Peru

In this chapter we will not provide an overview account of the progress and problems of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Peru. Instead, employing the ethnographic field research approach common to our discipline of anthropology, we focus on a particular subset of Peruvian Mormons in a particular locale (Arequipa, Peru) and on a singular topic. The story we relate does, however, have wider implications for LDS Peruvians generally, as well as for Mormons throughout Latin America and for Latinx Mormons in the U.S. In assessing the tension between grassroots control and institutional control over the meaning of significant LDS places, our overarching framework rests on a distinction between places that are “sacred” (generally referring to insurgent spirituality) and place that are “holy” (generally referring to official spirituality). We begin making these distinctions by quoting portions of two distinctive prayers delivered at the dedication ceremonies of two different LDS temples in two different times and places (Salt Lake City in 1893 and Arequipa, Peru in 2019.
Right Atrial Pressure Predicts Mortality Among LVAD Recipients: Analysis of the INTERMACS Database.

Introduction Risk stratifying candidates for left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is challenging. While INTERMACS profiles provide some prognostic insights, there is an ongoing search for better tools. We studied pre-LVAD haemodynamic parameters in predicting post-LVAD mortality. Methods We analysed the INTERMACS dataset for the ability of right atrial pressure (RAP), pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP), pulmonary arterial systolic (PASP) and diastolic pressures (PADP), mean pulmonary artery pressure, transpulmonary gradient, cardiac output, cardiac power output and INTERMACS profiles, all recorded before LVAD implantation, to predict mortality. Results Among 18,733 patients in the INTERMACS dataset, we found that, RAP was the main significant haemodynamic predictor of mortality (13.1 vs. 14.4 mmHg in survivors and non-survivors, respectively, p Conclusions In general, haemodynamic variables, as well as other criteria including INTERMACS profiles, are weak predictors of mortality. Right atrial pressure is the main consistent haemodynamic predictor of mortality in LVAD recipients. It outperforms other haemodynamic parameters, and keeps its value within each INTERMACS profile.
R-Mon: An mhealth Tool for Real-time Respiratory Monitoring During Pandemics and Self-Isolation

The current COVID-19 pandemic has emerged as a serious disease with life-threatening clinical manifestations and a high mortality rate. One of the major complications of this disease is the rapid and dangerous pulmonary deterioration that can lead to critical pneumonia conditions, resulting in death. The current healthcare system around the world faces the potential problem of lacking resources to assist a large number of patients at the same time; then, the non-critical patients are mostly referred to perform self-isolation/quarantine at home. With the advancement of IoT and Cloud technologies now it is possible to monitor patient's symptoms in real-time to detect and quickly report sudden and dangerous changes to the healthcare provider. In this paper, we propose the concept of R-Mon, an mhealth tool for diagnostic-assistance, and real-time communication with healthcare providers that can be used with COVID-19 patients in self-isolation and any other disease in pandemic situations. We propose the use of a pressure sensor under the bed that can monitor the respiratory rate and pulmonary function of the patients. We also propose a framework in which the detected information can be directly seen by the practitioner for the decision-making process. We envision that this kind of mhealth tool and framework can be implemented for better health response in future pandemics.
Evaluating Children's Competency to Testify: Developing a Rational Method to Assess a Young Child's Capacity to Offer Reliable Testimony in Cases Alleging Child Sex Abuse

There are few crimes which elicit a response as emotionally charged as those involving an allegation of child sexual abuse. Given the paucity of physical and scientific evidence in many cases and the resulting need to rely almost exclusively on the testimony of a very young child, the cases present unique challenges for judges, prosecutors and criminal defense attorneys. While many scholars have addressed the dangers inherent in questioning children, such as creating false memories and improperly influencing testimony, there has been little exploration of the means employed by courts to evaluate a child’s ability to offer reliable testimony. Many courts make a threshold finding of competence to testify after only a cursory examination that does not adequately test the child’s true capacity to provide credible and factually accurate testimony. This article explores the nature of children’s testimony and the inadequacy of the traditional competency hearing in either testing the child’s ability to distinguish fantasy from reality or in judging his or her understanding of the consequences of testifying truthfully. The article provides suggestions for restructuring the competency hearing to make it a meaningful process by which the judge and jury can determine the young child's capacity to offer reliable testimony.
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on staging at presentation of patients with invasive melanoma

e21579Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted cancer care beyond the direct implications of viral infection. Delays in presentation and diagnosis may lead to more advanced disease and worse ...
Standardized Reference Diets for Zebrafish: Addressing Nutritional Control in Experimental Methodology.

The ideal of experimental methodology in animal research is the reduction or elimination of environmental variables or consistency in their application. In lab animals, diet has been recognized as ...
Integrating Transactive Energy into Reliability Evaluation for a Self-healing Distribution System with Microgrid

Non-utility owned distributed energy resources (DERs) are mostly untapped currently, but they can provide many grid services such as voltage regulation and service restoration, if properly controlled, and can improve the distribution systems reliability when coordinated with utility-owned assets such as self-healing control and microgrids. This paper integrates transactive energy control into the distribution system reliability evaluation to quantitatively assess the impact of non-utility owned DERs on reliability improvement. A transactive reactive power control strategy is designed to incentivize the DERs to provide reactive power support for improving voltage profiles thus enabling additional customer load restoration during an outage. Also, an operational sequence to coordinate the non-utility owned DERs with the utility owned self-healing control and utility owned microgrids is designed and integrated into the service restoration process with the operational constraints guaranteed by checking the three-phase unbalanced power flow for post-fault network reconfiguration. The reliability indices are then calculated through a Monte Carlo simulation. The transactive reactive power control strategy is tested on a four-feeder distribution system operated by Duke Energy in the U.S. Results demonstrate that the non-utility owned DERs with the transactive control improve the reliability of both the system and critical loads by more than 30%.
Prevalence and Predictors of Adenomas in the 40-49 Year Old Patients Undergoing Colonoscopy

Background: Recently the American Cancer Society made a qualified recommendation to start screening for colorectal cancer (CRC) at 45 years of age in all average risk individuals. In this study, our primary aim is to calculate the prevalence and also evaluate the predictors of increased prevalence of detected adenomas in the 40 to 49-year-old individuals undergoing colonoscopy. Methods: A retrospective cross sectional study was performed using our electronic endoscopy database. Study subjects included all 40 to 49-year-old patients undergoing their first colonoscopy at our institution from January 1, 2010 to September 30, 2017. Exclusion criteria included patients who underwent colonoscopy for overt gastrointestinal bleeding, inflammatory bowel disease, a history of familial adenomatous polyposis, hereditary non polyposis CRC. Univariate analysis and multivariate analysis was performed to identify factors associated with increased adenoma detection rate (ADR). Findings: A total of 2059 patients were included in the study and 317 of these patients had family history (FH) of CRC. Patients with FH of CRC had significantly higher ADR (27.8% versus 19.7%, p=0.001) as compared to those without family history of CRC. There was no significant difference in ADR in patients between 40-44-years versus 45-49-years of age (17.7% vs 21.4%, p=0.058). On a multivariate analysis while adjusting for multiple patient and procedural variables; FH of CRC, male gender, BMI > 30 kg/m2, chronic kidney disease, and age were associated with high ADR. Interpretation: Our study shows that in addition to FH of CRC, age, male gender, BMI, and CKD are independent predictors of increased ADR in patients between 40 to 49 years of age. Funding Statement: The authors state: " No funding sources to be declared." Declaration of Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest. Ethics Approval Statement: The study protocol was approved by the institutional review board (IRB) at the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX.
Role of microRNAs in Disorders of Gut-Brain Interactions: Clinical Insights and Therapeutic Alternatives.

Disorders of gut–brain interactions (DGBIs) are heterogeneous in nature and intertwine with diverse pathophysiological mechanisms. Regular functioning of the gut requires complex coordinated interplay between a variety of gastrointestinal (GI) cell types and their functions are regulated by multiple mechanisms at the transcriptional, post-transcriptional, translational, and post-translational levels. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA molecules that post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression by binding to specific mRNA targets to repress their translation and/or promote the target mRNA degradation. Dysregulation of miRNAs might impair gut physiological functions leading to DGBIs and gut motility disorders. Studies have shown miRNAs regulate gut functions such as visceral sensation, gut immune response, GI barrier function, enteric neuronal development, and GI motility. These biological processes are highly relevant to the gut where neuroimmune interactions are key contributors in controlling gut homeostasis and functional defects lead to DGBIs. Although extensive research has explored the pathophysiology of DGBIs, further research is warranted to bolster the molecular mechanisms behind these disorders. The therapeutic targeting of miRNAs represents an attractive approach for the treatment of DGBIs because they offer new insights into disease mechanisms and have great potential to be used in the clinic as diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets. Here, we review recent advances regarding the regulation of miRNAs in GI pacemaking cells, immune cells, and enteric neurons modulating pathophysiological mechanisms of DGBIs. This review aims to assess the impacts of miRNAs on the pathophysiological mechanisms of DGBIs, including GI dysmotility, impaired intestinal barrier function, gut immune dysfunction, and visceral hypersensitivity. We also summarize the therapeutic alternatives for gut microbial dysbiosis in DGBIs, highlighting the clinical insights and areas for further exploration. We further discuss the challenges in miRNA therapeutics and promising emerging approaches.
The Subtleties of Entanglement and its Role in Quantum Information Theory

Abstract My aim in this paper is a modest one. I do not have any particular thesis to advance about the nature of entanglement, nor can I claim novelty for any of the material I shall discuss. My aim is simply to raise some questions about entanglement that spring naturally from certain developments in quantum information theory and are, I believe, worthy of serious consideration by philosophers of science. The main topics I discuss are different manifestations of quantum nonlocality, entanglement‐assisted communication, and entanglement thermodynamics.
Body composition and cardiometabolic disease risk factors in captive baboons (Papio hamadryas sp.): sexual dimorphism.

The baboon (Papio Sp.) has been used as a model to study several different human diseases over the years (VandeBerg, 2009). Recently, the baboon model has been evaluated for its utility in the study of common human metabolic disorders such as obesity, the cardiometabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes (Comuzzie et al., 2003; Chavez et al., 2008). Baboons exposed to similar dietary environments exhibit significant variation in body weight and fat mass (Comuzzie et al., 2003). Moreover, the relations between adiposity, whole body insulin sensitivity, and insulin signaling defects in muscle and adipose tissue in baboons are consistent with those observed in humans (Chavez et al., 2008). In addition, there have been multiple cases of adult-onset diabetes documented in baboons (Guardado-Mendoza et al., 2009). We have recently demonstrated that, when exposed to a diet high in sugar and saturated fatty acids, adult male baboons accrue fat mass and develop metabolic abnormalities in keeping with emerging cardiometabolic syndrome (Higgins et al., 2010). Combined, these findings demonstrate the potential utility of the baboon for studying and ultimately understanding the etiology of common human metabolic disease. Adult baboons manifest considerable sexual dimorphism in body size (Glassman et al., 1984; Mahaney et al., 1993). Males have on average 60–70% greater body mass than their female counterparts, arising from a more rapid male growth rate during the pubertal transition (Glassman et al., 1984). Greater body mass in human males relative to females is also well documented, although the magnitude of the difference is less than that observed in baboons. Body composition assessments have shown that male baboons have greater fat free mass and lesser relative body fat mass than females. These findings are also consistent with reports in normal healthy human populations (Power and Schulkin, 2008). Several metabolic disease risk factors such as fasting insulin, cholesterol, and triglyceride are also reported to be higher in female baboons (Chavez et al., 2008; Harewood et al., 1999; Chavez et al., 2009). However, these results are inconsistent with the less adverse lipid profile found in human females (Wang et al., 2011). The potential contribution of body size and composition to the sex differences in baboons has not been investigated. Toward this end, we further assessed sex differences in these traits and determined whether the association among measures of body composition and metabolic disease risk factors are similar in both sexes. We also hypothesized that sex differences in circulating metabolic traits were related to differences in body size or body composition, or both.
ULTRASTRUCTURAL CHANGES IN RADICLES OF BARNYARDGRASS ( ECHINOCHLOA CRUS-GALLI [L.] BEAUV.) SEEDS DURING TRANSITION FROM DORMANCY TO GERMINATION

In barnyardgrass seeds ( Echinochloa crus-galli [L.] Beauv.), solutions of n-propanol relieve dormancy, while isopropanol is not active. Fully imbibed seeds require about a 24-h treatment with 0.3 M n -propanol at 35°C for subsequent germination stimulation at an alternating temperature of 20/30°C. The ultrastructure of the radicle apex from barnyardgrass seeds was analyzed by electron microscopy as affected by treatment with alcohols before germination starts and during germination. Germination is characterized by digestion of storage organelles and by a progressive vacuolization of the cells. Also, mitochondria elongate, Golgi bodies become well developed, and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) develops in a multiple filament structure. Before germination starts, in axes from seeds treated either with water or with alcohols, the subcellular organelles are organized: short filaments of ER are visible, lipid bodies and amyloplasts are present, and protein bodies are partially digested. Some differences between the treatments are, however, evident. In the cells of radicles from seeds treated with n -propanol, mitochondria elongate, protein bodies fuse together, and lipid bodies are absent from many areas around the plasma membrane. The presence of more lipid bodies around the plasmalemma and the lack of fusion of protein bodies in the cells of radicles of dormant seeds suggest that both incorporation of lipid bodies into the plasma membrane and vacuolization of the cell could be inhibited in absence of the stimulus causing dormancy breakage. These results are consistent with our idea that the action of anesthetics relieving dormancy could be related to an effect on the synthesis of new membrane components and restoration of existing membrane systems in the radicles of the seeds.
Performance and equilibrium analysis of heterogeneous IEEE 802.11 based WLANs

This paper presents a general model to study the medium access control (MAC) layer performance and equilibrium of WLANs consisting of nodes with different MAC parameters (e.g., backoff window size). Our model can be used in general 802.11-based WLANs since it captures the important factors such as non-uniform backoff behavior, channel errors and unsaturated traffic. We first formalize the performance of 802.11 based MAC protocols with simultaneous fixed point equations. We then derive the average per-flow service time of each flow, and apply it to calculate throughput. More importantly, based on our model, we use interval analysis to formally study the existence and uniqueness of the network's equilibrium, and find the sufficient condition for the uniqueness of equilibrium. We validate our model through simulations and the simulation results show that the model is quite accurate.
On the Demand for Live Sport Contests: Insights From the Secondary Market for National Football League Tickets

This study examines the determinants of regular season National Football League (NFL) ticket prices on the secondary, or resale, market. Prices in the secondary market are dynamic and thus particularly useful for evaluating the demand for live NFL contests. A rich dataset is employed that contains information about all transactions conducted by a prominent ticketing site during a full NFL season and allows for a comprehensive investigation of the components of demand in this market. Included in the analysis is a first look at the demand for different seating locations within the stadium. The revealed determinants of demand for resale tickets were largely consistent with studies of the primary market; however, there are notable differences in spectators’ preferences for contest characteristics and uncertainty of outcome across the seating categories. The evidence also suggests that while hometown fans are the primary participants, visiting teams are likely active in the resale market.
A Privileged Status for Male Infant-Directed Speech in Infants of Depressed Mothers? Role of Father Involvement

Prior research showed that 5- to 13-month-old infants of chronically depressed mothers did not learn to associate a segment of infant-directed speech produced by their own mothers or an unfamiliar nondepressed mother with a smiling female face, but showed better-than-normal learning when a segment of infant-directed speech produced by an unfamiliar nondepressed father signaled the face. Here, learning in response to an unfamiliar nondepressed father’s infant-directed speech was studied as a function both of the mother’s depression and marital status, a proxy measure of father involvement. Infants of unmarried mothers on average did not show significant learning in response to the unfamiliar nondepressed father’s infant-directed speech. Infants of married mothers showed significant learning in response to male infant-directed speech, and infants of depressed, married mothers showed significantly stronger learning in response to that stimulus than did infants of nondepressed, married mothers. Several ways in which father involvement may positively or negatively affect infant responsiveness to male infant-directed speech are discussed.
Titania supported platinum catalyst with high electrocatalytic activity and stability for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell

Abstract Titania supported Pt electrocatalysts (Pt/TiO 2 ) were synthesized and investigated as alternative cathode catalysts for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Transmission electron microscope (TEM) images revealed uniform distribution of Pt nanoparticles ( d Pt = 3–5 nm) on the TiO 2 support. The Pt/TiO 2 electrocatalyst showed comparable activity to that of a commercial Pt/C catalyst (TKK) in fuel cell studies. The fuel cell accelerated stress test (AST) for catalysts demonstrated similar stability for Pt/TiO 2 and Pt/C. In-house developed accelerated durability test (ADT, continuous potential cycling between 0.6 and 1.4 V) in half-cell condition indicated nearly ten-fold higher ORR activity (1.20 mA cm −2 ) when compared to the Pt/C catalyst (0.13 mA cm −2 ). The Pt/C catalyst showed no activity in fuel cell testing after 2000 potential cycles due to severe carbon corrosion, Pt dissolution, and catalyst particle sintering. Conversely, the Pt/TiO 2 electrocatalyst showed only a small voltage loss (0.09 V at 0.8 A cm −2 ) even after 4000 cycles. Furthermore, the ADT results showed excellent stability for the Pt/TiO 2 electrocatalysts at high potentials in terms of minimum loss in the Pt electrochemical surface area (ECSA). The high stability of the Pt/TiO 2 electrocatalyst synthesized in this investigation offers a new approach to improve the reliability and durability of PEM-based fuel cell cathode catalysts.
Characteristic pattern matching based on morphology

In this paper, we present characteristic pattern as means to match shapes. The characteristic pattern is a group of convex sets that can uniquely describe the shape with respect to a pre- selected set of basic patterns or structuring elements. Each convex subset of a given shape is a union of convex sets each derived from consecutive dilation of one of structuring elements. A shape can be distinguished from others by inspecting the non-zero measure on the resultant sets of openings with a set of pre-selected elements: structuring elements and the numbers of consecutive openings. A transformation from weakly-connected sets to strongly-connected sets is introduced.
Varus foot alignment and hip conditions in older adults.

Objective Mechanical strain on the hip can result from varus malalignment of the foot. This study was undertaken to explore the cross-sectional relationship between varus foot alignment and hip conditions in a population of older adults. Methods The Framingham Osteoarthritis Study cohort consists of a population-based sample of older adults. Within this sample, we measured forefoot and rearfoot frontal plane alignment using photographs of a non–weight-bearing view of both feet of 385 men and women (mean age 63.1 years). Each foot segment was categorized according to the distribution of forefoot and rearfoot alignment among cases of ipsilateral hip pain, trochanter tenderness, hip pain or tenderness, and total hip replacement (THR). The relationship of foot alignment to these conditions was examined using logistic regression and generalized estimating equations, adjusting for age, body mass index, sex, and physical activity. Results The mean ± SD rearfoot varus alignment was 0.7 ± 5.5 degrees, and the mean ± SD forefoot varus alignment was 9.9 ± 9.9 degrees. Subjects in the highest category of forefoot varus alignment had 1.8 times the odds of having ipsilateral hip pain (P for trend = 0.06), 1.9 times the odds of having hip pain or tenderness (P for trend < 0.01), and 5.1 times the odds of having undergone THR (P for trend = 0.04) compared with those in the lowest category. No significant associations were found between rearfoot varus alignment and any hip conditions. Conclusion Forefoot varus malalignment may be associated with ipsilateral hip pain or tenderness and THR in older adults. These findings have implications for treatment, since this risk factor is potentially modifiable with foot orthoses.
Northern Hemisphere sea-ice and glacial development in the late Cenozoic

Evidence for the initiation of glacial ice-rafting, and for the development of sea-ice cover has been found in sediment cores from the central Arctic Ocean spanning early Pliocene (∼4.5 Myr BP) to Recent time. The glacial evidence reported here includes ice-rafted quartz grains, exhibiting glacially formed surface features, and benthic foraminifera endemic to continental shelves in core sediments from the Alpha Rise. The oldest evidence of ice-rafting occurs in sediments palaeomagnetically dated at ∼4.5 Myr BP. Variations in sediment facies indicate varying climatic regimes, and degrees of icecover in the Arctic Ocean since early Pliocene time.
Application of luminescent CdSe-ZnS quantum dot bioconjugates in immuno- and fluorescence-quenching assays

Colloidal CdSe-ZnS semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) have tunable narrow-band luminescence emission and high resistance to photodegradation, properties that make them promising for use as fluorescent labels in biotechnological applications such as fluoro-immunoassays and in cellular imaging. We have developed efficient methods for conjugating these inorganic fluorophores to antibodies via the use of a molecular adaptor protein, the B2 domain of streptococcal protein G appended with an electrostatic interaction domain, which acts as a bridge between the QD fluorophore and antibodies. In this approach, coupling of the adaptor to the QD is driven by electrostatic self-assembly, while bridging to the antibody is driven by specific interactions. In the present study, we present fluoro-immunoassay studies employing QD-antibody conjugates for the detection of low levels of the explosive hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX). We will also explore the use of self-assembled QD-protein-receptor complexes in Foerster energy transfer assays, where the QD emission can be altered by a quenching dye receptor in a QD-protein-receptor conjugate.© (2002) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Gas Phase Adsorption of Volatile Organic Compounds and Water Vapor on Activated Carbon Cloth

This research examined the use of activated carbon cloths (ACC) to remove low concentrations of acetaldehyde, acetone, benzene, and methyl ethyl ketone from air. This work has applications in producing filtration systems for indoor air environments, industrial gas streams, and spray paint booths. Adsorption isotherms were measured for volatile organic compound adsorbate concentrations in the 10−1000 ppmv range and for water vapor from 0 to 95% relative humidity. The Dubinin−Radushkevich model was used to predict equilibrium adsorption capacities in the 100 ppbv to 10 000 ppmv concentration range. The adsorption of acetone−benzene mixtures on ACC was experimentally measured and then modeled using ideal adsorbed solution theory.
A longitudinal study of the moderating role of extraversion: leader-member exchange, performance, and turnover during new executive development

Identifying factors that help or hinder new executives in "getting up to speed" quickly and remaining with an organization is vital to maximizing the effectiveness of executive development. The current study extends past research by examining extraversion as a moderator of relationships between leader-member exchange (LMX) and performance, turnover intentions, and actual turnover for an executive sample. The sample consisted of 116 new executives who were surveyed prior to starting their employment and at 3 months postentry. A total of 67 senior executives rated these new executives in terms of overall performance at 6 months postentry. Turnover data were gathered from company records 3 1/2 years later. Hierarchical regression results showed that LMX was not related to performance or turnover intentions for those high in extraversion; but for individuals low in extraversion, there was a relation between LMX, performance, and turnover intentions. Furthermore, survival analyses showed that LMX was only related to turnover-hazard rate for individuals low in extraversion.
The phytoplankton component of seston in San Francisco Bay

Abstract Phytoplankton biomass (as carbon) was estimated from chlorophyll a concentrations (Chla) and a mean value for the ratio of phytoplankton carbon to chlorophyll a in San Francisco Bay. The ratio was determined as the slope of a Model II regression of POC' against (Chla), where POC' is total particulate organic carbon minus sediment-associated non-phytoplankton carbon. Samples from 30 fixed sites in the channel and lateral shoals of San Francisco Bay were collected once or twice a month from April to November 1980, and at irregular intervals in South Bay during 1984 and 1985. For all data the calculated mean value of phytoplankton C:Chla was 51 (95% confidence interval = 47–54). No significant differences were found in the C:Chla ratio between shallow and deep sites (where light availability differs) or between northern and southern San Francisco Bay (where phytoplankton community composition differs). Using the mean C:Chla ratio of 51, we calculated that phytoplankton biomass constitutes about one third of seston carbon under most circumstances, but this fraction ranges from about 95% during phytoplankton blooms to less than 20% during spring periods of low phytoplankton biomass and high suspended sediment concentration.
Elicitation and Development of Requirements Through Integrated Methods

This paper presents a case study of requirements elicitation for the development of computational support tools at an automotive OEM. The challenges presented in the requirements development necessitated the fusion of three distinct requirements elicitation approaches: traditional design, participatory design, and use case modeling through UML. The findings suggest that a single mode of operation is not sufficient and that to capture the requirements, it is preferred to borrow tools and methods from multiple domains. This case study serves as a broader motivation for a systematic development of engineering requirements modeling and analysis methods.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Watershed Morphology of Highland and Mountain Ecoregions in Eastern Oklahoma

The fluvial system represents a nested hierarchy that reflects the relationship among different spatial and temporal scales. Within the hierarchy, larger scale variables influence the characteristics of the next lower nested scale. Ecoregions represent one of the largest scales in the fluvial hierarchy and are defined by recurring patterns of geology, climate, land use, soils, and potential natural vegetation. Watersheds, the next largest scale, are often nested into a single ecoregion and therefore have properties that are indicative of a given ecoregion. Differences in watershed morphology (relief, drainage density, circularity ratio, relief ratio, and ruggedness number) were evaluated among three ecoregions in eastern Oklahoma: Ozark Highlands, Boston Mountains, and Ouachita Mountains. These ecoregions were selected because of their high-quality stream resources and diverse aquatic communities and are of special management interest to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. One hundred thirty...
Challenging Demographic Reductionism: A Pilot Study Investigating Diversity in Group Composition

The present study examined the impact of within-group value diversity on personal satisfaction, group creativity, and group effectiveness. After accountingfordiversity in race/nation-ality, gender, and age, value diversity predicted greater personal satisfaction, and higher perceived group creativity and effectiveness.
Multiscale Dynamics of Heterogeneous Media in the Peridynamic Formulation

A methodology is presented for investigating the dynamics of heterogeneous media using the nonlocal continuum model given by the peridynamic formulation. The approach presented here provides the ability to model the macroscopic dynamics while at the same time resolving the dynamics at the length scales of the microstructure. Central to the methodology is a novel two-scale evolution equation. The rescaled solution of this equation is shown to provide a strong approximation to the actual deformation inside the peridynamic material. The two scale evolution can be split into a microscopic component tracking the dynamics at the length scale of the heterogeneities and a macroscopic component tracking the volume averaged (homogenized) dynamics. The interplay between the microscopic and macroscopic dynamics is given by a coupled system of evolution equations. The equations show that the forces generated by the homogenized deformation inside the medium are related to the homogenized deformation through a history dependent constitutive relation.
Single‐particle laser‐induced‐fluorescence spectra of biological and other organic‐carbon aerosols in the atmosphere: Measurements at New Haven, Connecticut, and Las Cruces, New Mexico

[1] This study focuses on organic carbon (OC) aerosols, including natural biological aerosols, in the Earth's troposphere, and on laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) spectral methods for studying these aerosols. LIF spectra of atmospheric OC and biological aerosols (having diameters greater than approximately 3 μm) measured at New Haven, Connecticut, and Las Cruces, New Mexico, are reported. A hierarchical clustering method was used to cluster approximately 90% of the single-particle LIF spectra into 8-10 groups. Some of these groups have spectra that are similar to spectra of some important classes of atmospheric aerosol, such as humic/fulvic acids and humic-like substances, bacteria, cellulose, marine aerosol, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). A comparison with previous measurements made at Adelphi, Maryland, reveals that the most highly populated clusters found at Adelphi, and some of the less populated ones, also appear in the LIF spectra at New Haven and Las Cruces, even though the regional climates at these locations is different (New England/Atlantic Coastal, for New Haven and Adelphi, and Chihuahuan Desert for Las Cruces), and the measurements were made in different seasons. The results are consistent with some (perhaps most) of the fluorors in OC and biological atmospheric aerosols being common to these three sites. On average, spectra characteristic of humic/fulvic acids and humic-like substances (HULIS) comprise 28-43% of fluorescent particles at all three sites; whereas cellulose-like spectra contribute only 1 -3%.
Visual Spatial Cognition in Neurodegenerative Disease

Visual spatial impairment is often an early symptom of neurodegenerative disease; however, this multi-faceted domain of cognition is not well-assessed by most typical dementia evaluations. Neurodegenerative diseases cause circumscribed atrophy in distinct neural networks, and accordingly, they impact visual spatial cognition in different and characteristic ways. Anatomically-focused visual spatial assessment can assist the clinician in making an early and accurate diagnosis. This article will review the literature on visual spatial cognition in neurodegenerative disease clinical syndromes, and where research is available, by neuropathologic diagnoses. Visual spatial cognition will be organized primarily according to the following schemes: bottom-up/top-down processing, dorsal/ventral stream processing, and egocentric/allocentric frames of reference.
Health and subjective well-being: a meta-analysis.

A meta-analysis was conducted of the health/subjective well-being relationship, based upon studies of United States adults published prior to 1980. Dependent variables were zero-order and first-order correlations. A total of 231 zero-order effect size estimates were extracted from 104 different sources, while a total of 189 first-order effect sizes were extracted from thirty-three different sources. The majority of effect sizes were derived from samples where the midpoint of the age range was sixty-five and over. The 95 percent confidence interval estimates, generated using Tukey's jackknife procedure, were .29 to .35 and .29 to .38 for the zero-order and first-order correlations, respectively. Using weighted regression procedures, univariate analyses indicated that all but one study and sample characteristics were significant (p < .05) predictors of zero-order and first-order correlations, though none of the predictors adequately specified variation in effect sizes. The mean value of the first-order corr...
Ecosystem development on Hawaiian lava flows: biomass and species composition

. The strong environmental gradients and ‘natural experimental design’ of Mauna Loa volcano, Hawaii, provide an outstanding opportunity to study controls on ecosystem development. We measured above-ground vascular plant biomass and species composition on 42 sites on which precipitation, temperature, substrate texture, and substrate age varied substantially and largely independently. Biomass and species richness of live plants were strongly correlated with precipitation and lava flow age, but not with temperature or lava flow texture. Species composition, as measured by correspondence analysis, was likewise correlated with precipitation and flow age, but composition was also strongly influenced by temperature. Lava texture had a complex effect on vegetation, with ‘a’ a lava favoring vegetation development on wet sites and pāhoehoe favoring development on dry sites. Many locations remain virtually free of invasion by alien species; aliens appear where disturbance has facilitated invasion, either from stand-level dieback in rainforest or a grass-fire cycle on the dry, leeward side of the mountain. All four of the environmental factors studied here (precipitation, temperature, substrate texture, and substrate age) exert significant and independent control over vegetation biomass and/or species composition on Mauna Loa.
The Llnl Nuclear Chemistry Automated Production Counting Facilities: Design and Implementation

Livermore's Nuclear Counting Facilities Upgrade Project was undertaken to replace outdated instrumentation and data and resource control mechanisms. The specification and design of a facilities system for data collection, data flow, and control, from instrumentation to the generation of reports, are discussed. The authors show how a collection of scientific experiments, responsible for production acquisition and handling of data from radiation detection and mass spectroscopy, may be automated.
The turnover of myelin phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin in the adult rat brain.

Abstract The apparent half-life of rapidly turning over pools of myelin and microsomal lecithin of adult rat brain is 4–6 days after an intracerebral injection of [methyl- 14 C]-choline. The slowly turning over myelin lecithin pool has a half-life of approximately 36 days. The apparent half-life for both microsomal and myelin sphingomyelin is estimated at around 33–35 days. After correction for deposition of newly synthesized lecithin and sphingomyelin during the term of the experiment, the apparent half-life of slowly turning over lecithin pool and sphingomyelin is estimated to be around 42 days and 41–44 days, respectively. The specific radioactivity of the precursors of lecithin, viz. phosphorylcholine and CDP-choline, 12 h after the injection was similar and declined similarly to microsomal lecithin. Isolated myelin does not appear to contain the enzyme CDP-choline-1,2-diglyceride choline phosphotransferase for the synthesis of lecithin. The precursor-product relationship suggests myelin lecithin could originate from microsomal lecithin.
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 presenting with cognitive regression in childhood.

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2) typically presents in adulthood with progressive ataxia, dysarthria, tremor, and slow saccadic eye movements. Childhood onset SCA2 is rare and only the infantile onset form has been well-characterized clinically. This article describes a girl who met all developmental milestones until age 3 ½ years when she experienced cognitive regression that preceded motor regression by 6 months. A diagnosis of SCA2 was delayed until she presented to our emergency room at age 7 years. We document the results of her neuropsychological evaluation at both timepoints. This case broadens the spectrum of SCA2 presentation in childhood, highlights the importance of considering a spinocerebellar ataxia in a child who presents with cognitive regression only, and extends currently available clinical information to help clinicians discuss prognosis in childhood SCA2.
Opiate induced feeding is not dependent on the hippocampus

It has been shown that spreading depression of the hippocampus can elicit feeding, and that several opioid peptides elicit spreading depression when injected into the hippocampus. To determine whether such depression is the primary mechanism by which opiates induce feeding, we tested the feeding effects of naloxone, an opiate antagonist, and butorphanol tartrate, a kappa-sigma agonist, on feeding in rats with and without hippocampal lesions. Naloxone tended to reduce intake approximately equally in the two groups. Similarly, the doses of butorphanol that increased intake in sham rats were equally effective in lesioned rats. It was concluded that the hippocampus is not the major structure mediating opiate-induced feeding.
Synergic solvent extraction of lanthanides with mixtures of aliphatic fluorinated beta-diketones and organophosphorus donors.

Abstract The extraction of lanthanides from an aqueous acetatechloride medium into cyclohexane solutions of trifluoroacetylacetone, hexafluoroacetylacctone, 6,6,7,7,8,8,8-heptafluoro-2,2-dimethyl-3,5-octanedione and tri-n-butyl phosphate was studied. The extraction properties of other fluorinated aliphatic β-diketones and fluoroorganophosphates were also investigated. The efficiency of the extraction of the lanthanides, the composition of the complexes transferred to the organic phase and the extraction and stability constants for the synergic reactions were determined. Synergic extraction, as a technique for the preparation of lanthanide species, was evaluated for compatibility with subsequent gas chromatography. The lanthanides were found to be rapidly and quantitatively transferred into organic phases containing mixtures of fluorinated aliphatic β-diketones and TBP. The resulting mixed complexes that contained fully fluorinated β-diketones had a distinct stoichiometry and were thermodynamically more stable dan similar mixed complexes of partially fluorinated β-diketones. These properties of the synergic systems allow precise control of the formation of anhydrous complexes in the organic phase and are compatible with the use of these systems for gas chromatography.
ELEMENTARY STUDENT ATTENDING BEHAVIOR AS A FUNCTION OF CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES

This study investigated the extent to which attending behavior (on-task participation) of students in elementary music classes is a function of the activities in which students engage. On-task behavior also was examined for possible relationships with teachers and curriculum. A total of 262 in-class observations of 10 to 20 minutes each were conducted at all grade levels (K-6) taught by 11 elementary music teachers during one academic year. An interval recording technique was used to record the number of students judged to be off-task during a series of 15-second intervals. Symbols representing 11 different activities were placed on the form. Factor analysis produced significantly different levels of off-task behavior relating to activity, teacher, and curriculum. Such activities as playing instruments and singing yielded low levels of off-task behavior; students showed higher off-task levels during periods of “getting ready” for activities and during periods in which teachers and students were interactin...