cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pressure Broadening in the Microwave and Infra-Red Regions

In this paper a generalized theory of collision broadening is developed, adequate for predicting line breadths in the microwave and infra-red regions. This theory differs from previous ones in taking into account transitions among quantum states caused by collisions, although it is limited to a classical picture of the relative motion of the colliding molecules as a whole. Formulas are derived for computing approximate line broadening collision cross-sections from known intermolecular interactions, and the results of the theory are successfully compared with experiments on self-broadening in the ammonia inversion spectrum and the vibrational band spectra of HCl and HCN. Some cases of foreign gas broadening in the microwave region are examined, but it is concluded that in general the Van der Waals interaction, commonly assumed to be the force important in causing foreign gas broadening, is not adequate to cause the observed broadenings. The more complicated types of forces which become important at short range would have to be taken into account to give good agreement with experiment in these cases.
Transcriptional activation of transposable elements in mouse zygotes is independent of Tet3-mediated 5-methylcytosine oxidation

The methylation state of the paternal genome is rapidly reprogrammed shortly after fertilization. Recent studies have revealed that loss of 5-methylcytosine (5mC) in zygotes correlates with appearance of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), 5-formylcytosine (5fC), and 5-carboxylcytosine (5caC). This process is mediated by Tet3 and the 5mC oxidation products generated in zygotes are gradually lost during preimplantation development through a replication-dependent dilution process. Despite these findings, the biological significance of Tet3-mediated oxidation of 5mC to 5hmC/5fC/5caC in zygotes is unknown. DNA methylation plays an important role in silencing gene expression including the repression of transposable elements (TEs). Given that the activation of TEs during preimplantation development correlates with loss of DNA methylation, it is believed that paternal DNA demethylation may have an important role in TE activation. Here we examined this hypothesis and found that Tet3-mediated 5mC oxidation does not have a significant contribution to TE activation. We show that the expression of LINE-1 (long interspersed nucleotide element 1) and ERVL (endogenous retroviruses class III) are activated from both paternal and maternal genomes in zygotes. Inhibition of 5mC oxidation by siRNA-mediated depletion of Tet3 affected neither TE activation, nor global transcription in zygotes. Thus, our study provides the first evidence demonstrating that activation of both TEs and global transcription in zygotes are independent of Tet3-mediated 5mC oxidation.
NMDA-dependent induction of long-term potentiation in afferent and association fiber systems of piriform cortex in vitro

Long-term potentiation (LTP) was demonstrated in a slice preparation of piriform (olfactory) cortex. LTP could be reliably induced in both afferent and association fiber pathways. The magnitude of the observed potentiation was greater in the association fiber pathway. 2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate (APV) blocked induction of LTP in both pathways, indicating that N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor activation is required for induction.
Determination of thallium by photon activation analysis

Abstract The determination of trace amounts of thallium by the thermal neutron reaction 203Tl(n,γ)204Tl is complicated because 204Tl is a pure β-emitter, requiring a lengthy and rigorous separation. In addition the half-life of 204Tl is too long to permit decay measurements. A photon activation analysis method has been developed for this determination. Bremsstrahlung from a beam of 35-MeV electrons induces the photonuclear reaction 203Tl(γ,n)202Tl. The detection limit is of the nanogram order. There are no interfering photonuclear reactions from lead.
Chemotherapy-induced severe thrombocytopenia in gynecologic oncology and its treatment with interleukin-3

Six patients suffering from various gynecologic malignancies developed severe thrombocytopenia (WHO IV) after normal-dose chemotherapy. All patients were treated with platelet transfusions but the results on hematopoietic recovery were not satisfactory. Therefore treatment with a new hematopoietic substance (rh interleukin-3) was initiated. All patients received a dosage of 5 mu g/kg/bw daily s.c. up to 10 days depending on the response of platelet counts. In two women, who had suffered from severe hemorrhage (epistaxis resp. ankle joint hematoma), symptoms disappeared after approximately three days of rhIL-3 use. Whereas platelet transfusions were ineffective in all patients, IL-3 led to a significant increase of the platelet count after 3-5 days of application. Side-effects were mild, when seen in one case, where G-CSF was given at the same time. Our experience supports the idea of using new growth factors like rhIL-3 to cure chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression, such as severe thrombocytopenia.
The effect of light exercise upon blood flow velocity determined by laser-Doppler flowmetry

Primary objective: The dominant, 0.1 Hz frequency, Traube-Hering component of blood flow velocity, which is related to baroreflex activity, may be modulated through the established techniques of manipulative medicine. Light exercise programmes, appropriate for use by the elderly and collectively termed gymnastique douce, also are believed to impact the baroreflex in a positive manner. Our objective was to test the relationship between the Traube-Hering oscillation and light exercise.Methods: Using laser-Doppler flowmetry to quantify the Traube-Hering and other components of the blood flow velocity oscillation, we compared flowmetry records of 10 subjects before and immediately following a light-exercise programme.Results: The data show that the light exercise programme amplifies the 0.1 Hz component of the blood flowmetry record.Conclusions: The 0.1 Hz component of blood-flow velocity is physiologically linked to baroreflex activity. It is this component that is augmented by a light exercise programme.
Doing well by doing good - marketing strategy to help the poor: The case of commercial banks in Ghana

Access to capital markets and loans continues to be difficult for the poor in Ghana, even as the economic conditions improve and banks realize record profits. The insistence of commercial banks on collaterals as a loan requirement, to a large extent, disqualifies the poor in Ghana. Using a review of the literature, interviews with bankers, chiefs, a queen mother and the poor, and drawing on the theories of social marketing, the broadening of the marketing concept and the content analysis research technique, this study proposes a framework for a marketing strategy that uses the local social structures in lieu of collaterals that commercial banks in Ghana could use to extend loans to the poor.
Perceived Influence of Adoption of Personal Electronic Response Systems by Students With and Without Disabilities and Limited English Proficiency in Small Social Work Classes

This study investigates the perceived influence of adoption of personal electronic response systems (clickers) on undergraduate and graduate social work education by students with and without disabilities and limited English proficiency (LEP). A mixed methods exploratory quasi-experimental (posttest only) design was used in this study of instructional technology in social work education. Self-report questionnaires were completed by 30 undergraduate and graduate students, and follow-up telephonic interviews were conducted with a subsample of 6 students with disabilities or LEP. Correlates examined were student status, level of life stress, and usage status. Qualitative themes emerged suggesting that students with LEP and with varied sensory, cognitive, and physical disabilities found clickers to be helpful in increasing their class participation and as assistive technology to support their learning. Student status and achievement associations with clicker use perception were explored to determine whether t...
Feature cueing in the discrete cosine transform domain

The demand for fast and cost-effective access to multiple compressed data sources is imminent. An interactive link between a distant user and the compressed data is needed such that data transmission is constrained to only a small subset of the compressed data that possesses specific features of interest to the user, hence avoiding transmission and decompression of other noninteresting data sources. We present the first step toward developing this user-compressed data link. We show that oriented line features can be detected in data that are transformed, prior to being quantized and coded, using the discrete cosine transform (DCT). Our work is based on the DCT performed on block sizes of 32 x 32 pixels. The choice of this particular block size is due to proprietary constraints imposed by the specific problem we were commissioned to solve. It involves a proprietary database structure. The DCT is the basis of many established image compression standards such as the Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) and the Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG). These standards are based on block sizes of 8 x 8 pixels. We also show that the effect we report is exploitable with this more familiar block size. Theoretical proof of the DCT line-feature detector and experimental results are provided. An extension of the approach for logical inference of the existence of specific objects of interest is also outlined. When used as a feature analytical tool in conjunction with its compression role, the DCT may serve as a smart compression procedure for intelligent data archiving, abstraction, and transmission.
Autocalibrated scanning-angle prism-type total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy for nanometer-precision axial position determination.

An automatic calibration and scanning-angle prism-type total internal reflection fluorescence microscope (TIRFM) was constructed and tested for the highest vertical resolution. The angle of the incident laser beam can be changed automatically and reliably from subcritical angles to nearly 90° with intervals smaller than 0.2°, and the laser illumination spot in the sample can be calibrated to automatically overlap with the center of the microscope’s field of view. By scanning through a wide range of incident angles with different evanescent-field layer thicknesses, the fluorescence intensity decay curves of randomly distributed fluorescent nanospheres in agarose gel were obtained and fitted with the theoretical decay functions to determine their vertical positions. The best axial resolution was demonstrated to be better than 10 nm under the rigorous statistical analysis of confidence levels and by the Monte Carlo simulation. The new setup was further utilized to determine the tilting angle of the microtubu...
A study of the rate-controlled constrained-equilibrium dimension reduction method and its different implementations

The Rate-Controlled Constrained-Equilibrium (RCCE) method is a thermodynamic based dimension reduction method which enables representation of chemistry involving n s species in terms of fewer n r constraints. Here we focus on the application of the RCCE method to Lagrangian particle probability density function based computations. In these computations, at every reaction fractional step, given the initial particle composition (represented using RCCE), we need to compute the reaction mapping, i.e. the particle composition at the end of the time step. In this work we study three different implementations of RCCE for computing this reaction mapping, and compare their relative accuracy and efficiency. These implementations include: (1) RCCE/TIFS (Trajectory In Full Space): this involves solving a system of n s rate-equations for all the species in the full composition space to obtain the reaction mapping. The other two implementations obtain the reaction mapping by solving a reduced system of n r rate-equatio...
Utilization of medical services and quality of life among low-income patients with generalized anxiety disorder attending primary care clinics.

Objective:Anxiety disorders appear to influence morbidity and medical utilization. However, little is known about the relationship between Generalized Anxiety Disorder, quality of life, and medical utilization, especially among low-income patients. The goals of this investigation were to 1) determine if low-income patients with GAD utilize medical services more than patients with other Axis I diagnoses, or no psychopathology, and 2) compare the health-related quality of life of these three groups.Method:Participants were randomly recruited from public primary care clinics and administered intake assessments of demographics, stress, and health-related self-report questionnaires. At the end of the first year a structured psychiatric interview was administered (N = 431). Over the second year, patients (n = 360) were administered a health-related quality of life measure every three months for four assessments. Medical charts were abstracted to collect information about chronic illnesses and visits to outpatie...
Perception of Unilateral Weightbearing during Unilateral and Bilateral Upright Stance

To compare the effect of stance (unilateral vs bilateral) and of weightbearing target (25%, 50%, 75%) on error in weightbearing perception, two groups, unilateral and bilateral, of 30 comparable subjects were tested. Weightbearing was measured while subjects stood on digital scales; bilateral stance was accomplished using two scales, and unilateral stance was accomplished using a walker and a single scale. The subject's error in perceiving weightbearing at each target level was assessed by taking the absolute value of the target percent weightbearing minus the mean actual percent weightbearing. The mean errors at the 25, 50 and 75% targets were 6.5, 3.2, 17.6% for the unilateral group and 3.1, 1.4, 3.8% for the bilateral group. A two-way analysis of variance indicated the magnitude of error differed between groups and target levels, with a greater over-all error displayed by the unilateral weightbearing group. Our results suggest that adults are less accurate in judging weightbearing while standing on one, rather than on two, lower extremities. Clinicians should not expect patients to follow accurately instructions to weightbear at a specific percentage of full weight, particularly when using an assistive device to adjust weightbearing.
EFFECTS OF PRORENIN ON NEWBORN BLOOD PRESSURE AND THE RENIN-ANGIOTENSIN-ALDOSTERONE SYSTEM (RAAS)

Large molecular weight (M.W.) renin (prorenin) has been isolated from human and animal blood, kidneys, brain, and amniotic fluid. The purpose of this study is to define the biological effects of prorenin. Prorenin (M.W. 56,000) was purified from human cord or newborn blood by four chromatographic methods: 1) ammonium sulfate fractionation 2) gel filtration 3) ion exchange chromatography and 4) affinity chromatography. In vitro trypsin activation of prorenin producing PRA did not decrease the M.W. to renin (44,000). One ug of prorenin was infused as an I.V. bolus in 6 newborn puppies 1-2 wks. old. Mean aortic blood pressure (B.P.) was monitored continuously. Blood samples for PRA, plasma aldosterone (pA), Na, and creatinine were measured at 15, 30, 60, 90, and 120 min post-infusion; 30 min urine collections were measured for creatinine, Na, and K. PRA increased from a baseline of 23.7 ± 3.8 ng/ml/hr to 36.9 ± 4.3 (M and SEM), p<.05, at 15 min and remained high; pA levels increased from 48.0 ± 7.3 ng/dl to 67.8 ± 14.6 and 73.9 ± 14.2 (M and SEM) at 90 and 120 min, but it was not statistically significant. B.P. decreased initially 8-12 mmHg for 3-6 min and then increased 8-16 mmHg between 30 and 60 min in 4/6 puppies. There was no change in Ccr, urinary Na or K excretion. Summary and Conclusion: 1) Large M.W. prorenin can cleave renin substrate in vitro and in vivo to produce angiotensin 1. 2) Big renin (prorenin) may regulate B.P. and RAAS levels.
Klebsiella pneumoniae pneumonia

Klebsiella pneumoniae is an uncommon cause of community-acquired pneumonia except in alcoholics. Klebsiella may mimic pulmonary reactivation tuberculosis because it presents with hemoptysis and cavitating lesions. Klebsiella pneumoniae is a difficult infection to treat because of the organism's thick capsule. Klebsiella is best treated with third- and fourth-generation cephalosporins, quinolones, or carbapenems. Monotherapy is just as effective as a combination treatment in Klebsiella pneumoniae because newer agents are used. In the past, older agents with less anti-Klebsiella activity were needed for effective treatment. The patient we present was initially thought to have pulmonary tuberculosis, and when found to have Klebsiella pneumoniae, the suggested treatment was monotherapy with ceftriaxone. The patient was treated parenterally initially, and then was treated for 3 weeks with oral ofloxacin.
The multivariate skew-slash distribution

The slash distribution is often used as a challenging distribution for a statistical procedure. In this article, we define a skewed version of the slash distribution in the multivariate setting and derive several of its properties. The multivariate skew-slash distribution is shown to be easy to simulate from and can therefore be used in simulation studies. We provide various examples for illustration.
Is Maternal PTSD Associated with Greater Exposure of Very Young Children to Violent Media

This study examined media viewing by mothers with violence-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and related media exposure of their preschool-age children. Mothers (N = 67) recruited from community pediatric clinics participated in a protocol involving a media-preference survey. Severity of maternal PTSD and dissociation were significantly associated with child exposure to violent media. Family poverty and maternal viewing behavior were also associated. Maternal viewing behavior mediated the effects specifically of maternal PTSD severity on child exposure. Clinicians should assess maternal and child media viewing practices in families with histories of violent trauma exposure and related psychopathology.
Managing the care of patients infected with bloodborne diseases

ABSTRACT Background. The emergence of the bloodborne pathogens HIV, the cause of AIDS; hepatitis B virus, or HBV; and hepatitis C virus, or HCV, has been a milestone in the history of the dental profession. In the early 1980s, new cases of AIDS increased dramatically, and fear of acquiring this disease compelled clinicians to modify the delivery of medical and dental care to allay fears of transmission on the part of both patients and health care workers. Arguably, the AIDS pandemic has been the most significant factor in the evolution and delivery of modern medical and dental care in the last century. Overview. To help ally fears and remove barriers to caring for the HIV population, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, introduced the concept of universal precautions in 1983. This was followed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard in 1991. Specific to the dental profession was the development of the principles of infection control in dentistry recommended by the CDC (1993); the American Dental Association (1995) and the Organization for Safety & Asepsis Procedures (1997). While initially difficult for some clinicians to acknowledge, these recommendations now are universally accepted throughout the profession, and provision of oral health care to patients infected with bloodborne disease is becoming commonplace. Compliance with recommended infection control practices remains an important component of dental practice. But it must be accompanied by an understanding of infectious and bloodborne diseases and the medical/dental management of the care of infected dental patients. Conclusions and Practice Implications. The emergence of the bloodborne pathogens and the increasing number of infected patients who seek oral health care compel clinicians to have a thorough knowledge about bloodborne diseases and the medical/dental management of the care of patients presenting with HIV, HBV or HCV infection.
Initial Flow Matching Results of MHD Energy Bypass on a Supersonic Turbojet Engine Using the Numerical Propulsion System Simulation (NPSS) Environment

Preliminary flow matching has been demonstrated for a MHD energy bypass system on a supersonic turbojet engine. The Numerical Propulsion System Simulation (NPSS) environment was used to perform a thermodynamic cycle analysis to properly match the flows from an inlet to a MHD generator and from the exit of a supersonic turbojet to a MHD accelerator. Working with various operating conditions such as the enthalpy extraction ratio and isentropic efficiency of the MHD generator and MHD accelerator, interfacing studies were conducted between the pre-ionizers, the MHD generator, the turbojet engine, and the MHD accelerator. This paper briefly describes the NPSS environment used in this analysis and describes the NPSS analysis of a supersonic turbojet engine with a MHD generator/accelerator energy bypass system. Results from this study have shown that using MHD energy bypass in the flow path of a supersonic turbojet engine increases the useful Mach number operating range from 0 to 3.0 Mach (not using MHD) to an explored and desired range of 0 to 7.0 Mach.
Who will fail laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication? Preoperative prediction of long-term outcomes

A small but significant percentage of patients are considered failures after laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication (LNF). We sought to identify preoperative predictors of failure in a cohort of patients who underwent LNF more than 10 years ago. Of 312 consecutive patients undergoing primary LNF between 1992 and 1995, recent follow-up was obtained from 166 patients at a mean of 11.0 ± 1.2 years. Eight additional patients who underwent reoperation were lost to follow-up but are included. Failure is broadly defined as any reoperation, lack of satisfaction, or any severe symptoms at follow-up. Potential predictors evaluated included sex, age, body-mass index (BMI), response to acid reducing medications (ARM), psychiatric history, typical versus atypical symptoms, manometry, esophageal pH, and others. Logistic regression was used to assess significance of predictors in univariate analysis. Of 174 known outcomes, 131 were classified as successful (75.3%), while 43 were failures (24.7%): 26 reoperations, 13 unsatisfied, and 13 with severe symptoms. Response and lack of response to ARM were associated with 77.1% and 56.0% success rates respectively (P = 0.035). Eighty five percent of patients with typical symptoms had a successful outcome, compared to only 41% with atypical symptoms (P 35 kg/m2) was associated with failure (P = 0.036), while obesity (BMI 30–34.9 kg/m2) was not. A history of psychiatric illness trended toward significance (P = 0.06). In a cohort with 11 years follow-up after LNF, factors predictive of a successful outcome include preoperative response to ARM, typical symptoms, and BMI < 35 kg/m2. Patients with atypical symptoms, no response to ARM, or morbid obesity should be informed of their higher risk of failure. Some patients in these groups do have successful outcomes, and further research may clarify which of these patients can benefit from LNF.
Comparisons of Biodiesel Produced from Unrefined Oils of Different Peanut Cultivars

Biodiesels were prepared according to standard procedures from unrefined oils of eight commercially available peanut cultivars and compared for differences in physical properties important to fuel performance. Dynamic viscosity, kinematic viscosity and density were measured from 100 to 15 °C, and differences (p < 0.05) in these physical properties occurred more frequently at lower temperatures when comparing the different cultivars. Unlike data for the oil feedstocks, no meaningful correlations among biodiesel fatty acid profiles and either fuel viscosity or density were observed. Low temperature crystallization of the peanut biodiesels was measured via differential scanning calorimetry. Increased concentrations of long chain saturated fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) were associated with an increased propensity for low temperature crystallization, and the single FAME category most associated with low temperature crystallization was C:24. Tempering at 10 °C followed by analysis of the soluble fractions (winterization), improved crystallization properties and confirmed the importance that long chain saturated FAMEs play in the final functionality of peanut biodiesel. Peanut data is also compared to data for canola and soy biodiesels, as these feedstocks are more common worldwide for biodiesel production. Overall, this work suggests that minimizing the concentration of long chain saturated FAMEs within peanut biodiesel, either through processing and/or breeding efforts would improve the low temperature performance of peanut biodiesel.
Recent structural studies of PtI

Abstract The halogen-bridged mixed-valence metal complexes (MX) have been the object of numerous studies probing the properties of their quasi-one-dimensional M-X sublattice in which the charge disproportionation δ of the metal (M 3−δ /M 3-δ can be tuned from 0 to 1. We have recently investigated the structure of a fully deuterated sample of [Pt(en) 2 [Pt(en) 2 I 2 ](ClO 4 ) 4 at room temperature by using pair-distribution-function analysis X-ray powder diffraction data and regular single crystal diffraction in order to study the relationship between the local structure and the charge density wave strength of this class of materials.
Ion beam modification of ceramics

Abstract Ion-solid interactions that occur during ion bombardment of solids are nonequilibrium in nature; however, the response of a specific material may be governed by thermochemical and thermodynamic factors. Defects are created during irradiation by the elastic and inelastic collisions of the bombarding ions with the target atoms (ions). The types of defects that exist after the cascade cool-down period may be determined by chemical factors. In many cases, the introduction of a defect or an impurity ion must be done in a manner that maintains electrical neutrality; consequently, charged point defects or impurity-point defect complexes are often produced. This paper reviews the structural features of implanted ceramics using sapphire (single crystal α -Al 2 O 3 ) as an example of a ceramic with largely ionic bonding and silicon carbide (6H α -SiC) as one with covalent bonding.
Designing and equipping a usability laboratory

Abstract The goal of usability lab design is to create a space where high quality data capture occurs in an environment that looks and feels like the workplace of the product that is being tested. The lab must be part recording studio and part flexible work environment. Since most work environments are not recording studios, achieving a balance between simulation of the work environment and high quality data capture presents a challenge to usability lab designers. Steps can be taken with a user-centred design process to insure that a usability lab design meets this goal. This paper describes such a user-centred design process and how it. in combination with practical architectural and equipment guidelines derived from the authors' past experience, can be used in the design and redesign of future labs. The authors also discuss what changed in the present lab at NCR as a result of these guidelines.
EPR study of dimerization and conformational change of Cu(II)-cytochrome c and its undeca- and octapeptide

The EPR study of cytochrome c in which Fe(III) ion is replaced with Cu(II) shows that there are two types of monomer (a: 4 < pH < 6, and b: 6 < pH < 11.5) and two types of dimer (A: pH < 4 and B: pH < 11.5) formed depending upon the pH value of the solution. Computer simulation of the EPR spectra of the dimers indicates that the structure of the dimer A has a larger lateral shift than in the dimer B. It is also shown that in monomer a, the imidazole nitrogen of 18-His is not bound to Cu(II), while it is bound in the monomer b. In the undeca- and octapeptide of Cu(II)-cytochrome c, polymers are formed in acidic solutions. As the pH is raised, depolymerization proceeds to yield the monomer and the dimer. The structure of the dimer in both peptides is found to be similar to that of the dimer B of Cu(II)-cytochrome c. In the monomer of the peptides, neither the imidazole of 18-His nor the imidazole added in excess is bound to Cu(II) in the entire pH range. It is also concluded that the dimerization in Cu(II)-porphyrins interferes with the apical coordination of basic ligand, or vice versa.
The Relative Effects of Questions and Comments on Children's Stuttering

Parents of children who stutter often are advised to eliminate or reduce the number of questions they ask a child because of the belief that questions elicit or maintain stuttering. This study comp...
Public health policy and gay bathhouses.

Summary Public health policy on bathhouses has been limited and poorly documented. This volume is intended to expand policy-makers' and prevention-professionals' knowledge and awareness about gay bathhouses. The present paper provides a context and an overview for the volume by describing the bathhouse environment and how it differs from other public sex environments, and by describing public policies that have been implemented.
Evaluation of Methods for Measuring Texture Using Fresh Apples as the Test Material

Abstract Two laboratories used three varieties of apples as materials for standardizing and correlating various physical, chemical and sensory evaluations of texture. The criteria used to evaluate the appropriateness of the objective methods were: Sensitivity to differences in texture. Relationship to sensory assessments. Agreement between laboratories. The effectiveness of the methods in detecting differences in texture due to the variety and storage conditions was remarkably similar in the two laboratories. For most of the methods, the relative standard deviation was 11% or less. Correlations among the various pairs of methods differed with variety and with the basis used to calculate the correlation coefficients. The two laboratories agreed substantially on the presence or absence of significance with respect to relationships between pairs of methods. The most appropriate objective measurement for evaluating texture appeared to be maximum force. The possibility of using specific gravity as a non-destructive method of measuring texture is suggested.
Jargon and Data Do Make a Difference: The Impact of Report Styles on Lay and Professional Evaluation Audiences

Use of communication theory as a paradigmfor studing the impact of different evaluation report styles on different audiences was explored. Ratings of the evaluation consultant and the evaluation re...
A balloon tracking system that uses the VHF omidirectional range (VOR) network

Abstract The VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) system is a primary navigational aid to aircraft in the United States. Although the quantity of stations in the United States exceeds that of other areas, VOR stations are found all over the world. An inexpensive balloon navigational package that uses the existing VOR system has been developed. It employs the principle of triangulation between stations to yield position information. The station selection can be changed by telemetry command during the balloon flight in order to maximize triangulation accuracy and to minimize effects of weak signals. The VOR radials are part of the telemetry transmitted from the balloon package. Preliminary results from several flights in Palestine, Texas indicate that this system may be a viable backup or substitute for the OMEGA system commonly used. Typical accuracy of the down point prediction has been ± 1 mile.
Variations in the Ultraviolet Mg II Lines of Beta Persei

Copernicus satellite observations have been used to study changes in the Mg II lines in the neighborhood of 2800 A in Algol during eclipse. The resonance lines near 2800 A show doubling near the bottom of primary eclipse. A possible explanation is that emission from component B fills the line centers; the absolute magnitude thus derived for component B agrees with other values in the literature.
Ontogenetic relationships between in vivo strain environment, bone histomorphometry and growth in the goat radius

Vertebrate long bone form, at both the gross and the microstructural level, is the result of many interrelated influences. One factor that is considered to have a significant effect on bone form is the mechanical environment experienced by the bone during growth. The work presented here examines the possible relationships between in vivo bone strains, bone geometry and histomorphology in the radii of three age/size groups of domestic goats. In vivo bone strain data were collected from the radii of galloping goats, and the regional cortical distribution of peak axial strain magnitudes, radial and circumferential strain gradients, and longitudinal strain rates related to regional patterns in cortical growth, porosity, remodelling and collagen fibre orientation. Although porosity and remodelling decreased and increased with age, respectively, these features showed no significant regional differences and did not correspond to regional patterns in the mechanical environment. Thicker regions of the radius's cortex were significantly related to high strain levels and higher rates of periosteal, but not endosteal, growth. However, cortical growth and strain environment were not significantly related. Collagen fibre orientation varied regionally, with a higher percentage of transverse fibres in the caudal region of the radius and primarily longitudinal fibres elsewhere, and, although consistent through growth, also did not generally correspond to regional strain patterns. Although strain magnitudes increased during ontogeny and regional strain patterns were variable over the course of a stride, mean regional strain patterns were generally consistent with growth, suggesting that regional growth patterns and histomorphology, in combination with external loads, may play some role in producing a relatively ‘predictable’ strain environment within the radius. It is further hypothesized that the absence of correlation between regional histomorphometric patterns and the measured strain environments is the result of the variable mechanical environment. However, the potential effects of other physiological and mechanical factors, such as skeletal metabolism and adjacent muscle insertions, that can influence the gross and microstructural morphology of the radius during ontogeny, cannot be ignored.
The Verification of Independent Variables in Teaching Methods Research

The concept of control in scientific research has long included checks on the experimental, or independent, variable "to see if it is adhering to its stated or intended specifications" (Boring, 1969, p. 3). At least three reasons for the importance of such verification have been recognized by educational researchers. First, as Wispe (1953) commented in regard to teaching methods research, researchers are not justified in analyzing findings and drawing conclusions about the effects of in-
Face to Face — Power to change: A conversation with Bernard M. Bass

Bernard M. Bass, the distinguished professor emeritus of organizational behavior at the State University of New York at Binghamton, is a leading authority on the subject of transformational leadership, a term introduced in 1978 by leadership studies pioneer James McGregor Burns. Bass has researched and written extensively on transformational leadership and has worked closely with business, military, and educational organizations to incorporate transformational leadership principles into real-world settings.
Current and future diagnostic approaches: From serologies to imaging

Advances in serologic markers and imaging modalities continue to revolutionize diagnostic approaches to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Autoimmune and antimicrobial antibodies demonstrate diagnostic value in those patients with a moderate pretest probability of disease. Emerging data also support the use of antimicrobial antibody levels as a predictive tool for small bowel complications and the need for future surgery. In addition to being a prognostic marker in patients with acute severe colitis, serum C-reactive protein has been shown to correlate with clinical, endoscopic, and radiologic measures of disease activity. Capsule endoscopy and double-balloon endoscopy allow for visualization of the entire small bowel, and double-balloon endoscopy also has the capability to treat lesions. CT enterography is beginning to replace small bowel follow-through because of its high sensitivity and specificity for disease of the small intestine. Both CT and magnetic resonance enterography detect luminal and extraluminal abnormalities, with MRI serving as a safe imaging option in cases of pregnancy and renal insufficiency. These newer modalities add to the armamentarium clinicians can use for evaluation of IBD.
Abstract 2269: Metformin prolongs survival in a K-rasLA2 lung cancer mouse model by inhibiting cancer stem cells and tumor growth.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC Mutations in K-Ras are characteristic of human lung cancers and occur almost exclusively in smokers. Metformin, which is widely prescribed for the treatment of type II diabetes mellitus, may reduce lung cancer incidence in diabetics. We previously showed that metformin prevents K-Ras-mediated lung tumorigenesis in mice exposed to tobacco-carcinogen in an AMPK-independent manner. To elucidate further mechanisms of tumor prevention and estimate the survival impact of metformin on mutant K-Ras-mediated-lung tumorigenesis, we treated mutant K-Ras transgenic mice (K-RasLA2), with oral metformin. Metformin reduced tumor multiplicity by 48.9% and increased overall survival by 34% (median survival 191 days (control) vs 257 days (metformin); HR=0.27; 95% CI 0.11-0.68; p=0.009). Metformin decreased the number of bronchioloalveolar cells (BASCs), which are recognized as the cells of origin for lung adenocarcinomas initiated by oncogenic K-ras, as well as expression of cancer stem cell markers such as OCT4 and SOX2. Markers of cellular proliferation such as cyclin D1 and Ki67 were also decreased in lung tumors from metformin-treated mice. Metformin inhibited activation of multiple receptor tyrosine kinases as well as Ras-Raf signaling. Collectively, these data confirm that metformin inhibits K-Ras-induced lung tumorigenesis and identifies tumor-initiating cells as targets of metformin whose inhibition may underlie the ability of metformin to prolong survival. Clinical chemoprevention trials using metformin are warranted for high-risk populations likely to develop K-Ras mutations such as current or former smokers. Citation Format: Hiroshi Kitagawa, Matthew Dallos, Brendan Quinn, Ajaikumar Kunnumakkara, Irem Dogan, Christine M. Hollander, Phillip A. Dennis. Metformin prolongs survival in a K-rasLA2 lung cancer mouse model by inhibiting cancer stem cells and tumor growth. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2269. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-2269
Effects of Crystal and Bolles's Life/Work-Planning Process on Selected Factors Related to Vocational Choice.

This study tested the relative effects of Crystal and Bolles's life/work-planning process on the following factors related to vocational choice: aspirations, expectations, resident skills, and preferences. The results indicated that the process is an effective strategy to use to facilitate agreement between factors.
End of life care pedagogy, death attitudes, and knowing participation in change

Background: End of life care continues to be an area of glaring concern in health care. In addition, literature points to continued inconsistencies in end of life care education for those in the health professions, despite accumulating studies which suggest that preparation is needed to care for those who are dying and their loved ones. Some research findings suggest that there is a relationship between perceptions of preparedness and ability to provide care at the end of life and the nurse’s professional and perhaps personal quality of life. Thus, the purpose of this internally funded research project was to explore whether or not there would be changes in students’ death attitudes and power as knowing participation in change after they received coursework on end of life care (EOLC). Methods: A pre-test post-test design was used with participants as their own controls. Barrett’s nursing theory of power as knowing participation in change formed the theoretic backdrop for this study in which sixty undergraduate (N = 12 RN to BSN students; N = 48 generic students) and 6 graduate students participated. The pedagogic intervention consisted of either a full term elective on EOLC or four discontinuously placed classes during the junior year. Twenty eight of the students took a full term class on EOLC and the rest had four discontinuously placed lectures. Results: The findings were statistically significant for both death attitudes and power (as knowing participation in change). Conclusions: Teaching EOLC may enhance not only the quality of living-dying experiences for those entrusted to our care but also the carer’s personal and professional quality of life through their knowing participation in change. Since professional quality of life is known to be related to quality of care rendered, productivity, retention and recruitment of nurses, we would do well to explore this area further.
On the evolutionary origins of the bacterial phosphoenolpyruvate:sugar phosphotransferase system.

Summary The genes encoding the proteins of the fructose-specific phosphotransferase system (PTS) of Rhodobacter capsulatus were sequenced, and the deduced amino acyl sequences of the energy-coupling protein, Enzyme I, and the transport protein, Enzyme IItru, were compared with published sequences. Enzyme I was found to be homologous to pyruvate: phosphate dikinase of plants, while Enzyme IIfru was found to be homologous to the insulin-responsive glucose facilitator of mammals. The evolutionary and functional implications of these findings are discussed.
A “Queen of Hearts” trial of organ markets: why Scheper-Hughes’s objections to markets in human organs fail

Nancy Scheper-Hughes is one of the most prominent critics of markets in human organs. Unfortunately, Scheper-Hughes rejects the view that markets should be used to solve the current (and chronic) shortage of transplant organs without engaging with the arguments in favour of them. Scheper-Hughes's rejection of such markets is of especial concern, given her influence over their future, for she holds, among other positions, the status of an adviser to the World Health Organization (Geneva) on issues related to global transplantation. Given her influence, it is important that Scheper-Hughes's moral condemnation of markets in human organs be subject to critical assessment. Such critical assessment, however, has not generally been forthcoming. A careful examination of Scheper-Hughes's anti-market stance shows that it is based on serious mischaracterisations of both the pro-market position and the medical and economic realities that underlie it. In this paper, the author will expose and correct these mischaracterisations and, in so doing, show that her objections to markets in human organs are unfounded.
Building a Better Game through Dynamic Programming: A Flip Analysis

Flip is a solitaire board game produced by craft woodworkers. We analyze Flip and suggest modifications to the rules to make the game more marketable. In addition to being an interesting application of dynamic programming, this case shows the use of operations research in managerial decision making.
Syringe Distribution to Injection Drug Users for Prevention of HIV Infection: Opinions and Practices of Health Care Providers in New York City

The Expanded Syringe Access Demonstration Program (ESAP), which was intended to increase access to syringes for injection drug users (IDUs), went into effect in New York State on 1 January 2001. ESAP allowed prescription-authorized health care providers to register to distribute syringes without a prescription. In spring 2002, we conducted a random postal survey of 1100 providers in New York City to evaluate involvement in ESAP and willingness to furnish IDUs with syringes. Among 363 nurse practitioners, physicians, and physician assistants responding, 16.9% knew about ESAP, and 2.0% believed they were registered; 50.5% would consider distributing syringes to patients who were IDUs. Most of those unwilling to distribute syringes were concerned about legal and moral issues. More respondents agreed that providers should prescribe syringes than distribute syringes (41.1% vs. 22.7%; P<.0001). These results suggest that many providers are willing to furnish IDUs with syringes but are unaware of the current law.
Comparative renewal hearings: Another dialogue between commission and court

(1980). Comparative renewal hearings: Another dialogue between commission and court. Journal of Broadcasting: Vol. 24, No. 4, pp. 527-547.
Integrated case management history and analytics

Advanced case management gives enterprises the flexibility to organize their business operations in an efficient and transparent manner while providing knowledge workers the opportunity to proceed towards their goals and to react to exceptions as required in each individual situation. Powerful analytics based on pervasive observation of end-to-end case executions help to detect exceptional situations, determine possible derailment, and thus to prevent undesired outcomes. This paper demonstrates the application of proven technologies derived from real world examples to determine the health of a particular case.
Chi-square tests-of-fit for location-scale families using type-II censored data

Chi-square tests-of-fit that allow a versatile choice of point estimators and provide maximum degrees of freedom have been available since 1980. Unfortunately, the quadratic forms involved are sometimes difficult to compute. There are, however, several useful quadratic forms that are quite easily computed. The use and computation of such quadratic forms are demonstrated by performing tests-of-fit on a type-II censored data-set for the exponential family. All calculations are readily performed on a hand-held engineering calculator. The technique applies for tests-of-fit to location-scale families of distributions. >
Cellular Basis for the Response to Second-Order Motion Cues in Y Retinal Ganglion Cells

We perceive motion when presented with spatiotemporal changes in contrast (second-order cue). This requires linear signals to be rectified and then summed in temporal order to compute direction. Although both operations have been attributed to cortex, rectification might occur in retina, prior to the ganglion cell. Here we show that the Y ganglion cell does indeed respond to spatiotemporal contrast modulations of a second-order motion stimulus. Responses in an OFF ganglion cell are caused by an EPSP/IPSP sequence evoked from within the dendritic field; in ON cells inhibition is indirect. Inhibitory effects, which are blocked by tetrodotoxin, clamp the response near resting potential thus preventing saturation. Apparently the computation for second-order motion can be initiated by Y cells and completed by cortical cells that sum outputs of multiple Y cells in a directionally selective manner.