cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mapping at the Age of Three

Abstract A study of toy-play mapping by three-, four-, and five-year-old children demonstrates that children can clearly represent a cognitive map at the age of three. Mapping, therefore, is developmentally primitive, and formal map-learning can begin at the age of school entrance.
Direct and indirect pathways between adult attachment style and marital satisfaction

We explored direct, mediated, and moderated associations between adult attachment style and marital satisfaction using a community-based sample of 73 married women. Continuous ratings of secure, avoidant, and ambivalent attachment styles were related to levels of marital satisfaction. However, psychological distress mediated the association between secure attachment and marital satisfaction, and social support mediated the relation between avoidant attachment and marital satisfaction. In addition, psychological distress moderated the relation between both secure and avoidant attachment styles and marital satisfaction.
Photoinduced surface charge distribution on TiO2.

The density of states at a Ti${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$-electrolyte interface is measured by a photoelectrochemical technique. The Schottky barrier height for various redox couples is also obtained for the surface containing this measured density. Good agreement is obtained between the band bending calculated from the interface density of states and the measured band bending as a function of the electrolyte redox Fermi potential.
Disasters and Women's Health: Reflections from the 2010 Earthquake in Haiti

Introduction Increasing attention is being focused on the needs of vulnerable populations during humanitarian emergency response. Vulnerable populations are those groups with increased susceptibility to poor health outcomes rendering them disproportionately affected by the event. This discussion focuses on women's health needs during the disaster relief effort after the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. Report The Emergency Department (ED) of the temporary mobile encampment in L'Hopital de l'Universite d'Etat d'Haiti (HUEH) was the site of the team's disaster relief mission. In February 2010, most of the hospital was staffed by foreign physicians and nurses, with a high turnover rate. Although integration with local Haitian staff was encouraged, implementation of this practice was variable. Common presentations in the ED included infectious diseases, traumatic injuries, chronic disease exacerbations, and follow-up care of post-earthquake injuries and infections. Women-specific complaints included vaginal infections, breast pain or masses, and pregnancy-related concerns or complications. Women were also targets of gender-based violence. Discussion Recent disasters in Haiti, Pakistan, and elsewhere have challenged the international health community to provide gender-balanced health care in suboptimal environments. Much room for improvement remains. Although the assessment team was gender-balanced, improved incorporation of Haitian personnel may have enhanced patient trust, and improved cultural sensitivity and communication. Camp geography should foster both patient privacy and security during sensitive examinations. This could have been improved upon by geographically separating men's and women's treatment areas and using a barrier screen to generate a more private examination environment. Women's health supplies must include an appropriate exam table, emergency obstetrical and midwifery supplies, urine dipsticks, and sanitary and reproductive health supplies. A referral system must be established for patients requiring a higher level of care. Lastly, improved inter-organization communication and promotion of resource pooling may improve treatment access and quality for select gender-based interventions. Conclusion Simple, inexpensive modifications to disaster relief health care settings can dramatically reduce barriers to care for vulnerable populations. Bloem CM , Miller AC . Disasters and Women's Health: Reflections from the 2010 Earthquake in Haiti . Prehosp Disaster Med. 2013 ; 28 ( 2 ): 1 - 5 .
Application of Time-Resolved Linear Dichroism Spectroscopy: Rapid Relaxation of Excited Charge Transfer Complexes

Time-resolved linear dichroism spectroscopy has been used to study the charge-transfer complexes formed between methylated benzene donors and 1,2,4,5-tetracyanobenzene as acceptor. The angle between the charge-transfer absorption transition moment and the photochemically produced radical anion absorption transition moment, after relaxation, has been measured for several complexes. A simple theoretical model was used to interpret the measured values. This model correlated the extent of localized excitation mixed into the charge-transfer transitions with the results of time-resolved linear dichroism measurements. Furthermore, the comparison between the measured and predicted transition moment directions suggests that a minor geometry change occurs after excitation of these complexes. The observation of the relative transition moment vector of the initial state(s) for some of the complexes was also possible. In these cases, the initial transition moment vectors observed are not consistent with absorption due...
Roughening and facet formation in the presence of subharmonic potentials.

Roughening transitions are explored as a function of the strength ${V}_{2}$ of a subharmonic potential, which can be varied with the chemical potential difference in a two-component crystal like galena (PbS) or one of its analogs (e.g., SnTe). The dependence of both the facet size and the step energy on ${V}_{2}$ are given, for small ${V}_{2}$, explicitly in terms of the surface stiffness at ${V}_{2}$=0. A close connection of the model to the F model is exploited to obtain hitherto inaccessible features of the F model phase diagram in direct and staggered fields.
Stressful events related to childbearing in African-American women. A pilot study.

Abstract This pilot study replicated the Arizmendi and Affonso study that identified the frequency and intensity of stressors related to childbearing. 1 The original study ( n = 221) targeted chiefly middle-class white women. To date, there is no literature on stressful events as reported by African-American childbearing women. It was hypothesized that African-American women would identify differential patterns of stressful events in childbearing. A convenience sample of 50 African-American childbearing women were interviewed. Demographics were presented and compared with the original study. The frequency and intensity of stressors were analyzed and compared. It was proposed that the differential stressors between the chiefly white middle-class sample and the African-American sample relates to both the life experiences and the differential birth outcomes of African-American childbearing women. Areas for future research are targeted.
Chronic haloperidol-induced alterations in pallidal GABA and striatal D1-mediated dopamine turnover as measured by dual probe microdialysis in rats

Abstract Using dual probe microdialysis, assessment of extracellular neurotransmitter levels in the corpus striatum and globus pallidus was performed in ovariectomized and gonadally intact female, Sprague–Dawley rats following chronic (24 weeks) oral haloperidol administration. Vacuous chewing movements, an animal analog of orofacial dyskinesia, were also recorded at several time points during haloperidol administration and throughout the dialysis sampling session. Basal GABA levels were significantly elevated in the globus pallidus of haloperidol-treated rats compared with vehicle animals. Injection of the dopamine D1 agonist dihydrexidine (3 mg/kg, s.c.) decreased striatal dopamine levels in both vehicle and haloperidol-treated rats, with a larger decrease seen in haloperidol-treated rats. Furthermore, dihydrexidine reduced striatal 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and homovanillic acid levels only in haloperidol-treated rats. Gonadal status had no effect on any neurochemical measure. Vacuous chewing movements were significantly elevated in haloperidol-treated groups by the sixth week of treatment, with higher counts seen in gonadally intact rats. Vacuous chewing movements were significantly elevated above baseline in all groups following dihydrexidine, with no differential effect of prior haloperidol treatment or gonadal status. These results indicate a tonic increase in pallidal GABA levels and a hypersensitivity of D1-mediated striatal dopamine and dopamine metabolite decreases following chronic haloperidol treatment. While not found to be correlated with neurochemical measures, the heightened vacuous chewing movements in gonadally intact vs ovariectomized rats may serve as a model of hormone-mediated differences in neuroleptic-induced oral dyskinesia.
Does science have a “global goal?”: A critique of hull's view of conceptual progress

Hull's recent work in evolutionary epistemology is marred by a deep tension. While he maintains that conceptual and biological evolution are both driven by selection processes, he also claims that only the former is globally progressive. In this paper I formulate this tension and present four possible responses (including Hull's). I argue that Hull's position rests on the assumption that there is a goal which is sufficiently general to describe most scientific activity yet precise enough to guide research. Working from within Hull's framework, I argue that a non-progressionist stance is both preferable and more consistent with Hull's basic commitments.
Why Batteries Deliver a Fairly Constant Voltage until Dead

Two characteristics of batteries, their delivery of nearly constant voltage and their rapid failure, are explained through a visual examination of the Nernst equation. Two Galvanic cells are described in detail: (1) a wet cell involving iron and copper salts and (2) a mercury oxide dry cell. A complete description of the wet cell requires a three-dimensional Nernst surface because the potential is a function of two variables: the activities of both the oxidized and reduced forms in each redox couple. Dry cell potentials, which utilize solid or pure liquid species, are functions of only one variable and can be described by a pair of traces in a traditional plot. Plots of the Nernst potential are relatively flat for most activities, but they exhibit cliffs under extreme conditions. The flat spots are responsible for the fairly constant voltage that batteries deliver; the cliffs explain why batteries fail so quickly.
Executing profitable sales negotiations: selling value, not price

Purpose – To identify the keys to executing profitable sales negotiations based on analysis of the negotiation approaches of high‐performing salespeople.Design/methodology/approach – BayGroup International (a leading global sales consultancy) conducted a research study involving 2,000 salespeople at all levels from Fortune 500 companies across a wide range of industries. Respondents participated in an actual buy‐sell negotiation. BayGroup collected and analyzed data on the negotiation approaches taken by study participants, and determined how the approaches taken by the sales professionals who negotiated the best agreements differed from others in the study.Findings – BayGroup concluded that high performers raise their customers’ perception of value by using six fundamental strategies, summarized in the form of principles of sales negotiation. The paper not only describes the principles, but also reveals the unique, counterintuitive manner in which high‐performing salespeople plan and execute profitable s...
Toward Polymorph Control in an Inorganic Crystal System by Templated Nucleation at a Microdroplet Liquid Interface: Potassium Hexacyanoferrate(II) Trihydrate

Potassium hexacyanoferrate(II) trihydrate (KFCT) is known to manifest multiple structure types under practical conditions of crystal growth, including a monoclinic modification which is stable at r...
Discrete Variable Approximation to Minimum Weight Panels with Fixed Flutter Speed

T paper presents a numerical technique for determining the minimumweight design of a one-dimensional panel for which an aeroelastic eigenvalue characterizing the flutter speed is held constant. The governing differential equations are approximated by sets of difference equations adjoined to the weight function via a penalty function. A conjugate gradient method is applied to the resulting sequence of unconstrained minimization problems. Numerical results are obtained for solid simplysupported panels with constant inplane stresses. These results supplement those of Armand and Vitte who posed a solid panel problem without inplane stresses and Weisshaar who obtained numerical solutions for a sandwich panel without inplane stresses using a minimum thickness constraint. The discrete variable technique has been applied previously to flight path optimization and is thought to have several advantages, including 1) ease of implementation, 2) exact satisfaction of boundary conditions, 3) ability to treat the frequency parameter a as an additional problem variable, 4) ability to avoid the differential equation end point singularities without imposing a minimum thickness constraint, and 5) ease in obtaining adequate initial solution estimates.
The annihilator ideal of the action of the Steenrod algebra on H∗(RP∞)

Abstract The mod 2 cohomology of real projective space RP∞ has a simple, but rich structure as a module over the Steenrod algebra. In this paper we determine the annihilator ideal of H ∗ (RP ∞ ) , and some other spaces of interest.
Designing healthy communities

Designing Healthy Communities points out that our car-focused and pedestrian-unfriendly community design has significantly worsened the obesity epidemic and has created a pandemic of health crisis and inequities. Many health impacts resulting from our built environment disproportionately affect vulnerable groups. Along with a 4-hour DVD set, the Designing Healthy Communities companion book was recently published by Jossey-Bass (a Wiley imprint) and copublished by the American Public Health Association to document how the built environment and where we live affect our health. Dr. Jackson provides visionary discussions of how we can design healthy communities to address and prevent many of our devastating health concerns. A number of case studies illustrated how community issues were identified and ways communities were transformed into healthful physical environments. This text provides refreshing perspectives and challenges policy makers, health professionals, and citizens to work together, take charge, and be the change agent for our own communities. Language: en
Tuberculosis as a complex trait: impact of genetic epidemiological study design

Several studies have suggested a role for human genetic risk factors in the susceptibility to developing tuberculosis (TB). However, results of these studies have been inconsistent, and one potential reason for these inconsistencies is variation in aspects of study design. Specifically, phenotype definitions and population genetic factors have varied dramatically. Since TB is a complex trait, there are many challenges in designing studies to assess appropriately human genetic risk factors for the development of TB as opposed to the acquisition of latent M. tuberculosis infection. In this review we summarize these important study design differences, with illustrations from the TB genetics literature. We cite specific examples of studies of the NRAMP1 (SLC11A1) gene and present Fisher’s combined p values for different stratifications of these studies to further illustrate the impact of study design differences. Finally, we provide suggestions for the design of future genetic epidemiological studies of TB.
A membrane model describing the effect of temperature on the water conductivity of erythrocyte membranes at subzero temperatures

Abstract Thermodynamic models show that the loss of intracellular water from human erythrocytes during freezing depends heavily upon the water conductivity of the erythrocyte membrane. These calculations, which are based on the simple extrapolation of ambient conductivity data to subzero temperatures, show that more than 95% of cell water is transferable during freezing, whereas experiments show that at least 20% of cell water is retained. A study of the effects of different published values for the membrane water conductivity on cell water retained during freezing shows that this discrepancy may be a consequence of the simple extrapolation procedure. For a homogeneous membrane system, absolute reaction rate theory was used to develop a surface-limited permeation model that includes the resistance to the flow of water not only through the interior region of the membrane but also across possible rate-limiting barriers at the solution-membrane interfaces. The model shows that it is unlikely that a single ratelimiting process dominates water transport in the red cell as it is being cooled from ambient to subzero temperatures. The effective membrane conductivity at subzero temperatures could possibly be much lower than a simple extrapolation of existing data would predict. With the aid of this model analytical predictions of intracellular water during freezing are more consistent with experimental observations.
A Collaborative Approach to Enhancing Employment and Social Skills of Students With Disabilities: Perspectives of the Stakeholders

A summer program was designed to provide a social learning and work experience for students with developmental disabilities. For 3 weeks, high school students with developmental disabilities participated in a variety of jobs on a college campus and worked alongside college students. This collaborative experience enabled students with and without disabilities to work together and develop both working and social relationships. The experience resulted in benefits for the high school students with developmental disabilities, the college community, and the community at large. We share personal perspectives about this experience through the voices of the participants and offer some thoughts to stakeholders in community-based projects for individuals with disabilities.
Internal Lysine Palmitoylation in Adenylate Cyclase Toxin from Bordetella pertussis

A number of bacterial protein toxins, including adenylate cyclase (AC) toxin from Bordetella pertussis, require the product of an accessory gene in order to express their biological activities. In this study, mass spectrometry was used to demonstrate that activated, wild-type AC toxin was modified by amide-linked palmitoylation on the epsilon-amino group of lysine 983. This modification was absent from a mutant in which the accessory gene had been disrupted. A synthetic palmitoylated peptide corresponding to the tryptic fragment (glutamine 972 to arginine 984) that contained the acylation blocked AC toxin-induced accumulation of adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate, whereas the non-acylated peptide had no effect.
The Characteristics and Outcomes of Advanced Heart Failure Patients with Hemodynamic Parameters Predictive of Right Ventricular Failure

Purpose Advanced heart failure (HF) patients (pts) with a high central venous pressure (CVP)/pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) ratio are at risk for right ventricular failure (RVF) after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) placement. The incidence of this RVF predictor in ambulatory pts with advanced HF and the associated outcomes are unknown. We investigated the “RVF biomarker” of CVP/PCWP≥0.63 in ambulatory HF pts. Methods and Materials We analyzed 188 consecutive INTERMACS 4-5 pts evaluated in the Duke HF Clinic (2005-2010) who had a right heart catheterization and cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPX) within 90-days. Pts were stratified by CVP/PCWP ≥ or Results 51 pts (27%) had a ratio ≥0.63. The groups were similar with respect to race, gender, HF etiology, and HF medications (all P>0.05). Diuretic dose, ejection fraction and natriuretic peptide levels were similar. There was a trend toward worse CPX variables in pts ≥0.63 [peak VO 2 10.7 mL/kg/min (8.7-13.6) vs. 11.7 (9.5-14.0), P=0.12; VE-VCO 2 slope 46 (36-50) vs. 39 (34-49), P=0.056]. Predicted 1 yr survival by SHFM was lower in pts ≥0.63 [88% vs. 93%, P=0.03]. Over a median follow-up of 264 days, observed outcomes were similar between groups ( Figure ). Conclusions Despite the belief that INTERMACS 4-5 pts may be “too well” for an LVAD, we found that >25% of these pts already displayed a marker for post-LVAD RVF. In pts with a CVP/PCWP≥0.63, outcomes in the context of contemporary advanced HF therapies were similar vs. pts
TRANSPORT OF OXYGEN THROUGH ICE AND FROZEN MINCED FISH

The storage life of frozen fish depends, in part, on quality degradation due to oxidation of lipids. In minced fish products, transport of oxygen through the frozen material is one possible mechanism for supplying the required oxygen to the reactive lipids. Oxygen transport through ice and minced fish at —5°C was determined using a Clark-type oxygen electrode in a sample of known geometry. Oxygen permeability of ice appeared related to physical defects of the ice samples. Fast frozen ice had widely varying permeability values, while slow frozen ice varied over a more narrow range. Ice thickness and annealing procedures affected observed permeability values. Slow frozen minced fish was more permeable to oxygen than slow frozen ice, and coating of the minced fish with a slow frozen ice glaze resulted in reduced oxygen transport.
An open model of actin dendritic nucleation.

The availability of quantitative experimental data on the kinetics of actin assembly has enabled the construction of many mathematical models focused on explaining specific behaviors of this complex system. However these ad hoc models are generally not reusable or accessible by the large community of actin biologists. In this work, we present a comprehensive model that integrates and unifies much of the in vitro data on the components of the dendritic nucleation mechanism for actin dynamics. More than 300 simulations have been run based on compartmental and three-dimensional spatial versions of this model. Several key findings are highlighted, including an explanation for the sharp boundary between actin assembly and disassembly in the lamellipodia of migrating cells. Because this model, with the simulation results, is “open source”, in the sense that it is publicly available and editable through the Virtual Cell database (http://vcell.org), it can be accessed, analyzed, modified, and extended.
Role of actin cytoskeleton in prostaglandin-induced protection against ethanol in an intestinal epithelial cell line.

Prostaglandins (PGs) protect a variety of gastrointestinal cells against injury induced by ethanol and other noxious agents. This investigation attempted to discern the mechanism of cytoprotection as it relates to the relationship between actin and PGs in IEC-6 cells (a rat intestinal epithelial cell line). IEC-6 cells were incubated in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium +/- 16,16-dimethyl prostaglandin E(2) (dmPG, 2.6 microM) for 15 min and subsequently incubated in medium containing 1, 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10% ethanol (EtOH). Cells were then processed for immunocytochemistry using FITC-phalloidin in order to stain the actin cytoskeleton, and cell viability was determined by trypan blue exclusion. Quantitative Western immunoblotting of fractioned G-actin (nonpolymerized; S1) and F-actin (polymerized; S2) was also carried out. EtOH concentrations equal to and greater than 5% led to the collapse of the actin cytoskeleton as depicted by extensive disorganization and fragmentation. In addition, these same EtOH concentrations significantly decreased the S2 fraction and increased the S1 pool of actin. Preincubation with dmPG prevented collapse of the actin cytoskeleton, significantly increased the S2 polymerized fraction as determined by quantitative immunoblotting, and increased cell viability in EtOH-treated cultures. Prior incubation with cytochalasin D, an actin disruptive agent, not only reduced cell viability but also prevented the cytoprotective effects of dmPG. Phalloidin, an actin stabilizing agent, had effects similar to that of dmPG as demonstrated by stability of the actin cytoskeleton and increased cellular viability. Such findings indicate that PGs are important in the organization and stability of actin under in vitro conditions. These effects on actin may play an essential role in the mechanism of PG-induced cytoprotection.
A Vietnamese man with selective mutism: the relevance of multiple interacting 'cultures' in clinical psychiatry.

Multiple cultural variables have effects on the psychobiology and behavioral manifestations of illness, as do patient and physician perceptions of illness. The interaction among these variables is ...
Closing the gap between the theory and practice of individualized instruction

This paper relates the characteristics of PSI to current educational trends in society, discusses the theoretical desirability and the practical feasibility of arriving at a ‘mastery’ level of course performance. Current educational theorists seem to indicate one to aim for. The suggested ways of achieving this aim are through the specification of objectives and the individualization of teaching. PSI is seen as an exceptionally successful procedure for achieving this in practice. Three particular ways are identified in which PSI helps to close the gap between the theory and practice of individualized instruction.
Transit time coplanar probe for biomolecular interactions at an aqueous–solid interface

Abstract The displacement of water from a solid–aqueous interface by a low-dielectric constant film that is a few nanometers thick can be detected as a change in the transit time of a baseband electrical pulse, of picosecond duration, propagating in a coplanar transmission line. The results of an electromagnetic analysis are experimentally verified by depositing polyelectrolyte monolayers on the probe surface and measuring changes in the pulse transit time of a short baseband electrical pulse.
Phylogeny of Ephemeroptera (mayflies) based on molecular evidence

This study represents the first molecular phylogeny for the Order Ephemeroptera. The analyses included 31 of the 37 families, representing approximately 24% of the genera. Fifteen families were supported as being monophyletic, five families were supported as nonmonophyletic, and 11 families were only represented by one species, and monophyly was not testable. The suborders Furcatergalia and Carapacea were supported as monophyletic while Setisura and Pisciforma were not supported as monophyletic. The superfamilies Ephemerelloidea and Caenoidea were supported as monophyletic while Baetoidea, Siphlonuroidea, Ephemeroidea, and Heptagenioidea were not. Baetidae was recovered as sister to the remaining clades. The mayfly gill to wing origin hypothesis was not supported nor refuted by these data. Mandibular tusks were supported as having at least one loss in Behningiidae and, together with the burrowing lifestyle, possibly two origins. The fishlike body form was supported as plesiomorphic for mayflies with multiple secondary losses. Topological sensitivity analysis was used as a tool to examine patterns concerning the stability of relationships across a parameter landscape, providing additional information that may not have been acquired otherwise.
Information sources and adoption of vaccine during pandemics.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of different information sources on consumer health behavior during pandemics. Design/methodology/approach – We collected survey data from 321 adults in a large western US city during November 2009 by mall and street intercepts. We analyzed their beliefs, attitudes and intentions with regard to adoption of the H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine. We developed and tested two alternative models on the role of mass media and personal information sources on the attitude towards the disease and the intention to get vaccinated. Findings – Our study finds that mass media and personal sources of information simultaneously impact perceived threat from disease (attitude) and the intention to get vaccinated during a global pandemic. Personal information sources are more effective than mass media sources in impacting both attitude and intention. While the impact of mass media weakens from the attitude stage to the intention stage, the impact of personal informati...
Modeling Segmented Active Constrained Layer Damping Using Hybrid Displacement Field

A finite element model for composite plates with active constrained layer (ACL) damping is developed using hybrid displacement fields. The higher order displacement field is used in the composite plate to capture the transverse shear deformations. Since viscoelestic and piezoelectric layers are made from certain isotropic material, the first and the second order displacement fields are employed in these layers to maintain computational efficiency in problem solution. The refined displacement fields defined in different material layers are derived by applying the displacement and transverse shear stress continuity conditions at interfaces of different materials and the traction-free boundary conditions at the top and the bottom surfaces of the structure. The anelastic displacement field method is used to implement the viscoelastic material model to enable time domain finite element analysis. The- finite element model is validated by comparison with NASTRAN 3D finite element modal analysis. The developed technique isused to investigate the dynamic responses of a cantilever composite plate with ACLs. Numerical results are presented with both the open and closed loop control. Significant improvements are observed with the use of active control treatment.
The Relationship between "Traditional" Leadership, "Super" Leadership, and Organizational Citizenship Behavior:

In a field study of a small manufacturing plant, relationships between five dimensions of organizational citizenship and two sets of predictors, "traditional" leadership (initiating structure and consideration) and "super" leadership (self-goal-setting, self-observation, and self-expectation) were examined. Results suggest that traditional leadership contributes incremental explained variance beyond super leadership on all five dimensions of organizational citizenship. Both consideration and initiating structure contributed approximately equally to four citizenship dimensions, whereas consideration contributed most predictive power to the sportsmanship dimension. Super leadership explained no incremental variance in organizational citizenship behavior beyond traditional leadership.
Idiopathic sciatic mononeuropathy

Sciatic nerve lesions are usually painful and secondary to compression, trauma, infarction or part of a systemic illness. The etiology is usually defined by radiographic or blood studies, or by exploratory surgery. In rare cases, as the one being presented, there is clear clinical and electrophysiological evidence for a lesion of the sciatic nerve, but no morphological correlate or defined etiology. These idiopathic sciatic mononeuropathies seem to occur in the nerves of the legs in young adults.
Channel Estimation for Amplify and Forward Relay Based Cooperation Diversity Systems

Cooperation diversity schemes have been proposed for cellular networks that permit a base station (or a mobile station) to relay signals to a destination receiver, thereby increasing the network coverage and reliability. The mobile relays either decode and forward (DF) or amplify and forward (AF) the received signal. Most existing analyses of cooperation diversity assumes perfect channel information at the receiver. A realistic assessment should consider the effects of practical channel estimation schemes. This paper considers pilot symbol aided channel estimation for cooperation diversity systems. Since the overall channel in AF systems is different from conventional cellular channels, the channel estimation problem is interesting and challenging and therefore our focus is on AF systems. The paper addresses issues such as the estimator design, pilot symbol spacing based upon realistic channel models, and an approximate bit error rate (BER) analysis that accounts for imperfect channel estimation.
Review of Chris Jordan’s Photographic and Computer Image Exhibition, Running the Numbers, Curated by Chris Bruce, Director of the Washington State University Museum of Art:

Many contemporary artists are integrating ecological themes into their work. Few, however, can rival the centrality of the ecological themes in the work of photographer and computer artist Chris Jordan. Recognizing the vast dispersion of consumption and waste practices, and their consequential invisibility, of the hundreds of millions of individuals that make up America’s consumers, Jordan uses his camera and computer to collect their consumables or detritus in one place. The result is an evocative collection of images that confronts us with our culture of consumption --and of our waste. This collection now forms a traveling exhibition curated and first shown at Washington State University and now on its way over the next two years to three other art museums (Haverford College, Austin Museum of Art and Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art) and two science centers (Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History and Pacific Science Center). This review examines the artistic features of the Jordon exhibition only lightly...
Validating English- and Spanish-language patient-reported outcome measures in underserved patients with rheumatic disease

Rheumatic diseases are among the most common and debilitating health problems in the United States. These diseases are chronic, can result in severe decrements of physical and psychosocial functioning and affect patients' overall quality of life. A consensus regarding the best patient outcomes to be measured in randomized, controlled trials and prospective natural history studies is essential to provide best estimates of efficacy and safety of interventions across diverse patient populations. Face-to-face English- and Spanish-language cognitive interviews were conducted among urban Hispanic and African American patients with rheumatic disease to develop a questionnaire booklet. Six measures validating patient-reported outcomes were included: the Arthritis Self-Efficacy Scale, the Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index, the Wong-Baker Faces Pain Scale, the Short Acculturation Scale, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale and the Inventory of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Practices. A sample of patients (n = 15) attending the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Community Health Center participated in the initial interviews. Revised measures were further tested for reliability in a separate sample of patients (n = 109) upon enrollment at the health center. Cognitive interviews provided feedback for questionnaire modifications and methods to enhance content validity and data quality, including discarding redundant questions, providing visual aids and concrete examples when appropriate and increasing the use of racially and ethnically concordant interviewers. The cognitive interviews further elucidated that some contextual assumptions and language usage in the original questionnaires may not have taken each respondent's environmental and sociocultural context into consideration. Internal reliability for previously tested measures remained high (Cronbach's α = 0.87-0.94). Cognitive interviewing techniques are useful in a diverse sample of racial and ethnic minority patients with rheumatic disease as a method to assess the content validity of the specific outcome measures selected. The data collection approaches and methods described here ultimately enhance data quality. Vigilance is required in the selection of outcome measures in studies or in practice, particularly with each new language translation and/or culturally unique or diverse sample.
Taking snapshots of virtual networked environments

The capture of global, consistent snapshots of a distributed computing session or system is essential to the system's reliability, manageability, and accountability. Despite the large body of work at the application, library, and operating system levels, we identify a void in the spectrum of distributed snapshot techniques: taking snapshots of the entire distributed runtime environment. Such capability has unique applicability in a number of application scenarios. In this paper, we realize such capability in the context of virtual networked environments. More specifically, by adapting and implementing a distributed snapshot algorithm, we enable the capture of causally consistent snapshots of virtual machines in a virtual networked environment. The snapshot-taking operations do not require any modification to the applications or operating systems running inside the virtual environment. Preliminary evaluation results indicate that our technique incurs acceptable overhead and small disruption to the normal operation of the virtual environment.
Aqueous N-alkylation of amines using alkyl halides: direct generation of tertiary amines under microwave irradiation

Direct formation of tertiary amines viaN-alkylation of amines by alkyl halides occurs in aqueous media under microwave irradiation. This greener alternative is also a useful and powerful method to construct C–N bond without using any transition metal catalysts.
Model function development for GPS reflection measurements

Empirical model functions are derived for the retrieval of surface winds from the post-correlation waveform of scattered GPS signals. A geometric optics model is applied to generate model waveforms from the the surface slope probability density function (PDF). Batches of experimentally recorded waveforms are then processed to estimate parameters defining the PDF (ie., up-wind and cross-wind slope variances and the direction of the principal axes). A nonlinear least squares method is used to perform this estimation. Experimentally measured PDFs from this method are then compared with independent measurements of surface wind conditions obtained from the TOPEX altimeter. Linear and a logarithmic forms are assumed for the functional dependence of apparent slope moments on wind speed. The coefficients of each of these functions are determined by weighted linear least squares. The limitations and uncertainty in these models are discussed.
Integrating an environmental ethic into undergraduate engineering education. II. A case study at Grand Valley State University

The integration of an environmental theme into the entire undergraduate engineering curriculum at Grand Valley State University (USA) is described. This integrated approach for all students is driven by industry demand that all engineers understand how the practice of their profession impacts the environment. A new set of tools is required to meet this demand, yet the typical undergraduate curriculum is already so crowded that the insertion of new material is extremely difficult. This paper describes how this challenge has been met by the program at GVSU and provides guidance for continued curriculum development.
High-resolution 1H NMR spectroscopy in a live mouse subjected to 1.5 Hz magic angle spinning

It is demonstrated that the resolution of the 1H NMR metabolite spectrum in a live mouse can be significantly enhanced by an ultra-slow magic angle spinning of the animal combined with a modified phase-corrected magic angle turning (PHORMAT) pulse sequence. Proton NMR spectra were measured of the torso and the top part of the belly of a female BALBc mouse in about one hour in a 2T field, while spinning the animal at a speed of 1.5 Hz. It was found that even in this relatively low field with PHORMAT an isotropic spectrum is obtained with line widths that are a factor 4.6 smaller than those obtained in a stationary mouse. It is concluded that in vivo PHORMAT has the potential to significantly increase the utility of 1H NMR spectroscopy for biochemical and biomedical animal research.
Characterization of delay-induced piloting instability for the Triton undersea robot

An experimental study has been conducted in order to understand the impact of communication delay on the ability to control the Santa Clara University Triton undersea robot for several primitive human-in-the-loop piloting tasks. Results show that typical piloting maneuvers are achievable with delays of up to 1.5 seconds although performance suffers in terms of the amount of unnecessary vehicle motion and the time it takes to complete a maneuver. Results also provide an initial measure of how the presence of a constant disturbance contributes to this degradation of performance. These results are being used to complement the development of piloting and automated navigation techniques suitable for telerobotic applications with communication channels suffering from significant stochastic delay and low bandwidth characteristics.
Rate-constrained picture-adaptive quantization for JPEG baseline coders

A recursive algorithm is presented for generating quantization tables in JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) baseline coders from the actual statistics of the input image. Starting from a quantization table with large step sizes, corresponding to low bit rate and high distortion, one entry of the quantization table is updated at a time so that, at each step, the ratio of decrease in distortion to increase in bit rate is approximately maximized. This procedure is repeated until a target bit rate is reached. Simulation results demonstrate that, with picture-adaptive quantization tables designed by the proposed algorithm, the JPEG DCT (discrete cosine transform) coder is able to compress images with better rate-distortion performance than that achievable with conventional empirically designed quantization tables. >
Strategies to prevent opioid misuse, abuse, and diversion that may also reduce the associated costs.

BACKGROUND The use of prescription opioid drugs has the potential to lead to patient abuse of these medications, addiction, and diversion. Such an abuse is associated with increased costs because of excessive healthcare utilization. Finding ways to minimize the risk for abuse and addiction can enhance patient outcomes and reduce costs to patients and to payers. OBJECTIVE To review current strategies that may reduce the risk for misuse and abuse of opioid medications, which in turn can enhance patient outcomes and lower costs to health insurers and patients. DISCUSSION Implementing approaches that will encourage the use of safe practices (universal precautions) in pain management by providers can reduce the risk for abuse and misuse associated with chronic pain medications, especially opioids. These approaches include, but are not limited to, extensive physician and patient education regarding these medications and their associated risks for abuse; the development of prescription monitoring programs to detect physician or pharmacy shopping; the detection of inappropriate prescribing and medical errors; the use of physician-patient contracts concerning opioid treatment; the requirement of presenting a photo identification to pick up an opioid prescription at the pharmacy; urine drug toxicology screening; provisions for safe disposal of unused opioids; referrals to pain and addiction specialists; and potentially encouraging the use of opioid formulations aimed at reducing abuse. CONCLUSION Supporting such approaches by health insurers and educating providers and patients on the risks associated with chronic pain medications can help minimize the risk of prescription opioid abuse, addiction, and diversion; reduce health services utilization associated with opioid abuse; improve patient outcomes; and reduce overall costs.
Driving evaluation of persons with disabilities using an advanced vehicle interface system

This paper presents a new approach to the driving assessment of persons with disabilities in which an advanced vehicle interface system is introduced. This system combines a six-degree-of-freedom force reflecting haptic device and a commercially available vehicle modification system. Innovative ergonomic tasks are presented to determine the appropriate position and orientation of the required driving input device. Further, model based computer assistance is incorporated by using assistance functions such as scaling and tremor filtering. Results, obtained from testing a subject with Muscular Dystrophy (MD), demonstrated that the quantitative ergonomic measurements obtained successfully determined the appropriate position and orientation of the modified steering wheel device.
Coarse-grained nonmarine volcaniclastic sediment : terminology and depositional process

Modern and ancient volcaniclastic sedimentary sequences contain depositional units whose features cannot be attributed to fully turbulent, dilute stream flow or viscous debris flow. The characteristics of these poorly sorted sediments suggest rapid deposition from high-concentration dispersions but not en masse . Sedimentation thus appears related to high-discharge flows intermediate in sediment/water ratio between stream flow and debris flow. The term “hyperconcentrated flood flow” is proposed for describing this intermediate condition. Hyperconcentrated flood-flow deposits are distinguished from debris-flow deposits by lack of matrix support or reverse grading and instead exhibit distribution normal grading and horizontal stratification. These deposits are distinguished from normal, dilute stream-flow deposits by lack of cross-stratification in sand facies and by very poor sorting, poor imbrication, and numerous clasts with long axes oriented parallel to flow direction in gravel facies. The horizontal bedding that dominates sandy hyperconcentrated flood-flow deposits consists of sediment too coarse grained and strata too thick to have been produced in the boundary layer of the upper-flow regime and should not be confused with the more familiar thin, graded laminae of fine- to medium-grained sand often associated with parting lineation. Hyperconcentrated flood-flow deposits are not unique to volcanic settings; they also occur in arid, alluvial-fan sequences. Debris-flow and hyperconcentrated flood-flow deposits, however, are much thicker and more extensive in volcanic regions than on alluvial fans because explosive volcanism leads to rapid mobilization of large volumes of sediment and water on a scale unparalleled in nonvolcanic settings. In volcanic regions, therefore, these deposits have greater preservation potential, show greater lateral variability, and are more voluminous. Transformation of channelized debris flow to hyperconcentrated flood flow by dilution with stream water, recently observed at Mount St. Helens, is recorded in ancient volcaniclastic sequences and may serve as the primary mechanism for generating hyperconcentrated flood flow.