cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Preservice Teacher Learning within a Kindergarten Internship: Insights for Early Childhood Teacher Educators.

This study is an examination of early childhood preservice teachers' kindergarten internship experiences to identify the supportive and challenging conditions for their learning and explore in what ways those conditions are productive or unproductive for them, based on ecological perspective as a theoretical framework. Qualitative data were collected from weekly seminar notes and field notes by the researchers, a focus group with the preservice teachers, and course evaluation feedback. Through a constant comparative analysis approach, the findings indicate that both supportive and challenging learning conditions were created by collaborating teachers, preservice teachers, and the university supervisors. The findings illuminate the complex responsibilities of early childhood teacher educators to develop horizontal expertise for both themselves and preservice teachers so they can negotiate the best practices from research and the reality of school contexts.
Psychosocial adjustment of adults with epilepsy

Abstract The Washington Psychosocial Seizure Inventory (WPSI), a newly developed instrument that assesses psychosocial functioning of adults with epilepsy, was administered to 54 clients in an outpatient epilepsy clinic. Forty-four questionnaires were valid for analysis. Serious adjustment problems were identified in the sample in four areas: emotional adjustment, interpersonal adjustment, adjustment to seizures, and overall psychosocial functioning. Variables found to be significantly related to psychosocial adjustment were level of education, seizure frequency, and employment status. This pilot study suggests that the WPSI might be useful clinically to identify areas of psychosocial adjustment in which clinical interventions might be needed.
A geophysical study of the Chile Ridge

Abstract The Chile Ridge is a positive topographic feature characterized by rugged relief, a near absence of sediment cover, and shallow seismic activity. A crestal zone of the ridge is mapped which trends northwest from the Chilean margin near 45°S over a distance of about 1300 km. The ridge thus lies oblique to both the East Pacific Rise and the continental margin of southern Chile. Its northwestern boundary is marked by a zone of pronounced seismic activity that extends westward to the crest East Pacific Rise. Magnetic anomaly lineations recorded over the axial portion of the Chile Ridge indicate that the ridge has been a site of sea floor spreading. The identification of individual magnetic anomalies suggests that spreading occured in this area during two episodes, the last commencing about 10 m.y. BP. The earlier episode, assigned an Early Tertiary (25–50 m.y. Mid-Eocene) age, probably relates to the general pattern of spreading in the North Pacific at that time. A zone exists between the Pacific-Antarctic Ridge and the Chile Ridge (two sites of active spreading) which exhibits no evidence of the destruction of crustal material or obvious effects of compression. This suggests that the Pacific-Antarctic Ridge axis and the Chile Ridge axis have migrated away from one another during the last 10 m.y.
The Amorphous Galaxy NGC 2777: H I Evidence for Tidal Interaction with a Faint Companion

NGC 2777 is an amorphous galaxy possessing the classic signature of an A-type spectrum with superposed emission lines. There is no optical evidence for an interaction, but observations of the neutral hydrogen in this system reveal an H I bridge between NGC 2777 and U3, a companion that is 3 mag fainter. Far-infrared observations indicate that the current rate of massive star formation in NGC 2777 is low, but the optical spectra indicate that it must have been significantly higher in the recent past. We were unable to detect CO in either galaxy. We also consider a sample of 10 amorphous galaxies, all showing A-type absorption spectra: nine from the Revised Shapley-Ames Catalog, plus NGC 2777. All show optical/H I interaction and/or peculiar velocity fields, supporting the view that amorphous characteristics are the result of interaction. For some of the galaxies, the interacting companion is much fainter than the amorphous system, which indicates that previous concerns raised by the existence of isolated amorphous galaxies may have been premature.
Boundary of two mixed Bose-Einstein condensates

We study the boundary between two interpenetrating Bose-Einstein condensates interacting repulsively in the case of their spatial separation. We show that the analytical expressions for the distribution of the condensate density can be obtained in the limiting cases corresponding to the weak and strong separations. Using these expressions, we consider the excitation spectrum of a particle confined in the vicinity of the boundary and the surface waves at the boundary.
Some initial measurements of airborne DDT over Pacific Northwest forests

Abstract DDT translocation in the environment by resuspension and volatilization processes was measured after the spraying of a Pacific Northwest forest with DDT to control a tussock moth infestation. The objective of this study was to determine a resuspension rate from a forested area by sampling airborne DDT. Airborne DDT was sampled by a Cessna 411 aircraft-mounted, high-volume sampler on tour consecutive days. The aircraft sample collector consisted of a Gelman type A glass-fiber filter for DDT particulate and a back-up filter consisting of cylindrical polyurethane foam for DDT vapor. Sample flow rates varied between 2 and 3 m3 min−1. Air samples contained significant amounts of p,p'-DDT, o,p'-DDT, and p,p'-DDE except for background samples taken upwind of the spray areas, and some of the high altitude samples. Maximum total DDT concentration observed was 19 ng m−3 which was collected about 2 h after spray operation at about 150 m above the trees. Concentrations were 2 ng m−3 or less after 26 h. Particulate DDT concentrations were generally larger than vapor DDT concentrations. Valley-slope winds, convection and convective turbulence were predominant mechanisms for DDT translocation. Resuspension rates for DDT were from 10−7 to 10−8 fraction resuspended per second. Airborne DDT levels had decreased to background levels within 86 days after spraying.
Modified AO Arthrodesis of the Wrist (With Proximal Row Carpectomy)

A technique that has proven highly predictable and successful for arthrodesis of the wrist involves combining rigid internal fixation with concomitant removal of the proximal carpal row bones, which are then morselized and used for bone graft. Advantages of this procedure are (1) no distant bone graft site is required and (2) rigid internal fixation allows virtually immediate rehabilitation.
Influence of arm positioning on rest/stress technetium-99m labeled sestamibi tomographic myocardial perfusion imaging.

Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) is routinely performed with patients' arms positioned above their heads to avoid potential attenuation artifact and reduced image quality. Currently no data are available to support the use of this practice using 99mTc SPECT MPI. Forty-one patients referred for routine rest/stress MPI were imaged using the standard protocol with arms positioned above their heads and again with their arms at their sides. The patients were injected with 10 to 45 mCi (370 to 1665 MBq) of 99mTc-labeled sestamibi (99mTc-sestamibi), and SPECT images were acquired 30 to 90 minutes later. Thirty patients were imaged on an ADAC Vertex dual-head camera and 11 patients on an ADAC Cirrus single-head camera. Images were interpreted by 3 nuclear cardiologists without knowledge of patient identity, arm position, or camera type using a 17-segment scoring model. No significant differences were noted in the percentage of abnormal study results, reversibility extent, or location of MPI defects between the 2 arm positions in the same patients. Image quality was also similar. Arm positioning does not influence the interpretation of 99mTc-sestamibi SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging with regard to image quality or defect location and extent.
The effect of gap state density on the photoconductivity and photoluminescence of a-Si:H

Abstract This paper discusses experimental evidence that a fixed amount of hydrogen introduced into amorphous silicon at different hydrogen partial pressures during sputtering may have quite different results for the total density and distribution in energy of states in the pseudogap. Whereas the expected effect is the removal of gap states through the formation of strong Si-H bonds, we show evidence that the gap state densities in some films increase by an order of magnitude over other similar hydrogen content samples. Moreover, such material has much increased photoconductivity response and additional photoluminescence features. We speculate briefly on the possible origin of this higher density of gap states in terms of either natural defects of a -Si or states associated with the Si-H complex.
Consumers’ Reliance on Product Information and Recommendations Found in UGC

ABSTRACTIn the time since the advent of the Internet, the influence of online recommendations on consumer decision making has attracted great attention. YouTube and sites with blogging capabilities, such as MySpace and Facebook, are growing rapidly and frequently feature comments about brands and products. These comments, whether positive or negative, represent a form of user-generated content (UGC). Although recent research on peer recommendations considers electronic word of mouth, few studies focus on UGC. Using interviews with 17 participants, this study examines consumers’ opinions of online recommendations embedded in UGC compared with those of producer-generated content.
Islet cell tumor.

A case of islet cell tumor occurring in a patient with the multiple endocrine neoplasia type I syndrome is reported. Immunostaining for insulin was strongly positive in the tumor cells. Numerous dense-core granules of endocrine caliber were identified ultrastructurally. Morphometric analysis of the secretory granules in 20 islet cell tumors gave a granule size of 182 +/- 52 nm (mean +/- standard deviation).
Women's expectations and experiences with labour pain in medical and midwifery models of birth in the United States

Abstract Background This research focuses on how women understand and experience labour as related to two competing views of childbirth pain. The biomedical view is that labour pain is abnormal and anaesthesia/analgesia use is encouraged to relieve the pain. The midwifery view is that pain is a normal part of labour that should be worked with instead of against. Aims To determine differences in the preparation for and experiences with labour pain by women choosing midwives versus obstetricians. Methods Prenatal and postpartum in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with a convenience sample of 80 women in Florida (United States): 40 who had chosen an obstetrician and 40 who had chosen a licensed midwife as their birth practitioner. Findings Women in both groups were concerned with the pain of childbirth before and after their labour experiences. Women choosing midwives discussed preparing for pain through various non-pharmaceutical coping methods, while women choosing physicians discussed pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical pain relief. Conclusions Equal numbers of women expressed concerns with childbirth pain during the prenatal interviews, while more women choosing doctors spoke about pain after their births. Women had negative experiences when their planned pain relief method, either natural or medical, did not occur. The quandary facing women when it comes to labour pain relief is not choosing what they desire, but rather preparing themselves for the possibility that they may have to accept alternatives to their original preferences.
Transmission Line Route Selection: An Application of K-Shortest Paths and Goal Programming

A two-stage solution procedure is developed as a managerial decision making tool in the transmission line route selection process. In stage one, the K least costly alternatives are found, based strictly on monetary considerations. In stage two, the alternative which causes the least amount of social and environmental disruption is selected from the alternatives generated in stage one.
Optimum load matching in direct-coupled photovoltaic power systems-application to resistive loads

The load matching factor is used as a measure for the quality of load matching to a photovoltaic (PV) array. An optimization approach is used to solve the load matching problem with the objective of maximizing the load matching factor, and consequently the PV output energy. This approach is then applied to resistive loads (with and without an internal EMF) connected to the array. Results show that optimum matching can be achieved by carefully selecting the array parameters with respect to the load parameters. The temperature of the array has little effect on the optimum matching factor. However, the optimum matching parameters are greatly affected by the array temperature. A maximum power tracker may not be achieved. >
Incidence and predictors of pulmonary vein stenosis following catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation using the circumferential approach: Results from paired magnetic resonance angiography

II vs. no MB or type I MB.) Tissue heating of 21 to 40°C was associated with a lesser magnitude of impedance decrease, but excess tissue temperatures were noted across the spectrum of impedance decreases. Conclusion: Impedance monitoring during cooled-tip ablation is more useful than microbubble monitoring. A decrease 20 ohms heralds impending aggressive microbubble formation. Target tissue heating was associated with lesser, rather than greater, magnitudes of impedance decreases.
Why Are Methylenecyclopropane and 1-Methylcylopropene More “Strained” than Methylcyclopropane?

Ab Initio calculations have been performed in order to investigate why the introduction of each trigonal center into a cyclopropane ring results in an increase in strain energy of 12−14 kcal/mol. Our calculations find that, as is commonly believed, introduction of a trigonal center into a three-membered ring does create some additional angle strain. However, our computational results show that the major source of the additional “strain” that results from the introduction of each trigonal center into cyclopropane is not an increase in angle strain but the loss of a very strong cyclopropane C−H bond.
Effects of Masculinity, Sex, and Control on Different Types of Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration

Controlling behaviors have been found to be a significant predictor in IPV perpetration (IPV) for both males and females. Studies have also revealed the relationship between IPV perpetration and masculinity among males; however, the literature has not investigated the relationship between masculinity and IPV perpetration among females. Additionally, studies have not explored the effects of controlling behaviors and masculinity on different types of IPV, such as physical and sexual perpetration. The present study investigated the relationship between controlling behaviors, masculinity, past victimization, and three types of IPV perpetration among 167 college students. Multivariate analyses revealed significant contributions of each factor varied according to the type of IPV perpetration (psychological, physical, and sexual). Implications from the results include the development of more inclusive violence prevention and intervention programs aimed addressing the perpetration of intimate partner violence.
Effect of marginal zinc deficiency on lipoprotein lipase activities in postheparin plasma, skeletal muscle and adipose tissues in the rat

The activities of lipoprotein lipase in postheparin plasma, retroperitoneal adipose and gastrocnemius muscle tissues were determined in the rats fed 2.8 ppm of dietary zinc for eight weeks, as compared with pair-fed and ad libitumfed rats given 30.8 ppm of zinc. The postheparin lipoprotein lipase activity, as determined by using a lipid emulsion labeled with [3H]triolein as the substrate, was significantly lower in the first group of rats, relative to that in the second and third groups. Tissue lipoprotein lipase activities were compared using the lipid emulsion and activator serum obtained from the zinc-deficient rats and the ad libitum-fed rats. The activator sera were devoid of very low density and low density lipoproteins, but enriched in high density lipoproteins. Muscle lipoprotein lipase activities were significantly lower when assayed with the activator serum from the zinc-deficient compared with the activities determined with the activator serum from the ad libitum-fed. Similarly, muscle lipoprotein lipase activities were lower in all groups when [3H]-triolein-labeled chylomicrons from the zinc-deficient were used as the substrate, compared with the activities determined using the chylomicrons from the ad libitum-fed. Lipoprotein lipase activities in the adipose tissues were not affected by the different sources of the activator sera and chylomicrons. The results strongly suggest that the decrease in postheparin lipoprotein lipase activity in zinc deficiency is not due to changes in tissue lipoprotein lipase enzyme per se, but to compositional alterations in with regard to C apolipoproteins, modulators of lipoprotein lipase activity.
Detection by Nile Red of agarose gel electrophoresed native and modified low density lipoprotein

The use of nile red to track and stain low density lipoprotein (LDL) and modified LDL in agarose gels was investigated. Lipoproteins were prestained with nile red, a fluorescent dye, prior to electrophoresis. After 2 h of electrophoresis, the LDL and modified LDL were visualized using a UV transilluminator with an excitation wavelength of 302 nm. Spectrofluorometric analysis revealed that the nile red fluorescence of the stained LDL had an emission maximum of 609 nm. This rapid staining method of LDL and modified LDL can detect as little as 2.5 micrograms of LDL protein and permits the immediate visualization of these lipoproteins in agarose gels.
Alcohol use, military sexual trauma, expectancies, and coping skills in women veterans presenting to primary care.

Background Little is known regarding alcohol use and its correlates in women veterans. An understanding of these variables is of utility to providers in primary care at Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals, who are among the first to identify and intervene for problem drinking.
Chemoembolization of hepatocellular carcinoma--what to tell the skeptics: review and meta-analysis.

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) has become the standard treatment for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). When untreated, patients with inoperable HCC have a median survival of three months. Given the widespread use of chemoembolization, accurate evidence of the impact of TACE on patient survival is critical. Several review articles have examined randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of TACE; however, these analyses are inherently flawed by including trials in which control groups were treated. There have been only four RCTs comparing TACE to untreated controls to date. None has demonstrated a significant impact of TACE on patient survival. However, in addition to severe methodological flaws, these RCTs were limited by low patient enrollment, precluding any meaningful conclusions. In contrast, several non-randomized trials have clearly demonstrated a significant benefit of TACE on patient survival. New RCTs examining the impact of chemoembolization on survival are urgently needed to provide definitive evidence for the increasing number of patients treated with TACE. A new, well-designed RCT would provide significant insight on the impact of chemoembolization on patient survival.
Growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor in the dog: Clinical and experimental investigations

Growth hormone (GH) is a single-chain polypeptide of pituitary origin. In most species, including the dog, it has a molecular weight of approximately 22,000 daltons (1). By employing analytical and preparative techniques it was found that growth hormone as usually extracted from the pituitary is not a single substance but a mixture of variants differing in amino acid sequence, post-translational modifications and fragments (2). In contrast to other pituitary hormones, the action of GH is not confined to one single target and the hormone displays diametrically opposed intrinsic anabolic and catabolic activities (Fig. 1). Its catabolic activity (enhanced lipolysis and restricted glucose transport caused by insulin resistance) is directly caused by the peptide. It is now widely held that the anabolic effects of GH are mediated by insulin-like growth factors or somatomedins (3). In normal animals an increase in plasma insulin concentration acutely leads to an increase in glucose transport by adipose tissue. In hypophysectomized GH-deficient animals, however, basal glucose transport occurs at a maximal rate and adipose tissue glucose transport in such animals is insensitive to the action of insulin. GH-administration in this animal model reduces glucose transport back to normal. Thus, GH normally restricts glucose transport and this transport can be acutely modulated by insulin. Hence, insulin appears to inhibit a GH-controlled “glucose transport limiting factor”. The glucose transport limiting factor may be the high-ai%nity CA*+-ATPase found in fat cell membranes. Insulin decreases and GH increases the CA2+-ATPase activity. Additionally, it has been suggested that the high affinity CAZ+-ATPase of isolated fat cells may be involved in early metabolic steps influenced by insulin, which regulates intracellular CA*+ levels. The above concept is in keeping with the finding that excessive GH produces insulin resistance at a site distal to the insulin binding site by modifying one or several intracellular processes involved in insulin action (4-9). The regulation of GH secretion is complex. The hypothalamus predominantly acts in a stimulatory fashion on GH secretion while destruction of the hypothalamus in man leads to GH-deficiency. When considering the GH levels occurring throughout the day and night, there is a variation in plasma GH concentrations in man and the dog. The profile of the secretion-bursts of growth hormone and their non-suppressibility by potential metabolic regulators of
Oxygen transport during progressive hypoxia in high-altitude and sea-level waterfowl.

Under conditions of progressive hypoxia, oxygen transport was compared in bar-headed geese (Anser indicus), a species which breeds on the Tibetan Plateau and migrates at altitudes up to 9200 m, and Pekin ducks (Anas platyrhynchos, forma domestica), a similarly sized, sea-level waterfowl that does not fly. Pekin ducks showed no altitude-induced behavioral effects (e.g., restlessness) up to 7620 m, while bar-headed geese tolerated 10,668 m with no observable changes. Ventilatory and cardiac responses to hypoxia as functions of PaO2 followed a typical hyperbolic contour, but the response began at almost 20 Torr lower in the bar-headed goose. Both ventilation and cardiac, output appeared to follow a common response curve for the two species, when the independent variable was expressed as arterial oxygen content. The goose had a high oxgen affinity hemoglobin, compared with the duck; the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curves of both shifted slightly to the right as a result of acclimation to 5640 m; but only the duck developed erythrocytosis as a consequence of acclimation. User sea level conditions the duck maintained a higher venous PO2, but with acute hypoxic exposure PvO2 was higher in the goose. Following acclimation, cardiac output in the duck was lower than in the pre-acclimatized state, but in the goose it was higher up to the altitude at which it migrates. The selective pressures leading to the evolution of favorable oxygen transport in the bar-headed goose are discussed.
An Evaluation of Gay/Lesbian and Heterosexual Adoption

Many experts in the helping professions have agreed that there is no scientific credence to support a gay and lesbian adoption ban. Nevertheless, there continues to be persistent mythology pertaining to outcomes for children adopted by gay and lesbian parents. This position may be somewhat due to the dearth of research that compares heterosexual and homosexual parenting outcomes with adopted children. To respond to this gap in the literature, this study explored the extent of emotional and behavioral problems among children aged 1.5 to 5 years (n = 380) and 6 to 18 years (n = 1,004) with gay and lesbian or heterosexual adoptive parents. A multiple regression analysis was used to assess the association between the dependent variables (child internalizing and externalizing behavior) on adoptive parent sexual orientation (gay and lesbian or heterosexual) while controlling for child age, child sex, pre-adoptive maltreatment, co-sibling adoption, adoption preparation, family income, and family functioning. As ...
Foreign companies’ access to U.S. universities questioned

On October 28, the House Subcommittee on Science tackled what one congressman described as “one of the thorniest issues in science policy”—the relationship between foreign corporations and American research universities. The 2-hour hearing probably raised more questions than it answered. Congress has been looking at this issue with an eye toward whether changes in existing U.S. law are needed. Last year, the Senate discussed this matter during its consideration of the National Institutes of Health authorization bill. Current legislation governing foreign access to federally funded research at U.S. universities dates back to 1980.
Linear Friction Welding Process Model for Carpenter Custom 465 Precipitation-Hardened Martensitic Stainless Steel

An Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian finite-element analysis is combined with thermo-mechanical material constitutive models for Carpenter Custom 465 precipitation-hardened martensitic stainless steel to develop a linear friction welding (LFW) process model for this material. The main effort was directed toward developing reliable material constitutive models for Carpenter Custom 465 and toward improving functional relations and parameterization of the workpiece/workpiece contact-interaction models. The LFW process model is then used to predict thermo-mechanical response of Carpenter Custom 465 during LFW. Specifically, temporal evolutions and spatial distribution of temperature within, and expulsion of the workpiece material from, the weld region are examined as a function of the basic LFW process parameters, i.e., (a) contact-pressure history, (b) reciprocation frequency, and (c) reciprocation amplitude. Examination of the results obtained clearly revealed the presence of three zones within the weld, i.e., (a) Contact-interface region, (b) Thermo-mechanically affected zone, and (c) heat-affected zone. While there are no publicly available reports related to Carpenter Custom 465 LFW behavior, to allow an experiment/computation comparison, these findings are consistent with the results of our ongoing companion experimental investigation.
Postnatal development of terminals and synapses in laminae I and II of the rat medullary dorsal horn

To better understand developing orofacial nociceptive circuits and to provide a baseline for evaluating injury-induced plasticity, the ultrastructure of the superficial laminae in the rat medullary dorsal horn was examined at birth and at postnatal days 1, 4, 17, and 90. Quantitative features of terminals and synapses were studied with stereological methods. In laminae I and II: 1) Axon terminal density increased significantly from birth to day 4 and again from day 4 to day 90. 2) The density of degenerating profiles increased significantly from birth to day 1 and from birth to day 4 and then decreased from day 4 to day 90. 3) Degenerating profiles were most dense on day 1 and declined steadily thereafter; by day 90, such profiles were rare. 4) Cavitation was by far the most common form of degeneration seen at early postnatal ages. 5) Growth cone-like profiles were most dense at birth and declined steadily during the first 2 postnatal weeks; by day 90, such profiles were absent. 6) Terminals with flat synaptic vesicles were rarely seen before day 90, when they accounted for 7% of the terminal population. 7) The density of synapses increased continuously from birth until day 90. These data suggest that, as in the spinal cord, medullary dorsal horn circuits are very immature at birth. Adult-like quantitative features are not attained until after day 17. Moreover, whereas degenerating profiles are prevalent during early postnatal development, and they have features that resemble naturally occurring degeneration, the total numbers of terminals and synapses continue to increase dramatically and gradually during a protracted postnatal period (to postnatal day 17).
Teachers' Beliefs about Issues in the Implementation of a Student-Centered Learning Environment

Teachers’ implementation of technology-enhanced student-centered learning environments (SCLEs) will be affected by their beliefs about effective practices. In order for student-centered programs to be used as intended, designers must be aware of the key issues that will shape their implementation and the beliefs teachers hold about these issues. This case study examined 15 teachers’ beliefs about student-centered learning as they implemented Alien Rescue, a computer-based program for middle school science that was designed to create a SCLE in the classroom. Considerations for the design of similar programs are offered.
Laser beam heart rate counting system for cultured fetal mouse hearts.

Abstract An optical system (laser beam) for measuring the heart rate in small, spontaneously beating fetal mouse hearts is described. Useful features include non-invasiveness, reliability, atrial-ventricular discrimination, and low cost.
Some elementary theoretical considerations concerning superconductivity of superimposed metallic films

A microscopic theory of superconductivity of superimposed metallic films is proposed, based on the fact that thee lectron pair correlation function penetrates into a normal metal where the electron-electron interaction would not by itself produce a superconducting state.
Contrast effects in inference: On the conditioning of current evidence by prior evidence

Abstract A common occurrence in diagnostic tasks is that the inferential value of an item of evidence currently being evaluated changes if one considers this item in the light of prior evidence. Prior evidence can be said to provide a “background” against which current evidence is evaluated. If prior evidence does condition current evidence, thereby changing the inferential significance of current evidence, prior evidence may also be said to exert a “contrast” effect upon current evidence. The actual conditioning patterns in this process become intricate and interesting when the sources of current and/or prior evidence are not perfectly credible. Discussed in this paper are formal expressions, together with some of their behavioral implications, for three basic conditioning patterns involving current and prior evidence. The three patterns represent cases in which the sources of either or both prior and current evidence are not perfectly credible. The formal expressions prescribe the inferential value of current evidence in the light of prior evidence. The extent of the conditioning or contrast effect of prior upon current evidence depends upon several factors, among which are: (1) the strength of the conditional nonindependence of current and prior events being reported, (2) the credibility of current and prior sources, (3) the strength of the nonindependence of current and prior sources, (4) the rareness of the events being reported, and (5) the extent to which current and/or prior source credibility is contingent upon the hypotheses being considered. Each basic conditioning pattern has a large number of special cases; several of the more interesting and informative cases are discussed in each pattern. The formalizations being discussed represent further extensions of Bayesian inference in what has become known as “cascaded” or “hierarchical” inference. Such inference tasks, which involve indirect or circuitous probabilistic linkages between observables and final hypotheses, are commonplace in medical, legal, psychological, and other diagnostic contexts.
Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysfunction in non-clinical psychosis.

Abstract While studies have examined psychosocial stress in non-clinical psychosis (NCP), it is unclear if the elevated cortisol seen in schizophrenia also occurs in this group. Cortisol was sampled in High- and Low-NCP groups, and findings of elevated resting cortisol in the former suggest that hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal-axis dysfunction underlies a psychosis continuum.
Recommending Service Repairs

We address the issue of failure in service compositions. Such failures occur when a service in the composition evolves or becomes unavailable. Our goal is to analyze these failures and recommend possible service repairs. We begin with a formal model of services and service compositions. In this model, services are abstracted as functions that map input domains to output domains and knowledge of their semantics is restricted to a relatively short table of input-output pairs. Service compositions are then formed with the help of two functional operators. We then design a technique to support programmers in debugging service failure by offering a ranked list of suggested repairs. The repairs may substitute the failed component service or any portion of the composition that contains it. Finally, we describe experiments that validate our technique.
Structural optimization of the superconducting outsert of a 45-T hybrid magnet

Abstract The National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (NHMFL), Tallahassee, Florida, in collaboration with the Francis Bitter National Magnet Laboratory, MIT, is constructing a 45 T hybrid magnet system using cable-in-conduit conductor (CICC) technology for the superconducting coils. In this technology, superconducting wires are cabled and placed in a steel conduit that acts as the principal load-bearing member of the solenoid. In this paper, a structural optimization of the CICC is performed with the aim of reducing the coil mass required to generate the same field strength. The constraints for the optimization are the upper limits values (allowable limits) for the three state variables: the average and peak values of equivalent von Mises stress, and hoop strain. Different geometric and material options were analyzed for optimum performance. Global-local finite element technique was used to conduct the stress analysis. First, a global analysis, using effective material properties, was performed; followed by a local structural analysis. This procedure was iteratively applied until one of the state variables just reached its allowable limit, thus yielding the optimized design. Significant reductions were achieved in mass and stored energy of the magnet as a result of the optimization. © 1997 Elsevier Science Limited
Bariatric Surgery Significantly Decreases the Prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Pre-Diabetes among Morbidly Obese Multiethnic Adults: Long-Term Results

Background Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and obesity are codependent epidemics that disproportionately affect ethnic minorities. Recent studies have shown that in non-Hispanic whites, bariatric surgical procedures successfully reverse or improve abnormal glucose metabolism, yet little is known about the results of bariatric surgery in Hispanic and other ethnic minority adults with T2DM. Study Design A retrospective analysis of 1,603 adults (77% female, 66% Hispanic, mean age at surgery 45.1 years [SD 11.6 years]) who underwent bariatric surgery from 2002 to 2010 was conducted. A total of 377 subjects had diagnosed T2DM, 107 had fasting plasma glucose (FPG) ≥126 mg/dL but were not on T2DM medication, 276 were pre-diabetic (FPG = 100 to 125 mg/dL), and 843 had normal FPG. Pre-surgery and 6, 12, 24, and 36 months post-surgery comparative-means analyses of weight, body mass index, estimated weight loss, hemoglobin A1c, and FPG were conducted via repeated-measures analysis. Results By 1 year and through 3 years post-surgery, all groups had normal FPG. Patients with undiagnosed diabetes had a 43% FPG decrease followed by diagnosed diabetics (33%). Patients with diagnosed diabetes showed a slightly greater loss in hemoglobin A1c (2.30%) versus undiagnosed diabetics (2.13%). Patients with pre-diabetes saw the most dramatic loss in weight (47.00 kg), followed by patients with undiagnosed diabetes (46.62 kg), normal FPG (43.14 kg), and patients with diagnosed diabetes (41.39 kg) (p Conclusions Bariatric surgery results in significant long-term weight loss and improvement in FPG levels among ethnically diverse adults. Bariatric surgery has the potential to be an effective treatment option for weight loss and chronic disease risk improvements in this demographic.
Measurement of emission-angle-resolved time-of-flight distributions of sputtered Mg+ ions

Abstract We describe an experiment designed to perform emission-angle-resolved time-of-flight (TOF) analysis of sputter-ejected secondary ions as well as of laser-postionized sputtered neutral particles. The apparatus includes a rotatable linear TOF mass spectrometer and an electron-cyclotron-resonance (ECR) plasma ion source for the bombardment of the target with a mass-filtered Ar + ion beam pulse in the keV energy region (ion pulse width about 30 ns). We present emission-angle-resolved time-of-flight spectra of Mg + secondary ions sputter-ejected from a polycrystalline 24 Mg target bombarded at 45° incidence. These TOF spectra also contain additional information on the emission-angle dependence of high energy argon projectiles scattered from the target surface.
Influence of Temperature on Modeling Silicon MOSFETs for RF and Wireless Applications

MOS technology is becoming more widely used in RF and microwave designs. An important aspect of the design process is knowledge of the variation in MOSFET characteristics as functions of both frequency and temperature. This paper presents the results of an investigation of the temperature characteristics of MOSFET RF equivalent circuit parameters, focusing on the gate resistance and device transconductance. The study shows that the polysilicon gate resistance increases with temperature but at a different rate than an isolated polysilicon resistor. In addition, the transconductance was found to decrease with increasing temperature.
Hermit arthropods 500 million years ago

Cambrian intertidal sandstones of North America record early excursions of large animals onto tidal flats, where continuous microbial films served as preservational agents for surface tracks. Whereas biomineralized fossils are rare in such lithofacies, trace fossils from the Late Cambrian Elk Mound Group of Wisconsin illustrate how some arthropods might have managed to withstand the vicissitudes of subaerial exposure—by using foreign shells like hermit crabs. This behavior is suggested by trackways (Protichnites eremita isp. nov.), which have “tail” impressions that are obliquely segmented and always shingled to the left side. These anomalous impressions are best explained by a dextrally coiled shell intermittently touching the sediment. However, unlike in modern hermit crabs, this shell was too small to house the whole animal. It probably served only to provide a humid chamber that reduced desiccation of the animal9s abdominal gills. The dorsal flexure of the tail, in connection with dextral shell coiling, resulted in left-hand shingling of the touch marks.
Adolescent participation in tobacco promotions: the role of psychosocial factors.

Objectives. To identify psychosocial factors that place adolescents at risk for participation in tobacco promotions, and to further investigate the hypothesis that psychosocial vulnerabilities have an indirect effect on smoking initiation among youth by way of involvement with tobacco promotions. Methods. Data were from a follow-up telephone survey of youth in Massachusetts. A subset of adolescents who were not established smokers, had not smoked cigarettes in the past 30 days, and did not own a promotional item at baseline in 1993 was used for the analyses (n = 468). Bivariate analyses were used to evaluate the association between psychosocial vulnerabilities and subsequent acquisition of cigarette promotional items. Logistic regression was conducted to identify the set of factors that best predict attainment of tobacco promotional items, and to examine the mediating influence of item acquisition on the relation of between psychosocial vulnerabilities and smoking initiation. Results. Adolescents who were academically disengaged at baseline were more likely to acquire a tobacco promotional item at follow-up. Academic disengagement was significantly associated with item acquisition, above and beyond the other psychosocial vulnerabilities. The direct effect of academic disengagement changed from marginally significant to nonsignificant when item acquisition was introduced. Conclusions. This study provides evidence that receptivity to tobacco promotional items is greatest among youth who are disengaged from school.
Diagnostic Implications of C-Reactive Protein

An elevated level of C-reactive protein (CRP), an acute phase protein, is one of many downstream indicators of inflammation. Physiologically, CRP enhances cell-mediated immunity by promoting phagocytosis, accelerating chemotaxis, and activating platelets. The purposes of this article are (1) to review the clinical data implicating serum CRP level as a systemic marker of focal inflammation and (2) to explore serum CRP level as a reflection of the inflammatory component of atherogenesis. Our findings indicate that CRP levels serve as an early marker of the magnitude of inflammation in events as dissimilar as appendicitis and myocardial infarction. The level of circulating CRP correlates with endovascular disease and may serve to identify otherwise asymptomatic patients at sufficient cardiovascular risk to warrant aggressive therapy. Determining whether CRP has a direct pathologic role in the vascular wall itself may have the most clinical relevance.
Infrared spectra of the Orgueil (C-1) chondrite and serpentine minerals

Infrared spectroscopy of the Orgueil C-1 chondrite and polymorphs of serpentine was performed in order to further define the mineralogy of Orgueil. Spectra of the meteorite and a synthetic serpentine (Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4) were obtained in the regions from 1400 to 200 and from 4000 to 2500 kayers using a double beam infrared spectrometer. The spectra of Orgueil are found to be incompatible with those of the chrysotile, antigorite and lizardite polymorphs of serpentine, indicating a very low abundance of these minerals in the meteorite. It is suggested that chamosite or minerals related to chamosites may prove to be compatible with the compositional, structural and infrared properties of Orgueil.
Active Linked Data for Human Centric Semantic Web of Things

With the popularity of Internet of Things, the next logical step will focus on the application layer on top of network connectivity, especially Web of Things. While most of the existing efforts on Web of Things are focused on device mash up and data collection, in this paper a semantic web of things framework is proposed to leverage Semantic Web as the unified mechanism for monitoring, tasking, presentation, information flow and collaboration. Firstly, the requirements of human centric web of things application are described. Then the active linked data with data, task, context, computational organization, knowledge, presentation and interaction models is defined by extending the conventional linked data. Based on the active linked data models, we propose a semantic Web of Things framework, which leverages multiagent technologies to facilitate human-to-human and human-to-machine collaborations. Finally, a sample case on care coordination and ubiquitous health service roaming is given. This paper demonstrates how these technologies and architectures significantly enhance the capability of Web of Things for human centric applications.
Dosimetric concepts for PDT.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a well-known treatment regimen that involves the interaction of light with a photosensitizing agent and oxygen. The treatment proceeds through the light activation of a tissue localized photosensitizer achieving an excited state. The activated photosensitizer can then react with molecular oxygen in the cell to create the putative agent, singlet oxygen. It is presumed that the liberation of this moiety is the initial photochemical event that leads to tumor destruction [1]. Relatively selective retention of the drug by hyperproliferative tissue as well as, tumors and transforming tissues compared to normal tissue, and favorable photobleaching kinetics of the drug in normal tissues, can lead to an optimal therapeutic ratio and clinical outcome in most patients. This differential therapeutic effect depends on allowing time for the injected photosensitizer to clear form the normal tissues and the circulation. PDT has often been referred to as a form of photochemotherapy or light-activated chemotherapy. However PDT achieves a localized cytotoxicity and can be compared more to radiation therapy, in particular brachytherapy, and more to a surgical approach than chemotherapy and lacks any systemic toxicity. Further unlike particularly radiation therapy, repeated applications of the photosensitizers currently used in patients, with the respective light treatments for activation, can be performed perpetually. Photodynamic therapy using porfimer sodium (Photofrin®, Axcan Pharma Inc., Canada) has been applied to the treatment of tumors in the esophagus, bronchus, bladder and skin as well as other sites. These studies have demonstrated safety and efficacy in the eradication of high-
Rapid capacitor charging power supply for an 1800J PFN

The RCC (rapid capacitor charger) previously developed at the P3E Center [1] has been adapted to charge an 1800 J PFN (pulse forming network) for rep-rated operation. The entire automated system to test and evaluate SGTOs (Super Gate turn-off Thyristors) runs at a 1 Hertz repetition rate; thus requiring a power supply to charge the PFN within 500 ms and have a 3.6 kJ/s average power capability to allow for data acquisition and storage between shots. The hard-switching H-bridge topology with 10 kW burst mode handling capability is very well suited for this compact table top system design. The control of the RCC has been shifted to a PIC controller responsible for PFN charging. Charging parameters include: an adjustable charging time from 50 to 500 ms, high voltage monitoring with adjustable voltage level, and RCC Go/shut-off. All charging parameters are determined by the main CPU handling the automation process and are sent to the PIC controller before each PFN charging event. With the addition of forced air cooled heat-sink for the IGBT modules, enough heat can be removed to allow continuous automated operation.
Intra-individual variability in sleep duration and fragmentation: Associations with stress

Summary Despite growing evidence that there is substantial nightly, intra-individual variability in sleep duration and fragmentation, few studies have investigated the correlates of such variability. The current study examined whether intra-individual variability in sleep parameters was associated with psychosocial and physiological indices of stress, especially among those high in negative affect. Participants were 184 adults aged 46–78 (53% men and 41% Black) in the Pittsburgh SleepSCORE study. Wrist actigraphy was used to estimate sleep duration and fragmentation for nine nights, and overnight samples of urinary norepinephrine were collected for two nights. Stressful life events, depression, and anxiety were also reported. Intra-individual differences exceeded between-person differences in actigraphy-measured sleep duration and fragmentation. Stressful life events were associated with increased nightly variability in duration and fragmentation ( p s p s