cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Blunted affect, blunted lives? negative symptoms, ADL functioning, and mental health among older adults

With the growing numbers of elderly chronically mentally ill individuals, there is increasing need for evaluation of assessment procedures relevant to this population. The assessment of negative symptoms among older patients may be especially problematic if expression of affect, poverty of speech, and social withdrawal are affected by normal ageing processes. The present study was intended to establish normative levels of negative symptoms for older adults. A sample of 127 elderly community residents was compared to smaller samples of elderly schizophrenics, nursing home residents without psychiatric disorder, and young schizophrenics, using the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms. The results support the validity of this scale for elderly individuals. Negative symptoms appeared rarely among community-residing elders without psychiatric histories, so that a low cutting score on the scale identifies symptoms for this age group. For all groups negative symptoms were significantly related to competence in activities of daily living and ratings of mental health. Findings support the importance of assessing negative symptoms among the elderly chronically mentally ill. Further research is recommended to explore the relationship between asymptomatic levels of negative symptoms and functioning among non-psychiatric elders.
Glial fibrillary acidic protein from normal human brain. Purification and properties.

Abstract The glial fibrillary acidic (GFA) protein was purified from normal human brain and gliosed material (white matter with multiple sclerosis plaques) and itsproperties were compared with those of other brain specific proteins in the literature. SDS-acrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunodiffusion with GFA protein antiserum were used to monitor each step of the purification procedure. Both water-soluble and detergent-soluble fractions of GFA protein reacted with antibodies to the soluble fraction giving an immunodiffusion pattern of complete identity. Purified preparations of the water-soluble fraction were either obtained with differential salt extraction followed by DEAE-Sephadex and phosphocellulose column chromatography, or with 25% ammonium sulfate precipitation and pH 5.0 acid precipitation followed by DEAE-Sephadex column chromatography. Depending on the material used as a source ( i.e. , normal or gliosed material) preparationns of 85–92% purity were obtained, as indicated by the relative dye binding on SDS-acrylamide gels. The particulatebound fraction was purified from gliosed material by 30% ammonium sulfate precipitation followed by 2 cycles of Sephadex G-200 gel filtration. Immunization of rabbits with aqueous extracts of normal human white matter produced antisera which gave one main precipitation line when tested by immunodiffusion against normal brain extracts. When these anti-white matter immune sera and GFA protein antisera were tested against normal brain extracts and purified GFA protein preparations, precipitation lines were obtained with an immunodiffusion pattern of complete identity, indicating that GFA protein was the main antigen identified by reacting anti-white matter immune sera with normal brain extracts.
Effect of Low and High Relative Humidity on Metered-dose Bronchodilator Solution and Powder Aerosols

Physical properties of two metered-dose bronchodilator aerosols packaged as solutions and two aerosols packaged as finely ground powders were measured at low and high relative humidity. The aerodynamic size distribution and particle concentration were measured in real time using the single-particle aerodynamic relaxation time analyzer, which can measure the aerodynamic diameter of single suspended particles in the respirable size range. The count median aerodynamic diameter, the mass median aerodynamic diameter, the total particles per dose, and the total aerodynamic mass per dose were calculated. Significant increases were noted in the count median aerodynamic diameter for three aerosols and in the mass median aerodynamic diameter for two aerosols. The number of particles in the measured size range increased 3.6- and 4.1-fold for the droplet aerosols and 1.4-fold for the powder preparations. The aerodynamic mass per dose in the measured size range increased 5.7- and 11.4-fold for the droplet aerosols and 3.1- and 1.6-fold for the powder aerosols. These data indicate that all aerosols tested increased in size at high humidity and that aerosols dispensed as droplets may be more unstable than those dispensed as powders.
Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) enhances tissue sparing and functional recovery following moderate spinal cord injury.

ABSTRACT The rapid increase in basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) production following spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats is thought to serve a role in the cellular processes responsible for the f...
Physiology of the eustachian tube in the pathogenesis and management of middle ear effusions.

Eustachian tube function studies were carried out in patients with concurrent or recent middle ear effusions. Radiographic techniques were employed in assessing tubal response to liquid flow. Studies of air flow and air pressure were carried out using a Madsen bridge, and depended on the presence of either a perforation or a tympanostomy tube. Most of the Eustachian tubes studied showed varying degrees of obstruction or abnormal distensibility or both, often depending on the direction of flow, or on whether pressures were increased or reduced. Quite apart from other factors which may contribute to intrinsic oxextrinsic obstruction of the Eustachian tube, its compliance appears to play an important role in determining its function. In particular, compli. ance appears to be an important factor in the response of the Eustachian tube to increased positive or to negative pressures. Elimination of the causes of both nasal obstruction and abnormal nasopharyngeal secretions may alleviate problems in the function of the Eustachian tube which seem attributable to increased tubal compliance.
A flamelet-based a priori analysis on the chemistry tabulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in non-premixed flames

Abstract In this paper, the chemical response of different species to turbulent effects is investigated in the context of one-dimensional laminar non-premixed flamelets. Turbulent effects are modeled as abrupt changes in the scalar dissipation rate. One-dimensional unsteady flamelet calculations assuming unity-Lewis number for all species are performed for an ethylene/air configuration. From the time-evolution of the species mass fractions, it is found that transient effects are not substantial for radicals such as OH and H , and species such as CO , CO 2 and C 2 H 2 , consistent with their small characteristic chemical time scales. The steady state flamelet assumption for these species is well justified and their mass fractions can be pre-tabulated using the steady state flamelet solutions legibly. On the other hand, aromatic species are characterized by relatively slow chemistry, and substantial transient effects are observed for these species. The evolution of their mass fractions and chemical source terms are studied through a reaction flux analysis. Specifically for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH), the chemical production terms are found to be linearly proportional to the mass fraction of smaller aromatic species, and the chemical consumption terms are found to be linearly proportional to their own mass fractions. Based on the unsteady flamelet results, the validity of various existing flamelet-based pre-tabulation methods is examined, and a new linear relaxation model is proposed for PAH. The proposed relaxation model is validated through the unsteady flamelet formulation, and results are compared against full chemistry calculations.
Stem Cells and Pattern Formation in the Nervous System: The Possible versus the Actual

Neural stem cells (NSCs) are broadly defined as multipotent, self-renewing progenitor cells. In the central nervous system (CNS), these cells generate neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. In the peripheral nervous system (PNS), they generate neurons, Schwann cells, and other neural crest derivatives such as smooth muscle cells. Over the past few years, remarkable progress has been made in identifying and understanding the properties of these elusive cells. Yet recently there has been a quantal increase in the attention afforded stem cells, in both the scientific and lay communities. What accounts for this heightened level of interest? What do we really know about these cells, and what remains to be learned?
Circulating dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate concentrations during the menopausal transition

Context: A previous report from the Study of Women Across the Nation indicated a rise in dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) during the menopausal transition using data from three annual visits. Objective: Our objective was to examine changes in DHEAS with chronological and ovarian aging, expanding the original analyses to include 10 yr of annual data. Design: A longitudinal observational study and cross-sectional analyses of baseline data were conducted. Outcome Measures and Subjects: DHEAS, age, menopause status, ethnicity, smoking, weight, and height were assessed in 2886 women from five ethnic groups aged 42–52 yr at entry. Hysterectomy, bilateral oophorectomy, and hormone use were excluded. Results: Cross-sectional analysis at baseline showed a linear decline in circulating log-transformed DHEAS with increasing age for either the entire cohort (2.81% per year) or for individual ethnicities. A similar negative association with baseline age (2.44% decline per year) was seen in longitudinal linear mi...
A Monte Carlo Solution to the Problem of Diffusion in Grain Boundaries

A computer-oriented Monte Carlo approach is used to generate solutions to the problem of simultaneous diffusion of particles along grain boundaries and in the bulk for polycrystalline materials. The calculation technique also utilizes a Monte Carlo technique to generate a random array of grains and grain boundaries through which particles diffuse. This technique has been used to calculate diffusional profiles for a range of grain sizes and relative mobilities. It is found that the exponential dependence of concentration on penetration depth, long characterized as being approximately equal to 1 for polycrystalline diffusion, is a function of the relative mobilities of material in boundaries versus the bulk.
CD1 antigen presentation: how it works

The classic concept of self-non-self discrimination by the immune system focused on the recognition of fragments from proteins presented by classical MHC molecules. However, the discovery of MHC-class-I-like CD1 antigen-presentation molecules now explains how the immune system also recognizes the abundant and diverse universe of lipid-containing antigens. The CD1 molecules bind and present amphipathic lipid antigens for recognition by T-cell receptors. Here, we outline the recent advances in our understanding of how the processes of CD1 assembly, trafficking, lipid-antigen binding and T-cell activation are achieved and the new insights into how lipid antigens differentially elicit CD1-restricted innate and adaptive T-cell responses.
Actin and myosin in a variety of myogenic and non-myogenic cells.

Abstract Replicating presumptive myoblasts and bromodeoxyuridine-suppressed myogenic cells, as well as embryonic fibroblasts and chondroblasts, synthesize actin and myosin. The ratio of myosin to actin and the number of myosin light chains synthesized in these cells differ from those in multinucleated myotubes. These findings are discussed in relationship to myogenesis.
Acetylcholine turnover and aggression in related three strains of mice.

Abstract 1. 1. This study compares brain levels of acetylcholine (ACh) and choline, and ACh brain turnover in 3 inbred strains of mice, CF-1, C57B1/6 By and Balb-c-By; these parameters were measured in control (aggregated) mice as well as following two paradigms, mild footshock and isolation, applied alone or in combination. 2. 2. Enzymic radioassay method was used to measure brain ACh and choline; ACh turnover was evaluated by two computation methods. 3. 3. Aggregated Balb-c-By mice exhibited low ACh and choline levels as compared to those of the mice of the two other strains. ACh levels of C57B1/6 By and CF-1 mice did not differ significantly; choline levels of CF-1 mice were almost twofold higher than those of C57B1/6 By mice. 4. 4. ACh turnover of aggregated CF-1 mice was about twice as high as that of C57B1/6 By and more than twice higher than that of Balb-c-By mice. 5. 5. The effects of shock, isolation, or shock combined with isolation on the brain levels of ACh and choline of mice of the 3 strains were inconsistent and, frequently absent. 6. 6. ACh turnover was significantly decreased in the brains of CF-1 by the two paradigms, whether employed alone or in combination; there was no additive effect when footshock was combined with isolation. 7. 7. ACh turnover did not change consistently after the two paradigms, employed alone or in combination, in the case of C57B1/6 By and Balb-c-By mice; in some cases, ACh turnover was increased. 8. 8. Footshock proved to be a mild inducer of aggression as compared to isolation in the 3 mice strains; footshock combined with isolation proved to synergize with respect to aggression in the 3 strains. Whether exposed to footshock and isolation alone or to the combination of these procedures, CF-1 mice were significantly more aggressive than Balb-c-By and C57B1/6 By mice. 9. 9. It is emphasized that consistent facilitatory effect of the two paradigms on aggression as well as additive effect on aggression resulting from combining footshock and isolation should be contrasted with the inconsistent effects of the two paradigms, applied alone or in isolation, on ACh turnover; altogether, the data did not indicate that aggression is related to increased brain ACh turnover.
Nowcast modeling of Escherichia coli concentrations at multiple urban beaches of southern Lake Michigan

Predictive modeling for Escherichia coli concentrations at effluent-dominated beaches may be a favorable alternative to current, routinely criticized monitoring standards. The ability to model numerous beaches simultaneously and provide real-time data decreases cost and effort associated with beach monitoring. In 2004, five Lake Michigan beaches and the nearby Little Calumet River outfall were monitored for E. coli 7 days a week; on nine occasions, samples were analyzed for coliphage to indicate a sewage source. Ambient lake, river, and weather conditions were measured or obtained from independent monitoring sources. Positive tests for coliphage analysis indicated sewage was present in the river and on bathing beaches following heavy rainfall. Models were developed separately for days with prevailing onshore and offshore winds due to the strong influence of wind direction in determining the river's impact on the beaches. Using regression modeling, it was determined that during onshore winds, E. coli could be adequately predicted using wave height, lake chlorophyll and turbidity, and river turbidity (R2 = 0.635, N = 94); model performance decreased for offshore winds using wave height, wave period, and precipitation (R2 = 0.320, N = 124). Variation was better explained at individual beaches. Overall, the models only failed to predict E. coli levels above the EPA closure limit (235 CFU/100 ml) on five of eleven occasions, indicating that the model is a more reliable alternative to the monitoring approach employed at most recreational beaches.
ALD tungsten NEMS switches and tunneling devices

Abstract In this paper we present a novel low-temperature, CMOS compatible, top-down nanofabrication process employing ALD tungsten (WALD) as a structural material for nano-electro-mechanical systems (NEMS). Using this process, doubly-clamped suspended NEMS switches/tunneling devices have been successfully fabricated and demonstrated. The devices have been observed to perform comparably to two-terminal electrostatic carbon nanotube (CNT) switches, graphene-based switches, and MEMS tunneling devices. A lifetime of ∼50,000 cycles has been observed when these devices are operated in full contact switching mode, and a lifetime in excess of 5 × 106 cycles has been observed under low-current-limited operating conditions. In the tunneling regime a work function of 0.0682 eV has been calculated using experimental data coupled with finite element model (FEM) approximations. Under low-current-limited conditions the device behavior is stable and reproducible, resembling that of MEMS tunneling devices.
Short photoperiod stimulates brown adipose tissue growth and thermogenesis but not norepinephrine turnover in Syrian hamsters.

Abstract This experiment examined the effect of short photoperiod on food intake, body weight, carcass composition, and brown adipose tissue (BAT) activity in female Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) . BAT function was assessed by measuring sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity in BAT (estimated by the rate of norepinephrine (NE) turnover), BAT mitochodrial content (estimated by cytochrome c oxidase activity), and BAT mitochondrial proton conductance (estimated by guanosine-5′-diphosphate (GDP) binding to isolated BAT mitochondria). Food intake and body weight were both increased in short photoperiod-housed hamsters (8-hr light, 16-hr dark; LD 8:16) when compared to those of the long photoperiod-housed controls (LD 16:8). The weight gain was entirely due to an increase in carcass lipid. Interscapular BAT (IBAT) pads from short photoperiod-housed hamsters were 53% heavier and contained comparably more protein and DNA. Short photoperiod produced a 118% increase in BAT cytochrome c oxidase activity and a 41% increase in specific mitochondrial GDP binding. Whether expressed per mg wet tissue or per pad, neither the endogenous concentration of NE nor its rate of turnover were changed by short photoperiod exposure. These results demonstrate a dissociation of BAT thermogenesis from SNS activity in BAT from short photoperiod-housed Syrian hamsters.
Positive Psychology and Curative Community Groups: Life Satisfaction, Depression, and Group Therapeutic Factors

Yalom’s therapeutic factors are examined in the context of small quilt-making groups, revealing the presence of predominant curative factors. Additional results reveal positive well-being reported among group participants through higher life levels of satisfaction and lower levels of depression. Results of this preliminary research provide initial support for encouraging participation in community-based groups for individuals suffering from depression or among those seeking to improve life satisfaction, given the demonstrated presence of therapeutic factors and the potential to advance specific therapeutic goals.
The Total Talent Portfolio: Looking at the Best in Every Student.

This article explores the multi-faceted nature of giftedness. The writer draws together a number of diverse definitions and developments of researchers in the field. He suggests a way forward in un...
Biological basis for space-variant sensor design I: Parameters of monkey and human spatial vision

Biological sensor design has long provided inspiration for sensor design in machine vision. However relatively little attention has been paid to the actual design parameters provided by biological systems as opposed to the general nature of biological vision architectures. In the present paper we will provide a review of current knowledge of primate spatial vision design parameters and will present recent experimental and modeling work from our lab which demonstrates that a numerical conformal mapping which is a refinement of our previous complex logarithmic model provides the best current summary of this feature of the primate visual system. In this paper we will review recent work from our laboratory which has characterized some of the spatial architectures of the primate visual system. In particular we will review experimental and modeling studies which indicate that: . The global spatial architecture of primate visual cortex is well summarized by a numerical conformal mapping whose simplest analytic approximation is the complex logarithm function . The columnar sub-structure of primate visual cortex can be well summarized by a model based on a band-pass filtered white noise. We will also refer to ongoing work in our lab which demonstrates that: . The joint columnar/map structure of primate visual cortex can be modeled and summarized in terms of a new algorithm the ''''proto-column'''' algorithm. This work provides a reference-point for current engineering approaches to novel architectures for© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Political Parties in Business: Rent Seekers, Developmentalists, or Both?

Ruling party-owned conglomerates (Parbus) are emerging in some post-conflict African economies following state capture by ethnic parties. We offer an analytical framework, buttressed by four countr...
Solving problems by analogy: The benefits and detriments of hints and depressed moods

In Experiment 1, mildly depressed (dysphoric) and nondysphoric subjects tried to solve logic problems that were analogous to subsequent target problems; then they attempted target solutions with or without hints in the form of the anologues’ themes. Target solutions were impaired by the hints in the nondysphoric group alone. Experiment 2A was a no-training control to verify that transfer did indeed occur. In Experiment 2B, all subjects received hints in the transfer phase; the training phase was either problem oriented (as in Experiment 1) or memory oriented. Again, nondysphoric subjects solved fewer problems following problem-oriented training than did both dysphoric subjects in that condition and nondysphoric subjects with memory-oriented training. Experiment 3 replicated the previous results in the nondysphoric samples. We interpret these findings within the transferappropriate processing framework.
Selectivity of gill nets used in the commercial spanish mackerel fishery of Florida

Abstract Selection curves of encircling (run-around) and drifting (stab) gill nets used in the winter fishery for Spanish mackerel Scomberomorus maculatus off southern Florida were estimated by use of cumulative probability distributions of retention girth at length. Selection curves corresponded well with observed size frequencies obtained from each mesh size, Increasing differences between maximum and head girth perimeters as fish grew resulted in selection curves indicating increased selection range and efficiency. Selectivity of Spanish mackerel gill nets will change as the condition of the fish changes with the onset of the spawning season. Apparently, selectivity also changes with twine size.
Characterization of a Neutralization-Escape Variant of SHIVKU-1, a Virus That Causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome in Pig-Tailed Macaques☆

A chimeric simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV-4) containing the tat, rev, vpu, and env genes of HIV type 1 (HIV-1) in a genetic background of SIVmac239 was used to develop an animal model in which a primate lentivirus expressing the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein caused acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in macaques. An SHIV-infected pig-tailed macaque that died from AIDS at 24 weeks postinoculation experienced two waves of viremia: one extending from weeks 2-8 and the second extending from week 18 until death. Virus (SHIVKU-1) isolated during the first wave was neutralized by antibodies appearing at the end of the first viremic phase, but the virus (SHIVKU-1b) isolated during the second viremic phase was not neutralized by these antibodies. Inoculation of SHIVKU-1b into 4 pig-tailed macaques resulted in severe CD4(+) T cell loss by 2 weeks postinoculation, and all 4 macaques died from AIDS at 23-34 weeks postinoculation. Because this virus had a neutralization-resistant phenotype, we sequenced the env gene and compared these sequences with those of the env gene of SHIVKU-1 and parental SHIV-4. With reference to SHIV-4, SHIVKU-1b had 18 and 6 consensus amino acid substitutions in the gp120 and gp41 regions of Env, respectively. These compared with 10 and 3 amino acid substitutions in the gp120 and gp41 regions of SHIVKU-1. Our data suggested that SHIVKU-1 and SHIVKU-1b probably evolved from a common ancestor but that SHIVKU-1b did not evolve from SHIVKU-1. A chimeric virus, SHIVKU-1bMC17, constructed with the consensus env from the SHIVKU-1b on a background of SHIV-4, confirmed that amino acid substitutions in Env were responsible for the neutralization-resistant phenotype. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that neutralizing antibodies induced by SHIVKU-1 in pig-tailed macaque resulted in the selection of a neutralization-resistant virus that was responsible for the second wave of viremia.
Application of poly (p-phenylene oxide) as blocking layer to reduce self-discharge in supercapacitors

Abstract Supercapacitors are electrochemical energy storage devices with high power density. However, application of supercapacitors is limited mainly due to their high leakage current. In this work, application of an ultra-thin layer of electrodeposited poly (p-phenylene oxide) (PPO) has been investigated as a blocking layer to reduce the leakage current. The polymer was first deposited on a glassy carbon electrode. The morphology of the film was studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM), and the film thickness was estimated to be ∼1.5 nm by using the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) technique. The same deposition method was applied to coat the surface of the activated carbon electrodes of a supercapacitor with PPO. The specific capacitance, the leakage current, and the series resistance were measured in two devices with and without the blocking layer. The results demonstrate that the application of the PPO layer reduced the leakage current by ∼78%. However, the specific capacitance was decreased by ∼56%, when the blocking layer was applied. Due to the lower rate of self-discharge, the suggested approach can be applied to fabricate devices with longer charge storage time.
Space-time coded MC-CDMA: blind channel estimation, identifiability, and receiver design

Integrating the strengths of multicarrier (MC) modulation and code division multiple access (CDMA), MC-CDMA systems are of great interest for future broadband transmissions. This paper considers the problem of channel identification and signal combining/detection schemes for MC-CDMA systems equipped with multiple transmit antennas and space-time (ST) coding. In particular, a subspace-based blind channel identification algorithm is presented. Identifiability conditions are examined and specified which guarantee unique and perfect (up to a scalar) channel estimation when knowledge of the noise subspace is available. Several popular single-user based signal combining schemes, namely the maximum ratio combining (MRC) and the equal gain combining (EGC), which are often utilized in conventional single-transmit-antenna-based MC-CDMA systems, are extended to the current ST-coded MC-CDMA (STC-MC-CDMA) system to perform joint combining and decoding. In addition, a linear multiuser minimum mean square error (MMSE) detection scheme is also presented, which is shown to outperform the MRC and EGC at some increased computational complexity. Numerical examples are presented to evaluate and compare the proposed channel identification and signal detection/combining techniques.
Professionals and nonprofessionals on Goodreads: Behavior standards for authors, reviewers, and readers:

In 2013, Goodreads, a social media Website for book lovers, announced policy changes that included the deletion of reviews that discuss an author’s behavior. These changes occurred after a series of author/reviewer incidents in 2012 and 2013. This article presents a case study of one of those incidents in 2012, when a Goodreads reviewer wrote a negative review of a novel, the author and agent responded on Twitter, and a public discussion ensued around behavior standards for both literary professionals and nonprofessionals. The above incident, and how it does or does not foreshadow the later changes in Goodreads policy, offers a lens through which to examine evolving reading and writing practices and literary censorship, as well as how nonprofessional book reviewers and readers conceive of their and literary professionals’ roles in a complex social media literary landscape.
Corrosion Fatigue of Incoloy 825 Flare Gas Line Bellows of Expansion Joints

Two out of eight expansion joints (bellows), which are part of flare gas line and made of Incoloy 825 material, failed during normal operation condition after 11 years in continuous service. The components of gas line including the expansion joint are exposed to aggressive environment where the burned gases consisting of CO2 and H2S pass through the 2205 duplex stainless steel piping system flared at a temperature of 60 °C and a pressure of 40 MPa. The external surfaces of the pipes were exposed to salt spray, winds, and sometimes sand storms. In addition to these, the failed expansion joints were subjected to continuous movement and/or vibration as a result of drilling operation, sea waves, etc. The received (failed) bellows showed numerous non-branched cracks over the circumference of the bellow, in addition to severe corrosion pits penetrating throughout the bellow’s wall thickness. Most of the pits and cracking were observed over the most stressed part of the bellows, which is the curved area. Detailed metallurgical investigation revealed that the expansion joint failed as a result of initiation of fatigue cracks at the corrosion pits that propagated through bellow’s circumference. Some of these cracks were found to extend up to 10–20 cm. Bellow’s curved design “stress concentration,” high chloride concentration on bellow’s metal surface, and high metal surface temperature (above 60 °C) in addition to the presence of bellows under continuous movement and/or vibration (fatigue type) may have led to localized corrosion and then fatigue cracking of the bellows.
Factor analysis in BASIC for minicomputers

A common procedure in the analysis of both large and small data sets involves calculating intercorrelation matrices and subsequently factor analyzing these matrices. These procedures are useful in a variety of situations, including both hypothesis testing and exploratory applications. (Refer to Guertin & Bailey, 1970; Horst, 1965; and Nunnally, 1967, for information on the nature and applications of factor analysis.) A common feature of factor analysis programs is their development in languages such as FORTRAN for use on large computer systems. In many instances, less formal and less expensive access would be desirable; laboratory minicomputers afford that accessibility. The program described here is designed to perform preliminary factoring of matrices, later to be rotated and further explored using larger program packages (e.g., Nie, Hull, Jenkins, Steinbrenner, & Bent, 1975). Its main feature is the small amount of core storage used to calculate the correlation matrix. Factoring is through the centroid method; although the method of principle axes is more common, the iterative
A ′Fragment Fitting Approach′ to Model Disulfide Loops by Utilizing Homologous Peptide Fragments from Unrelated Proteins of Known Structures: Application to the V3 Loop of the HIV-1 Envelope Glycoprotein gp120

The V3 loop of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope glycoprotein gp120 has gained considerable attention for developing subunit vaccines against HIV-1 and also as a target to develop anti-HIV-1 drugs. These endeavors would be significantly enhanced by understanding the structural aspects of this loop. The structure of the full-length V3 loop has not been defined yet. Therefore, a novel modeling technique, termed `Fragment Fitting Approach′ (FFA), was developed to model the V3 loop. This technique utilizes fragments (³ 6 residue long) with local sequence and secondary structure similarity from unrelated proteins with known x-ray crystallographic structure and concatenating the fragments to build the model. A systematic search method was devised to identify the fragments using the combined criteria of sequence and secondary structure identity and/or similarity, predicted by a combination of methods. FFA requires partial three-dimensional coordinates of the target sequence to be modelled to get the overall coordinate path correct. The method was validated with nine disulfide-bonded loops from the Protein data bank. The modelled structures conform well with the corresponding x-ray crystallographic structures. As the models were built using the x-ray coordinates with reasonable resolution (£ 3 A), they are expected to have stereochemically correct structures. The modelled V3 loop structure might assist in structure-based drug design of anti-HIV-1 agents targeted to this loop.
Low-Risk Large-Needle Biopsy of Chest Lesions

There were 210 chest lesions biopsied with large-bore cutting needles (14.5 to 18.0 gauge). The patients ranged in age from 13 to 84 years with a heavy preponderance of males (99 percent). Most of the lesions were pleural based lung masses (133). In the majority (140) only one pass was required for diagnosis. Certain technical considerations were employed which resulted in a low complication rate of 4.8 percent. Pneumothorax occurred in only eight cases (4 percent). There were eight false-negative biopsies and no fake-positives. The key advantage of large needle biopsy (LNB) over skinny needle biopsy (SNB) is that a large tissue core is obtained that allows for more specific histologic diagnosis. With proper technique and careful patient and lesion selection, LNB can be performed as safely as thinneedle biopsy.
Insertion-induced expansion of a thin film on a rigid substrate

Abstract The local volume expansion due to the insertion of lithium into electric anode in a lithium-ion battery determines the structural durability and reliability of the battery. The coupling between diffusion and stress was incorporated in analyzing the insertion-induced expansion of an elastic thin film on a rigid substrate. The results showed that the stress-assisted diffusion is an important mechanism controlling the diffusion of lithium cations in silicon films. Under the action of a constant diffusion flux, semi-analytical relations were obtained for the temporal evolution of the insertion-induced expansion of a Si film and the hydrostatic stress in the Si film. The surface displacement of the Si film is proportional to the film thickness and the square of the electric current density for small diffusion time.
Does shape matter? Morphological diversity and differential survivorship among Triassic ammonoid genera

Variation in longevity of taxa in the fossil record has been recognized, but few studies have tested for correlation between position in morphospace and differential survivorship. A sample of 322 Triassic ammonoid species, each one representing a genus, was studied to test whether longer-lived genera were significantly further from the centre of morphospace than shorter-lived genera. Two empirical morphospaces were constructed from morphological data, and the deviation of each genus from the “average form” (centroid) was calculated. Spearman Rank Correlation and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to test for any significant relationships between distance from the centre of morphospace and longevity. Some longer-lived taxa tended to plot further from the centre of morphospace, but the amounts of variance in longevity accounted for were small and largely statistically non-significant. Ammonoid clade-level morphological stasis appears to be the product of repeated reoccupation of the centre of morphospaces after...
SOME THEORETICAL ISSUES IN THE PRICING OF TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS

The transportation economics literature contains a number of separate developments which typically are not combined into a single analysis. These include: (1) short-run peak-load pricing of transportation facilities; (2) long-run problems in determining the optimum size of transportation facilities; (3) regulation of transportation systems made up of several facilities (e.g., several roads going to the same place); and (4) incorporation of the value of time into transportation problems. This paper brings all of these issues together into a single transportation model. An empirical study which applies this model to airports is briefly described. For other kinds of transportation systems, this model can be adopted in a straightforward fashion by policy analysts, planners, and transport authorities.
Digital Flight Control: An Approach to Efficient Design

Previous digital design experiences provide guidance and offer solutions for one of the newest digital technology applications: The commercial transport AFCS. In addition to facing well-documented problems of software control and maintainability, operational safety adds a new dimension to the requirements for software reliability. After a general discussion of the problems encountered in past digital system programs, this paper addresses the specific requirements of the commercial transport system and their implications in terms of system architecture and software development. An immproved solution to the problem of software design is offered, and its impact on traditional and future problem areas is outlined. A description of a prototype digital AFCS under development is presented. The experiences to date with this system reinforce the correctness of techniques and approaches used in its development.
Effects of graduate clinicians' personal therapy on therapeutic alliance.

This study investigates the effects of clinician personal therapy on therapeutic alliance early in treatment. Therapists who had received personal therapy assessed 30 outpatients, and therapists who had not undergone personal therapy assessed 30 outpatients. These groups of patients were matched on key demographic, diagnostic and psychiatric severity data. Results demonstrated no significant group differences on patient-rated alliance. Significant differences were observed for the therapist-rated alliance variables of therapist confidence, goal and task agreement, as well as overall alliance, with higher scores from those therapists who had received personal therapy. In addition, significant differences were found in the number of therapy sessions attended, with the treatments of those therapists who had received personal therapy being twice as long. The impact of personal therapy in relation to structured training and a therapeutic model of assessment on graduate clinicians' ability to form positive collaborative relationships with their patients is discussed. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
It’s All in the Numbers: Acreage Tallies and Environmental Program Evaluation

Increasingly, performance measurement is being used to hold federal agencies accountable, represent environmental progress, and evaluate the effectiveness of environmental programs. The need to track measurable outputs has created a tendency to present programmatic progress solely by quantifiable data, despite the inherent complexity of natural resource management. Wetlands and fire management programs are two specific environmental arenas that have come to overemphasize the tracking of acreage numbers to validate existing policy direction. In both of these arenas, we find the definition and categorization of “countable” acres to be inconsistent and unreliable. We explore this systemic flaw for both wetlands and fire programs and describe its implications for environmental policy and natural resource management more broadly. We conclude with recommendations for improved performance measurement in these arenas.
Propagation constants of resonant waves on homogeneous, isotropic slab waveguides.

A general graphical study of the complex valued propagation constants, defining the various types of TE waves that are resonant on optical thin-film (slab) waveguides, is presented. The dielectric constants of both the slab and its surroundings are allowed to take on all possible complex values. The corresponding waves are classified in to two general types: surface waves, with conductive losses only; and leaky waves, with both conductive and radiative losses.
The characteristics and associations of pelvic pain in gynecologic cancer patients: A single institution study

Objectives: To explore the incidence and characteristics of pelvic pain in cancer patients attending a single institution cancer center. Methods: A cross-sectional study was undertaken consisting of a sixpage survey distributed to a random sample of patients attending this comprehensive cancer center. The survey contained anonymous self-reported demographic, treatment, lifestyle characteristics, Quality of Life (QOL), and pelvic pain inquiries that were randomly distributed to cancer patients. The QOL data collected was the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy — General (FACT-G) in addition to a previously validated female pelvic pain survey. FACT-G and Pain scores, along with subdomains, were compared by patient descriptive variables (exercise, diet, BMI, stage, disease status, treatment) using two-group t-tests or Analysis of Variance. Results: Over the course of 1 year, 124 cancer patients completed this survey of which 105 were female and thus completed the pelvic pain survey. 68% (N= 68) of patients who completed the pelvic pain survey (N= 100) had gynecologic cancers. The non-gynecologic cancers represented included brain, breast, colon, and esophageal cancers. The majority of patientswere in the 61–70 age range,with roughly 80% being English-speaking (N= 83). Approximately half of the patients reported receiving chemotherapy and/or radiation. The stages were distributed as follows however 32% (N= 35) of patients did not report a stage: 23% stage I, 24% stage II, 34% stage III, 19% stage IV. 25% of the patients report never exercising and 50% report eating 1–2 servings of fruits and/or vegetables per day. Of a total possible score of 45 and individual total scores of 23, 10 and 12 for pain, urinary andQOL impact respectively, this group of patients had a mean overall score of 12.30 (±9.48) with 4.75 (±5.66), 2.27 (±2.48) and 5.40 (±3.61) for pain, urinary and QOL impact subscales. In multivariate analysis pelvic pain (P b 0.0005) and less exercise (P = 0.01) were associated with poorer QOL. In this group of patients, pelvic pain was more likely to be associated with the gynecologic cancer patients (P b 0.05) and in patientswith a BMI N 30. In addition the pelvic pain scores were significantly associated with individual quartiles of the FACT-G (P = 0.0001). Conclusions: Data collected in this study demonstrates that pelvic pain scores are poor in this population. Pelvic pain is associated with infrequent exercise, poor QOL, gynecologic cancers, and higher BMI. There is a direct correlation of pelvic pain to the FACT-G total scores.
Semiclassical realization of infrared renormalons.

Perturbation series in quantum field theory (QFT) are generally divergent asymptotic series which are also typically not Borel resummable in the sense that the resummed series is ambiguous. The ambiguity is associated with singularities in the Borel plane on the positive real axis. In quantum mechanics there are cases in which the ambiguity that arises in perturbation theory cancels against a similarly ambiguous contribution from instanton---anti-instanton events. In asymptotically free gauge theories, this mechanism does not suffice because perturbation theory develops ambiguities associated with singularities in the Borel plane which are closer to the origin by a factor of about $N$ (the rank of the gauge group) compared to the singularities realized by instanton events. These are called IR renormalon poles, and on ${\mathbb{R}}^{4}$ they do not possess any known semiclassical realization. By using continuity on ${\mathbb{R}}^{3}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{S}^{1}$, and by generalizing the works of Bogomolny and Zinn-Justin to QFT, we identify saddle point field configurations, e.g., bion-antibion events, corresponding to singularities in the Borel plane which are of order $N$ times closer to the origin than the four-dimensional instanton--anti-instanton singularities in the Borel plane. We conjecture that these are the leading singularities in the Borel plane and that they are the incarnation of the elusive renormalons in the weak coupling regime.
Antiproton decay and the baryon number of the universe

Abstract It appears that the present universe has net positive baryon number. If the lifetime of the antiproton is less than the age of the universe, it is plausible that the initial universe had zero baryon number. The antiproton instability can be tested with a small antiproton storage ring.
Aggregation and Restabilization of Colloidal Titania by Aluminum Sulfate

The interaction of aluminum sulfate with three concentrations of a negatively-charged titania sol was investigated. Changes in turbidity during settling were used to determine the critical values of coagulation and stabilization. These data were used to establish the entire log aluminum sulfate-pH stability limit diagram for the sol, and its boundaries were related to the ionic species in equilibrium with aluminum hydroxide. The stability limits, except at the very lowest aluminum concentration, are very similar to those described for other sols. Aggregation was not dependent upon sol concentration whereas the critical aluminum concentration for restabilization increased with sol concentration. Data were obtained to demonstrate that titania obeys the Schulze-Hardy rule.
Seduced by the State

If history is any guide, states will again call on scientists to develop biological weapons—and there's little to prevent them from succeeding.
Odor Differences between Enantiomeric Isomers

The enantiomers of R- and S-carvone, R- and S-carvotanacetone, R- and S-trans-dihydrocarvone, and R- and S-cis-dihydrocarvone were synthesized from R- and S-carvone, and all were subjected to gas-liquid chromatographic purification. Sensory analysis of the highly purified compounds revealed odor differences between enantiomeric pairs.
Adaptive style and differences in parent and child report of health-related quality of life in children with cancer

The objective of this study was to examine the self-reported health-related quality of life (HRQL) of children with cancer, and the consistency between child and parent reports of child HRQL, as a function of the child's adaptive style. Participants included 199 children with cancer, 108 healthy children, and their parents. Children completed self-report measures of HRQL and adaptive style. Measures of adaptive style were used to categorize children as high anxious, low anxious, defensive high anxious or repressor. Parents completed measures reporting their children's HRQL. Adaptive style was a significant predictor of child-reported HRQL, particularly on the psychosocial scales, with children identified as repressors reporting the best HRQL. Adaptive style was also predictive of discrepancies between parent and child report of child HRQL. Repressor and low anxious children reported better HRQL than did their parents, while high anxious children reported poorer HRQL, regardless of health status. Adaptive style is a significant determinant of self-reported HRQL in children, particularly in psychosocial domains, while health status (i.e. cancer patient vs healthy control) is predictive only of physical health domains. Researchers and clinicians should be aware of the impact of child adaptive style when assessing HRQL outcomes using self- or parent report. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.