cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Survey of airborne organic compounds in residential communities near a natural gas compressor station: Response to community concern

Abstract Introduction Natural gas compressor stations are located throughout the country and are used to maintain gas flow and ensure continuous distribution through the pipeline network. Compressor stations emit many air contaminants including volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs). While the serious health effects associated with the inhalation of elevated pollutant levels are clear, the relationship between proximity to natural gas compressor stations and residential health effects is not well understood. Community members living near a natural gas compressor station in Eastern Ohio expressed concerns regarding their air quality; therefore, the objective of this study was to assess exposure to airborne organics in residential air near the compressor station. Methods Our team conducted a 24-hour air sampling campaign to assess outdoor and indoor air contaminant levels at 4 homes near the Williams Salem Compressor Station in Jefferson County, Ohio. Air quality was assessed using two techniques: 1) summa canisters to quantify VOC concentrations and 2) passive air samplers to evaluate a broader panel of VOCs and SVOCs. Results Among the three homes situated Conclusion Our results validate the community members’ concerns and necessitate a more comprehensive epidemiological investigation into the exposures associated with natural gas compressor stations and methods to mitigate elevated exposures. Alarming levels of VOCS were detected inside of homes. Further research is needed to determine the source of VOC exposure and potential health effects.
Spanish- and English-Speaking Hispanic Subcultural Consumption Differences

Consumption differences were examined between Spanish-speaking, bilingual, and English-speaking hispanic families from the San Antonio Metropolitan area. Significant differences were found for a variety of consumption behaviours. These differences remained even after social class and income were removed.
Localization and Physiological Roles of Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors in the Indirect Pathway

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder characterized by disabling motor impairments including tremor, rigidity, and bradykinesia. The primary pathological change giving rise to the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease is loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta that modulate the function of neurons in the striatum and other nuclei in the basal ganglia (BG) motor circuit (Figure. 1). Currently, the most effective pharmacological agents for treatment of PD include levodopa (L-DOPA), the immediate precursor of dopamine, and other drugs that replace the lost dopaminergic modulation of BG function) Unfortunately, dopamine replacement therapy ultimately fails in most patients due to loss of efficacy with progression of the disease and severe motor and psychiatric side effects.2 Because of this, a great deal of effort has been focused on developing new approaches for treatment of PD.
Manganese Peroxidase, Produced by Trametes versicolor during Pulp Bleaching, Demethylates and Delignifies Kraft Pulp

Previous work has shown that Trametes (Coriolus) versicolor bleaches kraft pulp brownstock with the concomitant release of methanol. In this work, the fungus is shown to produce both laccase and manganese peroxidase (MnP) but not lignin peroxidase during pulp bleaching. MnP production was enhanced by the presence of pulp and/or Mn(II) ions. The maximum level of secreted MnP was coincident with the maximum rate of fungal bleaching. Culture filtrates isolated from bleaching cultures produced Mn(II)- and hydrogen peroxide-dependent pulp demethylation and delignification. Laccase and MnP were separated by ion-exchange chromatography. Purified MnP alone produced most of the demethylation and delignification exhibited by the culture filtrates. On the basis of the methanol released and the total and phenolic methoxyl contents of the pulp, it appears that MnP shows a preference for the oxidation of phenolic lignin substructures. The extensive increase in brightness observed in the fungus-treated pulp was not found with MnP alone. Therefore, either the MnP effect must be optimized or other enzymes or compounds from the fungus are also required for brightening.
Federal Cybersecurity Programs

This brief paper summarizes recently declassified provisions of the Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative, and the efforts across the federal government to protect the integrity of our nation's information and communications infrastructure, as of April 2010. Accordingly, this paper provides an unclassified snapshot of federal cyber posture right before Stuxnet made headlines.
Statistical properties of groundwater noble gas paleoclimate models: are they robust and unbiased estimators?

[1] Noble gas paleoclimate reconstructions from noble gas concentrations in groundwater have the promise of providing absolute paleotemperature information, but difficulties in modeling measured noble gas concentrations with simple models have led to a number of competing noble gas temperature (NGT) schemes being developed. These different models make different assumptions about the size and nature of the noble gas air-saturated water and excess air (EA) components within groundwater, and they yield significantly different NGT values (∼5°C). We use four different NGT models (unfractionated air, closed system equilibration (CE), oxygen depletion, and gas diffusion relaxation) to examine seven published noble gas data sets and find that although different NGT models produce records that are offset with respect to temperature and excess air, the amount of variation of fitted temperature and excess air values within a given record is surprisingly consistent between fitting methods. By using the NGT methods on 5000 synthetically produced data for each model, we show that all but the closed system equilibrium or CE model of Aeschbach-Hertig et al. (2000) are unbiased estimators, with the CE model tending to overestimate both NGT and the EA component. However, despite offsets in NGT and EA, all four models agree remarkably well when estimating temperature differences, confirming the pattern seen with real data, and this suggests that temperature variations derived from NGT data are quite robust. Patterns of misfit of noble gases are shown for both synthetic and real data, which help to provide diagnostic tools for assessing the appropriateness of different NGT methods for different noble gas data sets.
Texture classification using noncasual hidden Markov models

The problem of using noncausal hidden Markov models (HMMs) for texture classification is addressed. In noncausal models, the state of each pixel may be dependent on its neighbors in all directions. New algorithms are given to learn the parameters of a noncausal HMM of a texture and to classify it into one of several learned categories. The efficacy of these algorithms for texture classification is determined by classification experiments involving both synthetically generated and natural textures. A comparison to recent results in autocorrelation modeling demonstrates that similar classification accuracy can be achieved using noncausal HMMs that learn fewer parameters. >
HEMATOLOGIC AND RHEOLOGIC ASPECTS OF ERYTHROPHERESIS(EP) FOR POLYCYTHEMIA (P)

Fifteen EPs were performed on 11 pts (mean 8.6 yrs, range 2 mo-19 yr) with 5% albumin replacement. Hematocrit (HCT) was measured prior to, immediately after, and 6 hrs and 18-24 hrs after EP. Viscosity (V) of whole blood was measured at 37°C and at shear rates from 3 to 120 sec−1 serially during EP in 4 pts, using a cone plate digital viscometer. The volume of EP was calculated from the equation: EP volume=TBV X[(HCTI-HCTD)÷HCTI], where TBV=total blood volume, HCTI=initial HCT, and HCTD=desired HCT. All HCT values used were obtained from centrifuged central venous samples. The HCT achieved by EP correlated with the prospectively chosen HCTD at an r value of 0.98. Mean exchange volume was 18.0±6.3%TBV. V was reduced by EP at all shear rates measured (p 65%, HCT determined by Coulter method on central venous samples underestimated the HCT (68.3±4.6% vs 72.0±4.0%,p 65%) it may be concluded that: 1) both central and peripheral venous Coulter determined HCT underestimate true central HCT; 2) using the centrifuged central venous HCT in the equation above, the EP volume to obtain the desired HCT can be determined accurately; 3) on completion of EP, HCT does not change 6 hrs after and increases only slightly after 18-24 hrs; and 4) adequate reduction in V is obtained by an EP volume sufficient to lower the HCT to 55%.
T-cell mediated immune response to HIFU-induced liquefaction of murine B16 melanoma

Anti-tumor immune response caused by High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) therapy has been a subject of controversy. Most agree that the response is more likely to be induced by mechanical, rather than thermal effects of HIFU. The goal of the current work was to study the effect of HIFU-induced liquefaction of a tumor on tumor-specific and non-specific T-cell mediated immune response in a mouse model.
Learning from Madness: Mário Pedrosa and the Physiognomic Gestalt*

What does looking to the art produced by psychiatric patients bring to our understanding of modernism and the rise of geometric abstraction in Rio de Janeiro in the mid-twentieth century? This article explores Brazilian critic Mario Pedrosa's early theses on the psychology of form in relation to his reception of psychiatric patients' creative production. In his early writings on Gestalt, Pedrosa insisted on the autonomy of form and on a modern global, or comprehensive, perception and critiqued bourgeois rationality for its exclusion of the mentally ill. To understand the historical and cultural specificity of Pedrosa's aesthetics of reception, I turn to Rio-based psychiatrist Dr. Nise da Silveira—it is in large measure her work and that of her patients, which stand at the center of this competing account of mid-century aesthetics in Brazil.
U.S. drops rules on association participation

In a memorandum dated December 9, 1991, the U.S. Office of Government Ethics advised professional associations that it was deleting previously published draft regulations on the participation of federal employees in such associations. New proposed regulations will be issued at a future date. This announcement makes official previous statements by Stephen Potts, Director of the Office of Government Ethics, at an October 22 hearing of the House Post Office and Civil Service Committee (see Eos, Oct. 29, 1991). Potts's office received 980 sets of comments on the 37 pages of proposed regulations issued July 23. The December 9 memorandum notes that “an overwhelming majority of those who commented objected to the proposed section as too restrictive in terms of the use of official time for administering the internal affairs of the professional associations.”
The Legal Relationship Between Cohabitants and Their Partners’ Children

This Article argues that U.S. law should give protection to relationships between cohabitants and their partners’ children when necessary to avoid the economic and emotional trauma that may be caused by separation of the child from a member of his or her household if the cohabitation ends. After examining the social science literature about the welfare of both stepchildren and children of cohabitants and the inadequate legal treatment of custody, visitation, and child support issues under current law, the author recommends that cohabiting stepparents (1) be given standing to seek custody if they have acted as de facto parents, with a presumption in favor of custody by the stepparent when the cohabitant who is the child’s biological parent has died and the possibility of joint custody in other cases; (2) be awarded visitation if both the ex-cohabitant and child desire it; and (3) be obligated to pay child support for the child if the cohabitation dissolves after a period of two years or more.
The emission spectra and burning velocity of the premixed cyanogen-fluorine flame

Abstract The premixed C 2 /N 2 F 2 flame has been stabilized in the 10 mm Hg pressure range, its emission spectra recorded between 2,500 and 8,000A, and its burning velocity measured. The spectrum consists, for the most part, of the CN red and violet systems. The only other emissions characteristic of the flame were that of NCN at 3,290Aand that of a continuum whose intensity peaks at 2,900Aand which is ascribed to F atom recombination. In addition, weak NO γ bands are present due, most likely, to an oxygen impurity in the fluorine gas. The burning velocity of the stoichiometric flame at 16.4 mm Hg was (325 ± 50) cm sec −1 .
Patterns of mammalian evolution across the Cretaceous‐Tertiary boundary

The available fossil record of mammalian evolution across the Cretaceous-Tertiary (K-T) boundary is highly biased biogeographically by the results of detailed sampling of Late Cretaceous and Paleocene local faunas in what is now the Western Interior of the North American continent. In this area, which was then a coastal lowland, the mass extinction marking the K-T boundary resulted in extinction of many mammalian lineages. Analysis of the phylogenetic relationships of the mammals comprising North American early Paleocene faunas demonstrates that recovery of taxonomic diversity after the K-T boundary was the product of two processes: 1) evolutionary radiation of some locally surviving stocks and 2) immigration of mammals from other, as yet unsampled areas. Limited evidence suggests that dispersal of the groups that dominate these earliest Paleocene faunas had begun in the latest Cretaceous. Some mammalian local faunas of Late Cretaceous or early Paleocene age are known from other continents, but none of these provide as complete a fossil record of mammalian evolution during this interval. In spite of these limitations, analysis of the available, global fossil record reveals significant biogeographic provinciality of mammalian faunas and some similarities in their patterns of extinction and recovery of taxonomic diversity during the transition from the Cretaceous into the Tertiary.
Rural policing: Patterns and problems of “micro” departments

Abstract Scholarly interest in policing concentrates on a few giant urban departments; very little is known about small agencies, although they are far more typical. This is an exploratory investigation designed to address that neglected area. The data source was in‐depth interviews with law enforcement officials, primarily chiefs of “micro” departments in rural Oklahoma. The objectives were: to learn about the rural police officer and his job ‐ qualifications, daily tasks and functions; see how small towns are sewed by their police; find out how rural police departments relate to other law enforcement agencies and to city government, and discover why tiny rural communities choose to maintain a police department. Explicit descriptive or explanatory findings were not the main goal; rather, this study explores a relatively unresearched area to obtain insights and information that may be useful in continuing more in‐depth study. Among the research topics that might emerge from this inquiry are questions of p...
Modeling of the gaseous diffusion coefficient in the presence of NAPL

Abstract Gas phase diffusional resistance (D0/D) was measured using packed soil columns containing a fixed relative saturation of dodecane with varying moisture contents. Argon was chosen to serve as an inert gas phase tracer. Dodecane was used to simulate an immobilized NAPL in the soil subsurface. Results indicated that filling of soil pores by either liquid water or liquid dodecane has a similar effect on the gas phase diffusional resistance. A previously developed diffusion model was modified to account for total liquid (water and NAPL) saturation and compared with the experimental data.
C1-1: Evaluation of Screening Colonoscopy per Patient Adenoma Count at a Large New York City Center Using Population-based Data

Background/Aims Bowel preparation quality is critical to adequate visualization of adenomas during colonoscopy. We determined the total per person adenoma count (PPAC) in a population undergoing screening colonoscopy during a six month period to assess the utility of this measure as an indicator of bowel preparation quality.
Vortex penetration in magnetic superconducting heterostructures

We report our results on vortex penetration in two realizations of heterogeneos magneto-superconducting systems (HMSS) based on London approach; semi-infinite ferromagnetic(FM)-superconducting(SC) bilayers and a FM dot on a semi-infinite SC film. In the first case, we study quantitatively the vortex entry in FM-SC bilayers which manifests Bean-Livingston-like vortex barrier, controlled by FM film's magnetization $m$ and SC film's Ginzburg parameter $\kappa$. In the second case, we investigate the conditions for sponteneous vortex creation and determine the position of vortex for various values of magnetization and the dot's position.
Imagined Viewer and Object Rotations Dissociated with Event-Related fMRI

Human spatial reasoning may depend in part on two dissociable types of mental image transformations: object-based transformations, in which an object is imagined to move in space relative to the viewer and the environment, and perspective transformations, in which the viewer imagines the scene from a different vantage point. This study measured local brain activity with event-related fMRI while participants were instructed to either imagine an array of objects rotating (an object-based transformation) or imagine themselves rotating around the array (a perspective transformation). Object-based transformations led to selective increases in right parietal cortex and decreases in left parietal cortex, whereas perspective transformations led to selective increases in left temporal cortex. These results argue against the view that mental image transformations are performed by a unitary neural processing system, and they suggest that different overlapping systems are engaged for different image transformations.
The possible separation of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-induced skin inflammation and hyperplasia by compound A.

Activated glucocorticoid receptor (GR) acts via two different mechanisms: transcriptional regulation that requires DNA-binding, and protein–protein interaction between GR and other transcription factors, such as nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) or activator protein 1 (AP-1). It has been postulated that many important effects of glucocorticoids, including their anti-inflammatory properties, depend on GR’s transrepressive effects on NF-κB and AP-1. In the present study, we have employed a TPA-induced model of skin inflammation and epidermal hyperplasia to determine whether partial activation of the glucocorticoid receptor by Compound A (CpdA) is sufficient to reverse the effect of TPA treatment. CpdA is a nonsteroidal GR modulator with high binding affinity, is capable of partial activation of GR. Topical application of TPA twice per week for two weeks results in inflammation and epidermal hyperplasia. TPA treatment also elevates levels of c-jun (AP-1 component), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), p50 (NF-κB component), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in the skin. Fluocinolone acetonide (FA) (a full GR agonist) was able to completely reverse the above effects of TPA. When applied alone, CpdA increased the epidermal thickness and keratinocyte proliferation as well as levels of c jun, COX-2, IL-6 and IFN-γ. However CpdA treatment resulted in a decrease in the number of p50 positive cells induced by TPA, suggesting its role in inhibition of NF-κB. The level of metallothionein-1 mRNA, regulated by GR was also significantly decreased in skin samples treated with CpdA. Our results suggest that CpdA is able to inhibit GR transactivation and activate only some transrepression properties of GR.
Consequences of a charge-symmetry breaking mechanism for the charge-asymmetry parameter Aπ(θ) of low-energy elastic πD scattering

Abstract The consequences of a charge-symmetry breaking mechanism provided by a gauge-generated three-body πd term involving Coulombic interaction for the asymmetry parameter Aπ(θ) of low-energy elastic πd scattering are studied in the form-factor formulation of the impulse approximation. Theory and experimental data are compared at Tπ = 65 MeV where several sets of experimental data exist. It is found that the effect of charge-symmetry breaking is of the same order of magnitude as that of Δ- and target-baryon mass differences and of the same sign, thus bringing theory and experiment into closer agreement. That agreement is more marked if one uses Weinberg's chiral lagrangian formulation of S-wave π- nuclear interaction rather than the phenomenological S-wave theory.
Knowledge Driven Planning and Multimodal Control of a Telerobot

The Multimodal User Supervised Interface and Intelligent Control (MUSIIC) project focuses on a multimodal human-machine interface which addresses user need to manipulate familiar objects in an unstructured environment. The control of a robot by individuals with significant physical limitations presents a challenging problem of telemanipulation. This is addressed by a unique user-interface integrating the user's command (speech) and gestures (pointing) with autonomous planning techniques (knowledge-bases and 3-D vision). The resultant test-bed offers the opportunity to study telemanipulation by individuals with physical disabilities, and can be generalized to an effective technique for other, including remote and time-delayed, telemanipulation. This paper focuses on the knowledge-driven planning mechanism that is central to the MUSIIC system.
Effects of Phenology at Burn Time on Post-Fire Recovery in an Invasive C4 Grass

The spread of non-indigenous, C4 grasses threatens global conservation of savannas and subtropical grasslands. Identifying control methods to selectively target these invasives has proven difficult. Here, we tested the hypothesis that the effectiveness of prescribed burns for control is determined, in part, by the phenology of the target species at burn time. We conducted two experiments in a subhumid, C4 grassland in central Texas. The focal invasive was the C4, perennial bunchgrass Bothriochloa ischaemum (L.) Keng (KR bluestem). Burns were conducted in early and late fall when plants were in different phenological states. In addition, we attempted to manipulate phenological state through temporary rainout shelters to expedite maturation. The two experiments differed in the timing of the rainout shelter application (experiment 1: May to July, experiment 2: August and September), but otherwise had the same complete factorial design (burn time × shelter). Across experiments, when at least 50% of all tillers were pre-reproductive at burn time, either due to shelter treatment or time of year, spring tiller densities were significantly lower than when plants were burned in a more advanced reproductive state. Trends in fall biomass generally followed trends in spring tiller densities, with one exception where plants in no-shelter plots burned in October had lower biomass than expected based on tiller densities. Treatment responses for the native C4 grass B. laguroides were consistent with those of B. ischaemum. These findings suggest that strategic burns can be used to reduce the subsequent recovery of invasive C4 grasses while not disadvantaging native grasses.
The Versatile Integrator of Surface and Atmosphere processes: Part 1. Model description

This paper describes an integration of recent new developments in snow, runoff and vegetation growth into the National Center for Atmospheric Research Land Surface Model (NCAR LSM). The new model, referred to as the Versatile Integrator of Surface and Atmosphere processes (VISA), has been validated with observed data. The results have demonstrated that the NCAR LSM, after integrating with these new developments, produces improved simulations of snow and runoff over the baseline version, and has an added capability to simulate the dynamics of leaf area index (LAI). Moreover, VISA, through its integration of new schemes, is not only important for studying land–atmosphere interactions in its own right, but also useful for helping interpret results from a parallel modeling activity—the Community Land Model (CLM) project. D 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
A general controller synthesis methodology based on the IMC structure and the H2-, H∞- and μ-optimal control theories

Abstract Qualitatively “robust performance” means that the closed loop performance of a control system should not deteriorate much if the dynamic behavior of the plant deviates from that of the model assumed for the controller design. It is proposed to determine the parameters in the IMC filter through an optimization procedure such that certain robust performance criteria are met.
Theism, Blame And Perfection

Blame and also punishment do not reach many agents in the sense that many agents are not motivated to ethically self-correct, and in fact, may be worsened by these practices. The main reasons agents may not be reached by them are that (on the most plausible secular or naturalistic ethical theory) (a) the agent's second nature may make inaccessible to him a sound appreciation of ethical considerations, and (b) the fixity of mature character may make ethical self-correction practically impossible. Still, when they are ethically rationalized, blame and punishment seem to be requirements. Even the most plausible secular or naturalistic ethics involves an important kind of incompleteness and unclarity concerning this issue. The Jewish and Christian traditions involve conceptions of the accessibility of ethical considerations and also the possibility of character change (both ultimately grounded in grace) in ways that enable us to overcome the perplexity about blame and punishment. They are not ‘good for nothing’ even when they fail to improve agents. The religious traditions' conceptions of moral agency and the possibility of perfection enable us to see why there are reasons not to ethically ‘write off’ even persistently vicious agents. Moreover, we can see that the fulfilling of ethical requirements is an enabling condition for perfection that is not merely ethical. To highlight the contrast between the naturalistic view and the theistic view, Aristotle's moral psychology and moral epistemology are contrasted with those of Maimonides and Aquinas, both of whom borrow heavily from Aristotle, but fundamentally transform what they borrow.
Planting slash pine in a dense pasture sod

Recommendations for planting pines usually include providing a competition-free site to assure establishment and good early growth. When combining pines and pasture in agroforestry systems, the possibility of planting pines directly into a pasture sod without site treatment would be economically desirable. In south Georgia, USA, slash pine (Pinus elliottii) was planted into a pasture sod and on well-disked sites; both with and without annual fertilization. Partial weed control was maintained in subsequent years on the cultivated treatments and the pasture sod was mowed periodically.
The "Logic" of Organizational Irrationality:

This article examines the stability of rational decision making in complex, tightly coupled administrative organizations. In particular, it analyzes a process of decisional "tunneling" in which mem...
Ultrastructure of lungs fixed in inflation using a new osmium-fluorocarbon technique.

A low surface tension liquid fluorocarbon, FC-80 (3M Company, St. Paul, Minnesota), was used as a carrier of osmium tetroxide for primary intratracheal fixation of rodent lungs. The fixative rapidly displaced air and preserved the lungs in an inflated state. Free cells were fixed upon airway surfaces as osmium-FC-80 did not wash cells or mucus into the distal lung. This made it possible to quantify the migration of leukocytes into airways. Mitochondria, lysosomes, cell junctions, blood-air-barriers, alveolar capillaries, and alveolar and airway epithelia were well preserved. Smooth muscle myofilaments and the periodicity of collagen were especially prominent. Minor disadvantages, which included deleterious effects on membranes, graininess, and extraction of protein and lamellar body lipids, were minimized by postfixation with buffered glutaraldehyde.
Reproductive Capacity of Dairy Bulls. X. Changes in Chemical Components and Immunoelectrophoretic Characteristics at Seminal Plasma Before and After Puberty

Abstract Seminal plasma from 20 bulls, ejaculated once weekly by artificial vagina after 30 wk of age, was frozen. The first sample (2 to 13 wk before puberty) and samples representing 5 and 1 wk prior to puberty, puberty (first with 50×10 6 sperm/ejaculate,≥10% motile sperm, at 41±4 wk of age), and at 5, 10, 20, and 30 wk after puberty were analyzed. Regressions with age of seminal plasma protein concentration, chloride ion concentration, and total fructose per ejaculate were not significant. However, total protein, total chloride, total glycerylphosphorylcholine, and glycerylphosphorylcholine concentration increased while fructose concentration decreased with advancing bull age. As a result of increased sperm output, the amount of each constituent per 10 9 sperm decreased after puberty. The number of different antigens detectable in seminal plasma with anti-rete testis fluid or anti-cauda epididymal plasma increased after puberty, but the number of blood antigens in seminal plasma decreased. Both composition of seminal plasma and relative volume contributed by the different reproductive organs changed during the first 30 wk after puberty.
Thermography and oral inflammatory conditions

A brief review of the literature on the use of thermography in medicine and dentistry is presented. This is followed by the presentation of eleven case reports of the use of thermography in dental clinic patients with various oral inflammatory conditions. The results showed that in seven of the eleven cases the thermogram was able to delineate the involved from the noninvolved side. The findings were nonspecific, however, and in its current form thermography cannot be used alone for differential diagnosis.
The 3RT Test: Three reaction time tasks for IBM PC computers

The 3RT Test consists of a simple, a choice, and a conditional reaction time (RT) task. The three tasks involve comparable visual stimuli and require identical manual responses, but they differ in the complexity of cognitive processing required. The nonverbal stimuli convey commonly known meanings. Responses can be made either on the keyboard or on response keys connected to the computer’s serial port. The computer’s internal timer/counter is used for millisecond timing. The test administration program allows flexible setting of the test conditions. The data analysis program provides summary data not only for each RT task as a whole, but also for separate trial types within each task. Summary statistics include measures of variation and central value that are not affected by extreme scores. In addition to laboratory studies with normal adults, the 3RT Test is suitable for life-span developmental studies, cross-cultural comparisons, and other uses in various clinical settings.
Resonance Raman studies of benzene derivatives with strong conjugation

Resonance Raman spectroscopy under conditions of resonance with the B 1u state of benzene exhibits strong binary overtone activity due to the vibronic activity of the e 2g vibrations, especially (nu) g . Resonance with the analogous L a state of benzene derivatives exhibits activity in both the fundamental and two-quantum overtone of this mode in a fashion that reflects the relative amounts of vibronic and substituent induced allowed character of the electronic transition. The Raman spectra can be used to test simple perturbative ideas concerning inductive effects originally proposed by Petruska. In this work we describe recent theoretical and experimental studies of such effects. The theory includes the Jahn-Teller and pseudo-Jahn-Teller effects in a non-perturbative fashion. The experiments are aimed at determining what happens when the interaction of the substituent with the benzene (pi) -electron system is strong so that perturbative arguments are no longer expected to apply.
Computational Methods for Pricing American Put Options

This work develops computational methods for pricing American put options under a Markov-switching diffusion market model. Two methods are suggested in this paper. The first method is a stochastic approximation approach. It can handle option pricing in a finite horizon, which is particularly useful in practice and provides a systematic approach. It does not require calibration of the system parameters nor estimation of the states of the switching process. Asymptotic results of the recursive algorithms are developed. The second method is based on a selling rule for the liquidation of a stock for perpetual options. Numerical results using stochastic approximation and Monte Carlo simulation are reported. Comparisons of different methods are made.
High Reliability Underfill for Flip-Chip Application

A new underfill was developed for a flip chip application with a large VLSI die. The new underfill is resistant to hydrolysis, exhibits a significantly lower moisture saturation level than widely used carboxylic anhydride cured underfills, demonstrates superb penetration capability between such a large die and an organic substrate without void formation, and delivers excellent adhesion characteristics and reliability performance during temperature cycling test and PCT (pressure cooker test). The new underfill utilizes amine catalyzed ring opening polymerization of epoxides, forms ether linkages during cure rather than ester linkages which anhydride cured underfills form, and strongly resists to hydrolysis. The underfill is less sensitive to moisture contamination and provides improved floor life as well as storage life in contrast to anhydride cured underfills as well. Unique low stress performance and penetration capability of the underfill are attributed to the use of proprietary silicone modified epoxy resin as well as highly loaded filler of optimized size, shape and size distribution in reference to the gap between a die and an organic substrate. An optimum cure schedule and a desirable viscosity range have also been identified for the new underfill to minimize filler segregation. Proper preheating of a die‐substrate has effectively reduced void formation while facilitating the removal of volatile from an organic substrate.
SU‐E‐T‐877: Dosimetric Evaluation of Intracranial Stereotactic Radiotherapy with Helical Tomotherapy

Purpose: The goals of stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) are the ablation of target tissue and sparing of critical normal tissue. We evaluate the effect of maximum dose escalation on conformity and gradient to intracranial targets representing brain metastases of varying size with helical tomothearpy SRT (TomoTherapy Inc., Madison, WI). Methods: Spherical targets were generated in the center of a head phantom at the central axis of delivery. The target diameters were 10, 13, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 mm. The prescription (Rx) was for a 7 Gy fraction and with maximum dose to Rx dose ratios (MDPD) of 1.025, 1.05, 1.075, 1.1, 1.15, 1.2, 1.25, and 1.3. Plans were run using a consistent approach with a goal of 95% of the target receiving Rx and 90% Rx minimum dose. Conformity of the Rx to the target is evaluated using a ratio of over and under coverage of the target. Dose falloff is analyzed using CGIg: the difference of effective radii of spheres equal to half and full Rx volumes. Results: Plans were developed for each target and MDPD combination expect for the 10 and 13 mm targets with a minimum MDPD of 1.064 and 1.039, respectively. Conformity improved with increased target size, but was mostly consistent for a specific target volume. Improvement in dose falloff increased with MDPD for all targets. The overall difference in effective dose gradient is 0.9, 2.8, 1.9, 1.8, 2.8, 2.6, 2.2, and 2.5 mm corresponding to a relative CGIg improvement of 11.7%, 50.2%, 34.9%, 34.9%, 72.8%, 91.5%, 84.4%, and 156.7% for 10, 13, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 mm targets, respectively. Conclusion: Escalation of MDPD improves dose falloff without degradation of conformity. Optimal Rx isodoses should be tailored to the tradeoff between tumordose heterogeneity and dose falloff with helical tomotherapy SRT.
Adult adenohypophysial cells express β1 integrins and prefer laminin during cell-substratum adhesion

β1 Integrins are a family of structurally related heterodimeric cell surface receptors that are involved in adhesion to molecules in the extracellular matrix (ECM) such as laminin (LN), fibronectin (FN), and collagen. These receptors are expressed by many cell types and mediate a variety of processes such as cell-matrix and cell-to-cell adhesion, cell migration, growth, and differentiation. The purpose of these studies was to identify and partially characterize β1 integrins on adenohypophyseal cells and to begin to elucidate their functional importance. Adenohypophyses were removed from adult male rats, dispersed using 0.25% trypsin, rinsed, and resuspended in a 1:1 mixture of Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium and F12 medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum and antibiotics. Ten million cells were allowed to attach to each of five plastic culture dishes overnight. The next day, the adenohypophyseal cells were surface-labeled with125I. The labeled cells were lysed and centrifuged. The supernatant was immunoprecipitated using preimmune IgGs (100 µg/ml) and was then incubated with a polyclonal antibody against the rat β1 family of integrins or with a variety of immune IgGs directed against the α subunit of the receptor (anti α1, anti α2, anti α3, and anti α5 antibodies). The receptors were then immunoprecipitated by addition of protein A-Sepharose or IgG1 Sepharose. After washing, the immunoprecipitates were subjected to sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography. Cultured adenohypophyseal cells expressed the β1 integrin subunit, which was associated with the α1, α2, α3, and α5 integrin subunits. These integrins are known to have binding specificities for LN, FN, epiligrin, and several collagens. Immunocytochemical staining and confocal microscopy verified that these receptors were present on the cell surface in vitro. The addition of anti rat β1 integrin antibodies to dispersed adenohypophyseal cells partially blocked their attachment to ECM ligands in cell adhesion assays. In addition, peptides containing Agr-Gly-Asp-Ser (RGDS) partially blocked adenohypophyseal cell attachment to FN and to a lesser extent to LN. These studies show for the first time that adult adenohypophyseal cells express several β1 integrin dimers and attach to ECM ligands corresponding to their binding specificities. The fact that these interactions are only partially blocked by RGDS peptides and antibodies against the β1 family of integrins may indicate that other cell-matrix receptors are also present. Additional studies are necessary to determine whether these interactions have a functional significance (such as an effect on hormone secretion) beyond their role in cell-matrix adhesion.
Randomized Secondary Prevention Trial of Azithromycin in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease Primary Clinical Results of the ACADEMIC Study

Background—Chlamydia pneumoniae is associated with coronary artery disease (CAD), although its causal role is uncertain. A small preliminary study reported a >50% reduction in ischemic events by az...
Group Counseling in the Schools: Considerations for Child and Family Issues

Abstract School psychologists are increasingly being confronted with a wide spectrum of psychological, psychosocial, familial, and home-school issues impacting child development. With one in six children raised in alcoholic families, with divorce impacting approximately 60% of families, and with such issues as teenage pregnancy, parental neglect, as well as sexual and physical abuse affecting large numbers of children and youths, many practitioners are interested in interventions which can directly assist children in school settings. Group counseling represents one viable and valuable intervention. This article reviews existing studies on group counseling, discusses major stages of group process, outlines legal and structural issues in forming school groups, provides a case study, and generally explores the positive contributions of group counseling in the schools.
Molecular Mechanisms for Regulation of Intestinal Calcium Absorption by Vitamin D and Other Factors

Optimal intestinal calcium (Ca) absorption is necessary for the protection of bone and the prevention of osteoporosis. Ca absorption can be represented as the sum of a saturable pathway and a non-saturable pathway that is primarily dependent upon luminal Ca concentration. While models have been proposed to describe these transport components, significant gaps still exist in our understanding of these processes. Habitual low intake of Ca up-regulates the saturable transport pathway, a process mediated by increased renal production of 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D). Consistent with this, low vitamin D status as well as deletion/mutation of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) or 25 hydroxyvitamin D-1α hydroxylase (CYP27B1) genes limit Ca absorption by reducing the saturable pathway. There is some evidence that non-saturable Ca absorption in the ileum is also regulated by vitamin D status, but the mechanism is unclear. Treatment with a number of hormones can regulate Ca absorption in vivo (e.g. parathyroid hor...
The Blalock-Taussig Shunt Revisited: A Contemporary Experience

Background The Blalock-Taussig shunt (BTS) was introduced 68 years ago before open repair of cyanotic congenital heart disease (CHD) was possible. The originally described technique has undergone many modifications but remains an integral component of the management of cyanotic CHD. We report our contemporary, single institution experience with the BTS. Study Design We performed a retrospective review of all patients treated with a BTS from June 1995 to December 2011. Results There were 730 BTS performed in 712 patients; 727 (99.6%) by interposition graft (modified). The BTS was predominantly right-sided (n = 657, 90%). Median age and weight at palliation were 8 days (range 0 days to 18.5 years) and 3.2 kg (1.5 to 51 kg). Median hospital length of stay was 16 days (range 0 to 347 days). There were 241 (33%) BTS performed as initial palliation for ultimate 2-ventricle (2V) circulation, 471 (65%) as part of staged palliation for patients with functionally univentricular lesions (1V), 6 (1%) as a part of 1.5-ventricle palliation, and 12 (1%) for Ebstein's anomaly. There were 473 (65%) BTS placed via sternotomy and the most common site of BTS was the right subclavian to right pulmonary artery (PA; n = 452, 62%). Hospital mortality was higher for BTS in 1V patients (1V 15% vs 2V 3%, p Conclusions Although the BTS remains an important component of the surgical treatment of cyanotic congenital heart disease, patients with single ventricle circulation still face significant ongoing risk of mortality.
Terahertz science and applications based on poled electro-optic polymers

We review recent research using amorphous electrooptic (EO) polymers for generation and detection of broadband terahertz radiation (0.3 THz -30 THz). The advantages of amorphous EO polymers over other materials for broadband THz generation (via optical rectification) and detection (via EO sampling) include a lack of phonon absorption (good transparency) in the THz regime, high EO coefficient and good phase-matching properties, and, of course, easy fabrication (low cost). Our ~12-THz, spectral gap-free THz system based on a polymer emitter-sensor pair is an excellent demonstration of the advantages of the use of EO polymers. This system has been employed as a wideband spectrometer to study dielectric materials in the THz regime.
Conversion from Asai to Esophageal Speech

This case report highlights the problems involved and the clinical procedures used in teaching esophageal speech to a laryngectomee who had used Asai speech for three years. Results suggest that th...
Bank acquisitions of security firms: the early evidence

A bank acquisition affects the combination of financial services that are offered, and the potential synergy between services. Consequently, an acquisition can affect the performance and risk of the bank. While much research is focused on bank acquisitions and other financial institutions, there is very little research on the performance following bank acquisitions of securities firms. Until recently, banks were restricted from acquiring securities firms. Thus, related research could only speculate on the effects from integrating bank and securities services, or measure the initial market response to related regulatory changes. It is found that the announcement effects when banks acquire security firms are not significant. Similar results are found for a matched sample of bank acquisitions of other banks. Second, bank acquirers of security firms do not experience a reduction in risk, offering no support for the diversification hypothesis. These results also hold when applying a cross-sectional analysis th...
The Influence of External Climate Environment on Safe Operation of Power System

Frequency and severity of some extreme weather events are increasing, and weather can impact the power system and its components in a number of ways. This paper identifies key technical issues facing the electric power industry, related to global climate change. The technical challenges arise from: 1) impacts on supply and demand balance; 2) impacts on system operating strategies, and power generation scheduling; 3) impacts on power grid structure, and power infrastructure response to extreme weather events; and 4) impacts on operation parameters of power system. The objective of this paper is to facilitate continued discussion of power systemclimate change interactions. To this end, this paper identifies key issues relating to the interactions between the electric power industry and global climate change. These issues will not be resolved quickly, and it requires sustained attention if they are to be resolved successfully.
Target atomic number dependence of projectile excitation cross sections of He-like iron ions

Abstract The 1s 2 →1s2s, 1s 2 →1s2p, 1s 2 →1s3s and 1s 2 →1s3p excitation cross sections of 400 MeV Fe 24+ ions impinging on target atoms have been calculated in the distortion approximation. The calculated results indicate that the cross section tends to approach to a constant value with increasing target atomic number. The present results are in good agreement with experimental results as well as other theoretical models.
Toward a Robust Canopy Hydrology Scheme with Precipitation Subgrid Variability

Abstract Representation of the canopy hydrological processes has been challenging in land surface modeling due to the subgrid heterogeneity in both precipitation and surface characteristics. The Shuttleworth dynamic–statistical method is widely used to represent the impact of the precipitation subgrid variability on canopy hydrological processes but shows unwanted sensitivity to temporal resolution when implemented into land surface models. This paper presents a canopy hydrology scheme that is robust at different temporal resolutions. This scheme is devised by applying two physically based treatments to the Shuttleworth scheme: 1) the canopy hydrological processes within the rain-covered area are treated separately from those within the nonrain area, and the scheme tracks the relative rain location between adjacent time steps; and 2) within the rain-covered area, the canopy interception is so determined as to sustain the potential evaporation from the wetted canopy or is equal to precipitation, whichever ...