cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Entropy of self-gravitating radiation systems and the entropy of black holes.

The entropy of a self-gravitating radiation system (SGRS) confined to a spherical box is calculated by using the equation of state of radiation near the black-hole horizon, which was derived by Li and Liu. Compared with the result given by Sorkin, Wald, and Zhang, there is no divergence problem with the result of this paper. Furthermore, the upper bound on the entropy of SGRS's is exactly equal to the corresponding black-hole entropy. In this way, an explanation for the origin of black-hole entropy is provided.
Consumer product-related eye injury in the United States, 1998-2002.

PROBLEM: Eye injury is currently a leading cause of visual impairment and monocular blindness in the United States. Information regarding consumer products associated with eye injuries can have important implications for the prevention of these injuries. METHODS: The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) was used to describe the types of consumer products associated with emergency department treated eye injuries in the United States from 1998 through 2002. RESULTS: The leading product type associated with eye injuries was welding equipment followed by household cleaners, basketball equipment, workshop equipment, and adhesives. Eye injuries attributed to hardware, tools, construction, sports, toys, and lawn equipment were more common among males. In females, eye injuries attributable to chemicals, housewares, storage and organization, and bed and bath items were more common. Differences were also apparent across the age spectrum. CONCLUSION: This study identified specific products and categories of products frequently associated with eye injury and prevention initiatives should focus on these items. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: This study has identified consumer products associated with eye injuries requiring medical treatment in the United States. Manufacturers of these products could be encouraged to add or strengthen safety messages regarding the potential for eye injury. Language: en
Accelerated liquid isolectric focusing using a direct current source that maintains constant power

Abstract A power supply has been designed to improve liquid isoelectric focusing by automatically maintaining constant power applied to the column. The main advantages are (a) a reduced exposure time which is particularly important when sensitive proteins are being resolved; (b) a reduction in the loss of resolution due to diffusion or denaturation of the proteins; and (c) a considerable increase in efficiency of the use of the equipment for preparative purposes.
Conflict and friendship relations in middle childhood: behavior in a closed-field situation.

Disagreements between school-aged children were examined as a function of friendship status. 66 same-sex dyads were selected, including equal numbers of “best friends” and nonfriends, who were then observed while playing a board game (a closed-field situation). Conflicts occurred more frequently among friends than among nonfriends and lasted longer. Friends did not talk more during their conflicts than nonfriends, but assertions were used selectively according to friendship and sex: With friends, girls used assertions accompanied by rationales more frequently than boys whereas boys used assertions without rationales more frequently than girls. These sex differences were not evident during conflicts between nonfriends. Results are discussed in relation to the social constraints intrinsic to closed-field competitive conditions as these apply to friendship relations in middle childhood.
Orthogonal polynomials, measures and recurrence relations

Properties of measures associated with orthogonal polynomials are investigated in terms of the coefficients of the three term recurrence formula satisfied by the orthogonal polynomials.
Layered depth images

In this paper we present a set of efficient image based rendering methods capable of rendering multiple frames per second on a PC. The first method warps Sprites with Depth representing smooth surfaces without the gaps found in other techniques. A second method for more general scenes performs warping from an intermediate representation called a Layered Depth Image (LDI). An LDI is a view of the scene from a single input camera view, but with multiple pixels along each line of sight. The size of the representation grows only linearly with the observed depth complexity in the scene. Moreover, because the LDI data are represented in a single image coordinate system, McMillan’s warp ordering algorithm can be successfully adapted. As a result, pixels are drawn in the output image in back-to-front order. No z-buffer is required, so alphacompositing can be done efficiently without depth sorting. This makes splatting an efficient solution to the resampling problem.
Reply to Michael Flinn

W e are pleased that our February i983 article drew the attention of Michael Flinn,1 and welcome this chance to elaborate on the points he raises. While Flinn has not challenged our main conclusions, he has challenged our turning-point. He suggests that the real-wage turning point was almost a decade earlier, and that most real wage gains had been achieved before I 825. The debate over turning-points hangs on the choice of benchmark years for unstable prices, rather than on the more stable nominal wage rates. Flinn believes that our nominal wage series (w) should be deflated by a smoothed, multi-year price index (p), thus: deflate i8io(w) by i809/iI(p), deflate i8I5(w) by i8I4/I7(p), and deflate i835(w) by i833/37(p). When we do so, however, the following "new" real-wage trends emerge ("All blue collar", i850 = I00.0):
On estimating the proportion of true null hypotheses for false discovery rate controlling procedures in exploratory DNA microarray studies

Abstract Multiple testing using DNA microarray gene expression data has revived the promising area of false discovery rate (FDR) in statistics. Some recent advances in FDR controlling procedures can be unified in terms of estimating the proportion of true null hypotheses, π 0 . In the original FDR procedure π 0 was set to its upper bound of one, the most conservative choice. The degree of conservativeness in estimating π 0 has a direct impact on the power of FDR procedures to detect true alternative hypotheses. In this work, we examine some recent FDR procedures with respect to the following two primary aims: (1) Compare the conservativeness of estimating π 0 (and hence FDR). (2) Evaluate the impact of (1) on the power to detect true alternative hypotheses. We also investigate the sensitivity of FDR procedures to violation of statistical assumptions, such as heterogeneity of variance and independence. The effect of varying sample sizes on the estimation of π 0 and power is also explored. Furthermore, in our investigation of aims (1) and (2), we defined and utilized the benchmark FDR procedure. This allows for making absolute power comparisons of FDR procedures to a benchmark, in addition to making relative comparisons among FDR procedures.
Analysis of 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine levels in tissues and milk by isocratic high-performance liquid chromatography.

Abstract A sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) assay was established to analyze levels of the antiretroviral agent 3′-azido-3′-deoxythymidine (AZT, zidovudine) in serum, milk and tissue extracts. After methanol precipitation, serum samples could be injected directly into the HPLC apparatus, whereas tissue extracts required further clarification. Recovery of AZT was virtually complete. Isocratic elution with a mobile phase consisting of 6% acetonitrile and 0.1 M ammonium acetate, pH adjusted to 4.5 with glacial acetic acid, resulted in good resolution of AZT and its metabolites; retention times for AZT and the internal standard, p -nitrophenol, were 20 and 37 min, respectively. Using this method, we have demonstrated that AZT crosses both the blood-brain and placental barriers and is excreted into milk at high levels.
Beam Steering with Linear Arrays

The principles and techniques of real-time imaging with phased array ultrasound scanners are reviewed. Topics include 1) the geometric optics of beam steering and focusing with a linear array in the transmit and receive modes; 2) limitations on image data acquisition due to ultrasound propagation velocity; 3) optical diffraction theory for linear arrays including effects of amplitude grating lobes. Limitations on the image quality of phased array imaging systems are also discussed, including 1) nonideal response of array transducers; 2) target ambiguities caused by phase error grating lobes; 3) refraction errors; 4) delay line design. Finally, an analysis is presented of current techniques for improving ultrasound image quality using phased array methods including phase compensation, spatial compounding, frequency compounding, and parallel processing.
High-Q mechanical oscillator studies of single crystal YBa2Cu3O7−δ

High-Q mechanical oscillator measurements obtained at low amplitude, equivalent to extremely low-field (microgauss) ac-susceptibility data, reveal subtle features in the vortex dissipation of YBa2Cu3O7−δ single crystals. These include an oscillatory modulation of vortex dissipation as a function of temperature forH}c. We find that the usually smooth, single-peaked dissipation behavior is a result of over-driving the sample (tilt oscillation amplitude greater than 10−6 radians); resolving the fine structure of the dissipation peaks requires very low amplitude (order of 10−7 radians) excitation. A simple and appealing explanation of the fine structure in terms of intrinsic pinning and the temperature dependence of the coherence length is presented. The fine structure was also observed to be enhanced for particular fields, reflecting the commensurability of the overall vortex lattice with the crystal lattice.
International Adoption: Counseling and the Adoption Triad

Despite a 60-plus–year history of international adoption (IA) placements, the body of research exploring counseling and psychological interventions for those affected by IA is still in its infancy. This critical review of the state of the literature addresses research, theory, and practice relevant to the international adoption triad (adoptive parents, birth parents, and adoptees). We highlight the lack of empirical attention to the clinical needs of birth parents, the tendency to overlook the clinical needs of adoptive parents both pre- and post-adoption, early childhood vulnerability in international adoptees, and adolescent identity challenges and the attendant clinical issues.
The Contributions of Child and Caregiver to Referential and Expressive Language.

Twelve infants were observed longitudinally to examine the relationship of children's object play and social behavior and maternal object and social-centered talk to referential and expressive language. Measures of child behavior and maternal language were coded from play sessions videotaped in the home at 12, 15, and 18 months of age; mothers recorded their babies' first 50 words. Most children acquired a balanced distribution of object labels and social-centered words and phrases; a few children evidenced a more extreme “style.” More object labels were acquired by children who more often used a toy to engage mother and who had mothers who more often talked about toys. More social-centered speech was associated with children's nontoy-mediated social attention and more maternal behavior-focused speech.
Collaboration and learning within immersive virtual reality

We are studying collaboration and learning within immersive virtual reality (IVR) using a head-mounted display technology. This research, supported by the College of Education and Human Interface Technology Laboratory at the University of Washington, is currently concerned with the activities of 56 ninth grade students at work in a public school environment. Subjects worked as individuals and in pairs while investigating the concepts of global warming within an audio-enhanced virtual reality model of Seattle called Global Change World (GCW). Three groupings of subjects were provided with different collaborative experiences while immersed within the GCW virtual learning environment: (1) Individuals who received minimal support during the learning exercise provided; (2) Paired peers who collaborated throughout the learning exercise; and (3) Individuals who completed the learning exercise in collaboration with an in-world expert companion. It is concluded that collaborative IVR learning experiences can be successfully integrated into existing school curricula in spite of a significant lack of knowledge regarding the nature of human communication, interaction, and learning within VLEs.
Arterial access for thoracic endograft placement.

Background Endovascular repair of thoracic aortic disease continues to evolve since FDA approval of the first thoracic endograft in the United States in March 2005. Certain anatomic characteristics, including adequacy of arterial access, remain a significant limiting factor in thoracic endovascular repair. In clinical trials evaluating thoracic endografts, vascular access complications occurred in >20% of cases. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the arterial access and the selective use of the ascending aorta for thoracic endograft placement. Method A retrospective review was performed for patients who underwent thoracic endograft placement between May 2005 and April 2009 (4 years since FDA approval of the first thoracic endograft). Patient records were reviewed for the indication for the procedure, type of arterial access, technical success, and access-related complications. Results Seventy-nine thoracic endografts were placed during the study period. The indications for endograft placement included 53 aneurysms, 10 traumatic lesions, 6 endoleaks, 4 dissections, 3 penetrating ulcers, 2 bleeding aortic fistulas, and 1 thoracic diverticulum. Retrograde access was used in 70 cases (89%): 60 femoral (76%) and 10 aortoiliac (13%). Antegrade access through a 10-mm polyester graft anastomosed to the ascending aorta was used in nine cases (11%). These procedures included endograft placement with proximal elephant trunk creation in six cases, endograft-alone in two cases, and combination with proximal arch reconstruction/debranching in one case. There was 100% technical success for all cases. The overall access-related complication rate was 6%. There were no complications with antegrade access through the ascending aorta or with aortoiliac access. There were five complications in the femoral access group (three iliac artery dissection, one iliac artery injury, and one femoral artery injury). Conclusions Access selection is an important part of the preoperative planning of endovascular procedures. Choosing the most appropriate access for a patient will decrease the access-associated complication rate. In addition, selected patients with poor aortoiliac access and those that require debranching or elephant trunk procedures may benefit from antegrade access.
Risk Factors for Penile Prosthetic Infection

AbstractPurpose: We determined the risk factors for penile prosthesis infections.Materials and Methods: The records of 156 men undergoing 167 procedures for insertion of a penile prosthesis were reviewed. The device was implanted during a primary uncomplicated procedure in 114 cases. Simultaneous penile reconstruction was performed in 23 cases. A malfunctioning penile prosthesis was replaced or repaired immediately following removal in 30 cases. Minimum followup was 1 year.Results: The infection rate was 1.8 percent after insertion of a penile prosthesis in 114 men without previous penile surgery compared to 21.7 percent for procedures requiring reconstruction of the corpora, which was significantly different (p less than 0.01). The infection rate after revision of a penile previous penile surgery compared to 21.7 percent for procedures requiring reconstruction of the corpora, which was significantly different (p less than 0.01). The infection rate after revision of a penile prosthesis was 13.3 percent, w...
Condom Use with “Casual” and “Main” Partners: What’s in a Name?

Abstract Objective This study examined adolescents' attitudes about and behaviors toward condom use with "casual" vs. "main" sexual partners. Method Participants were sexually active adolescents aged 15–21 years (n = 1316) recruited from primary care clinics and through outreach activities in three major cities in the United States. Assessment of condom use within the past 90 days, relevant attitudes, substance use, and demographic data were obtained via audio computer-assisted self-interview (ACASI). Results Participants were divided into two groups: the 65% who reported main partners only (MP group) and the 35% who had at least one casual partner (CP group). Adolescents in the MP group were more likely to be female, whereas males were significantly more likely to report casual partners. Race/ethnicity, age, education level, household income, and sexually transmitted infection (STI) history were unrelated to group status (i.e., sexual partner type). Greater substance use and riskier attitudes were reported by teens in the CP group. The number of unprotected sex acts in the past 90 days was substantial and equivalent between the main and casual partner groups (19.2 vs. 21.5, respectively). Regression analyses revealed that perceptions of main partner attitudes toward condom use and condom use expectations were significantly related to condom use with MPs, but that attitudes were not related to condom use with CPs. Conclusions Adolescents with either casual or main partners may be at continued risk for contracting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and STIs, given high rates of unprotected sex. Interventions that do not target attitudes and practices related to casual partners as compared with main partners may miss an opportunity to change risk behaviors. This study demonstrates the importance of understanding an adolescent's perception of partner types in order to design effective interventions.
Pharmacokinetics of cefovecin in cats

The pharmacokinetics of the novel cephalosporin cefovecin were investigated in a series of in vivo, ex vivo and in vitro studies following administration to adult cats at 8 mg/kg bodyweight. Bioavailability and pharmacokinetic parameters were determined in a cross-over study after intravenous (i.v.) and subcutaneous (s.c.) injections. [14C]cefovecin was used to evaluate excretion for 21 days after s.c. administration. Protein binding was determined in vitro in feline plasma and ex vivo in transudate from cats surgically implanted with tissue chambers. After s.c. administration, cefovecin was characterized by rapid absorption with mean peak plasma concentrations of 141+/-12 microg/mL being achieved within 2 h of s.c. injection with full bioavailability (99%). The mean elimination half-life was 166+/-18 h. After i.v. administration, volume of distribution was 0.09+/-0.01 L/kg and mean plasma clearance was 0.35+/-0.04 mL/h/kg. Approximately 50% of the administered radiolabelled dose was eliminated over the 21-day postdose period via urinary excretion and up to approximately 25% in faeces. In vitro and ex vivo plasma protein binding ranged from 99.8% to 99.5% over the plasma concentration range 10-100 microg/mL. Ex vivo protein binding in transudate was as low as 90.7%. From 8 h postdose, concentrations of unbound (free) cefovecin in transudate were consistently higher than in plasma, with mean unbound cefovecin concentrations being maintained above 0.06 microg/mL (MIC90 of Pasteurella multocida) in transudate for at least 14 days postdose. The slow elimination and long-lasting free concentrations in extracellular fluid are desirable pharmacokinetic attributes for an antimicrobial with a 14-day dosing interval.
Amperometric sensor for fish freshness based on immobilized multi‐enzyme modified electrode

An amperometric biosensor for the determination of fish freshness has been developed by immobilizing 5′-nucleotidase (NT), nucleoside phosphorylase (NP) and xanthine oxidase (XO) enzymes on a Nafion-paraquat chemically modified glassy-carbon working electrode. The sensing principle is based on the oxygen consumption in the enzymatic reaction catalyzed by xanthine oxidase immobilized in the matrix. The quantity of hypoxanthine (Hx), the combined amount of inosine (HxR) and Hx and the total quantity of inosine 5′-monophosphate (IMP), HxR and Hx can be determined, respectively, by changing the medium conditions. This sensor system can be used to determine the freshness of fish. An indicator of fish freshness, K1, is defined as K1 = {[HxR] + [Hx]}/{[IMP] + [HxR] + [Hx]}. This biosensor prowides a reliable means for determining of Hx, HxR and IMP in fish samples and the freshness of the fish meat.
Response of a model retinal receptor as a function of wavelength.

A polystyrene foam model of the ellipsoid of a retinal cone receptor was uniformly irradiated by a point source of microwave energy. The contribution of the model was determined when it was irradiated by a number of different wavelengths, and when it was oriented in different directions relative to the advancing wave front.The shorter the wavelength, the greater the ability of the model to concentrate the incident energy when the model was oriented in the direction of maximum sensitivity. Further, the directionality of the functions becomes greater the shorter the wavelength. That is, for the shorter wavelengths, the sensitivity falls off more rapidly (from the maximum) for equivalent obliquity of incidence of the wave front. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Trileptons from chargino-neutralino production at the CERN Large Hadron Collider.

We study direct production of charginos and neutralinos at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. We simulate all channels of chargino and neutralino production using isajet 7.07. The best mode for observing such processes appears to be pp\ensuremath{\rightarrow}W${\mathrm{\ifmmode \tilde{}\else \~{}\fi{}}}_{1}$Z${\mathrm{\ifmmode \tilde{}\else \~{}\fi{}}}_{2}$\ensuremath{\rightarrow}3l+E${\mathrm{/}}_{\mathit{T}}$. We evaluate signal expectations and background levels, and suggest cuts to optimize the signal. The trilepton mode should be viable provided ${\mathit{m}}_{\mathit{g}}$\ifmmode \tilde{}\else \~{}\fi{}\ensuremath{\lesssim}500--600 GeV; above this mass, the decay modes Z${\mathrm{\ifmmode \tilde{}\else \~{}\fi{}}}_{2}$\ensuremath{\rightarrow}Z${\mathrm{\ifmmode \tilde{}\else \~{}\fi{}}}_{1}$Z and Z${\mathrm{\ifmmode \tilde{}\else \~{}\fi{}}}_{2}$\ensuremath{\rightarrow}${\mathit{H}}_{\mathit{l}}$Z${\mathrm{\ifmmode \tilde{}\else \~{}\fi{}}}_{1}$ become dominant, spoiling the signal. In the first case, the leptonic branching fraction for Z decay is small and additional background from WZ is present, while in the second case, the trilepton signal is essentially absent. For smaller values of ${\mathit{m}}_{\mathit{g}}$\ifmmode \tilde{}\else \~{}\fi{}, the trilepton signal should be visible above background, especially if \ensuremath{\Vert}\ensuremath{\mu}\ensuremath{\Vert}\ensuremath{\simeq}${\mathit{m}}_{\mathit{g}}$\ifmmode \tilde{}\else \~{}\fi{} and ${\mathit{m}}_{\mathit{l}}$\ifmmode \tilde{}\else \~{}\fi{}\ensuremath{\ll}${\mathit{m}}_{\mathit{q}}$\ifmmode \tilde{}\else \~{}\fi{}, in which case the leptonic decays of Z${\mathrm{\ifmmode \tilde{}\else \~{}\fi{}}}_{2}$ are enhanced. Distributions in dilepton mass m(ll\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{}) can yield direct information on neutralino masses due to the distribution cutoff at ${\mathit{m}}_{\mathit{Z}\mathrm{\ifmmode \tilde{}\else \~{}\fi{}}2}$-${\mathit{m}}_{\mathit{Z}\mathrm{\ifmmode \tilde{}\else \~{}\fi{}}1}$. Other distributions that may lead to an additional constraint amongst the chargino and neutralino masses are also examined.
Dissociation of heart rate variability and heart rate recovery in well-trained athletes

The purpose of this investigation was to examine the relationships between aerobic fitness, volume of physical activity (PA), heart rate variability (HRV), and heart rate recovery (HRR) in a group of well-trained endurance athletes. Nineteen endurance athletes participated in this study and had aerobic capacities that placed them above the 99th percentile based on normative values (VO(2max): 67.1 ± 2 ml kg(-1) min(-1)). HRV was obtained via an EKG collected during supine rest and reported as high-frequency (HF), low-frequency (LF), and total power (TP). Natural log (ln) transformation was applied when variables violated assumptions of normality. HRR recovery was reported as the reduction in heart rate from peak exercise to the heart rate 1 min after cessation of exercise and PA was estimated from a questionnaire. HRR was significantly correlated with PA and VO(2max) (r = 0.67, P = 0.003 and 0.51, P = 0.039, respectively), but not with any index of HRV. Age was significantly correlated with lnHF (r = -0.49, P = 0.033), lnLF/lnHF (r = 0.48, P = 0.037), and normalized units (NU) of LF (r = 0.47, P = 0.042) and HF (r = -0.47, P = 0.042). Stepwise regression revealed that the strongest predictor of HRR was PA (R (2) = 0.45) and that VO(2max) did not add significant predictive value to the model. The relationship between HRV and age is evident in well-trained endurance athletes, whereas the relationship between HRV and PA/aerobic fitness is not. The maintained relationship between HRR and PA/aerobic fitness suggests that HRR may be a better marker of fitness-related differences in autonomic control in this population.
Connecting citizens and local governments? Social media and interactivity in major U.S. cities

Abstract Changing the relationship between citizens and government is often cited as a goal for digital government, and new tools such as social media have the potential to improve interactions with citizens through dialogue. Citizens are most likely to participate at the local level (Berry, Portney and Thomson, 1993; Oates, 1972; Oakerson, 1999), and the largest cities have traditionally been at the forefront in the adoption of e-government innovations (Moon, 2002; Ho, 2002). We examine the use of social networks and other interactive tools in the 75 largest U.S. cities between 2009 and 2011. During this period, the adoption of Facebook skyrocketed from just 13% of the cities in 2009 to nearly 87% in 2011; similarly, the use of Twitter increased from 25% to 87%. We further explore three case study cities through analysis of discussion on social networks, and interviews, and find that one-way “push” strategies (Mergel, 2013a) predominate, although there are some signs of greater openness toward dialogue with citizens.
Niskanen effects in the California Community Colleges

The regression results of this paper show that bureaucrats act to maximize both their outputs and their discretionary budgets as predicted by Niskanen for demand constrained conditions. But the evidence does not confirm the Niskanen hypothesis concerning chronic oversupply by bureaus. Further, the evidence here shows that the discretionary budgets of bureaus may not fall to zero as suggested by Niskanen. Instead, it would appear that, given severe budget constraint bureaus may not produce an excess supply of output and may cut costs in an effort to maintain a positive discretionary budget balance.
Channel stability downstream from a dam assessed using aerial photographs and stream-gage information

ABSTRACT: The stability of the Neosho River channel downstream from John Redmond Dam, in southeast Kansas, was investigated using multiple-date aerial photographs and stream-gage information. Bankfull channel width was used as the primary indicator variable to assess pre- and post-dam channel change. Five sin-mile river reaches and four stream gages were used in the analysis. Results indicated that, aside from some localized channel widening, the overall channel change has been minor with little post-dam change in bankfull channel width. The lack of a pronounced post-dam channel change may be attributed to a substantial reduction in the magnitude of the post-dam annual peak discharges in combination with the resistance to erosion of the bed and bank materials. Also, the channel may have been overwidened by a series of large floods that predated construction of the dam, including one with an estimated 500-year recurrence interval.
The acute and chronic toxicity of ammonia to marine fish and a mysid.

The acute toxicity (96-hr LC50) of un-ionized ammonia to mysids (Mysidopsis bahia) and larval inland silversides (Menidia beryllina) was influenced by pH and salinity in a species specific manner. With mysids, NH3 was most toxic at pH 7.0 and less toxic at pH 8.0 and 9.0. In contrast, NH3 toxicity to inland silversides was greatest at pH 7.0 and 9.0 and lowest at pH 8.0. A drop in salinity from 31 g/kg to 11 g/kg uniformly increased toxicity to mysids over this pH range. In contrast, in silversides at 11 g/kg, NH3 toxicity was less at pH 7.0, greater at pH 8, and slightly less at pH 9, relative to the toxicity at 31 g/kg. Temperature had no significant effect on the acute toxicity of un-ionized ammonia with acclimated mysids tested at 18, 25 and 32.5°C, but did have a small effect with acclimated larval sheepshead minnows (Cyprinodon variegatus) tested at 13, 25 and 32.5°C. The chronic toxicity value (the geometric mean of the highest no-effect concentration and lowest effect concentration) at pH 8.0, 25°C and 31 g/kg salinity is 0.061 mg NH3/L for inland silversides and 0.232 mg NH3/L for mysids; the acute: chronic ratio is 21.3 and 7.2, respectively.
Response Letter to Gazzaruso and Colleagues

We’d like to thank Dr Gazzaruso and colleagues for their thought-provoking letter which suggests that our conclusion, that a HbA1c target of 8.0% may be lower than necessary for maintaining function in nursing home eligible elders, may be premature for 2 reasons. (1) First, they note that our study results run counter to previous studies where hyperglycemia was associated with disability. However, both of the cited studies were cross-sectional, raising the possibility that the observed association was due to reverse causation. Specifically, providers may have appropriately decreased the intensity of glycemic treatments for disabled patients, since these patients are often older with a higher burden of comorbidities putting them at higher risk for hypoglycemia. (2, 3) Thus, we believe our longitudinal study is an important advance from previous studies. Second, Dr Gazzaruso and colleagues note that our studies occurred before the widespread use of dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists. We acknowledge that newer agents hold the promise of tighter glycemic control in older adults with less hypoglycemia. However, there is currently little data to suggest that these newer medications lead to improved patient outcomes such as decreased functional decline. Since these newer medications cost many times more than older medications and long-term safety is unknown, we believe that older medications should be tried first in the vast majority of older patients with diabetes. For healthier elders with an extended life expectancy, we agree with Dr Gazzaruso that a reasonable HbA1c target would be 7.0 – 7.5%, as recommended by the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics (IAGG). (4) However, our study and conclusions focused on nursing home eligible elders for whom consensus statements recommend less stringent glycemic targets. The IAGG panel states that “in cases of functional dependence, care home residence…and other high dependency states, [HbA1c target] may need to be adjusted to reduce the risk of hypoglycemia and enhance patient safety.” (4) Further, a recent American Diabetes Association and European Association for the Study of Diabetes consensus statement recommended that “…less stringent goals—e.g. 7.5 – 8.0% or even slightly higher—are appropriate for patients with…a limited life expectancy [or] extensive comorbid conditions.” (5) Thus, for elders with functional limitations and limited life expectancy, expert consensus statements appear to support our conclusion that a HbA1c target of 8.0% may be lower than necessary to maintain function.
Erosion and infill of New York Finger Lakes: Implications for Laurentide ice sheet deglaciation

A comprehensive seismic reflection profile investigation of the New York Finger Lakes has revealed the extent of bedrock erosion and nature of sediment fill beneath the lakes.Bedrock deepens to the south, where gorgelike profiles have been eroded to as much as 304 m below sea level and infilled with up to 275 m of late Quaternary age (< 14 ka) sediment. We propose a working hypothesis that invokes ice streaming and pressurized subglacial meltwater and sediment to account for regional geomorphology. This working hypothesis is consistent with recent concepts of the collapse of continental ice sheets via ice streaming and the marine isotopic record for a meltwater spike at 13-14 ka. The Finger Lakes may provide a critical testing ground for deglaciation models of the southern Laurentide ice sheet because they contain a thick, well-preserved, and now seismically defined record of the deglaciation process.
The Developmental Assets and ASCA's National Standards: A Crosswalk Review

This article offers a comprehensive literature review of Developmental AssetsTM, defined as the positive building blocks that all children and adolescents need to succeed. The article examines the usefulness of the Developmental Assets for a comprehensive, developmental, and strengths-based school counseling program. A crosswalk comparing the Developmental Assets to the American School Counselor Association's National Standards illustrates that the Developmental Assets complement the academic and personal/social domains but lack a substantial career component.
THE RATES OF THE ELECTRON EXCHANGE REACTION BETWEEN U(IV) AND U(VI) IONS IN WATER, ETHYLENE GLYCOL AND WATER-ETHYLENE GLYCOL SOLVENTS

Abstract The rate of the electron exchange reaction between U(IV) and U(VI) ions was studied at 25° in water, glycol and water-glycol solvents, and at various concentrations of U(IV), U(VI), and hydrochloric acid. The order of the reaction with respect to each of these substances was found to depend on the composition of the solvent. The rates of the reaction in the water-glycol were slower by factors of from two to about four orders of magnitude than were the rates of the reaction in the water-ethanol and water-acetone system. This slowing down of the reaction in water-ethylene glycol as compared to water-ethanol and water-acetone is attributed to the replacement of water in the inner solvation layer of the uranyl ion by the ethylene glycol.
26-Dimensional String from 4-Dimensional Geometry

A study of 4-dimensional volume preserving covariant changes of the metric leads directly to string theory in 26 dimensions. In any conformally invariant theory of such metric distortions, a new principle of relativity is shown to imply that the maximum number of independent components of the distortion tensor is 26. Within the simplest such theory allowing metric compatible spaces as trivial solutions, we show that this maximum is realized by a solution equivalent to the 26-dimensional bosonic string.
Refeeding-malaria and hyperferraemia.

Abstract During the Central African (Sahelian) drought, attacks of falciparum malaria were common in patients and their relatives shortly after their arrival in a hospital in Eastern Niger. A prospective study of 72 adult patients not admitted for malaria and 109 accompanying relatives was undertaken to investigate this observation. 23 attacks occurred in patients and 51 in relatives, with a peak frequency five days after arrival. On arrival, parasitaemia was low but reached a maximum by five days. Serum-iron and percentage saturation of transferrin were moderately increased initially, rose dramatically within forty-eight hours with near maximum saturation, and were falling by the fifth day. It is suggested that the early hyperferraemia, apparently related to refeeding, led to rapid multiplication of existing parasites and attacks of malaria. The results of experimental malarial infection of Wistar rats, half of which had been given intramuscular iron, supported this hypothesis.
Ultraviolet response of semitransparent multialkali photocathodes.

The UV spectral sensitivity of two semitransparent visible sensitive photocathodes for spaceborne applications, a trialkali, Cs-Na2KSB, and a bialkali, K2CsSb, both on MgF2 substrates. Results show that for extended wavelength coverage, the bialkali photocathode affords increased quantum yield as compared with the trialkali type, and that the latter has a more variable responsivity with wavelength.
Computational modelling of impact damage in brittle materials

A Lagrangian finite element method of fracture and fragmentation in brittle materials is developed. A cohesive-law fracture model is used to propagate multiple cracks along arbitrary paths. In axisymmetric calculations, radial cracking is accounted for through a continuum damage model. An explicit contact/friction algorithm is used to treat the multi-body dynamics which inevitably ensues after fragmentation. Rate-dependent plasticity, heat conduction and thermal coupling are also accounted for in calculations. The properties and predictive ability of the model are exhibited in two case studies: spall tests and dynamic crack propagation in a double cantilever beam specimen. As an example of application of the theory, we simulate the experiments of Field (1988) involving the impact of alumina plates by steel pellets at different velocities. The calculated conical, lateral and radial fracture histories are found to be in good agreement with experiment.
Calculation of Doubly Curved Reflectors for Shaped Beams

A method based upon conservation of energy and the simple laws of geometrical optics is described for the calculation of double-curvature surfaces to produce from a point source a shaped beam of arbitrary shape in one plane and uniformly narrow in the perpendicular planes. A specific application of the shaped-beam antenna is in connection with radar antennas for airborne navigational systems, for which the optimum elevation pattern is found empirically to be G(0) = Kcsc20 cos 0. A reflector to produce from a given primary source the required pattern is the envelope of a family of paraboloids determined by a central-section curve which is adjusted to give the necessary distribution of energy for the shaped beam. A test for the single-valuedness of a computed surface is described. Patterns are shown for experimental antennas whose reflectors were computed by this method. It is demonstrated that some control of the antenna pattern can be achieved by proper motion of the antenna feed. A discussion of errors is included in an Appendix.
A two-parameter quantum deformation of the unit disc

We define and study a two-parameter deformation of the unit disc. This deformation is described in terms of a family of type I C-algebras Cμ,q(Ū). We study the representation theory for Cμq(Ū) and construct an action of the quantized universal enveloping algebra Uq(sl(2)) on Cμq(Ū).
WHY SHORT‐TERM EXPERIMENTS MAY NOT ALLOW LONG‐TERM PREDICTIONS ABOUT INTRAGUILD PREDATION

Equilibrium models are increasingly employed in applied ecology, but often because of experimental logistics, only short-term laboratory experiments are performed. Here, we use simple models to examine the management relevance of this disconnection between theory and experiments in communities with intraguild predation (IGP). Equilibrium theory shows that IGP can promote coexistence of competitors on a shared resource. However, adding the intraguild predator can result in higher resource densities than in a system with the intraguild prey alone with its resource. This has important management implications when the shared resource is a pest species whose population is controlled by natural enemies. Our models demonstrate why short-term experiments and studies ignoring alternate resources may bear no relationship to a system at equilibrium. Short-term experiments quantifying only attack rates can predict a broad range of outcomes. By ignoring conversion efficiency, consumer longevity, and immigration, short...
Fractional integration analysis of long-run behavior for US macroeconomic time series

Abstract We apply a new ARFIMA approach to distinguish between the trend and difference stationary models of long-run dynamics for a well-known representative macroeconomic dataset. Our results strengthen the case for the difference stationary model for these series.
Strengthening collegiate adult student services

Continuing education administrators and student services personnel should provide stronger leadership and planned change strategies to strengthen support services for adult students.
Optimal distributed policies for choosing among multiple servers

The authors analyze a system consisting of multiple identical deterministic servers. Customers arrive in several streams; each customer has to decide which server to join by looking only at previous decisions of customers of the same stream. For three variations of this problem, it is proved that round robin is the policy minimizing the total expected delay over all customers of an individual stream. The problem of optimizing the total expected delay over all streams is considered. The performance of the round robin policy is investigated and the conclusion is that it is not optimal for this problem. Most of the results also apply under more general service time distributions. >
Hepatitis C screening: getting it right.

Hepatitis C is the most prevalent bloodborne viral disease in the United States and the deadliest. This year, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) will update its 2004 hepatitis C guideline, which recommends against screening asymptomatic adults for hepatitis C. This guideline has hampered public health efforts to encourage screening and identify and refer infected persons for care by declaring that such interventions were not supported by the evidence. A draft revision of the guideline, released on November 26, 2012, concludes that testing persons born between 1945 and 1965 probably has at least a small net benefit, but stops short of definitively recommending that this cohort be screened. This article examines the Task Force's process for writing its guidelines. It recommends that the Task Force adopt a balanced approach to evaluating the benefits and harms of screening; use the preponderance of the evidence as a standard for evaluating interventions that target serious public health problems; be transparent about the value judgments that go into its decisions; consider the wide variation in disease prevalence in diverse patient populations; and recommend screening asymptomatic adults for hepatitis C. Conclusion: By taking a broader view of the evidence, the Task Force can write new guidelines that will serve efforts to curb the hepatitis C epidemic, rather than frustrate them. (HEPATOLOGY 2013)
Objective clinical evaluation of function. Gait analysis.

Automated gait analysis allows us to document and quantify objectively normal gait, functional deficits, and patient response to therapeutic intervention. Instrumentation for this analysis at the Mayo Clinic Gait Laboratory includes three-dimensional electrogoniometers for measurement of relative joint rotation at the hip, knee, and ankle; footswitches that record foot-floor contact sequences; instrumented mats that measure step length and width; piezoelectric force plates for measurement of floor reaction forces; and two walkways that simulate a variety of ground conditions. We use a DEC-PDP 11/34 computer for acquisition, storage, and analysis of data and for generation of a gait report form that displays a patient's results relative to normal and previous evaluations. Applications of these techniques include assessment of function preoperative and postoperative total joint arthroplasty, quantification of gait faults, and documentation of effectiveness of exercise and gait training techniques. We have demonstrated the reliability of the techniques, accumulated a sizeable normal data bank, and developed a concise, effective data summary for communication with referring practitioners.
The effectiveness of a new method for assessing induration

The assessment of the hardness of a lesion is an important component of a cutaneous examination. Hardness is defined as the degree of firmness of the skin as determined by its resistance to deformation, most commonly assessed subjectively by palpation. Current scientific methods to assess hardness have not gained wide acceptance because they tend to be cumbersome, time consuming, and costly. The durometer, an apparatus with a plunger to assess hardness of metals in arbitrary units, has been used to assess skin hardness. However, it is cumbersome and may not be suitable for certain body sites, and interobserver variability is unknown.1 Skin scores are subjective and require considerable training and experience that may only be available at specialized centers.2 Transcutaneous oxygen pressures,3 ultrasound,4 and dynamic admittance indirectly provide data on thickness, but not specifically induration. Interobserver communication of degree of hardness is limited because a standard system is not available. A system that can be reproducible, efficient, and inexpensive could potentially gain wide application.
Nutrition and Physical Activity Resources to Promote Health Among Youth

Today's children are expected to have shorter lifespans than their parents due to poor nutrition and low physical activity. Tech savvy and sedentary youth spend large amounts of time on the Web. Education, health, and library science professionals can direct youth to quality Web resources to educate and motivate health behavior change. This bibliography of Web sites can assist professionals to discern high-quality resources designed to facilitate inquiry learning and critical thinking in youth. Encouraging youth to explore nutrition and physical activity Internet resources may facilitate inquiry learning through problem solving as they consider the content in relationship to their personal health.
Mondrian: a teachable graphical editor

Mondrian is an object-oriented graphical editor that can learn new graphical procedures through programming by demonstration. A user can demonstrate a sequence of graphical editing commands on a concrete example to illustrate how the new procedure should work. An interface agent records the steps of the procedure in a symbolic form, using machine learning techniques, tracking relationships between graphical objects and dependencies among the interface operations. The agent generalizes a program that can then be used on “analogous” examples. The generalization heuristics set it apart from conventional “macros” that can only repeat an exact sequence of steps. The system represents user-defined operations using pictorial “storyboards” of examples. By bringing the power of procedural programming to easy-to-use graphical interfaces, we hope to break down the “Berlin Wall” that currently exists between computer users and computer programmers.