cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Google Education Suite amidst the Pandemic: The New Normal Approach

The Education system in the Philippines was greatly affected by the deadly pandemic – Novel Corona Virus which transcends all our sectors into highly ICT Based enabled sector by using different technological platforms just to continue in their workforce. As part of the challenge in the new normal we are facing right now is the availability to double the services like the increase of bandwidth requirements because of the Distance Education being implemented in all higher education. The researcher is proposing a study to minimize network traffic and slowdown of internet connections and video conferencing by using an alternative platform which can minimize the usage of internet bandwidth. In terms of the video-conferencing classroom platform, it is highly recommended to use another source or tools that can be used in online learning, which is by using the upgraded requirements.
Integrated pulse scope for tunable generation and intrinsic characterization of structured femtosecond laser

Numerous techniques have been demonstrated for effective generation of orbital angular momentum-carrying radiation, but intracavity generation of continuously tunable pulses in the femtosecond regime remains challenging. Even if such a creation was realized, the generated pulses-like all pulses in reality-are complex and transitory objects that can only be comprehensively characterized via multidimensional spaces. An integrated lasing system that generates pulses while simultaneously quantifies them can achieve adaptive pulse tailoring. Here, we report a femtosecond pulse scope that unifies vector vortex mode-locked lasing and vectorial quantification. With intracavity-controlled Pancharatnam-Berry phase modulation, continuous and ergodic generation of spirally polarized states along a broadband higher-order Poincare sphere was realized. By intrinsically coupling a two-dimensional polarization-sensitive time-scanning interferometer to the laser, multidimensional spatiotemporal features of the pulse were further visualized. The proposed methodology paves the way for design optimization of ultrafast optics by integrating complex femtosecond pulse generation and structural customization, facilitating its applications in optical physics research and laser-based manufacturing.
The inconsistency and instability of Parkinson's disease motor subtypes.

Abstract Introduction Tremor-dominant (TD), indeterminate/mixed (ID/M) and postural instability gait difficulty/akinetic-rigid (PIGD/AR) are commonly used subtypes to categorize Parkinson's disease (PD) patients based on their most prominent motor signs. Three different algorithms to determine these motor subtypes are used. Here, we examined if PD subtypes are consistent among algorithms and if subtype stability over time depends on the applied algorithm. Methods Using a large longitudinal PD database, we applied 3 published algorithms of PD motor subtype classification in two sets of analyses: 1) cross-sectional analysis in 1185 patients, determining the prevalence of subtypes in 5-year intervals of disease duration; 2) longitudinal analysis of 178 patients, comparing subtypes of individual patients at baseline (within 5 years of diagnosis) and at follow-up ≥ 5 years after baseline. Results Cross-sectionally, prevalence of subtypes varied widely among the 3 algorithms: 5–32% TD, 9–31% ID/M, and 59–75% PIGD/AR. For all 3 algorithms, cross-sectional analysis showed a marked decline of TD prevalence with disease duration and a corresponding increase in PIGD/AR prevalence, driven by increasing gait/balance scores over time. Longitudinally, only 15–36% of baseline TD patients were still categorized as TD at 6.2 ± 1.0 years of follow-up. In 15–39% of baseline TD patients, the subtype changed to ID/M, and 46–50% changed to PIGD/AR. This shift was observed using all 3 algorithms. Conclusion PD motor subtypes determined by different established algorithms are inconsistent and unstable over time. Lack of subtype fidelity should be considered when interpreting biomarker-subtype correlation and highlights the need for better definition of PD subtypes.
Comminution of pulverized Pittsburgh coal during ASTM E1226-12a dust combustibility testing

Abstract Combustible dusts present an industrial hazard due to their ability to react rapidly and generate dust explosions. Studies have shown that processes utilized to inject and disperse dust particles within combustible dust testing devices result in further comminution of tested materials. Dust explosions are quantified by characteristics Pmax, (dP/dt)max, and Kst-max. This paper investigates the change in physical dust parameters of pulverized Pittsburgh coal, a certification material for ASTM E1226, after dispersion into a Siwek 20-Liter apparatus. Experiments indicate that the change in dust particle size and distribution varies with concentration. Smaller quantities of dust undergo higher levels of comminution. In the case of pulverized Pittsburgh coal all concentrations dispersed had more fines and smaller D10, D50(median), and D90 particle sizes than the pre-dispersion feedstock. Some samples had over a 50% decrease in particle size for D10, D50(median), and D90 which can affect engineering and risk assessment calculations
Towards Math Terms Disambiguation Using Machine Learning.

Word disambiguation has been an important task in natural language processing. However, the problem of disambiguation is still less explored in mathematical text. Similar to natural languages, some math terms are not assigned a unique interpretation. As math text is an important part of the scientific literature, an accurate and efficient way of performing disambiguation of math terms will be a significant contribution. In this paper, we present some investigations on math-term disambiguation using machine learning. All experimental data are selected from the DLMF dataset. Our experiments consist of 3 steps: (1) create a labeled dataset of math equations (from the DLMF) where the instances are (math token, token meaning) pairs, grouped by equation; (2) build machine learning models and train them using our labeled dataset, and (3) evaluate and compare the performance of our models using different evaluation metrics. Our results show that machine learning is an effective approach to math-term disambiguation. The accuracy of our models ranges from 70% to 85%. There is potential for considerable improvements once we have much larger labeled datasets with more balanced classes.
Knockdown Arguments

David Lewis and Peter van Inwagen have claimed that there are no “knockdown” arguments in philosophy. Their claim appears to be at odds with common philosophical practice: philosophers often write as though their conclusions are established or proven and that the considerations offered for these conclusions are decisive. In this paper, I examine some questions raised by Lewis’s and van Inwagen’s contention. What are knockdown arguments? Are there any in philosophy? If not, why not? These questions concern the nature of the philosophical enterprise and our answers have implications for the limits on the attitudes of informed, rational thinkers.
Preventing Financial Strain for Low- and Moderate-Income Adults: a Comparison of Medicaid, Marketplace, and Employer-Sponsored Insurance.

Medicaid expansion and subsidized private plans purchased on the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) Marketplaces accounted for most of the ACA’s coverage gains. Compare access to care and financial strain between Medicaid and Marketplace plans, and benchmark these against employer-sponsored insurance (ESI) plans. Cross-sectional survey A nationally representative, non-institutionalized sample of 37,219 non-elderly adults with incomes up to 400% of the federal poverty level between 2015 and 2018, and a sub-group of individuals with chronic diseases. Self-reported barriers to accessing care, cost-related medication non-adherence, and financial strain. Marketplace enrollees were more likely than Medicaid enrollees to delay or avoid care due to cost (19.3% vs 10.0%; adjusted difference (AD), 8.6 [95% CI, 6.8 to 10.4]) and report difficulties affording specialty care (7.7% vs 6.6%; AD, 1.8% [95% CI, 0.3% to 3.3%]), while there were no differences in having insurance accepted by a doctor or ability to afford dental care. Marketplace enrollees were also more likely to report cost-related medication non-adherence (21.5% vs 20.0%; AD, 4.0 [CI, 1.5 to 6.4]), be very worried about not being able to pay medical costs in case of a serious accident (32.3% vs 25.8%; AD, 6.4 [CI, 4.2 to 8.6]), have expenses exceeding $2000 (22.4% vs 5.4%; AD, 8.3 [CI, 6.2 to 10.3]), and have problems paying medical bills (18.4% vs 15.6%; AD, 1.8 [CI, 0.3 to 3.9]). Marketplace-Medicaid differences were larger among persons with a chronic disease. Individuals in ESI plans fared better for most, but not all, outcomes. Medicaid offers better protections than Marketplace plans on most measures of access and financial strain.
SARS-CoV-2 targeting by RNAi and host complement inhibition: A two-pronged subterfuge for COVID-19 treatment.

Background The lack of knowledge about the specific preventive measures and limited scientific information on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) led to an excruciating onset and progression of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Swift development of various successful vaccines around the globe is striving to contain the exponential surges of COVID-19 cases. However, the ongoing struggle to vaccinate the global population and alarming spread of highly transmissible variants may thwart global initiatives to contain SARS-CoV-2 as observed by less robust protective immunity. Methods In this perspective, we propose a thought-provoking, two-pronged strategy involving RNA interference approach to degrade essential SARS-CoV-2 ORFs required for replication and entry in conjunction with a complement inhibitor (compstatin) to stymie the detrimental proinflammatory cytokine storm that exacerbate disease progression and severity. Results We provide supporting evidence suggesting that concurrent targeting of viral and host components will be a superior strategy to effectively suppress viral spread and clinical manifestations of COVID-19. Conclusion SARS-CoV-2 specific RNAi in conjunction with systemic delivery of compstatin will be an effective two-pronged strategy to combat local and systemic immune responses in both symptomatic and asymptomatic COVID-19 patients.
High slew rate power supplies for support of large pulsed loads

Emerging high power electric weapons and sensors create challenges for future naval power systems. To address these large transient loads, energy storage systems must have high energy and power density and be capable of high slew rates — rapidly transitioning from supplying to absorbing energy. These energy storage systems have been conceived to support specialized mission loads within the ship's electrical power system. This paper presents two rotating machine concepts that combine inertial energy storage and transient power capability to mitigate the impact of these transient loads on the power system. These machines are key elements of modular, multi-mode power supplies that can be tailored to range of naval power system applications.
Adrenergic regulation of total systemic distensibility. Venous distensibility effects of norepinephrine and isoproterenol before and after selective adrenergic blockade.

Abstract The extracardiac factors that influence cardiac performance are arterial pressure and the venous return of blood to the heart. Venous return is influenced by the capacity and the distensibility characteristics of the peripheral capacitance vasculature. Distensibility determines the extent to which venous pressure increases and hence the extent to which venous return and cardiac performance increase when volume is added rapidly to the intravascular space. Thus an understanding of vascular distensibility is important to an understanding of integrated cardiovascular function. Because the influence of selective alpha and beta adrenergic receptor stimulation on total vascular distensibility is not well understood, the present study was undertaken to examine the distensibility effects of norepinephrine and isoproterenol before and after selective adrenergic receptor blockade. Fifty-one dogs were anesthetized, subjected to ganglionic block and placed on cardiopulmonary bypass at 1.5 liters/min. The reciprocal of distensibility or compliance was determined by sudden, transient occlusion of venous return and observation of the increase in central venous pressure (CVP) after a given amount of blood volume was added to the circulation (ΔCVP/83 ml). Norepinephrine, 30 μg/min, and isoproterenol, 6 μg/min, were each infused for 24 minutes. Norepinephrine was associated with an initial, transient (2 minute) increase in ΔCVP/83 ml of 18 ± 3 percent (mean ± standard error of the mean) (p Selective blockade with phenoxybenzamine and propranolol revealed that the norepinephrine effect was mediated almost entirely through alpha adrenergic receptor stimulation and the isoproterenol effect mostly through beta adrenergic stimulation. Thus alpha and beta adrenergic receptor stimulation with norepinephrine and isoproterenol, respectively, is associated with sustained increases in total systemic vascular distensibility and would be expected to be associated with diminished increases in venous pressure, venous return and cardiac performance when a given amount of volume is added to the intravascular space.
Vision-based robot localization

This paper studies the problem of robot localization in the case of robots equipped with a single camera. We propose to calculate the location of the robots by using a collection of sparse views of the planar surface on which these robots are moving. The camera motions are estimated using inter-image homographies computed from the matching of overhead transformed views. Results of map generated from the estimated robot locations are shown.
Immunobiology of Treponema hyodysenteriae outer membrane components

42 INTRODUCTION 43 MATERIALS AND METHODS 45 RESULTS 53 DISCUSSION 57 REFERENCES 61 SECTION II. THE IMMUNE RESPONSE OF SWINE TO ANTIGENS OF Treponema hvodvsenteriae 77 ABSTRACT 78 INTRODUCTION 79 MATERIALS AND METHODS 80 RESULTS 90 DISCUSSION 95 REFERENCES 100 SECTION III. SEROTYPE SPECIFIC PROTECTION OF MICE FROM IN­ FECTION WITH Treponema hvodvsenterlae WITH MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY 114 ABSTRACT 115
Brown Dwarfs from the Stellar Perspective

In this paper, we review the current theory of very low mass stars model atmospheres including the coolest known M~dwarfs, M~subdwarfs, and brown dwarfs, i.e. T$_{eff} \leq 5,000 $K and $-2.0 \le [M/H] \le +0.0$. We discuss ongoing efforts to incorporate molecular and grain opacities in cool stellar spectra, as well as the latest progress in deriving the effective temperature scale of M~dwarfs. We also present the latest results of the models related to the search for brown dwarfs.
Longitudinal Analysis of Attitudes Toward Wolves

Understanding individual attitudes and how these predict overt opposition to predator conservation or direct, covert action against predators will help to recover and maintain them. Studies of attitudes toward wild animals rely primarily on samples of individuals at a single time point. We examined longitudinal change in individuals' attitudes toward gray wolves (Canis lupus). In the contiguous United States, amidst persistent controversy and opposition, abundances of gray wolves are at their highest in 60 years. We used mailed surveys to sample 1892 residents of Wisconsin in 2001 or 2004 and then resampled 656 of these individuals who resided in wolf range in 2009. Our study spanned a period of policy shifts and increasing wolf abundance. Over time, the 656 respondents increased agreement with statements reflecting fear of wolves, the belief that wolves compete with hunters for deer (Odocoileus virginianus), and inclination to poach a wolf. Endorsement of lethal control of wolves by the state and public hunting of wolves also increased. Neither the time span over which respondents reported exposure to wolves locally nor self-reported losses of domestic animals to wolves correlated with changes in attitude. We predict future increases in legal and illegal killing of wolves that may reduce their abundance in Wisconsin unless interventions are implemented to improve attitudes and behavior toward wolves. To assess whether interventions change attitudes, longitudinal studies like ours are needed. Analisis Longitudinal de las Actitudes Hacia Lobos.
The role of clinical genomic testing in diagnosis and discovery of pathogenic mutations

Next-generation sequencing in clinical practice allows for a critical review of the literature to evaluate disease relatedness of specific genes and pathogenicity of individual mutations, while providing an important discovery tool for new disease genes and disease-causing mutations. Data obtained from large panels, whole exome or whole genome sequencing, performed for constitutional or cancer cases, need to be managed in a transparent, yet powerful analytical framework. Assessment of reported pathogenic potential of a variant or disease association of a gene requires careful consideration of population allele frequency, variant data from parents, and precise, yet concise phenotypic description of the entire family and other individuals or families that have the same variant. The full potential for discovery can only be realized if there is data sharing between clinicians performing the interpretation worldwide and structural biologists, analytical chemists and cell biologists interested and knowledgeable...
Process, space and software development support

Over the past five years we have been actively investigating support frameworks for collaborative software development. Our goal has been the development of an open framework for support of collaborative work activities which provides active guidance and help to the user and allows for dynamic modification of collaboration protocols as work situations evolve. In this position paper we outline our current thinking on support frameworks for the collaborative efforts of teams of software developers. We postulate that a space-based metaphor for collaborative systems opens the door to the design and construction of families of next-generation software process environments which are open in that many different kinds of processes can be specified significantly more flexible than existing systems in their affordances for evolution of process models, and provide integrated support for both formal and informal collaborative activities of their users.
Recent advances in and therapeutic potential of muscle-derived stem cells*

Over the past few years, issues related to the commitment and potential of reservoir precursor cells that reside in most tissues have been revisited. Many reports have documented either plasticity or de-differentiation of a number of precursor cells isolated from several tissues, including bone marrow, brain, and skeletal muscle. These findings have challenged the dogma that mononuclear cells derived from adult, post-mitotic tissues can differentiate and contribute only to the tissue from which they originate. Thus, much current research in stem cells is testing the therapeutic potential of these cells to deliver normal genes and their encoded proteins into damaged or injured tissues. This review will focus on muscle-derived precursor cells and their apparently heterogeneous nature and summarize some of the most recent findings and hypotheses on their characterization and practical use. J. Cell. Biochem. Suppl. 38: 80–87, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Regulation of Blood Glucose by Hypothalamic Pyruvate Metabolism

The brain keenly depends on glucose for energy, and mammalians have redundant systems to control glucose production. An increase in circulating glucose inhibits glucose production in the liver, but this negative feedback is impaired in type 2 diabetes. Here we report that a primary increase in hypothalamic glucose levels lowers blood glucose through inhibition of glucose production in rats. The effect of glucose requires its conversion to lactate followed by stimulation of pyruvate metabolism, which leads to activation of adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-sensitive potassium channels. Thus, interventions designed to enhance the hypothalamic sensing of glucose may improve glucose homeostasis in diabetes.
Sex-deviant handwriting, femininity, and homosexuality.

Lester and McLaughlin (1976) have observed sex-deviant handwriting, that is, males who write with handwriting judged to be feminine and vice versa, and searched for correlates of such writing. Here in the first study 26 males (Mag, 25.0 yr., SD 8.6 yr.) and 30 females (MBge 24.8 yr., SD 6.9 yr.) from two psychology classes provided one sample of writing1 each and completed the Gough femininity scale (Gough, 1952). The handwriting samples were given to three judges who rated the writing on a scale from very masculine ( -3) to very feminine ( + 3 ) . The ratings of the three judges* were summed and correlated with the femininity scores. The small Pearson correlations were not significantly different from zero ( r = 0.22 for males and 0.01 for females). In the second study each of 20 male homosexuals (Mag, 28.0 yr., SD 7.8 yr.) who were friends of a gay store owner and 20 male heterosexuals (M,,, 27.1 yr., SD 6.2 yr.) who were college students was asked for a sample of handwriting. Five judges rated the sex of the writers, believing them to be ordinary males and females. They rated each sample as either male or female, and their ratings were summed giving a score of 0 to 5. The writing of the homosexuals was more often judged female than that of the heterosexuals ( t = 3.08, df = 38, two-tailed @ < 0.01; respective M ratings of 2.9 and 1.3, SDs 1.8 and 1.3). In the third study 17 male and 17 female homosexuals were recruited from the gay community of a small city and their handwriting compared with that of 17 males and 16 females who were heterosexual school teachers. The handwriting was judged as in the second study by five judges. The mean ages of the groups were respectively 27.3 yr., 28.2 yr., 22.2 yr., and 28.4 yr. (SDs 8.3 yr., 10.0 yr., 3.7 yr., and 8.0 yr.). The male homosexuals and heterosexuals were judged to have equally masculine handwriting (respective Ms 3.1 and 3.2, SDs 1.6 and 1.7), and the female homosexuals and heterosexuals were judged to have equally feminine handwriting (Ms 0.8 and 0.9, SDs 1.3 and 1.5). It must be concluded that sex-deviant handwriting is not reliably associated in these studies with femininity or with sexual orientation.'*'
Capstone, thesis, or practicum?: the state of the practice in IA education

Many graduate programs at institutions offering an Information Assurance (IA) specialization have a capstone, thesis or practicum as one of their last courses. These program terminating courses enable schools to: assess the effectiveness of their program, provide opportunities for experiential learning, and provide closure for students as they complete the program. This project attempted to measure the state of the practice in graduate education at schools offering IA education and examine how schools terminate their programs.A review of published information at institutions designated by the National Security Agency as Centers of Academic Excellence collected information on how they terminate their graduate information assurance programs. The review revealed that the most popular option for terminating a graduate program is the thesis. Many schools offer options to their students. The thesis is the most commonly offered option by schools that offer options.
Sediment and nutrient dynamics following a low-head dam removal at Murphy Creek, California

We studied the impact of the removal of a 3-m dam on sediment and nutrient export. In the year after dam removal, sediment and nitrogen (N) export increased by an order of magnitude over the previous 2-yr mean. Longitudinal surface water samples were collected, sediments were cored, and the channel was surveyed during different seasons to determine the mechanisms driving sediment and nutrient dynamics in the recovering system. The majority of sediment transport occurred in pools and in the lowest 50 m of the 620-m restored reach. Phosphate export occurred primarily during large storms, with the restored reach acting as a phosphate sink during most flow conditions. The majority of surface water N originated from areas within the sediment wedge that had high extractable N concentrations (average NH 4 -N = 50 μg g -1 and NO 3 -N = 38 μg g -1 ) and dried out on a seasonal basis. Near the former dam site, year-round water saturation apparently inhibited nitrification and export of N as nitrate. This wetland area was the only portion of the restored reach that was an ammonium sink. After dam removal, N leaching from sediments occurred in autumn 2003 and again during the subsequent autumn, suggesting that N leaching from reservoir sediments is largely a seasonal process that may affect downstream aquatic ecosystems for a number of years.
Transport properties of the layered Zintl compound SrZnSb2

Transport properties of the layered Zintl compound SrZnSb_2 have been characterized from room temperature to 725 K on polycrystalline samples. SrZnSb_2 samples were found to be p-type with a Hall carrier concentration of 5×10^(20) cm^(−3) at room temperature, and a small Seebeck coefficient and electrical resistivity are observed. A single band model predicts that, even with optimal doping, significant thermoelectric performance will not be achieved in SrZnSb_2. A relatively low lattice thermal conductivity is observed, κ_L~1.2 W m^(−1) K^(−1), at room temperature. The thermal transport of SrZnSb_2 is compared to that of the layered Zintl compounds AZn2Sb_2 (A=Ca,Yb,Sr,Eu), which have smaller unit cells and larger lattice thermal conductivity, κ_L~2 W m^(−1) K^(−1), at 300K. Ultrasonic measurements, in combination with kinetic theory and the estimated κ_L values, suggest that the lower κ_L of SrZnSb_2 is primarily the result of a reduction in the volumetric specific heat of the acoustic phonons due to the increased number of atoms per unit cell. Therefore, this work recommends that unit cell size should be considered when selecting Zintl compounds for potential thermoelectric application.
Experimental Study Of High-beta Tokamak Stability

The stability properties of high-beta tokamak equilibria with epsilon..beta../sub p/> or approx. =1 and in the range of 10% have been studied with use of a dual-beam CO/sub 2/-laser interferometer system. Two equilibria with of 9% and 13% were observed to be stable. Another equilibrium with of 10% was observed to be unstable with the characteristics of a high--toroidal-mode-number ballooning mode.
An Expedient Phosphine-Catalyzed [4 + 2] Annulation: Synthesis of Highly Functionalized Tetrahydropyridines

Ethyl 2-methyl-2,3-butadienoate acts as a 1,4-dipole synthon and undergoes [4 + 2] annulation with N-tosylimines in the presence of an organic phosphine catalyst. The resulting adducts, ethyl 6-substituted-1-(4-tosyl)-1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-pyridine-3-carboxylates, are formed in excellent yields with complete regioselectivity. Mechanistic reasoning for this new annulation has led to an expansion of the reaction scope by employing ethyl 2-(substituted-methyl)-2,3-butadienoates to give ethyl 2,6-cis-disubstituted-1-(4-tosyl)-1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-pyridine-3-carboxylates with high diastereoselectivities.
Suppression of volcanism during rapid extension in the Basin and Range province, United States

Continental extension and volcanism are generally thought to be complementary. Stratigraphic and structural data from some highly extended parts of the Basin and Range province reveal instead that rapid extension appears to have suppressed volcanism. This relation may reflect enhanced crystallization of midcrustal magmas during extension resulting from exsolution of magmatic volatiles, increased interaction of magmas with meteoric water, and dispersal of magma into smaller bodies. Some rift environments may thus be characterized by voluminous synextensional plutonism with little or no concomitant volcanism.
Dephasing time and one-dimensional localization of two-dimensional electrons in GaAs / Al x Ga 1 − x As heterostructures

Low-field magnetoresistance measurements are made on the two-dimensional (2D) electron gas in $\mathrm{GaAs}/{\mathrm{Al}}_{x}{\mathrm{Ga}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}\mathrm{As}$ heterostructures to study the size effects on weak localization and the phase-breaking rate ($\frac{1}{{\ensuremath{\tau}}_{\ensuremath{\varphi}}}$) as a function of sample width ($W$) and potential probe spacing ($L$). When $L$ and $W$ are larger than $\ensuremath{\pi}{l}_{\ensuremath{\varphi}}$ and $\ensuremath{\pi}{L}_{T}$, where ${l}_{\ensuremath{\varphi}}$ is the phase-breaking length and ${L}_{T}$ is the thermal diffusion length, $\frac{1}{{\ensuremath{\tau}}_{\ensuremath{\varphi}}}$, deduced from experiment using the 2D localization theory, has some agreement with the theoretical 2D phase-breaking rate due to electromagnetic fluctuations and disagrees with the energy relaxation rate. When $Wl\ensuremath{\pi}{l}_{\ensuremath{\varphi}}$ and $\ensuremath{\pi}{L}_{T}$, both the localization effect and the determined $\frac{1}{{\ensuremath{\tau}}_{\ensuremath{\varphi}}}$ are one dimensional. When $L$ is small and comparable to ${l}_{\ensuremath{\varphi}}$ a new dimensional crossover for localization is observed. In such small samples, we also observe the predicted conductance fluctuations of order $\frac{{e}^{2}}{h}$.
Temporal trends and factors associated with extent of delay to hospital arrival in patients with acute myocardial infarction: The Worcester Heart Attack Study

Factors associated with delay to hospital arrival after the onset of symptoms suggestive of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) were examined in the late 1960s and 1970s, but recent data concerning these characteristics are limited. The purpose of the present study was to examine overall and temporal distributions of the extent of patients' delay from the time of onset of AMI symptoms to hospital arrival and factors associated with delay in seeking medical care from a multihospital, population-based perspective. Review of medical records was undertaken of patients hospitalized with a discharge diagnosis of AMI in 16 teaching and community hospitals in Worcester, Mass. in 1986, 1988, and 1990. The study sample comprised 1279 patients hospitalized with validated AMI in whom data concerning extent of patient delay from onset of symptoms suggestive of AMI to hospital arrival were available. The average delay between onset of symptoms suggestive of AMI and arrival at local emergency departments did not change significantly with time (average of 4.1 hours in 1986, 4.0 hours in 1988, and 4.6 hours in 1990). The median delay was 2.0 hours during each of these years. Fifty percent of patients with AMI went to area-wide emergency departments within 2 hours of the onset of acute symptoms, 22% between 2 and 4 hours, and 28% delayed > 4 hours. Results of a multivariable regression analysis showed that older age, history of diabetes, type of medical insurance coverage and previous AMI were significantly associated with delays in hospital arrival of > 2 hours.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Cursive Handwriting: Measurement of Function Rather Than Topography

ABSTRACT The unit of analysis and the unit of measurement in handwriting research are usually topographically defined. We explored the use of a functional response-class definition for the units of analysis and measurement of cursive handwriting. The sensitivity of this functional definition to differentiate easy-to-read from difficult-to-read cursive handwriting was assessed by calculating a percentage of legible letters. The ranges, means, and individual percentages showed (a) no overlap between the categories of easy-to-read or difficult-to-read handwriting and (b) small sample-to-sample variability with the easy-to-read handwriting and larger sample-to-sample variability with the difficult-to-read handwriting. The data are consistent with social validity rankings of the easy-to-read and the difficult-to-read handwriting.
The cardiorespiratory response to anoxia: normal development and the effect of nicotine

Maternal smoking increases the risk of the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) 2-4-fold. The mechanism is unknown but may be related to hypoxia responses. Recovery from hypoxic apnea by young mammals depends on gasping and bradycardia. We asked whether prenatal nicotine exposure, reported to reduce hypoxic survival in 2 day old rat pups, acted by impairing gasping or bradycardia. Pregnant rats were infused throughout gestation and 1 week postnatally with nicotine tartrate (NIC) 12 mg/kg per day or saline (CON). Maternal plasma nicotine was 134.4 +/- 42 ng/ml, significantly reducing pup body weight. Pups at 3-28 days were exposed to anoxia (97% N2/3% CO2) until gasping ceased, while breathing and heart rate were recorded. NIC and CON groups were not significantly different at any age, in baseline heart rate, respiratory rate, the time course for bradycardia, time to gasp onset, duration of gasping, or number of gasps, although most of these variables declined significantly with age. We conclude that responses to anoxia are not affected by prenatal high-dose nicotine.
Industrialization and the Circulatory Rate of Occupational Mobility: Further Tests of Some Cross-Sectional Hypotheses

Abstract Previous research has shown that an energy-consumption measure of industrial economy correlates moderately strongly with cross-national variation in the rate of father-to-son occupational mobility when the latter is measured as total or observed mobility but not when only the circulation component of status change is considered. In this paper we extend that line of research by examining the hypothesized relationships of six other measures or correlates of industrial development and growth: population distribution of educational attainments, extent of mass communications, urbanization, rate of geographic mobility, current and capital investments in education, and ethnic-linguistic diversity of population. Results of the analysis reproduce the earlier conclusion.
Design, Construction, and Early Performance of Virginia's Hot-Mix Asphalt Stabilizer and Modifier Test Sections

Three modifiers and two types of fibers (stabilizers) for hot-mix asphalt commonly available in Virginia were evaluated. Ten test sections were built on I-66, west of Manassas, Virginia. The modified asphalts complied with the specifications for performance grade 76-22 and were placed in dense-graded Marshall and coarse-graded Superpave mixes. The fibers were placed only in the dense-graded Marshall mixes. During design the dense-graded Marshall mix complied with all of the Superpave requirements except for the gradation, which passed through the restricted zone. Samples from the sections were tested for asphalt content, gradation, and Superpave and Marshall volumetrics and were rut studied using both the Georgia loaded-wheel tester and the asphalt pavement analyzer. Field samples generally passed Marshall volumetrics and generally failed Superpave volumetrics. Neither laboratory compaction method correlated with the ultimate field densities. Both tests indicated that the sections were rut resistant. All of the sections have been rut resistant and have performed well in the field after 45 months of service.
Development of a novel molecularly imprinted polymer for the retention of 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene

Several molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) for the retention of 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene (4,6-DMDBT) were prepared. The first was a polymer prepared non-covalently with methacrylic acid and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate polymerized in the presence of 4,6-DMDBT. After extraction of 4,6-DMDBT, the selectivity of the imprinted polymer was evaluated by HPLC and compared to a non-imprinted control polymer prepared without 4,6-DMDBT. The imprinted polymer retained 4,6-DMDBT slightly longer than the control polymer. The second polymer was prepared using nickel (II)-methacryloylhistidinedihydrate monomer which was combined with 4,6-DMDBT, and polymerized with ethylene glycol dimethacrylate. This is a novel use of this monomer for retention of sulfur-containing organic compounds. Selectivity for 4,6-DMDBT was much greater in this polymer compared to the first, and retention in acetonitrile was more than three times greater on the imprinted polymer compared to a control polymer. Results indicate the potential use of this novel MIP for the removal of organosulfur compounds from fuel.
Association between clinical expression and molecular heterogeneity in β-thalassemia Tunisian patients

Beta-thalassemia is the most frequent hereditary blood disorder in Tunisia because of its geographic localization and history. This pathology is characterized by a complex multisystem process with genetic and biochemical interactions. The aim of this work was to establish phenotype/genotype association through studying the distribution and the relationship between β-thalassemia and α-thalassemia mutations and three polymorphic markers: the C → T polymorphism at −158 of the Gγ gene, the RFLP haplotype and the repeated sequence (AT)xTy in the β globin silencer, in two groups of β-thalassemia major and β-thalassemia intermedia (TI) patients. Statistical analysis has shown that moderate expression seen in TI patients was significantly associated to β+ −87 (C → G), −30 (T → A) and IVSI-6 (T → C) mutations, haplotypes VIII, IX and Nb and to XmnI polymorphism. The regression analysis of combined genotypes (mutation/XmnI/RFLP haplotype) revealed that they contribute to justify 17.1 % of clinical expression diversity (p < 0.05). Among the studied genotypes the XmnI polymorphism seems to be the most determinant modulating factor, followed by the β-thalassemia mutation and RFLP haplotype. Our findings highlight the heterogeneity of molecular background of β-thalassemia that would be responsible of clinical variability.
Role of antiarrhythmic agents after myocardial infarction with special reference to the EMIAT and CAMIAT trials of amiodarone

The role of antiarrhythmic agents in the post-MI patients has been investigated for several years. Recently, clinical trials have assessed the effects of amiodarone in the post-MI population. The Basel Antiarrhythmic Study of Infarct Survival (BASIS) trial showed a reduction in total mortality, sudden death, and life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias with amiodarone therapy. The European Myocardial Infarct Amiodarone Trial (EMIAT) did not show a mortality benefit, but amiodarone was associated with fewer antiarrhythmic deaths. The Canadian Amiodarone Myocardial Infarction Trial (CAMIAT) showed no significant impact on mortality, but arrhythmia deaths and resuscitated cardiac deaths were reduced. Amiodarone therapy after MI should be reserved for the treatment of symptomatic or sustained ventricular arrhythmias. The current data do not support routine use of amiodarone in all patients after MI.
Utility and reliability of endovascular aortouniiliac with femorofemoral crossover graft for aortoiliac aneurysmal disease.

Abstract Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the early efficacy of endovascular aortouniiliac stent grafts with femorofemoral bypass graft in the treatment of aortoiliac aneurysmal disease. Methods: We analyzed 51 consecutive patients from January 1997 to March 1999 with a mean follow-up of 15.8 months. Patients ranged in age from 44 to 93 years (mean, 75 years) with a mean aortic aneurysm diameter of 6.2 cm. Technical success was achieved in 50 patients; one patient required conversion to open repair intraoperatively. We placed 28 custom-made and 22 commercial devices. The mean operative time was 223 minutes. The endograft was extended to the external iliac artery in 42% of cases. The contralateral common iliac artery was occluded using either a closed covered stent or intraluminal coils. Results : The median hospital stay was 4 days with an average intensive care unit stay of 0.25 days. There were no operative mortalities. Two patients died during follow-up from unrelated conditions. Endoleaks occurred in 11 patients (22%); seven patients (14%) required intervention (four catheter based, three operative). Other complications occurred in 38% of patients but were largely remote or wound related. One femorofemoral bypass graft occluded immediately postoperatively as a result of an intraprocedural external iliac dissection yielding a 98% primary patency and 100% secondary patency. Clinical success was achieved in 88% of patients. Conclusions: These data suggest that this strategy represents a reliable method of repair of aortoiliac aneurysmal disease and extends the capability of an endoluminal approach to patients with complex iliac anatomy. (J Vasc Surg 2000;31:1135-41.)
What if prospective clients knew how managed care impacts psychologists' practice and ethics? An exploratory study.

Modal responses to items from a recent survey of independent practitioners regarding the impact of managed care on their practices and ethics (Murphy, DeBernardo, & Shoemaker, 1998) were presented to participants as the responses of a hypothetical independent practitioner. Participants were asked to consider seeing this hypothetical practitioner both before and after being informed of the practitioner's responses to the managed care survey. Results indicate that when participants were informed of the practitioner's views toward managed care, their own attitudes toward therapy changed significantly. Specifically, compared to uninformed participants, informed participants were significantly more likely to believe that managed care would have a negative impact on treatment and significantly less likely to see an independent practitioner, use insurance benefits, expect to benefit from treatment, expect to form a strong working relationship, and trust that the practitioner would work in their best interest. Im...
Transient neonatal ventricular tachycardia associated with maternal cocaine use.

Abstract Ventricular tachycardia (VT) is an uncommon arrhythmia in infancy and has been associated with cardiac tumors, congenital or acquired heart disease, metabolic derangements, drug toxicity and cardiac catheterization or surgery. 1 The use of cocaine, even in nonmassive doses, can cause VT in adults. 2,3 The maternal use of cocaine during pregnancy is associated with transplacental transmission of the drug. We report transient neonatal VT caused by maternal cocaine use, a complication not previously described.
Paleomagnetism of the Schuller and Franspoort kimberlite pipes in South Africa and an improved Premier pole

Abstract Thirteen (out of 16) oriented kimberlite samples from the Schuller and Franspoort pipes in the Premier swarm have yielded consistent stable remanent vectors after detailed AF demagnetization. The calculated poles (Schuller, n =8, 33.4°N, 53.5°E, α 95 =6.0; Franspoort, n =5, 49.1°N, 48.8°E, α 95 =7.5) are similar to those previously determined for the Premier and National pipes. The four poles are somewhat streaked, but their mean: n =4, 30.0°N, 52.5°E, α 95 =16.3, is considered to be a better estimate of the pole position for the Kaapvaal Craton ∼ 1200 Ma ago.
Interventional cardiology: Monitoring catheter ablation of AF—the European perspective

Data from a prospective, European registry of patients undergoing catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation have now been published. The 1-year outcomes of this large, multinational study highlight variation in the concomitant use of antiarrhythmic drugs, and the need for rigorous clinical follow-up after ablation, with extended electrocardiographic monitoring.
Advances in high-speed nematic liquid crystal modulators (Invited Paper)

Various nematic liquid crystal (LC) operating schemes have been proposed to improve nematic LC response beyond video rate. Several high contrast nematic liquid crystal modulators with fast response time have been developed and successfully demonstrated. The transient nematic effect represents the recent effort for developing high speed liquid crystal modulators.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Biotic and abiotic effects on CO2 sequestration during microbially-induced calcium carbonate precipitation.

In this study, CO2 sequestration was investigated through the microbially-induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) process with isolates obtained from a cave called ‘Cave Without A Name’ (Boerne, TX, USA) and the Pamukkale travertines (Denizli, Turkey). The majority of the bacterial isolates obtained from these habitats belonged to the genera Sporosarcina, Brevundimonas, Sphingobacterium and Acinetobacter. The isolates were investigated for their capability to precipitate calcium carbonate and sequester CO2. Biotic and abiotic effects of CO2 sequestration during MICP were also investigated. In the biotic effect, we observed that the rate and concentration of CO2 sequestered was dependent on the species or strains. The main abiotic factors affecting CO2 sequestration during MICP were the pH and medium components. The increase in pH led to enhanced CO2 sequestration by the growth medium. The growth medium components, on the other hand, were shown to affect both the urease activity and CO2 sequestration. Through the Plackett–Burman experimental design, the most important growth medium component involved in CO2 sequestration was determined to be urea. The optimized medium composition by the Plackett–Burman design for each isolate led to a statistically significant increase, of up to 148.9%, in CO 2 uptake through calcification mechanisms.
Geometry of density matrices. IV. The relationship between density matrices and densities

The relationship between densities and density matrices is explored in the case of a finite-basis-set expansion. The space of one-electron density matrices can be divided into two orthogonal subspaces with elements in one of them in one-to-one correspondence with densities. A component in the other does not contribute to the density. The set of densities is convex but there may be densities which cannot be obtained from a density matrix. The matrix of a local potential has a component only in the first subspace, and any such matrix can be obtained from a local potential. It is possible for Hamiltonian matrices differing by the matrix of a local potential to have a common ground-state eigenvector, so a Hohenberg-Kohn theorem cannot always be established. When it can, the explicit local potential with a given ground-state density can be formally obtained when appropriate conditions are satisfied. The details of the decomposition of the space of matrices and of subsequent developments depend on linear-dependency relationships among basis-set products, and are thus basis-set dependent.
Perillyl alcohol mediated radiosensitization via augmentation of the Fas pathway in prostate cancer cells

Background The management of hormone-insensitive locally advanced prostate cancer is difficult and complex and there is an urgent need for the development of effective chemotherapeutic agents intended for combination with currently available treatment modalities. Methods The present paper demonstrates the effectiveness of the monoterpene perillyl alcohol (POH) as potent radiosensitizer on DU145 and PC3 cell lines by performing clonogenic survival assays, cycle analysis, and assays to detect viability, apoptosis, and Fas receptor/ligand by flow cytometry. Results POH pretreatment resulted in a dose dependent sensitization to kill cell by radiation. Furthermore, POH treatment induced a transient G2/M arrest, enhanced the expression of the membrane bound form of the Fas ligand and sensitized the cells to Fas mediated apoptosis. Conclusions The unique manner of radiosensitization in addition to its low toxicity profile makes POH a promising new agent for preclinical evaluation as a potential radiosensitizer in the treatment of prostate cancer. Prostate 57: 14–23, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.