cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Psychology of Risk: The Behavioral Finance Perspective

Since the mid-1970s, hundreds of academic studies have been conducted in risk perception-oriented research within the social sciences (e.g., nonfinancial areas) across various branches of learning. The academic foundation pertaining to the "psy- chological aspects" of risk perception studies in behavioral finance, accounting, and economics developed from the earlier works on risky behaviors and hazardous activi- ties. This research on risky and hazardous situations was based on studies performed at Decision Research (an organization founded in 1976 by Paul Slovic) on risk percep- tion documenting specific behavioral risk characteristics from psychology that can be applied within a financial and investment decision-making context. A notable theme within the risk perception literature is how an investor processes information and the various behavioral finance theories and issues that might influence a person's percep- tion of risk within the judgment process. The different behavioral finance theories and concepts that influence an individual's perception of risk for different types of financial services and investment products are heuristics, overconfidence, prospect theory, loss aversion, representativeness, framing, anchoring, familiarity bias, perceived control, expert knowledge, affect (feelings), and worry.
Water Swallows Versus Food Ingestion as Manometric Tests for Esophageal Dysfunction

Abstract Data from 100 consecutive patients with chest pain or dysphagia, or both, who underwent esophageal testing with standard water swallows and upright food ingestion were retrospectively evaluated. In addition to having manometric patterns monitored, patients were asked to relate symptoms during testing. Of 77 patients with a history of dysphagia, significantly more had abnormal manometry during the test meal than with water swallows (79 vs. 43%, p
Development and Validation of a Classroom Assignment Routine for Inclusive Settings

This study had two purposes: (a) to identify the characteristics of high-quality classroom assignments and how they are best explained, as indicated by teachers, students with learning disabilities (LD), and students without LD; and (b) to determine the effects of training teachers to use an assignment completion routine based on these characteristics. Multiple-probe and comparison-group designs were used in combination to show the effects of learning the routine on the teachers' planning, explanation, and evaluation of assignments. Results indicated that the teachers initially performed few of the behaviors associated with the assignment characteristics and explanation factors, but could effectively be taught to use them in an assignment completion routine with their students.
Effects of wet acid deposition and soil fertility on seedling growth, nutrition, and water relations: a comparison of white oak and loblolly pine.

Abstract Responses of juvenile white oak (Quercus albaL.) and loblolly pine (Pinus taedaL.) to simulated acid precipitation (pH 4.8, 4.2, and 3.6), as influenced by soil fertility, were examined. Height and stem diameter growth of white oak decreased with increasing rainfall acidity, although the height response was confined to the high fertility treatment, and root mass was reduced by pH 3.6 rains as well. Height and diameter growth also declined with increasing acidity in loblolly pine, and shoot and root mass and root length and specific length were reduced in low fertility by pH 3.6 rains. Direct foliar injury increased with increasing acidity in loblolly pine, but pH 3.6 rainfall stimulated mycorrhization of this species. Foliar Ca, Mg, and Cu were reduced in both species by pH 3.6 and pH 4.2 rains as was S by the former. Conversely, the Fe concentration was elevated by pH 3.6 and pH 4.2 rainfall in loblolly pine as was Zn by the former. Foliar Al increased with increasing acidity in both white oak a...
A Computational Study of Reaction Routes of 1,3,3-trinitroazetidine (TNAZ) Synthesis

This study performs simulation modeling of the synthesis of 1,3,3-trinitro azetidine (TNAZ), a high-energy compound. Based on the experimental nitromethane and 1,3-dihalo-2-propanol raw material methods in the latest literature, we suggest reasonable reaction mechanisms. Using quantum mechanical theory, i.e., electronic density functional theory (DFT) B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) in the Gaussian 09 program, we have completed optimization work for all species in related reaction stages and obtained energy barrier data, which are used to identify the most feasible reaction pathways. Nitromethane has been used to react with formaldehyde through an ionic-type transition to produce 2,2-dinitro-1,3-propandiol, followed by reaction with hydrogen bromide to produce 1,3-dibromo-2,2-dinitro propane, then further react with a tertiary amine to produce 1-tertiary amino-3,3-dinitro azetidine, and subsequently nitrate to obtain TNAZ. Substituent effects of some atomic groups have been found during synthesis modeling, and a total activation energy of 1386.6 kJ/mol needs to be conquered in order to complete the reaction. Furthermore, from synthesis modeling using the 1,3-dihalo-2-propanol raw material method, the suggested reaction routes could be bromination of glycerol to 1,3-dibromo-2-propanol, followed by reaction with nitromethane to undergo amination, and further cyclization, oxidation, oximization, and nitration in sequence to produce the target product TNAZ. An overall 1163.5 kJ/mol energy barrier needs to be overcome in this part of the computation.
IgE antibody to fish gelatin (type I collagen) in patients with fish allergy

Abstract Background: Most children with anaphylaxis to measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines had shown sensitivity to bovine gelatin that was included in the vaccines. Recently, it was found that bovine type I collagen, which is the main content in the gelatin, is a major allergen in bovine gelatin allergy. Fish meat and skin also contain type I collagen. Objective: The present study was designed to investigate IgE antibody to fish gelatin in children with fish allergy. Methods: Serum samples were taken from patients in 3 groups: (1) 10 patients with fish allergy and specific IgE to fish meat; (2) two patients with allergies to both fish meat and bovine gelatin and specific IgE to fish meat and bovine gelatin; and (3) 15 patients with atopic dermatitis and specific IgE to fish meat. Various fish gelatins (type I collagen) were prepared from fish skin. IgE antibody to fish gelatin was analyzed by using ELISA and immunoblotting. Results: Of 10 patients with fish allergy, 3 had specific IgE to fish gelatin. Of two patients with fish allergy and bovine gelatin allergy, all had specific IgE to fish gelatin. Of 15 patients with atopic dermatitis and specific IgE to fish meat, 5 had specific IgE to fish gelatin. Furthermore, IgE from pooled serum of the patients reacted with both the α1 and α2 chains of fish type I collagen in immunoblots. There is cross-reactivity among gelatins from various fishes, but there is little cross-reactivity between fish and bovine gelatins. Conclusion: Some fish-sensitive patients possessed IgE antibody to fish gelatin. Fish gelatin (type I collagen) might be an allergen in subjects with fish allergy. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 2000;106:579-84.)
Critical issues in commercially viable semiconductor lasers

Commercial viability of the semiconductor lasers imposes several stringent conditions on device fabrication and/or materials: First of all, high yield should be achieved with minimum cost. High long-term reliability is also an extremely important issue for most of applications as the replacement cost of failed devices is prohibitively high, and thus the lifetime of the laser diodes can be a major factor determining the total cost of application systems. In this article, we discus some of the critical issues related to the commercial viability of semiconductor lasers. As an example of the successful commercialization of the semiconductor lasers developed in research laboratories, we discuss the recent transfer of Al-free laser technology from Northwestern University to Semiconductor Lasers International, Inc. The highly suitable features of Al-free system for industrial scale of production are discussed. The recent results obtained in the industry with low cost and high yield are shown to have high-performance of these Al-free lasers comparable to those observed in the research laboratory.
Enoximone inhibits hepatic mitochondrial long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase.

Abstract The phosphodiesterase inhibitor, enoximone, was previously shown to cause paradoxical effects on cardiac lipid metabolism. The present study was undertaken to elucidate the effects of enoximone on the hepatic mitochondrial pathway of fatty acid oxidation. Results presented here show that in isolated rat liver mitochondria, palmitate oxidation was inhibited progressively by increasing concentrations of enoximone. Maximum inhibition (35%) of mitochondrial oxygen uptake was attained at 250 μM enoximone. At this concentration, enoximone did not affect the oxidation of either palmitoyl-CoA or palmitoyl carnitine. Also, enoximone did not inhibit the oxidation of the short-chain fatty acid, hexanoate, neither did it affect the respiratory chain in the mitochondria. These data suggest that enoximone specifically inhibits long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase activity. This was confirmed experimentally when the activity of this enzyme was determined in the absence and presence of enoximone. Discovering inhibitors of specific steps in lipid metabolism should provide a useful tool to investigate mechanisms regulating this pathway.
Effect of viscoelastic relaxation on moisture transport in foods. Part II: sorption and drying of soybeans.

The general fluid transport equation presented in Part-I of this paper is used for predicting moisture transport and viscoelastic stresses during sorption and drying of soybeans. Predicted drying curves were validated using experimental data obtained from literature (average absolute difference 6-13%). For drying temperatures used in the soybean processing industry (70–93 °C), smooth moisture profiles were obtained, which indicated Fickian (Darcian) transport. As the drying temperature approached the glass transition temperature (25 °C at 10% moisture content), the moisture profiles became sharper, which indicated non-Fickian (non-Darcian) transport. The viscoelastic stress profiles clearly exhibited the role of the force terms during imbibition and drying. Increase in drying temperature tends to decrease the stress relaxation function but reduction in moisture content during drying tends to increase it. The increase in stress due to the reduction in moisture content below 10% was not compensated by an increase in drying temperature. Drying of soybeans below 10% moisture content should be avoided in the industry because this will lead to thicker flakes that reduce the amount of oil recovery. During imbibition of soybeans, a high magnitude of stresses was obtained in the rubbery regions, which may cause critical regions prone to fissuring. The role of glass transition on stress development and critical region development was clearly observed during drying and imbibition of soybeans.
Cytotoxicity of Human Endogenous Retrovirus K–Specific T Cells toward Autologous Ovarian Cancer Cells

Purpose: To determine whether HERV-K envelope (ENV) protein could function as a tumor-associated antigen and elicit specific T-cell responses against autologous ovarian cancer cells. Experimental Design: The expression of HERV-K transcripts and ENV protein, the presence of serum antibodies against HERV-K, reverse transcriptase (RT) activities, and cellular immune responses in primary ovarian cancer tissues and patient blood samples were analyzed and compared with samples from patients with benign ovarian diseases and normal female donors. Results: Ovarian cancer cells in primary tumors and ascites expressed markers of cancer stem cells and markers of both mesenchymal and epithelial cells. Expression of HERV transcripts and HERV-K ENV protein and reverse transcriptase activities were higher in ovarian cancer compared with adjacent normal and benign tissues. The ovarian cancer patient plasma also had high reverse transcriptase activities and the ovarian cancer patient sera contained HERV-K immunoreactive antibodies. HERV-K–specific T cells generated from autologous dendritic cells pulsed with HERV-K ENV antigens exhibited phenotypes and functions consistent with a cellular immune response including T-cell proliferation, IFNγ production, and HERV-K–specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity. Significantly higher CTL lysis of autologous tumor cells than of uninvolved normal cells was demonstrated in patients with ovarian cancer than patients with benign diseases and further enhanced lysis was observed if T regulatory cells were depleted. Conclusion: Endogenous retroviral gene products in ovarian cancer may represent a potentially valuable new pool of tumor-associated antigens for targeting of therapeutic vaccines to ovarian cancer. Clin Cancer Res; 21(2); 471–83. ©2014 AACR .
Intermittent reductions in respiratory neural activity elicit spinal TNF-α-independent, atypical PKC-dependent inactivity-induced phrenic motor facilitation

In many neural networks, mechanisms of compensatory plasticity respond to prolonged reductions in neural activity by increasing cellular excitability or synaptic strength. In the respiratory control system, a prolonged reduction in synaptic inputs to the phrenic motor pool elicits a TNF-α- and atypical PKC-dependent form of spinal plasticity known as inactivity-induced phrenic motor facilitation (iPMF). Although iPMF may be elicited by a prolonged reduction in respiratory neural activity, iPMF is more efficiently induced when reduced respiratory neural activity (neural apnea) occurs intermittently. Mechanisms giving rise to iPMF following intermittent neural apnea are unknown. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that iPMF following intermittent reductions in respiratory neural activity requires spinal TNF-α and aPKC. Phrenic motor output was recorded in anesthetized and ventilated rats exposed to brief intermittent (5, ∼1.25 min), brief sustained (∼6.25 min), or prolonged sustained (30 min) neural apnea. iPMF was elicited following brief intermittent and prolonged sustained neural apnea, but not following brief sustained neural apnea. Unlike iPMF following prolonged neural apnea, spinal TNF-α was not required to initiate iPMF during intermittent neural apnea; however, aPKC was still required for its stabilization. These results suggest that different patterns of respiratory neural activity induce iPMF through distinct cellular mechanisms but ultimately converge on a similar downstream pathway. Understanding the diverse cellular mechanisms that give rise to inactivity-induced respiratory plasticity may lead to development of novel therapeutic strategies to treat devastating respiratory control disorders when endogenous compensatory mechanisms fail.
Rethinking the boundaries between public law and private law for the twenty first century: An introduction

In the broadest terms, in the context of common law jurisdictions, public law is inseparable from government. Private law traditionally encompasses the common law of contract, torts, and property that regulates relations among individuals. 3 Also, consistent with this distinction, and as more systematically established in the civil law tradition, constitutional law, administrative law, and criminal law fall within the ambit of public law. 4 In short, at the highest levels of abstraction, public law is the law that pertains to government—for example, constitutional separation of powers or administrative procedure; or to the vertical relation between the government and individuals to the extent that government imposes an obligation owed to it on individuals—for example, criminal law; or directly confers a right or entitlement on the latter—for example, laws pertaining to government dispensation of welfare assistance to the poor; or guarantees such individual right or entitlement— for example, constitutional law both as commanding government self-restraint 5 and
Hierarchical maximum entropy density estimation

We study the problem of simultaneously estimating several densities where the datasets are organized into overlapping groups, such as a hierarchy. For this problem, we propose a maximum entropy formulation, which systematically incorporates the groups and allows us to share the strength of prediction across similar datasets. We derive general performance guarantees, and show how some previous approaches, such as hierarchical shrinkage and hierarchical priors, can be derived as special cases. We demonstrate the proposed technique on synthetic data and in a real-world application to modeling the geographic distributions of species hierarchically grouped in a taxonomy. Specifically, we model the geographic distributions of species in the Australian wet tropics and Northeast New South Wales. In these regions, small numbers of samples per species significantly hinder effective prediction. Substantial benefits are obtained by combining information across taxonomic groups.
The role of the national institute of standards and technology in DARPA's broadcast news continuous speech recognition research program

Abstract This paper reviews the role that the National Institute of Standards and Technology has played in the “Broadcast News” research community. The 1995 “Dry Run” Marketplace set the scene for the introduction of broadcast materials, followed by larger-scale benchmark tests in 1996, 1997, 1998 and (most recently) 1999. This paper discusses the 1998 test results in some detail; these also involve tests based on Broadcast News corpora, including the Spoken Document Retrieval, Information Extraction – Named Entity, and Topic Detection and Tracking tasks.
Percolation in the secrecy graph: Bounds on the critical probability and impact of power constraints

Secrecy graphs model the connectivity of wireless networks under secrecy constraints. Directed edges in the graph are present whenever a node can talk to another node securely in the presence of eavesdroppers. In the case of infinite networks, a critical parameter is the maximum density of eavesdroppers that can be accommodated while still guaranteeing an infinite component in the network, i.e., the percolation threshold. We focus on the case where the location of the nodes and the eavesdroppers are given by Poisson point processes, with and without power constraints. We present bounds for different types of percolation, including in-, out — and undirected percolation.
Therapeutic syncretism: A conceptual framework of persistence and change for international nursing

International nursing, as well as the entire nursing profession, has committed itself to a change paradigm. An alternative to the change paradigm has been proposed to account for elements of stability and persistence. This alternative, therapeutic syncretism, is defined and described, emphasizing an individual's effect on the syncretic process. Finally, the Kingdom of Swaziland illustrates therapeutic syncretism in action as the nation, nurses, and indigenous healers reflect qualities of persistence and change.
A Source of Degradation of Plastic Encapsulated Devices

Some chemical degradation effects in plastic encapsulated semiconductor devices are analysed by the use of pressurecooker tests. After summarising the possible sources of chlorine contamination and its degradation effects, our new results are presented indicating that chlorine contamination of semiconductor devices can also be caused by some washing and cleaning operations. Considering the sensitivity of semiconductor devices in plastic package against different chlorinated hydrocarbons, a group of safe cleaning agents is defined and recomended to device users and manufacturers. A CONSIDERABLE ATTENTION HAS BEEN PAID recently to the effects and origins of chlorine contamination of semiconductor devices. Failure analysis with dedicated instruments /EDS, SEM/ have shown the presence of chlorine in several degraded devices. It has been found, that the interconnecting metallization of semiconductor devices /Au-Al and Al-Al systems/ corrodes incomparably faster if chlorine impurities are present in addition to moisture traces. As possible sources of the chloride contamination mostly impurities, originating from the chip technology and assembly or the encapsulat ing plastic material itself /-and in special cases , at devices built in circuits, the salt envia ronment-/ has been made responsible. 1,2 In this paper we intend to call attention to some physicochemical and chemical conditions which shall be observed in order to avoid chloride contamination during the cleaning, degreasing and plating operations of the plastic encapsulated devices, and also at post solder cleaning of assembled printed circuit boards.
Risk factors and prognostic variables in the ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome

This study was undertaken to clarify discriminative roles of multiple epidemiologic, hormonal, and biophysical variables for causation of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Three hundred ninety-six patients with anovulatory infertility had ovulation induction with human menopausal gonadotropin throughout 1822 treatment cycles; 54 cycles (3%) were complicated by ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Early follicular serum estradiol and prolactin levels were higher in this group than in controls: 75.5 versus 46.2 pg/ml and 18.5 versus 11.7 ng/ml, respectively (p less than 0.01). On the day of human chorionic gonadotropin administration (day 0) the mean serum estradiol level was 1047 +/- 381 in the group with ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and 719 +/- 339 pg/ml in controls (p less than 0.0001). In all follicular sizes and in all grades of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome there was a tendency for more recruited follicles, with significantly more small follicles (12 to 14 mm) present on day 0 in all grades of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome than in controls. Stepwise logistic regression performed on 22 variables identified a high-risk group for this syndrome; the major features are illustrated by young, lean patients who, after relatively few ampules of human menopausal gonadotropin, develop high estradiol levels and multiple small follicles.
Upland agriculture, the land frontier and forest decline in the Philippines

Population pressure, expansion of small-scale agriculture and shifting cultivation are commonly cited as the causes of tropical deforestation. A close examination of deforestation and agriculture in the Philippine uplands reveals, however, that the vast majority of agriculturists must be sedentary farmers. In addition, the importance of population pressure as a cause of deforestation in the Philippines cannot be supported by the available evidence. Lastly, the concept of ‘arable land’ is shown to be of limited value in discussing upland agriculture in the Philippines.
Dynamic light scattering from weakly bending rods: Estimation of the dynamic bending rigidity of the M13 virus

A theory is presented for the dynamic structure factor [S(K,t]) of weakly bending rods. This treatment is based on a discrete bead model for the Brownian dynamics in which all bead motions associated with bending are constrained to occur in a plane perpendicular to the end-to-end vector, thus prohibiting extension or contraction along that axis. Preset hydrodynamic interactions are incorporated in a numerically exact manner. The predicted normalized dynamic structure factor S(K,t)/S(K,0) should be valid for short times t such that the rms rotation of the end-to-end vector around any transverse axis is much less than 1.0 radian. With geometrical parameters appropriate for the M13 virus, the intensity autocorrelation function G(2) (K,t) = 1 + magnitude of S(K,t)/S(K,0)2 is calculated over a range of times and scattering vectors K for selected values of the persistence length P. The calculated G(2) (K,t) are fitted to a single exponential with unit baseline over the same range of times as the experimental photon correlation functions, and the apparent diffusion coefficients Dapp (K) are obtained from the best-fit relaxation times. For the sake of completeness, an exact expression is derived for the apparent diffusion coefficient obtained from the initial slope of the dynamic structure factor. However, this does not reduce to the known correct result in the rigid rod limit. To obtain the correct result, the limit of infinite bending rigidity must be taken before the limit of zero time. For this and other reasons, the initial slope value of Dapp (K) is not useful for weakly bending rods. Photon correlation functions are measured for the M13 virus, which is virtually identical to the often-studied fd virus. The experimental photon correlation functions are fitted over 8 relaxation times to a single-exponential plus baseline, and the Dapp (K) are calculated from the best-fit relaxation times. Theoretical curves of Dapp (K) vs K2 for selected values of P are compared with the experimental data, which are satisfactorily reproduced when P = 22000 +/- 2000 A. This dynamic value is close to the static value, P = 20000 +/- 2000 A, reported for the very similar fd virus. The most recent theories of Maeda and Fujime and their dynamic light scattering studies of fd virus are compared with the present results in some detail. Their optimum value of P is in surprisingly good agreement with the present value.
The detection and analysis of particulates in municipal water supplies by transmission electron microscopy

Abstract The analysis of particulates in municipal water supplies utilizing the electron microscope and a simple drop transfer technique is illustrated in a study of particulates in the Albuquerque, New Mexico water distribution system. The majority of particles are observed to be crystalline and to have a mineral origin. Asbestos fibers are identified and measured to be less concentrated than previously recorded for many other major cities in the United States, and there is no evidence of asbestos pick up in water that flows through asbestos-cement pipe in the Albuquerque water distribution system.
Hydrophobic solvation of methane and nonbond parameters of the TIP3P water model

In the process of studying the solvation of simple hydrocarbons, we found that the nonbond van der Waals (vdw) parameters for the TIP3P water model could be adjusted without significantly changing its liquid water properties. By increasing the van der Waals well depth ϵ from 0.152 kcal/mol for the TIP3P model to 0.190 kcal/mol (model TIP3P_MOD), the solvation free energy of all-atom methane changed from 2.5 kcal/mol to 2.1 kcal/mol, much closer to the experimental value of 2.0 kcal/mol. This change of van der Waals parameters does not change hydrophilic solvation, since calculations using either water model lead to the same relative solvation free energy between ethane and methanol. The solvation free-energy differences between methane and ethane and between ethane and propane have also been calculated with both models, and results found with the two water models are similar. For the united-atom hydrocarbon model, however, the solvation free energy of methane changed from 2.1 kcal/mol with TIP3P to 1.8 kcal/mol with TIP3P_MOD. © 1995 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Nrf2-ARE activator carnosic acid decreases mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative damage and neuronal cytoskeletal degradation following traumatic brain injury in mice.

Abstract The importance of free radical-induced oxidative damage after traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been well documented. Despite multiple clinical trials with radical-scavenging antioxidants that are neuroprotective in TBI models, none is approved for acute TBI patients. As an alternative antioxidant target, Nrf2 is a transcription factor that activates expression of antioxidant and cytoprotective genes by binding to antioxidant response elements (AREs) within DNA. Previous research has shown that neuronal mitochondria are susceptible to oxidative damage post-TBI, and thus the current study investigates whether Nrf2–ARE activation protects mitochondrial function when activated post-TBI. It was hypothesized that administration of carnosic acid (CA) would reduce oxidative damage biomarkers in the brain tissue and also preserve cortical mitochondrial respiratory function post-TBI. A mouse controlled cortical impact (CCI) model was employed with a 1.0 mm cortical deformation injury. Administration of CA at 15 min post-TBI reduced cortical lipid peroxidation, protein nitration, and cytoskeletal breakdown markers in a dose-dependent manner at 48 h post-injury. Moreover, CA preserved mitochondrial respiratory function compared to vehicle animals. This was accompanied by decreased oxidative damage to mitochondrial proteins, suggesting the mechanistic connection of the two effects. Lastly, delaying the initial administration of CA up to 8 h post-TBI was still capable of reducing cytoskeletal breakdown, thereby demonstrating a clinically relevant therapeutic window for this approach. This study demonstrates that pharmacological Nrf2–ARE induction is capable of neuroprotective efficacy when administered after TBI.
From frontotemporal lobar degeneration pathology to frontotemporal lobar degeneration biomarkers

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is an increasingly recognized cause of dementia. This review discusses the different FTD clinical syndromes and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) pathological correlates as well as new genetic and proteomic findings that have added to our understanding of FTLD pathogenesis. Various diagnostic modalities including the use of biomarkers will also be addressed. Finally we will highlight future directions in the FTD field. More research is needed to elucidate the cellular mechanisms of neurodegeneration in FTLD and improve clinical diagnostic capabilities.
Impact of Nanotechnology on Drug Delivery

Nanotechnology is the engineering and manufacturing of materials at the atomic and molecular scale. In its strictest definition from the National Nanotechnology Initiative, nanotechnology refers to structures roughly in the 1−100 nm size regime in at least one dimension. Despite this size restriction, nanotechnology commonly refers to structures that are up to several hundred nanometers in size and that are developed by top-down or bottom-up engineering of individual components. Herein, we focus on the application of nanotechnology to drug delivery and highlight several areas of opportunity where current and emerging nanotechnologies could enable entirely novel classes of therapeutics.
A Mortality Risk Index for Men in a Veterans Administration Extended Care Facility

the purpose of this study was to develop (phase I) and validate (phase II) a mortality prognostic index, based on the annual clinical data base, for the men of this Veterans Administration extended care facility. The study population during phase I consisted of 123 men who were residing in three of the seven wards of the facility in August 1984. Sixty-six of these individuals were institutionalized because of a chronic neurologic (50) or medical (15) disorder ("nonpsychiatric group"). In 57 men, the reason for institutionalization was a chronic psychosis (schizophrenia, 53; manic depressive illness, 4) ("psychiatric group"). During August to October 1984, a comprehensive clinical data base comprising 70 attributes (including diagnoses and drugs) was collected. Deaths were recorded during the next 14 months. Death rate during the 14 months of observation was 33.3% in the nonpsychiatric group, and only 1.7% in the psychiatric group. In the nonpsychiatric men, univariate analysis yielded six attributes significantly correlated with death rate: serum cholesterol level, hematocrit, hemoglobin, midarm muscle circumference, triceps skinfold, and number of morbidity episodes. After serum cholesterol and hematocrit had been entered into a multivariate analysis model, none of the other four attributes contributed significant information about death rate. The multivariate analysis led to a mortality risk index (MRI) for nonpsychiatric patients, MRI = [hematocrit in %] + 10% [serum cholesterol in mg/dl]. As MRI varied from less than 50 to greater than 65, death rate in the nonpsychiatric group varied in parallel from 86-11%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Evaluation of onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems in shallow karst terrain

Two conventional onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems (OSTDSs) at Manatee Springs State Park, Florida, USA, were studied to assess their impact on groundwater quality in a shallow karst environment. Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) and fluorescein were used as tracers to establish connections between the drainfields and monitoring wells. Elevated nutrients were found in all wells where significant concentrations of both tracers were observed, with the mean of the highest nitrate (NO3) concentration observed at each well being 47.8+/-14.9 (n=11) mg/L NO3-N. The most elevated nutrient concentrations were found directly in the flow path of the effluent. Fecal coliform densities above 10 colony-forming units (cfu)/100 mL were observed in wells with the most rapid connection to the drainfield. The proximity and connectivity of the 0.4-4m thick sandy surficial soils and the underlying karst aquifer allow rapid contaminant transport and limit the ability of conventional OSTDSs to attenuate NO3.
Effects of embedding orienting stimuli in a prose passage

College students learned a 2,000-word prose passage that contained either deleted or formally identified orienting cues. Contrary to predictions from similar research, only formal cue identification, requiring no overt production of the critical units, promoted learning of noncued material. The results indicate that the disruption of S’s scanning processes may prevent storage of noncued information.
Substrate specificity for catalysis of phosphoryl transfer by the calcium ATPase of sarcoplasmic reticulum.

Abstract When α,β-methylene ADP (α,β-CH 2 -ADP) is added to the phosphorylated calcium ATPase of sarcoplasmic reticulum with Ca 2+ -bound, Ca 2 · E ∼ P · Mg, α,β-methylene ATP is not synthesized (5 mM MgCl 2 , 100 mM KCl, pH 7.0, 25°C). Similarly, adenosine 5′- O -(2-thiotriphosphate) is not synthesized from reaction of the phosphoenzyme with adenosine 5′- O -(2-thiodiphosphate), ADPβS. In contrast, ATP is formed rapidly and reversibly from the reaction of the phosphoenzyme with ADP. Both ADP analogs are competitive inhibitors for the binding of ADP to the phosphoenzyme with K ADP S = 0.45 mM: α,β-CH 2 -ADP and ADPβS bind to the phosphoenzyme with K α,β-CH 2 -ADP S = 0.92 mM and K ADPβS S = 0.05 mM, respectively. We conclude that phosphoryl transfer from the phosphoenzyme to α,β-CH 2 -ADP is kinetically blocked, although it is thermodynamically favorable. The rate acceleration of >10 5 for phosphoryl transfer from Ca 2 · E ∼ P · Mg to ADP compared to α,β-CH 2 -ADP can be attributed to the differences in both the structure and the net charge of ADP compared with α,β-CH 2 -ADP at pH 7.0. Phosphoryl transfer from the phosphoenzyme to ADPβS is thermodynamically so unfavorable that we cannot determine whether the transition state is also unfavorable.
Subacute thyroiditis (de Quervain’s) due to influenza A: Presenting as fever of unknown origin (FUO)

Abstract Subacute (de Quervain’s) thyroiditis is a rare but important cause of fever of unknown origin. Most cases of subacute thyroiditis are caused by a variety of viruses, for example, Coxsackie, cytomegalovirus, Epstein–Barr virus, and adenovirus. Influenza immunization or infection may cause subacute thyroiditis. We present the first reported case of a fever of unknown origin due to seasonal influenza A in a 67-year-old woman.
The changing face of organ failure in ARDS.

Objective To study morbidity and mortality in ARDS patients from 1987 to 1999. Design Review of a prospectively collected database of ARDS patients. Setting Large, community hospital located in Salt Lake City, UT. Patients ARDS patients identified for the years 1987 to 1999. We prospectively identified ARDS patients at LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City, UT, using Pa o 2 /fraction of inspired oxygen ratio (P/F) criteria, the presence of bilateral chest radiograph infiltrates, and the absence of left atrial hypertension. Measurements We assigned a primary risk factor for ARDS and identified the presence of organ failure before and after ARDS. We compared two temporal groups ( ie , 1987 to 1990 vs 1994 to 1999) and used two criteria of arterial hypoxemia (P/F: patients from 1994 to 1999, ≤ 105 and ≤ 173; patients from 1987 to 1990, ≤ 0.2) At 1,500 m (the altitude of Salt Lake City), a Pa o 2 of ≤ 173 corresponds to an alveolar-arterial oxygen pressure difference of ≤ 200 at sea level. We used death at hospital discharge as an end point. Main results We identified 516 ARDS patients with a P/F of ≤ 105 (1987 to 1990, 256 patients; 1994 to 1999, 260 patients). Patients who had ARDS between 1994 and 1999 with a P/F of ≤ 105 had a lower mortality rate than patients between 1987 and 1990 with a P/F of ≤ 105 (44% vs 54%, respectively; p ie , more patients had zero organ failures or single organ failures) and fewer specific organ failures ( ie , sepsis, cardiovascular failures, and CNS failures). There were statistically fewer cases of cardiovascular failure, sepsis, and in both periods ( ie , prior to ARDS and after the onset of ARDS) for 1994-to-1999 patients with a P/F of ≤ 105 compared to 1987-to-1990 patients with a P/F of ≤ 105. Conclusions Mortality from ARDS has decreased and is associated with decreased organ failure prior to and during the course of ARDS.
Impact of the Food and Drug Administration’s antipsychotic black box warning on psychotropic drug prescribing in elderly patients with dementia in outpatient and office-based settings

Abstract Background Most patients with dementia also suffer from behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, for which there is no Food and Drug Administration-approved treatment. Objectives To determine whether the Food and Drug Administration's black box warning in April 2005 has led to a decline in prescriptions of atypical antipsychotics for behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, as well as whether prescriptions for other psychotropic drugs, including antidepressants, anxiolytics, and antiepileptics, as substitutes, have increased. Methods Data on outpatient visits by elderly dementia patients were obtained from two large national surveys from 2003 to 2008. Any psychotropic drug mentions were identified. Percentage utilization statistics were calculated. Results The percentage of visits mentioning an atypical antipsychotic decreased from 12.5% prewarning to 11.5% postwarning. Postwarning, 34.4% of patients were taking none of the study medications, as opposed to 26.1% prewarning. Conclusions After the warning, there was a small decline in the use of atypical antipsychotics and no evidence of substitution of other psychotropic medications.
CULTURAL DIVERSITY'S IMPACT ON INTERACTION PROCESS AND PERFORMANCE: COMPARING HOMOGENEOUS AND DIVERSE TASK GROUPS

The interaction process and performance of culturally homogeneous and culturally diverse groups were studied for 17 weeks. Initially, homogeneous groups scored higher on both process and performance effectiveness. Over time, both types of group showed improvement on process and performance, and the between-group differences converged. By week 17, there were no differences in process or overall performance, but the heterogeneous groups scored higher on two task measures, Implications for management and future research are given.
Solar Energy and the Policies of First and Second Best

Though most economists recognize the importance of first best and second best theories, very few realize the importance of applying these theories toward a rationale for government involvement in the develop? ment of solar energy In order to clarify the definition of these terms, first best energy policies are those which would increase social welfare even if the economy were functioning under conditions of perfect com? petition. Second best energy policies are those designed to increase social welfare in an imperfectly competitive energy sector of the econ? omy. [Yokell, p. 357] Both first and second best policies are explored in this paper as they relate to solar energy. Economists often advocate the elimination of the federal government from the energy sector of the economy as a step to reinstate conditions of perfect competition. This, however, does not account for the nonmarket benefits that can be attributed to solar energy but which are not cap? tured by the producers and/or consumers of solar energy systems. These benefits suggest that a first best policy would be for the federal govern? ment to support the development of a solar energy industry even if the energy sector of the economy were perfectly competitive. Jince the energy sector is not perfectly competitive, second best poli? cies are appropriate. Proof that the economy is not perfectly competi? tive and, therefore, needs second best policies are evident by: 1) utility companies that supply conventional energies at average cost instead of marginal cost; 2) the largely unpriced negative externalities resulting from conventional energy use; and 3) the past as well as current existing heavy government subsidies to conventional energy sources. The argu? ment developed in this paper is that the federal government will remain heavily involved in the energy sector of the economy and therefore should give more balanced support to solar energy. The first section of the paper explains the past and present govern? ment involvement in the energy sector of the economy. The second sec? tion builds first and second best rationales for government involvement
Environmental and chemical degradation of carbon/epoxy and structural adhesive for aerospace applications: Fickian and anomalous diffusion, Arrhenius kinetics

Abstract Polymer-matrix composite structures in service may be affected by different environmental conditions that modify their mechanical performance, thermal stability, and flammability potential. In this study, epoxy-based structural adhesive and carbon/epoxy specimens were degraded at three conditioning temperatures, by water and commercial fluids typical of aerospace operations: jet fuel, anti-icing additive and hydraulic fluid. Two well-established simple diffusion models (Fickian, Langmuir) were used to interpret the mass uptake data and assess the suitability of such models for these tests. Despite limitations inherent in these models, reasonably good fits were obtained for adhesive and carbon/epoxy specimens immersed in water or anti-icing additive. We report the respective strengths of association of the two models with the individual specimens’ data, and boxplots for the diffusivity changes among the three conditioning temperatures. An Arrhenius trend for the diffusivity of adhesive specimens treated in anti-icing shows that this temperature dependence may not be a good approximation for this problem. The degradation of these materials in hydraulic fluid is very complex, as indicated by the extensive swelling and the color change, and these models could not successfully fit the gravimetric data. These new results could aid researchers in multiphysics modeling of degraded composite structures.
Rehydration in Onion as a Function of Dehydration Regime

SUMMARY Fresh, diced onions were dehydrated under different regimes (high-, intermediate-, and low-temperature, and lyophilization). Rehydration volumes were determined for the dice. Water vapor sorption properties and X-ray estimates of crystallinity were obtained for the cellulose extracted from the dice and for control samples of cellulose that had been extracted from fresh onions and then dehydrated. Rehydration occurs most rapidly in lyophilized tissues, in which at 24°C and at 91°C approximately the original fresh volume is attained in 15–30 min. The final rehydrated volume in other treatments is reached more slowly and is considerably smaller than the fresh volume. The highest crystallinity of cellulose is found in the lyophilized materials, probably as a freezing effect. Freezing also produces large, internal voids. Cellulose crystallinity is essentially unaffected by temperature differences during the dehydration process.
The Application of Filter Theory to the Design of Reactance Networks

The design of electrical networks does not necessarily require the development of any special method of attack since a direct application of Ohm's and Kirchhoff's laws is always possible. Nevertheless such designs may be simplified and the selection of a suitable type of network for a particular application expedited by developing special methods of attack. It is the purpose of this paper to present one of these special methods; namely, the application of low-pass and high-pass filter theory to the design of reactance networks. While this method of attack probably offers no simplification unless one is already familiar with filter theory, such theory is now so well known to most radio engineers that its application to the design of reactance networks should appreciably simplify the procedure. Two specific applications of the method of attack are given; namely, (1) the design of impedance-matching networks such as might be used between a radio-frequency transmission line and an antenna and (2), the design of coupling units for video amplifiers. No doubt other applications will occur to the reader.
Liquid crystal intensity modulator for simulating planetary transits

I describe a liquid crystal intensity modulator designed to achieve <10 parts per million (ppm) modulation to simulate a planetary transit like those required for ground testing of NASA's Kepler mission. The design uses a nematic liquid crystal as a variable retarder aligned between two linear polarizers, with the retardance values and the alignment chosen to provide low sensitivity of transmitted intensity to input liquid crystal voltage variations. Modulator test results give intensity fluctuations of a few ppm from millivolt modulations about the input 8 V baseline voltage.
Analogues of Fekete and Descartes systems of solutions for difference equations

In this paper, either I= {a, a + 1, . . . . b}, if b-a is a positive integer, or I= {a, a+ 1, . ..}. G iven n>l, for Odj a to be a generalized zero of u if either U(S) = 0 or there exists an integer j, l O, and ifj>l, u(s-j+l)= . = U(S 1) = 0. We shall be concerned with characterizing solutions, in terms of generalized zeros of higher order differences, for the nth order linear difference equation
Structuring international institutions for the efficient provisioning of global security

This paper analyzes the issue of security provision by an alliance against the threat of a rogue nation. Proactive security effort by an alliance member is assumed to be non-rival and non-excludable, so the results of the effort jointly accrue to every other member. This effort has both positive and negative effects, as security measures mitigate the threat, but also involve loss of commercial benefits, collateral damages, and infringement on human rights. In this paper I suggest an institutional structure for the alliance which would lead to the achievement of the efficient level of world security through multilateral participation.