cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Three Measures of Shared Decision Making: SDM Process_4, CollaboRATE, and SURE Scales:

Objective. If shared decision making (SDM) is to be part of quality assessment, it is necessary to have good measures of SDM. The purpose of this study is to compare the psychometric performance of 3 short patient-reported measures of SDM. Methods. Patients who met with a specialist to discuss possible surgery for hip or knee osteoarthritis (hips/knees), lumbar herniated disc, or lumbar spinal stenosis (backs) were surveyed shortly after the visit and again 6 months later. Some of the patients saw a patient decision aid (PDA) prior to the meeting. The 3 SDM measures were the SDM Process_4 (SDMP) survey, CollaboRATE, and SURE scale. The follow-up survey included measures of decision regret, satisfaction, and decision quality. Results. Patients in the sample (N = 649) had a mean age of 63.3 years, 51% were female, 60% were college educated, and there were more hip/knee patients than back patients (69% v. 31%). Forty-nine percent had surgery. For hips/knees, the SDMP and SURE scores were significantly associated with viewing all of the PDA compared with those who did not (P < 0.001), but not for CollaboRATE (P = 0.35). For backs, none of the scores were significantly associated with viewing all the PDA. All 3 scores were significantly associated with less regret and higher satisfaction (P < 0.001) for hips/knees. For backs, only SURE and CollaboRATE were significantly associated with less regret, and only SDMP was significantly associated with higher satisfaction. For hips/knees and backs, the SDMP and SURE scales were significantly associated with an informed patient-centered decision (P < 0.001), but this relationship was not significant for CollaboRATE (hips/knees: P = 0.24; backs: P = 0.25). Discussion. Each measure has some evidence of validity. SURE and SDMP better discriminate the use of PDAs and have higher decision quality.
Teaching Political Theory ONLINE at a “Hispanic Serving Institution”

This chapter challenges the critiques of online learning by authors who see it as a negative sign of the corporatization of the university, a drift to substandard learning and a threat to democracy. Drawing on my experience teaching online, I argue teaching theory in an online format is an effective way to explore a variety of political perspectives, foster critical thinking, empower students to find their critical voice and employ experiential/service learning. Teaching political theory online is also a way to give access to first-generation and non-traditional students who may not be able to attend face-to-face (F2F) classes because of work and family obligations. Finally, teaching political theory online can shatter the authority, hierarchy and knowledge nexus and open pedagogy to the practice of equality.
LINbase: A Web service for genome-based identification of microbes as members of crowdsourced taxa

Abstract The development of next generation and third generation DNA sequencing technologies in combination with new efficient algorithms allows scientists to economically, quickly, and precisely identify microbes at all taxonomic levels and even attribute pathogen isolates to specific disease outbreaks. However, current taxonomic practice has not kept up with the sequencing revolution and continues to rely on cumbersome journal publications to describe new species. Here we introduce a Web service that allows any user to genomically circumscribe any monophyletic group of bacteria as a taxon and associate with each taxon a name and short description. Any other user can immediately identify their unknown microbe as a member of any of these crowdsourced taxa using gene or genome sequences. The Web service is called LINbase. It leverages the previously described concept of Life Identification Numbers (LINs), which are codes assigned to individual organisms based on genome similarity. Most genomes currently in LINbase were imported from GenBank, but users have the option to upload their own genome sequences as well. Importantly, LINbase allows users to share the precise identity of their sequenced genomes without sharing the actual genome sequences, making not yet published or private genome sequences discoverable by the scientific community stimulating collaboration between academia and industry. LINbase is available at http://www.LINbase.org.
All Users are (Not) Created Equal: Predictors Vary for Different Forms of Facebook Non/use

Relatively little work has empirically examined use and non-use of social technologies as more than a dichotomous binary, despite increasing calls to do so. This paper compares three different forms of non/use that might otherwise fall under the single umbrella of Facebook "user": (1) those who have a current active account; (2) those who have deactivated their account; and (3) those who have considered deactivating but not actually done so. A subset of respondents (N=256) from a larger, demographically representative sample of internet users completed measures for usage and perceptions of Facebook, Facebook addiction, privacy experiences and behaviors, and demographics. Multinomial logistic regression modeling shows four specific variables as most predictive of a respondent's type: negative effects from "addictive" use, subjective intensity of Facebook usage, number of Facebook friends, and familiarity with or use of Facebook's privacy settings. These findings both fill gaps left by, and help resolve conflicting expectations from, prior work. Furthermore, they demonstrate how valuable insights can be gained by disaggregating "users" based on different forms of engagement with a given technology.
Artificial neural networks with a signed-rank objective function and applications

In this paper, we propose to analyze artificial neural networks using a signed-rank objective function as the error function. We prove that the variance of the gradient of the learning process is b...
Use of codes data to improve estimates of at-fault risk for elderly drivers.

Abstract The fastest-growing demographic in the United States is people aged 65 and over. Because elderly drivers may experience decline in the physical and mental faculties required for driving (which could lead to unsafe driving behaviors), it is critical to determine whether elderly drivers are more likely than younger drivers to be at fault in a crash. This study uses Kentucky crash data and linked hospital and emergency department records to evaluate whether linked data can more accurately estimate the crash propensity of elderly drivers to be at-fault in injury crashes. The Kentucky crash data is edited to conform to the General Use Model (GUM), with crash propensities for linked data compared to propensities developed using the GUM dataset alone. The quasi-induced exposure method is used to determine crash exposure. Factors such as age, gender, and crash location are explored to assess their influence on the risk of a driver being at fault in an injury crash. The overall findings are consistent with previous research — elderly drivers are more likely than younger drivers to be at fault in a crash. Linking crash with hospital and emergency department records could also establish a clearer understanding of the injury crash propensity of all age groups. Equipped with this knowledge, transportation practitioners can design more targeted and effective countermeasures and safety programs to improve the safety of all motorists.
Climate and Groundwater Primer

Climate impacts groundwater quantity mainly through its influences on recharge and the demand for groundwater. Precipitation either infiltrates into the soil, runs off, or ponds on land surface and is lost to subsequent evaporation. Infiltrated water may either percolate to the water table and become aquifer recharge, be held in the soil under capillary pressure as soil moisture, be lost to evaporation from the soil or transpiration by vegetation (referred to collectively as evapotranspiration), or may flow in the unsaturated zone and later discharge to surface waters or land surface (interflow). Groundwater recharge rates are a complex function of both the intensity and duration of rainfall events, soil moisture content, and land surface and soil properties that control initial and equilibrium infiltration rates. The relationships between mean annual rainfall, available water, and aquifer recharge are not linear. Climate change can impact the demand side of the aquifer budgets by increasing the demand for water in general or by reducing the amount of available surface water prompting a shift toward more groundwater pumping
Analysis of lysosomal hydrolase trafficking and activity in human iPSC-derived neuronal models.

Summary Lysosomes are critical for maintaining protein homeostasis and cellular metabolism. Lysosomal dysfunction and disrupted protein trafficking contribute to cell death in neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson's disease and dementia. We describe three complementary protocols—the use of protein glycosylation, western blotting, immunofluorescence, and hydrolase activity measurement—to analyze the trafficking and activity of lysosomal proteins in patient-derived neurons differentiated from iPSCs. These methods should help to identify lysosomal phenotypes in patient-derived cultures and aid the discovery of therapeutics that augment lysosomal function. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Cuddy et al. (2019) .
Silver Impregnation of Organophosphorus-Induced Delayed Neuropathy in the Central Nervous System

The use of organophosphorus compounds is widespread in industry, finding such diverse applications as insecticides, flame retardants, plasticizers, petroleum additives, and intermediates in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals (Davis and Richardson, 1980; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1985). It has been well documented that exposure to certain of these compounds may result in organophosphorus-induced delayed neurotoxicity (OPIDN), a neurological condition characterized by progressively developing hind-limb ataxia and paralysis, inhibition of the enzyme neuropathy target esterase (NTE), and development of axonal degeneration in both the central (CNS) and peripheral (PNS) nervous systems (Abou-Donia, 1981; Abou-Donia and Lapadula, 1990; Baron, 1981 Davis and Richardson, 1980; Johnson, 1975, 1982, 1990).
Direct temperature measurement for VLSI circuits and 3-D modeling of self-heating in sub-0.13 /spl mu/m SOI technologies

This paper describes a novel temperature measurement technique which utilizes the gate-poly of the active device as a temperature sensor to directly measure the temperature rise in single- or multi-finger devices commonly used in high performance microprocessors. Measured results are corroborated with 3-D thermal modeling for sub-0.13 /spl mu/m SOI and strained-Si on SOI technologies. The thermal conductivities for thin silicon films are extracted and shown to be 4 to 10 times lower than for bulk silicon, which represents the first measured nano-scale thermal conduction effect in a real state-of-the-art semiconductor device. The impact on the performance of a high duty-cycle clock buffer circuit in a high-performance microprocessor is evaluated.
Document Clustering by Semantic Smoothing and Dynamic Growing Cell Structure (DynGCS) for Biomedical Literature

The general goal of clustering is to group data elements such that the intra-group similarities are high and the inter-group similarities are low. In this paper, we propose a novel hybrid clustering technique that incorporates semantic smoothing of document models into a neural network framework. Recently it has been reported that the semantic smoothing model enhances the retrieval quality in Information Retrieval (IR). Inspired by that, we apply the context-sensitive semantic smoothing model to boost accuracy of clustering that is generated by a dynamic growing cell structure algorithm, a variation of the neural network technique. We evaluated the proposed technique on article sets from MEDLINE, the largest biomedical digital library in Biomedicine. Our experimental evaluations show that the proposed algorithm significantly improves the clustering quality over the traditional clustering techniques.
Repression, Rationality and Relative Deprivation; A Theoretical and Empirical Examination of Cross-National Variations in Political Violence

This paper develops a theory of political violence that is based on the rationality of individual agents. Violence is shown to be negatively related to the availability of alternative means of acquiring political goods and to the availability of alternative economic opportunities. Under quite general assumptions, the theory also predicts that the level of political violence in a society will have an inverted U-shaped relationship to the level of state repression; violence will be low under low- and high- levels of repression and will peak at middling levels of repression. In a series of tests using pooled cross-sectional/time series data, the model is shown to outperform a number of existing relative deprivation and social disorganization theories of political violence.
Parallel and Serial Input-Output

The interfacing of a microcomputer to almost any I/O system has been shown to be simple and flexible, using parallel and serial I/O devices. This chapter studies the different ways in which data can be passed through a port into or out of a microcontroller. The chapter introduces some 1/O software that moved data through a microcomputer, moved data into a buffer, and implemented a traffic light controller and IC tester using the simple I/O devices. Because timing is important to them, the chapter studies the timing of such program segments. It also presents indirect and serial I/O, which are especially attractive to the MMC2001 and other microcontroller systems. Next, the chapter considers how the ISPI can assist in serial I/O. The same approach can be used for designing an IC or an I/O system, and thus one develops an understanding of why it was designed as it was, and how it might be used. The chapter extends these techniques to analog interfacing, counters, communications interfacing, and display and magnetic recording chips.
Three-Dimensional Fracture Modeling

The 3-D fracture model (GY) has been developed under the sponsorship of the Stimulation, Logging, and Formation Damage Research Program at the University of Texas at Austin. Recently, the mesh generation scheme in the code was modified to accommodate the growth of a hydraulic fracture in a complex distribution of in-situ stresses. The code was renamed the GYCO-1. The code was developed for internal use on hydraulic fracturing research and for the use of sponsoring industrial members. The propagation of a hydraulically induced fracture is approximated by the incremental process. Assume that the fracture is temporarily arrested by the fracture toughness (K IC ) or by the in-situ stress contrast. The front of the fracture is assumed to be stationary for a short time period. During this time period, the frac-fluid is pumped into the fracture causing the fluid pressure, fracture width, and stress intensity factor at the front to increase. The fracture front moves outward by a short distance when the stress intensity factor exceeds the fracture toughness. This distance is determined by the difference between the calculated stress intensity factor K I and the critical stress intensity factor of the rock medium.
Psychometric properties of a brief measure of autonomy support in breast cancer patients

The Health Care Climate Questionnaire measures patient perceptions of their clinician’s autonomy supportive communication. We sought to evaluate the psychometric properties of a modified brief version of the Health Care Climate Questionnaire (mHCCQ) adapted for breast cancer patients.
From Institutional Theories to Private Pensions

The objective of this chapter is to show that the focus of modern corporate law theory on the concerns of shareholders is historically and geographically contingent. In doing so, it traces shareholder-stakeholder debates through the 20th century. The most obvious example is the simple recognition in comparative corporate law scholarship that the majority-minority agency problem is more prevalent then the shareholder-manager one in countries where concentrated ownership dominates. However, the focus on these two issues in contemporary debates has drawn away attention from the possibility that other conflicts of interests are equally important. I argue that corporate governance structures relate to how firms interact with other constituencies. For example, strengthening the influence of shareholders on management may make it more difficult to foster long-term commitment to other groups such as employees. In a world with increasing influence of institutional investors whose performance is evaluated on a short-term basis, it has become difficult to permit the development “patient capital” that will permit firms to develop and innovate on a long-term basis. The chapter focuses on the development of 20th century shareholder-stakeholder debates, namely traditional debates (pre-1970s) and the current situation that has its roots in changes that began in the 1970s. The 1970s and 1980s resulted in an economic and political realignment in US corporate governance that changed the dominant coalition and resulted in the current situation where managerial agency problems are so strongly emphasized. Changes in the pension system that began to turn workers into capitalists through their pension holdings were a catalyst for this change, particularly in the US. In Continental Europe, the 1990s and early 2000s saw an incipient realignment that seemed to resemble that in the US, although it is not yet clear whether a permanent trend toward convergence in corporate governance was set into motion, or whether the financial crisis has turned the tide.
The Unmanned Port Security Vessel: An autonomous platform for monitoring ports and harbors

This paper describes the development of the Unmanned Port Security Vessel (UPSV), a small autonomous surface vehicle designed to support maritime domain awareness in port and harbor environments. The UPSV is capable of rapidly producing fine resolution, shallow-water bathymetry maps using a multibeam sonar, detecting chemical threats using an on board mass spectrometer and monitoring oceanographic parameters using off-the-shelf instruments.
The amygdala in a nutshell: A comprehensive and current view The human amygdala. Paul J. Whalen & Elizabeth A. Phelps (Eds.)

A few years ago I presented a conference poster on fear learning in autism and was approached by David Amaral, who is a pioneer in mapping of the amygdala in nonhuman primates (see e.g., Amaral & P...
Competition Law and Extra-territorial Enforcement: Offense or Defense?

Extra-territoriality can mean many things to many people. Most frequently the term has been used to characterize an aggressive application of antitrust laws, and the United States is often cited as the most vigorous practitioner. The authorÂ hopes to establish in this paperÂ that extra-territoriality is essentially defensive and domestic in nature and then discuss other possible solutions to the problems that it seeks to solve.
Household food security and nutritional status of Hispanic children in the fifth grade

Background: Food insecurity is a critical variable for understanding the nutritional status of low-income populations. However, limited research is available on the relation between household food insecurity and children's nutritional status. Objective: Our objective was to examine the relations among household food insecurity, household food supplies, and school-age children's dietary intakes and body mass indexes (BMIs). Design: A sample of 124 predominantly Hispanic, fifth-grade children and their mothers were surveyed as part of a school-based obesity-prevention program. Data on the children's weights and heights were collected and three 24-h dietary recalls were conducted. The mothers provided reports of household food insecurity and household food supplies. Results: Food insecurity was negatively associated with the children's BMIs and household food supplies but not with the children's food intakes. However, a secondary analysis showed that as payday approached, children from the most food-insecure households had significant decreases in energy intakes and meat consumption. Conclusions: This is one of the first studies to report a significant association between food insecurity and children's nutritional status. The ages and sex-adjusted BMIs of the food-insecure children were lower than those of the food-secure children but were still within the normal range. The lower BMIs in the food-insecure children may have been due to short-term, yet periodic food restrictions that resulted as household food supplies diminished before payday. Future research is needed to assess the physiologic and psychological effects of periodic food restriction on children's health.
PENTOSE UTILIZATION BY PEDIOCOCCUS PENTOSACEUS

Dobrogosz, Walter J. (University of Illinois, Urbana) and Ralph D. DeMoss. Pentose utilization by Pediococcus pentosaceus. J. Bacteriol. 85:1356–1364. 1963.—Data are presented which indicate that pentoses are metabolized by Pediococcus pentosaceus through the use of an inducible phosphoketolase pathway. The utilization of each of the pentoses (l-arabinose, d-ribose, and d-xylose) appears to involve a different regulatory process. Thus, d-ribose was fermented by cells grown on any pentose or glucose, although growth on a pentose resulted in an increased ribose-fermenting capacity. l-Arabinose fermentation was only observed when cultures were grown in the presence of this pentose. Similarly, d-xylose fermentation was a specific response to the presence of xylose in the growth medium. In this case, however, growth occurred only at a very low rate unless another readily utilizable substrate (in low concentration) was added to the growth medium. Under these conditions, an aerobic atmosphere was more stimulatory than anaerobiosis for induction and growth on xylose. The possible cryptic nature of xylose utilization in this organism is described.
Intracerebroventricular opioids for intractable pain

When pain is refractory to systemic opioid and non-opioid analgesic therapy and palliative chemoradiation or ablative or stimulant neurosurgical procedures are not possible, palliative treatment becomes limited, particularly if the patient wishes to be at home at the end of life. Intracerebroventricular (ICV) infusion of morphine in the home setting might be presented as an option. The present article reviews the basic and clinical evidence of the efficacy and safety of ICV administration of opioids. Information was gathered from various bibliographic sources, including PubMed and others, and summarized and evaluated to assess the efficacy and safety of ICV opioids for pain relief. Results from ICV infusion of morphine into terminally ill patients refractory to other pain treatments have been reported since the early 1980s. Good efficacy has been achieved for the vast majority of patients, without serious development of analgesic tolerance. There have also been a low incidence of adverse effects, such as constipation and respiratory depression, and a significant retention of alertness associated with this route of administration. Intracerebroventricular infusion of opioid analgesics thus appears to be a safe and effective therapy for the palliative treatment of refractory pain.
Predicting violence in the violent society

Abstract It is argued (a) that the leadership position of the United States in respect to our domestic rates of interpersonal violence is likely to remain unchallenged so long as public policy continues to encourage and support the rearing of biologically susceptible children by parents (especially single parents) who are unwilling or unable to socialize those children. This high incidence of violent crime in America underscores the importance of two additional issues of special interest to psychologists: (b) Are mental health professionals able to predict violence in individual mental patients or in criminal offenders (and how accurate do such predictions need to be in order to meet ethical standards)? and (c) How should clinicians apportion their “duty to protect” between their patients and their patients' potential victims? These issues are briefly reviewed, and the interested reader is referred to more comprehensive discussions in the recent literature.
Data collection and language understanding of food descriptions

This paper presents initial data collection and language understanding experiments conducted as part of a larger effort to create a nutrition dialogue system that automatically extracts food concepts from a user's spoken meal description. We first summarize the data collection and annotation of food descriptions performed via Amazon Mechanical Turk. We then present semantic labeling experiments using a semi-Markov conditional random field (CRF) that obtains an F1 test score of 85.1. Finally, we report food segmentation experiments that explored three methods for associating foods with their corresponding attributes: a generative Markov model, transformation-based learning, and a CRF classifier. The CRF performed best, achieving an F1 test score of 87.1.
Augmented wedge-shaped glenoid component for the correction of glenoid retroversion: a finite element analysis.

Background This study undertook a computational analysis of a wedged glenoid component for correction of retroverted glenoid arthritic deformity to determine whether a wedge-shaped glenoid component design with a built-in correction for version reduces excessive stresses in the implant, cement, and glenoid bone. Recommendations for correcting retroversion deformity are asymmetric reaming of the anterior glenoid, bone grafting of the posterior glenoid, or a glenoid component with posterior augmentation. Eccentric reaming has the disadvantages of removing normal bone, reducing structural support for the glenoid component, and increasing the risk of bone perforation by the fixation pegs. Bone grafting to correct retroverted deformity does not consistently generate successful results. Methods Finite element models of 2 scapulae models representing a normal and an arthritic retroverted glenoid were implanted with a standard glenoid component (in retroversion or neutral alignment) or a wedged component. Glenohumeral forces representing in vivo loading were applied and stresses and strains computed in the bone, cement, and glenoid component. Results The retroverted glenoid components generated the highest compressive stresses and decreased cyclic fatigue life predictions for trabecular bone. Correction of retroversion by the wedged glenoid component significantly decreased stresses and predicted greater bone fatigue life. The cement volume estimated to survive 10 million cycles was the lowest for the retroverted components and the highest for neutrally implanted glenoid components and for wedged components. Conclusion A wedged glenoid implant is a viable option to correct severe arthritic retroversion, reducing the need for eccentric reaming and the risk for implant failure.
Multi-cell slug flow heat transfer analysis for finite LMFBR bundles

Abstract An analytical, two-dimensional, multi-region, multi-cell technique was developed for the thermal analysis of LMFBR rod bundles. Local temperature fields of various unit cells were obtained for seven- and nineteen-rod bundles of different geometries and power distributions. The validity of the technique was verified by its excellent agreement with the THTB calculational result. By comparing the calculated fully-developed circumferential cladding temperature distribution with those of the experimental measurements, an axial correction factor has been derived to account for the entrance effect under practical conditions. A scheme was also developed to couple the two-dimensional distributed analysis and lumped parameter calculation such that the entrance effect can be implanted into the distributed parameter analysis. The technique has demonstrated its applicability for a seven-rod bundle. The results of calculation were compared to those of three-dimensional analysis.
Pollution Error in the h-Version of the Finite Element Method and the Local Quality of the Recovered Derivatives.

Abstract In this paper, we address the quality of the solution derivatives which are recovered from finite element solutions by local averaging schemes. As an example, we consider the Zienkiewicz-Zhu superconvergent patch-recovery scheme (the ZZ-SPR scheme), and we study its accuracy in the interior of the mesh for finite element approximations of solutions of Laplace's equation in polygonal domains. We will demonstrate the following: (1) In general, the accuracy of the derivatives recovered by the ZZ-SPR or any other local averaging scheme may not be higher than the accuracy of the derivatives computed directly from the finite element solution. (2) If the mesh is globally adaptive (i.e. it is nearly equilibrated in the energy-norm) then we can, practically always, gain in accuracy by employing the recovered derivatives instead of the derivatives computed directly from the finite element solution. (3) It is possible to guarantee that the recovered solution-derivatives have higher accuracy than the derivatives computed directly from the finite element solution, in any patch of elements of interest, by employing a mesh which is adaptive only with respect to the patch of interest (i.e. it is nearly equilibrated in a weighted energy-norm). (4) In practice, we are often interested in obtaining highly accurate derivatives (or heat-fluxes, stresses, etc.) only in a few critical regions which are identified by a preliminary analysis. A grid which is adaptive only with respect to the critical regions of interest may be much more economical for this purpose because it may achieve the desired accuracy by employing substantially fewer degrees of freedom than a globally adaptive grid which achieves comparable accuracy in the critical regions.
Effects of Aspirin and Dexamethasone on Intraocular Pressure in Primary Uveitis Produced by Herpes Simplex Virus

The intracameral injection of New Zealand white male rabbits with type 1 herpes simplex virus produced acute anterior uveitis with biphasic elevation of the intraocular pressure (IOP). The first IOP increase occurred on day 1 and 2 and the second increase on day 8. There was no significant correlation between the IOP changes and multiplication of herpes simplex virus in the uvea and cornea, nor between the IOP changes and histopathologic alteration of the tissue. Aspirin suppressed significantly the first as well as the second IOP elevation, whereas dexamethasone suppressed significantly only the second elevation.
Enigmatic photon absorption in plasmas near solar interior conditions

Abstract Large systematic discrepancies between theoretical and experimental photon absorption of Fe plasmas applicable to the solar interior were reported [Bailey et al., Nature 517, 56 (2015)]. The disagreement is examined in the context of the Thomas–Reiche–Kuhn f-sum rule. The analysis identifies several anomalies in the experimental results.
Self-calibrated fiber optic transflection probe for NO 2 detection

The paper describes an optical fiber based sensor (FOS) for the detection of the pollutant gas, NO 2 , in a mixture of gases. The design comprises of a fiber optic transflection probe with a sensor element placed at one end. In the present FOS, the transducing component is prepared by sol-gel process. An equal quantity of a diazotizing reagent together with a coupling reagent is immobilized in the sol-gel matrix, which forms an azo dye in the presence of NO2. The sensor relies on the coloration reaction occurring at the micropores of this sol-gel film in the NO 2 environment and offers a consequent variation in the optical absorption at a specific wavelength. The current sensor design gives more than 85% of variation in the output intensity at a NO 2 concentration of few parts per million in air sample.
Electronic Excitations in LiF: 10-70 eV

In the past three years, a number of different interpretatons of the optical properties of LiF have appeared in the physics literature. We present new evidence which shows that most of these interpretations are incorrect in the soft-x-ray region, and for the first time we present measurements of anisotropies in the excitations in the ultraviolet region as a function of momentum transfer in single-crystal samples.
Two phase transitions in TSeF-TCNQ?—The effects of doping with small concentrations of TTF-TCNQ

Abstract The single phase transition which had been observed in TSeF-TCNQ is seen to split into two phase transitions when TSeF-TCNQ is doped with small amounts of TTF-TCNQ (
Toxicity and biochemical mechanisms of ozone

Ozone is a reactive environmental oxidant molecule whose deleterious effects are enhanced by interaction with other photochemical oxidants. While the pulmonary system is the primary target for ozone toxicity, at a morphological and biochemical level, extrapulmonary toxic effects are well documented. The consequences of exposure to ozone depend on its concentration and are influenced by genetic and host factors. Ozone damage is in part mediated via free radicals formed in the processes of direct peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids by ozone and oxidation of proteins, amines, and thiols. Antidoxidants such as Vitamin E which scavenge the chain-propagating free radicals and stop antioxidation serve as protectors in ozone-induced toxicity.
Ordered, Trinitarian, and Sacramental Worship Reformed & Liturgical

From its birth, the Association for Reformed & Liturgical Worship (AR&LW) has identified itself as having a specific mission: “To cultivate, practice, and promote worship.” Not only do the members ...
Information processing and the decremental effect of intermittent reinforcement schedules in human conditioning

Human conditioning performance decreases as a function of decreases in reinforcement ratio. It was shown that this effect is not exclusively a result of trial-by-trial increments and decrements associated with unconditioned stimulus presence vs. absence. Decreases in reinforcement ratio also increase the number of trials required before CRs emerge and decrease the limit of operators employed to describe performance once acquisition begins. The latter two effects were interpreted to mean, first, that more time is required by subjects to develop the associative network requisite to response acquisition and, second, that information about reinforcement schedules beyond trial-by-trial effects determines overall boundary conditions of performance. The results were discussed from an information processing perspective that differentiates between the acquisition of knowledge about the schedules and the trial-by-trial feed-back effects that shape performance.
Differential ecophysiological response of deciduous shrubs and a graminoid to long-term experimental snow reductions and additions in moist acidic tundra, Northern Alaska

Changes in winter precipitation that include both decreases and increases in winter snow are underway across the Arctic. In this study, we used a 14-year experiment that has increased and decreased winter snow in the moist acidic tussock tundra of northern Alaska to understand impacts of variation in winter snow depth on summer leaf-level ecophysiology of two deciduous shrubs and a graminoid species, including: instantaneous rates of leaf gas exchange, and δ13C, δ15N, and nitrogen (N) concentrations of Betula nana, Salix pulchra, and Eriophorum vaginatum. Leaf-level measurements were complemented by measurements of canopy leaf area index (LAI) and depth of thaw. Reductions in snow lowered summer leaf photosynthesis, conductance, and transpiration rates by up to 40 % compared to ambient and deep snow conditions for Eriophorum vaginatum, and reduced Salix pulchra conductance and transpiration by up to 49 %. In contrast, Betula nana exhibited no changes in leaf gas exchange in response to lower or deeper snow. Canopy LAI increased with added snow, while reduced winter snow resulted in lower growing season soil temperatures and reduced thaw depths. Our findings indicate that the spatial and temporal variability of future snow depth will have individualistic consequences for leaf-level C fixation and water flux by tundra species, and that these responses will be manifested over the longer term by changes in canopy traits, depth of thaw, soil C and N processes, and trace gas (CO2 and H2O) exchanges between the tundra and the atmosphere.
Terror Management and Self-Awareness: Evidence that Mortality Salience Provokes Avoidance of the Self-Focused State

Two studies assessed the terror management hypothesis that when mortality is salient, people will avoid stimuli that increase self-awareness. In Study 1, we measured the length of time that participants wrote about either their death or an exam in cubicles that either did or did not contain a large mirror. In Study 2, participants completed either a death anxiety scale or a future concerns scale and then wrote a story fostering either an internal or external focus of attention. As predicted, in Study 1, the self-focusing stimulus reduced the amount of time that participants spent in the cubicles contemplating their mortality. In Study 2, mortality-salient participants wrote less when the task prompted an internal focus of attention than when it prompted an external focus. Across both studies, no differences emerged between participants in the control conditions. Implications of this research for understanding the relationship between terror management processes and self-awareness are briefly discussed.
Bound, odd-parity J = 1 spectra of the alkaline earths: Ca, Sr, and Ba

We have used multiphoton excitation via selected intermediate states to observe and identify triplet Rydberg series of the type msnp3P0 up to high n in Ca, Sr, and Ba. Previous efforts have failed to identify these series beyond n = 7. We present details of our experimental method, give tables of the newly determined energy levels, and describe their analysis by multi-channel quantum defect theory (MQDT). For the most part, the msnp3P0 series in Ca and Sr can be described by a nearly constant quantum defect δ with δCa = 19.7 and δSr = 2.90. The 6s n p3P0 series in Ba is more heavily affected by the configuration interaction, but to a reasonable approximation has δBa ≈ 3.81. For all three elements, we find that the msnp¹P10 series are much more strongly perturbed than the ³P10 series. Most of this paper treats Ba. In addition to the 3P0 states, 3F2 and 1G4 states are measured and tabulated. Further results in Ba include new and/or revised values for some ¹P10 states a revised ionization limit, evidence for an energy-dependent configuration interaction, and an MQDT prediction of the photoabsorption cross section at the ionization limit. This prediction agrees with the most recent experimental cross section. The MQDT analysis of Ba is described in great detail to make it useful as a guide to the reader who wishes to become a user of MQDT.
Budesonide reduces vascular endothelial growth factor secretion and expression in airway (Calu-1) and alveolar (A549) epithelial cells

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a cytokine expressed in the respiratory epithelial cells, induces vascular hyperpermeability and edema, symptoms that are alleviated by budesonide, an anti-asthma corticosteroid. However, modulation of VEGF levels by budesonide in the respiratory epithelium has not been studied. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms of VEGF secretion using brefeldin A and monensin in human airway (Calu-1) and alveolar (A549) epithelial cells, and further determined whether budesonide inhibits VEGF secretion and mRNA expression through a glucocorticoid receptor-mediated mechanism. In both cell types, VEGF secretion was inhibited by brefeldin A and monensin, suggesting vesicular transport of VEGF through endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-golgi pathway. At concentrations devoid of cytotoxicity, budesonide reduced VEGF secretion and VEGF mRNA expression in both cell types and these effects were inhibited by mifepristone (RU 486), a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, suggesting that budesonide reduces VEGF secretion and expression through its glucocorticoid receptor-mediated action. Also, budesonide-mediated inhibition of VEGF mRNA was time- and protein synthesis-dependent. Thus, budesonide may be of potential value in treating disorders of the respiratory tract that are associated with VEGF elevation.
Power-optimal repeater insertion considering V/sub dd/ and V/sub th/ as design freedoms

This work first presents an analytical repeater insertion method which optimizes power under delay constraint for a single net. This method finds the optimal repeater insertion lengths, repeater sizes, and V/sub dd/ and V/sub th/ levels for a net with a delay target, and it reduces more than 50% power over a previous work which does not consider V/sub dd/ and V/sub th/ optimization. This work further presents the power saving when multiple V/sub dd/ and V/sub th/ levels are used in repeater insertion at the full-chip level. Compared to the case with single V/sub dd/ and V/sub th/ suggested by ITRS, optimized dual V/sub dd/ and dual V/sub th/ reduce overall global interconnect power by 47%, 28% and 13% for 130nm, 90nm and 65nm technology nodes, respectively, but extra V/sub dd/ or V/sub th/ levels only give marginal improvement. We also show that an optimized single V/sub th/ reduce interconnect power almost as effective as dual-V/sub th/ does, in contrast to the need of dual V/sub th/ for logic circuits.
Simulation of steady compressible flows based on Cauchy/Riemann equations and Crocco's relation

SUMMARY In this paper, alternative formulations of the steady Euler equations for conservation of mass, momentum and energy are adopted for the numerical simulation of compressible flows with shock waves. The total enthalpy is assumed to be constant and hence an isentropic density is calculated in terms of the velocity components. Also, the x- and y-momentum equations written in conservation form are combined to yield the tangential and normal momentum equations. For smooth flows the tangential momentum equation reduces to the entropy transport equation, while the normal momentum equation gives the vorticity in terms of the entropy gradient normal to the flow direction (Crocco’s relation). Hence the velocity components can be obtained from the continuity equation and normal momentum equation (Cauchy=Riemann equations), while the entropy correction for the density is obtained from the tangential momentum equation (this correction is not needed in the isentropic flow regions). The present formulation can be easily extended to handle variable total enthalpy. Preliminary results are presented for transonic and supersonic flows over aerofoils and the entropy and vorticity effects are clearly identified. # 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Int. J. Numer. Meth. Fluids, 27: 127‐138 (1998)
An examination of creep data for an Al-Mg composite

In a recent investigation of the creep behavior of an Al-4 wt pct Mg composite reinforced with 10 vol pct of SiC particles, henceforth designated Al-4 pct Mg-10 vol pct SiC(p), Pandey et al. obtained a plot of the steady-state creep rate, {dot {epsilon}}, vs the applied stress, {sigma}, over the temperature range from 573 to 673 K. The present analysis leads to two conclusions. First, the experimental data reported by Pandey et al. for an Al-4 pct Mg-10 vol pct SiC(p) composite divides into two distinct creep regimes at all testing temperatures, with a transition with increasing stress from region I to region II at a strain rate of {approximately}3 {times} 10{sup {minus}8} s{sup {minus}1}. Second, a detailed examination of the data at the higher stresses in region II does not support a constant structure model for creep, as proposed by Pandey et al., but rather it leads to a true stress exponent ({approximately}3.0) and a true activation energy for creep ({approximately}125 kJ mol{sup {minus}1}) which are consistent with control by the viscous glide of dislocations dragging Mg solute atom atmospheres within the Al-Mg matrix.
Possible Transmission by Fomites of Respiratory Syncytial Virus

To test whether nosocomial spread of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) could occur through contact with environmental surfaces contaminated by RSV-infected nasal secretions, survival in the environment of RSV isolated from media, pooled adult secretions, and secretions from hospitalized infants was examined. RSV in freshly obtained infant secretions was recovered from countertops for up to 6 hr, from rubber gloves for up to 1 1/2 hr, from cloth gowns and paper tissue for 30--45 min, and from skin for up to 20 min. RSV in media and pooled secretions survived for slightly longer periods. Further experiments demonstrated that infectious virus could be transferred to hands touching these contaminated surfaces and could be recovered from these hands for up to 25 min. These studies suggest that survival of RSV in the environment of infected infant secretions is sufficient to allow transfer of infectious virus to the hands of hospital personnel. Thus, self-inoculation by contact with contaminated infant secretions may be a potential mode of nosocomial transmission of RSV.
The use of technology for urgent clinician to clinician communications: a systematic review of the literature.

Abstract Objective Urgent clinician–clinician communications require routes of contact that are fast and dependable, and allow for the exchange of complex information. Despite the increasing focus on improving healthcare delivery systems over the past decade, few studies have examined the role of technology in clinician–clinician communication. The aim of this study was to review the literature examining the role of devices and technology in facilitating urgent clinician–clinician communication to identify critical areas for future research. Materials and methods A search of Pub Med was performed using the terms ((((“Critical Care”[Mesh] OR “urgent”)))) AND (((hospital communication systems[MeSH Terms]) OR health communication[MeSH Terms]) OR interdisciplinary communication[MeSH Terms]). Commentaries and editorials were excluded. Results The initial search returned 272 articles, which were reviewed to identify articles describing: (1) the role of technological support or devices in clinician–clinician communication, (2) technology-based interventions that improved clinician-to-clinician communication in hospitals or acute care facilities related to critically ill patients, or (3) critical information exchange. A total of 16 articles were included in the final review. These were grouped into three categories: alphanumeric pagers, cellular and smart telephones, and novel uses of technology. Discussion Breakdowns in clinician–clinician communication are complex and cannot be solved through the implementation of devices or technologically advanced systems alone. It is essential to understand the correlation between emerging technologies, a demanding workload, and clinician–clinician interaction. Enhanced communication of clinical ideas, opportunities for team discussion, and a sense of partnership and support require not just increased information, but enhanced delivery.
Analytical Band Model for SO 2 Transmittance in the Infrared

An application is made of numerical computer techniques to the modeling of molecular absorption by atmospheric sulfur dioxide in the infrared region. The general transmittance function used in the widely accepted code called Lowtran is adopted, through an analytical approximation available in the literature for water vapor, ozone, and the uniformly mixed absorbers. The transmittance data used in the development were generated from simulated line spectra calculated with a tape tabulation of line parameters for the trace gases. The constants describing the function, as well as the spectral parameters at 5 cm−1 intervals, are provided in order to allow for direct calculation of sulfur dioxide transmittance in typical concentrations over the infrared region of absorption.