cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Tripartite Foundations of Temporal Psychological Distance: Metaphors, Ecology, and Teleology

What is psychological distance? Why do events sometimes seem “close” yet other times seem “ages away?” We propose a tripartite model of the foundations of psychological distance in which: (a) people use spatial distance as a metaphor for psychological distance; (b) the ecology of subjective experiences that coincide with changes in objective distance define, and hence, influence psychological distance; (c) psychological distance is shaped in the service of people's ultimate goals, or teleological considerations, of successfully navigating through time. This model implies that the subjective experiences that are typically associated with reductions in objective temporal distance should reduce temporal psychological distance–the subjective sense of how close or far away events are. We review evidence indicating that emotional arousal, attention, fluency, and motivational considerations all reduce psychological distance. This model also implies a temporal asymmetry in which people prioritize thinking about the future, which approaches in time, over thinking about the past, which recedes in time. Consequently, the future is psychologically closer than the past, people attend more to the future than to the past, and people feel more emotionally aroused about the future than about the past. These findings help advance understanding of psychological distance as a distinct psychological construct.
Beyond "couch potatoes": from consumers to designers

The fundamental challenge for human computer interaction (HCI) is to invent and design a culture in which humans can express themselves and engage in personally meaningful activities. Cultures are substantially defined by their media and tools for thinking, working, learning, and collaborating. New media change: (1) the structure and contents of our interests, (2) the nature of our cognitive and physical tools, and (3) the social environment in which thoughts originate and evolve, and mindsets develop. Unfortunately, a large number of new media are designed from a perspective of seeing and treating humans primarily as consumers. The possibility for humans to be and to act as designers (in cases in which they desire to do so) should be accessible not only to a small group of "high tech scribes", but rather to all interested individuals and groups.
High frequency input isolation circuit for asynchronous CMOS macros in PD/SOI technology

The circuit techniques presented in this paper are particularly useful for self-resetting CMOS (SRCMOS) (Henkels et al, 1999) designs in a partially depleted (PD) SOI technology, where pulse width alignment and control becomes much more difficult due to the hysteresis effect in floating body devices. Static and dynamic input isolation circuits are provided at the interface of the macro boundary in asynchronous CMOS design to render the input pulses within the specification. The technique does not require handshaking or interlock signals and is shown to improve the robustness of SRCMOS macros, especially in PD/SOI technology. The robustness of the circuit is demonstrated across a wide range of temperatures, L/sub eff/s and operating frequencies over 3 GHz with a minimum input pulse width of 0.2 ns.
Review: Paul ten Have (2004). Understanding Qualitative Research and Ethnomethodology

In diesem Buch gibt Paul TEN HAVE einen Uberblick uber qualitative Forschungsansatze und vergleicht einige hiervon mit ethnomethodologischen Ansatzen. Er differenziert Methoden und Methodologien, und in diesem Sinne gewahrt Understanding Qualitative Research and Ethnomethodology Einblick in verschiedene qualitative Methoden, bietet aber keine Methodologie zur Durchfuhrung von qualitativen Studien. Methoden versteht TEN HAVE als Forschungsstrategien bzw. Prozeduren, die im Verlauf einer qualitativen Untersuchung Verwendung finden. Das Buch ist in insgesamt neun Kapitel organisiert, wobei Bezuge zu ethnomethodologischer Methodik und Forschung hergestellt und mit ethnographischen Ansatzen bzw. mit der Grounded theory-Methodologie verglichen werden. Die vorliegende Besprechung kommentiert TEN HAVEs Buch, in dessen Zentrum die Ethnomethodologie steht, aus der Perspektive qualitativer Forschung. URN: urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs0503121
Derivation of edge detection algorithms from sample images: preliminary results

This paper presents preliminary results from an investigation of edge detection with a principal components analysis. In this way the parameters of an edge detector can be derived from data about edges in images. Our preliminary investigations attempt two approaches to deriving an edge detector from the analysis, neither of which is totally successful.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Accuracy of reporting current medications by cancer patients presenting to an emergency center.

Background Due to high coexistence of comorbidity, cancer patients take many medications and are susceptible to negative consequences of polypharmacy. To avoid adverse events during care transitions, patients need to correctly communicate their medications. The emergency center (EC) presents opportunities to assess patients’ knowledge of medications and reconcile medication profiles.
New perspectives on the origin and evolution of new world domesticated plants: Introduction

The symposium “New perspectives on the origin and evolution of New World domesticated plants” includes nine papers that all deal with the systematic relationships, center(s) of origin, and genetic diversity of particular New World crops. Recent molecular analyses and fieldwork in remote regions have supplied much new biosystematic evidence bearing on these topics. This new evidence, as well as the further integration of plant breeding, systematic/evolutionary, ethnobotanical, and archaeobotanical research, has done much to clarify New World crop origins and evolution.
Environmental Factors Affecting Conidial Sporulation and Germination of Entomophthora gammae

A laboratory study was conducted to determine the range of temperatures and humidities at which conidial sporulation and germination of Entomophthora gammae (Weiser) would occur. The fungus was able to sporulate at relative humidities of 80–100% and was inactivated by humidities of 50% and below. Conidia germinated at 98 and 100% RH and could not survive exposure to humidities below 75% RH . E. gammae sporulated and germinated at 10–26.7°C but could not survive prolonged exposure to 32.2 and 37.8°C. When cadavers were frozen, the pathogen was inactivated in less than 1 h.
Cryosurgery in the treatment of skin cancers: indications and management.

Abstract Cryosurgery is an excellent procedure in the treatment of malignancies when properly selected patients, appropriate tumors, adequate instrumentation, and proper technique are combined. 1 It is the treatment of choice for some skin cancers, and an alternate for many others in comparison with Mohs chemosurgery, conventional surgery, electrosurgery, and radiotherapy.
Carbon Dioxide Laser for the Treatment of Microcystic Lymphatic Malformations (Lymphangioma Circumscriptum): A Systematic Review

Background Lymphangioma circumscriptum (LC) is a rare, superficial, cutaneous lymphatic malformation. Management is difficult because of high recurrence rates, regardless of the treatment modality chosen. The carbon dioxide (CO2) laser may offer a less-invasive option than surgery that provides satisfactory functional and cosmetic results. Objectives To systematically review the efficacy and safety of the CO2 laser for the treatment of LC. Methods The terms “lymphangioma circumscriptum” and “microcystic lymphatic malformation” were combined with “treatment,” “laser,” and “carbon dioxide” during separate searches in the PubMed database. The articles retrieved were then evaluated based on set criteria. Results We identified 16 studies (11 case reports, 5 case series) with a total of 28 separate patients who had been treated for LC using a CO2 laser. Eight patients remained disease free from 4 months to 3 years, 10 experienced partial recurrence, and two experienced complete recurrence. Various laser parameters were reported, and adverse effects were generally minor and infrequent, such as dyspigmentation and mild scarring. Conclusions Available evidence indicates that the CO2 laser is a safe and efficacious option for the treatment of LC, particularly in large lesions that may not be amenable to surgical intervention.
Localization of kinetochore fragments isolated from single chromatids in mitotic CHO cells

Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells are treated with hydroxurea followed by a caffeine treatment to form detached kinetochore fragments in the absence of sister chromatids. Detached kinetochores in mitotic CHO cells display a functional association with MTs initiated from one or both centrosomes such that these association(s) have a significant influence on the location and orientation of detached kinetochores and/or their fragments. Kinetochore fragments which are amphitelically oriented are positioned approximately midway between the two centrosomes. Thus, a kinetochore isolated from a single chromatid can capture MTs from both poles. Monotelic orientation of these fragments is more frequently observed with kinetochore fragments located an average distance of 2.5 μm from the nearest centrosome, compared to an average distance of 4.4 μm in amphitelically oriented fragments. In cells treated with the potent MT poison, nocodazole, kinetochore isolation also occurs and therefore is not dependent on the presence of MTs. CHO cells treated to produce isolated kinetochores or kinetochore fragments then subsequently hyperosmotically shocked show no MTs directly inserted into kinetochore lamina, similar to the response of sucrose-treated metapbase PtK1 cells. This treatment shows circular kinetochores tangentially associated with bundles of MTs that are located an average of 1.5 μm from the centrosome. Our results suggest that a single kinetochore fragment can attach to MTs initiated from one or both centrosomes and that their specific association to MT fibers defines orientation of detached kinetochores within the spindle domain.
Molding the optical transmission with a meta-transmitarray

Summary form only given. Here, we propose a new route to locally manipulate the optical transmission amplitude and phase with unprecedented flexibility and efficiency. To achieve this aim, we extend the idea of radio-frequency transmitarrays (D. M. Pozar, Electronics Letters 32, 2109-2111, 1996) and transplant some relevant concepts to optical frequencies using plasmonics. This novel concept of optical “meta-transmitarray” opens new exciting routes to control the nanoscale optical transmission, overcoming many limitations of existing solutions. We show that it is possible to locally tailor the transmission coefficient of planarized multilayered structures composed of parallel metasurfaces by modeling them as transmission-line segments and loads. This theoretical framework provides useful physical insight and opens several exciting possibilities compared to other recent solutions. A single metasurface [as proposed by N. Vu, et al., Science 333, 333 (2011)] does not allow arbitrary control of the transmission amplitude and phase, causing severe constraints on the allowed wave manipulation and drastically limiting the maximum throughput and their practical applications. Instead, we show that by using a simple symmetric stack of three metasurfaces, we can provide a general solution, valid in any frequency regime, to have full control of the local transmission phase, while keeping unitary transmission amplitude and zero reflection, if desired. In this way, we offer a realistic scenario to fully control the impinging beam and tailor it at will for various applications. By exploiting the concept of optical nanocircuits enabled by plasmonic materials (N. Engheta, A. Salandrino, and A. Alu, Phys. Rev. Lett. 95, 095504, 2005), we also propose a realistic implementation of these concepts at optical frequencies. Our designed meta-transmitarray is made of only two materials, silicon and aluminum-doped zinc oxide, and provides deflection and focusing of the impinging light with ideal efficiency. More in general, any phase pattern can be imprinted to the impinging beam, without losing any energy in reflection. This capability is extremely beneficial for many applications, including concentrating solar cells, nanoscale signal processing and holography. We believe that our findings represent an important step forward in the quest for manipulating the nanoscale optical transmission. Thanks to the independent control of transmission amplitude and phase, our concept of meta-transmitarray may provide crucial benefits for many practical microand nano-scale applications, opening new doors for processing and manipulation of optical signals at the nanoscale.
Antibiotic therapy for the treatment of preterm labor: a review of the evidence.

Abstract OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the evidence regarding antibiotics for the treatment of preterm labor. STUDY DESIGN: Through dual review, we abstracted study design and masking, definitions of preterm labor and pregnancy outcome, patient inclusion/exclusion characteristics, patient demographic characteristics, drug and cointerventions, and numerous birth, maternal, and neonatal outcome measures. We graded the quality of the individual articles and the strength of the evidence for antibiotic benefit. RESULTS: We abstracted data from 14 randomized trials and 1 observational study. Of these studies, 13 trials met the requirements for a meta-analysis. The meta-analysis demonstrated a mixed outcome pattern with small improvements in pregnancy prolongation, estimated gestational age at birth, and birth weight. Data were insufficient to show a beneficial effect on neonatal morbidity or mortality rates. CONCLUSION: Treatment of preterm labor with antibiotic therapy can prolong gestation. The benefits of antibiotics are small, and there is considerable uncertainty about the optimal agent, route, dosage, and duration of therapy. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2002;186:587-92.)
Aspirin and colon cancer--targeting prevention?

The compelling evidence that chronic use of aspirin or certain nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can substantially lower the risk of colon cancer has important implications, especially because colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death. Aspirin and nonselective NSAIDs each inhibit the generation of prostaglandins by inhibiting the two cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes that initiate prostaglandin synthesis, COX-1 and COX-2. NSAIDs that are selective for COX-2 also inhibit the generation of prostaglandins. COX-1 is constitutively expressed in the colon, but COX-2 is inducible and markedly up-regulated in many colon cancers. Interventional trials have shown a decreased risk of the . . .
Simple Lie Algebras of Witt Type

Abstract LetKbe a field, letAbe an associative, commutativeK-algebra, and let Δ be a nonzeroK-vector space of commutingK-derivations ofA. Then, with a rather natural definition,A ⊗K Δ = AΔ becomes a Lie algebra and we obtain necessary and sufficient conditions here for this Lie algebra to be simple. With one minor exception in characteristic 2, simplicity occurs if and only ifAis Δ-simple andAΔ ⊗ Δ = AΔΔ acts faithfully as derivations onA.
Therapeutic potential of kava in the treatment of anxiety disorders.

Anxiety disorders are among the most common psychiatric disorders that affect all age groups of the general population. Currently, the preferred treatment is with pharmacological drugs that have antidepressant or anti-anxiety properties. However, these agents have numerous and often serious adverse effects, including sedation, impaired cognition, ataxia, aggression, sexual dysfunction, tolerance and dependence. Withdrawal reactions on termination after long-term administration are also a major limiting factor in the use of these agents.
Acute sleep deprivation reduces amygdala-kindled seizure thresholds in cats.

Abstract It is well known that sleep loss activates human and experimental epilepsy. Because sleep deficits are also common among epileptics, it is possible that sleep loss enhances seizures by worsening these spontaneous sleep abnormalities. We examined this hypothesis by documenting the effects of acute (72 h) sleep deprivation on seizures in fully kindled cats. We have reported elsewhere sustained decrements in both slow-wave sleep (SWS) and rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep with the development of amygdala kindling in this species. In the present experiment, eight cats underwent an A 1 B 1 A 2 paradigm in which sleep state physiology (12-h polygraphic recordings) and seizure thresholds were examined in both an experimental (sleep deprivation) and control (nonsleep deprived) sequence of conditions, with order of presentation counterbalanced. Sleep deprivation was produced by a modification of the “flower pot” procedure and involved placing the cat on a small platform over water so as to prevent REM sleep. In the control sequence, cats underwent the same procedure except the platform was large enough to allow normal SWS and REM sleep. A significant reduction in both REM and SWS sleep occurred exclusively during the experimental B 1 condition and was accompanied by a significant reduction in seizure threshold for partial or generalized tonic-clonic convulsions. These findings indicated that this procedure, thought to influence only REM sleep, also disrupts SWS; further, this generalized disruption of sleep reduced kindled seizure thresholds, perhaps by compounding existing sleep deficits. Collectively, these observations again suggest that the integrity of both SWS and REM sleep may be an important consideration in the etiology of amygdala-kindled seizures.
Students' knowledge of pain: a survey of four schools

The purpose of this study was to explore occupational therapy students' understanding of pain. During the 1996–7 academic year, 201 senior entry-level professional students at four universities in the northeastern United States completed a survey testing 10 common myths about assessment of persons with pain. Participants answered true or false to the 10 statements. The mean score was 61% and the number of correct answers ranged from 0% to 100%. Students scored highest in knowing that all pain is ‘real’ (88% correct) and that the patient is the best authority on pain sensation (87% correct). Students made most errors in believing that visible signs validate the existence of pain (42% correct) and that malingering is common (46% correct). This study supports the need for organized efforts to improve pain knowledge among entry-level occupational therapy students. Copyright © 1998 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
Functional analysis in MR urography — made simple

MR urography (MRU) has proved to be a most advantageous imaging modality of the urinary tract in children, providing one-stop comprehensive morphological and functional information, without the utilization of ionizing radiation. The functional analysis of the MRU scan still requires external post-processing using relatively complex software. This has proved to be a limiting factor in widespread routine implementation of MRU functional analysis and use of MRU functional parameters similar to nuclear medicine. We present software, developed in a pediatric radiology department, that not only enables comprehensive automated functional analysis, but is also very user-friendly, fast, easily operated by the average radiologist or MR technician and freely downloadable at www.chop-fmru.com. A copy of IDL Virtual Machine is required for the installation, which is obtained at no charge at www.ittvis.com. The analysis software, known as “CHOP-fMRU,” has the potential to help overcome the obstacles to widespread use of functional MRU in children.
Frequency of Hymenoptera allergy in an atopic and normal population

Abstract The frequency of bee sting allergy in 2,964 boy scouts who averaged about 13 years of age was found to be 0.8 per cent. The frequency of asthma and/or hay fever was at least 11 per cent in this particular age group. There was no significant difference in the frequency of Hymenoptera allergy in the normal and atopic segments of this population, and this appears to support the theory that atopic individuals may have a defect in their mucosal membranes. It was also ascertained that the term bee sting or insect allergy is poorly understood by the general population.
Semantic representations as procedures for verification

Doubly quantified sentences can be ambiguous (Every man knows some woman) or unambiguous (Every man knows every woman). For active and passive sentences of these types, we elicited from subjects three types of judgments designed to reflect which quantifier they assigned wide scope in interpreting the sentence. There was a strong tendency for the three measures to agree, and for these agreements to fall on the surface structure subject of the sentence, independent of sentence type. The data are interpreted as showing a tendency for the first quantifier to include the second within its scope; thus for both ambiguous and unambiguous sentence types active sentences tend to be interpreted differently from their passive transforms. A semantic theory adequate to capture this phenomenon must assign sentences semantic representations specifying not only truth-conditions but also procedures for verification.
Consequences of chemosensory phenomena for leukocyte chemotactic orientation.

The stochastic nature of cell surface receptor-ligand binding is known to limit the accuracy of detection of chemoattractant gradients by leukocytes, thus limiting the orientation ability that is crucial to the chemotactic response in host defense. The probabilistic cell orientation model of Lauffenburger is extended here to assess the consequences of recently discovered receptor phenomena: "down-regulation" of total surface receptor number, spatial asymmetry of surface receptors, and existence of a higher-affinity receptor subpopulation. In general, a reduction in orientation accuracy is predicted by inclusion of these phenomena. An orientation signal based on a simple model of chemosensory adaptation (i.e., a spatial difference in relative receptor occupancy) is found to be functionally different from the signal suggested by an experimental correlation (i.e., a spatial difference in absolute receptor occupancy). However, in the context of receptor "signal noise," the signal based on adaptation yields predictions in better qualitative agreement with the experimental orientation data of Zigmond. From this cell orientation model we can estimate the effective time-averaging period required for noise diminution to a level allowing orientation predictions to match observed levels. This time-averaging period presumably reflects the time constant for receptor signal transduction and locomotory response.
Observations from intraatrial recordings on the termination of electrically induced atrial fibrillation in humans.

BACKGROUND: The circulating wavelet hypothesis suggests that atrial fibrillation could terminate by either progressive fusion or simultaneous block of all wavelets. METHODS: Intraatrial recordings from the right atrial free wall were made during procainamide induced (n = 8) or spontaneous (n = 7) termination of electrically induced atrial fibrillation in 14 patients. Atrial rate, mean magnitude squared coherence, and direction of activation during sequential electrograms were measured. Rate and coherence were calculated from the earliest point within 5 minutes prior to termination as well as from the 4-second interval just prior to termination. RESULTS: Termination was directly to sinus rhythm (13 episodes) or to atrial flutter (2 episodes). For the eight procainamide induced terminations, rate decreased between the first measurement and the measurement just prior to termination, from 443 +/- 127 beats/min to 322 +/- 119 beats/min. For the seven spontaneous terminations, rate also decreased from 373 +/- 119 beats/min to 323 +/- 88 beats/min; however, a slight increase in atrial rate prior to termination was observed in three episodes. No specific patterns of atrial cycle lengths were seen during the final few seconds of fibrillation. No increase in coherence was observed. In seven episodes, recordings were made using orthogonal bipoles in the x, y, and z directions, allowing direction of activation of wavefronts to be measured. Three episodes showed multiple instances where direction of activation remained similar over several electrograms as we have previously reported for chronic fibrillation. However, no such instances precipitated termination in any of the seven episodes. CONCLUSIONS: Atrial fibrillation usually terminates directly to sinus rhythm and does so abruptly and without forewarning. While we and others have previously reported that the rate of atrial fibrillation decreases with procainamide infusion, a decrease in the rate of atrial fibrillation is not required for the rhythm to terminate and consequently may not be a part of the termination process at all. Coherence does not demonstrate a progressive increase in the organization of atrial fibrillation prior to termination. Lack of stabilization in the direction of activation of wavefronts in the final few seconds also fails to support fusion of wavefronts as the mechanism of termination of atrial fibrillation. Simultaneous block of all wavelets is consistent with, but not proven by, our observations.
Three-dimensional q-state Potts model: Monte Carlo study near q=3.

We provide a convincing numerical demonstration of the first-order nature of the transition in the three-state ferromagnetic Potts model in three dimensions by combining Monte Carlo simulations of the bulk free-energy barrier between the ordered and disordered states with finite-size scaling. From the histogram of internal energy and the number of clusters we extrapolate in q, the number of states, and find ${\mathit{q}}_{\mathit{c}}$=2.45\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.1. We also find that the free-energy barrier \ensuremath{\Delta}F(q,L)\ensuremath{\sim}(q-${\mathit{q}}_{\mathit{c}}$${)}^{2}$${\mathit{L}}^{2.3}$ and conclude that there is no essential singularity in the correlation length or latent heat in contrast to two dimensions.
Bone Aluminum Accumulation in Hemodialysis Patients: A Longitudinal Perspective

Serial bone biopsies obtained from 19 chronic hemodialysis patients asymptomatic for bone disease were examined retrospectively. We found only modest amounts of stainable bone aluminum after the first few years of hemodialysis therapy. Over the ensuing 5 to 15 years, there was a progressive increase in stainable bone aluminum (% of total bone surface): 0 to 4.9 years,19.9 ± 3.8% (mean ± SEM); 5.0 to 9.9 years, 28.4 ± 5.3%; and ≥10.0 years, 58.0 ± 7.7%. At final biopsy, the extent of bone surface aluminum was significantly correlated with duration of hemodialysis therapy ( r = 0.54) and with bone formation rate (BFR) ( r = − 0.54). Patients who developed aluminum-associated bone disease did not differ from other patients in duration of hemodialysis, intake of 1-hydroxylated vitamin D3 compounds, or the findings on early bone biopsy. High-turnover renal osteodystrophy remains the dominant bone lesion throughout the couse of hemodialysis in patients with intact parathyroid glands. In individual patients, bone histology frequently changes over time and in some patients, aluminumassociated bone disease may improve spontaneously. Bone biopsy in an asymptomatic patient who has received hemodialysis therapy for
Implementation of a Serial‐Case Pedagogy in the Introductory Managerial Accounting Course

The accounting profession and the business community have called for academics to place more emphasis on presenting accounting to students in an economic‐decision context. In response to that call, California State University, Chico (CSU, Chico) applied for and received in 1992 a Fund for the Improvement of Post‐Secondary Education (FIPSE) grant to reengineer its introductory accounting curriculum. This paper describes a serial case, created as part of the grant, that introduces a user, decision‐making approach into the second semester course that emphasizes managerial accounting. Specifically, the paper defines what is meant by a serial case, then provides an overview of the case, the California Car Company (CCC), a hypothetical manufacturer of electric‐powered vehicles. The paper then depicts the types of decisions addressed and accounting information employed by CCC. Issues related to the implementation of the serial case are also discussed. The paper concludes with a discussion of assessment data that...
Pricing of new vaccines

New vaccine pricing is a complicated process that could have substantial long-standing scientific, medical, and public health ramifications. Pricing can have a considerable impact on new vaccine adoption and, thereby, either culminate or thwart years of research and development and public health efforts. Typically, pricing strategy consists of the following ten components: 1. Conduct a target population analysis; 2. Map potential competitors and alternatives; 3. Construct a vaccine target product profile (TPP) and compare it to projected or actual TPPs of competing vaccines; 4. Quantify the incremental value of the new vaccine's characteristics; 5. Determine vaccine positioning in the marketplace; 6. Estimate the vaccine price-demand curve; 7. Calculate vaccine costs (including those of manufacturing, distribution, and research and development); 8. Account for various legal, regulatory, third party payer, and competitor factors; 9. Consider the overall product portfolio; 10. Set pricing objectives; 11. Select pricing and pricing structure. While the biomedical literature contains some studies that have addressed these components, there is still considerable room for more extensive evaluation of this important area.
The Role of Affect in Naturalistic Decision Making

The field of naturalistic decision making (NDM) assumes a “cold” cognitive model in that nonemotional, valence-neutral cues and information are predicted to influence decision making in identifiabl...
Dosimetry of a nearly monoenergetic 6 to 7 MeV photon source by NaI(Tl) scintillation spectrometry

Abstract The dosimetry of a nearly-monoenergetic 6–7 MeV photon source developed at the National Bureau of Standards (NBS) for radiation protection instrument calibration has been carried out by NaI(Tl) scintillation spectrometry. This approach uses calculated 3 in. × 3 in. NaI(Tl) detector-response functions that have been shown to be reasonably accurate up to 20 MeV. A least-squares fit of the appropriate response functions to a selected region of the pulse-height distribution determines the primary 6–7 MeV photon fluence. The uncertainty in the fluence determination is based on the χ 2 of the fit, the statistics of the data, and the uncertainty in the response functions. The air kerma delivery due to the primary photons at a reference point in the photon field was calculated from the primary photon fluence. The uncertainty in the determination of air kerma delivery for primary photons was less than 5% (1 std. dev.). The primary high-energy photon contribution to the detector response was subtracted from the data and the remaining distribution due to lower-energy photons was evaluated by spectrum unfolding analyses. The spectrum-unfolded results indicate that a contribution of approximately 12% of the total air kerma was mostly from a continuous distribution of photons extending up to 4.5 MeV.
Effects of warming‐up, racing and sodium bicarbonate in Standardbred horses

Summary Twelve currently racing Standardbred horses were used to measure effects of pre-race warm-up exercise and racing on blood values for bicarbonate (HCO3−), pH, base excess (BE), PCO2, sodium (Na+), calcium (Ca++), chloride (Cl−) and potassium (K+). In a switchback study, 12 horses were administered NaHCO3 (454 g) dissolved in 4 litres water via nasogastric tube and 12 were given 4 litres water as a control. Horses were exercised and raced in 3 groups of 4 with 2 horses in each group on each treatment. Mean durations of the 1 mile warm-up and race were 143 and 122 s, respectively. Horses treated with NaHCOj had increased (P < 0.001) blood pH, Na+, HCO3−, PCO2 and BE, while decreased (P < 0.001) K+ and Ca++ were found. Mean blood values for pH, HCO3−, PCO2, BE, Ca++ and K+ in NaHCO3 treated horses, decreased (P < 0.01) after pre-race warm-up and racing. Blood Na+ increased as a result of NaHCO3 administration independent of exercise level. It is suggested that blood gas testing for the detection of illegal alkalinising agents should not be done immediately after high intensity warm-up exercise.
Agglomeration of magnetic particles and breakup of magnetic chains in surfactant solutions

Abstract This study investigates the transition from reversible secondary to irreversible primary-minimum aggregation of superparamagnetic particles in surfactant solutions. The magnetic induction at which this transition occurs is experimentally determined by visualization of chain formation under a magnetic field and chain breakup after the field is removed. The value of the theoretical transitional magnetic induction is calculated from the extended Derjaguin–Landau–Verwey–Overbeek (DLVO) theory, which includes van der Waals, electrostatic, and magnetic-dipole forces, as well as non-DLVO steric repulsion. Experimental results show that the transitional magnetic induction increases with higher concentrations of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). When the surfactant concentration is high, the theoretical value of transitional magnetic induction agrees well with the experimental value. Only when the surface of the particles is completely covered by surfactant molecules can the secondary-minimum chains break up quickly to form a uniformly dispersed particle suspension after the magnetic force is removed. Moreover, such investigations reveal that the primary-minimum chains are shorter when they are formed in solutions of higher concentrations of SDS. This phenomenon occurs because the nonequilibrium steric repulsion between adsorbed SDS layers on the surface of the particles allows the transition from secondary- to primary-minimum aggregation for some of the particles in a chain. When the SDS segments are not adequately compressed, long chains formed in SDS solutions break up at points of secondary-minimum aggregation after removal of the magnetic force. At these points, the adsorbed SDS layers keep particles away from the primary-minimum, leading to the breakup of long chains and formation of short primary-minimum magnetic chains.
Electrochemical studies of six NF electrophilic fluorinating reagents

Abstract The electrochemical reduction of six NF electrophilic fluorinating reagents has been studied in acetonitrile on platinum electrodes. The overall mechanism for reduction on platinum electrodes has been shown to be a 1e− process on both long and short time scales via cyclic voltammetry and controlled potential coulometry experiments. The voltammetry revealed that HF was a probable product of the reduction. Five of the compounds were shown to react irreversibly with fluoride ion, a reaction that could deplete the amount of starting material leading to an overall process requiring 1e− per molecule. However, the rate constant for this reaction would need to be unreasonably large to account for the result. The products from the controlled potential electrolysis of 1-fluoropyridinium tetrafluoroborate were determined to be pyridine, 2-fluoropyridine, and 2-acetamidopyridine in yields (in terms of the pyridine moiety) of 36, 14, and 42%, respectively. This product distribution, combined with reactivity of these compounds toward fluoride ion, was used to propose an overall mechanism for the reduction of 1-fluoropyridinium ion. The initial step in this mechanism is the formation of a neutral radical by 1e− reduction of 1-fluoropyridinium. This radical dimerizes quickly to N,N′-difluorotetrahydro-4,4′-bipyridine. The formation of this dimer was postulated to be a reversible process. Loss of fluoride ion from the neutral radical in equilibrium with the dimer is believed to be the initial step in a multi-step mechanism which results in the products observed from the controlled potential coulometry of 1-fluoropyridinium tetrafluoroborate.
High-order electron-correlation methods with scalar relativistic and spin-orbit corrections

An assortment of computer-generated, parallel-executable programs of ab initio electron-correlation methods has been fitted with the ability to use relativistic reference wave functions. This has been done on the basis of scalar relativistic and spin-orbit effective potentials and by allowing the computer-generated programs to handle complex-valued, spinless orbitals determined by these potentials. The electron-correlation methods that benefit from this extension are high-order coupled-cluster methods (up to quadruple excitation operators) for closed- and open-shell species, coupled-cluster methods for excited and ionized states (up to quadruples), second-order perturbation corrections to coupled-cluster methods (up to triples), high-order perturbation corrections to configuration-interaction singles, and active-space (multireference) coupled-cluster methods for the ground, excited, and ionized states (up to active-space quadruples). A subset of these methods is used jointly such that the dynamical correlation energies and scalar relativistic effects are computed by a lower-order electron-correlation method with more extensive basis sets and all-electron relativistic treatment, whereas the nondynamical correlation energies and spin-orbit effects are treated by a higher-order electron-correlation method with smaller basis sets and relativistic effective potentials. The authors demonstrate the utility and efficiency of this composite scheme in chemical simulation wherein the consideration of spin-orbit effects is essential: ionization energies of rare gases, spectroscopic constants of protonated rare gases, and photoelectron spectra of hydrogen halides.
Consistency of gene starts among Burkholderia genomes

Evolutionary divergence in the position of the translational start site among orthologous genes can have significant functional impacts. Divergence can alter the translation rate, degradation rate, subcellular location, and function of the encoded proteins. Existing Genbank gene maps for Burkholderia genomes suggest that extensive divergence has occurred--53% of ortholog sets based on Genbank gene maps had inconsistent gene start sites. However, most of these inconsistencies appear to be gene-calling errors. Evolutionary divergence was the most plausible explanation for only 17% of the ortholog sets. Correcting probable errors in the Genbank gene maps decreased the percentage of ortholog sets with inconsistent starts by 68%, increased the percentage of ortholog sets with extractable upstream intergenic regions by 32%, increased the sequence similarity of intergenic regions and predicted proteins, and increased the number of proteins with identifiable signal peptides. Our findings highlight an emerging problem in comparative genomics: single-digit percent errors in gene predictions can lead to double-digit percentages of inconsistent ortholog sets. The work demonstrates a simple approach to evaluate and improve the quality of gene maps.
Improving the search environment: informed decision making in the search for statistical information

A search for information can be viewed as a series of decisions made by the searcher. Two dimensions of the search environment affect a user's decisions: the user's knowledge, and the configuration of the information retrieval system. Drawing on previous findings on users' lack of search or domain knowledge, this article investigates what the user needs to know to make informed search decisions at the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Web site, which provides statistical information on labor and related topics. Its extensive Web site is a rich collection of statistical information, ranging from individual statistics such as the current Consumer Price Index (CPI), to a large statistical database called LABSTAT that can be queried to construct a table or time series on the fly. Two models of the search environment and the query process in LABSTAT are presented. They provide complementary views of the decision points at which help may be needed, and also suggest useful help content. Extensive examples based on the industry concept illustrate how the information could assist users' search decisions. The article concludes with a discussion of the role of help facilities in Web searching, and the interesting question of how to initiate the provision of help.
Mechanisms Underlying Oxytocin-Induced Excitation of Supraoptic Neurons: Prostaglandin Mediation of Actin Polymerization

In nonneuronal tissues, activation of oxytocin receptors (OTRs), like other Gαq/11 type G-protein-coupled receptors (Gαq/11/GPCRs), increase prostaglandin (PG) expression. This is not known for the...
Use of the Time, Interaction and Performance Theory to Study Hospice Interdisciplinary Team Meetings

Hospice agencies are required to schedule and conduct Interdisciplinary Team meetings; however, little guidance exists as to how these meetings should be conducted. The purpose of this study was to apply the Time, Interaction and Performance theory to gain a better understanding of Interdisciplinary Team meetings. A total of 81 patient care discussions on 24 patients by four interdisciplinary hospice teams were videotaped in the time frame from December 2006 to April 2007 and transcribed. A total of 1,982 utterances were recorded. The utterances were analyzed using thematic content analysis. Nurses had the most utterances in relation to team production, defining patient needs and meeting defined goals. Additionally, nurses had the most utterances in relation to scheduling and synchronization of activities. Two specific areas in need of enhancement were noted, improvement in team member support and communication effectiveness. Future interventions targeting these areas of need may increase coordination of services which results in patient and family satisfaction and reduced overall health care costs.
Acquisition and extinction of the observing response as a function of stimulus predictive validity

In a Prokasy-type E-maze with rat Ss, the predictive validity of discriminative stimuli was varied between.50 and 1.00. Both the observing response and the discrimination were acquired as a positive function of the predictive validity of the stimuli. Although breakdown of the discrimination was seen in the extinction phase, no reduction in the tendency to make the observing response occurred.
Preclinical Evaluation of Recombinant T Cell Receptor Ligand RTL1000 as a Therapeutic Agent in Ischemic Stroke

Recombinant T cell Receptor Ligand 1000 (RTL1000), a partial human major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecule coupled to a human myelin peptide, reduces infarct size after experimental stroke in HLA-DRB1*1502 transgenic (DR2-Tg) mice. In this study, we characterized the therapeutic time window of opportunity for RTL1000; we explored the efficacy of a single dose of RTL1000 administration and determined if RTL1000 affords long-term neurobehavioral functional improvement after ischemic stroke. Male DR2-Tg mice underwent 60 min of intraluminal reversible middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). RTL1000 or vehicle was injected 4, 6, or 8 h after MCAO, followed by three daily injections. In the single-dose study, one-time injection of RTL1000 was applied 4 h after MCAO. Cortical, striatal, and hemispheric infarct sizes were measured 24 or 96 h after stroke. Behavioral testing, including neuroscore evaluation, open field, paw preference, and novel object recognition, was performed up to 28 days after stroke. Our data showed that RTL1000 significantly reduced the infarct size 96 h after MCAO when the first injection was given at 4 and 6 h, but not 8 h, after the onset of stroke. A single dose of 400 or 100 μg RTL1000 also significantly reduced the infarct size 24 h after MCAO. Behavioral testing showed that RTL1000 treatment used 4 h after MCAO improved long-term cognitive outcome 28 days after stroke. Taken together, RTL1000 protects against acute injury if applied within a 6-h time window and improves long-term functional recovery after experimental stroke in DR2-Tg mice.
Feed demands and coproduct substitution in the biofuel era

The use of traditional feedstocks for biofuel production has brought about large changes to food and agricultural systems. As livestock producers adapt to rising feed costs, the prospect of incorporating dried distiller's grain with solubles (DDGS) at higher than traditional levels becomes an important consideration. Given prices for feedstuffs and supplies of DDGS that are outside the historical data range, forward-looking analyses of the agricultural economy (even those with explicit derived demands for livestock feed) are poorly equipped to represent the farm- and sector-level tradeoffs that will emerge. The authors' results indicate that DDGS demands are more responsive to price changes in energy-oriented feeds than protein, despite the predominant historic feeding use of DDGS as a protein supplement. They extend their empirical analysis to account for the role of heterogeneous DDGS feed quality, identifying this as a critical consideration for sector-level substitution patterns. The price elasticities they report from their two-stage farm-level feed mix simulation and sector-level cost function estimation offer a robust picture of feedstuffs substitution of the type necessary for understanding the livestock component of demand response in the biofuels era. [EconLit citations: D20; C61; C13]. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Polyvalent interactions in unnatural recognition processes.

The synthesis of two cluster compounds, one containing six secondary dialkylammonium ion centers and the other possessing six benzo-m-phenylene[25]crown-8 (BMP25C8) macrocycles, both appended to hexakis(thiophenyl)benzene cores, is described. The binding of these clusters with complementary mono- and divalent ligands is investigated with NMR spectroscopy to probe polyvalency in these unnatural recognition systems. The ability of the two different families of clusters to bind complementary monovalent ligands is compared with that of the monovalent receptor pair, namely the dibenzylammonium ion and BMP25C8. This comparison is made possible by determining an average association constant (KAVE) for the binding of each recognition site on the cluster with the corresponding monovalent ligand. We have found that the clustering of recognition sites together in one molecule is detrimental to their individual abilities to bind monovalent ligands. In the case of the polyvalent interaction between the hexakisBMP25C8 ...