cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
E-Learning in Jordanian Higher Education: Cultural Perspectives and Institutional Readiness

This study explores students’ acceptance of e-learning technology in Jordanian higher educational institutions. A paucity of studies that were conducted in individual institutions indicated that different cultural perspectives and resistance to change are overlaying the wide adoption of e-learning and influencing users’ perceptions pertaining the technology usefulness and/or ease of use. Our study utilises the technology acceptance model (TAM) and explores the influence of the main antecedents of accepting this technology from users’ perspectives, that is, perceived usefulness (PU) and perceived ease of use (PEU) in order to reveal the country’s readiness to adopt this technology and move from individual innovations to institutional standards. The results obtained using a survey-based methodology from three main public and private institutions distributed in multiple geographical areas show that the actual behaviour of usage is influenced by behavioural intention (BI), which is directed by PU, PEU, and attitude. Based on these results, multiple recommendations pertaining to cultural perspectives and educational institutions readiness are proposed and implications of the study are discussed.
How to Use Graphic Design to Sell Things, Explain Things, Make Things Look Better, Make People Laugh, Make People Cry, and (Every Once in a While) Change the World by Michael Bierut

In his most recent book, AIGA medalist and Pentagram partner Michael Bierut describes the processes he deployed and the challenges he encountered while working on substantive design projects over m...
The McDonaldization of Society, 5th edn by George Ritzer

(2010). The McDonaldization of Society, 5th edn by George Ritzer. Food, Culture & Society: Vol. 13, No. 2, pp. 297-299.
Introduction to the Verilog Language

In this chapter we will look at some of the formal definitions of the Verilog language: identifiers, white space, comments, numbers, text macros, modules, value set, and strengths.
Length dependence of electrostatically induced carbon nanotube alignment

Abstract In situ, real-time polarized Raman spectroscopy was used to measure electrostatically induced carbon nanotube alignment in a polymer matrix. Discrete and reversible asymptotes of carbon nanotube G-band intensity were observed as a function of the applied electric field strength. It is proposed that as the electric field is increased, certain populations of carbon nanotubes attain sufficient alignment energy to overcome the randomizing thermal energy of the system. This is attributed to the electrostatic torque being a function of nanotube length, a relation that has been shown for dielectric rods and is extended here to carbon nanotubes. Nanotube batches of varying length distributions (hundreds of nanometers to micron-length) were created with different amounts of sonication energy. These distributions were quantified with atomic force microscopy measurements, and a model was developed relating these length distributions to the change in nanotube alignment at various electric field strengths. Nanotube polarizabilities determined from the model ( α = 10 − 30 − 10 − 32 F ⋅ m 2 ) were consistent with previously reported values. The effects of processing parameters such as sonication on the degree of achievable alignment as well as its implications are also discussed.
Distinguishing between natural and forced oscillations using a cross-spectrum index

Two different types of oscillatory responses often occur in power systems: natural and forced. Natural oscillations are characterized by the electromechanical eigenvalues (or modes) and are typically initiated by a system discontinuity (e.g., a fault). Forced oscillations are caused by some external input driving the system into a sustained oscillation. A fundamental goal is to distinguish between a very lightly-damped (or undamped) natural oscillation and a forced oscillation based upon system-wide measurements. In this paper, a cross-spectrum index function is developed for distinguishing between the two types of oscillations based upon time-synchronized PMU measurements. A simulation and a real-life event are used to demonstrate key points.
Colon cleansing protocol in children: research conditions vs. clinical practice.

Background and study aims Colon preparation rates are the limiting factor for a successful diagnostic colonoscopy in children. Different colon cleansing protocols have been published for use in children. Unfortunately, the applicability of those published research protocols has not been formally evaluated in routine clinical practice. We investigated the success rate of our previously published colon cleansing protocol as utilized in our clinical practice. Patients and methods This was a retrospective study. In the clinical practice, the colon cleansing protocol included PEG-3350 at a dose of 2 g/kg/day plus Dulcolax (Bisacodyl, Boehringer Ingelheim, TX USA) 5 mg/day for 2 days. Adequate colon preparation was graded between 1 – 5, as previously described, and grade ≥ 4.0 was considered an adequate preparation. Patients were instructed to complete a questionnaire that included PEG-3350 dose, number of stools per day, consistency of each stool, and side effects (vomiting, abdominal pain). Clinical and endoscopic results were compared between the protocol under research conditions and routine practice. Results The success rate of the colon preparation in our clinical practice was similar to the results observed under our research protocol (75 % vs. 73.6 %). Moreover, the total number of stools, stool consistency, and the intubation rate of the terminal ileum were also similar. We concluded, that in our experience, the colon cleansing protocol used under research conditions was effective and appropriate for use in routine clinical practice. Conclusion We recommend testing each new protocol under the routine conditions of clinical practice to confirm its applicability for general practitioners.
Longitudinal Qualitative Research: Analyzing Change Through Time

Chapter 1 Acknowledgments Chapter 2 Introduction: Looking Toward the Journey Chapter 3 Chapter 1: Longitudinal Qualitative Studies, Time, and Change Chapter 4 Chapter 2: Longitudinal Qualitative Research Design Chapter 5 Chapter 3: Longitudinal Qualitative Data Analysis Chapter 6 Chapter 4: Framing Questions Chapter 7 Chapter 5: Descriptive Questions Chapter 8 Chapter 6: Analytic and Interpretive Questions Chapter 9 Conclusion: Looking Back at the Journey Chapter 10 References Chapter 11 Footnotes 12 Appendix: Longitudinal Qualitative Data Summary 13 Index
Conclusion: The REE and the Real Problem

The United States declare trade war against China was a headline dated March 13, 2012 on the German internet news platform N-TV which broached the issue of a newsworthy claim of the US, the EU and Japan against China concerning their restrictive handling of trade with REE, molybdenum and tungsten. This approach was expected as a succession of the WTO claims described in the chapter about China above. It was not as surprising as the headlines might imply. Nevertheless the reporting remained on a top level with known arguments. So there seems to be a real problem concerning the REE. It has also been discussed above that the static range of the REE is in excess of 850 years and subject to a further increase of range as lots of exploration teams show promising results. So this unfolds that there is no physical or geological issue but something else.
Titin as a chromosomal protein.

We identified titin as a chromosomal protein using a human autoimmune scleroderma serum. We cloned the corresponding gene in the fruitfly, Droso-phila melanogaster. We have demonstrated that titin is not only expressed and localized in striated muscle but is also distributed uniformly on condensed mitotic chromosomes using multiple antibodies directed against different domains of both Drosophila and vertebrate titin. Titin is a giant sarcomeric protein responsible for the elasticity of striated muscle. Titin may also function as a molecular scaffold during myofibril assembly. We hypothesize that titin is a component of chromosomes that may function to determine chromosome structure and provide elasticity, playing a role similar to that proposed for titin in muscle. We have identified mutations in Drosophila Titin (D-Titin) and are characterizing phenotypes in muscle and chromosomes.
Variability of Driving Performance During Microsleeps

This study aimed to evaluate the value of measuring microsleeps as an indicator of driving performance impairment in drowsy drivers with sleep disorders. Drivers with sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea/hypopena syndrome (OSAHS) are at increased risk for driving performance errors due to microsleep episodes, which presage sleep onset. To meet this aim, the authors tested the hypothesis that OSAHS drivers show impaired control over vehicle steering, lane position and velocity during microsleep episodes compared to when they are driving without microsleeps on similar road segments. A microsleep is defined as a 3-14 sec episode during which 4-7 Hz (theta) activity replaces the waking 8-13 Hz (alpha) background rhythm. Microsleep episodes were identified in the electroencephalography (EEG) record by a neurologist certified by the American Board of Sleep Medicine. Twenty-four drivers with OSAHS were tested using simulated driving scenarios. Steering variability, lane position variability, acceleration and velocity measures were assessed in the periods during a microsleep, immediately preceding (pre) microsleep, and immediately following (post) microsleep. In line with the authors' introductory hypothesis, drivers with OSAHS did show significantly greater variation in steering and lane position during the microsleep episodes compared to the periods pre and post microsleep. The results indicate that identification of microsleep episodes can provide a marker for declining vehicle control of drivers with OSAHS.
Bethanechol Chloride and the Traumatic Cord Bladder

AbstractThe effect of bethanechol chloride was evaluated in 28 men with neurogenic bladder disease secondary to traumatic spinal cord damage. Simultaneous measurements of bladder pressure, electromyography of the pelvic floor and flow rate were obtained to evaluate the effect on voiding. The results of these studies revealed that bethanechol chloride failed to improve voiding dysfunction in these patients in either the supine or sitting position. Functional bladder outlet obstruction was aggravated by bethanechol chloride. It was found that the effect of this drug on the bladder was unpredictable, as evidenced by some patients converting from a definite detrusor contraction to a wave type pattern. Bethanechol chloride failed to induce a detrusor contraction in patients with areflexia or wave pattern bladders.
Improving Message Routing for Limited Bandwidth Acoustic Communication Under TDMA Constraints

Communication is typically an integral aspect for a team of autonomous vehicles to work together. In many terrestrial applications communication links are reliable and high speed, allowing for easy cooperation and coordination between vehicles. Effective team work is much more difficult in environments that do not have quality communication links, such as underwater. Given the communication difficulties in the underwater environment, strategies are needed to limit the negative impact on overall team effectiveness. To do this, the vehicles need to be aware of the quality of their network in order to take active steps towards improvement. In this paper we outline an algorithm that allows vehicles to evaluate the effectiveness of the network in order to make informed routing decisions. The algorithm transforms the commonly used adjacency matrix into a weighted matrix that takes into account the time delay introduced by TDMA. By using this algorithm, vehicles are better able to avoid bottleneck and bandwidth issues where possible. The results of the algorithm are verified and validated against simulation data.
Is Campus Rape Primarily a Serial or One-Time Problem? Evidence From a Multicampus Study:

We examined the prevalence and repeat offenses of college men, including fraternity men and student athletes, taking advantage of someone sexually while under the influence of alcohol. Preexisting data from the Core Alcohol and Other Drug Survey included a sample of 12,624 college men at 49 community and 4-year colleges. Results provide further evidence that the problem of campus rape is largely one of serial perpetration. More than 87% of alcohol-involved sexual assault was committed by serial perpetrators. Fraternity men and student athletes were significantly more likely to commit alcohol-involved sexual assault than other men on campus.
Abstract 025: Potential Implications of Simplified Blood Pressure Measurement Approaches: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

Background: Taking a mean of blood pressure (BP) measurements is recommended but impractical in resource-constrained settings. The implications of fewer BP measurements on BP classification and car...
Introductory Overview of the Hizmet Movement

This chapter gives an introductory overview of the beginnings and on-going development of the Hizmet movement as a faith-based, growing international social movement of moderate Muslims committed to fostering peaceful interactions, humanitarian social responsibility and human development through educational, media, dialogue and service initiatives. It introduces some of the movement’s key beliefs and practices as shaped under the influence of its founder Fethullah Gulen and provides biographical background on the life of Gulen.
Sulfhydryl treatment of serum or plasma for the reduction of IgM antibodies.

CONCLUSIONS Dithiothreitol (DTT) and 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) are sulfhydryl compounds that can be used to treat serum or plasma to denature IgM antibody reactivity. By using sulfhydryl agents, IgG and IgM antibodies can be separated, the relative amount of IgM and IgG antibodies can be determined, and the risk of hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn can be assessed.
An Enjoyable Research Journey on Uncertainty

This is a story of research on uncertainty modeling from information measures without probability to Choquet capacities, possibility measures, fuzzy measures, imprecise probabilities, belief functions and finally, quantum probability. The main part of the paper is devoted, almost entirely, to an invitation to quantum probability for behavioral economics.
Polarization insensitive, metamaterial absorber-enhanced long-wave infrared detector

Detecting low energy photons, such as photons in the long-wave infrared range, is a technically challenging proposition using naturally occurring materials. In order to address this challenge, we herein demonstrate a micro-bolometer featuring an integrated metamaterial absorber (MA), which takes advantage of the resonant absorption and frequency selective properties of the MA. Importantly, our micro-bolometer exhibits polarization insensitivity and high absorption due to a novel metal-insulator-metal (MIM) absorber design, operating at 8-12 µm wavelength. The metamaterial structures we report herein feature an interconnected design, optimized towards their application to micro-bolometer-based, long-wave infrared detection. The micro-bolometers were fabricated using a combination of conventional photolithography and electron beam lithography (EBL), the latter owing to the small feature sizes within the design. The absorption response was designed using the coupled mode theory (CMT) and the finite integration technique, with the fabricated devices characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The metamaterial-based micro-bolometer exhibits a responsivity of approximately 198 V/W over the 8-12 µm wavelength regime, detectivity of ∼ 0.6 × 109 Jones, thermal response time of ∼ 3.3 ms, and a noise equivalent temperature difference (NETD) of ∼33 mK under 1mA biasing current at room-temperature and atmosphere pressure. The ultimate detectivity and NETD are limited by Johnson noise and heat loss with thermal convection through air; however, further optimization could be achieved by reducing the thermal conductivity via vacuum packaging. Under vacuum conditions, the detectivity may be increased in excess of two-fold, to ∼ 1.5 × 109 Jones. Finally, an infrared image of a soldering iron was generated using a single-pixel imaging process, serving as proof-of-concept of this detection platform. The results presented in this work pave the road towards high-efficiency and frequency-selective detection in the long-wave infrared range through the integration of infrared MAs with micro-bolometers.
Safe fieldwork strategies for at-risk individuals, their supervisors and institutions

As a result of identity prejudice, certain individuals are more vulnerable to conflict and violence when they are in the field. It is paramount that all fieldworkers be informed of the risks some colleagues may face, so that they can define best practice together: here we recommend strategies to minimize risk for all individuals conducting fieldwork.
The Politics of Ballot Design: How States Shape American Democracy

US federalism grants state legislators the authority to design many aspects of election administration, including ballot features that mediate how citizens understand and engage with the choices available to them when casting their votes. Seemingly innocuous features in the physical design of ballots, such as the option to cast a straight ticket with a single checkmark, can have significant aggregate effects. Drawing on theoretical insights from behavioral economics and extensive data on state ballot laws from 1888 to the present, as well as in-depth case studies, this book shows how strategic politicians use ballot design to influence voting and elections, drawing comparisons across different periods in American history with varying levels of partisanship and contention. Engstrom and Roberts demonstrate the sweeping impact of ballot design on voting, elections, and democratic representation.
Effects of the Minimum Wage on Child Health

Effects of the minimum wage on labor market outcomes have been extensively debated and analyzed. Less studied, however, are other consequences of the minimum wage that stem from changes in a household’s income and labor supply. We examine the effects of the minimum wage on child health. We employ data from the National Survey of Children’s Health in conjunction with a difference-in-differences research design. We estimate effects of changes in minimum wage throughout childhood. We find evidence that an increase in the minimum wage throughout childhood is associated with a large improvement in child health. A particularly interesting finding is that much of the benefits of a higher minimum wage are associated with the period between birth and aged 5. Institutional subscribers to the NBER working paper series, and residents of developing countries may download this paper without additional charge at www.nber.org.
Financial Fire Sales: Evidence from Bank Failures

Theory suggests the reduction in financing capacity after the failure of a financial intermediary can reduce the value of financial assets. Forced sales of the intermediary's assets could consume liquidity, depressing the liquidation value of the assets of healthy intermediaries and causing contagious runs. These financial fire sales can both cause, and exacerbate, real fire sales, the focus of previous studies. This paper investigates the relevance of financial fire sales using new datasets covering bank failures during the farm depression in the United States just before the Great Depression, as well as bank failures during the Great Depression. Using differences in regulation as a means of identification, we find that the reduction in local financing capacity as a result of bank failures reduces the recovery rates on failed assets of nearby banks, depresses local land prices, renders land markets illiquid, and is associated with subsequent distress in nearby banks. All this indicates a rationale for why bank failures are contagious.
Interviews and Report Writing in the Context of Functional Assessment

Functional assessments are a process by which environmental variables that occasion and maintain challenging behaviors are identified, following which a function-based treatment is often designed and implemented. One type of assessment included in the functional assessment process is indirect assessment. Specifically, one form of indirect assessments is interviews. In this chapter, we discuss various means for conducting interviews during the functional assessment process, how to incorporate interview results into a final report, and implications for practice.
Modeling hyperspectral normalized water-leaving radiance in a dynamic coastal ecosystem

Next-generation satellite sensors such as the Ocean Color Instrument (OCI) aboard the NASA Plankton, Aerosols, Cloud and ocean Ecosystem (PACE) satellite and the proposed Surface Biology and Geology (SBG) sensor will provide hyperspectral measurements of water-leaving radiances. However, acquiring sufficiently accurate in situ validation data in coastal ecosystems remains challenging. Here we modeled hyperspectral normalized water-leaving radiance ([LW(λ)]N) in a dynamic coastal ecosystem using in situ inherent optical properties (IOPs) as inputs to the Hydrolight radiative transfer model. By reducing uncertainty of modeled hyperspectral [LW(λ)]N (%RMSE ≤ 21%) relative to [LW(λ)]N derived from in situ radiometric measurements (%RMSE ≤ 33%), we introduce modeling as an alternative or complementary method to in-water radiometric profilers for validating satellite-derived hyperspectral data from coastal ecosystems.
Lymphoma presenting as subcutaneous periorbital nodules

A 67-year-old female presented with a several month history of painless enlarging right periorbital growths. Examination showed multiple nontender subcutaneous nodules superior to the right eyebrow. Magnetic resonance imaging and incisional biopsy confirmed subcutaneous marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT). Subcutaneous involvement sparing the epidermis is a rare presentation in patients with prior noncutaneous marginal zone lymphomas. Recent studies have demonstrated that subcutaneous dissemination is associated with MALT lymphoma of the breast and ocular adnexa. Systemic workup is therefore critical in patients who present with subcutaneous MALT lymphoma. Radiation therapy has proven to be effective in cutaneous marginal zone B-cell lymphomas.
Early starts and late finishes both reduce alertness and performance among short-haul airline pilots.

Flight crews are frequently required to work irregular schedules and, as a result, can experience sleep deficiency and fatigue. This study was conducted to determine whether perceived fatigue levels and objective performance varied by time of day, time awake, and prior night's sleep duration. Ninety-five pilots (86 male, 9 female) aged 33 years (±8) volunteered for the study. Participants completed a daily sleep diary, Samn-Perelli fatigue scale, and psychomotor vigilance task that were completed before and after each flight duty period and at the top-of-descent for each flight. Pilots experienced higher self-reported fatigue (EMM = 3.92, SE = 0.09, p < 0.001) and worse performance (Response speed: EMM = 4.27, SE = 0.08, p = 0.004) for late-finishing duties compared with early-starting duties (Samn-Perelli: EMM = 3.74, SE = 0.08; Response speed: EMM = 4.37, SE = 0.08), but had shorter sleep before early-starting duties (early: EMM = 6.94, SE = 0.10; late: EMM = 8.47, SE = 0.14, p < 0.001). However, pre-duty Samn-Perelli and response speed were worse (z = 4.18, p < 0.001; z = 3.05, p = 0.03; respectively) for early starts compared with late finishes (EMM = 2.74, SE = 0.19), while post-duty Samn-Perelli was worse for late finishes (EMM = 4.74, SE = 0.19) compared with early starts (EMM = 4.05, SE = 0.12). The results confirm that duty time has a strong influence on self-reported fatigue and performance. Thus, all flights that encroach on a biological night are targets for fatigue risk management oversight.
Modified Discrete Sliding mode Model Following Control (DSMFC) for an Induction Motor Drivers

A Discrete Sliding mode Model Following Control or DSMFC strategy for an induction motor drivers is presented. The DSMFC algorithm uses the combination of model following control and sliding mode control to improve the dynamics response for command tracking. A procedure is proposed for choosed for choosing the control function so that it guarantee the existence of a Sliding control of an induction motor. Experimental results illustrate that DSMFC gives a signigicant improvement on the tracking performances and robust to plant parameter variations and disturbances.
Critical roles of decompression in functional recovery of ex vivo spinal cord white matter.

Object The correlations between functional deficits, the magnitude of compression, and the role of sustained compression during traumatic spinal cord injury remain largely unknown. Thus, the functional outcome of this type of injury with or without surgical intervention is rather unpredictable. To elucidate how severity and duration of compression affect cord function, the authors have developed a method to study electrophysiological characteristics and axonal membrane damage in white matter from guinea pig spinal cord. Methods Ventral white matter strips isolated from adult guinea pigs were compressed by a compression rod at a level of either 60 or 80% and held briefly, for 30 minutes, or for 60 minutes. In half the experimental groups, a decompression phase consisting of probe withdrawal and 30 minutes of recovery was also applied. For all cord samples, functional response was continuously monitored through compound action potential (CAP) recording. In addition, axonal membrane damage was assessed by a ...
Flipping a Switch

Proteins are not inert structures but are constantly in motion. In their Perspective, [Buck and Rosen][1] describe new experiments that use the power of nuclear magnetic resonance to correlate motions in nitrogen regulatory protein C, a bacterial signaling protein, with its biological activity ([ Volkman et al. ][2]). [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/291/5512/2329 [2]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/291/5512/2429
Substrate noise: analysis and optimization for IC design

In the past decade, substrate noise has had a constant and significant impact on the design of analog and mixed-signal integrated circuits. Only recently, with advances in chip miniaturization and innovative circuit design, has substrate noise begun to plague fully digital circuits as well. To combat the effects of substrate noise, heavily over-designed structures are generally adopted, thus seriously limiting the advantages of innovative technologies. Substrate Noise: Analysis and Optimization for IC Design addresses the main problems posed by substrate noise from both an IC and a CAD designer perspective. The effects of substrate noise on performance in digital, analog, and mixed-signal circuits are presented, along with the mechanisms underlying noise generation, injection, and transport. Popular solutions to the substrate noise problem and the trade-offs often debated by designers are extensively discussed. Non-traditional approaches as well as semi-automated techniques to combat substrate noise are also addressed. Substrate Noise: Analysis and Optimization for IC Design will be of interest to researchers and professionals interested in signal integrity, as well as to mixed signal and RF designers.
Does Corporate Governance Matter for Equity Returns

In this paper we reexamine the findings of Gompers, Ishii, and Metrick (2003) and Bebchuk, Cohen, and Ferrell (2009) and find the link between corporate governance (as measured by the G index and E index) and firm stock returns is much weaker than previously suggested. We extend the sample period and find a reversal of the relationship between governance and stock returns documented in these works over the 1990s and early 2000s. We further explore the source of the observed superior performance of good governance firms during the 1990s and find this relationship is partially driven by large firms and the Nasdaq bubble. We conclude corporate governance is less important for firm stock returns than suggested by previous literature.
Introduction of pAM beta 1 into Listeria monocytogenes by conjugation and homology between native L. monocytogenes plasmids.

Abstract The broad host range antibiotic resistance plasmid pAM beta 1 was transferred from Streptococcus faecalis to 9 of 15 Listeria monocytogenes strains by conjugation. L. monocytogenes transconjugates could transfer the plasmid either among L. monocytogenes strains or back to S. faecalis. Transfer between the various strains occurred without any detectable plasmid DNA rearrangements. The pAM beta 1 replicon was stable in L. monocytogenes--it was retained without antibiotic selection when the bacteria were grown in culture media or passed in mice--and the presence of pAM beta 1 had no major effect on L. monocytogenes virulence. These data suggest that pAM beta 1 or its derivatives might serve as useful L. monocytogenes cloning vehicles. The data presented also demonstrate that pAM beta 1 is compatible with two different native L. monocytogenes plasmids and that Listeria species harbor native plasmids in addition to the 38.5-megadalton plasmid pRYC16 previously reported by Perez-Diaz et al. (J. C. Perez-Diaz, M. F. Vicente, and F. Banquero, Plasmid 8:112-118, 1982). Of 29 L. monocytogenes strains screened, 7 contained plasmid DNA. Four strains had similar if not identical plasmids that were 34 megadaltons in size, whereas three other strains contained either a 53-, 44-, or 32-megadalton plasmid; none of these plasmids has the same restriction patterns as pRYC16. DNA homology experiments indicate that the various plasmids are related and suggest that there may be a common set of sequences present in all of the plasmids examined.
Synthesis and Characterization of Acetylated and Stearylyzed Soy Wax

A solvent-free synthesis method was developed for incorporating acetyl and hydroxy groups and long-chain fatty alcohol in fully hydrogenated soybean oil (FHSO) to produce a wax to be used as beeswax or paraffin substitutes in packaging and coatings. FHSO was reacted with stearyl alcohol and triacetin at 140–150 °C for 2 h, and the reaction was catalyzed by 0.018 wt% sodium methoxide. The addition of alcohol increased the reaction yield and the melting point of the final wax by 9 and 25 %, respectively, compared to the wax produced from the reaction of FHSO and triacetin alone. The effects of the ratio of stearyl alcohol and triacetin to FHSO on the textural properties of the modified soy wax were examined. The reaction of FHSO:stearyl alcohol:triacetin at a molar ratio of 9:7:15 produced a wax that was 1.2 and 2.4 times harder than beeswax and FHSO, respectively, but 1.7 times softer than a commercial grade paraffin wax. This modified soy wax comprised 75 % acetylated glycerol esters including diacetylmonoacylglycerides (31 %), monoacetylmono- (12 %) and diacylglycerides (32 %), and 25 % non-acetylated molecules including wax ester (14 %), and acylglycerides (11 %). The acetylated soy wax had high cohesiveness and did not break under compression.
The Pythagorean Roots of Introductory Physics

Much of the mathematical reasoning employed in the typical introductory physics course can be traced to Pythagorean roots planted over two thousand years ago. Besides obvious examples involving the Pythagorean theorem, I draw attention to standard physics problems and derivations which often unknowingly rely upon the Pythagoreans’ work on proportion, music, geometry, harmony, the golden ratio, and cosmology. Examples are drawn from mechanics, electricity, sound, optics, energy conservation and relativity. An awareness of the primary sources of the mathematical techniques employed in the physics classroom could especially benefit students and educators at schools which encourage integration of their various courses in history, science, philosophy, and the arts.
Influence of hormone replacement therapy on the outcome of iliac angioplasty and stenting

Abstract Objective: Thromboembolic events are more frequent in women with established cardiovascular disease taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT). The effect of HRT on the outcome of women with aortoiliac occlusive disease is unknown. The purpose of this study was to estimate the influence of risk factors, including HRT, on the outcome of women undergoing iliac artery angioplasty and stent placement. Methods: During a 5-year period (between 1994 and 1999), 126 iliac angioplasties with stent placement (144 stents) were performed in 88 women. The criteria prepared by the Ad Hoc Committee on Reporting Standards (Society for Vascular Surgery/International Society for Cardiovascular Surgery) were followed to define the variables. Both univariate (Kaplan-Meier) and multivariate analyses (Cox proportional hazards model) were used to determine the association among preoperative variables, cumulative patency, limb salvage, and survival. Results: The patients' average age was 63.2 years with 43% of the patients taking HRT. Indications for iliac angioplasty with stenting were disabling claudication (65%), limb salvage (32%), and blue toe syndrome (3%). The technical success rate was 95% (120 of 126 procedures). Primary stenting was performed in 28 patients (22%). Stents were placed selectively after iliac angioplasty for residual stenosis or pressure gradient (57%), iliac dissection (8%), long-segment occlusions (8%), or eccentric lesions (5%). There were no significant differences between HRT users and nonusers with regard to risk factors, except there was a higher frequency of diabetes in women taking HRT. Overall, the primary patency rate was 76% at 1 year, 67% at 3 years, and 62% at 5 years. Primary patency rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 75%, 57%, and 49% for users of HRT and 77%, 74%, and 74%, respectively, for nonusers. Limb salvage rates were not statistically different between users and nonusers of HRT at 5 years (95% vs 96%). Univariate and Cox regression analyses identified HRT use (Kaplan-Meier, log-rank test, P = .02; relative risk, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.3-4.5; P = .006) and stent placement in the external iliac artery (relative risk, 4.3; 95% CI, 2.3-7.9; P Conclusions: Women undergoing iliac angioplasty with stent placement who are taking HRT have significantly reduced primary patency rates. Despite initial technical success, HRT users are at increased risk of long-term failure and might require subsequent procedures to obtain clinical success. External iliac angioplasty and stenting are also associated with decreased primary stent patency in women. (J Vasc Surg 2001;33:S85-92.)
Resistance to diuretics

Diuretics act by decreasing sodium reabsorption via inhibition of the entry of luminal sodium into the tubular cell. The various nephron segments have different mechanisms of sodium entry, and it is this characteristic that determines the site at which the diuretic acts. The site of action is also an important determinant of diuretic potency, which is affected both by the quantity of sodium normally reabsorbed at that site and by the ability of the more distal segments to increase their rate of reabsorption in response to the increment in sodium delivery [9]. (a) Loop diuretics (such as furosemide and bumetanide) act by competing for the chloride site on the Na-K-2C1 transporter. These agents are potent diuretics that, in maximum dosage, can lead to the excretion of as much as 20-25% of the filtered sodium. This response is related to the fact that the loop normally reabsorbs 30-35% of the filtered sodium, and that the distal and collecting tubules have a limited ability to reclaim the excess sodium delivered out of the loop of Henle. (b) Thiazide-type diuretics compete for the chloride site on a Na-C1 cotransporter in the luminal membrane of the distal tubule. This segment normally reabsorbs about 5% of the filtered sodium; as a result, the thiazide diuretics are less potent than the loop diuretics. (c) With potassium-sparing diuretics, sodium entry in the principal cells in the cortical collecting tubule and in the medullary collecting tubule is mediated by selective sodium channels. The potassium-sparing diuretics, directly or indirectly, close these sodium channels. These agents are relatively weak diuretics and are used primarily to minimize urinary potassium loss.
Reducing Blood Utilization by Implementation of a Type-and-Screen Transfusion Policy A Single-Institution Experience

Objectives: The Blood Utilization Committee implemented a standardized protocol for the preoperative blood order for cardiac patients. The aim of our study was to assess the improvement in blood utilization using the crossmatch to transfusion ratio (C:T). Methods: Four months of retrospective data were collected, which included all RBC crossmatch requests and all RBC units transfused. Similar data were gathered for the period of the intervention. The difference in C:T was calculated. Results: The retrospective group had 166 patients for whom blood products were ordered. There were 560 crossmatch requests and 237 transfused RBC units with a C:T of 2.36. The prospective group had 127 patients with 297 crossmatch requests, 190 transfused units, and a C:T of 1.56. There was a statistically significant difference in the C:T. The cost difference was $12,244.00. Conclusions: Implementing exact guidelines, with the introduction of a type-and-screen concept, allowed more efficient blood usage.
Single-trial P300 estimation with a spatiotemporal filtering method

A spatiotemporal filtering method for single-trial ERP component estimation is presented. Instead of modeling the entire ERP waveform, the method focuses on the ERP component local descriptors (amplitude and latency) thru the spatial diversity of multichannel recordings and thus it is tailored to extract signals in negative signal to noise ratio conditions. The model allows for both amplitude and latency variability in the ERP component under investigation. We applied the method to the estimation of the P300 component in an oddball target detection task and found that negative correlations exist between response time and single-trial P300 amplitude.
Oceanic basalts: Chemistry versus distance from oceanic ridges

Abstract The major elements chemistry, as expressed by the normative composition, and the degree of silica saturation of basalts erupted at various distances from the axis of the East Pacific Ridge do not differ systematically from the same parameters of basalts erupted at the axis of the Ridge. These results suggest that the conditions of magma generation are similar beneath Ridges and away from them.
Retinopathy of Prematurity in Infants with Birth Weight ≥1250 Grams—Incidence, Severity, and Screening Guideline Cost-Analysis

Purpose: To determine the incidence and severity of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in infants with birth weight (BW) 1250 to 1800 g, to examine the influence of systemic conditions on the development of ROP in this population, and to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of various screening guidelines. Methods: We reviewed records from 259 consecutive infants with BW 1250 to 1800 g who were screened for ROP over a 3-year period. Extracted data included presence and severity of ROP, and the following potential risk factors (RF) for ROP development: sepsis, meningitis, necrotizing enterocolitis, intraventricular hemorrhage greater than stage I, pneumothorax, direct bilirubin >2 mg/dl, central line placement, antibiotic treatment >14 days, greater than seven red blood cell (RBC) transfusions, and mechanical ventilation >96 hours. Results: The overall incidence of ROP in this population was 4.2%. Two infants had stage 3 ROP, one with plus disease. Infants with stage 3 ROP had significantly lower BW (1299 versus 1484 g, P = 0.013) and gestational age (GA) (28 versus 31 weeks, P = 0.002) than those with no ROP. No infant with BW >1500 g developed treatable ROP. Conditions that best predicted ROP development in the 1501 to 1800 g BW group were sepsis, ventilation >96 hours, antibiotic use >14 days, RBC transfusions greater than seven units, and central line placement (P = 0.001, P = 0.001, P = 0.012, P = 0.014 and P = 0.035, respectively). All infants with BW >1500 g who developed ROP had greater than or equal to two of these RF. Conclusions: All cases of high-risk ROP would have been identified by current screening guidelines. Modified screening criteria of infants with (1) BW ≤1500 g or (2) BW 1501 to 2000 g and greater than or equal to two significant RF results in a $587.85 benefit per infant screened.
Threshold-duration functions of chinchilla auditory nerve fibers

The purpose of the present study was to measure the change in threshold as a function of stimulus duration in single auditory nerve fibers. Thresholds were measured at each neuron's characteristic frequency (CF) for eight stimulus durations ranging from 8 to 1024 ms. Using an adaptive, two-interval, forced-choice threshold-tracking procedure with a 2-down, 1-up rule, thresholds were estimated based on a decision criterion of one spike or greater difference between tone and no-tone intervals. The results showed that mean thresholds decreased with increasing stimulus duration by approximately 14.6 dB over the range of durations tested. Analysis of group and individual data showed that thresholds decreased by approximately 6-7 dB per decade of duration. The slope of threshold improvement decreased systematically with increasing CF, consistent with previous physiological and psychophysical data.
The purine and pyrimidine metabolism of Tetrahymena pyriformis

The metabolism of purines and pyrimidines by the ciliated protozoan Tetrahymena was investigated with the use of enzymatic assays and radioactive tracers. A survey of enzymes involved in purine metabolism revealed that the activities of inosine and guanosine phosphorylase (purine nucleoside: orthophosphate ribosyltransferase, E.C. 2.4.2.1) were high, but adenosine phosphorylase activity could not be demonstrated. The apparent Km for guanosine in the system catalyzing its phosphorolysis was 4.1 ± 0.6 × 10−3 M. Pyrophosphorylase activities for IMP and GMP (GMP: pyrophosphate phosphoribosyltransferase, E.C. 2.4.2.8), AMP (AMP: pyrophosphate phosphoribosyltransferase, E.C. 2.4.2.7), and 6-mercaptopurine ribonucleotide were also found in this organism; but a number of purine and pyrimidine analogs did not function as substrates for these enzymes. The metabolism of labeled guanine and hypoxanthine by intact cells was consistent with the presence of the phosphorylases and pyrophosphorylases of purine metabolism found by enzymatic studies. Assays for adenosine kinase (ATP: adenosine 5'-phosphotransferase, E.C. 2.7.1.20) inosine kinase, guanosine kinase, xanthine oxidase (xanthine: O2 oxidoreductase, E.C. 1.2.3.2), and GMP reductase (reduced-NADP: GMP oxidoreductase [deaminating], E.C. 1.6.6.8) were all negative. In pyrimidine metabolism, cytidine-deoxycytidine deaminase (cytidine aminohydrolase, E.C. 3.5.4.5), thymidine phosphorylase (thymidine: orthophosphate ribosyltransferase, E.C. 2.4.2.4), and uridine-deoxyuridine phosphorylase (uridine: orthophosphate ribosyltransferase, E.C. 2.4.2.3) were active; but cytidine kinase, uridine kinase (ATP: uridine 5'-phosphotransferase, E.C. 2.7.1.48), and CMP pyrophosphorylase could not be demonstrated.
Structural characterization of the lipid A region of Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. salmonicida lipopolysaccharide.

Abstract The lipid A components of Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. salmonicida from strains A449, 80204-1 and an in vivo rough isolate were isolated by mild acid hydrolysis of the lipopolysaccharide. Structural studies carried out by a combination of fatty acid, electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance analyses confirmed that the structure of lipid A was conserved among different isolates of A. salmonicida subsp. salmonicida . All analyzed strains contained three major lipid A molecules differing in acylation patterns corresponding to tetra-, penta- and hexaacylated lipid A species and comprising 4′-monophosphorylated β-2-amino-2-deoxy- d -glucopyranose-(1→6)-2-amino-2-deoxy- d -glucopyranose disaccharide, where the reducing end 2-amino-2-deoxy- d -glucose was present primarily in the α-pyranose form. Electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry fragment pattern analysis, including investigation of the inner-ring fragmentation, allowed the localization of fatty acyl residues on the disaccharide backbone of lipid A. The tetraacylated lipid A structure containing 3-(dodecanoyloxy)tetradecanoic acid at N -2′,3-hydroxytetradecanoic acid at N-2 and 3-hydroxytetradecanoic acid at O-3, respectively, was found. The pentaacyl lipid A molecule had a similar fatty acid distribution pattern and, additionally, carried 3-hydroxytetradecanoic acid at O-3′. In the hexaacylated lipid A structure, 3-hydroxytetradecanoic acid at O-3′ was esterified with a secondary 9-hexadecenoic acid. Interestingly, lipid A of the in vivo rough isolate contained predominantly tetra- and pentaacylated lipid A species suggesting that the presence of the hexaacyl lipid A was associated with the smooth-form lipopolysaccharide.
Effects of Major Errors Sources on Planetary Spacecraft Navigation Accuracies

Preflight error statistics of earth based Doppler tracking for Mariner navigation concerning Mars 1971 and Venus-Mercury 1973 missions
Interpersonal problems and developmental trajectories of binge eating disorder

Abstract Objective The aim of the present study was to explore associations between specific interpersonal constructs and the developmental progression of behaviors leading to binge eating disorder (BED). Method Eighty-four consecutively evaluated, treatment-seeking obese (body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m2) men and women with BED were assessed with structured diagnostic and clinical interviews and completed a battery of established measures to assess the current and developmental eating- and weight-related variables as well as interpersonal functioning. Results Using the interpersonal circumplex structural summary method, amplitude, elevation, the affiliation dimension, and the quadratic coefficient for the dominance dimension were associated with eating- and weight-related developmental variables. The amplitude coefficient and more extreme interpersonal problems on the dominance dimension (quadratic)—that is, problems with being extremely high (domineering) or low in dominance (submissive)—were significantly associated with a younger age at onset of binge eating, BED, and overweight as well as accounted for significant variance in age at binge eating, BED, and overweight onset. Greater interpersonal problems with having an overly affiliative interpersonal style were significantly associated with and accounted for significant variance in a younger age at diet onset. Discussion Findings provide further support for the importance of interpersonal problems among adults with BED and converge with recent work highlighting the importance of specific types of interpersonal problems for understanding heterogeneity and different developmental trajectories of individuals with BED.
Does Cardiac Transplantation Significantly Prolong Life and Improve Its Quality

The human cardiac transplant experience at the Stanford University Medical Center is presented in order to assess the current therapeutic role of this procedure. Of 47 patients undergoing transplantation from January 1968 to September 1972, 16 are currently alive. A total of 25 patients have survived longer than 3 months following surgery. Twenty of these returned to functional class I cardiac state and their previous activities, for a total of 25.6 patient-years. The current 1-year survival following cardiac transplantation in this series is similar to that for organ function after transplantation with cadaver renal allografts. In addition, functional and vocational rehabilitation are possible for critically ill patients following successful cardiac transplantation.