cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Junior high norms for the Bender Gestalt

Abstract Several age gaps now exist within the normative data supporting the Bender Gestalt. One of these is for subjects within the junior high years. The present study was conducted to fill this gap and thus to supply junior high norms where none now exist. The normative group used in the study consisted of 135 junior high students, ages 12 through 14. Each was individually given the Bender Gestalt, and the resulting test protocols were then scored using the Pascal and Suttell scoring technique. Tables were then prepared to enable the clinician to transform the number of errors made on the Bender and/or the time required to complete the test into appropriate T scores. Subsequent statistical analysis of test results revealed that the subject's performance was not significantly related to sex, the occupation of the primary bread winner within the family, or the interaction between these two factors. As a result of this finding it would appear that these variables do not have to be controlled for in the norming of any future visual motor tests at the junior high level.
Qualitative Effects of Dioxin on Molars Vary Among Inbred Mouse Strains

Abstract Objective We evaluated the effects of different levels of the potent environmental toxicant and teratogen, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo- p -dioxin (TCDD), on molar development in mice in six inbred strains, all with TCDD responsive Ahr alleles. Design Pregnant females were exposed on gestation day 13 to 4 different levels of TCDD (control, 0.01, 0.1 and 1.0 μg/kg) and their offspring were examined for the frequency of missing third molars (M3s) and for differences in first mandibular molar (M1) cuspal morphology. Results Missing M3s were prevalent only in mice in two strains, C3H/HeJ and CBA/J, and their frequency significantly increased with increasing TCDD exposure. The frequency of the M1 variant was high in mice in only one strain, C57BL/10J, and was significantly higher in the treated compared with the control group. Conclusions Inbred mice strains exhibited differential responses to TCDD suggesting that there is a genetic component, beyond Ahr differences, mediating the effects of TCDD on molar development.
Distortion product otoacoustic emissions in rhesus (Macaca mulatta) monkey ears: normative findings

Distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) in rhesus monkeys were characterized and the optimal parameters for their generation were determined. Robust DPOAEs were readily measurable from the ear canals of six rhesus monkeys (n = 12 ears). The nonmonotonic behavior of the f2/f1 ratio functions in rhesus monkeys was found to be similar to other animals and humans. The optimal mean f2/f1 ratio of 1.21 and the effect of the primary frequency and level on the optimal f2/f1 ratios were also similar to human measurements. The contour of the rhesus monkey DPOAE 'audiograms' and their behavior were also comparable to human measurements with slight differences in peak frequencies. The rhesus monkey DPOAE input/output (I/O) functions were generally monotonic with a slope approaching unity with increasing frequency. Therefore, our study shows that many basic DPOAE characteristics are remarkably similar in the two species and emphasizes the appropriateness of the rhesus monkey as a model for DPOAE research. Detailed studies of the behavior of DPOAEs can be carried out in a model that is phylogenetically close to human both in hearing and in the gross structure and histology of the inner ear.
The thyroid and photoperiodic control of seasonal reproduction in American tree sparrows (Spizella arborea)

To explore the role of the thyroid gland in the control of seasonal reproduction in obligately photoperiodic American tree sparrows (Spizella arborea), the effects of (1) thyroxine administered in drinking water to thyroid-intact photosensitive or photorefractory birds, and (2) radiothyroidectomy before and after photostimulation and during photorefractoriness were examined. Chronic administration of pharmacological doses of thyroxine induced testicular growth and usually regression in initially photosensitive birds held on short or intermediate daylengths. Some thyroxine-treated birds with regressed testes were absolutely photorefractory, but most remained photosensitive. Exogenous thyroxine never induced testicular growth in photorefractory birds moved to short days, though it often impeded, and sometimes even blocked, the recovery of photosensitivity. Although circumstantial, these effects of exogenous thyroxine are consistent with an hypothesis that assigns to thyroid hormones two roles — one stimulatory and the other inhibitory — in the control of seasonal reproduction. Radiothyroidectomy before photostimulation inhibited (but did not prevent) photoinduced testicular growth, blocked spontaneous testicular regression, suppressed molt, and prevented photorefractoriness. Moreover, as demonstrated by testicular growth after thyroxine replacemnt therapy, radiothyroidectomy during photorefractoriness later restored photosensitivity despite continued photostimulation. Thus, euthyroidism is an essential condition for maximizing (but not for initiating) photoinduced testicular growth and for triggering and maintaining photorefractoriness in photostimulated tree sparrows. However, when performed early during photostimulation, radiothyroidectomy neither immediately induced nor later blocked spontaneous testicular regression. Thus, endogenous thyroid hormones and long days may interact during a critical period to program a sequence of physiological events that plays out as photorefractoriness in chronically photostimulated birds. Such an organizational event cannot be permanent, for seasonal reproduction is episodic and its control mechanism necessarily cyclic. Because thyroidectomy simulated the well-known restorative effect of short days (and exogenous thyroxine impeded it), short days may dissipate photorefractoriness by creating a milieu wherein thyroid hormones are deficient or inactive.
High K Capacitors and OFET Gate Dielectrics from Self-Assembled BaTiO3 and (Ba,Sr)TiO3 Nanocrystals in the Superparaelectric Limit

Nanodielectrics is an emerging field with applications in capacitors, gate dielectrics, energy storage, alternatives to Li-ion batteries, and frequency modulation in communications devices. Self-assembly of high k dielectric nanoparticles is a highly attractive means to produce nanostructured films with improved performance—namely dielectric tunability, low leakage, and low loss—as a function of size, composition, and structure. One of the major challenges is conversion of the nanoparticle building block into a reliable thin film device at conditions consistent with integrated device manufacturing or plastic electronics. Here, the development of BaTi0 3 and (Ba,Sr)Ti0 3 superparaelectric uniform nanocrystal (8-12 nm) films prepared at room temperature by evaporative driven assembly with no annealing step is reported. Thin film inorganic and polymer composite capacitors show dielectric constants in the tunable range of 10-30, dependent on composition, and are confirmed to be superparaelectric. Organic thin film transistor (TFT) devices on flexible substrates demonstrate the readiness of nanoparticle-assembled films as gate dielectrics in device fabrication.
Prologue and Invitation to Participate in a Forum on the Frequency Dependence of Seismic Q

Few aspects of seismic wave propagation have aroused as much disagreement among seismologists as that of seismic wave attenuation (or its inverse Q). Areas of disagreement include (1) the physical causes of the attenuation, (2) the relative contributions of scattering and intrinsic absorption at various frequencies during propagation, and (3) the nature of the frequency dependence of Q. Seismologists, in their publications, have largely avoided addressing these disagreements by ignoring all papers promoting a perspective differing from their own. This forum seeks to remedy that situation for issue (3), the nature of Q frequency dependence. Igor Morozov has recently published a number of papers in which he concludes that there is no compelling reason to think that Q varies at all with frequency. This revolutionary result, if correct, negates almost all of the work on Q frequency dependence that seismologists have reported going back to at least the mid-1970s. In the spirit of having an open and full discussion of the nature of Q frequency dependence (or the lack thereof) I have convened a forum to discuss Dr Morozov’s recently proposed methodology. He has agreed to defend his method and ensuing results and Dr Jiakang Xie has agreed to argue the case against the new approach and to defend the traditional way of looking at Q frequency dependence. If you would like to participate in this forum I invite you to send your comments to me (bmitche8@slu.edu) in an email attachment. Comments will appear in a special section on Forum Responses in the November issue of PAGEOPH. Please restrict all comments to one manuscript page or, at most, two.
The efficacy of oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication (NSAID) in the treatment of plantar fasciitis: a randomized, prospective, placebo-controlled study.

Background: Plantar fasciitis frequently responds to a broad range of conservative therapies, and there is no single universally accepted way of treating this condition. Modalities commonly used include rest, ice massage, stretching of the Achilles tendon and plantar fascia, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs), corticosteroid injections, foot padding, taping, shoe modifications (steel shank and anterior rocker bottom), arch supports, heel cups, custom foot orthoses, night splints, ultrasound, and casting. To our knowledge, no prospective, randomized, placebo controlled double-blind study has evaluated the efficacy of oral NSAIDs in the treatment of plantar fasciitis. Methods: Twenty-nine patients with the diagnosis of plantar fasciitis were treated with a conservative regimen that included heel-cord stretching, viscoelastic heel cups, and night splinting. They were randomly assigned to either a placebo group or an NSAID group. In the NSAID group, celecoxib was added to the treatment regime...
Serum response of all-trans and 9-cis isomers of beta-carotene in humans.

Little work has been performed on the serum response of various carotene isomers. The present study was carried out to examine the serum response of all-trans and 9-cis isomers of beta-carotene (BC) using frequent blood sample collections at early time points.Serum responses of all-trans BC and a mixture of BC isomers containing 80% 9-cis BC were studied in 15 men by measuring the serum concentrations of BC at 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, and 24 hours after a single large oral dose of all-trans BC or 9-cis BC.The serum response to an oral dose of all-trans BC (120 mg) significantly increased from baseline at 24 hr (p < 0.004). After an oral dose of a mixture of BC isomers (120 mg, 80% 9-cis BC), the peak concentration of 9-cis BC was significantly greater that baseline values (p < 0.016).Increases in serum all-trans BC levels, in part, may be due to greater intestinal absorption, whereas the inability to measure a significant increase in the concentration of 9-cis BC may indicate poor absorption, isomerization to a...
Interaction of PIMT with transcriptional coactivators CBP, p300, and PBP differential role in transcriptional regulation.

Abstract PIMT (PRIP-interacting protein with methyltransferase domain), an RNA-binding protein with a methyltransferase domain capable of bindingS-adenosylmethionine, has been shown previously to interact with nuclear receptor coactivator PRIP (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-interacting protein) and enhance its coactivator function. We now report that PIMT strongly interacts with transcriptional coactivators, CBP, p300, and PBP but not with SRC-1 and PGC-1α under in vitro and in vivoconditions. The PIMT binding sites on CBP and p300 are located in the cysteine-histidine-rich C/H1 and C/H3 domains, and the PIMT binding site on PBP is in the region encompassing amino acids 1101–1560. The N-terminal of PIMT (residues 1–369) containing the RNA binding domain interacts with both C/H1 and C/H3 domains of CBP and p300 and with the C-terminal portion of PBP that encompasses amino acids 1371–1560. The C-terminal of PIMT (residues 611–852), which binds S-adenosyl-l-methionine, interacts respectively with the C/H3 domain of CBP/p300 and with a region encompassing amino acids 1101–1370 of PBP. Immunoprecipitation data showed that PIMT forms a complex in vivo with CBP, p300, PBP, and PRIP. PIMT appeared to be co-localized in the nucleus with CBP, p300, and PBP. PIMT enhanced PBP-mediated transcriptional activity of the PPARγ, as it did for PRIP, indicating synergism between PIMT and PBP. In contrast, PIMT functioned as a repressor of CBP/p300-mediated transactivation of PPARγ. Based on these observations, we suggest that PIMT bridges the CBP/p300-anchored coactivator complex with the PBP-anchored coactivator complex but differentially modulates coactivator function such that inhibition of the CBP/p300 effect may be designed to enhance the activity of PBP and PRIP.
Automatic Segmentation of the Left Atrium From MR Images via Variational Region Growing With a Moments-Based Shape Prior

The planning and evaluation of left atrial ablation procedures are commonly based on the segmentation of the left atrium, which is a challenging task due to large anatomical variations. In this paper, we propose an automatic approach for segmenting the left atrium from magnetic resonance imagery. The segmentation problem is formulated as a problem in variational region growing. In particular, the method starts locally by searching for a seed region of the left atrium from an MR slice. A global constraint is imposed by applying a shape prior to the left atrium represented by Zernike moments. The overall growing process is guided by the robust statistics of intensities from the seed region along with the shape prior to capture the entire atrial region. The robustness and accuracy of our approach are demonstrated by experimental results from 64 human MR images.
Effect of aspect on ponderosa pine height and diameter growth

Abstract Most forest site-quality models assume the optimal aspect for forest growth in the northern hemisphere to be on northeast-facing slopes. However, the optimal aspect for forest growth may vary with elevation and/or season of growth. We measured Pinus ponderosa Laws. initial 10-year diameter increment and site index (base age 100) on two cinder cones near the species' upper elevational limit. The highest-elevation site had significantly greater mean site index and mean diameter growth on southerly aspects. This is likely to be the result of warmer air and soil temperatures, and a prolonged growing season occurring on southerly slopes. The second site, at a slightly lower elevation, had significantly greater diameter growth on southerly slopes, but mean site index was not significantly different between northerly and southerly slopes. Because ponderosa pine diameter growth occurs later in the summer than does height growth, greater diameter growth on southerly slopes may result from differences in radiation interception between northerly and southerly slopes as the diameter-growth season progresses.
Plasma microturbulence simulation of instabilities at highly disparate scales

This work reports on studies of the multi-scale interaction between small-scale electron turbulence and large-scale ion turbulence in tokamak plasmas. Traditionally, the long-wavelength, low-frequency turbulence driven by ion-scale instabilities (ion-temperature-gradient and trapped-electron modes) is studied separately from the short-wavelength, high-frequency turbulence driven by electron-scale instabilities (electron-temperature-gradient modes). High-resolution, massively-parallel simulations have uncovered a number of physically-important discoveries. First, we find that a popular simplified model of ion physics previously used in studies of electron-scale turbulence can lead to nonphysical runaway of electron heat transport. We have shown that this nonphysical runaway is eliminated when correct long-wavelength ion physics is self-consistently included. We have also found that under normal conditions most of the electron heat transport arises from large-scale instabilities. However, when these large-scale instabilities are suppressed by plasma rotation or other processes, the electron instabilities survive and may dominate the loss of electron heat from the plasma. A further remarkable finding is that strong turbulence at long scales can act to reduce the intensity of turbulence at short scales. Simulations were carried out on the Cray X1E computer at ORNL, with the largest runs taking about a week on 720 multi-streaming processors.
Image Forces and Shielding Effects of an Edge Dislocation near a Finite Length Crack

Abstract The stress field of an edge dislocation near a finite length crack depends on where the dislocation is originated. If the dislocation is emitted from the crack which is originally stress-free, the image force increases with decreasing crack length. But the opposite is true if the dislocation is originated from elsewhere. At the same distance from the crack tip, the image force for the former is always larger than that for the latter. They become equal only if the crack is semi-infinitely long. If the dislocation is emitted from one of the crack tips, it generally will shield this crack tip but antishield the other tip. However the dislocation will shield or antishield both crack tips if it is originated from elsewhere.
Health problems in Galena, Kansas: a heavy metal mining Superfund site.

Abstract Health problems at a heavy metal mining Superfund site were surveyed using prevalence information from 1980–1985. Current environmental exposures include lead and cadmium in drinking water, mine wastes, and surface soils. Age- and sex-specific illness rates in whites in an exposed town (Galena) were compared with similar rates in two control towns. Multivariate analyses of morbidity data examined statistically significant risk factors for relevant illnesses in the three towns. Mortality rates for 1980–1985 for white residents of Galena and for the U.S. were compared using univariate analysis. Among residents of the three towns who had lived there at least 5 years prior to 1980, there was either a statistically significant or borderline excess reported prevalence in Galena of chronic kidney disease (females aged ⩾65), heart disease (females aged ⩾45), skin cancer (males aged 45–64), and anemia (females aged 45–64). Multivariate analyses revealed statistically significant associations of stroke, chronic kidney disease, hypertension, heart disease, skin cancer, and anemia with variables related to Galena exposure. Personal physicians were contacted to confirm the information provided by the subjects; validity was good for all reported illnesses except chronic kidney disease. A statistically significant excess of deaths from hypertensive disease (females aged ⩾65), ischemic heart disease (males and females aged ⩾65), and stroke (females aged ⩾65) was found in residents of Galena City. This study confirms that environmental agents in Galena are associated with, and may have contributed to, the causation of several chronic diseases in residents of this community. Further studies are recommended.
Unmasking Activation of the Zygotic Genome Using Chromosomal Deletions in the Drosophila Embryo

During the maternal-to-zygotic transition, a developing embryo integrates post-transcriptional regulation of maternal mRNAs with transcriptional activation of its own genome. By combining chromosomal ablation in Drosophila with microarray analysis, we characterized the basis of this integration. We show that the expression profile for at least one third of zygotically active genes is coupled to the concomitant degradation of the corresponding maternal mRNAs. The embryo uses transcription and degradation to generate localized patterns of expression, and zygotic transcription to degrade distinct classes of maternal transcripts. Although degradation does not appear to involve a simple regulatory code, the activation of the zygotic genome starts from intronless genes sharing a common cis-element. This cis-element interacts with a single protein, the Bicoid stability factor, and acts as a potent enhancer capable of timing the activity of an exogenous transactivator. We propose that this regulatory mode links morphogen gradients with temporal regulation during the maternal-to-zygotic transition.
Accuracy in standards preparation for neutron activation analysis

Errors in preparing standards, especially multielemental standards, are extremely important if accurate results are desired from neutron activation analysis (NAA). It is often convenient to prepare standards for NAA from single or multi-element solutions which are then deposited onto (or into) a suitable matrix, such as filter paper or quartz vials. There are many potential sources of error in preparing single-element standards including: impurities and non-stoichiometric composition of the element or compound used to prepare the standard solutions; evaporative losses of solvent; inaccuracy of calibration, and imprecision of the pipettes used; moisture content of elements or compounds used; contamination from reagents, equipment, laboratory environment, or final matrix of the standard; instability of standard solutions (i.e., to losses via precipitation or adsorption), and losses of volatile elements during dissolution and/or irradiation. Additional sources of error in preparing multielement standards includes: instability of mixed, multielement solutions, and cross-contamination of one element by the addition of a second element. Procedures previously used by the author at NIST to prepare multielement standards with concentrations accurate to about one percent are described. Additional techniques needed to prepare multielement standards with accuracies better than 1 percent will be discussed.
The Japanese Phenomenon Without Stereotypes, and What We Can Learn from It (Part I)

Most of the efforts to analyze the Japanese phenomenon have been in one way or another superficial or misguided. Moreover, there have been so many of them that most of us are simply tired of reading about Japan. This is unfortunate, because an honest look at the Japanese phenomenon can be very instructive. Many of the superficial analyses have focused on only one or two elements in Japan’s very complex socio‐industrial‐political system. These misguided analyses base their conclusions on something other than hard facts.
Electronic structure of f -shell metals

Free-electron theory to first order in an empty-core pseudopotential, with radius determined spectroscopically, is found to predict successfully equilibrium spacings and bulk moduli for the rare-earth metals. This provides also a simple two-body interaction, second order in the same pseudopotential, for calculating other elastic and vibrational properties. For the light actinides a tight-binding f-band theory is formulated, leading to interatomic matrix elements of the form V/sub f/fm = eta/sub ffm/h/sup 2/r/sub f/ /sup 5//md/sup 7/. Coefficients eta/sub f/fm are derived and r/sub f/ values fit for the light actinides. Spin-orbit coupling is included and a bandwidth obtained from a second-moment analysis to be used with the Friedel model for the density of states in the calculation of energetics. It is found necessary to include also the next-order correction to the interatomic interactions, a repulsion proportional to h/sup 2/r/sub f//sup 10//md/sup 12/ which, though small, is significant for the bulk modulus. With the use of pseudopotential core radii fit to the equilibrium spacing, the bulk moduli and thermal-expansion coefficients are predicted. All contributions can be written as two-body interactions, but adjustment is needed before using them to calculate properties. Inclusion of intra-atomic exchange fails to predict localization for americium.
Patient flow and resource utilization in an outpatient clinic

Abstract This paper describes the results of a study taken at an outpatient clinic to describe and quantify issues related to patient flow and resource utilization for an individual physician during the delivery of primary health care. A discrete-event simulation model is constructed of the physician’s practice to examine the relationship between examining room capacity and patient flow across four clinic-based perfomance measures. A simulation experiment is presented with results identifying several important and generalizable aspects of outpatient clinic operations. In particular, increased resource utilization does not necessarily imply longer waiting lines nor longer patient flow times.
A semi-parametric nonlinear model for event-related fMRI

Nonlinearity in evoked hemodynamic responses often presents in event-related fMRI studies. Volterra series, a higher-order extension of linear convolution, has been used in the literature to construct a nonlinear characterization of hemodynamic responses. Estimation of the Volterra kernel coefficients in these models is usually challenging due to the large number of parameters. We propose a new semi-parametric model based on Volterra series for the hemodynamic responses that greatly reduces the number of parameters and enables “information borrowing” among subjects. This model assumes that in the same brain region and under the same stimulus, the hemodynamic responses across subjects share a common but unknown functional shape that can differ in magnitude, latency and degree of interaction. We develop a computationally-efficient strategy based on splines to estimate the model parameters, and a hypothesis test on nonlinearity. The proposed method is compared with several existing methods via extensive simulations, and is applied to a real event-related fMRI study.
Structural basis for the promiscuous biosynthetic prenylation of aromatic natural products

The anti-oxidant naphterpin is a natural product containing a polyketide-based aromatic core with an attached 10-carbon geranyl group derived from isoprenoid (terpene) metabolism1,2,3. Hybrid natural products such as naphterpin that contain 5-carbon (dimethylallyl), 10-carbon (geranyl) or 15-carbon (farnesyl) isoprenoid chains possess biological activities distinct from their non-prenylated aromatic precursors4. These hybrid natural products represent new anti-microbial, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and anti-cancer compounds. A small number of aromatic prenyltransferases (PTases) responsible for prenyl group attachment have only recently been isolated and characterized5,6. Here we report the gene identification, biochemical characterization and high-resolution X-ray crystal structures of an architecturally novel aromatic PTase, Orf2 from Streptomyces sp. strain CL190, with substrates and substrate analogues bound. In vivo, Orf2 attaches a geranyl group to a 1,3,6,8-tetrahydroxynaphthalene-derived polyketide during naphterpin biosynthesis. In vitro, Orf2 catalyses carbon–carbon-based and carbon–oxygen-based prenylation of a diverse collection of hydroxyl-containing aromatic acceptors of synthetic, microbial and plant origin. These crystal structures, coupled with in vitro assays, provide a basis for understanding and potentially manipulating the regio-specific prenylation of aromatic small molecules using this structurally unique family of aromatic PTases.
An Interdisciplinary Design Course for Pervasive Computing

Virginia Tech offers an interdisciplinary design course for pervasive computing products, with the goal of providing undergraduates with the interdisciplinary and technical skills required to design and develop pervasive computing devices. The course has been developed and taught by a team of faculty from three departments-Electrical and Computer Engineering, Industrial Design, and Marketing-and a faculty member from the Department of Engineering Education has helped develop the class's interdisciplinary teaming processes.
XML data mediator integrated solution for xml roundtrip from xml to relational

This paper presents a system for efficient data transformations between XML and relational databases, called XML Data Mediator (XDM). XDM enables the transformation by externalizing the specification of the mapping in a script and using an efficient run-time engine that automates the conversion task. The runtime engine is independent from the mapping script. A parser converts a mapping script into an internal conversion object. For the mapping from relational to XML, we use a tagging tree as a conversion object inside the runtime engine, and use an SQL outer-join scheme to combine multiple SQL queries in order to reduce the number of backend relational database accesses. For the mapping from XML to relational, the conversion object is a shredding tree, and we use an innovative algorithm to process the XML as a stream in order to achieve linear complexity with respect to the size of the XML document.
Opinions about electronic cigarette use in smoke-free areas among U.S. Adults, 2012.

INTRODUCTION In the United States, electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are currently unregulated, extensively marketed, and experiencing a rapid increase in use. The purpose of this study was to examine the opinions of U.S. adults about e-cigarette use in smoke-free public areas. METHODS Data were obtained from the online HealthStyle survey administered to a probability sample of a nationally representative online panel. The study included 4,043U.S. adults, aged 18 years or older who responded to this question, "Do you think e-cigarette should be allowed to be used in public areas where tobacco smoking is prohibited?" Multinomial logistic regression analyses were used to examine opinions on e-cigarette use in smoke-free areas by sex, age, race/ethnicity, household income, education, census region, and cigarette smoking status and e-cigarette awareness and ever use. RESULTS Overall, about 40% of adults were uncertain whether e-cigarettes should be allowed in smoke-free areas, 37% opposed, while 23% favored their use in smoke-free public places. Multinomial logistic regression analyses showed that adults who were aware, ever used e-cigarettes, and current cigarette smokers were more likely to express an "in favor" opinion than adults who expressed an uncertain opinion (don't know). CONCLUSION Over 75% of U.S. adults reported uncertainty or disapproval of the use of e-cigarettes in smoke-free areas. Current cigarette smokers, adults aware or have ever used e-cigarettes were more supportive to exempting e-cigarettes from smoking restrictions. With impending regulation and the changing e-cigarette landscape, continued monitoring and research on public opinions about e-cigarette use in smoke-free places are needed.
Software Abundance in the Face of Economic Scarcity, Part 1

The paper discusses the abundance of software products in the face of the economic scarcity. The author states that in the face of economic scarcity, the traditional response is to retreat, shrink, slash, and try not to panic. But there's another, more creative reaction to economic scarcity: to attack. While the velocity of money may have greatly decelerated and while credit might still be a scarce resource, human imagination is not similarly constrained. Software is the most fungible and liquid of resources. The supply of software is limited only by human imagination and labor. Software has no mass, it's remarkably malleable and wonderfully versatile, and it never wears out. This is why it also argue that software intensive systems are an inescapable and necessary element in helping software people operate, innovate, and even thrive.Undeniably, software-intensive systems, even in these lean economic times, are the force behind a sea change in communication and connectivity and a force that continues to propel innovation. Innovation in times of abundance is relatively easy; even just staying alive in lean times is a struggle. The thing about abundance is that, well, abundance feels a whole lot better than scarcity.
Defect-induced nonpolar-to-polar transition at the surface of chalcopyrite semiconductors

In zinc-blende semiconductors, the nonpolar (110) surface is more stable than all polar surfaces because the formation of the latter requires the creation of charge-neutralizing but energetically costly surface reconstruction. Our first-principles calculations on ${\mathrm{CuInSe}}_{2}$ reveal this in the double-zinc-blende (chalcopyrite) structure, the defect-induced reconstructions make the (112)-cation plus $(1\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{}1\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{}2\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{})$-anion polar facets lower in energy than the nonpolar (110) plane, despite the resulting increased surface area. We show that this spontaneous facetting results from the remarkable stability of surface defects (Cu vacancy, Cu-on-In antisite) in chalcopyrites, and explains the hitherto puzzling formation of polar microfacets when one attempts to grow epitaxialloy a nonpolar chalcopyrite surface.
Intoxication Levels of Bar Patrons at an Organized Pub Crawl in a College Campus Community

This field study examined whether participants of a traditional, end-of-semester pub crawl in a college campus community had higher levels of intoxication than non-participating bar patrons on the same night as the event. A total of 693 bar patrons participated in the study. Anonymous interview and breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) data were collected from pedestrians in a bar district at the end point of the pub crawl route between 10:00 p.m. and 3:00 a.m. on the night of the event during three different semesters (November, 2007, May, 2008, and May, 2009). A multivariate model adjusting for participant demographics and drinking variables showed that participation in the pub crawl was associated with a 70% reduced risk of being highly intoxicated (i.e., BrAC ≥ 0.08 g/210 L). The lower intoxication levels among pub crawl participants may have implications for harm reduction practices at high-risk drinking events. These implications are discussed.
Matt 1:1: “Son of Abraham” as Christological Category

Matt 1:1 raises interpretive questions regarding its scope as a potential title and the import of the phrases “son of David” and “son of Abraham.” This article contends that “son of Abraham” introduces a significant sacrificial Christological category centered on the figure of Isaac which complements the Messianic aspects of Jesus Christ's ministry associated with the title “son of David.” “Son of David” and “son of Abraham” therefore stand in parallel at the beginning of the Gospel of Matthew as two titular designations specifying two Christological categories of the greatest import for the Gospel: Messiah (“son of David”) and new Isaac (“son of Abraham”). Thus is solved the difficulty of a crucified Messiah: Jesus is indeed the Messiah but also the anti-type of Isaac, whose sacrifice was paradigmatic in Jewish tradition. Matt 1:1 therefore introduces the reader to these dual Christological categories and is a title whose scope covers the entire Gospel.
The relationship of empathy in movement to synchrony, echoing, and empathy in verbal interactions

This pilot study analyzed the relationships among synchrony, echoing, and empathy in dyadic counseling sessions and friendly conversations to explore the validity of relating synchrony to movement empathy. It also compared the counseling and friendship dyads’ movement profiles. The study worked only with female participants. One from each pair viewed three ten minute sections from her videotaped interaction and used Kagan’s Interpersonal Process Recall System to analyze them into empathic, nonempathic, and neutral segments of varying lengths. She also judged the empathic experience as affective or cognitive. Three female raters viewed the segments in random order, without audio. They recorded the manifest synchrony and echoing, and for each echo they noted the degree of delay. Results showed echoing, and not synchrony, related to empathy directly. Short and long delays characterized echoes in the affective and cognitive modes respectively. Counselors/clients and friends had disparate movement profiles. The discussion addresses these findings, considers functional and relational differences between synchrony and echoing, and suggests inspecting further the connection between movement empathy and synchrony which dance therapy has so far accepted without extensive questioning.
MULTIPHOTON IONIZATION: A METHOD FOR CHARACTERIZING MOLECULAR BEAMS AND BEAM REACTION PRODUCTS*

Abstract The technique of multiphoton ionization is applied to Na2 in an effusive and a supersonic beam to characterize the internal state distribution of this molecule. A tunable dye laser is swept through the wavelength region of the Na2 BX system and positive ions are counted as a function of laser wavelength. Multiphoton ionization involving a real intermediate state is also used to characterize the BaCl product formed in the beam-gas reaction Ba + HCl. This detection system can combine mass spectrometry with laser spectroscopy for the identification and characterization of beam species. Advantages and drawbacks are discussed.
People with HIV may be more likely to seek preventive dental care if financial barriers to care are removed, are actively taking HIV medications, and are satisfied with their overall oral health.

Article Title and Bibliographic Information Factors associated with preventive dental care-seeking behavior among people living with HIV. Tobias CR, Lemay CA, Jeanty Y, Umez-Eronini AA, Reznik DA. J Public Health Dent 2012;72:60-7. Reviewer Pouran Famili, DMD, MDS, MPH, PhD Purpose/Question To determine differences in preventive care–seeking behavior versus problem-oriented care–seeking behavior among people living with HIV Source of Funding HRSA Grant No. H97HA07519, which was funded through The Special Projects of National Significance Program of the HIV/AIDS Bureau of the Department of Health and Human Services (the Ryan White Program) Type of Study/Design Cohort study Level of Evidence Level 2: Limited-quality patient-oriented evidence Strength of Recommendation Grade Not applicable
The Culture Connection: Uncovering OB Concepts in Organizations

The organizational culture audit is presented as an organizational behavior class assignment designed to challenge executive MBA students to use their firsthand knowledge of the work environment to improve their sensitivity to behavior. The assignment, based on Schein's model, is described in terms of the instructional methods used to operationalize it. The authors conclude by sharing their observations of the benefits and problems associated with its use.
Location-based information fusion for mobile navigation

Comprehensive yet personalized information for a location is usually desired by mobile users in situ. Traditional navigation systems provide complete static information, such as address, contact, even photos and reviews for a certain place. However, such information does not reflect the real time situation (e.g. popularity/crowdness). Location-based social networks provide opportunity to build social dynamics between the place and potential visitors. In this work, we propose a design by leveraging public online information with users' social network resources to provide real time exploration in novel environments. A mobile application is implemented using Wikipedia, Panoramio, and Foursquare data to provide complete, updated, and trustworthy information. Design highlights and implementation are reported.
Impact of the SRC inhibitor dasatinib on the metastatic phenotype of human prostate cancer cells

SRC, a non-receptor tyrosine kinase, is frequently over-expressed and highly activated in blood as well as solid tumors in various organs, including prostate, and has been associated with aggressive disease and a poor patient prognosis. Prostate cancer patients with a high risk of developing metastases have few treatment options, none of which can result in a durable cure. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to examine the impact of a SRC inhibitor, dasatinib, on the ability of human prostate cancer cell to complete key steps in the metastatic process, including invasion and angiogenesis. Dasatinib treatment impaired the metastatic phenotypes of the human prostate cancer cell lines, PC-3, DU-145, and LNCaP, by significantly reducing migration and invasion in modified Boyden chambers. Inhibition of phosphorylation, and therefore enhanced activation, of SRC and key downstream signaling pathway elements, including FAK, STAT3, Paxillin, and Akt, as determined by Western blotting, also was observed. This suggests that dasatinib interferes with critical cell functions associated with the metastatic cascade. Dasatinib also had direct effects on the ability of microvascular endothelial cells to form tubes in vitro and impaired the ability of PC-3 cells to induce angiogenesis in vivo. In conclusion, the present findings suggest that SRC inhibition by dasatinib may have utility in reducing the metastatic spread of prostate cancer cells.
Optical coherence tomography machine learning classifiers for glaucoma detection: a preliminary study

Glaucoma is an optic neuropathy characterized by a gradual loss of retinal ganglion cells and thinning of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL).1,2 The functional assessment of glaucoma damage is determined by visual field (VF) testing. Glaucomatous VF abnormality is detectable only after significant RNFL loss has already occurred.3 In addition, VF testing is prone to short- and long-term fluctuations and thus multiple testing is required to confirm any abnormalities. Assessment of the optic nerve head (ONH) and the peripapillary RNFL can provide earlier indications of glaucomatous damage.4–6 However, the wide range of normal anatomic variation and the subjective nature of clinical examination limit their reliability. An objective method of measuring the optic nerve structure and RNFL thickness has a significant diagnostic value. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a noncontact, non-invasive imaging technology that uses light to create high-resolution, cross-sectional tomographic images of the retina and the ONH.7 The device differentiates layers in the retina due to the differences in time delay of reflection from various components of the tissue. Previous studies have shown that OCT data are highly reproducible,8–11 and that the device has the capability to differentiate glaucomatous from nonglaucomatous eyes.12–16 Since OCT provides numerous stereometric measurements of the disc, macula and peripapillary RNFL, it is important to find the parameters that serve best in the detection of glaucoma. Previous experience with confocal scanning laser oph-thalmoscopy17,18 and scanning laser polarimetry19,20 showed that the combination of multiple parameters and advanced data analysis methods can improve the sensitivity and specificity of glaucoma detection. Specifically, improved discrimination between glaucomatous and healthy eyes was obtained with machine-learning classifiers.21–24 Machine-learning classifiers are trained computerized systems with the ability to detect the relationship between multiple input parameters and a diagnosis. Trained classifiers can be used to predict the diagnosis of new cases. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to test the performance of numerous machine-learning techniques using OCT data to discriminate between glaucomatous and healthy eyes.
Reaction zone structure for strong, weak overdriven, and weak underdriven oblique detonations

A simple dynamic systems analysis is used to give examples of strong, weak overdriven, and weak underdriven oblique detonations. Steady oblique detonations consisting of a straight lead shock attached to a solid wedge followed by a resolved reaction zone structure are admitted as solutions to the reactive Euler equations. This is demonstrated for a fluid that is taken to be an inviscid, calorically perfect ideal gas that undergoes a two‐step irreversible reaction with the first step exothermic and the second step endothermic. This model admits solutions for a continuum of shock wave angles for two classes of solutions identified by a Rankine–Hugoniot analysis: strong and weak overdriven waves. The other class, weak underdriven, is admitted for eigenvalue shock‐wave angles. Chapman–Jouguet waves, however, are not admitted. These results contrast those for a corresponding one‐step model that, for detonations with a straight lead shock, only admits strong, weak overdriven, and Chapman–Jouguet solutions.
Cross-insemination frequencies between strains of Aedes albopictus and members of the Aedes scutellaris group.

Cross-breeding experiments between strains of Aedes albopictus from Hawaii and Poona, India, and between A. albopictus and A. polynesiensis from Samoa, Tahiti, and Taiaro revealed the existence of differences in the frequency of cross-insemination. The Hawaiian A. albopictus males inseminated fewer A. polynesiensis females of all 3 strains than did the Poona males. The Tahitian A. polynesiensis females were inseminated less frequently by both kinds of A. albopictus than were the Samoan and Taiaro females. A. albopictus males did not inseminate A. pseudoscutellaris females, or females of the Bangkok scutellaris group species, although there were frequent attempts at copulation, many of which appeared to be successful. The A. albopictus strains are interfertile, as are at least 2 of the A. polynesiensis strains. Although these populations are, respectively, members of one species, the cross-breeding experiments reveal the existence of biological differences between them. Differences in cross-insemination, as well as in receptivity of females of local populations within a species, may be of importance in attempts to utilize cross-insemination sterility in genetic control.
Simulation of electron transport in high-lying superlattice minibands

A Monte Carlo solution to the Boltzmann transport equation is used to simulate hot-carrier relaxation and transport in a unipolar superlattice base transistor. Simulated results show that, due to the reduced density of states and wavefunction overlap, interminiband scattering is suppressed and high-energy transport is maintained in the superlattice base longer than in a bulk base region. However, an increased probability of reverse scattering and a lower magnitude of velocity along the superlattice axis result in a reduced transfer ratio across the superlattice base.
US appliance efficiency standards

Abstract The concept of appliance efficiency standards, as well as the appropriate level for them, have become controversial issues in the USA. The Reagan administration's official rejection of standards appears to have been based on ideological grounds, rather than on quantitative economic analysis. The authors propose a method for choosing an appropriate level of standards based on conservative economic criteria and the benefits are analysed. A comparison is made with other levels and criteria that have been proposed in the past. Finally, consideration is given to the regulatory approaches that might be taken to achieve the proposed efficiency levels.
Quasi-truth-functional systems of propositional logic

In teaching symbolic logic to beginners, it is a not infrequent experience to encounter difficulties in the transition from the informal “if …, then …” construction of common discourse to its analysis in terms of material implication and its truth-table. There is no trouble with the idea that “if p, then q” must be so understood that “if p/T1, then we must have (p⊃q)T when q/T, and (P⊃q)/F when q/F. There is thus no problem in leading the explanation to the point.
Investigation of Copper CMP Mechanisms Using an Atomic Force Microscope

In order to understand the mechanisms of Chemical Mechanical Planarization (CMP), an atomic force microscope (AFM) is used to characterize polished copper surfaces after a set of polishing experiments. Surface analysis using the AFM revealed detailed surface characteristics of CMP. It was found that removal mechanisms depend on the slurry chemistry, potential, per cent of oxidizer, and the applied load. This presentation discusses these findings.Copyright © 2005 by ASME