cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Size Selectivity by Atlantic Mud Crabs Panopeus herbstii (Milne Edwards) Feeding on Ivory Barnacles Balanus eburneus (Gould)

ABSTRACT Many crabs preferentially consume prey items that are relatively small to optimize energy gain and to minimize the risk of claw damage. The Atlantic mud crab Panopeus herbstii is an abundant predator on benthic epifauna, including oysters (Crassostrea virginica) and barnacles (e.g., Balanus eburneus) in southeastern U.S. saltmarsh ecosystems. Size selectivity by mud crab predators feeding on barnacle prey was examined using laboratory experiments in which individual mud crabs were offered a size range of ivory barnacles. Small (carapace width, 30 mm) crabs were offered small (test width, 11 mm) ivory barnacles. Small crabs selectively consumed small barnacles at greater frequencies than other barnacles. Large crabs consumed proportionately smaller barnacles, relative to their carapace width, than small crabs. The relationship between predator crusher height and p...
Anharmonic contribution to the Debye-Waller factor for silver

Using high intensity 70 Ci183Ta Mossbauer sources, which have a negligible source resonance self absorption (SRSA), we have measured the relative elastic scattering fractionF(g, T) and the relative scattering intensities for the (200), (400), and (600) planes of a 6N pure silver single crystal as a function of temperature from 81 to 1211 K. The values ofF(Q, T) denote the relative fraction of incident recoilless gamma-rays that scatter from the crystal elastically. As determined by line-shape analysis of the Mossbauer spectra, theF(Q, T) values are calculated from the ratio of the measured values of the scattered to incident beam recoilless fractions, and are used to correct for thermaldiffuse scattering. The Debye-Waller factors derived from the Bragg intensities have a significant anharmonic contribution above room temperature.
People of Color with Disabilities: Intersectionality as a Framework for Analyzing Intimate Partner Violence in Social, Historical, and Political Contexts

The authors use the conceptual framework of intersectionality to deconstruct the help-seeking and help-receiving behaviors of abused persons of color with disabilities. Two case examples illuminate the complex interplay of race, gender, accent, immigration status, sexual orientation, disability, and socioeconomic status in women's help-seeking decisions. The case examples highlight the women's perceived experiences based on their decisions to seek assistance from formal helping systems. The authors note limitations in some existing models of system response to persons of color with disabilities, as well as describe programs that are more attentive to intersectionality. The article concludes with implications for various stakeholders.
Ectoparasites of American Kestrels in northwestern New Jersey and their relationship to nestling growth and survival

Abstract American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) populations have been declining throughout much of North America during recent decades. To determine if the ectoparasite burdens of nestlings may be a contributing factor, we examined broods of kestrels in nest boxes in northwestern New Jersey. Our objectives were to identify and quantify the arthropod ectoparasites of nestlings, and to determine if removing these parasites from nestlings would increase kestrel nesting success. Of 26 broods we examined, we randomly chose 13 and manually removed from the nestlings all visible arthropods during three visits, when nestlings were age 5–7, 10–12, and 15–17 d old; we handled the 11 control broods similarly but did not remove arthropods. Both the experimental and control broods were measured and banded at age 20–22 d, and all visible arthropods were collected from both groups. Of 1767 arthropod specimens collected, 1679 (95.0%) were Carnus hemapterus (Diptera: Carnidae). Our observation of the next most abundant paras...
The determination of the ferrocyanide—ferricyanide standard electrode potential at 25°C in cells without liquid junction using cation-sensitive glass electrodes

Abstract A new method for the determination, in cells without liquid junction, of standard potentials of electrodes that involve both soluble oxidized and reduced species is described. The method involves the use of cationic glass electrodes in double cells and has been used to determine, free from liquid junction potentials the standard potential of the Fe(CN)64−(aq)/Fe(CN)63−(aq) electrode. The value obtained, + 361·0 ± 0·5 mV at 25°C, is compared with previously reported values.
Punishment and Proportionality

This article concerns the problems of proportionality in the theory of punishment. The problem is how to determine whether the severity of a punishment for a criminal offense is proportional to the seriousness of that offense. The resolution to this problem proposed in the article is that, first, one understand punishment as pain or loss intentionally and openly inflicted on someone S in retaliation for something S did, by a person or agent who is at least as powerful as S, and, second, one take such retaliatory pain or loss as, within stable social groups, a means for preserving social order. Accordingly, it is argued that, on this proposal, the measure by which the severity of punishment is determined to be proportional to the seriousness of the crime for which it is inflicted is the minimal amount of pain or loss necessary to preserve social order. Sentencing policies that follow this measure, it is then observed, tend to yield less severe punishments than the policies that classical deterrence theory ...
The (1n)Visibility of DisAbility: Cultural Contexts and “Sporting Bodies”

(1997). The (1n)Visibility of DisAbility: Cultural Contexts and “Sporting Bodies”. Quest: Vol. 49, No. 4, pp. 416-430.
Relationship of mood disturbance to cigarette smoking status among 252 patients with a current mood disorder.

Background: The relationship between cigarette smoking and mood has received increasing attention. This retrospective study evaluated the relationship between mood disturbance and cigarette smoking status among patients with a current mood disorder. The association between level of nicotine dependence and severity of mood disturbance was also evaluated among current smokers. Method: Retrospective data for 252 patients (63.5% male, 85.0% white) admitted for treatment of a mood disorder at the San Diego Veteran Affairs Mental Health Clinical Research Center between November 1988 and June 1997 were studied. All current cigarette smokers at admission (N = 126) were matched with nonsmokers (N = 126) on the primary DSM-IV Axis I mood disorder diagnosis, admission status (inpatient or outpatient), gender, age (± 5 years), and ethnicity. The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D), the Beck Depression Inventory, and the Profile of Mood States (POMS) were administered to patients on admission. Conditional logistic regression analysis for matched sets with a backward elimination was used to identify factors independently predictive of current smoking status. Results: A greater number of cups of coffee consumed per day (p = .002), a history of alcoholism (p = .004), and higher POMS fatigue subscale scores (p = .007) were predictive of current smoking status. Among current smokers, the HAM-D terminal insomnia item was positively associated with mean number of cigarettes smoked per day (p = .012). Conclusion: Cigarette smoking should be addressed in the treatment of patients with a current mood disorder. Smokers experience greater levels of fatigue than nonsmokers. In addition, higher cigarette consumption levels are associated with mild-to-severe symptoms of terminal insomnia.
Total occlusion of the left main coronary artery: the Coronary Artery Surgery Study (CASS) experience.

Abstract Total occlusion of the left main coronary artery was confirmed on review of the coronary angiograms in 12 (0.06 percent) of the 20,197 patients entered into the Coronary Artery Surgery Study (CASS) before coronary arterial surgery. Clinical features alone could not distinguish the patients with total occlusion of the left main coronary artery from those enrolled in the CASS with subtotal stenosis of this vessel. The right coronary artery had a stenosis greater than or equal to 70 percent of luminal diameter in 7 of the 12 patients. Collateral flow to the left coronary artery was defined as “substantial” or “limited” based on the presence or absence of clear visualization of the main channel of either the left anterior descending or left circumflex coronary artery during coronary angiography. Of the eight patients with “substantial” collateral flow, one (13 percent) had an aneurysmal or dyskinetic left ventricular wall segment, whereas all (100 percent) of the three patients with “limited” collateral flow had dyskinesia or an aneurysm (p This study indicates that patients with total occlusion of the left main coronary artery are uncommon and cannot be distinguished by presenting features alone from patients having subtotal stenosis of the left main coronary artery. “Substantial” coronary collateral blood flow is associated with better left ventricular wall motion than is “limited” collateral flow. Prolonged survival and lessening of symptoms may occur after coronary bypass grafting although long-term survival is possible without it.
Surveillance of condom distribution and usage in Baltimore, Maryland

Condom distribution and use are being determined in Baltimore Maryland as a method for monitoring the adoption of safer sex practices as a result of AIDS education campaigns. Condom distribution in the city of 787000 is through 6 channels: retail sales and thefts the Health Education and Resource Organization (HERO) Baltimore City Health Department Maryland Department of Health Maryland Medical Assistance and Planned Parenthood. Distribution of condoms at these points is being tracked by a sentinel method in 4 selected neighborhoods. The method of monitoring condom use is to collect condoms from the aeration tank of the main waste water treatment plant on a biweekly basis: 50-450 are collected per month. Although the program has generated much derision from the media who are somewhat resistant to education about the importance of epidemic control the costs of the program are only $30000 mostly in-kind donated services.
Academic libraries and regional library systems: how do they stand today?

Given the presence of other networks and recent advances in communication, academic libraries need to examine their membership in regional library systems. In a survey of academic libraries and regional systems in Ohio, continuing education and strong local connections were found to be the main reasons for maintaining membership.
Thread criticality support in on-chip networks

Multicore computing is becoming the mainstream approach in computer system designs to effectively use growing transistor budgets for harnessing performance and energy-efficiency. Increasing the parallelism with more cores requires careful management, allocation, or partitioning of shared resources to cope with varying resource demands from running threads. Predicting critical (or slowest) threads and accelerating execution of those threads can reduce execution time of parallel applications by balancing the execution of threads to synchronization points. The on-chip network is an increasingly important component that services communication of threads running on cores. As the communication latency of threads affects thread criticality, it should be considered and optimized. In this work, we explore thread criticality support in on-chip networks. We propose a flow control technique that reserves router resources to accelerate communication from critical threads. Furthermore, we present thread criticality support in arbiter designs. Our evaluation shows that implementing criticality awareness in an on-chip interconnect design reduces execution time by 22% and increases system throughput by 18% for a 64-core processor.
THE ANTAGONISM BETWEEN SODIUM AND MAGNESIUM IONS IN THEIR ACTION UPON OXALATE ION.

The action of NaCl upon the effect of MgCl2 upon oxalate buffer systems, interpreted by Simms as an instance of antagonism of Na+ and Mg++, has been shown to be capable of formulation as the effect of increasing ionic strength upon the dissociation of MgC2O4 into magnesium and oxalate ions.
Gas Production by Bacteria in Symbols

produces this substance. Burri and Stutzer 2 observed the' production of free nitrogen from sodium nitrate by mixtures of B. cob and B. denitrificans. In pure culture neither of these organisms can reduce nitrates to free nitrogen. Recently Knorr a reported that certain foul odors are produced in liver broth by the symbiotic action of Fusobacterium and a streptococcus, while pure cultures of each organism on the same medium were entirely odorless. This author also observed the formation of gas in the liver medium by the combined action of Fusobacterium, Sp. sputigenum and streptococci. When streptococci were absent, no gas was formed. . Through some observations made in connection with another research, we had been led to believe that the production of gas in carbohydrate mediums might be brought about by the joint action of two or more organisms not by themselves capable of producing gas on the sugar used. Accordingly, a number of tests were made with mixtures of the ordinary laboratory strains, using lactose, saccharose and mannite as the fermentable substances. The result was that a considerable number of gas-forming pairs were discovered. Table 1 gives the positive results of these tests. On account.of a generalization which we were able to formulate from our experiments, it is not considered necessary to record the negative findings. The medium used had a meat extract peptone base and contained 17 of the fermentable substance. The reaction was adjusted to PH 7. Pfannstiehl sugars were employed in all tests, and proper controls were made to rule out possible impurities or partial decomposition of
Domains of the BPV-1 E1 Replication Protein Required for Origin-Specific DNA Binding and Interaction with the E2 Transactivator.

The viral E1 and E2 proteins are required for replication of bovine papillomavirus type 1 DNA. Both proteins bind as a complex to the replication origin, which consists of an E1 binding site flanked on either side by E2 binding sites. The E1 protein has properties common to replication initiator proteins such as sequence-specific origin binding and DNA helicase activities. The E2 protein is a transcriptional transactivator that forms a complex with the E1 protein and enhances binding of E1 to the replication origin. We have mapped the regions of the E1 protein required for sequence-specific DNA binding, for cooperative binding with the E2 protein to the origin region, and for interaction with the E2 protein. These studies demonstrate that a region between amino acids 162 and 378 of the E1 protein is important for origin-specific DNA binding. The C-terminal half of the E1 protein is required in addition to the DNA binding domain (residues 162 to 605) for cooperative binding to the origin with the E2 protein. Binding studies confirmed that this region is also required for efficient complex formation with the E2 protein.
Stereotactic Mechanical Percutaneous Renal Access

Obtaining accurate percutaneous renal access when treating intrarenal disease requires substantial skill. Robotic devices have been used in a variety of surgical applications and have been successful in facilitating percutaneous puncture while improving accuracy. Laboratory models of robotic devices for percutaneous renal access have also been developed. However, several technical hurdles need to be addressed. One relates to the device-patient interface. As a first step in creating a complete robotic system, a mechanical arm (PAKY) with active translational motion for percutaneous renal access has been developed and clinically assessed. The PAKY consists of a passive mechanical arm mounted on the operating table and a radiolucent needle driver that uses a novel active translational mechanism for needle advancement. The system utilizes real-time fluoroscopic images provided by a C-arm to align and monitor active needle placement. In vitro experiments to test needle placement accuracy were conducted using a porcine kidney suspended in agarose gel. Seven copper balls 3 to 12.5 mm diameter were placed in the collecting system as targets, and successful access was confirmed by electrical contact with the ball. The PAKY was then used clinically in nine patients. The number of attempts, target calix location, calix size, and time elapsed were evaluated. In the in vitro study, successful needle-ball contact occurred the first time in all 70 attempts, including 10 attempts at the 3-mm balls. Clinically, percutaneous access to the desired calix was attained on the first attempt in each case. The mean target calix diameter was 14.7 mm (range 7-40 mm). The mean time elapsed while attempting access was 8.2 minutes. No perioperative complications attributable to needle access occurred. Early experience indicates that the PAKY provides a steady needle holder and an effective and safe end-effector for percutaneous renal access. This device may provide the mechanical platform for the development of a complete robotic system capable of creating percutaneous renal access.
Speech–language pathologists respond to psychosocial aspects of aphasia with varying degrees of clinical attention1

(1) How do speech–language pathologists view the role of psychosocial aspects of aphasia in current practice? (2) How do speech–language pathologists rate the importance of different dimensions of ...
Television viewing and physical fitness in adults.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which time spent watching television is associated with cardiovascular fitness among 8,885 adults. Potential confounding effects of age, gender, smoking, length of work week, time reported exercising each week, and obesity were also examined. Subjects who watched TV more than 4 hours per day (frequent viewers) were 037 times as likely to be physically fit as those who watched TV less than 1 hour per day (infrequent viewers) with age and gender controlled. Similarly, adults who watched TV 3–4 hours per day (moderately frequent viewers) were 0.45 times as likely to be fit as infrequent watchers. Adjustment for potential confounders, particularly measured body fat and reported exercise duration in combination, weakened the TV viewing/fitness relation moderately. Given the findings of this study and the results of previous research, caution should be exercised regarding excessive television viewing.
Generation of RNA/DNA Hybrids in Genomic DNA by Transformation using RNA-containing Oligonucleotides

Synthetic short nucleic acid polymers, oligonucleotides (oligos), are the most functional and widespread tools of molecular biology. Oligos can be produced to contain any desired DNA or RNA sequence and can be prepared to include a wide variety of base and sugar modifications. Moreover, oligos can be designed to mimic specific nucleic acid alterations and thus, can serve as important tools to investigate effects of DNA damage and mechanisms of repair. We found that Thermo Scientific Dharmacon RNA-containing oligos with a length between 50 and 80 nucleotides can be particularly suitable to study, in vivo, functions and consequences of chromosomal RNA/DNA hybrids and of ribonucleotides embedded into DNA. RNA/DNA hybrids can readily form during DNA replication, repair and transcription, however, very little is known about the stability of RNA/DNA hybrids in cells and to which extent these hybrids can affect the genetic integrity of cells. RNA-containing oligos, therefore, represent a perfect vector to introduce ribonucleotides into chromosomal DNA and generate RNA/DNA hybrids of chosen length and base composition. Here we present the protocol for the incorporation of ribonucleotides into the genome of the eukaryotic model system yeast /Saccharomyces cerevisiae/. Yet, our lab has utilized Thermo Scientific Dharmacon RNA-containing oligos to generate RNA/DNA hybrids at the chromosomal level in different cell systems, from bacteria to human cells.
Prediction of extracellular matrix stiffness in engineered heart valve tissues based on nonwoven scaffolds

The in vitro development of tissue engineered heart valves (TEHV) exhibiting appropriate structural and mechanical characteristics remains a significant challenge. An important step yet to be addressed is establishing the relationship between scaffold and extracellular matrix (ECM) mechanical properties. In the present study, a composite beam model accounting for nonwoven scaffold-ECM coupling and the transmural collagen concentration distribution was developed, and utilized to retrospectively estimate the ECM effective stiffness in TEHV specimens incubated under static and cyclic flexure conditions (Engelmayr Jr et~al. in Biomaterials 26(2):175-187 2005). The ECM effective stiffness was expressed as the product of the local collagen concentration and the collagen specific stiffness (i.e., stiffness/concentration), and was related to the overall TEHV effective stiffness via an empirically determined scaffold-ECM coupling parameter and measured transmural collagen concentration distributions. The scaffold-ECM coupling parameter was determined by flexural mechanical testing of polyacrylamide gels (i.e., ECM analogs) of variable stiffness and associated scaffold-polyacrylamide gel composites (i.e., engineered tissue analogs). The transmural collagen concentration distributions were quantified from fluorescence micrographs of picro-sirius red stained TEHV sections. As suggested by a previous structural model of the nonwoven scaffold (Engelmayr Jr and Sacks in J Biomech Eng 128(4):610-622, 2006), nonwoven scaffold-ECM composites did not follow a traditional rule of mixtures. The present study provided further evidence that the primary mode of reinforcement in nonwoven scaffold-ECM composites is an increase in the number fiber-fiber bonds with a concomitant increase in the effective stiffness of the spring-like fiber segments. Simulations of potential ECM deposition scenarios using the current model indicated that the present approach is sensitive to the specific time course of tissue deposition, and is thus very suitable for studies of ECM formation in engineered heart valve tissues.
A Prestressed-Core Hollow-Strap-Coil Test Magnet for the Omnitron

Design, fabrication, and preliminary testing of a test prototype gradient magnet for the Omnitron incorporating several novel design features is reported. The laminated magnet core achieves structural integrity with prestressed tension rods which hold the 0.014-in.-thick M-19 steel laminations with an average interlamination pressure of 200 psi. Some advantages of such a system are: elimination of strong backs for support of individual laminations, a higher steel packing factor than for glued laminations, and easy disassembly of the magnet to make changes during test and development. Simplicity in coil design is achieved using a continuous 9/32- by 3-in. hollow-strap** aluminum conductor wound in a single layer. The high section modulus of the strap eliminates the need for coil clamps at the ends of the magnet. Furthermore, this coil design avoids multiple cooling connections between "pancakes" and saddle-shaped coil ends, because notches can be machined into the coils after they are wound.
Hispanic Lesbians and Bisexual Women at Heightened Risk or Health Disparities

Objectives. We investigated whether elevated risks of health disparities exist in Hispanic lesbians and bisexual women aged 18 years and older compared with non-Hispanic White lesbians and bisexual women and Hispanic heterosexual women.Methods. We analyzed population-based data from the Washington State Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (2003–2009) using adjusted logistic regressions.Results. Hispanic lesbians and bisexual women, compared with Hispanic heterosexual women, were at elevated risk for disparities in smoking, asthma, and disability. Hispanic bisexual women also showed higher odds of arthritis, acute drinking, poor general health, and frequent mental distress compared with Hispanic heterosexual women. In addition, Hispanic bisexual women were more likely to report frequent mental distress than were non-Hispanic White bisexual women. Hispanic lesbians were more likely to report asthma than were non-Hispanic White lesbians.Conclusions. The elevated risk of health disparities in Hispanic ...
Job-rich but housing-poor: the dilemma of a western amenity town

Sedona, Arizona, an amenity town that trades on intangible quality-of-life attributes like spectacular scenery, the arts, and its nonmetropolitan location, has a conflict between low-wage employment catering to its tourist sector and expensive housing for its affluent residents. Many of those who work in Sedona do not live in the community. This study, based on a survey of 286 employees, shows that workers who live in Sedona do not have incomes that are significantly higher than commuters from the outside, but they live in housing that is almost twice as expensive. Employees who live in Sedona pay dearly for housing in order to be near jobs, natural beauty, and the cultural ambience of an amenity town. Commuters, on the other hand, incur high travel costs but enjoy cheaper housing and the lifestyle of small towns and rural areas. The emergence of amenity environments and long-distance commuting in Sedona is symbolic of the increased differentiation of nonmetropolitan landscapes.
International variation in volunteer whole blood donor eligibility criteria

BACKGROUND: This study assesses international variation in volunteer whole blood donor eligibility criteria. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: In February 2008, Web sites of major blood collection organizations in 17 countries were queried for the volume of whole blood donations and six donor eligibility criteria: allowed donation frequency, donor age, hemoglobin (Hb), weight, and deferrals for tattoo and pregnancy/breast-feeding. RESULTS: The allowed frequency of whole blood donation ranged from 56 to 120 days, some with sex- and age-specific limitations. While blood collection agencies in three countries did not have an upper age limit for donation, the remainder mandated donor retirement at ages from 60 to 81 years. The minimum Hb level was 11.5 to 12.5 g/dL for women and 12.5 to 13.5 g/dL for men. Blood collection organizations in only three countries required a minimum donor weight of less than 50 kg. Tattoo and pregnancy deferrals ranged from 4 to 12 months and 6 weeks to 12 months, respectively. The volume of whole blood donations ranged from 300 to 500 mL. The percentage of total blood volume donated, the absolute grams of Hb expected to be restored per deferral period and per day of donor deferral, and the concentration of Hb expected to be restored per deferral period were calculated. CONCLUSIONS: International volunteer whole blood donor eligibility criteria demonstrate marked variation. These differences likely cause international variation in the prevalence of adverse donor reactions and iron deficiency anemia. The reasons underlying these dissimilarities are unclear, but may include varying cultural influences and average donor body habitus.
Glutamine synthetase in the avian diencephalon.

Glutamine synthetase (GS) activities are high in the nucleus rotundus of the avian diencephalon in late embryos and hatched chicks. The nucleus rotundus is known to be one component of a visual pathway in birds involving also the neural retina, the optic tectum and the cerebral ectostriatum. Since previous studies have shown that the retina, tectum and ectostriatum have high GS activities as well, the enzyme is considered to be clearly associated in some measure, although not exclusively, with processes subserving vision. Some of the possible normal functions for GS at specific neural sites are discussed. Hydrocortisone promotes GS levels in vitro in the embryonic diencephalon, just as GS activities are increased with this steroid in cultures of embryonic retina, tectum and cerebrum. The effects of steroid on GS in the diencephalon appear to be general and not restricted to the nucleus rotundus or the visual pathway.
Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Controls Laboratory

An interdisciplinary controls laboratory has been developed at Lehigh University for teaching system dynamics and controls to senior undergraduate students from the various departments in the engineering college. A team effort was successful in planning, designing, funding, and constructing the experiments. After students learn control theory in courses offered in the individual departments, they jointly conduct experiments on realistic processes and devices that represent common control problems in the three engineering disciplines: chemical, electrical and mechanical. The students sare grouped into interdisciplinary teams to encourage cross-fertilization. The laboratory has been operational for three years, and the response from the students has been very positive.
Solution NMR Conformational Analysis of the Potent Equilibrative Sensitive (ES) Nucleoside Transporter Inhibitor, S 6-(4-Nitrobenzyl)mercaptopurine Riboside (NBMPR)

Abstract High resolution NMR analysis involving one-dimensional (1-D) 1H and nuclear Overhauser (NOE) difference spectroscopy was applied to solutions of NBMPR in DMSO-d 6. Coupling constants were obtained at different temperatures between 285 and 353 K, and used to analyze the rotamer preferences about the C-4′-C-5′ bond. The results revealed a rotamer distribution about the χ tortion angle that favors the high-anti range, a preponderance of the γ+ rotamer (at ∼64 %) with respect to the γ torsion angle, and a higher population of the south (S) conformer, which was favored by as little as the 4 % to as much as 31 % over the north (N) conformer as calculated by the program PSEUROT 6.2. The high-anti glycosidic torsion orientation appears to be the major conformational difference between the solution structure of NBMPR determined in this study and the structure previously observed in the solid state.
Nonresponse to a Question on Self-Identified Sexual Orientation in a Public Health Survey and Its Relationship to Race and Ethnicity

We examined whether nonresponse to the survey question on self-identified sexual orientation was associated with race and ethnicity, utilizing Washington State Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data. The results of adjusted multinomial logistic regression indicated that the nonresponse rates of Asian Americans, Hispanics, and African Americans are higher than those of non-Hispanic Whites. Innovative ways of measuring sexual orientation to reduce racially and ethnically driven bias need to be developed and integrated into public health surveys.
Improved hybrid SMS-DSF method of nonimaging optical design

The hybrid SMS-DSF method of nonimaging optical design combines the discrete simultaneous multiple surface (SMS) method with the dual-surface functional (DSF) method to obtain improved optical performance relative to the discrete SMS method alone. In this contribution we present a new extension of the hybrid SMS-DSF method that uses differential ray tracing to produce designs having significantly improved performance relative to the original hybrid SMS-DSF method.
Molecular characterization of human minichromosomes with centromere from chromosome 1 in human-hamster hybrid cells.

In this study we examine the amounts of four different human satellite DNA sequences in a series of human-hamster hybrid cells, which contain a human minichromosome including the centromere of human chromosome 1. Comparisons with the corresponding amounts in an intact human chromosome 1 suggest that the minichromosomes have lost satellite DNA sequences, and in one case a substantial fraction of several satellite DNAs is lost, without affecting the stability and normal mitotic segregation of the minichromosome. The smallest minichromosome appears to have lost all of the long arm and a significant portion of centromeric heterochromatin, while retaining 1000–2000 kb of the short arm of human chromosome 1. The satellite sequences examined include: a chromosome 1-specific satellite III probe, a chromosome 1-specific alpha satellite DNA, another alpha satellite DNA originally derived from the X chromosome, and an alphoid EcoRI dimer whose isolation from one of the minichromosomes and characterization is also described in this paper. One interpretation of these data indicates that an interspersion of blocks of satellite sequences occurs in the centromere region of chromosome 1. If these satellite sequences have functional significance, then there may be redundancy in the system that allows for a variation in the size of the kinetochore and the number of attachment sites for microtubules.
FACTORS AFFECTING THE EXCRETION OF PORPHYRIN PRECURSORS BY PATIENTS WITH ACUTE INTERMITTENT PORPHYRIA. II. THE EFFECT OF ETHINYL ESTRADIOL.

Abstract In 7 patients with acute intermittent porphyria maintained on a constant diet, administration of ethinyl estradiol resulted in significant increase in urinary delta-aminolevulinic acid and prophobilinogen. In only 1 of the patients did symptoms suggestive of an exacerbation of acute intermittent porphyria appear. A discussion of the clinical and biochemical significance of the observations is presented.
The mosquito genome: perspectives and possibilities

Anopheles gambiae is the mosquito vector responsible for transmitting Plasmodium falciparum, a malaria parasite of humans. With the emergence of genome projects for a variety of prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms, there has been a long-standing interest in sequencing the genomes of the malaria parasite and its insect vector. This tour de force effort has now been completed and reported. The alignment of putative orthologs in An. gambiae with those of Drosophila melanogaster highlights several similarities and differences. These findings could have implications in: (1) identifying new targets for insecticide development; (2) strengthening our understanding of the developmental biology of mosquitoes; and (3) possibly controlling pathogen transmission. A brief overview of these interesting findings and the implications for further studies will be discussed here.
Rayleigh’s Law of Scattering in the Infrared*

The scattering is inferred from transmission measurements carried out on transparent particles of zinc oxide and other finely divided crystals. Rayleigh’s law of scattering is obeyed for the smallest particles of 0.088μ diameter but not for larger particles. Conclusions as to particle size and size distribution are drawn from the transmission curves. The effect of varying the refractive index of the medium surrounding the particles on the transmission curves is found to be in accord, qualitatively, with Rayleigh’s formula.
Expansions of Semi-Heyting Algebras I: Discriminator Varieties

This paper is a contribution toward developing a theory of expansions of semi-Heyting algebras. It grew out of an attempt to settle a conjecture we had made in 1987. Firstly, we unify and extend strikingly similar results of [48] and [50] to the (new) equational class DHMSH of dually hemimorphic semi-Heyting algebras, or to its subvariety BDQDSH of blended dual quasi-De Morgan semi-Heyting algebras, thus settling the conjecture. Secondly, we give a criterion for a unary expansion of semi-Heyting algebras to be a discriminator variety and give an algorithm to produce discriminator varieties. We then apply the criterion to exhibit an increasing sequence of discriminator subvarieties of BDQDSH. We also use it to prove that the variety DQSSH of dually quasi-Stone semi- Heyting algebras is a discriminator variety. Thirdly, we investigate a binary expansion of semi-Heyting algebras, namely the variety DblSH of double semi-Heyting algebras by characterizing its simples, and use the characterization to present an increasing sequence of discriminator subvarieties of DblSH. Finally, we apply these results to give bases for "small" subvarieties of BDQDSH, DQSSH, and DblSH.
O-(Hydroxypropyl)Sucrose

Abstract A laboratory procedure for making O-(hydroxypropyl)sucrose preparations containing predominantly, in decreasing order, derivatives containing one, two, and three hydroxypropyl ether groups has been developed. The product was noncrystalline. A sample which contained primarily mono- and di-hydroxypropylated sucrose molecules gave a conservative maximum of 3% cleavage when treated with invertase (β-fructofuranosidase) and sucrase (sucrose α-D-glucohydrolase) during an 18 h digestion, indicating possible application as a reduced-calorie bulking agent. Incubation with a culture of fecal bacteria indicated no metabolism of O-(hydroxypropyl)sucrose by, and no toxicity to, colonic microorganisms. One chromatographically pure fraction was determined to be 6-O-(hydroxypropyl)sucrose.
The increasing role of modeling in HV & materials engineering

The range of problems in high voltage and materials engineering which can be addressed through mathematical and numerical modeling has expanded with the reduction in the price of computing power. Presently, very complex transient nonlinear finite element problems can be solved in both 2D and 3D. In addition, density functional theory (DFT), the most useful implementation of computational quantum mechanics, allows material properties, such as dielectric constant, band offsets, band gap and impurity states therein, etc. to be computed at a molecular level, including the effects of compatibilizing agents between inorganic fillers and polymer matrices. These effects become especially important at the nano level, where the oxidation of the surface of a nanoparticle can, in some cases, change its dielectric properties completely. The role of the more sophisticated forms of numerical modeling presently available will be explored through applications to lightning arresters, materials design, etc.
Decreases in ventricular volume correlate with decreases in ventricular pressure in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus patients who experienced clinical improvement after implantation with adjustable valve shunts.

OBJECTIVE This retrospective study examined whether changes in ventricular volume correspond with changes in adjustable valve pressure settings in a cohort of patients who received shunts to treat idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus. We also examined whether these pressure-volume curves and other patient variables would co-occur with a positive clinical response to shunting. METHODS We selected 51 patients diagnosed with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus who had undergone implantation of a Codman Hakim programmable valve (Medos S.A., Le Locle, Switzerland). Clinical data were gathered from the patients' records and clinical notes by an investigator blinded to patients' ventricular volumes. Ventricular volume was measured using 3D Slicer, an image analysis and interactive visualization software package developed and maintained at the Surgical Planning Laboratory at Brigham and Women's Hospital. RESULTS Eighty-six percent of patients with gait disturbance at presentation showed improvement of this symptom, 70% experienced improvement in incontinence, and 69% experienced improvement in dementia. For the group showing 100% clinical improvement, the correlation coefficient of average changes in valve pressure over time (delta P/delta T) and average changes in ventricular volume over time (delta V/delta T) were high at 0.843 (P < 0.05). For the group experiencing no or only partial improvement, the correlation coefficient was 0.257 (P = 0.32), indicating no correlation between average delta V/delta T and average delta P/delta T for each patient. CONCLUSION This was a carefully analyzed modeling study of idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus treatment made possible only by adjustable valve technology. With careful volumetric analysis, we found that changes in ventricular volume correlated with adjustments in valve pressure settings for those patients who improved clinically after shunting. This suggests that positive clinical responders retained parenchymal elasticity, emphasizing the importance of dynamic changes in this cohort.
Sunspots, the QBO, and the stratospheric temperature in the north polar region

There is an association between the polar stratospheric temperature in the northern winter and the solar cycle in the winters when the 50-mb equatorial winds are westerly: The lower the sunspot number in such winters, the lower is the temperature. No major mid-winter warmings occurred in these winters when the sunspot number was below about 100. There is no such relationship in the easterly phase of the QBO. In that phase the temperatures are generally higher than in the westerly phase, and major mid-winter warmings occur regardless of the state of the solar cycle.
Capacitance models for integrated circuit metallization wires

New concepts are introduced relating aspects of circuit theory to the multicapacitances which can be obtained from a computer program for multiconductor geometries. These concepts are applied to the wiring of an integrated circuit chip. Capacitances are found for crossovers, vias, and right angle bends for a realistic geometry.
A porcine model of acute quadriplegic myopathy: a feasibility study.

Background: The mechanisms underlying acute quadriplegic myopathy (AQM) are poorly understood, partly as a result of the fact that patients are generally diagnosed at a late stage of the disease. A ...
An examination of the consistency and accuracy of computerized brachytherapy dose predictions.

Abstract Four brachytherapy test cases were sent to representatives of commercial and non-commercial, computerized radiation oncology treatment planning systems. Four commercial systems are represented herein. These systems are denoted by CSI, CS2, CS3 and CS4 (see Appendix). The non-commercial, state-of-the-art systems represented are (in alphabetical order) BRACHY, ISODOS and RADCOMP. Because of the contractual arrangement between the vendor of CSl and J. R. Cunningham, the predictions of ISODOS and CS1 are assumed to be one and the same. Mutual comparisons were made to examine consistency and a comparison with experimental measurements around a single source was made to examine accuracy. The systems represented are most consistent within 5 cm from the center of a single source, and within rays from the center making angles of ≥20 degrees relative to the source axis. Taking into account tissue absorption and scatter, the spatial uncertainty in the location of a particular isodose rate value is ≤0.7 mm for commercial systems and ≤0.5 mm for non-commercial systems. Differences between state-of-the-art predictions and measurements around a single source would predict a difference of approximately 11 and 15% for clinical pts. A and B, respectively, around an intracavitary application.
Morphology of Nanoparticles and Fullerene Blacks Produced in A Carbon Arc

Using X-ray powder diffraction and transmission electron microscopy we examine the morphology and crystallographic structure of carbon-coated nanoparticles produced in a modified Huffman-Kratschmer carbon arc process. Graphite rods containing Ho were consumed in the arc and soots sampled from both the reactor walls and the inner core of the cathode deposit are compared. The inner core soot displays increased crystallinity and less amorphous carbon than wall-deposited soot, and nanoparticles in the inner core have more graphitic layers in the encapsulating shells, more gaps between the carbon coating and the core, and exhibit a greater degree of facetting than particles harvested from the reactor walls. These differences are interpreted as manifestations of the high temperature post-formation environment of the inner core of the cathode deposit.
Effect of wheat cultivar mixtures on populations of Puccinia striiformis races

This study quantifies the frequency of simple and complex races (races that can infect two or more components) of Puccinia striiformis in mixtures of wheat cultivars possessing different race-specific resistance genes. Treatments were designed so that the complex race changed depending on the host mixture, thus enabling us to observe the influence of pathogen complexity in different genetic backgrounds. Six cultivar mixtures and one pure stand of winter wheat were inoculated with three races of P. striiformis at two locations for two seasons. Potted plants of three winter wheat cultivars, each susceptible to one of the three races of the pathogen, were used to sample the pathogen during the field epidemics. Disease incidence on the differential cultivars was used to calculate the proportion of the three races in each treatment. The specific cultivars included in the mixtures influenced the frequencies of the three races. Increasing the number of virulent races in a mixture reduced the frequency of the complex race relative to the other two races. The results suggest that genetic background of the pathogen race, host composition, and interaction among pathogen races may be as important as cost of virulence in determining race frequencies in mixtures.
Vestibular migraine: clinical aspects and pathophysiology

Vestibular migraine is becoming recognised as a distinct clinical entity that accounts for a high proportion of patients with vestibular symptoms. A temporal overlap between vestibular symptoms, such as vertigo and head-movement intolerance, and migraine symptoms, such as headache, photophobia, and phonophobia, is a requisite diagnostic criterion. Physical examination and laboratory testing are usually normal in vestibular migraine but can be used to rule out other vestibular disorders with overlapping symptoms. The pathophysiology of vestibular migraine is incompletely understood but plausibly could include neuroanatomical pathways to and from central vestibular structures and neurochemical modulation via the locus coeruleus and raphe nuclei. In the absence of controlled trials, treatment options for patients with vestibular migraine largely mirror those for migraine headache.
Preparation of Novel Biocidal N-Halamine Polymers

The preparation and biocidal efficacies of eight new N-halamine polymers have been reported. The polymers are in the classes known as dichlorohydantoins, trichlorotriazinediones, and dichloropyrimi...
The shock-expansion method and Whitham's rule

The assumptions of the shock-expansion method are re-examined. Although the shock-expansion method and Whitham's rule are used to treat two different classes of problems, certain similarities between these two methods are noted. It is suggested that a single procedure leads to solutions for the entire flow field for both classes of problems.
MVPA Permutation Schemes: Permutation Testing in the Land of Cross-Validation

Permutation tests are widely used for significance testing in classification-based fMRI analyses, but the precise manner of relabeling varies, and is generally non-trivial for MVPA because of the complex data structure. Here, we describe two common means of carrying out permutation tests. In the first, which we call the "dataset-wise" scheme, the examples are relabeled prior to conducting the cross-validation, while in the second, the "fold-wise" scheme, each fold of the cross-validation is relabeled independently. While the dataset-wise scheme maintains more of the true dataset's structure, additional work is needed to determine which method should be preferred in practice, since the two methods often result in different null distributions (and so p-values).