cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Classroom Experiment Demonstrating the Generation of a Market Demand Function and the Determination of Equilibrium Price.

Economics instructors continue to look for simple and effective means of motivating students while conveying important basic principles. Dennis Weidenaar describes a supply and demand simulation which can be used in any classroom to show how a market demand function is generated and how equilibrium price is determined. Involving little in the way of preparation, this activity simply calls for the sale of apples to students by the instructor, with individual and aggregate demand schedules being calculated. Such concepts as price and income elasticity, profit maximization, opportunity cost, market organization (monopoly, perfect competition and monopsony), consumer's and producer's surplus, and total, marginal and average revenue and cost can be illustrated through the use of the simulation and the suggested discussion questions.
Dermal Blood Flow Response to Constant Pressure in Healthy Older and Younger Subjects

This study compared the dermal blood flow response to low levels of compressive pressure in healthy older and younger subjects. Dermal blood flow was measured over the left trochanter of 19 younger (21-45 yrs) and 22 older (> or = 60 yrs) subjects using a laser-Doppler velocitometer. Interface pressure, baseline flow, and flow during 60 minutes of left-side lying on an air mattress were measured. Baseline dermal blood flow did not differ significantly between the older and younger groups. Both groups showed a significant increase in blood flow over time during the 60 minutes of compression. The change in dermal blood flow over time was not significantly different between the two groups. This study demonstrated that healthy persons, regardless of their age, exhibited an increase in dermal blood flow over time at low levels of compressive pressure.
Inflationary Potential from 21 cm Tomography and Planck

Three-dimensional neutral hydrogen mapping using the redshifted 21 cm line has recently emerged as a promising cosmological probe. Within the framework of slow-roll reconstruction, we analyze how well the inflationary potential can be reconstructed by combining data from 21 cm experiments and cosmic microwave background data from the Planck satellite. We consider inflationary models classified according to the amplitude of their tensor component, and show that 21 cm measurements can significantly improve constraints on the slow-roll parameters and determine the shape of the inflationary potential.
Effects of sexual behavioral manipulation on brain plasticity in adult rats

The purpose of the present study was to determine the effects of sexual behaviorial manipulation on brain plasticity in adult male rats. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats that copulated during male sexual behavior testing were divided into four groups: control male; gonadectomized (Gdx) male; sexually active male; and sexually nonactive male. Female animals were used as an additional control group. At the end of a 12-week experimental period, the animals were again tested for male sexual behavior and tested for sexual motivation. Sexual behavior manipulations over the 12-week period resulted in significant differences in mount latency, mount frequency, intromission latency, intromission frequency, ejaculation latency, and the postejaculation interval. In the motivation test, significant differences in the number of approaches, contacts, and crossings of an electrified grid separating the test animal from a receptive female were also observed. Sexually dimorphic nucleus of the preoptic area (SDN-POA) volumes in sexually nonactive males were significantly smaller than in control males or sexually active males. Anteroventral periventricular nucleus (AVPV) volumes in the male groups were not significantly altered by sexual behavioral manipulations, however, the nonactive AVPV vol. was the only vol. not significantly different from the control female vol. These data demonstrate that in the adult rat, sexual behavioral manipulations resulted in significant alterations in behavior and in the vol. of the SDN-POA and that the effect of sexual behavior on the AVPV needs to be further investigated.
Theoretical study of the ultimate mechanical properties of poly(p-phenylene-terephthalamide) fibres

Abstract A stochastic model for failure of perfectly ordered and oriented polymer filaments, previously introduced, is used for a theoretical study of the factors limiting the ultimate mechanical properties of poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide) (PPTA) filaments. The approach is entirely microscopic and the inhomogeneous distribution of the external stress among atomic bonds near chain ends is explicitly taken into account. Both primary and secondary bonds are assumed to break during fracture of the filament. Stress-strain curves have been calculated for filaments of various (monodisperse) molecular weights at different temperatures. The predicted tensile strengths have been compared with related experimental values. The mode of failure and the lifetime under fixed strain conditions of PPTA filaments are also investigated and compared with those for polyethylene. Finally, the sensitivity of our results to the choice of values of the model's parameters is discussed and illustrated in a few special cases.
Electron Spin Lattice Relaxation Rates for S = 12 Molecular Species in Glassy Matrices or Magnetically Dilute Solids at Temperatures between 10 and 300 K

Abstract The temperature dependence of X-band electron spin–lattice relaxation between about 10 and 300 K in magnetically dilute solids and up to the softening temperature in glassy solvents was analyzed for three organic radicals and 14 S = 1 2 transition metal complexes. Contributions from the direct, Raman, local vibrational mode, thermally activated, and Orbach processes were considered. For most samples it was necessary to include more than one process to fit the experimental data. Debye temperatures were between 50 and 135 K. For small molecules the Debye temperature required to fit the relaxation data was higher in 1:1 water:glycerol than in organic solvents. For larger molecules the Debye temperature was less dependent upon solvent and more dependent upon the characteristics of the molecule. The coefficients of the Raman process increased with increasing g anisotropy and decreasing rigidity of the molecule. For the transition metal complexes the data are consistent with major contributions from local modes with energies in the range of 185 to 350 K (130 to 240 cm−1). The coefficient for this contribution increases in the order 3d
On modeling and direct solution of certain free vibration systems

Abstract This paper is concerned with physical modeling; it is also an introductory survey of direct solution techniques for a class of linear vibration systems of both discrete and distributed parameters. In the former, the close-coupled, far-coupled and branched systems are treated, and in the latter, the approximate solution to one-dimensional problems of vibrating strings and beams are mentioned in passing, greater emphasis being placed on two-dimensional problems of vibrating membranes and plates. Numerical examples are given to illustrate the method presented.
The Relation Between Perceived Risk and Preventive Action: A Within-Subject Analysis of Perceived Driving Risk and Intentions to Wear Seatbelts

Intentions to wear seatbelts in 12 different driving situations were predicted from attitudes toward wearing seatbelts, subjective norms concerning seatbelt uses, and perceived driving risk. In a given driving situation, appropriate measures of attitudes and subjective norms both had significant effects on intentions to wear a seatbelt, whereas there was little relation between risk and intentions. Intentions across the 12 driving situations were significantly related to perceived driving risk, both for aggregate data and for a substantial portion of individual subjects. However, further analyses indicated that risk seemed to affect intentions indirectly through subjective norms and attitudes associated with seat-belt use. The results suggest that attempts to increase seatbelt use should target all relevant beliefs important in determining people's attitudes toward and subjective norms concerning seatbelt use, rather than just focusing upon making people aware of the risks associated with driving.
Characterization of shear deformation and strain recovery behavior in shape memory polymers

Abstract The large strain deformation behavior of a styrene-based shape memory polymer (SMP) has been investigated in tensile- and shear-loading conditions with the aim of characterizing the mechanical properties. Of particular interest is the recovery behavior, which is critical for the development of new SMP-based applications, and the effect of filler-loading. Magnetite and iron spherical nano-particles have been used as fillers. The magnetite-filled samples were prepared to allow the investigation of magnetic induction-based heating to serve as a trigger for the thermally activated SMP. Very favorable response times were observed using this technique. The iron-filled samples were prepared to confer electrical conductivity to the polymer. Testing of the materials was performed in tensile and shear test conditions at room and elevated temperatures. Following tensile and shear deformation to lock-in plastic strain, the SMP exhibited a rapid rise in the recovery force following the application of a thermal trigger. However, full recovery of shear strain has not been recorded. This experimentation will yield data critical for SMP-based actuator design. Furthermore, the study will also provide insight on matrix–filler interaction and permit constitutive modeling through an investigation of the elastic, inelastic and recovery deformation response of the SMP.
Mechanism for nontracking organic insulations

MOST ORGANIC INSULATIONS are not suitable for high voltage applications in contaminated atmospheres. Under surface arcing conditions, the organic constituents of the insulation decompose to form carbonaceous paths and the apparatus will fail by progressive creepage tracking. This article describes a proposed internal oxidation mechanism to eliminate formation of carbonized tracks upon exposure to surface electrical arcs.
An ultrastructural study of the effects of x-irradiation on the oral epithelium of the rat: qualitative aspects.

. Adult male rats of Simonsen strain were given a dose of 5000 r at 50 peak KV of x-irradiation directed at the lower lip, which was everted through a hole in a lead rubber cylinder shielding the head and body of the animal. Light and electron microscopic observations were made on specimens of lip oral mucosa from animals killed at 2, 6, 26 and 50 h and at 12 days after irradiation. The experimental model met the aim of permitting the study of the sequential effects of a high dose of irradiation without causing ulceration of the mucosa. Widespread degenerative changes were noted in the basal cells as early as 2 h after x-irradiation, increasing in degree up to 50 h. They included inflation of the outer nuclear envelope and rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) with loss of ribosomes, swelling of mitochondria and disarrangement of cristae evident at 2 h, followed at 6 h by swelling of nucleus and cytoplasm and 26 h by frank membrane breaks. Irreversible degrees of damage were noted in a small though growing minority of cells. Immediate mobilization of the Golgi-lysosomal system was evident as an increase in size of the zone, maximal at 2 h, and subsequent autophagic activity. Signs of recovery, beginning at 26 h, were noted in nuclear envelope, RER, intercellular space, and in mitotic activity by 50 h. Virtually complete recovery was seen at 12 days. It is held that the successful confinement of irradiation to a small tissue volume, the effective activity of the lysosomal system and the short epithelial turnover time were important factors in limiting the damage and in permitting recovery.
Evidence for dopaminergic control of circadian variations in thyrotropin secretion.

This study examines the influence of dopamine on recumbent circadian secretory patterns of plasma TSH. Seven euthyroid men were studied during a control (no medication) and a bromocriptine period (2.5 mg bromocriptine three times a day for 5 days). In the control period, a clear daily pattern in plasma TSH was evidenced, with highest levels occurring during the late evening presleep period and the first few hours after the onsetof nocturnal sleep. During the control period, recumbent 24-h plasma TSH was linearly correlated (y = 0.41; P < 0.05) with clock time. Bromocriptine lowered the mean 24-h TSH from a control level of 2.1 ± 0.2 to 1.1 eU/ml. Further, bromocriptineeliminated the earlynocturnal TSH surge and the correlation of plasma TSH with clock time. Thus, circadian variations in plasma TSH levels may be modulated, in part, by a dopaminergic mechanism. However, we cannot rule out a direct effect of bromocriptineon the anterior pituitary resulting in decreased late evening rises in plasma TSH
Self-activation of cellulose: A new preparation methodology for activated carbon electrodes in electrochemical capacitors

Abstract Current synthetic methods of biomass-derived activated carbon call for a costly chemical or physical activation process. Herein, we report a simple one-step annealing synthesis yielding a high surface area cellulose-derived activated carbon. We discover that simply varying the flow rate of Argon during pyrolysis enables ‘self-activation’ reactions that can tune the specific surface areas of the resulting carbon, ranging from 98 m2/g to values as high as 2600 m2/g. Furthermore, we, for the first time, observe a direct evolution of H2 from the pyrolysis, which gives strong evidence towards an in situ self-activation mechanism. Surprisingly, the obtained activated carbon is a crumbled graphene nanostructure composed of interconnected sheets, making it ideal for use in an electrochemical capacitor. The cellulose-derived nanoporous carbon exhibits a capacitance of 132 F g−1 at 1 A g−1, a performance comparable to the state-of-the-art activated carbons. This work presents a fundamentally new angle to look at the synthesis of activated carbon, and highlights the importance of a controlled inert gas flow rate during synthesis in general, as its contributions can have a very large impact on the final material properties.
Discovering complex matchings across web query interfaces: a correlation mining approach

To enable information integration, schema matching is a critical step for discovering semantic correspondences of attributes across heterogeneous sources. While complex matchings are common, because of their far more complex search space, most existing techniques focus on simple 1:1 matchings. To tackle this challenge, this paper takes a conceptually novel approach by viewing schema matching as correlation mining, for our task of matching Web query interfaces to integrate the myriad databases on the Internet. On this "deep Web," query interfaces generally form complex matchings between attribute groups (e.g., [author] corresponds to [first name, last name] in the Books domain). We observe that the co-occurrences patterns across query interfaces often reveal such complex semantic relationships: grouping attributes (e.g., [first name, last name]) tend to be co-present in query interfaces and thus positively correlated. In contrast, synonym attributes are negatively correlated because they rarely co-occur. This insight enables us to discover complex matchings by a correlation mining approach. In particular, we develop the DCM framework, which consists of data preparation, dual mining of positive and negative correlations, and finally matching selection. Unlike previous correlation mining algorithms, which mainly focus on finding strong positive correlations, our algorithm cares both positive and negative correlations, especially the subtlety of negative correlations, due to its special importance in schema matching. This leads to the introduction of a new correlation measure, $H$-measure, distinct from those proposed in previous work. We evaluate our approach extensively and the results show good accuracy for discovering complex matchings.
Room-temperature phosphorescence of anilinonaphthalenesulfonate “fluorescence probe” compounds

Abstract 2,6-anilinonaphthalenesulfonate (2,6-ANS) and 2,6-toluidinonaphthalenesulfonate (2,6-TNS) exhibit room-temperature phosphorescence when absorbed on filter paper, but the corresponding 1,8-isomers (1,8-ANS and 1,8-TNS) do not. The phosphorescence of the 2,6-isomers and nonphosphorescence of the 1,8-isomers is also found to hold in rigid glass at 77 K. No phosphorescence was detectable from N -phenyl-1-napthylamine at room temperature or 77 K, indicating that intramolecular hydrogen bonding in the 1,8-isomers isomers is not an essential feature inhibiting phosphorescence. Very effective heavy-atom enhancement of the phosphorescences of 2,6-ANS and 2,6-TNS by sodium iodide is observed.
Clinical applications of L-glutamine: past, present, and future.

Objective: This review will attempt to summarize recent clinical data on glutamine's use. It will present the concept of glutamine as a“ drug” or “nutraceutical,” given in addition to standard nutrition support. Key references will be discussed, and clinical recommendations with regard to patients who may benefit and dosing are also provided. Recent Findings: Glutamine, traditionally considered a nonessential amino acid, now is considered “conditionally essential” after critical illness, stress, and injury. States of illness or injury can lead to a significant decrease in plasma levels of glutamine, and when this decrease is severe, it has been correlated with increased mortality. Laboratory data have demonstrated numerous benefits of glutamine in experimental models of critical illness, cancer, and cardiac injury. The mechanism of these protective effects includes attenuated proinflammatory cytokine expression, improved gut barrier function, enhanced ability to mount a stress response, improved immune ce...
A New Record of Pinaciophora Fluviatilis Greeff Sensu Penard from the Laurentian Great Lakes

This report clarifies the presence of Pinaciophora fluviatilis Greeff sensu Penard in the Laurentian Great Lakes. Transmission electron microscopic observations were made of a shadowcast carbon replica of a single scale. Taxonomic problems of this organism are discussed.
Eigenspannungen als Messgröße zur Qualitätssicherung

Die rontgenografische Methode wird im Konzern der Volkswagen AG an diversen weltweiten Standorten als Standardverfahren zur Ermittlung von Eigenspannungen eingesetzt. Als wichtige Messgrose zur Qualitatssicherung sind die Eigenspannungen bei verschiedenen Bauteilen als Sollvorgaben in den Zeichnungen festgeschrieben (z. B. Getriebeteile, Federn). Die Messungen erfolgen im Bereich der Qualitatssicherung, in der Fertigung, der Schadensanalyse, der technischen Entwicklung und der Bemusterung der Bauteile von Lieferanten. Ein optimaler Nutzeffekt wird erzielt, wenn die Eigenspannungswerte eine eindeutige Korrelation mit der Bauteilbelastbarkeit ausweisen und wenn die Arbeitsprozesse zur Einbringung von Eigenspannungen mittels Eigenspannungsmessungen schon im Produktionsbereich optimiert werden konnen. Residual stress as measured quantity in quality assurance The x-ray method is used in the Volkswagen Automotive Group at different world-wide locations as a standard procedure to determine residual stress. As an important measured quantity in the quality assurance residual stresses are specified in drawings of different components (e.g. gears, coil springs). Measurements are carried out during quality assurance, production, damage analyse, technical development department and design control of components from suppliers. An optimum efficiency can be achieved, if it exists a unique correlation between residual stress values and loading capacity of components, and if the processes to introduce residual stress can be optimized using residual stress measurements during the production.
Full length article: Scheduling for end-to-end performance in multi-rate CDMA/HDR systems

An interesting feature of the third generation (3G) cellular networks is their ability to support multiple data rates for data services. Thus, it is important to understand the end-to-end delay and throughput performance over these multi-rate cellular systems. In this work, we consider a multi-rate system such as High Data Rate (HDR) and represent the possible data rates using a Markov chain. Using a M/G/1 queuing model, we calculate the expected data rate and the corresponding link layer delay for each of the initial states. We study the effects of various link layer scheduling techniques for the radio link protocol (RLP) frames destined for multiple user. Though the commonly used link layer scheduling techniques work well, they do not provide the best performance for when end-to-end semantics need to be maintained. In this regard, we propose a scheduling algorithm that aids the transport protocol, for example TCP. Our research shows that the proposed remaining frames first scheduler enhances the transport layer performance compared to the commonly used ''best channel scheduler''. Comparative results, based on simulations, are shown with respect to radius of cell, distance of user, number of users, and varying bit error rate.
IS THERE NEWS IN THE CLUB

In September 1994, the Wall Street Journal started the Annual Report and Earning Service. Firms participating in this service volunteer to provide on request, to any reader, their annual report and current quarterly information. The daily price quotations of such firms appear with a small symbol like the club in playing cards. We examine the utility of voluntarily disclosing this second-hand information to the public and seek to find the motivation for this disclosure. Our results show that most of the firms that joined this service had below-industry-average performance, or at least were headed in that direction. Membership in the Annual Report and Earning Service brought some short-term benefits in the form of average excess returns, but the economic fundamentals reasserted, and most firms had significant below-average returns at the end of our sample period. JEL classification: G10, G14.
Neoadjuvant therapy in early-stage breast cancer

Neoadjuvant (preoperative) chemotherapy is becoming a commonly used option for women with early-stage breast cancer, allowing a greater proportion of patients to undergo breast conservation surgery. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy also allows the early assessment of response or resistance to chemotherapy and facilitates chemotherapy delivery prior to any surgical alterations to the vasculature. Ongoing research is examining the potential benefits of neoadjuvant therapy with cytotoxic agents as well as other treatments, including endocrine therapies and biologic agents. Additionally, biomarkers are being intensively investigated as methods for identifying patients who will most likely benefit from neoadjuvant chemotherapy. As of yet, neoadjuvant chemotherapy has not demonstrated a definitive benefit over adjuvant (postoperative) chemotherapy with regard to prolonging survival. It remains to be seen whether novel cytotoxic agents used in the neoadjuvant setting will improve pathologic clinical response rates and ultimately improve long-term outcome in women with early-stage breast cancer.
LQG-Based Robust Control of Active Automobile Suspension

This paper presents robust controller design for an active automobile suspension system using an interative LQG design technique. The main objective is to design an active feedback control for an automobile suspension system to ensure the ride comfort for passengers in the presence of unknown road disturbances. The control system designed is shown to be robust to uncertainties and parametric variations. The resulting interative LQG-based control design is shown to achieve a significant improvement in the performance, while maintaining a desired level of closed-loop stability that is robust to plant uncertainties and parametric variations. The controller design is also compared to some other active suspension designs published in the literature.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Effectiveness of the Agricultural Research System in Kenya

ABSTRACT This paper discusses the organizational mechanisms affecting policy-making in the creation of agricultural scientific information in Kenya. Specifically, an attempt is made to determine how well the general policy framework fits the particular case of agriculture. It is concluded that the state suffers from organizational inefficiency in both the policy-formulation mechanisms and the policy-implementing institutions in the agricultural research system.
Calibration in laser speckle contrast imaging

We provided a novel calibration procedure in laser speckle contrast imaging that can efficiently compensate systematic errors in speckle contrast caused by speckle/pixel size mismatch and static scatters in the tissue.
The Effects of Question Types in Textual Reading upon Retention of Biology Concepts.

Do instructional questions to students enhance learning? If so, do certain types of questions cause greater learning outcomes than others? The area of instructional questions and questioning strategies has generated much research over the past two decades. A number of studies have found instructional questions to account for a large fraction of teaching time (Bellack et al., 1963; Schreiber, 1967; Moyer, 1967). Teacher use of oral questions in instruction, especially higher level cognitive questions, has consistently shown positive effects on student achievement (Redfield & Rousseau, 1981). Questions asked after oral prose presentations in psychology have been found to enhance recall of factual information (Sefkow & Meyers, 1980). Some large teacher training programs have specific instruction in questioning strategies (Lanier & Davis, 1972; Lowery, 1974). Questioning in textual reading has also been investigated, especially in the social sciences and languages, with respect to both the presence of questions in a text and the position and type of such questions. Although there are conflicting results, in general, questions placed within text materials have appeared to cause significantly higher performance than reading the materials without questions (Rothkopf & Bisbicos, 1967; Rothkopf & Bloom, 1970; Watts & Anderson, 1971; Quellmalz, 1972; Reynolds, Standiford, & Anderson, 1979; Corrozi, 1971). Questions placed after the reading have been found to be significantly more productive than prequestions, or questions placed immediately before the reading passages (Rothkopf & Bisbicos, 1967; Frase, Patrick, & Schumer, 1970; Watts & Anderson, 1971). In one study, placing questions before the associated information reduced paragraph reading time from the time required when questions followed the information passage (Morasky & Wilcox, 1970). Finally, higher level cognitive post- and prequestions (comprehensive and application) have consistently produced more learning than recall and factual questions (Watts & Anderson, 1971; Falker, 1974; Rickards, 1974, 1976). The effect of placing questions directly within textual narrative has been much less researched than the issue of placing questions before or after the reading passage. The effect of this interspersed questioning strategy as part of science textbooks is apparently unresearched to date. The purpose of the research reported here was to determine the relative effects of certain question types when these questions were interspersed throughout the reading passage in textual materials for students in university introductory biology. It was hypothesized for experimental purposes that students reading a passage in biology concepts with specific types of interspersed questions would comprehend and retain no more of that passge than students reading the same passage without interspersed questions.
An experiment to measure the electron–ion thermal equilibration rate in a strongly coupled plasma

We present the most recent results from an experiment aimed at obtaining the temperature equilibration rate between ions and electrons in a strongly coupled plasma by directly measuring the temperature of each component. The plasma is formed by heating a sonic gas jet with a 10 ps laser pulse. The electrons are preferentially heated by the short pulse laser (we are aiming for Te ~ 100 eV), while the ions, after undergoing very rapid (sub-ps timescale) disorder-induced heating, should only reach a temperature of 10–15 eV. This results in a strongly coupled ion plasma with a Γii ~ 3–5. We plan to measure the electron and ion temperatures of the resulting plasma independently during and after heating, using collective Thomson scattering for electrons and a high-resolution x-ray spectrometer for the ions (measuring Doppler-broadened absorption lines). Theory indicates that the equilibration rate could be significantly lower than that given by the usual weakly coupled model (Landau–Spitzer) due to coupled collective modes present in the dense plasma.
Improvement in hemodynamic performance, exercise capacity, inflammatory profile, and left ventricular reverse remodeling after intracoronary delivery of mesenchymal stem cells in an experimental model of pressure overload hypertrophy.

Objectives In a rat model of pressure overload hypertrophy, we studied the effects of intracoronary delivery of mesenchymal stem cells on hemodynamic performance, exercise capacity, systemic inflammation, and left ventricular reverse remodeling. Methods Sprague–Dawley rats underwent aortic banding and were followed up by echocardiographic scanning. After a decrease in fractional shortening of 25% from baseline, animals were randomized to intracoronary injection of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC group; n=28) or phosphate-buffered saline solution (control group; n=20). Hemodynamic and echocardiographic assessment, swim testing to exhaustion, and measurement of inflammatory markers were performed before the rats were humanely killed on postoperative day 7, 14, 21, or 28. Results Injection of mesenchymal stem cells improved systolic function in the MSC group compared with the control group (mean ± standard deviation: maximum dP/dt 3048 ± 230 mm Hg/s vs 2169 ± 97 mm Hg/s at 21 days and 3573 ± 741 mm Hg/s vs 1363 ± 322 mm Hg/s at 28 days: P P Conclusions In this model of pressure overload hypertrophy, intracoronary delivery of mesenchymal stem cells during heart failure was associated with an improvement in hemodynamic performance, maximal exercise tolerance, systemic inflammation, and left ventricular reverse remodeling. This study suggests a potential role of this treatment strategy for the management of hypertrophic heart failure resulting from pressure overload.
On the Identification of Clinically Significant Client Changes: Reinterpretation of Jacobson's Cut Scores

“Cut points” or “cut scores” play a central role in Jacobson's popular method of identifying clinically significant changes in psychotherapy. When pre- and posttherapy scores of a client are on different sides of one of these cut scores, the change is considered clinically significant, provided that it is also “reliable” (i.e., not due to measurement errors). This article critically examines the meanings and implications of these cut scores. Contrary to popular beliefs, they are generallynot the test scores for which the probability of “belonging” to the Functional population is equal to the probability of “belonging” to the Dysfunctional population. When the Functional population distribution is above that of the Dysfunctional population, persons scoring above these cut scores can, in fact, have much greater probabilities of belonging to the Dysfunctional than to the Functional population. Goals of Jacobson's method can be attained only with Bayesian methods. Bayesian modifications of Jacobson's cut scores are proposed, although their use is limited by the availability of relevant base rates. Bayesian methods (a) can provide information about the probability that an individual belongs to each population, given his (her) score, and (b) are expected to yield total misdiagnosis rates that are many times lower than those of Jacobson's method. Users of Jacobson's method are cautioned against interpreting ratios of likelihoods as if they were ratios of posterior probabilities.
Concentration-dependent diffusion in a semi-infinite medium

Abstract A variational formulation is presented which has as its Euler-Lagrange equation the fundamental partial differential equation of diffusion. This variational expression is applicable for both time-dependent and time-independent boundary conditions and for a diffusion coefficient which is a function of the concentration. This variational technique is applied to the problem of unidimensional diffusion in a semi-infinite isotropic medium where the diffusion coefficient is strongly dependent upon the concentration of the diffuser. To solve the extremum problem, a system of “natural” finite difference equations is established as a consequence of the variational expression. Curves of concentration ratio vs distance are calculated and compared with a formal exact solution for a specific diffusion coefficient.
Subcutaneous fixation of gastrostomy tube is superior to temporary fixation.

Abstract Purpose: The placement of gastrostomy tubes (GTs) in infants and children to provide enteral access over the past decade has shifted toward a minimally invasive, safer direction with the development of various new techniques. We have developed a modified technique, utilizing subcutaneous (S.C.) tunneling stay sutures to prevent complications, such as GT dislodgment and wound infection. The aim of this study was to identify and describe complications of the modified procedure and compare it with the standard laparoscopic GT placement. Materials and Methods: A retrospective 4-year review of 153 patients who underwent laparoscopic GT placement was conducted. Eighty-nine patients underwent the modified S.C. tunneled technique, and 64 patients had standard U-stitch with temporary fixation. Results: The overall complication rate was significantly higher with the temporary fixation group (20%) versus the modified technique group (2.5%). Six patients from the temporary group and 2 patients from the modif...
No Child Left Behind: ABA Opportunity or Guilt by Association?

The roots of today’s No Child Left Behind are at least as old as the Great Depression of the 1930’s. During those challenging times, when nearly one quarter of the work force were without employment, the government developed a Social Security system. That system was to assure that all citizens could count on a minimum of financial support to pay for the necessities of life. Unfortunately, Social Security did not solve all the problems of achieving universal health, education, and welfare. In the 1950’s the nation was shocked by the exposing of the plight of rural citizens in the documentaries “Harvest of Shame” (showing the conditions of migrant farm workers and their families) and “Appalachian Spring” (showing the conditions of coal miners and their families). It was clear that much remained to be done to raise the standard of living for many of our citizens to an acceptable level. These events prompted the government to develop a war on poverty in the 1960’s that added health and education initiatives to the welfare support of the Social Security system. Notable among these initiatives was the attempt through Head Start to assure that all disadvantaged children received the health screenings and early experiences that prepared them for learning. The initial results were quite promising showing that Head Start participants were better prepared than their non-participant peers. However, after six months of schooling the difference had disappeared. This result prompted the government to sponsor Project Follow Through during the late 1960’s and early 1970’s to determine best practices for maintaining the gains of Head Start through the third grade by which time it was assumed that the positive impact could be sustained without additional assistance. The results of Project Follow Through (Stebbins, St. Pierre, Proper, Anderson, & Cerva, 1977) were promising with two or three models showing substantial gains for their students bringing them to or near the median performance levels of the general population of students. This largest ever educational research and development effort established evidence-base practices that allowed virtually all students to make substantial learning gains each year. It didn’t matter how intellectually skilled they were to begin with, students all made roughly the same substantial gains each year with the only difference being where they started. Thus, there are effective curricula and instructional practices for all students regardless of initial skill levels.
Aligning Science with Politics and Policy in HIV Prevention

We know how to prevent HIV infection, and in some countries successful programs are operating. In her commentary, Hein outlines two prevention trials described in this issue of Science (a research article by the NIMH Multisite HIV Prevention Trial Group and a Viewpoint by Phoolcharoen) and discusses the relative failure of the United States to successfully implement AIDS intervention strategies.
Marihuana use and personality.

Marihuana users have been described negatively as apathetic and lethargic (McGlothlin & West, 1968) and positively as socially poised and open to experience (Hogan, et al., 1970). To explore the personality correlates of marihuana use in an era when its use is widespread, student users and nonusers at a state college were compared using the Keirsey-Bates test of Jungian dimensions ( a modification of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) : introversion-extraversion, sensing-intuition, thinking-feeling and judging-perceiving (Keirsey & Bates, 19S4). The subjects were 52 students enrolled in social science courses: 34 females and 18 males aged 18 to 22 yr. (Mean age 20.4 yr., SD 1.0). On the intuiting scale, those who had never used marihuana scored 3.5 (SD = 5.4), those using it in the past scored -1.0 (SD = 6.71, and those using it currently scored -3.9 (SD = 7.0) ( F = 5.01, df = 2/49, P = 0.01). Those currently using marijuana scored lower on the judging scale (means 1.5 versus 5.4, SDs = 6.9 and 6.9, t = 1.99, df = 50, two-tailed p = 0.05). It may be concluded that marihuana use is related to personality in these college students, with users having higher intuiting and perceiving scores than nonusers.
Reflex bradypnea elicited by cigarette smoke inhaled through an isolated larynx.

Abstract The respiratory reflex responses elicited by laryngeal exposure to cigarette smoke were studied in 23 chloralose anesthetized dogs. A balloon-in-box system was connected to the breathing circuit, which allowed smoke to be inhaled spontaneously through an isolated larynx while preserving its normal respiratory flow and pressure. Our results in this study showed the following. (1) Two tidal breaths of cigarette smoke inhaled through the larynx triggered a mild but consistent bradypnea: expiratory duration (T E ) increased from a control of 3.13 ± 0.18 sec (mean ± SEM) to peak of 4.07 ± 0.24 sec. during smoke inhalation. The slowing of respiration occurred only during the period of smoke inhalation and returned quickly toward control after resuming air breathing. (2) No concomitant cardiovascular response was detected in these animals. (3) There was no significant difference in the prolongation of T E between responses to low- and high-nicotine cigarette smoke. (4) The bradypneic response to smoke was completely abolished by application of topical anesthetic (lidocaine hydrochloride) to the mucosa of this airway segment. These results suggest that the smoke-induced reflex bradypnea is probably elicited by a stimulation of laryngeal afferents.
TU‐D‐BRC‐02: Determination of Skin Mark Based Patient Setup Errors Using OBI and CBCT for Head and Neck Patients and Investigation of the Dosimetric Impact of the Errors On IMRT Treatment

Purpose: To determine the skin‐mark‐based patient setup error using On Board Imaging (OBI) and cone‐beam CT(CBCT) for head and neck patients, and to determine the CTV‐PTV margin necessary to compensate for this setup error for IMRTtreatments.Method and Materials: A total of 50 patients were analyzed for this study. All patients were first set up by aligning skin marks with lasers. Before the delivery of first treatment, a CBCTimage was acquired to determine the final treatment position. OBI images were acquired for the subsequent 4 fractions. This weekly image acquisition protocol was followed for all patients until treatments were completed. Shift data were measured for a total of 1064 OBI fractions and 313 CBCT fractions. These data were compared statistically. Correlations between the CBCT and OBI data and among the OBI data were analyzed. The top 10 patients showing the largest setup error were selected to investigate the dosimetric impact of setup error using a 5 mm CTV‐PTV margin. Results: The mean ± sd of the shifts measured by OBI in the SI, lateral and AP direction were 0.6±2.9, −1.6±3.5 and −0.7±2.9 mm and those measured by CBCT were 0.1±2.9, −1.9±3.3 and 0.3±3.3 mm respectively. The correlation indices between the CBCT and OBI were 0.43, 0.59, and 0.38, and those among the OBI were 0.46, 0.34, and 0.53 along SI, lateral and AP directions respectively. For 9 of the 10 patients investigated, at least 99.5% of CTV volume received more than 95% of the prescription dose after accounting for the setup errors. Conclusion: There is no significant difference between the patient shifts measured by OBI and CBCT. No correlation was found between the shifts for different fractions. A 5 mm CTV‐PTV margin was found to be adequate to account for the setup errors measured in this study.
VEGF and RANKL Regulation of NFATc1 in Heart Valve Development

Rationale: NFATc1 (nuclear factor of activated T-cells cytoplasmic 1) activity in endocardial cushion (ECC) endothelial cells is required for normal ECC growth and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling during heart valve development. Objective: The mechanisms of NFATc1 activation and downstream effects on cell proliferation and ECM-remodeling enzyme gene expression were examined in NFATc1 mutant mice and chick ECC explants. Methods and Results: NFATc1 −/− mice display reduced proliferation of ECC endothelial and mesenchymal cells at embryonic day 10.5, whereas myocardial cells are unaffected. Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF) activates NFATc1 and promotes ECC cell proliferation via the regulatory phosphatase, calcineurin, and mitogen-activated protein kinase–extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1–extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (MEK1-ERK1/2)–dependent signaling. As ECCs mature, RANKL (receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand) and the ECM-remodeling enzyme cathepsin K (CtsK) are expressed by ECC endothelial cells. RANKL inhibits VEGF-induced cell proliferation while causing increased expression of CtsK via calcineurin/NFATc1 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)1/2-dependent signaling. Conclusion: These data support a novel mechanism for the transition from ECC growth to remodeling in which NFATc1 promotes a sequential pattern of gene expression via cooperation with ligand-specific cofactors such as MEK1-ERK1/2 or JNK1/2.
The Caribbean Anomaly: Short‐wavelength lateral heterogeneity in the lower mantle

Data from the Archean-Proterozoic Transect Experiment 1989 (APT89) are used to constrain smaller-scale velocity heterogeneity in the lower mantle beneath the Caribbean. We observe large variations in travel time residuals for paths from South America to portable broadband and short-period stations distributed along a 1500km-long transect in central North America. After accounting for near-source and near-reciever contributions, we find variations as large as 3s for P and 8s for S for rays that bottom around 1200km depth. This rapid spatial variation in travel times suggests that we are seeing the western edge of the Caribbean anomaly, a feature previously observed by several investigators. The gradient appears to be about 300km wide. Assuming a path length of 1500km through the anomaly (suggested from previous studies), we find that δνP/νP=2.1% and δνS/νS=3.6% which for S waves is about three times the estimate from long period body waves. The relative velocity ratio for this anomaly is δlnνS/δlnνP ≈1.7, a value slightly larger than typical laboratory values but lower than previous recent seismological studies of lower mantle heterogeneity. With increasing turning depth the observed anomaly appears to decrease in size, although it continues to be visible for shear waves with bottoming depths as great as 2200km. The presence of multiple direct S phases for several records of one of the events studied suggests multipathing induced by the large observed lateral velocity gradients required by the travel time data.
Expression of human factor X with normal biological activity in human embryonic kidney cells

Human embryonic kidney cells (293) were transfected with a construct containing human factor X cDNA and selected for G418 resistance. The level of expression of recombinant factor X in serum-free medium was 4 to 5 μg/ml. Purified recombinant factor X had a molecular size identical to that of normal plasma factor X. Amino-terminal sequencing revealed normal processing cleavages. The γ-carboxy Glu and β-OH Asp content of the recombinant factor X was close to 90% of the expected levels of these post-translational residues. The specific activity of recombinant factor X was about 95% of that of plasma factor X in three plasma-based clotting assays. This report demonstrates that 293 cells can produce a high level of biologically active factor X and describes a visual criterion for verifying the transfection process.
Liberalism and republicanism in the French Revolution

A. Jainchill, Reimagining Politics After the Terror: The Republican Origins of French Liberalism, Cornell University Press (2008). On 27 July 1794, Maximilien Robespierre stood up to address the Na...
Methods for predicting and correlating the vapour pressures of pure compounds

Abstract The main assumptions of a previous three-parameter relation for vapour pressure of pure compounds are revised. A direct method for calculating the empirical parameters of this equation, which substitutes an iterative procedure, is presented. Its reliability is evaluated by predicting the vapour pressure of nearly 50 compounds, both polar and non-polar, under varying experimental conditions. The proposed equation is also compared with the Wagner equation, correlating the experimental data of several well-studied compounds. A method for defining the whole vapour pressure curve from a very limited set of data is also discussed. This method shows the possibility of calculating P ° from the normal boiling vaporization enthalpy value of strongly-associated compounds, whose vapour pressure data cannot be predicted by the usual relations based on the critical constants only.
Automatic recognition and statistical quantification of spatial patterns of gene expression in zebra finch brain in response to auditory stimulation

Introduction We present here an automated procedure for detecting and mapping spatially neuronal cells stained by in situ hybridization. In songbird brain, the subcellular localization of song-induced activity-dependent mRNA is timedependent [2]. Thus it is possible to distinguish neuronal cells activated at different time points and therefore the representation of two different stimuli within the same animal. Images captured through a fluorescent microscope are analyzed off-line individually and then stitched together. Furthermore, neighboring brain slices can be stacked together, resulting in a 3D map of the spatial pattern of gene expression in any given brain structure. from Seventeenth Annual Computational Neuroscience Meeting: CNS*2008 Portland, OR, USA. 19–24 July 2008