cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Psychometric models of individual differences in reading comprehension: A reanalysis of Freed, Hamilton, and Long (2017)

Abstract Individual differences in reading comprehension have often been explored using latent variable modeling (LVM), to assess the relative contribution of domain-general and domain-specific cognitive abilities. However, LVM is based on the assumption that the observed covariance among indicators of a construct is due to a common cause (i.e., a latent variable; Pearl, 2000). This is a questionable assumption when the indicator variables are measures of performance on complex cognitive tasks. According to Process Overlap Theory (POT; Kovacs & Conway, 2016), multiple processes are involved in cognitive task performance and the covariance among tasks is due to the overlap of processes across tasks. Instead of a single latent common cause, there are thought to be multiple dynamic manifest causes, consistent with an emerging view in psychometrics called network theory (Barabasi, 2012; Borsboom & Cramer, 2013). In the current study, we reanalyzed data from Freed et al. (2017) and compared two modeling approaches: LVM (Study 1) and psychometric network modeling (Study 2). In Study 1, two exploratory LVMs demonstrated problems with the original measurement model proposed by Freed et al. Specifically, the model failed to achieve discriminant and convergent validity with respect to reading comprehension, language experience, and reasoning. In Study 2, two network models confirmed the problems found in Study 1, and also served as an example of how network modeling techniques can be used to study individual differences. In conclusion, more research, and a more informed approach to psychometric modeling, is needed to better understand individual differences in reading comprehension.
Methadone for Palliative Care Providers: A Case-Based Flipped Classroom Module for Faculty and Fellows.

Introduction Methadone is an effective medication for treating pain and has unique characteristics that require specialized knowledge to prescribe safely. Palliative care providers use methadone fo...
Characterization of Smart Hydrogel-Based Ultrasound Resonators for Implantable Sensing Applications

Many biomedical sensing concepts for continuous monitoring of analytes rely on implanting electronic components inside the body to operate, which raises issues about long-term biocompatibility. In recent reports, an implantable sensing modality was reported in which ultrasound absorption in smart hydrogel resonators at a particular probing frequency is used to track the changes in ionic strength and glucose concentration of an analyte solution. This sensing concept allows the implanted component to be free from electronics, with corresponding possible advantages with respect to biocompatibility and lifetime of the device. However, an unsuitable probing frequency can undermine the received signal's quality from the implants or even entirely cause a signal loss. Here we present our work on creating an ultrasound characterization system and using it to determine optimum probing frequencies for the hydrogel resonator structures within a given frequency window. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the signal amplitude depends on the probing frequency's location relative to the frequency response peaks at a fixed dynamic range for swelling of smart hydrogels.
Proud Monster: Sketches

Weitzman stood facing the three frightened children while his wife whispered harshly up at the side of his head. The German soldier was soon to be looked for, as indicated by the expectant look in his eyes above the huge gag of Weitzman's scarf. "Men disappear," Weitzman said to the window. Now he stared somewhere above the children's heads, his face a thoughtful mask of mulish objectivity. "Is there any chance for us now?" his wife wailed. "How many times have I told you that you have to use good manners with them?" Weitzman remained silent. The children looked at each other, wonder ing. It was, after all, the way he always acted in one of their arguments. It was their mother who always did the talking, and now that a certain nor malcy had set into the day, they began to feel less frightened. Their father was a huge bear with black hair reaching in thick tufts from his shirt collar and growing in sawdust clotted thickets along his forearms, and he was as silent as he was big. They had just witnessed what they figured was the first act of violence ever committed by the burly giant ? when the German soldier, wearing a grey uniform and black boots which squeaked when he walked, inspected Weitzman's papers and announced that he was to be re located to a work camp to the east, Weitzman had reached out and folded the officer up the way a spider would a fly, easily containing his grunting resistance. Then he tied and gagged him using the scarf and a couple of belts. All the while his wife babbled to the soldier in rapid, apologetic shock. Then Weitzman said, "Men disappear. I am not going with him." The children waited. Weitzman gazed thoughtfully at the wall, and the German soldier repositioned himself to get more comfortable. "Now how will we get back in good standing with them?" she moaned, looking down at the soldier. "If we apologize, perhaps ? " "We are going south to the Tatras," Weitzman said. The children moved on the couch and looked at each other. They had heard about the Tatras all their lives, and it was as if he had announced that they were go ing to Paradise. f "Oh?" their mother said, "and where will you get money for the train? Who will even let you on a train?"
Atypical Endobronchial Carcinoid with Postobstructive Pneumonia Obscuring the Diagnosis of Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), previously termed Wegener's Granulomatosis, is an autoimmune small vessel vasculitis which is highly associated with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) and has varied clinical manifestations. Diagnosis hinges on identifying a combination of clinical features of systemic vasculitis, positive ANCA serology, and histological evidence of necrotizing vasculitis, necrotizing glomerulonephritis, or granulomatous inflammation from a relevant organ biopsy. The American College of Rheumatology has also developed a classification criteria focusing specifically on nasal or oral inflammation, abnormal chest radiograph, and abnormal urinary sediment, along with granulomatous inflammation, which helps to distinguish GPA from other forms of systemic vasculitis. In the case presented below, the diagnosis of GPA was delayed as the patient had a concomitant atypical endobronchial carcinoid which predisposed to postobstructive pneumonia. Fortunately, the papular lesions that developed across her lower limbs prompted further investigations. The return of appropriate serology coincided with progression to alveolar hemorrhage, offering a more complete clinical picture, and when she responded to the combination of steroid, cyclophosphamide, and plasma exchange, the diagnosis of GPA was cinched.
A New Protein Component of Complex III of the Mitochondrial Electron Transfer Chain

Abstract Methods are described for the isolation of a new protein component, namely core protein, from Complex III of the electron transfer chain. One method involves prior precipitation of cytochrome b and non-heme iron protein from a taurocholate-ammonium sulfate dispersion of the unreduced intact complex, followed by precipitation of core protein by treating the supernatant solution containing cytochrome c1 with sodium mersalyl. A second method involves precipitation of non-heme iron protein alone from a taurocholate-ammonium sulfate dispersion of the dithionite-reduced complex, followed by precipitation of core protein by addition of sodium mersalyl to the supernatant solution containing both cytochromes b and c1. Core protein, as isolated, is homogeneous upon electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gel and accounts for about 50% of the protein of Complex III. It is essentially free of heme, phospholipids, and bile salts and contains no prosthetic group as yet identified. It has a molecular weight of 40,000 to 50,000; there are, therefore, 3 to 4 molecules of core protein per molecule of Complex III. Studies with a number of different sulfhydryl reagents provide evidence that cleavage of core protein from the other components of Complex III, followed by its precipitation, involves the blocking of a free sulfhydryl group (or groups), either those occurring on the core protein, or possibly the sulfhydryl groups of some other component of Complex III. It is shown that antimycin A decreases the rate of mersalyl-induced release of core protein from the supernatant solution containing, in addition, both cytochrome b and cytochrome c1, but not its rate of release from the supernatant solution containing only cytochrome c1. The rate of release of core protein from the supernatant solution containing both cytochromes b and c1 parallels the rate of destruction of the antimycin-binding site as measured by the release of antimycin A. This finding provides strong evidence that core protein is an integral and functional part of Complex III.
Genes revealed by Bayesian graphical model analysis in pathways mediating hypertension are differentially expressed in the renal medulla of Dahl salt-sensitive rats (912.6)

A 1.37Mbp region of the Brown Norway rat Chr13 confers protection from salt-sensitivity to Dahl salt-sensitive (SS) rats. Of five candidate genes identified in this region, only Rfwd2 was highly expressed in the renal medulla. A pathway-based Bayesian graphical model analysis utilizing RNA-seq and GeneChip data was used to identify relationships between Rfwd2 and genes in pathways related to blood pressure. GeneChip data was used to assess whether the genes with a high marginal posterior probability of interdependence with Rfwd2 were differentially expressed in the renal medulla of SS vs. salt-resistant congenic SS.13BN26 rats fed 0.4% (LS) or 4% NaCl (HS) diet for 7-days. Of the 9 genes with the highest absolute partial correlations with Rfwd2, 4 were quantifiable by GeneChip analysis and significantly different (P<0.05) between SS and SS.13BN26 rats: F8 (Factor VIII) (lower in SS on LS/HS); Csnk1d (Casein kinase 1 delta) (higher in SS rats on LS/HS); Pik3ca (Phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinas...
METelemedicine: A Pilot Study With Rural Alcohol Users on Community Supervision

Purpose This pilot study examined a telemedicine-based intervention using motivational enhancement therapy (METelemedicine) to reduce alcohol use among a sample of at-risk, rural alcohol users. Methods A total of 127 rural alcohol users were recruited from community supervision offices and engaged in brief intervention sessions using telemedicine. Analysis examined alcohol outcomes at 3 months postbaseline. Findings Findings indicated that although there were no overall differences between comparison groups on alcohol outcomes, 3+ sessions of METelemedicine significantly reduced the likelihood of any alcohol use by 72% (P < .05). In addition, 3+ sessions of the intervention predicted fewer days of drinking in the follow-up period, fewer drinks per week, and fewer days experiencing alcohol problems. Conclusions Findings demonstrate that telemedicine may be a promising approach to deliver interventions with alcohol users who may not utilize formal treatment services. This method has potential to decrease some of the barriers to access and use of evidence-based treatment for populations in need of services.
Monotonic Strength and Fracture

In this chapter we describe the monotonic strength and fracture behavior of fiber reinforced composites at ambient temperatures. The term monotonic behavior means behavior under an applied stress that increases in one direction, i.e., not a cyclic loading condition. We discuss the behavior of composites under fatigue or cyclic loading as well as under conditions of creep in Chap. 13.
Simulation and measurement of microwave oven leakage for 802.11 WLAN interference management

In this paper, an extended AM-FM MWOL model in the context of WLAN interference management is discussed. The MWOL model incorporates the frequency wander effect, which has not been addressed in the existing MWO models. The simulation result provided by this model match real measurements quite well. The MWOL envelope may change considerably when received at different WLAN channels. The results from this work can be used to develop algorithms for WLAN network-based MWOL interference detection, classification, and recognition
Time-Varying Beta and the Value Premium: A Single-Index Varying-Coefficient Model Approach

We revisit conditional CAPM by modeling alpha and beta as flexible functions of state variables identified via formal variable selection. In post-1963 sample, beta of the value premium comoves strongly with unemployment, inflation, and price-earnings ratio in a countercyclical manner. We also uncover a novel nonlinear dependence of alpha on business conditions: It falls sharply and becomes even negative during severe economic downturns but is positive and flat otherwise. Conditional CAPM performs better than unconditional CAPM but does not fully explain the value premium. Our findings are consistent with a conditional CAPM with rare disasters or a multi-factor model.
Childhood Lead Poisoning: Definitions and Priorities

By using motor developmental status as the outcome measurement, Dietrich et al,1 in the current issue, have tried to lend objectivity to the controversial question of whether neurologic damage in childhood can be attributed to low lead (Pb) levels. Previous prospective studies have shown a lack of consistency between Pb exposure and many measurements of cognitive development and language skills. Children who have elevated blood Pb levels are frequently subject to other neurologic risk conditions, including poverty, disorganized family situations, low maternal intelligence (IQ) and education, and poor nutrition, particularly anemia. The problem is to separate the effect of Pb from the confounding variables.
Design of 2-D FIR filters with nonuniform frequency samples

A method of designing two-dimensional (2-D) FIR filters, using nonuniform frequency samples, is presented. The method is based on an extension of the DFT method of design, which uses uniform frequency samples. The proposed method, is based on an extension of Newton's interpolation method to 2-D. The proposed procedure has the attractive properties of permanence and recursive computation of the design parameters. A design procedure is given for 2-D FIR linear phase filters and an example is given.
What Gets Published in Healthcare Journals? A Key Theme Identification Approach

This paper reviews the latest published research in healthcare management. All articles published in the last four years in the top four journals in the field are content analyzed to identify key themes that got published. The three key themes that get published in healthcare journals are: nursing retention; information technology adoption in healthcare; and quality of care. Healthcare management research allows researchers to extend and revise theories through the consideration of new contextual variables. This systematic examination will help to lay the foundation for the further expansion of the understanding of both healthcare management and of management research in general.
Long-term outcomes of tonsillectomy in children with periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, adenitis (PFAPA) syndrome

Periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis and adenitis (PFAPA) syndrome is an inflammatory disorder of childhood classically characterized by recurrent fevers, pharyngitis, stomatitis, cervical adenitis and leukocytosis. Little is known about the true incidence, natural course, pathogenesis, and appropriate therapy in this recently described syndrome. While the mechanism is unclear, previous studies have shown that tonsillectomy can be a therapeutic option with improvement in quality of life in many patients with PFAPA, but long-term clinical follow up is lacking.
Stressed hearts inflame the body (in a good way)

Heart failure is a global health problem, with an estimated 30–50 million patients diagnosed worldwide (1, 2). Therapeutic advances have reduced early mortality; however, morbidity caused by damaged or failing ventricles remains high. Indeed, heart failure is the most common cause for hospitalization in elderly individuals, with recalcitrant 5-y survival rates remaining worse than most cancers (2). Sustained stress from abnormal mechanical load, neurohormone stimulation, and genetic defects are all potent inducers of heart failure (3, 4). These trigger conversations among vascular, muscle, and inflammatory cells, as well as fibroblasts using a myokine/cytokine vocabulary that can be shared by the multiple cell types or be more specific. As recently reviewed by Ghigo et al. (5), growing evidence has positioned the myocyte as a “Master and Commander” for coordinating interstitial responses to myocardial stress, including fibrosis, vascular remodeling, and inflammation. In hearts subjected to pressure overload, myocyte secretion of interleukins (IL-1β, -6, -18), TNF-α, receptor activator of NF-κB ligand, and macrophage chemoattractant protein-1 all signal to inflammatory responses, whereas ischemic disease engages additional factors, such as the adhesion molecules ICAM-1 and VCAM-1, and anti-inflammatory growth differentiation factor 15 (5). Depending on the stress, this coordinated inflammatory conversation can impact myocyte growth and survival, as well as remove damaged or dead cells.
Exploring Organizational Obstruction and the Expanded Model of Organizational Identification

We argue that perceptions of organizational support and obstruction will have unique implications for employees' cognitive association and disassociation with their employers. As expected, the results of 2 studies support the hypothesis that perceived organizational support is positively related to an overlap in individual and organizational identities (i.e., organizational identification). Further, perceptions of organizational obstruction predict cognitive separation in individual and organizational identities (i.e., disidentification, ambivalent identification, and neutral identification). Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Infectious disease complications of GI endoscopy: part II, exogenous infections.

Infectious complications of GI endoscopy resulting from endogenous bacterial flora were discussed in Part I of this review. Part II deals with patient-topatient transmission of pathogens during endoscopy (exogenous infection). Not every case of pathogen transmission necessarily results in clinical infection; however, because the ramifications for endoscope reprocessing are similar, cases of pathogen transmission and transmission of infection are discussed collectively.
The natural topology of the space of sequences on two symbols

In this paper we consider the space S of all infinite (denumerable) sequences made up of the two symbols a and b. One purpose of this paper is to point out that some theorems of the classical nature can be derived in S, without the necessity of introducing an order relation in the set {a, b} or in the space S, or, a metric in S. The proofs are mainly based on the notion of cardinality and the equality of two sequences. As usual, two elements xlxz ... xi **a and ylyz .a* yi ... of S are called equaE if for every i = 1, 2, 3, ..* the ith coordinate xi of xlxz 1.. xi ... and the ith coordinate yi of ylyz ... yi *.. are the same symbol a or b. Otherwise, the two sequences are called d&&t. The finite sequence xlxs *** x, which is obtained by considering the first n coordinates of an element xlxz *** x,x,+~ .** of S is called the n-segment of x1x2 *** x,x,+, ... .
The towers of Hanoi rainbow problem: coloring the rings

Abstract A variation of the classical Towers of Hanoi problem, in which rings of the same color cannot come in contact with each other, is solved via a simple recursive algorithm. This algorithm turns out to be optimal for a wide variety of colorings, but not for all colorings. A second algorithm, which resorts to trial computations but which is optimal in both ring moves and order of execution time, is also presented. In analyzing both of these algorithms, particular emphasis is placed on the case in which the rings are alternately colored using M colors.
Experience with the use of tPA in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction

Early experience with the use of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) in acute myocardial infarction is reviewed, including comparisons with other thrombolytic agents, a summary of hemorrhagic complications associated with its use, and the rationale for adjunctive therapeutic strategies. The use of tPA has been associated with improvement in left ventricular function, a lower mortality, and a decrease in congestive heart failure signs and symptoms. A protocol for evaluation of patients with possible myocardial infarction for thrombolytic therapy is presented. Consideration must be given to other possible diagnoses, and the ECG must be evaluated carefully to ensure that appropriate criteria are met. Risk factors for hemorrhagic complications include recent trauma, surgery, gastrointestinal and genitourinary bleeding, stroke, and focal neurologic findings. Greater benefit of therapy is expected in patients with larger infarcts who have more marked ST segment changes or evidence of hemodynamic compromise, especially when they are treated early after the onset of symptoms (within the first several hours). Adjunctive measures that can be considered in the emergency department include prophylactic lidocaine, IV nitroglycerin, beta blockade, aspirin, volume replacement and monitoring for dysrhythmias, bleeding, and recurrent ischemia. A comprehensive understanding of these rapidly evolving concepts will assist the emergency physician in the evaluation and management of patients with acute myocardial infarction.
Stable extensive game forms with perfect information

A game in extensive form with perfect information and without chance moves is defined as a triple (K, P, h) of a finite game treeK, a player partitionP, and a payoff functionh. The pair (K, P) is called a game form with perfect information, or simply a GFPI. Here, the outcome space is the set of all endpoints of the treeK. Cooperative behavior in game (K, P, h) is studied. Players are assumed to choose only pure strategies. Moulin has shown that the α-core and the β-core of game (K, P, h) are identical; they are, therefore, called the core of (K, P,h). A GFPI (K, P) is called stable if for everyh the game (K, P, h) has a nonempty core. A complete characterization of the class of all stable GFPI's is provided in this paper.
Polyunsaturated fatty acids stimulate phosphatidylcholine synthesis in PC12 cells.

Abstract The synthesis of phospholipids in mammalian cells is regulated by the availability of three critical precursor pools: those of choline, cytidine triphosphate and diacylglycerol. Diacylglycerols containing polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) apparently are preferentially utilized for phosphatide synthesis. PUFAs are known to play an important role in the development and function of mammalian brains. We therefore studied the effects of unsaturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids on the overall rates of phospholipid biosynthesis in PC12 rat pheochromocytoma cells. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3) and arachidonic acid (AA, 20:4n-6) all significantly stimulated the incorporation of 14C-choline into total cellular phospholipids. In contrast, monounsaturated oleic acid (OA) and the saturated palmitic (PA) and stearic (SA) acids did not have this effect. The action of DHA was concentration-dependent between 5 and 50 μM; it became statistically significant by 3 h after DHA treatment and then increased over the ensuing 3 h. DHA was preferentially incorporated into phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylserine (PS), while AA predominated in phosphatidylcholine (PC).
SU-FF-I-55: A CT Daily Quality Assurance On-Couch Procedure and Phantom in Radiation Oncology

Purpose: To design a simple yet comprehensive daily quality assurance (QA) program and phantom for CT Simulators in Radiation Oncology so that positioning laser and imaging QA can be performed on the flat couch using only one tool. This has been done to avoid removing the flat couch to perform CT QA and to simplify the daily QA procedure. Method and Materials: A new daily QA phantom was constructed by attaching to a commercially available CT QA phantom 3 adjustable legs and two metric scales in both vertical and horizontal directions. The two metric scales are used for laser QA, while the phantom body is used for CTimaging QA. Since the couch is scanned with the phantom, its effect on image quality was evaluated. The phantom is positioned on the couch such that couch effects are minimized. Four different GECTscanners and 3 different Philips scanners were used to evaluate this phantom. Daily testing includes high and low contrast resolution, scale accuracy, CT number accuracy and uniformity. Results: The proposed program has been piloted in our institution. Inclusion of the couch produces different yet reproducible effects on image quality. The effects appear to be couch and scanner specific and are incorporated in the acceptability criteria for each CTscanner. Based on our data thus far, the presence of the couch does not change image resolution visually. It appears, however, that the couch causes changes in the uniformity of water's CT number. The effects are greatest in the section of the phantom closest to the couch. We thus limit our image quality evaluation to the central and 12 O'clock positions of the phantom. Conclusions: The proposed program and phantom has allowed us to implement a more comprehensive QA program while decreasing the level of effort by the simulation therapists.
Dynamic viscosity of some silicate melts to 1688°C under atmospheric pressure

Abstract The dynamic viscosity of six anhydrous silicate melts, obtained by fusing rocks collected from the Department of Energy's Nevada Test Site, has been measured from 1120 to 1688°C under atmospheric pressure using a rotational cup viscometer of the Couette type. The melts exhibit Newtonian behavior in this temperature interval. Melt viscosities decrease in the order: tuff >; alluvium 2; basalt. Activation energy for viscous flow in the interval 1120–1688°C ranges from 268 to 393 kJ.
Effect of alpha- and beta-adrenergic agonists on fluid and calcium secretion by rat salivary glands.

The separate roles of alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptors in regulating fluid and calcium (Ca) secretion by rat salivary glands were examined using phenylephrine (PE), an adrenergic agonist that acts predominantly on alpha-receptors, isoproterenol (ISO), an adrenergic agonist that acts predominantly on beta-receptors, and PE and ISO in combination with beta-adrenergic antagonist propranolol (PROP) and alpha-adrenergic antagonist phentolamine (PHENTO), respectively. PE evoked a greater volume of saliva from submandibular (SM) gland than from parotid (PA) gland, whereas ISO evoked a similar volume of saliva from both glands during 60-min of drug stimulation. PE even at a low dose had beta-adrenergic effects on flow rate of salivary glands because pretreatment of rats with PROP (1 mg/kg) 20 min before PE (5 mg/kg, i.p.) stimulation resulted in a 4-fold reduction in total volume of PE-evoked PA saliva. Thus alpha-adrenergic receptors play a major role in fluid secretion by SM glands but play only a minor role in PA glands. ISO evoked SM and PA saliva with Ca concentration higher than that evoked by PE. ISO (25 mg/kg, i.p.) also had an effect on alpha-adrenergic receptors as well as beta-adrenergic receptors. Although PHENTO did not significantly alter flow rate and volume of ISO-evoked PA or SM saliva, Ca concentration of ISO-evoked saliva was greatly potentiated by PHENTO. Total Ca output of ISO-evoked saliva from either gland was not significantly altered by PHENTO. Thus, in both salivary glands, activation of beta-adrenergic receptors evoked saliva with a high concentration of Ca.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Effects of diethyldithiocarbamate on life span, metabolic rate, superoxide dismutase, catalase, inorganic peroxides and glutathione in the adult male housefly, Musca domestica.

The effect of inactivation of superoxide dismutase, by diethyldithiocarbamate, on life span, metabolic rate, superoxide dismutase activity, catalase activity, inorganic peroxide concentration and glutathione levels in adult male houseflies was determined. The general objective was to examine the role of free radical defenses in the aging process. Houseflies were administered 0, 1 and 10 mM diethyldithiocarbamate in their drinking water. Administration of diethyldithiocarbamate caused an extension in the average life spans of the populations while the metabolic rates were depressed. Superoxide dismutase activity was significantly reduced. Inorganic peroxide concentration and catalase activity declined in rough correspondence to the decrease in the metabolic rate. The levels of reduced glutathione were significantly elevated whereas oxidized glutathione concentrations remained relatively unaffected. The results are interpreted to indicate that a decrease in superoxide dismutase activity in the housefly, by diethyldithiocarbamate administration, is compensated by an elevation in reduced glutathione levels and reduction of oxyge consumption, suggesting the existence of alternative free radical defenses in vivo.
A Simple Mercury-Free Laboratory Apparatus To Study the Relationship between Pressure, Volume, and Temperature in a Gas

A simple and inexpensive mercury-free apparatus to measure the change in volume of a gas as a function of pressure at different temperatures is described. The apparatus is simpler than many found in the literature and can be used to study variations in pressure, volume, and temperature.
A novel phase-shifterless beam steering method for RF phase arrays using monolithic 1-D coupled-VCOs with integrated MOSFET switches

A fully monolithic 1-Dimensional (1-D) AC-coupled Voltage-Controlled-Oscillators (VCOs) network design for phased-array applications will be presented in this paper. This radio-frequency (RF) VCO array integrates on-chip inductors, varactors, and bias current sources and it contains an odd number of VCOs (i.e., 3 or 5, etc.) AC-coupled through on-chip switchable resistor networks with MOSFETs. Realistic circuit simulations in IBM 7HP 0.18μm BiCMOS design kit indicate promising results of the 1-D coupled-VCO array. Based on the simulation data and the current measured data that has been consistent with the simulation results, our design is able to control the phasing of this on-chip VCO-array by means of tuning the edge elements and/or by varying the coupling strength via the resistive coupling network digitally controlled with the MOS switches. This AC-coupled 1-D VCO array shows some great potential for RF active antennas applications to perform wide angle beam steering without the need for bulky phase shifters for the highly utilized S-band.
Bands of nitrous oxide at 5.3 μm

Abstract Several bands of nitrous oxide occurring in the region of about 5.3 μm have been measured by using a high resolution vacuum infrared spectrograph. The molecular constants derived from the data have been given along with the basic data.
Design and Development of a Fused Vision Force Controller for Nanofiber Grasping and Manipulation

This paper presents the design and development of a fused vision force feedback robust controller for a nanomanipulator used in nanofiber grasping and nano-fabric production applications. The RRP (Revolute Revolute Prismatic) manipulator considered here utilizes two rotational motors with 0.1 μrad resolution and one linear Nanomotor® with 0.25 nm resolution. Weighing just about 30g and having short lever arms (<5cm), the manipulator is capable of achieving well-behaved kinematic characteristics without the backlash in addition to atomic scale precision to guarantee accurate manipulation at the nanoscale. A mathematical model of the nanomanipulator is formulated and both direct and inverse kinematics of the system as well as dynamic equations are presented. A fused force vision feedback based modified optimal robust controller with perturbation estimation for nanomanipulator positioning is then derived and analyzed extensively. Unlike typical macroscale manipulator models and controllers, the controller development is not trivial here due to nanoscale movement and forces, coupled with unmodeled dynamics, nonlinear structural dynamics and mainly lack of position and velocity feedback in this nanomanipulator. Following the development of the fused force vision robust controller, numerical simulations of the proposed controller are preformed to demonstrate the positioning performance capability in nanofiber grasping applications.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Relationship of concretions and chlorite-muscovite porphyroblasts to the development of domainal cleavage in low-grade metamorphic deformed rocks from north-central Wales, Great Britain

Abstract Spaced or domainal cleavage is widespread in deformed rocks of low metamorphic grade. This study presents evidence on the origin of spaced cleavage in deformed pelites from Silurian turbidite sequences in north-central Wales. The variable development of cleavage folia is related to the presence of concretions, which served to concentrate strain effects of well-developed cleavage folia in the matrix in some zones and to produce ‘strain shadows’ (few or no cleavage folia) in others. Compositional differences between matrix, narrow transition zones, and concretions also influenced the development of cleavage folia. Chlorite-muscovite porphyroblast growth was initiated before cleavage formation, but its further growth and development took place during cleavage formation. The relationship of cleavage to the concretions and to the chlorite-muscovite porphyroblasts indicates that cleavage developed in a matrix that must have been in an advanced state of lithification (anchimetamorphic to lowermost greenschist facies of metamorphism) and not during soft-sediment deformation.
Inconsistency Theories of Semantic Paradox

It is argued that a certain form of the view that the semantic paradoxes show that natural languages are “inconsistent” provides the best response to the semantic paradoxes. After extended discussions of the views of Kirk Ludwig and Matti Eklund, it is argued that in its strongest formulation the view maintains that understanding a natural language is sharing cognition of an inconsistent semantic theory for that language with other speakers. A number of aspects of this approach are discussed and a few objections are entertained.
EXPRESSION OF CARBONIC ANHYDRASE (CA) II AND IV mRNA ALONG THE NEPHRON. STIMULATION BY METABOLIC ACIDOSIS • 1697

EXPRESSION OF CARBONIC ANHYDRASE (CA) II AND IV mRNA ALONG THE NEPHRON. STIMULATION BY METABOLIC ACIDOSIS • 1697
Inhibition of dextran synthesis by acceptor reactions of dextransucrase, and the demonstration of a separate acceptor binding-site☆

Abstract Hanes-Woolf plots of dextransucrase-sucrose digests with methyl α- d -glucopyranoside and with methyl 6-deoxy-α- d -glucopyranoside showed that they were weak, apparent competitive inhibitors with K i values of 97 and 267m m , respectively; a methyl 6-deoxy-6-fluoro-α- d -glucopyranoside plot showed that it was a very weak, noncompetitive inhibitor with a K i of 400m m . A Michaelis plot with 6-deoxysucrose, a known competitive inhibitor with a K i of 1.6 m m , converged with a sucrose plot at 500m m sucrose. A Michaelis plot with methyl α- d -glucopyranoside, a relatively good acceptor but poor competitive inhibitor, did not converge with the sucrose plot at 600m m sucrose. Extrapolation of the sucrose and the methyl α- d -glucopyranoside plots showed that convergence would occur at ≈ 2 m sucrose. Based on its concentration and its K i value, the methyl α- d -glucopyranoside plot should have converged with the sucrose plot at 200m m sucrose if it were competing with sucrose for the sucrose binding-sites. From these observations, it is concluded that methyl α- d -glucopyranoside does not bind at the sucrose binding-sites when it acts as an acceptor, but it binds at a separate acceptor binding-site. This is further corroborated by the observation that methyl 6-deoxy- and 6-deoxy-6-fluoro-α- d -glucopyranoside analogues are bound very poorly, whereas the corresponding sucrose analogues, 6-deoxysucrose and 6-deoxy-6-fluorosucrose are bound approximately ten times more tightly than sucrose. The very high concentration of sucrose (≈ 2 m ) required for the convergence of the methyl α- d -glucopyranoside plot with the sucrose plot indicates that sucrose binds only very weakly to the acceptor binding-site.
Property Directed Reachability for QF_BV with mixed type atomic reasoning units

The generalization of Property Directed Reachability (PDR) for the theory QF_BV presented in [1] outperforms the original formulation if the required inductive invariant can be represented efficiently as a set of polytopes. However, many QF_BV model checking instances do not belong in this class and can be solved quickly with the original PDR algorithm. In this paper, we present a hybrid approach which uses both polytopes and Boolean cubes as atomic reasoning units combining the advantages of either homogeneous approach. We discuss theoretic properties of the presented algorithm and report experimental results demonstrating its effectiveness.
Attenuated negative symptoms in individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis

Attenuated negative symptoms in individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis D.L.Demmin, R.E. Carrion, A. Auther, D.McLaughlin, B.A. Cornblatt a,b,c Division of Psychiatry Research, The Zucker Hillside Hospital, North Shore – Long Island Jewish Health System (NS-LIJHS), Glen Oaks, NY, USA Center for Psychiatric Neuroscience, The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, North Shore – Long Island Jewish Health System, Manhasset, NY Department of Psychiatry and Molecular Medicine, Hofstra North ShoreLIJ School of Medicine, Hempstead, NY
Slit Function Effects in the Direct Measurement of Absorption Line Half-Widths and Intensities*†

The distortion of spectral lines by the finite band pass of spectrometers is an effect which must be considered in measuring line shape parameters. The differences between actual line half-widths and line intensities and those which would be obtained directly from measurements by spectrometers with Gauss and Cauchy shaped slit functions have been calculated for Lorentz and Doppler lines of varying widths and intensities. A method of utilizing these results to correct actual measurements is developed.
The high colon cancer risk in African Americans can be reduced by dietary modification

Geographical and migration epidemiological studies, backed up by experimental studies, have produced overwhelming evidence that diet drives colon cancer risk, with high intakes of meat and fat increasing risk, and high consumption rates of fiber rich foods, such as grains, fruits and vegetables, reducing risk. To test our hypothesis that cancer risk is determined by the effect the diet has on the composition and function of the microbiota to produce metabolites that either promote mucosal health or are inflammatory and neoplastic, we have conducted studies in populations of high and low risk, namely African Americans who have the highest risk in the USA, and rural Africans, who rarely get the disease, and confirmed that high meat and fat intakes in Americans were associated with increased mucosal proliferation rates – a bio-marker of cancer risk, while high fiber African diets were associated with low proliferation rates. We have demonstrated that dietary switch between these two populations produces reciprocal changes in the microbiome, metabolome, and mucosal biomarkers of risk within 2 weeks, leading to the conclusion that modification of the diets of westernized populations to contain high fiber (>45g/d) foods, such as fruits, vegetables, legumes and grains, can be expected to immediately reduce cancer risk in African Americans and in all high risk westernized populations.
Scheduling a flowline manufacturing cell with sequence dependent family setup times

Abstract This paper considers the problem of scheduling part families and jobs within each part family in a flowline manufacturing cell where the setup times for each family are sequence dependent and it is desired to minimize the makespan while processing parts (jobs) in each family together. Lower bounds on the optimal makespan value and efficient heuristic algorithms for finding permutation schedules are proposed and empirically evaluated as to their effectiveness in finding optimal permutation schedules.
The effect of family routines on care for inner city children with asthma.

This article provides the results of a study utilizing baseline data from the School-Based Asthma Therapy Trial, an ongoing comprehensive school-based intervention for urban children. We examined the effect of family routines as measured by the Asthma Routines Questionnaire on asthma care measures of trigger control and medication adherence, as well as on parental quality of life. We found that families with more asthma routines had better adherence with preventive medications ( r = .36) and less exposure to environmental triggers ( r = −.22). These findings suggest that assisting families in developing routines around asthma care might improve preventive care for urban youth.
The complexity of some two-person perfect-information games.

Abstract We present a number of two-person games, based on simple combinatorial ideas, for which the problem of deciding whether the first player can win is complete in polynomial space. This provides strong evidence, although not absolute proof, that efficient general algorithms for deciding the winner of these games do not exist. The existence of a polynomial-time algorithm for deciding any one of these games would imply the unexpected result that polynomial-time algorithms exist for (a) all the rest of these games, (b) all NP-complete problems and (c) in general, any problem decidable by a polynomial tape bounded Turing machine.
Attenuation of ischaemic injury in the equine jejunum by administration of systemic lidocaine

Summary Reasons for performing study: Absorption of endotoxin across ischaemic-injured mucosa is a major cause of mortality after colic surgery. Recent studies have shown that flunixin meglumine retards mucosal repair. Systemic lidocaine has been used to treat post operative ileus, but it also has novel anti-inflammatory effects that could improve mucosal recovery after ischaemic injury. Hypothesis: Systemic lidocaine ameliorates the deleterious negative effects of flunixin meglumine on recovery of mucosal barrier function. Methods: Horses were treated i.v. immediately before anaesthesia with either 0.9% saline 1 ml/50 kg bwt, flunixin meglumine 1 mg/kg bwt every 12 h or lidocaine 1.3 mg/kg bwt loading dose followed by 0.05 mg/kg bwt/min constant rate infusion, or both flunixin meglumine and lidocaine, with 6 horses allocated randomly to each group. Two sections of jejunum were subjected to 2 h of ischaemia by temporary occlusion of the local blood supply, via a midline celiotomy. Horses were monitored with a behavioural pain score and were subjected to euthanasia 18 h after reversal of ischaemia. Ischaemic-injured and control jejunum was mounted in Ussing chambers for measurement of transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) and permeability to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Results: In ischaemic-injured jejunum TER was significantly higher in horses treated with saline, lidocaine or lidocaine and flunixin meglumine combined, compared to horses treated with flunixin meglumine. In ischaemic-injured jejunum LPS permeability was significantly increased in horses treated with flunixin meglumine alone. Behavioural pain scores did not increase significantly after surgery in horses treated with flunixin meglumine. Conclusions: Treatment with systemic lidocaine ameliorated the inhibitory effects of flunixin meglumine on recovery of the mucosal barrier from ischaemic injury, when the 2 treatments were combined. The mechanism of lidocaine in improving mucosal repair has not yet been elucidated. Potential relevance: Recovery of ischaemic-injured jejunum in post operative colic cases may be improved when treatment with flunixin meglumine is combined with lidocaine.
Variable Sampling Approach to Mitigate Instability in Networked Control Systems With Delays

This paper analyzes a new alternative approach to compensate for the effects of time delays on a dynamic networked control system (NCS). The approach is based on the use of time-delay-predicted values as the sampling times of the NCS. We use a one-step-ahead prediction algorithm based on an adaptive time delay neural network. The application of pole placement and linear quadratic regulator methods to compute the feedback gains taking into account the estimated time delays is investigated.
A genetic locus of enterocyte effacement conserved among diverse enterobacterial pathogens.

Abstract Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) and enterohemorrhagic E. coli O157:H7 are intestinal pathogens that profoundly damage the microvilli and subapical cytoskeleton of epithelial cells. Here we report finding in EPEC a 35-kbp locus containing several regions implicated in formation of these lesions. DNA probes throughout this locus hybridize to E. coli O157:H7 and other pathogens of three genera that cause similar lesions but do not hybridize to avirulent members of the same species. The EPEC locus and a different virulence locus of uropathogenic E. coli insert into the E. coli chromosome at the identical site and share highly similar sequences near the point of insertion.
Apolipoprotein A-IV Expression in Mouse Liver Enhances Triglyceride Secretion and Reduces Hepatic Lipid Content by Promoting Very Low Density Lipoprotein Particle Expansion

Objective— Previous studies demonstrated that apolipoprotein A-IV (apoA-IV) promotes apoB lipoprotein–mediated triglyceride (TG) secretion in transfected enterocytes and hepatoma cells; however, evidence for a role in lipid transport in vivo is lacking. Using mouse models, we explored the role of apoA-IV in hepatic very-low-density lipoprotein–mediated lipid efflux under conditions that promote hepatic steatosis. Approach and Results— Hepatic steatosis, induced by either high-fat diet or enhanced de novo lipogenesis caused by transgenic overexpression of SREBP-1a (SREBP-1a Tg ), was associated with up to a 43-fold induction of hepatic apoA-IV mRNA and protein levels. In both models, a positive linear correlation between hepatic TG content and apoA-IV mRNA abundance was observed ( r 2 =0.8965). To examine whether induction of apoA-IV affected hepatic TG secretion, SREBP-1a Tg mice were crossed with Apoa4 knockout mice. With Triton blockade of peripheral lipolysis, SREBP-1a Tg / Apoa4 knockout mice demonstrated a 24% reduction in hepatic TG secretion rate, relative to SREBP-1a Tg controls, but no change in apoB production. Negative stain electron microscopy revealed a 33% decrease in the abundance of secreted very-low-density lipoprotein particles with diameters ≥120 nm. Conversely, mice infected with a recombinant human apoA-IV adenovirus demonstrated a 52% increase in the hepatic TG secretion rate, relative to controls, a 38% reduction in liver TG content, and a 43% increase in large diameter (≥120 nm) very-low-density lipoprotein particles, with no change in apoB secretion. Conclusions— Hepatic steatosis in mice induces hepatic apoA-IV expression, which in turn promotes lipoprotein particle expansion and reduces hepatic lipid burden without increasing the number of secreted atherogenic apoB-containing lipoprotein particles.