cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
ArF laser photodissociation of NH3 at 193 nm: internal energy distributions in NH2 X̃2B1 and Ã2A1, and two-photon generatin of NH A 3Π and b 1Σ+

Abstract Ammonia is photolyzed with an ArF excimer laser at 193 nm. NH 2 is formed in the A 2 A 1 state, detected through the identification of A 2 A 1 → X 2 B 1 emission bands between 620 and 1100 nm, and also in the X 2 B 1 state, identified by dye laser induced fluorescence on the A ← X transition. The A-state yield is about 2.5% relative to the X-state. The A 2 A 1 state has a propensity for being formed in high K a rotational levels v 2 vibrational levels of the A 2 A 1 state appear to be populated in a monotonically decreasing distribution, with an average vibrational energy content of 1000 cm −1 . Rotational populations are deduced for the 050 Σ vibrational level of the A 2 A 1 state. The colder-than-room-temperature rotational distribution ( T TDI = 210 ± 40 K) is explained by angular momentum conservation arguments. The vibrational and rotational features observed in the dye laser induced fluorescence excitation spectrum of NH 2 A←X could not be assigned at near collision-free pressures. However, under thermalized conditions, the 090 ← 000 Σ, 090 ← 000 Δ, 0 100 - 000 π and 0 100 ← 000 φ bands are clearly identified. Arguments are presented which show that the nascent X 2 B 1 photofragment is created either with the v 2 vibrational population, or the K a rotational population inverted. NH A 3 Π → X 3 Σ − and b 1 Σ + → X 3 Σ − emission are also detected at 336 and 471 nm, respectively. Formation of NH A 3 Π and b 1 Σ + si attributed to two-photon resonance processes
The ability of physicians to predict hyperkalemia from the ECG.

Study objective: To determine whether physicians blinded to the serum potassium level can predict hyperkalemia (potassium concentration of more than 5.0 mmol/L) from the ECG. Design: ECGs of patients at high risk for hyperkalemia were interpreted retrospectively by two physicians blinded not only to the specific clinical diagnosis of the patient and to their serum potassium measurement but also to each other's interpretation. The physicians predicted the presence or absence of hyperkalemia as well as the severity of hyperkalemia on a nominal scale (mild, moderate, or severe). Setting: The emergency department of a university-affiliated urban county hospital. Patients: Two hundred twenty consecutive patients admitted to the hospital from the ED with a diagnosis of renal failure or hyperkalemia. Eighty-seven patients had hyperkalemia, and 133 did not. Results: The sensitivities of the readers for predicting hyperkalemia were .43 and .34, respectively (best positive predictive value, .65). The respective specificities for detecting hyperkalemia were .85 and .86 (best negative predictive value, .69). When only patients with moderate-to-severe hyperkalemia (potassium of more than 6.5 mmol/L) were analyzed, sensitivities were .62 and .55. The readers' ability to predict the severity of hyperkalemia was equally poor. Conclusion: The ECG is not a sensitive method of detecting hyperkalemia, even in high-risk patients. The specificity of the ECG is better for hyperkalemia, but empiric treatment of hyperkalemia based on the ECG alone will lead to mistreatment of at least 15% of patients.
Segmental intestinal transplantation in rats with resected entire small bowel, ileocecal valve, and cecum.

Segmental intestinal transplantation was studied in a rat model of severe short gut syndrome across major histoincompatibility barriers. Lewis (RT11) recipient rats whose entire small bowel (approximately 80 cm), ileocecal valve, and cecum were resected and who had no transplant, uniformly died of malabsorption on Day 9.8 ± 0.4 (n = 11). Without cyclosporine, allograft recipients (n = 2), died of rejection on Days 8 and 10. Recipient animals with 20-cm jejunum and 40-cm jejunal transplants from Buffalo (RT1b) rats and treated daily with cyclosporine (5 mg/kg/day) intramusculary (Days 0–28) and vitamin B12 (every other week) enjoyed significantly prolonged survival to Day 58.2 ± 13.7, P < 0.003, n = 10, and Day 129.1 ± 7.4, P < 0.001, n = 10, respectively. While 7 of 10 rats in the 20-cm jejunal transplant group died of malabsorption between Days 14 and 58, none of 10 animals in the 40-cm jejunal transplant group died of this complication. Four of 10 rats in the 40-cm jejunal transplant group thrived at 150 days after the operation, at which time they were sacrificed. Morphologically, the grafts demonstrated hypertrophic changes. The data from this study suggest that intestinal allografts have pronounced intestinal adaptative characteristics. Using segmental jejunal grafts, intestinal transplantation is an effective surgical modality for the short gut syndrome in the rat.
Sensitivity of cultured rat hepatocytes to aflatoxin B1 and benzo(a)pyrene.

We have tested the sensitivity of a cloned rat hepatocyte line, RL-PR-C, to aflatoxin B1 and benzo(a)pyrene as a function of population-doubling level. The cells were much more sensitive to the cytotoxic action of these agents subsequent to 230 population doublings. This sensitivity corresponded to the enhanced inducibility of arylhydrocarbon hydroxylase activity by 3-methylcholanthrene.
A Coupled Model for the Emergence of Active Region Magnetic Flux into the Solar Corona

We present a set of numerical simulations that model the emergence of active region magnetic flux into an initially field-free model corona. We simulate the buoyant rise of twisted magnetic flux tubes initially positioned near the base of a stable stratified model convection zone and use the results of these calculations to drive a three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic model corona. The simulations show that time-dependent subsurface flows are an important component of the dynamic evolution and subsequent morphology of an emerging magnetic structure. During the initial stages of the flux emergence process, the overlying magnetic field differs significantly from a force-free state. However, as the runs progress and boundary flows adjust, most of the coronal field—with the exception of those structures located relatively close to the model photosphere—relaxes to a more force-free configuration. Potential field extrapolations do not adequately represent the magnetic structure when emerging active region fields are twisted. In the dynamic models, if arched flux ropes emerge with nonzero helicity, the overlying field readily forms sigmoid-shaped structures. However, the chirality of the sigmoid and other details of its structure depend on the observer's vantage point and the location within a given loop of emitting plasma. Thus, sigmoids may be an unreliable signature of the sign and magnitude of magnetic twist.
Concentration measurements of atomic hydrogen in subatmospheric premixed C2H4/O2/Ar flat flames

Abstract Absolute number densities of atomic hydrogen have been measured in subatmospheric, premixed C 2 H 4 /O 2 /Ar flat flames via two-photon excited fluorescence. The fuel-equivalence ratios of the flames were 1.0 and 1.7. The fluorescence measurements are calibrated by partial equilibrium calculations and corrected for quenching effects by assuming a constant average cross-section and using kinetic theory. A sensitivity analysis of the calibration procedure reveals that slightly rich flames appear to be the best candidates for calibrating fluorescence measurements of atomic hydrogen by partial equilibrium.
On the design and implementation of a secure online password vault

Many websites and web applications are secured using passwords. This requires internet users to keep track of many different strong passwords. Since passwords are only used when users are online it appears that the most efficient and convenient way to store a users passwords would also be an online application. Many users, however, are rightfully concerned about the security of such an approach. In particular they are worried that their online password account could be hacked or that password transmissions could be intercepted, potentially exposing all their accounts at the same time.In this paper we describe a new tool that we developed called "Online Safe Vault" that allows users to securely store their passwords online. To secure the tool, passwords are always stored encrypted on our Safe Vault Server and are also always transmitted over the network as encrypted passwords. En- and decryption is performed locally on the users machine. At the same time the passwords are never stored in plaintext on the users machine.
A Partial Equilibrium Game Theory Model: Application to the Partial Privatization and Competitiveness of Renault S.A.

Abstract With globalization and rising competition, alliances became the strategic option of choice. Companies are increasingly required to be attractive partners by meeting performance prerequisites. We develop a game theory model in a duopoly environment to demonstrate the advantages of privatization in improving the firm's performance. We derive the model mathematically then apply it to a real life situation from the automotive industry. We show that the privatized firm performs better than its public counterpart and is suited for private sector allies. Renault's success is not due to its late 1990s tactics, as several analysts argue, but to strategic moves over decades transcending fluctuations in the European economy.
Reflections on a New Artificial Urinary Sphincter

Before the early 1970s the treatment of urinary incontinence owing to intrinsic sphincteric deficiency, particularly in men with this problem after prostatectomy, posed a nearly insurmountable challenge. Operations using the patient’s own tissues as well as bulbous urethral sling-type procedures with various types of prosthetic materials produced inconsistent and nondurable results [1–4]. The artificial urinary sphincter was introduced in 1973 [5]. In the first 10 yr after its introduction the basic device design changed four times. The fifth generation model, the AMS Sphincter 800 (American Medical Systems, Minnetonka, MN), was introduced in 1983 [6]. To decrease mechanical failure numerous changes have been made to the various components of this device; however, its basic design and mode of operation have remained unchanged for >20 yr. The AMS Sphincter 800 consists of three components: a urethral cuff, a scrotal pump-control assembly, and a single pressure-regulating balloon (PRB), which is usually implanted in the retropubic space. These three components are implanted individually and then connected by two tubing connectors. The control assembly, which is above the pump, has valves controlling the direction of flow, a delayed filled resistor, and a deactivation button. After the device is implanted, the pump is
Cholesteryl Ester Transfer Protein (CETP) Inhibitors: Is There Life After Torcetrapib?

Despite tremendous progress made in the management of CHD, a significant number of fatal and nonfatal CHD events still occur, which leads researchers to target other modifiable risk factors for CHD including low HDL-c (high density lipoprotein cholesterol). Although the torcetrapib experience was a major blow to CETP inhibition and indeed to the entire field of HDL-targeted therapeutics, it was not fatal. The off-target effects of torcetrapib appear to be substantial and may have overridden any potential cardiovascular benefit. Despite continued uncertainty regarding the cardiovascular implications of genetic CETP deficiency and pharmacologic CETP inhibition, there remain reasons to believe in the mechanism and the possibility that clean CETP inhibitors will not only improve plasma lipids but also reduce cardiovascular risk.
Synchronization law for a van der Pol array

We explore the transition to in-phase synchronization in globally coupled oscillator arrays, and compare results for van der Pol arrays with Josephson junction arrays. Our approach yields in each case an analytically tractable iterative map; the resulting stability formulas are simple because the expansion procedure identifies natural parameter groups. A third example, an array of Duffing-van der Pol oscillators, is found to be of the same fundamental type as the van der Pol arrays, but the Josephson arrays are fundamentally different owing to the absence of self-resonant interactions.
An Upper Bound on the Error in Linear Quasi-Shallow Shell Theory

For a completely clamped elastic shell, an explicit upper bound is derived for the error in the energy norm of a solution of the linear, quasi-shallow shell equations as compared to the corresponding solution of the Sanders-Koiter equations.
A new model for monitoring the kinetics of calcium binding to the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase employing the flash-photolysis of caged-calcium

Abstract The kinetics of Ca 2+ binding to the high-affinity sites of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca 2+ -ATPase were directly investigated by continuously monitoring the extravesicular calcium concentration via the metallochromic indicator Arsenazo III following the release of Ca 2+ from a photolabile caged-calcium molecule, 1-(2-nitro-4,5-dimethoxyphenyl)- N , N , N ′, N ′-tetrakis [(oxycarbonyl)methyl]-1,2-ethanediamine DM-nitrophen), utilizing a pulsed Nd:YAG laser for photolysis. The nature of the binding kinetics is at least biphasic over the first 400 ms for vesicular dispersions of SR. The stoichiometry for calcium binding expressed as Ca:E 1 ′ P has been calculated to be ′ 1.4:1 for the pure SR preparation under the reaction conditions employed.
Multiple wavefront algorithms for pattern-based processing of object-oriented databases

The authors have show previously (1989, 1991) that processing OODBs can be viewed as the manipulation of patterns of object associations. Parallel, multiple wavefront algorithms based on an identification approach for verifying association patterns have been introduced. The current paper presents an elimination approach for processing OODBs. The new approach allows more processors to operate concurrently on a query, thus allowing a higher degree of parallelism in query processing. A formal proof of the correctness of the new approach is given, and a parallel elimination algorithm for processing tree queries is presented. Some simulation results are also provided to compare the performance of the identification approach with the elimination approach. >
Assessment of the Relative Clinical Utility of Sufentanil and Morphine Administered by Patient Controlled Analgesia Pumps Following Abdominal Hysterectomy

The objective of this study was to compare clinical efficacy of two opioid analgesics postoperatively using Patient Controlled Analgesia (PCA). It was a randomized, double-blind study involving 43 women undergoing elective abdominal hysterectomy. Each patient received a loading dose of 0.04 mL/kg (0.04 mg/kg morphine or 0.1 □g/kg sufentanil) which was administered up to a maximum of three doses. Analgesic efficacy was assessed using a visual analog scale of pain (VAS). The PCA pump was set to administer a maintenance dose of 0.02 mL/kg (0.02 mg/kg morphine or 0.05 □g/kg sufentanil) with a lockout interval of 8 minutes in all patients. Drug use was recorded and the VAS for pain was recorded at first request for analgesia, at 10, 20, 30, and 60 minutes, and at 4, 20 and 24 hours thereafter. Patients required 9.2, □ 4.4 □g of sufentanil and 7.28 □ 3.7 mg morphine as loading dose for adequate analgesia (p < 0.05). During the first hour, 7.13 □ 3 mL (17.8 □ 7.5 □g) of sufentanil and 13.4 □ 5.68 mL (13.4 □ 5.68...
Influenza-like illness, the time to seek healthcare, and influenza antiviral receipt during the 2010-2011 influenza season-United States.

Background Few data exist describing healthcare-seeking behaviors among persons with influenza-like illness (ILI) or adherence to influenza antiviral treatment recommendations. Methods We analyzed adult responses to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System in 31 states and the District of Columbia (DC) and pediatric responses in 25 states and DC for January-April 2011 by demographics and underlying health conditions. Results Among 75 088 adult and 15 649 child respondents, 8.9% and 33.9%, respectively, reported ILI. ILI was more frequent among adults with asthma (16%), chronic obstruction pulmonary disease (COPD; 26%), diabetes (12%), heart disease (19%), kidney disease (16%), or obesity (11%). Forty-five percent of adults and 57% of children sought healthcare for ILI. Thirty-five percent of adults sought care ≤ 2 days after ILI onset. Seeking care ≤ 2 days was more frequent among adults with COPD (48%) or heart disease (55%). Among adults with a self-reported physician diagnosis of influenza, 34% received treatment with antiviral medications. The only underlying health condition with a higher rate of treatment was diabetes (46%). Conclusions Adults with underlying health conditions were more likely to report ILI, but the majority did not seek care promptly, missing opportunities for early influenza antiviral treatment.
Endurance and resistance training lowers C-reactive protein in young, healthy females.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether endurance (E) or endurance + resistance (ER) training affects C-reactive protein (CRP) and if these changes are related to alterations in fitness ...
A Locally Amplified Strain Sensor Based on a Piezoelectric Polymer and Organic Field-Effect Transistors

Piezoelectric sensors are useful for a range of applications, but passive arrays suffer from crosstalk and signal attenuation, which have complicated the development of array-based polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) sensors. We have used organic field-effect transistors, which are compatible with the low Curie temperature of a flexible piezoelectric polymer, i.e., PVDF, to monolithically fabricate transimpedance amplifiers directly on the sensor surface and convert the piezoelectric charge signal into a current signal, which can be detected even in the presence of parasitic capacitance. The device couples the voltage generated by the PVDF film under strain into the gate of organic thin-film transistors using an arrangement that allows the full piezoelectric voltage to couple to the channel while also increasing charge-retention time. A bipolar detector is created using ultraviolet-ozone treatment to shift the threshold voltage and increase the current of the transistor under both compressive and tensile strain. An array of devices that maps the strain field on a PVDF film surface is demonstrated.
Heavy water and (15) N labelling with NanoSIMS analysis reveals growth rate-dependent metabolic heterogeneity in chemostats.

To measure single cell microbial activity and substrate utilization patterns in environmental systems, we employ a new technique using stable isotope labeling of microbial populations with heavy water (a passive tracer) and ¹⁵N ammonium in combination with multi-isotope imaging mass spectrometry. We demonstrate simultaneous NanoSIMS analysis of hydrogen, carbon and nitrogen at high spatial and mass resolution, and report calibration data linking single cell isotopic compositions to the corresponding bulk isotopic equivalents for Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. Our results show that heavy water is capable of quantifying in situ single cell microbial activities ranging from generational time scales of minutes to years, with only light isotopic incorporation (~0.1 atom % ²H). Applying this approach to study the rates of fatty acid biosynthesis by single cells of S. aureus growing at different rates in chemostat culture (~6 hours, 1 day and 2 week generation times), we observe the greatest anabolic activity diversity in the slowest growing populations. By using heavy water to constrain cellular growth activity, we can further infer the relative contributions of ammonium vs. amino acid assimilation to the cellular nitrogen pool. The approach described here can be applied to disentangle individual cell activities even in nutritionally complex environments.
Variation in susceptibility to pitch canker disease, caused by Fusarium circinatum, in native stands of Pinus muricata

Two hundred Pinus muricata trees, located within a native forest near Monterey, California, were inoculated with the pitch canker pathogen. Treated branches were removed 10‐13 weeks following the initial inoculation, and the lengths of the lesions that developed at each of the inoculation sites were measured. Results indicated that bishop pine exhibits a wide range of variation in susceptibility to pitch canker disease. Of the trees that received only one inoculation, 27% showed almost no lesion development, indicating that they were relatively resistant to the pathogen, while others had significantly longer lesions and thus were more susceptible. Clonal propagation and seed collection from resistant individuals may offer useful strategies for disease management in the future.
A two-bit binary control system for an orthotic, hand-assistive exoskeleton

A combined 450,000 Americans suffer from multiple sclerosis, chronic carpal tunnel syndrome, and muscular dystrophy; debilitative disorders that result in a loss of muscle strength and dexterity within the afflicted individual. A controlled orthotic exoskeleton presents a solution by amplifying a user's residual strength to restore precision pinch and/or power grasp motions. In order to optimize system response time and control accuracy, a two-bit binary state control algorithm was designed using LabVIEW v8.5. The states of the control system were refined using positional and object-sensing information supplied via negative feedback from Hall effect angular sensors and force sensing resistors. Forearm EMG was recorded and used to characterize hand strength with and without the mechanical assistance generated from the hand-assistive exoskeleton. The control system was tested using simulated sensor feedback data and has proven to be a robust design. The controller will be integrated with a glove-like, hand-based exoskeleton. The complete system was designed to restore hand functionality through the amplification of precision pinch and/or power grasp.
Mice with a Targeted Disruption of the H1t Gene Are Fertile and Undergo Normal Changes in Structural Chromosomal Proteins During Spermiogenesis

Abstract H1t is an H1 histone variant unique to late spermatocytes and early spermatids. Using gene targeting and embryonic stem cell technologies, we have produced mice with a disrupted H1t gene. Homozygous H1t-null mice have normal fertility and show no obvious phenotypic consequence due to the lack of this histone. Biochemical and immunohistochemical approaches were used to show that normal changes in chromosomal proteins occurred during spermatid development, including the appearance and disappearance of transition proteins 1 and 2. Both protamines 1 and 2 are present in normal amounts in sonication-resistant spermatid nuclei from H1t-null mice. Analysis of H1 histones by quantitative gel electrophoresis in enriched populations of pachytene spermatocytes and round spermatids showed that the lack of H1t is only partially compensated for by somatic H1s, so that the chromatin of these cells is H1 deficient. Because H1t is thought to create a less tightly compacted chromatin environment, it may be that H1...
Odorant Receptor Polymorphisms and Natural Variation in Olfactory Behavior in Drosophila melanogaster

Animals perceive and discriminate among a vast array of sensory cues in their environment. Both genetic and environmental factors contribute to individual variation in behavioral responses to these cues. Here, we asked to what extent sequence variants in six Drosophila melanogaster odorant receptor (Or) genes are associated with variation in behavioral responses to benzaldehyde by sequencing alleles from a natural population. Sequence analyses showed signatures of deviations from neutrality for Or42b and Or85f, and linkage disequilibrium analyses showed a history of extensive recombination between polymorphic markers for all six Or genes. We identified polymorphisms in Or10a, Or43a, and Or67b that were significantly associated with variation in response to benzaldehyde. To verify these associations, we repeated the analyses with an independent set of behavioral measurements of responses to a structurally similar odorant, acetophenone. Association profiles for both odorants were similar with many polymorphisms and haplotypes associated with variation in responsiveness to both odorants. Some polymorphisms, however, were associated with one, but not the other odorant. We also observed a correspondence between behavioral response to benzaldehyde and differences in Or10a and Or43a expression. These results illustrate that sequence variants that arise during the evolution of odorant receptor genes can contribute to individual variation in olfactory behavior and give rise to subtle shifts in olfactory perception.
Optimal Network-Level Bridge Maintenance Planning Based on Minimum Expected Cost

The goal of bridge management is to determine and implement the best possible strategy that ensures an adequate level of safety at the lowest possible life-cycle cost. Although this is generally recognized, the integration of life-cycle cost analysis with bridge reliability analysis has been very limited. Moreover, this has been formulated and illustrated only for individual bridges. A framework for optimal network-level bridge maintenance planning based on minimum expected cost is presented. The goal is the minimization of the expected maintenance cost of a bridge stock with maintenance of the lifetime reliability of each bridge above an acceptable (target) level. The approach is illustrated for a stock of realistic highway bridges. Individual bridges in this stock have different ages, and their reliabilities are time dependent. The framework offers a rational basis for optimizing the resource allocation for management of a stock of gradually deteriorating bridges based on balancing life-cycle maintenanc...
Arginine Vasotocin Injection Increases Probability of Calling in Cricket Frogs, but Causes Call Changes Characteristic of Less Aggressive Males

Male cricket frogs, Acris crepitans communicate to males and females using advertisement calls, which are arranged into call groups. Calls at the middle and end, but not beginning of the call group, are modified in response to male-male aggressive interactions. We found in this field study of male cricket frogs in natural breeding choruses that the peptide hormone arginine vasotocin (AVT) not only increased the probability that males called after injections, but also caused modifications in middle and end calls to produce calls characteristic of less aggressive males. Moreover, AVT-injected males showed significantly greater increases in call dominant frequency than saline-injected males, again, a characteristic of less aggressive males. Cricket frog calls are used to both repel males and attract females, thus call changes may relate to male-male and/or male-female interactions. Saline-injected males also demonstrated significant changes in several call traits, including changes that occurred in the beginning and middle calls of the call groups, but not the end calls. AVT appeared to block some call changes produced through handling. These data suggest that AVT can influence acoustic communication in frogs in several ways, including effects on call characteristics and dominant frequency, as well as potentially blocking some handling effects.
Relationships among Contrasting Measurements of Microbial Dynamicsin Pasture and Organic Farm Soils

Soil bacteria exhibit short-term variations in community structure, providing an indication of anthropogenic disturbances. In this study, microbial biomass carbon (MBC), potentially mineralizable nitrogen (PMN), community level physiological profiling (CLPP), and culture-dependent DGGE (CD DGGE) fingerprinting of the 16S rRNA gene were used to compare microbial communities in organic farm and pasture soils subjected to differing agronomic treatments. Correlation analyses revealed significant relationships between MBC, PMN, and data derived from microbial community analyses. All measures separated soil types but varied in their ability to distinguish among treatments within a soil type. Overall, MBC, PMN, and CLPP were most responsive to compost and manure amendments, while CD DGGE resolved differences in legume cropping and inorganic fertilization. The results support the hypothesis that culturable soil bacteria are a responsive fraction of the total microbial community, sensitive to agronomic perturbations and amenable to further studies aimed at linking community structure with soil functions.
A Model for Large Eddy Contributions in Incompressible Turbulent Boundary Layers

Presented herein is an incompressible turbulent boundary layer analysis which is based on a two-region characterization for eddy viscosity. The eddy viscosity for the inner region is described with Spalding’s generalized function whereas the outer region, which is characterized by large eddy scales, is treated through an application of Prandtl’s eddy viscosity model for free shear flows. A similarity solution for the outer region is obtained for a linearized motion equation and suitably joined to the inner solution by requiring continuity of shear stress and eddy viscosity. The present matching criteria for the two regions result in the preservation of the velocity profile shape in the defect plane, while simultaneously yielding the correct longitudinal development of all layer parameters such as momentum thickness and wall shear stress. The present model is extended to the low Reynolds number regime where the wakestrength is greatly diminished. It is suggested that interfacial conditions are, collectively, the particular feature of incompressible flow which may serve as the point of reference for variable density transformations.
Insurer Competition In Federally Run Marketplaces Is Associated With Lower Premiums

Federal subsidies for health insurance premiums sold through the Marketplaces are tied to the cost of the benchmark plan, the second-lowest-cost silver plan. According to economic theory, the presence of more competitors should lead to lower premiums, implying smaller federal outlays for premium subsidies. The long-term impact of the Affordable Care Act on government spending will depend on the cost of these premium subsidies over time, with insurer participation and the level of competition likely to influence those costs. We studied insurer participation and premiums during the first two years of the Marketplaces. We found that the addition of a single insurer in a county was associated with a 1.2 percent lower premium for the average silver plan and a 3.5 percent lower premium for the benchmark plan in the federally run Marketplaces. We found that the effect of insurer entry was muted after two or three additional entrants. These findings suggest that increased insurer participation in the federally run Marketplaces reduces federal payments for premium subsidies.
Job Satisfaction Among Academic Coordinators of Clinical Education in Physical Therapy

The Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education is the physical therapy faculty member who is responsible for the clinical component of the curriculum. The responsibilities involved in the ACCE's job are such that ACCEs seem to be at risk for job dissatisfaction and burnout. The purpose of this descriptive study was to investigate the levels and patterns of job satisfaction among ACCEs in physical therapy. A questionnaire, including a 32-item job satisfaction inventory, was sent to the ACCE at each accredited entry-level education program for physical therapists and physical therapist assistants (N = 169). One hundred twelve (66.3%) responses were received and analyzed. Demographic characteristics of the respondents are reported. The results of the study showed that ACCEs, in general, expressed low levels of occupational dissatisfaction and burnout. Satisfaction with the aspects of the job involving self-esteem, achievement, and creativity seems to outweight dissatisfaction with the time available, the work load, and organizational efficiency. Those ACCEs with doctoral degrees expressed the highest levels of dissatisfaction and burnout. Those ACCEs working in entry-level master's degree programs expressed the lowest level of dissatisfaction; those in tenure-track positions expressed the lowest level of burnout. Factors contributing to job satisfaction and dissatisfaction are discussed.
Hollywood Works: How Creativity Became Labor in the Studio System

Using the career of director William Wyler as a case study, the article argues that by standardizing creative professions such as acting and directing during the 1920s and 1930s, the Hollywood studio system was responsible for turning creativity into a modern form of labor. I make this claim by highlighting three main themes. First, the article draws attention to the operation behind cultural industries, as opposed to the content they produce, a topic that remains understudied. Second, it traces the historical development of “directing” as a profession. Looking at how this pivotal role changed since the early days of the industry, I argue there was a structural rationale behind practices of managerial control as well as those enabling creative autonomy. Third, focusing on Wyler’s career, the article fleshes out how this dual rationale functioned day to day and how it pushed creative employees like Wyler to develop a particular professional way of being.
Recognition And Management Of Obesity In A Family Practice Setting

Background: Research on the diagnosis and management of obesity in primary cure is limited. Our study goals were to describe the rate of obesity in a primary care setting, to identify factors associated with clinically recognized obesity, and to ascertain the level of diet and exercise counseling for obesity. Methods: Medical records from a private group practice were used for a historical cohort study of 276 patients (aged 40 years and older) who were provided care for a maximum 4.5-year follow-up period. Results: forty-six percent of the study patients (95 percent confidence interval = 0.43, 0.49) received an obesity diagnosis according to medical record notations. The diagnosis of obesity, in turn, was predicted by body mass index (BMI) quartile (P Conclusions: The clinical recognition of obesity was not determined by BMI alone. Although weight and diet counseling was initiated for those individuals described as obese, there was a relatively low level of exercise counseling among these patients. Additional research could provide ways of reducing both physician and patient barriers to exercise counseling.
A Wideband Electrically Small Transient-State Antenna

A new concept associated with feeding an electrically small antenna is introduced to overcome the fundamental limits of antennas. This new understanding of input impedance allows transmission of an arbitrary waveform using a high quality factor (high-Q) resonant antenna which has been previously impossible. A sample design is introduced and simulated using a full-wave electromagnetic simulator in association with a circuit transient simulator. The basic antenna is able to radiate a double-sideband amplitude-modulated signal. A combination of two orthogonal antennas is used to transmit a circularly polarized quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK)-modulated signal. The simulation and measured results confirm the effectiveness of the new concept.
Toward Real-time Brain Sensing for Learning Assessment: Building a Rich Dataset

By integrating real-time brain input into personalized learning environments, it would be possible to capture a learner's changing cognitive state and adapt the learning experience appropriately. Working toward this goal, we aim to develop a robust system that can classify a user's cognitive state during a learning activity, using brain data collected with functional near-infrared spectroscopy, an emerging non-invasive neuroimaging tool. This paper describes preliminary steps we have taken toward this objective as well as the underlying vision and research goals. This work has implications for online education as well as the growing fields of brain-computer interfaces and physiological computing.
Rise and Development of "Green" Rubber Weatherstrips for Passenger Car

The conception of the green weatherstrips were raised in the paper.The basic essential factors of the green weatherstrips,the raw materials,the new technology and the process technique,the protect against pollution of the environment in the producing process its value of the properties target of the green rubber weatherstrips for the passenger car were described.The developing trend of the green weatherstrip for the passenger car were forecasted.
Genetic and environmental aspects of the growth curve parameters in beef cows.

Brody's growth curve, a three-parameter function, and Richards' function, a four-parameter function, were fit to data from 233 inbred and linecross cows to study the genetic and environmental aspects of the growth curve parameters and to compare the two functions. Fitting Brody's curve was faster and less costly to compute than Richards' function, but Richards' function had smaller sums of squares and a better fit to actual data points. Year of birth had an effect on the A (P less than .05), b (P less than .01) and k (P less than .01) parameters of Brody's curve. Parameter estimates from data of the youngest cows were at the extremes. The b parameter was the largest when estimated from data with no recorded birth weights. Year of birth was also an important effect for the b (P less than .01), k (P less than .05) and m (P less than .01) parameters of Richards' function, but year effects were less interpretable. Mating system affected (P less than .01) the A parameter of both functions; inbreds were lighter than linecrosses at maturity. Line of sire was an important source of variation (P less than .01) for the A parameter of both functions. The heritability estimate of the A parameter from both functions was .44 +/- .27; apparently the same trait in both curves. The estimate for the b parameter from Brody's curve was .39 +/- .27, comparable with literature estimates of birth weight. The heritability estimate for k from Brody's curve was .20 +/- .26. The heritability estimates for b, k and m parameters from Richards' function were .24 +/- .26, .32 +/- .27 and .21 +/- .26, respectively. The genetic correlations between the A and k parameters in both curves indicated that cows with lighter mature weights reached that weight at younger ages.
A Qualitative Investigation of Parents' Perspectives About Feeding Practices With Siblings Among Racially/Ethnically and Socioeconomically Diverse Households

Abstract Objective Little is known about parent feeding practices with siblings. Because this is a new area of research, qualitative research is needed to understand parents' perspectives about how they make decisions about feeding siblings and whether they adapt their feeding practices dependent on sibling characteristics such as weight status. The main objective of the current study was to describe parent feeding practices with siblings. Design Qualitative cross-sectional study with 88 parents with at least 2 siblings. Setting Parents were interviewed in their homes in Minneapolis/St Paul Minnesota. Participants Parents were from racially/ethnically diverse (64% African American) and low-income households (77% earned Main Outcome Measure Parents' perceptions of feeding practices with siblings. Analysis Qualitative interviews were coded using a hybrid deductive and inductive content analysis approach. Results Parents indicated that they used child food preferences, in-the-moment decisions, and planned meals when deciding how to feed siblings. Additionally, the majority of parents indicated that they managed picky eating by making 1 meal or giving some flexibility/leeway to siblings about having other food options. Furthermore, parents endorsed using different feeding practices (eg, food restriction, portion control, pressure-to-eat, opportunities for healthful eating) with siblings dependent on child weight status or age/developmental stage. Conclusions and Implications Findings from the current study may inform future research regarding how to measure parent feeding practices with siblings in the home environment and the development of interventions tailored for families with multiple children in the home. Future quantitative research is needed to confirm these qualitative findings.
A simple radioassay for human urinary kallikrein.

We have developed a sensitive, highly selective assay for human urinary kallikrein (HUK) that uses Pro-Phe-Arg-[3H]benzylamide as substrate. The substrate was prepared from Pro-Phe-Arg-3-iodo-benzylamide by dehalogenation in 3H2 gas. HUK is measured by its ability to release [3H]benzylamine. The pH optimum is 9.5. Urokinase, plasmin and thrombin do not interfere. The assay can measure as little as 5 ng of HUK in a 15 min incubation at 37° C. Typically, we use 50 μl of dialyzed urine for HUK assays. Reactions are terminated by adding 0.1 M NaOH, and reaction product is separated from substrate by partitioning with an equal volume of toluene. A sample of the toluene phase is submitted for liquid scintillation counting. As judged by separations obtained on molecular sieve chromatography (Sephacryl), only one urinary enzyme possesses the ability to hydrolyze our substrate. The enzyme MW 45,000, is inhibited by Trasylol but not by soya bean trypsin inhibitor (SBTI). It is reactive with and is inhibited by antibodies prepared against pure HUK.
Ontologies for Formal Representation of Biological Systems

This chapter provides an overview of how the use of ontologies may enhance biomedical research by providing a basis for a formalized, and shareable descriptions, of models of biological systems.
Effects of a stocking on plantar sensation in individuals with and without ankle instability

Introduction: It is unknown whether footwear has a beneficial or deleterious effect on cutaneous sensitivity. We aim to test a preliminary model of footwear and its effect on tactile perception among groups of controls, copers, and chronic ankle instability (CAI) participants. Methods: Light-touch thresholds were obtained for 45 participants (age: 20.2 ± 2.8 years; height:167.6 ± 9.8 cm; mass:66.3 ± 14.7 kg) using Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments at the head of the first metatarsal (1MT), base of the fifth metatarsal(5MT), and calcaneus(CAL). Baseline measurements were compared with those taken after wearing a nylon stocking for 5 minutes. Results: Thresholds were increased at all 3 sites when the stocking was worn (P<0.05). Controls had an increase at 1MT, copers had an increase at 5MT and CAL, and CAI had an increase at CAL. Discussion: Cutaneous thresholds increase when subjects wear a nylon stocking, a model for the sensory effects of footwear. A history of ankle injury appears to influence which sites have altered sensibility. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Drugs in Treatment of Developmental Dyslexia

An acute 2 day trial of methylphenidate (10 mg) and of meclizine (12.5 mg) and a 6 month crossover placebo-controlled chronic trial of meclizine (12.5 mg) in children with developmental dyslexia are reported from the University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Phase Diagrams and Stability

In most realistic models of scientific and engineering systems one is confronted with the necessity to analyze and solve systems of nonlinear differential equations. However, since the search for exact analytic solutions of such systems is, in most instances hopeless, it is natural to inquire in retrospect what is the most crucial information that has to be extracted from these equations. One discovers then that many such systems have transient states which are time dependent and equilibrium states which are time independent states. The equilibrium states are usually the most significant from a practical point of view and their stability against small perturbations and/or small changes in the system parameters is a central problem in the design and analysis of these systems.
Activation of a Habenulo-Raphe Circuit Is Critical for the Behavioral and Neurochemical Consequences of Uncontrollable Stress in the Male Rat

Exposure to uncontrollable stress [inescapable tailshock (IS)] produces behavioral changes that do not occur if the stressor is controllable [escapable tailshock (ES)] an outcome that is mediated by greater IS-induced dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) serotonin [5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)] activation. It has been proposed that this differential activation occurs because the presence of control leads to top–down inhibition of the DRN from medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), not because uncontrollability produces greater excitatory input. Although mPFC inhibitory regulation over DRN 5-HT activation has received considerable attention, the relevant excitatory inputs that drive DRN 5-HT during stress have not. The lateral habenula (LHb) provides a major excitatory input to the DRN, but very little is known about the role of the LHb in regulating DRN-dependent behaviors. Here, optogenetic silencing of the LHb during IS blocked the typical anxiety-like behaviors produced by IS in male rats. Moreover, LHb silencing blocked the increase in extracellular basolateral amygdala 5-HT during IS and, surprisingly, during behavioral testing the following day. We also provide evidence that LHb–DRN pathway activation is not sensitive to the dimension of behavioral control. Overall, these experiments highlight a critical role for LHb in driving DRN activation and 5-HT release into downstream circuits that mediate anxiety-like behavioral outcomes of IS and further support the idea that behavioral control does not modulate excitatory inputs to the DRN.
'Acting Like a Union': Protecting Workers' Free Choice by Promoting Workers' Collective Action

In his article Enabling Employee Choice, Professor Benjamin Sachs presented a robust exploration of the problems associated with union certification laws and potential “card check” reforms. In this response, Professor Brishen Rogers argues that limiting managerial interference in union organizing drives is only the first step in facilitating the free choice of employees. To do so the law must also encourage workplace solidarity and collective action. Professor Rogers argues that the value of card solicitation is not as a tool to keep organizing efforts secret, but instead as a means to publicize workers' commitment to their coworkers. Professor Rogers concludes that labor law reform must encourage worker collective action and solidarity, while also protecting employees from union and management coercion, and proposes an alternate system of union certification to achieve those goals.