cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An evaluation of options for replacing HCFC-22 in medium temperature refrigeration systems

Due to the ongoing global phase-out of R-22, which is still the most widely used refrigerant around the world, there is a need to replace this refrigerant in many different applications. This paper focuses on a thorough evaluation of the R-22 replacement options for medium-temperature refrigeration applications. It includes a thermodynamic analysis, comparison of heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics, system performance comparisons using a validated detailed system model, safety issues, and determination of the environmental impact of refrigerant selection. Three potential alternatives to the R-22 were studied: two HFCs (404A and R-410A) and one HC (R-290). An HFC refrigerant, R-410A, is shown to be an efficient and environmentally acceptable option to replace R-22 in medium temperature applications.
Distributed error-probability-minimizing relay selection for cooperative wireless networks

The distributed relay selection protocol recently developed by Bletsas et. al. provides a simple and practical mean of achieving cooperative diversity. However, for cooperative networks where relays employ the decode-and- forward (DF) method to send information, it cannot achieve full diversity unless each relay knows whether it decodes correctly or not. Moreover, the criterion used to select the best relay is not optimal since it does not minimize error probability. In this paper, we develop a distributed relay selection method for DF cooperative networks, that uses an error-probability minimizing criterion to select relay and can achieve full diversity without requiring the relay to know whether it decodes correctly. Moreover, we also develop a hybrid cooperative protocol that not only selects the best relay using an error-probability minimizing criterion but also chooses a better relaying method from DF and amplify-and-forward (AF). Our simulations show that our both protocols can achieve full diversity and outperform the protocol developed by Bletsas et. al.. Furthermore, our hybrid protocol offers better performance than the error-probability- minimizing DF protocol. 1
Similarities between tactual and auditory speech perception.

Perception of synthetic speech continua through the sense of touch and audition was compared utilizing a 32-channel spectrally oriented electrocutaneous display and standard auditory psychophysical...
A New Technique in Avian Semen Evaluation

Abstract Modification of a technique used in human fertility is presented and shown to be a simple, inexpensive and quantitative method for estimating the subsequent fertility of a semen sample.
Relaxation Training: A Promising Approach for Helping Exceptional Learners.

RELAXATION TRAINING has demonstrated promising results in lessening the anxiety, impulsivity, hyperactivity, distractibility, and emotional lability of exceptional learners, while positively influencing their self‐concept, academic achievement, and classroom behaviour. This article describes common approaches used to induce relaxation, reviews salient research, and addresses the question of whether it is premature to use relaxation training with exceptional learners in school situations. Additionally, guidelines for implementation are provided.
Effects of morphine, β-endorphin and naloxone on catecholamine levels and sexual behavior in the male rat

Abstract Intraperitoneal administration of the opiate antagonist naloxone hydrochloride (30 mg/kg) to sexually experienced male rats caused a significant reduction in mount and intromission latencies, number of mounts preceding ejaculation and ejaculation latencies. Intraperitoneal administration of naloxone (30 mg/kg) also stimulated persistant non-copulators to begin mating and to ejaculate within a twenty minute test period. Conversely, intraperitoneal administration of morphine sulphate (6 mg/kg) as well as intraventricular injection of the endogenous opiate β-endorphin (6 μg) produced a complete loss of copulatory behavior in male rats. The deficit in sexual behavior induced by β-endorphin was correlated with a significant increase in hypothalamic norepinephrine levels. It is suggested that the endogenous opiates may be involved in the mediation of sexual behavior via an interaction with central catecholaminergic systems.
Neil Smith, 1954–2012: Marxist Geographer

Although we found it easy to be brilliant, we always found it confusing to be good. —Salman Rushdie, Midnight's Children (found pinned to Neil Smith's bulletin board after he died) According to Dav...
Interpreting Public Opinion Surveys

As the nation continues to debate health system reform, public opinion polls play an increasingly important role in informing policymakers of the publics views on reform strategies. In a recent Dat...
The Draw-a-Dog Scale:

The Draw-A-Dog Scale, a provisional supplement to the Goodenough-Harris drawing test, consisting of 41 items was standardized on 120 white middle-class children. The mean CAs for the groups ranged from 5.8 to 7.7 yr. The test-retest reliability of the scale is .76 and scorer reliability .91.
On asphericity and the Freiheitssatz for certain finitely presented groups

Abstract The classical results of Magnus on one-relator groups (such as the Freiheitssatz and the solvability of the generalized word problem for Magnus subgroups) are generalized to some finitely presented groups whose relators are constructed inductively. The diagrammatic asphericity of such group presentations is also proven.
Duration dependent post-ischemic hypothermia alleviates cortical damage after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion in the rat

We investigated the effect of post-ischemic 30 degrees C hypothermia on transient middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion in the rat. Male Wistar rats (n = 27) were subjected MCA occlusion for 2 h by inserting a nylon filament into the internal carotid artery. Three groups of animals were studied: 1) normothermic ischemia and normothermic reperfusion (n = 13), 2) normothermic ischemia and 1 h of hypothermic reperfusion (n = 6), 3) normothermic ischemia and 3 h of hypothermic reperfusion (n = 6); monitoring of cerebral temperatures were performed on two additional rats. The animals were sacrificed after one week, and coronal sections were obtained and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H/E) for histopathological examination and determination of infarct volume. The data indicate that both normothermic reperfusion and 1 h hypothermic reperfusion groups exhibited similar infarct volumes in the cortex and the basal ganglia, respectively (P > 0.1). The 3 h post-ischemic hypothermia group revealed a significant decrease in infarct volume in the cortex compared to the normothermic group (P < 0.05). However, the infarct volume of the basal ganglia was not significantly lessened by the 3 h post-ischemic hypothermia. Thus 3 h post-ischemic hypothermia provides preferential reduction of cell damage in the cortex, from 2 h of MCA occlusion in the rat.
Temperature-dependent strain rate sensitivity and activation volume of nanocrystalline Ni

Abstract Repeated stress relaxation tests and strain rate jump tests have been carried out over a range of deformation temperatures (77–373 K) on electrodeposited nanocrystalline Ni with an average grain size of ∼30 nm. The strain rate sensitivity, the apparent and physical activation volume, and the activation energy have been determined. The magnitude observed for these characteristic deformation parameters, as well as their temperature-dependent behavior, is very different from those of coarse-grained Ni. This suggests that the thermally activated process in nanocrystalline Ni is different from the conventional forest dislocation cutting mechanism. It is concluded that grain boundary diffusion-controlled processes such as Coble creep and grain boundary sliding can be ruled out as dominant mechanisms for the grain sizes and temperature range studied. Instead, our experimental findings and analysis suggest that the deformation kinetics are controlled by the activities of dislocations. The dominant thermally activated mechanism is suggested to originate from three possible processes, all involving interactions of mobile dislocations with grain boundaries.
A Model for Large-Amplitude Internal Waves with Finite-Thickness Pycnocline

We derive a new model of internal solitary wave propagation governed by the Euler equations for a continuously stratified, incompressible fluid in the Boussinesq approximation. The model is derived by a systematic joint asymptotic expansion for long wavelengths and thin pycnoclines. The resulting solutions extend those of the strongly nonlinear two-layer system (Choi and Camassa in J. Fluid Mech. 396:1–36, 1999) to continuous stratifications, and capture non-trivial features of the internal pycnocline structure. These solutions can be used, among other applications, to perform shear instability calculations in analytic form.
PRODUCTION FACTORS IN POLICING SERVICES

The demand for increased public protection has become a major public issue of our times. The usual American response of increased resources has been applied but has had less than the desired effects. This paper analyzes the existing production factors in the provision of policing services in terms of the efficiency with which these services are delivered. The efficiency analysis occurs on a number of levels: (1) the use of existing resources, (2) alternative allocation at the existing resource level, (3) alternative technologies, and (4) the tasks and services which should be undertaken. The effects and implications of exogenous changes upon crime and policing services are considered and the problems and needs for change in the production factors for policing services are presented.
Web-based laboratories: How does that affect pedagogy? Thoughts for a panel discussion

The author presents a few questions for discussion at the Panel on web-based laboratories. The key issue is whether and how such laboratories can enhance the pedagogy. Is this only a technological trend or are there real values in creating online labs for real-time system education? Answers to sample questions from the literature are reviewed.
Detailing agents of physical disturbance: wave-induced velocities and accelerations on a rocky shore

Abstract Water motion produced by breaking waves plays a defining role in structuring intertidal communities. However, despite the clear ecological importance of wave action, fine-scale details of the flows generated by breaking waves on rocky shores have not been well-described. This lack of information has hindered the efficacy of mechanistic studies aimed at exploring quantitatively the processes leading to wave-induced damage or mortality of organisms in littoral habitats. In response to these limitations, high-frequency field measurements of intertidal water velocities and accelerations were conducted simultaneously with recordings of inshore wave height at four representative sites in the mid-intertidal zone of a rocky shore. Maximum velocities and accelerations recorded under waves of measured height are presented and placed in the context of simple wave theories. Rates of occurrence of simultaneous velocities and accelerations are computed as a function of wave height, providing a means of linking instantaneous values of drag and lift to concurrent hydrodynamic accelerational forces. These data together provide an improved, high-resolution picture of the nature of flows typical of littoral environments and their relationship to wave height, and as such serve to reemphasize both the severity as well as the stochastic nature of the fluid motions that characterize wave-swept coasts.
Intracerebroventricular calcitonin prevents stress-induced gastric dysfunction.

Background. Restraint stress produces gastric hypercontractility and acidity leading to stress ulceration. Intracerebroventricular (ICV) salmon calcitonin (sCT) decreases restraint injury and acidity, but its effects on restraint-induced hypercontractility are unknown. Methods. Using stereotactic guidance, ICV catheters were placed into the lateral ventricle of adult male rats and calibrated gastric strain gauge transducers were implanted 5 days prior to restraint stress. sCT rats (n = 8) were pretreated with 5 μg of calcitonin ICV (10 μl volume), while controls (n = 10) received 10 μl of ICV saline prior to restraint for 2 h at 20°C followed by 2 h at 4°C. Gastric motility data were collected with AT-CODAS and analyzed with ADVANCED CODAS. Gastric volume, pH, and lesions were recorded following the stress. Results. ICV calcitonin prevented gastric mucosal injury in all animals (0% vs 100%, P < .01) and elevated pH slightly (2.5 ± .3 vs 1.6 ± .1, P < .05). Stress caused the force of contractions to increase from 0.35 ± .1 to 1.38 ± .4 g in controls (P < .01), while treated animal’s force fell from .42 ± .1 to 0.2 ± .05 g (P < .01 vs control). Stress did not affect contractions/min (3.4 + .6 vs 3.5 + .3), but sCT increased frequency (2.5 + .4 to 5.0 + .2, P < .01). Stress prolonged contraction duration (11.5 + 1 to 16.5 + 1.7 s, P < .01), but stress’s effect was prevented by sCT (11.0 + .5 to 11.2 + .3, P < .01 vs control). Conclusions. Pretreatment with 5 μg central sCT prevents the increased amplitude and duration of gastric contractions produced by restraint stress for 2 h, in association with gastroprotection.
Retinopathy of prematurity: do we still have a problem?: the Charles L. Schepens lecture.

Objective To assess the present-day prevalence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) worldwide. Methods A search of the literature was conducted to better define the worldwide experience with ROP. An interview was also conducted with 2 schools for the blind, Overbrook in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Perkins in Watertown, Massachusetts. The study also is based on personal experience with ROP over the last 49 years. Results Worldwide, the prevalence of ROP is on the rise in developing countries, and some of those ROP-affected premature infants are heavier than 1500 g. In western countries, extremely low-birth-weight infants (≤1000 g) are also surviving. Currently, the Overbrook School for the Blind has 11 of 55 children between the ages of 3 and 5 years with ROP (20%). The Perkins School has 34 of 200 children from birth to age 3 years with ROP (17%). During 2009, 47 babies had laser treatment for ROP in the neonatal intensive care unit of Jefferson Medical College by physicians from Wills Eye Hospital. Twenty-four infants had been identified in a screening of 591 patients (4.1%). The other 23 had been referred in for treatment. In 2009, we had 187 outpatient visits related to ROP ranging from 6 months to 67 years of age. Conclusions Because more and more extreme low-birth-weight infants are surviving in western countries and because of the rising numbers of surviving premature infants in emerging nations, we may be on the verge of an ROP epidemic.
Low frictional strength of quartz rocks at subseismic slip rates

[1] Laboratory experiments on rocks at low sliding velocity typically yield values of the friction coefficient of 0.6–0.85. Here we demonstrate that an extraordinary decrease in friction coefficient accompanies sliding of ‘room dry’ quartz rocks at rates faster than in most laboratory experiments, but slower than seismic slip rates. In some cases, the friction coefficient decreases from low-speed values by more than a factor of 3. This extraordinary weakening likely results from the formation of finely comminuted, amorphous, wet material on the sliding surface.
Design for optoelectronic implementation of visual recognition system

ABSTRACT The visual recognition system in animals is an inherently parallel system. Existing very large scale integrated circuit implementations have serious limitations on power consumption and computational speed. We propose a highly parallel optoelectronic system combining elements of the Grossberg and Dobbin vision models and Fukushima's Neocognitronmodel. This high performance machine vision hardware is capable of distortion invariant recognition. Modeling andimplementation of such systems provides insight into the visual recognition function, and also is useful for designing optoelectronic hardware that can be used for many applications. 1, INTRODUCTION In the field of neuroscience, many researchers study the structure of the human visual pathway and the visual cortexstructure However, it is not until recently, scientists have begun to provide comprehensive models of our visual system 4-6 Thus, a system based on the existing biological evidence to develop powerful recognition capability is now possible.Several efforts
Calibration and Validation of the Jason-2/OSTM Advanced Microwave Radiometer Using Terrestrial GPS Stations

We use estimates of zenith tropospheric delay from terrestrial Global Positioning System (GPS) stations to validate the wet path-delay measurements from the Jason-2/Ocean Surface Topography Mission (OSTM) Advanced Microwave Radiometer (AMR). We validate the AMR wet path-delay measurements provided in the version “T” Geophysical Data Records (GDRs) and those generated using a recently developed coastal algorithm that will be applied to the version “C” GDRs. The new coastal algorithm reduces the variance of the GPS-AMR differences by as much as 28% within 25 km of land. This algorithm also facilitates open-ocean measurement accuracies as close to land as 15 km (as opposed to 25 km). We perform AMR/GPS comparisons with three different troposphere-mapping functions for the GPS-based estimates: Niell, Global, and Vienna. The choice of mapping function has minimal impact on our results, although the Vienna mapping function provided the smallest variance in the AMR–GPS differences.
Water, Waste, and Well-Being: A Multicountry Study

Data collected in the late 1980s from eight countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (Burundi, Ghana, Togo, and Uganda), Asia/North Africa (Sri Lanka and Morocco), and the Americas (Bolivia and Guatemala) were combined and analyzed to test whether incremental health effects regarding diarrhea and nutritional status result from incremental improvements in water and sanitation conditions. Rural (n = 11,992) and urban (n = 4,888) samples were analyzed separately. Optimal (i.e., on the premises) and intermediate (improved public water) water supplies were compared with unimproved water conditions. Optimal (flush toilets or water-seal-latrines) and intermediate (latrines) sanitation levels were compared with unimproved sanitation. Nationally representative (random) samples of ever-married women age 15-49 years, with or without children, were interviewed in all countries, and children aged 3-36 months with available weight and height data were included in the analyses. Multiple linear regression controlled for household, maternal, and child-level variables; in addition, dummy variables were included for each country. Improvements in sanitation resulted in less diarrhea and in taller and heavier children with each of the three levels of water supply. Incremental benefits in sanitation were associated with less diarrhea and with additional increases in the weights and heights of children. The effects of improved sanitation were greater among urban dwellers than among rural dwellers. Health benefits from improved water were less pronounced than those for sanitation. Benefits from improved water occurred only when sanitation was improved and only when optimal water was present. These findings suggest that public health intervention should balance epidemiologic data with the cost of services and the demand for water. There should be efforts to develop compatible technologies so that incremental improvements in service can be made.
Compensatory feeding response of the slug Sarasinula plebeia to dietary dilution

Like many polyphagous herbivores, individuals of Sarasinula plebeia (Fischer) (Soleolifera: Veronicellidae) consume a variety of plant species that may differ in nutritional content. In this study we determined the ability of these slugs to compensate for such variation in diet composition. Dilution with water of an agar-based diet containing commercial guinea pig food or carrot root to obtain dry weights (dw) of 90, 70, 40 and 10% of diet fresh weight (fw), caused immature slugs to consume increasingly more fresh weight of food [as much as 4.7-(guinea pig) to 6.1-fold (carrot) more]. Dry weight consumption and body mass-relative dry weight consumption rate also increased at intermediate dilutions, buth with further dilution, dry weight intake declined despite the greater fresh weight consumption. At each dilution level, slugs fed the guinea pig diet consumed from ca. 5-to 6.4-fold more fresh weight than the carrotfed slugs. The former grew substantially, with their final biomass and body mass-relative growth rate varying curvilinearly with diet % dw. If these slugs had not fed more but instead maintained the same fresh weight consumption as slugs in the 90% dw tretments, without altering food utilization efficiencies, then their biomass gain in the 70, 40 and 10% dw treatments would have been only about 62, 43, and 21%, respectively, of the values actually attained. In contrast, carrot-fed slugs did not grow and were only able to maintain their initial biomass. For each diet, slug tissue water (% fw) was highest in the most diluted treatment but did not differ significantly among the other dilution levels. Approximate digestibility of the carrot diet was highest at intermediate dilution levels (ca. 75% of ingested food was digested and absorbed); for the guinea pig diet, this efficiency declined linearly from about 66% to 59% with increased dilution. For slugs that grew (i.e., those fed the guinea pig diet), effeciences of converting digested (29–52%) and ingested (18–33%) food to dry biomass were both curvilinearly related to diet % dw. Thus, S. plebeia, like many other herbivores, has the capacity to increase food consumption substantially inresponse to reduced dietary nutrient level, allowing the slugs to cope with variable nutrient content in their food plants.
ISOLATION OF Edwardsiella tarda FROM AQUATIC ANIMAL SPECIES AND SURFACE WATERS IN FLORIDA

Edwardsiella tarda was isolated from lakes and streams in Northcentral Florida. This emerging enteric bacterial pathogen also was isolated from alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) and brown pelicans (Pelecannus occidentalis carolinensis) on several occasions, and from other species including the ring-billed gull (Larus delewarensis), bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), great blue heron (Ardea herodias), sandhill crane (Grus canadensis), common loon (Gavia immer), and largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). Hemorrhagic enteritis was found in association with E. tarda in some of the species presented.
Ultracentrifugation Studies of Polyelectrolytes in Polyglucose Density Gradient

Abstract An ideal solute for density gradient ultracentrifugation of polymers in aqueous solution should be inert and readily soluble in water to form an extended range of solution densities of low viscosity. High molecular weight is an added attraction because osmotic effects are minimized. Highly branched spherical synthetic polysaccharides fulfill these requirements. High degree of branching is a consequence of the condensation of polyfunctional monomers. Density and relative viscosity of solutions of polyglucose, sucrose, and of a natural sucrose polymer, Ficoll, are compared. The behavior of various polyelectrolytes was studied in low viscosity polyglucose density gradients in equilibrium buoyant density measurement in the ultra-centrifuge. Macromolecules or macromolecular complexes attain low apparent equilibrium buoyant density, probably because of an excluded volume effect of the solute. This allows sedimentation to isopycnic position of complex biopolymers in inert polyglucose solutions, which ot...
Shear- and Compression-induced Chondrocyte Transcription Requires MAPK Activation in Cartilage Explants

Chondrocytes regulate the composition of cartilage extracellular matrix in response to mechanical signals, but the intracellular pathways involved in mechanotransduction are still being defined. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways are activated by static and dynamic compression of cartilage, which simultaneously induce intratissue fluid flow, pressure gradients, cell, and matrix deformation. First, to determine whether cell and matrix deformation alone could induce MAPK activation, we applied dynamic shear to bovine cartilage explants. Using Western blotting, we measured ERK1/2 and p38 activation at multiple time points over 24 h. Distinct activation time courses were observed for different MAPKs: a sustained 50% increase for ERK1/2 and a delayed increase in p38 of 180%. We then investigated the role of MAPK activation in mechano-induced chondrocyte gene expression. Cartilage explants were preincubated with inhibitors of ERK1/2 and p38 activation before application of 1-24 h of three distinct mechanical stimuli relevant to in vivo loading (50% static compression, 3% dynamic compression at 0.1 Hz, or 3% dynamic shear at 0.1 Hz). mRNA levels of selected genes involved in matrix homeostasis were measured using real-time PCR and analyzed by k-means clustering to characterize the time- and load-dependent effects of the inhibitors. Most genes examined required ERK1/2 and p38 activation to be regulated by these loading regimens, including matrix proteins aggrecan and type II collagen, matrix metalloproteinases MMP13, and ADAMTS5, and transcription factors downstream of the MAPK pathway, c-Fos, and c-Jun. Thus, we demonstrated that the MAPK pathway is a central conduit for transducing mechanical forces into biological responses in cartilage.
Role of Analgesic Adjuncts in Postoperative Pain Management

Postoperative pain remains a major problem. A multi-modal analgesic approach is recommended to optimize pain management and reduce opiate-related adverse effects. Several analgesic adjuncts have been investigated, and many have proved to have a useful analgesic effect. This article reviews the literature regarding use of analgesic adjuncts in the perioperative period.
The oxidation behavior of intermetallic compounds

Abstract The selective oxidation of intermetallic compounds is described. It is shown that the fundamental concepts developed for the oxidation of conventional alloys ( e . g . iron- and nickel-base alloys) pertain also to the oxidation of intermetallics with slight modification. The effects of temperature on the development of protective external scales and on the occurrence of “pesting” are considered. The effects of third element additions on the oxidation mechanisms and influence of gas composition on oxidation rates and morphologies and on the formation of volatile reaction products are described. Finally, the effects of interstitial embrittlement of intermetallic compounds are briefly considered. Selected data for compounds of primary interest as high temperature materials (aluminides, silicides) are used to illustrate the above-mentioned fundamentals.
Unprecedented chemistry of an aryloxychlorodiazirine: generation of a dihalodiazirine and diazirinone.

The reaction of p-nitrophenoxychlorodiazirine with tetrabutylammonium fluoride follows three channels: (1) ∼17% of p-nitrophenoxide/fluoride exchange to chlorofluorodiazirine and p-nitrophenol, (2) ∼28% of Cl/F exchange to p-nitrophenoxyfluorodiazirine, and (3) ∼55% of ipso fluoride attack, affording p-nitrofluorobenzene and the previously unknown diazirinone (diazacyclopropenone).
Comparing Electronic News Media Reports of Potential Bioterrorism‐Related Incidents Involving Unknown White Powder to Reports Received by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Federal Bureau of Investigation: U.S.A., 2009–2011

There have been periodic electronic news media reports of potential bioterrorism-related incidents involving unknown substances (often referred to as "white powder") since the 2001 intentional dissemination of Bacillus anthracis through the U.S. Postal System. This study reviewed the number of unknown "white powder" incidents reported online by the electronic news media and compared them with unknown "white powder" incidents reported to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) during a 2-year period from June 1, 2009 and May 31, 2011. RESULTS identified 297 electronic news media reports, 538 CDC reports, and 384 FBI reports of unknown "white powder." This study showed different unknown "white powder" incidents captured by each of the three sources. However, the authors could not determine the public health implications of this discordance. Language: en
Utility of a depression score to predict candidacy for hepatitis C virus therapy in veterans: a prospective longitudinal study

SUMMARY Background: The frequency and determinants of receipt of antiviral therapy once a diagnosis of a mood disorder is established in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients remains unknown. Aim: To examine the incidence and determinants of receiving antiviral therapy in HCV-infected veterans with abnormal scores of Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS). 2 Methods: We systematically evaluated the presence of psychiatric disorders among HCV-infected patients with initial referral between September 2000 and May 2002. We reviewed medical records, obtained history, and administered Zung SDS to evaluate for depressive symptoms. Patients with psychiatric disorders were referred for psychiatric evaluation. The primary outcome was the receiptofantiviraltherapyduringandaftertheinitialevaluation up to December 1, 2003. The association between SDS scores and receipt of antiviral therapy was examined in a multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression. Results: A total of 424 patients completed a Zung SDS. The scores were normal in only 43% of all patients, and were impaired mildly in 25%, moderately in 23%, and severely in 9%. Zung SDS scores were significantly higher in patients who served during the Vietnam War era, participated in combat, or had lower albumin levels. At the end of the first visit, 180 (42%) had psychiatric disorders. An abnormal Zung score (>55) was the only reason for referral to psychiatry in 83 of 180 patients; and in those 78 (94%) a formal psychiatric evaluation confirmed depressive disorder. Psychiatric disorders were the sole contraindication to therapy in 145 (34%) patients in whom eligibility for antiviral therapy was achieved in 42 (29%) during a mean follow-up duration of 27 months. Conclusions: Approximately one-quarter of patients with psychiatric disorders may become eligible for antiviral therapy following subsequent management of these disorders. The Zung self-screening test is an easy, valid method for detecting mood disorders in HCV-infected veterans. 3
Phosphorescence excitation spectra of methylbenzaldehydes in durene single crystals: Site structure and effects of deuterium substition

The low-temperature (15 K) laser phosphorescene excitation spectra of 2,4,5-trimethylbenzaldehyde-1h1 and -1d1, and 2,5-dimethylbenzaldehyde-1h1 and -1d1, each isolated in durene single crystals are presented. Spectra of molecules in each of two different durene crystal sites were obtained. The red shift of the T1(0.0) bands upon deuteration, is consistent with these bands arising from φφ∗ excitations. The red shift of the TMB T2(0.0) and the blue shift of the DMB T2(0.0) may reflect the differing electronic configurations of these states (φφ∗ or nφ∗ respectively) or may be determined by the details of the coupling of T2 to the underlying T1 vibronic levels. A broad continuum-like features was observed in the region of T2. Changes in this feature brought about by deuteration or a change in crystal environment suggest the involvement of both vibronic and crystal-field-induced coupling of T2 to the underlying T1 vibronic levels
Young, middle, and late adolescents' comparisons of the functional importance of five significant relationships

The present study investigated how young (11–13-year-old), middle (14–16-year-old), and late (17–19-year-old) adolescents compared the relative functional importance of their relationships with their mother, their father, their most important sibling, their best same-sex friend, and their most important teacher. Mothers and fathers were perceived as highly important sources of affection, instrumental aid, and reliable alliance by all adolescents; however, the parent-adolescent child relationship was also ranked high on the conflict dimension. Best same-sex friends were ranked highest in all three adolescent groups for intimacy and companionship. Siblings, too, were perceived as important sources of intimacy and companionship; they were also ranked high for the nurturance and conflict dimensions. Relationships with teachers received very low ratings in general.
“Creature-101”: A Serious Game to Promote Energy Balance-Related Behaviors Among Middle School Adolescents

Abstract Background: Considering adolescents' heavy use of media, serious videogames may provide an engaging and innovative way to achieve positive impact on adolescents' diet and physical activity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of playing a serious game, “Creature-101” (developed by Teachers College, Columbia University [New York, NY] and Stottler Henke Inc. [San Mateo, CA]), at promoting energy balance-related behaviors (EBRBs) such as increasing fruits and vegetables intake, water intake, and physical activity and decreasing processed snacks intake, sweetened beverages intake, and recreational screen time. Subjects and Methods: This pre–post intervention–control study (n=590) was conducted in New York City low-income public middle schools. The students (11–13 years of age, 51.6 percent male) played “Creature-101” online in science/health education classes (seven sessions, 30 minutes each session for 1 month). “Creature-101” used behavioral theories as the framework for “creat...
Challenges for Addressing Quality Factors in Model Transformation

Designing a high quality model transformation is critical, because it is the pivotal mechanism in many mission applications for evolving the intellectual design described by models. This paper proposes solution ideas to assist modelers in developing high quality transformation models. We propose to initiate a design pattern movement in the context of model transformation. The resulting catalog of patterns shall satisfy quality attributes identified beforehand. Verification and validation of these patterns allow us to assess whether the cataloged design patterns are sound and complete with respect to the quality criteria. This will lead to techniques and tools that can detect bad designs and propose alternatives based on well-thought design patterns during the development or maintenance of model transformation.
Evaluation and the Cultures of Professional Psychology Education Programs.

Evaluation is an important aspect of professional psychology education programs, particularly as the field moves increasingly toward competency-based models and concerns arise about the qualifications of students in some doctoral programs. Attitudes about evaluation are shaped by the cultures of professional training programs, which are illuminated by K. J. Gergen's (199½000) distinction among the romantic, modernist, and postmodernist views. Issues considered include the effects of competition, the implications of competency-based evaluation, evaluation-free environments versus evaluation-rich environments and safety, the wish for the "riskless risk," faculty roles, faculty modeling, evaluation of faculty by students, and the distinction between client and student roles. The cultures of evaluation and associated attitudes influence the nature of collegiality and how one responds to diverse theoretical positions.
Simulation of Radiofrequency Ablation and Thermal Damage to Tissue

The simulation of radio frequency thermal ablation of liver tissue using finite-element analysis is presented. Temporal and spatial temperature changes around a single needle with and without a small blood vessel were obtained.
Issues in Developing a Faculty Evaluation System

The increasing demands for accountability in higher education are resulting in calls for important personnel decisions— such as promotion, tenure, pay, and continuation—to be based directly on the outcomes of systematic faculty eva l u ations. This article provides a step-by-step pro c e d u re for developing a fair and meaningful faculty evaluation system on which such personnel decisions can be based. The procedure systematically involves faculty and administrators in the design and development of a faculty evaluation program that reflects the unique values, priorities, and heritage of an institution. The resultant faculty evaluation system integrates data from students, peers, and administrators to provide meaningful evaluative information for both faculty use in self-improvement efforts and administrative use in making personnel decisions that are based on a valid and reliable faculty performance record.
The Fundamental Skills of Higher Order Thinking

It may be possible to teach reasoning strategies to subjects with poor reasoning, including many subjects with learning disabilities (LD), using curriculum designed around a sameness analysis. The higher order thinking skills of analogical and logical reasoning are defined using the sameness analysis methodology. The sameness in the strategy for forming a generalization from experience is called "reasoning by analogy," while the sameness in the strategy for applying generalizations is described by the syllogism (logical reasoning). The research base for effective instruction in analogical and logical reasoning, particularly with subjects with LD, is summarized. The wide applicability of reasoning by analogy and by syllogism as complementary strategies is illustrated through their use in a critical review of the editorial page of a daily newspaper, and in linking content material in several domains.
Rat Brain Mast Cells: Contribution to Brain Histamine Levels

Recent studies have shown that mast cells (MCs) are present in rat brain, that they have a predominantly thalamic localization, and that they contain histamine (HA). However, the degree to which these cells contribute to brain HA levels has remained unclear. Our recent studies of the precise distribution of rat brain MCs permitted us to develop a method to determine both the MC numbers and HA content from the same brain. Thalamic MC numbers were highly correlated with both the amount (ng) and the concentration (ng/g) of thalamic HA in both sexes (p less than 0.005). Slopes of these regression lines, suggestive of the HA content of thalamic MCs, were 2.5 and 1.3 pg/cell in males and females, respectively, substantially less than the HA levels in peritoneal MCs. Thalamic MC numbers were not correlated with HA (ng) outside of thalamus, but were significantly (p less than 0.005) correlated with whole brain HA amounts (ng) and levels (ng/g). These results are direct biochemical evidence for a contribution by MCs to brain HA levels, and indicate that thalamic MCs contribute up to 90% of the HA in thalamus, and up to 50% of whole brain HA levels.
The Effect of Artificial Ventilation on Cardiovascular Status and on Heart Rate Conditioning in the Curarized Rat

The relationship between artificial ventilation, cardiovascular status, and operant conditioning in the curarized rat was investigated in a series of studies. Two respiratory parameters, peak inspiratory pressure (PIP) and respiratory rate (RR), were sequentially altered in curarized rats while heart rate and variability, and mean blood pressure were recorded. Heart rate increases or decreases were also rewarded in curarized rats ventilated at differing PIP values, 20 cm H2O or 12 cm H2O. Heart rate and variability were also recorded in non-curarized rats. At PIP 12, heart rate and variability in the curarized rat was very similar to that of the non-curarized rat. These subjects responded to operant contingencies. Subjects ventilated at PIP 20, however, showed elevated, invariant, and unresponsive heart rates. Ventilation therefore, proved an important determinant of cardiovasculur status and conditionability in the curarized rat. RR was not related to heart rate or variability. Neither PIP nor RR affected blood pressure.
Software protection for dynamically-generated code

Process-level Virtual machines (PVMs) often play a crucial role in program protection. In particular, virtualization-based tools like VMProtect and CodeVirtualizer have been shown to provide desirable obfuscation properties (i.e., resistance to disassembly and code analysis). To be efficient, many tools cache frequently-executed code in a code cache. This code is run directly on hardware and consequently may be susceptible to unintended, malicious modification after it has been generated.To thwart such modifications, this work presents a novel methodology that imparts tamper detection at run time to PVM-protected applications. Our scheme centers around the run-time creation of a network of software knots (an instruction sequence that checksums portions of the code) to detect tamper. These knots are used to check the integrity of cached code, although our techniques could be applied to check any software-protection properties. Used in conjunction with established static techniques, our solution provides a mechanism for protecting PVM-generated code from modification.We have implemented a PVM system that automatically inserts code into an application to dynamically generate polymorphic software knots. Our experiments show that PVMs do indeed provide a suitable platform for extending guard protection, without the addition of high overheads to run-time performance and memory. Our evaluations demonstrate that these knots add less than 10% overhead while providing frequent integrity checks.
Understanding the elasticity of fibronectin fibrils: unfolding strengths of FN-III and GFP domains measured by single molecule force spectroscopy.

Abstract While it is well established that fibronectin (FN) matrix fibrils are elastic, the mechanism of fibril elasticity during extension is still debated. To investigate the molecular origin of FN fibril elasticity, we used single molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS) to determine the unfolding behavior of a recombinant FN-III protein construct that contained eight FN-III domains (1–8FN-III) and two green fluorescent protein (GFP) domains. FN-III domains were distinguished from GFP domains by their shorter unfolding lengths. The unfolding strengths of both domains were determined for a wide range of pulling rates (50 to 1745 nm/s). We found that the mechanical stabilities of FN-III and GFP domains were very similar to each other over the entire range of pulling speeds. FN fibrils containing GFP remain brightly fluorescent, even when stretched, meaning that GFP domains remain largely folded. Since GFP and FN-III have equal unfolding strengths, this suggests that FN-III domains are not extensively unraveled in stretched FN fibrils. Our results thus favor an alternative model, which invokes a conformational change from a compact to an extended conformation, as the basis for FN fibril elasticity.
On-Line Monitoring of Bioreactors by Fluorometry

At present time, on-line monitoring of bioprocesses is still one of the most challenging research areas in biochemical engineering. While most industrial fermentors can be controlled by monitoring such extracellular parameters such as dissolved oxygen, pH and temperature, the most important bioprocess parameters, cell concentration and cellular metabolic state as well as substrate and product concentrations cannot be monitored directly on-line. This has limited the control and optimization of bioprocesses.
When does diversity fit null model predictions? Scale and range size mediate the mid‐domain effect

Aim Recently, a flurry of studies have focused on the extent to which geographical patterns of diversity fit mid-domain effect (MDE) null models. While some studies find strong support for MDE null models, others find little. We test two hypotheses that might explain this variation among studies: small-ranged groups of species are less likely than large-ranged species to show mid-domain peaks in species richness, and mid-domain null model predictions are less robust for smaller spatial extents than for larger spatial extents. Location We analyse data sets from elevational, riverine, continental and other domains from around the world. Methods We use a combination of Spearman rank correlations and binomial tests to examine whether differences within and among studies and domains in the predictive power of MDE null models vary with spatial scale and range size. Results Small-ranged groups of species are less likely to fit mid-domain predictions than large-ranged groups of species. At large spatial extents, diversity patterns of taxonomic groups with large mean range sizes fit MDE null model predictions better than did diversity patterns of groups with small mean range sizes. MDE predictions were more explanatory at larger spatial extents than at smaller extents. Diversity patterns at smaller spatial extents fit MDE predictions poorly across all range sizes. Thus, MDE predictions should be expected to explain patterns of species richness when ranges and the scale of analysis are both large.
Parametrically controlled synthetic imagery experiment for face recognition testing

The use of synthetic imagery for testing biometric systems is relatively new and in need of further exploration. In this paper, we describe methods and procedures for using synthetic images generated from shape and texture data to refine and extend the current state of the art of face recognition performance testing. Two example experiments are presented based on the canonical Facial Recognition Vendor Test 2000---pose experiments and temporal experiments. We demonstrate how the use of synthetically generated face models (and resulting images) can enhance and extend existing test protocols and analysis. These methods and results will be of use to developers and practitioners alike.
Habituating pigs for in-pen, non-invasive biophysical skin analysis.

Summary The purpose of this study was to develop a method for habituatingpigs ( Sus scrofa dom estica , middle white strain) to enable non-invasive, biophysical measurements of dorsal skin to be obtained on a daily basis over a 7-week period, thus eliminating the need for anaesthesia or restraint. This was accomplished by associating measurements of transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and skin reflectance spectroscopy (SRS) with feeding times, and with positive reinforcement by allowing exercise outside the home pen. During the pig habituation period, a well-defined series of behavioural changes were observed that included dominant = submissive leadership changes. Values of TEWL (6.29 1.25 g.m 72 .h 71 ) were in agreement with previous studies (7.56 2.90 g.m 72 .h 71 ) obtained from unrestrained Yucatan hairless micro-pigs (Gabard et al. 1995). The coefficient of variance of TEWL and SRS measurements were comparable with those reported previously using anaesthetized pigs (Chilcott et al. 2000). These data imply that biophysical skin measurements obtained from unrestrained, conscious animals are comparable to those obtained from anaesthetized pigs and therefore, support the use of unrestrained pigs for non-invasive biophysical skin measurements. Habituating animals for in-pen, non-invasive, biophysical measurements has substantial implications for reducing and refining laboratory animal experiments in dermatological research without compromising animal welfare.