cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Context Effects at Encoding and Judgment in Consumption Settings: The Role of Cognitive Resources

When consumers learn about a new product, cues in the surrounding context have been found to bias their response to the product in two ways. In some instances, judgments of the product are assimilated toward the affect or descriptive implications associated with the context, whereas in other circumstances, responses are contrasted with or adjusted away from the context. We examine how cognitive resources influence whether assimilation or contrast occurs and when such context effects are reflected in subsequent judgments. Building on a model developed by Martin and his colleagues, we propose that assimilation will occur spontaneously during encoding. Contrast will occur only when this contextual influence is viewed as inappropriate and efforts to partial out the context result in overcorrection. These encoding effects of context should be evident in later judgments when the nature of either the judgment task or consumers' predisposition toward effortful thought encourage retrieval of the context-encoded information. The results of two experiments support our predictions and lead to a modified version of Martin's model. In this model, the cognitive resources available at encoding determine the type of context effect and the cognitive resources at judgment determine whether the encoding effect of context will be reflected in product evaluations.
Defects in GaN Nanowires

High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (XTEM) are used to characterize common defects in wurtzite GaN nanowires grown via a vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) mechanism. HRTEM shows that these nanowires contain numerous (001) stacking defects interspersed with small cubic GaN regions. Using XTEM, bicrystalline nanowires are discovered with twofold rotational twin axes along their growth directions, and are found to grow along high-index directions or vicinal to low-index planes. We propose a defect-mediated VLS growth model to qualitatively account for the prevalence of these extended defects, and discuss the implications of these defects for nanowire growth kinetics and device behavior.
Fracture propagation near a frictionally - constrained fiber interface

Abstract This work provides a three-dimensional numerical fracture mechanics analysis of a crack periphery as it propagates through a brittle matrix and encounters an individual brittle fiber. The surface integral method, based upon a distribution of singular fundamental solutions, is used to represent both the cracks and the coupled interfacial sliding zone. The interfacial frictional tractions are assumed to satisfy a Coulomb relationship and are determined iteratively from the stress induced by the matrix crack, the stress induced by the developing slip, and the initial normal compressive interfacial stress (i.e. from setting or thermal mismatch). Simulations of an initially long straight crack front moving toward and past a fiber for different interfacial frictional characteristics were conducted. The implications for tailoring fiber/matrix interfaces to optimize the global toughening effect are discussed. If the interface between fiber and matrix is cohesive enough (but not too cohesive) then tractions which develop at the interface may effectively retard the local growth of a matrix crack. Raising the friction coefficient (or cohesion) at the interface must, however, be balanced against the potential for fiber failure in the high stress zone near the matrix crack periphery. The implications frictional slippage holds for inhibiting and possibly arresting small matrix cracks are emphasized.
Magnetic-dipolar Contributions to the Nonlinear Optical Properties of Plasmonic Nanoparticle Assemblies

The relative electric- and magnetic-dipolar contributions to plasmon-mediated nonlinear optical signals of colloidal metal nanoparticle assemblies were quantified using single-particle, polarization-resolved second harmonic generation microscopy. Chiral nanoparticle surface fields were identified.
Translational Diffusion in Lipid Bilayers: Dynamic Free-Volume Theory and Molecular Dynamics Simulation

Position- and direction-dependent diffusion coefficients of spherical, nonpolar solutes as represented by noble gases in a model lipid bilayer are investigated by nonequilibrium and equilibrium molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The nonequilibrium MD method, which is based on linear response theory, is developed by determining an optimal range of external forces in which the response of solute mean velocities is linear and the perturbation to bilayer properties is minimal and by comparing with equilibrium MD simulation and experiment. Solute diffusivity is found to be smaller in a more ordered acyl-chain region and in the plane normal to the bilayer interface and exhibits markedly different dependences on solute size, depending on location in the bilayer interior and diffusion direction. The diffusion coefficients calculated closely follow those obtained from free-flight-length distributions of solute, a novel measure of free-volume anisotropy, based on the Einstein relation, suggesting that free volume...
Ontogeny of b lymphocyte function. X. Strain differences in maturation of the capacity of the b lymphocyte population to produce a high-affinity antibody response.

The ontogeny of the B lymphocyte population to be capable of producing a high-affinity plaque-forming cell (PFC) response to a haptenic determinant was studied by cell-transfer techniques in five different mouse strains. Lethally irradiated adult mice were reconstituted with liver from fetal or neonatal donors or spleen from young donors as a source of B lymphocytes. In addition, all animals received 1 × 108 adult thymus cells. Recipients were immunized with dinitrophenylated bovine gamma-globulin (DNP-BGG) one day after cell transfer. The heterogeneity of affinity of their anti-DNP PFC response was assayed by hapten inhibition of plaque formation. It was established by use of congenic mice differing at the Igh locus that only donor cells responded under these conditions. By use of this transfer system, it was shown that the B cell populations of A/HeJ, AKR and C57L/J mice aquire the capacity to produce a high-affinity PFC response between day 15 and 18 of fetal life. The B cell populations of LAF1 and DBA/1 J mice mature between 7 and 10 days after birth. The B cell population of C57BL/6 J mice matures between 21 and 28 days of age. In LAF1 and AKR mice, the B cell population acquires the capacity to generate a high-affinity indirect PFC response at approximately the same time as the capacity to generate a high-affinity direct PFC response. The time of maturation of the capacity to generate indirect PFC was found to differ in different strains of mice. Maturation of the capacity to produce indirect PFC appears to represent a dinstinctly different differentiation event from the acquisition of the capacity to produce a high-affinity PFC response. The data suggest that the maturation of the B cell population to be capable of producing high-affinity PFC is a precisely regulated differentiation event, the timing of which is strain-related. Preliminary data suggest that this regulation is not linked to either the H-2 haplotype or to the Igh allotype.
Increased expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase in bladder afferent pathways following chronic bladder irritation

Immunocytochemical techniques were used to examine alterations in the expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in bladder pathways following acute and chronic irritation of the urinary tract of the rat. Chemical cystitis was induced by cyclophosphamide (CYP) which is metabolized to acrolein, an irritant eliminated in the urine. Injection of CYP (n = 10, 75 mg/kg, i.p.) 2 hours prior to perfusion (acute treatment) of the animals increased Fos-immunoreactivity (IR) in neurons in the dorsal commissure, dorsal horn, and autonomic regions of spinal segments (L1-L2 and L6-S1) which receive afferent inputs from the bladder, urethra, and ureter. Fos-IR in the spinal cord was not changed in rats receiving chronic CYP treatment (n = 15, 75 mg/kg, i.p., every 3rd day for 2 weeks). In control animals and in animals treated acutely with CYP, only small numbers of NOS-IR cells (0.5-0.7 cell profiles/sections) were detected in the L6-S1 dorsal root ganglia (DRG). Chronic CYP administration significantly (P < or = .002) increased bladder weight by 60% and increased (7- to 11-fold) the numbers of NOS-immunoreactive (IR) afferent neurons in the L6-S1 DRG. A small increase (1.5-fold) also occurred in the L1 DRG, but no change was detected in the L2 and L5 DRG. Bladder afferent cells in the L6-S1 DRG labeled by Fluorogold (40 microliters) injected into the bladder wall did not exhibit NOS-IR in control animals; however, following chronic CYP administration, a significant percentage of bladder afferent neurons were NOS-IR: L6 (19.8 +/- 4.6%) and S1 (25.3 +/- 2.9%). These results indicate that neuronal gene expression in visceral sensory pathways can be upregulated by chemical irritation of afferent receptors in the urinary tract and/or that pathological changes in the urinary tract can initiate chemical signals that alter the chemical properties of visceral afferent neurons.
Adaptation of bivariate frailty models for prediction, with application to biological markers as prognostic indicators

Serial biological markers are often used in medicine as prognostic indicators. For example, elevated tumour antigen tests presage tumour recurrence; rapid decrease in the CD4 cell counts of HIV + individuals indicate high risk for developing AIDS. Methods for evaluating the usefulness of markers should address how the prediction of future risk is revised, in a way that assists the making of decisions at the time such an indicator is observed. Proportional hazards modelling with time-varying covariates, a common approach, seems unnatural for this purpose because its orientation is explanatory; it addresses the question 'Is the individual suffering a failure more likely to have had the marker?', and allows use of all information prior to the failure, rather than the more relevant predictive question 'Does the appearance of the marker alter the individual's subsequent risk enough to warrant intervention today?'. Frailty models do address this question, but available methods for their analysis make censoring assumptions which are inappropriate in the predictive setting. We adapt frailty models to relevant censoring processes, and propose a predictively oriented test statistic and a related estimation procedure based on summing concurrent martingales, each representing a 'landmark' analysis.
Preparation and partial characterization of a lamellar body fraction from rat lung

Abstract A lamellar body fraction has been prepared from rat lung by flotation from a sucrose homogenate. Mitochondria and microsomes, for comparative metabolic study, may be removed from the same homogenate by differential centrifugation. Electron microscopic examination of this fraction has revealed intact lamellar bodies. Mitochondrial and microsomal contamination is minimal, as evidenced by low cytochrome c oxidase activity and the absence of cytochromes P-450 and b5. Additionally, the fraction has a high phospholipid/protein ratio, and is surface active.
Toward automating a human behavioral coding system for married couples' interactions using speech acoustic features

Observational methods are fundamental to the study of human behavior in the behavioral sciences. For example, in the context of research on intimate relationships, psychologists' hypotheses are often empirically tested by video recording interactions of couples and manually coding relevant behaviors using standardized coding systems. This coding process can be time-consuming, and the resulting coded data may have a high degree of variability because of a number of factors (e.g., inter-evaluator differences). These challenges provide an opportunity to employ engineering methods to aid in automatically coding human behavioral data. In this work, we analyzed a large corpus of married couples' problem-solving interactions. Each spouse was manually coded with multiple session-level behavioral observations (e.g., level of blame toward other spouse), and we used acoustic speech features to automatically classify extreme instances for six selected codes (e.g., ''low'' vs. ''high'' blame). Specifically, we extracted prosodic, spectral, and voice quality features to capture global acoustic properties for each spouse and trained gender-specific and gender-independent classifiers. The best overall automatic system correctly classified 74.1% of the instances, an improvement of 3.95% absolute (5.63% relative) over our previously reported best results. We compare performance for the various factors: across codes, gender, classifier type, and feature type.
Morphologic and phenotypic changes of human neuroblastoma cells in culture induced by cytosine arabinoside

Abstract The effects of cytosine-arabinoside (ARA-C) on the growth and phenotypic expression of a new human neuroblastoma (NB) cell line (GI-ME-N) have been extensively tested. Low doses of ARA-C allowing more than 90% cell viability induce morphological differentiation and growth inhibition. Differentiated cells were larger and flattened with elongated dendritic processes; such cells appeared within 48 h after a dose of ARA-C as low as 0.1 μ/ml (about 1000-fold lower than the conventional clinic dose). The new morphological aspect reached the maximum expression after 5–6 days of culture being independent from the addition of extra drug to the culture. A decrease in [ 3 H]thymidine incorporation was also observed within 24 h and the cell growth was completely inhibited on the sixth day. Moreover, ARA-C strongly inhibited anchorage-independent growth in soft agar assay. Membrane immunofluorescence showed several dramatic changes in NB-specific antigen expression after 5 days of treatment with ARA-C. At the same time ARA-C also modulated cytoskeletal proteins and slightly increased catecholamine expression. These findings suggest that noncytotoxic doses of ARA-C do promote the differentiation of GI-ME-N neuroblastoma cells associated with reduced expression of the malignant phenotype.
John T. McNaughton and Vietnam: The Early Years as Assistant Secretary of Defense, 1964–1965

John T. McNaughton is one of the least understood of the major American officials involved in formulating US policy towards the Vietnam War. This article uses a newly discovered journal by McNaughton as well as his private papers to examine the reasons for his opposition to the Vietnam War and to suggest that his perceived image as a ‘hawk’ is inaccurate.
Exploratory studies aimed at a synthesis of vinigrol. 4. Probe of possible means for direct connection of the side arms and of ring-contraction alternatives.

Attempts have been made to gain access to the vinigrol structural framework by way of three routes. These include reductive transannular cyclization, adaptation of the Ramberg−Backlund rearrangement, and deployment of the lactam−sulfoxide ring contraction protocol. While the first of these options involves direct transannular C−C bond formation, the other two embody the concept of larger ring construction as a prelude to ring contraction. The initial installation of a sulfur atom involves prior thiacyclononane formation, a process believed to be potentially easier to accomplish. However, arrival at 13, 14, or 17 was not achieved. Installation of the heterocyclic ring contained in 31 proved to be equally problematic. Increased disassembly of the molecular structure as featured in dibromide 20 did allow for direct conversion to sulfone 22. This advanced building block proved not be conducive to in situ α-chlorination and extrusion of the sulfur atom.
Scintillation from slow protons: A probe of monopole detection capabilities.

We describe an experiment which has detected light emission from a plastic scintillator due to neutron-induced recoil protons with initial energies as small as 410 eV. The velocity of such protons is smaller than that expected of grand-unified-theory magnetic monopoles. Searches for these exotic particles will therefore not be limited by kinematic or adiabatic constraints at velocities in excess of 9\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}4}$c.
Trapped helium and argon and the formation of the atmosphere by degassing

I REPORT here some radiogenic 4He and 40Ar data measured in the glass margins of deep sea pillow basalts, and comment on their applicability to discussions of formation of the Earth's atmosphere by degassing from a solid Earth. Discussions of such degassing generally assume either catastrophic or continuous degassing (see refs 1, 2 and references therein). In fact, there is no reason why these two sets of models should be considered to be mutually exclusive. The history of the Earth may include both a catastrophic event with an associated ‘big burp’, and later continuous degassing.
Quantum Chemical Molecular Dynamics Model Study of Fullerene Formation from Open-Ended Carbon Nanotubes†

We present quantum chemical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations for a model formation process of fullerene molecules. Trajectories of up to 24-ps lengths were computed for (5,5), (7,3), (8,0), (9,0), (10,0), and (10,5) open-ended single-walled carbon nanotubes for a temperature range between 2000 and 4000 K at various tube lengths, using density functional based tight-binding (DFTB) molecular dynamics. DFTB was selected because geometries and energies obtained are found to qualitatively agree with B3LYP/6-31G(d) results at much smaller cost of computer time. Extremely fast cage formation was observed with simulation times as short as 3 ps, and most simulations at 3000 and 4000 K led to the formation of fullerene structures within less than 14-ps simulation times. Key structural features for the transformation of tubes to fullerenes are identified, such as the overwhelming presence of acetylenic “wobbling C2 units”, which form spontaneously in great abundance at the open ends of the tubes. A comparison of ...
Ideality of pressure-sensitive paint. III. Effect of the base-coat permeability on the luminescence behavior of the sensing layer

The response time and temperature dependence of a pressure-sensitive paint (PSP) based on platinum tetra(pentafluorophenyl)porphine (PtTFPP) in the fluoroacrylic polymer FIB significantly increases for bilayer paint systems that include a base coat made of different polymers with solid TiO2 added as scattering agent, compared to the single-layer sensor paint. The temperature dependencies at vacuum are the same in the various bilayer coatings (paint/base coat) as compared to monolayer paint, roughly −0.53%/oC. With FIB base coat the percent of TiO2 is adjusted to reduce photodegradation, in which case only a slight increase in response time (0.6 0.8 s) is caused by the base coat and there is almost no change in temperature dependence at 1 atm. However, in the cases of the less permeable polymers, poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) and poly(vinyl acetate) (PVA), there is increased response time of the bilayer coating (rising, respectively, to 15 and 7 s) and significantly greater temperature dependence at 1 atm. The highly impermeable polyacrylonitrile (PAN) as base coat shows little effect on response time but a somewhat higher temperature dependence at 1 atm compared to vacuum. For the highly permeable polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), adjustment of the TiO2 concentration is needed to prevent an increase in temperature dependence but both PDMS base coats tested have response times < 2 s and low-temperature dependence. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 77: 2815–2823, 2000
Development of outcome-based, multipollutant mobile source indicators

Multipollutant indicators of mobile source impacts are developed from readily available CO, NOx, and elemental carbon (EC) data for use in air quality and epidemiologic analysis. Two types of outcome-based Integrated Mobile Source Indicators (IMSI) are assessed. The first is derived from analysis of emissions of EC, CO, and NOx such that pollutant concentrations are mixed and weighted based on emission ratios for both gasoline and diesel vehicles. The emission-based indicators (IMSIEB) capture the impact of mobile sources on air quality estimated from receptor models and their uncertainty is comparable to measurement and source apportionment uncertainties. The IMSIEB have larger correlation between two different receptor sites impacted by traffic than single pollutants, suggesting they are better indicators of the local impact of mobile sources. A sensitivity analysis of fractions of pollutants in a two-pollutant mixture and the inclusion in an epidemiologic model is conducted to develop a second set of i...
Characterization of cellulose acetate membranes by low-pressure transport

Abstract A precision-bore cell, resembling in function a thistle tube, is described and then used to obtain low-pressure permeability data for two Eastman 39.8% acetylated cellulose acetate membranes: UF-10 and RO-97. Water transport through the former is described by Poiseuille's law, with a calculated effective pore radius of 7.6 nm. The RO-97 is composite, with a thicker porous layer like that of the UF-10 membrane, and with a thinner dense layer. By using flow data through both membranes, it was estimated that the dense layer is 73 nm thick, that 92% of the pressure drop is across this dense layer, and that flow through this layer is by molecular diffusion. The diffusion coefficient of water through the dense layer varies from 4.34 × 10−7 cm2/sec (at 25°C) to 5.73 × 10−7 cm2/sec (at 40°C).
Patient selection for endovascular repair of aortoiliac aneurysms.

Abstract Purpose: This study was conducted to establish criteria to aid in the selection of patients for endovascular repair of aorto-iliac aneurysms. Methods: Characterization of pertinent factors used to determine whether a patient is eligible to undergo stent-graft repair of an aorto-iliac aneurysm. Principal findings and conclusions: The determinant factor that dictates whether or not one is eligible to undergo endovascular repair of aorto-iliac aneurysm is the arterial anatomy of the affected area and its surrounding vessels. Some of the initial limitations imposed in this technology have changed such as an acceptance of much shorter neck than initially conceptualized, by the use of supra-renal stent deployment. However, unsolved issues remain regarding the differentiation of thrombus and atherosclerotic plaque in the infra-renal aortic region, iliac artery disease, and the need to have an enhanced flexibility of the delivery system for proper deployment in tortuous aortic necks. The question of long-term device durability remains the most important issue that has to be taken into consideration before one chooses minimally invasive endovascular approaches.
Feedback-basedWorm Containment

Most worm containment measures operate in two modes based on a threshold. Below the threshold, the containment measure assumes all traffic to be benign, whereas above it all anomalous traffic is considered to be malicious. We argue that such measures can lead to considerable damage before a response is triggered. Thus, we need measures that operate in a conservative manner from the time a worm is suspected until confirmation. We argue that such a measure will need to be feedback based. To design such a feedback measure, we first model worm propagation across a network connected to the Internet. Using this model we mathematically derive the conditions necessary to contain the spread of a worm in this network within certain bounds. Then we propose a feedback based algorithm that incorporates these conditions. Through simulation based study we validate the algorithm.
In vivo tumor inhibitory activity of normal human serum.

SummaryNormal human serum contains a heat-labile, non-dialyzable, ammonium-sulfate precipitable euglobulin fraction that inhibited growth of Sarcoma 180 cells in vivo. This component was found to be active between pH 5-9 and required no divalent cations. Schizophrenic serum was also found to be inhibitory to Sarcoma 180 cells. Sera of individuals with blood dyscrasias failed to protect mice against tumor development.
HIGH RESOLUTION X-RAY PHOTOELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY OF STYRENE OXIDE ADSORPTION AND REACTION ON AG(111)

Abstract Synchrotron-based X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) has been used to investigate the adsorption and reaction of styrene oxide on Ag(1 1 1). When adsorption is carried out at 250 K or above, ring opening of styrene oxide forms a stable surface oxametallacycle intermediate which eventually reacts at 485 K to regenerate styrene oxide. High resolution XPS is capable of distinguishing the oxametallacycle from molecularly adsorbed and condensed styrene oxide on the basis of different C1s peak separations. The observed separations are well accounted for by the results of DFT calculations.
Quality of reporting of experimental studies in medical education: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE Determine the prevalence of essential elements of reporting in experimental studies in medical education. DESIGN Systematic review. DATA SOURCES Articles published in 2003 and 2004 in Academic Medicine, Advances in Health Sciences Education, American Journal of Surgery, Journal of General Internal Medicine, Medical Education, and Teaching and Learning in Medicine. REVIEW METHODS Articles describing education experiments, including evaluation studies with experimental designs, were identified (n = 185) by reviewing titles and abstracts. A random sample (n = 110) was selected for full review. The full text of each article was evaluated for the presence of guideline-based features of quality reporting: a critical literature review, conceptual framework, statement of study intent (e.g. aim, research question, or hypothesis), statement of study design, definition of main intervention and comparison intervention or control group, and consideration of human subject rights. RESULTS Of the 105 articles suitable for review, 47 (45%) contained a critical literature review and 58 (55%) presented a conceptual framework. A statement of study intent was present in 80 articles (76%), among which the independent and dependent variables were operationally defined in 38 (47%) and 26 articles (32%), respectively. A total of 17 articles (16%) contained an explicit study design statement. Among the 48 studies with a comparison group, 35 (73%) clearly defined the comparison intervention or control group. Institutional review board approval or participant consent was reported in 44 articles (42%). CONCLUSIONS The quality of reporting of experimental studies in medical education was generally poor. Criteria are proposed as a starting point for establishing reporting standards for medical education research.
Identifying independence in bayesian networks

An important feature of Bayesian networks is that they facilitate explicit encoding of information about independencies in the domain, information that is indispensable for efficient inferencing. This article characterizes all independence assertions that logically follow from the topology of a network and develops a linear time algorithm that identifies these assertions. The algorithm's correctness is based on the soundness of a graphical criterion, called d-separation, and its optimality stems from the completeness of d-separation. An enhanced version of d-separation, called D-separation, is defined, extending the algorithm to networks that encode functional dependencies. Finally, the algorithm is shown to work for a broad class of nonprobabilistic independencies.
Novel stent system for accurate placement in aorto-ostial renal artery disease: preclinical study in porcine renal artery model.

Abstract Background Treatment of aorto-ostial renal artery stenosis has been associated with a lower procedural success and higher complication and restenosis rate, as compared to nonostial lesions. The design and delivery of currently available stent systems in ostial lesions can result in inaccurate stent positioning and placement leading to stent protrusion into the parent vessel lumen or geographic miss. A novel stent system (SquareOne Inc., Campbell, CA, USA) has been designed specifically for aorto-ostial lesions in the renal artery. This stent system aims to provide both tactile and visual confirmation of the ostium at the aorta, allow for improved accuracy during stent positioning and placement, provide complete scaffolding of the lesion at the aortic junction to the native vessel, and enable future vessel reaccess. Methods Stents (n=12) were implanted in both renal arteries of six swine. For histology, two animals were euthanized immediately after stent implantation, and each two animals were then followed up at 2 and 4 weeks, respectively. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) studies were performed immediately after stent implantation and at follow-up. Results Proper stent positioning and implantation was obtained in all animals. Angiographic and IVUS assessments indicated no dissection or thrombus formation. Histology demonstrated good apposition and endothelialization of the stent strut surface. Conclusion The unique flared shape of this novel ostial stent system allows for improved accuracy during stent positioning and placement, as well as complete apposition and coverage/scaffolding of the similarly-shaped luminal ostium. Future studies will determine if this novel stent system fulfills the unmet clinical need in aorto-ostial stenoses.
Predicting power changes under transformations in anova tests

We develop a statistic for predicting the change in power under a class of transformations {f} and apply it to approximating the influence of f on the type I error, to evaluating the joint effect of design and transformation on power of a given test and to determining the role of variance stabilizing-symmetrizing transformations in changes in power.
Modification of poly(vinyl alcohol) by heat in the presence of chromium compounds

Films of poly(vinyl alcohol) containing 20 mole-% residual acetate groups are readily soluble in cold water. Films heated to temperatures above 170°C. crystallize and become insoluble in water although they are swollen by it. Heating to temperatures above 240°C. produces films which are no longer swollen by water. Thermogravimetry shows that there is no extensive decomposition below 270°C., but differential thermal analysis reveals a strongly exothermic reaction in this temperature range. It is believed that a crosslinking reaction occurs in the 240-270°C. range.
ionospheric modification with a VLF transmitter

Detectable heating of the nightime D region by a 28.5 kHz signal is observed in 16 out of 144 cases with events occurring under conditions of moderate to low D region electron densities as represented by the unperturbed VLF signal levels. Three dimensional modeling of the effects of NAU heating on a probe VLF signal predicts values in general agreement with observations and suggests that maximum effects should occur under tenuous D region conditions.
Using patient instructors to teach behavioral counseling skills

The authors developed an exercise to teach medical students counseling skills for promoting change in health-related behaviors using trained patient instructors (PIs) who enact the patient role, perform a standardized evaluation of the interview, and provide instructional feedback. Third-year medical students in two consecutive academic years at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry received either feedback from a faculty member on a videotaped interview between the students and a simulated patient (SP) or direct feedback from a PI immediately following the students' interview with the PI. The students in the PI group gave higher ratings to the realism and effectiveness of the interview session than did students in the SP group. Students in both groups rated PI feedback as more helpful than videotaped review, even though they had experienced only one of these two methods. This exercise represents a new use of patient instructors that may also be applicable to teaching counseling skills in other areas of behavioral medicine.
Monitoring biofilm attachment on medical devices surfaces using hyperspectral imaging

Microbial biofilm is a colony of single bacteria cells (planktonic) that attached to surfaces, attract other microorganisms to attach and grow, and together they build an extracellular matrix composed of polysaccharides, protein, and DNA. Eventually, some cells will detach and spread to other surface. Biofilm on medical devices can cause severe infection to all age ranges from infant to adult. Therefore, it is important to detect biofilm in a fast and efficient manner. Hyperspectral imaging was utilized for distinguishing wide area of biofilm coverage on various materials and on different textures of stainless steeltest coupons. Not only is the coverage of biofilm important, but also the shear stress of biofilm on the attached surfaces is significant. This study investigates the effects of shear stress on the adhesion of biofilms on common medical device surfaces such as glass, polycarbonate, polytetrafluoroethylene, and stainless steel with different textures. Biofilm was grown using Ps. aeruginosa and growth was monitored after 24 and 48 hours at 37° C. The coupons covered with biofilm were tilted at 45 degrees and 90 degrees for 30 seconds to induce shear stress and Hyperspectral images were taken. We hypothesize that stronger attachment on rough surface would be able to withstand greater shear stress compared to smooth surface.
Lunch line: using public displays and mobile devices to encourage healthy eating in an organization

In this paper, we explore using large digital displays in combination with a personal mobile application to publicly and privately encourage people to make healthy choices. We designed, built, and deployed an experimental system called Lunch Line that promoted healthy eating. Lunch Line includes a public display that enables passersby to view the reported eating behavior of a group of people and take on daily "food challenges," and a mobile web application that allows users to record personal food choices, report challenge achievement, and compare their choices with other users and with USDA recommendations. Results from a 3-week field evaluation at a company cafeteria showed that our integrated system was effective in drawing public attention, delivering challenges, enabling self-tracking and self-reflection, and providing feedback on personal and group choices. We share lessons on how to design future systems that integrate situated public displays and personal mobile devices to encourage healthy choices.
The performance of a Gunn diode under the influence of gamma radiation

A Gunn diode has been tested under the influence of 2.1 × 106R/h gamma radiation from a 1.5-MeV Van de Graaf generator. A slight decrease in output power was detected under radiation conditions which could be due in part to heat generation. No significant changes in performance were observed.
Planar array infrared emission spectroscopy.

Planar array infrared spectroscopy (PA-IR) is shown to be a powerful new approach to infrared emission spectroscopy (IRES). A proof-of-concept study of selected polymers indicates that PA-IRES allows acquisition of emission spectra with a high signal-to-noise ratio at temperatures as low as 80 °C. It is shown that a time resolution below 20 ms is readily achievable for time-resolved characterization of single non-repeatable events. The possibility of recording spatially resolved emission spectra is also demonstrated, and potential applications of this novel technique are finally described.
An accurate variation of the two‐step lax‐wendroff integration of horizontal advection

The split technique is one method used to integrate the primitive equations of motion efficiently. The horizontal advection is commonly integrated by the two-step Lax-Wendroff scheme. Both Gadd and Carpenter have discussed the design of operators to give either accurate amplitude or phase speed. This paper extends their analysis to yield a method which has both accurate amplitude and phase speed.
Approach to the older patient with cancer.

The incidence of cancer increases with advanced age. And as the world population ages, clinicians will be faced with a growing number of older patients with cancer. The challenge that clinicians face involves carefully choosing the type of therapeutic care plan that is most appropriate given a person’s level of physical reserve, medical comorbidities, and psychosocial resources. Inclusion of assessment tools in clinical practice such as a comprehensive geriatric assessment can assist clinicians in identifying patients who will benefit from aggressive cancer care or palliative measures. The role of palliative care, especially in the frail older patient, is critical in improving quality of life. Improvement in best care practices in older patients with cancer requires their inclusion in clinical trials.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 gp120 Induces Apoptosis in Human Primary Neurons through Redox-Regulated Activation of Neutral Sphingomyelinase

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection is known to cause disorders of the CNS, including HIV-associated dementia (HAD). HIV-1 coat protein gp120 (glycoprotein 120) induces neuronal apoptosis and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of HAD. However, the mechanism by which gp120 causes neuronal apoptosis is poorly understood. The present study underlines the importance of gp120 in inducing the production of ceramide, an important inducer of apoptosis, in human primary neurons. gp120 induced the activation of sphingomyelinases (primarily the neutral one) and the production of ceramide in primary neurons. Antisense knockdown of neutral (NSMase) but not acidic (ASMase) sphingomyelinase markedly inhibited gp120-mediated apoptosis and cell death of primary neurons, suggesting that the activation of NSMase but not ASMase plays an important role in gp120-mediated neuronal apoptosis. Similarly, the HIV-1 regulatory protein Tat also induced neuronal cell death via NSMase. Furthermore, gp120-induced production of ceramide was redox sensitive, because reactive oxygen species were involved in the activation of NSMase but not ASMase. gp120 coupled CXCR4 (CXC chemokine receptor 4) to induce NADPH oxidase-mediated production of superoxide radicals in neurons, which was involved in the activation of NSMase but not ASMase. These studies suggest that gp120 may induce neuronal apoptosis in the CNS of HAD patients through the CXCR4-NADPH oxidase-superoxide-NSMase-ceramide pathway.
Professional Roles of Dietitians: Do Dietitians and Physicians Agree?

In some quarters, dietitians and physicians do not agree on a role for dietetic practitioners. Dietitians seem to be more highly regarded, and their counsel is sought and advice heeded when both health professionals work on developing collegial relationships. Education matters: a course in nutrition for physicians-to-be and more depth in the sciences for dietetic students are major factors in establishing partnerships in patient care.
Bridging Simulations and Experiments in Microstructure Evolution

We demonstrate the importance of anisotropic interface properties in microstructure evolution by comparing computed evolved microstructures to final experimental microstructures of 5170 grains in 19 thin aluminum foil samples. This is the first time that a direct experimental validation of simulation has been performed at the level of individual grains. We observe that simulated microstructures using curvature-driven grain boundary motion and anisotropic interface properties agree well with experimentally evolved microstructures, whereas agreement is poor when isotropic properties are used.
SU-FF-T-260: A Higher Accuracy Electron Beam Model Based On Large Field Measurements

Purpose: To commission the beam model for electron treatment planning with Monte Carlo using measurements made with the jaws wide open (with no applicator) along with state-of-the-art Monte Carlo simulation. Method and Materials: Central axis depth dose curves and dose profiles of 6–21 MeV Primus electron beams were measured for the 40×40 cm field. Monte Carlo treatment head and water phantom simulations were done with the EGSnrc system using the BEAM and DOSXYZNRC user codes, respectively. The measured data was used to estimate source and geometry parameters, some previously inaccessible in treatment head simulation, including incident beam direction, scattering foil thickness, offset of the secondary scattering foil and monitor chamber from the beam axis, and the distance separating the monitor chamber from the primary scattering foil. Parameter estimation relied on a published, comprehensive analysis of the sensitivity of the measured quantities to source and geometry parameters. Results: Dose distributions calculated with this large-field commissioning approach generally compared to 2%/2 mm with diode measurement. Larger discrepancies, as large as 5 mm present at a couple beam energies, were limited to the beam edge, well outside the region collimated with an applicator. The match to dose in the bremsstrahlung region was considerably better than previously published results for EGS4. Conclusion: This method gives more accurate estimates of source and geometry parameters than simulation of fields defined with an applicator. EGSnrc provides a better match than EGS4. This approach simplifies the commissioning procedure, relying on a single beam model, with parameters derived from a relatively small data set, to model all applicators. In addition, the beam has few energy-degraded, scattered electrons, relative to fields collimated with an applicator. A clean beam is much easier to model, opening up the possibility of achieving high accuracy in fluence estimation with a simple, experimentally-based beam model.
In-situ lipopeptide biosurfactant production by Bacillus strains correlates with improved oil recovery in two oil wells approaching their economic limit of production

Abstract Significant amounts of entrapped oil could be potentially recovered from water-flooded reservoirs nearing their economic limit of production via biosurfactant-enhanced oil recovery. However, evidence for the persistence and metabolic activity of injected biosurfactant-producing bacterial species activity is lacking. We injected a glucose-nitrate-mineral nutrient mixture and two lipopeptide biosurfactant-producing Bacillus strains into two wells to correlate in-situ metabolism with oil recovery. Two wells producing from the same Viola formation were each inoculated with about 60 m 3 of tank battery brine with a nutrient mixture containing glucose, sodium nitrate and trace metals and Bacillus licheniformis RS-1 and Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis spizizenii NRRL B-23049. Analysis of production water indicated in-situ growth of the injected strains and other heterotrophic fermenting bacteria, metabolism of the nutrients, and biosurfactant production. Both wells had a peak lipopeptide biosurfactant concentration of 20 and 28 mg/L, respectively, which is twice the minimum concentration required to mobilize entrapped oil from sandstone cores. Metabolic products of glucose fermentation in both wells were acetate, 2,3-butanediol, ethanol, formate, lactate, and succinate and cells and these products accounted for 107.6% of the glucose used. The increase in biosurfactant, acids, alcohols and carbon dioxide during the first 5 days after commencement of production corresponded directly with an increase in oil recovery. Wellhead measurements of total produced fluid, the water-to-oil ratio and the percentage of oil showed that about 52.5 m 3 of additional oil (net cumulative increase) occurred during the first 60 days of sampling. These results showed the feasibility of stimulating in-situ biosurfactant production and its potential to improved oil production from mature oil reservoirs.
MODELING SEASONALITY IN AVIAN INFLUENZA H5N1

The number of cases of H5N1 avian influenza in birds and humans exhibit seasonality which peaks during the winter months. What causes the seasonality in H5N1 cases is still being investigated. This article addresses the question of modeling the periodicity in cumulative number of human cases of H5N1. Three potential drivers of influenza seasonality are investigated: (1) seasonality in bird-to-bird transmission; (2) seasonality caused by wild bird migration or seasonal fluctuation of avian influenza in wild birds; (3) seasonality caused by environmental transmission. A framework of seven models is composed. The seven models involve these three mechanisms and combinations of the mechanisms. Each of the models in the framework is fitted to the cumulative number of humans cases of H5N1. The corrected akaike information criterion (AICc) is used to compare the models and it is found that the model with periodic bird-to-bird transmission rate best explains the data. The best fitted model with the best fitted parameters gives a reproduction number of highly pathogenic avian influenza . The best fitted model is a simple SI epidemic model with periodic transmission rate and disease-induced mortality, however, this model is capable of very complex dynamical behavior such as period doubling and chaos.
Perplexity of a fungus in the sinus.

epidural abscess due to complicated fungal sinusitis caused by Curvularia species. A 19-year-old man with history of chronic sinusitis and nasal polyposis was admitted with nasal stuffiness, runny nose, and anosmia. He was treated intermittently with steroids and antibiotics as an outpatient. Physical examination was normal except for mild proptosis of the left eye. Complete blood count and metabolic panel were normal. Computed tomography scan of the sinuses showed heterogeneous material in the paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity, perforating the superior wall of the left frontal sinus and extending into the left anterior cranial fossa. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed a 2.7 cm 2c m ring-enhancing abscess in the left frontal lobe that was contiguous with the left frontal sinus. He underwent left frontal craniotomy with exenteration of left frontal sinus and drainage of epidural abscess and was treated empirically with ceftriaxone and metronidazole. Cultures grew velvety brown fungal colonies on Sabouraud dextrose agar. Microscopic examination with lactophenol blue stain showed septate hyphae, 4-celled, straight, and slightly curved conidia developing from a geniculate conidiophore, identified as Curvularia species (Figure). Antibiotics were discontinued and liposomal amphotericin B was started at a dose of 6 mg/kg/day. The patient remained neurologically stable and was discharged on oral voriconazole 200 mg twice daily. At follow-up after 6 months, he had clinical and radiological improvement and antifungal therapy was discontinued. Human infections with Curvularia are rare, although it is ubiquitously present in the environment. 2,3 Infections are common in tropical and sub-tropical areas (India, Brazil, USA, Japan, and Australia). 3 Curvularia has been reported