cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Spectroscopy of Hydrothermal Reactions 25: Kinetics of the Decarboxylation of Protein Amino Acids and the Effect of Side Chains on Hydrothermal Stability

The stability toward decarboxylation of six protein amino acids with functionally substituted side chains [phenylalanine (Phe), serine (Ser), threonine (Thr), proline (Pro), histidine (His), and methionine (Met)] were studied with an FT-IR spectroscopy flow reactor at pH25 1.5−8.5, T = 270−340 °C, and P = 275 bar. The first-order (or pseudo-first-order) rate constants and Arrhenius parameters were obtained on the basis of the rate of CO2 formation. The decarboxylation rates of Phe, Ser, Thr, Pro, and Met are independent of pH in the range of 3−8.5. At pH 1.5−3, a maximum rate constant occurs at about 2.5. His has a different pH−rate profile. At its natural pH25 (7.44), the decarboxylation rate reaches a minimum, but increasing or decreasing the pH increases the rate. The activation energies and preexponential factors for the decarboxylation of the protein amino acids cover a wide range. However, a strong correlation between Ea and ln(A) (the kinetic compensation effect) exists, which implies that the amin...
Droplet dynamics in a polymer electrolyte fuel cell gas flow channel: Forces, deformation, and detachment. I: Theoretical and numerical analyses

Abstract Water management is critical to achieving/maintaining high performance of polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs); and elucidating the dynamic behavior of liquid water droplets in a PEFC channel is essential to water management. In this work, the dynamics of liquid water droplets in a single PEFC gas flow channel is investigated through theoretical and numerical analyses. Forces on water droplet, droplet deformation and detachment are examined. The pressure and viscous drags are computed and compared at different flow regimes (which exhibit different droplet-dynamic scenarios) such as that in the entrance and fully developed flow regions. The expression for describing droplet shape change is derived, and it is found that the droplet can deform significantly at high gas-flow rates and when the droplet is relatively large (relative to the channel dimension). The detachment velocity is analyzed by comparing the wall adhesion and drag forces, and an expression relating the Weber number to the Reynolds number using the detachment velocity is developed. Follow-on work is also briefly discussed.
Eating Habits among Adolescents in Rural Southern Appalachia

A survey of 274 adolescents aged 14-16 years in rural Appalachia showed that unhealthy eating habits were prevalent. A few adolescents were teased about weight whereas 20.1% witnessed weight teasing almost everyday. Perception of parents' healthy eating and better social support for healthy eating were associated with healthier eating habits.
High‐concentration capsaicin in HIV‐associated neuropathy: Clinical evidence and cases

SUMMARY HIV-associated neuropathy (HIV-AN) occurs frequently in patients with HIV infection or AIDS, but it is one of the more difficult forms of peripheral neuropathic pain to treat effectively. Results of two randomized, double-blind trials indicated that a 30-minute application of a high-concentration capsaicin (8% w/w) patch (NGX-4010; QUTENZA™) is the optimal dosage to alleviate pain associated with HIV-AN. A subsequent integrated efficacy analysis of the two trials revealed that a 30-minute application of the high-concentration capsaicin patch produced significantly greater pain relief than a low-concentration capsaicin (0.04% w/w) control patch (mean reduction in Numeric Pain Rating Scale score from baseline to Weeks 2–12; −27.0% vs −15.7%; p = 0.003). After application of the high-concentration capsaicin patch, significant pain reduction was apparent by Week 2 and this was maintained throughout the 12-week assessment period. In addition, significantly more patients responded to the high-concentration capsaicin patch than to control across other endpoints measured. Pain relief was evident regardless of concomitant pain medication and antiretroviral therapy. As the high-concentration capsaicin patch was also well tolerated, with only transient, localized application site-related reactions, these clinical data indicate that the high-concentration capsaicin patch could provide a promising new treatment for painful HIV-AN.
Isothermal activation of Mo2O52+-ZSM-5 precursors during methane reactions: effects of reaction products on structural evolution and catalytic properties

The dynamics of carburization of Mo-oxo precursors exchanged onto H–ZSM-5 strongly influence initial induction periods and steady-state rates during catalytic pyrolysis of CH4 to alkenes and arenes at 900–1000 K. The effects of co-reactants and of activating conditions were examined by on-line time-resolved mass spectrometric analysis of effluent streams using rigorous analyses to account for equilibrium effects on measured rates. Ethene co-reactants and the larger hydrocarbons to which it converts on acid sites in H–ZSM-5 led to much faster carburization of exchanged (Mo2O5)5+ dimers and to shorter induction periods than with pure CH4 reactants, but steady-state pyrolysis rates were unchanged, indicating that CH4 and C2H4 form similar MoCx clusters during carburization of exchanged Mo-oxo precursors. H2 treatment at 973 K before CH4 reactions led to reduction of Mo6+ species to Mo4+, which carburize faster than (Mo2O5)5+ precursors during initial contact with CH4. This H2 pretreatment or the use of CH4–H2 reactant mixtures did not influence steady-state pyrolysis rates, once contributions from reverse reactions were taken into account. With pure CH4 streams, (Mo2O5)5+–ZSM-5 converts to active MoCx clusters within zeolite channels via autocatalytic processes, in which higher hydrocarbons, initially formed during initial conversion of MoOx to MoCx structures, lead to faster carburization of downstream catalyst sections. Concurrently, H2O and CO2 formed during this incipient carburization of exchanged (Mo2O5)5+ and unexchanged MoO3 present in trace amounts inhibit and even prevent carburization and lengthen activation periods. Activation protocols with C2H4 were also successful in the activation of more refractory high-valent metal-oxo species, such as WOx and VOx, exchanged onto H–ZSM-5. The formation of active carbide structures occurred in less than 300 s, instead of 4 ks and 16 ks for VOx and WOx samples, respectively, in pure CH4 reactants. These activation protocols led to VCx–ZSM5 catalysts about three times more active than those activated in pure CH4 reactants.
Why Thought Experiments Are Not Arguments

Are thought experiments nothing but arguments? I argue that it is not possible to make sense of the historical trajectory of certain thought experiments if one takes them to be arguments. Einstein and Bohr disagreed about the outcome of the clock-in-the-box thought experiment, and so they reconstructed it using different arguments. This is to be expected whenever scientists disagree about a thought experiment's outcome. Since any such episode consists of two arguments but just one thought experiment, the thought experiment cannot be the arguments.
Effect of reliability programs on life cycle cost — A case history

Abstract A case history is presented of the impact that implementation of a Reliability ( R ) program had on the Life Cycle Cost (LCC) of the TACAN Test Set, AN/ARM-135(A). An analysis is made of the reliability activities performed and the effect of resulting corrective actions on the total program LCC. The relative worth of each activity is explored.
Unusual signals recorded by ocean bottom seismometers in the flooded caldera of Deception Island volcano: volcanic gases or biological activity?

An ocean bottom seismometer (OBS) network was deployed for 1 month at Deception Island volcano, Antarctica, in early 2005. Although only two volcano-tectonic and three long-period events were observed, the three OBSs located > 2 km apart inside the caldera detected over 3900 events that could not be attributed to known volcanic or hydrothermal sources. These events are found on one instrument at a time and occur in three types. Type 1 events resemble impulsive signals from biological organisms while type 2 and type 3 events resemble long-period seismicity. The largest number of events was observed in a region of volcanic resurgence and hydrothermal venting. All three types occur together suggesting a common cause and they show evidence for a diurnal distribution. The events are most likely to be due to aquatic animals striking the sensors, but a geological source is also possible. In the first case, these signals indicate the presence of a biological community confined to the caldera. In the second case, they imply widespread hydrothermal activity in Port Foster. Future OBS experiments should bury the seismometers, include a hydrophone, deploy instruments side-by-side, or include a video camera to distinguish between biological and geological events.
The interconnectedness between leadership and learning: a reaffirmation

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to reemphasize the essence of upgrading students' learning mentality in higher education as much as possible, in order to enable excellence in workplace performance later.Design/methodology/approach – The subject scope of this paper is: learning as a vehicle toward excellence. Methods used in the paper are: literature review and student performance evaluations. Its approach to the topic is: a review of the basic component for excellence in learning; connecting learning mentalities with workplace behaviors; evaluation of behaviors of great learners and leaders; and presents a model.Findings – The paper finds that learning and leadership have a mutuality effect on one another. Behaviors in attitudes toward learning are important indicators of behaviors in workplace performance.Research limitations/implications – Although concisely reviewed, this paper does not specifically focus on unfortunate learning outcomes for students, resulting from poor teaching methods, learni...
What model of liaison psychiatry meets whose needs

I recently had occasion to review and comment upon three papers (l-3) at a professional meeting. All three addressed the issue, “Does Liaison Psychiatry Meet the Needs of Internists?” Each proposed a very different response to this question since each used a different model of liaison psychiatry. These models differed from each other in definition of the patient population and in the relationship the liaison psychiatrist offered to both the patient and primary physician. As I contemplated these different models I wondered what would become of liaison psychiatry if it selected or emphasized one or another of these models. Liaison psychiatry is at a crossroads, and, as I wondered, I began to conclude that its very survival may depend upon the model selected for emphasis. Although this crossroads inevitably would have come, the proximate cause is the evaporation of NIMH Education Branch funds which have, until now, strongly emphasized liaison programs. This places liaison psychiatry at risk to follow in the footsteps of community psychiatry which has faded from being the dominant perspective of some departments of psychiatry in the early 1970s to being an ancillary activity of a few remaining committed souls in the 1980s. It seems that any program which becomes primarily dependent on governmental funds runs the risk of following this pattern as the vagaries of the political process take their toll. Thus,
Fourier Deconvolution of the Amide I Raman Band of Proteins as Related to Conformation

Fourier deconvolution has been employed to enhance the resolution of the amide I Raman band of nine proteins found in milk and/or other foods. The broad band was resolved into several components. The overall shape of the amide I Raman band of proteins was found to be nearly Gaussian or to be composed of Gaussian components. A Gaussian function was therefore used for deconvolution. The results obtained were more detailed than those obtained with the Lorentzian approximation usually employed. The resolved band components were assigned to specific protein conformations. The frequencies and assignments are in good agreement with previous Raman work based on entirely different procedures. The band areas of the resolved components appear to reflect the fraction of any given conformation in a protein. Semiquantitative estimations of protein conformation are in reasonable agreement with data obtained by x-ray diffraction and by infrared methods.
Experimental results from detached plasmas in TFTR

Abstract Detached plasmas are formed in TFTR which have the principal property that the boundary to the high temperature plasma core is defined by a radiating layer. This paper documents the properties of TFTR ohmic detached plasmas with a range of plasma densities at two different plasma currents.
Wandering Swindlers: Imposture, Style, and the Inquisition's Pedagogy of Fear in Colonial Mexico

… because you can confess with me as with God for I am a comisario of the Holy Office … (Lorenzo de Torquemada 1641) Nihil occultum quod non reveletur [There is nothing hidden that will not be ma...
Sex differences in U50,488H-induced phosphorylation of p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase in the guinea pig brain.

Abstract Recently there has been a widespread interest in the development of kappa opioid receptor (KOPR) ligands for treatment of pain, depression and anxiety, and prevention of stress-induced drug relapse. However, most of these preclinical studies have been conducted using male experimental animals. In the present study we examined if sex differences exist in neural activity induced by the KOPR agonist trans-(±)-3,4-dichloro- N -methyl- N -(2-[1-pyrrolidinyl]-cyclohexyl) benzeneacetamide methanesulfonate (U50,488H). Here, we used immunohistochemistry to detect activation (phosphorylation) of p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) as an indicator of neural activity. Following habituation to injection for 3 days, adult guinea pigs received a single injection of U50,488H (5 mg/kg, s.c.) and perfused 30–45 min later. U50,488H-induced an increase in the number of cells immuno-positive for phosphorylated p44/42 MAPK in subregions of the amygdala, thalamus, paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, periaqueductal gray, and dorsal raphe nuclei. In contrast, U50,488H-induced a decrease in immuno-positive cells in the ventrolateral and lateral orbital cortex. Pretreatment with the KOPR antagonist norbinaltorphimine (10 mg/kg, i.p.) 18 h prior to U50,488H significantly reversed the effects of U50,488H in most regions. In addition, we observed a notable sex difference in the basolateral amygdala; in males, U50,488H induced an increase in immuno-positive cell numbers but a decrease in females. However, across other brain regions males were generally more sensitive to U50,488H-induced alterations than females. These results suggest the need to include female subjects in studies examining emotional responses to KOPR ligands.
Comparison of Physiological and Pharmacological Tests of Growth Hormone Function in Children with Short Stature

Abstract We studied 30 short-statured children to investigate their 24-h integrated serum concentration of GH (ICGH) and its diurnal pattern and to compare this data with their responses to standard stimulation tests for GH release. Eight patients with normal stimulation tests had a mean (±sd) ICGH value of 8.0 ± 3.8 ng/ml (range, 4.5–16.4), and all had several secretory peaks greater than 12 ng/ml. Nineteen patients with abnormal responses (peak, <10 ng/ml) had a mean ICGH value of 2.7 ± 1.9 ng/ml (range, <0.8 to 7.0); this was significantly lower than that of control subjects and patients with normal stimulation tests. However, 5 of these patients had normal ICGH values. Three patients with borderline stimulation test responses (10–12 ng/ml) had normal ICGH values (3.2, 3.4, and 11.9 ng/ml). Of the 22 patients with either abnormal or borderline stimulation tests, 14 had an ICGH result below the range of normal. Of these 14, 11 had no secretory peaks greater than 10 ng/ml, whereas 3 had peaks between 10–...
Subject: Taking Software Requirements from Hearsay to Analysis

Large software systems are too often late, costly and unreliable. Too often the requirements are not well understood or wrong. A new software system impacts the business environment and creates new business needs that, in turn, drive the emergence of new requirements. Furthermore, during the time it takes to create a new system the business itself changes. These changes can make the baselined requirements outdated. Only 40% of the functions a software system provides will be known at the time the customer and the developer agree to the software requirements. Understanding and bounding the requirements is essential if we are to solve this uncertainty in requirements problem. As early as 1970 Royce pointed at that unvalidated requirements leads to unmanageable projects. In particular, emerging requirements non-linearly increases the effort and time needed to build software intensive systems. Requirements management is critical. When requirements are left to grow unfettered they tend to become complicated and generalized. Effort is needed to keep them simple. One successful technique is to create or enhance prototypes, models or simulation environments for the anticipated systems so that software engineers can understand the complexity of the emerging requirements and access the likelihood of producing a workable system. Often business feasibility studies for major systems require the use of models or simulations. Here is an opportunity to capitalize on these investments. Another approach is to use Model- Driven Software Realization to gain this understanding. By combining functional and performance simulations with sizing and effort estimation efforts the software engineer can attain a holistic understanding of feature, form, cost, schedule and trustworthiness. The Lambda Protocol described in this paper is a way of gaining this insight.
A Concept-Based Retrieval System for Thoracic Radiology

Current digital information systems in radiology are insufficient to accommodate the retrieval needs of academicians. Significant efforts are required in retrieving clinical cases for teaching and research. We describe a prototype system that supports intelligent case retrieval based on a combined specification of patient demographics, radiologic findings, and pathologic diagnoses. The documents for these cases can be distributed among multiple heterogeneous data bases. The system features automatic indexing of radiology and pathology reports, a comprehensive lexicon for thoracic radiology, an interface to a hospital information system, radiology information system, and picture archiving and communication systems, and a graphical user interface for query formulation and results visualization. The prototype system was developed within the domain of thoracic radiology involving patients with lung cancer.
Infrared at the College of Optical Sciences and in the world

The infrared program started in 1969 when I got there and became part of the overall program of the College, which was then a Center. In this discussion I would like to present the people – staff, students and associates – who made it all possible, the teaching program and some of the results of the research.
Evidence for an inhibitor of protein synthesis in rabbit reticulocytes activated by high pressure

Abstract Evidence is presented for an inhibitor of protein synthesis which is activated by subjecting rabbit reticulocyte postribosomal supernatant to high pressure (15,000 1b/in 2 ). The inhibitor is antigenically and chromatographically distinct from the hemin-controlled repressor. The mechanism of inhibition by the pressure-treated postribosomal supernatant is not clear; however, the kinetics of inhibition seem to indicate that inhibition may be at the level of initiation.
ALI and ARDS: Challenges and Advances

The description of “acute respiratory distress” syndrome as a distinct entity was first reported by Ashbaugh and colleagues in 1967, defined as a clinical pattern including “severe dyspnea, tachypnea, cyanosis that is refractory to oxygen therapy, loss of lung compliance, and diffuse alveolar infiltration seen on chest x-ray1”. In their initial report of 12 patients, 7 patients died, and the autopsy finding confirmed striking findings on lung microscopy including the presence of hyaline membranes, diffuse interstitial inflammation and interstitial and intra-alveolar edema and hemorrhage. Since the initial description of ARDS more than 40 years ago, the optimal definition of ALI/ARDS remains a controversial subject. Acute lung injury (ALI) and the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are characterized by rapid-onset respiratory failure following a variety of direct and indirect insults to the parenchyma or vasculature of the lungs. The pulmonary pathology of ALI/ARDS can be divided conceptually into acute and fibroproliferative phases that have distinctive features but vary in detail depending on the etiology of injury. Mortality from ALI/ARDS is substantial, and current therapy primarily emphasizes lung protective mechanical ventilation and a restrictive fluid management strategy plus standard treatment of the initiating insult or underlying disease. Although ALI/ARDS are “syndromes” caused by different injuries and conditions, the patho-biology of the lung injury and similar clinical picture makes a compelling case for us to study them as a single entity rather than characterize the individual risk factors as separate clinical entities. More importantly an array of potential specific targets for pharmacologic intervention can be applied to ALI/ARDS as a disease entity as a whole. Clinical presentations consistent with ALI and ARDS can arise in patients of all ages from direct (pulmonary) or indirect (extrapulmonary) insults that induce pulmonary inflammation, damage the cells of the alveolar-capillary membrane, and lead to severe acute respiratory failure. Uniform diagnostic criteria are essential for meaningful clinical studies and therapeutic development for ALI/ARDS. The clinical entities of ALI and ARDS are syndromes defined by a relatively limited set of descriptive patho-physiologic clinical findings, and patients are included regardless of the specific etiology of acute pulmonary dysfunction. Although a working definition of ALI/ARDS that includes both pulmonary and extrapulmonary causes can have benefit in standardizing supportive intensive care, it can also complicate assessments of the efficacy of therapeutic interventions. For example, the lack of stratification of patients with ALI/ARDS by etiologic causes has the potential to confound data interpretation in therapeutic trials, since interventions that might benefit one cause of ALI/ARDS may have no benefit or may even be harmful in treating another etiology. In the following discussion, the definitions that have been recently used for ALI/ARDS in various clinical studies of ALI/ARDS will be discussed individually.
Toxoids of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Toxin A: Production by Chemical and Genetic Means

Several toxin A toxoids were produced by reacting purified toxin A with formalin or formalin-lysine. Treatment with formalin alone resulted in a 1,000-fold decrease in cytotoxicity of toxin A without adversely affecting enzymatic activity. The antigenicity was moderately altered, but immunogenicity appeared to be unaffected, as evidenced by the ability of the toxoid to elicit good titers of neutralizing antibody. However, on removal of formalin and after storage at 37 C, formol toxoid showed a partial reversion to toxicity. The addition of lysine to formalin-toxin A mixtures increased the rate and extent of detoxification and destroyed enzymatic activity. Although the formalin-lysine toxoid did not revert to toxicity, it displayed a reduced immunogenicity even when employed with an adjuvant. On the basis of these results, an alternative method was selected for detoxification of toxin A. A mutant (PAO-PR1), which produces a CRM protein (CRM 66), was isolated after chemical mutagenesis. CRM 66 has the same molecular weight as toxin A and is antigenically indistinguishable from it. The cytotoxicity and lethality to mice of CRM 66 was found to be greatly reduced in comparison to that of toxin A, a difference apparently due to a reduction in enzymatic activity.
The detection of myocardial fibrosis: an opportunity to reduce cardiovascular risk in patients with diabetes mellitus?

Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) are associated with a significant increase in cardiovascular risk. Glycemic control has, unfortunately, not been convincingly shown to reduce cardiovascular risk.1–3 The level at which blood pressure should be controlled also is controversial.4 Thus, there may be a need to focus on new therapeutic targets if we are to reduce cardiovascular risk in patients with either type 1 or type 2 DM. Cardiac and large arteries fibrosis is a frequent occurrence in patients with DM and one of the major factors predisposing to the development of heart failure (HF). Cardiac fibrosis is the consequence of extracellular cardiac matrix remodeling resulting from pathological processes, including ischemia; stretch; inflammation; and specifically in DM, oxidative stress, advanced glycation end products, and several neurohormonal mediators. Cardiac fibrosis may cause myocyte slippage, tissue heterogeneity and dyssynchrony, ventricular dilatation, and contractile dysfunction. Myocardial fibrosis alters myocardial compliance, and associated fibrosis-related large artery stiffness may predispose to diastolic dysfunction and HF with a preserved left ventricular ejection fraction. Cardiac fibrosis also may result in alteration of gap junctions and predispose to arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death.5 Bioimaging and biomarkers of cardiac fibrosis, therefore, may become clinically useful tools, particularly given the potential for cardioprotective and cardioreparative pharmacological strategies.6,7 Article see p 51 The measurement of various serum peptides arising from the metabolism of collagen types I and III, of degradation fragments (carboxy-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen), and of specific metalloproteinases may provide a noninvasive assessment of fibrosis.8–10 A strong correlation exists between changes in serum levels of biomarkers for the turnover of extracellular cardiac matrix proteins and ongoing cardiac remodeling. Diagnostic approaches for diabetic cardiomyopathy …
Do iodine water purification tablets provide an effective barrier against Cryptosporidium parvum

ABSTRACT U.S. Army Iodine Water Purification Tablets were tested to determine their efficacy against Cryptosporidium parvum, a protozoan resistant to chemical disinfection. Purified oocysts in phosphate-buffered water were treated with varying concentrations of iodine or with iodine tablets as per U.S. Army protocol. Neonatal mouse pups were then each inoculated with 10,000 treated oocysts, and 1 week later scored as infected or uninfected. Using this methodology, iodine tablets were found to be inadequate against C. parvum because the Army doctrinal dose of 560 mg min/L, calculated as 16 mg of I2/L and 35 minutes of contact time, showed less than 1 log inactivation. A dose of 29 mg of I2/L at the same contact time was required to achieve a 2 log inactivation.
A two‐constant equilibrium theory of linear association

A two-constant equilibrium theory for linear association considering growth and degradation simultaneously is presented. The choice of suitable rate constants is discussed.
Nonequilibrium Density Of States And Distribution Functions For Strongly Correlated Materials Across The Mott Transition

We examine the local density of states and the momentum-dependent distribution functions as they evolve in time for systems described by the FalicovKimball model initially in equilibrium, and then driven by a large uniform electric field turned on at time t = 0. We use exact dynamical mean-field theory, extended to nonequilibrium situations, to solve the problem. We focus on the accuracy of the numerics and on the interesting new features brought about by the strong correlations.
Monophyly and extensive extinction of advanced eusocial bees: Insights from an unexpected Eocene diversity

Advanced eusociality sometimes is given credit for the ecological success of termites, ants, some wasps, and some bees. Comprehensive study of bees fossilized in Baltic amber has revealed an unsuspected middle Eocene (ca. 45 million years ago) diversity of eusocial bee lineages. Advanced eusociality arose once in the bees with significant post-Eocene losses in diversity, leaving today only two advanced eusocial tribes comprising less than 2% of the total bee diversity, a trend analogous to that of hominid evolution. This pattern of changing diversity contradicts notions concerning the role of eusociality for evolutionary success in insects.
Resource utilization and outcomes of intoxicated drivers

The high risk behavior of intoxicated drivers, impaired reaction time, lack of seat belt use, and increased incidence of head injury raises questions of whether pre-hospital use of alcohol leads to a higher injury severity score and worse clinical outcomes. We therefore compared intoxicated and non-intoxicated drivers of motor vehicle crashes with respect to outcome measurements and also describe the resources utilized to achieve those outcomes at our Level 1 trauma center. Retrospective descriptive study (Jan 2002-June 2007) of our trauma registry and financial database comparing intoxicated drivers with blood alcohol levels (BAC) > 80 mg/dl (ETOH > 80) with drivers who had a BAC of 0 mg/dl (ETOH = 0). Drivers without a BAC drawn or who had levels ranging from 1 mg/dL to 80 mg/dL were excluded. Data was collected on demographic information (age, gender, injury severity score or ISS), outcome variables (mortality, complications, ICU and hospital LOS, ventilator days) and resource utilization (ED LOS, insurance, charges, costs, payments). Statistical analysis: p 80; stratified chi square. Out of 1732 drivers, the combined study group (n = 987) of 623 ETOH = 0 and 364 ETOH > 80 had a mean age of 38.8 ± 17.9, ISS of 18.0 ± 12.1, and 69.8%% male. There was no difference in ISS (p = 0.67) or complications (p = 0.38). There was a trend towards decreased mortality (p = 0.06). The ETOH = 0 group had more patients with a prolonged ICU LOS (≥ 5 days), ventilator days (≥ 8 days), and hospital LOS (> 14 days) when compared to the ETOH > 80 group (p 80 group tended to be self pay (4.9% vs. 0.7%, p $50K, and less likely to pay ≥ 90% of the charges. Further research using multivariable analysis is needed to determine if these apparent outcomes differences are driven by acute intoxication, and the tendency for endotracheal intubation and ICU admission, rather than injury severity.
Analysis and recognition of walking movements

We present an approach for recognizing human walking movements using low-level motion regularities and constraints. Biomechanical features for classification are automatically extracted from video sequences of walkers. A multiplicative classification rule using statistical distances is then used to determine whether an unknown motion is consistent with normal walking patterns. Recognition results are shown distinguishing walking examples across multiple speeds from other nonwalking locomotions.
New Surface Functional Metal Powders for Anisotropic Conductive Film Materials in Electronic Package Application

New metal powders containing organic thin film layer with multi-functional properties are prepared and used in the manufacturing of anisotropic conductive film (ACF) material for electronic package application. The organic thin film layer possesses both insulating property and thermo-compressed flowable property. The former insulating property ensures metal powder to have good insulation property at room temperature, and the latter thermo-compressed flowable property maintains the electric conductance of ACF material after high temperature compression process. Besides, the organic thin film layer also exhibited good steric hindrance to enhance the dispersion and anti-settling of metal powers in resin matrix. The functional organic groups on the surface thin film will also improve the interface adhesion between metal powder and resin matrix. Such metal powder with surface chemical modification is suitable for electronic material application, for example, anisotropic conductive film (ACF).
THE VISUAL ACUITY AND INTENSITY DISCRIMINATION OF DROSOPHILA

Drosophila possesses an inherited reflex response to a moving visual pattern which can be used to measure its capacity for intensity discrimination and its visual acuity at different illuminations. It is found that these two properties of vision run approximately parallel courses as functions of the prevailing intensity. Visual acuity varies with the logarithm of the intensity in much the same sigmoid way as in man, the bee, and the fiddler crab. The resolving power is very poor at low illuminations and increases at high illuminations. The maximum visual acuity is 0.0018, which is 1/1000 of the maximum of the human eye and 1/10 that of the bee. The intensity discrimination of Drosophila is also extremely poor, even at its best. At low illuminations for two intensities to be recognized as different, the higher must be nearly 100 times the lower. This ratio decreases as the intensity increases, and reaches a minimum of 2.5 which is maintained at the highest intensities. The minimum value of ΔI/I for Drosophila is 1.5, which is to be compared with 0.25 for the bee and 0.006 for man. An explanation of the variation of visual acuity with illumination is given in terms of the variation in number of elements functional in the retinal mosaic at different intensities, this being dependent on the general statistical distribution of thresholds in the ommatidial population. Visual acuity is thus determined by the integral form of this distribution and corresponds to the total number of elements functional. The idea that intensity discrimination is determined by the differential form of this distribution—that is, that it depends on the rate of entrance of functional elements with intensity—is shown to be untenable in the light of the correspondence of the two visual functions. It is suggested that, like visual acuity, intensity discrimination may also have to be considered as a function of the total number of elements active at a given intensity.
Gaussian Interference Channel with State Information

In this paper, we study the state-dependent two-user Gaussian interference channel, where the Gaussian distributed state information is non-causally known at both transmitters but known to neither of the receivers. We apply the simultaneous encoding scheme and propose an active interference cancellation mechanism, which is a generalized dirty-paper coding technique, to partially eliminate the state effect at the receivers. The corresponding achievable rate region is then derived. We also propose several heuristic schemes for some special cases: the strong interference case, the mixed interference case, and the weak interference case. For the strong and mixed interference cases, numerical results are provided to show that active interference cancellation significantly enlarges the achievable rate region. For the weak interference case, flexible power splitting instead of active interference cancellation improves the performance significantly.
Extending Ansoff’s Strategic Diagnosis Model

Given the complex and disruptive open-ended dynamics in the current dynamic global environment, senior management recognizes the need for a formalized, consistent, and comprehensive framework to analyze the firm’s strategic posture. Modern assessment tools, such as H. Igor Ansoff’s seminal contributions to strategic diagnosis, primarily focused on identifying and enhancing the firm’s strategic performance potential through the analysis of the industry’s environmental turbulence level relative to the firm’s aggressiveness and responsiveness of capability. Other epistemic modeling techniques envisage Porter’s generic strategic positions, Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT), and Resource-Based View as useful methodologies to aid in the planning pr ocess. All are complex and involve multiple managerial perspectives. Over the last two decades, attempts have been made to comprehensively classify the firm’s future competitive position. Most of these proposals utilized matrices to depict the position, such as the Boston Consulting Group, point positioning, and dispersed positioning. The GE/McKinsey later enhanced this typology by expanding to 3 × 3, contributing to management’s deeper understanding of the firm’s position. Both types of assessments, Ansoff’s strategic diagnosis and positional matrices, are invaluable strategic tools for firms. However, it could be argued that these positional analyses singularly reflect a blind spot in modeling the firm’s future strategic performance potential, as neither considers the interactions of the other. This article is conceptual and takes a different approach from earlier methodologies. Although conceptual, the article aims to present a robust model combining Ansoff’s strategic diagnosis with elements of the performance matrices to provide the management with an enriched capability to evaluate the firm’s current and future performance position.
Safety and efficacy of estrogen therapy in preventing bone loss in primary biliary cirrhosis.

Safety and Efficacy of Estrogen Therapy in Preventing Bone Loss in Primary Biliary Cirrhosis
Minimax regret portfolios for restricted stock sequences

A stock market game where one player (the investor) plays against another (the market) with payoff given by the ratio of the investor's wealth (at time n) to the market wealth given by the performance of the best constant rebalanced portfolio in hindsight on the market sequence is analysed. This paper consider markets in which no stock underperforms the average by a given amount, and consider portfolio strategies that allow both short selling and margin. The possibility of universal portfolios in the market which do as well against any specific stock sequence. Putting a constraint /spl alpha/ on stock performance creates the opportunity for short selling and margin. This increases the relative performance of the universal portfolio.
Raman excited spin coherences in N-V diamond

Summary form only given. The use of optical Raman interactions to excite spin coherences in solids has numerous potential applications, ranging from low-power nonlinear optics to high-temperature spectral hole burning memories to solid-state quantum computing. The interest in Raman excitation lies in the fact that the spin coherences can be efficiently excited and manipulated using optical laser fields yet are weakly coupled to the environment and hence have the long coherence lifetimes needed for optical memories and quantum computing. The interest in nitrogen-vacancy (N-V) color centers in diamond is its large optical oscillator strength. For memory, a large oscillator strength is important for high temperature operation. For quantum computing, the high optical transition rate enables the higher gate speed and the larger number of quantum logic operations that can be performed within the spin coherence lifetime.
Modeling the role of negative symptoms in determining social functioning in individuals at clinical high risk of psychosis

A priority for improving outcome in individuals at clinical high risk (CHR) is enhancing our understanding of predictors of psychosis as well as psychosocial functioning. Social functioning, in particular, is a unique indicator of risk as well as an important outcome in itself. Negative symptoms are a significant determinant of social functioning in CHR individuals; yet, it is unclear which specific negative symptoms drive functional outcome and how these symptoms function relative to other predictors, such as neurocognition and mood/anxiety symptoms. In a sample of 85 CHR individuals, we examined whether a two-factor negative symptom structure that is found in schizophrenia (experiential vs expressive symptoms) would be replicated in a CHR sample; and tested the degree to which specific negative symptoms predict social functioning, relative to neurocognition and mood/anxiety symptoms, which are known to predict functioning. The two-factor negative symptom solution was replicated in this CHR sample. Negative symptom severity was found to be uniquely predictive of social functioning, above and beyond depression/anxiety and neurocognition. Experiential symptoms were more strongly associated with social functioning, relative to expression symptoms. In addition, experiential symptoms mediated the relationship between expressive negative symptoms and social functioning. These results suggest that experiences of motivational impairment are more important in determining social functioning, relative to affective flattening and alogia, in CHR individuals, thereby informing the development of more precise therapeutic targets. Developing novel interventions that stimulate goal-directed behavior and reinforce rewarding experiences in social contexts are recommended.
Regression: Atypical Loss of Attained Functioning in Children and Adolescents with Down Syndrome

Abstract Severe regression in adaptive and cognitive functioning has been reported in a small number of children and adolescents with Down syndrome by clinicians, educators, and parents. At present, there is so little known about the characteristics of this regression that it is unclear whether these individuals form a unique diagnostic group or whether they are on a continuum for the expression of maladaptive behaviors or psychopathology. This review will focus on regression in children and adolescents with Down syndrome and examine some possible risk factors that may contribute to their decline in functioning. Recently, we examined 32 records from a clinic that specializes in developmental disabilities and found that the 14 children and adolescents with Down syndrome who showed that regression had a high prevalence of symptoms of anxiety, depression, and aggression. Based on case studies of individuals who have shown regression, we consider four possible risk factors that could initiate or substantially contribute to regression; we discuss menarche, transitioning, life events, and exposure to anesthesia. Each of the individuals described in these case studies have had exposure to more than one of these risk factors. We suggest a framework for understanding regression and for collecting information that will be helpful in comparing cases across various clinical settings. While severe regression in children and adolescents with Down syndrome may involve only a small number of individuals, the comprehensive and systematic study of factors contributing to decline could provide a template for how to enhance the development of all individuals with Down syndrome.
Urban/rural patterns in receipt of treatment for non-small cell lung cancer among black and white Medicare beneficiaries, 2000-2003.

Background : Receipt of treatment for lung cancer varies by a number of demographic factors, including race/ethnicity and urban/rural residence. We examined urban/rural patterns in receipt of treatment for non–mall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (ie, surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy) among black and white Medicare beneficiaries in Alabama. Methods : After linking Alabama State Cancer Registry data with state Medicare data, we identified 3481 cases of stages I to IV and unknown-stage NSCLC diagnosed from 2000-2002 and obtained their treatment data for 1999-2003. We used bivariate and multivariate analyses to examine racial and urban/rural differences in receipt of treatment. Significant bivariate associations were tested using c 2 tests. Results : Among beneficiaries with resectable NSCLC (ie, stages I-IIIA), urban whites were more likely to undergo surgical resection than urban blacks (49.3% vs 33.0%, respectively), and more rural whites than rural blacks (49.8% vs 23.9%, respectively) underwent surgery. There was less variation by race and urban/rural residence in the receipt of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. After controlling for age at diagnosis, gender, stage at diagnosis, comorbidity score, and socioeconomic status, the racial disparity for surgery remained. Black beneficiaries in urban counties had 45% lower odds of undergoing surgery than urban white beneficiaries (OR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.31-0.96), and those in rural counties had 67% lower odds of receiving this treatment than their white counterparts (OR, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.19-0.57). Conclusions : Differences in receipt of surgery exist for both urban and rural black Alabamians with NSCLC. Future studies should explore access to care and perceptions about treatment among lung cancer patients in this state.
Phenyl and Halophenyl Substituted Poly( p -phenylene vinylene)s for Capacitor Dielectrics

Conducting polymers have attracted attention in many areas of materials chemistry due to their tunability and wide range of applications. We are interested in utilizing the thermo-switchable properties of precursor PPV polymers to develop capacitor dielectrics that will fail at specific temperatures due to the material irreversibly converting from an insulating to a conducting state. Here, we report the synthesis and characterization of a new halophenyl substituted PPV polymer. We show that the precursor polymer has good dielectric properties over a range of temperatures, but will fail at high temperatures due to the polymer backbone conjugating. By utilizing thermo-switchable dielectrics in capacitors, the unintentional discharge of electricity in the event of a fire or overheating could be averted, providing a fundamental safety mechanism for high-voltage electronics.
The Reliability and Validity of Key Informant Data from Dyadic Relationships in Marketing Channels

Key informant reports from both sides of a set of wholesaler-retailer dyads are analyzed to investigate the convergent and discriminant validity of the measures. These measures, derived from a poli...
Language competence in forensic interviews for suspected child sexual abuse

Forensic interviews with children for suspected child sexual abuse require meeting children "where they are" in terms of their developmental level, readiness to disclose, culture, and language. The field lacks research indicating how to accommodate children's diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. This article focuses on language competence, defined here as the ability of an organization and its personnel (in this case, Child Advocacy Centers and forensic interviewers) to communicate effectively with clients regardless of their preferred language(s). In this qualitative study, 39 U.S. child forensic interviewers and child advocacy center directors discussed their experiences, practices, and opinions regarding interviews with children and families who are not native speakers of English. Topics include the importance of interviewing children in their preferred language, problems in interpreted interviews, bilingual interviews, and current and recommended procedures. Recommendations for practice and further research are included.