cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Perpendicular diffusion of a dilute beam of charged dust particles in a strongly coupled dusty plasma

The diffusion of projectiles drifting through a target of strongly coupled dusty plasma is investigated in a simulation. A projectile's drift is driven by a constant force F. We characterize the random walk of the projectiles in the direction perpendicular to their drift. The perpendicular diffusion coefficient Dp⊥ is obtained from the simulation data. The force dependence of Dp⊥ is found to be a power law in a high force regime, but a constant at low forces. A mean kinetic energy Wp for perpendicular motion is also obtained. The diffusion coefficient is found to increase with Wp with a linear trend at higher energies, but an exponential trend at lower energies.
DISCRIMINATIVE NONLINEAR DIMENSIONALITY REDUCTION FOR IMPROVED CLASSIFICATION

Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) neural networks have been used extensively for classification tasks. Typically, the MLP network is trained explicitly to produce the correct classification as its output. For speech recognition, however, several investigators have recently experimented with an indirect approach: a unique MLP predictive network is trained for each class of data, and classification is accomplished by determining which predictive network serves as the best model for samples of unknown speech. Results from this approach have been mixed. In this report, we compare the direct and indirect approaches to classification from a more fundamental perspective. We show how recent advances in nonlinear dimensionality reduction can be incorporated into the indirect approach, and we show how the two approaches can be integrated in a novel MLP framework. We further show how these new MLP networks can be usefully viewed as generalizations of Learning Vector Quantization (LVQ) and of subspace methods of pattern recognition. Lastly, we show that applying these ideas to the classification of temporal trajectories can substantially improve performance on simple tasks.
Developmental and Geographic Analyses of Spatial Biases in Face Drawings Produced by Children

A recent study of a large sample of children living in London demonstrated that their imagination-based self-portraits exhibited systematic drawing biases such as depicting the head too round and the eyes too far up the head. The present study aimed to replicate and extend on these findings in a sample of self-portraits produced by children from all around the world to determine if these drawing biases are universal or culturally specific to children living in Western Europe. Developmentally, children ranging in age from 3 to 11 years old were observed to draw the head too round and the eyes too high up the head. Children ranging in age from 3 to 8 years old, but not children ranging in age from 9 to 11 years old, were observed to draw the mouth too high up the head. As the children grew in age from 3 to 11 years old, these biases persisted, but there were linear trends for the biases of drawing the eyes and mouth too high up the head to become less exaggerated with increasing age. Geographically, children living in Africa, Asia, Europe, and South/Central America were all observed to exhibit these three systematic biases, indicating that these are universal drawing biases not affected by the geographic location the children were raised in.
Nanophase segregation and water dynamics in the dendrion diblock copolymer formed from the Fréchet polyaryl ethereal dendrimer and linear PTFE.

We propose a new material consisting of a dendrion copolymer formed from (a) a water-soluble dendritic polymer and (b) a hydrophobic backbone. Using molecular dynamics simulations techniques, we determine the structure and dynamics of the dendrion formed by second-generation Frechet polyaryl ethereal dendrimer as the hydrophilic component and linear polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) as the hydrophobic polymer, with 5 and 10 wt % of water. We find that this material produces a well-developed nanoscale structure in which water forms a continuous nanophase, making this new family of compounds promising candidates for applications in fuel cell membranes. We find that the water molecules are incorporated into the dendrimer block of the copolymer to form a nanophase-segregated structure. The well-developed nanophase-segregated structures rendered by this material have characteristic dimensions of segregation (∼30 A) and dendrimer conformational properties that are independent of water content. Calculations of water dynamics and proton transport in these nanophase-segregated structures indicate that the dendrion copolymer membrane with 10 wt % of water content has a water structure and transport properties equivalent to that of the hydrated Nafion membrane with 20 wt % of water content.
Using the Social Enterprise Intervention (SEI) and Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Models to Improve Employment and Clinical Outcomes of Homeless Youth With Mental Illness

Prior research reveals high unemployment rates among homeless youth. The literature offers many examples of using evidence-informed and evidence-based supported employment models with vulnerable populations to assist them in obtaining and maintaining employment and concurrently addressing mental health challenges. However, there are few examples to date of these models with homeless youth with mental illness. The purpose of this article was thus to describe a methodology for establishing a university–agency research partnership to design, implement, evaluate, and replicate evidence-informed and evidence-based interventions with homeless youth with mental illness to enhance their employment, mental health, and functional outcomes. Data from two studies are used to illustrate the relationship between vocational skill-building/employment and mental health among homeless youth. The article concludes with a discussion of the implications of conducting community-based participatory employment and clinical inter...
Funding an Internet public good: definition and example

Abstract The Internet is in the midst of a transition. From its roots in research and education, it has now found its way into worldwide commerce. The purpose of this document is to present the basic economic foundation for understanding the different kinds of goods in an economy and for understanding the trading mechanisms which result in their efficient distribution in society. It will examine a widely used piece of Internet routing software called GateDaemon within the public good model and discuss the funding model Cornell University has implemented to supported continued availability and growth.
Effects of somatostatin analogue RC-160 and bombesin/gastrin-releasing peptide antagonists on the growth of human small-cell and non-small-cell lung carcinomas in nude mice.

We investigated the effects of our synthetic bombesin/gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) antagonists and somatostatin analogue RC-160 on the growth of human small-cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) and non-small-cell lung carcinoma (non-SCLC) lines in nude mice. Athymic nude mice bearing xenografts of the SCLC NCl-H69 line or non-SCLC NCl-H157 line were treated for 5 and 4 weeks, respectively, with somatostatin analogue RC-160 or various bombesin/GRP antagonists. RC-160, administered s.c. peritumorally at a dose of 100 micrograms per animal per day, inhibited the growth of H69 SCLC xenografts as shown by more than 70% reduction in tumour volumes and weights, as compared with the control group. Bombesin/GRP antagonists, RC-3440, RC-3095 and RC-3950-II, given s.c. peritumorally at a dose of 20 micrograms per animal per day, also inhibited the growth of H69 SCLC tumours. RC-3950-II had the greatest inhibitory effect and decreased tumour volume and weights by more than 80%. The growth of H-157 non-SCLC xenografts was significantly reduced by treatment with RC-160, but not with bombesin/GRP antagonist RC-3095. In mice bearing either tumour model, administration of RC-160 significantly decreased serum growth hormone and gastrin levels. Specific high-affinity receptors for bombesin and somatostatin were found on membranes of SCLC H69 tumours, but not on non-SCLC H157 tumours. Receptor analyses demonstrated high-affinity binding sites for epidermal growth factor (EGF) and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) on the membranes of H69 and H157 tumours. EGF receptors were down-regulated on H69 tumours after treatment with RC-160 and bombesin/GRP antagonists. The concentration of binding sites for EGF and IGF-I on the H157 tumours was decreased after treatment with RC-160, but bombesin/GRP antagonist RC-3095 had no effect. These results demonstrate that bombesin/GRP antagonists inhibit the growth of H-69 SCLC, but not of H-157 non-SCLC xenografts in nude mice, whereas somatostatin analogue RC-160 is effective in both tumour models. This raises the possibility that these peptide analogues could be used selectively in the treatment of various subclasses of lung cancer.
Defining Intergalactic Human Resource Development (IHRD)

Abstract This satirical essay questions both the rigor and relevance of the practice of promoting definitions that simply reflect an area of interest with HRD. The discipline of HRD needs clear and concise overarching definitions that work everywhere.
Cytopathology of retrograde renal pelvis brush specimens: an analysis of 40 cases with emphasis on collecting duct carcinoma and low-intermediate grade transitional cell carcinoma.

We report our experience with 40 retrograde renal brush samples of pelvic-calyceal lesions with confirmatory tissue studies. On-site cytopathologic evaluation was performed in 38 of these specimens. The final histologic diagnoses included 24 cases of transitional cell carcinoma (TCC), 17 of which were low-intermediate grade tumors. All 24 cases were diagnosed cytologically as TCC (22), or as suspicious for TCC (2). Three cases classified as collecting duct carcinomas were resected; the cytologic specimens in 2 of these cases were interpreted as TCC, and one as reactive change. There were three renal cell carcinomas (RCC); cytologically, one was considered a papillary neoplasm, one suspicious for malignancy, and one as reactive. Two cases of atypical renal cysts were reported as suspicious for malignancy in both cytologic and histologic material. There was one case of metastatic colon carcinoma identified in the brush specimen. Finally, tissue studies in the remaining 7 cases showed reactive/inflammatory changes; however, four of the corresponding pelvic brush specimens were considered abnormal. A review of the above cases is reported with the objective of presenting the cytologic features seen in collecting duct carcinoma, low-intermediate grade TCC, and diagnostically difficult cases with cyto/histomorphologic discrepancies. The contribution of on-site assessment to diagnostic accuracy is also discussed. Diagn Cytopathol 1996;15:312–321. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
International Law and Natural Resource Policies

This article points out the relevance of international law to an understanding of international natural resources issues. It notes that international law shapes the international system for allocating resources by establishing basic rules about the circumstances under which nations can assert property rights in resources. This underlying framework influences how nations see resource problems, the kinds of solutions they consider and the form in which they express and formalize their resource arrangements.More particularly, the article discusses three ways in which international law is particularly important to thinking about natural resource policies and problems: 1) the ways in which different legal concepts of national property rights affect the structure of international natural resource arrangements; 2) the ways in which disputes about international law reveal underlying differences in views of “equity” or “fairness” in international natural resource arrangements; and 3) the ways in which international law can help nations to reach cooperative arrangements for dealing with natural resource problems.The article concludes by suggesting a few broad conditions for more effective international cooperation on natural resources issues. First, both developed and developing nations must come to terms with the fact that their interests are inextricably related, that policies of either confrontation or autarky will pose serious risks and costs, and that there is simply no alternative to some degree of cooperation. Second, nations must recognize that any quest for a single standard of equity is likely to prove impossible, that cooperation requires constructive efforts by all nations to reach compromises with others’ points of view, and that agreements can be effective only when both sides see them as fair. Third, nations must move away from unresolvable debates on ideology and “matters of principle” to a reasoned dialogue, workmanlike discussions, and good faith bargaining on the very practical questions of particular pressing resource and other economic problems. Finally, all nations must realize that the peaceful co-existence of nations requires international order, that international order necessarily implies some limits on absolute national sovereignty and discretion, and that international law serves in the broadest sense to implement rather than to obstruct the achievement of long-run national interests.This article also appears in P. Dorner and M. El-Shafie (Eds), RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT: NATURAL RESOURCES POLICES AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN AN INDEPENDENT WORLD (University of Wisconsin Press, 1980), Chpt. 13.
Collaborative search and sensemaking of patents

Despite the large number of patent searches conducted by professional patent searchers and inventors, little is known about how such searches are actually performed. Here we describe a qualitative study of experienced patent searchers as they conducted in-context searches at a technology transfer office. Based on studies of expert search and sensemaking in other domains, we expected the professional searchers to (1) use well-formed search strategies that were effective for patent search, and (2) rapidly make sense of the novelty of an invention by constructing new representations to organize existing patents that appear relevant. Instead, we observed the searchers perform simplistic preliminary searches and then exchange their search process and results with inventors and patent lawyers to collaboratively make sense of the patentability and licensability of the invention. Furthermore, their sensemaking consisted of selecting known representations of patents to organize the new information, an approach we call "weak" sensemaking. These results suggest implications for designing systems that support the observed collaborative "weak" sensemaking with the goal of helping the users to more effectively determine the patentability and licensability of an invention.
Enhanced cosmic‐ray production of 10Be coincident with the Mono Lake and Laschamp Geomagnetic Excursions

The cosmogenic isotope 10 Be , total Be, and Al were measured in partly varved sediments from the upper 50 m of core 480, leg 64 (DSDP), Gulf of California. The concentration of 10 Be from 1 to 50 kyr is in general agreement with estimates of the geomagnetic dipole moment obtained from archaeomagnetic and marine core research. 10 Be anomalies were also found at 32 kyr and 43 kyr, contemporaneous with the Mono Lake and Laschamp excursions, respectively. The production of 10 Be required to explain these anomalies is too high, particularly for the Mono Lake excursion, to be produced by a combination of decreased geomagnetic field and unprecedented long-term solar activity. We conclude that the cause is a change in the galactic cosmic-ray flux consistent with a supernova event. The coincidence with the two excursions remains a paradox.
RESIDENTIAL AND PERSONAL SOCIAL DISTANCE TOWARD NEGROES AND NON-NEGROES

Univer~iry of Atissouri Social distance as used by Bogardus (1925) would be expected to vary with a number of conditions: the "object" of the attitude, the characteristics of the "subject" of the attitude, and the circumstances under which the attitude is measured This article, part of a larger study,l examines a fourth condition, namely, area of contact, residential as against personal. Specifically, our concern is with a clear and consistent relationship that was found between (a) the object of the distance, Negro, white Protestant, white Catholic, and Jew, and (b) the areal of contact with the "object," residential and personal. Thirteen different smples were used, selecred to fulfill the purpose of the larger study, the sample sizes ranging from 21 to 90. The samples differed in a wide variety of characteristics: education, age, sex, religion, and minority group membership. In order to relate attitudes toward Negroes, Protestants, Catholics, and Jews to areas of contact (residential and personal), a modification of the Bogardus Social Distance scale was used (Westie, 1953). To measure residential social distance, Ss were asked to check along a 5-point scale their degree of agreement with the following items: having the "object" live in the same apartment, same street, same neighborhood, and same end of town. To measure personal social distance, the same format was used, the items being: having the "object" as close personal friend, as dinner guest, as friend often visited, and as someone to say "hello" to. This paper reports a comparison of the relative social distance in the residential area as against the personal area across each of the above four groups and not, as was the case of the larger study, a comparison of the social distance of the four groups with each other in the two areas.* The mean score for each sample was computed for each of the areas of contact, residential and personal social distance. The results were uniform in that two statements were true. (1) All 13 samples preferred residential over personal contact when the "objects" were the three non-Negro groups
Pneumomediastinum following penetrating oral trauma

Pneumomediastinum can result from a puncture wound or laceration to the hypopharynx. This is a case report of an 18-month-old child who fell with a pen in his mouth. Initial physical examination was unremarkable, but the child developed neck swelling, fever, and irritability over the next 12 hours. Repeat examination revealed marked pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema. The pathophysiology and treatment of pneumomediastinum are reviewed.
Facilitating professional development for teachers of English language learners

Abstract The study explores the process of facilitation in professional development for educators. The study relies on discourse analysis of interaction among K-12 teachers and administrators in a Midwestern U.S. state during a semester-long professional development program especially designed for educators working with English language learners (ELLs). The study examines the facilitation practices employed by the lead facilitator of the professional development program from three analytical lenses: context as participation, context as ideology, and content. The paper provides an empirical illustration of how recommendations in the literature about professional development for educators of ELLs can be put in practice.
Meaningful Use: Why is it Meaningful to Pharmacists?

The Director's Forum series is edited by Robert J. Weber and Scott M. Mark and is designed to guide pharmacy leaders in establishing patient-centered services in hospitals and health systems. This article focuses on meaningful use and the impact and opportunity for pharmacists to influence the way in which it will be embraced within a given hospital and the role that pharmacy will have in meeting key metrics.
Was Metallgesellschaft's use of petroleum futures part of a rational corporate strategy?

Abstract Financial losses incurred in trading petroleum futures by Metallgesellschaft have been viewed as a mistake that occurred because the firm's Supervisory Board overreacted. However, these conclusions have been based on an incomplete analysis of the firm's business and petroleum markets. Metallgesellschaft's futures market position was excessively large, poorly distributed, and in the wrong products when the firm's long-term, fixed-price supply arrangements are balanced against its obligations to customers. Furthermore, Metallgesellschaft was unprotected financially against its long-term purchase obligations if its customers triggered the so-called “blowout” option. Finally, Metallgesellschaft's trading practices exposed the firm to the risk that the specifications of the commodities it had agreed to deliver would change and to the risk of manipulation by other firms. At least one large company has reported publicly that it profited at Metallgesellschaft's expense.
Severity of Mitral Valve Regurgitation at the Time of LVAD Implant Does Not Alter Mid-Term Clinical Outcomes

Severity of Mitral Valve Regurgitation at the Time of LVAD Implant Does Not Alter Mid-Term Clinical Outcomes A. Itoh ,1 A. Keith,1 S.M. Prasad,2 A. Abou El Ela,1 S.M. Joseph,3 G.A. Ewald,3 S.C. Silvestry,1 K.R. Balsara.1 1Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, MO; 2Cardiothoracic Surgery, Mercy Hospital, Springfield, MO; 3Cardiology, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, MO.
The effect of alkali halides and silver nitrate on the crystallization of silica powders

The effect of alkali halides on the crystallization of amorphous silica powders has been investigated. Normally crystallization does not occur below 1000°C, but in the presence of about 20% by weight of lithium chloride, α-quartz forms within 2 h at 700°C. In the presence of sodium and potassium salts, α-cristobalite forms at about 800 to 850°C. It appears that quartz is formed in the presence of the lithium salt because Li+ can enter the quartz lattice, whereas Na+ and K+ can penetrate the more expanded polymorphic form, cristobalite. It is possible that the cations are accompanied by oxide ions in all cases to maintain electrical neutrality. Limited penetration of the amorphous particles is sufficient to nucleate the new phase. Other properties of silica products treated with salts are reviewed.
Stress‐Associated or Functional Hypothalamic Amenorrhea in the Adolescent

Stress-associated amenorrhea in the adolescent is likely similar to the disorder found in young reproductive-aged adults and is termed hypothalamic amenorrhea. The key defect is an abnormality in the secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone. This review examines the current studies that characterize the disorder and the plausible factor(s) that may account for the disturbances in gonadotropin-releasing hormone, and identifies directions for future research in this group of disorders.
Lower and Upper Critical Ordering Temperatures in Compressible Diblock Copolymer Melts from a Perturbed Hard-Sphere-Chain Equation of State

The random-phase approximation is combined with the perturbed hard-sphere-chain (PHSC) equation of state for copolymer systems to represent the microphase separation transition in compressible diblock copolymer melts. The PHSC equation of state takes into account the equation-of-state effect that results from differences in compressibility between pairs of segments comprising a diblock copolymer; these differences favor demixing. Upon increasing the temperature of a microphase-separated diblock copolymer melt, theory first predicts an order-to-disorder transition that corresponds to the upper-critical-solution-temperature behavior in the binary blend of parent homopolymers. At conditions where the equation-of-state effect is significant, theory also predicts a disorder-to-order transition at further elevated temperature that follows closely the lower-critical-solution-temperature behavior in the binary blend containing the parent homopolymers. To compare theory with experiment, we obtain the binary intera...
Microstructure Analysis of Coupons Exposed to Carbon Dioxide Corrosion in Multiphase Flow

Abstract Carbon dioxide (CO2) corrosion products formed on low-carbon steel test coupons exposed to multiphase flows of CO2-oil-salt water mixtures were analyzed. The effects of flow, temperature, ...
The submental island flap

The submental island flap is a reliable source of skin of excellent colour, contour and texture match for facial resurfacing and leaves a well hidden donor site. The flap is safe, rapid and simple to raise. We report on its use in 12 cases of facial or intraoral reconstruction. Complications were few. However, there was one case of complete flap loss following its use in a reverse flow manner, due to the presence of an unreported, but constant, valve in the venous system of the face. We believe this flap to be a worthwhile addition to the existing surgical armamentarium.
Dopamine D3 receptors contribute to methamphetamine-induced alterations in dopaminergic neuronal function: Role of hyperthermia

Methamphetamine administration causes long-term deficits to dopaminergic systems that, in humans, are thought to be associated with motor slowing and memory impairment. Methamphetamine interacts with the dopamine transporter (DAT) and increases extracellular concentrations of dopamine that, in turn, binds to a number of dopamine receptor subtypes. Although the relative contribution of each receptor subtype to the effects of methamphetamine is not fully known, non-selective dopamine D2/D3 receptor antagonists can attenuate methamphetamine-induced changes to dopamine systems. The present study extended these findings by testing the role of the dopamine D3 receptor subtype in mediating the long-term dopaminergic, and for comparison serotonergic, deficits caused by methamphetamine. Results indicate that the dopamine D3 receptor selective antagonist, PG01037, attenuated methamphetamine-induced decreases in striatal DAT, but not hippocampal serotonin (5HT) transporter (SERT), function, as assessed 7 days after treatment. However, PG01037 also attenuated methamphetamine-induced hyperthermia. When methamphetamine-induced hyperthermia was maintained by treating rats in a warm ambient environment, PG01037 failed to attenuate the effects of methamphetamine on DAT uptake. Furthermore, PG01037 did not attenuate methamphetamine-induced decreases in dopamine and 5HT content. Taken together, the present study demonstrates that dopamine D3 receptors mediate, in part, the long-term deficits in DAT function caused by methamphetamine, and that this effect likely involves an attenuation of methamphetamine-induced hyperthermia.
The gravitational charge 1/2 $$\sqrt {hc} $$ as a unifying principle in physicsas a unifying principle in physics

We show in this paper that the basic quantization condition 4Gm2/c=nℏ, which was deduced previously from the Weyl principle of gauge invariance, as well as from the general-relativistic 2-body problem, leads to a particle with gravitational charge 1/2\(\sqrt {hc} \). It has the following properties: 1) It is a mini-black-hole; 2) it gives a natural gravitational cut-off for otherwise divergent self-energy calculations; 3) it represents a single quantum of actionh and hence is an ensemble of fluctuating gravitational fields in its lowest quantum state; 4) since its Bekenstein entropy is justk, to within a factor of the order of 1, it gives a physical meaning to the otherwise mysterious Boltzmann constant; 5) it leads to a statistical mechanics of the interior of a macro-black-hole of massM in the sense that it yields the quantityN=M/m as the number of distinct particles within the black hole and the quantityN2/2 as its number of excitable interior degrees of freedom; 6) it yields a simple formula for the square root of the fine-structure constant (accurate to better than 1 part in 1000) as the ratio of the number of degrees of freedom of the electromagnetic field with source to the number of degrees of freedom of the gravitational field with source; 7) it leads to a formula for the masses of leptons, mesons and baryons; 8) it permits one to express both the weak- and strong-coupling constants as small powers of the fine-structure constant.
Identifying promoters for gene expression in Clostridium thermocellum

A key tool for metabolic engineering is the ability to express heterologous genes. One obstacle to gene expression in non-model organisms, and especially in relatively uncharacterized bacteria, is the lack of well-characterized promoters. Here we test 17 promoter regions for their ability to drive expression of the reporter genes β-galactosidase (lacZ) and NADPH-alcohol dehydrogenase (adhB) in Clostridium thermocellum, an important bacterium for the production of cellulosic biofuels. Only three promoters have been commonly used for gene expression in C. thermocellum, gapDH, cbp and eno. Of the new promoters tested, 2638, 2926, 966 and 815 showed reliable expression. The 2638 promoter showed relatively higher activity when driving adhB (compared to lacZ), and the 815 promoter showed relatively higher activity when driving lacZ (compared to adhB).
The art of grocery shopping on a food stamp budget: factors influencing the food choices of low-income women as they try to make ends meet

Objective Amidst a hunger–obesity paradox, the purpose of the present study was to examine the grocery shopping behaviour and food stamp usage of low-income women with children to identify factors influencing their food choices on a limited budget. Design Focus groups, which included questions based on Social Cognitive Theory constructs, examined food choice in the context of personal, behavioural and environmental factors. A quantitative grocery shopping activity required participants to prioritize food purchases from a 177-item list on a budget of $US 50 for a one-week period, an amount chosen based on the average household food stamp allotment in 2005. Subjects Ninety-two low-income women, with at least one child aged 9–13 years in their household, residing in the Twin Cities, Minnesota, USA. Results Participants' mean age was 37 years, and 76% were overweight or obese (BMI≥25·0kg/m 2 ). Key findings suggest that their food choices and grocery shopping behaviour were shaped by not only individual and family preferences, but also their economic and environmental situation. Transportation and store accessibility were major determinants of shopping frequency, and they used various strategies to make their food dollars stretch (e.g. shopping based on prices, in-store specials). Generally, meat was the most important food group for purchase and consumption, according to both the qualitative and quantitative data. Conclusions Efforts to improve food budgeting skills, increase nutrition knowledge, and develop meal preparation strategies involving less meat and more fruits and vegetables, could be valuable in helping low-income families nutritionally make the best use of their food dollars.
A Stepwise Test Characteristic Curve Method to Detect Item Parameter Drift

An important assumption of item response theory is item parameter invariance. Sometimes, however, item parameters are not invariant across different test administrations due to factors other than sampling error; this phenomenon is termed item parameter drift. Several methods have been developed to detect drifted items. However, most of the existing methods were designed to detect drifts in individual items, which may not be adequate for test characteristic curve–based linking or equating. One example is the item response theory–based true score equating, whose goal is to generate a conversion table to relate number-correct scores on two forms based on their test characteristic curves. This article introduces a stepwise test characteristic curve method to detect item parameter drift iteratively based on test characteristic curves without needing to set any predetermined critical values. Comparisons are made between the proposed method and two existing methods under the three-parameter logistic item response model through simulation and real data analysis. Results show that the proposed method produces a small difference in test characteristic curves between administrations, an accurate conversion table, and a good classification of drifted and nondrifted items and at the same time keeps a large amount of linking items.
Multirobot simulation in distributed systems

A description is given of the implementation of a distributed robot simulation system on a VICTOR workstation, a multimode transputer-based computer developed at IBM. It is capable of graphically simulating large numbers of robot agents. The simulation task of each robot is functionally decomposed into subtasks, such as kinematics and graphics computation, which can be executed in parallel. >
CORRELATES AND SUSPECTED CAUSES OF OBESITY IN CHILDREN

The correlates and suspected causes of the intractable condition obesity are complex and involve environmental and heritable, psychological and physical variables. Overall, the factors associated with and possible causes of it are not clearly understood. Although there exists some ambiguity in the research regarding the degree of happiness in children with obesity, treatments that promote the child's psychological wellness and happiness should continue to be examined relating to promoting enduring weight reduction. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
ON GABOR'S ALTERNATE-SLAB MODEL

Gabor's alternate-slab model for calculating heat transfer between a wall and a moving packed or fluidized bed has been further developed using a physically more realistic numerical procedure. Two explicit techniques were examined. In one scheme, the new temperatures were calculated from the temperatures determined during the previous time interval. In the second scheme, the new temperatures were calculated using an average value of old and new temperatures calculated during the current time interval. The predictions of heat transfer rates for the refined alternate-slab model using old temperatures and those of the Mickley-Fairbanks model agree with each other at large values of t/dp 2 for the same gas gap thickness of 0.13dp. The second scheme, which has more realistic attributes, leads to a gas gap of O.16dp, which is in better agreement with the experimental data for air-glass and air-copper systems.
Structure–physical property relationships in peroxide‐cured butadiene–styrene copolymers

Structure–physical property relationships in high-vinyl butadiene–styrene copolymers have been determined for samples cured with dicumyl peroxide under the same conditions. Three different structures, butadiene–styrene–butadiene (B–S–B) triblocks, butadiene–styrene (B–S) diblocks, and random butadiene–styrene copolymers, have been examined. Flexural modulus increases with increasing styrene content owing to the inherent stiffness of a polystyrene backbone. Swelling increases whereas hardness and heat distortion temperature decrease with increasing styrene content. This behavior is explained by the decrease in crosslink density with increasing styrene content in all structures. Heat distortion temperatures of the B–S–B and B–S networks are superior to the heat distortion properties of the random structures. The B–S–B structure is the most solvent resistant, followed by the random copolymers, with the B–S structures swelling to the greatest extent. Swelling differences between the B–S–B and random networks decrease with increasing styrene content, while swelling differences between the B–S–B and B–S networks increase with increasing styrene content. These results are explained by the nature of the crosslinking reaction and the number of loose ends present in each network.
The once and future state of percutaneous mitral valve repair

There has been a great deal of interest in percutaneous mitral valve repair techniques in recent years, with several devices undergoing animal testing and clinical trials. Percutaneous annuloplasty and leaflet repair devices are currently in development, and while safety rates have generally been equal or superior to conventional surgical techniques, efficacy has been suboptimal. Most current percutaneous mitral valve repair devices can only reduce regurgitant volumes by approximately 20–40%, but these reductions may be enough to treat high-risk patients, including the elderly and those with comorbidities, who are otherwise ineligible for surgery. An analysis of how these devices alter the geometry and mechanics of the mitral valve apparatus can provide insight into long-term efficacy and durability and may lead to improvements in the reduction of mitral regurgitation. In the future, multiple percutaneous techniques may be utilized in combination to increase overall efficacy. In this article, we report on...
The correlation between the amplitude of Osborn wave and core body temperature.

Introduction:Several reports illustrate an inverse correlation between the Osborn wave (J wave) amplitude and core body temperature. We attempted to study the strength of this correlation.Methods:We reviewed all articles reporting hypothermic J waves from 1950–2014 for patient demographics, core body temperature in Celsius (°C), amplitude of the J wave in millimeters (mm), lead with the highest amplitude of J wave, presence of acidosis, PO2, electrolytes and outcome. In cases with more than one electrocardiogram (ECG), the respective core body temperature and J wave amplitude of each ECG were recorded. The main study outcome is to evaluate the correlation between the J wave amplitude and core body temperature in the admission ECG. We have also examined the strength of this relationship in cases with more than one ECG. We attempted to find the most frequent lead that recorded the highest amplitude of the J wave in addition to the correlation between the amplitude of J wave and pH.Results:We found 64 articl...
Comparison of the Diagnostic Characteristics of Two B-Type Natriuretic Peptide Point-of-Care Devices

Abstract Background B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is used to diagnose heart failure (HF). Objective To compare the accuracy of two commercially available point-of-care (POC) devices for measuring B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) in emergency department (ED) patients with suspected heart failure using the central laboratory testing results as the criterion standard. Methods Venous blood samples were collected from adults with suspected heart failure and split into three samples for BNP analysis: central laboratory (Siemens ADIVA Centaur; Siemens, Deerfield, IL), Triage BNP POC device (Biosite, San Diego, CA), and i-STAT BNP POC device (Abbott, East Windsor, NJ). The criterion standard for BNP levels was the central laboratory. Results Two hundred fifty patients were enrolled. Mean (SD) age was 70.7 (13.8) years; 200 (80%) were over age 55 years; 146 (58.4%) were male. A final hospital discharge diagnosis of heart failure was made in 108 (42%) patients. The i-STAT system yielded a result within a median of 9 min (interquartile range [IQR] 9–10 min). The Triage device yielded a result within a median of 19 min (IQR 15–22 min); p p = 0.04), but not statistically different than the Triage device (3 failures, 1.2%). Neither the Triage nor the i-STAT were statistically different than the central laboratory result in terms of sensitivity; the i-STAT was less specific than the Triage result ( p = 0.003). The area under the curve for the Triage device was 0.95 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.91–0.98), whereas the area under the curve for the i-STAT device was 0.98 (95% CI 0.96–0.99; p Conclusions Both POC devices tested were accurate and rarely failed; however, the i-STAT was faster with single use.
Aging of the CD4 T Cell Compartment.

Higher morbidity and mortality following infections, particularly influenza, is observed in the elderly popula- tion. Because of this, people over 65 years old are often targeted for preventive immunization. Many vaccines, however, are not as effective in generating protective antibodies in older individuals. CD4 + T cells, through their B cell helper func- tions, play a central role in the humoral response. Aging has deleterious effects on the immune system,and understanding how aging impairs CD4 + T cell functions is of critical importance to design new immunization and treatment strategies targeted to the elderly population. In this paper, we review some of the qualitative and quantitative changes in the CD4 + T cell compartment that arise with aging. We also summarize the age-related intrinsic defects that impact naive, memory and regulatory CD4 + T cell functions.
Novel micromachined LIGA microstrip transmission lines and filters

The LIGA-micromachined microstrip line is introduced. This transmission line and the filters presented in this paper are fabricated using the LIGA micromachining process. This process allows tall (10 /spl mu/m-1 mm), high-aspect ratio metal structures to be very accurately patterned and is compatible with integrated circuit fabrication processes. The tall metal transmission lines will enable the development of high-power monolithic circuits as well as couplers and filters that require very high coupling levels. In this paper, low-pass and bandpass filters fabricated using 120 and 160 /spl mu/m-tall nickel microstrip lines are demonstrated.
Design Options for a Desktop Publishing Course

Recommendations to the developer of an undergraduate desktop publishing course are given concerning scholastic level and prerequisites, purpose and objectives, instructional resources and methodology, assignments and evaluation, and a general course outline. By using desktop publishing, students gain experience in preparing documents that are professional in form and content. After students master the hardware and software, instructional emphasis shifts to page layout and graphic design principles that students apply to the development of documents commonly prepared in the workplace.
The electromagnetic field of a vertical electric dipole over the Earth or sea

The analysis of King (1990) of the electromagnetic field of a vertical electric dipole over an imperfectly conducting half-space is applied to obtain the far field when the dipole is at a specified height d. The contributions by the space wave with its 1/r dependence and the lateral surface wave with its 1/r/sup 2/ dependence are separated and studied in detail when the dipole is over a wide range of media such as sea water, wet and dry Earth, lake water and dry sand. Graphs of the far-field patterns are shown. >
Ovarian torsion in a three-year-old girl.

Abstract Background: Ovarian torsion is the fifth most encountered gynecological emergency requiring surgery. Representing only 2.7% of surgical emergencies, it is an entity that is worth being familiar with in the emergency department (ED). Objectives: Untreated ovarian torsion may result in loss of ovarian function, tissue necrosis, and death from thromboembolism or sepsis. Presenting with vague symptoms and abdominal pain, diagnosing ovarian torsion can be difficult, especially in children. The objective of this article is to present a case of pediatric ovarian torsion and to review its epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment. Case Report: A 3-year-old girl presented to the ED with vomiting, fever, anorexia, and abdominal pain. Initially diagnosed with appendicitis by physical examination and computed tomography scan, this patient was taken to the operating room for surgical exploration. The patient was subsequently found to have ovarian torsion, which was treated appropriately. Conclusion: Although a rare phenomenon, this case serves to increase awareness of the clinical presentation of ovarian torsion in the pediatric patient. Abdominal pain in the female child represents a challenging differential diagnosis, for which a physician must consider ovarian torsion.
Allowing Firms to Choose Between Formula Apportionment and Separate Accounting Taxation 1

This paper analyzes the effect on firm behavior and national tax revenues of a policy of allowing multinational firms to choose whether to be taxed under separate accounting rules (transfer prices) or an apportionment formula. Either method can be preferred by low-cost firms and by high-cost firms, and the preferred method can vary non-monotonically with firm cost characteristics. Separate accounting always generates more profitable output and conditional labor demand distortions while either method can generate a more profitable income-shifting distortion. With asymmetric countries, country preferences are only partially aligned with firm preferences due to the fact that countries and firms value tax base distortions differently. With partial alignment of firm and country preferences, choice can increase tax revenues in both
Aluminum modulates brain amyloidosis through oxidative stress in APP transgenic mice

SPECIFIC AIMAluminum (Al) exposure has been implicated in the Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathogenesis and its known capacity to exacerbate oxidative events has been suggested as one possible mechanism of its neurotoxicity. To test this hypothesis, we fed transgenic mice overexpressing human amyloid precursor protein (Tg 2576) and wild-type (WT) littermates with a diet enriched in Al alone or in combination with the natural antioxidant vitamin E. Brain levels of the isoprostane 8,12-iso-iPF2α-VI, a specific marker of in vivo lipid peroxidation, as well as amyloid β peptide and deposition were measured.PRINCIPAL FINDINGS1. Dietary aluminum increases in vivo lipid peroxidationTg 2576 receiving a diet supplemented with Al showed an increase in 8,12-iso-iPF2α-VI urinary levels that occurred earlier and attained higher levels than Tg mice on regular chow. This increase was already significant after 6 months on the Al diet (3.1±0.1 vs. 2.2±0.06 ng/mg of creatinine, P<0.01) and was nearly doubled by 12 months of ag...
The Various Perceptions of Distance: An Alternative View of How Effort Affects Distance Judgments

D. R. Proffitt and colleagues (e. g., D. R. Proffitt, J. Stefanucci, T. Banton, & W. Epstein, 2003) have suggested that objects appear farther away if more effort is required to act upon them (e.g., by having to throw a ball). The authors attempted to replicate several findings supporting this view but found no effort-related effects in a variety of conditions differing in environment, type of effort, and intention to act. Although they did find an effect of effort on verbal reports when participants were instructed to take into account nonvisual (cognitive) factors, no effort-related effect was found under apparent- and objective-distance instruction types. The authors' interpretation is that in the paradigms tested, effort manipulations are prone to influencing response calibration because they encourage participants to take nonperceptual connotations of distance into account while leaving perceived distance itself unaffected. This in no way rules out the possibility that effort influences perception in other contexts, but it does focus attention on the role of response calibration in any verbal distance estimation task.