cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Trends in US Pediatric Hospital Admissions in 2020 Compared With the Decade Before the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Importance In early 2020, the United States declared a public health emergency in response to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and implemented a variety of social distancing measures. The association between the COVID-19 pandemic and the number of pediatric admissions is unclear. Objective To determine the changes in patterns of pediatric admissions in 2020 compared with the prior decade. Design, Setting, and Participants This cross-sectional study included 49 US hospitals contributing to the Pediatric Health Information Systems database. Inpatient admissions were transformed into time-series data, and ensemble forecasting models were generated to analyze admissions across a range of diagnoses in 2020 compared with previous years. The setting was inpatient admissions. All patients discharged between January 1, 2010, and June 30, 2020, from an inpatient hospital encounter were included. Main Outcomes and Measures Number of hospital admissions by primary diagnosis for each encounter. Results Of 5 424 688 inpatient encounters among 3 372 839 patients (median [interquartile range] age, 5.1 [0.7-13.3] years; 2 823 748 [52.1%] boys; 3 171 224 [58.5%] White individuals) at 49 hospitals, 213 571 (3.9%) were between January 1, 2020, and June 30, 2020. There was a decrease in the number of admissions beginning in March 2020 compared with the period from 2010 to 2019. At the nadir, admissions in April 2020 were reduced 45.4% compared with prior years (23 798 in April 2020 compared with a median [interquartile range] of 43 550 [42 110-43 946] in April 2010-2019). Inflation-adjusted hospital charges decreased 27.7% in the second quarter of 2020 compared with prior years ($4 327 580 511 in 2020 compared with a median [interquartile range] of $5 983 142 102 [$5 762 690 022-$6 324 978 456] in 2010-2019). Seasonal patterns were evident between 2010 and 2019 for a variety of common pediatric conditions, including asthma, atrial septal defects, bronchiolitis, diabetic ketoacidosis, Kawasaki syndrome, mental health admissions, and trauma. Ensemble models were able to discern seasonal patterns in admission diagnoses and accurately predicted admission rates from July 2019 until December 2019 but not from January 2020 to June 2020. All diagnoses except for birth decreased below the model 95% CIs between January 2020 and June 2020. Conclusions and Relevance In this cross-sectional study, pediatric admissions to US hospitals decreased in 2020 across an array of pediatric conditions. Although some conditions may have decreased in incidence, others may represent unmet needs in pediatric care during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Reflective Grating Array Based Delay Lines in Thin Film Lithium Niobate on Insulator

This work demonstrates delay lines using reflective grating arrays formed through etched grooves in thin film lithium niobate on insulator. SH0 modes are launched and received through a reflector array in this material stack for the first time. The reflection coefficient for etched grooves is determined through simulation and grating arrays are demonstrated experimentally for h/λ ratios of 5×10−3and 10−2 at a center frequency of 455 MHz in conventional and linearly chirped grating arrays. This forms a first step towards future implementation of large time bandwidth product delay lines for analog signal processing.
Five Big Ideas for Effective Teaching: Connecting Mind, Brain and Education Research to Classroom Practice

New, rigorous standards set for students emphasize the need to understand underlying concepts rather than segmented facts and procedures. By learning underlying concepts, people improve application...
Represser-operator interaction in the lac operon: II. Observations at the tyrosines and tryptophans

Abstract This paper shows that 19 F-nuelear magnetic resonance spectroscopy on 3-fluoro-tyrosine and 5-fluorotryptophan-substituted wild-type lactose operon repressors from Escherichia coli can be used to examine the interactions with lac operator DNA. A survey of inducer and salt concentration effects on the repressor-operator complex is presented. The data lead us to a scheme for the interactions between the repressor, operator and inducer, in both binary and ternary complexes, that accommodate the results published by others. The complex between the tetrameric repressor and one 36 base-pair operator DNA fragment results in the simultaneous broadening of the resonances from all four N-terminal DNA binding domains. The actual contacts made by these binding domains are similar but probably not identical. The binding of the inducer molecule to the tetrameric repressor results in an allosteric change that can be monitored by the increased intensity of the resonances from individual tyrosine residues in the N-terminal binding domain. This increased N-terminal tyrosine resonance intensity in the complex is transmitted to repressor subunits that have not yet bound an inducer molecule.
Competition of energy for agricultural water use

As water needs for energy development increase, the possibility of competition for water between energy and other uses will also intensify. The Upper Colorado River Basin with its vast energy resources and limited water supplies is a region that epitomizes the potential for such water use conflicts. The major pressure for shifting water to energy uses is being felt by the agriculture sector. To assess the likely areas of competition and the magnitude of possible water transfers, a linear programming model is used to identify water transfers that can be made at the least social cost under alternative physical, legal, and institutional restrictions. The reduction in agricultural output due to possible water transfers to energy is estimated for projected levels of energy development. The effect of such transfers on proposed irrigation projects in various counties is assessed. Results of the analysis indicate the regions where there would be competition and water transfers, the amounts of water involved, the value of water lost to agriculture, and the resulting average annual streamflows.
A manufacturable GaAs BiFET technology for high speed signal processing

A GaAs BiFET LSI technology has been successfully developed for high speed and mixed signal circuit applications. High integration levels and functional circuit yield have been achieved. Excellent HBT and FET characteristics have been produced, with the noise figure of the FETs comparable to those of traditional MESFETs, enabling them to perform well in front-end receiver applications. Through this technology, several LSI circuits, including a 2 Gsps 2-bit prototype DRFM, a 2 GHz 32/spl times/2 bit shift register, a sample and hold circuit with 9-bit resolution at 200 Msps and SRAMs with a record access time (330 ps) have been successfully demonstrated.
A QUERY-DRIVEN APPROACH TO SIMULATIONS

This paper describes a Query-Driven Simulation (QDS) approach to asking questions aboutoutcomes of business processes. In this approach a user issues a query about outcomes of simulationruns and, based on the query asked, appropriate simulations are launched and the answer tothe query is determined from the outcomes of these simulations. It is argued that Query-DrivenSimulations provide a more declarative, flexible, and interactive approach to asking questionsabout simulation outcomes than the traditional approaches of letting the end-users run simulationsand gather statistics about simulation outcomes. The paper also presents a new simulationsystem development lifecycle based on the QDS approach.
Herpes simplex virus type 1 DNA polymerase. Mechanism of inhibition by acyclovir triphosphate.

Abstract Acyclovir triphosphate (ACVTP) was a substrate for herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) DNA polymerase and was rapidly incorporated into a synthetic template-primer designed to accept either dGTP or ACVTP followed by dCTP. HSV-1 DNA polymerase was not inactivated by ACVTP, nor was the template-primer with a 3'-terminal acyclovir monophosphate moiety a potent inhibitor. Potent inhibition of HSV-1 DNA polymerase was observed upon binding of the next deoxynucleoside 5'-triphosphate coded by the template subsequent to the incorporation of acyclovir monophosphate into the 3'-end of the primer. The Ki for the dissociation of dCTP (the "next nucleotide") from this dead-end complex was 76 nM. In contrast, the Km for dCTP as a substrate for incorporation into a template-primer containing dGMP in place of acyclovir monophosphate at the 3'-primer terminus was 2.6 microM. The structural requirements for effective binding of the next nucleotide revealed that the order of potency of inhibition of a series of analogs was: dCTP much greater than arabinosyl-CTP greater than 2'-3'-dideoxy-CTP much greater than CTP, dCMP, dCMP + PPi. In the presence of the next required deoxynucleotide (dCTP), high concentrations of dGTP compete with ACVTP for binding and thus retard the formation of the dead-end complex. This results in a first-order loss of enzyme activity indistinguishable from that expected for a mechanism-based inactivator. The reversibility of the dead-end complex was demonstrated by steady-state kinetic analysis, analytical gel filtration, and by rapid gel filtration through Sephadex G-25. Studies indicated that potent, reversible inhibition by ACVTP and the next required deoxynucleoside 5'-triphosphate also occurred when poly(dC)-oligo(dG) or activated calf thymus DNA were used as the template-primer.
CRUZ, Enrique Normando (2009), La política social en el antiguo régimen. Cofradías, hospitales, profesión médica, declaraciones de pobreza y montepíos en Jujuy (Argentina) en el período colonial

CRUZ, Enrique Normando (2009), La politica social enel antiguo regimen. Cofradias, hospitales, profesion medica,declaraciones de pobreza y montepios en Jujuy (Argentina) en el periodo colonial, 1a edicion. Jujuy: Centro de EstudiosIndigenas y Coloniales y Purmamarka Ediciones, 140paginas.
Association of Selenoprotein P with Alzheimer’s Pathology in Human Cortex

Selenium is known for its antioxidant properties, making selenoproteins candidate molecules for mitigation of neurological disorders in which oxidative stress has been implicated. The selenium transport protein, selenoprotein P, is essential for neuronal survival and function. We sought to determine whether selenoprotein P expression is associated with Alzheimer's disease pathology. We examined postmortem tissue from individuals with the hallmark lesions of Alzheimer's disease and individuals without these lesions. Selenoprotein P immunoreactivity was co-localized with amyloid-beta plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Dense-core and other non-diffuse amyloid-beta plaques were nearly always associated with selenoprotein P immunopositive cells. Analysis of spatial distribution showed a significant association between amyloid-beta plaques and selenoprotein P. Numerous cells also exhibited immunoreactivity to selenoprotein P and intraneuronal neurofibrillary tangles. Confocal microscopy confirmed co-localization of amyloid-beta protein and selenoprotein P. These findings suggest an association of selenoprotein P with Alzheimer's pathology.
The temperature dependence of the flow stress of Cu3Au at low temperatures

Abstract Compression flow stress measurements were made on well-ordered single crystals of Cu3Au over the temperature range 4° to 300°K. These tests showed that the temperature dependence of the yield stress in Cu3Au below 200°K is similar to that observed in pure f.c.c. metals. These results differed widely from results in the literature on polycrystalline samples. Further tests on both well-ordered and fully disordered polycrystalline samples confirmed the similarity in behaviour between well-ordered Cu3Au and pure f.c.c. metals at low temperatures. It is suggested that the results in the literature show an anomalously high temperature dependence due to impurities in the material.
A model of new service development

This paper proposes an evolutionary approach viewing new service development (NSD) as a continuous, dynamic, and nonlinear process of adaptive search which should involve an effective balance of local search and distant search in multiple dimensions, including supply-side, demand-side, and geographical.
Aqueous lateral epitaxy overgrowth of ZnO on (0001) GaN at 90°C: Part I. Increasing the critical thickness

Abstract Thick, epitaxial ZnO thin films have been grown on (0001) GaN buffered Al2O3 substrates using an aqueous solution at 90 °C. Films with improved structural, optical and electrical characteristics, were grown using a lateral epitaxial overgrowth (LEO) method. Different photoresist masks were used to enable LEO. The masks included linear windows and two different hexagonal arrays of circular windows. Films that exceeded a critical thickness mechanically failed through buckling, consistent with the large compressive stresses expected due to the mismatch of the ZnO lattice with the underlying GaN substrate. It was shown that improved mechanical stability could be achieved using the LEO method. Without LEO, a film thickness no greater than 4 µm could be grown without buckling. The critical thickness could be increased to 10 µm using linear windows, whereas a critical thickness of 50 μm was achieved with one array of circular windows, and 80 µm for a second array. The two different arrays of circular windows differed relative to their orientation on the substrate. It was also shown that the critical thickness increased with increasing distance between the growth windows. Optical transmission, micro-photoluminescence and Hall Effect measurements showed that the LEO method also results in improved optoelectronic properties.
A Skull of the Immigrant Eurasian Beardog Cynelos (Carnivora, Amphicyonidae) from the Early Miocene of Southern California

ABSTRACT—At ∼23 Ma, large amphicyonid carnivorans participated in the initial Neogene mammal migration passing though the Bering filter en route to North America. Among the migrants were the amphicyonines Cynelos and Ysengrinia, first appearing in early Miocene sediments of the upper Arikaree Group in Nebraska and Wyoming, having entered the New World with chalicotheres, small cervoids, and the cursorial rhinoceros Menoceras. Early representatives of these immigrant carnivores had not, until recently, been recovered from localities along the Pacific coastal corridor of western North America. Here we report the discovery of a unique skull that establishes the presence of an early Neogene species of Cynelos (C. malasi, sp. nov.) in coastal southern California. The skull shares craniodental features with early Miocene species of the genus in Europe. Dentition (P4-M1-M2) and cranial morphology of Cynelos malasi compare with C. helbingi (southern Germany) and C. lemanensis (France, Germany) but uniquely combin...
Short paper: CHIPS: content-based heuristics for improving photo privacy for smartphones

The Android permissions system provides all-or-nothing access to users' photos stored on smartphones, and the permissions which control access to stored photos can be confusing to the average user. Our analysis found that 73% of the top 250 free apps on the Google Play store have permissions that may not reflect their ability to access stored photos. We propose CHIPS, a unique content-based fine-grained run-time access control system for stored photos for Android which requires minimal user assistance, runs entirely locally, and provides low-level enforcement. CHIPS can recognize faces with minimal user training to deny apps access to photos with known faces. CHIPS's privacy identification has low overheads as privacy checks are cached, and is accurate, with false-positive and false-negative rates of less than 8%.
Thermal Energy Storage Using Zinc as Encapsulated Phase Change Material

Concentrating solar power is inherently intermittent and thus thermal energy storage is an essential component of a successful baseload solar power plant. Phase change materials (PCM) have the potential to decrease the cost of thermal energy storage systems for these plants since the latent heat contribution can be significant. The present work deals with certain aspects of using zinc as PCM for storing solar energy at high temperatures from 300°C to 500°C. The objective is the storage of hundreds of mega-watt-hours equivalent of solar energy in systems using zinc as encapsulated phase change materials (EPCM). Stainless steel and nickel have been considered as encapsulation materials for zinc. The present work describes several aspects of this technology that need consideration in designing the EPCM; such as thermal analysis, materials issues, proof of storage and retrieval of energy and cost analysis. EPCM of several sizes and shapes subjected to many cycles of energy storage/retrieval have been considered as part of the calorimetry tests here. Thanks to the large thermal conductivities of the metals involved, storing and retrieving energy into/out of the PCM is not an impediment. Potential interaction of PCM with encapsulation materials and their impact on storage capabilities are also discussed. Lastly the cost estimates ($/kWhth ) of these large thermal storage systems based on procedures used by NREL are presented. Though zinc based EPCM storage systems can be expensive at around $54/kWhth , they are more economical than the current two-tank storage systems that use sensible heat only for thermal energy storage.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Fascin stain as a potential marker of invasiveness in carcinomas of the urinary bladder: A retrospective study with biopsy and cytology correlation

The evaluation of invasion in urothelial carcinomas of the urinary bladder cannot be determined on cytology and can be particularly challenging in biopsy cases with limited sampling. Recent studies of bladder resection specimens suggest that fascin overexpression may be a marker of aggressive urothelial carcinomas and can help facilitate the assessment of invasion. In this study, we evaluated urine cytology and corresponding biopsy specimens with proven invasive urothelial carcinoma for fascin expression by immunohistochemistry. Thirty-five patients diagnosed with positive urine cytology and biopsy-proven invasive urothelial carcinoma between January 2003 and February 2009 were identified. We found increased fascin expression in 100% (35/35) of SurePathTM&!trade; urine cytology preparations as well as 100% (35/35) of corresponding biopsy cases with invasive urothelial carcinoma. On urine cytology, cytoplasmic fascin staining was moderate to intense in malignant tumor cell clusters and single cells and not observed in benign urothelial cells. Staining in biopsy cases was generally intense and cytoplasmic and present in both the invasive (100%) and noninvasive (31%) components of the lesion. These findings uphold the association of increased fascin expression in invasive urothelial carcinomas of the urinary bladder. We furthermore demonstrate that fascin staining can be performed successfully on SurePathTM&!trade; urine cytology preparations in which increased fascin expression correlates with invasion on biopsy. While not a definitive marker of invasion, as it is observed in in situ carcinoma, we conclude that the utilization of fascin immunohistochemistry on urine cytology might serve as a useful adjunct in predicting invasiveness in subsequent biopsies. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Pharmacologists and Alzheimer disease therapy: to boldly go where no scientist has gone before

Introduction: Alzheimer disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by severe cognitive impairment, inability to perform activities of daily living and mood changes. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors or NMDA glutamate receptor antagonists are currently used for the treatment of AD, but only the former have weak beneficial effects on cognitive function. Areas covered: The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the main pharmacological features of both current drugs and new compounds which are still under clinical development for the treatment of AD. Expert opinion: The discovery of new drugs acting at the early stage of AD could be considered as a ‘medical need’ and inhibitors of γ-secretase or monoclonal antibodies against Aβ seemed good options. However, inhibitors of γ-secretase, that is, tarenflurbil or semagacestat, were discontinued due to their lack of cognitive improvement or unacceptable side effects. A careful evaluation of the risk:benefit ratio should be consid...
Enhancement of cellular uptake of ellipticine by insulin preincubation

Ellipticine is a uleine alkaloid whose cytotxicity is a function of the ability of its cationic form to intercalate with helical nucleic acids. This study explores the uptake and binding of this antitumor alkaloid by cells of human breast cancer MDA-MB-231, sarcoma 180, several human lymphoblasts and one non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. In cells responsive to metabolic stimulation by insulin (MDA-MB-231; lymphoblasts), preincubation with this hormone enhanced cellular uptake of ellipticine, possibly by a pH loading mechanism dependent on increased metabolic activity and lowered intracellular pH. As a result, the amount of ellipticine associated with DNA increased, and there was increased cytotoxicity. This effect was not seen in sarcoma 180 or the non-Hodgkin's lymphoma samples.
On fading probability density functions of fast-tracked and untracked free-space optical communication channels

Free-space optical (FSO) communication systems suffer from average power loss and instantaneous power fading due to the atmospheric turbulence. The channel fading probability density function (pdf) is of critical importance for FSO communication system design and evaluation. The performance and reliability of FSO communication systems can be greatly enhanced if fast-tacking devices are employed at the transmitter in order to compensate laser beam wander at the receiver aperture. The fast-tracking method is especially effective when communication distance is long. This paper studies the fading probability density functions of both fast-tracked and untracked FSO communication channels. Large-scale wave-optics simulations are conducted for both tracked and untracked lasers. In the simulations, the Kolmogorov spectrum is adopted, and it is assumed that the outer scale is infinitely large and the inner scale is negligibly small. The fading pdfs of both fast-tracked and untracked FSO channels are obtained from the simulations. Results show that the fast-tracked channel fading can be accurately modeled as gamma-distributed if receiver aperture size is smaller than the coherence radius. An analytical method is given for calculating the untracked fading pdfs of both point-like and finite-size receiver apertures from the fast-tracked fading pdf. For point-like apertures, the analytical method gives pdfs close to the well-known gamma-gamma pdfs if off-axis effects are omitted in the formulation. When off-axis effects are taken into consideration, the untracked pdfs obtained using the analytical method fit the simulation pdfs better than gamma-gamma distributions for point-like apertures, and closely fit the simulation pdfs for finite-size apertures where gamma-gamma pdfs deviate from those of the simulations significantly.
On the determination of coherent solar microclimates for utility planning and operations

Abstract This work presents a cluster analysis for the determination of coherent zones of Global Horizontal Irradiance (GHI) for a utility scale territory in California, which is serviced by San Diego Gas & Electric. Knowledge of these coherent zones, or clusters, would allow utilities and power plants to realize cost savings through regional planning and operation activities such as the mitigation of solar power variability through the intelligent placement of solar farms and the optimal placement of radiometric stations. In order to determine such clusters, two years of gridded satellite data were used to describe the evolution of GHI over a portion of Southern California. Step changes of the average daily clear-sky index at each location are used to characterize the fluctuation of GHI. The k-means clustering algorithm is applied in conjunction with a stable initialization method to diminish its dependency to random initial conditions. Two validity indices are then used to define the quality of the cluster partitions as well as the appropriate number of clusters. The clustering algorithm determined an optimal number of 14 coherent spatial clusters of similar GHI variability as the most appropriate segmentation of the service territory map. In addition, 14 cluster centers are selected whose radiometric observations may serve as a proxy for the rest of the cluster. A correlation analysis, within and between the proposed clusters, based both on single-point ground-based and satellite-derived measurements evaluates positively the coherence of the conducted clustering. This method could easily be applied to any other utility scale region and is not dependent on GHI data which shows promise for the application of such clustering methods to load data and/or other renewable resources such as wind.
Activated and intermittent photoluminescence in thin CdSe quantum dot films

Excitation-power dependent photoluminescence (PL) studies on CdSe quantum dot thin films under ambient conditions reveal complementary processes that alter the ensemble spectral characteristics. Auger charging and photo-oxidation result in PL quenching, while reversible gas adsorption activates PL by pushing the surface-trapped carrier back into the dot core. Under high excitation power, the PL is enhanced by photochemical formation of an inorganic oxide layer. A correlation between ensemble PL behavior and embedded intensity fluctuations supports this model.
Topological Bifurcations of Attracting 2-Tori of Quasiperiodically Driven Oscillators

We examine the solutions to a damped, quasiperiodic (QP) Mathieu equation with cubic nonlinearities. The system is suspended in a four-dimensional phase space ℝ2 × T2 in which there exist attracting, knotted 2-tori called torus braids. We develop a topological classification scheme in which a torus braid is characterized by closed braids that exist in two Poincare sections, ℝ2 \times S1 × {·} and ℝ2 × {·} \times S1. Based on the classification scheme, we develop numerical invariants that describe the linkedness of attractors and provide information about the global dynamics. Numerical simulations show that changes of a single parameter lead to a global bifurcation through which the attracting torus loses stability and locally "doubles," shedding a torus of different equivalence class. We call this a topological torus bifurcation of the doubling variety (TTBD). We provide a topological analysis of the doubling produced by TTBDs and we examine the qualitative dynamical changes that result. We also examine the effect of TTBDs on the spectrum of Lyapunov exponents and the time series power spectrum.
Effects of thermal cycling and thermal aging on the hermeticity and strength of silver–copper oxide air-brazed seals

Abstract Thermal cycle and exposure tests were conducted on ceramic-to-metal joints prepared by a new sealing technique. Known as reactive air brazing, this joining method is currently being considered for use in sealing various high-temperature solid-state electrochemical devices, including planar solid oxide fuel cells (pSOFC). In order to simulate a typical pSOFC application, test specimens were prepared by joining ceramic anode/electrolyte bilayers to metal washers, of the same composition as the common frame materials employed in pSOFC stacks, using a filler metal composed of 4 mol% CuO in silver. The brazed samples were exposure tested at 750 °C for 200, 400, and 800 h in both simulated fuel and air environments and thermally cycled at rapid rate (75 °C min −1 ) between room temperature and 750 °C for as many as 50 cycles. Subsequent joint strength testing and microstructural analysis indicated that the samples exposure tested in air displayed little degradation with respect to strength, hermeticity, or microstructure out to 800 h of exposure. Those tested in fuel showed no change in rupture strength or loss in hermeticity after 800 h of high-temperature exposure, but did undergo microstructural change due to the dissolution of hydrogen into the silver-based braze material. Air-brazed specimens subjected to rapid thermal cycling exhibited no loss in joint strength or hermeticity, but displayed initial signs of seal delamination along the braze–electrolyte interface after 50 cycles.
The kinematics of meson interactions within nuclei

The optical model of the nucleus, which has proved useful in the study of coherent scattering processes, is applied here to the inelastic scattering of π-mesons by nuclei. Various aspects of meson and nucleon kinematics as modified by the presence of the optical model potential are discussed. Formulae and numerical results which relate free pion-nucleon cross sections to cross sections for pion-nucleon collisions within nuclei are also given. They indicate that the coherent effects described by the optical model play an important role in the inelastic scattering of mesons.
An Investigation into Teaching Games for Understanding: Effects on Skill, Knowledge, and Game Play

Abstract The purpose of this study was to test the validity of the games for understanding model by comparing it to a technique approach to instruction and a control group. The technique method focused primarily on skill instruction where the skill taught initially was incorporated into a game at the end of each lesson. The games for understanding approach emphasized developing tactical awareness and decision making in small game situations. Two physical education specialists taught field hockey using these approaches for 15 lessons (45 min each). The control group did not receive any field hockey instruction. Data were collected from 71 middle school children. Pretests and posttests were administered for hockey knowledge, skill, and game performance. Separate analyses of variance or analyses of covariance were conducted to examine group differences for cognitive and skill outcomes. The games for understanding group scored significantly higher on passing decision making than the technique and control grou...
Positive Mood-Inhibiting Potential of Human Crowding

Previous research on the effects of crowding on human behavior has concentrated on aggression and other negative outcomes. This study focused on the possible inhibiting effect of crowding on the development of positive mood states. 48 college men and 48 women were examined under conditions of high and low spatial density. Subjects were provided with positive mood-producing stimuli or neutral stimuli during crowding conditions. Neither positive nor negative moods were directly produced by crowding. Influence of crowding centered around inhibiting the effectiveness of positive mood-producing stimuli. Outcomes occurred for both men and women subjects.
Late Quaternary volcanic modulation of Milankovitch climate forcing

A preliminary global volcanicity index time series was developed from the total available record of radiocarbon dated eruptions. This was combined with a previously developed simple model of Pleistocene glaciation based on the integral of the seasonal contrast of hemispheric irradiance. The combined integral gave a modeled glacial volume time-series which matched both the general variation of glacial volume in the last forty thousand years and the short-term events as well. Particularly well-modeled were the Allerod-Younger Dryas-Two Creeks complex of Late Glacial events and the Cochrane stillstand.
Pro–B-Type Natriuretic Peptide-1-108 Processing and Degradation in Human Heart Failure

Background—We have reported that pro–B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP)-1-108 circulates and is processed to mature BNP1-32 in human blood. Building on these findings, we sought to determine whether proBNP1-108 processed forms in normal circulation are biologically active and stimulate cGMP, and whether proBNP1-108 processing and activity are altered in human heart failure (HF) compared with normal. Because BNP1-32 is deficient whereas proBNP1-108 is abundant in HF, we hypothesize that proBNP1-108 processing and degradation are impaired in HF patients ex vivo. Methods and Results—We measured circulating molecular forms, including BNP1-32, proBNP1-108, and N-terminal-proBNP, and all were significantly higher in patients with HF when compared with that in normals. Fresh serum samples from normals or patients with HF were incubated with or without exogenous nonglycosylated proBNP1-108 tagged with 6 C-terminal Histidines to facilitate peptide isolation. His-tag proBNP1-108 was efficiently processed into BNP1-32...
The School Attitude Assessment Survey-Revised: A New Instrument to Identify Academically Able Students Who Underachieve:

The purpose of this study was to design a psychometrically sound instrument to measure adolescents' attitudes toward school, attitudes toward teachers, goal-valuation, motivation, and general academic self-perceptions that could be used to explore the underachievement of academically able secondary school students. The final School Attitude Assessment Survey-Revised (SAAS-R) instrument consisted of 35 questions, each of which being an indicator of one of the five factors. The final model exhibited reasonable fit, X2(550) = 1,581.7, Comparative Fit Index = .91, Tucker Lewis Index = .92, root mean square error of approximation = .059, standardized root mean squared residual = .057. The scores in this study showed internal consistency reliability coefficient of at least .85 on each of the five factors. In addition, four of the five factors of the SAAS-R appear to differentiate gifted achievers from gifted underachievers. It is the authors' hope that the SAAS-R will allow researchers to more fully understand ...
Substituent effects on Bergman cyclopolymerization kinetics of bis-ortho-diynylarene (BODA) monomers by dynamic scanning calorimetry

Abstract Bis- ortho -diynylarene (BODA) monomers polymerize thermally via the Bergman cyclization and diradical intermediates. The structure reactivity relationships of eight BODA monomers and their kinetics were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The spacer (X=C(CF 3 ) 2 , C(CH 3 ) 2 , O, a bond) groups and alkyne terminal (R=Ph, Si(CH 3 ) 3 ,  iso -propanol, pyridine, thiophene) groups were varied and the effect on polymerization rate was determined. Among the phenyl-terminated monomers, only the isopropylidene spacer group imparts a significant increase on the cure onset temperature and the activation energy. However, the terminal (R) groups play a significant role in polymerization rate of BODA monomers.
Interactive mathematical models of subjective alertness and cognitive throughput in humans.

The authors present here mathematical models in which levels of subjective alertness and cognitive throughput are predicted by three components that interact with one another in a nonlinear manner. These components are (1) a homeostatic component (H) that falls in a sigmoidal manner during wake and rises in a saturating exponential manner at a rate that is determined by circadian phase during sleep; (2) a circadian component (C) that is a function of the output of our mathematical model of the effect of light on the circadian pacemaker, with the amplitude further regulated by the level of H; and (3) a sleep inertia component (W) that rises in a saturating exponential manner after waketime. The authors first construct initial models of subjective alertness and cognitive throughput based on the results of sleep inertia studies, sleep deprivation studies initiated across all circadian phases, 28-h forced desynchrony studies, and alertness and performance dose response curves to sleep. These initial models ar...
Would developing country commitments affect US households' support for a modified Kyoto Protocol?

Abstract Would US households be willing to pay more to support a modified Kyoto Protocol (MKP) if developing countries had binding future limits on greenhouse gas production? We explore this question using data from a unique set of national Internet samples and web-based surveys. Using an advisory referendum format, the contingent valuation method is applied to estimate annual household willingness-to-pay (WTP) for US Senate ratification of the Kyoto Protocol for a split-sample treatment: the basic Kyoto Protocol (BKP) (control group) versus a MKP that includes limits on future greenhouse gas production for major developing countries (treatment group). The results indicate that the treatment significantly increases the probability of a Yes vote on the advisory referendum; econometric modeling results provide evidence that the MKP significantly increases US households' median WTP to support the treaty.
Properties of luminescence from laser-created bubbles in pressurized water

The properties of the luminescence pulse from collapsing laser-created bubbles in pressurized water are studied for pressures between 0.25 and 15 bars. The duration of the light pulse is found to be linear in the maximum bubble size, but for a given bubble size it increases with the applied pressure p as p0.38. The number of photons emitted increases quadratically with the bubble size, and increases approximately linearly with pressure. The spectrum of the luminescence is blackbody in form, with a temperature that increases somewhat with pressure, from 8100 K at 1 bar to 9400 K at 10 bars. At higher pressures the blackbody temperature drops, but this is primarily due to the rapid onset above 10 bars of a fission instability, where the bubbles split into two just before the collapse point.
A Complex Free Toe Transfer after a Reverse Radial Forearm Flap

A case is reported of the difficulties associated with late free toe transfer for thumb reconstruction after an initial reverse radial forearm flap.
Race, resource utilisation, and perceived need among urban community development workers from faith-based organisations

Organisations providing social services in communities of high crime and violence must address staff well-being. The current study surveyed 284 urban community development workers from faith-based organisations in five US cities. The study explored the effects of race and ethnicity on service utilisation and perceived need using binomial logistic regression. Race and ethnicity significantly predicted medical service utilisation, indicating that Caucasian participants were five times more likely and African-American participants were 3.8 times more likely than Latino/a participants to utilise medical services. Race and ethnicity did not predict differences in use of psychological or spiritual services, nor of perceived need for services. Furthermore, volunteer staffs were approximately four times more likely than paid staff to report self-addressing their psychological and spiritual needs rather than utilising services, despite a felt need for support. Barriers to resource utilisation and implications for ...
Spectrin phosphorylation in senescent rat erythrocytes

Abstract The rates of phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of the erythrocyte cytoskeletal protein, spectrin, were analyzed in young and old rat erythrocytes. Endogenous membrane protein kinase activity was measured in age-seperated rat erythrocytes, and was found to decrease as a function of cell age. Membranes prepared from young and old erythrocytes contained comparable levels of protein phosphatase activity. Spectrin phosphatase activity was readily observed in erythrocyte membranes. Partially purified spectrin kinase and spectrin were prepared from membranes obtained from young and old erythrocytes, and the phosphorylation of the spectrin fractions was measured with the isolated kinases. The kinases prepared from young or old cells phosphorylated spectrin from young cells to the same extent. When spectrin from old cells was used as the substrate, it was phosphorylated ten-fold less extensively by the spectrin kinase prepared from old cells than by the spectrin kinase from young cells. This finding indicated that the decrased phosphorylation of spectrin observed in membranes prepared from age-separated red cells was due to a structural alteration in the spectrin. A structural basis for the decreased phosphorylation of spectrin in older erythrocytes was sought. Treatment of erythrocyte membranes with malonyldialdehyde, a product of lipid peroxidation which accumulates in erythrocyte membranes during senescence, adversely affected spectrin phosphorylation. The results presented here indicate that intramolecular derivatization of spectrin was sufficient to impair its function as a substrate for protein kinase.
Does evidence exist to include dietary therapy in the treatment of Crohn's disease?

Prescription drugs and surgery are two common medical therapies for Crohn’s disease (CD), an inflammatory bowel disease that affects the GI tract. Unfortunately, certain drugs can cause serious side effects, and surgeries must often be repeated. No diet has been established to alleviate the pain and suffering of CD patients. This is curious given the fact that a higher prevalence of food sensitivities exist in this population of patients, and enteral nutrition is not only the first-line of therapy in Japan, but a known research method used to place the majority of CD patients into remission. Although not all patients respond equally to diet, many simply remove symptom-provoking foods, such as dairy, wheat, corn and certain fruits and vegetables. We suggest assisting these patients in their self-assessment of irritating and symptom-provoking foods by educating them in the use of a food–symptom diary followed by a customized elimination diet trialed for 2–4 weeks to determine if there is any benefit to the ...
Transfer of compounds and components in the discriminative learning of retardates.

Abstract The discriminative learning and transfer of compound and component problems were assessed in retarded subjects at two levels of intelligence. It was found that brighter subjects (MA = 10 years) found the component problems relatively easier than the compound problems to a greater extent than did the less developed subjects (MA = 5 years). The learning of compound solutions was shown to transfer positively to other compound problems and negatively to component problems. Component solutions were found to transfer positively to other component solutions and negatively to compound solutions. These dimensional transfer effects were interpreted to mean that both compound and component solutions were mediated and conceptual in nature. The developmental differences in relative usages of compound and component aspects of stimuli were viewed as the result of differences in direction of attention rather than of differences in complexity of processing.
Salesmen-customer interaction: An experimental approach

The interaction between customers and salesmen often determines the final outcome of a retail transaction. Salesmen often use various cues about potential customer's byuing intentions in designing their sales presentation strategies. This study examines nonprice aspects of salesmen-customer interaction utilizing an experimental design. The results of the study show that salesmen respond differently to prospects with different characteristics.
Allometry and Reorganization in Horse Skull Proportions

Allometric analysis of skull proportions in 25 species of fossil equids indicates that both scaling effects (allometry) and reorganization were factors in the evolutionary transformation of horse skulls. A relatively longer preorbital portion of the skull resulted from the ventral and forward displacement of the tooth row relative to the jaw joint and the orbit when high-crowned teeth evolved. Correlated with the increased distance between jaw joint and tooth row is an increase in the relative size of the attachment areas of masseter and internal pterygoid muscles.
An immobilization antigen in Tetrahymena pyriformis expressed under conditions of high salt stress.

SYNOPSIS. Cells of Tetrahymena pyriformis syngen 1 exposed to 200 mM NaC1 without previous exposure to a saline medium die within minutes. Lines that have been adapted to higher salt concentrations by growing in axenic peptone medium with 100 mM NaC1 are able to grow in previously intolerable concentrations. Acclimation to higher salt concentrations is accompanied by a transformation from the H serotype, expressed at room temperature in the standard peptone medium, to a new serotype, St. Complete transformation occurs at concentrations approaching the LD50 for nonadapted cells, and the time required for the transformation is 3–4 days. The reverse transformation, St to H, involves a time interval during which the cells are refractory to both anti-St and anti-H. Among 12 of the 13 inbred families of T. pyriformis syngen 1, 2 different high salt serotypes are found. One of these, Sta, is found among families A, Al, A3, B, D, D1, E, and F. The other, Stc, occurs in families C, C1, C2, C3, and possibly B2.
L-band Overhauser dynamic nuclear polarization

We present the development of an Overhauser dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) instrument at 0.04 T using 1.1 GHz (L-band) electron spin resonance frequencies (ESR) and 1.7 MHz (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance frequencies. Using this home-built DNP system, the electron-nucleus coupling factor of 4-oxo-TEMPO dissolved in water was determined as 0.39+/-0.06 at 0.04 T. The higher coupling factor obtained at this field compared to higher magnetic fields, such as 0.35 T, directly translates to higher enhancement of the NMR signal and opens up a wider time scale window for observing water dynamics interacting with macromolecular systems, including proteins, polymers or lipid vesicles. The higher enhancements obtained will facilitate the observation of water dynamics at correlation times up to 10 ns, that corresponds to more than one order of magnitude slower dynamics than accessible at 0.35 T using X-band ESR frequencies.
Effect of periodic box size on aqueous molecular dynamics simulation of a DNA dodecamer with particle-mesh Ewald method

The particle-mesh Ewald (PME) method is considered to be both efficient and accurate for the evaluation of long-range electrostatic interactions in large macromolecular systems being studied by molecular dynamics simulations. This method assumes "infinite" periodic boundary conditions resembling the symmetry of a crystal environment. Can such a "solid-state" method accurately portray a macromolecular solute such as DNA in solution? To address this issue, we have performed three 1500-ps PME molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, each with a different box size, on the d(CGCGA6CG)-(CGT6CGCG) DNA dodecamer. The smallest box had the DNA solvated by a layer of water molecules of at least 5 A along each orthogonal direction. The intermediate size box and the largest box had the DNA solvated by a layer of water molecules of at least 10 A and 15 A, respectively, along each orthogonal direction. The intermediate size box in the present study is similar to the box size currently chosen by most workers in the field. Based on a comparison of RMSDs and curvature for this single DNA dodecamer sequence, the larger two box sizes do not appear to afford any extra benefit over the smallest box. The implications of this finding are briefly discussed.
Identification of a New Polymorphism in the 3′-Untranslated Region of the Human Serotonin Receptor 2C (5-HT2C) Gene

Abstract We identified a polymorphism (2831T > G) in the 3′-untranslated region of 5-HT 2C receptor gene, approximately 100 kb from a previously reported coding sequence polymorphism, 796G > C (C23S). Allele frequencies were 0.90 (T) and 0.10 (G) and cosegregation analysis of the alleles at the two loci demonstrated frequencies of 0.82 (GT), 0.08 (CT), 0.10 (GG), and 0 (CC). The increased informativity gained by analysis of both polymorphisms will prove useful for future studies of this gene in X-linked neuropsychiatric disorders.