cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Enhanced Conjugated Polymer Fluorescence Quenching by Dipyridinium-Based Quenchers in the Presence of Surfactant

Poly[(2-methoxy-5-propyloxysulfonate)phenylene vinylene] (MPS-PPV) was synthesized directly from its bischloromethylated monomer, considerably reducing the total number of steps involved in the polymer preparation. For the first time, a simple technique of ultracentrifugation was employed for final purification of the polymer. The interactions among the polymer, surfactant, and quencher molecules, as well as amplified fluorescence quenching and fluorescence enhancement associated with the interactions, were investigated and discussed. When compared with methyl viologen [MV]2+, higher values of Stern−Volmer constant KSV values on the order of ≥107 M-1 were observed for the newly synthesized N-(2-carboxyhexadecanoyl)-N‘-methyl-4,4‘-bipyridinium iodide bromide ([CHMB]2+) quencher in the presence of 1,2-dioleoyl-3- trimethylammonium propane (DOTAP) surfactant. Comparisons of surfactants demonstrated that the KSV of [CHMB]2+ was 10-fold higher in the presence of dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB) surfacta...
Host Preferences of the Green Peach Aphid, Myzus persicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

Gynoparous, oviparous, and apterous green peach aphids, Myzus persicae (Sulzer), preferred radish, Raphanus sativus L., to the winter host, peach, Prunus persica Batsch, in laboratory tests of settling behavior. Preference for radish was strongest in the apterae and weakest in the oviparae; however, in all cases the degree of preference was significant ( P = 0.01). Gynoparae discriminated between peach and a nonhost species, Acer saccharinum L., although few aphids settled on either species during the test. Although feeding preferences may allow green peach aphid to discriminate between tree species, these results indicate that such preferences cannot explain the movement of migrants from secondary to primary hosts. Apterae discriminated readily between various secondary hosts. Marked differences in preference occurred even between species which have been shown to be highly suitable for reproduction. Rates of settling were higher on preferred hosts than nonpreferred hosts, indicating that the rate of interplant movement may be significantly greater on nonpreferred hosts.
From data to information: how to define the context?

Abstract In medical decision making, the action taken depends on two interrelated factors: (1) the data collected or measured, and (2) the context to which these data apply. Context is defined as the patient-specific data and the physician's hypothesis to be tested concerning the patients' medical problem. The better the data fit the context the greater their involvement and impact on the decision to take medical action. This leads to the concept of context-fit values (CFVs) for laboratory data. Depending on the reason for which testing is being requested (monitoring, screening, or diagnosis), this concept enables the supplier of data, with the cooperation of the requestor, to analyze how well the data fit in the context frame of the decision maker. This preliminary context evaluation allows the laboratory to evaluate the possible contribution the data can provide to the decision maker prior to any medical action being taken. If the calculation of the context-fit value suggests that the data does not fit the context frame, then the laboratory can choose not to report the data and then pursue pre-analytic or analytic sources of error. This will help to avoid reporting of erroneous results which could lead to unneeded and costly additional testing or, worse, unnecessary or harmful medical action to the patient.
Cognitive therapy for the prevention of suicide attempts: a randomized controlled trial.

ContextSuicide attempts constitute a major risk factor for completed suicide, yet few interventions specifically designed to prevent suicide attempts have been evaluated.ObjectiveTo determine the effectiveness of a 10-session cognitive therapy intervention designed to prevent repeat suicide attempts in adults who recently attempted suicide.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsRandomized controlled trial of adults (N = 120) who attempted suicide and were evaluated at a hospital emergency department within 48 hours of the attempt. Potential participants (N = 350) were consecutively recruited from October 1999 to September 2002; 66 refused to participate and 164 were ineligible. Participants were followed up for 18 months.InterventionCognitive therapy or enhanced usual care with tracking and referral services.Main Outcome MeasuresIncidence of repeat suicide attempts and number of days until a repeat suicide attempt. Suicide ideation (dichotomized), hopelessness, and depression severity at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 18 months.ResultsFrom baseline to the 18-month assessment, 13 participants (24.1%) in the cognitive therapy group and 23 participants (41.6%) in the usual care group made at least 1 subsequent suicide attempt (asymptotic z score, 1.97; P = .049). Using the Kaplan-Meier method, the estimated 18-month reattempt-free probability in the cognitive therapy group was 0.76 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.62-0.85) and in the usual care group was 0.58 (95% CI, 0.44-0.70). Participants in the cognitive therapy group had a significantly lower reattempt rate (Wald χ21 = 3.9; P = .049) and were 50% less likely to reattempt suicide than participants in the usual care group (hazard ratio, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.26-0.997). The severity of self-reported depression was significantly lower for the cognitive therapy group than for the usual care group at 6 months (P= .02), 12 months (P = .009), and 18 months (P = .046). The cognitive therapy group reported significantly less hopelessness than the usual care group at 6 months (P = .045). There were no significant differences between groups based on rates of suicide ideation at any assessment point.ConclusionCognitive therapy was effective in preventing suicide attempts for adults who recently attempted suicide.
Coronary artery slow flow associated with angina pectoris and hypotension : A case report

A 56-year-old woman with a history of angina pectoris developed substernal chest pressure and hypotension during coronary angiography. Her baseline coronary angiogram appeared normal. During this episode, injection of contrast medium into the left coronary artery demonstrated coronary artery slow flow in the left anterior descending artery and branches of the circumflex coronary artery, which normalized following the sublingual administration of nitroglycerin. There were no focal areas of coronary artery spasm. This phenomenon may represent a heretofore undescribed mechanism for myocardial ischemia and its sequelae.
Typical and atypical pulmonary carcinoids : outcome in patients presenting with regional lymph node involvement

Study objective Typical pulmonary carcinoid tumors are well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors that are associated with good patient survival rates, while atypical carcinoid tumors are more aggressive and have worse patient survival rates. Because these tumors rarely involve the thoracic lymph nodes at presentation, it is currently unknown to what extent the presence of thoracic lymph node metastases at the time of diagnosis influences patient survival. Methods A computerized search of the medical records for pulmonary carcinoid tumor at the Mayo Clinic from 1976 to 1997 revealed 517 patients, from which we identified 36 patients with pulmonary carcinoid tumors involving regional thoracic lymph nodes but without distant disease. For each patient, we reviewed the tumor histology, stage, and outcome. In addition, because the histologic criteria for the diagnosis of carcinoid tumors had changed significantly during the time of the study, we reexamined all of the histologic specimens using the current World Health Organization (WHO) criteria for classifying pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors. Results After reclassification with the WHO criteria for neuroendocrine tumors, 23 patients had typical carcinoid tumors with thoracic lymph node involvement. At the last follow-up, 19 patients had no evidence of disease (NED), 2 patients had developed systemic metastases (SM) and are still alive, and 2 patients had died. Eleven patients had atypical carcinoid tumors with thoracic lymph node involvement. At the last follow-up, four patients had NED, seven patients had developed SM within a median time of 17 months, and six patients with SM died shortly thereafter (median survival time, 25.5 months), while one is still alive. Two patients had been reclassified with large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma at the time of this review; both of these patients had developed SM (at 4 months and 21 months after diagnosis) and had died (at 15 months and 21 months after diagnosis, respectively). Conclusions These data suggest that patients with atypical pulmonary carcinoid tumors with regional lymph node metastases have a high likelihood of developing recurrent disease if treated with surgical resection alone and have significantly worse outcome (p
Interplay between Calcium Release and Action Potential Alternans in Rabbit Heart

Cardiac alternans is recognized as a high risk indicator for cardiac arrhythmias, stroke and sudden cardiac death. At the cellular level action potential duration (APD) alternans correlates with alternation in intracellular calcium release and Ca transient amplitude, thus we investigated relationship between sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca release and instabilities in electrical activity. Experiments were carried out on single rabbit atrial and ventricular cells. Cytosolic Ca transients were monitored simultaneously with membrane currents or APs recorded with the patch clamp technique. Increase in pacing frequency caused Ca alternans that were accompanied by alternans in AP shape. During alternans APD50 of every other beat increased by 108 ± 26% (n=5) and 25 ± 8% (n=5) in atrial and ventricle cells, respectively, and large amplitude Ca transients were always accompanied by short APs and vice-versa (discordant alternans). Recorded APs were applied as stimulation command in voltage-clamp mode (AP-clamp) to record membrane currents. During AP-clamp recordings Ca alternans could be elicited, irrespective whether the command voltage consisted of a series of APs of only long APD, only short APD or alternating APD ('APD alternans clamp'). Furthermore, pacing threshold for Ca alternans was independent of APD. In addition Ca alternans were accompanied by an outwardly directed membrane current of alternating amplitude. This current was also recorded under conditions when all K+ currents were blocked (replacing K+ with Cs+ and 5 mM 4-AP), and preliminary data suggest a chloride conductance. The current was [Ca]i-dependent since it was abolished when SR Ca release was eliminated by removing extracellular Ca or blocking L-type channels with nifedipine. Thus we conclude, that Ca alternans induced by high frequency pacing leads to alternans in AP shape in rabbit myocytes due to alternating changes in activity of Ca2+-activated chloride channels.
Development and Psychometric Validation of the Dementia Attitudes Scale

This study employed qualitative construct mapping and factor analysis to construct a scale to measure attitudes toward dementia. Five family caregivers, five professionals, and five college students participated in structured interviews. Qualitative analysis of the interviews led to a 46-item scale, which was reduced to 20 items following principal axis factoring with two different samples: college students (𝑁=302) and certified nursing assistant students (𝑁=145). Confirmatory factor analysis was then conducted with another sample of college students (𝑁=157). The final scale, titled the Dementia Attitudes Scale (DAS), essentially had a two-factor structure; the factors were labeled &#x201C;dementia knowledge&#x201D; and &#x201C;social comfort.&#x201D; Total-scale Cronbach&#x27;s alphas ranged 0.83&#x2013;0.85. Evidence for convergent validity was promising, as the DAS correlated significantly with scales that measured ageism and attitudes toward disabilities (range of correlations = 0.44&#x2013;0.55; mean correlation =0.50). These findings demonstrate the reliability and validity of the DAS, supporting its use as a research tool.
Cardiovascular reactivity to mental arithmetic and cold pressor in African Americans, Caribbean Americans, and White Americans

Background: Caribbean Americans and African Americans, two of the largest Black ethnic groups in the United States, differ in cardiovascular-disease-related mortality rates.Purpose: Cardiovascular reactivity to psychological stress may be an important marker or mediator of risk for cardiovascular disease development in Blacks in the United States, yet little attention has been paid to ethnicity among Blacks in reactivity research. This study examined cardiovascular reactivity to psychological stress in African American, Caribbean American, and White American participants.Methods: Forty-five women and 43 men performed mental arithmetic and hand cold pressor (CP) tasks.Results: Caribbean Americans displayed larger decreases in heart period variability during mental arithmetic than White Americans (p = .02). White Americans exhibited a pre-ejection period decrease, whereas African Americans and Caribbean Americans displayed pre-ejection period increases during CP (p = .023). African Americans exhibited greater decreases in interbeat interval during CP than White Americans (p = .013). Caribbean Americans displayed greater decreases in cardiac output than White Americans during CP (p = .009). White Americans exhibited significantly greater increases in systolic blood pressure than Caribbean Americans during CP (p = .014).Conclusions: These findings suggest that differences in reactivity to psychological stress exist among Black ethnic groups in the United States and underscore the need to consider ethnicity as a factor in reactivity research with Black Americans.
Is esthesioneuroblastoma a peripheral neuroectodermal tumor

Esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB; olfactory neuroblastoma) is a rare, locally aggressive neoplasm of the sinonasal area and anterior cranial fossa. The histogenesis of the lesion is not clearly delineated, and the broad histological spectrum of ENB has confounded the issue. The location, histological features (neuropil, Homer Wright, and olfactory rosettes), and reported immunocytochemical reactions (neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and chromogranin (CHR) positivity) suggest that ENB may be a neural or neuroendocrine neoplasm derived from the olfactory membrane. Recent demonstration in two of three metastatic putative ENB cell lines of the 11;22 chromosomal translocation, seen in Ewing's sarcoma (ES) of bone and peripheral neuroectodermal tumors (PNET) of bone and soft tissue, has led to the conclusion that ENB may be closely related histogenetically to PNET. The overwhelming majority of cases of ES and PNET express the protein product of MIC-2, a gene located on the pseudoautosomal region of the X and Y chromosomes. This protein can be identified immunocytochemically by antibodies 12E7, HBA71, and ON13. We studied the expression of MIC-2 using the 12E7 antibody as well as multiple neural markers in 18 ENB samples obtained from the files of The Johns Hopkins Hospital. The patients ranged in age from 19 to 90 years (mean, 47.5; median, 47) and included five men and 13 women. None of the 18 specimens reacted with antibody 12E7, but 16 were positive for NSE, nine reacted to synaptophysin (SYN), and 13 showed antibodies to chromogranin (CHR). Our studies agree with the previous suggestions that ENB is a primitive neural tumor but fail to support the hypothesis that it is a member of the PNET family.
Neutral and anionic silyl hydride derivatives of the tantalum imido fragment Cp*(DippN=)Ta (Cp* = η5-C5Me5; Dipp = 2,6-iPr2C6H3). Reactive σ-bonds and intramolecular C-H bond activations involving the silyl ligands

The syntheses and reactivities of alkyl, silyl, and hydride complexes of the type Cp*(DippN)TaRR‘ (Cp* = η5-C5Me5; Dipp = 2,6-iPr2C6H3; R = silyl, alkyl; R‘ = alkyl, hydride) are described. The compounds Cp*(DippN)Ta(SiR3)Cl (SiR3 = Si(SiMe3)3 (1), SiPh3 (2), SiHMes2 (3); Mes = 2,4,6-Me3C6H2), prepared from Cp*(DippN)TaCl2 and (THF)nLiSiR3, react with H2 to yield the dimeric hydride [Cp*(DippN)TaCl(μ-H)]2 (4). The reaction of 4 with (THF)3LiSi(SiMe3)3 (2 equiv) gave the 16-electron silyl hydride complex Cp*(DippN)Ta[Si(SiMe3)3]H (6), which is Lewis acidic and reversibly binds halide ions to afford anionic Ta(V) complexes of the type A+{Cp*(DippN)Ta(X)[Si(SiMe3)3]H}- (A = Li(THF)3, X = Cl (5); A = NBu4, X = Br (7) and I (8)). For complexes 5, 7, and 8, NMR and X-ray data suggest the presence of weak three-center interactions involving Ta, Si, and H. Silyl hydride 6 reacts with xylyl isocyanide (xylyl = 2,6-dimethylphenyl) and acetonitrile to give the corresponding η2-silaimine and azomethine insertion prod...
Plasma energy confinement in conventional mirrors with externally heated electrons

By means of a 2-d, multi-species, Fokker-Planck code, it is found for conventional mirror reactors that heating of the electrons from an external power source leads to a decrease in Q. Likewise, for mirror plasmas such as 2XIIB, electron heating does not improve the total energy confinement because of additional losses associated with quasi-linear stabilization requirements.
Toward Narrowing the Research-Practice Gap in Performance Appraisal.

Recently, performance appraisal researchers have adopted a cognitive approach to analyzing judgment processes in performance appraisal. While this approach allows researchers to tap a wealth of knowledge applicable to the appraisal context, this line of research is likely to widen the already existing gap between research and practice. We argue that coordination of the talents of researchers and practitioners is essential for narrowing the gap. Specifically, we suggest researchers focus their research on the best methods of ensuring use of relevant and valid data in appraisal, given organizational constraints. We also suggest practitioners focus on determining observable and measurable aspects of performance, and thus, specify appropriate appraisal content. We also note that cognitive process research has promise for increasing raters' ability to judge accurately, but that this approach does not necessarily address the rater's willingness to provide accurate ratings.
Improving Potato Tuber Quality and Production by Targeted Calcium Nutrition: the Discovery of Tuber Roots Leading to a New Concept in Potato Nutrition

Calcium plays a major role in plant growth and development and in the maintenance and modulation of various cell functions, especially related to membrane structure and function and to cell wall structure. Calcium stabilizes cell membranes by bridging polar head groups of phospholipids at the membrane surface. Calcium is also an integral part of the cell wall where it provides stable intra-molecular linkages between pectin molecules, resulting in cell wall rigidity. A change in the cytosolic calcium concentration is also known to provide a cellular signal that regulates metabolism and mediates plant responses to stresses. Calcium deficiency is pervasive among fruit and tuber crops because calcium moves with water in the xylem and very little water moves to fruit and tuber tissues as compared to leaves. The water potential gradient within the potato plant favors xylem transport to the foliage since tubers are surrounded by moist soil. As a result, the calcium concentration is much higher in foliage than in the tuber. In our early work, we demonstrated that water and calcium taken up by the main root system bypass the tubers and are delivered to the above-ground portion of the plant, and roots arising from the stolons and tubers supply calcium to the tubers. Tuber calcium concentration can therefore be increased by selectively feeding tubers with calcium nutrients during tuber bulking period. The discovery of tuber roots has led to the development of a new concept in potato nutrition. We have demonstrated that in-season fertilization with calcium increases tuber calcium and lowers incidence of physiological disorders such as internal brown spot, hollow heart, and bruising. Localized tissue calcium deficiencies are implicated as mechanisms initializing cell death and tissue necrosis leading to internal brown spot and hollow heart in potatoes. There is also strong evidence for reducing storage rot by increasing tuber calcium. Finally, tuber calcium is important for the health of the sprout and of the tuber skin.
Maternal sensitivity during distressing tasks: A unique predictor of attachment security

The extent to which maternal sensitivity during a non-arousing free play task and during distressing tasks at 6 months predicted infant–mother attachment security was examined. When considered simultaneously, only maternal sensitivity during distressing tasks predicted subsequent attachment security. Infant temperament was unrelated to attachment security.
Time-domain approaches to quadratic phase coupling estimation

Bicoherence is a quantity used to estimate the contribution of second-order nonlinearity to the power in bifrequencies. The conventional approach to the problem uses second- and third-order periodograms for bicoherence estimation. Time-domain approaches that use autocorrelation and third-order cumulant samples or their estimates are developed. These techniques are suitable for use in situations where high-resolution approaches are required for power spectrum and bispectrum estimation. >
Long-term storage of Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br. pollen

Pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] pollen has been successfully stored for 2,615 and 2,911 days at -18° and -73 °C, respectively, and continues to be viable. Viability of pollen stored at -73 °C appears to be little affected either by pollen storage moisture contents below 7.2% or by storage in glass vial or zip-lock plastic bag containers. Pollen moisture content appears to be more critical for maintaining viability at -18°C than at -73°C. Glass vials appear to be more desirable for longer term (>3 years) storage at -18°C.
SU‐FF‐T‐183: Dosimetric Verification of a Commercial Research Irradiator

Purpose: To present a collection of simple tests that can be used to verify the dosimetric characteristics of the MDS Nordion Gammacell 40 Extractor Low Dose‐Rate Research Irradiator. Method and Materials: The manufacturer specifies that the irradiator is provided with two 61.1 TBq Cesium 137 sources that together produce a central dose rate of 1.10 Gy/minute ± 15% in its sample tray. In the central 260 mm diameter by 100 mm height region, the specified dose uniformity is ± 7%. Custom measurement jigs were made to fit inside the irradiator's sample trays and assemblies. Ionization chamber readings were made to determine exposure rate constancy and timer errors. Radiochromic film was used to measure dose and dose rate constancy, the attenuation of manufacturer‐provided attenuators, depth dose characteristics in Solid Water™, and uniformity of dose across the sample tray. Thermoluminescent devices (TLD's) were assessed as an alternate means of measuring dose and dose rate constancy. Results: The exposure rate was constant down to two seconds and timer error was about 1.4 seconds. Film measurements showed that dose reduction for the attenuation filters (33%, 60%, 80%) is within 3% of specifications. Film measurements in a central 10×10 cm area showed dose uniformity within about 2%. Depth doses in Solid Water™ showed a variation of about 10%. Film and TLD's yielded similarly accurate dose measurements and constancy estimates. Conclusion: Our facility's irradiator operates within the manufacturer's specifications except for dose variance with depth which may be somewhat greater than 7%. Although the manufacturer provides basic dosimetric information about each irradiator, it is advantageous to verify and expand this information. As with linacs, irradiators must certainly differ from machine to machine and change over time. It is prudent when doing research using these devices to validate their performance under their conditions of usage.
Experience of Families with Very Low Birthweight Children with Neurologic Sequelae

To describe the quality of life for surviving very low birthweight (VLBW, <1.5 kg) children and their families, the authors interviewed the parents of 22 neurologically abnormal VLBW children, 3 to 7 years after their birth and compared them to the parents of 15 neurologically normal VLBW children. The infants were born between 1976 and 1979, (mean birthweight, 1.2 kg; mean gestational age, 30 weeks). They included three with spastic quadriplegia, 14 with spastic diplegia, and five with hydrocephalus. Eight children were not walking. Seven families rated their child's neurologic problem as severe, while 15 rated the problem as mild.Neurologically abnormal children tended to display more screaming and crying than the normal children. Cost of ongoing medical care was a problem for families of nine neurologically abnormal as compared with two families of normal children. The abnormal children required a total of 61 postneonatal rehospitalizations versus 11 in the normal group. Families of neurologically abno...
The Use and Misuse of Academic Words in Writing: Analyzing the Writing of Secondary English Learners and Redesignated Learners

This study investigated the specific ways secondary English learners (ELs) and redesignated fluent English-proficient learners (RFEPs) use academic vocabulary that assesses interpretive reading and analytical writing ability. The research examines how ELs and RFEPs, formerly ELs, differ in use and misuse of academic words. The study extends Olson's (2007) work by analyzing how secondary students use academic words correctly and incorrectly. The results indicate that although both groups rarely used academic words, RFEPs used significantly more academic words and made fewer academic word errors than ELs. Qualitative analyses reveal that RFEPs used academic words to add cohesion, details, and precision in their writing to a greater extent than ELs. Findings have three pedagogical implications. First, ELs need more exposure to academic words in writing. Second, ELs need explicit instruction on how to effectively use academic words in writing. Third, ELs need more writing practice in general to become more comfortable with the act of writing so that they will feel more comfortable using more words overall, specifically academic words. Thus, writing should be assigned often. Also, because ELs and RFEPs used few academic words in their writing, both groups need more exposure to and practice with using academic words in writing.
The Idea of Modularity and Small Prefabrication of Low-Cost Housing Concepts

Projects based on small prefabrication or self-build concepts can help ensure the basic human right to adequate housing in progressive, affordable homes. These projects should represent a flexible system capable of responding to new challenges and application of new technologies, while maintaining the status of socially-oriented housing.
Monitoring and visualizing multiprocessor interconnection network contention

Multistage Interconnection Networks (MIN) have been widely used for building large-scale shared-memory multiprocessor systems. Complex interactions between many processors and memory modules through the MIN, (such as interprocessor communication, process scheduling and synchronization and remote-memory access) result in a significantly large space of possible performance behavior and potential performance bottlenecks. To provide insight into dynamic system performance, we have developed an integrated data collection, analysis, and visualization environment for a MIN-based multiprocessor system, called MIN-Graph. The MIN-Graph is a graphical instrumentation monitor to aid users in investigating performance problems and in determining an effective way to exploit the high performance capabilities of interconnection network multiprocessor systems. Interconnection network contention is a major bottleneck of parallel computing on MIN-based multiprocessors. This paper focuses on evaluating the contention behavior through performance monitoring and visualization. Four sets of system and scientific application programs with different programming and scheduling models and different memory access patterns are monitored and tested to observe the various network contention behaviors. The MIN-Graph is implemented on the BBN GP1000 and the BBN TC2000.
An adaptive hybrid vector quantization algorithm

A hybrid image compression algorithm consisting of vector quantization followed with an entropy coder to code the truncated residual is described. It is demonstrated that the tree level decision rule for a hybrid adaptive vector quantization algorithm can be more efficient by including coding information from both the VQ and entropy coders. A cost function approach is taken where the vector cost is a sum of the total distortion for that vector and a times the total bit length from both the VQ and entropy encoders. An LMS method for adapting a is shown and the results summarized. '
Multiple-aquifer characterization from single borehole extensometer records.

Measurement and analysis of aquifer-system compaction have been used to characterize aquifer and confining unit properties when other techniques such as flow modeling have been ineffective at adequately quantifying storage properties or matching historical water levels in environments experiencing land subsidence. In the southeastern coastal plain of Virginia, high-sensitivity borehole pipe extensometers were used to measure 24.2 mm of total compaction at Franklin from 1979 through 1995 (1.5 mm/year) and 50.2 mm of total compaction at Suffolk from 1982 through 1995 (3.7 mm/year). Analysis of the extensometer data reveals that the small rates of aquifer-system compaction appear to be correlated with withdrawals of water from confined aquifers. One-dimensional vertical compaction modeling indicates measured compaction is the result of nonrecoverable hydrodynamic consolidation of the fine-grained confining units and interbeds, as well as recoverable compaction and expansion of coarse-grained aquifer units. The calibrated modeling results indicate that nonrecoverable specific storage values decrease with depth and range from 1.5 × 10−5/m for aquifer units to 1.5 × 10−4/m for confining units and interbeds. The aquifer and Potomac system recoverable specific storage values were all estimated to be 4.5 × 10−6/m, while the confining units and interbeds had values of 6.0 × 10−6/m. The calibrated vertical hydraulic conductivity values of the confining units and interbeds ranged from 6.6 × 10−4m/year to 2.0 × 10−3 m/year. These parameter values will be useful in future management and modeling of ground water in the Virginia Coastal Plain.
The Anglo-American Origins and International Diffusion of the “Third Way”

Although much has been written about the meanings of the “Third Way,” a term popularized by Prime Minister Tony Blair in Britain and U.S. President Bill Clinton to characterize their similar approaches to governing, little analysis has been done of the phenomenon of the rapid diffusion of this concept internationally. Although the Democratic Leadership Council used the term first in the United States in 1991, it was decided at a high-level meeting between Clinton and New Labour executive officials in 1997 to popularize the term to describe their common approach to governing. This paper describes both the intellectual and political sources of this concept and how it has spread, not only as a label for its originators, but also to other governments and parties in the world. The test of whether the Third Way becomes recognized as a coherent ideology will be whether, over time, those who advocate it become identified with distinctive, consistent policies.
Civic Epistemologies: Constituting Knowledge and Order in Political Communities

How do we know things? The question of epistemology – which drives both the sociology and philosophy of science – is also a crucial question for political sociology. Knowledge is essential to even the most basic and foundational of political processes and institutions. In 2000, for example, the transition of power in the US presidential election hung for 36 days on uncertainty over a seemingly simple question of fact: who won the most votes in Florida? A few years later, disputed factual claims about Iraq's possession of weapons of mass destruction unraveled, calling into question key justifications of the US decision to invade Iraq in 2003 and significantly weakening perceived US legitimacy. Yet, surprisingly, sociologists and political scientists know relatively little about how knowledge gets made in political communities, nor how the making of knowledge is tied to other key aspects of political life, such as identity, authority, legitimacy, and accountability.
Image enhancement through deconvolution

Several groups have been developing x-ray microscopes for studies of biological and materials specimens at suboptical resolution. The X1A scanning transmission x-ray microscope at Brookhaven National Laboratory has achieved 55 nm Rayleigh resolution, and is limited by the 45 nm finest zone width of the zone plate used to focus the x rays. In principle, features as small as half the outermost zone width, or 23 nm, can be observed in the microscope, though with reduced contrast in the image. One approach to recover the object from the image is to deconvolve the image with the point spread function (PSF) of the optic system. Toward this end, the magnitude of the Fourier transform of the PSF, the modulation transfer function, has been experimentally determined and agrees reasonably well with the calculations using the known parameters of the microscope. To minimize artifacts in the deconvolved images, large signal to noise ratios are required in the original image, and high frequency filters can be used to reduce the noise at the expense of resolution. In this way we are able to recover the original contrast of high resolution features in our images.
Determination of Free Ammonium and Asparagine and Glutamine Amide-Nitrogen in Extracts of Plant Tissue

A relatively simple and rapid procedure for the measurement of free ammonium and the amides in plant extracts is described. The method was developed by combining a cation-exchange method for blood ammonia with a differential acid-hydrolysis procedure for asparagine and glutamine amide-nitrogen. The recovery of standard samples (100-400 μg of ammonium- or amide-nitrogen) of free ammonium, asparagine, and glutamine after being run through the extraction, column, and analytical procedures ranged between 99 and 102%. The harvest, extraction, and analytical procedures were tested on shoots from 4 to 6-day-old germinating barley seeds. The high levels of the amides and the low level of free ammonium present in the tissue extracts indicated that the extraction and analytical procedures resulted in little if any hydrolysis of the amides.
Extrascientific uses of physics: The case of nonlinear dynamics and legal theory

This essay explores the metaphorical use of the area of nonlinear dynamics popularly known as "chaos theory," surveying its use in one particular field: legal theory. After sketching some of the mistakes encountered in these efforts, I outline the possibility of the fruitful use of nonlinear dynamics for thinking about our legal system. I then offer some general lessons to be drawn from these examples-both cautionary maxims and a limited defense of cross-disciplinary borrowing. I conclude with some reflections on the nature of arguments that seek to establish intellectual authority or epistemic merit by analogical reasoning.
Probable gastrointestinal toxicity of Kombucha tea: is this beverage healthy or harmful?

Kombucha tea is a health beverage made by incubating the Kombucha “mushroom” in tea and sugar. Although therapeutic benefits have been attributed to the drink, neither its beneficial effects nor adverse side effects have been reported widely in the scientific literature. Side effects probably related to consumption of Kombucha tea are reported in four patients. Two presented with symptoms of allergic reaction, the third with jaundice, and the fourth with nausea, vomiting, and head and neck pain. In all four, use of Kombucha tea in proximity to onset of symptoms and symptom resolution on cessation of tea drinking suggest a probable etiologic association.
Fall Prevention: Core Characteristics and Practical Interventions

The article explores the range of core characteristics that make up the construct of falls. It seeks to magnify what these core elements are in the concept of fall prevention. The article provides ...
From the First Visit On: Information Technology and Communication

The oncology community has found that communication is key to the patient's quality of life, the well-being of family members, hospice enrollment, and costs. The challenge is to make these conversations happen.
Number of Exposures to Persuasive Communication in the Instrumental Conditioning of attitudes

(1964). Number of Exposures to Persuasive Communication in the Instrumental Conditioning of attitudes. The Journal of Social Psychology: Vol. 63, No. 2, pp. 373-382.
Susan Kent's Vision of a Genuinely Integrated Anthropology

Susan Kent advocated an integrated, integrative, and integrating anthropology at a time when some practitioners championed fragmentation. Her anthropology was a critical, engaged one that recognized the importance of class structures constituted in economic terms and their articulation and interplay with socially and culturally constituted gender, ethnic, and racial hierarchies. This chapter explores how she conceptualized this integrated, critically engaged anthropology—theoretically, methodologically, and practically. It also explores how the traditional subfields were integrated into and constitutive of the larger whole.
Restoration treatments in a Montana ponderosa pine forest : Effects on soil physical, chemical and biological properties

Low-elevation ponderosa pine ecosystems of the inland northwestern United States experienced frequent, low-severity fire that promoted open stands dominated by large diameter ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa). Fire exclusion has led to increased stand densities, often due to proliferation of less fire-tolerant species and an increased risk of stand-replacing wildfire. These fundamental changes have spurred interest in forest restoration treatments, including thinning, prescribed burning and thinning combined with prescribed burning. We examined the response of numerous soil physical, chemical and biological parameters to these treatments 1 and 3 years post-treatment, using a replicated field experiment. Individual restoration treatments were implemented in 9 ha units. We observed significantly lower C:N in the O horizon and higher O horizon and mineral soil NH4 + concentrations in both BURN and THIN/BURN treatments during year 1. Soil NH4 + remained elevated through year 3 in the THIN/BURN treatment. Net N mineralization, nitrification and NO3 ‐ concentration were significantly greater in the THIN/ BURN than all other treatments during year 1 and net nitrification rates remained elevated through year 3. A high C:N substrate decomposed more rapidly in both BURN treatments relative to the unburned treatments. Treatments had no immediate effect on the soil microbial community; however, phospholipid fatty acid profiles differed 16‐18 weeks following treatments due to higher actinomycetes in the THIN/BURN treatment. The large scale of our treatment units resulted in significant variation in fire severity among prescribed burns as a function of variation in fuel quantity and distribution, and weather conditions during burn days. Correlation analysis revealed that variation in fine fuel consumed was tightly correlated with net N mineralization and net nitrification. These differences in soil characteristics may influence stand productivity and understory species composition in the future.
Reinvestigation of the proposed folding and self‐association of the Neuropeptide Head Activator

The Neuropeptide Head Activator (HA), pGlu-Pro-Pro-Gly-Gly-Ser-Lys-Val-Ile-Leu-Phe (pGlu is pyroglutamic acid), is involved in head-specific growth and differentiation processes in the freshwater coelenterate Hydra attenuata. Peptides of identical sequence have also been isolated from higher-organism tissues such as human and bovine hypothalamus. Early studies by molecular sieve chromatography suggested that HA dimerizes with high affinity (Kd ≈ 1 nM). This dimerization was proposed to occur via antiparallel β-sheet formation between the Lys7-Phe11 segments in each HA molecule. We conducted biophysical studies on synthetic HA in order to gain insight into its structure and aggregation tendencies. We found by analytical ultracentrifugation that HA is monomeric at low millimolar concentrations. Studies by 1H-NMR revealed that HA did not adopt any significant secondary structure in solution. We found no NOEs that would support the proposed dimer structure. We probed the propensity of the Lys7-Phe11 fragment to form antiparallel β-sheet by designing peptides in which two such fragments are joined by a two-residue linker. These peptides were intended to form stable β-hairpin structures with cross-strand interactions that mimic those of the proposed HA dimer interface. We found that the HA-derived fragments may be induced to form intramolecular β-sheet, albeit only weakly, when linked by the highly β-hairpin-promoting d-Pro-Gly turn, but not when linked by the more flexible Gly-Gly unit. These findings suggest that the postulated mode of HA dimerization and the proposed propensity of the molecule to form discrete aggregates with high affinity are incorrect.
Preload dependency of left ventricular torsion: the impact of normal saline infusion.

Background— Left ventricular (LV) rotation results from contraction of obliquely oriented myocardial fibers. The net difference between systolic apical counterclockwise rotation and basal clockwise rotation is left ventricular torsion (LVT). Although LVT is altered in various cardiac diseases, determinants of LVT are incompletely understood. Methods and Results— LV end-diastolic volume, LV apical and basal rotation, peak systolic LVT, and peak early diastolic untwisting rate were measured by speckle-tracking echocardiography in healthy subjects (n=8) before and after infusion of a weight-based normal saline bolus (2.1±0.3 L). Saline infusion led to a significant increase in end-diastolic LV internal diameter (45.9±3.7 versus 47.6±4.2 mm; P =0.002) and LV end-diastolic volume (90.0±21.6 versus 98.3±19.6 mL; P =0.01). Stroke volume (51.3±10.9 versus 63.0±15.5 mL; P =0.003) and cardiac output (3.4±0.8 versus 4.4±1.5 L/min; P =0.007) increased, whereas there was no change in heart rate and blood pressure. There was a significant increase in the magnitude of peak systolic apical rotation (7.5±2.4° versus 10.5±2.8°; P <0.001) but no change in basal rotation (−4.1±2.3° versus −4.8±3.1°; P =0.44). Accordingly, peak systolic LVT increased by 33% after saline infusion (11.2±1.3° versus 14.9±1.7°; P <0.001). This saline-induced increase in LVT was associated with a marked increase in peak early diastolic untwisting rate (72.3±21.4 versus 136.8±30.0 degrees/s; P <0.001). Conclusions— Peak systolic LVT and peak early diastolic untwisting rate are preload-dependent. Changes in LV preload should be considered when interpreting results of future LVT studies.
Older adults fighting obesity with bariatric surgery: Benefits, side effects, and outcomes.

The aging population is growing exponentially worldwide. Associated with this greater life expectancy is the increased burden of chronic health conditions, many of which are exacerbated by the cont...
A generalized diffraction synthesis technique for high performance reflector antennas

Stringent requirements on reflector antenna performances in modern applications such as direct broadcast satellite (DBS) communications, radar systems, and radio astronomy have demanded the development of sophisticated synthesis techniques. Presented in the paper is a generalized diffraction synthesis technique for single- and dual-reflector antennas fed by either a single feed or an array feed. High versatility and accuracy are achieved by combining optimization procedures and diffraction analysis such as physical optics (PO) and physical theory of diffraction (PTD). With this technique, one may simultaneously shape the reflector surfaces and adjust the positions, orientations, and excitations of an arbitrarily configured array feed to produce the specified radiation characteristics such as high directivity, contoured patterns, and low sidelobe levels, etc. The shaped reflectors are represented by a set of orthogonal global expansion functions (the Jacobi-Fourier expansion), and are characterized by smooth surfaces, well-defined (superquadric) circumferences, and continuous surface derivatives. The sample applications of contoured beam antenna designs and reflector surface distortion compensation are given to illustrate the effectiveness of this diffraction synthesis technique. >
Global stability of adaptive IIR filters for nonstationary signals

This paper presents global stability of the adaptive IIR filter in a nonstationary environment. For the estimation of time-varying parameters, the normalized least-mean-square (LMS) algorithm based on the output error method is used. We assume the presence of a possibly colored and nonstationary measurement noise. The global stability analysis is carried out in a deterministic context, and it is shown that the filter output is uniformly bounded for all initial conditions. We then consider the special case when the noise is a martingale difference sequence, and establish the almost sure mean-square performance in a stochastic framework.
Vascular remodeling is governed by a VEGFR3-dependent fluid shear stress set point

Vascular remodeling under conditions of growth or exercise, or during recovery from arterial restriction or blockage is essential for health, but mechanisms are poorly understood. It has been proposed that endothelial cells have a preferred level of fluid shear stress, or 'set point', that determines remodeling. We show that human umbilical vein endothelial cells respond optimally within a range of fluid shear stress that approximate physiological shear. Lymphatic endothelial cells, which experience much lower flow in vivo, show similar effects but at lower value of shear stress. VEGFR3 levels, a component of a junctional mechanosensory complex, mediate these differences. Experiments in mice and zebrafish demonstrate that changing levels of VEGFR3/Flt4 modulates aortic lumen diameter consistent with flow-dependent remodeling. These data provide direct evidence for a fluid shear stress set point, identify a mechanism for varying the set point, and demonstrate its relevance to vessel remodeling in vivo.