cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Differentiation of Self, Stress, and Emotional Support as Predictors of Psychological Distress

We explored the relations among stress, emotional support, and differentiation of self from the family of origin as predictors of psychological distress in a sample of 200 college students. First, we investigated the discrepant findings of Murdock and Gore (Contemp Fam Ther 23: 319–335, 2004) and Skowron et al. (J Couns Dev 82: 69–78, 2004) regarding the relationships among stress, differentiation, and symptoms (a question of mediation vs. moderation). Second, we examined the role of emotional support in concert with stress and differentiation. When both stressful events and perceived stress were measured, differentiation of self was found to be a significant partial mediator of their effects on psychological distress. Emotional support was also found to partially mediate the relationship between differentiation of self and psychological distress. Differentiation of self partially mediated the relationship between actual and perceived stress, and perceived stress partially mediated the relationship between differentiation of self and psychological distress.
The analysis of partially-censored date from a fitst-order semi-markov model

This paper describes a Fortran program for analyzing partially-censored data from a firstorder semi-Markov model. Nonparametric maximum likelihood estimates and estimates of their corresponding covariance matrices are computed based on the results of Lagakos, Sornmer and Zelen (1978). The program can be applied to data arising from a wide array of multistate stochastic processes. The program's required input and output are discussed and illustrated using the data from a recent lung cancer clinical trial.
Modeling gate leakage current in nMOS structures due to tunneling through an ultra-thin oxide

Abstract For the first time, the tunneling current in silicon nMOS structures with ultra-thin gate oxides has been studied both by numerically solving Schrodinger's equation and by using the WKB approximation, which explicitly includes the size quantization effects in the inversion layers. The numerical solution employs first-order perturbation within the one-band effective-mass approximation to calculate the lifetime of an inversion-layer quasi-bound state. The good agreement in the tunneling currents estimated with these two methods justifies the use of the WKB approximation in the direct tunneling regime. The range of validity of the WKB approximation is also discussed.
Martensitic nucleation in ZrO2

Abstract A small particle experiment to investigate the tetragonal to monoclinic ZrO 2 (martensitic) transformation was performed using a CuZrO 2 model material prepared by internal oxidation. Incoherent spherical particles formed above 1173 K remained essentially untransformed at 4.2 K and after complete dissolution of the Cu matrix. Transformation was induced by deformation, and the transformed monoclinic particles were stable during reheat up to the highest original oxidation temperature. A twinning substructure was associated with all the monoclinic particles after transformation but no retained tetragonal phase was found. The results demonstrated that the transformation is nucleation controlled, that the strong constraint effect which suppresses the martensitic nucleation is due to the parent tetragonal matrix, and that the cause is the deviatoric transformation strain energy. Such high strain energy can be overcome only if the nucleation is assisted by the interaction energy with a defect. A closer examination of the application of the defect model containing [001]dislocations further suggests that the monoclinic nucleus has a coherent interface. The results of model calculations are in good agreement with the observation of the martensitic transformation at the M s temperature around 1223 K in bulk ZrO 2 and the stability of small ZrO 2 particles at much lower temperatures; in the latter case, it was shown that the mere generation of one dislocation, e.g. by cold work, suffices to trigger the nucleation. Lastly, the particle size effect in CuZrO 2 is attributed to the size dependence of the interfacial stresses arising from the plastic deformation of the Cu matrix.
Reaction rate constants for O−2(H2O)n ions n = 0 to 4, with O3, NO, SO2, and CO2

Reaction rate constants for O−2(H2O)n ions with n = 0 to 4 have been measured in a variable temperature flowing afterglow apparatus with a novel ion source configuration. The ions have been reacted with O3,NO, SO2, and CO2. The reaction with O3 is charge‐transfer to produce O−3 with simultaneous transfer of water ligands. The reactions with NO and SO2 are ligand switching reactions in which NO or SO2 displaces one or more water molecules clustered to O−2 leaving NO−3 and SO−4 as core ions. In these cases, the reaction rate constants are not decreased measurably by an increase in n. CO2 rapidly displaces H2O in reaction with O−2(H2O) but does not react with O−2(H2O)3,4. Isotopically labelled O−2 ions were used to elucidate several reaction mechanisms. The rapid destruction of O−2(H2O)4 ions by O3,NO, and SO2 insure that O−2(H2O)n ions cannot be dominant small air ions in the earth’s lower atmosphere.
Interaction between high-velocity pulsar in CTB80 and an infrared emission shell

During a survey of infrared emission detected by IRAS from shock-heated dust associated with Galactic SNRs, a roughly 1 deg diameter supernova remnant shell centered 30 arcmin east of SNR CTB80's core was discovered. The pulsar's projected location inside this infrared emission shell, together with similar distance and age estimates, suggest that both the shell and pulsar were produced by the same supernova event. It is proposed that the interaction between the pulsar's energetic particle emission and the shell's compressed interstellar magnetic field can explain CTB80's remarkable radio structure, and the implications of such pulsar/SNR interactions are discussed.
Rapid escape reflexes in aquatic oligochaetes: variations in design and function of evolutionarily conserved giant fiber systems

This study provides neuroanatomical and electrophysiological evidence that an arrangement of three dorsal giant fibers, functioning as two distinct and dichotomous conduction pathways, has been evolutionarily conserved within the three major orders of aquatic and terrestrial oligochaetes. The medial giant fiber (MGF), activated by afferents of anterior segments, initiates anterior shortening; whereas, the two lateral giant fibers (LGFs), activated in synchrony by afferents of posterior segments, initiate a different response (usually tail withdrawal). Notwithstanding these common features, the design and function of LGF systems differ considerably in aquatic and terrestrial groups. In posterior segments of aquatic species, LGFs are disproportionately larger and conduct faster than MGFs. This contrasts with posterior segments of earthworms in which LGFs are smaller and conduct slower than MGFs. In addition, in aquatic tubificids, a single LGF spike is sufficient to evoke rapid and complete tail withdrawal, whereas a pair of closely-spaced LGF spikes are needed to elicit posterior shortening in earthworms. The graded nature of earthworm escape seems appropriate for worms that burrow in relatively hard substrates and may frequently encounter inanimate stimuli that evoke meaningless giant fiber spiking. On the other hand, the all-or-none nature of the tubificid escape appears advantageous for relatively sedentary worms that are vulnerable to intense predation but reside in aqueous sediments where triggering of giant fiber spikes by non-threatening stimuli is infrequent. Our studies suggest that anatomical and physiological modifications of giant fiber pathways in aquatic and terrestrial worms have occurred during the evolution of oligochaete nervous systems. We hypothesize that differential predation pressures, together with fundamental differences in lifestyle and habitat, have led to this divergence in the structure and function of evolutionarily conserved sets of homologous giant interneurons.
Role of metabolic environment on nitric oxide mediated inhibition of neointimal hyperplasia in type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Nitric oxide (NO) is well known to inhibit neointimal hyperplasia following arterial injury. Previously, we reported that NO was more effective at inhibiting neointimal hyperplasia in a type 2 diabetic environment than control. We also found that NO was ineffective in an uncontrolled type 1 diabetic environment; however, insulin restored the efficacy of NO. Thus, the goal of this study was to more closely evaluate the effect of insulin and glucose on the efficacy of NO at inhibiting neointimal hyperplasia in both type 1 and type 2 diabetic environments using different doses of insulin as well as pioglitazone. Type 1 diabetes was induced in male Lean Zucker (LZ) rats with streptozotocin (60mg/kg IP). Groups included control, moderate glucose control, and tight glucose control. Zucker Diabetic Fatty (ZDF) rats fed Purina 5008 chow were used as a type 2 diabetic model. Groups included no therapy, insulin therapy, or pioglitazone therapy. After 4 weeks of maintaining group assignments, the carotid artery injury model was performed. Treatment groups included: control, injury, and injury plus NO. 2 weeks following arterial injury, in the type 1 diabetic rats, NO most effectively reduced the neointimal area in the moderate and tightly controlled groups (81% and 88% vs. 33%, respectively, p=0.01). In type 2 diabetic rats, the metabolic environment had no impact on the efficacy of NO (81%–82% reduction for all groups). Thus, in this study, we show NO is effective at inhibiting neointimal hyperplasia in both type 1 and type 2 diabetic environments. A greater understanding of how the metabolic environment may impact the efficacy of NO may lead to the development of more effective NO-based therapies for patients with diabetes.
An equivalent optimization problem for combined multiclass distribution, assignment and modal split which obviates symmetry restrictions

Abstract This paper presents a model for combined multiclass trip distribution, trip assignment and modal split. Although this model is based on an equivalent optimization problem, it avoids the symmetry restrictions heretofore always associated with such approaches to multiclass trip assignment. This is accomplished by expressing Wardrop's first principle as a set of nonlinear constraints in standard mathematical programming form. An algorithm is proposed, each iteration of which requires solving a nonlinear program with linear constraints.
A model for erythrocyte sugar transport based on substrate-conditioned "introversion" of binding sites.

A number of kinetic incompatibilities with classical carrier theory, previously noted in the behavior of the monosaccharide transport system in human erythrocytes, are accommodated by a revised picture of the arrangement of the sugar-recognizing entities in the cell membranes. The new schema, an extension from that recently proposed by Naftalin (Biochim. Biophys. Acta211:65, 1970), replaces the mobile carriers with binding sites fixed in a two-column matrix (bilayer). These sites are in a state of equilibrium between a more interfacially disposed conformation and a more “introverted” state not in direct contact with the adjacent aqueous pool (cell interior or outside medium); adsorbed sugars may migrate between the two layers only when the apposed sites are both in the introverted orientation. Occupation of the sites by any given sugar characteristically shifts the position of the introversion-extroversion equilibrium. Computer simulation of this model, under certain restricting conditions, shows reasonable correspondence with observations on the biological system which have been difficult to bring into accord with mobile-carrier theory, particularly the dissonance in the apparent binding characteristics given by several accepted experimental approaches. Moreover, the single “introversiveness” characteristic distinguishing the several substrates may alone serve (in place of differing binding affinities and inter-site transition probabilities) as the basis for the sugars' comparative “saturation” characteristics, and for their patterns of mutual competitive or accelerative interplay.
Insertion reaction of dimethylsilylene into Si—H and Si—OR bonds

Abstract Dimeyhtylsilylene generated by photolysis of dodecamethylcyclohexasilane inserts sequentially into Si—H and Si—OR bonds of monosilanes to give high yields of the corresponding unsymmetrical di-, tri- and tetrasilanes. Realtive reactivities of Si—H, Si 2 —H, Si—OR, Si 2 —, and Si 3 —OR bonds toward insertion of dimethylsilene have been determined.
Determination of semimicro amounts of tellurium by electrodeposition

Abstract Electrodeposition of tellurium in micro or semimicro amounts can be achieved using copper or copper-plated platinum cathodes. Best results are obtained from electrolytic baths of approximately 2 M sulfuric acid, 0.4 M ammonium sulfate, 0.1 M sodium tartrate and 0.06 M sodium nitrate. Electrodeposition of tellurium can be carried out with an accuracy better than 1% at the 90% confidence level.
Guilty Knowledge versus Innocent Associations: Effects of Trait Anxiety and Stimulus Context on Skin Conductance.

Abstract A simulated lie detection procedure was used to investigate skin conductance responsivity among self-reported skin responders. Subjects were grouped according to reported trait anxiety as measured by Lykken's Activity Preference Questionnaire and then engaged in either a mock crime or a neutral activity. The “crime” gave subjects “guilty knowledge,” and the neutral task provided “innocent associations” to relevant stimuli imbedded in each scenario. Subjects were then interrogated using Lykken's Guilty Knowledge technique. Anxiety classification, guilty vs. innocent treatment, and type of stimulus were manipulated in a 2 × 2 × (2) factorial design. Results for differential responsivity scores showed significant main and interaction effects. Low-anxiety subjects showed almost no effects, but highly anxious subjects responded strongly in the “guilty” rather than the “innocent” treatment. Contrary to previous findings, results showed a substantial—but qualified—relationship between self-reported anxiety and electrodermal responsivity. Also, the Guilty Knowledge technique with rank scoring yielded 97.5% correct classification.
Differential regulation of primary response gene expression in skeletal muscle cells through multiple signal transduction pathways

One of the earliest cellular responses to growth factors is the rapid induction of primary response genes. One group of such genes was originally isolated as tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate (TPA) inducible sequences (TIS genes) from mouse 3T3 cells. Proteins encoded by the TIS genes include two transcription factors: TIS8 (also known as egr1/NGFIA/zif268) and TIS1 (also known as NGFIB/nur77/N10). We have examined the inducibility of these two genes in a skeletal muscle cell line in response to agents that have been reported to block muscle differentiation. We report here that basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) induced the expression of both TIS1 and TIS8 in mouse C2C12cells. Both genes were also inducible by TPA while forskolin which activates the cAMP-dependent pathway induced TIS1 but not TIS8. Down-regulation of protein kinase C (PKC) activity by TPA pretreatment repressed the bFGF induction of TIS1 but had little effect on the bFGF-stimulated expression of TIS8. Moreover, while both TPA and bFGF stimulated the hyperphosphorylation of c-RAF and the activity of MAP kinase, TPA pretreatment failed to block RAF phosphorylation or the stimulation of MAP kinase activity by bFGF. Induction of the two TIS genes in skeletal myoblasts therefore appeared to be dependent to different extents on the activation of protein kinase A (PKA), PKC and MAP kinase.
Hold the Salt! Effects of Sodium Information Provision, Sodium Content, and Hypertension on Perceived Cardiovascular Disease Risk and Purchase Intentions

Abstract Excessive sodium intake is a major cause of hypertension, a significant risk factor for several forms of cardiovascular disease, including coronary heart disease, stroke, and heart failure. Despite this finding, the average intake among Americans is 150% of the maximum recommended level. The goal of this research is to obtain greater consumer insight into this important public health issue. The authors analyze data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005–2006 and conduct two experiments using a nationwide panel of consumers. The results indicate that hypertension status has a significant effect on consumers' attention to sodium on the Nutrition Facts panel (Study 1) and moderates the influence of sodium disclosure on perceived cardiovascular disease risk and purchase intentions for restaurant items (Study 2). In addition, the authors find that sodium level on a Nutrition Facts panel interacts with the provision of health-related sodium educational materials to influence dis...
From uninformed to informed choices: Voters, pre-election polls and updating

Pre-election opinion poll results for U.S. presidential contests have large variation in the early parts of the primary campaigns, yet pre-election opinion polls later in the campaign are typically within several percentage points of the actual outcome of the contest in November. This paper argues this trend demonstrates that voters are beginning to poll “correctly” – that is, to ascertain their most-preferred candidate. This convergence process is consistent with boundedly rational voters making decisions with low information. We examine the process by which voters can use opinion polls to guide their candidate choice. We undertake a series of laboratory experiments where uninformed voters choose between two candidates after participating in a series of pre-election polls. We demonstrate that voters update their beliefs about candidate locations using information contained in the opinion polls. We compare two behavioral models for the updating process and find significant evidence to support a boundedly rational Bayesian updating assumption. This assumption about the updating process is key to many theoretical results which argue that voters have the potential to aggregate information via a coordination signal and for their beliefs to converge to the true state of the world. This finding also indicates that uninformed voters are able to use pre-election polls to help them make correct decisions.
A Quantitative Model of the Dispersal of Detrital Inputs and Minor Compositional Components in Lake Michigan Sediments

This study involves the development and application of mathematical models which are used to ascertain the sources, distribution, and fate of sedimentary material entering Lake Michigan. Major compositional end-members are identified by a modified Q-mode factor analysis procedure, and estimates of the relative amount of each end-member in each sample are obtained by linear programming. Four factors account for 93.8% of the total variance. These are interpreted as representing the inputs of fine-grained (Factor 1), and coarse-grained (Factor 2) detrital minerals, manganous carbonate (Factor 3) and non-manganous carbonate (Factor 4) to the lake sediment. Significant linear correlations between the relative amount of each compositional end-member and the grain-size distribution for each sample support these interpretations. Contour plots of end-member distributions suggest that the sediment chemistry of Lake Michigan is primarily influenced by regional-scale physical processes. In a revised version of the model, the distribution of minor sediment components (ferromanganese oxyhydroxides and siliceous plankton tests) are examined. Each model accounts for approximately 90% of the measured elemental concentrations in lake sediment. We conclude that this modeling approach is a viable method for determining the distribution of sedimentary inputs in large lacustrine basins, and may also be useful in monitoring the dispersal pathways of coastal erosion products or chemical pollutants.
Efficient placement of geographical data over broadcast channel for spatial range query under quadratic cost model

Data broadcasting is well known for its excellent scalability. Most geographical data, such as weather and traffic, is public information that has a large amount of potential users which makes it very suitable for broadcast. The query response time is greatly affected by the order in which data items are being broadcast. This paper proposes an efficient method to place geographical data items over broadcast channel that reduces access time for spatial range queries on them. This paper then performs evaluation studies comparing different ordering methods: 1000 random orderings, R-Tree traversal ordering, Hilbert ordering and the optimized ordering based on the proposed method. The results show that the optimized ordering is significantly better than the others.
Potential Augmentation of Precipitation from Cooling Tower Effluents.

A summary of present knowledge on the effects of waste heat and water vapor discharged from large cooling towers on augmentation of the natural precipitation downwind of such installations is presented. Available information is used to provide some insight into the potential quantitative effects. It is concluded that atmospheric scientists have not acquired adequate information at this time to define in quantitative terms the meteorological consequences of the large amounts of heat energy and water vapor released into the atmosphere from cooling towers associated with large power plants, and that atmospheric research should be initiated at once to alleviate the lack of knowledge on this pertinent environmental problem. Some basic recommendations for the type and duration of needed research are presented.
The Relationship Between Caregiving and Mortality After Accounting for Time-Varying Caregiver Status and Addressing the Healthy Caregiver Hypothesis

Background Previous studies have shown inconsistent associations between caregiving and mortality. This may be due to analyzing caregiver status at baseline only, and that better health is probably related to taking on caregiving responsibilities and continuing in that role. The latter is termed The Healthy Caregiver Hypothesis, similar to the Healthy Worker Effect in occupational epidemiology. We applied common approaches from occupational epidemiology to evaluate the association between caregiving and mortality, including treating caregiving as time-varying and lagging exposure up to 5 years. Methods Caregiving status among 1,068 women (baseline mean age = 81.0 years; 35% caregivers) participating in the Caregiver-Study of Osteoporotic Fractures study was assessed at five interviews conducted between 1999 and 2009. Mortality was determined through January 2012. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals adjusted for sociodemographics, perceived stress, and functional limitations. Results A total of 483 participants died during follow-up (38.8% and 48.7% of baseline caregivers and noncaregivers, respectively). Using baseline caregiving status, the association with mortality was 0.77, 0.62-0.95. Models of time-varying caregiving status showed a more pronounced reduction in mortality in current caregivers (hazard ratios = 0.54, 0.38-0.75), which diminished with longer lag periods (3-year lag hazard ratio = 0.68, 0.52-0.88, 5-year lag hazard ratios = 0.76, 0.60-0.95). Conclusions Overall, caregivers had lower mortality rates than noncaregivers in all analyses. These associations were sensitive to the lagged period, indicating that the timing of leaving caregiving does influence this relationship and should be considered in future investigations.
Overcurrent relay on a FPGA chip

Abstract A new hardware approach for implementing overcurrent relays is presented in this paper. An overcurrent relay is implemented on a field programmable gate array (FPGA) chip (Xilinx's XC3020-50-PC84C). The hardware design of the overcurrent relay is based on a three-stage pipelined architecture. A relationship that describes the time-current characteristics of the relay in terms of the clock frequency of the chip is developed.
VERY LARGE ARRAY LIMITS FOR INTERMEDIATE-MASS BLACK HOLES IN THREE GLOBULAR CLUSTERS

The observational evidence for central black holes in globular clusters has been argued extensively, and their existence has important consequences for both the formation and evolution of the cluster. Most of the evidence comes from dynamical arguments, but the interpretation is difficult, given the short relaxation times and old ages of the clusters. One of the most robust signatures for the existence of a BH is radio and/or X-ray emission. We observed three globular clusters: NGC6093 (M80), NGC6266 (M62), and NGC7078 (M15), with the Very Large Array (VLA) in the A and C configuration with a 3-σ noise of 36, 36, and 25 μJy, respectively. We find no statistically significant evidence for radio emission from the central region for any of the three clusters. NGC6266 shows a 2-σ detection. It is difficult to infer a mass from these upper limits due to uncertainty about the central gas density, accretion rate, and accretion model.
Fallibility of doppler ankle pressure in predicting healing of transmetatarsal amputation

Abstract Sixty transmetatarsal amputations performed in 52 adult male patients for arterial insufficiency were studied to assess reliability of Doppler ankle systolic blood pressure (DABP) measurements in predicting healing. DABP were -60 mm Hg in 51 amputations (Group III). Forty-five (75%) of the amputations healed; 50% in Group I, 80% in Group II, and 76% in Group III. DABP for healed amputations was 115 ± 10 mm Hg, while DABP for nonhealed amputations was 96 ± 11 mm Hg and these values were not significantly ( P > 0.05) different. Healing occurred in 5 amputations with dependent rubor confined to the forefoot, while 9 of 12 amputations failed to heal when rubor was present at a higher level. Five of the fifteen nonhealed amputations had cellulitis involving the dorsum of the foot, while only 3 of the 45 healed amputations had similar clinical findings. DABP should not be used as an absolute guide to predict healing of transmetatarsal amputation. Low DABP does not contraindicate transmetatarsal amputation, while higher DABP does not guarantee success. Clinical assessment may be used reliably to predict healing.
Temperature, RNA synthesis and cell division in heat-synchronised cells of Tetrahymena.

Abstract Heat-synchronized cells of Tetrahymena pyriformis GL were found to exhibit an increasing sensitivity of cell division to actinomycin D (4 μg/ml) as the temperature of exposure was raised from 28 ° to 34 °C. This increase in sensitivity to the inhibitor was correlated with a decreasing rate of RNA synthesis in the absence of the inhibitor over the same temperature range. Heat (34 °C) was also found to inhibit RNA synthesis, as measured over 10 min intervals during the first 50 min past EH, with a virtual elimination of a peak of synthesis occurring at 30 min past EH. This peak of synthesis was found to correspond precisely with the time at which maximum excess delay occurred in cells given 10 min heat exposures over the same time period. In the presence of a low actinomycin D concentration (1 μg/ml), the heat-induced peak of excess delay, occurring at 30 min past EH, was enhanced by approximately 70 per cent, despite the fact that the inhibitor alone had no effect on division in cells permitted to divide at 28 °C with no further heat treatment after EH. Contrasting with the strong enhancement of the effect of heat by actinomycin, the additional amount of inhibition of RNA synthesis produced by a heat shock when actinomycin was present, as opposed to when the inhibitor was absent, was relatively small. The lack of an inhibitory effect of heat on the amount of acid-soluble radioactive label released from cells after exposure to 14 C-uridine was interpreted as evidence against the possibility that inhibition of RNA synthesis was an artifact and due to a retardation of isotope movement across the cell membrane. It was concluded that heat inhibited the transcription of DNA and it was suggested that this inhibition, coupled with a possible enhancement of RNA decay played an important role in the mechanism of synchronization.
Hydrogen-bond quenching of photodecarbonylation in the solid state and recovery of reactivity by co-crystallization

Intermolecular H-bonding between CO (ketone) and HO (4′-hydroxyphenyl) quenches photodecarbonylation of 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-di(4′-hydroxyphenyl)acetone 1 in the crystalline solid state, its reactivity is recovered by co-crystallization with the small organic molecule 4,4′-bicyclohexanone.
Atomic charges in barbiturate crystal structures

Abstract Electron population parameters for the atoms in four 1 : 1 hydrogen-bonded crystal complexes of barbital (with urea, acetamide, N-methyl-2-pyridone and imidazole) have been determined by the L-shell projection method. 1 The X-ray intensity data (CuKα radiation, room temperature) were those used in the previously reported crystal structure determinations. Some significant differences (0.2 electrons or more) were found in the charges on chemically similar atoms. In the barbital molecule, CH hydrogen atoms are negatively charged with respect to NH hydrogen atoms, and the tetrahedral C(5) carbon atom is more negative than the carbon atoms to which it is bonded. The barbital oxygen atom charges are not significantly different from each other and are unchanged by participation in hydrogen bonding. However, for the NH donor groups in hydrogen bonds, nitrogen atoms in barbital are more negative than those in urea and imidazole, and vice versa for the hydrogen atoms.
Thermal limitations on incorporation of wall rock into magma

Incorporation of solid wall rocks is an oft-cited process in the evolution of magmas, but this process is severely limited by the energy required to dissolve xenoliths. Disaggregation without melting has been proposed as an alternative process for incorporating xenoliths into magma because disaggregation avoids expending the energy required for melting. Analysis of these processes using enthalpy-composition diagrams shows that both processes rapidly lead to high crystal contents in the hybrid magma. For example, incorporation of 25% granite at 400 °C into basalt magma at 1125 °C produces a hybrid magma at 1050 °C with >50% crystals; if the granite disaggregates without melting, the crystal content is 65%–70%. Once the crystal content reaches ∼50% the viscosity of the magma is too high to allow further magma movement or xenolith incorporation. Thus, both processes are self-limiting and probably restricted in natural systems to at most a few tens of percent incorporation of xenoliths.
Global Perspectives on Modernity and Modernism: Some Notes on Twentieth-Century Transnational Anticolonial Metaphysics

These notes are structured around the contention that the early years of the twentieth century witnessed the emergence of a transnational heterodox metaphysics, or properly speaking, postmetaphysics, whose bearer would be the subject of a distinctly modern form of nonviolence. Did these discourses designate a coherent global ethics that we might draw upon to counter the pernicious epidemic of harmfulness in the present world? Can we identify the historical and philosophical catalysts for early twentieth-century postmetaphysics? What bearing does this “movement,” if we may call it that, have upon the question of colonialism? These are some of the questions canvassed in the discussion.
Reanalysis of the electrostatic component of the persistence length of poly(styrene sulphonate)

The electrostatic component of the persistence length ( L el ) for three molecular-weight preparations of poly(styrene sulphonate) was determined from magnetic birefringence measurements (m.b.m.) by Weill and Maret in 1982. The ratio L el / L a el plotted as a function of the Debye-Huckel screening length (λ DH ) exhibited significant deviations from unity over the range24 ⩽ λ DH (a˚) ⩽ 108, where L a el is the analytical expression for the electrostatic persistence length for finite chain lengths given by Odijk. Weill, Maret and Odijk attempted to explain the discrepancy between theory and experiment by invoking ‘semidilute’ solution conditions for the long-chain results concomitant with a different degree of counterion condensation than used for the short-chain results. It is proposed in the present paper that a ‘three-region’ model for the counterion distribution about the polyion accurately represents the m.b.m. data without having to invoke differential counterion condensation properties of short and long chains, or having to postulate semidilute solution conditions. The three regions are: (1) Manning-type condensation on the surface of the polyion; (2) a counterion sheath in the vicinity of the polyion; and (3) the remaining solution.
Synthesis of Compounds Containing the Isoindoline Ring System

In an attempt to gain further knowledge concerning the pharmacological properties inherent in the isoindoline ring system, a number of compounds containing this ring system were synthesized and screened for biological activity. These compounds are analogs of biologically active compounds. Only the amide of N-[3-(2-isoindolinyl)propyl]-beta-alanine demonstrated appreciable biological activity The carbon-hydrogen absorption bands present in the infrared spectra of these compounds were related to their chemical structure.
Modeling the optical coupling across the anterior chamber of the eye towards polarimetric glucose sensing

Millions of people worldwide are affected by diabetes. While glucose sensing technology has come a long way over the past several decades, the current commercially available techniques are still invasive, often leading to poor patient compliance. To minimize invasiveness, focus has been placed on optical techniques to ascertain blood glucose concentrations. Optical polarimetry has shown promise and progress as a viable technique for glucose sensing. Recent developments in polarimetric glucose sensing have been focused on overcoming time varying corneal birefringence due to motion artifacts. Beyond corneal birefringence, the next hurdle toward making this approach viable is the ability to couple polarized light across the eye’s anterior chamber. The eye is ideally suited to couple light to the retina. The index mismatch between the air and cornea is partially responsible for the beam bending toward the retina and, while good for vision, it complicates our ability to couple light across the anterior chamber without using an index matching device when performing polarimetric glucose monitoring. In this report, we have designed and modeled a non-index matched coupling scheme constructed with commercially available optics. The optical ray tracing model was performed using CODE V to verify the feasibility of a reflective based non-index matched coupling scheme with respect to index of refraction and anatomical restraints. The ray tracing model was developed for a dual-wavelength system and the effect of refraction and reflection at each optical interface within the setup was evaluated. The modeling results indicate a reflective based optical coupling design could be added to existing polarimetric glucose systems thus removing the need for placing an index matched eye-coupling mechanism over the eye prior to data collection.
Reticulate acropigmentation of Kitamura

SUMMARY Seven cases of reticulate acropigmentation of Kitamura (RAPK) are described. All the patients were female and the pattern of inheritance suggested an autosomal dominant mode. Histologically, RAPK is characterized by epidermal atrophy, an increased number of basal melanocytes and the absence of pigmentary incontinence in the upper dermis. The present cases, from Asia, Africa and Europe, are the first to be described outside Japan.
Tubular carcinoma of the breast: Prognosis and response to adjuvant systemic therapy

Background: Tubular carcinoma of the breast is an uncommon and usually small tumour, and is thought to have a favourable prognosis. The present study examined the long-term prognosis of patients with tubular breast carcinoma and the roles of axillary dissection and adjuvant therapy. Methods: Eighty-six tubular cases were identified from a large worldwide database of 9520 breast carcinoma patients entered into randomized adjuvant therapy trials run by the International Breast Cancer Study Group from 1978 to 1999. These patients were followed for a median of 12 years. Results: Forty-two (49%) cases were node-positive, of which 33 (79%) had 1-3 nodes involved. Ten (32%) of the 31 smaller tumours (less than or equal to 1 cm in size) were node-positive. Patients with node-positive tubular carcinoma had a significantly better 10-year relapse-free survival (P = 0.006) and survival (P < 0.0001) compared with non-tubular node-positive cases. Overall survival was similar for node-positive and node-negative tubular carcinoma. Overall, 71 patients (83%) received some form of adjuvant systemic therapy. Of the 86 cases, 43 (50%) received more than one course of chemotherapy. There was an 85% decrease in the risk of death for patients who received more than one course of chemotherapy compared to those who did not (hazard ratio 0.15, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.03-0.82; P = 0.03). Conclusions: Compared to other histological types of breast cancer, tubular carcinoma has a better long-term prognosis. Adjuvant chemotherapy may further improve prognosis and involvement of axillary nodes may not be an indicator for early death due to breast carcinoma.
Evaluation of solutions for the storage of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor-mobilized granulocyte concentrates

Background High cell counts in granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)-mobilized granulocytes are detrimental to concentrate storage. An eightfold dilution with autologous plasma improves storage, but this method is impractical. The purpose of this study was to identify an infusible solution that could be used in place of autologous plasma to dilute and store granulocytes. Materials and Methods Granulocytes collected from donors given dexamethasone (8 mg per os) and/or G-CSF (5 µg/kg subcutaneously [SQ]) were diluted eightfold in the following cell culture media: X-Vivo 10, Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s minimal essential medium (DMEM) or Iscoves modified Dulbecco’s medium (IMDM); or in the following infusible solutions: Plasma-Lyte A; Normosol R; lactated ringers, supplemented with 1% human serum albumin and 50 mm histidine (LRAH); or Plasma-Lyte A supplemented with 50 mm histidine buffer or 25 mm HEPES buffer plus 1% human serum albumin. The granulocytes were stored for 48 h at room temperature. White blood cell (WBC) counts, WBC viability and pH were measured after ≈ 2 h, 24 h and 48 h of storage. Results Cell counts, viability and pH were maintained after 2 h, 24 h and 48 h in cells stored in the three cell culture media. The pH fell slightly after 48 h to 6·86 ± 0·10 in granulocyte concentrates diluted in LRAH, but fell to a greater extent after 24 h and 48 h, to 6·36 ± 0·23 (48-h value) in granulocyte concentrates diluted in Plasma-Lyte A and to 6·40 ± 0·19 (48-h value) in granulocyte concentrates diluted in Normosol R. The cell counts of concentrates diluted in LRAH were stable for 48 h, but fell in granulocyte concentrates stored in Plasma-Lyte A and Normosol R. Plasma-Lyte A supplemented with histidine maintained the pH of diluted granulocyte concentrates better than Plasma-Lyte A supplemented with HEPES; 6·91 ± 0·10 and 6·65 ± 0·11, respectively, after 24 h. Cell counts were maintained best in granulocyte concentrates diluted in Plasma-Lyte A supplemented with albumin and one or both of the buffers. Conclusions Culture media were best for granulocyte storage, but they are not approved for in vivo use. Infusible solutions are not buffered adequately and lack sufficient protein, but infusible solutions, such as lactated Ringer’s solution or Plasma-Lyte A supplemented with buffers and albumin, hold promise as effective and licensable solutions for granulocyte storage.
A parallel decoder for low latency decoding of turbo product codes

There has been intensive focus on turbo product codes (TPCs) which have low decoding complexity and achieve near-optimum performances at low signal-to-noise ratios. Different than the original TPC decoder, which performs row and column decoding in a serial fashion, we propose a parallel decoder structure. Simulation results show that with this approach, decoding latency of TPCs can be halved while maintaining virtually the same performance level.
Holocene glacier fluctuations in the American Cordillera

Abstract In many areas of the American Rocky Mountains (Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, Montana), Cascade Range (Washington, Oregon), and the Sierra Nevada (California), radiocarbon ages suggest that ice receded to near present limits before 10 ka BP. A pre-Altithermal readvance or stillstand left moraines ca. 1–3 km beyond and ca. 50–300 m below present glacier margins. At one locality on Glacier Peak in Washington, these deposits are perhaps dated to the early Holocene, but in general these deposits are probably at least 10 ka old. Glacial advances during the Altithermal (ca. 8 to 5 ka BP) elsewhere are rare; radiocarbon evidence for Altithermal glacial advances in the Colorado Front Range is questionable. The earliest radiocarbon-dated Neoglacial advances occurred about 5 ka BP in the Washington Cascades; moraines and related deposits believed to be of early Neoglacial age (i.e. 5 to 3 ka BP) elsewhere are poorly dated. For example, moraines believed to date to the early Neoglacial in Colorado (Triple Lakes) and Wyoming (Temple Lake) are actually late Pleistocene age, based on radiocarbon ages derived from lake sediments at the type localities. Although relative-age data (i.e. lichens, rock weathering, soils) from many areas suggest a three-fold Neoglacial sequence, little supporting radiocarbon evidence is available. However, tephrochronology distinguishes three Neoglacial advances near Mount Rainier in Washington. In most mountain ranges of the western United States, fresh, unweathered, sharp-crested moraines usually adjacent to present ice margins, or near headwalls in empty cirques, date to the Little Ice Age of the last several centuries. However, detailed photographic or other historical records of glacial fluctuations during the last century are rare, and detailed mass balance studies rarer still. Whether or not pre-Little Ice Age glacial fluctuations in the American Cordillera are synchronous must await better radiometric dating of local moraine sequences.
Biopolitics, Fascism, Democracy: Some Reflections on Our Discourse About “Modernity”

In recent years the outlines of a new master narrative of modern German history have begun to emerge in a wide range of publications. This narrative draws heavily on the theoretical and historical works of Michel Foucault and Detlev J. K. Peukert, and on the earlier work of the Frankfurt School, Max Weber, and the French theorists of postmodernism. In it, rationalization and science, and specifically the extended discursive field of “biopolitics” (the whole complex of disciplines and practices addressing issues of health, reproduction, and welfare) play a key role as the marker and most important content of modernization. Increasingly, this model has a function in German historiography similar to that long virtually monopolized by the “Sonderweg thesis”: it serves as a broad theoretical or interpretive framework that can guide the construction of meaning in “smaller” studies, which are legitimated by their function in confirming or countering this broader argument.
Optimum quantization of order statistics

We present necessary conditions for minimum mean square error (MMSE) quantization of order statistics. These conditions are obtained by observing that in a quantize-sort cascade system, operations of quantization and sorting are interchangeable. We consider MMSE quantization of a single order statistic as well as of a group of order statistics and highlight several interesting properties. Numerical characteristics of order statistic quantizers are presented for Gaussian and uniform distributions, and detailed comparisons are made.
A Cross-Cultural Comparison of the Social Desirability Variable

College students from India and the United States rated a set of 42 personality statements on a nine-point scale ranging from extremely socially desirable to extremely socially undesirable. These ratings were found to be similar not only for subjects from distinct linguistic regions within India but also for subjects from India and the United States. The relationship between ratings of social desirability of personality statements and the probability of endorsement of the same statements was also observed to be quite similar across the two cultures.
The Probabilistic Minimum Spanning Tree Problem

In this paper we consider a natural probabilistic variation of the classical minimum spanning tree problem (MST), which we call the probabilistic minimum spanning tree problem (PMST). In particular, we consider the case where not all the points are deterministically present, but are present with certain probability. We discuss the applications of the PMST and find a closed-form expression for the expected length of a given spanning tree. Based on these expressions, we prove that the problem is NP-complete. We further examine some interesting combinatorial properties of the problem, establish the relation of the PMST with the MST and the network design problem, and examine some cases where the problem is solvable in polynomial time. We finally characterize the asymptotic behavior of reoptimization strategies, in which we find the MST or the Steiner tree, respectively, among the points that are present on a particular instance, and the PMST, in the case in which points are randomly distributed in the Euclidean plane and in the case in which the costs of the arcs are randomly distributed. In both cases the PMST is within constant factors from both strategies.
Trace-Organics Biodegradation in Aquifer Recharge

The low organic concentration and high specific surface area that characterize ground-water recharge environments allow biofilms to predominate microbial kinetics. Consideration of the kinetics of substrate utilization and growth of biofilms indicates that microbiological activity occurs very near the injection well. The aggregate substrate expressed, for example, as chemical oxygen demand, can be considered the primary substrate; the biofilm's growth is supported through the utilization of the aggregate primary substrate. Individual trace organic compounds, none of which could support biofilm growth alone, are utilized as secondary substrates. Although biodegradable, secondary substrates that have slow utilization kinetics will pass through the biologically active zone undegraded. Field data from the ground-water recharge project in Palo Alto, California, illustrate that naphthalene and heptaldehyde are biodegraded, while other compounds, such as chloroform and chlorobenzene, pass through the biologically active zone without biodegradation.
Four-wave mixing and generation of terahertz radiation in an alternating-strain coupled quantum-well structure

We propose a scheme for exciting steady-state tunneling oscillations of an electronic wave packet in a semiconductor coupled quantum-well structure with strain of the opposite polarity in the two wells. A detailed study of the four-wave mixing process in this structure is then presented, based on the density matrix formalism. Our results show that a resonance peak is introduced in the four-wave mixing frequency response at the tunneling frequency, leading to a significant enhancement in the wavelength conversion efficiency for low temperature operation. Furthermore, we consider this structure under the same excitation condition as a potential source of coherent radiation in, the terahertz frequency band.