cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phase-Variance Optical Coherence Tomography: A Technique for Noninvasive Angiography

Purpose: Phase-variance optical coherence tomography (PV-OCT) provides volumetric imaging of the retinal vasculature without the need for intravenous injection of a fluorophore. We compare images from PV-OCT and fluorescein angiography (FA) for normal individuals and patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy. Design: This is an evaluation of a diagnostic technology. Participants: Four patients underwent comparative retinovascular imaging using FA and PV-OCT. Imaging was performed on 1 normal individual, 1 patient with dry AMD, 1 patient with exudative AMD, and 1 patient with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy. Methods: Fluorescein angiography imaging was performed using a Topcon Corp (Tokyo, Japan) (TRC-50IX) camera with a resolution of 1280 (H) × 1024 (V) pixels. The PV-OCT images were generated by software data processing of the entire cross-sectional image from consecutively acquired B-scans. Bulk axial motion was calculated and corrected for each transverse location, reducing the phase noise introduced from eye motion. Phase variance was calculated through the variance of the motion-corrected phase changes acquired within multiple B-scans at the same position. Repeating these calculations over the entire volumetric scan produced a 3-dimensional PV-OCT representation of the vasculature. Main Outcome Measures: Feasibility of rendering retinal and choroidal microvasculature using PV-OCT was compared qualitatively with FA, the current gold standard for retinovascular imaging. Results: Phase-variance OCT noninvasively rendered a 2-dimensional depth color-coded vasculature map of the retinal and choroidal vasculature. The choriocapillaris was imaged with better resolution of microvascular detail using PV-OCT. Areas of geographic atrophy and choroidal neovascularization imaged by FA were depicted by PV-OCT. Regions of capillary nonperfusion from diabetic retinopathy were shown by both imaging techniques; there was not complete correspondence between microaneurysms shown on FA and PV-OCT images. Conclusions: Phase-variance OCT yields high-resolution imaging of the retinal and choroidal microvasculature that compares favorably with FA.
Norms and Moduli on Multicomplex Spaces

Multicomplex analysis describes the theory of holomorphic functions on spaces generated by n commuting complex units. In this context we extend some notions of norms and moduli from the space of bicomplex numbers to the space of multicomplex numbers. This approach is meant to be used towards a meaningful theory of Riemannian and semi-Riemannian geometries built on such spaces.
Does autonomy moderate the relationships of task performance and interpersonal facilitation, with overall effectiveness?

Employees contribute to organizational effectiveness in a variety of ways that go beyond job specific task performance. Organizational citizenship behavior and contextual performance describe behav...
Twenty-First Century Feudalism in Australian Universities

This chapter considers the twenty-first century feudal practices shaping academic life. In poisonous industrial relation environments, academic work is increasingly insecure, research is being stymied and administrative workloads expanding, to the detriment of teaching. Democratic processes have been replaced by an authoritarian management regime ruling from afar and unforgiving of dissenting opinions. While the number of full-time academics is declining and being replaced by sessional appointments because of precarious finances, executive remuneration continues to climb exorbitantly. The neoliberal ideology has transformed the university working for the public good into a new type of enterprise offering private goods for individuals.
Spectra of random networks with arbitrary degrees.

We derive a message-passing method for computing the spectra of locally treelike networks and an approximation to it that allows us to compute closed-form expressions or fast numerical approximates for the spectral density of random graphs with arbitrary node degrees---the so-called configuration model. We find that the latter approximation works well for all but the sparsest of networks. We also derive bounds on the position of the band edges of the spectrum, which are important for identifying structural phase transitions in networks.
On the Assessment of Mechanical Degradation of Grease Using Entropy Generation Rate

A methodology for continuous monitoring of grease degradation subjected to mechanical shearing is proposed. It is hypothesized that the mechanical degradation of grease is akin to the running-in process in a tribo-pair with both transient and steady-state regimes. To validate the hypothesis, a series of mechanical shearing tests are performed on three grades of grease: NLGI 00, NLGI 1, and NLGI 2.5 by employing a rheometer. From the results, a more effective method using the entropy generation rate is proposed for continuous monitoring of grease degradation. The proposed method is extended to estimate the time for a grease subjected to mechanical shearing to degrade to a lower grade. The efficacy of this method is demonstrated via long duration testing in a custom-built ball-bearing test apparatus.
Evaluation of estrous synchronization protocols on ewe reproductive efficiency and profitability

Abstract A 2-year experiment was conducted to determine the effect of a single injection of prostaglandin after initiation of the breeding season on ewe estrous synchronization. Rambouillet ewes (n = 101; Year 1 = 52; Year 2 = 49) assigned to one of three treatments: untreated (CON); 12-d CIDR insert (CIDR); or 1 injection of prostaglandin at d 2.5 (1 PG) after rams were placed with ewes. Rams were placed with ewes at the time of CIDR removal (d 0) and remained with ewes during a 35-d breeding season. Both the CIDR- (94%) and 1 PG (73.5%) treatment groups had a larger number (P ≤ 0.01) of ewes bred in the first 5 d of the breeding season compared to ewes of the control (33%) group. As expected, CIDR-treated ewes had a shorter time to mating, than 1 PG-treated ewes and ewes of the control group had a longer interval to mating than both CIDR- and 1 PG-treated ewes (P ≤ 0.01). The number of lambs born per ewe and kg of lamb weaned per ewe was not different (P ≥ 0.31) among treatment groups. Additionally, there was no difference (P = 0.78) in net profit per ewe among treatment groups. Based on these data, utilizing a single injection of PG 2.5 d after initiation of the breeding season resulted in similar pregnancy rates at d 5 of the breeding season when compared with CIDR-treated ewes indicating the potential utilization of the 1PG protocol in a confinement setting as a viable method for estrous synchronization.
Clinical application of the electrocardiogram

In this issue of the Journal , Charles Fisch [(1)][1] presents an excellent overview of the birth and development of the electrocardiograph machine. His article provides insightful commentary by an expert electrocardiographer who has spent a professional lifetime using that device to make
Inorganic ions regulate amorphous-to-crystal shape preservation in biomineralization

Calcified minerals in biogenic materials often play a utilitarian role, such as structural supports in bone, teeth, and shells, where the crystals are arranged in well-ordered arrays (1, 2). The ability of organisms to produce single crystalline scaffolds and hierarchical architectures with unique features, such as bent or spheroidal shapes, has long fascinated scientists. The mechanisms of biomineral nucleation and growth are complex and not fully understood, while the ability to mimic these processes in vitro has proven challenging. Much attention has been given to studying the skeletal sections of sea urchins and other organisms (e.g., mollusks, echinoderms, calcisponges, and corals) that contain curved surfaces and various convoluted shapes (3). From numerous studies of these materials, which are predominantly composed of calcium carbonate minerals, it has become evident that crystallization originates from the initial formation of amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) (4, 5). The pathways by which ACC transforms into crystalline CaCO3 polymorphs has been a topic of ongoing investigation, although many fundamental details remain elusive. In PNAS, Liu et al. (6) report the time-resolved evolution of ACC to crystalline calcium carbonate using in situ transmission electron microscopy to show that the presence of inorganic ions leads to the direct transformation of the amorphous phase to calcite, all the while preserving the morphology of the original precursor. ACC has become a recognized and frequently investigated form of calcium carbonate owing to its importance in biomineralization. Six additional crystalline forms of calcium carbonate (1) include calcite, aragonite, vaterite, … [↵][1]1Email: jrimer{at}central.uh.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Structure and function of a flavin-dependent S-monooxygenase from garlic (Allium sativum)

Allicin is a component of the characteristic smell and flavor of garlic (Allium sativum). A flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO) produced by A. sativum (AsFMO) was previously proposed to oxidize S-allyl-l-cysteine (SAC) to alliin, an allicin precursor. Here, we present a kinetic and structural characterization of AsFMO that suggests a possible contradiction to this proposal. Results of steady-state kinetic analyses revealed that AsFMO exhibited negligible activity with SAC; however, the enzyme was highly active with l-cysteine, N-acetyl-l-cysteine, and allyl mercaptan. We found that allyl mercaptan with NADPH was the preferred substrate-cofactor combination. Rapid-reaction kinetic analyses showed that NADPH binds tightly (KD of ∼2 μm) to AsFMO and that the hydride transfer occurs with pro-R stereospecificity. We detected the formation of a long-wavelength band when AsFMO was reduced by NADPH, probably representing the formation of a charge-transfer complex. In the absence of substrate, the reduced enzyme, in complex with NADP+, reacted with oxygen and formed an intermediate with a spectrum characteristic of C4a-hydroperoxyflavin, which decays several orders of magnitude more slowly than the kcat. The presence of substrate enhanced C4a-hydroperoxyflavin formation and, upon hydroxylation, oxidation occurred with a rate constant similar to the kcat. The structure of AsFMO complexed with FAD at 2.08-A resolution features two domains for binding of FAD and NADPH, representative of class B flavin monooxygenases. These biochemical and structural results are consistent with AsFMO being an S-monooxygenase involved in allicin biosynthesis through direct formation of sulfenic acid and not SAC oxidation.
A Meta-Analysis of Mobile Phone Use and Presence

This research reports the results of two meta-analyses on 43 empirical studies that have investigated the effects of the presence and use of mobile phones during interpersonal interactions. Six of these investigations focused on the “mere presence effect,” which asserts that the presence (but not use) of a mobile phone leads to more negative perceptions of one’s interactional partner. The meta-analysis did not provide support for this effect. Thirty-seven studies focused on the effects of “phone snubbing” (“phubbing”) which addresses the use of a mobile phone during interactions. This second meta-analysis found a relatively robust effect which clearly leads to more negative perceptions by the non-using partner. Although numerous potential moderators were examined, none of theoretical interest were found to moderate these effects.
'This is my vision': how students depict critiques along with themselves during critiques

In this article we consider critiques within the design studio as how students press forward into possible forms of the self that are opened up through studio participation. We contrast this with a view of critiques as primarily being a pedagogical or socialising technique under the control of instructors and other critics. We carried out our inquiry using interviews with six studio students, studying how they depict critiques and how they depict themselves when being critiqued. Students' depictions of critiques included their being: a) signal in the noise; b) windows into their critics' character; c) a type of text to be interpreted. Their depictions of themselves included being: a) clear-sighted; b) street-smart; c) creative. We conclude by discussing what these depictions might mean about how instructors/critics can frame critiques in ways that facilitate students using them to take up possibilities that are opened up through studio participation.
Using the 1.6 μm Bump to Study Rest-frame Near-infrared-selected Galaxies at Redshift 2

We explore the feasibility and limitations of using the 1.6 {mu}m bump as a photometric redshift indicator and selection technique, and use it to study the rest-frame H-band galaxy luminosity and stellar mass functions (SMFs) at redshift z {approx} 2. We use publicly available Spitzer/IRAC images in the GOODS fields and find that color selection in the IRAC bandpasses alone is comparable in completeness and contamination to BzK selection. We find that the shape of the 1.6 {mu}m bump is robust, and photometric redshifts are not greatly affected by choice of model parameters. Comparison with spectroscopic redshifts shows photometric redshifts to be reliable. We create a rest-frame NIR-selected catalog of galaxies at z {approx} 2 and construct a galaxy SMF. Comparisons with other SMFs at approximately the same redshift but determined using shorter wavelengths show good agreement. This agreement suggests that selection at bluer wavelengths does not miss a significant amount of stellar mass in passive galaxies. Comparison with SMFs at other redshifts shows evidence for the downsizing scenario of galaxy evolution. We conclude by pointing out the potential for using the 1.6 {mu}m bump technique to select high-redshift galaxies with the JWST, whose {lambda}>0.6 {mu}m coverage will not bemore » well suited to selecting galaxies using techniques that require imaging at shorter wavelengths.« less
Methods of measurement and implications of abnormal calcium concentrations in fresh dairy cows

Hypocalcemia is a prevalent disorder in the early postpartum period. Advances in periparturient nutrition and management strategies have decreased the occurrence of clinical hypocalcemia over the past few decades; however, subclinical hypocalcemia remains an important aspect of transition cow health. These proceedings will discuss the diagnostic tools available to bovine practitioners for individual animal calcium concentration determination and herd-level monitoring, as well as current developments in the epidemiology of hypocalcemia and its prevention.
Self-control and smoking in a sample of adults living with HIV/AIDS: A cross-sectional survey.

Abstract Introduction Cigarette smoking prevalences are very high in persons living with HIV (PLWH). Identifying variables among PLWH that are linked to smoking in community samples (e.g., self-control) can inform smoking treatments for PLWH. The current study examined the association of self-reported self-control and smoking (e.g., smoking status, cigarette dependence) in a sample of PLWH. Methods Adult PLWH were recruited from the Center for Positive Living (Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York, US). All participants completed measures of demographics, cigarette smoking, and self-control. Participants who reported current cigarette smoking completed measures of cigarette dependence; intolerance for smoking abstinence; and motivation, confidence, and desire to quit smoking. Results The overall sample included 285 PLWH (49.1% cigarette users, 55.4% male, 52.7% Black race, 54.8% Latino/a ethnicity). PLWH with current cigarette smoking reported lower self-control than PLWH with no current cigarette smoking (M = 116.88, SD = 17.07 versus M = 127.39, SD = 20.32; t = −4.15, df = 211, p Discussion Among a sample of PLWH, lower self-control was related to cigarette smoking (versus no smoking), greater cigarette dependence, lower confidence in quitting smoking, and greater intolerance for smoking abstinence. It may be useful to target self-control among PLWH to increase confidence in quitting and abstinence intolerance with the goal of improving smoking cessation outcomes.
Market Making with Stochastic Liquidity Demand: Simultaneous Order Arrival and Price Change Forecasts

We provide an explicit characterization of the optimal market making strategy in a discrete-time Limit Order Book (LOB). In our model, the number of filled orders during each period depends linearly on the distance between the fundamental price and the market maker's limit order quotes, with random slope and intercept coefficients. The high-frequency market maker (HFM) incurs an end-of-the-day liquidation cost resulting from linear price impact. The optimal placement strategy incorporates in a novel and parsimonious way forecasts about future changes in the asset's fundamental price. We show that the randomness in the demand slope reduces the inventory management motive, and that a positive correlation between demand slope and investors' reservation prices leads to wider spreads. Our analysis reveals that the simultaneous arrival of buy and sell market orders (i) reduces the shadow cost of inventory, (ii) leads the HFM to reduce price pressures to execute larger flows, and (iii) introduces patterns of nonlinearity in the intraday dynamics of bid and ask spreads. Our empirical study shows that the market making strategy outperforms those which ignores randomness in demand, simultaneous arrival of buy and sell market orders, and local drift in the fundamental price.
The First Reported Case of COVID-19 Myocarditis Managed with Biventricular Impella Support

Introduction SARS-CoV-2, responsible for COVID-19, is a pandemic that has taken the world by storm. We present the only contemporary reported case of COVID-19 myocarditis leading to recovery with utilization of biventricular impella for temporary mechanical circulatory support. No cases have been reported regarding utilization of Bi-V impella as therapy for management of SARS-CoV-2.. Case Report We present a 35 year old-woman with history of systemic sclerosis who was found to have 5 days of generalized malaise associated with fevers and cough. On arrival she was found tachycardic at 112 bpm and febrile 101.8 F. She tested positive for COVID-19 via nasal CPR. Cardiac enzymes were found elevated on admission with troponin T elevated at 0.28. On day two of hospitalization patient had spontaneous PEA arrest secondary to hypoxemia. Transthoracic echocardiogram(TTE) revealed EF Summary The use of biventricular continuous microaxial flow devices during acute COVID-19 myocarditis is key to allow ventricular rest and optimal offloading without the increased risk of surgically placed TMCS such as Centrimag or VA or VV ECMO. With recent emergency use by the FDA, its wide adaptation remains sparse. Our case demonstrates a unique approach to management of COVID-19 myocarditis. It is the only reported case in the literature utilizing biventricular Impella devices for circulatory support without the concurrent use of ECMO. Due to the success in this patient, this promising approach warrants continued investigation in the management of COVID myocarditis and cardiogenic shock.
Unleashing nanofabrication through thermomechanical nanomolding.

Advancements in nanotechnology require the development of nanofabrication methods for a wide range of materials, length scales, and elemental distributions. Today’s nanofabrication methods are typi...
Negotiations Can Fail

Homer’s Iliad begins with sacrilege, injustice, and great anger. King Agamemnon refuses the ransom offered by the priest Chryses for his daughter Chryseis. Chryses prays to the god Apollo, who brings a plague upon the Greek forces seizing Troy. Calchas, a Greek diviner, rightly blames the plague on Agamemnon, and public debate forces him to return his battle prize, Chryseis, to her father.
Improving Patient Satisfaction in a Mid-Size Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Outpatient Clinic

Abstract Background: The study of patient satisfaction is a rapidly growing area of importance within healthcare. High levels of patient satisfaction are associated with exceptional doctor-patient communication (Williams S, et al., 1998), improved patient compliance (Zolnierek K and DiMatteo M, 2005), and reduced likelihood of medical malpractice (Stelfox H, et al., 2005). Furthermore, physician reimbursement and pay-for-performance measures will imminently be tied to patient satisfaction metrics. Despite its emerging significance within the medical community, a relative paucity of data exists with regards to improving patient satisfaction, and no reports have evaluated methods to improve the patient experience for the unique population served by the pediatric hematology-oncology (PHO) outpatient clinic. Aim: To improve the PHO outpatient clinic overall patient satisfaction score to an institutional goal of 75th percentile nationally, and improve collective provider score to the 90th percentile nationally by the end of year 2014. Methods: Patient satisfaction was measured using returned Press-Ganey® surveys at Blank Children’s Hospital PHO outpatient clinic (UnityPoint Health, Des Moines, Iowa), a mid-size practice consisting of 4 physicians and approximately 50-60 new oncology patients per year. Scores from year 2013 were analyzed and several provider and staff-initiated interventions were implemented in January 2014, including: 1) Distribution of published written strategies to address areas most likely to drive improvement in 2014 2) Weekly review of all returned surveys by physicians and clinic personnel 3) Review of year-to-date patient satisfaction results, goals, and progress at monthly staff meetings 4) Transparency of scores among providers 5) Devotion of additional efforts to address less-satisfied demographics (first-time patients) 6) Implementation of service recovery modalities 7) Offering of optional web-based patient satisfaction training modules to all providers Results: Comparing pre-intervention patient satisfaction data from the year 2013 (n= 132) to year-to-date post-intervention data from year 2014 (n=58), overall patient satisfaction improved from 61st to 92nd percentile (all scores are national percentile rank). Collective provider scores improved from 73rd to 94th percentile. Among patients at their first appointment in the clinic, overall satisfaction improved from 41st to 81st percentile, and satisfaction with providers improved from 26th to 89th percentile. Conclusions: Patient satisfaction can be improved in a mid-size PHO clinic through implementation of multiple strategic provider and staff-driven initiatives. It is unclear which interventions are most associated with improvement or if progress will be sustained as further post-intervention data is acquired. As the importance of patient satisfaction continues to grow within the medical and economic communities, further study is necessary to better address the needs of the distinctive PHO patient population. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Sickle Hemoglobin in Combination With Hb JBangkok (αA2β56 gly→asp2)

Several members of a black family from Southern Illinois were found to be heterozygous for HB JBangkok (αA2β56 gly→asp2), a hemoglobin abnormality previously described only in individuals of Thai, Chinese, or Indonesian ancestry. In two children (ages 3 and 8) Hb JBangkok was present in combination with sickle hemoglobin. Neither of these children demonstrated evidence of hemolytic disease, enlargement of the liver or spleen, or symptomatic sickle crises. The Hb J comprised 54%-59% of the total in all family members having this variant, in common with previous reports of this hemoglobin. Hb A2 and alkali-resistant hemoglobin were present in normal concentrations in all of the family members studied. Deoxygenated mixtures of Hbs S and JBangkok exhibited minimum gelation concentrations similar to those of equivalent mixtures of Hbs S and A.
The Microsoft Way: The Real Story of How the Company Outsmarts Its Competition

* Camping with Henry and Bill Microsoft Basics * Sitting and Thinking * Smarts * The Model in Their Head The Home * Big Files * Britannica, Adieu * Pitching Consumers * David and Goliath The Highway * Preparations * PCs Versus TVs * Toll Road The Monopoly Game * The Last War Redux * The Home Front * Preemptive Attack * Afterword: Legacies
Haller, Albrecht von

1708–1777 Swiss physiologist, anatomist and writer who developed the principle of irritability. Keywords: anatomy; physiology; botany; irritability; embryology
Imaging F region drifts using monostatic phased‐array incoherent scatter radar

[1] We develop a technique for using monostatic, electronically steerable incoherent scatter radar (ISR) to generate 2-D estimates of F region flow fields. Tikhonov regularization is used to achieve robustness in the presence of spatial variation. The regularization functional imposes partial incompressibility on the medium and is therefore physically justified. Although the estimator has difficulty resolving sharp discontinuities, it performs well in regions of uniform flow. In order to characterize the effect of the regularization parameter, we test the performance of the operator in three simulated scenarios. We then analyze data from an experiment on the Poker Flat ISR. The experimental results are validated against coregistered all-sky optical data and are found to be mostly consistent with these independent measurements. Namely, the radar-derived estimates show a reduction of ion flow wherever the optical data indicates an auroral enhancement. The estimated flow is directed parallel to an arc boundary, consistent with an electric field directed toward the arc.
Enhancing antigen cross-presentation and T-cell priming by complexing protein antigen to recombinant large heat-shock protein.

Large heat shock proteins (HSPs), including hsp110 and grp170, are unique immunochaperones capable of carrying and introducing antigens into professional antigen presenting cells (APCs) for efficient cross-presentation. Therefore, reconstituted chaperone complexes of large HSPs and protein antigen may be exploited for augmentation of an antigen-specific immune response. The methods for the preparation of the recombinant protein antigen chaperone complex and characterization of its T-cell priming capability in both in vitro and in vivo settings are described.
Ethical-Clinical Tensions in Clinical Practice

matically. More attention is being given to refining codes of ethics, analyzing conflicts of interest, probing tech nology's ramifications, understanding moral development, and exploring the theoretical underpinnings of social work ethics (Goldstein, 1984; Imre, 1982; Levy, 1976; Lowenberg& Dolgoff, 1982; Reamer, 1982; Rhodes, 1986; Siporin, 1983). This article examines ethical tensions that some clinicians
The Feasibility of Embedded Electronics for Intelligent Structures

The signal, power, and communications provisions for the distributed con trol processing, sensing, and actuation of an intelligent structure could benefit from a method of physically embedding some electronic components. The preliminary feasibility of embedding electronic components in load-bearing intelligent composite structures is addressed. A technique for embedding integrated circuits on silicon chips within graphite/ epoxy composite structures is presented which addresses the problems of electrical, mechanical, and chemical isolation. The mechanical isolation of test articles manufac tured by this technique is tested by subjecting them to static and cyclic mechanical loads; chemical isolation is tested by subjecting them to electrical bias in a high temperature, high humidity environment. The likely failure modes under these conditions are iden tified, and suggestions for further improvements in the technique are discussed.
A DECISION THEORY APPROACH TO PRIORITY DISPATCHING FOR JOB SHOP SCHEDULING

Recent developments in the design of job shop scheduling systems have inspired a new approach to priority dispatching. The basis for the approach is in elementary decision theory: at each decision juncture define the alternative courses of action, evaluate the consequences of each alternative according to a given criterion, and choose the best alternative. The experimental results of a simulated single machine queueing system reinforce earlier findings that a decision theory approach represents a significant advance over conventional priority dispatching.
Perception of Across-Frequency Asynchrony by Listeners with Cochlear Hearing Loss

Cochlear hearing loss is often associated with broader tuning of the cochlear filters. Cochlear response latencies are dependent on the filter bandwidths, so hearing loss may affect the relationship between latencies across different characteristic frequencies. This prediction was tested by investigating the perception of synchrony between two tones exciting different regions of the cochlea in listeners with hearing loss. Subjective judgments of synchrony were compared with thresholds for asynchrony discrimination in a three-alternative forced-choice task. In contrast to earlier data from normal-hearing (NH) listeners, the synchronous-response functions obtained from the hearing-impaired (HI) listeners differed in patterns of symmetry and often had a very low peak (i.e., maximum proportion of “synchronous” responses). Also in contrast to data from NH listeners, the quantitative and qualitative correspondence between the data from the subjective and the forced-choice tasks was often poor. The results do not provide strong evidence for the influence of changes in cochlear mechanics on the perception of synchrony in HI listeners, and it remains possible that age, independent of hearing loss, plays an important role in temporal synchrony and asynchrony perception.
Molecular Heterogeneity of Human Lymphoid (HL-A) Alloantigens

Soluble preparations of HL-A alloantigens were separated by gel filtration into components having either the "LA" series or the "4" series of alloantigenic determinants. This separation may indicate that several different structural cistrons within the HL-A (locus) control the expression of these two series of determinants. The alternative possibility, in which one structural cistron with multiple mutational sites controls the synthesis of a single molecule cannot be excluded.
Hearing aids' electromagnetic immunity to environmental RF fields

In this work, the electromagnetic interference on hearing aids was evaluated. Electromagnetic (EM) immunity tests on different types of hearing aids were carried out, using signals of intensity and modulation comparable to those present in the environment. The purpose of this work is to characterise the interference, establishing the immunity threshold for different frequencies and finding out which types of hearing aids are more susceptible, and in which frequency range. The tests were carried out in a GTEM cell on seven hearing aids, using AM and GSM signals in the radiofrequency (RF) range.
Formation of adducts between 13-oxooctadecadienoic acid (13-OXO) and protein- derived thiols, in vivo and in vitro

Linoleic acid is metabolized by numerous tissues to oxidized derivatives possessing biological activity. In the current experiments, we have investigated the reaction of 13-oxooctadecadienoic acid (13-OXO) and the metabolic precursor 13-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid (13-HODE) with cellular macromolecules and model cellular nucleophiles. Colonic mucosal explants from Sprague-Dawley rats were incubated in the presence of [1-14C]-13-OXO or [1-14C]-13-HODE. The binding of radiolabel to the protein and nucleic acid fractions was analyzed by isopycnic centrifugation in Cs2SO4. Cellular homogenates incubated with either 13-OXO or 13-HODE resulted in the binding of radiolabel to cellular protein. No significant amounts of reaction with cellular RNA or DNA were observed. To assess possible modes of reaction with cellular constituents, the oxidized fatty acids were incubated in vitro with oxygen, sulfur, or nitrogen, nucleophiles including, serine, cysteine, glutathione, methionine, lysine, adenosine, and guanosine. Under physiologic conditions, in the absence of cellular homogenates, only 13-OXO was reactive. In addition, only the sulfur-containing compounds cysteine and glutathione showed significant rates of reaction. Furthermore, treatment of colonic homogenates with N-ethlymaleimide reduced the binding of [1-14C]-13-OXO to cellular protein. These data support the suggestion that 13-HODE requires metabolic activation, by dehydrogenation to 13-OXO, prior to binding to cellular protein and that protein-derived thiol groups are involved in the binding reactions.
Population structure and anthropometric variation in rural western Ireland: isolation by distance and analysis of the residuals

The study of human population structure allows the assessment of cultural and historical influences on mating probabilities, and, hence, genetic variation. A commonly used model is isolation by distance, which predicts a negative exponential relationship between genetic similarity and geographic distance. Anthropometric data collected during the 1930's for 261 adult women in 12 towns of rural western Ireland were used to test the isolation by distance model and to assess the influence of cultural factors upon the fit of the model. The effects of recent migration were tested by using two additional data subsets, one excluding known intercounty migrants and the other consisting of unmarried women, only in an attempt to control partially for local migration upon marriage. Deviations from the expected isolation by distance model were analyzed using rotational fitting and regression analysis. Estimates of the isolation by distance parameters agree closely with independent estimates from isonymy and with estimates obtained in other studies of rural European population structure. Analysis of the residuals indicates three major factors which contribute to deviations from the expected model: recent migration upon marriage, age variation among groups, and variation in population size and/or transportation opportunities. Variation in population size was tested using the gravity model of economic geography by regressing the residuals from the isolation by distance model for each pair of towns on the product of their population sizes. The best fit occurred for the unmarried sample, as expected from ethnographic evidence, since rural–urban migration was most common among unmarried women.
An Empirical Mathematical Model for the Predictive Analysis of the Chemical Absorption of Hydroxide in Eucalyptus Wood

Chip steaming, heating, impregnation, and sugar acid neutralization of wood chips by an alkaline kraft liquor during the pretreatment and initial phase of pulping are critical physical−chemical phe...
A fully integrated all-enhancement PMOS four-quadrant analogue multiplier

A PMOS four-quadrant analogue multiplier is described and performance is measured. The measured distortion is 0 · 9% at 50% of full-scale output and the dynamic range is 79 dB. The chip is compatible with standard IC processing and the circuit could be incorporated as a part of a more complex signal-processing die.
Turning Points and Negotiation: The Case of the 2007–2008 Writers' Strike

Extant communication research on negotiation typically focuses on the microprocesses of interaction without much attention to the larger context in which these conflicts occur. However, public campaigns related to labor-management conflicts impinge on the way negotiations are enacted. This study focuses on the turning points and conflict framing in the 2007–2008 conflict between the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. Using media coverage and press releases, it examines turning points across critical events, communicative framing, and the role of a simultaneous corporate campaign in shaping the outcome of this negotiation. Overall, it demonstrates that procedural precipitants in combination with the corporate campaign triggered departures that escalated the conflict, while procedural and external precipitants shaped departures that led to an agreement. Writers Guild of America's particular brand of a soft corporate campaign played an important role in solidifying the labor union and garnering public support for the strike.
Risk Assessment via a Robust Probit Model, with Application to Toxicology

Abstract Various frameworks have been suggested for assessing the risk associated with continuous toxicity outcomes. The first formulates the effect of exposure on the adverse effect via a simple normal model and then computes the risk function using tail probabilities from the standard normal distribution. Because this risk function depends heavily on the assumed model, it may be sensitive to model misspecification. Recently, a semiparametric approach that utilizes an alternative definition of excess risk has been studied. Unfortunately, it is not yet clear how the two approaches relate to one another. In this article, we investigate a semiparametric normal model in which an unknown transformation of the adverse response satisfies the linear model. We demonstrate that this formulation unifies the two existing approaches and allows for a coherent risk analysis of dose-response data. In addition, estimation and inference procedures for the unknown transformation in the semiparametric model for the continuo...
Simple Contrast-Enhancement Viewer For Film

A technique for viewing film, in which the film is sandwiched between two partially transmitting reflectors, can greatly increase the apparent optical contrast and the information available in low-density regions of the film. The contrast in the toe region of the photographic characteristic curve may be increased by a factor of 7 or more while the contrast in intermediate and high density regions remains unchanged. This "stretching out" of the characteristic curve is useful in salvaging underexposed transparencies. Characteristics the film and reflectors must have to produce the contrast enhancement are discussed.
Performance of Gifted and Talented Subjects on the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Cognitive Ability and the WISC-R

This study compared the performance of a sample of 46 gifted and talented students on the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Cognitive Ability and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised. The difference between full scale scores was not significant, suggesting concurrent validity between the two full scale measures. Scores obtained on the Reasoning cluster were suspect for some of the gifted and talented subjects, with the altemative cluster of Broad Reasoning providing a more acappraisal of ability.
Shear and bending flexibility in closed-form moment solutions for continuous beams and bridge structures

Abstract Shear deformations can affect final member-end-moments for statically indeterminate continuous beams and frame structures, though for typical civil engineering structures their effect is small and moments can be based on flexural deformations only. When a member is deep relative to span length, however, shear deformations should be considered in the analysis. This can be included in the stiffness method and in a modified form of moment distribution where the carry-over factor is less than one-half due to the added flexibility from shear. In a prior paper the first author presented a new approach for solving statically indeterminate beams and bridge frames, with final end moments given in closed-form expressions. The advantages of this new approach are that no simultaneous equations are required as in the stiffness method, moments are not distributed back and forth as in moment distribution, and manual calculations may be used which give exact results for as many spans as desired. While only flexural deformations were considered in the original paper, this paper presents a closed-form approach that has been modified to include shear deformations. Final expressions are given for continuous beams and bridge frames, providing exact member-end-moments that match results from the stiffness method when shear deformations are included in the analysis.
Relationships between CATI personality disorder variables and measures of academic performance

The present report offers predictive and construct validation data concerning the use of the Coolidge Axis II Inventory (CATI) personality disorder scales in predicting academic difficulties. The CATI has been found to exhibit sound psychometric properties with promise for extending personality disorder research into broader nonclinical populations. Predictive validation of the various CATI personality disorder scales with specific behavioral, cognitive or emotional correlates of maladaptive functioning, other than diagnostic probabilities, remains to be established and represents a central challenge to the continued vitality of this new assessment inventory. Four academic performance variables (high school GPA, cumulative college GPA, classroom attendance, standardized course grade) were selected as important indices of adaptive functioning, particularly in the cognitive and behavioral realms. A total of 313 valid CATI profiles were provided by a sample of college students enrolled in various undergraduate psychology courses. T-scores in excess of 59 for the antisocial scale provided a simple predictor of high school and college academic performance deficits. The compulsive, dependent and avoidant personality disorder scales provided favorable indicators, depending upon the outcome measure examined. These results were generally consistent with the previous MCMI-II findings of King, and the practical and theoretical implications of the present results were discussed within the context of a broader literature involving the use of personality disorder inventories.
Hippocampal Representation of Related and Opposing Memories Develop within Distinct, Hierarchically Organized Neural Schemas

Recent evidence suggests that the hippocampus may integrate overlapping memories into relational representations, or schemas, that link indirectly related events and support flexible memory expression. Here we explored the nature of hippocampal neural population representations for multiple features of events and the locations and contexts in which they occurred. Hippocampal networks developed hierarchical organizations of associated elements of related but separately acquired memories within a context, and distinct organizations for memories where the contexts differentiated object-reward associations. These findings reveal neural mechanisms for the development and organization of relational representations.
Global Development of the Two-Year College Concept.

This paper defines the two-year college as an institution offering tertiary education for any of a broad range of needs terminating in a sub-baccalaureate degree with perhaps various certificates as well for completion of still shorter programs. A global overview of developments outside of the United States is followed by an intensive discussion of two-year college developments in Japan and in Canada. In the final section of the paper, some of the chief areas of concern in this phase of higher education are noted. The number of two-year colleges outside of the United States is growing steadily and will soon exceed the number within that country. The private junior college, vocationally oriented, is the principal type to be found in Japan. In Canada, three types are noted, the Western colleges fitting quite well the definition adopted here, the heavily career-oriented schools, and the unique CEGEP's of Quebec province. Other nations offer still more variations on the basic theme. Access to higher education and the generally lower prestige of the two-year college are the two chief issues in the university parallel curriculum. Economic development of nations is brought to bear upon career curricula. Student services and community services are fields not yet widely ventured upon. The questions of support, control, and development are complex ones, concerning which each nation may learn much from the experiences of others.
STRUCTURAL CHANGES CORRELATED WITH PHOTOCHEMICAL PHOSPHORYLATION IN CHLOROPLAST MEMBRANES.

Mitochondria manifest structural changes in their membranes under conditions of oxidative phosphorylation. It was postulated and confirmed here that similar changes occur under conditions of photophosphorylation in chloroplasts. Spinach chloroplasts isolated in buffered 0.5 M sucrose or 0.35 M NaCl and incubated under conditions of non-cyclic and cyclic phosphorylation at 25 ± 0.1°, on illumination with red light, show a rapid increase in 90° scattering of low-intensity 546-mμ light, which is reversed by turning the red light off. To detect such light-scattering changes, a low chlorophyll concentration is required so that pigments do not mask the scattering response, and also the scattering can be measured at the minimum of the photochemical reaction spectrum. The light-scattering responses are precisely correlated with conditions for non-cyclic and cyclic photophosphorylation, when tested in 0.035 M NaCl media in the presence of phosphate, Mg2+, ADP and appropriate electron acceptors. Sonic treatment caused a decline in the ability to manifest light-scattering responses, and this decline parallels the decline in photophosphorylation. The light-scattering responses are abolished by NH4+ and 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea which inhibit photophosphorylation and photosynthetic electron transport, respectively. The magnitude of the scattering response is dependent on red-light intensity. The angle of dependence of the scattering increase rules out a fluorescence change. Aging of chloroplasts results in a loss of the light-scattering response, but this can be restored by ATP. It is concluded that some structural parameter of the chloroplast membrane changes in response to photophosphorylation. A hypothesis for the coupling of the energy-transducing systems to membrane structure in mitochondria and in chloroplasts is presented.
Multimodal grain size distribution and high hardness in fine grained tungsten fabricated by spark plasma sintering

Abstract Preparation of fine grained, hard and ductile pure tungsten for future fusion reactor applications was tested using the bottom-up approach via powder consolidation by spark plasma sintering (SPS) at different temperature (1300–1800 °C) and pressure (90–266 MPa) conditions. Pure tungsten powders with an average particle size of about 1 μm were sintered to high density (about 94%) with almost no grain growth at a temperature below 1400 °C and an applied pressure up to 266 MPa. These samples had a multi-modal grain size distribution (resembling the size distribution of the initial powder) and a very high Vickers hardness (up to 530 kg/mm 2 ). Above 1500 °C fast grain growth occurred and resulted in a drop in hardness. XRD on the surface of bulk samples showed a small amount of tungsten oxides; however, XPS and EDS indicated that these oxides were only surface contaminants and suggested a high purity for the bulk samples. The results demonstrate that SPS can lead to ultrafine and nanocrystalline tungsten if used to consolidate pure nano tungsten powders.
Global Challenges: An Approach to Environmental, Political, and Economic Problems

Using simple economic reasoning, this book analyses a broad range of global challenges including global warming, ozone shield depletion, acid rain, nuclear waste disposal, revolution dispersion, international terrorism, disease eradication, population growth, tropical deforestation, and peacemaking. These challenges are put into perspective in terms of scientific, economic, and political considerations. Many of these contingencies are shown to be solvable without much explicit coordination among nations. Although there is no panacea to these challenges, much can be done to tailor solutions. This book is intended for a wide audience drawn from the social sciences, including economics, environmental studies, political science, sociology, and public policy. It should also interest the general reader who wants to learn about global challenges.