cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gender and Voting Preferences in Japanese Lower House Elections

This paper analyzes voter choice in selected House of Representatives elections during the past 30 years. I estimate multinomial probit models using data from the Akarui Senkyo Suishin Kyokai (Society for the Promotion of Clean Elections) surveys and use qualitative data gathered in focus groups. I argue that no gender gap exists in the votes garnered by the main parties because, first, influential people are not simply able to ‘deliver’ votes from their networks — most accounts of voter choice fail to discuss gender, an oversight considering that most networks are gender-based — and, second, ‘women's issues’ have no special relevance to women in their vote choice. Instead, women and men vote for the Liberal Democratic Party because they associate the Party with stability and increased standards of living, including substantial social provisions.
Parental Delay or Refusal of Vaccine Doses, Childhood Vaccination Coverage at 24 Months of Age, and the Health Belief Model

Objective.We evaluated the association between parents' beliefs about vaccines, their decision to delay or refuse vaccines for their children, and vaccination coverage of children at aged 24 months...
Foucault and ‘the Right to Life’: from Technologies of Normalization to Societies of Control”

From the perspective of Michel Foucault’s conceptualizations of biopower and technologies of normalization, disability activism emerges as a collective protest against the form of power/knowledge that produces disability as an abject identity. Yet, disability activists also claim a “right to life” that biopower would seem to both promise and withhold—the production of new capacities for health. Disabled people are necessarily oriented to seek relief from the indignities of social disenfranchisement and paternalist interventions, while simultaneously relying on the institutional mechanisms through which these effects are produced as the means of seeking new norms for living. As reform efforts increasingly focus on quality of life and seek to empower “consumers” of health services, we are inexorably moving beyond the political costs and historical limits of rights discourse: we now grapple with problems unique to societies of control. Keywords: biopower, Michel Foucault, health, normalization, power, rights, societies of control
A new supramolecular isomer of [Zn(nicotinate)2]n: a novel 42.84 network that is the result of self-assembly of 4-connected nodes

Self-assembly of Zn(NO3)2 with m-pyridinecarboxylate (nicotinate) under mild conditions affords several products including a novel three-dimensional network [Zn(nicotinate)2]n that has connectivity defined by the circuit symbol 42.84.
Individual Trust in Online Firms: The Relative and Temporal Effects of Antecedent Beliefs

This study examines three trust-building processes (relational, calculative, and institutional) that shapes individual trust in online firms and compares how the effects of these processes change over time as users gain experience with the target firms. It hypothesizes three alternative belief structures resulting from the above processes as determinants of trust, theorizes how their effects on trust change as users observe and learn from the firmâ€™s actual behavior, and empirically tests the hypothesized associations using data collected from a field survey of online banking users. The results indicate that relational, calculative, and institutional beliefs are significant drivers of trust. However, calculative and institutional beliefs have stronger initial effects than relational beliefs for new consumers of online firms. The effect of calculative belief on trust decreases with time, while that of relational beliefs increases and that of institutional beliefs remain relatively unchanged. Research and practical implications of these findings are discussed.
Pursuing cost containment in a pluralistic payer environment: from the aftermath of Clinton's failure at health care reform to the Balanced Budget Act of 1997.

Following a decade in which Medicare operated as the leading ‘change agent’ within the US health care system, the private sector rose to the fore in the mid 1990s. The failure of President Clinton's attempt at comprehensive, public sector-led reform left managed care as the solution for cost control. And for a period it worked, largely because managed care organizations were able to both squeeze payments to selective networks of medical providers and significantly reduce inpatient hospital stays. There was a lot of ‘fat’ in the nation's convoluted health care system that could be (and was) eliminated through competitive negotiations between medical providers and insurers, employers, or managed care organizations. One of our primary arguments in this article is that managed care operated partly as a systematic suppression of price discrimination or differential pricing (often referred to as ‘cost shifting’), as managed care organizations qua purchasing agents prevented hospitals and physicians from summarily raising prices to private payers to meet their financial requirements. Over time, however, managed care fell victim to inflated expectations, its own initial success, and larger fiscal forces. During this same period, Republicans and Democrats struggled to reach a consensus over the future direction of Medicare. Their disagreements contributed to the impasse over budget policy in 1995 and the infamous partial federal government shutdown. After President Clinton's reelection in 1996, partisan disagreements over Medicare dissipated. And, in 1997, Congress and the president passed the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, which emerged as a massive piece of patchwork legislation that sought to balance the federal budget, rein in Medicare spending, and increase the number of the programme's beneficiaries in private health plans.
The Doctrine of Double Effect and the Question of Constraints on Business Decisions

How does the doctrine of double effect apply to business decisions to sell products which may be harmful to consumers? Lawrence Masek believes that some authors have misapplied the doctrine to this type of decision and, as a consequence, have committed themselves to placing unwarranted constraints on businesses. Seeking to correct this mistake, Masek presents his account of how the doctrine applies here, an account which is rather permissive but which, he claims, nevertheless preserves the virtues of the doctrine. It will be seen, though, that his attempt to loosen these putatively unnecessary constraints by appealing to consumer autonomy and an intuition about the morality of producing harmful products leaves the doctrine of double effect irrelevant to this type of decision. His argument that the doctrine is less restrictive in this context than others suppose leads ultimately to the conclusion that the doctrine does not constrain this kind of business decision at all.
Plenary speaker [Cognitive radio networks: design issues and security threats]

Summary form only given, as follows. This talk will introduce the notion of cognitive radionetworks (CRNs) and will then discuss dynamic spectrum access (DSA)methods for CRNs. Later, the talk will focus on spectrum sensing andits associated security issues. Some of our recent work on Byzantineattacks in collaborative spectrum sensing will be described in some detail.
Response to Comment on “Patterns of Diversity in Marine Phytoplankton”

Huisman argues that environments of intermediate variability promote coexistence of model phytoplankton, apparently contrasting our hypothesis that stability allows for greater diversity of equivalent competitors in the ocean. We argue that our original interpretations of the mechanisms governing model diversity patterns remain valid and that Huisman’s results are complementary to our hypotheses.
Nearly isotropic s -wave gap in the bulk of the optimally electron-doped superconductor Nd 1.85 Ce 0.15 CuO 4 − y

We address an important issue as to whether bulk-sensitive data of Raman scattering, optical conductivity, magnetic penetration depth, directional point-contact tunneling spectra, and nonmagnetic pair-breaking effect in optimally electron-doped ${\text{Nd}}_{1.85}{\text{Ce}}_{0.15}{\text{CuO}}_{4\ensuremath{-}y}$ support a nodeless $s$-wave or $d$-wave superconducting gap. We numerically calculate Raman intensities, directional point-contact tunneling spectra, and nonmagnetic pair-breaking effect in terms of both $s$ wave and $d$-wave gap symmetries. We find that all these bulk-sensitive data are in quantitative agreement with a nearly isotropic $s$-wave gap. The fact that ${T}_{c}$ is nearly independent of the residual resistivity rules out any $d$-wave gap symmetry.
The membrane-proximal intracellular domain of the epidermal growth factor receptor underlies negative cooperativity in ligand binding.

The binding of EGF induces dimerization of its receptor, leading to the stimulation of its intracellular tyrosine kinase activity. Kinase activation occurs within the context of an asymmetric dimer in which one kinase domain serves as the activator for the other kinase domain but is not itself activated. How ligand binding is related to the formation and dynamics of this asymmetric dimer is not known. The binding of EGF to its receptor is negatively cooperative—that is, EGF binds with lower affinity to the second site on the dimer than to the first site on the dimer. In this study, we analyzed the binding of 125I-EGF to a series of EGF receptor mutants in the intracellular juxtamembrane domain and demonstrate that the most membrane-proximal portion of this region plays a significant role in the genesis of negative cooperativity in the EGF receptor. The data are consistent with a model in which the binding of EGF to the first site on the dimer induces the formation of one asymmetric kinase dimer. The binding of EGF to the second site is required to disrupt the initial asymmetric dimer and allow the formation of the reciprocal asymmetric dimer. Thus, some of the energy of binding to the second site is used to reorient the first asymmetric dimer, leading to a lower binding affinity and the observed negative cooperativity.
A fast screening technique to evaluate detector response

Abstract A fast screening technique to evaluate detector response was demonstrated using a silicon detector. Pulse height was measured for H, He, Be, C, O, Mg, Si, Ni, Zr and Au ions over a wide energy range using a time-of-flight (TOF) telescope. Using a scattering or recoil process, a secondary beam with a continuous energy distribution but low intensity is generated to avoid direct beam exposure of the Si detector. Prior to impinging on the Si detector, the energy of individual ions is determined from the TOF and its tabulated isotopic mass. The pulse height–energy calibration for ions with a given atomic number can be described by a linear relationship with small systematic deviations. For particles that have the same velocity (∼500 keV/nucleon), a non-linear dependence on efficiency of electron–hole pair collection is observed as a function of electronic stopping power. The detector response is studied using He ions, and the measured energy resolution is given as function of deposition energies over a wide energy range.
Further results in the use of independent component analysis for target detection in hyperspectral images

The paper presents a novel algorithm based on Independent Component Analysis (ICA) for the detection of small targets present in hyperspectral images. Compared to previous approaches, the algorithm provides two significant improvements. First, an important speedup is obtained by preprocessing the data through spectral screening. Spectral screening is a technique that measures the similarity between pixel vectors by calculating the angle between them. For a certain threshold α, a set of pixel vectors is selected such that the angle between any two of them is larger than α and the angle between any of the pixel vectors not selected and at least one selected vector is smaller than α. In addition to significantly reducing the size of the data, spectral screening reduces the influence of dominating features. The second improvement is the modification of the Infomax algorithm such that the number of components that are produced is lower than the number of initial observations. This change eliminates the need for feature reduction through PCA, and leads to increased accuracy of the results. Results obtained by applying the new algorithm on data from the hyperspectral digital imagery collection experiment (HYDICE) show that, compared with previous ICA based target detection algorithms developed by the authors, the novel approach has an increased efficiency, at the same time achieving a considerable speedup. The experiments confirm the efficiency of ICA as an attractive tool for hyperspectral data processing.
Letting bygones be bygones: further evidence for the validity of the Tendency to Forgive scale

Abstract The present study examined the validity of three putative measures of dispositional forgiveness, as well as a measure of trait rumination, with respect to measures of mental health and forgiveness for a specific offense. Two hundred undergraduates completed the Tendency to Forgive scale, the Attitudes Toward Forgiveness scale, the Transgression Narrative Test of Forgivingness, and a multi-dimensional measure of trait rumination, along with measures of depression, life satisfaction, self-esteem, agreeableness, neuroticism, attachment, and aggression. Participants also recounted a specific offense they had experienced and reported the extent to which they had forgiven their offender. Results strongly supported the discriminant validity of the Tendency to Forgive scale with regard to both mental health (depression and life satisfaction) and state forgiveness.
The upper esophageal sphincter: Role in alaryngeal speech acquisition

The developments of tracheoesophageal puncture and voice prosthesis for alaryngeal speech rehabilitation directed attention to the anatomy and physiology of the pharyngoesophageal segment. A reproducible tracheoesophageal shunt in a large number of patients permitted the largest study population for alaryngeal speech acquisition to date. The sustained tracheoesophageal airflow led to important observations on speech acquisition after laryngectomy. Surgical techniques to reduce the tension in the pharyngoesophageal segment have evolved and include pharyngeal constrictor myotomies or pharyngeal plexus neurectomies. These adjunctive procedures to total laryngectomy are key aspects for consistent and effective voice acquisition after laryngectomy.
Tannin assays in ecological studies Precipitation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase by tannic acid, quebracho, and oak foliage extracts.

Tannic acid and quebracho precipitate many times their weight of the abundant leaf protein, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBPC). The use of this protein in protein precipitation assays for tannin content is described. Extracts of mature foliage of pin, bur, and black oak precipitate 2.01, 0.69, and 0.09 mg RuBPC/ mg (dry wt) of leaf powder extracted, respectively, at pH 6.1. From these measurements it can be calculated that all three of these oak species have sufficient tannins to precipitate all of the RuBPC present in their foliage. At mildly alkaline pHs, however (pH ⩾ 7.5), RuBPC is not precipitated by tannins. Since RuBPCis the most abundant protein present in photosynthetic tissues, often constituting as much as 50% of the soluble proteins and 25% of the total proteins in leaf tissue, the interactions of this protein with tannins are highly relevant to an evaluation of the role of tannins as antiherbivore, digestibility-reducing substances. Our measurements provide no basis for arguing that differences in tannin levels in different species reflect differences in the digestibility of leaf proteins or that tannins have any effect whatsoever upon the digestibility of leaf protein under conditions which normally prevail in most insects' guts. These findings emphasize the need to test more of the assumptions underlying contemporary interpretations of the importance of tannins in plant herbivore interactions.
Extreme 176Hf/177Hf in the sub-oceanic mantle

The results of Hf isotopic analysis of peridotites are presented. Development of a hot-SIMS technique for Hf isotope analysis has made this possible at concentration levels that were previously prohibitively low. 176Hf/177Hf ratios in abyssal peridotites and in two xenoliths from the subcontinental lithosphere fall within the range observed for present-day oceanic basalts. 176Hf/177Hf ratios in anhydrous spinel lherzolites from Salt Lake Crater, Hawaii, however, range to extremely radiogenic values, although 143Nd/144Nd is within the range of present-day MORBs. These high 176Hf/177Hf ratios (eHf up to 76) are well outside the range of oceanic volcanics and indicate that peridotites such as these cannot have contributed significantly to Hawaiian volcanism. The high 176Hf/177Hf, combined with the enriched trace element characteristics of the Salt Lake Crater peridotites may be explained by either metasomatism of a depleted peridotite by a melt which underwent extensive re-equilibration with material similar to the suboceanic lithosphere beneath Hawaii, or by ancient melt depletion (> 1 Ga) and recent enrichment of material stored in the sublithospheric mantle. The good correlation between Hf and Nd isotopes in OIBs indicates that the OIB source is not influenced by the high 176Hf/177Hf type mantle identified in the Salt Lake Crater xenoliths. In contrast, the lack of correlation between Hf and Nd isotopes in MORB can be explained by pollution of the MORB reservoir with small amounts of this high-field-strength-element-depleted, high 176Hf/177Hf, lherzolitic material.
Epimerization kinetics from proton magnetic resonance data

T. H. Slddall, III Savannah River Laboratory E. I. du Pont de Nemoure end Co. Alken, South Carolina (Received 27 September 1965) Eplmerlzatlon has been studied by polarlmetrlc techniques. It has also been studied by melting point of the tplmer mixture(l), ultraviolet spectroscopy t&3), Infrared spectroscopy(4), and paper chromatography (4). However, the use of proton magnetic resonance (PMR) to follow an eplmerlzatlon h&s not been reported, possibly because It is difficult to find one of an eplmer pair that gives a signal free of Interference from other signals of Its own and well separated from the signals of the other epimer. Discrete and well-separated signals can often be observed for each .ooP the eplmers of certain N-aryl-N-alkyl-a-chloro-a-phenyl acetsmldes that are suitably substituted In the N-aryl ring. Less favorable, but often usable, signal separation occurs with the similar u-phenoxyproplonamides. The investigations of Adams and hls coworkers(5) Indicated that suitably long half lives should be observed for such compounds. With these factors In mind we synthesized N-methyl-N(2-methyl-4,6_dlbromophenyl) a-chloro-a-phenylacetamlde,
Design theory education: how useful is previous design experience?

Abstract An empirical investigation shows that although prior professional experience is helpful in understanding design theory, there is no significant difference between design experience and other types of professional experience. The results indicate support for a broad, interdisciplinary understanding of design.
Rapid, noninvasive concentration measurements of aqueous biological analytes by near-infrared Raman spectroscopy.

Accurate concentration measurements of glucose, lactic acid, and creatinine in saline solution have been achieved with near-IR Raman spectroscopy and a partial least-squares analysis. The Raman spectra were acquired remotely through optical fibers. A root-mean-squared prediction error of 1.2 mM for glucose concentration was achieved in 100 s. Concentrations of other analytes were predicted with similar accuracy.
Extremely luminous far-infrared colliding galaxies - Computation of colliding-galaxy luminosity function

A computational model used to determine the luminosity function for gaseous galaxies in collision is described. It is based on the assumption of high-velocity encounters of two thin, gas-rich disks having identical radii and thickness, able to approach each other from arbitrary directions, with arbitrary orientations and with arbitrary degree of overlap. The distribution of expected luminosities generated in the dissipation of translational energy is then found to closely fit the observed distribution of luminosities of extremely luminous IRAS galaxies. Bursts of star formation resulting from such collisions would not have the correct luminosity function.
Human information seeking and design of information systems.

Abstract The literature of psychology, library science, management, computer science, and systems engineering is reviewed and integrated into an overall perspective of human information seeking and the design of information systems. The nature of information seeking is considered in terms of its role in decision making and problem solving, the dynamics of the process, and the value of information. Discussions of human information seeking focus on basic psychological studies, effects of cognitive style, and models of human behavior. Design issues considered include attributes of information systems, analysis of information needs, aids for information seeking, and evaluation of information systems.
Influence of environmental factors on activity patterns of Incisitermes minor (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae) in naturally infested logs.

ABSTRACT Acoustic emission (AE) activity patterns were measured from seven loquat [Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.] logs, five containing live western drywood termite [Incisitermes minor (Hagen) ] infestations, and two without an active drywood termite infestation. AE activity, as well as temperature, were monitored every 3 min under unrestricted ambient conditions in a small wooden building, under unrestricted ambient conditions but in constant darkness, or in a temperaturecontrolled cabined under constant darkness. Logs with active drywood termite infestations displayed similar diurnal cycles of AE activity that closely followed temperature with a peak of AE activity late in the afternoon (1700–1800 hours). When light was excluded from the building, a circadian pattern continued and apparently was driven by temperature. When the seven logs were kept at a relatively constant temperature (≈23 ±0.9°C) and constant darkness, the pattern of activity was closely correlated with temperature, even with mini...
Causal relationships between aggression and the sexual and nest behaviours in the three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus)

Abstract The causal relationships between aggression and various sexual and ‘displacement’ nest activities were examined in the male three-spined stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus . A highly aggressive internal state was found incompatible with effective sexual performance; the sexual displays were either reduced in frequency or totally inhibited. However, the male seems to possess mechanisms for the rapid readjustment in internal state to one more favourable for sexual behaviour. Stimulation of aggression at first inhibits the nest activity gluing, but the longer-term effect is to enhance it. Since gluing frequency correlates well with sexual behaviour, this suggests that the causal relationship between the ‘ex’ and ‘aggression’ variables, though often negative, may actually be positive on a certain time scale.
Working Toward the MLIS: Library Students in Access Services

Several library staff members at the University of Denver speak on their experiences of going through DU's Library and Information Science program while working in the main library on campus in access services.
Hypothermic Coma: Catapulting Evidence-Based Research Into Everyday Practice

Nurses using Rosswurm and Larrabee's conceptual model are guided through a systematic approach to translating evidence-based research into everyday clinical practice. Based on research outcomes, a protocol for hypothermic coma to be used on patients after cardiac arrest was developed at a Midwest hospital. This article presents a case study explaining the use of the protocol and identifies research outcomes.
Metabonomics evaluations of age-related changes in the urinary compositions of male Sprague Dawley rats and effects of data normalization methods on statistical and quantitative analysis

Urine from male Sprague-Dawley rats 25, 40, and 80 days old was analyzed by NMR and UPLC/MS. The effects of data normalization procedures on principal component analysis (PCA) and quantitative analysis of NMR-based metabonomics data were investigated. Additionally, the effects of age on the metabolic profiles were examined by both NMR and UPLC/MS analyses. The data normalization factor was shown to have a great impact on the statistical and quantitative results indicating the need to carefully consider how to best normalize the data within a particular study and when comparing different studies. PCA applied to the data obtained from both NMR and UPLC/MS platforms reveals similar age-related differences. NMR indicated many metabolites associated with the Krebs cycle decrease while citrate and 2-oxoglutarate, also associated with the Krebs cycle, increase in older rats. This study compared four different normalization methods for the NMR-based metabonomics spectra from an age-related study. It was shown that each method of normalization has a great effect on both the statistical and quantitative analyses. Each normalization method resulted in altered relative positions of significant PCA loadings for each sample spectra but it did not alter which chemical shifts had the highest loadings. The greater the normalization factor was related to age, the greater the separation between age groups was observed in subsequent PCA analyses. The normalization factor that showed the least age dependence was total NMR intensity, which was consistent with UPLC/MS data. Normalization by total intensity attempts to make corrections due to dietary and water intake of the individual animal, which is especially useful in metabonomics evaluations of urine. Additionally, metabonomics evaluations of age-related effects showed decreased concentrations of many Krebs cycle intermediates along with increased levels of oxidized antioxidants in urine of older rats, which is consistent with current theories on aging and its association with diminishing mitochondrial function and increasing levels of reactive oxygen species. Analysis of urine by both NMR and UPLC/MS provides a comprehensive and complementary means of examining metabolic events in aging rats.
Mental models contribute to foregrounding during text comprehension

Abstract A primary property of mental models is that they represent what the text is about (the events, objects, and processes described in the text), rather than features of the text itself. We used this property to demonstrate that mental models are operative during text comprehension. Subjects read texts that were propositionally equivalent, but described events in which the main actor was either spatially associated with a target object or spatially dissociated from the object. Pronominal reference kept the actor foregrounded throughout the text, but the target object was never repeated. The question of interest was whether the target object remained foregrounded when the text described events in which the actor and the object were spatially associated. Data from experiments using item recognition and reading time measures provided an affirmative answer. Thus the mental model controlling foregrounding reflected the structure of the events described by the text, not just the structure of the text.
Psychosocial factors influencing the disclosure of sexually transmissible infection diagnoses among female adolescents

Background: Individuals diagnosed with a sexually transmissible infection (STI) often face psychosocial concerns through which they must navigate to arrive at disclosure decisions. The objective of this study was to qualitatively explore the decision-making process for disclosure of STI diagnoses to sex partners among adolescent females in Baltimore City, MD. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 African American adolescent females who tested positive for chlamydia and/or gonorrhoea in the previous 3 months. Three individuals also provided audio diaries in which they tape recorded a daily journal discussing their lives and experiences with STIs. Results: Female adolescents often do not notify all potentially infected sex partners or tell sex partners all of the STIs to which they may have been exposed. Although participants recognised the importance of informing their sex partner(s) of their STI diagnosis, there were other competing psychosocial factors that influenced their decisions to disclose, such as perceptions of the social consequences of having an STI including fear of stigmatisation and loss of relationship. Such concerns appear to vary by disease and partner type as well as previous STI experience. Conclusions: To increase disclosure of STI diagnoses, clinic counselling strategies to encourage partner notification should seek to engage patients in a dialogue regarding their fears related to their diagnoses, how this might affect their relationships with different types of partners and the individual and social meanings their specific STI diagnosis(es) might hold.
Sclerotial metabolites of Aspergillus Flavus toxic to a detritivorous maize insect (Carpophilus Hemipterus, Nitidulidae)

The fungal sclerotium represents an important survival structure in the life cycle of many fungi, including Aspergillus flavus . Purified sclerotial metabolites from a non-aflatoxigenic strain of A. flavus (NRRL 6541) showed substantial antifeedant activity against Carpophilus hemipterus (Nitidulidae). This insect is known to encounter A. flavus sclerotia that form naturally in both standing and downed maize ears. The most abundant active component was dihydroxyaflavinine, but one novel analogue of dihydroxyaflavinine and a third unrelated metabolite, compound ‘1’ were also found to deter Carpophilus feeding when incorporated into a pinto bean diet at 100 p.p.m. d.w. Naturally occurring levels of each of these metabolites were found to be higher than 100 p.p.m. in A. flavus sclerotia. Arthropod predation is recognized as a selective force that has shaped the chemical defence systems of A. flavus and other sclerotium-producing fungi.
Treatment outcome for metastatic papillary renal cell carcinoma patients

BACKGROUND. Most clinical trial reports in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) do not distinguish between histologic subtypes, making it difficult to assess specific treatment efficacy. The current retrospective study sought to define clinical features and outcome data for metastatic papillary RCC. METHODS. Clinical features, treatment outcome, and survival were evaluated in 38 patients with metastatic papillary RCC who underwent clinical evaluation at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) between 1985 and 2005. Twenty-three of 513 individuals were identified from a clinical trial database, 14 of 1895 from a surgery database, and 1 of 357 from a pathology database. A literature review of systemic therapy in metastatic papillary RCC was performed. RESULTS. Among the 38 patients, 30 had been treated at MSKCC with various systemic therapies, including cytokines. Twelve therapies resulted in stable disease, 30 in initial progression of disease, and 1 in an unknown response. One patient had a partial response to sunitinib, a novel multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor. The median overall survival time for the entire study group was 8 months (95% confidence interval, 5–12). A literature review on treatment of metastatic papillary RCC produced 4 reports, confirming a lack of efficacy for systemic therapy. CONCLUSIONS. A resistance to systemic therapy characterizes patients with metastatic papillary RCC. Further understanding of the genetics and molecular biology and subtypes involved may provide the basis for more effective agents. Treatment with targeted therapies or other experimental agents is warranted. Cancer 2006. © 2006 American Cancer Society.
Considerations in selection of diet assessment methods for examining the effect of nutrition on cognition

Older adults are the most rapidly growing age group in the United States, and it is estimated that 22.2% of U.S. adults over 71 years of age have cognitive impairments without dementia and 13.9% have dementia. Cognitive impairment is associated with reduced quality of life, increased risk of hospitalization, inability to live independently, and increased health care costs; therefore, identification of modifiable risk factors for prevention and delay of cognitive decline is of increasing importance. There is a growing body of research and interest in the relationship between diet and cognitive function. Epidemiologic studies suggest that cognitive function may be improved and cognitive decline prevented as a function of a particular nutrient, food group or dietary pattern; however, results from these trials have failed to be replicated in randomized controlled trials. One possible reason for the equivocality of findings in the diet and cognitive function literature may be the methodological issues and limitations in the assessment of dietary patterns and nutritional intake. Self-reported dietary data can be biased by many factors such as age, gender, socioeconomic status, and education; yet, there is limited research on the impact of cognitive function on the integrity of self-reported dietary data. Cognitive function itself may bias diet assessment methods, subsequently obscuring the evaluation of the nutrition-cognition relationship. The present review summarizes methodological validation studies that provide insight into potential errors of diet assessment methods due to cognitive function, identifies research gaps and provides recommendations for improving diet assessment accuracy in studies of individuals with cognitive impairments.
Hearing in damselfishes: An analysis of signal detection among closely related species

1. Audiograms were established for six closely related damselfishes of the cosmopolitan genus,Eupomacentrus, from the waters of southern Florida:E. diencaeus, E. dorsopunicans, E. leucostictus, E. mellis, E. planifrons, andE. variabilis. These were then compared with a previously established audiogram forE. partitus, the final remaining congeneric found in the area. 2. Although variation existed, remarkable similarity was found among the hearing sensitivities of all seven species. Mean threshold values for all species clustered within 10 dB at any frequency. Ascending slopes of threshold sensitivity on either side of their common, most sensitive frequency, 500 Hz (-16 dB/ 1 μbar), approximated 15 dB/octave at lower frequencies and 40 dB/octave between 500 and 1,200 Hz. 3. InE. dorsopunicans, sound pressure was shown to control sensitivity at frequencies above 300 Hz, while particle-motion was the relevant stimulus at 100 Hz (and probably at 50 Hz as well). Both factors appeared capable of controlling sensitivity at 200 Hz. 4. The minimal detection level for the courtship sound inE. dorsopunicans was in accord with its audiogram.
Precision measurement of the positive muon lifetime by the MuLan collaboration

We report the result of a measurement of the positive muon lifetime τ μ to one part-per-million (ppm) by the MuLan collaboration using a low-energy pulsed muon beam and a segmented array of plastic scintillators to record over 2 × 10 12 decay positrons. Two different in-vacuum muon-stopping targets were used in separate data-taking periods. The combined result gives τ μ + (MuLan) = 2196980.3 ( 2.2 ) ps ( 1 ppm ) . This measurement of the muon lifetime provides the most precise determination of the Fermi constant, G F (MuLan) = 1.1663788 ( 7 ) × 10 − 5 GeV − 2 ( 0.6 ppm ) , and will be used to extract the capture rates of the negative muon on the proton and the deuteron in the ongoing MuCap and MuSun experiments.
Magnetoacoustic effects in rare earth iron garnets

Abstract Linear magnetoacoustic birefringence and transverse ferroacoustic resonance experiments were performed with rare earth iron garnet samples in the temperature range between 77 and 300°K. The magnetoelastic coupling constant B2 for Yb, Dy, Tb and Gd-Iron Garnet is compared with results from magnetostriction experiments. The preliminary damping results are discussed, applying the slow relaxation theory to the rare earth iron garnet system.
Impedance cardiography facilitates differentiation of severe and superimposed preeclampsia from other hypertensive disorders.

Objective. To determine if hemodynamic profiling using noninvasive impedance cardiography (ICG) reliably identifies the patient with severe (SPRE) or superimposed (SuPRE) preeclampsia. Methods. Late gestation hypertensive pregnant patients underwent immediate ICG evaluation. Findings were compared between patients subsequently achieving or not achieving American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists criteria for SPRE or SuPRE. Results. Patients with severe disease were more likely to have depressed cardiac function and higher systolic blood pressure, mean arterial blood pressure, systemic vascular resistance, and thoracic fluid content compared to nonsevere hypertensive disease. Conclusion. ICG hemodynamic profiling of late gestation hypertensive patients can rapidly and reliably identify those with SPRE or SuPRE.
Combining vertex decompositions with factoring in an all-terminal network reliability algorithm

Abstract The all-terminal network reliability problem is to determine the probability that all nodes can communicate in a network in which edges may fail independently of each other. One well known type of algorithm for treating this problem involves repeated deletion and contraction of edges in the network. These are commonly referred to as “factoring” algorithms and are especially effective on sparse graphs. On the other hand, a quite different approach known as the Buzacott algorithm is widely regarded as the most efficient algorithm for complete graphs. We demonstrate a manner in which higher degree vertex decomposition can be utilized within a factoring framework. This approach is compared to conventional factoring algorithms and the Buzacott algorithm from the standpoint of arithmetic operations performed and, in the case of the factoring algorithms, the search structures encountered during execution. Examples suggest that the higher degree vertex decompositions frequently reduce computational complexity to a greater extent than can be achieved by concentrating instead on an edge selection strategy to be used in factoring.
P-Value Precision and Reproducibility.

P-values are useful statistical measures of evidence against a null hypothesis. In contrast to other statistical estimates, however, their sample-to-sample variability is usually not considered or estimated, and therefore not fully appreciated. Via a systematic study of log-scale p-value standard errors, bootstrap prediction bounds, and reproducibility probabilities for future replicate p-values, we show that p-values exhibit surprisingly large variability in typical data situations. In addition to providing context to discussions about the failure of statistical results to replicate, our findings shed light on the relative value of exact p-values vis-a-vis approximate p-values, and indicate that the use of *, **, and *** to denote levels 0.05, 0.01, and 0.001 of statistical significance in subject-matter journals is about the right level of precision for reporting p-values when judged by widely accepted rules for rounding statistical estimates.
Genotype, location, and year influence antioxidant activity, carotenoid content, phenolic content, and composition in specialty potatoes.

The influence of genotype, location, and year on antioxidant activity (AOA), total phenolics (TP), total carotenoids (TC), and phenolic composition was studied using specialty (colored) potatoes ( Solanum tuberosum L.) from the Texas Potato Variety Development Program. Twenty-five potato genotypes were grown at two Texas locations (McCook and Dalhart) and in two years (2003 and 2004). The AOA, TP, and TC differed significantly with genotype (G), location (L), and year (Y). Phenolic composition differed significantly among genotypes and between locations. The AOA, TP, and chlorogenic acid content were significantly correlated with one another. Genotypic effects were significant for all parameters measured and were larger than location and year effects. Interaction effects (G × L and G × L × Y) were significant for most parameters, but were relatively smaller than genotypic effects. Lutein and violaxanthin were the major carotenoids identified, and genotypes differed significantly in their carotenoid conten...
Some Conceptual and Methodological Issues in Nurse Practitioner Research

Selected literature was reviewed to identify conceptual and methodological issues in research on nurse practitioner practice. Conceptual issues include definitions of the independent and dependent variables. Methodological issues discussed include samples, comparison groups, sources of data, quasi-experimental design, standards of care, and cost analysis. Implications for increasing the meaningfulness and rigor of research in primary care are presented.
A combinatorial approach to studying the effects of N-alkyl groups on poly(N-alkyl and N,N-dialkylacrylamide) solubility.

Soluble polymers including poly(N-alkylacrylamide)s with low mole percent loadings of pendant groups are of interest in applications in catalysis, synthesis, sequestration, and soluble affinity chromatography where their thermal and phase-dependent solubility facilitates purification and separation. This work describes a library synthesis and study of the effects of polymer composition on the phase-selective solubility of dye-labeled poly(N-n-octadecylacrylamide-co-N-n-butylacrylamide) copolymers. To study the relative importance of n-octadecyl versus n-butyl groups, copolymers with different ratios of n-octadecylacrylamide and n-butylacrylamide but with similar degrees of polymerization and polydispersity were prepared by a split-pool synthesis using a highly soluble poly(N-acryloxy-2-dodecylsuccinimide) as the precursor. Polymer sequestrants were used to remove excess amines and the byproduct N-hydroxyl-2-dodecylsuccinimide without fractionation of the polyacrylamides. Other studies of dye-labeled poly(...
Studies on the mucoproteins of human parotid saliva

Abstract Two cationic mucoprotein fractions from parotid saliva were separated by paper electrophoresis and analysed for amino acids. The two fractions had a similar composition. The major amino acids were proline, glycine and glutamic acid in a molar ratio of about 3:2:2. The tyrosine content was very low. When the FolindashCiocalteu and the biuret reaction were compared for protein estimation of total parotid saliva and separated fractions the biuret values were usually about 1.4 times as high for the total saliva, 2 times as high for the mucoprotein fractions and about the same for the amylase fraction. Studies of the relation of the various nondialysable carbohydrate components of parotid saliva to total protein content and to rate of flow disclosed that: (a) there was a high correlation between changes in amounts of nondashdialysable carbohydrates and changes in total protein content and (b) there was a very low correlation between changes in amounts of carbohydrates and protein and changes in flow rate.
Manipulation of dopamine receptors alters hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction in isolated perfused rat lungs

Using an isolated, perfused rat lung model, we examined the hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV). We studied the alterations in HPV induced by the selective DA1 receptor agonist, fenoldopam, the selective DA1 antagonist, SCH 23390, as well as a combination of these agents. Fenoldopam significantly attenuated HPV. SCH 23390 had no effect on HPV, but was ableto block the effect of fenoldopam. These data confirm the presence of vasodilatory DA1 receptors in the pulmonary vascular bed. The data further suggest that ongoing DA1 activity may be important in counterbalancing some pathologic pulmonary hypertensive states.
Removal of clutter background limitations in dual-frequency scattering from the ocean

Abstract Frequency agility is applied to dual-frequency scattering from the ocean using an L-band microwave system in order to reduce the clutter background which has previously limited signal detectability in such scatterometers. Doppler spectra of the return show improvements of up to 13 dB in signal-to-clutter ratio using this technique compared with the standard non-frequency-agile technique. This improvement greatly enhances the ability of a dual-frequency scatterometer to measure ocean surface currents. Composite surface scattering theory is applied to explain the signal improvement. The clutter background is shown to be proportional to the ocean surface wave spectrum evaluated at a wavenumber corresponding to the wavenumber separation between the carrier frequencies of two transmitted pairs of frequencies. Thus, if the frequency separation between these carriers is equal to the frequency separation between the lines of each pair, the entire signal received by the system is proportional to the ocean...
WAVE A model based language for manipulator control

This paper describes a symbolic manipulator control language, WAVE. WAVE resembles a computer machine language and has been used for performing such tasks as a the assembly of a “Model T” water pump, the block manipulation needed to solve the “Instant Insanity” puzzle, bruch caligraphy, crank turning, the two handed mounting of a door hinge, and the assembly of a pencil sharpener. The language specifies motions, provides force and touch control and is capable of interacting with external vision systems. A model of the manipulator is maintained to translate positions in rectangular co‐ordinates into joint angles and to predict joint inertias and gravity loads. Programming is interpretative and uses a PDP‐10 computer running under time‐sharing. The planning programm calculates manipulator trajectories and dynamic constants and writes an executable program on a disk.
Behavior of a bingham-like viscous fluid in lubrication flows

Abstract When the shear stress magnitude of a Bingham fluid exceeds the yield shear stress, quasi-Newtonian flow results, otherwise the material behaves as a rigid body. Yield surfaces may occur in the flow, and discontinuities due to changes from fluid to solid behavior must be respected. The behavior of Bingham fluids is mimicked by a purely viscous fluid with high viscosity at low rate of shear. The results of predictions of one such model are presented in this paper. The goals of this investigation are (1) to present a continuous formulation (i.e. applicable throughout the flow field) to characterize the behavior of such a material, (2) to calculate the behavior in several lubrication flows, and (3) to compare these results to predictions of the Bingham theory where applicable. The rheological equation is a function which can be reduced to a Newtonian fluid and the Bingham-like purely viscous fluid by changing the value of a parameter. A generalized Reynolds equation is presented in order to use the continuous constitutive law. Several applications are studied: a plane slider bearing in two-dimensional flow as well as two parallel plates with an imposed pressure in three-dimensional flow. Several curious results occur which are not anticipated from the behavior of either Newtonian or Bingham fluids.