cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improving patient flow at a family health clinic.

This paper presents an analysis of a residency primary care clinic whose majority of patients are underserved. The clinic is operated by the health system for Bexar County and staffed primarily with physicians in a three-year Family Medicine residency program at The University of Texas School of Medicine in San Antonio. The objective of the study was to obtain a better understanding of patient flow through the clinic and to investigate changes to current scheduling rules and operating procedures. Discrete event simulation was used to establish a baseline and to evaluate a variety of scenarios associated with appointment scheduling and managing early and late arrivals. The first steps in developing the model were to map the administrative and diagnostic processes and to collect time-stamped data and fit probability distributions to each. In conjunction with the initialization and validation steps, various regressions were performed to determine if any relationships existed between individual providers and patient types, length of stay, and the difference between discharge time and appointment time. The latter two statistics along with resource utilization and closing time were the primary metrics used to evaluate system performance. The results showed that up to an 8.5 % reduction in patient length of stay is achievable without noticeably affecting the other metrics by carefully adjusting appointment times. Reducing the no-show rate from its current value of 21.8 % or overbooking, however, is likely to overwhelm the system’s resources and lead to excessive congestion and overtime. Another major finding was that the providers are the limiting factor in improving patient flow. With an average utilization rate above 90 % there is little prospect in shortening the total patient time in the clinic without reducing the providers’ average assessment time. Finally, several suggestions are offered to ensure fairness when dealing with out-of-order arrivals.
A Study of Some Hymenopterous Parasites of Aphidophagous syrphidae

This paper summarizes the result of investigations carried on by the writer in the last two years on the parasites of the aphis feeding Syrphidae of Southern California. The writer found that there are several species of hymenopterous parasites constituting the most important natural checks of these predacious flies. In certain seasons these parasites reproduced very rapidly at the expense of their hosts to the extent that the efficient work of these flies was greatly hampered, and consequently the aphids reproduced freely, causing serious damage to the infested alfalfa fields. No one species of these parasites can be regarded as exercising the most effective check on the flies, but there exists a sequence of several hymenopterous parasites persistently attacking the larval and pupal stages. Occasionally, one or the other of these enemies appear in such force as to be a serious menace to the syrphids. The seasons most favorable to parasite infestation are the spring and summer with the exception of the ichneumon, Syrphoclonus spp., whose percentage of parasitism for the various parasites has been as high as forty-five, over eighty per cent of which were the result of attacks by the ichneumon species during the fall and spring. In the summer, however, the Diplazon laetatorius and the chalcid parasites rank first in importance. Life history studies as well as the methods by which the parasitic larvae feed, respire, dispose of waste material will be briefly discussed. Important problems having economic or biologic bearings are dealt with in the text.
The relationships among social intelligence, emotional intelligence and cultural intelligence

This article examines three forms of intelligence: social intelligence (SI), emotional intelligence (EI) and cultural intelligence (CQ). The aim is to establish the relationship that exists between EI and CQ, and to clearly show how they is distinct, but related constructs, as well as subsets of SI. A series of models is developed to support the various propositions presented and to show the evolution of ideas which build to the final integrated model. This new model will impact future research and managerial use of these constructs, which is critical in order to advance the field. A discussion of limitations of this study and future research is also provided.
Constrained inner-loop control of a hypersonic glider using Extended Command Governor

The paper considers inner-loop control of a hypersonic glider. To maintain vehicle flight, pointwise-in-time constraints on vehicle state and control variables need to be enforced. To enforce constraints, an Extended Command Governor (ECG) is augmented to the nominal LQ-PI controller. Simulation results demonstrate the capability of the ECG to enforce the constraints while minimizing the degradation in the vehicle responsiveness.
Challenges in the theory of electron transfer at passive interfaces

Abstract Electron transfer (ET) has been described as the simplest of chemical reactions, because it generally does not result in the change in identity of a chemical species, but merely results in a change in the oxidation state of a single atomic center. In principle, ET is the ideal vehicle within which to develop the theory of rate processes, because of the inherent simplicity of the reaction dynamics. However, the development of an effective theory that can predict reaction rates from first principles has proven to be elusive and scientists are no closer to that goal than they were three decades ago. However, starting with the groundbreaking work of Gurney in 1931, which was hailed as one of the first triumphs of quantum mechanics, QET (quantum electron transfer) theory has provided an unassailable explanation of Tafel’s law; the exponential dependence of the rate of a charge transfer reaction on the applied potential. This paper provides a brief review of QET theory with the particular goal of accounting for Tafel’s law on passive surfaces. The inverse Tafel’s law, where the current decreases exponentially with increasing voltage for an anodic (oxidation) reaction, is also discussed. In this case, the decrease in the current is due to the thickening of an oxide layer on the surface and the resulting decrease in the quantum mechanical tunneling probability of charge carriers across the film. Both phenomena (the normal and inverse Tafel’s law) occur in electrochemical and corrosion systems and, indeed, often occur in the same system, such as the reduction of a cathodic depolarizer on a passive surface. Finally, the use of the inverse law as a tool for probing the dynamics of formation of thin oxide films on metal surfaces is discussed with emphasis on the oxidation of hydrogen on oxidized platinum in alkaline solution at ambient and elevated temperatures.
The role of cuing and organization in children's memory for events

Abstract Children's memory for a standardized, hierarchically organized event, making clay, was tested in two experiments. Immediately after participating in this event and again 2 weeks later, children described how they had made the clay. In Experiment 1, action and object cues were presented but only action cues greatly facilitated recall. Children who remade the clay reported more information and also reported more of the actions most central to the goal of the event during delayed recall. In Experiment 2, verbal cues representing two levels in the event hierarchy were presented, but neither aided recall. These and other patterns in the data indicated that, at most, the rudiments of a hierarchical structure had emerged after a single experience. These results were discussed in terms of their implications for the development and organization of event memories.
Science user resource expert (SURE): A science planning and scheduling assistant for a resource based environment

SURE (Science User Resource Expert) is one of three components that compose the SURPASS (Science User Resource Planning and Scheduling System). This system is a planning and scheduling tool which supports distributed planning and scheduling, based on resource allocation and optimization. Currently SURE is being used within the SURPASS by the UARS (Upper Atmospheric Research Satellite) SOLSTICE instrument to build a daily science plan and activity schedule and in a prototyping effort with NASA GSFC to demonstrate distributed planning and scheduling for the SOLSTICE II instrument on the EOS platform. For the SOLSTICE application the SURE utilizes a rule-based system. Development of a rule-based program using Ada CLIPS as opposed to using conventional programming, allows for capture of the science planning and scheduling heuristics in rules and provides flexibility in inserting or removing rules as the scientific objectives and mission constraints change. The SURE system's role as a component in the SURPASS, the purpose of the SURE planning and scheduling tool, the SURE knowledge base, and the software architecture of the SURE component are described.
Algorithmic computation of local cohomology modules and the local cohomological dimension of algebraic varieties

In this paper we present algorithms that compute certain local cohomology modules associated to ideals in a ring of polynomials containing the rational numbers. In particular, we are able to compute the local cohomological dimension of algebraic varieties in characteristic zero. Our approach is based on the theory of D-modules.
Digital waveform generation by fractional addressing.

This article concerns the generation of waveforms by a digital oscillator in which sampled data in a memory buffer are recycled. The buffer contains a fixed waveform and the output sample rate is also fixed. Despite these constraints, the oscillator is capable of arbitrarily high frequency resolution if the technique of fractional addressing is used. However, fractional addressing introduces distortion. This article gives a theory of fractional addressing, resembling the theory of diffraction in crystal lattices with a basis. The theory shows how the spectrum of the distortion components can be calculated and how the distortion can be minimized. Attention is called to numerous symmetries in the distortion spectrum. These symmetries are especially interesting if the purpose of the system is to make use of the distortion components to create inharmonic signals. Of particular importance is the γp symmetry theorem, which makes it possible to derive simple formulas for the level of the largest distortion component and for the total distortion power.
High-Level Computational Study of the Stereoelectronic Effects of Substituents on Alkene Epoxidations with Peroxyformic Acid

The epoxidations of propene and isobutene with peroxyformic acid proceed by a concerted pathway via slightly unsymmetrical transition structures where the differences in the bond distances between the double-bond carbons and the spiro oxygen are only 0.021 and 0.044 A at the QCISD/6-31G* level. In contrast, the more polarizable nature of the carbon−carbon double bond of α,β-unsaturated systems results in an unsymmetrical transition structure for the epoxidation of 1,3-butadiene with an order of magnitude difference in the carbon−oxygen bond distances of 0.305 A at the QCISD/6-31G* level. A highly unsymmetrical transition structure has been also found at this level for the epoxidation of acrylonitrile. Notwithstanding the difference in the extent of asymmetry of the transition structures, both epoxidations of methyl-substituted alkenes and such α,β-unsaturated systems as 1,3-butadiene and acrylonitrile with peroxyformic acid follow a concerted asynchronous pathway. An unsymmetrical transition structure for...
Molecular Dynamics Simulations of PAMAM Dendrimer-Induced Pore Formation in DPPC Bilayers with a Coarse-Grained Model

We have performed 0.5-μs-long molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of 0%, 50%, and 100% acetylated third- (G3) and fifth-generation (G5) polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers in dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) bilayers with explicit water using the coarse-grained (CG) model developed by Marrink et al. (J. Phys. Chem. B 2004, 108, 750−760), but with long-range electrostatic interactions included. Radii of gyration of the CG G5 dendrimers are 1.99−2.32 nm, close to those measured in the experiments by Prosa et al. (J. Polym. Sci. 1997, 35, 2913−2924) and atomistic simulations by Lee et al. (J. Phys. Chem. B 2006, 110, 4014−4019). Starting with the dendrimer initially positioned near the bilayer, we find that positively charged un-acetylated G3 and 50%-acetylated and un-acetylated G5 dendrimers insert themselves into the bilayer, and only un-acetylated G5 dendrimer induces hole formation at 310 K, but not at 277 K, which agrees qualitatively with experimental observations of Hong et al. (Bioconj. Chem. 2004...
Environmental estrogenic effects of alkylphenol ethoxylates

AbstractAlkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs) and related compounds recently have been reported to be estrogenic because it has been demonstrated in laboratory studies that they mimic the effects of estradiol bothin vitro andin vivo. Chemicals referred to as “environmental estrogens” are suspected of causing health effects in both humans and wildlife through disruption of the endocrine system. In this review, the occurrence, environmental fate, and biological effects of APEs are presented. To provide understanding of the potential for endocrine disruption due to environmental estrogens, the physiology of estrogens in mammals and fish is also reviewed. The estrogenic potency of other environmental estrogens is compared to the potency of APE degradation products. The reproductive effects of estrogenic compounds are considered when evaluating the potential health effects of APEs. Given the reported environmental concentrations and bioconcentration factors of APE products, the potential for these compounds to produc...
A Simplified Method for the Quantitative Determination of Testosterone-Estradiol-Binding Globulin Activity in Human Plasma

A rapid and simple method for the measurement of testosterone-estradiol-binding globulin in human plasma is described. The bind- ing protein is saturated with dihydrotestosterone (DHT), precipitated with 50% ammonium sul- fate, and the mass of bound DHT determined from the known specific activity of the added steroid. Normal values, expressed as M-g DHT bound/100 ml serum are: men, 0.93 ±. 0.06 (SEM); women, 1.85 ± 0.13; pregnancy, 12.4 ± 0.67. Elevated values were observed in men with cirrhosis of the liver and patients with thyrotoxi- cosis. Normal values were observed in abstinent alcoholics and in pregnant subjects with diabetes or hypertension. (/ Clin Endocrinol Metab 34: 983, 1972)
Evolution of the human killer cell inhibitory receptor family.

Phylogenetic analysis of different domains of human natural killer cell inhibitory receptors (KIR) implicated both intragenic duplication and deletion of exons and interlocus recombination in the evolution of these receptors. In phylogenies of the extracellular immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily C2-set domains and of the pre-membrane (PM) domain, KIR receptors having two C2-set domains and those having three such domains tended to form separate clusters. However, the phylogenies of the transmembrane (TM) and cytoplasmic (CYT) domains showed quite different topologies, suggesting that major sites of interlocus recombination have been between exon 6 (encoding PM) and exon 7 (encoding TM) and between exon 7 and exons 8-9 (encoding CYT). Examination of the pattern of nucleotide substitution in the exons encoding Ig C2-set domains supported the hypothesis that positive Darwinian selection has acted to diversify the residues within these domains that are involved in contact with class I MHC molecules.
Late Cenozoic Alkali-Rich Basalt from the Western Grand Canyon Area, Utah and Arizona: Isotopic Composition of Strontium

Twenty samples of Pliocene-Holocene basanite, hawaiite, and quartz-bearing basaltic andesite from the western Grand Canyon district have Sr 87 /Sr 86 ratios that range from 0.7028 to 0.7069. Sixteen of these are lava flows that have Sr 87 /Sr 86 (0.7028 to 0.7041), K/Rb (500 to 790), and Rb/Sr (0.016 to 0.047) ratios, which suggest a probable mantle origin. These data are typical of many late Cenozoic basaltic flows from the southern Great Basin and southern Colorado Plateau. In the remaining four Grand Canyon samples (3 hawaiites, 1 basaltic andesite) Sr 87 /Sr 86 , K/Rb, and Sr concentrations are suggestive of possible crustal contamination. Correlation coefficients for chemical and isotopic compositions of the Grand Canyon basalt are significant at the 95 percent level for covariances between Sr 87 /Sr 86 and only TiO 2 , Rb/Sr, and Sr. The latter two correlations are mainly influenced by data for the four possibly contaminated basalt samples and are insignificant when those samples are omitted. The isotopic and chemical data are compatible with the model proposed by Best and Brimhall (1974) in which the Grand Canyon basalt flows are derived by variable degrees of partial melting of mantle material over a range in depth and modified by polybaric crystal fractionation during ascent to the surface. Small variations in isotopic composition in the bulk of these samples probably reflect heterogeneities in their mantle source regions rather than the effects of crustal contamination. It is inferred that the mantle underlying the western Grand Canyon district is similar in its isotopic characteristics to typical oceanic-type mantle regions.
Interfacial versus aqueous phase reaction sites in the solvent extraction of metal ions: The ambaguity of correlation plots

Abstract Correlation plots of rate constant versus a non-kinetic parameter such as limiting extractant interfacial area or extractant distribution coefficient have been used in the literature as a means of establishing the locale of the rate-determining step in metal-solvent extraction processes. A critical analysis of this approach is presented by considering the pertinent interfacial and acqueous phase equilibria as well as kinetics. It is shown that when the adsorption density of the extractant is below its saturation value, the adsorption density and the distribution coefficient of the extraction reagent are interrelated in such a way that in terms of the relevant mathematical expressions, an interfacial reaction can mimic a bulk aqueous phase reaction and vice verse. Thus, in order to meaningfully access the relative importance of aqueous phase and interfacial reaction sites, it is imperative that the extractant distribution and adsorption data be available over a wide range of extractant concentration.
Mitochondria Influence Fas Expression in GP120-Induced Apoptosis of Neuronal Cells

The human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) destroys the immune system and also induces neurological disease culminating into dementia (HIV-associated dementia). Though the HIV viral protein gp120 induces apoptosis in neuronal cells, the mechanism of action is still poorly defined. Recent studies show that cells die during apoptosis by Fas aggregation aided by the mitochondrial proapoptotic proteins. Our studies show an increase in expression of Fas and its associated downstream proteins after treatment of the neuroblastoma cells, SH-SY5Y, with gp120. Fas and its associated death proteins, FADD and caspase-8 (DISC), are downregulated when treated with the caspase inhibitors. The results indicate that mitochondrial-death proteins like caspases may influence the upregulation of the death receptor Fas, and the inhibition of caspases prevents gp120-induced apoptosis.
Effects of planting date on sugar and ethanol yield of sweet sorghum grown in Arizona

Abstract Sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) is an annual crop currently being investigated for biofuel production in the arid southwest United States (U.S.). Sweet sorghum is an ideal candidate because it can be grown under reduced inputs (water, fertilizer) and responds more efficiently to stresses than traditional crops. Many varieties have been bred for high sugar, syrup, and forage production, but much biodiversity still remains to be utilized. Studies performed in 2006 and 2007 found that high biomass and percent juice extracted were the best predictors of potential ethanol yield per area. This investigation was undertaken to determine what effects planting dates have on overall sugar and predicted ethanol yields. Four varieties (Dale, M81E, Theis, and Topper) were planted in April, May, June, and July of 2008. They were harvested at physiological maturity, with dates ranging from August 26 to December 2. Biomass, juice weight, and Brix of the juice were recorded in the field. Samples were analyzed in the laboratory by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) for fructose, glucose, and sucrose. Theoretical ethanol yields were calculated based on biomass, juice weight, and percent sugar. These were compared to actual yields obtained from laboratory-scale fermentations of the harvested juice, which ranged from 7.4% to 11.2% (58.1–88.6 g L−1). Since our predictive model uses the maximum conversion rate of sugar to ethanol and this was not reached in the lab, the predicted yields were always higher than the actual yields. However, the model can be a useful tool for estimating ethanol yield per area. Total sugars and predicted ethanol production were influenced by planting date, but the degree of the effects depended on the cultivar planted. Overall a May planting date at this location is preferable due to consistently higher values for the yield components analyzed, and Theis is not recommended due to its high susceptibility to heat. Sweet sorghum juice has been successfully fermented into ethanol, which indicates this crop may be able to play a transitory role in the emerging biofuel market.
Basic physics of transesophageal echocardiography.

The usual dilemma faced by a junior intraoperative echocardiographer is ‘‘Why are my images are not so good?’’ ‘‘How can I improve this image by turning the various knobs?’’ Answers to these questions require a basic understanding of the physics behind ultrasound imaging that will help us acquire near perfect images. The variables that affect image acquisition are patient characteristics, equipment, and the skills of the echocardiographer. The patient characteristics that can affect transesophageal echocardiographic (TEE) images are (a) presence of fluid in the stomach, (b) orientation of the heart, (c) emphysematous lungs, (d) hiatal hernia, (e) calcified intracardiac structures, and (f) presence of mechanical heart valves. It is important to understand the use of alternatives in such situations, that is, epiaortic ultrasound, intracardiac ultrasound, or substernal ultrasound. When calcification exists leading to artifacts, the best alternative is to look at it from a different location or a different plane. Multiplane imaging has enabled this.
The Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System: design, questionnaire, data collection and response rates

Summary The birth certificate, the primary tool for population-based surveillance of the condition of infants at birth and maternal status during pregnancy, provides little data about maternal behaviour during pregnancy. To collect data on maternal behaviours that influence pregnancy outcome, we implemented the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System in seven states. For this population-based surveillance, new mothers were sampled from birth certificates 2 to 6 months after delivery and contacted by mail; follow-up of nonrespondents was by telephone. Participants completed a 10-page questionnaire. Stratification permitted over-sampling of women with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Among 10563 women sampled during 1988 and 1989, stratum-specific response rates ranged from 30% to 89%. In 11 of the 28 strata, response rates were greater than 70%. Response rates varied considerably between states. Rates were lower for Black mothers, mothers of low birthweight infants, unmarried mothers and mothers with less than 12 years of education. Active refusal to participate and undelivered mail occurred infrequently. Mail and telephone surveillance of new mothers can yield adequate response rates in selected population groups. Trials of alternative approaches to enhancing response among Black and disadvantaged mothers, such as additional mailings or post-partum in-hospital recruitment, are needed.
Using population genetic theory and DNA sequences for species detection and identification in asexual organisms.

Background It is widely agreed that species are fundamental units of biology, but there is little agreement on a definition of species or on an operational criterion for delimiting species that is applicable to all organisms. Methodology/Principal Findings We focus on asexual eukaryotes as the simplest case for investigating species and speciation. We describe a model of speciation in asexual organisms based on basic principles of population and evolutionary genetics. The resulting species are independently evolving populations as described by the evolutionary species concept or the general lineage species concept. Based on this model, we describe a procedure for using gene sequences from small samples of individuals to assign them to the same or different species. Using this method of species delimitation, we demonstrate the existence of species as independent evolutionary units in seven groups of invertebrates, fungi, and protists that reproduce asexually most or all of the time. Conclusions/Significance This wide evolutionary sampling establishes the general existence of species and speciation in asexual organisms. The method is well suited for measuring species diversity when phenotypic data are insufficient to distinguish species, or are not available, as in DNA barcoding and environmental sequencing. We argue that it is also widely applicable to sexual organisms.
Dexamethasone effects on ritodrine-induced changes in myometrial contractility and β-adrenergic receptor function

Abstract We have previously demonstrated in pregnant sheep that ritodrine infusion for 24 hours reduces myometrial β-adrenergic receptor density and isoproterenol-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. These receptor-associated changes were accompanied by an increasing inability of ritodrine to inhibit uterine contractility induced by a bolus of oxytocin. In the present study, we evaluated whether these ritodrine-induced effects could be altered by dexamethasone. Ten pregnant sheep at gestational ages of 92 to 130 days received ritodrine 2 μg/kg/min for 24 hours. Five animals also received dexamethasone 10 mg intravascularly twice during the ritodrine infusion. Before and at 4 and 24 hours of ritodrine infusion, the animals were given an identical dose of oxytocin as a bolus, and the area under the uterine pressure-time curve was quantified. Myometrial biopsy specimens were obtained before and after ritodrine infusion. Dexamethasone treatment prevented ritodrine-induced reductions in (3-adrenergic receptor density and isoproterenol-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. Despite these receptor-associated effects, dexamethasone did not prevent the loss of tocolytic efficacy associated with prolonged ritodrine infusion.
Simplified nonresectional leaflet remodeling mitral valve repair for degenerative mitral regurgitation.

References 1. Malhotra SP, Petrossian E, Reddy VM, Qiu M, Meada K, Suleman S, et al. Selective right ventricular unloading and novel technical concepts in Ebstein’s anomaly. Ann Thorac Surg. 2009;88:1975-81. 2. Pacifico AD, Kirklin JW. Takedown of cava-pulmonary artery anastomosis (Glenn) during repair of congenital cardiac malformations: report of 5 cases. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 1975;70:272-7.
Sumner on Abortion: Sentience and Moral Standing

Much of the abortion debate has revolved around questions of the ontological status of the fetus: many liberals and conservatives agree that if the fetus is a person in the fullest sense of “person”, it would require very weighty reasons to justify killing it; if, on the other hand, the fetus is not a person in the fullest sense, considerations of less moment should suffice to justify killing it. Resolution of questions about the morality of abortion, thus, should be quite straightforward: stipulate criteria of personhood and determine whether fetuses, in general, or some particular fetus satisfies those criteria. If a fetus satisfies them, it is a person in the fullest sense and has the same right to life as any other person; if it fails to satisfy those criteria, it is not a person in the fullest sense and, thus, does not have the same right to life as a person. Unfortunately, such a programme is easier envisaged than achieved. The literature is laden with controversial analyses of personhood, none of which are acceptable to all parties to the abortion controversy, and, thus, discussions of the morality of abortion continue at a shrill level; unable to find any common ground from which to initiate reasoned discourse the two sides talk past each other and no progress is made.
An integral approach to free-formed object modeling

Presents a new approach to free-formed object modeling from multiple range images. In most conventional approaches, successive views are registered sequentially. In contrast to the sequential approaches, we propose an integral approach which reconstructs statistically optimal object models by simultaneously aggregating all data from multiple views into a weighted least-squares (WLS) formulation. The integral approach has two components. First, a global resampling algorithm constructs partial representations of the object from individual views so that correspondences can be established among different views. The global resampling algorithm is based on the spherical attribute image (SAI) previously introduced in the context of object representation and recognition. Second, a weighted least-squares algorithm integrates resampled partial representations of multiple views, using the technique of principal component analysis with missing data (PCAMD). Experiments using real range images show that our approach is robust against noise and mismatches, and generates accurate object models. >
THE MEASUREMENT OF REACTION RATES AT HIGH TEMPERATURES

Cylindrical test pieces, rammed under a pressure of 10,000 pounds per square inch, were heated to temperatures varying between 1300°C and 1500°C. The rate of inversion of quartz to cristobalite and the rate of spinel formation in mixtures of electrically fused magnesia and alumina were determined from the slope of the expansion curve at constant temperature. The amount of cristobalite or spinel formed was calculated from the density determinations before and after firing. The products were identified by X-ray and microscopic investigation. Unfired silica brick showed almost complete inversion to cristobalite after two hours at 15OO°C, the corresponding vertical expansion being about 6%. The addition of 2% CaO to unfired quartzite was found to increase the rate of inversion to cristobalite quite appreciably. A further addition of 1.5% Na2O + 1.5% Fe2O8 so increased the rate of inversion at 1400° that after two hours only cristobalite appeared to be present. A mixture of electrically fused magnesia (0.15 to 0.06 millimeter grain size) and alumina (3.59 to 0.15 millimeter grain size) was found to contain about 25% spinel after two hours at 1500°C. The addition of 2% B2O3 increased the amount of spinel formed under similar conditions to 75%. Test pieces made solely from magnesia and alumina of one grain size (0.06 millimeter) showed complete conversion to spinel after only ten minutes at 1450° C. The sensitivity of this method of studying reaction rates is such that an expansion of one scale division is equivalent to the formation of 0.1% of spinel.
Moving average separation

A real symmetric polynomial Q(z) can be factored into the product A(z)A(z/sup -1/) if Q(z) is nonnegative on the unit circle. The authors pose a constrained minimization problem that results in the correct factorization in this case and gives an approximation to Q(z) if Q(z) does not satisfy the nonnegativity condition. >
Comparison of chamber and face-mask 6.6-hour exposures to ozone on pulmonary function and symptoms responses.

Because of increased interest in an 8-h ozone (O 3) federal air quality standard, acute pulmonary function responses to prolonged square-wave O 3 exposure between 0.08 and 0.12 ppm have been examined in several U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) chamber studies. A low-cost face-mask O 3 exposure system was developed in this laboratory and found to produce closely similar pulmonary responses to those observed in prolonged exposures by U.S. EPA investigators. The primary purpose of the present study was to investigate the pulmonary function and subjective symptoms effects of 6.6-h square-wave exposure to 0.12 ppm O 3 by these two methods using the same group of subjects. In addition, further investigation of pulmonary function and symptoms responses upon 6.6-h exposures to lower levels of O 3 (0.04-0.08 ppm) were studied with the face-mask inhalation system. Thirty young adult subjects completed five 6.6-h exposures with six 50-min periods of exercise at an intensity requiring a minute ventilation r...
The dynamic relationships of affective synchrony to perceptions of situations

Most theories of affect predict that affects of opposite valence are either negatively correlated (de-synchronous) or independent (asynchronous). An early investigation of individual differences in within-person correlations between positive and negative affect revealed that some individuals were characterized by desynchrony and others asynchrony; however a third group experienced positive correlations between positive affect and negative affect, termed affective synchrony (Rafaeli, Rogers, & Revelle, 2007). We report two experience sampling studies aimed to explore further individual differences in momentary affective experience. Cell-phone text messaging was introduced as a new method for collecting experiential data. Results showed that within-person relationships between Energetic Arousal and Tense Arousal ranged from de-synchrony to synchrony, but that within-person relationships between Pleasant and Unpleasant affect varied from strong de-synchrony (high negative association) to weak de-synchrony (low negative association). Individual differences in within-person EA-TA associations were related to perceiving threatening situations as incentives and to interactions
Towards on-chip fault-tolerant communication

As CMOS technology scales down into the deep-submicron (DSM) domain, devices and interconnects are subject to new types of malfunctions and failures that are harder to predict and avoid with the current system-on-chip (SoC) design methodologies. Relaxing the requirement of 100% correctness in operation drastically reduces the costs of design but, at the same time, requires SoCs be designed with some degree of system-level fault-tolerance. In this paper, we introduce a high-level model of DSM failure patterns and propose a new communication paradigm for SoCs, namely stochastic communication. Specifically, for a generic tile-based architecture, we propose a randomized algorithm which not only separates computation from communication, but also provides the required fault-tolerance to on-chip failures. This new technique is easy and cheap to implement in SoCs that integrate a large number of communicating IP cores.
Plasma Phospholipid Concentration of Cis Palmitoleic Acid and Risk of Heart Failure

Background—Although plasma palmitoleic acid has been positively associated with blood pressure, inflammation, and insulin resistance, its association with heart failure has not been investigated. We assessed whether plasma phospholipid cis-palmitoleic acid was associated with heart failure risk. Methods and Results—This ancillary study of the Physicians’ Health Study used a risk set sampling method to select 788 matched pairs. For each case of incident heart failure, we randomly selected a control among subjects that were free of heart failure and alive at the time of index case diagnosis and matched on age, year of birth, race, and time of blood collection. Plasma phospholipid fatty acids were measured using gas chromatography. Heart failure was ascertained using annual follow-up questionnaire and validated in a subsample. In a multivariable conditional logistic regression, odds ratios (95% CI) for heart failure were 1.0 (ref), 1.06 (0.75–1.48), 1.20 (0.85–1.68), and 1.58 (1.11–2.25) across consecutive q...
Allometric scaling of dietary linoleic acid on changes in tissue arachidonic acid using human equivalent diets in mice

Background It is hypothesized that dietary linoleic acid (LA) promotes chronic and acute diseases in humans by enriching tissues with arachidonic acid (AA), its downstream metabolite, and dietary studies with rodents have been useful for validation. However, levels of LA in research diets of rodents, as published in the literature, are notoriously erratic making interspecies comparisons unreliable. Therefore, the ability to extrapolate the biological effects of dietary LA from experimental rodents to humans necessitates an allometric scaling model that is rooted within a human equivalent context.
Distribution of solvent and ligand molecules around aromatic side chains in proteins and its implication on carbonic anhydrase catalytic mechanism.

Abstract Interactions between aromatic phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan residues and water as well as ligand molecules were analyzed by a computer search of a large number of high resolution structures in the protein data bank. Water molecules and oxygen ligands have a preference for the edges of the aromatic residues, but the distribution of carbon ligands around the aromatic rings is different. The more hydrophilic tyrosine, followed by tryptophan, has the highest frequency of water contacts. However the situation is reversed for ligand interactions where phenylalanine is the most active of the three aromatic residues. The results indicate that hydrogen bonding by water molecules to aromatic π-electron does not occur in protein structures. The role of the conserved Trp 209 in the catalytic mechanism of carbonic anhydrase is discussed in consideration of the results from the data base search. Normally not considered as a catalytic residue, this tryptophan is proposed to participate in the physiologically important enzymatic interconversion of carbon dioxide and bicarbonate by stabilizing substrate coordination through van der Waals' interactions.
The x-kernel: an open operating system design

An operating system design that views a workstation as a portal through which users access Internet resources is proposed. Such a system should accommodate a variety of protocol suites yet present users with an integrated and uniform interface to all the protocols and, as a consequence, to all Internet resources. Toward this end, they have designed an operating system, called the x-kernel, that consists of three major components: a configurable kernel that provides uniform access to a wide array of protocols, a heterogeneous file system, and a customizable user interface. The central element in this design is the protocol. The kernel implements a library of useful protocols. The file system and user interface in turn, provide a per-user environment that translates a resource name into the protocol that should be used to access the resource. The authors describe the library of protocols, the file system and the user interface. >
Is Combination Therapy with Inhaled Anticholinergics and β2-Adrenoceptor Agonists Justified for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a debilitating condition characterised by progressive, irreversible airflow limitation. The economic and social burden of the disease is enormous. The treatment of COPD is guided by the stage of the disease and is aimed primarily at control of symptoms. Bronchodilators are the cornerstone of pharmacological management of COPD. Short-acting bronchodilators (β2-adrenoceptor agonists and anticholinergics) have been available for many years and have been extensively studied as individual agents and in combination. When administered in combination, short-acting bronchodilators provide superior bronchodilation compared with individual agents given alone. However, the improvement in bronchodilation does not translate into an improvement in quality-of-life (QOL) indices. More recently, long-acting β2-adrenoceptor agonists (LABAs) and anticholinergics have been introduced, and current guidelines recommend regular use of these agents in COPD of Global initiative for chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) stage II or more. Combining short-acting anticholinergics with LABAs for daily use has been evaluated, but this combination does not confer any advantage in terms of subjective improvement or prevention of exacerbations. Combining the long-acting anticholinergic tiotropium bromide with formoterol given once or twice daily improves airway obstruction and hyperinflation. However, the effects of combinations of long-acting bronchodilators on patients’ symptom scores, QOL and exacerbations remain to be studied. Ultra-LABAs, which are in development, may enable use of a combination of long-acting bronchodilators in a single inhaler for once-daily use, thus simplifying the regimen.
Convergence of Galerkin approximations for operator Riccati equations—A nonlinear evolution equation approach

An approximation and convergence theory was developed for Galerkin approximations to infinite dimensional operator Riccati differential equations formulated in the space of Hilbert-Schmidt operators on a separable Hilbert space. The Riccati equation was treated as a nonlinear evolution equation with dynamics described by a nonlinear monotone perturbation of a strongly coercive linear operator. A generic approximation result was proven for quasi-autonomous nonlinear evolution system involving accretive operators which was then used to demonstrate the Hilbert-Schmidt norm convergence of Galerkin approximations to the solution of the Riccati equation. The application of the results was illustrated in the context of a linear quadratic optimal control problem for a one dimensional heat equation.
Ethical, Scientific, and Educational Concerns With Unproven Medications

Quackery (promotion of products that do not work or have not been proven to work) was once a commonly used term within the pharmacy and medical communities. However, an increasingly anti-scientific national climate culminated in passage of the 1994 Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act, which granted unprecedented legitimacy to “dietary supplements” that had not been scientifically proven to be effective and/or safe. In part, this was facilitated when professional pharmacy magazines and journals published advertisements and articles promoting these unproven medications. Gradually, pharmacy codes of ethics eliminated references to quackery, and some pharmacy organizations seemed to accept the unproven medications they once exhorted the pharmacist not to sell. The profession's shift in attitude toward unproven medications occurred as the medical community at large began to realize the value of evidence-based medicine. Academicians must resist pressure to present unproven therapies as realistic alternatives for medications with scientific proof of safety and efficacy. They must stress the value of evidence-based medicine and urge students and pharmacists to recommend only those medications with evidence-based proof of safety and efficacy.
Bringing the Vote to Residents of Long-Term Care Facilities: A Study of the Benefits and Challenges of Mobile Polling

Abstract In the United States, the voting right of persons who live in long-term care facilities has not received adequate attention. Residents can lose one of their most cherished rights and electoral credibility can be corrupted. One solution to the problems of voting in long-term care is mobile polling, a process whereby election officials bring the ballot to residents of long-term care facilities, provide voters assistance when needed, and register voters as well. This study compared mobile polling to voting as usual in selected nursing homes in the State of Vermont during the U.S. 2008 general election. Results show that among election officials and nursing homes willing to try mobile polling, it is feasible and generally well accepted by long-term care staff, residents, and election officials; reduces concerns of voter fraud and manipulation; and enhances residents' dignity and rights. The challenges of mobile polling include motivating and training election officials to perform it, providing resour...
Gonadal Steroids and Brain Function

Evidence suggesting that the brain is a target for gonadal steroids has existed for more than a century, since the experiments of Berthold on castration and gonadal transplantation in roosters (Berthold, 1849). Although of great importance to our understanding of sexual behavior and reproduction, progress toward establishing and understanding the relationship of steroids to the central nervous system was nonexistent until the late 1950s or early 1960s. At that time a series of implant, lesion, and stimulation experiments were conducted in a number of laboratories, all of which pointed to certain regions of the hypothalamus, limbic system, and mid-brain as specific targets for gonadal steroids. Since steroid targets possess specific receptors responsible for their responses to hormonal stimuli, these can be assumed to exist in central nervous system, as well as peripheral, targets. These receptors will be the subject of this chapter. In addition we will examine some biochemical and physiologic responses that relate temporally to changes in subcellular localization of these receptors (i.e., to the translocation of Rc to the nuclear compartment to form an RnS complex). This subject has been reviewed recently by several investigators (McEwen, 1978; Feder et al., 1978; Zigmond, 1975). Certainly we will not review the field of steroids and central nervous system function as extensively or intensively as these authors. Instead we will use their conclusions as a framework on which to base some of our own observations on alterations in brain function with steroid treatment.
Diseases of Pepper and their Management

Diseases of pepper caused by biotic (infectious) and abiotic (non-infectious) agents interfere with the production of pepper. Biotic agents of disease of pepper include fungi, bacteria, nematodes, and viruses. Abiotic disorders include a number of unfavorable cultural or climatic conditions, such as sunlight, nutrient deficiency, and temperature excesses. Diseases affect all parts of the pepper plant including the foliage, stems, roots, fruit, and young seedlings. Fungi and bacteria cause a variety of symptoms such as leaf and fruit spotting, wilting and plant death. Typical symptoms of viral infections are stunting, mottling of foliage and fruit, and small, misshapen fruit. Abiotic disorders such as sunscalding or blossom end rot greatly interfere with the fruit quality and reduces yield. Management of diseases begins prior to planting of the crop and many techniques are used to minimize losses due to disease problems. Control methods include, but are not limited to, the use of cultivars with resistance to diseases, pathogen-free seeds, sterilized equipment for transplant production, rouging and eradication of diseased plants and alternative hosts, field sites that are pathogen-free and isolated from other solanaceous crops, soil fumigation, and application of pesticides and other disease-suppression compounds. Post-harvest disease management techniques include growing healthy pepper plants to produce fruits free from predisposing injuries, using field sanitation practices, avoiding the wounding of fruit, and storing of fruit under optimum environmental conditions.