cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Teorías de causación y explicación: ¿necesariamente verdaderas o dominio-específicas?

En Humphreys [2000] argumente que dado que estan basadas en cantidades conservadas, las ultimas teorias de la causacion y la explicacion de Salmon requieren un compromiso con una forma de fisicalismo bastante radical, haciendo la teoria dificil de aplicar a fenomenos sociales, economicos y psicologicos. Este compromiso pareceria estrechar considerablemente el alcance de las teorias a menos que una vasta reduccion de las ciencias sociales y psicologicas a la fisica pueda ser alcanzada. En el presente trabajo argumento que el contenido empirico inherente a las teorias de Salmon, aunque presente todavia, es menos problematico de lo que pense en [2000] y esto hace que problemas filosoficos involucrados en su evaluacion sean menos severos de lo que podrian parecer. Es mas, el grado de compromiso con el fisicalismo requerido por las teorias mas maduras de Salmon es minimo. La combinacion de realismo y empiriosmo en las teorias de Salmon requiere menos cambios en los metodos filosoficos de lo que podria esperarse.
Evaluating employee performance: Does the appraisal instrument make a difference?

This study compares the relative advantages of behaviorally anchored rating scales (BARS) vis-a-vis global rating scales in terms of: (a) rating dispersion (b) halo effect (c) incremental unity (d) test-retest reliability, and (e) criterion-related validity. Results on two industrial samples of technicians, one from the U.S. (N = 74) and one from Australia and New Zealand (N = 145), showed that the BARS were not superior to the global rating scales on any of the scale properties examined. In fact, the global scales showed slightly greater criterion-related validity and generally lower interscale correlations than did the BARS. In view of the time and resources that must be expended in the development of BARS, such results strongly question the usefulness of the procedures underlying the development of BARS. Discussion also addresses the issue of the practical usefulness of any performance appraisal tool that is not integrated within the overall appraisal system.
The Dynamic Nature of Mobility Disability in Older Persons

OBJECTIVES: To determine the rates of clinically meaningful transitions in mobility disability; evaluate how these transitions differ according to age, sex, and physical frailty; and depict the duration of the resulting episodes of mobility disability. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: General community in greater New Haven, Connecticut, from March 1998 to October 2004. PARTICIPANTS: Seven hundred fifty-four community-living older persons, aged 70 and older, who were nondisabled (i.e., required no personal assistance) in four activities of daily living. MEASUREMENTS: Mobility disability, defined as the inability to walk one quarter of a mile and to climb a flight of stairs, respectively without personal assistance, was assessed every month for up to 5 years. RESULTS: For both mobility tasks, rates per 1,000 person-months were higher for transitions from no disability to intermittent disability (34.7 for walking one quarter of a mile and 17.4 for climbing a flight of stairs), intermittent to continuous disability (52.0 and 42.5), continuous to intermittent disability (35.4 and 31.5), and intermittent to no disability (68.6 and 85.4) than for other transitions. Older age, female sex, and physical frailty were associated with greater likelihood of transition to states of greater disability and lower likelihood of regaining independent mobility. CONCLUSION: Mobility disability in older persons is a highly dynamic process, characterized by frequent transitions between states of independence and disability. Programs designed to enhance independent mobility should focus not only on the prevention of mobility disability but also on the restoration and maintenance of independent mobility in older persons who become disabled.
A Short Course on One-Dimensional Random Schrödinger Operators

We discuss various approaches to localization results for one-dimensional random Schr\"odinger operators, both discrete and continuum. We focus in particular on the approach based on F\"urstenberg's Theorem and the Kunz-Souillard method. These notes are based on a series of five one-hour lectures given at University College London in June/July 2011.
Introduction to the Special Issue on Usability and User Experience: Psychometrics

This special issue on usability and the user experience focuses on the application of psychometrics to the development and evaluation of standardized usability and user experience questionnaires. The six articles cover advances in the measurement of perceived usability (assessment of the instruments themselves and their application to measuring the perceived usability of mobile applications), attitude toward the Internet, need fulfillment, and the emotional consequences of interaction. Given the benefits of measurement standardization and the new research presented in this issue, the articles should be of interest to human–computer interaction researchers and practitioners.
Weighted Landau-type inequalities

Landau-type inequalities are investigated with general weight functions satisfying appropriate conditions.
X-ray analysis of the structure of the thermotropic copolyester poly[(phenyl-p-phenylene-terephthalate)-co-(1-phenylethyl-p-phenylene-terephthalate)]

X-ray methods have been used to determine the structure of the thermotropic copolyester prepared from terephthaloyl chloride (TPA) and equimolar amounts of phenylhydroquinone (PHQ) and (1-phenylethyl) hydroquinone (PEHQ). The X-ray patterns of annealed melt spun fibres contain a series of sharp Bragg reflections, pointing to a well ordered crystalline structure, despite the random substitution of the phenyl and 1-phenylethyl groups on the polymer backbone. The unit cell is orthorhombic with space group P21 and dimensions: a = 12.77 A, b = 10.18 A, c = 12.58 A (fibre axis), and α = β = γ = 90° and contains TPA-PHQ or TPA-PEHQ units of four chains. The random substitution of phenyl and 1-phenylethyl groups was modelled by placing these groups at both the 2- and 3-positions of each hydroquinone and giving each a weight of one quarter. The structure was refined by linked atom least square methods against 13 observed and 26 unobserved reflections, and had a final R value of 0.25. Packing of the side chains is effected by staggering adjacent chains along the b axis by approximately c2, so that the side chains are interleaved. The phenyl-COO and COO-phenyl torsion angles are −5.3° and 65.4°, respectively, such that the main chain phenyls are mutually inclined at 60.1° (the ester groups are assumed to be planar). The phenyls of the phenyl-hydroquinone units are mutually inclined at 59.7° (ortho) and 60.1° (meta). These torsion angles compare very well with those for poly(phenyl-p-phenylene-terephthalate) reported earlier as well as those for model compounds, notably phenylbenzoate. This gives us confidence to use them in analyses of the structure of more complex random sequence copolyesters.
Inertial Guidance Systems in Insects: From the Neurobiology to the Structural Mechanics of Biological Gyroscopes

: Flying insects employ a vast array of sensory modalities to coordinate complex aerial maneuvers with incredible speed and acuity. One central feature underlying this is their ability to rapidly acquire and process information about rotational motion. In Diptera (flies), gyroscopic sensing is accomplished with halteres, organs that are derived from hindwings. In Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies), a recent study has suggested that antennae serve this critical function. Here, we review the biomechanical and sensory aspects of these biological gyroscopes. We focus on past and ongoing research to understand how the physical and physiological aspects of these inertial guidance units interact to determine their functional performance.
Soil system modelling and generation of field hypotheses

Abstract The relationship between soil modeling and field pedology is recursive. Models should be firmly grounded in field observations. Field data are then used to test, calibrate, and refine models. One often-overlooked relationship between models and field studies is the use of models to generate field-testable hypotheses unrelated to the model itself—propositions derived from model outputs or implications, the testing of which provides pedologic insight independent of the model and its underlying assumptions. This paper provides an example using a model of soil thickness. The case study illustrates a stepwise, recursive relationship between field evidence and models. The relationship between bedrock weathering, soil thickness, and surface erosion used in most numerical models of soil and hillslope evolution was generalized into a qualitative nonlinear dynamical systems model, the interaction matrix of which is dynamically stable. This supports the notion of a steady-state equilibrium soil thickness where weathering is balanced by surface removal. However, empirical data in the Ouachita Mountains, Arkansas, USA, shows nonequilibrium soil thickness. This in turn indicates either recent and/or large disturbances or changes in boundary conditions, or that factors other than weathering and erosion play a significant role in determining thickness. The inconsistency between model results and field evidence led to further field investigations, suggesting that biomechanical effects of trees on soil depth are highly significant. A model devised to explore this notion showed that the interrelationships between individual trees and soil depth are dynamically unstable, leading to generation of a specific field-testable hypothesis, that soil should be systematically thicker under trees than in adjacent sites. This relationship was confirmed by augering to bedrock at 108 pairs of tree stumps and immediately adjacent sites. The recursive relations between soil modeling and field pedology thus led to specific findings regarding the influence of trees on soil thickness and nonequilibrium soil thickness that would not have arisen otherwise. Another key lesson is that field observations contrary to a model may be of greater importance in advancing pedology than those consistent with the model.
The unified validity of the Four Skills Exam: applying Messick's framework:

In the USA, 17 states use Spanish-language proficiency tests to ensure that bilingual education teachers are able to deliver academic instruction in Spanish to school-age students. However, little ...
Biomechanical comparison of component position and hardware failure in the reverse shoulder prosthesis.

There has been renewed interest in reverse shoulder arthroplasty for the treatment of glenohumeral arthritis with concomitant rotator cuff deficiency. Failure of the prosthesis at the glenoid attachment site remains a concern. The purpose of this study was to examine glenoid component stability with regard to the angle of implantation. This investigation entailed a biomechanical analysis to evaluate forces and micromotion in glenoid components attached to 12 polyurethane blocks at −15°, 0°, and +15° of superior and inferior tilt. The 15° inferior tilt had the most uniform compressive forces and the least amount of tensile forces and micromotion when compared with the 0° and 15° superiorly tilted baseplate. Our results suggest that implantation with an inferior tilt will reduce the incidence of mechanical failure of the glenoid component in a reverse shoulder prosthesis.
The Ethics of Transparency: Publication of Cardiothoracic Surgical Outcomes in the Lay Press

he Congenital Heart Institute of Florida, Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, All Children’s Hospital and Children’s ospital of Tampa, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Cardiac Surgical Associates of Florida, Saint Petersburg and ampa, Florida; Section of Thoracic Surgery at University of Alabama at Birmingham, Division of CardioThoracic Surgery, epartment of Surgery, Birmingham, Alabama; Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Institute of Human alues in Health Care, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
Simultaneous Measurement of Spatially Resolved Electron Temperatures. Electron Number Densities and Gas Temperatures by Laser Light Scattering from the ICP

Abstract Spatially resolved electron temperatures, electron number densities and gas-kinetic temperatures have been determined at five observation heights, nine radial positions and two settings of rf input power in an aerosolfree argon ICP sustained with a commercial MAK. torch. The measurements were obtained by means of simultaneous ruby-laser Thomson scattering and Rayleigh scattering. In the central channel of the ICP the electron temperature ranges from 7000 to 8500 K, the gas kinetic temperature is about 1000–2000 K lower than the electron temperature, and the electron number density varies from 1.9 to 7.0 × 10 15 cm −3 . Among the measured parameters, the electron number density is most sensitive to the input rf power and is noticeably higher than the LTE value determined from the measured electron temperature and the Saha equation. The overpopulation of electrons can probably be attributed to fast ambipolar diffusion and slow ion-electron recombination processes, resulting in a recombining plasma in the analytical zone. This non-LTE feature might be significant for excitation and ionization mechanisms in the ICP.
The Interface between Evaluation and Public Policy

Evaluation has much to offer to policy makers, but policy makers rarely base new policies directly on evaluation results. Partly this is because of the compedting pressures of interests, ideologies...
Temperature monitoring in fat with MRI.

The aim of the study was to test the hypothesis that fast spin echo T(1)-weighted images can be used to quantify the temperature in fat during thermal therapy in vivo. An MR compatible positioning device was used to manipulate focused ultrasound transducers in an MRI scanner. This system was used to sonicate fat tissue around the kidneys of 12 rabbits at various power levels for 10 to 20 sec. The scan parameters of T(1)-weighted fast spin echo (FSE) sequence were varied to optimize signal intensity characteristics while maintaining short scan times. An invasive optical probe was used to calibrate the temperature related signal intensity changes. For the T(1)-weighted FSE sequence, the signal intensity decreased with the temperature elevation at the rate of 0.97+/-0.02%/ degrees C. The single focused transducer produced a contrast-to-noise ratio more than 10 at power levels below the tissue damage threshold. The signal intensity was linearly dependent on the power, despite the measured temperatures being well above the coagulation threshold. This study demonstrates that T(1)-weighted FSE MRI sequences can be used to quantify the temperature elevation in fat in vivo during short focused ultrasound exposures. This can be very important for breast tumor surgery, fat ablation, and for treating deep seated tumors through superficial fat layers. Magn Reson Med 43:901-904, 2000.
An examination of the effect of wind-drift on radar-derived surface rainfall estimations

Abstract The error in location caused by the non-vertical fall of precipitation from the height at which it was observed by radar to the surface has long been remarked upon, but rarely examined. The study described in this paper uses wind fields determined using Doppler radar to estimate the trajectories of falling drops and thereby assess the error induced in surface rainfall rate that is found using radar observations of precipitation aloft. The authors examine real data as well as using that data to simulate changes created by changing resolution and radar beam height. The results show how great the errors could be under certain circumstances. This is particularly the case with high-resolution observations and situations involving low-level directional wind shear. This leads to a comprehension of the complexity of correcting those errors, as determining the trajectory of drops requires detailed knowledge of wind profiles. These profiles may vary on small spatial and temporal scales, especially during the kind of convective episodes for which wind-drift is most likely to cause the greatest uncertainty in retrieved rainfall.
Analysis of loads on grinding wheel binder in grinding process: insights from discontinuum-hypothesis-based grinding simulation

The load on grinding wheel (GW) binder in grinding process is an important issue in grinding studies. It affects binder behaviors, wheel-workpiece interaction, grinding force, heat and energy, machined surface quality, GW life, etc. However, few studies have systematically studied this topic and the conclusions proposed so far have been established on too many speculations and assumptions. To cover this gap, an analysis of loads on binder in grinding process is conducted based on discrete element method (DEM) and discontinuum-hypothesis-based grinding simulation. In the simulation, a discontinuous GW is modeled, experimentally calibrated, and validated. By the simulation, loads on binder are analyzed from the aspects of load history and force chain network. Load history results show that, according to the load patterns, binder can be classified into grain-binder and non-grain-binder. Grain-binder is the binder that is close to the grinding grains. This kind of binder periodically experiences the loads that contain the short and large impulse loading as well as long and small alternating loading. The former loading is produced by grinding process and called the loads in active phases while the latter is resulted from the high wheel speed and named the loads in inactive phases. Non-grain-binder is the binder that is ‘far away from’ grinding zone, and its loads are comparable and close to those of grain-binder in inactive phases, even the non-grain-binder does not adhere to a same grain. Force chain network analysis shows that, for different grinding phases and grain-workpiece contact statuses, grain-binder has rapidly-changing force chains in terms of length and scale. The directions of the force chains are always in line with grinding force directions. The findings in this study are expected to contribute to the understanding of grinding process and GW production.
The Study of Cold War International History in China: A Review of the Last Twenty Years

The study of Cold War international history in China has made major strides in the past two decades. By using newly available Chinese sources, augmented by sources from American, British, Russian, and East European archives, Chinese scholars have produced important works on Cold War history. As the latest publications in China show, Chinese scholars have been gradually adopting a more evenhanded approach in their writings about the Cold War. They have also expanded international cooperation by conducting joint research projects and engaging in meaningful academic dialogues with foreign scholars. This article offers a review of the field, including a survey of new Chinese sources, the leading Chinese scholars, and their main research interests and contributions. The article also points out the challenges, obstacles, and opportunities of the field in China.
Predictors of the Placement of Cognitively Impaired Residents on Special Care Units.

Nursing homes that have both special care units (SCUs) and traditional units were examined to determine the factors that cause homes to place cognitively impaired residents on the specialized units. Wandering, other problem behaviors, and Medicaid status were not significant predictors of placement. Logistic regression results indicated that functional status was the critical placement factor.
Periodic zoospore production by Protosiphon botryoides under alternating light-dark periods.

The effect of light-dark periods, of 24 hr or longer complete cycle, on time of zoospore production by Protosiphon botryoides KMebs was investigated in unstirred flask cultures and in stirred cultures supplied 1 % C02 in air. Synchronized zoospore production was observed in both types of cultures. In stirred cultures supplied 1% C02 a light-dark cycle of 36-12 hr gave better synchrony than did a cycle of 12-12 or 60-12 hr. Illumination by cool-white fluorescent bulbs inhibited zoospore formation strongly, possibly by inhibiting cytoplasmic cleavage in parent cells. Darkness, in comparison to illumination, promoted the formation of zoospores, and their synchronous production under alternating light-dark cycles occurred as a consequence.
Institutional Context and Reduction of the Resource Bias in Political Sophistication

I argue that institutional context conditions the effect of socioeconomic resources on individuals' levels of political sophistication. Specifically, because the decision to become sophisticated is quite expensive for citizens at the lower end of the SES scale, the relatively high levels of free information produced in certain party and electoral system contexts leads disproportionately large numbers of these citizens-as compared to those with more resources-to decide to become politically sophisticated. I formulate and test (using OLS regression) a conditional model of political sophistication that includes institutional context variables, a “resources” factor score, and interaction terms representing the product of “resources” and each of these context variables. The model is supported empirically. The interaction term coefficients have signs that are the reverse of those for the context variables, indicating that the effect of resources on sophistication is greater or smaller depending on the value of ...
Mechanism of Low Temperature Inactivation of a Heat-Resistant Bacterial Protease in Milk

Abstract The heat-resistant protease MC60 underwent a conformational transition at 55 C which resulted in loss of enzyme activity. Under certain conditions, this loss was irreversible. In the absence of sufficient substrate, the transition rendered the altered protease susceptible to autolysis. Heating high concentrations of enzyme in milk resulted in loss of enzyme activity by the formation of an enzyme-casein aggregate and by autolysis. Experiments with radioactively-labeled protease showed that low concentrations of enzyme in milk were inactivated only by aggregation with casein micelles. Aggregation and autolysis in milk were prevented by high concentrations of sodium chloride or urea, and aggregation was reversed with 6 M urea at elevated temperatures. The possibility of inactivating heat-resistant enzymes at low temperatures (55 C) may be applicable to other food systems.
Evidence that Most Binaries Do not Evolve after the Primaries Reach the Main Sequence

ABSTRACT.Assuming that binaries are formed in three-body interactions in clusters, we wonder whether the process continues after the stars reach the main sequence. We considered the 233 binaries with known orbital elements that are main-sequence members in 69 open clusters, and looked for changes (presumably decreases) in separations or periods and eccentricities. We found none that are statistically significant, indicating that most binaries are fully formed by the time that their primaries reach the main sequence.
Relationship between energy requirements for Na reabsorption and other renal functions

In the intact organism, while the kidney is only ∼1% of total body weight, it utilizes approximately 10% of the whole body O 2 consumption (Q-O 2 ). Because there is a linear relationship between change in Na+ reabsorption and suprabasal renal O 2 consumption, the high suprabasal renal Q-O 2 has been attributed principally to the energy requirements for reabsorption of the filtered load of Na + [1–3]. The basal metabolism is the energy which is required for the maintenance of the renal tissue integrity and turnover of its constituents without measurable external (net transport or net synthetic) work being done. However, there is now considerable evidence that there are other suprabasal functions of the kidney which change in parallel with Na + reabsorption and which require an energy input separate from that used for Na + transport. Thus, while there is little doubt that the rate of glomerular filtration initiates and determines the major portion of the renal suprabasal QO 2 , this paper focuses on two questions: (1) Is the renal suprabasal O 2 uptake related only to Na+ reabsorption? (2) Is the suprabasal O 2 uptake also related to other renal functions which are proportional similarly to the rate of glomerular filtration and which also contribute to the regulation of the volume and composition of the body fluids?
A new graph-theoretic, multi-objective layout decomposition framework for double patterning lithography

As Double Patterning Lithography(DPL) becomes the leading candidate for sub-30nm lithography process, we need a fast and lithography friendly decomposition framework. In this paper, we propose a multi-objective min-cut based decomposition framework for stitch minimization, balanced density, and overlay compensation, simultaneously. The key challenge of DPL is to accomplish high quality decomposition for large-scale layouts under reasonable runtime with the following objectives: a) the number of stitches is minimized, b) the balance between two decomposed layers is maximized for further enhanced patterning, c) the impact of overlay on coupling capacitance is reduced for less timing variation. We use a graph theoretic algorithm for minimum stitch insertion and balanced density. An additional decomposition constraints for self-overlay compensation are obtained by integer linear programming(ILP). With the constraints, global decomposition is executed by our modified FM graph partitioning algorithm. Experimental results show that the proposed framework is highly scalable and fast: we can decompose all 15 benchmark circuits in five minutes in a density balanced fashion, while an ILP-based approach can finish only the smallest five circuits. In addition, we can remove more than 95% of the timing variation induced by overlay for tested structures.
Basic wax contouring for complete dentures

The form and contour of the polished surface of the denture base is an important factor in the appearance and function of complete dentures. It is the responsibility of the dentist to insure that the dental laboratory technician reproduces the proper anatomic contour of the denture base. With attention to details in the final wax-up, the finishing procedures will be minimal. The use of high shine is all that is needed to polish. If anatomy is lost in the investing procedure, and it is necessary to recarve it with acrylic resin burs, then it will be necessary to use both coarse and fine pumice and high shine to complete the dentures (Figs. 15 to 17). When one applies these basic principles, a denture surface is produced that will be both refreshing and natural in appearance and aid in the stability of the dentures in function. To our patients who are contemplating prosthodontic replacements, it should remove the fear of having to submit to accepting an unnatural restoration.
History of the Tesseract OCR engine: what worked and what didn't

This paper describes the development history of the Tesseract OCR engine, and compares the methods to general changes in the field over a similar time period. Emphasis is placed on the lessons learned with the goal of providing a primer for those interested in OCR research.
Pregerminative leaching losses from seeds

Leaching losses from seeds of several species were found to vary with incubation temperature, duration of imbibition up to 24 hours, scarification treatment, and flooding of the substrate. A portion of the total amount leached was lost readily to the external medium. The bulk of the total solids leached was adsorbable on charcoal; minerals, ninhydrin-positive substances, and sugars were found also in appreciable concentrations.
Long-chain hydrocarbon profiles of grapefruit juice sacs

Abstract Saturated and mono-unsaturated long-chain hydrocarbons were determined in juice sacs of three grapefruit varieties—Marsh Seedless, Redblush and Foster. In the saturated fraction, the dominant linear hydrocarbon was C 25 while C 29 predominated in the monoene fraction. Iso- and anteiso-branched hydrocarbons comprised between 52 and 53% of the saturated fraction but only 9–12% of the monoene. The saturated and mono-unsaturated hydrocarbon profiles of Marsh Seedless, Redblush and Foster were similar. The theoretical relationship of citrus fatty acids to hydrocarbon synthesis was explored and indicated that the primary method of synthesis was via an elongation-decarboxylation pathway. The possibility that some head-to-head condensation was also occurring in hydrocarbon synthesis was indicated by the presence of odd-numbered, anteiso-branched hydrocarbons.
Gastrin release in fistula dogs with solid compared to nutrient and nonnutrient liquid meals.

Using conscious gastric fistula dogs, gastrin release stimulated by a 360-g meat-based solid meal was compared to that stimulated by two isocaloric (1 kcal/g), hypertonic (∼700 mosm/kg) nutrient liquids (Sustacal and Vivonex) and by two nonnutrient, hypotonic (60 mosm/kg) liquids (mannitol and coffee). Serum gastrin levels were measured at 15- to 30-min intervals over 120 min. Without a meal, serum gastrin levels remained stable. Effectiveness in stimulating gastrin release was coffee = mannitol < Sustacal = Vivonex < solid food; 2-hr integrated gastrin responses were 1.2, 2.6, 4.3, 5.6, and 12.2 ng/ml/min, respectively. The greater gastrin responses produced by nutrient liquids and meat meals could be explained by slower emptying and delayed acidification of gastric contents. We conclude that solid meals are preferable to liquid meals in studies of antral gastrin release.
Assessing the Impact of Paternal Involvement on Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Infant Mortality Rates

We sought to assess the contribution of paternal involvement to racial disparities in infant mortality. Using vital records data from singleton births in Florida between 1998 and 2005, we generated odds ratios (OR), 95% confidence intervals (CI), and preventative fractions to assess the association between paternal involvement and infant mortality. Paternal involvement status was based on presence/absence of paternal first and/or last name on the birth certificate. Disparities in infant mortality were observed between and within racial/ethnic subpopulations. When compared to Hispanic (NH)-white women with involved fathers, NH-black women with involved fathers had a two-fold increased risk of infant mortality whereas infants born to black women with absent fathers had a seven-fold increased risk of infant mortality. Elevated risks of infant mortality were also observed for Hispanic infants with absent fathers (OR = 3.33. 95%CI = 2.66–4.17). About 65–75% of excess mortality could be prevented with increased paternal involvement. Paternal absence widens the black-white gap in infant mortality almost four-fold. Intervention programs to improve perinatal paternal involvement may decrease the burden of absent father-associated infant mortality.
Optimized holographic grating solution for Rowland circle spectrographs

A new solution to the holographic grating equations designed for use in high resolution FUV applications is presented. The solution is shown through ray tracing to provide a sizable resolution enhancement over conventional Rowland circle grating solutions through the minimization of various aberration terms, especially astigmatism. This new design promises to also provide diffraction limited performance across a very large wavelength range.
Genetic architecture of Wistar-Kyoto rat and spontaneously hypertensive rat substrains from different sources

The spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) has been widely used as a model for studies of hypertension and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. The inbred Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rat, derived from the same ancestral outbred Wistar rat as the SHR, are normotensive and have been used as the closest genetic control for the SHR, although the WKY has also been used as a model for depression. Notably, however, substantial behavioral and genetic differences among the WKY substrains, usually from the different vendors and breeders, have been observed. These differences have often been overlooked in prior studies, leading to inconsistent and even contradictory findings. The complicated breeding history of the SHR and WKY rats and the lack of a comprehensive understanding of the genetic background of different commercial substrains make the selection of control rats a daunting task, even for researchers who are mindful of their genetic heterogeneity. In this study, we examined the genetic relationship of 16 commonly used WKY and SHR rat substrains using genome-wide SNP genotyping data. Our results confirmed a large genetic divergence and complex relationships among the SHR and WKY substrains. This understanding, although incomplete without the genome sequence, provides useful guidance in selecting substrains and helps to interpret previous reports when the source of the animals was known. Moreover, we found two closely related, yet distinct WKY substrains that may provide novel opportunities in modeling psychiatric disorders.
The information content of closed-end country fund discounts

Abstract This paper examines whether premiums and discounts on closed-end country mutual funds (CECFs) contain useful information about future returns. We find that higher CECF premiums are associated both with higher future returns on the relevant foreign market index and with higher future NAV returns after controlling for the foreign market return. CECFs trading at large discounts are not necessarily bargains, because their future NAV performance can be expected to be relatively poor.
A Functional LIL for Stochastic Integrals and the Lévy Area Process

A functional law of the iterated logarithm is obtained for processes given by certain stochastic integrals. This extends earlier results by Shi(12) and Remillard(10) who established analogues of the classical limit results of Chung(4) for a variety of processes, including Levy’s stochastic area process. The functional aspects of our results are motivated by a paper of Wichura(13) on Brownian motion. Proofs depend on small ball probability estimates, and yield the small ball probabilities of the weighted sup-norm for the processes given by these stochastic integrals.
Tracking the what and why of speakers’ choices: Prosodic boundaries and the length of constituents

The rational speaker hypothesis (Clifton, Carlson, & Frazier, 2002) claims that speakers are self-consistent, employing intonation in a manner consistent with their intended message. Preceding a constituent by a prosodic boundary that is not required by the grammar often signals that this constituent is not part of the immediately preceding phrase. However, speakers tend to place prosodic boundaries before and after long constituents. The question is whether prosodic boundaries will have a larger influence on listeners' choice of an analysis when they flank short constituents than when they flank long ones. The results of two listening experiments indicate that they do, suggesting that listeners attend not just to properties of the input signal, but also to the reasons why speakers produce those properties.
Determinants of labor force activity among retired men.

Sociological research on older workers has tended to focus on the timing of retirement. Relatively little attention has been directed to post-retirement labor force patterns. Using data from the National Longitudinal Surveys of older men, this article investigates the impact of social and demographic factors, mediating variables such as retirement benefits, preretirement attitudes toward work, and health on work activity during retirement. While job opportunities determined by preretirement occupation and industrial sector do exert some effect on postretirement work activity, the individual-level constraints of poor health and low retirement benefits appear to be of central importance in determining labor force activity of retired men.
Cryoanalgesia with dichlorotetrafluoroethane lessens the pain of botulinum toxin injections for the treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis.

Background. Hyperhidrosis is a troublesome problem that can be embarrassing in both social and professional situations. Botulinum toxin injections have proven efficacious in the treatment of hyperhidrosis. However, when treating palmar hyperhidrosis, pain at the injection site limits this therapy. We describe a method of cryoanalgesia using dichlorotetrafluoroethane to lessen the pain of botulinum toxin injections during the treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis. Objective. To show the successful use of dichlorotetrafluoroethane or Frigiderm in the treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis. Methods. This is a case report of a patient with a 20-year history of palmar hyperhidrosis who had previously tried several unsuccessful techniques to control pain during botulinum toxin injections to his palms. The left hand of the patient was pretreated with a spray of Frigiderm for 5 seconds before each of the botulinum injections. Two to 3 seconds of dichlorotetrafluoroethane at a distance of 2 to 4 inches were sprayed before each palmar injection. There was 1 to 2 seconds of frosting on the skin before the botulinum toxin was administered. After the botulinum toxin injection was administered, the patient was subjectively asked about pain during injection. Results. The patient subjectively reported a 75% decrease in the intensity of pain with the Frigiderm application, which he said made the injections much more tolerable. No epidermal changes were noted at the time of treatment or at the telephone follow-up visit. The patient presented for follow-up 3 months later. He stated that the sweating had minimally returned but that he had not yet returned to baseline. Conclusion. The use of botulinum toxin for the treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis is often limited because of the pain of multiple injections. In this case report, we describe the successful use of cryoanalgesia with dichlorotetrafluoroethane or Frigiderm to lessen the pain of botulinum toxin injections during the treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis.
Carotid body noradrenergic sensitivity in ventilatory acclimatization to hypoxia

Abstract Norepinephrine inhibits ventilation in awake goats under normoxic, resting conditions. This inhibition is carotid body (CB) mediated and may be due to stimulation of noradrenergic receptors on the CB. Cao et al. ( FASEB J. A118, 1991) recently suggested that CB noradrenergic receptors may be down regulated following 24–36 hours of hypoxic exposure in cats. Our study was aimed at determining whether a change in noradrenergic receptor sensitivityo during ventilation acclimatization to hypoxia (VAH) was responsible for the increased sensitivity of the CB to hypoxia during prolonged exposure to hypoxia in goats. We tested this hypothesis using intracarotid infusions of norepinephrine (NE) (0.5, 1.0, 5.0 μg·kg −1 ·min − ) and dopamine (DA) (1.0 μg·kg −1 ·min −1 ) in awake goats under control normoxic conditions, during 4 h of isocapnic hypoxia, and upon return to normoxia. NE and DA (1.0 μg·kg −1 ·min −1 ) both inhibited control ventilation significantly during the intracarotid infusions (56% and 62% decreases, respectively). No significant differences were found between the pre- and post-hypoxic infusions of NE and DA in normoxia. During hypoxia, inhibitionp of Ve during NE adn DA infusions was attenuated relative to control. Time-dependent changes of the NE response were not apparent during the acclimatization period suggesting that a decreased carotid body chemoreceptor sensitivity to NE and DA is not responsible for the increased drive to breathe characteristic of ventilatory acclimatization to hypoxia.
Coupling the plasma interaction at Io to Jupiter

Io's interaction with the jovian magnetosphere causes auroral and radio emissions. This interaction can not be modeled as either an Alfven wave or a steady current loop alone. Given the Galileo measurement of low flow velocities in Io's wake, we argue that the interaction begins as an Alfvenic disturbance but as the disturbance is convected downstream it has time to evolve into a steady current loop. We associate high latitude phenomena with different phases of the interaction.
Rapidly progressive primary leptomeningeal atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor: A report of 2 cases

Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor is a rare, highly malignant central nervous system tumor most commonly occurring in very young children. Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor most often presents as an expanding mass with symptoms consistent with the location of the tumor and may present with metastatic leptomeningeal disease. The authors describe 2 cases of rapidly progressive, diffuse leptomeningeal atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor without a solid primary mass. These cases demonstrate a clinical picture that can easily be confused with a basilar meningitis, encephalomyelitis, or vasculitis.
Application of a Probabilistic Ammonia Model: Identification of Important Model Inputs and Critique of a TMDL Analysis for an Urban Lake

ABSTRACT Modeling analyses are conducted with a probabilistic mass balance ammonia model to demonstrate the important role that specifications of model inputs and toxicity standards by regulators can play in determining the assimilative capacity of polluted Onondaga Lake, NY, and to support a critical review of a related Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) analysis. More than 90% of the ammonia received by the lake is from a municipal wastewater treatment plant (Metro). It was found that various decisions to be made by regulators in management applications of the model greatly influence the lake's apparent assimilative capacity (TMDL). In particular, the following issues were critical: (1) anticipated hypolimnetic oxygenation treatment, (2) previously documented in-lake nitrification events, (3) effects of residual industrial pollution on pH, (4) effects of uncertainties and potential bias in pH measurements, (5) anticipated increases in population growth served by Metro, and (6) revisions in national guidanc...
Autocrine epidermal growth factor signaling stimulates directionally persistent mammary epithelial cell migration.

Cell responses to soluble regulatory factors may be strongly influenced by the mode of presentation of the factor, as in matrix-bound versus diffusible modes. The possibly diverse effect of presenting a growth factor in autocrine as opposed to exogenous (or paracrine) mode is an especially important issue in cell biology. We demonstrate here that migration behavior of human mammary epithelial cells in response to stimulation by epidermal growth factor (EGF) is qualitatively different for EGF presented in exogenous (paracrine), autocrine, and intracrine modes. When EGF is added as an exogenous factor to the medium of cells that express EGF receptor (EGFR) but not EGF, cell migration speed increases while directional persistence decreases. When these EGFR-expressing cells are made to also express via retroviral transfection EGF in protease-cleaveable transmembrane form on the plasma membrane, migration speed similarly increases, but directional persistence increases as well. Addition of exogenous EGF to these cells abrogates their enhanced directional persistence, reducing their directionality to a level similar to wild-type cells. If the EGFR-expressing cells are instead transduced with a gene encoding EGF in a soluble form, migration speed and directional persistence were unaffected. Thus, autocrine presentation of EGF at the plasma membrane in a protease-cleavable form provides these cells with an enhanced ability to migrate persistently in a given direction, consistent with their increased capability for organizing into gland-like structures. In contrast, an exogenous/paracrine mode of EGF presentation generates a “scattering” response by the cells. These findings emphasize the functional importance of spatial restriction of EGFR signaling, and suggest critical implications for growth factor–based therapeutic treatments.
A liquid state least-squares procedure for obtaining solid state multicomponent diffusion coefficients from diffusion couples

A procedure is developed for analyzing combined concentration profiles from multicomponent solid-state diffusion data obtained with free-diffusion boundary conditions. This procedure is exactly analogous to the analysis of liquid-state diffusion data obtained from free-diffusion refractive-index profiles (e.g. from Rayleigh interferometry). All data from all couples are least-squared together to characterize the diffusion coefficient matrix. Different profile weightings provide interesting alternatives, as well as diagnostics. Symmetric averagings are shown to eliminate or reduce effects of concentration dependence.
Ameliorative effects of an augmented acoustic environment on age-related hearing loss in middle-aged Fischer 344/NHsd rats.

Objectives/Hypothesis: To investigate the effects of an augmented acoustic environment (AAE) on age-related hearing loss (ARHL) and outer hair cell (OHC) pathology in middle-aged Fischer 344/ NHsd (F344/NHsd) rats. Methods: Eleven F344/NHsd rats were divided into two groups: 1) the AAE group (n = 5), which was exposed to 4―20 kHz broadband noise at 80 dB SPL for 12 h/d, 5 d/wk for 13 weeks starting from 16 months of age; and 2) the control group (n = 6), which did not receive the AAE during the same time span. Auditory brainstem response thresholds were obtained at different time points, and OHC pathology was examined after 13 weeks of AAE using propidium iodide and antiprestin antibody staining. Results: The AAE-treated rats showed smaller mean threshold shifts (―1 to ―3 dB) at 20―40 kHz than the control group (7.5―16.7 dB) at 13 weeks. No significant group differences were observed in the percentage of missing OHCs or abnormal OHC nuclei. However, examination of prestin in a pair of AAE and control rats revealed more uniform prestin staining intensity among OHCs in the AAE-treated cochlea than in the control cochlea. Conclusions: Thirteen-week AAE treatment in the middle-aged F344/NHsd rats slowed progression of ARHL. The AAE did not show a significant effect on OHC degeneration, but it is speculated that the AAE may maintain the integrity of prestin to preserve OHC functionality. However, further study is warranted to understand the protective mechanism of AAE as an intervention against ARHL.
Physician counseling for hypertension: what do doctors really do?

Abstract Objective To describe patient counseling by physicians on hypertension and lifestyle and assess its impact on participants’ satisfaction. Methods An analysis was conducted of transcripts of audio-recorded outpatient visits, augmented with patient and physician surveys. Participants were 30 primary care physicians, 11 cardiologists, and 120 hypertensive patients. Each transcript was coded into categories descriptive of physicians’ counseling behaviors. Patients and physicians completed pre- and post-visit questionnaires; patients also completed a survey 2 weeks after their visit. Results Most physicians assessed patient medication adherence, but counseling on hypertension and lifestyle was limited. Receipt of lifestyle counseling had a positive, short-lived impact on patient satisfaction. Physicians reported greater satisfaction with visits characterized by more lifestyle counseling. Amount of counseling provided was unrelated to the presence of cardiovascular comorbidities. Provision of counseling was not associated with physicians’ perceptions of visit burden. Lifestyle counseling was associated with longer visits. Conclusion Hypertensive patients received relatively little information about hypertension and beneficial lifestyle changes. Practice Implications Office visits provide an important opportunity for physicians to reinforce key hypertension-related educational messages. Physicians could do more to underscore the importance of medication adherence and healthy living to their patients with hypertension.