cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Secrets of success: assessing the large increases in transit ridership achieved by Houston and San Diego transit providers

Abstract This paper summarizes and updates the findings from an earlier study by the same authors of transit systems in Houston (all bus) and San Diego (bus and light rail). Both systems achieved unusually large increases in transit ridership during a period in which most transit systems in other metropolitan areas were experiencing large losses. Based on ridership models estimated using cross section and time series data, the paper quantifies the relative contributions of policy variables and factors beyond the control of transit operators on ridership growth. It is found that large ridership increases in both areas are caused principally by large service increases and fare reductions, as well as metropolitan employment and population growth. In addition, the paper provides careful estimates of total and operating costs per passenger boarding and per passenger mile for Houston's bus operator and San Diego's bus and light rail operators. These estimates suggest that the bus systems are more cost-effective than the light rail system on the basis of total costs. Finally, the paper carries out a series of policy simulations to analyze the effects of transit funding levels and metropolitan development patterns on transit ridership and farebox recovery ratio.
Predicting guilt judgments and verdict change using a measure of pretrial bias in a videotaped mock trial with deliberating jurors

Abstract One important limitation of previous research involving measures of bias is that they rely heavily on brief methods of conveying trial information (case summaries) and participants typically do not deliberate as juries before rendering verdicts. In the present study, 183 jury-eligible college students completed the Pretrial Juror Attitudes Questionnaire (PJAQ) and the Juror Bias Scale, watched a videotaped simulated armed robbery trial, and rendered verdicts both before and after deliberating as juries. The results indicate that the PJAQ, and especially the subscales of System confidence and Conviction proneness, significantly predicts pre-deliberation verdicts as well as verdict change (i.e. the shift in verdicts from pre- to post-deliberation). Moreover, the PJAQ provides incremental predictive validity over a more commonly used measure of pretrial bias (the Juror Bias Scale) for pre- and post-deliberation verdicts, as well as providing incremental predictive validity with respect to a juror's ...
MODERNITY AS A CRISIS FOR THE JEWS

In popular consciousness Jews have become the very symbols of modernity. Although Spinoza was a heretic, Marx baptized a Christian at the age of six, and Freud the underminer of all transcendent faith, in the popular mind these shapers of modernity continue to be regarded as Jews, with apologists and critics alike ever and again seeking to link their modernity to their Jewish origins. More generally, affirmers of modernity have lauded the presence of Jews in the vanguard of intellectual innovation, while political movements of the extreme Left and Right have held Jews collectively responsible for fostering values that destroyed the medieval consensus and substituted a society of alienated individuals for an earlier harmonious community. Yet if indeed the Jews were instrumental in advancing critical thought and in the propagation of a capitalist ethos-a role much exaggerated by both their friends and their enemies -it is surely an irony that for the Jews themselves modernity initially presented such severe problems. Especially did it pose a crisis for the Jewish religion whose God (pace Karl Marx) was not "merely an illusory bill of exchange." Modernity, as the Jews of western and central Europe first encountered it in the eighteenth century, was seductive, for it seemed to offer liberation from political disabilities and from intellectual isolation. In their enthusiasm some Jews saw it not merely as the dawning of a new age, but greeted it with something approaching messianic enthusiasm. That it would also severely call into question the viability of Judaism and undermine Jewish solidarity was an outcome that a few Jews welcomed, others resisted, and many greeted with deep-seated ambivalence. My intent in this study is to analyze the nature of the challenge that modernity posed for the Jews, and especially for their religion, in the period when they first encountered it. What effects did that encounter have? How did Jewish thinkers attempt to reconcile Judaism and modernity? The undertaking is complicated by the shifting conceptual framework in which modernity presented itself to the Jews. While in its Enlightenment form it called forth one set of responses, post-Enlighten-
Phylogenetic Relationships among Deep-Sea and Chemosynthetic Sea Anemones: Actinoscyphiidae and Actinostolidae (Actiniaria: Mesomyaria)

Sea anemones (Cnidaria, Actiniaria) are present in all marine ecosystems, including chemosynthetic environments. The high level of endemicity of sea anemones in chemosynthetic environments and the taxonomic confusion in many of the groups to which these animals belong makes their systematic relationships obscure. We use five molecular markers to explore the phylogenetic relationships of the superfamily Mesomyaria, which includes most of the species that live in chemosynthetic, deep-sea, and polar sea habitats and to test the monophyly of the recently defined clades Actinostolina and Chemosynthina. We found that sea anemones of chemosynthetic environments derive from at least two different lineages: one lineage including acontiate deep-sea taxa and the other primarily encompassing shallow-water taxa.
Implementation of a local grid refinement technique in modeling slanted, undulating horizontal and multi-lateral wells

Deviated holes and horizontal wells are nowadays more often exercised in developing oil and gas fields because of their potential benefits of increasing the drainage area. Recently, multi-lateral/multi-branch well technology has also been in the spotlight, especially in offshore field development projects. Forecasting the economic feasibility of deviated, horizontal, and multi-lateral wells requires a reliable and accurate representation of these wells in numerical models to mimic their expected production performances. In this paper, we describe the implementation a local grid refinement method into a three-dimensional simulator to model flow performances of slanted, undulating horizontal, and multi-lateral/multi-branch wells. The constructed model does not utilize an equivalent wellblock radius as used in a conventional wellbore model, but utilizes the residual equation to determine the flow into the well. Physical architectures of wells are approximated as a collection of fine rectangular cells. Only the coarse blocks that are hosting wells are locally refined in all three dimensions. Fine and coarse grids are coupled, and flow equations are solved simultaneously. The developed model provides accurate results even for early times of simulation for any wellbore architecture (slanted, undulating, multi-branch etc.) under consideration. The model does not require the computation of an equivalent wellblock radius, which may be difficult to determine accurately, especially for horizontal wells located in thin reservoirs. The proposed model can be used as a design tool in developing complex fields; for instance, to determine whether a deviated hole or an undulating horizontal well would be a better candidate in a laminated reservoir with varying vertical permeability. Another application of the model is its potential use in pressure transient analysis as it offers significant capabilities in analyzing the early time data, which contains crucial information for well test analysis. The model results have been tested against the available analytical solutions and/or the existing numerical codes utilizing wellbore equations for vertical and horizontal wells under both sandface and flow rate specifications, and close agreements are observed. The comparison of proposed slanted well representation against existing models that employ a skin factor to represent the deviation is presented for isotropic and anisotropic systems. Applications of predicting flow performances of undulating horizontal and multi-lateral wells are also demonstrated for various systems.
Puma is required for p53-induced depletion of adult stem cells

Mammalian ageing is accompanied by accumulation of genomic DNA damage and progressive decline in the ability of tissues to regenerate. DNA damage activates the tumour suppressor p53, which leads to cell-cycle arrest, senescence or apoptosis. The stability and activity of p53 are induced by DNA damage through posttranslational modifications such as phosphorylation of Thr 21 and Ser 23 (refs 2, 3, 4, 5). To investigate the roles of DNA damage and p53 in tissue-regenerative capability, two phosphorylation-site mutations (T21D and S23D) were introduced into the endogenous p53 gene in mice, so that the synthesized protein mimics phosphorylated p53. The knock-in mice exhibit constitutive p53 activation and segmental progeria that is correlated with the depletion of adult stem cells in multiple tissues, including bone marrow, brain and testes. Furthermore, a deficiency of Puma, which is required for p53-dependent apoptosis after DNA damage, rescues segmental progeria and prevents the depletion of adult stem cells. These findings suggest a key role of p53-dependent apoptosis in depleting adult stem cells after the accumulation of DNA damage, which leads to a decrease in tissue regeneration.
Repeat Pull-Through Surgery for Complicated Hirschsprung's Disease: Indications, Techniques, and Results

Abstract Background: Most children with Hirschsprung's disease (HD) do well after a pull-through procedure. In the occasional child in which the operation fails, a repeat procedure may be necessary. Methods: Nine children with HD aged 20 months to 9 years underwent repeat pull-through over a 4-year period. Original pull-throughs (six Soave, two Swenson, one Duhamel) were performed elsewhere 12 to 95 months earlier (median, 36 months). Indications for revision were stricture unresponsive to dilatation (n = 3) and acquired aganglionosis (n = 6). One of the latter had associated segmental intestinal neuronal dysplasia. One child with a stricture after a Swenson procedure underwent a repeat Swenson. The other eight underwent reconstruction using a Duhamel technique. Five had a defunctioning stoma before or at the time of repeat surgery. Results: Median follow-up was 15 months (range, 4 to 40 months). Complications included wound infection (n = 2), anastomotic bleeding (n = 2), stoma leak (n = 1) or stenosis (n = 1), "kinking" at the top of the Duhamel (n = 1), and persistent septum (n = 1). Three patients have had a good outcome with normal stool patterns. One has intermittent soiling, and one has what is believed to be stool-holding behavior. Four have persistent obstructive symptoms caused by sphincter hypertonicity, which are being successfully managed nonoperatively. Conclusions: Repeat pull-through surgery can be performed safely in appropriately selected patients. Duhamel reconstruction usually is preferred for technical reasons, and a stoma is not always necessary. Outcome is generally favorable, but anal sphincter hypertonicity may cause persistent symptoms in some patients.
Effect of high-pressure oxygen annealing in promoting superconductivity in YSr2Cu2.7Fe0.3Oy: Evidence for Fe coordination number change in the chains.

A superconducting transition temperature ({ital T}{sub {ital c}}) of 60 K and a shielding fraction ({ital V}{sub sh}) of nearly 100{percent} is achieved in tetragonal YSr{sub 2}Cu{sub 2.7}Fe{sub 0.3}O{sub {ital y}} samples only after high pressure (27 MPa) oxygen annealing at 915{degree}C. On the other hand, samples synthesized at ambient pressure become barely superconducting ({ital T}{sub {ital c}}{sup max}{approx_equal}30 K, {ital V}{sub sh}{approx_equal}4{percent}) even after prolonged annealing in an oxygen ambient. {sup 57}Fe M{umlt o}ssbauer spectroscopy measurements suggest that in samples synthesized at ambient pressure, Fe cations localized in the chains are present in metastable corner-sharing tetrahedral units (site {ital A}). At high oxygen pressures these sites ({ital A}) trap oxygen locally to form distorted trigonal bipyramid units (site {ital C}) which promote superconductivity as revealed by magnetization measurements. Fe cations at site {ital C} act as effective flux-pinning sites, with such samples displaying not only a large intragrain critical current ({ital J}{sup {ital m}}{sub {ital c}}) but also a secondary peak in {ital J}{sup {ital m}}{sub {ital c}} at a finite external field characteristic of flux pinning in a quasi-two-dimensional material. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}
Decreased caudate N-acetyl-l-aspartic acid in pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder and the effects of behavior therapy

The current study used magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to investigate differences in absolute levels of neurochemicals in the head of the caudate nucleus (HOC) and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) between 15 children with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and a matched control group, as well as the effects of behavior therapy on these chemicals. At baseline, absolute levels of N-acetyl-l-aspartate (NAA) in the left HOC were significantly lower in non-medicated patients (N=8) with OCD compared to medicated patients (N=5) and compared to matched controls (N=9). Exploratory analyses provided preliminary data suggesting that behavior therapy is associated with a decrease in Glx (glutamate+glutamine) in the right HOC (N=7). The baseline differences in NAA replicate previous finding from the adult literature and show a relationship between NAA in OCD across the lifespan. The changes in Glx raise the possibility that behavior therapy and medication treat OCD symptoms through similar pathways.
Changes in NAD(P)+-dependent malic enzyme and malate dehydrogenase activities during fibroblast proliferation.

A sensitive isotope exchange method was developed to assess the requirements for and compartmentation of pyruvate and oxalacetate production from malate in proliferating and nonproliferating human fibroblasts. Malatedependent pyruvate production (malic enzyme activity) in the particulate fraction containing the mitochondria was dependent on either NAD+ or NADP+. The production of pyruvate from malate in the soluble, cytosolic fraction was strictly dependent on NADP+. Oxalacetate production from malate (malate dehydrogenase, EC 1.1.1.37) in both the particulate and soluble fraction was strictly dependent on NAD+. Relative to nonproliferating cells, NAD+-linked malic enzyme activity was slightly reduced and the NADP+-linked activity was unchanged in the particulate fraction of serum-stimulated, exponentially proliferating cells. However, a reduced activity of particulate malate dehydrogenase resulted in a two-fold increase in the ratio of NAD(P)+-linked malic enzyme to NAD+-linked malate dehydrogenase activity in the particulate fraction of proliferating fibroblasts. An increase in soluble NADP+-dependent malic enzyme activity and a decrease in NAD+-linked malate dehydrogenase indictated an increase in the ratio of pyruvate-producing to oxalacetate-producing malate oxidase activity in the cytosol of proliterating cells. These coordinate changes may affect the relative amount of malate that is oxidized to oxalacetate and pyruvate in proliferating cells and, therefore, the efficient utilization of glutamine as a respiratory fuel during cell proliferation.
Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures and chronic pain: a retrospective case-controlled study.

Abstract Purpose Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) can be challenging to diagnose, but certain clinical features can help to distinguish PNES from epileptic seizures. The purpose of this study is to assess chronic pain and prescribed pain medication use in PNES patients. Methods A case-controlled, retrospective analysis was performed examining pain medication use in 85 PNES patients versus an active control group of 85 patients with idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE). Results Chronic pain was more frequent among PNES patients (N = 40) than active controls (N = 10) (p Conclusions Patients with PNES are more likely than those with IGE to report chronic pain disorders. A history of chronic pain and opioid use among patients with seizures raises the possibility of PNES. Among patients with PNES and chronic pain, a psychogenic etiology for pain and non-opiate pain management strategies should be considered.
Expert property negotiators and pricing information, revisited

Builds on a previous study and examines the influence of asking prices as anchors in the real property negotiating process. Previous studies have shown that the human mind uses short cuts (heuristics) in process information. Describes a study which gives further evidence that negotiators familiar with real property will, in many cases, devalue cognitively difficult pricing information and base their negotiation expectations on the seller’s asking price. Concludes that the seller’s asking price is thus a potential source of bias.
Can ED staff accurately estimate the weight of adult patients

Abstract Purpose The purpose of the study was to determine the accuracy of adult weight estimates by emergency department personnel. Basic procedures This was a prospective, nonrandomized, observational study in a university tertiary referral center. All patient care staff and all adult patients were eligible. Patients were weighed at the bedside, then staff were asked individually for estimates. Data were analyzed using SPSS general linear modeling procedures (SPSS, Chicago, IL) to obtain a generalized analysis of variance. Main findings Eighty-seven staff provided 957 estimates on 241 patients. Providers were within 5% of true weight on 33% of estimates (95% confidence interval [CI], 28-38). In our a priori subgroups, a significant difference was noted only for body mass index (BMI); percentages of correct estimates were 16% (95% CI, 0-33; n = 33) for BMI 30 (P Principal conclusions Emergency department personnel provided accurate weights in only 33% of estimates. Estimates became significantly less accurate in underweight and obese patients (defined by BMI).
Electrocatalysis in Nucleic Acid Molten Salts

This paper describes redox chemistry in semisolid molten salts ionic liquids of DNA in which the counterions of the phosphates are redox-active metal complexes with bipyridine ligands labeled with MW 350 poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) “tails”, e.g., M(bpy350)3DNA (where M = Co, Ni, and bpy350 = 4,4‘-(CH3(OCH2CH2)7OCO)2-2,2‘-bipyridine). Other redox-active metal complexes are added to the M(bpy350)3DNA melt: (a) the PEG-tailed metal bipyridine complexes Fe(bpy350)3(ClO4)2 and Ru(bpy350)3(ClO4)2 and (b) the nontailed complexes Os(bpy)3Cl2 (bpy = 2,2‘-bipyridine) and Os(bpy)2dppzCl2 (dppz = dipyridophenazine). In example a, electrogeneration of the powerful oxidizers [Fe(bpy350)3]3+ and [Ru(bpy350)3]3+ gives microelectrode voltammetry indicative of electrocatalytic oxidation of DNA base sites. Since physical diffusion of the metal complexes is slow in the viscous semisolids (and that of DNA is nil), the rate of electron hopping between the base sites of the DNA becomes a significant contributor to the overall ...
Land use context and natural soil controls on plant community composition and soil nitrogen and carbon dynamics in urban and rural forests.

Forests embedded in an urban matrix are a useful venue for investigating the effects of multiple factors such as climate change, altered disturbance regimes and species invasions on forest ecosystems. Urban forests also represent a significant land area, with potentially important effects on landscape and regional scale nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) storage and flux. We measured forest community composition, litterfall, leaf area index, soil chemical properties, in situ net N mineralization and nitrification, soil and soil solution inorganic N pools, and soil:atmosphere fluxes of nitrous oxide (N2O), carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) in eight forest stands that differed in their exposure to urban atmospheric conditions and natural soil conditions (high versus low fertility). Our objectives were (1) to compare the influence of urban land use context and natural soil controls on forest composition and C and N cycling processes and (2) to evaluate the importance of “natural” N cycle processes relative to anthropogenic N fluxes in the urban landscape. Forest productivity and N cycling varied more with soil type than with proximity to urban land use, while forest composition and soil:atmosphere fluxes of CO2 and CH4 were more strongly influenced by exposure to an urban land use matrix and atmosphere. The magnitude of natural processes was important in the context of urban and suburban landscapes, i.e. production of, and annual variation in, inorganic N in forest patches was large relative to watershed-scale atmospheric deposition, fertilizer use and food/sewage fluxes that have been measured in other studies in these study landscapes.
Traceable siRNA delivery with quantum dots

A new generation of drug carrier that allows efficient delivery and real-time imaging of siRNA in live cells has been developed by combining nanoparticles and amphiphilic polymers. Compared with the classic siRNA carriers such as Lipofectamin and polyetheleneimine, this new class of nanocarrier works in both serum-free and complete cell culture media, which is advantageous over Lipofectamine. It also outperforms polyethyleneimine in gene silencing under both conditions with significantly reduced toxicity. Furthermore, the core nanoparticles provide a mechanism for real-time imaging of siRNA delivery. This new multifunctional, compact, and traceable nanocarrier is expected to yield important information on rational design of siRNA carriers and to have widespread applications of siRNA delivery and screening in vitro and in vivo.
Do Calcium Channel Blockers Have Renal Protective Effects

Calcium channel blockers are used in the treatment of hypertension because of their ability to decrease peripheral vascular resistance. Recent research has suggested that these drugs also preserve or improve renal function in patients with essential hypertensive renal disease or diabetic renal disease, and in renal transplant recipients with or without cyclosporin therapy. In general, studies in animal models of hypertension and in hypertensive humans have demonstrated reduction in renal vascular resistance, and preservation or enhancement of renal plasma flow and glomerular filtration rate. In addition, calcium channel blockers appear to have a positive effect on renal haemodynamic function in the setting of diabetes mellitus; prospective trials have also demonstrated reductions in urinary protein excretion in these patients. Current evidence suggests that calcium channel blockers are well-suited for the treatment of patients with hypertensive disease even in the presence of renal impairment, a clinical scenario common in the elderly population.
The Effect of Sacro Occipital Technique Category II Blocking on Spinal Ranges of Motion: A Case Series

Objective To describe changes in lumbar and cervical range of motion measurements after supine pelvic blocking as used in Sacro Occipital Technique (SOT). Methods Five subjects with sacroiliac distortion and instability were recruited and selected for SOT. Cervical and lumbar ranges of motion were measured before and after category II blocking procedures used to change pelvic mechanics. Pre- and post-measurements were taken by a blinded assessor using a Zebris ultrasonic motion detector. Results Changes were found in the lumbar spine only. Increased ranges of lumbar motion occurred in all planes except extension (21%-57%). Conclusion Supine pelvic blocking as used in SOT affected lumbar ranges of motion in these 5 cases. This may indicate that functional change in the pelvis results in changes in lumbar motion, especially lumbar flexion. Larger data sets are needed for further study.
Counseling Psychology and Social Justice Houston … We Have a Problem

The 4th National Counseling Psychology Conference presented a unique opportunity for our field to share our progress and contemplate future directions. Fouadet al. ’s accountis a contribution to the documentation of our profession’s history. Fouad et al. ’s article and the 4th National Counseling Psychology Conference can also be viewed as a continuation of our profession’s search for its identity. The authors of this reaction paper urge the counseling psychology profession to integrate a social change identity. Specific recommendations to effect this transformation are offered.
Credence and self-location

All parties to the Sleeping Beauty debate agree that it shows that some cherished principle of rationality has to go. Thirders think that it is Conditionalization and Reflection that must be given up or modified; halfers think that it is the Principal Principle. I offer an analysis of the Sleeping Beauty puzzle that allows us to retain all three principles. In brief, I argue that Sleeping Beauty’s credence in the uncentered proposition that the coin came up heads should be 1/2, but her credence in the centered proposition that the coin came up heads and it is Monday should be 1/3. I trace the source of the earlier mistakes to an unquestioned assumption in the debate, namely that an uncentered proposition is just a special kind of centered proposition. I argue that the falsity of this assumption is the real lesson of the Sleeping Beauty case.
Emergency department visits for gastrointestinal bleeding in children: results from the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample 2006-2011.

AbstractObjective:To describe the epidemiology and trends in pediatric gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding associated emergency department (ED) visits in the US.Methods:Estimates of GI bleeding associated ED visits were calculated in children from birth to 19 years of age using the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS).Results:From 2006 to 2011, there were an estimated total of 437,283 ED visits associated with diagnosis of GI bleeding. Specifically, there were 88,675 cases of upper GI bleeding, 132,102 cases of lower GI bleeding and 217,008 cases of unspecified GI bleeding. GI bleeding associated ED visits increased from 82.2/100,000 children in 2006 to 93.9/100,000 children in 2011 (14.3% increase; P < 0.01). The rate of increase was chiefly noted for lower GI bleeding (31.3%) followed by unspecified GI bleeding (10.4%) with a relatively minor increase in upper GI bleeding (1.1%). The greatest number of visits occurred in children 15–19 years of age (39.2%). A majority of patients underwent routine d...
The Adsorption of Formic Acid on Y Zeolites: An Infrared Absorbance Study.

Abstract : The adsorption of formic acid on an ammonium-Y (NH4-Y) zeolite and an ultrastable hydrogen-Y (H-Y) zeolite has been studied with transmission infrared spectroscopy. The formic acid is determined to be chemically adsorbed on both zeolites as bidentate formate ions and as covalently bonded unidentate formate species. Assuming uniform infrared extinction coefficients for the two adsorbed formates, the NH4-Y zeolite has comparable amounts of each surface species. (Author)
Overlay network resource allocation using a decentralized market-based approach

We present a decentralized market-based approach to resource allocation in a heterogeneous overlay network. This resource allocation strategy dynamically assigns resources in an overlay network to requests for service based on current system utilization, thus enabling the system to accommodate fluctuating demand for its resources. Our approach is based on a mathematical model of this resource allocation environment that treats the allocation of system resources as a constrained optimization problem. From the solution to the dual of this optimization problem, we derive a simple decentralized algorithm that is extremely efficient. Our results show the near optimality of the proposed approach through extensive simulation of this overlay network environment. The simulation study utilizes components taken from a real-world middleware application environment and clearly demonstrates the practicality of the approach in a realistic setting.
The evolution of metazoan extracellular matrix

The modular domain structure of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and their genes has allowed extensive exon/domain shuffling during evolution to generate hundreds of ECM proteins. Many of these arose early during metazoan evolution and have been highly conserved ever since. Others have undergone duplication and divergence during evolution, and novel combinations of domains have evolved to generate new ECM proteins, particularly in the vertebrate lineage. The recent sequencing of several genomes has revealed many details of this conservation and evolution of ECM proteins to serve diverse functions in metazoa.
Relationship of creative projects in anatomy to medical student professionalism, test performance and stress: an exploratory study.

Background: The anatomy course offers important opportunities to develop professionalism at an early stage in medical education. It is an academically significant course that also engenders stress in some students. Methods: Over a three-year period, 115 of 297 students completed creative projects. Thirty-four project completers and 47 non-completers consented to participate in the study. Projects were analyzed for professionalism themes using grounded theory. A subset of project completers and non-completers were interviewed to determine their views about the stress of anatomy and medical school, as well as the value of the creative projects. We also compared test performance of project completers and non-completers. Results: Projects completed early in the course often expressed ambivalence about anatomy, whereas later projects showed more gratitude and sense of awe. Project completers tended to report greater stress than noncompleters, but stated that doing projects reduced stress and caused them to develop a richer appreciation for anatomy and medicine. Project completers performed significantly lower than non-completers on the first written exam (pre-project). Differences between groups on individual exams after both the first and second creative project were nonsignificant. Conclusion: For some students, creative projects may offer a useful way of reflecting on various aspects of professionalism while helping them to manage stress.
Style Matching or Ability Building? An Empirical Study on FD Learners' Learning in Well-Structured and Ill-Structured Asynchronous Online Learning Environments

The present study investigated (1) the impact of cognitive styles on learner performance in well-structured and ill-structured learning, and (2) scaffolding as a cognitive tool to improve learners' cognitive abilities, especially field dependent (FD) learners' ability to thrive in an ill-structured learning environment. Two experiments were conducted with 116 college students recruited from a large research I university in the west of the United States. Experiment 1 (n = 42) employed the group learning strategy to match learners' cognitive styles in asynchronous online learning. The results showed that the style matching strategy failed to yield expected gains in ill-structured asynchronous learning for FD learners. Different from the style-matching strategy, experiment 2 (n = 74) used a scaffolding model proposed by Cazden (1988) to improve FD learners' cognitive abilities in asynchronous online learning. Results indicated that focusing on learners' cognitive abilities proved to be more effective than st...
Performance of heterostructure FET's in LSI

This paper reports a comparative evaluation of circuits based on heterostructure field-effect transistors (HFET's) for delay, noise-margin and power dissipation in unloaded and loaded configurations. n-channel enhancement/depletion (E/D) circuits operating at 300 and 77 K and complementary circuits operating at 77 K are compared with respect to each other. The paper also shows that a modified short-channel MOSFET model gives good agreement with experimental behavior of the devices and is adequate for evaluation. Fan-in (FI) sensitivities of delay are much smaller than fan-out (FO) sensitivities of delay for E/D circuits because of capacitive effects. E/D circuit delays are more fan-out sensitive at 300 K than at 77 K because of lower current capability. The fan-in sensitivity of the delay of complementary circuits is larger and is comparable to that circuit's fan-out sensitivity. Under loaded conditions (FI is 3, FO is 3, capacitance is 0.1 pF) at 77 K, 0.5-µm gate length E/D structures show gate delays near 50 ps and 1.0-µm gate length show gate delays near 75 ps. The circuits at 300K exhibit a doubling of the gate delay. The complementary circuits offer, at 77 K, a performance of 70 ps at 0.5-µm gate length and 140 ps at 1.0-µm gate length. The significant performance improvements of complementary circuits with reduction of gate lengths to submicrometer dimensions occurs primarily due to reduction in the device capacitances and secondarily due to improvement of current characteristics. They demonstrate noise margins that are more than 50 percent better than their E/D counterpart along with lower power dissipations. The larger noise margin may be a significant advantage because the small logic swings require stringent parasitic resistance and threshold voltage control.
The complexities of keeping the beat: dynamical structure in the nested behaviors of finger tapping

Recent research on fractal scaling in simple human behaviors (e.g., reaction time tasks) has demonstrated that different aspects of the performance (e.g., key presses and key releases) all reveal pink noise signals but yet are uncorrelated with one another in time. These studies have suggested that the independence of these signals might be due to the functional independence of these different sub-actions, given the task constraints. The current experiments investigated whether under a different set of constraints (e.g., finger tapping with and without a metronome) nested sub-actions might show interrelated dynamics, and whether manipulations affecting the fractal scaling of one also might have consequences for the scaling of others. Experiment 1 revealed that the inter-tap intervals and key-press durations of participants’ tapping behavior were dynamically related to one another and that the fractal scaling of both changed in the switch from self-paced to metronome-paced tapping. Consistent with past research, the inter-tap intervals changed toward an antipersistent, blue noise pattern of variation, but the key-press durations became even more persistent. Experiment 2 revealed that this pattern of results could be altered by asking participants to attempt to hold the key down for the entire length of the metronome tone. Specifically, the key-press duration of participants in the “hold” group became less persistent in the switch across task conditions. Collectively, the results of these experiments suggest that fractal scaling reliably reflects the functional relationships of the processes underlying task performance.
Intercomparison of submarine groundwater discharge estimates from a sandy unconfined aquifer

Summary Recent studies suggest that chemical loading from submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) may rival other major sources such as rivers in many coastal areas. SGD can occur as terrestrially-derived, typically fresh, groundwater discharge, or by seawater circulation through aquifer sediments. Because both terrestrial and recirculated seawater SGD can be significant sources of chemical loading to coastal waters, appropriate methods are needed to properly assess and quantify the rates and distribution of these different inputs. Although many techniques exist to quantify SGD, each method samples different components of SGD (e.g., fresh versus saline discharge) over different temporal and spatial scales. The result is that confusion exists about how to use the different methods. In this study, we investigate the applicability of a variety of techniques for estimating SGD from an unconfined sandy coastal aquifer. Physical methods are first used to understand the spatial variability of discharge. This information is then used with physical and geochemical data to estimate SGD. Investigative methods include direct measurement via seepage meters, hydrogeologic estimation using Darcy’s law, and tracer-based estimates using radon and radium isotopes. At our field site on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, nearshore landward topography appears to exert a significant control on the spatial variability of fresh groundwater discharge, presumably through its effects on evapotranspiration, and hence recharge, rates. The Darcy estimate of fresh SGD (4.0 m 3 m −1 d −1 ) is similar to a previous estimate made using a seepage meter transect that spans the seepage face. Radon serves as a valuable estimator of total SGD (fresh plus saline) (5.6 m 3 m −1 d −1 ). The difference between the total and fresh SGD estimates is in good agreement with the radium-based SGD estimate (0.56 m 3 m −1 d −1 ), which primarily measures saline circulation through coastal sediments. Thus, we conclude that the hydrogeologic estimate and radon and radium techniques are complimentary for estimating different components of total SGD at our field site.
Resonances of piezoelectric plate with embedded 2D electron system

A thin GaAs/AlGaAs plate was studied by the resonant ultrasound spectroscopy (RUS) in the temperature range 0.3–10 K and in magnetic fields of up to 18 T. The resonance frequencies and linewidths were measured. Quantum oscillations of both these values were observed and were associated with the quantum Hall effect occurred in the 2D electron system. For an analysis the sample was treated as a dielectric piezoelectric plate covered on one side by a film with a field dependent conductivity. Screening of the strain-driven electric field was changed due to the variation of the electron relaxation time in the vicinity of the metal-dielectric transitions caused by the magnetic field in the 2D system. The dielectric film does not affect properties of GaAs and thus the resonance frequencies are defined only by the elastic, piezoelectric and dielectric constants of GaAs. A metallic 2D sheet effectively screens the parallel electric field, so the ultrasound wave velocities and resonance frequencies decrease when the sheet conductivity increases. Oscillations of the resonance linewidth reflect the influence of the 2D system on the ultrasound attenuation, which is proportional to the linewidth. A metallic film as well as a dielectric one does not affect this attenuation but at some finite nonzero value of the conductivity the linewidth approaches a maximum. In high magnetic field each oscillation of the conductivity produces one oscillation of a resonance frequency and two linewidth peaks. The observed phenomena can be described by the relaxation type equations and the resonant ultrasound spectroscopy opens another opportunity for contactless studies on 2D electron systems.
Improved plasma cholesterol levels in men after a nutrition education program at the worksite

Abstract Eighty management-level male employees participated in a company-sponsored comprehensive physical that included determination of plasma total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride levels and percentage of body fat. After the lipid screening, each employee met with a registered dietitian who explained the results of the lipid analysis and discussed risk factors for coronary heart disease with an emphasis on diet. Seventy employees had a triglyceride level above 5.17 mmol/L and were invited to participate in a nutrition educational program. Thirty-three (mean age=44 years) chose to participate (intervention group); the other 37 (mean age=35 years) served as controls (control group). Thus, the design of the study was not random. All subjects completed 3-day dietary records before and after the nutrition educational program. Nutrition intervention consisted of (a) individualized instruction about the step 1 diet; (b) group sessions (1 hour every 3 months) on eating out, dietary fiber, and maintaining heart healthy behaviors; and (c) individualized follow-up by telephone (one call per month). The results of the year-long program revealed that men in the intervention group decreased dietary intake of energy (2,546±162 kcal to 2,246±125 kcal) and cholesterol (444±5.3 mg to 304±1.6 mg) and percentage of energy from total fat (38±3.4% to 31±2.6%) and protein (24±3.5% to 20±2.2%). Their consumption of carbohydrate and dietary fiber increased (38±2.1% to 45±2.5% and 8.0±2.3 g to 23.0±3.5 g, respectively). Significant reductions in plasma total cholesterol (6.15±0.17 mmol/L to 5.43±0.16 mmol/L), triglycerides (1.68±0.87 mmol/L to 1.49±0.67 mmol/L), body weight (86±2.3 kg to 81±1.6 kg), and body fat (24±3.5% to 21±3.5%) were also observed in the men in the intervention group. The decrease in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was not significant (4.30±1.17 mmol/L to 4.00±1.08 mmol/L). The worksite provides many opportunities for dietetics professionals to conduct nutrition education programs to decrease risk factors associated with coronary heart disease.
Framework for Empirical Process to Improve Nonnuclear Gauge Performance in Hot-Mix Asphalt Pavement Construction

Nuclear technology has long been used as a nondestructive method to measure the density of hot-mix asphalt (HMA) during pavement construction. Due to nuclear technology's high costs and intense regulations associated with safety and security, several researchers have introduced and evaluated nonnuclear technologies for measurement purposes. However, no proven evidence has emerged that non- nuclear gauges can replace nuclear gauges when quality assurance (QA) is considered. Thus, this study developed a framework for an empirical process to improve nonnuclear gauge performance for use in QA and for improving the current quality control (QC) process. Data were collected by coring using a nuclear gauge and using a nonnuclear gauge from 13 HMA paving construction sites over 2 years. A new calibration method was developed for nonnuclear density gauges. The research results reveal that the proposed framework can improve the accuracy of nonnuclear gauges, which can be used for QC and QA of HMA pavement during construction. In addition, nonnuclear gauges showed significant cost savings compared to nuclear gauges from a life-cycle cost analysis. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0000638. © 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers. CE Database subject headings: Highways and roads; Pavements; Construction; Quality control. Author keywords: Nuclear gauge; Nonnuclear gauge; Hot-mix asphalt (HMA); Density; Pavement construction; Quality control; Quality assurance.
Sources of airborne microorganisms in the built environment

Each day people are exposed to millions of bioaerosols, including whole microorganisms, which can have both beneficial and detrimental effects. The next chapter in understanding the airborne microbiome of the built environment is characterizing the various sources of airborne microorganisms and the relative contribution of each. We have identified the following eight major categories of sources of airborne bacteria, viruses, and fungi in the built environment: humans; pets; plants; plumbing systems; heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems; mold; dust resuspension; and the outdoor environment. Certain species are associated with certain sources, but the full potential of source characterization and source apportionment has not yet been realized. Ideally, future studies will quantify detailed emission rates of microorganisms from each source and will identify the relative contribution of each source to the indoor air microbiome. This information could then be used to probe fundamental relationships between specific sources and human health, to design interventions to improve building health and human health, or even to provide evidence for forensic investigations.
Abstract P239: Clockwise and Counterclockwise Rotation of QRS Transition Zone and Cardiovascular Events: The Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities (ARIC) Study

Introduction: Clockwise and counterclockwise rotations of QRS transition zone in horizontal plane are long recognized electrocardiogram (ECG) findings, but data on their prognostic values are sparse. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that clockwise and counterclockwise rotations of QRS transition zone are associated with future cardiovascular disease (CVD) events (coronary heart disease [CHD], heart failure [HF], and stroke). Methods: We studied 13518 middle aged (45-65 years) individuals from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study, a community based cohort from 1987-1989 through 2010. Given the difference in cardiovascular risk, we decided a-priori to examine women and men separately. Results: During an average follow-up of 21.7 years, 5043 CVD events (2232 CHD events, 1910 HF events, and 901 stroke events) were observed. Compared to normal rotation, clockwise rotation was significantly associated with higher risk of CVD (Table) in Model 1 in both men and women. The association remained significant after adjusting for potential confounders only in women. In terms of individual CVD subtypes, clockwise rotation was significantly associated with CHD (hazard ratio=1.31, 95% CI =1.01-1.70) and HF (1.48, 1.18-1.85) but not with stroke (1.08, 0.74-1.58) in women in Model 4. The association between clockwise rotation and CVD risk in women was consistent across demographic and clinical subgroups. In contrast, the counterclockwise rotation was not significantly associated with cardiovascular risk overall in both sexes. Conclusions: A clockwise QRS axis rotation was associated with cardiovascular events in some models in both sexes, but the association was more robust in women than in men. A counterclockwise rotation did not confer independent cardiovascular risk in either sex in these data. Our results suggest that the overall prognostic value of clockwise/counterclockwise rotation is modest, but clockwise rotation in women may deserve clinical attention and further studies.
An analysis of prediction error for new prime-time television programmes: a comparative study between the USA and Korea

This study investigates possible factors in prediction error for audience share for new prime-time television programmes in the USA and Korea. While previous studies have focused on the factors affecting the size of a programme's actual audience, little attention has been paid to the accuracy of audience share prediction. A total of 193 new prime-time TV programmes from 1994 to 1997 for the USA and from 1998 to 2001 for Korea were examined. Advertising industry forecasters' predicted audience share, and actual share data were accumulated from Broadcasting & Cable and Weekly Nielsen Reports. Findings show that the ‘Programme Type’, ‘Returning Lead-Ins’ and ‘Returning Lead-Outs’ worked as significant factors for estimating error in audience share in the USA, and ‘Programme Type’ and ‘Programme Length’ played major roles in forecasting error in Korea. The degrees of relationship with forecasting error are consistent with previous studies' findings. Similarities and dissimilarities in prediction error in both...