cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characteristics and Outcomes of Shoplifting Cases in the US Involving Allegations of False Arrest

This paper examines the conduct of security personnel in retail stores, and specifically cases where plaintiffs claimed they were falsely arrested for shoplifting. The study consists of 220 cases, dating from 1960 to 2001. The results show that women are slightly more likely than men to be falsely arrested, and that regardless of gender most shoplifting cases are the result of store personnel, including proprietary security officers, acting on unsubstantiated hunches. Most shoppers accused of shoplifting did not allege brutality or misconduct; however, this did occur in approximately one- quarter of the cases, with manhandling during the investigation the most common form of misconduct. In more than two-thirds of the cases brought to court, the plaintiffs were to some extent victorious, and in almost a third were awarded damages. We suggest that information about such cases is useful not only in determining store policies for handling persons suspected of shoplifting, but in evaluating the adequacy of current training requirements for security personnel.
Generation of suppressor cells in atopic patients during immunotherapy that modulate IgE synthesis.

We prospectively studied the effect of ragweed immunotherapy on the generation of suppressor T cells that modulate total and antiragweed IgE production in five patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis. Suppressor T cell depletion was accomplished by treating mononuclear cells (MNCs) with the monoclonal antibody Leu 2b followed by the addition of complement. Treated and untreated MNCs were obtained before and during (6 to 24 months) immunotherapy and were cultured at 1×10 6 cells per milliliter for 7 days in RPM1-1640 containing 10% fetal calf serum. In order to determine the effect of ragweed antigen on IgE production, untreated or Leu 2b-depleted MNCs were incubated with short ragweed extract (SRW) (1.0 to 10 μg/ml) for 20 hours, washed three times, and incubated for a further 6 days. The cell-free supernatants from each were harvested and assayed for total IgE by use of a modified PRIST assay. To determine specific IgE, a modified RAST procedure was used. Total or antiragweed IgE production was calculated by subtracting preformed IgE from the total or specific IgE content in the supernatant. Depletion of Leu 2-positive cells did not affect total IgE production before immunotherapy. In contrast, a statistically significant increase was observed in total IgE 6 months ( p p =0.005) after immunotherapy. Specific antiragweed IgE production at these times was also enhanced, but this increase did not reach statistical significance. Before immunotherapy was begun, preincubation of MNCs with SRW did not change the amount of total IgE produced. However, the addition of SRW to MNCs resulted in suppression of total IgE production, reaching statistically significant levels ( p p
Call for improving air quality

The European Environmental Bureau (EEB), a federation of citizen organizations, has called for stricter policies in Europe to protect human health and the environment. “Air pollution emanates from sources all around us, be they cars, industrial plants, shipping, agriculture, or waste. The [European Union] must propose ambitious legislation to address all of these sources if it is to tackle the grave public health consequences of air pollution,” EEB secretary general Jeremy Wates said on 8 January.
Information synthesis in statistical databases

Given a statistical database containing a set of summary tables, this paper examines the complexity of retrieving data from the database in order to satisfy a query. In particular, we consider the case when the query cannot be directly satisfied via a single summary table and requires two or more summary tables. We show that a system of linear equations can be constructed from a set of summary tables whose solution(s) satisfy a query in oarying degrees. We derive a formula for determining the degree of acceptabdity of the solution as a function of the characteristics of the summary tables which derive the algebraic system. We also show that selecting the optimal set of summary tables from the database that yields the best solution to the query is NP-complete. These findings offer important insights into the retrievabfit y of information from a statistical database when designing a statistical query processor.
Mold‐filling simulations for the injection molding of continuous fiber‐reinforced polymer

Injection molding can be used to fabricate fiber-reinforced polymer composites by impregnating a continuous fabric mat preplaced in a mold cavity with a polymer resin. The mold-filling time is dependent on the flow and heat transfer behavior in the mold. A model is proposed that considers the non-Newtonian How through the porous fabric mat and the heat transfer between mold, fabric mat, and flowing fluid. The model was simulated for the mold filling of a carbon fiber mat with a pseudoplastic polymer solution. The results from the simulation provide Information for optimizing mold-filling parameters through proper selection of inlet fluid pressure, heat source temperature, and type of polymer-solvent system.
Dirichlet and neumann boundary value problems for Yang-Mills connections

The Yang-Mills equations have been extensively studied on compact Riemannian manifolds without boundary. A substantial amount of work has also been done on non-compact examples with a boundary component at infinity; see [5], [10], [11], [14], [15]. Here we define and describe a solution of Dirichlet and Neumann boundary value problems for Yang-Mills connections on a compact four-dimensional manifold with smooth boundary. The equations in the interior are the full Yang-Mills equations. We do not restrict ourselves to self-dual or anti-self-dual solutions. In the case where the structure group in the gauge-theory is abelian, our results are contained in the Hodge–de Rham theory for manifolds with boundary; see [6], [9], [4], [3]. In the general case, our results describe a non-linear version of this theory. The base manifold M of the theory is a compact, orientable, four-dimensional manifold, with smooth boundary ∂M . We assume that M is endowed with a Riemannian metric. We consider a principal fiber bundle P over M , with structure group G, a compact Lie group, which will have a metric invariant under the adjoint action. In the usual example this comes from trace. The unknown in the problem is the connection A, i.e., a differential form in ∧P ⊗ ad g, where g is the Lie algebra of G. There are two natural boundary value problems. One of them requires fixing the tangential part of the connection A on the bundle restricted to ∂M . If ∂M is locally described as {x = 0}, this amounts to prescribing A1(x) dx + A2(x) dx 2 + A3(x) dx 3 on ∂M . The connection is fixed in the sense that a particular choice is fixed in the gauge-equivalence class of A on the boundary. The Yang-Mills equations are satisfied in the interior. This corresponds to the Dirichlet problem. In the other boundary value problem we consider, A is free at the boundary, but the normal part of the curvature is set equal to zero. We call this the Neumann problem. For the Dirichlet problem, we consider a sequence of L1-connections that minimizes the Yang-Mills functional, with prescribed admissible tangential boundary data. We show that there exists a weak-limiting connection A, by finding local good gauges. The limiting connection is only locally defined. We show that A solves the Yang-Mills equations and satisfies the boundary conditions (up to
Stability and post buckling of articulated columns

This paper considers articulated columns which are composed of connected rigid segments with rotational springs at the joints. The problem is formulated in terms of nonlinear difference equations. The buckling forces and post-buckling properties are found for five different combinations of end conditions. The fixed-hinged column shows limit load and snap through characteristics.
A myxoid chondrosarcoma associated with an anti-Hu-positive paraneoplastic encephalomyelitis

Extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma is a rare tumor with less than 100 cases reported in the literature [1]. The prevalence of anti-Hu positive myxoid chondrosarcoma-associated paraneoplastic subacute cerebellar degeneration is exceedingly rare. We present a report of a patient with confirmed myxoid chondrosarcoma-associated paraneoplastic subacute cerebellar degeneration, who exhibited marked improvement within 1 week of receiving chemotherapy, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), and hydrocortisone treatment.
Apertureless near field microscopy for chemical imaging of surfaces

Technical developments and applications in infrared near-field microscopy for chemical imaging are discussed. A method to amplify the weak scattered signal in an apertureless microscope is demonstrated.© (2003) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Genetic analysis of invasive Asian Black Carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus) in the Mississippi River Basin: evidence for multiple introductions

Invasive Asian Black Carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus) have been present in USA aquaculture facilities since the 1980s and wild Black Carp have been found in the Mississippi River Basin since the early 1990s. This study characterizes the genetic diversity and relatedness of the Basin’s Black Carp and clarifies the introduction history. Analyses focused on three mitochondrial markers (control region, cytochrome-b, and 16S) and seven nuclear microsatellite markers (nDNA), using aquaculture and wild-caught samples collected in the upper and lower Mississippi Basin. Of the three mitochondrial haplotypes, two were shared between the aquaculture and wild populations, while a third was only present in upper Mississippi wild-caught specimens. Due to the presence of diploid and triploid fish, microsatellite markers were scored as pseudodominant and revealed low polymorphism (NA = 4.6, NA Ave = 1.5). Nuclear Bayesian clustering analyses identified two genetically distinct groups and four subclusters, each primarily composed of a unique haplotype. Samples from three aquaculture farms were assigned to group 1, while a fourth farm included samples from both groups 1 and 2. Wild-caught fish from the upper Basin were predominantly group 1, whereas wild samples from the lower Mississippi were assigned to both genetic groups. The presence of divergent haplotypes and distinct nDNA groups, along with geographic distribution patterns, indicate that wild populations in the basin likely resulted from multiple introductions. Genetic similarities between wild and captive populations support claims that aquaculture is the introduction source, but a shortage of samples and a history of repeated transfers among facilities obscure the precise pathway.
Community Mental Health and Family Issues in Sociohistorical Context: The Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians

A review of the pertinent literature and interviews of key informants provided the basis for an exploration into the historical antecedents of some of the mental health and family issues of the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw (CTCLUS) Indians of Oregon. This project was originally commissioned by the CTCLUS community to be a chapter in their Tribal Plan, explaining the historical context of this tribe in relation to national American Indian events. Key historical events that have impacted this community include boarding schools, termination, the Dawes Act, and racism. Key mental health issues that have followed these events include substance, abuse, domestic violence, and a lack of parenting skills.
Different medical needs between hurricane and earthquake victims

Abstract Study objectives: Because of recent world events, disaster planning has become more important. To better understand patient needs and thereby improve resource allocation for deployments, it is important to examine past disaster responses. Previous studies found important differences between flood and hurricane victims and noted similarities between victims of 2 hurricanes. However, there are few if any other data or research in this area. Our study question is, Do the victims of hurricanes have different medical needs than the victims of earthquakes? Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort review of patient encounter forms. All patients treated by the New Mexico Disaster Medical Assistance Team (NMDMAT) after Hurricanes Andrew and Iniki (Florida, August 1991, and Hawaii, September 1991, respectively) and the Northridge, CA (January 1994), earthquake were included. The parameters we examined were age, medical history, chief complaint, diagnosis, treatment rendered, and disposition of the patient. We analyzed age using Student's t test and all other variables using χ 2 test. We considered differences significant at a P value less than .05. Results are reported as hurricanes versus earthquake, odds ratio (OR), 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: NMDMAT treated 1,056 patients after the hurricanes and 621 after the earthquake. Patients presenting after the hurricanes were older (mean 33.3 years versus 22.3 years, difference 11.0±1.97 years, P Conclusion: Several differences were found including chief complaint, diagnoses given, treatment rendered, and level of acuity. The older patients treated by NMDMAT after the hurricanes resulted in more patients with medical histories and therefore more medication refills. More URIs were treated after the earthquake, likely caused by more dust produced during an earthquake than a hurricane, leading to throat, eye, and lung irritation mimicking URI symptoms. Stress-related complaints were more common after the earthquake, likely because of the suddenness of the event, leaving the population less emotionally prepared to deal with the disaster. In conclusion, this unique study demonstrates some interesting points: first, and not surprisingly, that hurricane and earthquake victims have different medical needs; and second, these results taken in the context of previously published studies indicate that different disasters will likely result in different medical needs among the victims, but these needs may be predictable according to the disaster type (ie, flood, hurricane, or earthquake).
Infant resilience to the stress of the still-face : Infant and maternal psychophysiology are related

Respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) is related to infant emotion regulation and resilience. However, few studies have examined RSA of infants and mothers during a stressful experience. Even fewer studies have measured infant and mother skin conductance (SC), which in part reflects anxiety. This pilot study examined RSA, heart rate (HR), and SC patterns of 12 five-month-old infants and their mothers during normal interaction and a stressful perturbation of the interaction in which the mother does not respond to her infant-the Face-to-Face Still-Face (FFSF) paradigm. Dyads were grouped into four categories by two conditions: whether the infant protested to the Still-Face episode (SF) and whether they "recovered" from the SF by reducing protest when the mother resumed interaction in the Reunion (RE). Infants who recovered from the SF had the largest increase in RSA from SF to RE. Mothers of infants who recovered from the SF showed a decrease in RSA during the RE, suggesting mobilization of infant soothing behaviors. Mothers of infants who did not recover from the SF showed physiologic markers of anxiety in the form of continued increases in RSA and high levels of SC. Furthermore, these mothers behaved in a manner that was not responsive to their infant's disengagement cues. These pilot results demonstrate the feasibility of measuring infant SC, a measure long disregarded in infant research. The findings suggest that maternal psychophysiology may be related to infant resilience and suggest a bidirectional effect of maternal and infant reactivity.
Integrated magnetic resonance imaging and phosphorus spectroscopy of soft tissue tumors

Eighteen patients with soft tissue masses underwent integrated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and phosphorus spectroscopy (31P-MRS) to evaluate benign and malignant tumor morphology and metabolism. Spectra from soft tissue tumors had a significantly higher proportion of phosphate in the low-energy portion of the 31P spectrum (P less than 0.001) with a concomitant decrease in phosphocreatine (P less than 0.01) compared with 31P spectra from normal muscle. Malignant tumors had a mean pH of 7.35 +/- 0.13 which was greater than that of muscle tissue with a mean pH of 7.08 +/- 0.07 (P less than 0.001). All tumors had greater relative levels of phosphomonoesters, inorganic phosphate, and phosphodiesters compared with those in muscle tissue but considerable variability among tumors was noted due to tumor size, extent of tumor necrosis, and muscle contamination. Integrated MRI/MRS studies are necessary to provide exact localization of the tumor and a more correct interpretation of the 31P-MRS data.
Release of volatile mercury from vascular plants

Volatile, organic solvent soluble mercury has been found in leaves and seeds of several angiosperms. Leaves of garlic vine, avocado, and haole-koa release mercury in volatile form rapidly at room temperature. In garlic vine, the most active release is temperature dependent, but does not parallel the vapor-pressure temperature relationship for mercury. Mercury can be trapped in nitric-perchloric acid digestion fluid, or n-hexane, but is lost from the hexane unless the acid mixture is present. Seeds of haole-koa also contain extractable mercury but volatility declines in the series n-hexane (90%), methanol (50%), water (10%). This suggests that reduced volatility may accompany solvolysis in the more polar media.
Using Pajek and Centrality Analysis to Identify a Social Network of Construction Trades

AbstractConstruction project managers are often faced with the challenge of managing a complex construction process consisting of multiple trades working on a large number of interdependent tasks. A social network is a pattern of ties that exist between different entities (i.e., people, organizations, countries). There is an underlying social network of trades that exists with a construction project and recognizing it can help a management team succeed in this challenging environment. A $50 million project involving 43 trades was studied over a 28-week period. Pajek, a social network analysis program, was used to generate a series of 14 social networks for the trades involved. Both degree and eigenvector centrality were analyzed to reflect the distribution of relationships through the network and to identify the key trades. This research is useful to project managers and is significant as it outlines and illustrates a method of identifying the underlying network and associated key trades of a construction...
Transient esophageal obstruction in a young man: an intramural esophageal hematoma?

SUMMARY. We present a case of a 20-year-old, previously healthy, male student who presented with dysphagia secondary to mechanical esophageal obstruction that resolved spontaneously. Although our patient did not have ‘classic’ patient characteristics, we believe that the clinical evidence supports the conclusion that our patient was an atypical presentation of intramural esophageal hematoma.
New O(3) transition in three dimensions.

A three-dimensional lattice of Heisenberg spins with nearest-neighbor interactions is studied by numerical simulation under the constraint that no free topological singularities (hedgehogs) are allowed. Only nearest-neighbor pairs of oppositely charged hedgehogs are permitted in the sum over configurations. A disordering transition with exponents different from the usual Heisenberg transition is found and tentatively identified as a pure spin wave disordering transition.
The Cause of the Hemodynamic Disturbances in Ebstein's Anomaly Based on Observations at Operation

Ten adult patients with Ebstein's anomaly had open-heart operation for interruption of a Kent bundle. The 4 patients in Group 1 had arrhythmias. One patient had a patent foramen ovale, which was closed. In 3 patients the Kent pathway was identified and interrupted, but in the other only the pathway's anterograde function was interrupted, leaving the patient subject to supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). The 3 patients in Group 2 had mild to moderate cyanosis and dyspnea during SVT as well as mild impairment during strenuous physical activity. Only interruption of their Kent bundles and closure of the patent foramen ovale were done. The 3 patients in Group 3 had dyspnea and cyanosis on exertion, and 1 had overt right heart failure. In each patient, obstruction between the atrialized right ventricle (RV) and functioning RV by the displaced tricuspid valve (TV) was relieved by valve excision and replacement. Interruption of the Kent bundle was successful in 2 of the 3 patients. Operation for Ebstein's anomaly is indicated when any of the following conditions are present: arrhythmias due to Kent bundles that are refractory to medical management; a defect in the atrial septum that must be closed because of a history of cyanosis or paradoxical emboli, or an arrhythmia that must be corrected by right atriotomy; and obstruction between the atrialized and functioning RV or a small functioning RV, both of which can be corrected by TV replacement.
Emergency medicine training programs' educational requirements in the management of psychiatric emergencies: current perspective.

Objective:The purpose of this study was to determine the extent of training in clinical psychiatry that is provided and/or required by emergency medicine (EM) residency training programs and pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) subspecialty residency training programs.Design/Methods:A questionnaire wa
A Jacobian-free Newton Krylov method for mortar-discretized thermomechanical contact problems

Multibody contact problems are common within the field of multiphysics simulation. Applications involving thermomechanical contact scenarios are also quite prevalent. Such problems can be challenging to solve due to the likelihood of thermal expansion affecting contact geometry which, in turn, can change the thermal behavior of the components being analyzed. This paper explores a simple model of a light water reactor nuclear fuel rod, which consists of cylindrical pellets of uranium dioxide (UO"2) fuel sealed within a Zircalloy cladding tube. The tube is initially filled with helium gas, which fills the gap between the pellets and cladding tube. The accurate modeling of heat transfer across the gap between fuel pellets and the protective cladding is essential to understanding fuel performance, including cladding stress and behavior under irradiated conditions, which are factors that affect the lifetime of the fuel. The thermomechanical contact approach developed here is based on the mortar finite element method, where Lagrange multipliers are used to enforce weak continuity constraints at participating interfaces. In this formulation, the heat equation couples to linear mechanics through a thermal expansion term. Lagrange multipliers are used to formulate the continuity constraints for both heat flux and interface traction at contact interfaces. The resulting system of nonlinear algebraic equations are cast in residual form for solution of the transient problem. A Jacobian-free Newton Krylov method is used to provide for fully-coupled solution of the coupled thermal contact and heat equations.
Variability of Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Gradient During Cardiac Catheterization in Patients With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Objectives This study characterizes left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) gradient variability in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) during cardiac catheterization. Background Management of HCM is directed by the presence and magnitude of LVOT obstruction. The magnitude and clinical impact of spontaneous variability during a single cardiac catheterization has not been described. Methods Fifty symptomatic patients with HCM (mean age 55 ± 15 years; 48% men) underwent cardiac catheterization with high-fidelity, micromanometer-tip catheters and transseptal measurement of left ventricular pressures. Obstruction was defined as resting LVOT gradient ≥30 mm Hg and severe obstruction as ≥50 mm Hg. Variability in LVOT gradient was calculated as the difference of the largest and smallest LVOT gradients in the absence of provocative maneuvers or interventions. Results The largest LVOT gradient was 54.6 ± 56.4 mm Hg. The spontaneous variability in LVOT gradient was 49.0 ± 53.1 mm Hg (range 0 to 210.8 mm Hg, median 15 mm Hg). Discrepant classification of resting LVOT gradient severity was possible in 25 patients (50%). Twenty patients (40%) with severe obstruction could have been misclassified with regard to obstruction severity. Conclusions In patients with HCM, the LVOT gradient fluctuates significantly during a single hemodynamic assessment. Spontaneous variability could lead to misclassification of obstruction severity in one-half of studied patients. The dynamic nature of LVOT obstruction must be considered when assessing resting hemodynamics or the success of a given intervention during cardiac catheterization.
A NEW 2H2O-METABOLIC LABELING METHOD REVEALS HETEROGENEOUS ALTERATIONS OF PROTEIN TURNOVER IN THE FAILING HEART

The altered myocardial protein turnover is considered a major pathogenic factor in heart failure (HF), however studies performed with standard molecular analysis have provided only indirect and discordant evidence of this phenomenon. Direct measurements of the rate of in vivo protein turnover are
Airflow indicators for mushroom houses

Abstract Airflow indicators for low velocities were developed for the multilevel beds/shelves in a mushroom house. The indicators are strips of lightweight plastic about 2·5 cm wide × 15 cm long that are attached to a vertical pin. These flags pivot to indicate direction of airflow. The horizontal displacement of the tip, for a given type of plastic material, is highly correlated with the horizontal airflow speed. One type of plastic provided a response range of 5 to 40 cm/s. Airflow patterns observed in mushroom houses using the indicators showed that some growing surfaces have less than 5 cm/s air movement. Locations in a given house where there was no detectable airflow, correlated with problems in crop production.
Carbon defects and defect reactions in silicon

The energies of carbon defects in silicon are calculated, using an empirical classical potential, and used to infer defect properties and reactions. Substitutional carbon is found to react with silicon interstitials, with the carbon ``kicked out'' to form a (100) split interstitial. This interstitial can in turn bind to a second substitutional carbon, relieving stress, in three configurations with similar energies. The results here accord well with a variety of experimental data, including defect structures, activation energies for defect motion, and coupling to strain. A discrepancy with the accepted values for carbon solubility in silicon suggests a reinterpretation of the experimental data.
Issues in data fusion for healthcare monitoring

Pervasive healthcare monitoring using body sensors and wireless sensor networks is a rapidly growing area in healthcare monitoring applications. Several issues arise in these systems, such as complex distributed data processing, data fusion, unreliable data communication, and uncertainty of data analysis in order to successfully monitor patients in real time. In this paper, we introduce some of the important issues in healthcare monitoring with focus on software problems such as reliability, network robustness, and context awareness. We describe related works in data filtering, data fusion, and data analysis then we suggest new architecture for handling data cleaning, data fusion, and context and knowledge generation using multi-tiered communication and a triadic hierarchical class analysis approach. The proposed architecture is called "Pervasive Healthcare Architecture" and we discuss how it can be applied to a particular monitoring scenario.
A Simplified Pseudo-Rigid-Body Model for Fixed-Fixed Flexible Segments

The research presented in this paper focuses on the development of a simplified pseudo-rigid-body model for fixed-fixed flexible segments. The model predicts the path within ten percent of the results obtained from a chain algorithm for beam end angular deflections from negative fifty to fifty degrees and deflections up to sixty percent of the beam length. This error is larger than for pseudo-rigid-body models of other types of flexible segments but is still useful in preliminary design of compliant mechanisms. The model’s major advantage is that the force and moment are decoupled from the link length in the model, allowing the model to be used with traditional kinematic mechanism design and analysis techniques.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Cultural Values in Intergroup and Single-Group Social Dilemmas.

Do cultural values influence the manner in which people cooperate with one another? This study assessed cultural characteristics of individuals and then related these characteristics to cooperative behavior in social dilemmas. Participants were assessed for their degree of vertical and horizontal individualism and collectivism, cultural values identified by Triandis (1995). They made choices in either a single-group or an intergroup social dilemma. The single-group dilemma entailed a three-person dilemma; the intergroup dilemma was identical but added subgroup competition, i.e., an opposing three-person group. The results indicated an interaction between cultural characteristics and type of dilemma for cooperation. The single-group versus intergroup effect reported by Bornstein and Ben-Yossef (1994) was replicated, but only for vertical individualists. The vertical individualists were least cooperative in the single-group dilemma but were more cooperative in the intergroup dilemma-where cooperation with the group maximized personal outcomes. The vertical collectivists were most cooperative in the single-group dilemma but were less cooperative in the intergroup dilemma- where group defection resulted in maximum group outcomes. The horizontal individualists and collectivists exhibited an intermediate level of cooperation, with no differences in cooperation between the single-group and intergroup dilemmas. Taken together, the results suggest that the relationship between cultural values and cooperation, in particular with reference to vertical and horizontal components of individualism and collectivism, is more complex than has been suggested in past research. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.
Dynamic elastic interpolation for 3-D object reconstruction from serial cross-sectional images

In many scientific and technical endeavors, a three-dimensional (3-D) object must be reconstructed from serial cross-sections, either to aid in the comprehension of the object's structure or to facilitate its automatic manipulation and analysis. If the cross-sections are not closely spaced, interpolation is needed to recapture the appearance of the embedded 3-D object. In this paper, we propose an interpolation scheme for filling the space between the contours in two successive slices. The essential idea is to identify a force field acting on one contour and trying to distort it to be like the other contour. The major advantages of this method are its superior capabilities in handling the branching problem and making use of the graphics rendering method for solid objects composed of slices of voxels. Several experiments were conducted to demonstrate the interpolation method using both synthetic and real data.
Identification of induction motor parameters from transient stator current measurements

This paper describes three methods for estimating the lumped model parameters of an induction motor using startup transient data. A three-phase balanced induction motor is assumed. Measurements of the stator currents and voltages are required for the identification procedure, but no measurements from the motor shaft are needed. The first method presented applies simple models with limited temporal domains of validity and obtains parameter estimates by extrapolating the model error bias to zero. This method does not minimize any specific error criterion and is presented as a means of finding a good initial guess for a conventional iterative maximum-likelihood or least-squares estimator. The second method presented minimizes equation errors in the induction motor model in the least-square sense using a Levenburg-Marquardt iteration. The third identification method is a continuation of the Levenburg-Marquardt method, motivated by observed properties of some pathological loss functions. The third method minimizes errors in the observations in the least-squared sense and is, therefore, a maximum-likelihood estimator under appropriate conditions of normality. The performance of the identification schemes is demonstrated with both simulated and measured data, and parameters obtained using the methods are compared with parameters obtained from standard tests.
Cardiovascular responses and problem solving efficiency: Their relationship as a function of task difficulty

Abstract In this study the relationship was examined between cardiovascular changes and performance efficiency in adult males performing an anagram solution task. Three conditions ( n = 20 in each) were used, differing in the percentage of solvable anagrams (100, 50, and 30%). Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and heart rate (HR) were measured before, during. and after the task. It was found that subjects who performed better in the 100% condition had an increase in pulse pressure (PP), that is, a greater rise of SBP than of DBP, whereas subjects who performed less in that condition showed a decrease in PP. Conversely, subjects who performed better in the 50 and 30% conditions showed a decrease in PP, whereas subjects who performed less in these conditions showed an increase in PP. With respect to HR changes, no significant correlations with performance were detected. Consistencies with data from endocrinological research were pointed out. Consideration was also given to the possible role of anxiety in mediating the relationship between physiological patterning and task performance.
Perinatal hyperoxic exposure reconfigures the central respiratory network contributing to intolerance to anoxia in newborn rat pups.

Perinatal exposure to hyperoxia (30–60% O2) alters the respiratory control system via modulation of peripheral arterial chemoreceptor development and function. Furthermore, hyperoxic exposure durin...
Female Retirement: Effects on Spousal Roles and Marital Adjustment

PAST research on retirement has nearly exclusively centered on the adjustment problems of male retirees. This trend is particularly obvious in studies on the effects of retirement on the marital relationship. Data from a pilot study of 25 female retirees and their husbands indicate that female retirement can, indeed, influence a couple's marital satisfaction and task allocation patterns. The retirement of the wife does not always lead to a redistribution of household tasks, nor do all female retirees experience a full-time household role after retirement is entirely positive ways. Effects of the wife's retirement on the marital relationship are often described as positive: Many couples feel relieved from the stresses associated with their dual work and family obligations and enjoy their new togetherness and joint leisure time activities. Negative effects on the marital relationship can occur, however, if the wife experiences serious retirement adjustment problems or if the spouses feel irritated by each o...
Developmental and Cell-Specific Expression of ZWICHEL is Regulated by the Intron and Exon Sequences of its Upstream Protein-Coding Gene

Functional studies with ZWICHEL(ZWI), which encodes a Ca2+-calmodulin-regulated kinesin, have shown its involvement in trichome morphogenesis and cell division. To identify regulatory regions that control the ZWI expression pattern, we generated transgenic Arabidopsis plants with a GUS reporter driven by different lengths of the ZWI gene 5′ region alone or 5′ and 3′ regions together. The 5′ fusions contain varying lengths of the coding and non-coding regions of β-HYDROXYISOBUTYRYL-CoA HYDROLASE 1(CHY1), which is upstream of ZWI, and a 162 bp intergenic region. In transgenic plants with 5′ 460::GUS, GUS activity was observed primarily in the root hairs whereas transgenic plants with an additional 5′ 266 bp region from the CHY1 gene (5′ 726::GUS) showed strong GUS accumulation in the entire root including root hairs and root tip, calli and at various developmental stages in trichomes and pollen. However, very little GUS accumulation was detected in roots of dark-grown or root tips of cold-treated seedlings with 5′ZWI constructs. These results were further confirmed by quantifying GUS enzyme activity and transcripts in these seedlings. Calli and pollen transformed with the 5′ distal 268 bp fused in antisense orientation to the proximal 460 bp did not show GUS expression. Further, IAA-treated dark-grown seedlings with 726::GUS, but not with 460::GUS, showed high GUS expression in specific regions (outer layer 2a cells) at the base of the lateral roots. The ZWI 3′ region (3 kb) did not influence the GUS expression pattern driven by the 5′ 726 bp. The absence of CHY1 transcripts in the chy1-2 mutant did not alter either ZWI expression or ZWI-mediated trichome morphogenesis. Thus, our data suggest that the 3′ part of the CHY1 gene contains regulatory elements that control ZWI gene expression in dividing cells and other cells that exhibit polarized growth such as root hairs, pollen and trichomes. This is the first evidence that the regulatory regions conferring developmental and cell-specific expression of a gene reside in the introns and exons of its upstream protein-coding gene.
Claiming Fatherhood: Race and the Dynamics of Paternal Involvement among Unmarried Men

In 1965, Daniel Patrick Moynihan argued that the black family was nearing "complete breakdown" due to high rates of out-of-wedlock childbearing. In subsequent decades, nonmarital childbearing rose dramatically for all racial groups and unwed fathers were often portrayed as being absent from their children's lives. The authors examine contemporary nonmarital father involvement using quantitative evidence from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study and qualitative evidence from in-depth interviews with 150 unmarried fathers. The authors find that father involvement drops sharply after parents' relationships end, especially when they enter subsequent relationships and have children with new partners. These declines are less dramatic for African American fathers, suggesting that fathers' roles outside of conjugal relationships may be more strongly institutionalized in the black community. The challenges Moynihan described among black families some forty years ago now extend to a significant minority of all American children.
Semotus Visum: a flexible remote visualization framework

By offering more detail and precision, large data sets can provide greater insights to researchers than small data sets. However, these data sets require greater computing resources to view and manage. Remote visualization techniques allow the use of computers that cannot be operated locally. The Semotus Visum framework applies a high-performance client-server paradigm to the problem. The framework utilizes both client and server resources via multiple rendering methods. Experimental results show the framework delivers high frame rates and low latency across a wide range of data sets.
A brief private group practice rotation changes junior medical students’ perception of the surgical lifestyle

Abstract Background Surgical practice is often perceived by students as a stressful and demanding lifestyle in which personal and family issues take low priority. For students to receive a more balanced view of surgical practice, we instituted a private practice preceptorship during the last week of our junior surgery clerkship in 2001. We hypothesized that a 4-day preceptorship with surgeons in private practice would improve student perception of surgery as a valid career choice without compromising student educational performance. Methods From January to December 2002, 107 junior medical students were assigned to a brief preceptorship with volunteer private practice surgeons during the surgery clerkship (group 1), while 28 students did not participate in the preceptorship (group 2). We assessed student satisfaction via questionnaire and compared student grade performance between groups. Results One hundred two questionnaires (95%) were returned. Overall, the preceptor experience was rated positively (9.0 ± 0.1) based on a 10-point Likert scale. All students commented on the educational or enjoyment value of the preceptorship, with 44% specifically stating that the lifestyle in private surgical practice appeared pleasant. Interestingly, 9% of students volunteered that the experience had swayed them to consider surgery as a career. Twenty-four percent of questionnaires contained negative comments, mainly concerning not enough “hands-on” participation. Grades for the clerkship did not decrease in group 1 when compared with group 2 or with historic controls (n = 113). Conclusions A 4-day private practice preceptorship at the end of the junior surgery clerkship favorably alters student perceptions of a surgical career without diminishing student grade performance.
Site specific probabilistic seismic hazard analysis at Dubai Creek on the west coast of UAE

A probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA) was conducted to establish the hazard spectra for a site located at Dubai Creek on the west coast of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The PSHA considered all the seismogenic sources that affect the site, including plate boundaries such as the Makran subduction zone, the Zagros fold-thrust region and the transition fault system between them; and local crustal faults in UAE. PSHA indicated that local faults dominate the hazard. The peak ground acceleration (PGA) for the 475-year return period spectrum is 0.17 g and 0.33 g for the 2,475-year return period spectrum. The hazard spectra are then employed to establish rock ground motions using the spectral matching technique.
Challenging the Negative Assumptions Surrounding Civil Protection Orders: A Guide for Advocates

Restraining orders, often used as the first line of protection for battered women, are surrounded by negative assumptions and beliefs held by key stakeholders who question their use and effectiveness. This article evaluates current research on restraining orders by describing four negative assumptions that were found in a review of qualitative and quantitative research. Each negative assumption includes a brief discussion of the origin of the assumption and a synthesis of the research that has addressed each assumption. The article concludes with strategies for advocates for battered women and practitioners to use when challenging the negative assumptions held by others.
Toxicity of hepatotoxins: new insights into mechanisms and therapy.

Liver injury caused by hepatotoxins, such as carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), ethanol, and acetaminophen (APAP), is characterised by varying degrees of hepatocyte degeneration and cell death via either apoptosis or necrosis. The generation of reactive intermediate metabolites from the metabolism of hepatotoxins, and the occurrence of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during the inflammatory reaction account for a variety of pathophysiologic pathways leading to cell death, such as covalent binding, disordered cytosolic calcium homeostasis, glutathione (GSH) depletion, onset of mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) and associated lipid peroxidation. The metabolism of hepatotoxins by cytochrome P-450 enzyme subtypes is a key step of the intoxication; therefore, enzyme inhibitors are shown to minimise the hepatotoxin-associated liver damage. Understanding the function of transcription factors, such as nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) in acute liver injury, may provide some answers as to the molecular mechanisms of tox...
Do fall predictors in middle aged and older adults predict fall status in persons 50+ with fibromyalgia? An exploratory study.

We explored potential predictors of fall status in 70 community-dwelling persons ≥50 years of age with fibromyalgia (FM). Over 40% of the sample reported one or more falls in the year prior to the study. A logistic regression model using 10 variables known to predict falls in middle aged and older persons predicted 45% of the variance in fall status. Three variables offered significant independent contributions to the overall model predicting fall status: perception of postural instability, balance performance, and executive function processing speed. The results support prior work in both nonclinical and clinical populations of middle aged and older adults indicating that falls are associated with multiple risk factors. Prospective designs with larger samples are needed to (a) validate and extend these findings, and (b) identify risk factors related to fall status that are unique to persons with FM. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 33:192–206, 2010
Comparison of Protection Mechanisms: Capacity Efficiency and Recovery Time

High efficiency in capacity utilization and fast restoration are two primary goals of survivable design in optical networks. Shared backup path protection has been shown to be efficient in terms of capacity utilization, due to the sharing of backup capacity. However, sharing of backup capacity also complicates the restoration process, and leads to slow recovery. Ring-type protection in mesh topology, on the other hand, has the advantage of fast restoration. The p-cycle scheme is the most efficient ring-type protection method in terms of capacity utilization. Recently, the concept of pre-cross-connected protection was proposed to increase the recovery speed of shared path protection. We overview these protection methods and their failure recovery processes. The recovery time of these schemes are compared analytically. To compare the capacity efficiency, we formulate integer programming optimization problems for three protection methods in static traffic scenario, considering wavelength continuity constraint. We investigate the effect of network connectivity on the performance of capacity utilization of the methods by experimenting on topologies with different average nodal degrees.