cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
DETERMINING THE DEBILITATIVE IMPACT OF TEST ANXIETY

The purpose of this study is to assess how detrimental the effects of anxiety are in ESL language exams. A variety of recent studies have demonstrated significant differences in the emotive reactions of examinees to various language tests. And dozens of research reports in psychology literature identify both facilitating and debilitating results from test anxiety. But to date there have not been any published accounts of attempts to measure the impact of debilitating anxiety generated by ESL for foreign language tests. To assess the impact of anxiety, a battery of six different ESL examinations was administered to 114 EL1 students ranging in ability from beginning to advanced. These students were also administered the Alpert and Haber Achievement Anxiety Test. Performance on the most anxiety-producing subtest is shown to be debilitating for the most anxious-prone students. The study demonstrates that high anxiety-producing ESL tests not only are psychologically debilitating but also are less valid and potentially biased in favor of students with low test anxiety.
Social Support and Religion: Mental Health Service Use and Treatment of Schizophrenia

The perceptions and religious beliefs held by family members, mental health and health care professionals, and the community may affect the treatment of individuals with schizophrenia. To better identify and understand the influence of families, professionals and community members on individual’s treatment for schizophrenia, this review paper examines: (1) the religious perceptions of families, professionals, and the public towards schizophrenia; (2) religious perceptions of the etiology of schizophrenia; (3) how others perceive religion as a coping mechanism; and (4) how religion influences treatment engagement and help-seeking behaviors. MEDLINE and PsycInfo databases were systematically searched from 1980 to 2010 using the terms schizophrenia, schizoaffective, schizophreniform, psychotic disorder not otherwise specified and religion, religiosity, spirituality, and faith. Forty-three (n = 43) original research studies met the inclusion criteria. This study found that religious beliefs influence the treatment of schizophrenia in the following ways: Religious themes were positively associated with coping, treatment engagement and help-seeking behavior. Evidence of religious underpinnings was found in perceptions of etiology. The findings also indicate that there is often both a preference among family members and caregivers to utilize religious-based professionals and caution toward mental health professionals. Researchers and professionals may find avenues for improving treatment through examining the interaction of religious and schizophrenia at the social support level.
Circulating prolactin levels at the end of the photophase and the end of the scotophase throughout the reproductive cycle of the turkey hen

Plasma prolactin (PRL) levels rise following long daily photostimulation and increase dramatically at the onset of incubation behavior. Previous work has shown that a daily rhythm in PRL secretion may occur, with the lowest PRL levels found prior to lights out and the highest levels found prior to lights on. It has been suggested that an early event in the onset of incubation behavior may be an increase in nocturnal PRL levels. A retrospective study was conducted to contrast the morning and evening PRL secretion patterns at weekly intervals throughout the reproductive cycle in birds that exhibited: 1) incubation behavior; 2) high egg production and low nesting frequency for the last 16 wk of a 21-wk reproductive cycle; 3) high egg production while nesting frequently; or 4) photorefractoriness (defined by a cessation of egg production without incubation behavior). All hens showed an increase in PRL levels following photostimulation. When day and night PRL levels for each hen were compared over the entire reproductive cycle, more than 50% of those studied had significantly higher PRL levels at the end of the scotophase than at the end of the photophase. Circulating PRL levels increased greatly with the onset of incubation behavior, but morning and evening PRL levels changed in parallel. Good layers had moderate PRL levels throughout egg production, but PRL levels did not differ among laying hens with high or low nesting frequency. Plasma PRL levels declined to low levels in photorefractory hens. These results show that daytime PRL measurements accurately reflect reproductive state, and that moderate PRL levels seem consistent with optimum egg production.
Characterization of NOx, SO2, ethene, and propene from industrial emission sources in Houston, Texas

[1] The Houston-Galveston-Brazoria urban area contains industrial petrochemical sources that emit volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides, resulting in rapid and efficient ozone production downwind. During September to October 2006, the NOAA WP-3D aircraft conducted research flights as part of the second Texas Air Quality Study (TexAQS II). We use measurements of NOx, SO2, and speciated hydrocarbons from industrial sources in Houston to derive source emission ratios and compare these to emission inventories and the first Texas Air Quality Study (TexAQS) in 2000. Between 2000 and 2006, NOx/CO2 emission ratios changed by an average of −29% ± 20%, while a significant trend in SO2/CO2 emission ratios was not observed. We find that high hydrocarbon emissions are routine for the isolated petrochemical facilities. Ethene (C2H4) and propene (C3H6) are the major contributors to ozone formation based on calculations of OH reactivity for organic species including C2–C10 alkanes, C2–C5 alkenes, ethyne, and C2–C5 aldehydes and ketones. Measured ratios of C2H4/NOx and C3H6/NOx exceed emission inventory values by factors of 1.4–20 and 1–24, respectively. We examine trends in C2H4/NOx and C3H6/NOx ratios between 2000 and 2006 for the isolated petrochemical sources and estimate a change of −30% ± 30%, with significant day-to-day and within-plume variability. Median ambient mixing ratios of ethene and propene in Houston show decreases of −52% and −48%, respectively, between 2000 and 2006. The formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and peroxyacetyl nitrate products produced by alkene oxidation are observed downwind, and their time evolution is consistent with the rapid photochemistry that also produces ozone.
Emory electronic text projects: the role of the full-text center in building partnerships

Emory‘s “full‐text” center has been engaged in a number of small‐scale digitization projects.In each of these projects the Beck Center has followed the “SGML Model.” Through these projects, we have forged partnerships with faculty, other library departments, other libraries, and our computing center. Since we continue to rely on others for determining the value of the texts that we have produced, we have acted more as an “electronic printer” than an “electronic press”. As a printer, we also have taken on the role of promoting the value and the usefulness of “full‐text” databases to our faculty and students. In this effort we have served as a demonstration project for the campus, pointing to the real possibilities that technology offers for research and study.
Photoacoustic Raman Spectroscopy of Gases

Abstract Photoacoustic Raman spectroscopy (PARS) [1] is a nonlinear spectroscopic technique based upon the selective population of a given energy state of a system by the process of coherent Raman amplification (stimulated Raman scattering). The necessary conditions for this process are: (1) the transition involving the initial and final energy levels must be Raman-active, i.e., the transitions must involve a change in the molecular polarizability; and (2) the frequency difference of the two incident laser beams must be adjusted to equal the frequency of this Raman-active transition. Since the occurrence of a Raman spectrum depends on a change in polarizability of the molecule and not on the presence of a transition dipole moment, Raman-active transitions can occur for molecules that have no infrared spectrum. This fact makes PARS a particularly attractive analytical technique for studying molecules which have no infrared spectrum The PARS technique was first demonstrated experimentally using
Celebration of Fools: An Inside Look at the Rise and Fall of JCPenney

This article presents a review of the book “Celebration of Fools: An Inside Look at the Rise and Fall of JCPenney,” by Bill Hare.
An overview of micromachined platforms for thermal sensing and gas detection

Micromachined hotplates, membranes, filaments, and cantilevers have all been used as platforms for thermal sensing and gas detection. Compared with conventional devices, micromachined sensors are characterized by low power consumption, high sensitivity, and fast response time. Much of these gains can be attributed to the size reductions achieved by micromachining. In addition, micromachining permits easy, yet precise tailoring of the heat transfer characteristics of these devices. By simple alterations in device geometry and materials used, the relative magnitudes of radiation, convection and conduction losses and Joule heat gains can be adjusted, and in this way device response can be optimized for specific applications. The free- standing design of micromachined platforms, for example, reduces heat conduction losses to the substrate, thereby making them attractive as low-power, fast-response heaters suitable for a number of applications. However, while micromachining solves some of the heat transfer problems typical of conventionally produced devices, it introduces some of its own. These trade-offs will be discussed in the context of several micromachined thermal and gas sensors described in the literature. These include micromachined flow sensors, gas thermal conductivity sensors, pressure sensors, uncooled IR sensors, metal-oxide and catalytic/calorimetric gas sensors. Recent results obtained for a microbridge-based catalytic/calorimetric gas sensor will also be presented as a means of further illustrating the concepts of thermal design in micromachined sensors.
Pulsed fluoroscopy detectability from interspersed adaptive forced‐choice measurements

Using a new reference/test, adaptive forced-choice method, we investigated detectability of low contrast disks in simulated x-ray fluoroscopy image sequences. The method minimized effects of undesirable variables, such as changes in subject attention level by alternating conventional fluoroscopy (reference) and low acquisition rate fluoroscopy (test) presentations. To compare absolute target detectability and x-ray dose requirements of reference and test presentations, the contrast of the test presentation was set equal to that of the reference presentation, and the dose of the test presentation was adapted to give equivalent detectability of disk targets. Comparing pulsed fluoroscopy at 15 acq/s (pulsed-15) and 7.5 acq/s (pulsed-7.5) with conventional fluoroscopy at 30 acq/s (pulsed-30), dose savings were found in 22 of 24 experiments. When averaged over 3 disk sizes and 4 subjects, savings were 22% and 26% for pulsed-15 and pulsed-7.5, respectively. In most experiments, the subject was given an unlimited time to view presentations. With unlimited display times, subjects took slightly longer to respond for pulsed-15 or pulsed-7.5 than for pulsed-30. In other experiments, display times were limited. As the restricted display time increased, absolute target detectability increased while the x-ray dose for equivalent detectability was unchanged. The number of frames, N, in a repeating loop was also varied. Absolute detectability increased as N increased from 1 to 30 but changed little as more frames were added up to 150. The new experimental paradigm gives efficient, robust comparisons of image data and is applicable to a wide variety of medical image perception problems.
Heart rate as a sublethal indicator of thermal stress in juvenile freshwater mussels

Freshwater mussels (Unionoida) are one of the most sensitive and rapidly declining faunal groups in the world. Rising water temperatures, caused by industrial discharges, land development, or climate change can further challenge threatened unionid communities. The direct relationship between heart rate and temperature in ectotherms enables the use of heart rate as an indicator of whole-animal thermal stress. The purpose of this study was to assess the utility of heart rate as an indicator of thermal stress in freshwater mussels. Seven species of juvenile mussels (Lampsilis siliquoidea, Potamilus alatus, Ligumia recta, Ellipsaria lineolata, Megalonaias nervosa, Alasmidonta varicosa, and Villosa delumbis) were evaluated in response to a range of experimental temperatures (20-36 degrees C) at three acclimation temperatures (17, 22, and 27 degrees C). Heart rate was measured by direct visual observation through transparent mussel shells. The average heart rate for all 7 species at 20 degrees C was 55bpm, with a range from 38bpm (L. recta) to 65bpm (P. alatus). L. recta and V. delumbis exhibited significant changes in heart rate with increasing temperature at each of the three acclimation temperatures. The use of heart rate appears to be a suitable indicator of thermal stress in some unionid mussels.
Comparison of Spinal Loads in Kneeling and Standing Postures during Manual Materials Handling

Kneeling in a restricted posture during manual materials handling has been associated with increased risk of low back pain. Little is known about the effect of kneeling posture on spinal loads. The purpose of this study was to compare differences in spinal loading between kneeling and standing postures for lifting tasks. Twelve subjects asymmetrically lifted luggage of three weights to three heights from floor while kneeling. Three subjects also performed the same tasks from waist height while standing. An adapted free-dynamic EMG-assisted biomechanical model was used to calculate spinal loads. Statistical analysis showed that there was no difference in compression between kneeling and standing (p=0.9605), but kneeling resulted in increased anterior-posterior and lateral shear forces on the lumbar spine (p =0.0002 and p<0.0001, respectively). Spinal loading changes while kneeling in a restricted posture may increase the risk of low back injury and must be considered in ergonomic job design.
Intrinsic kinetics of the hydrogen reduction of Cu2S

Intrinsic kinetics of the hydrogen reduction of cuprous sulfide (Cu2S) have been measured. Experiments were carried out in the temperature range 823 to 1023 K using a thermogravimetric analysis method. The reaction was studied in detail using both thin pellets and powder samples. The reaction followed first-order kinetics with respect to the solid reactant concentration as well as the hydrogen concentration. An activation energy of 92.0 kJ/mol (22.0 kcal/g-mole) was obtained for the reaction. Copper produced from the reaction formed filaments which sintered above about 1000 K.
Defining the level of abnormal return underperformance that exists for issuers of high-yield bonds

A great deal of academic research focuses on how bond issuance impacts the firm. Most recent research focuses on investment grade bonds and ignores noninvestment grade bonds. This article investigates the long-run stock underperformance of high-yield bond Initial Bond Offerings (IBOs) in the 3–5-year post-issuing period compared to firms that do not issue stock and/or bonds over the same 5-year post period. A second dataset featuring investment grade bond issuing firms is also compared to firms that do not issue stocks and/or bonds over the same 5-year post period. It is determined that stock underperformance does exist following bond IBOs using both the buy-and-hold return and Fama–French Four-Factor models. The level of underperformance is found to be greatest for callable bonds issuers followed by straight bonds and convertible bond issuers. Additionally, it is learned that high-yield bond issuing firms experience a greater level of underperformance than their investment-grade counterparts. This line o...
Protease-activated receptor 4 uses anionic residues to interact with α-thrombin in the absence or presence of protease-activated receptor 1

Thrombin activates protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR1) faster than protease-activated receptor 4 (PAR4) due to a hirudin-like sequence in the exodomain of PAR1 that binds thrombin's exosite I. However, recombinant exodomain studies indicate that PAR4 does have extended contacts with alpha-thrombin that influence PAR4's kinetics of cleavage. In this report, the role of an anionic cluster (Asp(57), Asp(59), Glu(62), and Asp(65)) in the exodomain of PAR4 is examined for its influence on cleavage and activation of PAR4 on cells in the absence or presence of PAR1. Alpha-thrombin induces wild-type PAR4 (PAR4-wt) calcium flux with an EC(50) of 110 nM, whereas mutation of the four anionic residues (PAR4-AAAA) increases the EC(50) to 641 nM. In contrast, PAR4-wt and PAR4-AAAA are activated by gamma-thrombin with similar EC(50) values (588 and 449 nM, respectively; p = 0.48), suggesting a role for alpha-thrombin's exosite I in PAR4 activation. Coexpression of PAR1 lowered the EC(50) of cleavage for PAR4-wt from 321 to 26 nM and for PAR4-AAAA from 1.5 microM to 360 nM. Individual point mutations at Asp(57), Asp(59), Glu(62), and Asp(65) show that PAR4-D57A is activated by alpha-thrombin with the same EC(50) as PAR4-wt (140 nM) whereas PAR4-D59A is the same as PAR4-AAAA (699 nM). Glu(62) and Asp(65) contribute to alpha-thrombin recognition, but to a lesser extent. This report shows that PAR4 uses its anionic cluster to interact with alpha-thrombin and that this interaction is important even in the presence of PAR1.
Long-Term Physical and Psychological Health Consequences of Induced Abortion: Review of the Evidence

Induced abortion is a prevalent response to an unintended pregnancy. The long-term health consequences are poorly investigated and conclusions must be drawn from observational studies. Using strict inclusion criteria (study population >100 subjects, follow up >60 days) we reviewed an array of condit
Picosecond polarization dynamics and noise in pulsed vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers

We have measured on picosecond time scales the polarization behavior of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) pumped with short optical pulses. Our data describe the temporal properties of the intensity and intensity noise for orthogonally polarized modes as well as noise correlations between the modes in both the circular and the linear detection bases. A variety of behavior is observed that depends on the polarization of the pump, the strength of the pump, the VCSEL operating temperature which determines the carrier spin-flip rates, and the degree of birefringence and dichroism in the laser. We develop an extension of the "split density" model which includes carrier relaxation processes that are important on picosecond time scales. Our numerical simulations illustrate how spin-flip processes lead to anti-correlated fluctuations in the circularly polarized modes and how anti-correlated noise can arise between the linearly polarized modes without switching between two "preferred" modes, as is commonly seen on longer time scales.
Technological aspects of frequency domain data storage using persistent spectral hole burning

Persistent spectral hole burning permits use of optical frequency for encoding digital information at cryogenic temperatures, with storage densities far beyond the limits of conventional laser–disk recording. In the work presented here, several key technological issues of such a storage system have been investigated. Data were encoded with high spatial and spectral resolution using a specially designed cryostat. The fast tuning characteristics of semiconductor diode lasers were studied to test the feasibility of fast data access in the frequency domain. Fast readout was investigated in a simulation experiment using heterodyne detection with frequency modulated diode lasers.
Regulation of c-fos expression in adipose and muscle tissue of diabetic rats

Insulin treatment of control rats demonstrated a marked 8-fold transient increase (15 min) in c-fos mRNA in white adipose tissue, which returns to basal levels by 5 h. Similarly, insulin treatment resulted in a rapid 9-fold increase in cardiac muscle c-fos mRNA, which also returned to control values by 1 h. By contrast, insulin treatment resulted in only a small increase in c-jun mRNA levels in both adipose tissue and cardiac muscle. Similarly, the expression of c-jun mRNA was only slightly responsive to insulin in these tissues from streptozocin-induced insulin-deficient diabetic rats. However, insulin treatment of insulin-deficient diabetic rats resulted in a prolonged increase in c-fos message levels in adipose tissue without any significant change in the time course of c-fos mRNA induction/repression in cardiac muscle. These data demonstrate that in contrast to c-jun, c-fos is transiently increased in both cardiac muscle and adipose tissue by insulin treatment. Furthermore, transrepression of the c-fos gene is specifically attenuated in adipose tissue of insulin-deficient diabetic rats, but not in cardiac muscle.
All-optical combiner-splitter and gating devices based on straight waveguides

A two-mode optical combiner-splitter device is designed based on all straight waveguides that maintains the integrity of the two modes during propagation and allows for an analytic analysis. The design analysis has the potential to improve the precision of the device fabrication. The design is used in an analytic optical gate based on a nonlinear Mach-Zehnder interferometer. The design reduces the size of a previously proposed device and simplifies its analysis.
Aldosterone secretion in dogs with hypothalamic lesions.

Aldosterone and 17-hydroxycorticoid secretion have been measured by collecting the effluent blood from the right adrenal in 6 dogs with lesions of the anterior median eminence, and 6 dogs with lesions elsewhere in the hypothalamus. These values have been compared to those obtained in 6 normal and 4 hypophysectomized dogs. Sodium and potassium levels in serum and urine have also been measured on a normal and a low sodium intake. Lesions of the anterior median eminence which inhibit hydroxycorticoid secretion have no effect on sodium and potassium metabolism, but are associated with a reduced aldosterone secretion in the adrenal venous blood after acute cannulation of the adrenal. Similar results, i.e., moderate impairment of aldosterone secretion in the absence of any detectable abnormality of sodium and potassium metabolism, were obtained in the hypoplsectomized dogs.It is suggested that the observed differences between normal dogs and dogs with lesions of the median eminence are due to decreased ACTH sec...
Ferroelectric properties of BiFeO3 thin films deposited on substrates with large lattice mismatch

BiFeO3 thin films have been grown on large lattice mismatched substrates – LaAlO3(001) and MgO(001) – and their properties compared with those grown on SrTiO3(001) substrates. While epitaxial growth occurs on LaAlO3 and SrTiO3 substrates, the film grows highly textured on MgO substrate. In spite of the lattice mismatch, all the films exhibit excellent ferroelectric polarization and low leakage current characteristics. The present study indicates that close lattice parameter matching or strain induction is not a stringent criterion for the observation of ferroelectric behavior in BiFeO3 films. (© 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Failure of DFT-based computations for a stepped-substrate-supported correlated Co wire

Density functional theory (DFT) has been immensely successful in its ability to predict physical properties and, in particular, structures of condensed matter systems. Here, however, we show that DFT qualitatively fails to predict the dimerized structural phase for a monatomic Co wire that is self-assembled on a vicinal (i.e. stepped) Cu(111) substrate. To elucidate the nature of this failure, we compute the energetics of a Co chain on a Cu surface, step, and notch and embedded in bulk. The results demonstrate that increasing Co coordination extinguishes the dimerization, indicating that the failure of DFT for Co on the Cu step arises from excessive hybridization, which both weakens the ferromagnetic correlations that drive the dimerization and increases the bonding that opposes dimerization. Additionally, we show that including local interactions via DFT + U or DFT + dynamical mean field theory (DMFT) does not restore the dimerization for the stepped-substrate-supported wire, although the Co wire does dimerize in DFT + DMFT for the isolated vacuum case. This system can serve as a benchmark for future electronic structure methods.
Ellipsometric studies of thermally induced transformation phenomena in oxide films

Abstract Post deposition annealing of supported films not only can induce transformation to a different phase but also can promote ion diffusion across the film-substrate interface with subsequent chemical reaction at that interface. Such interfacial processes have been observed in zinc oxide films deposited on borosilicate glass or vitreous silica substrates when heated to temperatures exceeding 675 K. Raman measurements acquired as a function of temperature show gradual transformation to a zinc borate or silicate phase with concomitant change in dielectric properties. Analogous reactions have been observed for zinc oxide films deposited on sapphire substrates. Spectroscopic ellipsometry and Raman spectroscopy are used to characterize the film-substrate interaction at the buried interface for ZnO and doped ZnO films subjected to post deposition annealing. Films studied are either amorphous, consist of randomly oriented wurtzite crystalline grains, or are highly c-axis oriented wurtzite, depending upon the deposition method. It is shown that above a critical temperature, not only substrate interactions occur, but resident cation dopants also can chemically react with the zinc oxide matrix. Such reactivity can significantly limit the effects such dopants have on the optical and conductivity properties of ZnO.
Mechanisms of AIF-Mediated Apoptotic DNA Degradation in Caenorhabditis elegans

Apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF), a mitochondrial oxidoreductase, is released into the cytoplasm to induce cell death in response to apoptotic signals. However, the mechanisms underlying this process have not been resolved. We report that inactivation of the Caenorhabditis elegans AIF homolog wah-1 by RNA interference delayed the normal progression of apoptosis and caused a defect in apoptotic DNA degradation. WAH-1 localized in C. elegans mitochondria and was released into the cytosol and nucleus by the BH3-domain protein EGL-1 in a caspase (CED-3)-dependent manner. In addition, WAH-1 associated and cooperated with the mitochondrial endonuclease CPS-6/endonuclease G (EndoG) to promote DNA degradation and apoptosis. Thus, AIF and EndoG define a single, mitochondria-initiated apoptotic DNA degradation pathway that is conserved between C. elegans and mammals.
Tropical forest carbon balance in a warmer world: a critical review spanning microbial- to ecosystem-scale processes

Tropical forests play a major role in regulating global carbon (C) fluxes and stocks, and even small changes to C cycling in this productive biome could dramatically affect atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations. Temperature is expected to increase over all land surfaces in the future, yet we have a surprisingly poor understanding of how tropical forests will respond to this significant climatic change. Here we present a contemporary synthesis of the existing data and what they suggest about how tropical forests will respond to increasing temperatures. Our goals were to: (i) determine whether there is enough evidence to support the conclusion that increased temperature will affect tropical forest C balance; (ii) if there is sufficient evidence, determine what direction this effect will take; and, (iii) establish what steps should to be taken to resolve the uncertainties surrounding tropical forest responses to increasing temperatures. We approach these questions from a mass-balance perspective and therefore focus primarily on the effects of temperature on inputs and outputs of C, spanning microbial- to ecosystem-scale responses. We found that, while there is the strong potential for temperature to affect processes related to C cycling and storage in tropical forests, a notable lack of data combined with the physical, biological and chemical diversity of the forests themselves make it difficult to resolve this issue with certainty. We suggest a variety of experimental approaches that could help elucidate how tropical forests will respond to warming, including large-scale in situ manipulation experiments, longer term field experiments, the incorporation of a range of scales in the investigation of warming effects (both spatial and temporal), as well as the inclusion of a diversity of tropical forest sites. Finally, we highlight areas of tropical forest research where notably few data are available, including temperature effects on: nutrient cycling, heterotrophic versus autotrophic respiration, thermal acclimation versus substrate limitation of plant and microbial communities, below-ground C allocation, species composition (plant and microbial), and the hydraulic architecture of roots. Whether or not tropical forests will become a source or a sink of C in a warmer world remains highly uncertain. Given the importance of these ecosystems to the global C budget, resolving this uncertainty is a primary research priority.
Development of a brief ataxia rating scale (BARS) based on a modified form of the ICARS.

To develop a brief ataxia rating scale (BARS) for use by movement disorder specialists and general neurologists. Current ataxia rating scales are cumbersome and not designed for clinical practice. We first modified the International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS) by adding seven ataxia tests (modified ICARS, or MICARS), and observed only minimally increased scores. We then used the statistics package R to find a five-test subset in MICARS that would correlate best with the total MICARS score. This was accomplished first without constraints and then with the clinical constraint requiring one test each of Gait, Kinetic Function-Arm, Kinetic Function-Leg, Speech, and Eye Movements. We validated these clinical constraints by factor analysis. We then validated the results in a second cohort of patients; evaluated inter-rater reliability in a third cohort; and used the same data set to compare BARS with the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA). Correlation of ICARS with the seven additional tests that when added to ICARS form MICARS was 0.88. There were 31,481 five-test subtests (48% of possible combinations) that had a correlation with total MICARS score of ≥0.90. The strongest correlation of an unconstrained five-test subset was 0.963. The clinically constrained subtest validated by factor analysis, BARS, had a correlation with MICARS-minus-BARS of 0.952. Cronbach alpha for BARS and SARA was 0.90 and 0.92 respectively; and inter-rater reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient) was 0.91 and 0.93 respectively. BARS is valid, reliable, and sufficiently fast and accurate for clinical purposes. © 2009 Movement Disorder Society
Quasisecular Clothing Transformation for the φ 4 Model of Quantum Field Theory

The first-order renormalized Heisenberg field for the ${\ensuremath{\varphi}}^{4}$ model of quantum field theory, calculated by the quasisecular perturbation method, is used to construct a clothing transformation. The clothing transformation gives the Fourier amplitude of the renormalized field from that of the bare field, except for the quasisecular terms. The properties of the clothing transformation are examined in the cases of one, two, and three space dimensions. The connection with the strange representations of the canonical commutation relations is discussed.
Shirts and Shoes Required, Sheepskin Optional?.

The author challenges the current trend of seeing college as mandatory and questions whether schools and students alike might be better served by academic administrators, parents, and other well-meaning role models acknowledging that education has many forms, and that not every student will have the same aptitude or investment in the outcome. Investigating the balancing values of economics and societal duty in choosing whether to attend college, the author maintains that while college is a great investment for many people, college students should pursue their paths for the sake of knowledge itself while not making undue assumptions about those who choose not to pursue higher education.
Determinants of Resistance to Extinction after Three Training Trials: 1. Chronological Age and Mental Age:

Lester (1966) reported a failure to replicate a study by McCain, et al. (1963) in which children given three rewarded trials in succession extinguished sooner than rhose given rewards on Trials 1 and 3 only. The task was one in which Ss had to guess whether a reward was present in a container. Since Lester found a large range of scores (1 to 27 for the first of three successive 'no' responses), determinants of resistance to extinction other than that of the reinforcement pattern must be sought. Two likely candidates appeared to be chronological age and mental age. In the first experiment 21 children, aged 39 to 61 mo., from the Brandeis Universiry nursery school were given the task of guessing whether a raisin was contained in a small colored box presented to them? Between trials the box was hidden behind a screen. After three training trials with patterns of reinforcement RRR, RXR, XRR, and XXR, where R represents a reward and X no reward, the children were given extinction trials to a maximum of 20. The criterion for extinction was 4 successive 'no' responses. Pattern of reinforcement had no significant effect on resistance to extinction, but 10 of 11 Ss aged 39 to 49 mo. failed to extinguish whereas 2 of 10 Ss aged 49 to 61 rno. failed to exringuish. The Fisher exact probability for this distribution was 0.0017. To study mental age, 40 first-grade children were given the same task, with an M & M candy replacing the raisin and with the training pattern XXR.' The raw score on the Otis Quick-Scoring Mental Ability Test (Otis, 1954) did nor correlate with resistance to extinction (Spearman r = -0.01). (In addition, neither sex nor classroom of origin significantly affected resistance to extinction.) It appears [hat at about 4 yr. of age the child changes his response to this task. Before this age S is likely to say yes continually to E's questions. After this age he begins to be amenable to acknowledging a change of conditions of reinforcement. Perhaps the younger child is expressing a wish rather than a guess. In the subsequent experiment with first-grade children, scores on an intelligence test had no relationship to resistance to extinction.
Chronic and subacute meningitis.

ABSTRACT:Purpose of Review:This article describes the background, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of selected etiologies of subacute and chronic meningitis. Key diagnostic considerations when evaluating a patient presenting with chronic inflammation of the CNS are discussed, and seve
Non-random X chromosome inactivation in mammalian cells

A salient feature of mammalian X dosage compensation is that X-inactivation occurs without regard to the parental origin of either active or inactive X. However, there are variations on the theme of random inactivation, namely paternal X inactivation in marsupials and in placental tissues of some mammals. Whether inactivation is random or paternal seems to depend on the time when this developmental program is initiated. As deletions of the X inactivation center (XIC/Xic) and/or the X inactive specific transcript (XIST/Xist) gene result in failure of cis X-inactivation, mutations in genes from this region might lead to preferential inactivation of one X chromosome or the other. The Xce locus in the murine Xic is considered a prototype for this model. Recent studies suggest that choice involves maintaining the activity of one X, while the other(s) by default is programmed to become inactive. Also, choice resides within the XIC, so that mutations elsewhere, although perhaps able to interfere with cis inactivation, are not likely to affect the X chromosome from only one parent. Mutations affecting the choice of active X will be more difficult to detect in humans than in inbred laboratory mice because of the greater allelic differences between maternal and paternal X chromosomes; some of these differences predispose to growth competition between the mosaic cell populations. I suggest that the skewing of inactivation patterns observed in human females most often occurs after random X inactivation, and is due mainly to cell selection favoring alleles that provide a relative growth advantage.
The Wizard of Oz: Therapeutic rhetoric in a contemporary media ritual

The Wizard of Oz is a yearly media ritual for American television viewers. The film performs the psychological and socializing functions of traditional fairy tales, yet also contains contemporary political orientations and social values. The rhetoric of this text and related artifacts can be understood as therapeutic insofar as the rationale of the story describes psychological problems and offers prescriptive remedies that viewers may adopt. The Wizard of Oz is a story of adolescent development wherein a female child performs a heroic quest. This narrative theme conveys prescriptive rhetoric about female roles and twentieth‐century situations, and reflects a cultural preoccupation with individual identity and its formation.
The effects of gonadal steroids on the content of substance P in the rat anterior pituitary.

The effects of gonadectomy and of the administration of gonadal steroids on the content of substance P in the anterior pituitary (AP-SP) were studied in adult rats. The effect of gonadal status on the AP-SP content of thyroidectomized (TX) rats was also studied. We have confirmed that the AP-SP content in adult males is higher than that in adult females. Ovariectomy (OVX) caused an increase in AP-SP content which was apparent 6 days after surgery. Estradiol (E2; 2μg/rat daily) administered for 13 days beginning the day after OVX prevented the increase in AP-SP content induced by OVX. Orchiectomy of adult rats had no effect on AP-SP content 14 and 45 days after surgery. E2 administered to adult female rats for 13 days caused a reduction in the AP-SP content, whereas dihydrotestosterone (0.2 mg/rat daily for 13 days) caused an increase that was even more pronounced in TX rats. E2 administration to TX adult female rats caused a significant decrease in the AP-SP content both when treatment was begun on the da...
Determinants of engagement in paid work following social security benefit receipt among older women.

ABSTRACT Work behavior among older men approaching or following retirement has received considerable research attention over the past two decades, but research on older women's work behavior is still in its incipient stage. Based on data from the 1982 New Beneficiary Survey (NBS) and the 1991 New Beneficiary Follow-up (NBF), this study analyzes the extent and determinants of employment among women who received their first Social Security benefits between 1980 and 1981. More than one fourth of the women continued to work or rejoined the labor force following their first Social Security benefit receipt. Financial need was found to be the primary reason for and the most significant determinant of women's continuing work or (re)entry into the labor force. But the level of education, health, spouse's work status, and previous work history were also found to be significant determinants of the likelihood and duration of their employment following Social Security receipt.
A general adaptive solver for hyperbolic PDEs based on filter bank subdivisions

We use the filter bank method to solve hyperbolic PDEs adaptively. We show that the method is well-suited for object-oriented design. We also test the robustness and computational speed of the method, and it is shown to outperform nonadaptive schemes even for small problem sizes.
Using Curriculum-Based Measurement to Monitor Reading Progress in Inclusive Elementary Settings

ABSTRACT This article describes the use of curriculum-based measurement, specifically oral reading fluency, as a tool for monitoring students' overall reading achievement. A brief overview of curriculum-based measurement is provided as well as a description of procedures for collecting and graphing data. A case study illustrates the application of curriculum-based measurement in an elementary-level classroom that includes a student with an identified learning disability in reading as well as several other students who are low achieving. Focus on Inclusion is edited by Michael E. Skinner.
Influence of T4 superinfection on the formation of RNA bacteriophage coat protein.

Abstract Synthesis of RNA-phage coat protein is strongly inhibited following superinfection with phage T4; a sharp reduction in coat production is observed within several minutes after superinfection.
How can schools help youth increase physical activity? An economic analysis comparing school-based programs

Abstract Objective For optimal health, physical activity should be an integral and routine part of daily life. Youth spend a significant amount of time at school yet rarely achieve the recommended 60 min of moderate and vigorous physical activity in physical education (PE) classes or recess. This study assessed the following types of school-based opportunities to improve physical activity for youth: after-school programs, before-school programs, PE classes, extended-day PE, and short physical activity breaks during the school day. Method An economic analysis conducted in 2013 compared school-based approaches to increasing physical activity. Analysis factors included costs, reach, effects on physical activity gains, cost-effectiveness, and other potentially augmenting benefits. Results Two programs were significantly superior in terms of reach and cost per student: (1) extending the school day with mandatory PE participation and (2) offering short (10-minute) physical activity breaks during regular classroom hours. After-school program costs per student are high and the programs have a smaller reach, but they offer benefits (such as childcare) that may justify their higher costs. Before-school programs did not appear feasible. Conclusion Incorporating short physical activity breaks into the existing school day would be a cost-effective way to increase school-based activity. This type of program is inexpensive and has broad reach. Inserting activity breaks throughout the day is appropriate, especially when youth are otherwise largely sedentary.
Are There Badlands Ahead for Higher Education

Several publications, including Navigating the Badlands a book by Mary O'Hara-Devereux as well as a report by the National Research Council, suggest troubled times are ahead for society and possibly higher education. The latter report says that, “The impact of information technology on the university will likely be profound, rapid, and discontinuous,” and predicts that “the evolutionary pace of information technology will not only continue for the foreseeable future but could well accelerate on a superexponential slope.” This article will examine some of the evidence that suggests there are badlands ahead for higher education.
Simulation of micromagnetic and magnetoresistive response in a shielded Permalloy strip

The boundary element method was used to model the shields in a shielded magnetoresistive head. The treatment and various numerical tests that were performed to test its accuracy are discussed. This shield model has been combined with an existing micromagnetic modeling program to produce a fairly complete model of a shielded magnetoresistive head. Results for this system are also presented. >
Integrated management approaches for pink bollworm in the southwestern United States

The pink bollworm (PBW), Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is the key pest in cotton (Gossypium spp.) production areas in the southwestern United States and in many other cotton-producing areas of the world. The high costs of chemical control, continuing economic losses, secondary pest problems and environmental considerations suggest the need for ecologically oriented PBW management strategies. Extensive research has resulted in a broad array of monitoring, biological control, cultural, behavioural, genetic and host plant resistance methods that can serve as a base for the formulation of integrated PBW management systems. The life history characteristics of the PBW, in particular the high mobility of adults, indicate the need for combinations of selected integrated pest management (IPM) components implemented over large geographical areas. The areas involved present a wide range of PBW population densities, differences in cotton production methods and social and environmental considerations. The best option is tailor-made systems for targeted management areas with the selection of IPM components based on the PBW population density, crop production methods and economic feasibility. The unlikelihood of eradication indicates the need for long-term monitoring and programme maintenance following successful area-wide management. The success of area-wide PBW management is highly dependent on participation in the planning, site selection, implementation and assessment phases of the programme by all segments of the agricultural community. A highly effective extension--education communication programme is an essential component. Local uncoordinated efforts have not reduced the economic status of this pest in any area where it is an established pest. The potential long-term benefits of PBW population suppression on an area-wide basis appear to justify area-wide efforts in terms of reduced costs, more effective control, less environmental contamination and other peripheral problems associated with conventional control approaches.
The Economics of the US Health Care System: A Personal Perspective

In almost 20 years as an independent practicing physician (10 years as a hospitalist, after 8 years as a primary care pediatrician [PCP] in private practice), I have cared for a wide variety of patients. I have also had firsthand knowledge, from 2 sides of pediatric practice, of how the strange economics of the US Health Care System strongly influence my day-to-day practice. As I look back on my years as a PCP, I now realize that there were 2 main reasons why I chose to become a hospitalist. First, I missed caring for more acute, sicker patients. Second, I was extremely frustrated with the waste, inefficiencies and bizarre incentives of the system. The fact that taking a few minutes to reduce a nursemaid’s elbow was more valuable to the bottom line than spending 45 minutes with a family to break the news that their newborn has Down syndrome caused me a lot of stress and anxiety. The fact that as a partner in a private practice I had a responsibility to make sure we could pay our bills and keep the office open just made things worse. Much has been written about our broken health care system over the past several years. Experts enumerate many factors that led to our current state, including a high percentage of uninsured/underinsured, high prices, overutilization of some things, underutilization of others, waste, inefficiency, fraud, and fee-for-service.1–3 The question remains: which factors are truly responsible for the problems with our system? I do not know the definitive answer to this question, and I’m sure if you asked 10 experts …