cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prescribing patterns for thiazide diuretics in a large health maintenance organization: relationship to participation as an ALLHAT clinical center.

Abstract The Antihypertensive and Lipid-Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial (ALLHAT) published its main findings in December, 2002. It recommended thiazide diuretics as a first-line treatment of hypertension. The current study describes the prescribing patterns of thiazide diuretics in four regions of Kaiser Permanente, a large national United States Health Maintenance Organizatoin—two regions that had an ALLHAT clinical center and two that did not. We tested the hypothesis that participation in a clinical trial leads to quicker and greater adoption of study recommendations than non-participation in a trial. The relative percentage of filled outpatient prescriptions for the period 2 or 3 years before the ALLHAT main publication through December 31, 2004 was calculated by region for thiazide-type diuretics and for calcium channel blockers (CCBs), β-blockers, central α-blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) and other antihypertensive diuretics. In the 2 years after publication of the ALLHAT trial findings, the percentage of all prescriptions for thiazide diuretics increased from 11.2% to 12.4% in the two regions with an ALLHAT clinical site and from 8.9% to 10.1% in the two regions without an ALLHAT clinical site ( p > 0.05). The percentage of new prescriptions for thiazide diuretics increased from 13.7% to 16.6% in the two regions with an ALLHAT clinical site and from 10.8% to 13.0% in the two regions without an ALLHAT clinical site ( p > 0.05). Participation in a clinical hypertension study does not appear to accelerate adoption of study recommendations.
Effect of the dynamic optical properties of water on midinfrared laser ablation

Water is a primary tissue chromophore in the midinfrared. Absorption of midinfrared radiation by water is a function of temperature and pressure, both of which rise rapidly during an ablative laser pulse. Data show that the absorption coefficient of water changes, by as much as two orders of magnitude, during a high-irradiance laser pulse. We present an ablation model that is fundamentally based upon Beer's Law but considers changes in the absorption coefficient. The model predicts that Er:YAG laser cuts will be deeper than Er:YSGG laser cuts; an opposite prediction would be made based upon the static, low-intensity absorption coefficient of water. The results of in vitro ablation of skin confirm that the dynamic optical properties of tissue need to be considered in the understanding of laser ablation as well as the design, manufacture, use, and regulation of clinical laser systems.
Interface and bulk relaxation in solid ionic conductors

Abstract The frequency dependent response of solid ionic conductors (solid electrolytes) to a small amplitude ac voltage applied through dc blocking metal contacts is due to polarization from two sources: (i) charge accumulation at the metal-electrolyte interfaces and (ii) displacement of bound charges and defects within the electrolyte. These give rise to a characteristic constant phase angle behavior of the interface impedance and bulk permitivity above the loss peak. The interface impedance is attributed to ion diffusion in screened regions near the electrode surface while the permitivity of the electrolyte is modeled using a temperature dependent distribution of activation energies for ion hopping in double potential wells.
An optimization problem in adaptive virtual environments

A virtual execution environment consisting of virtual machines (VMs) interconnected with virtual networks provides opportunities to dynamically optimize, at run-time, the performance of existing, unmodified distributed applications without any user or programmer intervention. Along with resource monitoring and inference and application-independent adaptation mechanisms, efficient adaptation algorithms are key to the success of such an effort. In previous work we have described our measurement and inference framework, explained our adaptation mechanisms, and proposed simple heuristics as adaptation algorithms. Though we were successful in improving performance as compared to the case with no adaptation, none of our algorithms were characterized by theoretically proven bounds. In this paper, we formalize the adaptation problem, show that it is NP-hard and propose research directions for coming up with an efficient solution.
Comparative fire risk of motor vehicle fuels: Gasoline versus ethanol

If motor vehicles switch from gasoline to E-85 ethanol, is the fire risk to the general public reduced or increased? This article explores the fire risk associated with four accident scenarios: Transport from refinery to distributor (pipeline vs. truck or barge), Transport from distributor to retail facility by truck, Spill during fuel dispensing to motor vehicle, and Motor vehicle fire following traffic accident. Each of these scenarios represents a stage in the life cycle of the liquid fuel, from wholesale distribution and consumer usage. In each case the risk of fire is composed of the probability of occurrence and the consequences of the fire. The probabilities were estimated from various compilations of accident statistics. Overall, the probability of an E-85 ethanol release was greater than or equal to a gasoline release. This was due to the comparative accident frequency of different transportation modes and distances involved. The fire consequences were quantified in terms of spill area, heat release rate and radiant heat flux to nearby targets. For spills of the same size, the gasoline fire tended to be more severe than the E-85 ethanol fire. This is due to the differences in their physical properties, the enthalpies of combustion, and the emissivities of the flames. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog, 2009
A Dedicated Instrument for the Analysis of Blood Urea Nitrogen Using an Immobilized Enzyme Reagent

Abstract A dedicated instrument for the quantitative determination of urea in blood serum or plasma has been developed. The instrument uses urease immobilized on a porous alumina support and a gas-detecting electrode to measure ammonia resulting from hydrolysis of urea. Reproducibility and recovery studies show a high degree of accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity. Comparison of patient samples (plasma and serum) show no statistical difference when compared to the diacetyl monoxime, Auto Analyzer method.
The application of thermal analysis in studying the thermal decomposition of solids

Abstract The basic principles applying to the application of thermal analysis to the thermal decomposition of solids are outlined. The importance of considering the nature of the surface is considered. Thermodynamic and kinetic factors are discussed.
Statistical 4D graphs for multi-organ abdominal segmentation from multiphase CT

The interpretation of medical images benefits from anatomical and physiological priors to optimize computer-aided diagnosis applications. Diagnosis also relies on the comprehensive analysis of multiple organs and quantitative measures of soft tissue. An automated method optimized for medical image data is presented for the simultaneous segmentation of four abdominal organs from 4D CT data using graph cuts. Contrast-enhanced CT scans were obtained at two phases: non-contrast and portal venous. Intra-patient data were spatially normalized by non-linear registration. Then 4D convolution using population training information of contrast-enhanced liver, spleen and kidneys was applied to multiphase data to initialize the 4D graph and adapt to patient-specific data. CT enhancement information and constraints on shape, from Parzen windows, and location, from a probabilistic atlas, were input into a new formulation of a 4D graph. Comparative results demonstrate the effects of appearance, enhancement, shape and location on organ segmentation. All four abdominal organs were segmented robustly and accurately with volume overlaps over 93.6% and average surface distances below 1.1 mm.
An organismic critique of molecular darwinism

The molecular darwinian approach to the emergence of life treats the competition between RNA sequences for nucleotide resources as the primordial selective process in prebiotic evolution, which prescribes possible pathways for the subsequent elaboration of organizational relationships. Since success in this competition is determined by the “phenotypic” properties of RNA strands in the absence of organizational context, the genesis of biotic organization is dependent upon the establishment of co-operative, hypercyclic interactions between competing RNA sequences. The thesis of this paper is that hypercycle theory is based on unwarranted assumptions about the conditions of prebiotic evolution, and that the implications of these assumptions run counter to both empirical evidence and to the rational by which natural selection operates in evolution generally. An organismic alternative to hypercycle theory is suggested, based on the catalytic microsphere and the thermodynamics of selection.
Conservation Lessons from Long-Term Studies of Checkerspot Butterflies

Long-term studies of checkerspot butterflies (Eu- phydryas spp.) are used to draw conservation lessons with implications for the design and management of reserves for invertebrates. We discuss; 1. The importance of determining the structure of and patterns of mating within demographic units. 2. The lack of congruence between migration and gene flow. 3. The crucial role of habitat diversity in the protection of species which otherwise require only small areas of habitat. 4. The importance of identifying and preserving "reser- voir" populations within metapopulations. 5. The necessity of identifying subtle habitat requirements. 6 The key role of environmental stochasticity in the ex- tinction of small populations.
Pilot study to assess effects of collection tube types and processing delay on measurements of persistent organic pollutants and lipids in human serum

Abstract Glass red top tubes (RTs), traditionally used to draw blood for biomonitoring studies, have some limitations during field sampling (e.g., tube breakage, timely processing may be difficult). This pilot study examined whether serum separation tubes (SSTs) with delayed processing time (48 h) can be used instead of red top tubes (RTs) to accommodate field conditions. Using state-of-the-art methodologies, PBDEs, PCBs, OCPs, PFCs, cholesterol and triglycerides were measured to evaluate any differences among 2 test conditions (RTs with 2 h processing time; SSTs with 48 h processing time). Between the 2 test conditions, we observed high rank correlations among the measured compounds and no statistically significant differences in the levels of measured compounds. We conclude that SSTs with delayed processing time (48 h) produce similar results as RTs with short processing time (2 h), suggesting that SSTs could be good substitutes for RTs for new epidemiological and biomonitoring field studies. The use of SSTs offers a tremendous opportunity for the use of samples archived in various SSTs.
Computing the crop water production function for onion

Abstract Onions are a major irrigated crop in New Mexico. An excessive amount of water is generally applied, because the crop is shallow-rooted and requires frequent irrigation to achieve good yields. Onions under deficit irrigation have a decrease in evapotranspiration and yield. Consequently, farmers need to use the water production function (wpf) for onions to estimate water requirements at different locations for selected yield goals. The wpf is the relationship between yield and water applied. The same relation can be expressed in terms of evapotranspiration, in which case the production function is known as the evapotranspiration production function (Etpf). A gradient sprinkler line source onion experiment was conducted in 1986 and 1987 at Farmington New Mexico and a linear Etpf determined. The linear Etpf was expressed as a relative Etpf and the yield response factor (Ky), which represents the slope of relative Etpf, was calculated for onions at Farmington, NM and found to be 1.52, compared to 1.5 obtained by [Doorenbos, J., Kassam, A.H., 1986. FAO Irrig. Drain., Paper 33, Rome, Italy] for onions stressed at the yield formation period. A second gradient drip line- source irrigation experiment was conducted at Las Cruces, NM, during 1994–1996 to determine a wpf as related to applied water for drip irrigated onions. The irrigation treatments were 40, 60, 80, 100, and 120% of calculated nonstressed evapotranspiration determined from the sprinkler line source experiment. The wpf was curvilinear because excess water was applied to the different irrigation levels in the experiment in order to keep the base plate of the onions wet so root growth would continue. The result was that part of the applied water went to deep drainage rather than to evapotranspiration. The wpf was corrected for the amount of irrigation water lost as deep drainage and expressed as evapotranspiration versus yield (Etpf) by using reference evapotranspiration measured at Las Cruces and season crop coefficients for selected yield levels measured at Farmington, NM. Maximum onion yield at Las Cruces under the drip irrigation system was 20% higher than measured at Farmington using the sprinkler system. The results indicate that high onion yield are achievable using a drip system compared to a sprinkler system but a larger amount of applied water goes to deep drainage using a drip system compared to a sprinkler system to achieve maximum yield.
229 PHASIC HEART RATE CHANGES IN PREMATURE NEONATES IN RESPONSE TO SENSORY STIMULATION

Heart rate may vary as a function of sensory and central processes. Previous studies in term infants have indicated a phasic response to stimulation, with an acceleratory response at 6 wks of age followed by a deceleratory phase later in infancy. Although a deceleratory response to sensory stimulation may be obtained in the term infant in the first few days of life, it is difficult to elicit. In newborn animal studies, the shift of heart rate changes occurs during a time of rapid neurochemical and neurostructural development. The present work evaluates changes in heart rate in healthy premature infants elicited by a startle reflex. Five infants with mean gestational age at birth of 30 wks (range, 28-32 wks) were studied at 3t weeks' conceptual age. Infants were connected to a pneumocardiogram for continuous monitoring of heart rate and respiratory rate. The sensory stimulation consisted of an eye-blink eliciting device consisting of a miniature solenoid with a teflon striker and a miniature photoreflective densiometer attached to a TDH 39 earphone to assess eyeblinks. During the study period, infants were in active or undifferentiated sleep. A biphasic response of deceleration-acceleration was seen with a mean decrease in heart rate from baseline of 12% (range, 6-21%) followed by a mean increase from baseline of 7% (range, 4-10%). This data suggests that the prematurely born infant is capable of an orientation-attentional process. Although the 34 wk gestation infant is neurodevelopmentally immature, the response to stimulation suggests a maturational change consistent with cortical control over subcortlcal structures.
Double Acardius Amorphous Case in a Brown Swiss Cow

Abstract Subsequent performance of the dam and normal daughter, in what was apparently the first double acardius amorphous case in the bovine, were in all respects normal and unaffected by birth. The two masses were apparently viable at birth and contained recognizable portions of bone but no detectable vascular system.
Contamination experiments in the Midcourse Space Experiment satellite

The Midcourse Space Experiment (MSX) satellite is a space-based sensor platform primarily designed to collect data on the phenomenology of target detection and tracking. Because of the possible deleterious effect of contamination on these sensors, a suite of contamination monitoring instruments are also included in the satellite. These instruments are the Total Pressure Sensor (TPS), the Contamination Experiment Mass Spectrometer (CEMS), the Ion Mass Spectrometer (IMS), the Cryogenic Quartz Crystal Microbalance (CQCM), four Temperature-controlled Quartz Crystal Microbalance (TQCM), the Xenon Flashlamp Experiment (XFE), the Krypton Flashlamp Experiment (KFE) and the Spirit III Mirror Cleaning Experiment (SMCE). The philosophy of Contamination Experiment (CE), its calibration and testing, modeling and the data to be collected will be discussed.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Management of warm-season annual grass residue on annual ryegrass establishment and production

Early-season forage production of annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) is reduced in the southeastern USA when established no-till rather than with conventional tillage. We hypothesized that annual warm-season grass residue interferes with seedling establishment under no-till. In a two-year study, we evaluated six strategies for managing residue from warm-season annual grass on annual ryegrass establishment, forage production, and soil moisture. Treatments were (i) no herbicide, mow, and leave residue; (ii) tillage 30 and 7 d before planting ; (iii) apply glyphosate [isopropylamine salt of N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine] 30 d before planting, mow, and leave residue; (iv) apply glyphosate 7 d before planting, mow, and leave residue; (v) apply glyphosate 7 d before planting, apply additional residue from twice the plot area (i.e., three times the other residue treatments); and (vi) apply glyphosate 7 d before planting, burn residue 1 d before planting. Better stands and more forage production at first harvest of annual ryegrass were obtained by spraying and burning residue (two-year average of 96% stand and 0.92 Mg ha -1 yield at the first harvest) or spraying 30 d before planting (92% stand. 0.92 Mg ha 1 ) than when annual ryegrass was planted into a 3 x residue (55% stand, 0.24 Mg ha '). Soil moisture at planting did not cause differences in stand establishment among treatments. We conclude that managing residue during no-till establishment by controlling warm-season annual grasses and burning or controlling warm-season annual grasses 30 d before planting can improve stands and forage production of annual ryegrass.
Suppression of T cell costimulator ICOS by Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol

Inducible costimulator (ICOS), a prototypic T cell costimulator, is induced on activated T cells. ICOS regulates T cell activation and Th cell differentiation and is principally involved in humoral immune responses. Previous work showed that T cell accessory function is modulated by the plant-derived cannabinoid, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta(9)-THC). In light of an emerging role by ICOS in T cell-mediated immunity, the objective of this study was to investigate the effect of Delta(9)-THC on ICOS in activated mouse T cells. Induction of ICOS mRNA levels by phorbol ester (PMA) plus ionomycin (Io) activation in mouse splenocytes was attenuated by Delta(9)-THC in a concentration-related manner. Similar results were obtained in the mouse T cell line, EL4.IL-2. Anti-CD3/CD28 induced ICOS expression on CD4(+) splenic T cells, which was suppressed by Delta(9)-THC in a time- and concentration-related manner. The PMA/Io-induced icos promoter luciferase reporter activity was also down-regulated by Delta(9)-THC, suggesting that the suppression of ICOS expression by Delta(9)-THC occurs at the transcriptional level. Moreover, transcriptional activation of the NFAT was also down-regulated by Delta(9)-THC as shown by a NFAT luciferase reporter assay, which is consistent with a putative role of NFAT in regulating ICOS expression. Collectively, Delta(9)-THC suppresses ICOS expression in activated T cells, and this suppression may be related, in part, to its modulation of NFAT signaling. The emerging role of ICOS in a wide range of immune-related diseases also suggests that it may represent a potential therapeutic target, which could be modulated by cannabinoid compounds.
Covert Mentoring on the Internet: Methods for Confirming Status in Imagined Technical Communities

Many technologists rely on informal mentoring conducted in social circles that lie outside of their immediate workplace. One crucial mentoring method involves answering questions, which may help novices solve problems, master technical skills, and learn proper social behavior. Yet, asking and answering questions can mark the questioner and/or respondent as lacking knowledge or competence. Questioners and respondents may address these vulnerabilities by using strategies that deflect away from their perceived inadequacy and focus instead on the proper content and form of acceptable questions. Rather than focusing on the technical answer to a question, respondents criticize the questioner and teach questioners how to ask questions properly. These tactics strive to help questioners regain techno-social capital that is lost when they cannot demonstrate adequate technical knowledge. Based on a two-year ethnographic study of two online communities, this paper examines the strategies questioners and respondents use to ask and answer questions in ways coded as socially appropriate in local contexts. Rather than circulating new technical knowledge, these exchanges result in a type of covert and collusional mentoring which trains participants to ask and answer questions in socially acceptable ways. Ironically, these question-and-answer practices may encourage both questioner and respondent to use and reinforce normative cultural practices that no one may actually value.
The role of the endocrine system in baboon maternal behavior

Abstract Background Human mothers display a wide range of parenting skills, and although we have gathered a large body of evidence on a variety of factors affecting maternal behavior, we still know relatively little about the physiologic correlates of variation in parental behavior in primates. Methods Excreted gonadal and adrenal steroids were measured across parturition in a large sample ( n = 89) of group-living female baboons. Maternal behavior data were collected during the first 2 months of infants' life. Results We found that changes in the excreted sex steroid hormones and cortisol were associated with baboon mothers' infant-directed behaviors. Mothers who displayed more stress-related behaviors, who were also prone to maintain less contact with their infants, had higher postpartum cortisol levels, higher prepartum pregnanediol-3-glucoronide (PdG) levels, and lower postpartum PdG levels. Mothers with higher prepartum cortisol levels showed higher levels of infant-directed affiliative behaviors. Conclusions These results point toward the importance of the whole endocrine system as a functional unit in terms of enhancing maternal care in primates. The dramatic physiologic changes occurring across parturition may act, in coordination with the cognitive–experiential system, to help the mother cope with the additional challenges imposed by the newborn.
A bounded model checking tool for periodic sample-hold systems

Safety verification of a plant together with its controller is an important part of controller design. If the controller is implemented in software, then a formal model such as hybrid automata is needed to model the composite system. However, classic hybrid automata scale poorly for complex software controllers due to their eager representation of discrete states. In this paper we present safety verification for software controllers without constructing hybrid automata. Our approach targets a common class of software controllers, where the plant is periodically sampled and actuated by the controller. The resulting systems exhibit a regular alternation of discrete steps and fixed length continuous-time evolution. We show that these systems can be verified by a combination of SMT solving and Taylor models. SMT formulas accurately capture control software in a compact form, and Taylor models accurately capture continuous trajectories up to guaranteed error bounds.
Multidecadal drought and Holocene climate instability in the Rocky Mountains

Time series analysis of a diatom-inferred drought record suggests that Holocene hydroclimate of the northern Rocky Mountains has been characterized by oscillation between two mean climate states. The dominant climate state was initiated at the onset of the Holocene (ca. 11 ka); under this climate state, drought was strongly cyclic, recurring at frequencies that are similar to twentieth century multidecadal phase changes of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation. This pattern remained consistent throughout much of the midHolocene, continuing until ca. 4.5 ka. After this time the mean climate state changed, and drought recurrence became unstable; periods of cyclic drought alternated with periods of less predictable drought. The timing of this shift in climate was coincident with widespread severe drought in the mid-continent of North America. Overall, the strongest periodicity in severe drought occurred during the mid-Holocene, when temperatures in the northern Rocky Mountains were warmer than today.
Dementia: The complexities of comorbidity in dementia.

A large claims-based study has identified several comorbidity clusters in individuals with dementia, corroborating the notion that comorbid conditions are an important contributor to health outcomes. The complexity of comorbidities calls for a patient-centred approach for care. Importantly, good management of comorbidities can improve quality of life in progressive dementia.
Risk reduction in S&L mortgage loan portfolios through geographic diversification

The reduction in foreclosure-risk exposure to S&L mortgage portfolios that results from elimination of geographic restrictions due to DIDMCA of 1980 is evaluated in this study. By employing a quadratic programming approach, it is empirically demonstrated that geographic diversification can reduce a mortgage portfolio's foreclosure-risk exposure by 50 percent to 90 percent when compared to geographically undiversified mortgage portfolios. The benefits of reduced-foreclosure risk could accrue to either the FSLIC or to member S&Ls if the FSLIC adopts a risk-based insurance premium.
Cultured neurons contain a variety of microtubule-associated proteins

The non-tubulin proteins associated with microtubules (MAPs) in cultures of pure sympathetic neurons have been identified using a variety of biochemical and immunochemical methods. MAPs of cultured sympathetic neurons include proteins corresponding to brain MAP-1 (consisting of MAP-1a and MAP-1b species), MAP-2, MAP-3, tau, 4 proteins that range in molecular weight from 60,000 to 76,000, and proteins with molecular weights of 210,000, 130,000 and 32,000. Many of the MAPs are phosphorylated in situ. MAP-2 and tau of cultured sympathetic neurons differ from their counterparts of brain in electrophoretic mobility. The observed variety of MAPs in sympathetic neurons together with the differences in MAPs of brain and sympathetic neurons are discussed in terms of microtubule heterogeneity in the nervous system.
An overview of time-domain integral-equation models in electromagnetics

Computational electromagnetics (CEM) embraces a wide variety of formulations and numerical procedures. The basic features which distinguish problems is how the fields are propagated spatially and how they are varied temporally. Spatially, fields can be propagated using Green's functions, modal expansions, rays and the basic Maxwell curl equations. Temporally their time variation may be either harmonic as in the frequency-domain, or impulsive as in the time-domain. Because of the number of permutations that are possible, many different approaches to CEM have been developed that can provide essentially equivalent information. In this paper, we examine the specific approach of using a time-domain integral-equation (TDIE). The basic formulation will be outlined and illustrated by application to a simple problem to illustrate its salient features. Its advantages, limitations, and computational characteristics will be summarized in terms of the problem types to which it is applicable, the kinds of information w...
Strong Hydrogen Bonding to the Amide Nitrogen Atom in an "Amide Proton Sponge": Consequences for Structure and Reactivity.

N-Protonated amides have been proposed as intermediates in several biologically important reactions, but they have yet to be identified spectroscopically. The first step toward this goal is now reported in the form of spectroscopic and crystallographic proof of a strong intramolecular hydrogen bond between a charged proton donor and an amide nitrogen atom in the "proton sponge" derivative 1; novel reactivity results from this interaction. TfO-= trifluoromethanesulfonate.
Fear of Falling Among People Who Have Sustained a Stroke: A 6-Month Longitudinal Pilot Study

OBJECTIVE: Fear of falling (FoF) after stroke is not well understood. We assessed change in FoF over the first 6 mo after a stroke and compared 6-mo anxiety, depression, balance, and quality of life (QoL) scores between people with and without baseline FoF (at the time of hospital discharge). METHOD: Data for this longitudinal study were collected at baseline and 6 mo. Of the 28 people included at baseline, 18 remained in the study 6 mo later. RESULTS: FoF significantly decreased over time (p = .015). Participants with baseline FoF had higher 6-mo anxiety and depression scores (s = .002 and .005, respectively) and lower QoL scores (p Language: en
Propagation of electromagnetic waves in circular rods in torsion

Invariance considerations are employed to write down constitutive equations governing the propagation of electromagnetic waves in isotropic materials with a centre of symmetry which are subject to a static deformation. It is assumed that the dielectric displacement and magnetic induction vectors are linear functions of the electric and magnetic field intensities, respectively, but are general polynomial functions in the quantities which specify the deformation.
Variation in sericite compositions from fracture zones within the Coso Hot Springs geothermal system

Two types of white micas are found in drillhole samples within the geothermal system at Coso Hot Springs. Low-permeability zones of the crystalline basement contain coarse-grained relict muscovite, whereas rock alteration near fracture zones at temperatures > 150°C is characterized by abundant finegrained sericite in association with secondary calcite and quartz and unaltered relict microcline. In this hydrothermal sericite there is an increase in interlayer K, octahedral Mg + Fetotal and tetrahedral Al with increasing temperature between ~215° to >250°C. Thermodynamic activity of the Al2Si4O10(OH)2 component of serielles, calculated using site-mixing approximations of Helgeson and Aagaard (1985), decreases with increasing temperature between ~215° and >250°C. As a consequence of the observed variations in the interlayer, octahedral and tetrahedral site occupancies, the activity of KAl2(AlSi3O10(OH)2 is essentially constant in the Coso seriates over this temperature range. The calculated equilibrium distribution of aqueous species in the hydrothermal solutions produced from well 16−8, together with cation-activity phase diagrams that account for variations in sericite composition, requires a pH of ~6.7–6.8 at temperatures between 236° and 250°C. Comparison of predicted and observed phase relations with fluid compositions indicate that seriates are in local equilibrium with the geothermal reservoir fluid, whereas relict metamorphic muscovites are metastable. Although the compositions of hydrothermal sericites are a complex function of temperature, pressure and geothermal fluid composition, compositional relations observed at Coso together with published compositions of hydrothermal dioctahedral layer-silicates from the Salton Sea geothermal system demonstrates that elemental compositions of interlayer K and tetrahedral Al increase systematically with increasing temperature despite the dramatic differences in fluid compositions between these two geothermal systems. This suggests that the observed variations in interlayer and tetrahedral site occupancy is largely dependent on the enthalpy of hydrolysis reactions representing equilibrium between sericite solid solutions and the geothermal reservoir fluids.
Identification, mefenoxam sensitivity, and compatibility type of Phytophthora spp. attacking floriculture crops in North Carolina.

ABSTRACT Phytophthora isolates were collected from floriculture crops grown in commercial greenhouses in North Carolina for species identification, compatibility type determination, and mefenoxam sensitivity tests. Isolation from 41 symptomatic plant species at 29 production locations resulted in 483 isolates from eight crops at seven locations. Phytophthora cryptogea (184 isolates) was recovered from dusty miller and gerbera daisy. All isolates of P. cryptogea were insensitive or intermediate in sensitivity to mefenoxam at 1 μg a.i./ml and were A1 compatibility type. P. nicotianae (273 isolates) was isolated from African violet, lavender, pansy, petunia, and vinca. Of these isolates, 21% were insensitive to mefenoxam at either 1 or 100 μg a.i./ml. Isolates of P. nicotianae from five locations were A2 compatibility type, whereas isolates on pansy at one location were A1 compatibility type. English ivy grown at two locations was infected with P. palmivora. All 26 isolates of P. palmivora were sensitive to ...
Protein synthesis in avocado fruit tissue.

The question wag raised whether enhanced protein synthesis was associated with the rise in respiration of the avocado fruit which occurs at the end of maturation and is known as the “climacteric rise.” The methodology consisted of following the incorporation of 14 C- L -valine and 14 C- L -leucine into proteins of tissue slices secured from fruits at several stages of the climacteric. It was found that the incorporation of these amino acids rose sharply during the early stage of the climacteric rise and declined rapidly thereafter. Incorporation was virtually absent in tissue of fruit at the peak of the climacteric rise. Puromycin effectively inhibited the incorporation of valine and leucine into proteins of climacteric tissue, but did not affect the oxygen uptake of the discs. It was concluded that oxygen uptake along the rise was not directly related to protein synthesis.
AIDS ACTIVISM, COMMUNITIES AND DISAGREEMENTS

Using the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACT UP) as a case study, the author argues that this social Movement organization is going through a diversification process activists increasingly integrate the HIV/AIDS research establishment. Consensus about goals, beliefs and strategies is increasingly missing. However, instead of limiting the analysis to a case of "identity politics, typical of the news social movements, the author argues that some divisions among activists (especially those stemming from the definition of AIDS and how it should be researched) are actually helpful in better understanding the disease.
Lay beliefs about autism spectrum disorder among the general public and childcare providers

We conducted a survey of beliefs about autism among the general public in the United States and Canada (n = 823) and among individuals working in childcare facilities in the state of Idaho (n = 176). Results included the following. Almost all respondents correctly believed that autism's primary causes are genetic and neurological (not parenting, drugs, or current diet), that it can be identified in early childhood, and that helpful interventions exist. Respondents generally distinguished diagnostic from non-diagnostic traits, but approximately half incorrectly labeled constant squirming as diagnostic and difficulties in making friends as non-diagnostic. College graduates and childcare workers were more likely to have learned about autism in professional/academic settings and to correctly recognize diagnostic traits. Of concern, 10% of respondents considered vaccinations to be among the two main causes of autism. Accurate public understanding of autism spectrum disorders can facilitate early identification and effective intervention; our results suggest that efficient channels for conveying accurate information include broadcast and online media (from which the general public, especially members of ethnic minority groups, were most likely to learn about autism), and professional development courses for childcare providers.
Control of hoof rolling in an articulated leg

An articulated leg with a hoof is studied in the context of a planar one-legged running machine, the monopod. The monopod runs forward, backward, and in place at relatively low speed. One task for controlling this design is to keep the hoof from rolling. Rolling may be caused by hip torque from the body attitude control and the inertial loading from the acceleration of the monopod during the stance phase. It is shown that coordinating the hip torque with the downward force at the hoof does not control hoof rolling due to excessive pitch disturbance. The method of limiting the inertial loading successfully prevents rolling of the hoof. >
Generic Revision of the Dioptinae (Lepidoptera: Noctuoidea: Notodontidae) Part 1: Dioptini

Abstract The moth subfamily Dioptinae is almost entirely neotropical. One species—Phryganidia californica—occurs on the west coast of the US, while the remaining taxa are found from Mexico south to northern Argentina and Uruguay. None is known from the Old World. Most dioptines are diurnal as adults, and many exhibit aposematic coloration. A few taxa are nocturnal. Their larval hosts include the families Passifloraceae, Violaceae and Poaceae, plants famous for their use by important butterfly groups. In this paper, a revised generic classification for the Dioptinae is presented. Nearly 17,000 specimens, assembled from 38 private and institutional collections worldwide, form the basis for the first comprehensive analysis of adult morphology in the subfamily. A subset of 115 exemplar species, chosen to represent structural diversity across the Dioptinae, is subjected to detailed morphological study and cladistic analysis. The resulting matrix includes 305 characters delineated by 938 character states. Cladi...
Dietary instead of pharmacological management to counter the adverse effects of physiological adaptations to space flight

The development of pharmacological counter-measures to the adverse effects of physiological adaptation to microgravity has received relatively more attention than alternatives such as dietary management. The manipulation of dietary cation-anion balance, and its subsequent effects on acid–base metabolism, have been routinely used for some time in managing domestic animal health. More recently, dietary intake by humans of alkalinizing potassium salts has been demonstrated to exert profound beneficial effects on calcium balance, bone mineralization, predisposition to calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis, and overall nitrogen balance. Dietary sodium restriction has also been shown to improve calcium balance, bone mineralization, and the effectiveness of neurohumoral defenses against orthostatic hypotension. It is proposed that these simple alterations in the astronauts' diets may be easily implemented to lessen the adverse effects of physiological adaptations to space flight, and to enhance or even replace prescribed pharmacological counter-measures.
Inter-Ethnic/Interracial Romantic Relationships in the United States: Factors Responsible for the Low Rates of Marriages Between Blacks and Whites

This paper examines the status of interracial romantic relationships among non-Black groups and those between Blacks and non-Blacks in the United States. The research shows that, apart from Blacks, inter-ethnic/interracial marriages and other forms of romantic unions have increased substantially by the 21st Century. For Black Americans, however, the data show that just a very tiny fraction of them are involved in interracial romantic re-lations, including marriages with Whites and other non-White groups. The paper then goes on to present the factors responsible for this phenomenon.
An Investigation of Big Five and Narrow Personality Traits in Relation to Learner Self-Direction in Undergraduate Students

Self-direction in learning is a major topic in the field of adult learning. There has been extensive coverage of thetopic by theorists, researchers, and practitioners. However, there have been few studies which look at learnerself-direction specifically as a personality trait. The present study addresses the relationship between learnerself-direction and other personality traits of college students when the traits represented by the five-factor model ofpersonality (Digman, 1990) are differentiated from narrow personality traits. Archival data were used from anundergraduate sample at a large Southeastern U.S. university (sample size = 1981). Correlation and multipleregression analyses were used in examining the unique individual relationship between Big Five and narrowpersonality traits and learner self-direction. Analysis of the data revealed five significant part correlations betweenspecific traits and learner self-direction. The part correlations for Work Drive (.30), Openness (.19), and Optimism(.12) were significantly higher than all other part correlations. Neither Conscientiousness nor Agreeableness hadsignificant part correlations despite having significant zero-order correlations with learner self-direction.Extraversion did not have a significant zero-order correlation with learner self-direction but the part correlation wassignificant. Results were discussed in terms of the predictive relationship between personality variables and learnerself-direction. Study implications, some limitations, and possible directions for future research were noted.
A Course Redesign Project to Change Faculty Orientation toward Teaching

This article discusses the development, implementation, and outcomes of a Faculty Course Redesign Camp for full-time and adjunct faculty members. The purpose of the camp was to educate and coach faculty in effective strategies to promote learner-centered teaching skills. Evaluation results show that the participants changed their orientation toward teaching in the dimension of their role in instruction, but they made little change in balance of power and responsibility for learning. As a function of our leadership roles in the Center for Teaching Excellence at Anna Maria College, a small Catholic-based liberal arts institution, we developed, implemented, and facilitated a Faculty Course Redesign Camp for full-time and adjunct faculty members. The purpose of the camp was to educate and coach faculty in effective strategies to promote learner- centered teaching skills while generating student excitement for course content. Participants in the camp produced a revised course syllabus. In courses with multiple sections, faculty members from all sections were encouraged to attend. This article will describe the development, implementation, and outcomes of the Faculty Course Redesign Camp. I. Development. During the initial development we primarily used the work of Barr and Tagg (1995), Blumberg (2009), Fink (2003), Tagg (2003), and Weimer (2002) to shape the focus of and inform the goals for the camp. Barr and Tagg (1995) described a learner-centered model where faculty and students work as a team to promote substantive learning. The model encourages students to discover and construct knowledge and to have control over the learning process. Faculty are primarily designers of learning methods and environments using both formative and summative assessment. "In learner-centered teaching, the instructor focuses on what the students are learning, how they are learning, and how they can use the learning" (Weimer, 2002, as cited in Blumberg, 2009, p. 3). It is an approach to teaching that focuses on student learning rather than on what the teacher is teaching. Fink (2003) defined significant learning as having a process and an outcome dimension. The process of learning begins by activating prior knowledge. During the process of learning, students are highly engaged. The outcomes include significant and meaningful change. Using a learner-centered approach can present a potential challenge because faculty develop conceptions about teaching based on their experiences as a student or novice teacher and 뀀ഀȠ뀀ഀȠ뀀ഀȠ뀀ഀȠ뀀ഀȠ뀀ഀȠ뀀ഀȠ뀀ഀȠ 뀀ഀȠ
Dynamic exposure control in color scanners

The lightness values of white papers cover an approximate range of fifteen jnd. The tone range of scanners is adjusted for the lightest possible substrate. Therefore, a scan is usually preceded by a preview operation in which the image is subsampled and the data is analyzed to determine the actual tone range. In color facsimile and sheet-fed scanners that do not buffer the entire image, such an operation is not possible. We present a technique in which statistical methods are used to estimate the tone level of the paper. This estimate is used to set the parameters for a tone reproduction curve. The technique is incremental, the statistical data is gathered during the scan. While the scan progresses. The estimate is refined based on the increased amount of data available from the accumulated histogram. This has also the advantage that artifacts due to lamp warming during slow scans are automatically compensated.
Software optimization for performance, energy, and thermal distribution: Initial case studies

As an initial step in our Green Software research, this paper investigates whether software optimization at the application level can help achieve higher energy efficiency and better thermal behavior. We use both direct measurements and modeling to quantify power, energy and temperature for a given software method. The infrastructure includes a new power estimator for multicore systems developed by regressing measurements from a custom-designed suite of microbenchmarks. Using our evaluation methodology on a real-life multicore system, we explore two case studies. In the first one, we use software tuning for improving the scalability and energy-efficiency of a parallel application. The second case study explores the effect of temperature optimization on system-level energy consumption.
Distributed processing in frames for sparse approximation

Beyond signal processing applications, frames are also powerful tools for modeling the sensing and information processing of many biological and man-made systems that exhibit inherent redundancy. In many cases, these systems are required to use distributed computational strategies to analyze and process the sensory information. In this talk, I will review the use of frames to model distributed sensing systems with a particular focus on sensory neural systems. In light of the evidence that many of these systems employ sparse codes, I will describe our Locally Competitive Algorithms (LCAs) that use a dynamical system to solve many sparse approximation problems. These LCAs employ a parallel computational architecture with simple analog components. I will show numerical simulation results for these systems and describe their relationship to the many recently-proposed iterative thresholding algorithms. Our LCA approach also demonstrates potential advantages in coding time-varying signals (e.g., video) by reflecting the smooth signal changes in smooth coefficient variations. Finally, I will highlight some future directions where we hope to impact areas such as efficient analog signal processing devices, fast discrete approximation algorithms, and video processing and computer vision in complex temporal environments.