cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lymphadenopathy and Splenomegaly

Lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly are common problems in children. This chapter summarizes the diagnosis, causes, physical examinations, and laboratory investigations of lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly. Enlarged lymph nodes are commonly found in children caused by proliferation of cells intrinsic to the node. It represents transient proliferative responses to local or generalized infections. The most frequent diagnosis in pediatric lymph node biopsies is reactive hyperplasia, defined as a polyclonal proliferation of one or more cell types. It also presents a sign of malignancies such as leukemia, lymphoma, or neuroblastoma. The past history of patient is also reviewed to find fever, sore throat, skin lesions, weight loss, and night sweats. Nodes in excess of 2.5 cm should be regarded as pathologic. The major causes of lymphadenopathy are nonspecific reactive hyperplasia, infection, connective tissue disorders, hypersensitivity states, lymphoproliferative disorders, neoplastic diseases, storage diseases, miscellaneous causes, and immunodeficiency states. Splenomegaly is caused by the diseases that result in hyperplasia of the lymphoid and reticuloendothelial systems, infiltrative disorders, hematologic disorders, and conditions that cause distention of the sinusoids whenever there is increased pressure in the portal or splenic veins. Major causes of splenomegaly are infectious splenomegaly, hematologic disorders, infiltrative splenomegaly, congestive splenomegaly, immunologic diseases, and primary splenic disorders. The laboratory investigation comprises: blood count, evaluation for infection, evaluation for evidence of hemolytic diseases, evaluation for liver disease, evaluation for portal hypertension, evaluation for connective tissue disease, evaluation for infiltrative disease, lymph node biopsy, imaging studies, and biopsy.
Scale for the identification of acquaintance rape attitudes : Reliability and factorial invariance

SUMMARY Within the context of intimate interpersonal relationships, gender-based violence has a significant impact on the social-emotional functioning and development of women. Our ability to determine the effectiveness of our efforts to reduce sexual violence is linked to our ability to assess those attitudes that condone sexual violence. This study examined the validity of college students' responses to the Scale for the Identification of Acquaintance Rape Attitudes (SIARA). The Scale for the Identification of Acquaintance Rape Attitudes is a measure designed to assess attitudes that are believed to be supportive of sexual violence within dating relationships. The sample consisted of 1,782 residential students in the first year class at a large, public university who participated in a sexual assault prevention program as part of a new student orientation. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated that two dimensions, Sexual Expectations and Rape Mythology, could be used to characterize s...
Frames of Influence: U.S. Environmental Rulemaking Case Studies

The purpose of this article was to question whether interest group actions during the pre-proposal stage of U.S. federal rulemaking influences the language proposed in natural resource agency rules. The influence of interest groups during this stage was examined across three case studies: (1) the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) critical habitat designation for Nebraska's Salt Creek tiger beetle, (2) the USFWS critical habitat designation for the Utah/Arizona Shivwits and Holmgren milk vetch, and (3) the USFWS delisting of the Northern Rocky Mountain gray wolf population from the endangered species list. To analyze these three cases, a frame analysis approach is used and offers evidence to support the proposition that the instructive, expertise, and fiscal feasibility frames that stakeholders used during the pre-proposal stage can shape the language of a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. These cases suggest the rich potential for careful study of the earliest stages in the regulatory and administrative rulemaking process in the United States and beyond.
How Brand Reputation Affects the Advertising-Brand Equity Link

ABSTRACT A model of the process of brand equity is proposed that depicts brand reputation as a mediator of the effect of brand advertising, brand familiarity, and brand uniqueness on brand equity outcomes. Brands are used as the unit of analysis in determining the relationships between consumer-level perceptions of brands and market-level data on brand advertising and brand equity outcomes such as market share and relative price. Path analysis of the brand-level data strongly validates the model. It is also shown that brand reputation is a separate construct from brand attitudes and that it performs better than brand attitudes in explaining the effect of brand advertising on brand equity outcomes.
The effects of midazolam on pediatric patients with asthma.

Purpose This study was performed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of midazolam in asthmatic patients undergoing dental treatment. Methods Twenty-four children, aged 19 to 65 months, with a diagnosis of mild to moderate asthma were given an oral dose of 0.5 mg/kg of midazolam. Oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, and pulse rate were monitored before, during, immediately after, and 30 minutes following dental treatment. The child's asthma score was also determined before and after treatment. The dental operator assessed the overall sedation outcome immediately after treatment. Results Twenty-three of the 24 subjects had asthma scores of "0" before and after treatment. During dental treatment, 2 patients had oxygen saturations of 94% at one point during treatment. However, oxygen saturation increased when the patient's head and neck were repositioned. Twenty-three of the 24 subjects had oxygen saturations above 95% at 30 minutes following treatment. Pulse rates and respiratory rates exhibited transitory increases, linked to when the child was stimulated. Statistical analysis was conducted from within subjects repeated measures via ANOVA and with a general linear model approach. No statistically significant differences occurred in oxygen saturation and respiratory rate. However, significant differences did occur in pulse rate between 5 and 10 minutes (mean difference=10+/-3.84) and between 10 and 15 minutes (mean difference=19+/-5.50), as expected. No statistically significant differences occurred in asthma score before and after treatment. Twelve subjects were assessed to have excellent behavior, 5 subjects were satisfactory, and 7 subjects were unsatisfactory. No treatment was aborted. Conclusions With adherence to the AAPD's sedation guidelines, midazolam at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg is a safe and effective mean for sedation of patients with mild to moderate asthma.
Logical Structure and Axiomatization

In this chapter the stage will be set for the subsequent discussion of the logical structure of theories of mathematical physics. The notion of the logical structure of a scientific theory will be discussed briefly and the notion of providing a logical reconstruction of an existing scientific theory introduced. Three methods of providing logical reconstructions will be considered. It will be noted that one of these methods has met with some apparent success when applied to theories of mathematical physics. However, the nature of this success is not altogether intelligible. A precise formulation of the philosophical question raised by this method will be suggested, and a sketch of a proposed answer given. Out of the elaboration of this answer in later chapters, will eventually come the promised characterization of the logical structure of theories of mathematical physics.
Impaired IGF1R signaling in cells expressing longevity-associated human IGF1R alleles

Dampening of insulin/insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF1) signaling results in the extension of lifespan in invertebrate as well as murine models. The impact of this evolutionarily conserved pathway on the modulation of human lifespan remains unclear. We previously identified two IGF1R mutations (Ala-37-Thr and Arg-407-His) that are enriched in Ashkenazi Jewish centenarians as compared to younger controls and are associated with the reduced activity of the IGF1 receptor as measured in immortalized lymphocytes. To determine whether these human longevity-associated IGF1R mutations affect IGF1 signaling, we engineered mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) expressing the different human IGF1R variants in a mouse Igf1r null background. The results indicate that MEFs expressing the human longevity-associated IGF1R mutations attenuated IGF1 signaling, as demonstrated by significant reduction in phosphorylation of both IGF1R and AKT after IGF1 treatment, in comparison with MEFs expressing the wild-type IGF1R. The impaired IGF1 signaling caused by the IGF1R mutations resulted in the reduced induction of the major IGF1-activated genes in MEFs, including EGR1, mCSF, IL3Rα, and TDAG51. Furthermore, the IGF1R mutations caused a delay in cell cycle progression after IGF1 treatment, indicating a dysfunctional physiological response to a cell proliferation signal. These results demonstrate that the human longevity-associated IGF1R variants are reduced-function mutations, implying that dampening of IGF1 signaling may be a longevity mechanism in humans.
Nonaversive Treatment of High-Rate Disruption: Child and Provider Effects

A multiple baseline across three providers showed that each provider, using only differential reinforcement of incompatible behavior (DRI), substantially reduced high-rate out-of-seat behavior in a highly disruptive 4-year-old boy with severe disabilities. During the experiment, duration of the boy's in-seat behavior expanded from less than 1 min to 20 min. Furthermore, during the intervention, the providers' use of physical restraint decreased to near-zero levels, even though restraint and DRI could he used together. Although not specifically targeted, the boy's appropriate toy play also increased during DRI.
Involvement of volatile compounds of Artemisia in browse preference by mule deer

Abstract Twelve collections of sagebrush, representing eight taxa at an unfenced plot near Price, Utah, were investigated to determine if the relative levels of eight major volatile compounds in the leaves influenced mule deer utilization of the various taxa during the winter. The compounds investigated were methacrolein, α-pinene, camphene, β-pinene, arthole, 1,8-cineole, p- cymene , and camphor. Stepwise regression analysis indicated that one-fifth or less of the variability in utilization could be attributed to the relative percentages of the volatile constituents in the leaves. Oxygenated compounds (especially methacrolein and arthole) seemed to be more highly correlated with sagebrush utilization than hydrocarbons, and this correlation appeared to be inverse.
Posterior moments of scalar functions of a covariance matrix

Given multivariate normal data and a certain spherically invariant prior distribution on the covariance matrix, it is desired to estimate the moments of the posterior marginal distributions of some scalar functions of the covariance matrix by importance sampling. To this end a family of distributions is defined on the group of orthogonal matrices and a procedure is proposed for selecting one of these distributions for use as a weighting distribution in the importance sampling process. In an example estimates are calculated for the posterior mean and variance of each element in the covariance matrix expressed in the original coordinates, for the posterior mean of each element in the correlation matrix expressed in the original coordinates, and for the posterior mean of each element in the covariance matrix expressed in the coordinates of the principal variables.
Childhood environment as a predictor of perceived health status in late life

Prior studies have shown that perceived health status is a consistent and reliable predictor of morbidity and mortality. Because perceived health status and objective health are not highly correlated, we sought to identify additional factors that shape self-perceptions of health. Research suggests that childhood experience is an important predictor of health in adulthood, but most studies are retrospective. Using data from a 70-year prospective study of psychosocial development, we examined the quality of childhood environment as a predictor of perceived health in late life. This study utilizes questionnaire data from a longitudinal study of adult development to examine predictors of perceived health across seven decades. Participants were members of the Study of Adult Development, a longitudinal study of men followed for seven decades beginning in late adolescence. Childhood environment characteristics were assessed during home visits and interviews with respondents’ parents at entry into the study. At ages 63, 73, and 78, current health status was measured by an internist not affiliated with the Study, and perceived health was assessed via self-report questionnaires. Linear regression analyses were conducted to examine childhood environment as a predictor of perceived health status at these 3 time points while controlling for concurrent objective health and young adult neuroticism. Childhood environment predicted perceived health at all 3 time points. This study supports the hypothesis that the quality of childhood environment makes a unique contribution above and beyond personality traits and objective health status to perceptions of health in late life.
Simulation of the fluid–structure-interaction of steam generator tubes and bluff bodies

Abstract The accuracy of computational fluid dynamics in simulating the cross-flow around a steam generator and the feasibility of a full scale coupled CFD/FEA fluid–structure-interaction (FSI) analysis is examined through successive validations. The study begins with a comparison between experiment and computation of flow within a stationary tube bank. Results from the simulation of an individual tube experiencing two-degree-of-freedom flow-induced vibration (at a Reynolds number of 3800) are then shown to compare favorably to experimental results. Finally, free vibration of a single cantilevered hydrofoil is simulated with comparison of mean square acceleration at resonant and non-resonant velocities, respectively. The magnitudes and frequencies of vibration are shown to be accurately captured.
A Linear Stratified Ocean Model of the Equatorial Undercurrent

A linear stratified ocean model is used to study the wind-driven response of the equatorial ocean. The model is an extension of the Lighthill (1969) model that allows the diffusion of heat and momentum into the deeper ocean, and so can develop non-trivial steady solutions. To retain the ability to expand solutions into sums of vertical normal modes, mixing coefficients must be inversely proportional to the square of the back ground Vaisala frequency. The model is also similar to the earlier homogeneous ocean model of Stommel (i960). He extended Ekman dynamics to the equator by allowing his model to generate a barotropic pressure field. The present model differs in that the presence of stratification allows the generation of a baroclinic pressure field as well. The most important result of this paper is that linear theory can produce a realistic equatorial current structure. The model Undercurrent has a reasonable width and depth scale. There is westward flow both above and below the Undercurrent. The meridional circulation conforms to the ‘classical’ picture suggested by Cromwell (1953). Unlike the Stommel solution, the response here is less sensitive to variations of parameters. Ocean boundaries are not necessary for the existence of the Undercurrent but are necessary for the existence of the deeper Equatorial Intermediate Current. The radiation of equatorially trapped Rossby and Kelvin waves is essential to the development of a realistic Undercurrent. Because the system supports the existence of these waves, low-order vertical modes can very nearly adjust to Sverdrup balance (defined below), which in a bounded ocean and for winds without curl is a state of rest. As a result, higher-order vertical modes are much more visible in the total solution. This property accounts for the surface trapping and narrow width scale of the equatorial currents. The high-order modes tend to be in Yoshida balance (defined below) and generate the characteristic meridional circulation pattern associated with equatorial Ekman pumping.
Basis set dependence of protonation reactions of NH3, OH2, and SH2

Abstract All basis sets, ranging in size from minimal STO-nG to polarized double-valence n-31G*, correctly predict that NH3 has a higher proton affinity than OH2 and SH2 but most reverse the known order of the latter two. 4–31G* results are in good agreement with experiment with regard to absolute as well as relative proton affinities of all three molecules. Further enlargement of the basis set and inclusion of electron correlation leads to no significant improvement of the 4-3 1G* results.
Vitamin A and its congeners

Vitamin A (retinol) is a fat-soluble vitamin that is necessary for cell growth and differentiation. Excess vitamin A has been associated with teratogenic effects in animals and humans. Because vitamin A deficiency is very uncommon in the industrilized world, the current recommendation is that routine vitamin A supplementation is not necessary. If vitamin A supplements are used, they should be limited to less than 5,000 IU per day. Systemic administration of the naturally occurring retinoid tretinoin has been associated with birth defects, fetal resorption, and stillbirths in animals; however, topical use is not associated with increased birth defects and is classified as a category B drug during pregnancy. The synthetic retinoids isotretinoin, etretinate, and etretin are strictly contraindicated during pregnancy (category X) as they have been associated with teratogenic syndromes in humans. In addition, owing to the prolonged elimination half-life of aromatic retinoids, effective contraception should be used for at least 2 years following discontinuation of treatment with these drugs.
Greasing the SCIDs for Universal Flu Antibodies

In this issue, Nakamura et al. (2013) describe a robust SCID mouse-based method for isolating human monoclonal antibodies of desired specificity from adoptively transferred human B cells. As proof of principle, they isolate human mAbs that could potentially be used to treat or prevent human infection with any influenza A virus strain.
Evolution of the university of denver engineering programs due to ABET accreditation criteria

Radical changes in the engineering programs at the University of Denver came in 1996 with the advent of ABET EC2000. Prior to EC2000, the engineering programs were developed based on the experience of faculty, the numbers of students and faculty, laboratory resources necessary to deliver the programs, and the accreditation requirements. As disciplinary programs evolved from a general engineering program and the number of students was low, this was a difficult process under the old ABET Criteria; the new ABET Criteria gave opportunities to design unique programs. New curricula were developed in 1996 along with an assessment process that took into account the needs of constituencies. Since then, the programs, assessment processes, as well as the process of determining the needs of constituencies have evolved substantially. Ethics has evolved from half of a course shared with engineering economic to ethics throughout the curricula; engineering economics has evolved into a full course for the BSME program, and an engineering entrepreneurship course for the BSEE and BSCpE programs; a legal studies course is required in the BSEE and BSCpE curricula; an option in Mechatronics Systems Engineering has been added to the BSEE program; and 5 year dual degree programs have been created that combine BS and MS degrees.
Experimental study of optimal selective 180° radiofrequency pulses

Abstract By solving an optimal control problem with the conjugate gradient algorithm, we previously obtained a set of optimal selective 180° inversion RF pulses. In this article we demonstrate by computer simulation that the magnetization responses to a selective 180° pulse are the same whether the pulse is used for refocusing or inversion. An optimal selective 180° inversion RF pulse can be used as a selective refocusing RF pulse; this is verified experimentally by a spin-echo pulse sequence. We also demonstrate by both simulation and experiment that there exists a minimum ratio of the width of a slice edge to the thickness of the selected slice at a certain slice thickness. Thus, “optimal” has a dual meaning here: a desired slice profile is optimized and the corresponding RF pulse is optimized. To obtain a slice with a sharper edge at a certain pulse length, an optimal selective pulse with a higher peak amplitude is required. The Fourier coefficients of four selective RF pulses are supplied in the Appendix.
A comparison study of image features between FFDM and film mammogram images.

Purpose: This work is to provide a direct, quantitative comparison of image features measured by film and full-field digital mammography (FFDM). The purpose is to investigate whether there is any systematic difference between film and FFDM in terms of quantitative image features and their influence on the performance of a computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) system. Methods: The authors make use of a set of matched film-FFDM image pairs acquired from cadaver breast specimens with simulated microcalcifications consisting of bone and teeth fragments using both a GE digital mammography system and a screen-film system. To quantify the image features, the authors consider a set of 12 textural features of lesion regions and six image features of individual microcalcifications (MCs). The authors first conduct a direct comparison on these quantitative features extracted from film and FFDM images. The authors then study the performance of a CAD classifier for discriminating between MCs and false positives (FPs) when the classifier is trained on images of different types (film, FFDM, or both). Results: For all the features considered, the quantitative results show a high degree of correlation between features extracted from film and FFDM, with the correlation coefficients ranging from 0.7326 to 0.9602 for the different features. Based on a Fisher sign rank test, there was no significant difference observed between the features extracted from film and those from FFDM. For both MC detection and discrimination of FPs from MCs, FFDM had a slight but statistically significant advantage in performance; however, when the classifiers were trained on different types of images (acquired with FFDM or SFM) for discriminating MCs from FPs, there was little difference. Conclusions: The results indicate good agreement between film and FFDM in quantitative image features. While FFDM images provide better detection performance in MCs, FFDM and film images may be interchangeable for the purposes of training CAD algorithms, and a single CAD algorithm may be applied to either type of images.
A multifactorial study of variation in interclutch interval and annual reproductive success in the feral pigeon, Columba livia

We examined the relative ability of multiple factors to explain variation in two interrelated life-history traits, interclutch interval and annual reproductive success, in feral pigeons. Seasonal influences, brood size, and female body mass and tarsus length explained significant amounts of variation in interclutch interval in this population, while female plumage phenotype was insignificant. These results are discussed in terms of resource allocation and responses to environmental heterogeneity. Multivariate selection analysis revealed strong directional fecundity selection on body mass, and correlated selection response on bill length. A prospective selection analysis based on estimates of the genetic variance-covariance matrix revealed that the mean change in a trait often differed in sign from the directional selection estimate. The relationship between annual reproductive success and these two traits was found only in melanic females, suggesting that selection differentials may covary with plumage pattern.
Comparing quality at an ambulatory surgery center and a hospital-based facility: preliminary findings.

Abstract Objective To measure the quality of outpatient surgery in an ambulatory surgery center (ASC) compared to a hospital-based facility (HBF) in a multidimensional manner. Study Design Cross-sectional survey based on chart review. Setting Pediatric academic health center. Subjects and Methods A total of 486 cases were reviewed. Procedures were performed at either an ASC (n = 275) or an HBF (n = 211). Cases comprised four procedure types: ventilation tube insertion (ASC, n = 126; HBF, n = 108), dental rehabilitation (ASC, n = 89; HBF, n = 58), adenotonsillectomy (ASC, n = 37; HBF, n = 34), and ventilation tube insertion/adenoidectomy (ASC, n = 23; HBF, n = 11). Measures were developed for five categories: safety, patient-centeredness, timeliness, efficiency, and equitability. Performance was compared between facilities. Results The ASC had no unexpected safety events (0/275) compared to nine events (9/211) at the HBF. Tonsil bleed rates were 0 percent (0/37) at the ASC compared to 5.9 percent (2/34) at the HBF. Patient satisfaction was similar between facilities (ASC, n = 64; HBF, n = 35). Differences in timeliness approached 30 percent. A total of 77 percent of ASC cases finished within the scheduled time compared to 38 percent at the HBF. Total charges were 12 to 23 percent less at the ASC. Patients treated at the ASC generally lived in wealthier neighborhoods. Conclusion Performance at the ASC generally exceeded that at the HBF. Future research should investigate how perioperative processes result in these quality differences. Health policy implications are discussed.
137Cesium and soil carbon in a small agricultural watershed

Abstract Scientific, political, and social interests have developed recently in the concept of using agricultural soils to sequester carbon. Studies supporting this concept indicate that soil erosion and subsequent redeposition of eroded soils in the same field may establish an ecosystem disequilibrium that promotes the buildup of carbon on agricultural landscapes. The problem is to determine the patterns of soil erosion and redeposition on the landscape and to relate these to soil carbon patterns. Radioactive 137 cesium ( 137 Cs ) can be used to estimate soil erosion patterns and, more importantly, redeposition patterns at the field level. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between 137 Cs , soil erosion, and soil carbon patterns on a small agricultural watershed. Profiles of soils from an upland area and soils in an adjacent riparian system were collected in 5 cm increments and the concentrations of 137 Cs and carbon were determined. 137 Cs and carbon were uniformly mixed in the upper 15–20 cm of upland soils. 137 Cs (Bq g−1) and carbon (%) in the upland soils were significantly correlated (r2=0.66). Carbon content of the 0–20 cm layer was higher (1.4±0.3%) in areas of soil deposition than carbon content (1.1±0.3%) in areas of soil erosion as determined by the 137 Cs technique. These data suggest that measurements of 137 Cs in the soils can be useful for understanding carbon distribution patterns in surface soil. Carbon content of the upland soils ranged from 0.5 to 1.9% with an average of 1.2±0.4% in the 0–20 cm layer while carbon below this upper tilled layer (20–30 cm) ranged from 0.2 to 1.5% with an average of 0.5±0.3%. Total carbon was 2.66 and 3.20 kg m−2 in the upper 20 cm and upper 30 cm of the upland soils, respectively. Carbon content of the 0–20 cm layer in the riparian system ranged from 1.1 to 67.0% with an average 11.7±17.1%. Carbon content below 20 cm ranged from 1.8 to 79.3% with an average of 18.3±17.5%. Soil carbon in the upper 20 cm of the riparian profile was 10.1 and 15.0 kg m−2 in the upper 30 cm of the riparian profiles. This is an increase of organic carbon by a factor of 3.8 and 4.7 for the upper 20 cm and upper 30 cm of the riparian profiles, respectively, when compared to the upland soil profiles.
Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization hydrogen/deuterium exchange studies to probe peptide conformational changes.

Hydrogen/deuterium (H/D) exchange chemistry monitored by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry is used to study solution phase conformational changes of bradykinin, α-melanocyte stimulating hormone, and melittin as water is added to methanol-d4, acetonitrile, and isopropanol-d8 solutions. The results are interpreted in terms of a preference for the peptides to acquire more compact conformations in organic solvents as compared to the random conformations. Our interpretation is supported by circular dichroism spectra of the peptides in the same solvent systems and by previously published structural data for the peptides. These results demonstrate the utility of MALDI-TOF as a method to monitor the H/D exchange chemistry of peptides and investigations of solution-phase conformations of biomolecules.
The fate of originally presented surface information following recall errors in sentence memory tasks.

Abstract In three experiments, a word-fragment completion task was used to test three hypotheses about the accessibility of surface information in sentences. Subjects read sentences which were known (Brewer, 1975; 1977) to yield lexical substitutions during a cued-recall task. Following recall, subjects completed word fragments of originally studied words. No reliable facilitation in fragment completion occurred for original words that had been misrecalled, whereas facilitation did occur for original words that were not misrecalled. Moreover, originally studied words that were misrecalled showed fragment completion rates that were similar to items that had never been seen before. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the original surface information was made inaccessible by the alternative information generated during recall.
The impact of higher-order aberrations on the strength of directional signals produced by accommodative microfluctuations

It has been proposed that the accommodation system could perform contrast discrimination between the two dioptric extremes of accommodative microfluctuations to extract directional signals for reflex accommodation. Higher-order aberrations (HOAs) may have a significant influence on the strength of these contrast signals. Our goal was to compute the effect HOAs may have on contrast signals for stimuli within the upper defocus limit by comparing computed microcontrast fluctuations with psychophysical contrast increment thresholds (Bradley & Ohzawa, 1986). Wavefront aberrations were measured while subjects viewed a Maltese spoke stimulus monocularly. Computations were performed for accommodation or disaccommodation stimuli from a 3 Diopter (D) baseline. Microfluctuations were estimated from the standard deviation of the wavefronts over time at baseline. Through-focus Modulation Transfer, optical contrast increments (ΔC), and Weber fractions (ΔC/C) were derived from point spread functions computed from the wavefronts at baseline for 2 and 4 cycles per degree (cpd) components, with and without HOAs. The ΔCs thus computed from the wavefronts were compared with psychophysical contrast increment threshold data. Microfluctuations are potentially useful for extracting directional information for defocus values within 3 D, where contrast increments for the 2 or 4 cpd components exceed psychophysical thresholds. HOAs largely reduce contrast signals produced by microfluctuations, depending on the mean focus error, and their magnitude in individual subjects, and they may shrink the effective stimulus range for reflex accommodation. The upper defocus limit could therefore be constrained by discrimination of microcontrast fluctuations.
Minimizing and measuring lens dose when giving cranial irradiation.

Abstract Three different techniques of administering cranial irradiation were used to determine the dose to the lens as measured in the Rando phantom. The techniques employed were as follows: (1) the central axis of the radiation beam was placed at the thickest portion of the cranium; (2) the central axis of the radiation beam was placed at the lateral orbital rim (bony canthus); (3) the central axis of the radiation beam was placed at the thickest portion of the cranium but with the beam angled 5° posteriorly away from the eye. Thermal luminescent dosimeters (TLD) were placed in a phantom, at a point determined from a life-sized anatomical section of the plane through the midsection of the eye, to be at the location of the posterior capsule of the lens. In addition, TLDs were placed on the outer surface of the phantom head, directly lateral to the location determined to be where the lens would lie. With equally weighted lateral opposed beams, delivering a midplane dose of 200 cGy, the TLDs at the point of the lens measured 21, 9.9 and 10.6% of the midplane doses from the three techniques respectively. TLDs placed directly lateral to the lens on the surface of the phantom head gave an approximation of the lens dose, particularly when techniques 2 and 3 were used. Isodose curve generated by a General Electric treatment planning computer gave lens doses similar to those of the phantom data for each of the three different radiotherapy techniques. Cranial irradiation should be carried out by either technique 2 or technique 3 to minimize radiation dose to the lens.
Overwhelming Remembrance of Things Past: Proust Portrays Limbic Kindling by External Stimulus—Literary Genius Can Presage Neurobiological Patterns of Puzzling Behavior

Proust detailed inexplicable behavior long before the neurobiologists Goddard and McIntyre in 1972 demonstrated that intermittent repetition of harmless stimuli can cause "kindling" of a seizure (with or without motor convulsions). Such brief seizures can occur especially in the evolutionarily old limbic system which mediates basic drives, their concomitant emotions, and certain aspects of memory. It appears that in humans the influence of specific external stimuli that revive the memory of repeated past experiences may "kindle" a transient episode of limbic overactivation. Thereupon the normal balance between the limbic and frontal lobe systems is disturbed (for a few minutes) as are normal human decision making and control of action. Linked with such a transient frontolimbic imbalance is out-of-character behavior, psychosis (hallucinations or delusions), autonomic activation, and severe distortion of affect and of action, culminating in extreme cases in a "Limbic Psychotic Trigger Reaction," as proposed by Pontius in 1981, in motiveless homicidal acts with mostly preserved consciousness and memory for the acts.
THE HIGH INCIDENCE OF ABNORMAL SHOULDER GIRDLE MUSCLE TONE IN PREMATURE INFANTS DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF LIFE

THE HIGH INCIDENCE OF ABNORMAL SHOULDER GIRDLE MUSCLE TONE IN PREMATURE INFANTS DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF LIFE
Molecular Control of the Nanoscale: Effect of Phosphine–Chalcogenide Reactivity on CdS–CdSe Nanocrystal Composition and Morphology

We demonstrate molecular control of nanoscale composition, alloying, and morphology (aspect ratio) in CdS–CdSe nanocrystal dots and rods by modulating the chemical reactivity of phosphine–chalcogenide precursors. Specific molecular precursors studied were sulfides and selenides of triphenylphosphite (TPP), diphenylpropylphosphine (DPP), tributylphosphine (TBP), trioctylphosphine (TOP), and hexaethylphosphorustriamide (HPT). Computational (DFT), NMR (31P and 77Se), and high-temperature crossover studies unambiguously confirm a chemical bonding interaction between phosphorus and chalcogen atoms in all precursors. Phosphine–chalcogenide precursor reactivity increases in the order: TPPE < DPPE < TBPE < TOPE < HPTE (E = S, Se). For a given phosphine, the selenide is always more reactive than the sulfide. CdS1–xSex quantum dots were synthesized via single injection of a R3PS–R3PSe mixture to cadmium oleate at 250 °C. X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and UV/Vis and PL optical spec...
Coarse master equations for peptide folding dynamics

We construct coarse master equations for peptide folding dynamics from atomistic molecular dynamics simulations. A maximum-likelihood propagator-based method allows us to extract accurate rates for the transitions between the different conformational states of the small helix-forming peptide Ala5. Assigning the conformational states by using transition paths instead of instantaneous molecular coordinates suppresses the effects of fast non-Markovian dynamics. The resulting master equations are validated by comparing their analytical correlation functions with those obtained directly from the molecular dynamics simulations. We find that the master equations properly capture the character and relaxation times of the entire spectrum of conformational relaxation processes. By using the eigenvectors of the transition rate matrix, we are able to systematically coarse-grain the system. We find that a two-state description, with a folded and an unfolded state, roughly captures the slow conformational dynamics. A f...
Structural requirements for a primitive adaptor molecule.

Abstract Adaptor properties of linear hairpin helices have been examined. The analysis suggests that neither right nor left handed hairpin helices can simultaneously read a comma free messenger and align aminoacyl residues for peptide condensation. Comparison of these studies with the model of the present day peptidyl transfer intermediate suggests that the “L” shaped folding of the present day tRNAs may be a prerequisite for adaptor function. Therefore, the three-dimensional organization of the ancestral adaptor molecule must have had structural features similar to its present day counterpart.
Effects of cancer and its treatments on plasma concentration of alpha1‐acid glycoprotein and propranolol binding

The plasma concentrations of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (AAG) and albumin, and the plasma protein binding of propranolol were measured in a group of cancer patients and a group of normal subjects. In cancer patients the AAG concentrations were twice that in controls (142 and 78 mg/dl, P less than 0.005), the albumin concentrations were lower (3.11 and 4.37 gm/dl, P less than 0.001), and the free fraction of propranolol was lower (0.127 and 0.190, P less than 0.005). Propranolol binding correlated strongly with AAG concentrations. These data imply that untreated or unsuccessfully treated cancer patients will have reduced free fractions for any drug for which AAG is an important binding protein. Successfully treated patients may have longitudinal changes towards normal. No consistent effect of the treatments themselves on AAG was observed after radiation therapy in five patients or after intravenous adriamycin in six patients.
Electron Densities, Radial and Terminal Wind Velocities for the Planetary Nebula NGC 6302 and Its O VI-Type Binary Nucleus

Archival high- and low-dispersion IUE spectra of NGC 6302 and its nucleus have been analyzed. The spectra in the NEWSIPS format reveal many high-excitation emission features, including stellar O V, O VI, O VII, and O VIII that identify the nucleus as a new member of the "O VI sequence." Fe II features that are resonantly excited by O VI λ1032 are also observed. Other high-excitation species include [Ne IV], [Ne V], [Mg VI], and [Si VII]. Electron densities were determined from C III], N III], N IV], and [Ne IV] and are compared to IR [Ne V] densities. Radial velocities of strong emission features cluster around -55 km s-1 except for the Bowen O III and [O II] lines that show large positive radial velocities. Results from IUE, optical, ground-based IR, and KAO IR data are summarized. A relatively low terminal wind velocity of -520 ± 200 km s-1 was estimated from the P Cygni profile of the C IV λ1548 feature. A G-type companion to the very hot white dwarf central star is indicated by the LWR/LWP low-dispersion spectra.
Inhomogeneous nucleation of superfluid vorticity at a sharp edge

We report an experiment in which superfluid flow through a single 10-µm diameter orifice is examined at pressure heads as low as 0.03 dyne/cm2. Accurate measurements of low pressure head are made possible by a recirculating flow cryostat, capable of generating a calibrated, continuous flow of superfluid helium. Current vs. potential data for temperatures between 1.46 and 2.14 K are analyzed according to the Iordanskii-Langer-Fisher thermal nucleation theory, modified to apply to a model in which vortex half-rings are inhomogeneously nucleated at the sharp-edged mouth of the orifice. We offer two possible interpretations of the results.
Frequency and characteristics of nucellar and zygotic seedlings in 12 citrus rootstocks

Abstract Analysis of 10 isozyme loci was used to distinguish nucellar (apomictic) from zygotic (sexual) seedlings in 12 citrus rootstocks. The percentage of zygotic seedlings was 30 in Sacaton and Terra Bella citrumelos, Taiwanica sour orange and Yuma citrange. Small seed had lower germination and seedlings were smaller than those derived from normal seed. In all rootstocks except Yuma citrange, the frequency of zygotics in seedlings from small seed was not significantly different from that in populations derived from normal seed. Zygotic seedlings were generally shorter than nucellar seedlings. The distribution of height of zygotics considerably overlapped that of nucellars in most rootstocks, so that roguing by height alone was relatively ineffective. At 14 months after planting, most zygotics could be recognized by morphological characteristics in C.P.B. 4475 and Sacaton citrumelos, but many could not be identified by these criteria in Taiwanica and Volkamer lemon. For the polyembryonic accessions studied, zygotic seedlings are as likely to occur in seeds producing 2 seedlings as in those producing 1 seedling.
Initial Performance of Cathode Strip Cylindrical Pwc's in Cleo at Cesr

A triplet of low mass cylindrical PWC's form the innermost element of the CLEO detector at the Cornell Electron Storage Ring (CESR). Each PWC has 2 cathodes of 144 azimuthal rings. Analogue signals from each ring enable center of charge reconstruction of the longitudinal (z) position of each avalanche. Structural elements are ? = .06 g/cm3 polyurethane foam cylinders 1.2 cm thick. Each of the 720 anode wires and 864 cathode strips is instrummented with a charge integrator, ADC, and provision for read out to a computer. Preliminary observed z resolution of an individual PWC is ~ 300 ? for avalanches from e+e- annihilation events. The PWC's are also an important element in the fast trigger to discriminate against cosmic rays, and are used to identify beam-gas and beam-wall background events.
The regularity of central leaves of partially hyperbolic sets and its applications

We consider partially hyperbolic maps which are close to the direct product of a hyperbolic map and an identity map and prove that their central leaves depend Holder continuously on the base point in the -metric. We use this result to construct an open set of diffeomorphisms with rather unusual properties (they have transitive sets with periodic points of different indices and orbits with zero Lyapunov exponent). This paper concludes a series of joint papers with Yu. S. Ilyashenko.
Faith in a seed: on the origins of equatorial plasma bubbles

Abstract. Our faith in the seeds of equatorial plasma irregularities holds that there will generally always be density perturbations sufficient to provide the seeds for irregularity development whenever the Rayleigh–Taylor instability is active. When the duration of the time of the Rayleigh–Taylor instability is short, however, the magnitude of the seed perturbations can make a difference in whether the irregularities have a chance to grow to a strength at which the nonlinear development of plumes occurs. In addition, the character of the resulting irregularities reflects the characteristics of the initial seed density perturbation, e.g., their strength, spacing, and, to some extent, their spatial scales, and it is important to know the seeds to help determine the structure of the developed irregularities. To this end, we describe the climatology of daytime and early-evening density irregularities that can serve as seeds for later development of plumes, as determined from the Planar Langmuir Probe (PLP) plasma density measurements on the C/NOFS (Communication and Navigation Outage Forecast System) satellite mission, presenting their magnitude as a function of altitude, latitude, longitude, local time, season, and phase in the solar cycle (within the C/NOFS observation era). To examine some of the consequences of these density perturbations, they are used as initial conditions for the PBMOD PBMOD (Retterer, 2010a) 3-D irregularity model to follow their potential development into larger-amplitude irregularities, plumes, and radio scintillation. "Though I do not believe that a pla[sma bubble] will spring up where no seed has been, I have great faith in a seed. Convince me that you have a seed there, and I am prepared to expect wonders." – Henry David Thoreau
A survey of environmental service workers' knowledge and opinions regarding environmental cleaning

Environmental service workers play an important role in the prevention of health care–associated infections. Environmental service workers working at a Veterans Administration Medical Center completed the Environmental Service Workers' Knowledge and Opinions Regarding Environmental Cleaning Survey. The findings from this survey suggest the need for further education of environmental service workers regarding the different types of pathogens that are spread by contaminated environmental surfaces and which of these are killed with bleach.
Examining alignment between supplier management practices and information systems strategy

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to examine alignment between supplier management practices and information systems (IS) strategies (i.e. particular IS applications portfolios), and its effects on supply chain integration and supply chain flexibility.Design/methodology/approach – The paper develops a model and hypotheses suggesting that “lean” supplier practices, when aligned with the “IS for Efficiency” IS strategy, have a positive association with supply chain integration. Similarly, “agile” supplier practices when aligned with the “IS for Flexibility” IS strategy, have a positive association with supply chain flexibility. The paper empirically validates the model using survey data from directors and senior managers in purchasing and supply chain functions from 205 manufacturing firms in the USA. Factor analysis was conducted to test convergent and discriminant validity. Hypotheses testing was done via structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis using SMART Partial Least Square (PLS) software.Find...