cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Near-Threshold Electron-Molecule Scattering

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the scattering of the near-threshold electron-molecule. Low-energy electron-molecule scattering is rich in fundamental physics and a fascinating phenomenon. It is a field whose applications range from pollution control to astrophysics. At energies near zero for elastic scattering and a few meV above threshold for inelastic processes, the calculation, understanding, and measurement of cross sections encounter unique challenges and bizarre phenomena. Frame transformations are an invaluable conceptual tool. But the few existing applications of this procedure bring into question their practical utility. Use of frame transformations in day-to-day scattering calculations, indeed seem feasible only if there exists a wide, energy-independent band of radii at which the transformation leads to accurate cross sections. In any case, strong sensitivity of the approximate cross sections to the transformation radii poses a serious problem. The body-frame fixed-nuclei (BF-FN) approximation can be considered a composite of the FNO and RR approximations in the BODY representation.
Rate-Controlled Constrained-Equilibrium Theory Applied to the Expansion of Combustion Products in the Power Stroke of an Internal Combustion Engine

Rate-controlled constrained-equilibrium method, firmly based on the second law of thermodynamics, is applied to the expansion of combustion products of methane during the power stroke of an internal combustion engine. The constraints used in this study are the elemental oxygen, hydrogen, carbon and nitrogen together with other four dynamic constraints of total number of moles, moles of DCO (CO+HCO), moles of free valence and moles of free oxygen. Since at chemical equilibrium, the mixture composition is dominated by H/O, CO/CO2, and a few other carbon-containing species, almost independent of the fuel molecule, the set results in accurate predictions of the kinetic effects observed in all H/O and CO/CO2 compounds and temperature history. It is shown that the constrained-equilibrium predictions of all the species composed of the specified atomic elements can be obtained independent of a kinetic path, provided their Gibbs free energies are known.
Femtosecond time-resolved reflectometry measurements of multiple-layer dielectric mirrors

We describe the use of optical pulses as short as 16 fsec for time-resolved reflectometry studies of multiple-layer dielectric mirror coatings. Pronounced pulse-distortion effects have been observed following reflection from broadband dielectric mirrors.
Precise Two And Three-Photon Spectroscopy Of H 2

Recent progress in the generation of ultraviolet laser radiation has raised several intriguing possibilities for performing very precise spectroscopic measurements in the far ultraviolet, by exciting multiphoton transitions using UV light generated from single-mode lasers. We have recently begun to apply some of these methods to the spectroscopy of the simplest neutral molecule, H 2 . Both two-and three-photon excitation have been used to determine some of the intervals from the ground state to the lowest electronically excited states with considerably higher accuracy than has previously been achieved. The transitions are observed using resonant multiphoton ionization in a collisionless supersonic beam, collimated to reduce the Doppler width. Several vibrational bands of the E,F4-X transition have been measured using two-photon excitation near 220 nm. The observed spectra were free of power broadening, and had linewidths limited only by residual Doppler broadening in the collimated molecular beam. These intervals were measured to 0.01 cm -1 , and much higher accuracy is possible. In the three-photon measurements, we studied transitions to the B(2pσ) and C (2pπ) states. These results were somewhat less precise because shifts arising from the AC Stark effect and from a blue shift that dep-ends strongly on number density, arising from the interference of three-photon excitation and third harmonic generation. A few of the many prospects for future work are discussed briefly.
Tunable diode laser absorption diagnostics for atmospheric pressure plasmas

Abstract A tunable diode laser was used as a light source for line-of-sight absorption measurements in an atmospheric pressure plasma. Spectrally-resolved argon absorption lineshapes at 8115 and 8104 A, corresponding to the 4s3P2→4p3D3 and 4s3P1→4p3D1 transitions of argon, were recorded in a 1 kW, 27 MHz inductively-coupled argon plasma 11 mm downstream from the load coil. Lineshapes were fit to Voigt profiles, allowing inference of both Stark broadening and shift which, in turn, specifies the electron number density and the kinetic temperature. A population temperature for each of the probed levels was determined from frequency-integrated line intensities. The difference between ionization temperatures, determined from measured electron number-density values assuming Saha equilibrium between atoms and ions, and population temperatures suggests the presence of a suprathermal electron number density. The methods presented here provide important new capabilities for plasma diagnostics.
High-Throughput Experimentation in Pharmaceutical Process R&D: Developing a New Software Workflow to Overcome Downstream Data-Analysis Bottlenecks and Improve Productivity

A new software workflow is described to overcome our data analysis, data-modification, and visualisation bottlenecks. Through a combination of in-house and external supplier expertise, a software workflow has been developed to tackle the mass of data generated from high-throughput experimentation. Also described is our solution to high-throughput HPLC reaction analysis. In overcoming these bottlenecks, the productivity of our screening technology has dramatically increased.
Can Children With SLI Detect Cognitive Conflict? Behavioral and Electrophysiological Evidence

Purpose This study examined whether children with specific language impairment (SLI) are deficient in detecting cognitive conflict between competing response tendencies in a GO/No-GO task. Method Twelve children with SLI (ages 10–12), 22 children with typical language development matched group-wise on age (TLD-A), and 16 younger children with TLD (ages 8–9) matched group-wise on language skills (TLD-L) were tested using a behavioral GO/No-GO paradigm with simultaneous collection of event-related potentials. The N2 component was used as a neural index of the ability to detect conflict between GO and No-GO response tendencies. Results Hit rates did not differentiate the 3 groups. The TLD-L children demonstrated the highest false-alarm rates. The N2 component was attenuated and showed delayed divergence of GO and No-GO amplitudes in SLI relative to TLD-A children in response to stimuli presented at various probability levels. The N2 effect in children with SLI resembled that of children with TLD who were app...
Physical Properties of Bi2sr2cuo6, the Semiconducting Phase, Structurally Distinct from the N=L Bi-Cuprate Superconductor

The stable phase that forms near 2:2:1 in the Bi-Sr-Cu oxide system is now recognized as a semiconducting phase structurally distinct from the n = 1 Bi-cuprate superconductor, whose actual composition (Bi2Sr2-xCuO6-y, x= 0.1-0.25, y=0-0.5) is deficient in Sr. The 2:2:1 phase forms by a slow solid-state replacement of the superconducting phase for compositions near 2:2:1. It also can be grown from melt compositions involving several phase assemblages, but single-phase products are not obtained, implying incongruent melting. Alumina and zirconia crucibles promote the growth of the superconducting phase by reacting with the melt to remove Sr, whereas Au crucibles promote the growth of the 2:2:1 phase. Owing to its fine-grained, fibrous habit, structural characterization has been difficult. Of the unit cells proposed, the C-centered monoclinic cell of Roth et al. provides the best fit to our x-ray powder and single-crystal precession data, a = 24.522(9), b = 5.426(2), c = 21.983(9) A, β = 105.00(3)°. Perfect prismatic cleavages intersecting at -148° and -32° are indexed as {100} and {-201} forms. Although, the superconducting n = 1 Bi-cuprate exhibits variable Sr and O contents, the 2:2:1 phase appears to be a single composition with no oxygen exchange observed by TGA, although it may be somewhat deficient in Cu. The 2:2:1 phase is semiconducting as determined by electrical resistivity measurements, with an apparent activation energy of 0.013 eV. For a 2:2:1 stoichiometry, the measured density of -7.2. g/cm3 implies 16 formula units per cell.
Escape and avoidance of shock by pigeons pecking a key

Pigeons had been trained to peck a key when each peck removed a slowly increasing series of electric shocks. Without loss of the established key-pecking response, the birds were gradually weaned from this procedure to one where intense shocks were presented suddenly, duplicating features that had proved ineffective for initial shaping of the response. Finally, a procedure was introduced in which key pecks could avoid shock. Avoidance responding was maintained in two of three pigeons.
Mycobacterium immunogenum causes hypersensitivity pneumonitis-like pathology in mice.

A surprising number of cases of hypersensitivity pneumonitis have been observed at work sites employing automotive machinists. Because hypersensitivity pneumonitis is not typically associated with exposure to metalworking fluid aerosols, this study examined whether Mycobacterium immunogenum (M. immunogenum), a rapidly growing mycobacterium isolated from several affected work sites, could induce hypersensitivity pneumonitis in mice. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis-like histologic changes occurred in mice treated with heat-killed and lysed M. immunogenum. These lung lesions were characterized by peribronchial and perivascular lymphohistiocytic inflammation and noncaseating granulomas in the parenchyma. The pathologic changes observed in mice instilled with M. immunogenum-contaminated used metalworking fluid were indistinguishable from those observed with M. immunogenum alone. The role of genetic factors in M. immunogenum-induced lung lesions was examined by comparison of the response of eight inbred strains of...
Individual Differences in Speech and Non-Speech Perception of Frequency and Duration

This study investigates whether there are systematic individual differences in the perceptual weighting of frequency and durational speech cues for vowels and fricatives (and their nonspeech analogs) among a dialectally homogeneous group of speakers. Listeners performed AX discrimination for four separate types of stimuli: sine wave vowels, narrow‐band fricatives, synthetic vowels, and synthetic fricatives. Duration and F1 frequency were manipulated for the vowels in heed and hid, and duration and frequency of the fricative centroid in the F5 region were manipulated for the fricatives in bath and bass. Dialect production and perception tasks were included to ensure that subjects were not from dissimilar dialects. Multidimensional scaling results indicated that there are subgroups within a dialect that attend to frequency and duration differently, and that not all listeners use these cues consistently across dissimilar phones. If subgroups can have different perceptions of speech despite similar production...
Quinidine blockade of calcium-activated potassium channels in dissociated gastric smooth muscle cells.

The effects of quinidine, an antiarrhythmic alkaloid, on potassium-selective channels in enzymatically dissociated gastric smooth muscle cells fromRana pipiens andBufo marinus were investigated using excised patches and the patch-clamp technique. The predominant potassium channel in these cells is the calcium- and voltage-activated maxi-K channel with a single-channel conductance > 100 pS. Applications of quinidine (100–600 μM) resulted in resolvable rapid flickerings between the open and blocked states with a corresponding reduction in open channel amplitude and an increase in open channel noise. The currentvoltage curves in the presence of internal quinidine and symmetrical potassium gradients displayed inward rectification. The time-constant of open-time distributions was found to decrease with increasing quinidine concentrations and membrane depolarization. The power-density spectrum of the channel current noise induced by internal quinidine showed a second Lorentzian component with a corner frequency larger than 300 Hz, suggesting that the noise is caused by rapid fluctuations between the open and blocked states. Apparent dissociation constants of 253 μM and 209 μM for membrane potentials of +20 mV and −60 mV, respectively, were obtained for the quinidine-induced blockade of Ca2+-activated K+ channels in these smooth muscle cells. Another potassium-selective channel with a single-channel conductance of 40 pS was completely blocked in the presence of 100 μM qunidine. However, a 15 pS potassium channel was not affected by quinidine but was reversibly blocked by tetraethylammonium. Quinidine (500 μM) was also observed to decrease the opening probability of a 40 pS potassium channel fromBufo marinus without affecting its channel amplitude. Thus, quinidine appears to have diverse mechanisms of action on potassium-selective channels in smooth muscle cells, ranging from totally ineffective to highly selective, as a slow blocker for some channels and as intermediate and fast blockers for others.
In a different mode: Masculine styles of communicating closeness

Abstract A number of contributors to Journal of Applied Communication Research have demonstrated communication research and theory can inform practical conduct in sundry situations. Less addressed has been the pragmatic potential of research to reform its own practice. Believing research is ideally self‐reflexive, we apply principles of scholarly inquiry to evaluate knowledge about gender and communication in close relationships. We document a prevalent bias that favors feminine styles of relating, characterized by verbal, emotional disclosure, and that devalues activity‐focused modes empirically more associated with masculinity. We then trace the presence of this bias in textbooks on gender and communication and interpersonal relationships, and we suggest teaching that relies on a non‐inclusive model of intimacy may misguide students’ communicative expectations and interpretations and may misdirect practical conduct in friendships and romantic relationships. Finally, we return to existing scholarship to ...
The Familial Concentration and Transmission of Crime

Research has revealed that crime tends to concentrate in families and that it also tends to be transmitted across generational lines. The current study expanded on this line of research by examinin...
Helicobacter pylori and nonulcer dyspepsia: More confusion?

McColl et al. describe a randomized controlled study of the effect of treating and eradicating Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in patients with nonulcer dyspepsia. The patients described are from a single clinic with symptoms of dyspepsia for at least 4 months defined as “intermittent or persistent pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen or lower part of the chest, nausea, or feeling of postprandial fullness, or any other symptoms thought to be related to the upper gastrointestinal tract.” The dyspepsia was graded by the Glasgow Dyspepsia Severity Score, a system that grades dyspepsia on a scale from 0–20 using frequency of symptoms, medical consultation, physician visits, tests for dyspepsia, effect on activities, days of work missed, and medications. Patients had pre-enrollment upper endoscopy to exclude esophagitis and ulcer disease and to determine H. pylori status through histology and Campylobacter-like organism. Follow-up consisted of determination of eradication by urea breath test and a re-evaluation of dyspepsia symptoms over the previous 6 months at 1 yr. A total of 916 patients with dyspepsia were evaluated of which 318 H. pylori-positive subjects were randomized to receive either treatment with antibiotics and omeprazole for 2 wk, or control with omeprazole alone for 2 wk. Eradication of H. pylori in the treatment group was 85% as opposed to 12% in the control group, which was a significant difference (p < 0.001). Treatment success was defined as a resolution of symptoms with a Glasgow score of 0–1. In the treatment group, 21% had a resolution of symptoms versus 7% in the control group, a difference that reached significance (p < 0.001). The mean dyspepsia score for the treatment group at 1 yr was 5.4 versus 6.2 for the control group (NS, p = .07). The mean change in the dyspepsia score over a year was 6.0 for the treatment group, and 5.3 for the control group. Quality of life improved for both treatment and control arm but with no difference between groups. Only a shorter duration of dyspeptic symptoms predicted a resolution of symptoms upon eradication of H. pylori with age, sex, smoking, CagA status, initial dyspepsia score, predominant symptom, and acid secretion to pentagastrin or gastrin releasing peptide not being a predictor of treatment response. In conclusion, McColl et al. state that in patients with H. pylori infection and nonulcer dyspepsia, treatment with omeprazole and antibiotics are more likely to resolve symptoms than treatment with omeprazole alone.
Electrochemical characterization of Li-intercalated pyrolytic graphite

Abstract A new type of Li-intercalated graphite C 9 Li as well as thermodynamic data have been obtained from the study of characteristics of electrochemical deintercalation for the Li-intercalated graphites made by vapor transport method.
Representation, Education and Agrarian Reform: Jogendranath Mandal and the nature of Scheduled Caste politics, 1937–1943

This paper focusses on the Namasudra leader Jogendranath Mandal (1904–1968), and presents a study of the principal demands submitted by Scheduled Caste legislators over the course of the first half-decade of the Bengal legislative assembly. It seeks to understand these demands and why they were frustrated. It also traces and attempts to explain the withering away of Mandal's initial association with and favourable disposition towards the Congress. In contrast to accepted historiography, it argues that Scheduled Caste politics encompassed demands for representation, education and agrarian reform. It documents how their implementation (particularly the demand for representation) was compromised largely as a consequence of caste Hindu misrecognition.
Phosphorylation of CBP Mediates Transcriptional Activation by Neural Activity and CaM Kinase IV

Activity-regulated transcription has been implicated in adaptive plasticity in the CNS. In many instances, this plasticity depends upon the transcription factor CREB. Precisely how neuronal activity regulates CREB remains unclear. To address this issue, we examined the phosphorylation state of components of the CREB transcriptional pathway. We show that NMDA activates transcription of CREB-responsive genes in hippocampal neurons, with ERK responsible for persistent CREB phosphorylation and CaM kinase IV (CaMKIV) responsible for phosphorylating the CREB coactivator, CBP. Ser301 of CBP was identified as a major target of CaMKIV phosphorylation in vitro and in vivo. CaM kinase inhibitors attenuated phosphorylation at Ser301 and blocked CBP-dependent transcription. Additionally, mutation of Ser301 impaired NMDA- and CaMKIV-stimulated transcription. These findings demonstrate that activity-induced CaMKIV signaling contributes to CREB/CBP-dependent transcription by phosphorylating CBP at Ser301.
Metrics and indices to assess the life cycle costs and greenhouse gas impacts of a dairy digester

Abstract This paper aims to propose consistent Life Cycle Assessment and Life Cycle Costing metrics and indices and to test them to assess an anaerobic digester on a dairy farm. The method is based on a graphic representation of the environmental Life Cycle Impact and economic Life Cycle Cost Differentials. Performance indices are the Internal Rate of Return (discount rate that makes the total cost differential over the lifetime equal to zero), the Breakeven Price of Electricity (unit price of electricity that makes the total cost differential over the life time equal to zero) and the Impact Savings Ratio (the total impact reduction divided by the detrimental impacts generated). A dairy digester producing electricity, chosen as case study yields a substantial carbon footprint reduction close to 0.2 kg CO2e per liter of milk (25% improvement of milk carbon footprint), corresponding to a high Impact Savings Ratio of 34–37. Life Cycle Cost Differentials ranges from −$545 (most favorable) to $808 (least favorable) per cow, depending on electricity price, heat recovery and upfront grant. Economic performances are reflected in the Internal Rates of Return (IRR), that range from −1% to 12%. The Breakeven Price of Electricity ranges from $0.07 to $0.13 per kWh. The effective economic performance is measured by choosing the discount rate equal to the Weighted Average Cost of Capital of the stakeholder. Comparing the IRR to his target rate of return enables the decision maker to check whether its own economic targets are met.
Exploiting the dynamic links between competitive and technology strategies

Abstract To date, two perspectives have dominated thinking about the connection between competitive and technology strategies. The first espouses a hierarchical view in which a company's competitive strategy and internal capabilities jointly determine its technological choices. The second perspective views technology as a subset of organizational resources and one of several vital strategic weapons a company can use to pursue its competitive goals. Unfortunately, both perspectives are static in nature. This article proposes a third perspective that builds on the dynamic interplay between a company's competitive strategy and technology. The article argues that, because technology and strategy variables influence one another in a continuous loop, both variables should embody an element of `prospecting', allowing novel developments to evolve. The dynamic interplay between a company's technology and competitive strategies emphasizes the importance of organizational learning and exploiting the knowledge created in this process. The article concludes by discussing the implications of the dynamic perspective for executive action, highlighting industry forces that may impact the dynamic strategy – technology relationship.
Stochastic sketching of infiltration-advance isochrones

A technique has been developed for predicting the irregular advance pattern often observed as water spreads on the surface of the ground. The technique is a combination of stochastic sketching, potential theory, probability theory, and a mass balance equation in the form of an advance equation. The technique can be used on flat as well as sloping terrain and addresses any form of obstructions or constraints to the flow of the water. The stochastic sketching portion of the technique uses cellular automata with transition probability movement rules to sketch the dynamics of small volume water elements in the defined environment. Randomly selected small volume flow path segments are computed and plotted. The envelope of these segments defines the wetted area and the advance front. Several examples are presented showing the patterns produced for various situations.
Interactive light field display from a cluster of projectors

We are developing a novel display system that physically realizes a sampling of the light field emitted by a three-dimensional scene. An array of projectors, each with a two-dimensional framebuffer, populates the 4D space of the light field. The view of the scene is simultaneously correct for all head positions within a volume. This eliminates the need for head tracking, produces binocular disparities without the need for glasses, and supports any number of viewers. Input to our display could be streamed from a light field sensor [1], or can be efficiently rendered in parallel using a cluster of standard computer graphics pipelines. For static scenes, no run-time rendering is necessary. We demonstrate the feasibility of the approach using a prototype cluster of projectors.
Making the call: a proactive ethics framework.

This manuscript proposes a proactive framework for preventing or mitigating disruptive ethical conflicts that often result from delayed or avoided conversations about the ethics of care. Four components of the framework are explained and illustrated with evidenced-based actions. Clinical implications of adopting a prevention-based, system-wide ethics framework are discussed. While some aspects of ethically-difficult situations are unique, system patterns allow some issues to occur repeatedly—often with lingering effects such as healthcare providers’ disengagement and moral distress (McAndrew et al. Journal of Trauma Nursing 18(4):221–230, 2011), compromised inter-professional relationships (Rosenstein and O’Daniel American Journal of Nursing, 105(1):54–64, 2005), weakened ethical climates (Pauly et al. HEC Forum 24:1–11, 2012), and patient safety concerns (Cimiotti et al. American Journal of Infection Control 40:486–490, 2012). This work offers healthcare providers and clinical ethicists a framework for developing a comprehensive set of proactive, ethics-specific, and evidence-based strategies for mitigating ethical conflicts. Furthermore, the framework aims to encourage innovative research and novel ways of collaborating to reduce such conflicts and the moral distress that often results.
Adoption of Economic Development Strategies in Small Towns and Rural Areas: Effects of Past Community Action.

Abstract Incorporating elements from both human ecology and the theories of local social interaction, the purpose of this study is to ascertain empirically the independent, additive effect of past community action in explaining variations in recent adoption of economic development strategies. I consider and control the effects of other structural and ecological characteristics of small towns and rural areas that have been shown to be important sources of variation in economic development strategies. Results of the hierarchical regression analyses indicate that past community action variables make substantial independent contributions to explaining variations in financial assistance to firms, creation or expansion of recreation-related activities, and creation or expansion of human services after considering and controlling for the effects of community need, socioeconomic status and ecological characteristics. Contrary to expectations, past community action variables do not make a significant contribution to variance explanation in promotion to recruit business and industry and the use of government programs to encourage economic growth, an action arena many discussions of rural development portray as necessary foundations for community development. From a practical standpoint, the findings of this study encourage efforts to initiate local actions and develop or maintain symbols of local identity. These can play paramount roles in the future, if not immediately, as residents of rural communities seek to attain shared goals.
Hemodynamic Effects of Doxacurium Chloride in Patients Receiving Oxygen Sufentanil Anesthesia for Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting or Valve Replacement

Doxacurium chloride is an investigational long-acting neuromuscular blocking drug, which has been shown to be devoid of cardiovascular side effects when administered in modest doses to healthy patients. This is the first hemodynamic study of doxacurium in adult patients with cardiac disease. Forty-one patients scheduled to undergo cardiac surgery were studied. Anesthesia consisted of induction with midazolam 0.2-0.3 mg/kg and sufentanil 0.01-0.03 mg followed by an infusion of sufentanil at 0.03-0.06 mg.min-1. Baseline hemodynamic data were collected during a stable state of sufentanil anesthesia. Doxacurium was then administered in doses of 1, 2, or 3 times its ED95 of 0.025 mg/kg. Hemodynamic measurements were repeated at 2, 5, and 10 min after doxacurium injection in the absence of surgical stimulation. An additional group of control patients received saline instead of doxacurium. Baseline hemodynamic measurements were similar among groups. There was a slight decrease in heart rate in all groups over time. However, there was no significant difference between the groups of patients receiving doxacurium and the control group in which the heart rate decreased progressively from 52 beats/min at baseline to 49 beats/min 10 min after doxacurium administration. At no time was there any significant change in mean arterial pressure, right atrial pressure, or cardiac output. Likewise derived hemodynamic variables including cardiac index, stroke volume, and pulmonary vascular resistance were unchanged. In addition to the decrease in heart rate, the hemodynamic changes, which reached statistical significance, were clinically insignificant and occurred predominantly in the group of patients receiving doxacurium 0.08 mg/kg.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Determination of solvatochromic solvent parameters for the characterization of gas-expanded liquids

Abstract Solvatochromic shifts of six probe indicators {4-nitroaniline, 4-nitroanisole, 4-nitrophenol, N,N-dimethyl-4-nitroaniline, 4-(2,4,6-triphenylpyridinium)-2,6-diphenylphenoxide and 2,6-dichloro-4-(2,4,6-triphenyl-1-pyridinio)phenolate} have been measured in binary mixtures of carbon dioxide with acetone and methanol at 35 and 40 °C over the entire range of solvent composition. The indicators were used to specify the solvatochromic solvent parameters (ET(30), α, β, and π*), which were calculated from the solvatochromic shifts of the maximum absorbance peak ( ν max ) observed by means of UV–vis spectroscopy.
LONGITUDINAL STABILITY OF LD SUBTYPES BASED ON AGE- AND IQ-ACHIEVEMENT DISCREPANCIES

A twofold classification system based on discrepancy formulas was employed to subtype normal (NLD) and learning disabled (LD) children into educa- tionally meaningful groups based upon simultaneous consideration of IQ- achievement and age-achievement discrepancies. 52 LD and 58 NLD children were classified into five groups: overachievers, target achievers, underachievers, slow learners, and disabled achievers. This classification system appeared useful by its ability to differentiate disabled learners, who were discrepant in reading achieve- ment as predicted by both age and IQ from slow learners, who were only discrepant in reading achievement as predicted by age. The longitudinal stability of the classification scheme was examined over a 3-year period. As expected, NLD students' achievement was more predictable over time than their LD peers'; LD students became more disabled with age in spite of remedial services. The educational im- plications and theoretical relevance of discrepancy-based subtypes are discussed.
The Association Between Admission Magnesium Concentrations and Lactic Acidosis in Critical Illness.

Introduction:Although magnesium plays an important role in aerobic metabolism and magnesium deficiency is a common phenomenon in critical illness, the association between magnesium deficiency and l...
Localized accumulation of lead within and among bones from lead-dosed goats

The principal aim of this study was to gain a better understanding of where lead (Pb) accumulates and how it is distributed, within the bones of dosed goats. Adult goats were periodically dosed with Pb over a number of years for the primary purpose of producing blood pools containing endogenously bound Pb, for the New York State Blood Lead Proficiency Testing Program. Bone samples (e.g., primarily tibia, femur, humerus, and radius) were collected post-mortem from 11 animals and were analyzed for Pb content by acid digestion and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS or GFAAS). Average tibia Pb levels were found to correlate strongly with the cumulative Pb dose (r2=0.81). However, the concentration of Pb in different bones and even within a small area of the same bone varied tremendously. Blood-rich trabecular (spongy) bone, such as the patella and calcaneus, were much more enriched in Pb than was cortical (compact) bone. In some dosed animals, the Pb concentration in the tibia was markedly higher at the proximal and distal ends of the bone compared to the mid-shaft. The implications of these findings with regard to the noninvasive measurement of lead in bone by XRF methods are discussed.
The Effects of Timing of Leaders' Opinions on Problem-Solving Groups A Field Experiment

A field study was conducted to examine the effect of timing of leader opinions on group problem-solving performance. University residence life teams (N= 19) were asked to solve two typical residence hall problems. Teams were randomly assigned to one of two experimental conditions in which leaders either (a) stated their opinions immediately after the presentation of the problem or (b) withheld their opinions until later in the discussion. As predicted, groups with leaders who delayed stating their opinions generated significantly more alternative solutions to the problems, and these alternatives were rated more feasible and more likely to be adopted.
Inheritance of resistance to Xylella fastidiosa within a Vitis rupestris × Vitis arizonica hybrid population

The inheritance of resistance to Xylella fastidiosa (Xf), the bacterium which causes Pierce’s disease (PD) in grapevines, was evaluated within a factorial mating design consisting of 16 full-sib families with resistance derived from Vitis arizonica interspecific hybrids. Measurements of disease progression under greenhouse conditions were based on quantitative assessment of Xf populations in stem tissues and on three phenotypic scores: leaf scorch, a cane maturation index (CMI) and an index that incorporated shoot stunting into the cane maturation index (CMSSI). Measurement of bacterial populations yielded the highest broad-sense heritability for resistance on a genotype mean basis (0.97), indicating that this measure of resistance was the least effected by environmental variation. Narrow-sense heritability of PD resistance was moderately high and measured 0.52, 0.60, 0.63 and 0.37 for Xf populations, CMI scores, CMSSI scores and leaf scorch values, respectively. Complex segregation analysis using the computer program Statistical Analysis for Genetic Epidemiology (sage) strongly indicated the existence of a major gene for PD resistance, which accounted for 91% of the total genetic variance. Conversion of the quantitative data into qualitative resistance levels and evaluation via a chi-square analysis showed that 15 of the 16 families segregated in accordance with a single gene hypothesis with a dominant allele controlling PD resistance. These data indicate that the trait should be relatively easy to pass on from parents to progeny in a breeding program for the development of PD-resistant grape cultivars, particularly when selection is based on cane maturation scores or stem Xf populations.
Bacterial cellulose II. Processing of the gelatinous cellulose for food materials

Abstract Gelatinous cellulose prepared by fermentation with Acetobacter aceti AJ 12368 consisted of cellulose fibrils (0.9%), bound water (0.3%) and free water (98.8%). The cellulose network absorbed water weakly in capillaries of about 0.5–1.0 microns. When stressed the gel released its water and deformed without fracture. The gel by itself was too tough to bite, but it became edible through processing either with sugar alcohol or with alginate and calcium chloride. The textures resemble fruit, such as grapes and molluscs such as squids, respectively. The mechanism is the immobilization of the water of gelatinous cellulose by viscous or gel-forming material, and accordingly the gel becomes easy to cut off with the teeth. These results show that gelatinous cellulose with its fibrous texture can be a new material for salads, low-calorie desserts, fabricated foods etc.
2 Enoch and the Trajectories of Jewish Cosmology: From Mesopotamian Astronomy to Greco-Egyptian Philosophy in Roman Egypt

AbstractInasmuch as new Coptic evidence for 2 Enoch lends confirmation to the priority of the shorter recension and adds plausibility to the theory of its Egyptian provenance, this discovery invites us to shift from the compilation of parallel motifs towards more integrative approaches to contextualizing this enigmatic apocalypse. This essay is an experiment in situating 2 Enoch within the intellectual culture of early Roman Egypt. It explores the possibility that the short recension reflects the translation of the Mesopotamian astronomy and Jewish cosmology of earlier Aramaic Enoch writings into Greek language and idiom in interaction with philosophical and “scientific” concerns with the cosmos current in early Roman Egypt.
Robotic Versus Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Inpatient Analysis: Does the End Justify the Means?

Robotic-assisted cholecystectomy (RAC) was introduced several years ago. With its more extensive use by surgeons, more information is needed regarding clinical and economic outcomes. The Nationwide Inpatient Sample from the Health Cost Utilization Project was analyzed using HCUPnet, National Inpatient Sample (NIS) datasets and SAS 9.2 for the years 2010–2011. Queries were made for RAC and laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) procedures with a primary diagnosis of gallbladder disease. Overall charges, costs, number of chronic conditions, comorbidities, and length of stay were calculated. RAC was $7518, +54 % (p < 0.05), and $4044, +29 % (p < 0.05), more costly compared to LC in 2010 and 2011, respectively. Total costs for RAC decreased by 14.6 % (p = 0.27) between 2010 and 2011, even though RAC was still costlier than LC in 2011. There was no significant difference in the LOS between RAC and LC in either years. Patients undergoing RAC had an increased number of chronic conditions compared to patients undergoing LC in both 2010 and 2011. LOS of RAC is similar to LC. Cost of RAC remains higher compared to LC although there was reduction in cost of RAC in 2011 versus 2010.
Orrorin tugenensis Femoral Morphology and the Evolution of Hominin Bipedalism

Bipedalism is a key human adaptation and a defining feature of the hominin clade. Fossil femora discovered in Kenya and attributed to Orrorin tugenensis, at 6 million years ago, purportedly provide the earliest postcranial evidence of hominin bipedalism, but their functional and phylogenetic affinities are controversial. We show that the O. tugenensis femur differs from those of apes and Homo and most strongly resembles those of Australopithecus and Paranthropus, indicating that O. tugenensis was bipedal but is not more closely related to Homo than to Australopithecus. Femoral morphology indicates that O. tugenensis shared distinctive hip biomechanics with australopiths, suggesting that this complex evolved early in human evolution and persisted for almost 4 million years until modifications of the hip appeared in the late Pliocene in early Homo.
GLUCOSE PRODUCTION IN POSTABSORPTIVE WOMEN AT TERM GESTATION: LACK OF FETAL GLUCOSE RELEASE

GLUCOSE PRODUCTION IN POSTABSORPTIVE WOMEN AT TERM GESTATION: LACK OF FETAL GLUCOSE RELEASE
THE NORMALIZED MEAN

The parameter p has the value of -1 for the harmonic mean, 1 for the arithmetic mean, 2 for the root-mean-square or quadratic mean, and 3 for the cubic mean. For the geometric mean, the parameter p becomes the log and the parameter l /p becomes the antilog. With highly skewed data, the arithmetic mean (x) is generally considered to be an inadequate measure of central location because of its extreme sensitivity to atypical outliers (Tukey, 1960; Andrew~, et al., 1972; Hogg, 1974; Mosteller & Tukey, 1977). When outliers are present, it is a common practice to compute the median ( M d n ) rather than the arithmetic mean. Proportional reductions in average or squared deviation coefficients have been developed as guides for selecting between the mean and the median. The coefficients are based on the fact that the sum of the squared deviations around the mean and the absolute deviations around the median are less than the sum of the squared or absolute deviations around any other constant number (Stavig & Gibbons, 1977; Gibbons & Stavig, 1980). The median is robust, i.e., relatively insensitive, to outliers, but the median is not robust to a large gap in the center of a discribution. A large center gap is more apt to be present when sample size is small. If the center gap is large, the median may not be located near the center of a distribution. The stability of the sample median depends upon the height of the density near the population median. If the gaps in the center are large, the median should not be used (Mosteller & Tukey, 1977, pp. 34-36). Furthermore, there is a considerable amount of disagreement as to whether che median should be calculated using the equation for grouped data or the equation for ungrouped data, which yield different results. The equation for ungrouped data gives the median for the original unaltered discrete values. The equation for grouped data gives the median for a theoretical underlying continuous,
Calcification as a diagnostic sign of syphilitic aortitis.

Abstract 1.1. The different sites of deposition of calcium in the thoracic aorta in syphilis and arteriosclerosis have been demonstrated. 2.2. Linear calcification of the ascending aorta in patients under 60 years of age is due to syphilitic aortitis in the large majority of cases. 3.3. As pointed out by Jackman and Lubert, 12 when calcification in this location is present, it may outweight the diagnostic implication of a negative serology. 4.4. Calcification of the ascending aorta is evidence of late, relatively inactive syphilis. 5.5. Calcification of the ascending aorta is a valuable aid in the differential diagnosis of the etiology of aortic insufficiency and in distinguishing aneurysms from neoplasms.
Zone Precipitation Chromatography: Its Use in the Isolation of Different Collagen Types

Abstract Zone Precipitation Chromatography is useful tech-nique for the initial isolation of the different colla-gen types in their native configuration. Small quan-tities of collagen mixtures can be rapidly separated into different collagen types with relatively high degree of purity, based upon stained protein patterns on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electro-phoresis (SDS-PAGE) slab gels. Tn the commonly used bulk salt preparative method for isolating the different collagens, 50 mg of starting material was needed. Three days were required to complete the procedure. The stained protein patterns on SDS-PAGE slab gels showed about 25% contamination with the bulk purified Type III fraction and 20% contamination with the bulk purified type AB collagen. With Zone Precipitation Chromatography 5 mg of starting material was used and in less than 4 hours the mixture was separated with Types III and AB fractions showing less than 10% contamination from other collagen types. The technique is patterned ...
Development and validation of a Biodata Inventory as an alternative method to measurement of the five factor model of personality

Abstract The present study was designed to test the effectiveness of using a biographical inventory as an alternative to a traditional personality inventory in measuring the five factor model of personality. A combination of empirical and rational strategies were incorporated in the development and scoring of the biodata items. All ( N = 383) participants completed the newly developed Biodata Inventory and the NEO-Five Factor Inventory. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed to examine the goodness of fit of the five factor structure from the respondents’ data. All participants completed a letter cancellation task, reported grade point averages, and SAT scores. Predictive validity was assessed for both instruments’ scores. Results indicate that the five factor model fit the data from the biodata and personality inventories. Predictive validities of both inventories’ scores were consistent with many other research results. The relationship of the Conscientiousness biodata scores to grade point average and task completion performance were statistically significant.
Determination of Delaminations in Adhesively Bonded Layers under Compression

To determine the presence of delaminations in adhesively bonded layers bv ultrasonic methods, the changes which occur in the propagating ultrasonic energy must be uniquely attributable to the delamination effects. Determination of absolute attenuation and its variation in each adherend layer is prerequisite. In addition, the distinction between adhesively bonded interfaces from those just in physical contact must be established. In this paper, we describe a systematic study of the effect of compression on bonded and unbonded areas on ultrasonic attenuation. The results of the simulation experiment are used to interpret digital images of adhesively bonded polyethylene-rubber-steel piston inserts.
Cytochemistry of myocardial structures related to degenerative processes in spontaneously hypertensive and normotensive rats

Using electron microscopy and cytochemical techniques we investigated structures which are associated with long-term hypertension and ageing in the myocardial cell of the rat. Lysosomes, demonstrated by acid phosphatase and aryl sulfatase activities, were found mainly in the perinuclear region in young rats. With age these organelles appeared with increasing frequency in other regions of the cell. Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) showed an earlier apparent migration of lysosomes than did normotensive rats (WKY). Our observations indicate that lysosomes were closely associated with autophagic vacuoles, membrane swirls , translucent mitochondria, myelin figures and other structures linked with degenerative events. In the oldest SHR lysosomes, autolysosomes (autophagic vacuoles with lysosomal activity), and degenerative structures were observed in various regions of the myocardial cell. Peroxisomes, as demonstrated by catalase activity, did not seem to be affected by hypertension or age. A number of dense osmophilic structures did not react for any of the enzymes studied; these included myelin figures, mitochondrial inclusions and diffuse dense bodies. Our observations implicate both ageing and hypertension in the enhancement of lysosomes and their end products.
Detection of rare antigen-presenting cells by the lacZ T-cell activation assay suggests an expression cloning strategy for T-cell antigens

The alpha/beta T-cell receptor a complex ligand formed by the association of antigenic peptides with molecules of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). The inherent limitations of the conventional T-cell activation assays used to detect these peptide/MHC ligands have, until now, hampered the development of expression cloning systems for T-cell antigens. To overcome these limitations, we have recently introduced a method for detecting ligand-induced activation of individual T cells. This assay, which makes use of a lacZ reporter construct, differs from conventional ligand-induced activation assays in that it allows the detection of single, activated T cells in large pools of resting cells. We applied the lacZ assay to the problem of screening expression libraries, which requires the ability to detect ligand-bearing antigen-presenting cells when they are present at very low frequency. We show here that ligand-expressing antigen-presenting cells can be detected at frequencies of 1:10(3)-10(4), a level of sensitivity compatible with the screening of cDNA libraries. Furthermore, by using as antigen-presenting cells COS-7 cells stably transfected with the murine Kb class I MHC molecule, we demonstrate that transiently expressed ovalbumin is efficiently processed and presented to an ovalbumin/Kb-specific T-cell hybridoma. lacZ expression is induced in a detectable number of cocultured T cells, even when the ovalbumin cDNA consists of only 1:10(4) of the total DNA used to transfect the COS cells. These results suggest that unknown T-cell antigens may be identified by screening cDNA libraries in MHC-expressing COS cells using lacZ-inducible T cells as indicators of peptide antigen expression.