cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Platform presentation—Impairments in Precision Grip Control in Pre-symptomatic Huntington's Disease

Background Precision grip control is important for accurate object manipulation and requires coordination between horizontal (grip) and vertical (load) fingertip forces. Manifest Huntington's disease (HD) subjects demonstrate excessive and highly variable grip force, and delayed coordination between grip and load forces. Because the onset of these impairments is unknown, we examined precision grip control in presymptomatic HD (pre-HD) subjects. Methods Fifteen pre-HD and 15 age- and gender-matched controls performed the precision grip task in a seated position. Subjects grasped and lifted an object instrumented with a force transducer that measured horizontal grip and vertical load forces. Outcomes were preload time, loading time, maximum grip force, average grip force during the hold phase, and variability for all measures, and were computed from pre-defined events, such as onset of grip force (>0.1 N), onset of load force (>0.1 N), and maximum grip force during the trial. We measured static grip force in a 3-second window during the hold phase. Pre-HD subjects were administered the UHDRS, and predicted years to onset was calculated using a probabilistic model (Langbehn DR, et al., Clin Genet 2004;65:267–277). Results Preload time and loading time was slower for pre-HD subjects (158.97 ms, 123.0 ms), compared with controls (64.97 ms, 57.2 ms). Variability (SD) of preload and loading time was higher in pre-HD subjects (61, 55.15) than in controls (35.74, 22.08). Variability in maximum and static grip force was higher in pre-HD subjects (0.22, 0.66) than in controls (0.08, 0.03). Pearson correlation with predicted years to disease onset in pre-HD was 0.65 for loading time and 0.69 for loading time variability. Conclusions Temporal delay in coordination between grip and load force, and increased motor variability are seen well before diagnosis of HD and may serve as good biomarkers of disease onset and progression.
Using Statistics of Optical Near-Fields for Sensing Properties of Inhomogeneous Media

We report on modeling the statistical properties of near-field scattered intensity. When the sensing is performed in reflection-emission configuration, statistical analysis of data provides information about the dielectric contrast and composition of inhomogeneous media.
Sleep and kindling: II. Effects of generalized seizure induction

Abstract Extensive sleep disturbance has been reported in epileptics. For various reasons, including medication influences, it is difficult to determine the source of these deficits in humans. Experimental models of epilepsy provide a convenient alternative in this regard as many of these problems can be avoided. Also, similar sleep deficits have been reported in humans and animal models, including preliminary evidence with kindling. The present study further examined the developmental influences of kindling on sleep, using 12-h polygraphic recordings. Twelve adult cats, surgically prepared for amygdala kindling and the evaluation of state variables, were divided into three groups: (I) kindled, (II) subthreshold stimulation, and (III) control. In all stimulated animals (groups I and II), initial afterdischarge (AD) thresholds were established. Subsequently, the animals were either kindled daily (group I) or received daily amygdala stimulation at a level 50% below the afterdischarge threshold (group II). Control animals were placed in the chamber daily but were never stimulated. Twelve-hour polygraphic recordings were obtained before and throughout the experiment in all groups. Animals in groups I and II showed a suppression of slow-wave sleep and a facilitation of waking with initial AD threshold testing compared with their own baseline and with controls. Slow-wave sleep was further depressed and waking increased by the end of kindling. Additionally, a significant suppression of REM sleep was obtained during kindling. In contrast, initial sleep deficits were maintained but not extended by subthreshold stimulation. These findings suggest an early and progressive association between sleep disturbances and epileptogenicity in the development of kindled seizures.
Extensive mitochondrial specific transcription of the Brassica campestris mitochondrial genome

We constructed a complete transcriptional map of the 218 kb Brassica campestris (turnip) mitochondrial genome. Twenty-four abundant and positionally distinct transcripts larger than 500 nucleotides were identified by Northern analyses. Approximately 30% (61 kb) of the genome is highly transcribed. In addition, a number of less abundant transcripts, many of which overlap with each other and with the major transcripts, were also detected. If each abundant transcript represents a distinct rRNA or protein species, then plant mitochondria would appear to encode a significantly larger number of proteins than do animal mitochondria. Although B. campestris mitochondrial DNA contains a number of chloroplast DNA-derived sequences, none of these chloroplast sequences appear to be transcribed within the mitochondrion. We determined the positions of 12 genes in the B. campestris mitochondrial genome. The order of these genes in B. campestris is completely different than in maize (1) and spinach (2).
Applications of synchrotron infrared microspectroscopy to the study of inorganic-organic interactions at the bacterial-mineral interface

Synchrotron microspectroscopy has been used to study the inorganic-organic interactions in the mid-infrared region (4000-400 cm-) as Arthrobacter oxydans attach themselves to magnetite surfaces. Relative band intensities and band intensity ratios for functional groups of organically-derived biological molecules that are inherent to the experimental system are discussed. The molecular components as they are perturbed by interactions with water, dichromate and chromate metal ions on the mineral surfaces are investigated. Mapping of the spectral markers for the inorganic-organic interactions at the biologicalmineral interfaces is presented and discussed. Comparative analyses of the synchrotron infrared microspectra suggest that the bacterial-chromium interactions depend on the solubility and toxicity of the chromium compounds.
Comparison of semiclassical methods for time dependent density evolution for a two state model problem

Abstract A potential advantage of evaluating the time dependent density, as opposed to the wave function, for a system undergoing a transition is that consideration of the density allows for the inclusion of the phase cancellation associated with the loss of coherence during the evolution of the system. This loss of coherence can result in the transition being considerably more localized in time in the density description than would be apparent in a wave function description. The semiclassical treatment of a simple two state system with constant adiabatic surfaces and a Gaussian nonadiabatic interaction is considered. Explicit expressions are obtained for the transition probability in the weak coupling limit. It is found that a density propagation procedure, which employs a forward–backward propagator, does not provide the correct long time limit for the transition probability. Numerical results show that the use of this approach can result in moderate errors in the long time transition probability, as compared with exact calculations. It is demonstrated that a semiclassical procedure for the density evolution, which is based upon a stationary state expansion of the propagator, provides very good results for the time dependent transition probability for this model problem.
Issues in clinical trial design I Use of natural history controls. An antagonist view

Because of the rapid progression of ALS, the lack of effective treatment, and the length of placebo-controlled trials relative to the median survival of patients with ALS, there has been pressure from the ALS patient community to make experimental treatments available prior to the determination of efficacy of those treatments. However, given the need to make those determinations, a compromise proposal has been to use a database of information obtained from ALS patients previously (the natural history of the disease) and presumably prior to the introduction of a putative therapy as the control group so that current patients could all receive the putative therapy. A second rationale for the use of natural history controls has been that if a putative therapy is sufficiently powerful, the use of a relatively small treatment group should demonstrate efficacy, or at least define a relatively short experimental-time to survival-time ratio so that such a therapy could be instituted in the general ALS population relatively quickly if ultimately proven efficacious. The term "natural history control" can be confusing when applied to clinical trial design. Some have used it as above. Some have used it to mean a wash-in period as part of a traditional parallel-group design used along with age, gender, etc., to ensure that the groups in that study are as equal as possible. Occasionally the term has been used to signify that one group in a parallel-group study is receiving no active agent--a placebo group as opposed to comparing two or more active treatments. To avoid that confusion, it has been suggested that the term "historical control" be used when we mean the control group as described in the Background section. Natural history databases are currently available. No further data need be generated since the debate before us is …
Numerical Solution of the Equation Governing Nuclear Magnetic Spin-Lattice Relaxation in a Paramagnetic-Spin-Doped Insulator

A numerical solution of the equation $\frac{\ensuremath{\partial}{M}^{z}}{\ensuremath{\partial}t}=D\left(\frac{1}{r}\frac{{\ensuremath{\partial}}^{2}}{\ensuremath{\partial}{r}^{2}}(r{M}^{z})\right)\ensuremath{-}\frac{({M}^{z}\ensuremath{-}{M}_{0}^{z})\overline{C}}{{r}^{6}}$ governing nuclear relaxation in a paramagnetic-spin-doped insulator has been obtained. The results are expressed in terms of $\overline{m}(t)=\frac{\ensuremath{\int}{b}^{R}[{M}_{0}^{z}\ensuremath{-}{M}^{z}(t)]{r}^{2}\mathrm{dr}}{\ensuremath{\int}{b}^{R}{M}_{0}^{z}{r}^{2}\mathrm{dr}},$ where ${M}^{z}(0)=0$, $b$ is the so-called "diffusion barrier" and ${(\frac{4\ensuremath{\pi}{R}^{3}}{3})}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ equals the paramagnetic-spin concentration. Simple analytic forms for the long-time exponential decay of $\overline{m}(t)$ are obtained for either $D$ or $\overline{C}$ dominating the relaxation process. Graphical solutions for the intermediate regions are also obtained. The short-time nonexponential solution of $\overline{m}(t)$ is discussed.
A spectral element approach for the stability analysis of time-periodic delay equations with multiple delays

Abstract This paper describes a general spectral element approach to study the stability of multiple time delay systems (MTDS). We show, for the first time, how this approach can be applied to periodic MTDS where the delays and the period are incommensurate. In contrast to prior works on MTDS, the spectral element approach is applicable to both autonomous as well as non-autonomous MTDS. Both MTDS of first order or higher can be obtained and systems with or without damping can be investigated. Since the spectral element approach uses efficient interpolation and a set of well-distributed interpolation points, the size of the matrices necessary for convergence is kept small. Further, since the spectral element approach is a semi-analytical procedure, it avoids the need to use tedious time marching algorithms to explore the stability behavior of the system.
System identification modeling of a smoking cessation intervention

Abstract This paper examines the use of system identification to describe time-varying phenomena in a smoking cessation intervention. The analysis is facilitated by the availability of intensive longitudinal data that enables the application of system identification techniques. Two model structures are considered; one involves the concept of statistical mediation, while the other describes a feedback mechanism. In fitting these models to intensive longitudinal data from a University of Wisconsin clinical trial that studied bupropion and counseling as smoking cessation aids, we focus on the relationship between craving and smoking. Here, we find craving features inverse response and smoking behavior features a dramatic reduction on the quit date, followed by a resumption in smoking. Analyzing the resulting models, we find that they differ in how they describe smoking resumption , and the case is made that the feedback mechanism more appropriately describes the relationship between craving and smoking.
Evaluation of the dark-object subtraction technique for adjustment of multispectral remote-sensing data

The well-known dark-object subtraction method has formed one of the oldest and widely used procedures for adjusting digital remote sensing data for effects of atmospheric scattering. The method's limited capabilities, relative to more sophisticated methods, are at least partially offset by its wide applicability, due its requirement for little information beyond the image itself. This study examines alternative applications of the procedure to evaluate its effectiveness, using a SPOT HRV XS image of irregular terrain in southwestern Virginia and a sequence of Landsat MSS data depicting a region in south central Virginia. Assessment of the success of the adjustment is conducted using chromaticity co-ordinates (using the method of Alfoldi and Munday (1978)), from corrected values, and comparing corrections to the original data. A successful correction shifts chromaticity co-ordinates away from the equal radiance point towards the purer regions near edges of the diagram. Further, some categories, when corrected successfully, will occupy known positions within chromaticity space. Assessment of the modification proposed by Chavez (1988) was conducted by examining the effects of choosing alternative starting haze values, and effects of alternative choices for atmospheric models. One difficulty in applying the 1988 modification is that it appears to be difficult to make accurate assessments of atmospheric conditions.
Cyclotomic Integers of Prescribed Absolute Value and the Class Group

Abstract We obtain a new method for the study of class groups of cyclotomic fields by investigating cyclotomic integers of prescribed absolute value. Explicit subgroups of the classgroup C modulo the class group C + of the maximal real subfield are exhibited and lower bounds on their orders are derived. For the m th cyclotomic field K m , where m = p a m ′, ( p , m ′)=1, and p is a prime, we determine the structure of C + C P / C + C Q up to a binary parameter; here C P , C Q are the subgroups of C generated by the classes [ P i ] respectively [ Q i ], where p factors in K m as ∏ Q i , Q i = P ϕ ( p a ) i , and the P i are prime ideals.
AdS/CFT DUALITY AND THE GLUEBALL SPECTRUM*

The complete glueball spectrum for the AdS7 black hole supergravity dual of QCD is shown to bare a striking resemblance to the known lattice results despite the limitations of the strong coupling approximation. Further extensions of duality to couple hadronic matter to gravity in the Randall-Sundram brane world scenario are suggested.
On the Other Side of the River: Dr. Adolph Herschmann and the Zhmerinka Ghetto, 1941–1944

This article examines the history of the Zhmerinka ghetto in Transnistria and the fate of Jewish Council member Dr. Adolph Herschmann, who served as head of the ghetto from early 1943 through the end of the Romanian occupation in spring 1944. The article is based on records of Herschmann's trial recently released by the State Security Archives of Ukraine (SBU), as well as on testimonies of survivor-witnesses and other primary sources. The author provides a history of the Zhmerinka ghetto and the activities of its Jewish council under Romanian occupation. He argues that the exceptionally high rate of survival in the Zhmerinka ghetto was the result of the skillful, though controversial efforts of Dr. Herschmann and his council.
The economics of social computing: Some preliminary findings on healthcare organizations

Abstract Large-scale organizations have used social computing platforms for various purposes. This research focuses on how hospitals utilize these platforms to attract potential customers (which represents the “extensivity” of a social computing platform) and generate interests in specific topics (which represents the “intensivity” of a platform). Specifically, we examine the effects of size of a hospital (or “size”) and the time that the social computing platform has been in existence (or “time”) on extensivity and intensivity. Our findings show that time is a significant variable on both dimensions; whereas size affects intensivity under certain conditions. We discuss the implications of these findings, and set the stage for future research.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders—Implications for Child Neurology, Part 2: Diagnosis and Management

In part 1, we discussed the mechanism of alcohol exposure, dosimetry, and the teratogenic pathways of damage to the fetus. In part 2, we review the diagnosis of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and the developmental implications of prenatal alcohol exposure. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders are associated with increased rates of mental retardation, seizure disorders, brain malformations, and premature mortality. The risk of comorbid disorders is increased among this population, which enhances phenotype severity and complexity of management. Recurrence rates are high and younger siblings tend to be more severely affected. Detection of prenatal alcohol use warrants substance abuse intervention, which can avoid exposure in subsequent pregnancies. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders are common developmental disorders with a phenotype that is influenced by both age and development and require long-term management. Child neurologists are essential in the diagnosis and management of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
Participant satisfaction and value in American Academy of Dermatology and American Cancer Society skin cancer screening programs in Massachusetts

Abstract Background: More than 1 million Americans have attended the American Academy of Dermatology's Melanoma/Skin Cancer Screening Programs since 1985. However, there have been no reports of the participants' perceived value, satisfaction, and benefits of skin cancer screening. Objective: We attempted to measure the benefits and subsequent screening practices of persons with presumptive positive screening diagnoses. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was sent to participants with positive screening diagnoses in Massachusetts. Results: Of the 643 respondents, 81% rated their satisfaction as high and 84% had similar ratings for the value of the screening. Screenings apparently led to an increase in self-screening (60% before screening compared with 84% after screening). Conclusion: Although screening appears to have relatively strong benefits, further studies should be conducted nationally. (J Am Acad Dermatol 1999;40:563-6.)
Evidence for covalent bonding of native hapten–protein complexes to smooth lipopolysaccharide of Brucella abortus

Smooth lipopolysaccharide (S-LPS) of Brucella abortus was dissociated from noncovalently attached components by differential centrifugation and exhaustive treatment with guanidinium thiocyanate. Mild alkaline hydrolysis then released ester-linked fatty acids as well as native hapten (NH)-protein complexes. These complexes, comprising 15 to 20% by weight of the S-LPS, failed to dissociate in guanidinium thiocyanate or in boiling SDS, suggesting covalent attachment. Analyses for 2-keto-3-deoxyoctonate demonstrated that the released carbohydrate was NH, rather than degraded O-polysaccharide or intact S-LPS monomers. This provides strong evidence that NH-protein complexes are covalently linked to S-LPS, most likely through ester bonds.
Improving the efficiency of genomic loci capture using oligonucleotide arrays for high throughput resequencing.

Background The emergence of next-generation sequencing technology presents tremendous opportunities to accelerate the discovery of rare variants or mutations that underlie human genetic disorders. Although the complete sequencing of the affected individuals' genomes would be the most powerful approach to finding such variants, the cost of such efforts make it impractical for routine use in disease gene research. In cases where candidate genes or loci can be defined by linkage, association, or phenotypic studies, the practical sequencing target can be made much smaller than the whole genome, and it becomes critical to have capture methods that can be used to purify the desired portion of the genome for shotgun short-read sequencing without biasing allelic representation or coverage. One major approach is array-based capture which relies on the ability to create a custom in-situ synthesized oligonucleotide microarray for use as a collection of hybridization capture probes. This approach is being used by our group and others routinely and we are continuing to improve its performance.
Thermodynamic Effects on Developed Cavitation

The results of an investigation of thermodynamic effects are presented. Distributions of temperature and pressure in a developed cavity were measured for zero- and quarter-caliber ogives. A semiempirical entrainment theory was developed to correlate the measured temperature depression in the cavity. This theory correlates the maximum temperature depression expressed in dimensionless form as the Jakob number in terms of the dimensionless numbers of Nusselt, Reynolds, Froude, and Peclet, and dimensionless cavity length, L/D. The results show that in general, the temperature depression increases with L/D and temperature and the cavitation number based on measured cavity pressure is a function of L/D for a given model contour, independent of the thermodynamic effect.
Hormonal aspects of normal and abnormal behavior in adolescents: Study group report∗

As stated initially, a significant proportion of health problems of youths have genetic predispositions and potentially identifiable antecedents of disease during childhood and adolescence. Until there is advancement in delineating the multiple dimensions and relationships of a psychobiologic developmental framework, interventions may fall short of their potential to either prevent or ameliorate these problems. To date, research has been limited by narrow definitions, lack of uniformity among measures, small samples, and homogenous populations. As a forward step, longitudinal investigations of subpopulations of youths may provide an opportunity for definitive study of the basic processes of puberty and be fruitful in evaluating the deleterious effects that stresses of contemporary life place on children and adolescents. In addition, efforts to communicate existing knowledge across disciplines and to approach psychobiologic research from an interdisciplinary perspective will enhance an understanding of the interplay of social, biologic, and environmental factors that are essential in the maturational process. This multidimensional approach with newer, broader perspectives is critical to advancing the development of a psychobiologic framework that will shed further light on the mechanisms of maturation and the interferences of this pubertal process that is the hallmark of adolescence.
Alcohol consumption and depressive symptoms over time: A longitudinal study of patients with and without HIV infection

Abstract Background The impact of alcohol consumption on depressive symptoms over time among patients who do not meet criteria for alcohol abuse or dependence is not known. Objective To evaluate the impact of varying levels of alcohol consumption on depressive symptoms over time in patients with and without HIV infection. Design We used data from the Veterans Aging Cohort Study (VACS). We used generalized estimating equation models to assess the association of alcohol-related categories, as a fixed effect, on the time-varying outcome of depressive symptoms. Participants VACS is a prospectively enrolled cohort study of HIV-infected patients and age-, race- and site-matched HIV uninfected patients. Main measures Hazardous, binge drinking, alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence were defined using standard criteria. Depressive symptoms were measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Key results Among the 2446 patients, 19% reported past but not current alcohol use, 50% non-hazardous drinking, 8% hazardous drinking, 14% binge drinking, and 10% met criteria for alcohol or dependence. At baseline, depressive symptoms were higher in hazardous and binge drinkers than in past and non-hazardous drinkers (OR = 2.65; CI = 1.50/4.69; p p = .88). Hazardous drinkers were 2.53 (95% CI = 1.34/4.81) times and binge drinkers were 2.14 (95% CI = 1.49/3.07) times more likely to meet criteria for depression when compared to non-hazardous drinkers. The associations between alcohol consumption and depressive symptoms persisted over three years and were responsive to changes in alcohol-related categories. Conclusions HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected hazardous and binge drinkers have depressive symptoms that are more severe than non-hazardous and non-drinkers and similar to those with alcohol abuse or dependence. Patients who switch to a higher or lower level of drinking experience a similar alteration in their depressive symptoms. Interventions to decrease unhealthy alcohol consumption may improve depressive symptoms.
Thermoelectric properties of MOCVD-grown AlInN alloys with various compositions

Thermoelectric properties of AlInN alloys, grown by metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE), with In-contents (x) from 11 % up to 21.34% were characterized and analyzed at room temperature. The thermoelectric figure of merit (Z*T) values of the n-Al 1-x In x N alloys were measured as high as 0.391 up to 0.532 at T = 300 K. The use of high In-content (x = 21.34%) AlInN alloys leads to significant reduction in thermal conductivity [κ = 1.62 W/(mK)] due to the increased alloy scattering, however, the optimized thermoelectric material was obtained for AlInN alloy with In-content of 17% attributed to its large power factor.
In vivo initiated rat liver carcinogenesis studied in vitro; formation of alcoholic hyaline-type bodies.

Summary Epithelial liver cells isolated from rats after oral diethylnitrosamine administration were established in culture. When propagated in vitro for 2—3 months, over half the cells contained acentric nuclei and large juxtanuclear inclusions resembling the hyaline deposits (Mallory bodies) in cirrhotic livers of alcoholics. The morphological changes and disarrayed filaments in these bodies were retained on serial passages for many months. Cells inoculated into nude mice or newborn rats produced carcinomas from which cells with these abnormalities were reestablished in continuous culture.
Role of the pre- and post-natal environment in developmental programming of health and productivity.

The concept that developmental insults (for example, poor pre- or postnatal nutrition) can have long-term consequences on health and well-being of the offspring has been termed developmental programming. In livestock, developmental programming affects production traits, including growth, body composition, and reproduction. Although low birth weight was used as a proxy for compromised fetal development in the initial epidemiological studies, based on controlled studies using livestock and other animal models in the last two decades we now know that developmental programming can occur independently of any effects on birth weight. Studies in humans, rodents, and livestock also have confirmed the critical role of the placenta in developmental programming. In addition, the central role of epigenetic regulation in developmental programming has been confirmed. Lastly, relatively simple therapeutic/management strategies designed to ‘rescue’ placental development and function are being developed to minimize the effects of developmental programming on health and productivity of humans, livestock, and other mammals.
Tutoring Ship Handling Skills: Intelligent Tutor and Expert Model in a Simulation

The goal of this project is to develop an intelligent tutoring system (ITS) for ship handling. The system employs a cognitive model of expert surface ship navigation integrated with a spoken intelligent tutor (developed by Stanford University) and a ship handling simulation system, the Conning Officer Virtual Environment (COVE). This paper describes how the expert model was developed and how it is integrated with the ITS and COVE.
Relationships among the concentrations of 25 inflammation-associated proteins during the first postnatal weeks in the blood of infants born before the 28th week of gestation

Background Inflammation appears to be involved in processes leading to organ damage in preterm newborns, yet little is known about the relationships among elevated concentrations of inflammation-associated proteins in the blood of preterm newborns.
An informatics perspective on nearly universal prospective order review.

In his commentary advocating the study and potential elimination of nearly universal prospective order review (NUPOR), Flynn makes the case that time spent in this activity is time not being spent on higher-level pharmacist activity.[1][1] With clinical decision support (CDS) systems embedded in
EEG activation with chloralosane.

Abstract In 39 studies on 37 patients with behavioral disorders requiring hospitalization on a psychiatric ward, only 3 patients failed to show electroencephalographic abnormalities after they had received 500 mg. of chloralose plus 1 2 mg. of scopolamine. Six of this group showed EEG abnormalities during baseline recordings with hyperventilation. Only 7 of the 37 had a history of grand mal or psychomotor seizures. In 15 voluntary controls with no evidence of either epilepsy or severe behavior disorder, only 4 were activated. All activated controls had some irregularities in the baseline recording which, although they might not have been considered abnormal were, nevertheless, deviations from the expected pattern. Activation, which, with one exception, started within the first hour and reached a maximum within the second, consisted of theta-delta activity that was often focal at first but tended to generalize later. Occasionally sharp waves or spikes would be seen. The abnormality would be continuous or paroxysmal and was often associated with an increase in symptoms or behavioral abnormalities. In 8 patients with subcortical chronically implanted electrodes, there was no consistent pattern of subcortical activation before involvement of the cortical areas. Like the clinical studies, the activation often occurred focally then became generalized. Only one patient lost consciousness, and although she showed focal rhythmic clonic movements there was no generalized tonic-clonic convulsion. In view of the fact that only 7 of the 34 patients who were activated had a history of seizures, one should be extremely cautious in interpreting scopolamine-chloralose activation as evidence of epilepsy. Whether this procedure will be useful in identifying a specific group of behavior disorders can only be determined by extending activations to much larger series of patients and controls.
“Methods of Inquiry”: Using Critical Thinking to Retain Students

In the late 1980s a large northeastern university implemented a critical thinking course for undergraduate students. Combining insights from cognitive psychology and philosophy, this class was designed to give students concrete strategies to promote self-regulated learning and ensure academic success. The analyses in this study are based on university warehouse data for three consecutive entering freshmen cohorts, resulting in a sample of 9,665 students, 1900 of whom had successfully completed the course. Results show these students are more likely to be retained or to exit successfully by the second, third, fourth, and fifth year as compared to those students who do not complete the course.
How helpful are drug abuse helplines

Raters called a convenience sample of 30 helplines and claimed to be alcohol, cocaine, heroin, marijuana or tobacco dependent persons seeking treatment. Responses were categorized as helpful, neutral or unhelpful. The median Kappa for agreement between pairs of raters rating a single call was 0.91. Between 36 and 78% of the helplines gave inconsistent responses to two calls giving the same scenario. Across the 346 calls, 43, 40 and 40% of responses to alcohol, cocaine and heroin scenarios were helpful and 28 and 25% of responses to tobacco and marijuana calls were helpful. These preliminary results indicate that much of the time responses to calls to national helplines are not consistent and not helpful.
Complex Interactions Among a Nematode Parasite (Daubaylia potomaca), a Commensalistic Annelid (Chaetogaster limnaei limnaei), and Trematode Parasites in a Snail Host (Helisoma anceps)

abstract: Many biotic interactions can affect the prevalence and intensity of parasite infections in aquatic snails. Historically, these studies have centered on interactions between trematode parasites or between trematodes and other organisms. The present investigation focuses on the nematode parasite Daubaylia potomaca and its interactions with a commensal, Chaetogaster limnaei limnaei, and a variety of trematode species. It was found that the presence of C. l. limnaei indirectly increased the mean intensity of D. potomaca infections, apparently by acting as a restraint for various trematode parasites, particularly the rediae of Echinostoma sp. In turn, Echinostoma sp. rediae adversely affected the mean intensity of D. potomaca by their consumption of both juvenile and adult nematodes present in tissues of the snail. These organisms not only belong to 3 different phyla but occupy distinct trophic levels as well. The complex interactions among these 3 organisms in the snail host provide an excellent ex...
Antimicrobial resistance profiles and clonal relatedness of canine and feline Escherichia coli pathogens expressing multidrug resistance in the United States.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance is increasing among Escherichia coli isolates associated with spontaneous infection in dogs and cats. Objectives: To describe E. coli resistance phenotypes and clonal relatedness and their regional prevalence. Animals: Isolates of E. coli (n = 376) collected from dogs and cats in the United States between May and September 2005. Methods: Isolates submitted from the South, West, Northeast, and Midwest regions of the United States were prospectively studied. Phenotype was based on E-test susceptibility to 7 antimicrobials. Isolates were classified as no (NDR), single (SDR), or multidrug resistance (MDR). Clonal relatedness was determined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Results: One hundred and ninety-three (51%) isolates expressed resistance to at least 1 drug, yielding 42 phenotypes. SDR isolates (n = 84; 44%, 8 phenotypes), expressed resistance most commonly to amoxicillin (30%, n = 25) and least commonly to cefpodoxime (1%, n = 1). MDR isolates (n = 109; 56%, 31 phenotypes) were resistant to amoxicillin (96%, n = 105), amoxicillin-clavulanate (85%, n = 93), and enrofloxacin (64%, n = 70); 18% (n = 20) were resistant to all drugs tested. The frequency of MDR did not differ regionally (P= .066). MDR minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were 6-fold higher than SDR MICs (P < .0001). Dendrograms of 91 isolates representing 25 phenotypes revealed 62 different PFGE profiles. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: E. coli strains spontaneously infecting dogs and cats are genetically and phenotypically diverse. Given the current prevalence of MDR among clinical isolates of E. coli in United States, implementation of a robust surveillance program is warranted.
Formation of oxide nanoclusters in nanostructured ferritic alloys during anisothermal heat treatment: A kinetic Monte Carlo study

Abstract Kinetic Monte Carlo simulations, based on rigid lattice approximation, have been performed to study the homogeneous precipitation in Fe–Y–O and Fe–Ti–O alloys during anisothermal heat treatments. Simulations predict different kinetic behaviors, including transient precipitation of metastable iron oxides followed by precipitation of Y 2 O 3 or Ti 2 O 3 nanoclusters. Then, precipitation kinetics in ternary alloys are compared. Significant differences in the precipitation behaviour of Y 2 O 3 and Ti 2 O 3 were observed as result of dramatically different diffusion rates of Y and Ti atoms.
Comparing social desirability responding on world wide web and paper-administered surveys

Social desirability responding (SRD) on surveys administered on the World Wide Web (WWW) and on paper was examined using 178 graduate and undergraduate students randomly assigned to a 2 (World Wide Web and Paper) ×2 (Anonymous and Nonanonymous) true experimental design. The findings reveal no differences in SDR between the WWW and the paper-administered survey conditions, and no differences in SDR between the anonymous and nonanonymous conditions. These findings and potential explanations are examined for consideration by anyone interested in using the WWW to obtain accurate information from survey participants.
Stratospheric Influences on Tropospheric Weather Systems

Abstract Four cases of tropospheric weather systems (two sea level cyclones, one sea level anticyclone, and one blocking midtropospheric anticyclone) are investigated with the goal of understanding the role of stratospheric versus tropospheric processes in their developments. The relative contributions of the stratosphere and troposphere to geopotential height tendency fields (1000 mb for the sea level systems, 500 mb for the midtropospheric system) are quantified through vertical integration of thermodynamic processes (advective, adiabatic, and diabatic) over and following tendency centers associated with these systems. Previously known or suspected tropospheric contributions to system development, as well as the influence of stratospheric warm-air advection in the sea level cyclogenesis cases, are confirmed by the diagnoses. New findings include identification of the influence of stratospheric adiabatic cooling in the sea level and midtropospheric anticyclogenesis cases. It is further found that the str...
Self-selectivity problems in interregional and interindustry migration in Canada.

This study is concerned with the role that inter-industry mobility plays in the decision to migrate in Canada and also with the joint impact on earnings of inter-industry and interregional migration corrected for selectivity bias. The data for the period 1970-1971 are from a one percent random sample of a micro data base established by the Unemployment Insurance Commission. "Contrary to the commonly held belief that a migrants decision to change his location is independent of his decision to change his industry of employment this paper provides evidence that these movements are in fact interrelated." (EXCERPT)
Quality and Frequency of Faculty-Student Interaction as Predictors of Learning: An Analysis by Student Race/Ethnicity

Student engagement with faculty members and its relationship to learning was investigated for students of seven different racial/ethnic groups (N = 4,501), yielding small differences by student race/ethnicity. Relationships with faculty were stronger predictors of learning than student background characteristics for all groups, but strongest for students of color.
Investigation of Hot Photons in GaN/AlN High Electron Mobility Transistor Based on Stokes Raman Scattering

We investigated hot phonons based on Stokes Raman scattering from a GaN/AlN high electron mobility transistor. Such a simple method is advantageous compared with the method based on Stokes and anti-Stokes Raman scattering.
Volumetric properties of block and random copolymers of butadiene and styrene at pressures to 1 kilobar

Densities of thermally annealed copolymers were measured at 75° and 100°C at pressures to 1 kilobar. The compositions ranged from pure polybutadiene to pure polystyrene, from completely random to completely block copolymers. The experimental results are well represented by the Tait equation. To a first approximation, specific volumes and compressibilities are linear functions of weight per cent styrene. For a fixed composition, the effect of structure on volumetric properties is small. However, it appears that, when compared at the same overall composition, the specific volume and compressibility are larger for the random copolymer; specific volume and compressibility decline slightly when the styrene is in block rather than random form.
Ca Alternans in Cardiac Myocytes: Relating Macroscopic Behavior to Microscopic Ca Release Properties

Beat-to-beat alternation in the intracellular Ca (Cai) transient (Cai alternans) causes pulsus alternans and electrocardiographic T-wave alternans, conditions associated with cardiac arrhythmias and sudden death. The whole cell Cai transient represents the summed activity of thousands of individual Ca sparks, i.e. Ca released locally by Ca release units (CRU). However, the extent to which the global behavior of the whole cell Cai transient mirrors the microscopic behavior of individual CRU units is unclear. We derived a one-dimensional iterated map of CRU behavior in which we could independently adjust the probabilities of random triggering of Ca sparks, recruitment of Ca sparks from adjacent CRUs, and CRU refractoriness following a Ca spark. After verifying that these three local properties (randomness, recruitment and refractoriness) could sustain an ensemble (global) alternans in a two-dimensional cellular automata network, we developed a physiologically-detailed subcellular Ca cycling model containing a network of coupled stochastic CRU which replicated the iterated map predictions. We find that a number of experimentally-reported phenomena, including whole cell Cai alternans, Ca waves in the presence of high spatial cooperativity, graded whole-cell Ca release, and a steep dependence of fractional SR Ca release on SR Ca load, emerge naturally from the collective behavior of individual CRUs depending on the balance of these three properties. A striking prediction is that microscopic CRU behavior does not always mirror collective CRU behavior, e.g. during whole cell Cai alternans, Ca sparks from individual CRU do not consistently alternate. In addition, whole cell Cai alternans is not generally dependent on alternans of diastolic SR Ca content. The findings provide novel multiscale insights into how global Ca signaling properties emerge from simple microscopic CRU properties.
Complications of cylindrical anisotropy on the properties of fibres

Abstract Cylindrically orthotropic materials having linear elastic stress-strain relations can possess a unique type of coupling between the radial and tangential directions. This type of anisotropy occurs when fibres have onion skin or radial morphologies which are characteristic of some graphite fibres and poly-p-phenylene terephthalamide fibres. Pulling on a long slender fibre having this type of anisotropy does not produce a uniaxial state of stress because the unequal Poisson ratios also cause both radial and tangential stresses. The magnitude of these predicted transverse stresses in relation to the axial stress is similar to the relationship of strengths in these principal directions. Hence, it is conceivable that fibre failure could be caused by fibre splitting from high transverse stresses rather than the longitudinal tensile stresses. Temperature changes and other factors causing dimensional changes such as swelling and pressure can similarly cause large stresses if the radial and tangential expansion coefficients are different. This type of axial-transverse coupling is known to limit certain designs in composite structures having this type of anisotropy, yet little has been done to understand fibres possessing these characteristics. This paper examines the complex state of stress that can result in fibres having cylindrically orthotropic linear elastic properties for several simple modes of deformation.
Lyotropic Behavior of “3,4-(42-Crown-14)benzyl Dodecyl Ether” in Toluene in the Presence of Water

The lyotropic behavior of an amphiphilic macrocrown ether (MC-12) with an average ring size of 42 atoms attached to a hydrophobic 12-carbon tail was studied in 70 wt % toluene in the presence of small amounts of water by a combination of polarized optical microscopy, 1H-NMR, X-ray diffraction, and 13C-NMR relaxation studies and by comparison to the lyotropic behavior of the corresponding solutions of Igepal-CO-720 [oligo(oxyethylene) nonylphenyl ether]. Igepal-CO-720 is a classic linear surfactant with a distribution of oligo(oxyethylene) lengths. MC-12 is a macrocyclic surfactant with a distribution of ring sizes. Since it was synthesized from poly(ethylene glycol) 600, 3,4-(42-crown-14)benzyl dodecyl ether is the predominant structure. Similar to Igepal-CO-720, MC-12 in 70 wt % toluene organizes into a lyotropic lamellar (Lα) mesophase, in which the macrocrown ethers are relatively flexible, when [H2O]:[EO] ≤ 2.2. When [H2O]:[EO] > 2.7, the solutions macroscopically phase separate into an isotropic tolu...
Construction of minimal tail-biting trellises

The subject of tail-biting trellis representation of block codes has attracted a lot of interest. One of the major open problems in this area is how to construct a minimal tail-biting trellis for a given linear code. We present a solution to this problem. Given a linear block code C, we show how to construct a linear tail-biting trellis for C that minimizes the product of vertex-space sizes among all possible linear tail-biting trellises for C. Our methods are based on the new concept of the characteristic matrix for a linear block code. The complexity of the resulting construction is O(n/sup 2/) for a code of length n.
A microfluidic-electric package for power MEMS generators

This paper reports the design, fabrication, and measurement results of a compact, multi-functional package for air-driven, rotary, electromagnetic MEMS generators. The fully integrated device includes a polymer-based fluidic housing, its associated turbine supported by a small, off-the-shelf, high-speed ball bearing, and a permanent-magnet (PM) generator with electroplated copper windings. The fluidic-electric package has an overall volume of approximately 1.1cm3, and weighs 1.5g. It withstands pressures up to 85 kPa, can support rotational speeds up to 203,000 rpm, and generates an electrical output power of 0.8 mW, indicating that this packaged machine is applicable to small, low-power systems.
William Sturgis, Merchant and Investor

It is a curious fact that many American business men of the past are known more for their charities or philanthropies or for their cultural or political interests and activities than for the very significant work they may have done in business. The biographers of business men, with the exception of those who have deliberately set out to berate the man about whom they were writing, have generally had very little to say about their subject's business. It is as if business were something not worthy of record. It is well to remember that business is important not only because it makes profits for the individual or builds fortunes; it also has a wide social importance. As we have lately experienced, an active, successful business system very likely means greater social well-being; and a depressed business, widespread misery. In so far as the business man is responsible for one or the other, the responsibility should be recognized in studies of his life. Thus through the experience of others would be widened immeasurably our knowledge of how business functions.