Einsteinian view of the universe, and the Heideggerian notion of geworfenheit: A note on Widdershoven's "Hermeneutics and relativism: Wittgenstein, Gadamer, Habermas."

Discusses G. A. Widdershoven's (see record 1994-32930-001) hypothesis that contemporary hermeneutical philosophers believe that truth is neither absolute nor relative, which is based on the hermeneutical philosophies of Wittgenstein, Gadamer, and Habermas. However, to be representative of the thought of hermeneutical philosophers, one would need to include M. Heidegger's (1962) notion of geworfenheit, since this notion is instrumental in viewing the impact of non-rational factors on human thinking and "truth." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Argon+carbon dioxide gaseous mixture viscosities and anisotropic pair potential energy functions

The viscosities of pure gaseous carbon dioxide and argon+carbon dioxide mixtures have been measured with a capillary flow viscometer. The viscosities are relative to those of argon, in the temperature range 213 to 353 K, and considered accurate to ±0.7%. The pure-component viscosities agree closely with previous measurements. The mixture viscosities are used to calculate interaction viscosities and binary diffusion coefficients, which are compared with previous measurements. Interaction viscosities have been calculated, by use of the Mason-Monchick approximation, from the anisotropic pair potential energy functions for the unlike interaction proposed by Pack and his co-workers and by Hough and Howard. Comparison of these calculated interaction viscosities with those derived from our experiments and the higher-temperature measurements of Hobley, Matthews, and Townsend proves to be a powerful discriminant for the proposed anisotropic potential functions.Paper dedicated to Professor Joseph Kestin.     

Diet, alcohol, and physical activity as a function of smoking status in middle-aged women.

Diet, alcohol intake, and leisure-time physical activity were compared cross-sectionally in middle-aged female smokers, ex-smokers, and never smokers and were reassessed approximately 3 yrs later. At initial contact, there were no group differences in total caloric intake and very few differences in nutrient intake, but alcohol intake of current smokers and ex-smokers was at least 50% greater than that of never smokers, and current smokers reported less physical activity than did ex-smokers and never smokers. Prospective findings were similar: Compared with continuing smokers, ex-smokers did not change their dietary and alcohol intake but significantly increased physical activity. Thus, some adverse behaviors associated with smoking (e.g., alcohol intake) may be due to self-selection to history of smoking, whereas other behaviors (e.g., reduced physical activity) may be directly related to smoking itself. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance studies of the synthesis of linear segmented polyurethane elastomers

Linear segmented polyurethane elastomers have been prepared by reaction of polyethyleneoxide with 4,4′-diphenylmethanediisocyanate and the product was subsequently cured with diamines. Chemical analysis of the prepolymer formed using stoichiometric ratios of polyol and diisocyanate indicated that the product was deficient in ‘free’ isocyanate. A number of side reactions can lead to a reduction in the amount of isocyanate available for the chain extension reaction. Infrared, ¹H- and ¹³C-n.m.r. spectroscopy were used to follow the initial end-capping and subsequent chain extension reactions. In order that an unambiguous assignment of the weak peaks observed in the prepolymer and final elastomer spectra could be made, a number of model compounds associated with the side reactions were synthesized and their spectra characterized. It was concluded that the loss of ‘free’ isocyanate in the formation of the prepolymer can be predominantly attributed to the effects of traces of water in the initial reaction mixture.     

Use of demographic variables to predict overall level of performance on the Halstead-Reitan Battery.

Developed and cross-validated an equation that uses demographic variables (sex, age, education, race, occupational categories) to predict average level of performance on the Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Test Battery by using a sample of 491 15–81 yr old neurologically normal Ss (mean WAIS IQ 112.8). Regression analysis predicted 65% of the variance in the Average Impairment Rating (59% in cross-validation). It is concluded that demographic variables are useful in providing a context for evaluation of cognitive functioning in Ss with known or suspected brain disorders. (3 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Evidence for the lumenal location of the 53 kDa glycoprotein of sarcoplasmic reticulum

The 53 kDa glycoprotein from sarcoplasmic reticulum was shown to be protected from proteolysis by trypsin, V8 proteinase and proteinase K in intact vesicles yet readily digested in the presence of the non-denaturing detergent C12E8. Competitive ELISAs with a library of seven monoclonal antibodies raised against the 53 kDa glycoprotein showed that the epitopes for these antibodies were only accessible in C12E8 solubilised and not intact sarcoplasmic reticulum. When the monoclonal antibodies against the 53 kDa glycoprotein were assessed for their effect on the uptake of Ca2+ by sarcoplasmic reticulum no effect was detected; neither were these antibodies able to augment the inhibitory influences of anti-(Ca(2+)-Mg2+)-ATPase monoclonal antibodies on Ca2+ uptake. These data indicate that the 53 kDa glycoprotein is located in the lumen of the sarcoplasmic reticulum.     

A natural experiment on the effects of ovarian hormones on cardiovascular risk factors and stress reactivity: bilateral salpingo oophorectomy versus hysterectomy only

Indirect calorimetry is the method by which metabolic rate and substrate utilization are estimated in human beings starting from respiratory gas exchange measurements and urinary nitrogen excretion. This method is based on some models and assumptions that must be known and taken into consideration to correctly interpret the results obtained. Recent advances in technology and the availability of precise and portable metabolic carts have made this technique practical at the beside even in critically ill patients. It must be considered that, particularly in the ICU, there may be several sources of error and many technical difficulties in applying this methodology. Taking into account the relevant clinical studies related to the outcomes of critically ill patient, this article defines when the assessment of energy expenditure by indirect calorimetry may provide useful and valid information. Review of the literature suggests that the clinical application of indirect calorimetry in critically ill patients, although promising, requires further evaluation. Currently, the potential useful clinical applications of indirect calorimetry in this category of patients can be summarized as follows: (1) assessment of energy expenditure in patients who fail to adequately respond to the estimated nutritional needs; (2) assessment of energy expenditure in patients with single- or multiple-organ dysfunction who need prolonged ICU care and artificial nutritional support; (3) assessment of the effects induced by artificial nutrition on the cardiocirculatory and respiratory systems in mechanically ventilated patients with acute respiratory failure; and (4) monitoring of VO2 during weaning from mechanical ventilation.     

Low-dose versus standard-dose lenograstim prophylaxis after chemotherapy: a randomized, crossover comparison

PURPOSE: Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) administered prophylactically after chemotherapy reduces the duration and severity of neutropenia. This randomized crossover study was designed to assess whether a lower dose of G-CSF is as effective as a standard dose of 5 microg/kg daily. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients who received standard-dose chemotherapy regimens expected to cause neutropenia received G-CSF (lenograstim) that started the day after chemotherapy for 14 days or until the absolute neutrophil count (ANC) recovered to greater than 10 x 10(9)/L. The lenograstim dose was randomly allocated to be 2 or 5 microg/kg daily in the first cycle of chemotherapy and crossed over to the alternate dose for the second cycle. The study was designed to accrue 40 assessable patients to provide a power of 80% to detect a difference in duration of neutropenia of 1 day. Fifty-two patients were randomized to treatment and 43 patients completed two cycles of identical chemotherapy. RESULTS: There was little neutropenia irrespective of the dose used. Twenty-three patients (53%) had no grade III or IV neutropenia and 30 patients (70%) had no grade IV neutropenia. Crossover trial methodology was used to assess the difference in outcome caused by the lower dose compared with the standard dose (estimated treatment effect). There was no significant difference in the measures of neutropenia, hospitalization, or other clinical outcomes. The 95% confidence interval (one-sided) for the additional duration of neutropenia caused by the lower dose of lenograstim was 0.43 days or less for grade III or IV neutropenia and 0.34 days or less for grade IV neutropenia. CONCLUSION: Lenograstim 2 microg/kg provides similar protection to 5 microg/kg against neutropenia that complicates standard-dose chemotherapy. The use of a lower dose has important implications for the cost-effectiveness of prophylactic G-CSF therapy.     

Having It Both Ways: Distinguishable Yet Phase-Coherent Mixtures of Bose-Einstein Condensates

We have begun a series of experiments on mixed bosonic quantum fluids. Our system is mixed Bose-Einstein condensates in dilute Rb-87. By simultaneously trapping the atoms in two different hyperfine states, we are able to study the dynamics of component separation and of the relative quantum phase of two interpenetrating condensates. Population can be converted from one state to the other at a rate that is sensitive to the relative quantum phase.     

Age and cognitive ability as predictors of computerized information retrieval

This paper presents an empirical investigation of age and cognitive ability as predictors of computerized information retrieval. Upon the basis of age-related changes in cognitive ability, hypotheses were generated relating to the effects of database structure (linear, hierarchical, or network) and node selection method (explicit or embedded menu). In keeping with previous research in other areas of human-computer interaction, there was a significant main effect of age, with older subjects performing more slowly. However, interactive effects of 'question block' indicated that older subjects were at a particular disadvantage in the early stages of task performance. Age differences in processing speed and/or psychomotor skill appeared to be a particularly important factor. Whilst the effects of cognitive ability were generally weak, spatial memory and logical reasoning scores were negatively correlated with information retrieval response times. Although interactions were not significant, trends in the data for all dependent measures suggested that older subjects may be at a disdvantage when using a network structure.