cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Failure of pindolol and metoprolol to reduce the size of non-reperfused infarcts in dogs using area at risk techniques

Recent studies have shown that long term mortality after acute myocardial infarction is reduced by chronic beta-blocker therapy, however, the mechanism is not well understood. Our objective was to determine whether the selective beta blocker, metoprolol, or the nonselective intrinsic sympathomimetic activity (ISA)-blocker pindolol, reduce infarct size as a function of an area at risk (AR) in a permanent infarction model in dogs and which blocker is preferable in regards to myocardial function. Dogs were instrumented with ultrasonic crystals to measure regional function in nonischaemic and infarct margin segments. Left ventricular (LV) pressures, LV dP/dt and heart rate (HR) were monitored. Dogs were subjected to a 6 h LAD coronary artery occlusion and were randomised to a control (n = 9), pindolol (n = 10), and metoprolol (n = 9) group. At 30 and 90 min post occlusion saline, pindolol (3 micrograms X kg-1 and 12 micrograms X kg-1) or metoprolol (12 micrograms X kg-1 and 48 micrograms X kg-1) were given intravenously. The in vivo AR was determined by autoradiography, the in vitro AR by postmortem dye infusion and the area of necrosis by tetrazolium staining. Pindolol and metoprolol decreased LV dP/dt by 20% (P less than 0.05). Metoprolol also decreased HR by 20% (P less than 0.05) and shortening of nonischaemic segments by 12% (P less than 0.05) following the 1st and 2nd dose. Function in infarct margin segments was not changed in either group. Blood flow, measured by microspheres, was similar in the three groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
New species of Elaphoglossum (Elaphoglossaceae) from northern South America

The fern genusElaphoglossum is well-represented in the Venezuelan pteridoflora with 98 species. Careful observation of the indument of rhizome and blade is necessary to distinguish the taxa. Thirty-three species and one variety are here describe as new:E. anceps, E. appressum, E. atrorubens, E. atrosquamatum, E. chrysopogon, E. crispatum var.crispatum, E. crispatum var.beitelii, E. delicatulum, E. dolichopus, E. drewianum, E. eriopus, E. floccosum, E. grallator, E. hieracioides, E. incubus, E. luteynii, E. maguirei, E. nigrocostatum, E. obovatum, E. ornithoglossum, E. ortegae, E. pilosius, E. praetermissum, E. stenoglossum, E. stergiossi, E. steyermarkii, E. styriacum, E. succubus, E. tachirense, E. tantalinum, E. urophyllum, E. vanderwerffii, E. vareschianum, andE. variolatum.
Interactions involving the Rad51 paralogs Rad51C and XRCC3 in human cells.

Homologous recombinational repair of DNA double-strand breaks and crosslinks in human cells is likely to require Rad51 and the five Rad51 paralogs (XRCC2, XRCC3, Rad51B/Rad51L1, Rad51C/Rad51L2 and Rad51D/Rad51L3), as has been shown in chicken and rodent cells. Previously, we reported on the interactions among these proteins using baculovirus and two- and three-hybrid yeast systems. To test for interactions involving XRCC3 and Rad51C, stable human cell lines have been isolated that express (His)6-tagged versions of XRCC3 or Rad51C. Ni2+-binding experiments demonstrate that XRCC3 and Rad51C interact in human cells. In addition, we find that Rad51C, but not XRCC3, interacts directly or indirectly with Rad51B, Rad51D and XRCC2. These results argue that there are at least two complexes of Rad51 paralogs in human cells (Rad51C–XRCC3 and Rad51B–Rad51C–Rad51D–XRCC2), both containing Rad51C. Moreover, Rad51 is not found in these complexes. X-ray treatment did not alter either the level of any Rad51 paralog or the observed interactions between paralogs. However, the endogenous level of Rad51C is moderately elevated in the XRCC3-overexpressing cell line, suggesting that dimerization between these proteins might help stabilize Rad51C.
Reliability and validity of the NIDDK-QA instrument in the assessment of quality of life in ambulatory patients with cholestatic liver disease

The NIDDK-QA instrument, developed and widely used in liver transplant recipients, assesses quality of life (QOL) in four domains, including liver disease symptoms, physical function, health satisfaction, and overall well-being. We investigated whether the instrument may be used as a disease-specific instrument in ambulatory patients with cholestatic liver disease. The NIDDK-QA instrument was administered in 96 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) seen at the Mayo Clinic. The SF-36, a well-established generic instrument, was also administered. Standard measures for test-retest reliability, internal consistency, and discriminant and concurrent validity were examined. All patients were ambulatory with mostly normal levels of serum bilirubin and albumin concentrations. The reliability of the NIDDK-QA, as measured by test-retest correlation (Pearson coefficients: 0.82-0.99, P <.01) and by internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha: 0.87-0.94) exceeded conventional acceptability criteria. The correlation between domain scores of the NIDDK-QA and SF-36 was clear and logical in that the physical function domain of NIDDK-QA strongly correlated with the physical component summary score of SF-36 (r = 0.86, P <.01). The overall well-being domain of the NIDDK-QA was closely associated with the mental summary score of SF-36 (r = 0.69, P <.01). Among PBC patients, there was a modest yet significant correlation between the Mayo risk score and overall well-being (r = -0.26, P =.03). In the assessment of QOL in patients with cholestatic liver disease, NIDDK-QA is found reliable and valid. These data, combined with our previous study, demonstrate its applicability in a wide spectrum of disease severity, ranging from early, ambulatory-phase disease to decompensated cirrhosis necessitating liver transplantation.
Optimal information size in trial sequential analysis of time-to-event outcomes reveals potentially inconclusive results because of the risk of random error.

Abstract Objectives The current approach for evaluating the risk of random error in meta-analyses (MAs) using trial sequential analysis (TSA) can accommodate binary and continuous data but not time-to-event data. We conducted a TSA for time-to-event outcomes and applied the method to determine the risk of random error in MAs for treatments of multiple myeloma. Study Design and Setting Literature search identified 11 systematic reviews consisting of 23 MAs. Of the 23 MAs, 13 had overall survival and 10 had progression-free survival as outcome; 48% (11 of 23) reported statistically significant treatment effects. We calculated the optimal a priori diversity–adjusted information size (APDIS) based on the relative risk reduction of 15% and 25%. We also calculated the optimal low-bias information size (LBIS) and low-bias diversity-adjusted information size (LBDIS). Results Overall, under APDIS 15% , 48% (11 of 23) of MAs were false negative (FN) and 17% (4 of 23) of MAs were false positive. Under APDIS 25% , 34% (8 of 23) of MAs were false negative and 4% (1 of 23) of MAs were false positive. LBIS identified 30% (7 of 23) as false negative MAs and 4% (1 of 23) as false positive MAs, whereas LBDIS identified 52% (12 of 23) as false negative MAs and 4% (1 of 23) as false positive MAs. Conclusion The new method demonstrates the possibility of incorporating time-to-event outcomes into TSA and reveals that some MAs have potentially inconclusive results.
The “Second” Season: The Effects of Playoff Tournaments on Competitive Balance Outcomes in the NHL and NBA

Most research on competitive balance (CB) in North American sport leagues examines regular-season outcomes only, and does not analyze the potential impacts of postseason playoff tournaments. This article finds that playoffs do matter in a CB sense, in that they can substantially reconfigure regular-season outcomes. More importantly, they may reconfigure outcomes in a way that is not neutral with respect to payroll. The article finds, for example, that in the NHL over the 1994-2004 time period, team success in the playoffs was much less dependent on payroll than it was during the regular-season. The article also analyzes the differential impacts of the specific type of playoff tournament employed, and finds that the choice of playoff “pooling” structures directly impacts the probability of “upsets” occurring in the playoffs.
Microprocessor based testing for core-based system on chip

The purpose of this paper is to develop a flexible design for test methodology for testing a core-based system on chip (SOC). The novel feature of the approach is the use an embedded microprocessor/memory pair to test the remaining components of the SOC. Test data is downloaded using DMA techniques directly into memory while the microprocessor uses the test data to test the core. The test results are transferred to a MISR for evaluation. The approach has several important advantages over conventional ATPG such as achieving at-speed testing, not limiting the chip speed to the tester speed during test and achieving great flexibility since most of the testing process is based on software. Experimental results on an example system are discussed.
Serum levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in foam recyclers and carpet installers working in the United States.

Increased exposure to the flame retardants known as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) may be expected to occur during the recycling of polyurethane foam containing these chemicals. To date, no studies in the United States have investigated occupational exposure to these flame retardants during recycling processes. The objective of the present study was to determine if individuals working in foam recycling facilities, and/or carpet installers who may install carpet padding manufactured from recycled foam, possess significantly higher PBDE serum levels relative to that of the general U.S. population. As a control group, serum was collected from four spouses and one clerical worker. In addition, levels in workers were also compared to the recently published national health and nutrition examination survey (NHANES) data set on PBDEs in the general U.S. population. Serum samples were collected in duplicate and analyzed by two different laboratories as quality control. Total PBDE levels were found to be si...
Coherent Imaging at 2.4 THz with a CW Quantum Cascade Laser Transmitter

A coherent transceiver using a THz quantum cascade laser as the transmitter and an optically pumped molecular laser as the local oscillator has been used, with a pair of Schottky diode mixers in the receiver and reference channels, to acquire high-resolution images of fully illuminated targets, including scale models. Phase stability of the received signal, sufficient to allow coherent image processing of the rotating target (in azimuth and elevation), was obtained by frequency-locking the TQCL to the free-running, highly stable optically pumped molecular laser. While the range to the target was limited by the available TQCL power (several hundred microwatts) and reasonably strong indoor atmospheric attenuation at 2.408 THz (2.0 dB/m at 40% RH), the coherence length of the QCL transmitter will allow coherent imaging over distances up to several hundred meters. In contrast to non-coherent heterodyne detection, coherent imaging allows signal integration over time intervals considerably longer than the reciprocal of the source, or signal bandwidth, with consequent improvement in the signal-to-noise ratio. Image data obtained with the system will be presented.
German civility? Retying social bonds after barbarism

This essay explores the process of ‘re-civilising’ the Germans after the barbaric crimes of the Nazi dictatorship. After exploring the linguistic resonances of the concept of ‘civility’, it takes a closer look at the exemplary processes of cultural demilitarisation, recovery of politeness, and sensitisation for human rights. The article concludes with some recommendations for further research.
A plasticity theory for porous solids

Abstract A plasticity theory is developed for a solid weakened by numerous cracks or voids. The treatment is completely isotropic and would be suitable whenever the voids are nearly spherical or where the direction of cracks is completely random. Using simple models an explicit representation for a second-order yield surface parameterized by the void fraction is presented. The resulting constitutive law is shown to be of the hypoelastic type and simple examples are treated. An approximate expression for a deformation theory is also discussed.
Flat volume control: improving usability by hiding the volume control hierarchy in the user interface

The hardware-inspired volume user interface model that is in use across all of today's operating systems is the source of several usability issues. One of them is that restoring the volume of a muted application can require an inappropriately long troubleshooting process: in addition to manipulating the application's volume and mute controls, users may also have to visit the system's volume control panel to find and adjust additional controls there. The "flat" volume control model presented in this paper eliminates this and other problems by hiding the hardware-oriented volume model from the user. Using the flat model, users use one slider per application to indicate how loud they want the respective applications to play; the slider then internally adjusts all hardware volume variables necessary to obtain the requested output. By offering a single point of control for each application, the flat model simplifies controlling application volume and restoring muted applications. In our studies, participants completed all four volume control and mixing tasks faster and with less error when using the flat model than when using the existing hardware-oriented volume control model. Participants also indicated a subjective preference for the flat model over the existing model.
Changes in Some Nitrogenous Components During the Germination of Pea Seeds

The changes in major nitrogenous components during the germination of pea seeds have been followed. During the period of rapid axis growth, 3 to 8 days following germination, the nitrogen content of the cotyledons declines rapidly with an accompanying increase of nitrogen in the developing axis. The accumulation of alcohol soluble nitrogen, primarily amino nitrogen, in the cotyledons and axis during germination indicates that the mobilization of nitrogen is facilitated by proteolysis and translocation of the products. Pea cotyledons had an initially high RNA content which declined during germination while axis RNA increased. The increase in axis RNA was greater than the decline in cotyledonary RNA indicating a net nucleic acid synthesis. Thus some of initial nitrogen reserve is interconverted to provide for nucleic acid synthesis. During the depletion of cotyledonary RNA there was no accumulation of nucleotides in the cotyledons, nucleotide content of the axis did, however, increase during the germination period. The DNA content of the axis increased with growth of that organ. There was also an increase in DNA content of the cotyledons during the early stages of germination.
On choices between two-fluid and mixture models for simulation of severe transients in nuclear power plants

Severe transients can lead to severe accidents if the prescribed remedies are not undertaken. Although rare, the severe transients do occur from time to time. Only one of them (the Three Mile Island incident) actually became a severe accident in the United States, partly because the operator training, prior to that incident, was based on simulators which were incapable of dealing with a notion of a water filled pressurizer in conjunction with vapor in the reactor core. A great deal of research and development has, since then, been undertaken by all simulator vendors in the attempt to base the simulation on the laws of nature. Our knowledge of these very complex laws is not complete and, therefore, that effort is still continuing and will continue into the foreseeable future. The purpose of this paper is to briefly comment on the modeling trends for thermohydraulics in existing or planned engineering (or advanced or high fidelity) simulators and on their solution techniques, to indicate the need for further basic research in order to improve reliability of the two-fluid model, and to make a case for application of simpler, mixture-based models in the meantime.
Increased expression of protein kinase A inhibitor α (PKI-α ) and decreased PKA-regulated genes in chronic intermittent alcohol exposure.

Intermittent models of alcohol exposure that mimic human patterns of alcohol consumption produce profound physiological and biochemical changes and induce rapid increases in alcohol self-administration. We used high-density oligonucleotide microarrays to investigate gene expression changes during chronic intermittent alcohol exposure in three brain regions that receive mesocorticolimbic dopaminergic projections and that are believed to be involved in alcohol's reinforcing actions: the medial prefrontal cortex, the nucleus accumbens and the amygdala. An independent replication of the experiment was used for RT-PCR validation of the microarray results. The protein kinase A inhibitor alpha (PKI-alpha, Pkia), a member of the endogenous PKI family implicated in reducing nuclear PKA activity, was found to be increased in all three regions tested. Conversely, we observed a downregulation of the expression of several PKA-regulated transcripts in one or more of the brain regions studied, including the activity and neurotransmitter-regulated early gene (Ania) - 1, -3, -7, -8, the transcription factors Egr1 and NGFI-B (Nr4a1) and the neuropeptide NPY. Reduced expression of PKA-regulated genes in mesocorticolimbic projection areas may have motivational significance in the rapid increase in alcohol self-administration induced by intermittent alcohol exposure.
Cardiotoxicity of doxorubicin and other anthracycline derivatives.

Doxorubicin cardiotoxicity has posed a formidable challenge in the fields of oncology, cardiology, pharmacology, biochemistry, pathology, and molecular biology Whereas development of a noncardiotoxic doxorubicin analogue has eluded scientists so far, careful monitoring of left ventricular ejection fraction with radionuclide angiocardiography during the course of doxorubicin therapy has substantially reduced the incidence and severity of overt congestive heart failure. Use of intracellular iron chelating agents and liposomal doxorubicin have the potential for substantially improving the safety margin of doxorubicin and for allowing the use of higher cumulative doses of doxorubicin. However, the current guidelines for left ventricular ejection fraction monitoring using equilibrium radionuclide angiocardiography should still be followed until a large volume of experience is accumulated with iron chelating agents and liposomal doxorubicin used either alone or in combination.
Poster 14: Earliest Functional Declines in Huntington's Disease

Objective Declines in functional skills are observed in patients with Huntington's disease (HD) and have both clinical and research implications. However, the specific areas of early decline have not been investigated. We sought to determine which skill domains weaken most frequently in patients prior to formal diagnosis, as well as the clinical correlates of these early declines. Methods Using a large cohort of prediagnosed patients (i.e., DCL Results Occupational decline was the most frequently reported decline, with 30.10% (TFC) and 26.32% (FAS) of patients reporting some loss of ability to engage in their typical work. Inability to manage finances (TFC 21.87%, FAS 17.42%) and inability to drive safely (FAS 16.24%) were other common functional declines. A minority of patients with DCL = 0 or 1 reported functional decline (TFC 15.84%, FAS 14.26%); however, a majority of those with a DCL = 2 reported functional decline (TFC 77.54%, FAS 71.03%). The most common functional declines showed relationships with motor functioning, cognitive tests, and depression in a multivariate analysis where all 3 factors were considered simultaneously. Conclusions Our analysis of the TFC and FAS provides additional clues as to the earliest functional losses in patients at risk for HD. Fruitful areas for expanded assessment of functional status are performance at work, ability to manage finances, and driving changes. Additionally, existing functional measures may have limited utility when detecting changes in patients with no or minimal motor signs.
Scalable large format 3D displays

We present a general framework for the modeling and optimization of scalable large format 3-D displays using multiple projectors. Based on this framework, we derive algorithms that can robustly optimize the visual quality of an arbitrary combination of projectors (e.g. tiled, superimposed, combinations of the two) without manual adjustment. The framework creates for the first time a new unified paradigm that is agnostic to a particular configuration of projectors yet robustly optimizes for the brightness, contrast, and resolution of that configuration. In addition, we demonstrate that our algorithms support high resolution stereoscopic video at real-time interactive frame rates achieved on commodity graphics hardware. Through complementary polarization, the framework creates high quality multi-projector 3-D displays at low hardware and operational cost for a variety of applications including digital cinema, visualization, and command-and-control walls.
Electron-impact ionization of atoms in high-temperature dense plasmas

Electron-impact ionization cross sections for atoms in high-temperature dense plasmas are calculated in a configuration-average distorted-wave method. For those conditions in which the Coulomb coupling parameter is small, we use the Debye-H\"uckel potential to screen the projectile electron from the nucleus and target electrons. Ionization cross sections are calculated for both ${\text{Ne}}^{4+}$ and ${\text{Au}}^{47+}$ at high temperatures and various electron densities up to $1.0\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{25}\text{ }{\text{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$. In general we find that as the density increases, the ionization cross section decreases at all incident energies. We also find that as the charge on the atomic ion becomes larger, the relative density effect becomes smaller.
X-Ray Beam Filtration For Mammography

The characteristic lines of molybdenum-anode x-ray tubes yield high contrast images on film of thin breasts. For thicker breasts, the higher spectral energies are transmitted and the lower energies are mostly absorbed, resulting in higher patient exposure and reduced contrast. However, filters from rhodium (Z=45) to tin (Z=50) can be used to shape the energy distribution of tungsten-anode tubes to improve contrast and reduce patient exposure. Measured spectra and phantom test data are described.
A vinyl sulfone-mediated diels-alder approach to the fully regiocontrolled elaboration of 4,5-disubstituted 2- and 3-cyclohexenones

Abstract Reported here is a scheme which enables one to prepare independently 4,5-disubstituted 2- or 3-cyclohexenones where the nature of the pendant sidechains can be widely varied.
Detecting changes in human cerebral blood flow after acute exercise using arterial spin labeling: implications for fMRI

The use of arterial spin labeling to measure cerebral blood flow (CBF) after acute exercise has not been reported. The aims of this study were to examine: (1) the optimal inversion time to detect changes in CBF after acute exercise and (2) if acute exercise alters CBF in the motor cortex at rest or during finger-tapping. Subjects (n=5) performed 30 min of moderate intensity exercise on an electronically braked cycle ergometer (perceived exertion 'somewhat hard'). Before and after exercise, relative CBF was measured using multiple inversion time (TI) pulsed arterial spin labeling (PASL). Two multiple TI runs were obtained at rest and during 4 Hz finger-tapping. Four inversion times (675, 975, 1275, and 1,575 ms) were acquired per run, with 20 interleaved pairs of tag and control images per inversion time (320 s run). The results indicated that global CBF increased approximately 20% following exercise, with significant differences observed at an inversion time of 1,575 ms (p<.05). Finger-tapping induced CBF in the motor cortex significantly increased from before to after exercise at TI=1,575 ms (p<.01). These findings suggest changes in human cerebral blood flow that result from acute moderate intensity exercise can be detected afterwards using PASL at 3T with an inversion time of 1,575 ms. The effect of prior acute exercise to increase motor cortex CBF during the performance of a motor task suggests future use of indices of functional activation should account for exercise-induced changes in cardio-pulmonary physiology and CBF.
The structure of the electrical double layer in the presence of adsorbed aliphatic molecules

On the model of the electrical double layer previously proposed by the author, equations are derived for the differential capacity of the metal/electrolyte interface in the presence of organic molecules. It is shown that the equations apply even when ions are specifically adsorbed. A method of calculating the amount of adsorption of the organic species from differential capacity data is outlined and applied to published results for thiourea at the mercury aqueous sodium fluoride interface. It is shown that the results are in good agreement with thermodynamic data. From the calculated adsorption data it is shown that thiourea obeys a virial equation of state but that lateral electrostatic forces are probably negligible except at high coverage. The free energy of adsorption as a function of charge has been evaluated and shown to consist of an electrostatic term and a chemical term which decreases as the electron density of the mercury surface decreases.
Quaternary aminostratigraphy of Mississippi Valley loess

Five Pleistocene loess units in the Mississippi Valley that contain terrestrial gastropod fossils are differentiated by amino acid ratios (aIle/Ile values) in the total acid hydrolysate of the fossil terrestrial gastropods Hendersonia occulta , Catinella and Succinea . Late Wisconsin Peoria Loess, which has been independently dated by radiocarbon and thermoluminescence methods, is identified by alle/Ile values in fossil gastropods which progressively increase from northern Illinois to southern Louisiana. Early(?) to middle Wisconsin Roxana Silt is characterized by alle/Ile values in Hendersonia only slightly greater, and values in Catinella and Succinea distinctly greater than those of the Peoria Loess. AIIe/Ile values in Hendersonia suggest that the "Chinatown silt" (informal term) in Illinois and the Loveland Silt in Arkansas are the same age. Independent geologic evidence suggests that they predate the Sangamon (last interglacial). AIle/Ile values in Hendersonia from the "Sicily Island loess" (informal term) in Louisiana indicate that it is significantly older than the Loveland Silt and the "Chinatown silt". The oldest loess unit recognized by alle/Ile values in Hendersonia from the Mississippi Valley is the "County Line silt" (informal term) in Illinois. The study shows that amino acid ratios in fossil gastropods from loess are an extremely valuable relative-age indicator and provide a means of long-distance correlation of midcontinent loess deposits.
I, me, and mine—how products become consumers' extended selves

Consumer research literature has recognized the consumers' use of products and brands as props to their self-identity. While this literature has illuminated that products indeed serve to extend one's sense of self, the concept of ‘self’ itself is under-identified. In this conceptual essay, we propose a set of components that make up one's sense of self. Then we identify processes through which possessions become associated with one's identity or self-concept. We suggest the utility of using the proposed framework in practice for consumers' self-concept profiles, and for linking brands to appropriate components of ‘self.’ Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Longitudinal course of panic disorder with and without agoraphobia using the national epidemiologic survey on alcohol and related conditions (NESARC)

Few naturalistic, longitudinal studies of panic disorder with and without agoraphobia (PD/PDA) exist, limiting our knowledge of the temporal rates of incidence, relapse, and chronicity, or the factors that predict category transition. Data from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC) wave 1 (n=43,093) and wave 2 (n=34,653) were utilized to determine transitional rates, and predictors of category transitions, over a 3-year period. Analyses revealed very high 3-year remission rates for PD and PDA (75% and 67%, respectively), although relapse also was relatively frequent (PD=12%; PDA=21%). Logistic regression revealed previous history of panic attacks, generalized anxiety disorder/major depression (GAD/MDD), nicotine dependence, female sex, younger age, and major financial crises to be reliable predictors of incidence and relapse. The direction and magnitude of association of many predictor variables were similar for PD and PDA, with notable exceptions for social anxiety and romantic relationship factors. Clinicians should be aware of the relapsing-remitting nature of PD and PDA and, thus, take caution to not reduce or eliminate effective treatments prematurely. Similarly, the current study suggests clinicians pay particular attention to concurrent factors relevant to relapse in PD/PDA that may also be clinically addressed (e.g., co-morbid MDD/GAD and nicotine dependence).
Habitat requirements of the seabird tick, Ixodes uriae (Acari: Ixodidae), from the Antarctic Peninsula in relation to water balance characteristics of eggs, nonfed and engorged stages

The seabird tick Ixodes uriae is exposed to extreme environmental conditions during the off-host phase of its life cycle on the Antarctic Peninsula. To investigate how this tick resists desiccation, water requirements of each developmental stage were determined. Features of I. uriae water balance include a high percentage body water content, low dehydration tolerance limit, and a high water loss rate, which are characteristics that classify this tick as hydrophilic. Like other ticks, I. uriae relies on water vapor uptake as an unfed larva and enhanced water retention in the adult, while nymphs are intermediate and exploit both strategies. Stages that do not absorb water vapor, eggs, fed larvae and fed nymphs, rely on water conservation. Other noteworthy features include heat sensitivity that promotes water loss in eggs and unfed larvae, an inability to drink free water from droplets, and behavioral regulation of water loss by formation of clusters. We conclude that I. uriae is adapted for life in a moisture-rich environment, and this requirement is met by clustering in moist, hydrating, microhabitats under rocks and debris that contain moisture levels that are higher than the tick's critical equilibrium activity.
Non-linear buckling analysis of tapered curved composite plates based on a simplified methodology

Abstract Very large number of load steps is required to determine the buckling load based on the non-linear analysis in which the stability limit load is calculated from the non-linear load–deflection curve. In the present work, a simplified methodology is developed to predict the stability limit load that requires the consideration of only two load steps. The stability limit loads of the tapered curved plates are calculated using this methodology. Based on the first-ply failure analysis and the simplified non-linear buckling analysis, the critical sizes and parameters of the tapered curved plates that will not fail before global buckling are determined. The stability limit loads calculated using the present simplified methodology are shown to have good agreement with that calculated based on the non-linear load–deflection curve using the conventional non-linear buckling analysis methodology.
Heterotopic ossification: a review

Heterotopic ossification is the formation of bone in the soft tissues. Soft tissue bone deposition may range from the minimal and inconsequential to massive and clinically significant. In some clinical settings it is a predictable finding with an unpredictable course and in other settings it may be diagnostically confounding. Heterotopic ossification may be encountered in clinically disparate disease processes and circumstances. We review the genetic, neurogenic, post-traumatic, post-surgical and “reactive” causes of heterotopic ossification and discuss some current concepts of its pathogenesis.
Qualitative Research in Career Development: Exploring the Center and Margins of Discourse About Careers and Working

This article explores the contributions of qualitative research to the study of career development and the psychology of working. Epistemological perspectives (logical positivism, postpositivism, and social constructionism) are discussed as they relate to historical context, career theories, and the various methods used within qualitative research. Prevailing qualitative methods within career development and the psychology of working, such as consensual qualitative research, grounded theory, and narrative analysis, are reviewed. The article examines exemplary lines of qualitative research on women’s achievements, school-to-work transitions, work and relationships, and the constructions of school and work. Finally, the article concludes with an example of an assessment tool that is derived from research on constructions of work and school.
The origin of language as a product of the evolution of double-scope blending

Meaning construction through language requires advanced mental operations also necessary for other higher-order, specifically human behaviors. Biological evolution slowly improved conceptual mapping capacities until human beings reached the level of double-scope blending, perhaps 50 to 80 thousand years ago, at which point language, along with other higher-order human behaviors, became possible. Languages are optimized to be driven by the principles and powers of double-scope blending.
Modeling the Cross Section of Stock Returns: A Model Pooling Approach

Model selection, i.e., the choice of an asset pricing model to the exclusion of competing models, is an inherently misguided strategy when the true model is unavailable to the researcher. This paper illustrates the advantages of a model pooling approach in characterizing the cross section of stock returns. The optimal pool combines models using the log predictive score criterion, a measure of the out-of-sample performance of each model, and consistently outperforms the best individual model. The bene fits to model pooling are most pronounced during periods of economic stress and it is a valuable tool for asset allocation decisions.
High-bit-rate soliton transmission using distributed amplification and dispersion management

We show through numerical simulations that the use of distributed amplification together with dispersion management can permit single-channel speeds of 40 Gb/s over transoceanic distances while maintaining 100-km spacing between pumping stations. We achieve this performance by using a bidirectional pumping scheme and optimizing the dopant density such that the peak-power variations over each fiber span remain below 0.4 dB. The required pump power is less than 80 mW for a dopant density of 200 ions//spl mu/m/sup 3/.
Morris, Michael H., Kuratko, Donald F., and Cornwall, Jeffrey R. Entrepreneurship Programs and the Modern University

In this text, the authors argue that the study of entrepreneurship should become the centerpiece of the core purpose of today's university. To Morris, Kuratko, and Cornwall, entrepreneurship is eme...
Development of a Solid-Oxide Fuel Cell/Gas Turbine Hybrid System Model for Aerospace Applications

Recent interest in fuel cell-gas turbine hybrid applications for the aerospace industry has led to the need for accurate computer simulation models to aid in system design and performance evaluation. To meet this requirement, solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) and fuel processor models have been developed and incorporated into the Numerical Propulsion Systems Simulation (NPSS) software package. The SOFC and reformer models solve systems of equations governing steady-state performance using common theoretical and semi-empirical terms. An example hybrid configuration is presented that demonstrates the new capability as well as the interaction with pre-existing gas turbine and heat exchanger models. Finally, a comparison of calculated SOFC performance with experimental data is presented to demonstrate model validity. Keywords: Solid Oxide Fuel Cell, Reformer, System Model, Aerospace, Hybrid System, NPSS
Safe Laboratory Techniques

Research with disease-producing microorganisms has always presented hazards for the unwary. In the late nineteenth century, as the relationship between microorganisms and human diseases began to be understood, the scientists who were studying microorganisms that had been isolated from disease victims sometimes also became victims of the same disease. For example, in 1884, typhoid bacilli were first isolated and less than a year later the first case of laboratory-acquired typhoid fever occurred. 1884 was also the year that the famous German bacteriologist, Robert Koch, first isolated the etiologic agent of cholera, and in 1886 a laboratory-acquired cholera infection was reported, presumably the result of a pipetting accident, probably aspiration. Three years later, in 1889, the tetanus bacillus was isolated and four years after that, a syringe- and-needle accident resulted in a tetanus infection in a laboratory worker. Other laboratory-acquired infections involving pipets and syringes and needles occurred with the agents of diphtheria, glanders, and brucellosis during 1897 and 1898. In fact, the history of microbiology is replete with stories of medical martyrs who, in the absence of knowledge of the extreme hazards of the organisms they studied, both deliberately or accidentally became infected and died of laboratory-acquired disease. Working with agents of such deadly diseases eventually taught research workers the proper techniques necessary for handling hazardous agents, and these techniques are now among the fundamental skills that every worker in a biomedical laboratory must learn.
A novel lipid natriuretic factor in the renal medulla: sphingosine-1-phosphate

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a bioactive sphingolipid metabolite formed by phosphorylation of sphingosine. S1P has been indicated to play a significant role in the cardiovascular system. It has been shown that the enzymes for S1P metabolism are expressed in the kidneys. The present study characterized the expression of S1P receptors in the kidneys and determined the role of S1P in the control of renal hemodynamics and sodium excretion. Real-time RT-PCR analyses showed that S1P receptors S1P1, S1P2, and S1P3 were most abundantly expressed in the renal medulla. Immunohistochemistry revealed that all three types of S1P receptors were mainly located in collecting ducts. Intramedullary infusion of FTY720, an S1P agonist, produced a dramatic increase in sodium excretion by twofold and a small but significant increase in medullary blood flow (16%). Administration of W146, an S1P1 antagonist, into the renal medulla blocked the effect of FTY720 and decreased the sodium excretion by 37% when infused alone. The antagonists of S1P2 and S1P3 had no effect. FTY720 produced additive natriuretic effects in combination with different sodium transporter inhibitors except amiloride, an epithelial sodium channel blocker. In the presence of nitric oxide synthase inhibitor l-NAME, FTY720 still increased sodium excretion. These data suggest that S1P produces natriuretic effects via activation of S1P1 in the renal medulla and this natriuretic effect may be through inhibition of epithelial sodium channel, which is nitric oxide independent. It is concluded that S1P is a novel diuretic factor in the renal medulla and may be an important regulator of sodium homeostasis.
Empirical Orthogonal Function Analysis of Satellite-Observed Outgoing Longwave Radiation During Summer

Abstract Some of the characteristic features of the Asiatic summer monsoon were investigated using outgoing longwave radiation data obtained from NOAA polar orbiting satellites during the summer mouths in 1974–77. Monthly mean outgoing longwave radiation patterns clearly reflect pronounced monsoon activity over the India-Southeast Asian and Philippines-western North Pacific regions. Between these two regions, values of outgoing longwave radiation are relatively high and indicate less pronounced monsoon activity over the South China Sea along about 110°E. Empirical orthogonal function analysis was applied to identify the major modes of intraseasonal oscillations present in outgoing longwave radiation data during the summer. Spectral analyses of the amplitude functions for the four largest eigenvectors exhibit marked peaks in a period range of about 20–30 days. The first four eigenvector patterns were examined to investigate the zonal and meridional phase propagation of 20–30 day perturbations. Zonal phase ...
The European Social Charter as a Means of Protecting Fundamental Economic and Social Rights in Europe: Relevant or Redundant?

When the European Social Charter (ESC) was adopted by the Council of Europe (COE) in 1961, it was envisioned to provide the backbone and framework for the protection of fundamental economic and social rights in Europe. In the spirit of recognizing the indivisibility between civil and political rights and economic and social rights, the drafters of the ESC viewed it as the necessary counterpart to the rights protected under the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR), adopted ten years earlier in 1950. However, in practice, the ESC has been largely marginalized in the protection of economic and social rights, and has failed to elevate its status to equal footing with the ECHR; as Philip Alston accurately describes it, the ESC turned out to be the “poor little step-sister” of the ECHR. While this hierarchy of rights is generally reflective of the situation around the world, it is interesting to note that in the context of Europe, the peripheral status of the ESC is not solely caused by the often-advanced arguments of the programmatic nature of such rights and the debate surrounding their justiciability. As this paper will demonstrate, economic and social rights are being promoted, protected and enforced in Europe, but not primarily under the rubric of the ESC. With Europe increasingly looking to formulate a common “European social policy” the question therefore remains, what is the role and relevance of the ESC?The purpose of this paper is to investigate the reasons for the marginalization of the ESC in the protection of economic and social rights in Europe. This paper will argue that there are a number of internal problems inherent with the structure of the ESC and external factors, including the extension of European Union law and institutions into the realm of economic and social rights and the widening jurisprudence of the European Court on Human Rights (ECtHR), which have largely usurped much of the ESC’s role. The result is a fragmented approach to the protection of economic and social rights in Europe. In light of this, the future of the ESC is not doomed. This paper will highlight the ESC’s comparative strengths and will argue that with reform and increased coordination with other institutions, it still has an important role within the European framework of economic and social rights.
Quantifying the role of inhibition in associative long-term potentiation in dentate granule cells with computational models.

Holmes, William R. and William B. Levy. Quantifying the role of inhibition in associative long-term potentiation in dentate granule cells with computational models. J. Neurophysiol. 78: 103–116, 19...
A GENERALIZED DYNAMIC AERODYNAMIC COEFFICIENT MODEL FOR FLIGHT DYNAMICS APPLICATIONS

A generalized dynamic aerodynamic coefficient model to represent the effect of unsteady aerodynamics for aircraft is presented in this paper. The model is of the nonlinear algebraic form with the coefficients being functions of frequency and determined from a set of large amplitude oscillatory experimental data by using least-squares fitting. In applications, a general dynamic motion at any instant is modelled by an equivalent harmonic motion with an appropriate frequency. The resulting model is a generalization of the conventional dynamic derivatives with the values of the latter being now dependent on the motion. To verify this model, expressions for lift, drag and pitching moment coefficients of an F-18 HARV configuration are generated with one set of large-amplitu de harmonic oscillatory data. The computed results from these models are compared with good agreement to other sets of data in harmonic oscillation with a smaller amplitude and in constant pitch-rate motions. These models are also used in bifurcation analysis and control study for the same F-18 HARV configuration. The results show significant differences in the equilibrium surfaces and dynamic stability. It is also shown that control gains developed with the conventional quasi-steady aerodynamic data may not be adequate when the effect of unsteady aerodynamics is significant.
Excited States and Reduced and Oxidized Forms of C76(D2) and C78(C2v

The singlet and triplet excited state properties of C76(D2) and C78(C2v‘) have been investigated using picosecond laser flash photolysis and pulse radiolysis. Both C76 and C78 are weakly fluorescent as they undergo internal nonradiative conversion and intersystem crossing to generate a triplet excited state. Unlike their predecessor, C60, the excited larger fullerenes have structured spectral bands in the visible/NIR region. The triplet excited states of C76 and C78 were also generated independently by energy transfer from triplet excited biphenyl with a diffusion-controlled rate (ket ≈ 1 × 1010 s-1). These larger fullerenes readily undergo one-electron reduction and oxidation by reacting with radiolytically generated (CH3)2•C(OH) and (CH2Cl2)•+ radicals. The absorption features of excited states and chemical reactivity of C76 and C78 are compared with those of C60, C70, and C84. The characterization of radical anions of these larger fullerenes is also made with complementary reduction experiments with UV...
Well Thickness And Doping Effects, And Room Temperature emission mechanisms in InGaN/GaN And GaN/AlGaN Multiple Quantum Wells

Effects of well thickness and Si-doping on the photoluminescence (PL) emission properties of GaN/AlxGa1-xN (x ~ 0.07) and InxGa1-xN/GaN (x ~ 0.15–0.2) multiple quantum wells (MQWs) grown both by MOCVD and reactive MBE have been studied. The room temperature emission mechanisms have also been addressed.
Assistance in the palm of your hand. Portable technology can free physicians from billing and coding chains.

Problem Paper-based billing system required unmanageable amount of paper, time and work. Solution Integration of handheld devices with ASP-based charge capture service. Results Increased accuracy in billing information, reduced incidence of denied claims, faster reimbursement, more accurate view of financial status. Keys to success The technology's ease of use, varied capabilities and early benefits.