cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Onset time of fog collection

Fog collection is a promising solution to the worldwide water scarcity problem and is also of vital importance to industrial processes, such as recapturing water in cooling towers and mist elimination. To date, numerous studies have investigated the fog collection rate, a parameter that denotes the average performance over a long period of time. However, the initial period (referred to as onset time) between the start of the fog-laden flow and the actual collection of the captured liquid (a delay in time caused by droplet growth to a critical weight that exceeds droplet-surface retention force) has not been systematically understood. A longer onset time may result in a more serious clogging issue that deteriorates the collection rate and, hence, understanding this phenomenon is important. Here, we study how the onset time is determined by the capture and transport of fog using individual, vertical wires with various surface wettabilities and diameters, under different wind speeds. This approach allows us to derive a scaling law that correlates the onset time with the fog capture process and droplet-surface retention force, governed by aerodynamics and interfacial phenomena, respectively. In particular, the onset time decreases with an increasing rate of fog capture or a decreasing droplet-surface retention force. This study introduces an important aspect in the evaluation of fog collection and provides insights for the optimal design of fog collectors and mist eliminators.
A supragranular nexus for the effects of neocortical beta events on human tactile perception

Abstract Transient neocortical events with high spectral power in the 15–29Hz beta band are among the most reliable predictors of sensory perception: High prestimulus beta event rates in primary somatosensory lead to sensory suppression, most effective at 100–300ms prestimulus latency. However, the synaptic and neuronal mechanisms inducing beta’s perceptual effects have not been completely localized. We combined human MEG with neural modeling designed to account for these macroscale signals to interpret the cellular and circuit mechanisms that underlie the influence of beta on tactile detection. Extending prior studies, we modeled the hypothesis that higher-order thalamic bursts, sufficient for beta event generation in cortex, recruit supragranular GABAB inhibition acting on a 300ms time scale to suppress sensory information. Consistency between model and MEG data supported this hypothesis and led to a further prediction, validated in our data, that stimuli are perceived when beta events occur simultaneously with tactile stimulation. The post-event suppressive mechanism explains an array of studies that associate beta with decreased processing, while the during-event mechanism may demand a reinterpretation of the role of beta events in the context of coincident timing. Significance statement Somatosensory beta events – transient 15-29Hz oscillations in electromagnetic recordings – are thought to be generated when “top-down” bursts of spikes presumably originating in higher-order thalamus arrive in upper layers of somatosensory cortex. Physiological evidence had shown that the immediate action of these top-down projections should be excitatory; however, after a beta event, sensory perception is noticeably inhibited for approximately 300ms. The source of this post-event sensory suppression, in particular, had been unresolved. Using a detailed computational model of somatosensory cortex, we find evidence for the hypothesis that these bursts couple indirectly to GABAB inhibition in upper layers of cortex, and that beta events first briefly disinhibit sensory relay before a longer period of inhibition.
Embodied Learning: Somatically Informed Instructional Design

Wearable technology is moving closer to and even into human bodies, effectively rendering it invisible. Coined by Weiser as Invisible Computing, wearable technologies now “weave themselves into the fabric of everyday life until they are indistinguishable from it.” While technologies may appear invisible to the naked eye and continue to demand less of our visual attention, our understanding of the world is created not just through our eyes but through our multisensory, corporeal experiences. Therefore, the movement of technologies from our hands onto our skin should, but often does not, account for broader, felt experiences. Entering into the wearable technology design field as a professional dance and somatic practitioner, I place somatically informed practices at the center of the wearable technology design process. This is made possible by handmade rapid prototyping wearable technology bands I designed specifically for pedagogical use. In this chapter, I share my curricular model for engaging somatically informed practices in wearable technology design. More specifically, I provide a brief overview of the field of somatic practices, describe my curricular design methods, and discuss my in-class experiences teaching the curriculum.
Low Temperature Seawater Effects on the Mechanical, Fracture, and Dynamic Behavior of E-Glass and Carbon Fiber Laminates

The mechanical behavior of E-Glass/Epoxy and Carbon Fiber/Epoxy laminates when exposed to low temperature and prolonged submergence operating environments has been investigated through a detailed experimental study. The temperature range which was studied consisted of room temperature (20 °C) to −2 °C, the lowest temperature expected in a submerged ocean environment. Mechanical characterization of each material has been conducted through tensile, compression and short beam shear testing. Additionally, the influence of temperature on the Mode I fracture performance of these laminates was evaluated through Double Cantilever Beam (DCB) tests. Furthermore, a Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer (DMA) was employed to evaluate the structural behavior of these laminates under a range of frequency loading and temperatures. A transition between a matrix-dominated to laminate-dominated responses as functions of strain rate were identified. The current study has resulted in the mechanical characterization of E-Glass/Epoxy and Carbon Fiber/Epoxy laminates as a function of temperature ranging from room temperature to low temperature sea water conditions. The experimental results show a dependence on the static, fracture, and dynamic properties of these laminates.
Transrectal Subharmonic Ultrasound Imaging for Prostate Cancer Detection.

Abstract OBJECTIVE To assess the prostate cancer (CaP) detection rates of contrast-enhanced, transrectal subharmonic ultrasound imaging (SHI). MATERIALS AND METHODS This IRB-approved study enrolled 55 subjects. The initial 5 subjects were studied for SHI optimization, while the remaining 50 were evaluated with contrast-enhanced sonography using continuous SHI, color, and power Doppler as well as conventional grayscale, continuous color, and power Doppler and SHI combined with maximum flash replenishment. A maximum of 6 directed biopsy cores were obtained from sites of greatest asymmetrical enhancement, followed by spatially distributed cores in a double sextant distribution. Subharmonic time-intensity parameters, including time to peak intensity, peak intensity, and estimated perfusion were also evaluated for each directed biopsy core. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis and conditional logistic regression were employed to assess the benefit of each modality and the quantitative SHI parameters. RESULTS Cancer was detected in 22 of 50 subjects. Among subjects with clinically significant CaP (n = 11), targeted cores were more likely to be positive (odds ratio 1.39, P = .02). The majority of patients detected by SHI demonstrated significant CaP (5/8); SHI remained an independent marker of malignancy in a multivariate logistic regression model (P = .027). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis of imaging findings compared to biopsy results yielded diagnostic accuracies ranging from 0.59 to 0.80 for all imaging modalities with the highest being for quantitative subharmonic perfusion estimates. CONCLUSION This first-in-humans study provides a preliminary estimate of the diagnostic accuracy of SHI for detection of clinically significant CaP (up to 80%).
Empathy and the Liberal-Conservative Political Divide in the U.S.

When future historians look back upon the current political climate in the U.S., it is likely that they will view the severe state of political polarization between liberals and conservatives as being one of its defining characteristics. While some have suggested that a difference in general levels of empathy among liberals and conservatives could be playing a role in shaping their differing political attitudes, psychologist Paul Bloom has forcefully argued against any such difference in his book “Against Empathy”. In this commentary I set out to counter Bloom’s claim that there is no significant relationship between the capacity to experience empathy and political ideology. To this end, I discuss how a growing collection of empirical research indicates that an individual’s propensity to experience empathy correlates with one’s general political attitudes (including party affiliation) as well as with which specific policy positions one takes. More specifically, this research suggests that a strong connection exists between empathy and liberal political views. In light of this research, I suggest that empathy can help account for the differences in political attitudes among liberals and conservatives in the U.S. and may even help explain why such attitudes have become increasingly polarized. The analysis provided in this essay aims to further our understanding of how personality traits can be used to predict voter attitudes in the U.S. and beyond.
Research on application of intelligent assistant decision-making in the five-level triage of pediatric emergency department

Objective To explore the application effect of intelligent assistant decision-making in the five-level triage of pediatric emergency department. Methods The patients treated in the pediatric emergency department of Xiamen Children′s Hospital using the intelligent assistant decision-making system were divided into two groups before and after one month.In March 2018, 17 900 cases were in the traditional group, and in April 2018, 18 590 cases were in the intelligent group.The traditional group conducted manual triage according to the five-level pre-screening and triage standard.The intelligent group conducted triage based on the self-developed intelligent assistant decision-making system.Intelligent assistant decision-making included automatic identification of whether vital signs data was abnormal and automatic provision of basis for triage level to help nurses confirm two major functions.The patients′ information were collected according to the established content, and the system would automatically identify and present according to the corresponding triage basis to determine the triage level.The two groups of children were compared and analyzed in terms of disease distribution, triage level, triage accuracy.The clinical application effect of the emergency pediatric pre-check triage system was evaluated. Results There was no significant difference in disease distribution between the two groups.The top three were respiratory diseases, infectious diseases and digestive diseases.In the comparison of waiting time between the two groups, the waiting time of grade Ⅲ, Ⅳ and Ⅴ patients in the intelligent group was shorter than that in the traditional group, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The consistency of triage grade in the intelligent group was higher than that in the traditional group.The family satisfaction of children in the intelligent group of Ⅲ, Ⅳ, and Ⅴ grade was higher than that in the traditional group. Conclusion The application of intelligent assistant decision-making could improve the efficiency and accuracy of the pre-examination of the nurses, ensure the effectiveness of the triage and the safety of the children, and improve the satisfaction of family members. Key words: Pediatric emergency; Pre-examination triage; Assisted decision
Abstract 5010: Targeting of AKT pathway inhibit high-risk neuroblastoma growth

High-risk neuroblastoma (NB) represents a major clinical challenge in pediatric oncology. Despite intensive genotoxic therapies, long-term survival for NB patients remains poor ( Citation Format: Rameswari Chilamakuri, Saurabh Agarwal. Targeting of AKT pathway inhibit high-risk neuroblastoma growth [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 5010.
Imaging 0.36 nm Lattice Planes in Conjugated Polymers by Minimizing Beam Damage

Transmission electron microscopy can resolve the atomic structure of materials with 0.5 A resolution. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) of soft materials, however, is limited...
Transcriptome analysis reveals disruption of circadian rhythms in late gestation dairy cows may increase risk for fatty liver and reduced mammary remodeling.

Circadian disruption increased insulin resistance and decreased mammary development in late gestation, nonlactating (dry) cows. The objective was to measure the effect of circadian disruption on tr...
Ensemble Learning for Early Identification of Students at Risk from Online Learning Platforms

Online learning platforms have made knowledge easily and readily accessible for people, yet the ratio of students withdrawing or failing a course is relatively high compared to in-class learning as students do not get enough attention from the instructors. We propose an ensemble learning framework for the early identification of students who are at risk of dropping or failing a course. The framework fuses student demographics, assessment results, and daily activities as the total learning statistics and considers the slicing of data with regard to timestamp. A stacking ensemble classifier is then built upon eight base machine learning classification algorithms. Results show that the proposed model outperforms the base classifiers. The framework enables the early identification of possible failures at the half of a course with 85% accuracy; with full data incorporated, an accuracy of 94.5% is achieved. The framework shows great promise for instructors and online platforms to design interventions before it is too late to help students to pass their courses.
Noninvasive Field-Scale Characterization of Gaseous-Phase Methane Dynamics in Peatlands using the Ground-Penetrating Radar Method

Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is a promising technology for investigating methane cycling in peatlands over a wide range of spatial scales. Unlike most commonly applied techniques that seek to ascertain information on the vertical distribution of peat structure and/or gas content, GPR can be employed entirely noninvasively with minimal disruption to the in situ gas regime. We discuss the following applications of the GPR method in peatlands research: (1) imaging the lateral continuity of confining layers that may permit free-phase gas (FPG) accumulation and regulate methane emissions; (2) estimation of vertical profiles of FPG content using surface and cross-hole measurements; and (3) noninvasive temporal monitoring of FPG production and emissions from a peat column. We present new GPR results that demonstrate how 1-D velocity profiles from the glacial Lake Agassiz peatland (GLAP) complex support the suggestion of accumulation of FPG below confining layers at 3-4 m depth. Using cross-borehole GPR data collected from a peatland in Maine, we show how GPR tomography (previously unapplied in peatlands) can image the spatial distribution of FPG content in Caribou Bog, with minimal invasiveness. We also present results of 3-D surface reflection amplitude analysis suggesting that reflection amplitudes, in addition to travel times, may yield insights into changes in methane production and emissions (e.g., via ebullition) from peat soils. We finish by discussing limitations of the technique (e.g., petrophysical conversion) and recommendations for further research to improve the application of this technology in studies of methane cycling in northern peatlands.
Allelic exclusion of immunoglobulin genes: models and mechanisms

The allelic exclusion of immunoglobulin (Ig) genes is one of the most evolutionarily conserved features of the adaptive immune system and underlies the monospecificity of B cells. While much has been learned about how Ig allelic exclusion is established during B-cell development, the relevance of monospecificity to B-cell function remains enigmatic. Here, we review the theoretical models that have been proposed to explain the establishment of Ig allelic exclusion and focus on the molecular mechanisms utilized by developing B cells to ensure the monoallelic expression of Igκ and Igλ light chain genes. We also discuss the physiological consequences of Ig allelic exclusion and speculate on the importance of monospecificity of B cells for immune recognition.
Moderating Role of Relationship Quality on the Link between Restaurant Experiences and Customer Loyalty for the Market of Mature Customers

This study examines whether or not the relationship quality moderates effects of restaurant experiences on customer loyalty, specifically for the segment of full-service restaurants and mature customers. Using a series of (moderated hierarchical) regression analyses, the hypotheses of this study were tested based on respondents from 208 general U.S. full-service restaurant mature customers. The findings support a moderating role of relationship quality on effects of several items: atmospherics, service quality, food quality, price fairness, and brand image that represent experiences at restaurants. The study discusses implications for academic researchers and managers of restaurants.
Computational Continuum Mechanics

1. Introduction 2. Kinematics 3. Forces and stresses 4. Constitutive equations 5. Plasticity formulations 6. Finite element formulation: large deformation, large rotation problem 7. Finite element formulation: small deformation, large rotation problem.
Space platforms and autonomy

Potential applications for autonomous space platforms (SP) are discussed. The platforms are assumed to have long in-service lifetimes and therefore be flexible as to configuration modification and payload changeout. Higher degrees of autonomy, particularly from ground control, are made possible because of the rapid increase of microprocessor power and artificial intelligence advances. Functioning independently, the platforms are to rely only on periodic refurbishment visits by, e.g., the Orbiter. The Manned Space Station (MSS) will be the most complex structure, involving multifacted man-machine interfaces. The SP can be subsystems of the MSS (or other platforms), handling communications enunciation, data acquisition, analysis and telemetry, fault detection and isolation, systems monitoring and control, etc. The SP adopted will depend in all cases on costs vs benefits analyses to determine the worth of removing the function(s) from direct, regular human intervention.
The current status of prostaglandins as abortifacients.

Abstract The present use and potential uses of prostaglandins as abortifacients are summarized. Pertinent history, chemistry, prostaglandins' possible role in physiologic and pathologic processes and pharmacologic actions are discussed. The results of natural prostaglandins and their analogues by systemic and intrauterine administration for the purposes of postcoital contraception, menstrual regulation, first- and second-trimester abortion, preoperative dilatation of the cervix, and delivery of patients with death in utero are presented. The only approved method of induction of abortion with prostaglandins, prostaglandin F 2 α by the intra-amniotic route for the induction of midtrimester abortion, is evaluated and compared to other methods of midtrimester abortion. It was concluded that: (1) the present use of prostaglandins is an important addition to the obstetrician's armamentarium, (2) more effective and/or convenient methods that are useful in patients over a wider gestational age appear to have been defined, and (3) the routine use of prostaglandins for postcoital contraception, menstrual regulation, and first-trimester abortion will require the development of analogues that are more specific as to their abortifacient actions than the natural prostaglandins and/or the development of improved delivery systems.
Site Preferences of Hyperfine Impurities in Ni 2 Al 3 Phases

The site occupation of indium solutes in Ni2Al3-type compounds was determined using perturbed angular correlation of gamma rays. Measurements were made for compositions on both sides of the stoichiometric composition. Sites were identified through their quadrupole interactions. For transition-metal (TM) rich aluminides and galliumides, indium solutes occupy only one of two inequivalent trivalent-metal sites (Al or Ga). For TM-poor aluminides, indium solutes tend to locate at noncrystallographic sites such as in grain boundaries. For TM-poor galliumides, the solutes occupy nickel sites while close to the stoichiometric composition they also occupy sites on an empty Ni-sublattice. Composition dependences of site preference for indium solutes in Pt2Al3 and Ni2Ga3 are examined in terms of a recently developed thermodynamic model.
Development of an alcohol deprivation and escalation effect in C57BL/6J mice.

Background: Relapse-like drinking has been studied through the expression of the alcohol deprivation effect (ADE), which is measured by a pronounced increase in ethanol preference and consumption after imposed abstinence. No studies have characterized the ADE in C57BL/6J (B6) mice. The present study examined the effects of length and number of deprivations on the expression of the ADE in B6 mice. Methods: Adult male B6 mice received 24-hour continuous access to ethanol and water for 6 weeks (baseline). Experiment 1 determined the ADE in mice receiving weekly access to 15% ethanol (i.e., exposed 1 day a week and deprived during the other 6 days) for a total of 10 weeks. Experiments 2 and 3 determined the ADE after a single 2-week deprivation period in mice receiving a single concentration of 15% ethanol or multiple concentrations of 7.5, 15, and 30% ethanol, respectively, followed by weekly access to their respective ethanol solutions for 10 weeks. Experiment 4 determined the ADE after a single 2-week deprivation period, followed by daily access to 15% ethanol. Mice never deprived of ethanol (i.e., continuous access) were used as age-matched drinking controls. Results: The ADE was observed after the initial 6-day deprivation period and was profoundly enhanced (i.e., escalation of the ADE) following weekly reexposure to 15% ethanol. Compared with a single concentration of 15% ethanol, concurrent access to multiple ethanol concentrations resulted in a near 2-fold increase in baseline ethanol consumption. Regardless of having access to single or multiple concentrations of ethanol, the ADE was not observed immediately after a 2-week deprivation period. The ADE was observed (although to a lesser magnitude and duration) following weekly reexposure to single or multiple concentrations of ethanol. Alternatively, following a 2-week deprivation period, mice receiving daily access to 15% ethanol showed a significant decrease in ethanol intake and preference (i.e., negative ADE). Conclusions: Short-term deprivations followed by repeated intermittent (weekly) reexposure to ethanol produces a robust ADE in B6 mice. Increasing the initial deprivation length to 2 weeks produces various opposing effects, including erasure of an initial ADE, diminished expression and magnitude of the ADE following weekly exposure, and complete reversal of the ADE following daily exposure to ethanol.
Open access publishing and author rights: A local and comparative study of selected ARLs

This bibliometric study was performed to gain a better understanding of open access (OA) journal publishing at a large U.S. research university. While there is an increasing amount of aggregated data about OA publishing, there are few studies that examine local institutional OA publishing patterns. This study addresses that deficiency. Publications for Texas A&M University (TAMU) were located using Scopus and the Gold OA journals among those publications were identified. It was determined that approximately 9% of the articles published at TAMU were in Gold OA journals. Most of these journals were concentrated in Science (Q), Medicine (R), Agriculture (S), and Technology (T). The author rights of these journals were also examined and categorized. The majority of journals examined allowed authors to retain copyright, but more than 20% required the authors to transfer some or all of their copyright. To provide context and comparison, the percentage of Gold OA articles among 16 peer institutions, all public Association of Research Libraries (ARLs), was also determined using Web of Science. Gold OA publishing among the 16 peer institutions was between 4.99% and 9.45%. Scopus indicated a higher level of Gold OA publishing at TAMU compared to Web of Science.
First Phase of Heavy Ion Acceleration at the Bevatron

High Energy Heavy-Ion Beams have become a standard operational feature of the Bevatron. A diver-sified experimental program using these beams complement the traditional proton-physics program, and at present accounts for about one-quarter of the Bevatron operation time. Beams of ion species up to mass number 20 (neon), and with intensities up to 108 particles per pulse for carbon, are available on target in the extracted beam channel. Initial heavy-ion operation began a year-and-one-half ago and for the most part utilized existing Bevatron features and capabilities. Acceleration of ion species heavier than helium-ions, however, required the adaptation of a side-extracted PIG ion-source to the Bevatron pre-injector. The immediate success of this development effort and the concomitant demand for experimental beam time motivated an improvement program to provide higher beam intensities, improved beam control and monitoring, and closed-loop beam control for intensities as low as 106 particles per pulse. Single particle beam dynamics has been invest igated. Predicted operation settings based on these studies are found to be close to actual running parameters. Losses due to recomibination are well explained with existing theories for single electron capture.
Ultrastructural observations of the oral mucosa in Anderson‐Fabry disease

Abstract. Electron microscopic study of oral mucosa from a patient with Anderson-Fabry disease (glycosphingolipid lipidosis) revealed lamellar and membranous osmiophilic intra-cytoplasmic inclusions having a periodicity of 4.5 nanometers. These were observed chiefly in reticulo-endothelial cells as membrane bound and occasionally unbound bodies. They could also be observed within the cytoplasm of squamous epithelial cells, particularly of the stratum germinativum. Morphologic features in endothelial and epithelial cells are described.
Twisting light using nano-waveguide arrays

We experimentally demonstrate that an array of subwavelength channels with a spiral size distribution milled in a metal film can be used to manipulate the phase front of light beam and produce a vortex beam.
A nonlinear filter based on Fokker-Planck equation

In this paper, a nonlinear filter based on Fokker-Planck equation (FPE) is presented for applications involving long time durations in between measurement updates. A previously developed semianalytical meshless algorithm is used to obtain the transient FPE response of nonlinear systems in near real time. Use of eigenfunctions of the discretized FP operator as basis functions causes equation error in FPE to reduce with time, implying that the algorithm is especially suited to problems with sparse measurements. The measurement update is implemented via weak form of the Bayes rule. An alternative based on function approximation of the posterior density is suggested to speed up this process. Filtering examples for up to 4-state systems are considered and compared with the extended Kalman filter (EKF).
Risk-Arbitrage Spreads and Performance of Risk Arbitrage

This article explores the cross sectional variation in risk arbitrage spreads. Factors that are relevant to the probability of deal success (i.e., target termination fees, target resistance, target price run-up, relative size of the target, and arbitrageurs9 activity), bid revision (i.e., target9s growth opportunity), potential loss when a deal fails (i.e., bid premium and bidder9s systematic risk) and transaction costs for risk arbitrageurs (i.e., bidder9s return volatility and low priced shares) are found to be significant in developing a prediction model for risk arbitrage spreads. Risk arbitrage portfolios are created by comparing predicted arbitrage spreads with actual arbitrage spreads. The results show that deals whose actual spreads exceed the predicted spreads tend to be more attractive investments. The model may be used by risk arbitrageurs to identify attractive risk arbitrage opportunities.
Radiation dosimetry in diagnostic radiology

T he amount of ionizing radiation used in radiologic examinations requires quantification to ensure that the correct measure of radiation is used to generate the image and to record the patient dose in a way that permits an assessment of the risk. Dosimetric units that are commonly used to quantify radiation in diagnostic radiology include exposure (roentgen), absorbed dose (rad or gray), dose equivalent (rem or sievert), and effective dose (rem or sievert). This article explains the rationale for each dosimetric quantity and clarifies the relationships between them.
Disordered eating and self-objectification in college women: clarifying the roles of spirituality and purpose in life

Spirituality and purpose in life have been associated with positive mental health outcomes. This study examined the effects of spirituality, religiousness, and purpose in life on self-objectification and disordered eating. An ethnically diverse sample of college women (N = 161), aged 18–25, who were enrolled in the undergraduate level psychology courses, participated by completing a survey assessing relational spirituality, intrinsic religiousness, and purpose in life, as well as self-objectification and disordered eating. Results supported a relationship between self-objectification and disordered eating. Intrinsic religiousness was also associated with self-objectification after controlling for religious affiliation. In addition, women who had less purpose in their lives displayed more disordered eating. These findings suggest that a sense of purpose in life may be a key dimension of spirituality that is associated with eating disturbance.
Airway resistance and lung volume in the newborn infant.

Extract: The total body plethysmograph method of DuBois et al. [7] for measurement of lung volume and airway resistance was adapted to the study of newborn infants. A Rendell-Baker mask directly controlled by the operator proved by trial and error to minimize the chances of pressure leaks and undesirable pressure on the nose and allowed the mandible to be pulled forward to minimize pharyngeal obstruction. Use of an oscilloscope for direct visualization of flow and pressure tracings was essential in order to detect immediately pressure leaks, artifacts, and abnormal patterns during measurements of both lung volume and airway resistance. Interpretation of the measurements of airway resistance and of the relation of conductance to lung volume over a wide range of age and lung volumes requires that the flow rates at which measurements are made be recorded, along with lung volumes. In 51 newborn infants, an airway resistance value of 19.2±5.6 cm H2O/l/s was observed. Thoracic gas volume at functional residual capacity was 89.9±15.5 ml. The resulting mean value for conductance (reciprocal of airway resistance), 0.052 l/s/cm H2O, fell above the calculated regressions of conductance versus lung volume determined by Briscoe and DuBois [3], who used data obtained from older children and adults. Direct comparison is limited since airway resistance in the older subjects was usually obtained using panting flow rates of 0.5 l/s, while the infants in this study had flow rates of approximately 0.1 l/s at the time airway resistance was measured. Speculation: Confirmation of the presence of the major expiratory flow-limiting segment in the nasal airway of newborn and small infants is needed. This location suggests a physiologic means for slowing expiratory flow and thus maintaining expiratory intraluminal pressure in the tracheobronchial tree, which might protect the compliant trachea and major bronchi from compression by positive intrapleural pressure in obstructive pulmonary disease. It is possible that there is an airflow-lung volume-airway resistance relation throughout life; however, a wide range of control data will be required to establish such a relation.
THE LINK BETWEEN REDUCED AGENCY COSTS AND THE AT&T DIVESTITURE

The history and divestiture of the Bell System is of immediate importance to several economies around the globe, especially those undergoing the change from state owned operations to private ownership. Similarly, those economies experiencing rapid expansion of telecommunications can also learn from the experiences of AT&T's development, maturity, and subsequent divestiture. In addition to a brief history, this study examines preliminary empirical evidence which suggests agency costs, particularly those associated with free cash flow, were reduced following the divestiture.
Three-dimensional force analysis of finger joints in selected isometric hand functions

Abstract Three-dimensional constraint forces of the finger tendons and joints in isometric hand functions were determined. The joint and tendon orientations were defined from biplanar X-ray films. Coordinate systems at each joint were used to define the constraint forces and moments. Four index fingers, one long finger, and one little finger were analyzed. Through free-body analysis, a statically indeterminate problem was derived. The method of systematic elimination of redundant unknown tendon forces was applied. Constraint conditions based on EMG and physiologic assessments were used to obtain admissible solutions. The findings are important in understanding the functional anatomy and pathologic deformities involving the hand and the basic requirements on prosthetic design of finger joints.
Self-Powered Bacterial Transportation Systems in Low Reynolds Number Fluidic Environments

We have studied self-coordinated bacterial transportation systems using SU-8 microbarges in low Reynolds number fluidic environments. Flagellated Serratia marcescens bacteria were attached to microbarges using a blotting technique that creates a bacterial monolayer carpet. These bacterial carpets naturally self-coordinate to propel the microbarges in a manner that have been controlled by phototactic means. We additionally demonstrate phototactic control of these barges. Tracking algorithms were designed to study the motion of the microbarges.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Premature death and age-related cardiac dysfunction in male eNOS-knockout mice.

Abstract The aims of our study were to determine mortality, and age- and genotype-related cardiac phenotype in endothelial nitric oxide synthase (NOS) knockout (–/–) and wild-type (+/+) mice. Male and female (–/–) and male and female (+/+) conscious mice were studied at different ages by echocardiography and tail-cuff blood pressure (BP) measurement. Only 50% male (–/–) mice lived longer than 21 months whereas 89% (+/+) mice were still alive after 24 months ( P P P
γ-Aminobutyric acid contributes to modulation of cardiorespiratory control after chronic ventilatory loading

Diseases imposing chronic ventilatory loads may depress ventilation and cause chronic hypercapnia. This may be a result of mechanical loading imposed on pre-existing decreased respiratory drive or functional alteration of neural circuits involved in ventilatory control. To evaluate these possibilities, chronic resistive airway loading was imposed in rats via a circumferential tracheal band which tripled tracheal resistance (obstructed group). Sham surgery was performed in controls. After 8 weeks, animals were anesthetized (urethane) and tracheostomy performed relieving increased tracheal resistance. The ventral medullary surface (VMS) was exposed and the intermediate area (IA) identified. The integrated diaphragm EMG (EMGDI) was recorded. The obstructed group was hypercapnic while controls were eucapnic (PCO2, 45.1 +/- 7.9 vs. 37.6 +/- 3.4 Torr; P < 0.001). Respiratory rate (RR) remained lower in obstructed than in control animals despite relief of the resistive load by tracheostomy (58.5 +/- 5.1 vs. 75.4 +/- 5.4 bpm; P < 0.05). Application of 1 mM bicuculline soaked pledgets (BIC) to the IA of the VMS significantly increased EMGDI in obstructed but not in control animals (27.5 +/- 5.5 vs. 5.2 +/- 4.4%; P < 0.006). RR was unaffected. Mean arterial pressure increased with BIC in obstructed but not control animals (23.0 +/- 6.5 vs. 4.5 +/- 3.5%; P < 0.02). These data suggest that alteration of cardiorespiratory control occurs during chronic resistive hypercapnic loading and that GABAergic neurons in the VMS participate in this adaptive response.
Infantile Spasms and Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome:

Infantile spasms and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome are rare but are important to child neurologists because of the intractable nature of the seizures and the serious neurologic comorbidities. New antiepileptic drugs offer more alternatives for treating both infantile spasms and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Selected children with infantile spasms are candidates for epilepsy surgery. Vagus nerve stimulation, corpus callosotomy, and the ketogenic diet are all options for selected children with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. The epidemiology, clinical manifestations of the seizures, electroencephalographic characteristics, prognosis, and treatment options are reviewed for infantile spasms and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Additional therapies are needed for both infantile spasms and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome as many children fail to achieve adequate seizure control in spite of newer treatments.
ANATOMICAL ALIGNMENT FOR THE CORRECTION OF BURIED PENIS

AbstractPurpose: We report a straightforward surgical technique for the correction and anatomical alignment of the skin in patients with various degrees of buried penis.Materials and Methods: A combined series of 74 patients 7 months to 10 years old who were treated for buried penis at 2 institutions during a 7-year period. Patients presented with various symptoms, including balanitis, urinary tract infection, painful voiding, ballooning of the foreskin and urinary retention. In 29 patients (38%) trapped penis was due to previous circumcision. In our estimation the major anatomical defect in buried penis is an insufficient attachment of the dartos fascia and penile skin to Buck's fascia. Our technique involves making a circumferential incision of the inner preputial skin layer proximal to the corona, unfurling it from the shaft skin and leaving a coronal collar of approximately 1 cm. The annular band that usually constricts the corpora on retraction of the penile skin is incised, and the remaining proxima...
Microbial oxidation of the antimalarial drug arteether

Abstract Three oxidation products from the action of the enzymes in Beauveria sulfurescens on the antimalarial drug arteether were isolated and their structures established by mass spectrometry, and both 1D and 2D NMR. Two of the compounds, 14-hydroxyarteether and 9β-hydroxyarteether retained the peroxide bridge required for biological activity. The metabolites were employed as intermediates for the preparation of other products.
REDUCED PLATELET SIALYLTRANSFERASE ACTIVITY IN PATIENTS WITH PRIMARY RELEASE DISORDER

Abstract Platelet sialyltransferase activity was determined in four patients with primary platelet release disorder. Basal enzyme activity was significantly reduced in all. Moreover, enzyme activity in response to stimulation by collagen or sodium arachidonate was also reduced. Platelet total and surface sialic-acid content was normal. The results indicate that defective membrane sialyltransferase may be involved in the pathogenesis of primary platelet release disorder.
Methamphetamine initiation among HIV-positive gay and bisexual men

This study describes factors associated with methamphetamine initiation in a racially diverse sample of 340 methamphetamine-using, HIV-positive gay and bisexual men. A factor analysis was conducted on reasons for initiation, and four factors were identified: to party, to cope, for energy, and to improve self-esteem. Methamphetamine to party accounted for more than one-third of the variance in the factor analysis. Methamphetamine to cope captured almost 9% of the variance, methamphetamine for energy accounted for approximately 8% of the variance, and methamphetamine for self-esteem accounted for approximately 7% of the variance. Regression analyses revealed differential associations between methamphetamine-initiation factors and HIV-risk behaviors. Methamphetamine for self-esteem predicted binge methamphetamine use, while methamphetamine to cope was associated with injecting methamphetamine. Using methamphetamine for energy was associated with number of illicit drugs-used and using methamphetamine to party was associated with having a greater number of sexually transmitted infections. These findings suggest that methamphetamine initiation among gay and bisexual men is multifaceted, which could have implications for intervention development.
Simple method of unscrewing tightened abutment and transfer coping in Calcitek Spline implants

VOLUME 82 NUMBER 3 In the procedures of prosthetic restoration of Calcitek Spline (Sulzer Calcitek Inc, US Patent No. 5449291) implant-supported crowns and fixed partial dentures, transfer impression with a transfer coping on a shouldered abutment is necessary for the fabrication of the prosthesis. According to the manufacturer’s technical manual, before making an impression, the abutment should be tightened to the implant with an abutment driver and the transfer coping should be tightened to the abutment with a hex driver1 (Fig. 1). A periapical film must then be taken to confirm the complete seating of all parts. However, sometimes when the impression has been made and one tries to unscrew the transfer coping from the abutment, the transfer coping and abutment are both removed with a hex driver as a result of being too tightly screwed together during the previously described procedures (Fig. 2 ). The transfer coping and abutment have to be separate before proceeding further, but it can become more difficult, especially when tightly screwed together. A method to separate a tightly screwed abutment and transfer coping is not included in the manufacturer’s manual. Even though a hex driver can be used on the end of transfer coping, because the other end of the tightened abutment is the screw on the abutment itself, one must handle this assembly with care so the threads are not jeopardized. This makes it more difficult to unscrew the abutment and transfer coping. Forceps or pliers may not work when trying to unscrew the abutment. Unscrewing the 2 parts with a driver and bare hands also may not be possible when the abutment and transfer coping are tightly connected. This article presents a simple method of unscrewing a tightened abutment.
The structure of a methylated tetraloop in 16S ribosomal RNA

Abstract Background: Ribosomal RNAs contain many modified nucleotides. The functions of these nucleotides are poorly understood and few of them are strongly conserved. The final stem loop in 16S-like rRNAs is an exception in both regards. In both prokaryotes and eukaryotes, the tetranucleotide loop that caps the 3′-terminal stem contains two N 6 , N 6 -dimethyladenosine residues. The sequence and pattern of methylation are conserved within the loop, and there is evidence that these methylated nucleotides play an important role in subunit association and the initiation of protein synthesis. Because of the integral role that helix 45 plays in ribosome function, it is important to know what consequences these methylated nucleotides have on its structure. Results: We have solved the solution structure of a 14-nucleotide analog of the terminal stem loop of bacterial 16S rRNA, which contains N 2 -methylguanosine as well as two N 6 , N 6 -dimethyladenosines. Conclusions: The methylation of the 16S rRNA stem loop completely alters its conformation, which would otherwise be a GNRA tetraloop. It is likely that the conformation of this loop is crucial for its function, having implications for its interaction with ribosomal subunits and its role in the initiation of protein synthesis.
Transmedial collagen and elastin gradients in human aortas: Reversal with age

Abstract The distribution of collagen and elastin across the aortic media of each of 15 human subjects was determined by analyzing sequential groups of serial sections prepared by cutting through the full thickness of the media from intima to adventitia on a freezing microtome. The ages of the subjects ranged from 8 days to 78 years. Relative transmedial concentrations of collagen and elastin were generally related to age. In children, medial elastin decreased while collagen increased from intima to adventitia. Gradients of opposite direction were found in the aortas of relatively old adults: medial collagen decreased while elastin increased from intima to adventitia. Aortas in which collagen and elastin were distributed more or less uniformly across the media were from relatively young adults. Transmedial scleroprotein gradients and their apparent reversal with age may represent adaptation of the aortic wall to changes in transmedial stress during growth and maturation. The prominence of collagen in the inner media of older individuals with little atherosclerosis suggests that this type of medial fibrosis bears no simple causal relationship to atherogenesis.
Strategic Planning Behaviors of Illinois Community College Occupational Program Administrators.

Higher education in the United States has employed, with varying degrees of success, many different planning models. With each, an attempt was made to anticipate and prepare for possible social, economic, political, and technological changes. Of these models, strategic planning exists as the most current and widely espoused model in use today by higher education. However, as with other models, strategic planning can be only as effective as the planners’ understanding of, use of, and belief in the merits of effective planning. The literature is replete with descriptions of the many planning models and acceptable methodologies for implementation. However, little research exists regarding the concomitant psychological factors contributing to individual planning behaviors. To this end, this study endeavored to identify those factors that most greatly affect the Strategic planning behaviors of post‐secondary occupational program administrators.