cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
RELATIONS BETWEEN PIGMENT CONTENT AND PHOTOSYNTHETIC CHARACTERISTICS IN A BLUE-GREEN ALGA

1. The blue-green alga Anacystis nidulans was cultured under steady state conditions at 25 and 39 degrees C. and under several different light intensities to give five different types of cells. 2. Cells were submitted to pigment analysis based upon acetone extracts and aqueous extracts obtained by sonic disintegration. The different cell types show a threefold range of chlorophyll content and a fourfold range of phycocyanin content with only minor changes in the chlorophyll/phycocyanin ratio. Cells of highest pigment content were estimated to contain 2.8 per cent chlorophyll a and 24 per cent phycocyanin, the latter on a total chromoproteid basis. 3. Light intensity curves of photosynthesis were obtained for each of the cell types at 25 and at 39 degrees C. The slopes of the light-limited regions of the curves are approximately linear functions of chlorophyll and phycocyanin contents. Maximum light-saturated rates of photosynthesis at 25 and 39 degrees show no simple relation to pigment content.
To avoid or not to avoid? Factors influencing the discrimination of predator diet cues by a terrestrial salamander

Many prey species use chemical cues deposited by predators to assess predation risk, and some prey are capable of discriminating among predator chemical traces based on the predator's recent diet. Here we test the influence of genetic relatedness (degree of genetic similarity between prey) and ecological relatedness (degree of refuge and trophic overlap between syntopic prey) on the evolution of predator-diet discrimination by red-backed salamanders, Plethodon cinereus. In experiment 1, we examined whether red-backed salamanders from Binghamton University (Binghamton, New York, U.S.A.) would differentially respond to chemical traces from garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis) fed conspecific P. cinereus from four populations belonging to three phylogenetic groups: Group II from Mountain Lake, Virginia, Group III from Binghamton University, New York, Group III from Hawk Mountain, Pennsylvania, and Group IV from Cherry Springs, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. The test salamanders only avoided chemical traces from garter snakes fed salamanders from the two Group III sites, although the response to the Group III-Hawk Mountain treatment was intermediate to that for the Group III-Binghamton University treatment and the Group II and IV treatments. In experiment 2, we examined whether red-backed salamanders collected from two subpopulations, syntopic or allotopic with two-lined salamanders, Eurycea bislineata, vary in their response to chemical cues from garter snakes foraging on two-lined salamanders. Only red-backed salamanders syntopic with E. bislineata avoided chemical traces from garter snakes fed E. bislineata. These results suggest that both genetic and ecological relatedness play a role in the evolution of predator-diet discrimination in red-backed salamanders.
Tidal, Residual, Intertidal Mudflat (TRIM) Model and its Applications to San Francisco Bay, California

Abstract A numerical model using a semi-implicit finite-difference method for solving the two-dimensional shallow-water equations is presented. The gradient of the water surface elevation in the momentum equations and the velocity divergence in the continuity equation are finite-differenced implicitly, the remaining terms are finite-differenced explicitly. The convective terms are treated using an Eulerian-Lagrangian method. The combination of the semi-implicit finite-difference solution for the gravity wave propagation, and the Eulerian-Lagrangian treatment of the convective terms renders the numerical model unconditionally stable. When the baroclinic forcing is included, a salt transport equation is coupled to the momentum equations, and the numerical method is subject to a weak stability condition. The method of solution and the properties of the numerical model are given. This numerical model is particularly suitable for applications to coastal plain estuaries and tidal embayments in which tidal currents are dominant, and tidally generated residual currents are important. The model is applied to San Francisco Bay, California where extensive historical tides and current-meter data are available. The model calibration is considered by comparing time-series of the field data and of the model results. Alternatively, and perhaps more meaningfully, the model is calibrated by comparing the harmonic constants of tides and tidal currents derived from field data with those derived from the model. The model is further verified by comparing the model results with an independent data set representing the wet season. The strengths and the weaknesses of the model are assessed based on the results of model calibration and verification. Using the model results, the properties of tides and tidal currents in San Francisco Bay are characterized and discussed. Furthermore, using the numerical model, estimates of San Francisco Bay's volume, surface area, mean water depth, tidal prisms, and tidal excursions at spring and neap tides are computed. Additional applications of the model reveal, qualitatively the spatial distribution of residual variables.
Auroral activity in the evening sector

Evening auroral activity characterized by westward traveling surges occurring not within auroral zone center
Intrinsic and Extrinsic Temperature-Dependency of Viscosity-Sensitive Fluorescent Molecular Rotors

Molecular rotors are a group of environment-sensitive fluorescent probes whose quantum yield depends on the ability to form twisted intramolecular charge-transfer (TICT) states. TICT formation is dominantly governed by the solvent's microviscosity, but polarity and the ability of the solvent to form hydrogen bonds play an additional role. The relationship between quantum yield ϕ(F) and viscosity η is widely accepted as a power-law, ϕ(F) = C · η(x). In this study, we isolated the direct influence of the temperature on the TICT formation rate by examining several molecular rotors in protic and aprotic solvents over a range of temperatures. Each solvent's viscosity was determined as a function of temperature and used in the above power-law to determine how the proportionality constant C varies with temperature. We found that the power-law relationship fully explains the variations of the measured steady-state intensity by temperature-induced variations of the solvent viscosity, and C can be assumed to be temperature-independent. The exponent x, however, was found to be significantly higher in aprotic solvents than in protic solvents. We conclude that the ability of the solvent to form hydrogen bonds has a major influence on the relationship between viscosity and quantum yield. To use molecular rotors for the quantitative determination of viscosity or microviscosity, the exponent x needs to be determined for each dye-solvent combination.
Spin-density-wave domain in Cu1-xMnx : diagnostics for the spin susceptibility of an electron gas

Abstract Neutron diffraction experiments in Cu1−Mnx alloys indicate the presence of spin-density-wave domains with wave vector magnitude ⋍ 2k F (k F = Fermi wave vector of Cu) and coherence length ⋍ 11 FCC unit cells. These results cannot be explained by the usual RKKY interaction between solute moments. We study a model form of the conduction electron spin susceptibility which predicts (i) formation of SDW domains, (ii) concentration scaling laws for local field distribution a3d specific heat, and (iii) power law increase of the nonlinear susceptibility above Tc.
Using smart meter data to improve the performance of overcurrent protective devices in distribution systems with DG

Several researchers have presented methods to preserve the selectivity of overcurrent protection in radial distribution systems (RDS) with distributed generation (DG), but due to inherent changes in system configuration, protective device sensitivity is sacrificed. This paper presents two approaches to utilize smart meter measurements in adapting overcurrent protective device settings in two different protection schemes for RDS with DG. The first approach is planning based, and uses prior year demand information available via smart metering, to determine seasonal overcurrent pickup settings for the substation relay. These settings are used to improve the tripping times of the substation relay for a protection scheme that reverts the DS to a radial topology. The second approach uses smart meters to provide prior day demand information to estimate the peak demand for two 12-hour periods. These peak demands are used to operationally determine the appropriate pickup settings for the substation relay in a zonal protection scheme. Simulations are performed in EMTP™/PSCAD® and the results show that the developed techniques improve the sensitivity of the substation relay in both protection schemes.
AIDS Health Locus of Control, Self-Efficacy for Safer Sexual Practices, and Future Time Orientation as Predictors of Condom Use in African American College Students

This study examined the relationship between self-reported frequency of condom use (by self or partner during the past 6 months and lifetime), locus of control, self-efficacy, and future time orien...
Localized Dryout: an Approach for Managing the Thermal-Hydrological Effects of Decay Heat at Yucca Mountain

For a nuclear waste repository in the unsaturated zone at Yucca Mountain, there are two thermal loading approaches to using decay heat constructively -- that is, to substantially reduce relative humidity and liquid flow near waste packages for a considerable time, and thereby limit waste package degradation and radionuclide dissolution and release. ``Extended dryout`` achieves these effects with a thermal load high enough to generate large-scale (coalesced) rock dryout. ``Localized dryout``(which uses wide drift spacing and a thermal load too low for coalesced dryout) achieves them by maintaining a large temperature difference between the waste package and drift wall; this is done with close waste package spacing (generating a high line-heat load) and/or low-thermal-conductivity backfill in the drift. Backfill can greatly reduce relative humidity on the waste package in both the localized and extended dryout approaches. Besides using decay heat constructively, localized dryout reduces the possibility that far-field temperature rise and condensate buildup above the drifts might adversely affect waste isolation.
Choosing Between Human Rights and Personal Safety: Tangents to a Slippery Slope in Poor African American Communities

Book reviewed in this article: Policing the Poor: From Slave Plantation to Public Housing, by Neil Websdale.
Multifactorial dysphagia — Looking for a second, treatable cause

Even when the cause of dysphagia seems obvious, it is important to conduct a thorough evaluation of the problem, including dynamic imaging of swallowing. In this case, a patient with a 35-year history of dysphagia following bulbar poliomyelitis was found by cinepharyngoesophagography to have an obstructing high esophageal web, as well as marked pharyngeal muscle dysfunction. Dilation of the web led to resolution of dysphagia, despite persistent pharyngeal weakness.
Modeling and Simulation of Nonlinear Dynamics of Flapping Wing Micro Air Vehicles

included. Simulations are compared with previous modeling efforts, which neglected the wings’ mass and the associated inertial coupling effects on the body. Simulations show a qualitative consistency for the nonlinear model with wing effects when different aerodynamic models are chosen as inputs. Simulation results show a significant differenceinthemodelbehaviorwhenthemassofthewings,initiallysetat5.7%ofthebodymass,isincludedversus whenthemassisneglected.Asthemassofthewingsisdecreased,thesimulationresultsofthemodelwithwingeffects approachtheresultswhenthestandardaircraftmodelisused.Simulationsleadtotheconclusionthatthemasseffects of the wings are important for dynamics, stability, and control analyses.
Methemoglobin reductase activity in phylogenetically diverse piscine species.

Abstract 1. 1. A modified technique was employed to qualitatively assay for the presence of methemoglobin reductase activity in a variety of fish species. 2. 2. In 10 of the 13 species, all tested individuals ( n = 44) demonstrated methemoglobin reductase activity. 3. 3. Only in striped bass Morone saxatilis did a majority (i.e. 15 of 18 = 83%) of individuals not show methemoglobin reductase activity.
The origins of myth and philosophy

Le mythe nait de la conscience d'un peuple en detresse, rend "mythique" notre experience de la nature pour sauver l'homme par le reve et l'imagination subjective, se situe a travers une experience historique du monde. La philosophie a a peu pres la meme origine et le meme ressort: sauver l'homme, aussi quand la philosophie apparait le mythe se retire. Au mythe cosmogonique de l'origine correspond au niveau philosophique la cosmologie metaphysique, a la revelation, l'epistemologie, a la religion du mythe, la theologie philosophique, au comportement rituel, l'ethos ou l'ethique de la philosophie.
Current and Private Investors' Return and Risk Sharing with Private Equity Offering Announcements

Private equity investors receive two-thirds of the announcement wealth gain at private equity offering announcements before netting out their costs and required risk premiums during 1983–1996. The existing investors, facing no marginal costs and a reduction in risk from a less financially leveraged company, have a free ride and gain one-third of the wealth effect. Announcement returns are highest to private investors when both the private and public equity issuance market climates are normal while the poorest occur in cold EPP markets. The average announcement period return to private investors is still reasonably large under all issuance climates.
Semantic universals in sentence processing and interpretation: A study of Chinese, finnish, Japanese, and Slovenian speakers

The universality of certain aspects of sentence interpretation was investigated with native speakers of a variety of language families.Ss were given, in their own language, the same 156 affirmative and 156 corresponding negative sentences to sort into categories solely on the basis of sentence samples. The categories represented semantic sentence interpretations based on information value and nonsensicality.Ss generally sorted the same sentences (translation equivalents) into the same categories: e.g., Informative,The person is a man; Redundant,The man is a person; Contradictory,The chair is a spouse; Amphigorously Redundant,The chair is not a spouse. A semantic feature analysis indicates thatSs base their interpretations on particular interactions of features. Sets of rules and operations utilizing such feature combinations are formulated and attributed to theSs. Such knowledge is postulated to be universal to speakers of all languages.
Impact of pregnancy on underlying renal disease.

Normal pregnancy involves marked renal vasodilation and large increases in glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Studies in rats reveal that the gestational renal vasodilation is achieved by parallel reductions in tone in afferent and efferent arterioles so GFR rises without a change in glomerular blood pressure. There is some evidence from animal studies that increased renal generation of nitric oxide (NO) may be involved. Although chronic renal vasodilation has been implicated in causing progression of renal disease in nonpregnant states by glomerular hypertension, there are no long-term deleterious effects of pregnancies on the kidney when maternal renal function is normal because glomerular blood pressure remains normal. When maternal renal function is compromised before conception, there are no long-term adverse effects on renal function in most types of renal disease, providing that the GFR is well maintained before conception. When serum creatinine exceeds ~1.4 mg/dL, pregnancy may accelerate the renal disease increases and when serum creatinine >2mg/dL, the chances are greater than 1 in 3 that pregnancy will hasten the progression of the renal disease. The available animal studies suggest that glomerular hypertension does not occur despite diverse injuries. Thus, the mechanisms of the adverse interaction between pregnancy and underlying renal disease remain unknown.
The cultural education of academic evaluators: lessons from a university-Hmong community partnership

This article explores some of the lessons a university-based evaluation team learned while attempting to hire, retain, and work with staff members from a local Hmong community. These staff members were hired to assist a federally-funded community collaborative with implementing and evaluating a family strengthening program for Hmong families with adolescents. Over the course of two years, a succession of individuals were hired and resigned from a key staff position. These resignations occurred at critical points in the project, undermining a critical component of the program's evaluation. Through interviews, observations, self-reflection, and feedback from colleagues and reviewers, a better understanding of the reasons for these difficulties began to emerge. The challenges examined in this article help to illustrate some of the complexities faced by academics when conducting a community-based project with an underserved racial ethnic population. The article concludes by discussing some of the lessons learned and what they might suggest for others doing similar types of work.
Massive data processing on the Acxiom cluster testbed

The Acxiom Cluster Testbed is a high-performance, low-cost cluster that is being constructed at the University of Arkansas for the purpose of designing, constructing, and evaluating cluster architectures for massive data processing. Our evaluation efforts include performance testing of cluster hardware and a variety of middleware configurations for the cluster. One of the most important middleware components for massive data processing is a high-performance cluster file system. In this paper we present system requirements for a parallel cluster-based file system, our experimental evaluation of the NFS file system and the PVFS parallel file system for Linux, and future research goals.
SU‐GG‐J‐35: A Quantitative Assessment of the Improvement in Lung Treatment Accuracy with IGRT in TomoTherapy

Purpose: The use of extremely high dose gradients in IMRT has made patient positioning accuracy even more critical than in previous modalities. Our purpose is to quantify the improvement in setup accuracy with the use of IGRT for patients undergoing radiation therapy of the lung with TomoTherapy. We also investigate whether the first few imaging sessions could serve as a predictor of subsequent daily shifts for a given patient. Method and Materials: Megavoltage computed tomography (MVCT) was carried out at each treatment fraction immediately prior to treatment. The MVCT was fused to the planning KVCT and the resultant X,Y,Z offsets determined by a combination of automatic registration as well as operator adjustments. A total of 2,496 X,Y,Z measurements from 34 patients were collected for this study. Results: All three axes contributed significantly to the overall mean vector shift of 10.5 mm. The mean vertical shift (Z direction) is 6.5 mm. The mean shift in the longitudinal direction (Y) is 5.2 mm, while the mean in the lateral direction (X) is 3.7 mm. The variation in shifts between different patients was significant and varied by at least a factor of five. We also found that variations in daily position for an individual patient could vary by at least a factor of five. Conclusion: This study demonstrates quantitatively, that the potential improvement in radiotherapy geometric treatment accuracy is approximately 10.5 mm, with the use of IGRT in lung TomoTherapy. Given the variability in daily patient positioning, averaging initial patient shifts is not an accurate predictor of subsequent patient setup position.
Magneto-optical fingerprints of distinct graphene multilayers using the giant infrared Kerr effect

The remarkable electronic properties of graphene strongly depend on the thickness and geometry of graphene stacks. This wide range of electronic tunability is of fundamental interest and has many applications in newly proposed devices. Using the mid-infrared, magneto-optical Kerr effect, we detect and identify over 18 interband cyclotron resonances (CR) that are associated with ABA and ABC stacked multilayers as well as monolayers that coexist in graphene that is epitaxially grown on 4H-SiC. Moreover, the magnetic field and photon energy dependence of these features enable us to explore the band structure, electron-hole band asymmetries, and mechanisms that activate a CR response in the Kerr effect for various multilayers that coexist in a single sample. Surprisingly, we find that the magnitude of monolayer Kerr effect CRs is not temperature dependent. This unexpected result reveals new questions about the underlying physics that makes such an effect possible.
Impaired antibody response to polysaccharides in association with functional asplenia

Impaired antibody responses to polysaccharide antigens despite normal or nearly normal levels of immunoglobulins (including IgG subclasses) have been noted uniformly in patients with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome and recently in patients without that condition, some of whom also had normal antibody responses to certain protein antigens. 1,2 We present here a boy with similar immunologic findings in whom we found an associated unexplained functional asplenia. CASE REPORT A 21A-year-01d black male child was referred to Duke University Medical Center for immunologic evaluation because of a history of recurrent serious infections. He was the 3180 gm product of a pregnancy complicated only by some maternal weight loss in the third trimester. His neonatal course was notable for the congenital absence or malformation of several fingers on both hands, consistent with the amniotic band syndrome. The patient was first hospitalized at 2 months of age for pneumonia, followed by hospitalizations at 4 months for Haemophilus influenzae meningitis and at 5, 6, and 9 months for episodes of pneumococcal sepsis. Immunoglobulin and isohemagglutinin levels were reportedly normal, and empiric prophylactic amoxicillin therapy was begun. The patient then did fairly well until 29 months of age, when he developed severe disseminated varicella with lung and liver involvement, as well as disseminated intravascular coagulation. He eventually recovered after intravenous acyclovir therapy. METHODS Immunoglobulins G, A, and M were measured by radial immunodiffusion, and specific antibodies to diphtheria and tetanus were measured by tanned cell hemagglutination in our laboratory2 Analysis of lymphocyte proliferation in
THE RESPONSE OF PER1 TO LIGHT IN THE SUPRACHIASMATIC NUCLEUS OF THE DIURNAL DEGU (OCTODON DEGUS)

Several studies suggest that the circadian systems of diurnal mammals respond differently to daytime light than those of nocturnal mammals. We hypothesized that the photosensitive “clock” gene Per1 would respond to light exposure during subjective day in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the diurnal rodent, Octodon degus. Tissue was collected 1.5–2 h after a 30 min light pulse presented at five timepoints across the 24 h day and compared to controls maintained under conditions of constant darkness. Per1 mRNA was quantified using in situ hybridization. Results showed that the rhythmicity and photic responsiveness of Per1 in the degu resembles that of nocturnal animals. (Author correspondence: hagenaue@umich.edu)
Analysis of Simultaneous Switching Noise Coupling in Multilayer Power/Ground Planes With Segmentation Method and Cavity Model

An accurate power bus model is essential for predicting noise coupling in high-speed printed circuit board (PCB) and package designs. With a complex multilayer structure, the power bus is often modeled using numerical simulation methods. However, full-wave approaches are computationally inefficient, or even infeasible for extremely complicated geometries. Fortunately, the segmentation method makes it possible to combine different types of models together, and both simulation accuracy and efficiency can be obtained through this “divide-and-conquer” strategy. After segmentation, one of the fundamental blocks is a parallel plane pair. For this block, analytical expressions for the impedance (Z) matrix are available for a rectangular plane pair and some special triangular plane pairs. The combination of the cavity model with the segmentation technique has been known to be an efficient way to analyze irregularly shaped multilayer structures. In this paper, this approach is further extended to the general multilayer structures with overlapping planes. Noise-coupling mechanisms are then studied, and the two main coupling mechanisms, the plane edge coupling and the via coupling, are further characterized. Engineering implications on reducing noise coupling in a practical multilayer PCB are discussed through a series of simulation examples.
Neighborhood Context and Racial Differences in Early Adolescent Sexual Activity

Evidence suggests that African American youths initiate sexual activity at earlier ages than do European American or Latino youths. Using data from a multilevel study in Chicago, we developed and tested a neighborhood-based model of the timing of first adolescent intercourse that emphasizes the impact of neighborhood structural disadvantage and collective efficacy on early sexual activity (at ages 11 to 16). In turn, we explored the extent to which neighborhood factors account for racial differences in the timing of first intercourse. The findings indicate that demographic background, family processes, peer influences, and developmental risk factors account for about 30% of the baseline increased likelihood of early sexual onset for African American youths compared with European American youths. However, a significant residual racial difference remained even after we considered a host of micro-level factors. Neighborhood-level concentrated poverty largely explained this residual racial difference. Collective efficacy also independently contributed to the delay of sexual onset. No significant baseline difference in age of sexual initiation was found between Latino and European American youths.
Effect of Annealing on the Optical Properties of HfO 2

Post-annealing of HfO2is found to affect the absorption loss at 1 micron, and the subpicosecond laser-induced breakdown behavior. These effects are attributed to modifications of the density of intrinsic defects and photo-induced defects, respectively.
From Monad to man

From Monad to Man: The Concept of Progress in Evolutionary Biology. By Michael Ruse (Harvard University Press, 1997), x + 628 pp., $49.95 cloth.
Use of methyl salicylate as a simulant to predict the percutaneous absorption of sulfur mustard.

Exposure to chemical vesicants such as sulfur mustard (HD) continues to be a threat to military forces requiring protectant strategies to exposure to be evaluated. Methyl salicylate (MS) has historically been the simulant of choice to assess HD exposure. The purpose of this study was to compare the percutaneous absorption and skin deposition of MS to HD in the isolated perfused porcine skin flap (IPPSF). The HD data were obtained from a previously published study in this model wherein 400 μg cm−2 of ]14C[-MS or ]14C[-HD in ethanol were topically applied to 16 IPPSFs and experiments were terminated at 2, 4 or 8 h. Perfusate was collected at increasing time intervals throughout perfusion. Radioactivity was determined in perfusate and skin samples. Perfusate flux profiles were fitted to a bi-exponential model Y(t) = A(e− − e−) and the area under the curve (AUC), peak flux and time to peak flux were determined. Sulfur mustard had more pronounced and rapid initial flux parameters (P < 0.05). The AUCs determined from observed and model-predicted parameters were not statistically different, although the mean HD AUC was 40–50% greater than MS. The HD skin and fat levels were up to twice those seen with MS, but had lower stratum corneum and residual skin surface concentrations (P < 0.05). Compared with other chemicals studied in this model, HD and MS cutaneous disposition were very similar, supporting the use of MS as a dermal simulant for HD exposure. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
LIDAR technology for measuring trace gases on Mars and Earth

We report on remote sensing measurements of Methane using optical parametric generation at 1.65 um and 3.3 um for trace gas monitoring applications on Earth and Mars
Renal function in patients with cystic fibrosis.

Glomerular filtration rate, urinary sodium excretion, maximum and minimumurine osmolalities, osmolal clearance, free water clearance, and negative free water clearance were measured in 8 patients with cystic fibrosis during dietary intakes of 8 Gm. and of 1 Gm. of sodium chloride to determine whether cystic fibrosis is associated with abnormal renal handling of sodium. Free water clearance was markedly reduced in the patients, and those most severely affected by the disease process had the lowest values. The administration of mannitol reversed the defect. Under hydropenic conditions negative free water clearance was lower on the low dietary salt intake and the patients most severely affected by cystic fibrosis had the lowest values. With the administration of mannitol and Pitressin, negative free water clearance was normal in all patients. The data can be interpreted as indicating that in patients with cystic fibrosis there may be increased sodium reabsorption in the renal proximal tubules with decreased delivery of sodium to more distal segments of the nephron.
1003-3 Estimation of Mean Right Atrial Pressure in Critically III Patients Using Doppler Echocardiography

Mean right atrial pressure (RAP) is a major determinant of right ventricular filling and is also needed for precise estimation of pulmonary artery pressures by Doppler echochardiography. Although ventricular and atrial Doppler filling parameters have been shown to relate to filling pressures, the majority of these studies have involved the left ventricle. To evaluate the accuracy of Doppler filling parameters in assessing mean right atrial pressure in critically ill patients, 35 patients (mean age 60 ± 15 yrs) in medical. cardiac and surgical intensive care units underwent simultaneous measurement of right atrial pressure and pulsed Doppler recording of tricuspid inflow and hepatic venous flow velocities. Thirty-four percent of patients were on mechanical ventilation. Mean right atrial pressure ranged between 2 and 28 mmHg (mean 9 ± 6). Left ventricular ejection fraction was 48 ± 15%. Of 6 tricuspid inflow variables, the strongest correlation with mean right atrial pressure was observed with the ratio of maximal early to late flow velocity (EIA) (r = 0.6). Among 8 variables analyzed from hepatic vein recordings, the highest correlation (r = –0.86) was seen with systolic filling fraction of hepatic vein flow velocity (SFFHV; mean 0.53 ± 0.20) derived as the ratio of time velocity integral of systolic flow to that of systolic and diastolic forward flow. The best linear regression model correlating with mean right atrial pressure was: RAP = 21.6 – 24 SFFHV. This equation was tested prospectively in a group of 27 patients with a mean age of 64 ± 17 yrs and ejection fraction of 51 ± 14%. Mean right atrial pressure was 7 ± 5 (1–21 mmHg) and 41% of patients were on mechanical ventilation. Predicted mean right atrial pressure from SFFHV using the regression equation correlated well with observed pressure in this prospective group (r = 0.89). For the total 62 patients. correlation between observed and predicted right atrial pressure was 0.87 with a mean difference between predicted and observed pressures of –0.8 ± 2.2 mmHg. For mean right atrial pressure of g 10 mmHg, the sensitivity was 85% with specificity of 94%. Thus. mean right atrial pressure correlates significantly with right sided Doppler filling dynamics and is most reliably estimated in critically ill patients using Doppler echocardiography of hepatic venous flow.
An excitatory muscarinic response in neonatal rat ventricular myocytes and its modulation by sympathetic innervation.

Abstract Previously, we demonstrated that low concentrations of acetylcholine (⩽10 -9 M) increased automaticity in neonatal but not in adult rat ventricular myocardium. In the present study, we used cultured neonatal rat ventricular myocytes grown alone or in the presence of dissociated sympathetic neurons as an experimental model to study the ontogeny of the muscarinic response. McN A343 (⩽10 -9 M), an M 1 selective agonist, increased spontaneous rate form 51 ± 4 to 56 ± 5 beats per minute (bpm), and this excitatory response was blocked 10 -9 M pirenzepine, an M 1 selective antagonist, but not by the M 2 selective antagonist AFDX-116, nor by the α 1 adrenergic antagonist prazosin and the β adrenergic antagonist propranolol (all 10 -7 M). In innervated myocytes, McN A343 also increased rate from 48 ± 6 to 55 ± 6 bpm. However, this effect was blocked by either 10 -9 M pirenzepine or 10 -7 M propranolol. After pretreatment with 10 ng/ml of pertussis toxin, the McN A343-induced excitatory response in non-innervated myocytes was absent, thus suggesting that this response involved a pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein dependent pathway. McN A343 failed to stimulate inositol phosphate or cAMP accumulation in non-innervated myocytes. These results demonstrate the following. (1) The muscarinic excitatory response is mediated via direct stimulation of a post-synaptic M 1 receptor in non-innervated myocytes. (2) The excitatory response after innervation is related to the release of catecholamines, possibly through activation of muscarinic receptors located at the pre-synaptic nerve terminals. (3) Sympathetic innervation prevents the functional expression of the post-synaptic myocardial M 1 receptor. (4) The intracellular pathway for the post-synaptic M 1 excitatory response involves a pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein, but does not depend on obvious changes in cAMP or phosphoinositide hydrolysis.
Independent control of multiple magnetic microrobots in three dimensions

A major challenge for untethered microscale mobile robotics is the control of many agents in the same workspace for distributed operation. In this work, we present a new method to independently control multiple sub-mm microrobots in three dimensions (3D) using magnetic gradient pulling as the 3D motion generation method. Motion differentiation is accomplished through the use of geometrically or magnetically distinct microrobots which assume different magnetization directions in a rotating or oscillating magnetic field. This allows for different magnetic forces to be exerted on each, enabling independent motion control and path following of multiple microrobots along arbitrary 3D trajectories. Path following in 3D with less than 310 μm mean error is shown for a set of two microrobots of size 350 μm and 1500 μm, and independent motions are shown with three microrobots. It is also shown that control of more microrobots could be possible using improved magnetic coil hardware. Microrobot diversity is analyzed with regards to the effect on independent control. The proposed addressability method could be used for the 3D control of a team of microrobots inside microfluidic channels or in the human body for localized therapy or diagnostics.
Source Determination of an Obsidian Projectile Point from the Massacre Canyon Site (25HK13), A Keith Phase Occupation in Southwest Nebraska and Implications for Social Connections During the Early Ceramic Period

The use of chemical analyses to determine the sources of obsidian in central Plains Early Ceramic sites has potential to illuminate social contacts and patterns of exchange of goods. X-ray fluorescence analysis determined that a diagnostic point from the Massacre Canyon site in southwest Nebraska is made of obsidian from the Valle Grande source of the Jemez Mountains of New Mexico. This adds to the small number of central Plains Early Ceramic obsidian samples and suggests differential source use during that period.
Multibeam antenna-based topology control with directional power intensity for ad hoc networks

This paper proposes a new approach that applies multibeam directional antennas to controlling topology by reducing the power intensity directionally instead of omnidirectionally. In contrast to omnidirectional topology control, which reduces transmission power (and, thus, the resulting transmission range) in all directions, the proposed approach maintains the original power range in certain directions while clearing the power intensity in other directions. This paper shows that the proposed approach and the. omnidirectional topology control approach are equivalent in terms of the probability distribution of the number of symmetric neighbors in their resulting topologies. Major benefits of this approach include reduced and steady hop count, power saving independent of the number of neighbors within the original power range, and symmetric link in terms of SNR quality, as compared to omnidirectional topology control approaches. Simulation studies have demonstrated these benefits and highlighted its trade-offs.
Oolemmal proteomics – identification of highly abundant heat shock proteins and molecular chaperones in the mature mouse egg and their localization on the plasma membrane

The mature mouse egg contains the full complement of maternal proteins required for fertilization, the transition to zygotic transcription, and the beginning stages of embryogenesis. Many of these proteins remain to be characterized, therefore in this study we have identified highly abundant egg proteins using a proteomic approach and found that several of these proteins also appear to localize to the egg surface. Characterization of such molecules will provide important insight into the cellular events of fertilization and early development. In order to identify some of the more abundant egg proteins, whole egg extracts were resolved on coomassie-stained two-dimensional (2D) PAGE gels. Several highly abundant protein spots were cored and microsequenced by tandem mass spectrometry (TMS), and determined to be molecular chaperone proteins. Concurrent experiments were performed to identify oolemmal proteins using 2D avidin blotting. Proteins spots that appeared to be surface labeled by biotinylation were correlated with the initial coomassie-stained reference gel. Surprisingly, some of the surface labelled proteins corresponded to those abundant chaperone proteins previously identified. To confirm whether these molecules are accumulating at the oolemmal surface in eggs, we performed immunofluoresence on live, zona-free eggs using antibodies to HSP70, HSP90, GRP94, GRP78, calreticulin and calnexin. The putative surface-labeled proteins identified by biotinylation included the molecular chaperones HSP70 (MW 70 KDa, pI 5.5), HSP90a (MW 85 KDa, pI 4.9), GRP94 (MW 92 KDa, pI 4.7), GRP78 (MW 72 KDa, pI 5.0), Oxygen regulated protein 150 (ORP150; MW 111 KDa, pI 5.1), Calreticulin (MW 48 KDa, pI 4.3), Calnexin (MW 65 KDa, pI 4.5), and Protein disulfide isomerase (PDI; MW 57 KDa, pI 4.8). Immunofluoresence results showed that antibodies to HSP90, GRP94, GRP78 and calreticulin were reactive with oolemmal proteins. We were unable to confirm surface localization of HSP70 or calnexin by this method. We report here the identification of nine highly abundant molecular chaperones in the mouse egg proteome. In addition, we present preliminary data suggesting that these molecules localize to the oolemma of the mature mouse egg.
Distinguishing between channel errors and collisions in IEEE 802.11

An important factor compromising the efficiency of IEEE 802.11 based networks and the rate adaptation algorithms they use is their inability to distinguish between packet losses caused by collisions and packet losses caused by channel errors. In this paper, we present a mechanism based on Error Vector Magnitude (EVM) to discern random channel errors from collisions in wireless networks. We show that EVM can be used not only for collision detection but it can also be used to locate the portion of a packet affected by a collision. The proposed methodology uses a classification and regression trees based procedure to develop a thresholding mechanism for EVM to distinguish between the two types of packet corruptions.
Misoprostol as the primary agent for medical abortion in a low-income urban setting.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to assess the outcomes of early medical abortion in an inner-city hospital abortion service, using misoprostol as the primary agent. This was a retrospective chart review from July 2001 through December 2002. Women were eligible if they had a viable pregnancy with gestational age 8 weeks or less by transvaginal ultrasound and no medical contraindications. Two doses of 800 μg misoprostol were administered vaginally, 24 h apart. Initial follow-up was scheduled 2–3 days later. Of the 440 women who underwent medical abortion, 373 (90.8%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 88–94%) completed abortion medically, 38 (9.2%) had uterine aspiration and the remainder had incomplete or no follow-up. Of uterine aspirations, 11 were medically indicated, giving a rate of indicated aspiration of 2.7%. Gestational age, age, gravidity, parity, past abortion history, ethnic group and payer did not significantly correlate with overall rate of aspiration or rate of follow-up, but gestational age was correlated with medically indicated aspiration. Among 57 women who reported a time of tissue passage, the mean time from initial misoprostol dose was 8.5 h (95% CI 6.5–13 h).
Bone’s mechanical properties, as determined by MicroCT, are dependent on precise contour lines

Micro CT based finite element modeling of trabecular and cortical bone is an effective technique for determining bone's mechanical properties. It is unknown, however, to what degree the selection of the volume of interest by the user via contour lines affects bone morphology and mechanical properties. Therefore four bones were each set up with different contour lines and the results for mechanical and morphological parameters compared. As the results differed for the same bone up to , this study gets to the conclusion that an automatic script for drawing contour lines is the only way to get repeatable and comparable results.
The Determinants of Commercial Bank Profitability in Sub-Saharan Africa

Bank profits are high in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) compared to other regions. This paper uses a sample of 389 banks in 41 SSA countries to study the determinants of bank profitability. We find that apart from credit risk, higher returns on assets are associated with larger bank size, activity diversification, and private ownership. Bank returns are affected by macroeconomic variables, suggesting that macroeconomic policies that promote low inflation and stable output growth does boost credit expansion. The results also indicate moderate persistence in profitability. Causation in the Granger sense from returns on assets to capital occurs with a considerable lag, implying that high returns are not immediately retained in the form of equity increases. Thus, the paper gives some support to a policy of imposing higher capital requirements in the region in order to strengthen financial stability.
Multi-objective optimization of laser-welded steel sandwich panels for static loads using a genetic algorithm

We present a methodology for the multi-objective optimization of steel sandwich panels for prescribed quasi-static loads. The steel sandwich panels consist of prismatic V-cores that are bonded to the facings using laser stake welds. Candidate sandwich panel designs are analyzed using geometrically nonlinear finite element analysis. The finite element model is validated by comparing the deflection and stresses for a representative sandwich panel with published experimental and numerical results. Sandwich panels are optimized for multiple, conflicting objectives using an integer-coded non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm. The methodology is illustrated through two optimization case studies. In the first study, we consider a rectangular steel sandwich panel configuration in which the facing segments are bonded to the core segments using double welds and optimize the panel geometry to minimize its deflection and mass. The second optimization study concerns a square steel sandwich panel in which the facings are bonded to the core segments using a single weld. The results demonstrate that the proposed methodology can be used to design lightweight laser-welded steel sandwich panels with superior structural performance.
Back and counter propagation aberrations

Variations on BPN (backward propagation network) and CPN (counter propagation networks) have been presented. The BPN variations are a little quicker and the CPN variations are a little more accurate. The author suggests that these variations should be tested on some other more difficult problems. To this end, a fault-tolerant (in software) handwriting recognizer is being developed using these BPN and CPN variations, along with an adaptive resonance network. Preliminary results indicate that by using the author's equation with the BPN, a 20% decrease in learning time can be obtained, which represents a reduction from 30 to 24 hours for learning the alphabet. >
structuralism routinized, structuralism fractured

Structural Sociology. INO ROSSI, ed. The Logic of Culture: Advances in Structural Theory and Methods. INO ROSSI, ed.
An Experimental Examination of Alternative Forms of Web Assurance for Business‐to‐Consumer e‐Commerce

This study reports the results of an experiment that examined alternative forms of web assurance for “B2C” e‐commerce. Specifically, using a repeated measures design, variations in purchase intent were examined across four within‐subjects web site conditions (two MP3 players and two digital cameras from different web sites) and five between‐subjects assurance conditions (undirected or directed retailer disclosures, VISA, TRUSTe, and WebTrust™). The effects of assurance (present vs. absent) on purchase intent were studied relative to the roles of retailer disclosures, information risk (security, disclosure, and product risk), and familiarity (with the retailer and product). Control variables encompassing previous Internet and online purchase experiences, general intent to buy online, and web site design were also incorporated in the study. No differences in intent to purchase were found for the three assurance conditions and they were combined for further data analysis. Results indicate that higher intent ...
Fatigue crack growth rate does not depend on mantle thickness: an idealized cemented stem construct under torsional loading

Retrieval studies indicate that cemented stem loosening in femoral components of total hip replacement can initiate at the stem-cement interface. The etiology of the crack propagation process from the stem-cement interface is not well understood, but cracks are typically associated with thin cement mantles. In this study, a combination of experimental and computational methods was used to investigate the fatigue crack propagation process from the stem-PMMA cement interface using a novel torsional loading model. Constructs with thin (1 mm), medium (3 mm) or thick (7 mm) cement mantles were evaluated. Crack growth was stable for all cases and the rate of crack growth diminished with increasing crack length. Crack growth rate did not depend on mantle thickness (p > 0.05) over the first 1 mm of crack length, but cracks in thin mantles reached the full thickness of the mantle in the fewest number of loading cycles. The fracture mechanics-based finite element models indicated decreased stress intensity factors with increasing crack length and were consistent with the experimental findings. When combined with a fatigue crack growth Paris-law for PMMA cement, the finite element models provided reasonable predictions of the crack growth process.