cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Theory and simulation of cometary shocks

In this paper, recent kinetic simulation studies of cometary bow shocks are reviewed. Cometary shocks are formed due to solar wind mass loading by water group cometary ions. This process is kinetic in nature and varies as a function of the angle between the solar wind flow velocity and the interplanetary magnetic field, as do the properties of cometary shocks. For perpendicular and parallel orientations, quasi-steady shocks with dissipation scales on the order of proton inertial length form. At oblique orientations, no steady shocks are formed; instead, the transition from supersonic to subsonic flow takes place through multiple shocklets (steepened magnetosonic waves) which are generated by the pickup ions via the resonant electromagnetic ion beam instability. This new, time dependent model of cometary bow shocks is further investigated using a large scale kinetic simulation and is compared to the observations at Comet Giacobini-Zinner.
Pharmaceutical Detailing and Medication Choice: A Micro-Level Analysis of Statins

Introduction: Pharmaceutical marketing expenditures have grown dramatically over the last decade, yet the effects of marketing on drug choice at the physician level is not well understood. Previous research has tried to answer this question using either aggregated national data and limited physician-level data. In contrast, I construct a unique dataset by combining patient-level prescribing data with pharmacy claims data to better measure the effects of detailing and other health plan characteristics, like copayments and formulary position, on drug choice. This research has important implications for understanding the effects of pharmaceutical detailing, which are becoming increasingly important with the introduction of Medicare Part D and for policymakers examining pharmaceutical regulation. Objective: The objective of this paper is to estimate the marginal impact of pharmaceutical detailing on drug choice after controlling for other channels, such as copayment and formulary position, and patient and physician characteristics. Method: Physician detailing data and statin prescriptions (135,947) were collected from a nationally representative sample of 2,442 physicians, and combined with pharmacy prescription data containing copayments and formulary position. The effects of promotion, copayments, physician characteristics, patient characteristics, and drug characteristics on statin choice was estimated using a conditional logit model. To account for detailing being potentially endogenous, a two-stage model was used where the first stage estimated the probability of detailing as a function of total statin prescriptions written by the physician and their location. Results: The marginal effects of promotion show that increasing detailing by 3 visits (standard deviation) increases the probability of drug choice by 4.6%. The effects ranged from 1.4% to 11.1% based on the specific drug. Marginal detailing effects are increased for newly diagnoses patients (7.45%) and for patients switching to new therapy (6.69%). Conclusion: These results show that pharmaceutical detailing is an important factor in drug selection and that the effect varies by type of patient and health plan. Promotion increased the probability of newly diagnosed patients receiving older statins, while patients switching from a previous statin were more likely to be prescribed newer statins. Copayments appear to be important in drug selection, but only among non-generic statins. The level of pharmaceutical detailing, in combination with copayment and formulary position, has a strong impact on the choice of drug prescribed to a patient.
Predicting Merger Outcomes: How Accurate are Event Studies, Market Structure Determinants and Agency Decisions

Merger analysis is an exercise in prediction. This paper analyzes the accuracy of two leading methods of predicting merger outcomes – stock market event studies, and a market-structure/Merger Guidelines approach – as well as the accuracy of antitrust agencies’ decisions whether or not to challenge mergers. The basis for these evaluations of accuracy is a data base of actual price effects of some forty mergers compiled from published merger retrospectives. This paper finds that event studies systematically underpredict the incidence of anticompetitive outcomes, while market structure criteria overpredict competitive problems. Since market structure serves primarily as an initial screen for agency analysis,initial over-inclusiveness may be the optimal first stage of the process of policy determination.
A satellite-derived climatology of global ocean winds

Abstract An interactive Climatology of Global Ocean Winds (COGOW) is presented based on 5 years (August 1999–July 2004) of QuikSCAT satellite measurements of wind speed and direction 10 m above the sea surface. This climatology provides the first high spatial resolution, observationally based, online atlas of ocean winds. Users can retrieve climatological wind maps and wind statistics, both in tabular and graphical form, from the COGOW web-based atlas. The global coverage of these data provides highly accurate information about the wind statistics in regions of the world ocean that are sparsely sampled by ships and buoys. A case study of the recovery of the vessel Ehime Maru off the Hawaiian Island of Oahu is presented to demonstrate the usage and value of COGOW. Evidence of air–sea interactions, one of many wind phenomena visible within COGOW, is discussed to further familiarize users with COGOW. Finally, the utility of COGOW with regard to various operational and research communities is summarized.
Glutathione levels in human platelets display a circadian rhythm in vitro.

Glutathione (GSH) levels were measured in platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and concentrates at 4 hour intervals during storage. The values fell steadily during the first several hours after collection at 9:00 a.m., reaching the lowest level at midnight, 14 hours later. Subsequently, the levels rose to a new peak value at 4:00 a.m. GSH levels continued to show cyclic variation over the 48 hours examined in this study. Change in schedules of light and dark under which the platelets were stored had no effect on GSH periodicity. Platelets from night shift workers also displayed a similar periodicity to that of day workers. Erythrocytes failed to demonstrate a similar time related variation in GSH levels during storage.
The ACI Code: New Items in 2005 and Future Work

The previous edition of the ACI Code, ACI 318-02, contained the largest number of technical changes in more that thirty years. For the 2005 Code, Committee 318 made a decision to delay most technical changes until 2008. The most significant change for 2005 was to improved the consistency of the notation used throughout the Code.
Cardiacα-adrenergic Receptor Expression is Regulated by Thyroid Hormone During a Critical Developmental Period ☆

Although thyroid hormone is obligatory for the development of cardiac beta-adrenergic receptors, it is difficult to assign a specific role for the hormone in receptor ontogeny because beta-receptor expression is affected similarly in the adult. We have determined whether thyroid hormone plays a role in receptor development by evaluating alpha 1-adrenergic receptors, which in the adult are downregulated by thyroid hormone. Propylthiouracil given from gestational day 17 through postnatal day 5 caused significant deficits in the number of alpha 1-receptors and values resolved to normal in parallel with hormone level recovery. When propylthiouracil was administered later (postnatal days 11 through 15) only a transient deficit in alpha 1-receptor binding was seen; hyperthyroidism (triiodothyronine) could still evoke stimulation of receptor expression at this stage. The effects on receptor expression were distinguished from general effects on cell differentiation by examining alpha 2-receptors, which disappear over the first three postnatal weeks; delayed differentiation caused by propylthiouracil would slow the decline in alpha 2-receptors, whereas accelerated differentiation caused by triiodothyronine would hasten the decline. Instead, the effects were similar to those on alpha 1-receptors: perinatal propylthiouracil administration reduced, and neonatal triiodothyronine administration enhanced, alpha 2-receptor binding sites. Thus, thyroid hormone plays a role in the control of cardiac adrenergic receptor expression during a critical development period, with conjoint regulation of the multiple receptor subtypes present within the tissue. As adrenergic stimulation is important in maintaining cardiac function in the perinatal period, alterations of thyroid status during this period can be expected to result in abnormal reactivity and increased perinatal risk.
The Use of Mirror Image Therapy in Substance Abuse Groups

Mirror image therapy formalizes and structures the mirror phenomenon in group counseling. In this report the author explores the therapeutic technique of assigning an individual who has already undergone substance abuse treatment to counseling groups where addicts are just beginning the treatment process. Suggestions are offered for the use of mirror image therapy in other groups.
Rectification and space-charge-limited currents in CdS films

The electrical properties of CdS films have been studied as a function of preparation. Films have been obtained having resistivities from 0·1 to 108 Ω-cm and Hall mobilities from 1 to 30 cm2V−1 sec−1. Rectifiers have been constructed from these films which have shown rectification ratios of 106 with reverse breakdown voltages ranging from 5 to 15 V. Some of the diodes, prepared from high resistivity CdS, exhibit a square law dependence of current on voltage, typical of space-charge-limited currents (SCLC). The onset of the square law current is accompanied by a rapid decrease in the capacitance of the diode. The small effect of the large trap densities on the magnitude of the SCLC cannot be accounted for by the present theory.
Human tumor antigens recognized by T cells

The ability of tumor-reactive T cells to mediate in vivo tumor regression has been demonstrated in murine tumor models and by the clinical responses to adoptive immunotherapy with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes isolated from human melanomas. Investigations carried out in the past several years have resulted in the isolation of a number of the genes encoding antigens recognized by melanoma-reactive T cells. The ability of these products to serve as tumor regression antigens has now begun to be evaluated in clinical vaccine trials.
Correlated wave functions for three-particle systems with Coulomb interaction - The muonic helium atom

A computational procedure for calculating correlated wave functions is proposed for three-particle systems interacting through Coulomb forces. Calculations are carried out for the muonic helium atom. Variational wave functions which explicitly contain interparticle coordinates are presented for the ground and excited states. General Hylleraas-type trial functions are used as the basis for the correlated wave functions. Excited-state energies of the muonic helium atom computed from 1- and 35-term wave functions are listed for four states.
LAN integration of photomask tools at IBM Burlington using the IBMRISC/6000

IBM Burlington has made the transition from a purely IBM MVS Host based architecture for writing and inspecting photomasks to an innovative hybrid host and local area network (LAN) solution. This involved going from a pure 9 track host generated tape environment to a IBM RISC/6000 LAN solution. An 80% tape reduction has been realized to date. Other IBM sites utilizing the same architecture include IBM Essonnes, France; IBM San Jose, CA and IBM Rochester, MN. The transition of the IBM Burlington photomask operational environment will be detailed to show the migration from tape to LAN for current and new equipment. Decision points and rationale that were used in the process will be given.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Improving Influenza Immunization Rates Through a Specialized Clinic Review

Purpose: The purpose of this capstone project was to determine if alternative access by way of a focused immunization clinic rather than a regular physician office visit caused an increase from 2009 to 2010 in the number of people in a rural community who received the influenza vaccine. Reasons why the immunization clinic was chosen by the patient for immunization were identified. Methods: This project was conducted by using a descriptive survey design. A questionnaire was given to individuals who participated in an influenza immunization clinic in a rural community in a southeastern state. Data were collected using a seven-item questionnaire completed by participants. Results: Evaluation of data revealed that 40% of individuals who did not receive their vaccine in 2009 received a flu shot in 2010 through access to the immunization clinic. Conclusion: Evidence suggests that providing alternative access to immunizations in a rural community could potentially improve the rate of participation of individuals.
An investigation of the culture, constituents, and physiological activity of Panaeolus campanulatus

Wild-growing and cultivated carpophores of Panaeolus campanulatus were found to contain serotonin, 5-hydroxytryptophan, tryptophan, urea, and citrulline, but none of these compounds was present in the mycelium or nutrient medium obtained from cultures of the organism. Five additional indole derivatives were detected in the carpophores. These remain unidentified although they were shown not to be psilo-cybine, tryptamine, or N,N-dimethyltryptamine. An extract of the mushroom was found to exhibit parasympathomimetic activity which was muscarinic in nature. Choline was identified chromatographically, but muscarine, which was shown physiologically to exist in minute amounts in an extract, could not be detected by the methods employed. After physiological tests in small animals revealed that the mushroom was relatively nontoxic, a quantity was ingested by one of the investigators to test its reported hallucinogenic activity. No effects were noted, and it is concluded that this fungus does not produce cerebral mycetism nor is it a dangerously poisonous mushroom.
Location of high-affinity metal binding sites in the profile structure of the Ca+2-ATPase in the sarcoplasmic reticulum by resonance x-ray diffraction

Resonance x-ray diffraction measurements on the lamellar diffraction from oriented multilayers of isolated sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) membranes containing a small concentration of lanthanide (III) ions (lanthanide/protein molar ratio approximately 4) have allowed us to calculate both the electron density profile of the SR membrane and the separate electron density profile of the resonant lanthanide atoms bound to the membrane to a relatively low spatial resolution of approximately 40 A. Analysis of the membrane electron density profile and modeling of the separate low resolution lanthanide atom profile, using step-function electron density models based on the assumption that metal binding sites in the membrane profile are discrete and localized, resulted in the identification of a minimum of three such binding sites in the membrane profile. Two of these sites are low-affinity, low-occupancy sites identified with the two phospholipid polar headgroup regions of the lipid bilayer within the membrane profile. Up to 20% of the total lanthanide (III) ions bind to these low-affinity sites. The third site has relatively high affinity for lanthanide ion binding; its Ka is roughly an order of magnitude larger than that for the lower affinity polar headgroup sites. Approximately 80% of the total lanthanide ions present in the sample are bound to this high-affinity site, which is located in the "stalk" portion of the "headpiece" within the profile structure of the Ca+2 ATPase protein, approximately 12 A outside of the phospholipid polar headgroups on the extravesicular side of the membrane profile. Based on the nature of our results and on previous reports in the literature concerning the ability of lanthanide (III) ions to function as Ca+2 analogues for the Ca+2 ATPase we suggest that we have located a high-affinity metal binding site in the membrane profile which is involved in the active transport of Ca+2 ions across the SR membrane by the Ca+2 ATPase.
Correlates of heavy substance use among young gay and bisexual men: The San Francisco Young Men's Health Study

Correlates of heavy substance use among a household-based sample of young gay and bisexual men (n=428) were identified and the odds ratio (OR) was calculated. A total of 13.6% reported frequent, heavy alcohol use and 43% reported polydrug use. Compared with men employed in professional occupations, men in service positions (OR=3.77) and sales positions (OR=2.51) were more likely to be heavy alcohol consumers. Frequent gay bar attendance and multiple sex partners were related to heavy alcohol use, as well as to polydrug use. Polydrug users were more likely to be HIV seropositive (OR=2.05) or of unknown HIV serostatus (OR=2.78). HIV serostatus was similarly related to frequent drug use. These correlates of heavier substance use among young gay and bisexual men could be used to identify and intervene early with members of this population who are at risk of substance misuse, as well as HIV/AIDS risk.
Simultaneous hermaphroditism, tit-for-tat, and the evolutionary stability of social systems

Abstract Egg trading is a kind of mating behavior occuring in simultaneously hermaphroditic coral-reef fishes in the family Serranidae. It is a form of delayed reciprocity in which individuals give up eggs to be fertilized in exchange for the opportunity to fertilize the eggs of a partner. The behavior is consistent with the Tit-for-Tat model of cooperation. Egg trading possesses three unusual but potentially important features. First, it almost certainly originated through interactions among unrelated individuals, unlike other examples of delayed reciprocity. Second, it probably originated not as cooperation but as a form of defection or cheating. Third, egg trading and related behavior can account at least in part for the maintenance of the monogamous mating systems of several serranines under ecological conditions in which such systems would not be expected to originate or persist. The reason is that the effects of such behavior patterns are positively frequency-dependent. Much social behavior probably has frequency-dependent effects, and internally generated stability may therefore be involved in the evolution of many animal social systems. However, the extent of its influence is not yet known.
Adolescent Perceptions of Meaningfulness of Psychiatric Hospitalization

Positive patient outcomes are related to patient satisfaction and the meaningfulness of their hospital experience. Limited attention has been paid to how adolescent psychiatric in-patients experience their treatment course. This study was developed to examine how hospitalized adolescents experience the treatment milieu during an acute hospitalization in a crisis stabilization unit. The study consisted of a survey administered to 105 in-patients at the time of their discharge from the unit. The most meaningful experiences were those in which adolescents focused on issues related to hospitalization and learned skills for breaking problems down into manageable pieces which included setting realistic and achievable goals. Males and females did not significantly differ in their experience of the unit. Identifying the adolescents’ needs and teaching them goal-setting appears to be very important in acute in-patient care. Adolescents reported peer contact and goal-setting work to be the most meaningful experiences.
Estimation of the elastic properties of fractured rock masses

Abstract The discontinuities in rock masses in the form of joints, fissures and interface separations are crucial to the design of various excavations. The effects of such discontinuities can often be characterized by the effective moduli of the fractured rock masses. In the present paper, an estimation of the effective moduli is presented by modeling these discontinuities as planar tunnel cracks. The interaction among the cracks is accounted for within the framework of self-consistent mechanics. Three geometries—randomly distributed cracks, parallel cracks and two orthogonal sets of cracks—are used to simulate the discontinuities in rock masses where all tunnel cracks are parallel to a certain direction. The uncracked material is assumed isotropic, while the cracked solid behaves as an orthotropic material. The damaged elastic moduli, in-plane and out-of-plane, are presented in terms of a defined planar crack density, which can be easily densities at which the in-plane effective moduli vanish is established for each geometry. For all three cases, the out-of-plane moduli decay much slower than the in-plane moduli as the crack density increases. Also addressed in detail is the effect of the interaction between the two orthogonal sets of cracks on the damaged elastic properties. Some applications to geomechanics are discussed, and an investigation is made of the scale dependence of the modulus.
Pyrolysis of methyl chloride, a pathway in the chlorine-catalyzed polymerization of methane

The reaction of CH4 + Cl2 produces predominantly CH3Cl + HCl, which above 1200 K goes to olefins, aromatics, and HCl. Results obtained in laboratory experiments and detailed modeling of the chlorine-catalyzed polymerization of methane at 1260 and 1310 K are presented. The reaction can be separated into two stages, the chlorination of methane and pyrolysis of methylchloride. The pyrolysis of CH3Cl formed C2H4 and C2H2 in increasing yields as the degree of conversion decreased and the excess of methane increased. Changes of temperature, pressure, or additions of HCl had little effect. In the absence of CH4 C2H4 and C2H2 are formed by the recombination of ĊH3 and ĊH2Cl radicals. With added CH4 recombination of ĊH3 forms C2H6, which dehydrogenates to C2H4 + H2. C2H4 in turn dehydrogenates to C2H2 + H2. While HCl, C, CH4, and H2 are the ultimate stable products, C2H4, C2H2, and C6H6 are produced as intermediates and appear to approach stationary concentrations in the system. Their secondary reactions can be described by radical reactions, which can lead to soot formation. ĊH3 - initiated polymerization of ethylene is negligible relative to the Ċ2H3 formation through H abstraction by Cl. The fastest reaction of Ċ2H3 is its decomposition to C2H2. About 20% of the consumption of C2H2 can be accounted for by the addition of Ċ2H3 to it with formation of the butadienyl radical. The addition of the latter to C2H2 is slow relative to its decomposition to vinylacetylene. Successive H abstraction by Cl from C4H4 leading to diacetylene has rates compatible with the experimental values. About 10% of Ċ4H5 abstracts H from HCl and forms butadiene. Successive additions of Ċ2H3 to butadiene and the products of addition can account for the formation of benzene, styrene, naphthalene, and higher polyaromatics. The following rate parameters have been derived on the basis of the experimentally measured reaction rates, the estimated frequency factors, and the currently available heat of formation of the Ċ2H3 radical (69 kcal/mol):
Rheological models of rubber-carbon black compounds: low interaction viscoelastic models and high interaction thixotropic - plastic - viscoelastic models

Abstract The rheological behavior of a gum elastomer (natural rubber) and its carbon black compounds is represented in terms of a series of interrelated models. A distinction is made between those compounds with low interaction (large particles or low loadings of small particles) and those with high interaction (large loadings of small particles). The low interaction compounds are treated as viscoelastic materials with filler loading modified properties. The high interaction compounds are represented as 'thixotropic-plastic-viscoelastic' materials. The basic non-linear viscoelastic model used in this paper is that due to Bogue, but other non-linear viscoelastic formulations could be used.
Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and IGF-II contribute differentially to the phenotype of pregnancy associated plasma protein-A knock-out mice

Context Insulin-like growth factor (IGF) signaling is essential for achieving optimal body size during fetal development, peak bone mass during puberty, and maximal fecundity in the reproductive period. IGF-II is considered the main fetal IGF, whereas IGF-I is more important postnatally. Pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) enhances local IGF signaling through cleavage of inhibitory IGF binding proteins. Conversely, inhibition of PAPP-A results in reduced local IGF action. Thus, PAPP-A knock-out (KO) mice are born as proportional dwarfs due to the dysregulation of IGF-II signaling during early embryogenesis that impacts body size. Relaxation of IgfII imprinting through mutation of a reciprocally imprinted downstream gene, H19, which allowed transcription of IGF-II from the normally silent maternal allele, rescued the dwarf phenotype of PAPP-A KO mice.
Elionating Respirable Dust from the Cotton Workplace by Purifying Humidifier Water: A Cost Analysis

Vertical-elutriator cotton-dust samplers collect all particles with aerodynamic diameters < 15 μm, including those whose origin is not in the cotton supply. One process giving rise to such non-cotton dust particles is the spray-drying of dissolved solids in the water supplied to the plant humidification system. Based on a survey of plant production, ventilation, and ambient conditions, it is shown that a cost-effective strategy for reducing the concentration of "cotton dust" in the atmosphere of textile plants could be to remove the dissolved solids from the water supplied to the humidification system to prevent their release in the plants as respirable dust. It is estimated that when atomizers are used for humidification, dust removal by deminer alization of the water supplied to the atomizers can be achieved at a fraction of the cost (1/30th to 1 /9th) compared with the cost of removing an equivalent amount of dust by conventional air-filtration technology. For humidification supplied exclusively by air...
A Tactual-Kinesthetic Curvature Illusion

(1956). A Tactual-Kinesthetic Curvature Illusion. The Journal of Psychology: Vol. 41, No. 2, pp. 271-272.
Strict conservation of the retroviral nucleocapsid protein zinc finger is strongly influenced by its role in viral infection processes: characterization of HIV-1 particles containing mutant nucleocapsid zinc-coordinating sequences.

Abstract The retroviral nucleocapsid (NC) protein contains highly conserved amino acid sequences (-Cys-X 2 -Cys-X 4 -His-X 4 -Cys-) designated retroviral (CCHC) Zn 2+ fingers. The NC protein of murine leukemia viruses contains one NC Zn 2+ finger and mutants that were competent in metal binding (CCCC and CCHH) packaged wild-type levels of full-length viral RNA but were not infectious. These studies were extended to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), a virus with two NC Zn 2+ fingers. Viruses with combinations of CCHC, CCCC, and CCHH Zn 2+ fingers in each position of HIV-1 NC were characterized. Mutant particles contained the normal complement of processed viral proteins. Four mutants packaged roughly wild-type levels of genomic RNA, whereas the remaining mutants packaged reduced levels. Virions with mutated C-terminal position NC fingers were replication competent. One interesting mutant, containing a CCCC Zn 2+ finger in the N-terminal position of NC, packaged wild-type levels of viral RNA and showed ∼5% wild-type levels of infectivity when examined in CD4-expressing HeLa cells containing an HIV-1 LTR/β-galactosidase construct. However, this particular mutant was replication defective in H9 cells; all other mutants were replication defective over the 8-week course of the assay. Two long terminal repeat viral DNA species could be detected in the CCCC mutant but not in any of the other replication-defective mutants. These studies show that the N-terminal Zn 2+ finger position is more sensitive to alterations than the C-terminal position with respect to replication. Additionally, the retroviral (CCHC) NC Zn 2+ finger is required for early infection processes. The evolutionary pressure to maintain CCHC NC Zn 2+ fingers depends mainly on its function in infection processes, in addition to its function in genome packaging.
A linear regression model to predict the pH of neonatal parenteral nutrition solution.

Introduction: Providing the high calcium intake necessary for normal bone mineralization in rapidly growing very low birth weight infants is difficult because calcium and phosphorus solubility is limited in the range of parenteral nutrition pH. A major determinant of calcium and phosphorus solubility in vitro is solution pH. The objective of this study was to develop and assess the accuracy of a method to predict the final parenteral solution pH as a linear function of the individual parenteral component concentrations. Methods: pH values were measured for 205 neonatal parenteral nutrition solutions prepared during a 5-week period. Concentrations of the 13 components used to synthesize parenteral nutrition were determined for each solution. Data from 135 samples were used to develop a linear regression coefficient model with pH as the dependent variable. From the regression model the pH was predicted for the remaining 70 samples using the seven significant solution component concentrations, and the predicted and measured solution pH values were compared. Results: The mean measured parenteral nutrition pH for all solutions was 5·364 ± 0·110 (mean ± SD, range 5·03–5·73). The absolute mean pH difference between the predicted and measured value for the 70 test samples was 0·04 ± 0·04. pH estimated with the model correlated highly with measured pH (r2 = 0·77). The seven components in the regression model accounted for 81% of the pH variance. Conclusion: The pH of neonatal parenteral nutrition solutions can be predicted accurately as a linear function of the solution concentrations of the following seven components: sodium acetate, sodium phosphate, potassium phosphate, potassium acetate, magnesium sulphate, amino acid solution and dextrose. The absolute mean difference between measured pH and predicted pH was 0·04. Applying this method to estimate pH with the interactive properties of computer-based ordering systems could enhance calcium and phosphorus administration to very low birth weight infants.
Innovative Instrumentation for Analysis of Nanoparticles: The π Steradian Detector

The analysis was finally completed, the data graphed, and I had to admit to myself, it was looking like an auspicious moment. Only a few weeks earlier, Charlie Lyman and I had been discussing a project that I had been working on for some time, one in which I was admittedly being deliberately vague concerning the details. However, I had promised to keep him updated when it succeeded. Given the date (April 1st) and the data in hand, I couldn't resist sharing with him (and a few colleagues) the first results from that experiment—and my thinly veiled attempt at a quasi-April Fools Day joke. After we exchanged a number of emails that day, Charlie concluded his last message with the line that many of us have heard from both him and Ron Anderson: “A little more text and you can have an article in the July issue of MT.” Have I gotten you curious? Well then read on!
Ecological and evolutionary principles in immunology

Experimental immunology has given rise to detailed insights into how immune cells react to infectious agents and fight pathogens. At the same time, however, the interplay between infectious agents and immune responses can be viewed as an ecological system in vivo. This is characterized by complex interactions between species of immune cells and populations of pathogens. This review discusses how an understanding of the immune system can be aided by the application of ecological and evolutionary principles: competition, predation, and the evolution of viruses in vivo. These concepts can shed light onto important immunological concepts such as the correlates of efficient virus control, immunodominance, the relationship between viral evolution and the development of pathology, as well as the ability of the immune system to control immunosuppressive infections.
Biotransformation of Uranium Compounds in High Ionic Strength Brine by a Halophilic Bacterium under Denitrifying Conditions

We investigated the transformations of uranyl nitrate, uranyl citrate, uranyl ethylenediaminetetraacetate (U-EDTA), and uranyl carbonate by a denitrifying halophilic bacterium, Halomonassp. (WIPP1A), isolated from the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) repository. The addition of uranyl nitrate, uranyl citrate, or uranyl EDTA to the brine or bacterial growth medium resulted in the precipitation of uranium. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis of the precipitates formed in the brine and in the growth medium were identified as uranyl hydroxide [UO 2( OH) 2 ] and uranyl hydroxophosphato species [K(UO 2 ) 5 (PO 4 ) 3( OH) 2 .nH 2 O], respectively. Dissolution of the uranium precipitate was concomitant with the growth of the bacteria under anaerobic conditions. The UV-vis spectra of the culture medium during growth showed that a uranyl dicarbonate complex [UO 2 (CO 3 ) 2 ] 2- was formed due to CO 2 production from the metabolism of the carbon source succinate. The bacterium completely metabolized the citrate released from the uranyl citrate complex but not the EDTA released from the U-EDTA complex. Adding uranyl carbonate to the growth medium caused no changes in the uranium speciation due to bacterial growth. Uranyl carbonate was not biosorbed by the growing culture nor by washed resting cells suspended in 20% NaCl brine (3.4 M) because the complex was either neutral or anionic. Our results demonstrate that bacterial activity can enhance the dissolution of uranium phosphate by forming uranyl carbonate species.
Characterization of ion transport mechanisms involved in bombesin-stimulated biliary secretion in rat cholangiocytes

Abstract Background/Aims: Bombesin is a neuropeptide which stimulates fluid and bicarbonate secretion from cholangiocytes by stimulating Cl − /HCO 3 − exchange. However, the underlying regulation and interactions of ion transporters and channels mediating this bombesin-stimulated biliary secretion are not well characterized. The aim of the study was to characterize the ion transport processes involved in bombesinstimulated secretion in polarized cholangiocytes in comparison with those of secretin. Methods: Isolated bile duct units (IBDU) were prepared from normal rat liver. Biliary secretion induced by bombesin was measured by quantitative videomicroscopy in the presence and absence of inhibitors. Results: Bombesin-stimulated secretion was inhibited by H 2 -DIDS, NPPB, BaCl 2 , TEA, and acetazolamide. However, in contrast to secretin, bombesin-stimulated secretion was not inhibited by disruption of microtubules. Conclusions: Bombesin-stimulated biliary secretion is dependent on anion exchangers, Cl − and K + channels, and carbonic anhydrase but not on microtubules. Bombesin regulates secretion in cholangiocytes by different mechanisms from those established for secretin.
Association of brain network efficiency with aging, depression, and cognition

Objective Newly developed techniques for understanding brain connectivity have emerged with the application of graph theory–based measures to neuroimaging modalities. However, the cognitive correlates of these measures, particularly in the context of clinical diagnoses like major depression, are still poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to compare four measures of network efficiency derived from novel techniques for understanding white matter connectivity on their associations with aging, depression, and cognition. Methods In a cross-sectional neuroimaging study, we recruited from the general community 43 healthy comparison subjects and 40 subjects with major depressive disorder who volunteered in response to advertisements. Brain network efficiency measures were generated from diffusion tensor imaging–derived structural connectivity matrices using the Brain Connectivity Toolbox. Information processing speed and decision making were assessed with the Trail Making Test and the Object Alternation task, respectively. Results All four network efficiency measures correlated negatively with age. In the depressed group, normalized global efficiency was negatively correlated with depression severity, whereas increasing global efficiency was associated with poorer performance on Object Alternation. Conclusion Brain network efficiency measures may represent different aspects of underlying network organization depending on the population and behaviors in question.
A Portable Power Source Based on MEMS and Carbon Nanotubes

There is a growing need for small, lightweight, reliable, highly efficient and fully rechargeable portable power sources. The focus of this project is the design and modeling of a system in which energy is stored in the elastic deformation of carbon nanotube (CNT)-based springs. The CNTs are coupled to a MEMS electric generator. When the CNT deformation is released, the stored energy actuates the generator, which then converts the energy into electricity. The MEMS generator may be operated in reverse, as a motor, in order to wind the CNT springs and recharge the system. Alternatively, the stored elastic energy may be used to supply a mechanical load directly. This project is motivated by recent research into the mechanical properties of CNTs. The CNTs have a high stiffness, low defect density, and a consequently high yield strain that enables them to store elastic energy with significantly greater energy density than typical spring materials such as high-carbon steel. Models suggest that CNTs can be reversibly stretched by up to 15% [1]; lower strains of up to 6% have been demonstrated experimen-tally to date [2-3].This type of system offers several important potential advantages. First, due to CNTs’ high strength, high flexibility, and low defect density, they can store energy at very high energy density. Con-sidering just the CNT-based spring itself, the energy density of an array of CNTs stretched to a reversible 15% strain is about 1500 W-hr/kg, about ten times the energy density of Li-ion batteries. The energy density of the final system will be lower because of the finite conversion efficiency of the generator and the weight of both the supporting structure and the generator hardware. In addition, because energy storage in the CNT system is based on stretching chemical bonds rather than breaking and reforming chemical bonds as in batteries, the CNT-MEMS generator sys-tem has the potential to operate at higher power densities, un-der harsher conditions, to deeper discharge levels, and through a greater number of charge-discharge cycles than a chemical bat-tery.The system architecture consists of a CNT-based energy storage element, an energy release rate mechanism, and a MEMS gen-erator. This project is examining and modeling different varia-tions on this system architecture that incorporate different modes of deformation of the CNT-based energy storage element, vari-ous types of generators, different types of coupling between the storage element and the generator, and different size scales for the various components. One conceptual example is illustrated below, in which the axial relaxation of an axially-stretched CNT-based storage element is converted to rotational motion of a wheel. The wheel is coupled to a piezoelectric generator through a mechanism that regulates the rate of energy release, much as in a mechanical watch.
Glycemic Management in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease and Prediabetes or Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

A 67-year-old man presents for ongoing management of his cardiometabolic health. He has had type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) for 7 years, hypertension, and dyslipidemia; is overweight; and suffered an inferior myocardial infarction 2 years earlier. Under your advice, he has made attempts to exercise with 30 minutes of daily walking and has tried to make healthy dietary choices and to watch food portion sizes. Over the past year, he lost 7 kg but regained 4 kg and remains overweight. His medications include metformin, a statin, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, a β-blocker, and low-dose aspirin. On examination, his weight is 91.5 kg, body mass index is 32.0 kg/m2, waist circumference is 105.3 cm, and blood pressure 138/84 mm Hg. The rest of the examination is unremarkable and shows no evidence of microvascular complications of diabetes mellitus. His fasting plasma glucose is 10.3 mmol/L (185 mg/dL) and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is 7.9%. Atherosclerosis is the principal cause of death and disability in patients with T2DM. In these patients, cardiovascular disease typically occurs at an early age, with great severity and diffuse distribution. More than half of the patients with newly diagnosed T2DM have established coronary artery disease, whereas one third of patients with coronary artery disease have known diabetes mellitus. Screening patients with established coronary artery disease but without preexisting diabetes will confirm the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus in an additional 15% to 20%. Impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance will be detected in an additional 30% to 40%. Thus, more patients with established heart disease have abnormal than normal glucose tolerance, and screening for diabetes mellitus is warranted in patients with coronary artery disease or risk factors for cardiovascular disease. There are now multiple accepted ways to screen for diabetes mellitus in adults, including measurement …
A new type of shooting method for nonlinear boundary value problems

Abstract In this article we introduce a new type of iterative method for initial value problems (IVPs). We enhance this method by using shooting techniques and interpolation for the boundary value problems. Our method is more accurate and applicable than built in methods used in different software packages. We solved several examples for initial value problems and linear and non-linear boundary value problems and compared results to those obtained using MATLAB.
Stochasticity, invasions, and branching random walks

We link deterministic integrodifference equations to stochastic, individual-based simulations by means of branching random walks. Using standard methods, we determine speeds of invasion for both average densities and furthest-forward individuals. For density-independent branching random walks, demographic stochasticity can produce extinction. Demographic stochasticity does not, however, reduce the overall asymptotic speed of invasion or preclude continually accelerating invasions.
Overexpression of the human type-1 insulin-like growth factor receptor in rat L6 myoblasts induces ligand-dependent cell proliferation and inhibition of differentiation

The human type-1 insulin-like growth factor receptor was overexpressed in rat L6 skeletal myoblasts using a retroviral expression vector. At low concentrations of insulin-like growth factor-I (1-10 ng/ml), dose-dependent stimulation of myoblast differentiation was similar in control L6 myoblasts and L6 myoblasts which overexpressed the type-1 insulin-like growth factor receptor. At high concentrations of insulin-like growth factor-I (50-100 ng/ml), L6 myoblasts which overexpressed the receptor did not undergo terminal differentiation and proliferated to form multilayers, while differentiation of control myoblasts was further stimulated. These findings indicate that overexpression of the type-1 IGF receptor can stimulate proliferation and inhibit differentiation in skeletal myoblasts in a ligand-dependent manner.
Cascaded Formulation of the Fundamental Polytope of General Linear Block Codes

We propose a new linear programming formulation for the decoding of general linear block codes. Different from the original formulation given by J. Feldman (2003), the number of total variables to characterize a parity-check constraint in our formulation is less than twice the degree of the corresponding check node. The equivalence between our new formulation and the original formulation is proven. Moreover, we show that any fundamental polytope is simply the intersection of a group of so-called minimum polytopes. Based on this, we propose a branch-and-bound method to compute a non-trivial lower bound to the minimum distance of a linear block code with affordable complexity.
Awareness of and Responses to Changes in the National Cancer Institute's Guidelines for Mammography in Women Aged 35–49

ABSTRACT In 1994, as part of their participation in the University of North Carolina UNC Alumni Heart Study (UNCAHS), 1134 women aged 35–49 years answered five questions designed to assess the impact of the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) changing recommendations about screening mammography for women aged 40–49. The popular press and media frequently covered this topic in November and December 1993. The majority of the women had heard of the NCI's changed recommendations (84%). The main sources of information were newspapers (72%) and radio/TV (70%). Of the 84% of the women who had heard of the recommended changes, 27% reported an intention to reduce their frequency of mammography and 73% reported no changes in their planned behavior. Knowledge of the recommended changes was associated with personality factors, self-rated health, and income, whereas intention to change behavior was associated with the individual's risk of breast cancer and level of achievement striving. The results indicate that women's...
40-Gbaud/s (120-Gbit/s) octal and 10-Gbaud/s (40-Gbit/s) hexadecimal simultaneous addition and subtraction using 8PSK/16PSK and highly nonlinear fiber

Employing 8PSK and 16PSK modulation formats, non-degenerate four-wave mixing (FWM) in a single highly nonlinear fiber (HNLF), and coherent detection, we experimentally demonstrate 40-Gbaud/s (120-Gbit/s) octal and 10-Gbaud/s (40-Gbit/s) hexadecimal simultaneous addition (A+B) and bidirectional subtraction (A-B, B-A).
Manure and nitrogen fertilizer effects on corn productivity and soil fertility under drip and furrow irrigation

A field experiment was conducted at the Arkansas Valley Research Center in 2005 through 2007 to study the effects of manure and nitrogen fertilizer on corn yield, nutrient uptake, N and P soil tests, and soil salinity under furrow and drip irrigation. Manure or inorganic N was applied in 2005 and 2006 only. There were no significant differences in corn yield between drip and furrow irrigation even though, on average, 42% less water was applied with drip irrigation. Inorganic N or manure application generally increased grain yield, kernel weight, grain and stover N uptake, and grain P uptake. Nitrogen rates above 67 kg ha−1 did not increase grain yield significantly in 2005 or 2006, nor did manure rates in excess of 22 Mg ha−1. High manure rates increased soil salinity early in the season, depressing corn yields in 2005 and 2006, particularly with drip irrigation. Salts tended to accumulate in the lower half of the root zone under drip irrigation. Residual nitrate nitrogen from manure and inorganic N appli...