cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A communication model for determining the appropriateness of on-product warnings

Evidence is presented to show that on-product warnings (OPWs) are not seen or are ignored. The author maintains that there is no sound empirical evidence that OPWs influence behavior. He describes evidence, however, that they might be dangerous. It is suggested that OPWs are being used too pervasively. Use of warning labels should be reserved for only those products where it can reasonably be determined that labels are an appropriate method for communication. The author provides a qualitative protocol for making that determination. The protocol includes consideration of six elements of a communication model: sender, receiver, message, medium/channel, objective, and environment.
Cardiovascular Effects of Sildenafil in Men with SCIs at and Above T6

Purpose: To determine the cardiovascular effects of sildenafil in men with spinal cord injuries (SCIs) at and above the level of T6, we conducted a double-masked, placebo-controlled laboratory-based study. Method: Participants received sildenafil 50 mg or lactose placebo on alternating days 1 hour prior to a 78-minute experimental protocol. Six-minute baseline periods alternated with two 12-minute audiovisual stimulation periods. Participants include 10 men with traumatic SCIs, mean age of 43. Results: Results revealed significant increases in penile circumference with sildenafil compared to placebo (p = .0035). Although there was a trend for patients to acknowledge higher levels of arousal while on sildenafil, results were not statistically significant. Moreover, although there was a trend toward decreased blood pressure and increased heart rate with the use of sildenafil, differences were not statistically significant. Conclusion: Based upon these findings, sildenafil appears to be a safe, effective dru...
Exact offset procedures for simple solids

This paper outlines exact offset procedures for three basic classes of solid primitive: (1) solids of revolution with simple profile curves; (2) solids of linear extrusion with simple profile curves; and (3) convex planar polyhedra. Concepts from differential geometry are used to illustrate the complexity of offsets to general curves and surfaces, and to identify conditions under which offset geometries degenerate. Qualitative descriptions for offset surfaces to simple solids are then presented, in terms of their elementary constituent patches, and the geometrical and topological relationship of these patches to the progenitor primitives. Precise mathematical representations for the required surface elements, as parametric rational polynomial forms, are given in an Appendix. The uses and limitations of offset solids in a solid modeling environment are briefly assessed, and the difficulties of offsets for complex solids are enumerated.
Evidence That tRNA Synthetase-Directed Proton Transfer Stops Mistranslation

To prevent mistranslation, aminoacyl−tRNA synthetases (AARSs) discriminate against noncognate amino acids and cellular metabolites. Defects in specificity produce statistical proteins which, in mammalian cells, lead to activation of the unfolded protein response and cell death. Because of inherent limitations in amino acid discrimination by a single active site, AARSs evolved a separate domain to clear mischarged amino acids. Although the structure of a widely distributed editing domain for ThrRS and AlaRS is known, the mechanism of amino acid clearance remains elusive. This domain has two motifs that together have four conserved residues in the pocket used to clear serine from mischarged tRNAs. Here, using ThrRS as an example, rapid single-turnover kinetics, mutagenesis, and solvent isotope analysis show that a strictly conserved histidine (between ThrRS and AlaRS) extracts a proton in the chemical step of the editing reaction. Three other conserved residues, and two additional residues in the editing po...
The zEnterprise 196 System and Microprocessor

The zEnterprise 196 is the latest IBM System zSeries mainframe computer, which builds on IBM's 46-year heritage of compatible enterprise-class machines. This design advances the prior z10 processor pipeline with out-of-order execution to achieve considerable performance gains in legacy online transaction processing and computationally intensive workloads. This article describes the system structure and details of this new high-frequency microprocessor.
Atomic temporal interval relations in branching time: calculation and application

A practical method of reasoning about intervals in a branching-time model which is dense, unbounded, future-branching, without rejoining branches is presented. The discussion is based on heuristic constraint- propagation techniques using the relation algebra of binary temporal relations among the intervals over the branching-time model. This technique has been applied with success to models of intervals over linear time by Allen and others, and is of cubic-time complexity. To extend it to branding-time models, it is necessary to calculate compositions of the relations; thus, the table of compositions for the 'atomic' relations is computed, enabling the rapid determination of the composition of arbitrary relations, expressed as disjunctions or unions of the atomic relations.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
How does tourism in a community impact the quality of life of community residents

Abstract The objective of this study is to test a theoretical model that links community residents' perceptions of tourism impact (economic, social, cultural, and environmental) with residents' satisfaction with particular life domains (material well-being, community well-being, emotional well-being, and health and safety well-being) and overall life satisfaction. The model also posits that the strength of these perceptual relationships is moderated by the stage of tourism development in the community. The model was tested using a survey of 321 respondents from communities varying in their level of tourism development. The results were mostly supportive of the overall model. Theoretical and managerial implications of the study findings are discussed.
Identification of Aldehydes and Ketones from the Time-of-Flight Mass Spectra of their 2,4-Dinitrophenylhydrazones

A heated probe designed by Kearns (1) for use with the Bendix time-of-flight mass spectrometer provided a means of obtaining the mass spectra of the 2,4-dinitro-phenylhydrazones of carbonyl compounds. The reaction of 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine with carbonyl compounds and measurement of the melting point of the 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazones is a commonly used analytical procedure.
Local error estimation by doubling

Doubling, or Richardson extrapolation, is a general principle for the estimation of the local error made by a one-step method for the numerical solution of the initial value problem for a system of ordinary differential equations. Some contributions are made to the theory of doubling. Principles of comparing explicit Runge-Kutta formulas are reviewed and illustrated in a balanced appraisal of doubling in the context of fourth order formulas. Some apparently contradictory comparisons in the literature are explained.
Leveraging Connected Vehicle Technology and Telematics to Enhance Vehicle Fuel Efficiency in the Vicinity of Signalized Intersections

Driving on highways and arterial roadways involves vehicle acceleration, braking, cruising, coasting, and idling episodes. As the vehicle speed deviates from its “fuel optimum speed,” additional fuel is consumed, thus reducing the vehicle fuel efficiency. The research presented in this article develops a connected vehicle application entitled Eco-Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control (ECACC) that uses infrastructure-to-vehicle (I2V) communication to receive signal phasing and timing (SPaT) data, predict future constraints on a vehicle's trajectory, and optimize its trajectory to minimize the vehicle's fuel consumption level. The trajectory optimization is made using a moving horizon dynamic programming (DP) approach. A modified A-star algorithm is developed to enhance the computational efficiency of the DP for use in real-time implementations. The model is calibrated and tested on 30 top-sold vehicles in the United States and is demonstrated to provide fuel savings within the vicinity of signalized intersec...
Original Contribution: A solution of the figure-ground problem for biological vision

A neural network model of 3-D visual perception and figure-ground separation by visual cortex is introduced. The theory provides a unified explanation of how a 2-D image may generate a 3-D percept; how figures pop-out from cluttered backgrounds; how spatially sparse disparity cues can generate continuous surface representations at different perceived depths; how representations of occluded regions can be completed and recognized without usually being seen; how occluded regions can sometimes be seen during percepts of transparency; how high spatial frequency parts of an image may appear closer than low spatial frequency parts; how sharp targets are detected better against a figure and blurred targets are detector better against a background; how low spatial frequency parts of an image may be fused while high spatial frequency parts are rivalrous; how sparse blue cones can generate vivid blue surface percepts; how 3-D neon color spreading, visual phantoms, and tissue contrast percepts are generated; how conjunctions of color-and-depth may rapidly pop-out during visual search. These explanations are derived from an ecological analysis of how monocularly viewed parts of an image fill-in the appropriate depth from contiguous binocularly viewed parts, as during DaVinci stereopsis. The model predicts the functional role and ordering of multiple interactions within and between the two parvocellular processing streams that join lateral geniculate nuclei (LGN) to prestriate area V4. Interactions from cells representing larger scales and disparities to cells representing smaller scales and disparities are of particular importance. An application to painterly color technique is noted.
Control of Ga profiles in (AgCu)(InGa)Se 2 absorber layers deposited on polyimide substrates

Modification of Ga depth profiles in Cu(InGa)Se 2 films on polyimide substrates has coincided with device efficiencies approaching 19% at temperatures at least 100 °C lower than on glass substrates. In the present study, (AgCu)(InGa)Se 2 films with nominal bandgaps E g ≈ 1.4 eV have been deposited on polyimide substrates using various three-stage deposition processes to modify Ga depth profiles. Devices were characterized by J-V and quantum efficiency measurements for comparison to their Ga profiles. The highest-efficiency device had η= 17.9% with device parameters V OC = 744 mV, J SC = 32.2 mA/cm2, and FF= 74.7%.
Relation of Blood Group Genotypes to Therapeutic Effectiveness of Bone Marrow Transplants Following X-Irradiation.∗

SummaryChicks of known blood group genotype and parentage produced from a partially inbred line of Single Comb White Leghorns were subjected to 1800 r of discontinuous X-irradiation when approximately 21 days of age. Irradiation was administered at the rate of 16.5 r/minute in increments of 300 r interspersed with 40-minute intervals without irradiation. Immediately following irradiation hosts received intravenous injections of bone marrow homogenate obtained from sacrificed donors having various degrees of blood group genotype relationship with the respective hosts. Thirty-day post-irradiation mortality of hosts receiving transplants from donors of a different breed or of the same breed but of incompatible A, B, C and D blood group genotype was essentially the same as the irradiated controls receiving no bone marrow transplants. These groups averaged 7.3% survival as opposed to 66.3% survival for hosts receiving transplants from donors of identical blood type. When donor and host were full-sibs in additi...
Synergism of lorazepam and electroconvulsive therapy in the treatment of catatonia

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and lorazepam are effective treatments for catatonia. ECT combined with benzodiazepines has been associated with reduced efficacy and efficiency and therefore is not recommended in the routine practice of ECT. We report 5 prospectively identified cases of catatonia treated either sequentially or concurrently with lorazepam and ECT. In each case, the combination of lorazepam with ECT was superior to monotherapy. This apparent synergism, its possible mechanisms, and its implications for treating catatonia are discussed.
Changes in Soil Test Phosphorus Concentration After Application of Manure or Fertilizer

The availability of P from injected manure application has received limited study. The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of time on P availability in soils amended with manure or fertilizer, evaluate the relative availability of manure P compared with fertilizer P, and determine the impact of previous manure history on P availability. Liquid swine manure or fertilizer was applied to Minnesota soils, from seven different mapping units with various manure histories. The application rates were equivalent to the amount of total P applied in undisturbed manure injection zones. Soils were analyzed for available P after incubation periods of 1, 2, 3, 6, and 9 mo. As the duration of incubation increased, fertilizer P became less available in six of the seven soil series, while soil test P concentrations in manured soils were unchanged. Phosphorus from liquid swine manure was more available than fertilizer P from 1 through 9 mo of incubation. It is postulated that the decomposition of manure resulted in concentrations of organic acids that effectively reduced P sorption to the soil and increased P availability. Prior manure history had a mixed impact on the availability of P from subsequent applications of manure or fertilizer. Further studies need to be conducted to determine if similar results can be found in a field setting.
The physician's view of health examinations

H ISTORY will recognize the present decade as a period of awakened consciousness to the social obligations of the community. The progress that is being made in this field offers promise that the oncoming generation may enjoy a more abundant life than its predecessors have known. The principles of child guidance and protection are recognized as of paramount importance in the bettering of social conditions. Along with plans for universal education, directed recreation, elimination of child labor, and correction of malnutrition, attention is being directed to the prevention or the early recognition of disease. Such programs should be most effective ~n the reduction of physical incapacity and associated social pathology. Certainly no social program can be complete unless i t includes adequate attention to health measures and recognizes the close relationship between the general efficiency of the individual and his optimum state of health. It is easy to enlist supporters for campaigns for child betterment. The unanimous opinion of humanitarians is that all available means should be directed toward the improvement of conditions which the children of the nation faust face in preparing themselves for adult life. The enthusiasm for righting conditions may lead to the adoption of methods which are not ideal for the purpose, lV[isguided enthusiasm may lead programs away from their true objectives and ultimately retard rather than advance their accomplishment. Unless each situation is surveyed as a whole and as an integral part of the complete program, and unless p lans are directed toward the ultimate
Fast Optical Detector Deposited On Dielectric Channel Waveguides

We have fabricated a thin-film optical detector for detecting short optical pulses propagating in channel waveguides. The detectors show response times of 200 ps full width at half maximum amplitude when illuminated by guided, subpicosecond optical pulses. The detectors are formed by depositing hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) directly on the dielectric channel waveguides. Back-to-back Schottky photodiodes are then formed when interdigitated chrome-gold metal contacts are deposited on the a-Si:H.
Fast local reduced basis updates for the efficient reduction of nonlinear systems with hyper-reduction

Projection-based model reduction techniques rely on the definition of a small dimensional subspace in which the solution is approximated. Using local subspaces reduces the dimensionality of each subspace and enables larger speedups. Transitions between local subspaces require special care and updating the reduced bases associated with each subspace increases the accuracy of the reduced-order model. In the present work, local reduced basis updates are considered in the case of hyper-reduction, for which only the components of state vectors and reduced bases defined at specific grid points are available. To enable local reduced basis updates, two comprehensive approaches are proposed. The first one is based on an offline/online decomposition. The second approach relies on an approximated metric acting only on those components where the state vector is defined. This metric is computed offline and used online to update the local bases. An analysis of the error associated with this approximated metric is then conducted and it is shown that the metric has a kernel interpretation. Finally, the application of the proposed approaches to the model reduction of two nonlinear physical systems illustrates their potential for achieving large speedups and good accuracy.
Optical viscosity sensor

Viscosity measurement by bend loss of fiber is presented. The sensing principle makes use of the damping characteristic of a vibrating optical fiber probe with fix-free end configuration. By measuring the displacement of the fiber probe, the viscosity can be determined by matching the probe's displacement with the displacement built in the database obtained by either experimental method or Finite element calculation. Experimental results are presented by measuring the sucrose and glycerol solutions of different concentrations with a viscosity varying from 1 to 15 cP. Stokes' flow assumption is utilized to attenuate the mass density effect and simplify the viscosity measurement.
Electron stimulated processes for oxygen adsorbed on Pd1/W(110)

The effect of electron impact on oxygen adsorbed on Pd1/W(110) has been probed from 25 to 200 K. As previously shown [Y.B. Zhao and R. Gomer, Surf. Sci. 260 (1992) 129] oxygen at 25 and 90 K is present as dioxygen. The present work confirms this. Electron impact on a chemisorbed layer at 25 K leads to desorption of neutral O2 and O+ but not O2+. There may also be conversion to an intermediate state which yields O+ and is converted to adsorbed atomic O. This state could also be present ab initio. For θ = 0.5 and 25 K this state is either absent or not formed, and there is direct conversion of adsorbed O2 to adsorbed O, as well as O2 desorption. The initial desorption plus conversion cross section for O2 is very high, ∼ 10-16 cm2. Physisorbed O2 o top of the 25 K chemisorbed dioxygen layer desorbs as O2 with an even higher cross section, ∼5 × 10-16 cm2. For a layer prepared at 90 K dioxygen still seems the main species present initially but differs from the 25 K one. Electron impact leads to small amounts of neutral O2 desorption and mainly to conversion to atomic O with a cross section of 6.5 × 10-17 cm2. O+ is also seen and goes through a maximum, which can be explained by the postulated mechanism. It then decays with σ ≈ 2 × 10-8 cm2. At 200 K a monotonically decreasing O+ signal, decaying with a cross section of 1 × 10-18 cm2 is seen, indicating that only atomic O is present on the surface at this temperature.
Designing resumes for success in the downsized, reengineered workplace

Recently, there have been many articles about how electronic technology has influenced electronic resume design. In contrast, there has been little discussion about how the downsized, reengineered workplace has affected the ways to reshape resume content. Therefore, the article provides a flexible resume model to help professionals focus on the kind of content that is important in today's competitive business climate. It also shows that there is a need to include evidence of achievements and measurable data in resumes to greatly enhance the chances of employment.
Flow Reversal in Opposing Mixed Convection Flow in Inclined Pipes

An envirimental investigation of opposing mixed convection in an inclined pipe has been conducted. Dye injection reveals the existence of flow reversal regions. There is an optimal tilt angle that yields maximum flow reversal length. Flow reversals are seen to cause early transition to turbulence. Temperature profiles are measured across the tube cross section near the entrance to the heated section, and show the effect of tube inclination. Temperature measurements exhibit periodic behavior in the flow moderate to high Reynolds and Grashof numbers. Flow visualization indicates that the periodic behavior is due to the intermittent breakdown of the flow reversal region.
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in End Stage Renal Disease: Access Failure

US Public Law 92-603, signed by President Richard Nixon in 1972, established ESRD as the only medical condition to be covered by Medicare irrespective of age or lack of qualifying disability. Despite the resultant, near universal access to treatment for ESRD, marked differences in the incidence and
Asian Americans, Leadership, and Levels of Analysis Building Theory and Methods from "Clay"

In this response and reply to the commentary of Clayton P. Alderfer, the authors clarify issues of apparent misunderstanding and highlight points of disagreement. They address the scope, starting point, levels of analysis issues, and theory-data interplay in their work and Alderfer's commentary to advance theory building and testing propositions about Asian Americans and leadership.
J's rhymes: a longitudinal case study of language play

A longitudinal study of one child aged 2; 5 documents an invented language game consisting of suffixal reduplication and onset replacement. Initially, reduplication is partial : the reduplicant enlarges in discrete increments over the five stages of the game until by the last stage reduplication is total. Reduplication is accompanied by a process of onset replacement, in which the reduplicant always begins with /b/. Early in the game, this replacive onset ‘dissimilates’ to /p/ whenever the reduplicant would independently have begun with /b/. In subsequent stages, other voiced obstruents trigger dissimilation as well. Though similar in many ways to adult language reduplication, it is argued that J’s game may more closely resemble adult rhyme (both poetic and word rhyme). Regardless, the structure of the game clearly reveals the child’s awareness, in the third year of life, of stress and metrical feet, segmental natural classes, and segments themselves (phonemic awareness).
COST EFFECTIVENESS OF CIPROFLOXACIN PLUS METRONIDAZOLE VERSUS IMIPENEM-CILASTATIN IN THE TREATMENT OF INTRA-ABDOMINAL INFECTIONS

Objective: To compare the cost effectiveness of sequential intravenous (IV) to oral ciprofloxacin plus metronidazole (CIP/MTZ IV/PO) with that of IV ciprofloxacin plus IV metronidazole (CIP/MTZ IV) and IV imipenem-cilastatin (IMI IV) in patients with intra-abdominal infections.
Biopsy technique pearl: Obtaining an optimal split punch-biopsy specimen.

I n the routine practice of clinical dermatology it is fairly common to face a diagnostic situation in which 2 or more studies are needed from a skin biopsy. In those cases in which the specimens are to be processed differently the clinician may obtain 2 or more separate biopsy specimens, or may split a single specimen. Typically the clinician needs routine histopathology requiring formalin fixation along From the Department of Medicine (Dermatology), Eastern Virginia Medical School. Funding sources: None. Conflict of interest: None identified. Reprint requests not available from the authors. J Am Acad Dermatol 2003;48:273-4. Copyright © 2003 by the American Academy of Dermatology, Inc. 0190-9622/2003/$30.00 0 doi:10.1067/mjd.2003.42
New Potential for the Old Dictation

For spot-dictation purposes, song lyrics can be duplicated with blanks for the words or structures that are desirable to emphasize. Lyrics quite often have repetitious structures and vocabulary, and thus lend themselves to reinforcing new forms or concepts. This procedure can encourage general listening comprehension in an agreeable format, while highlighting one particular language feature. Examples are taken from traditional folklore, songs performed by Joan Baez, and Antonio Machado poems sung by Serrat.
Alternative Marketing Strategies for Honey and Other Bee Products in Turkey

ABSTRACT Turkey is the fourth leading honey producing country in the world after China, the United States, and Argentina, with around 5.35% of the market. One of the most important problems facing the Turkish beekeeping sector is marketing. In general, the market structure for animal products in Turkey has a confusing chain, which causes great differences between producer and consumer prices. Beekeepers have several alternatives for marketing their honey in Turkey: they may sell directly to consumers (in local markets or roadside stands), to a honey cooperative, to a wholesaler, to a honey packer or dealer, and/or to the export market. This study examines the marketing channels for honey and other bee products in Turkey, discusses the problems and defects of the current system from the perspective of producers and other actors in the market, and suggests solutions that include an increased role for cooperatives and extension services.
Scaling Genetic Algorithms Using MapReduce

Genetic algorithms(GAs) are increasingly being applied to large scale problems. The traditional MPI-based parallel GAs require detailed knowledge about machine architecture. On the other hand, MapReduce is a powerful abstraction proposed by Google for making scalable and fault tolerant applications. In this paper, we show how genetic algorithms can be modeled into the MapReduce model. We describe the algorithm design and implementation of GAs on Hadoop, an open source implementation of MapReduce. Our experiments demonstrate the convergence and scalability up to 10^5 variable problems. Adding more resources would enable us to solve even larger problems without any changes in the algorithms and implementation since we do not introduce any performance bottlenecks.
Follitropin-α versus human menopausal gonadotropin in an in vitro fertilization program

Abstract Objective To compare the efficacy of recombinant FSH and urinary-derived hMG for ovarian stimulation during IVF. Design Retrospective analysis of data from IVF cycles conducted over 15 months. Setting University hospital IVF unit. Patient(s) Three hundred twenty-four women undergoing their first to sixth IVF cycle. Intervention(s) After pituitary down-regulation, patients received recombinant FSH or hMG, according to personal choice. After hCG administration, patients underwent oocyte retrieval, oocyte fertilization, and embryo transfer. Main outcome measure(s) Implantation rate and clinical ongoing pregnancy rate per oocyte retrieval. Result(s) Patients who chose recombinant FSH were slightly younger than those who chose hMG (34.1 vs. 35.1 years, respectively). Although more embryos were transferred in the hMG group (3.6 vs. 3.2), the ongoing pregnancy and implantation rates were significantly higher in the recombinant FSH group (ongoing pregnancy rate, 50.0% vs. 36.2%). Conclusion(s) Recombinant FSH is more effective than hMG for ovarian stimulation in IVF cycles. This increased efficacy, which is achieved with fewer ampoules, is likely to offset the higher acquisition costs of recombinant FSH.
Adaptive Mesh Refinement Technique for Electromagnetic Particle-in-Cell (PIC) Methods

Summary form only given. Simulations of high power microwave (HPM) devices are dominated by FDTD PIC methods developed by Yee and Boris. This work focuses on extending these techniques to a nested hierarchy of grids for the purpose of adding local refinement. A second order conservative algorithm is presented for the electromagnetics. Furthermore, a novel current weighting scheme is presented for the coarse/fine interface which reduces spurious radiation and provides a smooth divergence-free transition across the interface
Tumor Necrosis Factor, Ceramide, Transforming Growth Factor-β1, and Aging Reduce Na+/I− Symporter Messenger Ribonucleic Acid Levels in FRTL-5 Cells1

Iodide uptake, which is necessary for thyroid hormone synthesis, can be inhibited by aging, withdrawal of TSH, or increased tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 levels resulting from the nonthyroid illness syndrome. TNF induces receptor-mediated activation of sphingomyelinase, which converts sphingomyelin to ceramide, a mediator of TNF actions. Thyroid follicular cells transport iodide from blood into the follicular lumen against an iodide gradient by means of coupled transport of Na+ ions and I- ions via the Na+/I- symporter (NIS). An inward Na+ gradient is maintained by Na+/K+-ATPase. The recent cloning and sequencing of the rat NIS complementary DNA has made possible studies on the mechanism by which TSH, aging, and cytokines regulate I- uptake by thyroid cells. Young ( 40 passages) FRTL-5 cells grown with or without TSH were treated with various concentrations of TNF, TGF-beta1, sphingomyelinase, or ceramide. NIS messenger RNA (mRNA) levels in aged cells were only 2% of those in young cells. Withdrawal of TSH from young cells reduced NIS mRNA levels by more than 90%. TNF reduced NIS mRNA levels in young cells grown with TSH at t1/2 = 0.62 days, a cycloheximide inhibitable effect. Similar treatments with TGF-beta1, sphingomyelinase, or ceramide reduced NIS mRNA by 70-90%. Ceramide reduced 125I(-)-uptake by 50%. The addition of TNF increased both the sphingomyelin and ceramide levels 3- to 5-fold in young and old cells. We conclude that 1) the decline in iodide uptake due to aging, a fall in serum TSH or an increase in TNF or TGF-beta1 is mediated primarily by a reduction in thyroid NIS expression; and 2) that receptor-mediated activation of sphingomyelinase is an important, protein synthesis-dependent, intracellular pathway for inhibition of NIS expression by TNF.
Diel Turnover of Assemblages of Fish and Shrimp on Sandbanks in a Temperate Floodplain River

Abstract Seven sandbanks in the main channel of the Brazos River, Texas, were sampled a total of 35 times during both day (1800–1900 hours) and night (2200–2300 hours) in June and July 2008 to examine the diel turnover of fish assemblages. Day samples had an average of 10.1 species, whereas night samples had an average of 12.9 species. Average abundance (catch per unit effort, here defined as the number of individuals per 10-m seine haul) for day samples was 41.5, compared with 80.5 for night samples. Species richness and abundance were significantly greater on sandbanks at night. Additionally, nonmetric multidimensional scaling analysis and cluster analysis indicated consistent differences in assemblage structure between day and night samples. Most of the diel change in assemblage structure was due to ictalurids and palaemonids (freshwater decapod crustaceans) that were only common on sandbanks nocturnally. Catastomids, clupeids, cyprinids, and poeciliids were present on sandbanks both diurnally and noct...
Domains of dependence for mixed problems for wave equations

Abstract : The energy integral method in its usual form involving the use of the characteristic conoid is easily extended to yield a uniqueness theorem for mixed problems for the wave equation. Friedlander ('Sound pulses.' Cambridge, Cambridge Univ. Press, 1958. Proc. of the Cambridge Philosophical Society 45:395 (1949)) noted this and used it to determine the fronts of disturbances in the shadow region resulting from mixed problems with homogeneous boundary conditions. It is shown how these fronts may be used to obtain a uniqueness theorem for such mixed problems with smooth boundaries, and, thereby, domains of dependence and influence for such problems, with homogeneous boundary conditions. These domains are smaller than those obtained from the usual energy integral method referred to above and coincide with those of the solutions of several particular mixed problems.
Transmission of Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever: A Study of Risk Factors in Family Members, Kikwit, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 1995

The surviving members of 27 households in which someone had been infected with Ebola virus were interviewed in order to define the modes of transmission of Ebola hemorrhagic fever (EHF). Of 173 household contacts of the primary cases, 28 (16%) developed EHF. All secondary cases had direct physical contact with the ill person (rate ratio [RR], undefined; P < .001), and among those with direct contact, exposure to body fluids conferred additional risk (RR, 3.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.9-6.8). After adjusting for direct contact and exposure to body fluids, adult family members, those who touched the cadaver, and those who were exposed during the late hospital phase were at additional risk. None of the 78 household members who had no physical contact with the case during the clinical illness were infected (upper 95% CI, 4%). EHF is transmitted principally by direct physical contact with an ill person or their body fluids during the later stages of illness.
The Effect of Intensity and Duration of Light on Photorefractoriness and Subsequent Egg Production of Chukar Partridge

Three photoperiodic experiments on egg production of chukar partridge (Alectoris graeca chukar) were conducted under controlled ‘environmental conditions. In test 1 the photorefractoriness of blind, thyroidectomized and intact chukars to long days (LD16:8) was examined from hatch until 123 weeks of age. Thereafter, the effects of long days of low intensity light (4 lux) on terminating the refractory period were observed. In the second test, the minimum level of light intensity to induce egg laying in chukars was determined at 64 and 103 weeks of age. In addition, the effect of step-wise increases in light intensity on egg production and photorefractoriness was compared to steady levels of light intensity. In the third test, 2 consecutive egg laying cycles were induced in blinded and intact chukars. Again the threshold level of light intensity to induce egg laying was determined. In addition, the effects of larger changes in intensity (lOX) in terminating photorefractoriness were determined. The results indicate the following: 1) neither blinding nor thyroidectomy alters photorefractoriness; 2) either exposure to short daylengths or to low light intensity is necessary to break photorefractoriness before chukars can be photostimulated into egg production by long days; 3) the minimum light intensity for egg production is 2 lu.x; 4) chukars possess extraretinal photoreceptor(s) which respond to changes in both day length and intensity; 5) small changes in light intensity (2-5X) have little effect in terminating photorefractoriness; 6) lox changes in intensity suppress photorefractoriness and allows an increase in both the duration of lay and the number of eggs.
Scaling of heat capacity glass lasers

This paper presents the design issues of benchtop sized slab lasers used in the heat capacity mode to achieve high peak power and energy delivered in a burst. Specific examples will be presented that are capable of extracting both 500 J/pulse and 5 KJ/pulse for bursts of 200 pulses. Heat capacity lasers are useful in applications that require high peak power, which can be accomplished with a specified amount of energy during a burst mode. For example, missile defense might use a high-altitude or space-based, laser radar, target illuminator and/or designator, or weapon, requiring powerful pulses over a few minutes of engagement. Industrial applications may include deep drilling in hardened steels, x-ray lithography, or other applications where the duty cycle may only require operation for a few minutes followed by a substantially longer setup time. Heat capacity glass slab lasers are well suited for this operation as they can deliver high peak power repetitively for a limited duration burst with high beam quality. The duration of the burst is constrained by the maximum allowable temperature rise in the laser glass after which the glass must be cooled to pre-burst conditions.
Peritubular protein modulates neutral active NaCl absorption in rabbit proximal convoluted tubule

To assess directly the effect of increasing and decreasing peritubular protein concentration on active NaCl absorption, rabbit proximal convoluted tubules were perfused with a high-chloride solution simulating late proximal tubular fluid and bathed in a similar solution containing 0, 6, or 10 g/dl albumin. A direct examination of the active component of NaCl absorption was ensured by 1) the reduction of luminal solutes other than NaCl (no glucose or alanine and only 5 mM HCO-3), and 2) the use of perfusate and bathing solutions in approximate Donnan equilibrium, so that electrochemical driving forces responsible for passive net NaCl absorption are eliminated. When bathing solution albumin concentration was reduced from 6 to 0 g/dl, volume absorption (Jv) was reduced significantly from 0.39 +/- 0.07 to 0.22 +/- 0.08 nl X mm-1 X min-1. When bathing solution albumin concentration was increased from 6 to 10 g/dl, Jv increased significantly from 0.26 +/- 0.04 to 0.37 +/- 0.04 nl X mm-1 X min-1. When proximal convoluted tubules were bathed in 0, 6, or 10 g/dl albumin at 20 degrees C, Jv was not different from zero in all periods, confirming that changes in bathing solution albumin require the presence of active transport to influence NaCl absorption. The transepithelial potential difference attributable to active transport was not different from zero in all periods of all protocols, demonstrating that active NaCl absorption was electroneutral. In conclusion, these data show directly that peritubular protein concentration modulates neutral active NaCl absorption in the rabbit proximal convoluted tubule.
Allergy testing by primary care physicians.

PreviewThe law of supply and demand dictates that most primary care physicians will provide some form of allergy care in their office practices. There are too many patients seeking such care, and there are too few allergy specialists. Dr King provides a helpful overview of allergy care, reviewing the basics of diagnosing inhalant and food allergies and discussing the effectiveness of various testing methods, types of equipment, and therapies.
Enteric Nervous System

Abstract The enteric nervous system (ENS) is an independent “brain-in-the-gut” that integrates gastrointestinal motility, secretion, and blood flow into homeostatic patterns of gut behavior that are susceptible to becoming clinically disordered. Heuristic models for the ENS are the same as for all independent integrative nervous systems, whether in vertebrates or invertebrates. The ENS coordinates and organizes the behavior of the musculature, secretory glands and blood-lymphatic vascular systems, in each of the specialized organs along the gastrointestinal tract, into meaningful behavior of each organ. Propulsive motility occurs as a contractile/relaxation complex with two linked functional components based on ENS controlled contractile behavior of the longitudinal and circular muscle coats of the tubular organs. Linked propulsive components consist of a propulsive segment connected in the direction of propulsion with a receiving segment. A hardwired polysynaptic circuit in the ENS is responsible for all propulsive motility in the tubular organs. This circuit occupies the lowest complexity level of the hierarchical ranks of organization of neural motility control. Networks in the ENS contain central pattern generators (CPGs), which activate the basic circuit in recurrent fashion to generate motility patterns linked with intestinal secretion. CPGs in the ENS are neural circuits that generate organized and repetitive motor patterns independent of sensory input. CPGs, not intrinsic primary afferent-evoked reflexes, are responsible for the patterns of propulsive contractile behavior and secretion, which recur rhythmically in response to distension, during mucosal application of nutrients or ENS exposure to mediators released by immune/inflammatory cells. Paracrine signaling to the ENS by inflammatory/immune cells is key to understanding motility and secretory pathophysiology in food allergies, infectious enteritis, radiation induced enteritis, idiopathic enteritis (e.g., ulcerative colitis), as well as, stress-evoked events associated with functional gastrointestinal disorders. Translational advances in understanding at upper levels of hierarchical ENS organization are essential for answers to perplexing questions related to significance of Parkinsonian-like Lewy bodies and dopaminergic neurotransmission known to be in the ENS, as well as prion-like proteins that may be signs of Creutzfeldt-Jakob and Alzheimer alterations in the gut's brain. Advanced computational approaches to research and understanding of CPGs, locomotor and secretory circuits is advocated as an investigative direction for needed expansion of insight into the neurophysiology of the ENS. Computational modeling of neural circuits with CPGs yields explanations for features of motor behavior that are not explainable within the classic historical framework of the so-called peristaltic reflex.
Analysis of the Credit System Management Mode of Adult Higher Education

Adult Higher Education is an important component of higher learning in China.It is regarded as an open system which contacts the society.The credit system management mode of adult's higher education is undoubtedly the double opportunity of performing its own function of educating adults and meeting the social requirements.
Potassium‐Based α‐Manganese Dioxide Nanofiber Binder‐Free Self‐Supporting Electrodes: A Design Strategy for High Energy Density Batteries

This work minimizes the passive components of electrodes and moves toward bridging the gap between actual and theoretical battery gravimetric energy density. Binder-free self-supporting (BFSS) cathodes were prepared from redox-active, high aspect ratio, potassium α-MnO2 nanofibers (K-OMS-2) by eliminating the binder and current collector. The electroactive and structural element, K-OMS-2, was prepared by using a scalable, moderate temperature, aqueous synthesis. The BFFS electrode approach allows fabrication of thick, high energy density electrodes with low impedance, with up to 10-fold improvement in delivered specific energy relative to conventional cathodes. This could enable the design of high-capacity large form factor cells, as required for applications demanding high energy content. In principle, this approach suggests a widely applicable paradigm for the construction of other BFFS electrodes through the targeted synthesis of other transition-metal oxides with high aspect, fibrous morphologies.
Facilitatory and Inhibitory Effects of Selective Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors on Hypogastric Nerve-Evoked Urethral Contractions in the Cat: A Prominent Role of Urethral β-Adrenergic Receptors

AbstractTricyclic antidepressants (TCA), such as imipramine, are well-accepted for the treatment of urinary incontinence and enuresis, but their mechanism of action remains undefined due to their multiple pharmacological actions. To explore only the contribution imparted by sympathomimetic effects on the urethra by norepinephrine (NE) reuptake inhibition, two selective NE reuptake inhibitors (nisoxetine and tomoxetine) that possess no antimuscarininc or serotonergic properties were examined for their effects on sympathetic hypogastric nerve (HgN) evoked urethral contractions in chloralose anesthetized cats.Under control conditions, HgN stimulation produced a biphasic response composed of a consistent initial contraction that was prazosin- (α adrenergic antagonist) sensitive, followed by a more variable relaxation that was propranolol- (β adrenergic antagonist) sensitive. Unexpectedly, nisoxetine (0.03 to 1.0mg./kg. intravenously, n = 6) and tomoxetine (0.3 to 3mg./kg. intravenously, n = 3) produced decrea...
Nonlinearity and Randomness in Quantum Transport

Strong interactions with lattice vibrations can lead to profound modifications in the transport of quasiparticles such as electrons or excitons moving in solids. Recent approaches to the problem of the description of such transport have been based on discrete nonlinear quantum evolution equations. This is a brief review of some aspects of this recent activity. The first part of the article consists of a bird’s- eye-view presentation of several recent results for the nonlinear quantum dimer as well as for spatially extended systems, and of their applications to various experiments ranging from muon spin relaxation to fluorescence depolarization. The second part focuses attention on a particular kind of the interplay of nonlinearity and of randomness in such systems.
Electron Transport and Electrolyte Reduction in the Solid-Electrolyte Interphase of Rechargeable Lithium Ion Batteries with Silicon Anodes

Understanding the molecular processes that lead to the formation, structure, and transport properties of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) found in lithium ion batteries with silicon anodes is of paramount importance for the development of lithium ion batteries (LiB) capable of performing under the extreme exigencies of our present energy needs that are solved presently with nonrenewable energies. We use a combined density functional theory (DFT) and Green’s function approach (DFT-GF) to study the electron transport characteristics in selected finite models of materials formed at the SEI located between the silicon surface of the anode of Li-ion batteries and the electrolyte solvent. The SEI products examined are lithium carbonate (LiCO3) silicon oxide (SiO2) and lithium disilicate (Li2Si2O5). Results show that the leakage of electrons from the Si anode to the solvent is greatly reduced (up to 4 orders of magnitude) with the addition and growth of the SEI components as compared with the solvent-anode...
Player characteristics and their relationship to goals and rewards in video games

Modern game developers encounter difficulties accounting for an increasingly disparate audience with uniquely individual preferences. These preferences must be identified before any substantive efforts to accommodate them. Because the pursuit of goals and rewards is the central organizing structure in games, individual preferences need to be approached through the lens of goals and rewards selection. Previous research has focused on identifying player types and characteristics, yet rarely connects these characteristics directly with game components. Our experiment applies categories of psychogenic needs to subjects' discrete choices when playing a simple open-source 2D platform game. We found subjects' valuation of short-term versus long-term goal selection to be of particular interest. We also found discrepancies between perceived enjoyments when measured during the gameplay and when measured after the game. The knowledge of how various personalities engage with given goals and selecting rewards is valuable beyond the narrow context of videogames in areas such as placement of employees in the business or soldiers in roles that better fit their personalities and preferences.