cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Temperature-dependent characteristics and single-mode performance of AlGaInP-based 670-690-nm vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers

We report on temperature dependent characteristics and single mode performance of one-wave cavity, planar implanted, AlGaInP-based vertical-cavity surface emitting lasers. By optimizing the overlap between the gain peak and the cavity mode of the structure, we demonstrate record device performance, including 8.2 mW maximum output power and 11% power conversion efficiency for multimode operation and 1.9 mW and 9.6% power conversion efficiency for single mode operation at 687 nm. Improved performance at elevated temperatures is also achieved, with 1.5 mW output power demonstrated at 50/spl deg/C from a 15-/spl mu/m-diameter device. >
The Mechanism of Double-Strand DNA Break Repair by the Nonhomologous DNA End-Joining Pathway

Double-strand DNA breaks are common events in eukaryotic cells, and there are two major pathways for repairing them: homologous recombination (HR) and nonhomologous DNA end joining (NHEJ). The various causes of double-strand breaks (DSBs) result in a diverse chemistry of DNA ends that must be repaired. Across NHEJ evolution, the enzymes of the NHEJ pathway exhibit a remarkable degree of structural tolerance in the range of DNA end substrate configurations upon which they can act. In vertebrate cells, the nuclease, DNA polymerases, and ligase of NHEJ are the most mechanistically flexible and multifunctional enzymes in each of their classes. Unlike repair pathways for more defined lesions, NHEJ repair enzymes act iteratively, act in any order, and can function independently of one another at each of the two DNA ends being joined. NHEJ is critical not only for the repair of pathologic DSBs as in chromosomal translocations, but also for the repair of physiologic DSBs created during variable (diversity) joining [V(D)J] recombination and class switch recombination (CSR). Therefore, patients lacking normal NHEJ are not only sensitive to ionizing radiation (IR), but also severely immunodeficient.
Survey of Bat Mortalities at a Wind-Energy Facility in North Dakota

Abstract In recent years, the wind-energy industry has rapidly expanded around the world, and studies assessing potential wildlife impacts have documented that bats are especially susceptible to injury and mortality near wind turbines. The rapid construction of many wind facilities in North Dakota, one of the states with the highest wind-energy potential, is of concern because little is known about the distribution and ecology of bats in North Dakota, and no research has assessed turbine-related impacts in the state. The objective of this research was to make preliminary assessments of bat fatalities at a wind facility in North Dakota. Six surveys were conducted at 12 turbines within an operational wind facility in South-central North Dakota from 25 July to 12 September 2010. In total, we discovered nine bat carcasses from two species. Although our data do not assess fatality rates, these findings do point to a need for future research on the impacts of the growing wind-energy industry in North Dakota.
Intraventricular Cyst Causing Acute Obstructive Hydrocephalus: Neurocysticercosis Managed With Neuroendoscopy

A 16-year-old boy with a 2-week history of headache and vomiting presented to the emergency room in obtunded condition. Head computed tomography (CT) revealed obstructive hydrocephalus, an intraventricular mass within the posterior third ventricle, and scattered intraparenchymal and intraventricular calcifications. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed multiple cystic lesions consistent with vesicular neurocysticercosis. Two dominant lesions were noted: a 12mm lesion in the posterior third ventricle (Fig 1) and a 10-mm left frontal horn subependymal lesion. He underwent endoscopic third ventriculostomy and ventricular system exploration to remove the cyst before the start of anthelmintics. The lesion obstructing the Sylvian aqueduct was mobile and extracted whole. Extraction of the obstructive mass and endoscopic ventriculostomy resolved obstructive hydrocephalus. Pathology showed a semitranslucent cyst encasing a microscopically confirmed scolex (Fig 2). Postoperatively, anthelmintics were initiated. The patient recovered to baseline ambulatory and cognitive state.
Concussion Incidence and Return-to-Play Time in National Basketball Association Players Results From 2006 to 2014

Background:Various research efforts have studied concussions in the National Football League, Major League Baseball, and the National Hockey League. However, no study has investigated the incidence and return-to-play trends in the National Basketball Association (NBA), which this study aims to do.Hypothesis:Increased media scrutiny and public awareness, in addition to the institution of a league-wide concussion protocol, may have resulted in more conservative return-to-play practices.Study Design:Descriptive epidemiology study.Methods:All concussions to NBA players that were publicly reported in the media from the beginning of the 2006 NBA season to the end of the 2014 season were included. The incidence and return-to-play statistics were generated by synthesizing information from publicly available records.Results:There were 134 publicly reported concussions to NBA players from the beginning of the 2006 season to the conclusion of the 2014 season, resulting in an average of 14.9 concussions per season. T...
Loving‐Kindness Meditation and Empathy: A Wellness Group Intervention for Counseling Students

The effect of a 6-week loving-kindness meditation (LKM) on the multidimensional empathy of 103 master's-level counseling students was evaluated, in addition to the correlation between reported levels of time spent meditating and empathy. Statistical analyses indicated that participants who received the LKM intervention experienced gains in dimensions of empathy. A significant relationship between quantity of meditation and perspective taking was noted. Implications and suggestions for future research are explored.
Toward optimizing disk-to-disk transfer on 100G networks

The recent emergence of ultra high-speed networks up to 100 Gbps has posed numerous challenges and has led to many investigations on efficient protocols to saturate 100 Gbps links. However, end-to-end data transfers involve many compo-nents, not only protocols, affecting overall transfer performance. These components include a disk I10 subsystem, additional computation associated with data streams, and network adapter capacities. For example, achievable bandwidth by TCP may not be implementable if disk I/O or CPU becomes a bottleneck in end-to-end data transfer. In this paper, we first model all the system components involved in end-to-end data transfer as a graph. We then formulate the problem whose goal is to achieve maximum data transfer throughput using parallel data flows. Our contributions lie in how to optimize data transfers considering all the system components involved rather than in accurately modeling all the system components involved. Our proposed formulations and solutions are evaluated through experiments on the ESnet 100G testbed. The experimental results show that our approach is several times faster than Globus Online - 8x faster for datasets with many 10MB files and 3-4x faster for other datasets of larger size files.
On Diminished Moral Responsibility

Darby, Edersheim, and Price (2016) contend that behavioral-variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) can undermine an agent's moral responsibility, and they propose a constructionist theory of moral ...
Anemia and Red Blood Cell Transfusion: Advances in Critical Care

Anemia is common in the intensive care unit (ICU), resulting in frequent administration of red blood cell (RBC) transfusions. Significant advances have been made in understanding the pathophysiology of anemia in the ICU, which is anemia of inflammation. This anemia is related to high hepcidin concentrations resulting in iron-restricted erythropoiesis, and decreased erythropoietin concentrations. A new hormone (erythroferrone) has been identified, which mediates hepcidin suppression to allow increased iron absorption and mobilization from iron stores. RBC transfusions are most commonly administered to ICU patients for treatment of anemia. All strategies to reduce anemia in the ICU should be implemented.
Dependence of the mechanical properties of a P/M nickel alloy on deformation temperature and rate

At room temperature the strength of ZhS6 nickel alloy produced by the granule metallurgy method is 1.5 times higher and its plasticity 3–4 times higher than those of the same alloy produced by the standard casting process. The P/M alloy remains superior in strength to the cast alloy up to temperatures of the order of 750–800°C, above which the strength characteristics of the P/M alloy fall below the level of properties of the cast material. The deformation of the P/M alloy varies in character depending on testing temperature, and three types of specimen fracture are possible: brittle fracture without waist formation in the temperature range 20–700°C, fracture with waist formation at 700–1000°C, and plastic deformation along the whole specimen length above 1000°C. At temperatures of 1000–1150°C the P/M alloy exhibits superplasticity: At low rates of deformation its elongation attains several hundred percent when the load is about 0.1σ0.2. The elongation of the specimen, load applied, and type of stress-strain diagram depend to a large extent on the rate of deformation: As the latter is decreased, δe sharply grows and the load diminishes.
High Performance Verification Solutions for SOC Designs

Growing design complexity, sizes and shrinking turn-around times are representative of impending veri.cation crises for the electronics industry. To address the void in productivity from veri.cation solutions of today, Quickturn introduces a set of integrated, processor-based simulation acceleration solutions. These hardware accelerators _ Palladium and CoBALT, feature software-like compile times, scalable gate capacities, and functional congruence across all engines with a.exible upgrade path on the performance curve. The use model for these engines is simple_a single design model is compiled to target the multiple accelerator engines. Users can perform high performance simulation or debug interactively with complete design visibility on the Palladium and CoBALT accelerator engines. A design bug identi.ed during simulation acceleration on a Palladium or CoBALT engine can be debugged off-line on the software engine, thus freeing the accelerator for other users. Performance statistics from customer benchmarks validate the claims of high simulation throughputs offered by these unique and powerful high performance verification solutions.
68000 Microcomputer Systems: Designing and Troubleshooting

A detailed handbook that emphasizes modular hardware design, project planning and scheduling. Filled with data sheets, diagrams nad helpful illustrations, this title is one more of a long line of bestselling Prentice-Hall 68000 family titles.
Nitric oxide and intracellular heme.

Publisher Summary Heme-containing proteins are also targets of nitric oxide (NO). Indeed, in vivo , quantitatively the major reaction of NO is undoubtedly its reaction with oxyhemoglobin in the circulation to produce nitrate and methemoglobin. In addition, NO binds to deoxyhemoglobin, yielding a complex that is observable by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy—for example, as detected in the whole blood of rats injected with endotoxin or during rejection of heart allografts, during nitrovasodilator administration in humans, and during pregnancy in rats. There is also evidence for interaction of endogenously produced NO with intracellular heme-containing proteins. In its function as a messenger, it is heme-NO that stimulates guanylate cyclase. This chapter begins with discussion on the potential interactions of −NO with intracellular heme-containing enzymes with catalase, a heme-containing enzyme that provides protection against oxidative injury by dismutation of hydrogen peroxide to dioxygen and water. The chapter utilizes isolated rat hepatocytes for this study, which can be stimulated in vitro to produce prodigious amounts of −NO by induction of −NO synthase upon treatment with a mixture of inflammatory mediators [tumor necrosis factor a, interleukin-1P (IL-1P), interferon-γ, and endotoxin (“CME”)] and in which catalase is an important endogenous defense against hydrogen peroxide.
There goes our family friendly neighborhood: Residents’ perceptions of institutionally driven inner-city revitalization in Buffalo, NY

This article examines residents’ perceptions of inner-city revitalization in legacy cities. The analysis focuses on neighborhoods undergoing revitalization in a legacy city, Buffalo, NY. The articl...
Examining the association between bullying victimization and prescription drug misuse among adolescents in the United States.

Abstract Background Although studies have examined the association between bullying victimization and adolescent substance behaviors, there is a dearth of research investigating the association between bullying victimization and prescription drug misuse. The objective of this study was to examine the cross-sectional association between bullying victimization and prescription drug misuse among adolescents. Methods Data for this study came from the 2017 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. A sample of 9974 adolescents aged 14–18 years (50.1% female) were analyzed using binary logistic regression with prescription drug misuse as the outcome variable and bullying victimization as the main explanatory variable. Results Of the 9,974 adolescents, 13.1% misused prescription drugs. One in ten adolescents were victims of both school bullying and cyberbullying, 5.1% were victims of only cyberbullying, 9% were victims of only school bullying, and 75.8% experienced neither school bullying nor cyberbullying victimization. In the binary logistic regression model, adolescents who experienced both school bullying and cyberbullying victimization had 1.66 times higher odds of misusing prescription drugs (AOR = 1.66, p Conclusions Understanding the association between bullying victimization and prescription drug misuse could contribute to early identification of adolescents who may misuse prescription drugs.
Observations of radiation belt losses due to cyclotron wave-particle interactions

Abstract Electron loss to the atmosphere plays a critical role in driving the dynamics of the Earth’s Van Allen radiation belts and slot region. This chapter is a review of atmospheric loss of radiation belt electrons caused by plasma wave scattering via Doppler-shifted cyclotron resonance. In particular, the focus is on observational signatures of electron loss, which include direct measurements of precipitating electrons, measured properties of waves that drive precipitation, and variations in the trapped population resulting from loss. We discuss wave and precipitation measurements from recent missions, including simultaneous multipayload observations, which have provided new insight into the dynamic nature of the radiation belts.
Inorganic salts dissolved in non-aqueous or in mixed solvents—IV: Conductance studies of SnCl4·5H2O and SnCl2·2H2O dissolved together in methanol-carbon tetrachloride

Abstract Conductance measurements are reported for SnCl 4 ·5H 2 O and SnCl 2 ·2H 2 O dissolved together in methanol or in methanol-carbon tetrachloride at 25°C. Empirical relations between the specific conductance and the total concentration of tin chlorides are given. Evidence of specific interaction between Sn(II) and Sn(IV) species is also discussed.
Lab-on-a-Chip Zika Detection With Reverse Transcription Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification–Based Assay for Point-of-Care Settings

Context.— Zika virus (ZIKV) infection, primarily transmitted by mosquitoes, causes various neurologic disorders. To differentiate ZIKV from other arboviruses, such as dengue, chikungunya, and yellow fever viruses, a highly specific, sensitive, and automated detection system is needed for point-of-care (POC) settings. Objective.— To detect ZIKV at POC settings, we have developed a fully automated lab-on-a-chip microfluidic platform for rapid disease detection by using reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification. Design.— The developed setup consists of a microfluidic chip, a platform for magnetic actuation, and a heater along with the sensor to precisely control the temperature for the target amplification. The platform accurately controls the movement of the magnetic beads that enable the isolation and purification of the target nucleotides adhered to their surface for the amplification and disease detection on the microfluidic chip. Results.— Within 40 minutes, change in color due to the presence of ZIKV amplicons was visually observed with the spiked plasma samples in the end point analysis. Also, we have accurately and specifically identified ZIKV in a small number of de-identified clinical samples. Conclusions.— All-inclusive, the developed fully automated POC ZIKV diagnostic chip is rapid, simple, easy to use, inexpensive, and suitable for the areas where facilities are limited.
Maximum Efficiency Tracking for Dynamic WPT System Based on Optimal Input Voltage Matching

Wireless power transfer (WPT) technology has drawn much attention due to its advantages such as safety, convenience, and non-contact. For some movable devices such as intelligent inspection robot, the constant output voltage is very important to ensure its normal operation. In order to improve the system efficiency and steadiness of output voltage, a maximum efficiency tracking and constant voltage charging method is proposed for the dynamic WPT system. In this method, the mutual inductance and optimal input voltage can be estimated accurately no matter the coupling coefficient and equivalent load change or not. The simulation and experimental results have shown that the WPT system realize maximum efficiency tracking and constant voltage charging when the resistance is changed from $10\Omega $ to $5\Omega $ , and the same result was achieved when the mutual inductance is altered from $20~\mu \text{H}$ to $10~\mu \text{H}$ .
Microscale nonlinear electrokinetics for the analysis of cellular materials in clinical applications: a review

This review article presents a discussion of some of the latest advancements in the field of microscale electrokinetics for the analysis of cells and subcellular materials in clinical applications. The introduction presents an overview on the use of electric fields, i.e., electrokinetics, in microfluidics devices and discusses the potential of electrokinetic-based methods for the analysis of liquid biopsies in clinical and point-of-care applications. This is followed by four comprehensive sections that present some of the newest findings on the analysis of circulating tumor cells, blood (red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets), stem cells, and subcellular particles (extracellular vesicles and mitochondria). The valuable contributions discussed here (with 131 references) were mainly published during the last 3 to 4 years, providing the reader with an overview of the state-of-the-art in the use of microscale electrokinetic methods in clinical analysis. Finally, the conclusions summarize the main advancements and discuss the future prospects.
Identification of Important “Party Line” Information Elements and Implications for Situational Awareness in the Datalink Environment

The perceived importance and utilization of “party line” information by air carrier flight crews was investigated through a survey and flight simulation study. The Importance, Availability, and Acc...
Experimental evidence on prestige attribution in international relations

Prestige has long been considered an essential component of international relations. Scholars documented the various prestige-seeking strategies states use; nevertheless, demonstrating that a count...
The effects of storage, irradiation, and processing on selected viruses in ground pork

Viruses are becoming increasingly recognized as major causes of foodbome diseases. While adequate cooking is a time-tested method of inactivating viral contaminants, the numerous outbreaks of viral foodbome disease indicate that either thorough cooking does not occur or that the foods are contaminated aiter cooking. These studies investigated other methods of inactivating viral contaminants in ground pork and pork products. Storage conditions can be used to decrease viral numbers in pork, but the time needed makes this impractical. At refrigerator (4° C) temperatures, most viruses tested lasted long after the product would be considered spoiled. At home freezer (-20° C) temperatures, many viruses were extremely hardy. Hepatitis A vims survived for one year in the freezer with little loss in titer. Even for those that were inactivated by freezer storage, the time needed for total elimination rendered this method impractical. Viral contaminants in foods can be eliminated by irradiation. However, vimses are substantially smaller targets than bacteria, so a correspondingly larger dosage is needed for inactivation. Currently approved dosages will lower viral numbers but will not inactivate all of the vimses present in foods, unless the viral numbers are quite low. Processing has been shown to adequately inactivate even the most durable of vimses. However, if products are contaminated with vimses after processing, this study indicates that the changes that processing induce in the products will not be efifective in inactivating the vimses. This becomes an important control point especially for those products which are meant to be eaten with no fiirther cooking or processing.
Coal-tar pavement sealant use and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon contamination in urban stream sediments

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can occur at levels of environmental concern in stream sediments from urban and industrial watersheds. Recent studies indicate that coal-tar sealant use on parking lots may have been the major source of PAHs to urban streams in the eastern US over the past 40 years. This study evaluates the spatial distribution of PAHs in urban stream and pond sediments in Galloway Creek in Springfield, Missouri by focusing specifically on parking lots with and without coal-tar sealants as contamination source areas. Multiple-linear regression analysis is used to evaluate the spatial connectivity of contaminated sediment to potential source areas and compare the relative influence of watershed source factors and reach sediment variability on sediment PAH levels. Sediments from coal-tar sealed parking lots and the streams that drain them are enriched in PAHs at concentrations considered toxic to aquatic life, with concentrations that are, on average, 35 and 480 times greater than tho...
Mixing Oil and Water: Reconciling the Substantial Factor and Result-within-the-Risk Approaches to Proximate Cause

For over a century, the common law of negligence has required that, before liability can be imposed, a relationship exist between the breach of duty by the defendant and the harm suffered by the plaintiff. The element of the negligence action charged with embodying and effectuating this concept is “proximate cause.” But while it is universally recognized that proximate cause is a necessary element of a negligence action, historically there has been little agreement on how the term should be defined or even conceptualized. This began to change in the mid-twentieth century when the myriad definitions of proximate cause began to coalesce around the foreseeability based conceptualization of result-within-the-risk. Just as a consensus began to emerge among courts and commentators, however, the Restatement of Torts adopted the substantial factor test — a view of proximate cause that focused on significance, as opposed to foreseeability. The substantial factor formulation of proximate cause then took root, and from the mid-twentieth century on, it seemed as if American jurisprudence would be burdened with two dueling, irreconcilable versions of proximate cause — the foreseeability based result-within-the-risk version on the one hand, and the significance based substantial factor version on the other. However, courts appear to have brokered a peace between the dueling conceptualizations of proximate cause. As applied, the proximate cause analysis grounded in substantial factor appears to be yielding the same results with respect to liability as the proximate cause analysis grounded in foreseeability. It is the thesis of this Article that such a peace has, in fact, been brokered; whether approached from the means of substantial factor or result-within-the-risk, the end is the finding of common ground for the purpose of the proximate cause analysis. This Article first summarizes and analyzes the foreseeability based result-within-the-risk approach to proximate cause. Next, the Article summarizes and analyzes the substantial factor test. Finally, the Article explains and analyzes the common ground that appears to have emerged between the two disparate approaches.
Influence of Post-deposition Treatment by UV Light and Oxygen (ozone) on 350 nm Damage Thresholds of SiO 2 Films Deposited From Sols

Certain multilayer porous silica AR (antireflection) coatings on fused silica substrates prepared by the sol-gel process have been found to have a much lower laser damage threshold than single layer coatings prepared by the same method. Treatment with uv light in the presence of oxygen (which gives ozone) at low temperatures was found to restore damage thresholds to the levels found in single layers. Damage thresholds were measured at 350 nm with a 25 ns pulse for 1000 shots at 25 Hz. The effect of exposure time and other factors such as replacement of oxygen with nitrogen and vacuum are described. 1 ref., 2 figs., 1 tab.
Square Peg in a Round Hole? The Framework for Information Literacy in the Community College Environment

ABSTRACTColumn Editor's Note. Community college libraries are deeply underrepresented in the professional literature and organizations of academic librarianship. As a result, the challenges and successes that take place in the community college world are largely invisible to others. This JLA column lifts the curtain to reveal the uniqueness of community college libraries as described by their most passionate advocates: the librarians who work there. Articles in this column pay tribute to the commitment and creativity of community college librarians by providing a platform where they can share their professional perspectives and stories. Want to write for this column? Interested authors are invited to submit articles to the editor at kimreed@cwidaho.cc.Standards, frameworks, or threshold concepts? The Association of College & Research Libraries’ efforts to update and revise the Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education (2000) have opened extensive dialogue not only about the content of...
Farmworkers at the border: a bilingual initiative for occupational health and safety.

OBJECTIVE: Bilingual and bicultural occupational health and safety interventions for Hispanic farmworkers are extremely rare and, because of language barriers and cultural differences, issues important to their health and safety on the job remain unaddressed. We designed, conducted, and assessed the first bilingual occupational health and safety education program for farmworkers attending High School Equivalency Programs (HEPs). METHODS: We took an interdisciplinary participatory approach by integrating educators and researchers with a community advisory board to guide development, evaluation, and implementation of Work Safely-Trabaje con Cuidado Curriculum (Curriculum), a bilingual occupational health and safety curriculum. We created a quasi-experimental design using mixed-method evaluation (quantitative and qualitative elements) via pre- and posttest comparisons, follow-up surveys, and focus groups assessing the Curriculum effect on knowledge, safety risk perception (SRP), and safety behavior. Focus groups and follow-up surveys reflected success and acceptance of the Curriculum among participating farmworkers under the study's logic model. RESULTS: Completion of the Curriculum resulted in statistically significant improvements in the combined score of knowledge and SRP at the posttest (p = 0.001) and follow-up survey (p = 0.02) in the intervention group. After completing this study, the Curriculum was permanently adopted by the two high school equivalency sites involved. CONCLUSION: The participatory approach resulted in integration of community and applied research partnership. The potential to expand use of this Curriculum by other HEP sites can further assess effectiveness and external validity among underserved minority groups. Language: en
Modeling of Interface of Electrolyte/Aluminum Melt in Aluminum Reduction Cell with Novel Cathode Structure

A finite element model has been developed to examine the electromagnetic field and interface wave of electrolyte/aluminum melt in aluminum reduction cell with the novel cathode structure. The edge-based method is used to solve the Maxwell equations. The results show that the current density distribution in the novel cathode structure aluminum reduction cell becomes more uniform than the traditional cells, weak horizontal current appears on the convex surface, and weakened the longitudinal waves of molten aluminum. The voltage drop of the whole novel aluminum reduction cell has reduced. The result shows that the movement of molten aluminum affected by the electromagnetic force dominates and two reverse eddies in horizontal plane arise in aluminum reduction cell. The velocity and amplitude of molten aluminum wave reduce in the novel cathode structure aluminum reduction cell.
Role of Transcriptional Activation of IκBα in Mediation of Immunosuppression by Glucocorticoids

Glucocorticoids are potent immunosuppressive drugs, but their mechanism is poorly understood. Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), a regulator of immune system and inflammation genes, may be a target for glucocorticoid-mediated immunosuppression. The activation of NF-κB involves the targeted degradation of its cytoplasmic inhibitor, IκBα, and the translocation of NF-κB to the nucleus. Here it is shown that the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone induces the transcription of the IκBα gene, which results in an increased rate of IκBα protein synthesis. Stimulation by tumor necrosis factor causes the release of NF-κB from IκBα. However, in the presence of dexamethasone this newly released NF-κB quickly reassociates with newly synthesized IκBα, thus markedly reducing the amount of NF-κB that translocates to the nucleus. This decrease in nuclear NF-κB is predicted to markedly decrease cytokine secretion and thus effectively block the activation of the immune system.
Severity and Timing of Stunting in the First Two Years of Life Affect Performance on Cognitive Tests in Late Childhood

Undernutrition in infancy and early childhood is thought to adversely affect cognitive development, although evidence of lasting effects is not well established. With the use of data from the Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Study, we assesshere the relationship between stunting in the first 2 y of life and later cognitive development, focusing on the significance of severity, timing and persistence of early stunting. The sample included > 2000 Filipino children administered a cognitive ability test at ages 8 and 11 y. Stunting status was determined on the basis of anthropometric data collected prospectively between birth and age 2 y. Children stunted between birth and age 2 y had significantly lower test scores than nonstunted children, especially when stunting was severe. The shortfall in test scores among children stunted in the first 2 y was strongly related to reduced schooling, which was the result of a substantial delay in initial enrollment as well as higher absenteeism and repetition of school years among stunted children. Interactions between stunting and schooling were not significant, indicating that stunted and nonstunted children benefitted similarly from additional schooling. After multivariate adjustment, severe stunting at age 2 y remained significantly associated with later deficits in cognitive ability. The timing of stunting was also related to test performance, largely because children stunted very early also tended to be severely stunted (chi(2) P = 0.000). Deficits in children's scores were smaller at age 11 y than at age 8 y, suggesting that adverse effects may decline over time. Results emphasize the need to prevent early stunting and to provide adequate schooling to disadvantaged children.
Task Partitioning in Programmable Logic Systems

The advent of low-cost microcomputer chip sets is having a dramatic impact on the direction of digital design. Except for very cost-sensitive products, most new designs are constructed utilizing programmable logic to replace more conventional random logic designs. The premise of this new logic form is based on the cost savings exhibited by solutions consisting of a small number of different LSI parts over those with many SSI/MSI parts performing the same functions. Low LSI parts costs are achieved by producing functions (e.g., RAM, ROM, processor, and I/O parts) with general utility so that each chip can be manufactured in very high volume. Logic functions are realized by specifying a set of step-by-step instructions which are executed sequentially by the processor.
Thermal-energy relaxation in shock-compressed solids

Abstract I n order to examine the significance of thermal-energy relaxation in shock-compressed solids, a continuum theory is formulated following along lines similar to those for energy relaxation in gases. The model predicts the features that are well known for molecular gases, namely, a two-wave structure and a high temperature, precursor shock. For a given particle velocity, the latter propagates faster than an ordinary shock. This permits the theory to be tested by the examination of the experimental shock velocity versus particle velocity relation for solids. An analysis of six substances (Cu, Al, Pb, Au, NaCl, α-Fe) seems to reveal a need for the re-examination of all the experimental data, and it is suggested that the standard techniques used in order to assess the Hugoniot data may have overlooked the relaxation effect in some substances, such as NaCl, Au and Pb.
"The Grandest, Most Compelling Story of All Time!" : Dominant Themes of Christian Media Marketing

Abstract: This article analyzes the marketing campaigns of best-selling Christian books and albums to identify their dominant themes. Through a literary/critical analysis, this article addresses how Christian media marketing frames the consumer as having spiritual problems, lauds the artists as Christian role models, and projects themes of inspiration and empowerment onto the media. Ultimately, the marketing campaigns perpetuate a definition of “Christianity” that privileges making the consumer feel inspired and empowered, and tend to ignore other Christian beliefs or themes.
Low-phase-noise Gunn diode oscillator design

Low-phase-noise Gunn diode oscillators with an operating frequency of 35 GHz and an output power of 100 mW are designed, fabricated, and tested. The phase noise is -132 dBc/Hz to -125 dBc/Hz at 100-kHz offset from the center frequency. This low phase noise is obtained by closely coupling the stabilizing transmission cavity resonator and the Gunn-diode-oscillator coaxial line while loosely coupling the transmission cavity to the output waveguide following van der Heyden's approach. >
Is inner transformation a creative process

Abstract: After some musings, the answer to the title's question is “yes.”; Piechowski bases his argument on Dabrowski's theory of levels of emotional development, Maslow's concept of “self‐actualization,”; and Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences. Within this frame he takes up three cases: Etty Hillesum, the Dutch woman whose inner growth, recorded in her diary, led her finally to volunteer for deportation by the Nazis, and to go off singing; a woman named Ashley, a fiercely devoted teacher who kept a diary recording her inner struggle for purification; and a woman known as “Peace Pilgrim”; who covered 25,000 miles on foot, telling peace along the way. The article concludes on the note that inner peace is the foundation of world peace.—Editors
Paper: Dynamic force feedback in a virtual knee palpation

A virtual model of a knee joint with muscles, ligaments and bones has been developed. This model includes realistic 3-D surface deformation and tissue stiffnesses. Tissue and bone deformation (palpation) produces real time force feedback to the user hand wearing a DataGlove and Rutgers Master. Collision detection algorithms determine when and where the virtual hand palpates the surface model. This user interaction with the muscles and bones of a human knee model may be used as a training and planning tool for knee surgery.
Quantitative trait loci mapping with microarray marker intensities

Many methods have been developed for mapping quantitative trait loci (QTLs) using microarrays. Traditional methods for QTL mapping rely on the assumption that biallelic genotype calls represent the complete genetic variation at a marker. In reality, the process of converting microarray intensities to discrete genotype calls results in the loss of marker information on other variations involving the marker sequence, such as nearby SNPs, deletions, or copy numbers.We have developed a novel approach to QTL mapping that directly uses microarray marker intensities. Our method scans for marker windows where the intensity distances between sample pairs are correlated with the quantitative phenotype differences. The presence of such markers indicates that samples which are genetically close together in the region also share similar phenotype values, suggesting the presence of a QTL. The significance of putative QTLs is then assessed through permutation testing. By directly incorporating genotype intensities, our method eliminates intermediate processes such as genotype calling or ancestry inference that may introduce uncertainty or data loss.We tested our method on synthetic phenotype data of mice genotyped with the 78K-marker MegaMUGA array, and our results compared favorably to those of R/qtl, a well-establishe QTL mapping package. In addition, we used our method to map the binary albino trait in inbred and backcrossed mice to the tyrosinase (Tyr) gene on chromosome 7, and we also verified several QTLs found to affect colitis-related traits from a previous mouse study.
Na-Ca Exchange and the Trigger for Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Ca Release: Studies in Adult Rabbit Ventricular Myocytes

Abstract The importance of Na-Ca exchange as a trigger for sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca release remains controversial. Therefore, we measured whole-cell Ca currents ( I Ca ), Na-Ca exchange currents (I NaCa ), cellular contractions, and intracellular Ca transients in adult rabbit cardiac myocytes. We found that changing pipette Na concentration markedly affected the relationship between cell shortening (or Ca transients) and voltage, but did not affect the Ca current-voltage relationship. We then inhibited Na-Ca exchange and varied SR content (by changing the number of conditioning pulses before each test pulse). Regardless of SR Ca content, the relationship between contraction and voltage was bell-shaped in the absence of Na-Ca exchange. Next, we rapidly and completely blocked I Ca by applying nifedipine to cells. Cellular shortening was variably reduced in the presence of nifedipine. The component of shortening blocked by nifedipine had a bell-shaped relationship with voltage, whereas the "nifedipine-insensitive" component of contraction increased with voltage. With the SR disabled (ryanodine and thapsigargin pretreatment), I Ca could initiate late-peaking contractions that were ∼70% of control amplitude. In contrast, nifedipine-insensitive contractions could not be elicited in the presence of ryanodine and thapsigargin. Finally, we recorded reverse Na-Ca exchange currents that were activated by membrane depolarization. The estimated sarcolemmal Ca flux occurring by Na-Ca exchange (during voltage clamp steps to +30mV) was ∼10-fold less than that occurring by I Ca . Therefore, Na-Ca exchange alone is unlikely to raise cytosolic Ca concentration enough to directly activate the myofilaments. We conclude that reverse Na-Ca exchange can trigger SR Ca release. Because of the sigmoidal relationship between the open probability of the SR Ca release channel and pCa, the effects of I Ca and I NaCa may not sum in a linear fashion. Rather, the two triggers may act synergistically in the modulation of SR release.
Regulation of photosynthesis, fluorescence, stomatal conductance and water-use efficiency of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp.) under drought

Drought is the major abiotic stress factor that causes extensive losses to agriculture production worldwide. The objective of this study was to evaluate the dynamics of photosynthesis and water-use efficiency parameters in 15 cowpea genotypes under well-watered and drought condition. Photosynthesis (A) and chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv'/Fm') declined linearly with decreasing soil water content whereas intrinsic water-use efficiency (WUE) increased under drought stress, suggesting stomatal regulation was a major limitation to photosynthesis. However, under increasing drought conditions, increase in ratio of intercellular CO(2) to ambient CO(2) concentrations along with reduced WUE showed the role of non-stomatal limitation of photosynthesis. The resistant nature of Fv'/Fm' and electron transport rate under drought appeared to be important mechanisms for photoinhibition protection under drought stress. Oxidative stress was apparent due to drought-induced reduction in total chlorophyll and carotenoid which was accompanied with increased leaf wax contents. The accumulation of proline appeared to be in response of drought injury rather than a drought tolerance mechanism. A clear separation based on the genotypes site of origin among the genotypes for drought tolerance could not be established when analyzed using principal component analysis. The identified genotypes and physiological traits from this study may be useful for genetic engineering and breeding programs integrating drought adaptation in cowpea.
Human alveolar macrophages induce functional inactivation in antigen-specific CD4 T cells.

Abstract Background: Alveolar macrophages (AMCs) are the most abundant phagocytic cells in the lung, but they present antigen poorly to T cells. Objectives: The objectives of our studies were to more clearly define the mechanisms by which AMCs present antigen to T cells and to determine whether AMCs actively inhibit T-cell activation. Methods: We studied purified human CD4 T cells and compared the capacity of allogeneic AMCs and peripheral blood monocytes to induce T-cell proliferation and cytokine production. Results: We previously demonstrated that human AMCs fail to upregulate expression of B7-1 and B7-2 on stimulation with IFN-γ. We now demonstrate that AMCs actively induce T-cell unresponsiveness (functional inactivation) in an antigen-specific manner and reduce the capacity of CD4 T cells to respond on secondary stimulation. The induction of unresponsiveness was reversed by the addition of CD28 costimulation or IL-2. However, interruption of Fas/Fas ligand interactions or of B7/CTLA-4 interactions did not prevent unresponsiveness, indicating that neither CTLA-4 triggering nor Fas-induced apoptosis was involved in the induction of T-cell unresponsiveness. Conclusions: These studies indicate that AMCs actively tolerize CD4 T cells in an antigen-specific fashion. We propose that AMCs mediate a form of immune privilege in the lungs that effectively limits immune responses in the pulmonary compartment but has little effect on systemic immunity. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 2001;107:258-64.)
Ion Complexation: A Route to Enhanced Block Copolymer Alignment with Electric Fields

We investigate the enhanced alignment of lamellar microdomains under an electric field by addition of lithium chloride (LiCl) into polystyrene-block-poly(methyl methacrylate) (PS-b-PMMA) copolymers. A significant increase of dielectric contrast resulting from the formation of lithium-PMMA complexes markedly reduces the critical electric field strength required to overcome the preferential interactions of one block with the substrate, providing a route to achieve the complete alignment of microdomains in block copolymer thin films.
Lymphocytes from leukaemic blood cultured with phytohemagglutinin

Resume Les lymphocytes du sang peripherique de la leucemie lymphoide chronique (LLC) reagissent mal a la phytohemagglutinine en culture de tissu, tandis que les lymphocytes de la leucemie myeloide chronique reagissent comme les lymphocytes du sang normal. Il apparait que cette absence de reponse au stimulus P.H.A. des lymphocytes de la LLC ne depend pas directement des cellules memes, mais du plasma. En fait, le plasma de LLC ajoute a des lymphocytes de sang normal, en culture de tissu avec P.H.A., empeche leur transformation en cellules proliferantes semblables a des cellules blastiques. L'irradiation de la rate par rayons X peut supprimer cette action inhibitrice du plasma de la LLC.
Reconstituted mitochondrial transhydrogenase is a transmembrane protein.

Abstract Bovine heart mitochondrial transhydrogenase, a redox-linked proton pump, can be functionally and asymmetrically inserted into liposomes by a cholate-dialysis procedure such that the active site faces the external medium. N -(4-Azido-2-nitrophenyl)-2-aminoethylsulfonate (NAP-taurine), a membrane-impermeant photoprobe, when encapsulated in the vesicles, covalently modified the enzyme and inhibited transhydrogenation between NADPH and the 3-acetylpyridine analog of NAD + (AcPyAD + ) in a light-dependent manner. External AcPyAD + increased the rate of inactivation several fold, whereas NADPH, NADP + , and NADH were without effect. Labelling of the enzyme by intravesicular [ 35 S]NAP-taurine was enhanced by AcPyAD + and NADP + , decreased by NADH, and not significantly affected by NADPH. These results indicate that transhydrogenase spans the membrane and that substrate binding alters the conformation of that domain of the enzyme protruding from the inner surface of the membrane.
Information seeking from media and family/friends increases the likelihood of engaging in healthy lifestyle behaviors.

The amount of cancer-related information available to the general population continues to grow; yet, its effects are unclear. This study extends previous cross-sectional research establishing that cancer information seeking across a variety of sources is extensive and positively associated with engaging in health-related behaviors. The authors studied how active information seeking about cancer prevention influenced three healthy lifestyle behaviors using a 2-round nationally representative sample of adults ages 40–70 years (n = 1,795), using propensity scoring to control for potential confounders including baseline behavior. The adjusted odds of dieting at follow-up were 1.51 (95% CI: 1.05, 2.19) times higher for those who reported baseline seeking from media and interpersonal sources relative to nonseekers. Baseline seekers ate 0.59 (95% CI: 0.28, 0.91) more fruits and vegetable servings per day and exercised 0.36 (95% CI: 0.12, 0.60) more days per week at 1-year follow-up compared with nonseekers. The ...