cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Communication and information: alternative uses of the Internet in households

The Internet has been characterized as a superhighway to information and as a high-tech extension of the home telephone. How are people really using the Internet? The history of previous technologies that support interpersonal communication suggests that communication may be a more important use and determinant of participants’ commitment to the Internet than is information acquisition and entertainment. Operationalizing interpersonal communication as the use of electronic mail and information acquisition and entertainment as the use of the World Wide Web, we analyzed longitudinal data from a field trial of 229 individuals in 110 households during their first year on the Internet. The results show that interpersonal communication is a stronger driver of Internet use than are information and entertainment applications.
Modeling the Auto-Ignition of Oxygenated Fuels using a Multistep Model

The research presented here describes the application of a multistep (8-step) autoignition model to oxygenated fuels such as alcohols and esters in a rapid compression machine. This modeling concept is aimed at capturing the ignition behavior of new oxygenated fuel blends, where detailed or reduced chemical kinetics data are not available. The predicted ignition delays from the multistep autoignition model using the biodiesel surrogate fuel methyl butanoate are validated against results attained using a detailed chemical kinetic mechanism (Dooley, S.; Curran, H.J.; Simmie, J.M. Combust. Flame 2008, 153 (1−2), 2−32.) in conjunction with CHEMKIN. Once the multistep model constants were calibrated for methyl butanoate, the model showed good agreement with the detailed mechanism ignition delays, but with significantly reduced computational time. The multistep model was tested over a compressed temperature range of 750−925 K, compressed pressures from 10 to 46 atm and equivalence ratios from 0.5 to stoichiomet...
Effects of platform fashion shoes on brake response time.

Abstract The purpose of the present investigation was to examine the effects of ‘platform’ fashion shoes on response time in vehicle braking. Seventeen subjects participated in two test sessions: in one they wore platform shoes and in the other normal footwear. Although all subjects were accustomed to wearing either type of footwear, platform shoes significantly slowed their braking responses, compared with normal shoes (0·91 vs 0·81 s, respectively). This differential response time represents an increased stopping distance of 1·42 ft (433 mm) for each 10 mile/h (16 km/h) of vehicle speed.
Progressive nodular histiocytosis: a case report with literature review, and discussion of differential diagnosis and classification

Histiocytoses are a heterogeneous group of disorders which are difficult to categorize because of overlapping clinical and microscopic features, and incompletely understood mechanisms of cellular origin and triggers of proliferation. Progressive nodular histiocytosis (PNH) is a rare non-Langerhans cell histiocytic (NLH) disorder. We present the case of a 34-year-old woman with PNH, who has involvement of the back, head and neck, face, and uniquely, extensive involvement of the posterior pharynx and larynx, which has shown progressive worsening and deformity over a 7-year course. Clinically it is best classified as PNH, although it microscopically closely resembles juvenile and adult xanthogranulomatosis. This study reinforces the concept that the NLH is a closely related group of disorders, possibly representing a spectrum of a single underlying process.
The Development of Strategy Use in a Spatial Task

The ability of kindergarten, first grade, and third grade boys and girls to use a mnemonic strategy in a spatial task was investigated. Children (N = 90) were asked to replicate a model zoo. Use of an organizational strategy based on an object frame f reference was either required of the child, suggested, or not mentioned on the first trial. A second trial was conducted inwhich no strategy information was given. Analysis of the number of incorrect placements of model items indicated that the instruction had the greatest effect on the performance of the kindergarten children. Strategy instructions were also beneficial in reducing the time the children used to place items in the model but had no consistent effect on the amount of time the children used to examine the prototype.
Physical retrieval and imaging of sea-surface skin temperature from NAST-I: initial results

It is well known that a globally accurate, non-biased, satellite-derived sea surface temperature (SST) database has important applications in quantitative studies of the earth's atmosphere-ocean system. Current satellite SST retrieval algorithms do not provide the instantaneous accuracy of 0.3 K necessary for useful calculations of surface flux in climate modeling. The present study demonstrates the potential for utilizing high spectral resolution infrared radiance data toward the objective of improving global satellite-derived SSTs. The NPOESS aircraft sounder testbed interferometer (NAST-I), a newly developed experimental Fourier transform spectrometer, is employed here. This instrument is flown experimentally from high-altitude aircraft and is capable of cross-track scanning similar to that found on polar orbiting satellites; this unique scanning feature allows the possibility of accurate SST imaging. NAST-I data collected during the Wallops 1998 field campaign are used in a generalized physical multiwindow retrieval method. The combined technology and algorithm is anticipated to allow clear-sky imaging of SST with accuracy limited primarily by the noise and calibration errors of the instruments.
AIDS, Kaposi's sarcoma, and the gay population. The germ or the terrain?

This article explores the link between acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and an aggressive form of Kaposis sarcoma that appears almost exclusively in the gay male population
THE LEGISLATIVE MEDIAN AND PARTISAN POLICY

We show that the median legislator in the US House is unambiguously closer to the majority party median than to the minority party median. An important implication of this finding is that the median legislator is predisposed to support the majority party’s policy agenda. Thus, in the event that the majority party organization exerts no influence over the legislative process, and in the event that all policies then default to the legislative median, policy outcomes will still substantially favor the majority party over the minority. We demonstrate that the legislative median moves predictably toward the majority party in response to changes in majority control and the size and ideological homogeneity of the two parties. Consequently, the median legislators’ partisan predisposition increases and decreases in response to electoral change. We conclude that partisan and floor majority, or median, theories of lawmaking are more often complementary than conflicting, and that party activities in the electoral arena have implications for legislative partisanship.
The Effect of Recessive White on Growth Rate in the Fowl

Abstract There has recently been an increased interest in possible multiple effects of identifiable genes in the domestic fowl. Evidence is accumulating to the effect that certain genes determining plumage color, skin color and comb type may also be associated with polygenically inherited physiological processes. An excellent example of this type of relationship was recently presented by Jerome and Huntsman (1959). They reported that recessive white offspring (cc EE) from a cross of a cc EE male with Cc EE females were significantly heavier than were the colored offspring (Cc EE) at 9 weeks of age. In addition, a similar observation has been made by Buss (1960) in respect to a comparison of recessive white and non-white turkeys. The importance of these observations from both fundamental physiological genetics as well as commercial aspects suggested the desirability of additional comparisons. A population of birds segregating for Cc and cc genotypes was established…
MART-1 Is Required for the Function of the Melanosomal Matrix Protein PMEL17/GP100 and the Maturation of Melanosomes

More than 125 genes that regulate pigmentation have been identified to date. Of those, MART-1 has been widely studied as a melanoma-specific antigen and as a melanosome-specific marker. Whereas the functions of other melanosomal proteins, such as tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein-1, dopachrome tautomerase, and Pmel17, are known, the function of MART-1 in melanogenesis, is unclear. A role for MART-1 in pigmentation is expected because its expression pattern and subcellular distribution is quite similar to the other melanosomal proteins and usually correlates with melanin content. We investigated the function of MART-1 using a multidisciplinary approach, including the use of siRNA to inhibit MART-1 function and the use of transfection to re-express MART-1 in MART-1-negative cells. We show that MART-1 forms a complex with Pmel17 and affects its expression, stability, trafficking, and the processing which is required for melanosome structure and maturation. We conclude that MART-1 is indispensable for Pmel17 function and thus plays an important role in regulating mammalian pigmentation.
CD57 (leu-7) Expression is helpful in diagnosis of the follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma

CD57 (HNK-1) is a oligosaccharide antigen that is expressed by cells of several lineages. It is present on multipotential neuroepithelial cells during embryogenesis, and tumours of epithelial, neuroectodermal and nerve sheath origin also express CD57. Its role in the diagnosis of thyroid tumours is controversial. We have studied CD57 expression by immunohistochemistry to determine its utility in the classification of thyroid follicular lesions. Study material included 114 normal thyroid sections, 77 benign thyroid lesions (29 colloid nodules, 22 follicular adenomas, 20 cases of Hashimoto's thyroiditis and 6 of Grave's disease) and 83 thyroid carcinomas, including 31 follicular variants of papillary carcinoma. We observed CD57 positivity in 95% of thyroid carcinomas, 27% of follicular adenomas and 10% of colloid nodules. It was not expressed in the normal thyroid. CD57 expression in thyroid carcinomas was significantly different from that in normal and benign thyroid lesions (P < 0.0001). The follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma also showed significantly higher CD57 expression than colloid nodules (P < 0.0009) or follicular adenomas (P < 0.0009). No significant difference was seen between colloid nodules and follicular adenomas. We conclude that CD57 immunohistochemistry is valuable in the classification of thyroid follicular lesions into benign and malignant groups and is also helpful in the diagnosis of the follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma.
Posterior urethral injuries associated with pelvic fractures

The types of fracture of the bony pelvis are categorized, and a system for diagnosis and treatment is recommended which should prevent many strictures and make those which do develop, easier to repair secondarily. This system of treatment should reduce trauma to the nerves and blood vessels.
A simple method of obtaining excitation functions in digital form: application to electron impact dissociative ionization of CO2

Abstract A method for obtaining excitation functions in digital form is described which is applicable to measurements of ion appearance potentials by electron impact in mass spectrometry. The method employs a sampling time-to-pulse height converter and synchronously pulsed operational amplifier. Excitation functions for the ions O + and C + produced by electron impact on a CO 2 gas beam are presented. An appearance potential of 19.4±0.3 eV was obtained for O + , probably corresponding to the threshold for excitation of the predissociation C 2 Σ g + state of CO 2 + . The observed C + onset of 29.8±0.3 eV corresponds to total dissociation of the CO 2 molecule by the process e+CO 2 → C + + O+O+2 e.
Dimming supernovae without cosmic acceleration.

We present a simple model where photons propagating in extragalactic magnetic fields can oscillate into very light axions. The oscillations may convert some of the photons, departing a distant supernova, into axions, making the supernova appear dimmer and hence more distant than it really is. Averaging over different configurations of the magnetic field we find that the dimming saturates at about one-third of the light from the supernovae at very large redshifts. This results in a luminosity distance versus redshift curve almost indistinguishable from that produced by the accelerating Universe, if the axion mass and coupling scale are $m\ensuremath{\sim}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}16}\mathrm{eV}$, $M\ensuremath{\sim}4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{11}\mathrm{GeV}$. This phenomenon may be an alternative to the accelerating Universe for explaining supernova observations.
Pope's Sermo Polysemus: the Virgilian Tradition in The Rape of the lock

Following the exegetist Servius who had called the Aeneid opening a sermo polysemus, Pope uses the device of “a phrase capable of carrying many connotations” throughout The Rape of the Lock: by alluding simultaneously to many different contexts, he makes the poem elusively polysemous. Under this polysemous cover, Pope is able to make audaciously naughty hints without, however, saying everything, and thus parody Servius who thought he had detected in Virgil the poetic strategy of “not saying everything.” With the parody-orgasm scene being allusively analogous to the cave episode in which Dido and Aeneas consummate their union, Pope parodies yet another pedestrian mention of a poet's rudiments: since according to the exegetist Donatus Virgil wanted the reader to infer but did not wish to state what happens in the cave scene, Pope merely hints at that which cannot be stated. the comments made by Virgil's exegetists, then, are part of the poem's mode of existence. Consequently, when Pope transmogrifies Virgil's epic into something even less dignified than mock-epic he has Servius' authority, according to whom the Fourth Aeneid is “almostcomical” - because it deals with the subject of love.
Why do ‘great minds’ think alike?: antecedents of team member schema agreement

The primary contribution of the present study, as implied by the title of this paper, was to delineate and to test antecedents of team member schema agreement and their indirect effects on team effectiveness. The study was conducted in a naturalistic setting involving 315 individuals who comprised 41 teams. Team member teamwork schema agreement was assessed using multidimensional scaling to analyse paired comparison ratings. Demography, team experience, team member recruitment, and team size were significantly related to team member schema agreement, which in turn was significantly related to team effectiveness. Several antecedents were related to team effectiveness indirectly through team member teamwork schema agreement. The results have implications for research on cognition in teams. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Protein identification at the low femtomole level from silver-stained gels using a new fritless electrospray interface for liquid chromatography-microspray and nanospray mass spectrometry.

Abstract Conventional capillary liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) typically employs low μl/min flow rates with gas/liquid sheath to enhance spray stability. Over the past several years a number of reports have demonstrated success with electrospray (ES) interface designs optimized for submicroliter/min flows which have clear advantages in terms of enhancement of detection limit, lower sample consumption, and ability to accommodate a wider range of buffer conditions. We report here a fritless electrospray interface (FESI) design that is inexpensive and robust and can be operated and adapted to accommodate a variety of applications for submicroliter/min flow rates. The novelty of this interface revolves around the use of a fritless microcapillary column and precolumn application of electrospray voltage at a microtee junction to achieve stable microspray and nanospray flow rates. This sheathless FESI device eliminates postcolumn dead volume since small particles (≤ 10 μm) are packed directly into laser-pulled fused silica capillary needles from which a spray originates. For analysis of proteins/peptides in solution, low femtomole sensitivity has been achieved (attomoles for selected-ion monitoring), while low nanogram sensitivity was attained for proteins derived from in-gel-digested silver-stained bands from 1-D and 2-D gels. Several applications for tandem MS protein/peptide identification using LC-microspray, LC-nanospray, or infusion nanospray are presented.
Hybrid computer Monte-Carlo techniques

This report introduces hybrid analog-digital com puter systems suitable for high-speed Monte-Carlo studies and suggests methods for further reducing the computing time, such as sequential estimation and a number of variance-reducing techniques. Shift- register-generated pseudo-random-noise is especially convenient for many hybrid analog-digital computa tions. Applications to the solution of partial differ ential equations and to random-search optimization are outlined.
Feasibility analysis of black-box processes using an adaptive sampling kriging based method

Abstract Accurate knowledge of the effect of parameter uncertainty on process performance is vital for optimal and feasible operation. The objective of this work is to develop a systematic methodology for performing feasibility analysis over a multivariate factor space when the explicit form of a process model is lacking or when its evaluation is expensive. For this purpose a Kriging based surrogate approximation of the process model based on experimental or simulated data is used. In this work, two issues are addressed: feasibility evaluation of black-box processes using Kriging and introduction of an adaptive sampling methodology in order to minimize sampling cost, while maintaining feasibility space accuracy. The adaptive sampling strategy identifies critical regions and directs the search towards regions where feasibility boundaries exist or where the Kriging prediction uncertainty is high. The average error of Kriging prediction as well as cross-validation methods are used to validate the robustness of the produced model of the initial experimental design which is found to highly affect the final prediction.
Gross and histological analysis of healing after dog flexor tendon repair with the Teno Fix device.

The purpose of this study was to examine the in vivo characteristics of the stainless-steel Teno Fix™ device used for flexor tendon repair. The common flexor digitorum superficialis tendon was transected in 16 dogs and repaired with the device. The animals were euthanized at 3, 6, or 12 weeks postoperatively. Difficulties with cast immobilization led nine of 16 animals to be full weight bearing too early, leading to rupture of their repairs. The seven tendons with successful primary repairs (gap
ELECTRON MICROPROBE ANALYSIS OF MINERALS IN BARLEY AND MALT TISSUES

Barley was steeped, malted, and kilned under laboratory conditions. Surface structures of sections were examined by scanning electron microscopy and mineral element components were measured by X-ray microanalysis. Cell walls and grains of aleurone cells increased in size as a result of steeping and their structures changed throughout the subsequent malting process. In the center of the starchy endosperm, there was an extensive breakdown of the protein matrix, degradation of cell walls, and little degradation of large starch granules. Concentrations of most minerals were lower in steeped than in unsteeped barley, and continued to decrease throughout the malting process. Whereas mineral concentration changes in the husks and pericarp were minor, large decreases were noted in the aleurone tissues. Movements of mineral elements from aleurone grains to the starchy endosperm were slower for Ca and Mg than for P and K.
Effect of Adrenalin, Adrenochrome, and Adrenolutin on Connexin Proteins in the Cardiovasculature

Reported myocardial pathology resulting from increased levels of catecholamines in vivo has led us to investigate the effect of adrenalin on the gap junction proteins connexin 40 (Cx40) and Cx43 and the possible relationship to vascular toxicity. Adrenalin and its known metabolites, adrenochrome and adrenolutin, were used in this study. Utilizing the A7r5 rat aortic cell line, we evaluated the effects of adrenalin, adrenochrome, and adrenolutin on the expression and function of connexin 40 and 43 that are present in both cardiac and vascular tissues.
Common Law, and Privacy in Computer-Mediated Environments

Computer‐mediated environments pose a special challenge to our legal and cultural protections of privacy. These environments are unprecedented in the way commercially valuable information can be generated in their very use. The ease and low cost with which electronic information can be gathered and disseminated in these environments have led many to advocate regulation protecting privacy interests from commercial encroachment. At the same time, the use of digital communications to support criminal or terrorist activities have led others to advocate regulation allowing law enforcement agencies to eavesdrop or intercept. The cultural history of the Internet as a self‐regulating, almost anarchical, environment provides an interesting background to this issue. Many writers have looked to statutory law for a solution to the issues of control over, and commercial or governmental use of, information about individuals. This article contends that the current discussions have overlooked the potential of common law ...
Implementing Enterprise-Wide Electronic Fetal Monitoring Certification for All Perinatal Clinicians

Professional Issues Poster Presentation Purpose for the Program The Trinity Health Perinatal Patient Safety Initiative was launched in March 2009 to improve safety for mothers and infants. Trinity Health is a large Catholic health system with 25 hospitals that provides obstetric services, with annual births ranging from 50 to 8,500. The total number of deliveries for Trinity Health in 2010 was 38,656, which is approximately 1% of the nation’s deliveries. Nationally, one of the most frequent allegations in perinatal malpractice claims is delayed diagnosis of an indeterminate/abnormal fetal heart rate tracing. An analysis of Trinity’s claims data revealed similar findings. A primary focus for the Perinatal Patient Safety Initiative is electronic fetal monitoring competency.
Dynamic fluid shifts induced by fetal bypass.

Objective Fluid shifts have been suggested to occur with fetal bypass. The degree or mechanisms behind these volume changes (or location) have not been defined. We characterized the preceding and correlated the findings to plasma vasopressin concentrations, the critical peptide of osmoregulation. Methods Seventeen ovine fetuses (105–111 days' gestation) were started on bypass and followed 2 hours after bypass. Hemodynamics and volume replacements needed to maintain minimum reservoir volume during bypass and normal physiologic parameters after bypass were recorded. Serial blood samples were collected to assess gas exchange and vasopressin levels. Changes in total tissue water content were measured for several organs and the placenta. Plasma volume, fluid shifts, and osmolarity were calculated. Results Hematocrit values decreased by 15 minutes of bypass to 28% from 33% and then increased to 34% by 120 minutes after bypass, corresponding to a decreased fetal plasma volume of 79 to 72 mL/kg by 120 minutes after bypass. The majority of volume shifts (approximately 100 mL/kg) occurred during bypass, but additional volume replacements were required after bypass to maintain normal hemodynamics, resulting in overall losses of 0.8 mL · kg −1 · min −1 . Losses were not accounted for by placental or organ edema. Vasopressin levels increased dramatically with bypass (39–51.5 pg/mL) and were strongly predicted by increased fetal plasma volumes ( R 2 = 0.90), whereas osmolarity was not significantly associated with plasma volumes. Conclusion Fetal bypass leads to significant fluid shifts that correlate strongly with increasing vasopressin levels (but not changes in osmolarity). The placenta is not the primary site of volume loss. Rehydration of the fetus is necessary after bypass.
Digital system design in the presence of single event upsets

The authors consider the effects of single event upsets (SEUs) on digital systems, and show techniques for designing reliable systems with current levels of SEU protection. Three main systems are discussed: main memory, logic, and cache memory. A design for the main and cache memory subsystems that are SEU protected is also described. With SEU defined in bit days p, and using single error correction, it is shown that for all subsystems considered, an effective upset rate which is proportional to the product of p/sup 2/ and the time between corrections, or scrub time, can be obtained. Data for memory chip size and performance derived from the gallium-arsenide (GaAs) pilot lines funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) throughout the 1980s are used. >
Discriminative stimulus properties of phenytoin in the pigeon: determination via a cumulative dosing procedure.

Abstract Pigeons were trained in a cumulative dosing procedure to emit one response in the presence of 15 mg/kg phenytoin and another response in the absence of phenytoin. After reliable discrimination was established, generalization tests with other anticonvulsant drugs were conducted. Ethosuximide (20–120 mg/kg) and methsuximide (25–100 mg/kg) engendered very little phenytoin-appropriate responding. Clonazepam (0.125–1 mg/kg) engendered more phenytoin-appropriate responding, but less than the training dose of phenytoin. Similar results were obtained when these drugs were administered in conventional single dose per session generalization tests. When tested in that fashion, mephenytoin (80 and 160 mg/kg) engendered some phenytoin-appropriate responding, but less than the training dose of phenytoin. Administering 10 mg/kg pentylenetetrazol in combination with 5, 10, 15, and 20 mg/kg cumulative doses of phenytoin reduced phenytoin-appropriate responding relative to levels obtained with these doses of phenytoin alone.
Haematological, biochemical and coagulation changes in mice, guinea-pigs and monkeys infected with a mouse-adapted variant of Ebola Zaire virus.

Ebola Zaire virus from the 1976 outbreak (EBO-Z) was recently adapted to the stage of lethal virulence in BALB/c mice through serial passage. In the present study, various parameters were examined in groups of mice and guinea-pigs and in three rhesus monkeys after infection with mouse-adapted EBO-Z. The virus caused fatal disease not only in mice but also in guinea-pigs, in which the course of illness resembled that produced by guinea-pig-adapted EBO-Z. Mice, guinea-pigs and monkeys showed similar haematological and biochemical disturbances, but coagulopathy was less striking in mice than in the other two species. The virus caused severe illness in all three monkeys, one of which died. In the lethally infected monkey the degree of viraemia and the haematological, serum biochemical and coagulation changes were greater than in the other two animals, an observation that may prove to be of value in predicting fatal outcome. All three monkeys developed disseminated intravascular coagulation. The two survivors were completely resistant to challenge one year later with non-adapted EBO-Z. In general, the clinical and pathological changes produced in the three species resembled those previously described in guinea-pigs and non-human primates infected with non-mouse-adapted EBO-Z. It was noteworthy, however, that mouse-adaptation appeared to have resulted in a degree of attenuation for monkeys.
Piezoelectric films for 100-MHz ultrasonic transducers

Abstract Piezoelectric aluminum nitride (AlN) and zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films were deposited by reactive magnetron sputtering for use in ultrasonic transducers in the 100- to 300-MHz regime. Pulse-echo ultrasonic transducers are being developed to image subsurface microstructure in metal and non-metal (ceramic) materials and components. A Krimholtz, Leedom, Matthaei (KLM) model was used to aid in the design of the ultrasonic transducer. Design criteria included piezoelectric material properties and thickness, electrode material and thickness, substrate dielectric properties, active area diameter and bandwidth and sensitivity requirements. The preliminary designs consisted of Ni/AlN/Ni and Ni/ZnO/Ni on BK-7 glass and fused silica substrates. AlN was chosen because of its a high longitudinal wave velocity of 10 700 m/s and high dielectric strength of 20 MV/cm. Strongly oriented (002) AlN and ZnO coatings, up to 50 μm thick, were deposited onto transducer substrates. Transducers with strongly oriented (002) crystal orientation displayed the highest longitudinal/shear (L/S) wave ratio of 19.6 dB. Crystalline structure was found to depend primarily on substrate temperature, substrate placement, and substrate material. Substrate temperatures ranged between 100 and 400°C. Strongly (002) oriented AlN films were deposited at substrate temperatures as low as 100°C. The L/S ratio decreased with the onset of the (103) and other crystal orientations, which resulted from off-normal adatom flux incidence during deposition. Near normal incidence flux angles were needed to obtain the (002) crystal orientation. Substoichiometric ZnO films were obtained at substrate temperatures below 300°C. The transducers operated at frequencies between 50 and 100 MHz, with performance very close to that of the design.
Adjustable antisiphon shunt.

Overdrainage from siphoning, a result of negative distal pressure, has been a major problem with the existing differential pressure shunt devices. The antisiphon/ siphon control devices used to reduce siphoning often malfunction owing to fibrous scar formation around the valve. Similarly, the functioning of gravity-actuated systems is adversely affected by body movements. Constant flow shunt systems may not be superior to existing differential pressure valves, as has been shown in a recent multicenter study. In view of these difficulties, we investigated the possibility of developing a shunt valve based on the Starling resistor concept of flow regulation that allows proximal pressure-dependent and distal pressure-independent flow. The valve designed is capable of proximal pressure-dependent and distal pressure-independent flow. The valve allows for adjustable negative pressure in the vertical position.
Low power ADC's for wireless communications

Recent advances in ADCs have enabled the development of low power receivers for wireless communication applications. In this paper we will discuss a specific class of ADCs, namely sigma delta ADCs. A brief overview of challenges in the design of these ADC's will be discussed along with the recent advances and techniques in overcoming these challenges. Two specific examples in the context of narrow and wide bandwidth systems will be discussed that demonstrate the viability of the recent techniques.
Measuring Religion in Global Civil Society

This article illustrates two conceptual and methodological problems that interfere with the accurate identification and measurement of religious mobilization in global civil society. First, data used to study the organizational composition of global culture contain a selection bias that favors organizations within an elite stratum of the world polity, to the neglect of organizations in the lower strata, where religious mobilization is likely to be more prevalent. Second, religious mobilization is measured as if religion were a distinct sector of social life, not allowing for any overlap with other sectors. Through a comparison of data sources and methods, this article illustrates both the selection bias and prevalence of religious mobilization in human rights, an arena that is often assumed to be secular.
Botulinum toxin A increases analgesic effects of morphine, counters development of morphine tolerance and modulates glia activation and μ opioid receptor expression in neuropathic mice

Abstract The use of botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A) against pain, with emphasis for its possible use in alleviating chronic pain, still represents an outstanding challenge for experimental research. In this study, we examined the effects of BoNT/A on morphine-induced tolerance during chronic morphine treatment in neuropathic CD1 mice subjected to sciatic nerve lesion according to the Chronic Constriction Injury (CCI) model of neuropathic pain. We measured the effects of BoNT/A on CCI-induced allodynia and hyperalgesia and on the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP, marker of astrocytes), complement receptor 3/cluster of differentiation 11b (CD11b, marker of microglia), and neuronal nuclei (NeuN) at the spinal cord level. We also analyzed the colocalized expression of GFAP, CD11b and NeuN with phosphorylated p-38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and with μ-opioid receptor (MOR). A single intraplantar injection of BoNT/A (15 pg/paw) into the injured hindpaw, the day before the beginning of chronic morphine treatment (9 days of twice daily injections of 40 mg/kg morphine), was able to counteract allodynia and enhancement of astrocytes expression/activation induced by CCI. In addition, BoNT/A increased the analgesic effect of morphine and countered morphine-induced tolerance during chronic morphine treatment. These effects were accompanied, in neurons, by re-expression of MORs that had been reduced by repeated morphine administration. The combinatory effects of BoNT/A and morphine could have relevant therapeutic implications for sufferers of chronic pain who could benefit of pain relief reducing tolerance due to repeated treatment with opiates.
Hybrid Tetramers of Porcine Liver Fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase Reveal Multiple Pathways of Allosteric Inhibition

Fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase is a square planar tetramer of identical subunits, which exhibits cooperative allosteric inhibition of catalysis by AMP. Protocols for in vitro subunit exchange provide three of five possible hybrid tetramers of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase in high purity. The two hybrid types with different subunits in the top and bottom halves of the tetramer co-purify. Hybrid tetramers, formed from subunits unable to bind AMP and subunits with wild-type properties, differ from the wild-type enzyme only in regard to their properties of AMP inhibition. Hybrid tetramers exhibit cooperative, potent, and complete (100%) AMP inhibition if at least one functional AMP binding site exists in the top and bottom halves of the tetramer. Furthermore, titrations of hybrid tetramers with AMP, monitored by a tryptophan reporter group, reveal cooperativity and fluorescence changes consistent with an R- to T-state transition, provided that again at least one functional AMP site exists in the top and bottom halves of the tetramer. In contrast, hybrid tetramers, which have functional AMP binding sites in only one half (top/bottom), exhibit an R- to T-state transition and complete AMP inhibition, but without cooperativity. Evidently, two pathways of allosteric inhibition of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase are possible, only one of which is cooperative.
Nanoindentation measurements of combustion CVD Al2O3 and YSZ films

Abstract Combustion chemical vapor deposition (combustion CVD) was used to deposit thin films of yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) and alumina (Al 2 O 3 ). Nanoindentation analysis for hardness, modulus and fracture toughness of the films as well as several bulk materials, including single crystal Al 2 O 3 , MgO, SiO 2 , YSZ and polycrystalline Al 2 O 3 was conducted. YSZ films that were produced with a total cation molarity of 0.005 M possessed significant surface roughness that was not conducive to nanoindentation measurements. The lower concentration investigated, 0.002 M provided a repeatable deposition condition that produced thin films with consistent hardness and modulus values. Load-displacement measurements at very low loads (up to total displacements of 200 nm) showed that the Al 2 O 3 films tended to plastically deform, whereas the YSZ films showed less of a tendency to do so. For Al 2 O 3 films that were 0.38±0.09 μm thick, the modulus, hardness and fracture toughness values were 28.6±1.6 GPa, 479±15 GPa and 2.22±0.31 MPa m 0.5 , respectively; for YSZ films that were 0.65±0.05 μm thick, the values were 16.1±4.6 GPa, 388±89 GPa and 1.67±0.46 MPa m 0.5 , respectively. These values were found to be consistent with the values measured via nanoindentation in this work for bulk samples of Al 2 O 3 and YSZ, as well as to those reported in the literature.
Oxidation Response and Coatings for Mo-Si-B Alloys

Mo-Si-B alloys respond to high temperature oxidation in two distinct stages. First, there is a transient stage with an initial high recession rate that corresponds to the evaporation of volatile MoO 3 due to the oxidation of the molybdenum rich phases. The steady state stage of the oxidation begins when a borosilica layer that initiated in the transient period becomes continuous and protects the alloy from further rapid oxidation. Then, the oxidation rate is limited by oxygen diffusion through the borosilicate layer. In order to improve the oxidation performance of the Mo-Si-B alloys, it is necessary to minimize the transient stage. The three phases, Mo (solid solution), Mo 3 Si (A15) and Mo 5 SiB 2 (T 2 ), composing the Mo-Si-B alloys play different roles in the transient stage. The interaction of the three phases with a reduced microstructure scale can reduce considerably the transient oxidation stage. As a further approach to inhibit the transient stage, a kinetic biasing strategy has been developed to capitalize on the reactions between different phases to develop useful reaction products and alloy compositions that evolve toward a steady state of a compatible system. In order to achieve a compatible interface coating together with enhanced oxidation resistance, a pack cementation process has been adopted to apply diffusion coatings. Two areas are highlighted for successful coating applications on Mo-Si-B alloys and robust high temperature oxidation resistance: development of metal-rich silicide + borosilicide high-temperature coating and in-situ thermal-barrier + borosilica coatings.
Uncapping of viral messenger RNA by phosphodiesterase of fibroblast plasma membranes.

Isolated plasma membranes from mouse fibroblast lines 3T3 and its tranformant SV-3T3 contain a phosphodiesterase (oligonucleotidase, E.C. 3.1.4.19; nucleotide pyrophosphatase, E.C. 3.6.1.9) that splits capped and methylated messenger RNA obtained from both reovirus and vesicular stomatitis virus. The isolated membranes are free of demonstrable ribonuclease activity and split the mRNA to produce 7-methyl guanosine diphosphate as a product. With ATP as substrate for the phosphodiesterase enzyme, the product is AMP. Synthetic caps, AMP, ADP and ATP, but not cyclic AMP, can compete with the substrate p-nitrophenyl thymidilic acid. A possible regulatory role on messenger translation is proposed.
Risk factors for mortality in patients with cardiac device-related infection.

Background— Because of the increased use of pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators, infection has become a complication with significant morbidity and mortality. Data on risk factors for mortality in patients with cardiac-device related infection are limited. We evaluated the prognostic significance of key clinical and echocardiographic variables in a large retrospective population of patients with cardiac-device related infection. Methods and Results— Two hundred ten patients with cardiac-device related infection were identified at the University of Michigan between 1995 and 2006. Data were abstracted on key clinical and echocardiographic variables, treatment strategy, and 6-month outcomes. We used multivariable Cox proportional hazards models to examine clinical and echocardiographic variables that were associated with 6-month mortality. Mean age for our study population was 63±17 years, and 72 (44%) were women. All-cause 6-month mortality was 18% (n=37). Independent variables associated with death were systemic embolization (hazard ratio 7.11; 95% CI 2.74 to 18.48), moderate or severe tricuspid regurgitation (hazard ratio 4.24; 95% CI 1.84 to 9.75), abnormal right ventricular function (hazard ratio 3.59; 95% CI 1.57 to 8.24), and abnormal renal function (hazard ratio 2.98; 95% CI 1.17 to 7.59). Size and mobility of cardiac device vegetations were not independently associated with mortality. Conclusions— We identified several clinical and echocardiographic variables that identify patients with cardiac-device related infection who are at high-risk for mortality and may benefit from more aggressive evaluation. Received August 22, 2008; accepted January 7, 2009. # CLINICAL PERSPECTIVE {#article-title-2}
Electron scattering from one- and two-phonon vibrational states

Abstract Admixtures of one- and two-phonon states are required to fit (e, e′) form factors for the lowest two 2 + states in several even-even vibrational nuclei. These anharmonic wave functions correctly reproduce radiative branching ratios and excited state quadrupole moments.
Management of massive hemorrhage and transfusion in trauma

T RAUMA is the most common cause of death for Americans younger than age 45 years. 1 In the United States, deaths from unintentional injuries are most often the result of motor vehicle crashes, falls, poisoning, fires, or drowning. Although the number of deaths from motor vehicle crashes has decreased over the past few years, there has been an alarming increased in firearmrelated deaths. In the early 1990s, it was thought that deaths from firearms would exceed those from motor vehicle crashes by the year 2003.1 Fortunately for American society, this prediction has not become reality. In fact, if the current trends continue, rates of firearm-related violence will soon be at their lowest point since the 1950s. 2 Trauma anesthesiologists are faced today with sicker patients than in the past because of improvements in emergency prehospital care, initial resuscitation of trauma victims in emergency departments, and rapid transport to operating rooms. It is not uncommon to care for patients with blunt injuries to the great vessels, penetrating injuries to the heart, severe blunt injuries to the liver, severe open-book pelvic fractures, and penetrating injuries to the trunk and to then see these patients leave the hospital to lead constructive, functional lives. Hypotension and hypovolemia are generally regarded as detrimental to the brain and other organs and are associated with worse outcome, particularly in association with severe head injury. In recent reports, there is speculation that hypovolemia and associated hypotension are beneficial in some circumstances when hemorrhage is uncontrolled. 3'4 The most frequently stated example is a lacerated major artery, when the administration of fluid and associated increase in blood pressure might dislodge a clot from the area of injury, increase the hemorrhage, and turn stable hypotension into lethal recurrent hemorrhage. The evidence for the occurrence of these theoretic effects from fluid resuscitation is stronger for penetrating trauma than for blunt trauma, which is more common in patients with head injuries. Currently, there is general support for fluid administration as a mainstay of initial resuscitation after blunt trauma. The initial hemodynamic stabilization is still intravenous access, correction of hypovolemia, and hemorrhage identification and control. This review focuses on the management of exsanguinating hemorrhage and massive transfusion from blunt or penetrating trauma after the patient's arrival in the operating room.
Internship Training in Psychological Assessment: Has Managed Care had an Impact?

Training directors of 84 APA-approved internship programs in psychology responded to a survey on the current status and recent changes in internship training in psychological assessment. There appears to be a slight decline in emphasis on assessment in general, although it is still considered to be an important component of training. There was a surprising endorsement of traditional assessment instruments as important for clinical practice, in spite of a trend toward decreased emphasis on projective methods. The majority of programs have maintained the same degree of emphasis on objective measures, intelligence tests, behavioral methods, and the interview, while increasing emphasis on neuropsychological assessment. Less than half (43%) of the training directors reported that their programs have been significantly affected by managed care, suggesting that the majority of internship sites are somewhat insulated from present trends in marketplace pressures regarding reimbursement for psychological testing. T...
A PSYCHOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF THE PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES QUESTIONNAIRE

The psychometric properties of the Personal Attributes Questionnaire were examined in independent samples of male and female high school students, college students, and adults. In each of the six samples a two-factor structure (masculinity/instrumentality and femininity/expressivity) paralleling the empirically derived scales was found. Additional factor analyses of negative masculine and feminine traits were reported. Discriminant analyses revealed highly significant differentiation between the sexes. The reliabilities (Cronbach alpha) of the unit-weighted scales in each sample were also satisfactory.
Generalized Model for Solar Sails

E define a new methodology for the analytic description of the force and moment generated by a solar sail of arbitrary shape and surface optical properties. We find that the total force and moment generated by the sail can be completely defined by the computation of a number of constants of the sail, which are only functions of the sail geometry and independent of the incident light. Given these constants, some standard sail properties, and the incident light pressure and direction, the total force and moment acting on the sail can be computed using simple formulas. Specifically, we can characterize the force generated by a solar sail of arbitrary sail geometry under general illumination conditions with 18 numbers. To characterize the moment requires an additional 36 numbers. The advantages of this description are that these constants can be computed off-line and are defined for arbitrarily shaped sails, meaning that only one formalism must be coded to deal with all types of sails. There are a number of limits to this approach. First, this model tacitly assumes that the sail will not change shape as its attitude varies, thus their utility might be somewhat limited or constrained to relatively small angular motions. This limitation will be addressed in the future. Second, it assumes that there is no self-shadowing, that is, that every element of the sail surface will “see” an incident ray. This is a reasonable assumption given the likely mode in which a solar sail will be operated.
On Characterizing the Extrema of a Function of Two Variables, One of Which is Discrete

This research was motivated by design problems in queueing theory where the objective function is composed of a discrete variable and a continuous variable. Sufficient conditions are developed such that any local minimum of such an objective function is also a global minimum. A two-parameter design problem associated with an M/Ek/1 system is used as an example to show how the conditions are utilized.