cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Novel Large Conductance, Nonselective Cation Channel in Pheochromocytoma (PC12) Cells

A new type of nonselective cation channel was identified and characterized in pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells using inside-out and cell-attached patch-clamp recordings. The channel shows a large unitary conductance (274 pS in symmetric 145 mm K+) and selectivity for Na+≈ K+ > Li+, and is practically impermeable to Cl−. The channel activity-voltage relationship is bell-shaped, showing maximal activation at ≈−10 mV. The overall activity of this channel is unmodified by [Na+] ic , or [Ca++] ic . However, increases in [Ca++] ic lead to a decrease in the unitary current amplitude. In addition, overall activity is mildly increased when suction is applied to the back of the patch pipette. Together, these characteristics distinguish the present channel from all other large conductance nonselective cation channels reported so far in a variety of preparations. The frequency of appearance of this channel type is similar in undifferentiated and NGF-treated PC12 cells (≈8–27% of patches). The combination of large conductance, permeability to Na+, and existence of conducting states at negative potentials, may provide a significant pathway for inward current and depolarization in PC12 cells.
In Vivo and in Vitro Ovarian Steroidogenesis in the Long Term Hypophysectomized Rat

Ovarian steroidogenesis in the hypophysectomized rat was studied using immature female rats pretreated with 5 IU PMS at 30 days of age and hypophysectomized between 0900–1000 h on either day 32 (before ovulation; group without corpora lutea) or day 33 (the day of ovulation; group with corpora lutea). Serum levels of progesterone (P) and estradiol-17β (E2) in the group with corpora lutea were consistently low, but detectable, from day 5–40 after hypophysectomy, whereas serum 20α-dihydroprogesterone (20α-OHP) and testosterone (T) remained relatively high. However, serum P, 20α-OHP, T, and E2 in the animals without corpora lutea were significantly less on days 5–20, suggesting that these hormones were primarily secreted from corpora lutea but not nonluteal ovarian tissues. The steroidogenic capacity of the corpora lutea and nonluteal ovary at different times after hypophysectomy was assessed by incubation for 2 h in Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate. Five to 40 days after hypophysectomy, the corpora lutea in vitro pr...
Exploring the distribution of park availability, features, and quality across Kansas City, Missouri by income and race/ethnicity: an environmental justice investigation

Background Parks are key community assets for physical activity, but some evidence suggests these resources are not equitably distributed.
Si(100) surface morphology evolution during normal-incidence sputtering with 100–500 eV Ar+ ions

Grazing incidence small-angle x-ray scattering and atomic force microscopy have been used to systematically investigate the evolution of Si(100) surface morphology during normal-incidence Ar+ sputtering as a function of ion energy in the range of 100–500 eV. For ion energy ranges of 100–300 eV, two structures with distinct individual length scales and behaviors form on the surface. There is a smaller scale (lateral size of 20–50 nm) morphology that grows in scattering intensity and coarsens with time. There is also a larger scale (lateral size of approximately 100 nm) morphology that grows in scattering intensity but does not coarsen significantly in the time scales studied. At higher energies (400–500 eV), sputtering causes the Si(100) surface to become smoother on length scales smaller than 200 nm.
Ultrasmall colloidal PbS quantum dots

Abstract Ultrasmall colloidal lead sulfide quantum dots can increase the open circuit voltages of quantum-dot-based solar cells because of their large energy gap. Their small size and visible or near infrared light-emitting property make them attractive to the applications of biological fluorescence labeling. Through a modified organometallic route, we can synthesize lead sulfide quantum dots as small as 1.6 nm in diameter. The low reaction temperature and the addition of a chloroalkane cosolvent decrease the reaction rate, making it possible to obtain the ultrasmall quantum dots.
In-Situ Shearing Interferometry Of National Synchrotron Light Source Mirrors

In situ mirror distortion measurements were made with a lateral shearing interferometer on three mirrors in beam line X17T at the National Synchrotron Light Source. Lateral shearing interference is insensitive to vibrational motion in five of the six degrees of freedom, so it is well-suited for investigations in the synchrotron radiation (SR) environment. No distortion was seen in an uncooled silicon carbide mirror and in a cooled copper alloy mirror on X17TB, but a change in the radius of an uncooled electroless nickel-plated aluminum cylinder mirror of about 6.2% was observed on X17TA. Angular vibrations in the 2-3 arc second range were easily observed on one of the beam lines, as was an overall mirror rotation in the arc second range.
On the cool skin of the ocean

Previous data relating sea-surface temperature to heat flux across the air-sea interface were reanalyzed with a common formula for the wind-stress coefficient. An expression is proposed for the nondimensional thickness of the thermal sublayer: the expression increases with wind velocity at light winds and has a value of 7 when the wind velocity reaches 7 m s−1.
A Micro Inertial Energy Harvesting Platform With Self-Supplied Power Management Circuit for Autonomous Wireless Sensor Nodes

A 0.25 cm 3 autonomous energy harvesting micro-platform is realized to efficiently scavenge, rectify and store ambient vibration energy with batteryless cold start-up and zero sleep-mode power consumption. The fabricated compact system integrates a high-performance vacuum-packaged piezoelectric MEMS energy harvester with a power management IC and surface-mount components including an ultra-capacitor. The power management circuit incorporates a rectification stage with ~30 mV voltage drop, a bias-Ωip stage with a novel control system for increased harvesting efficiency, a trickle charger for permanent storage of harvested energy, and a low power supply-independent bias circuitry. The overall system weighs less than 0.6 grams, does not require a precharged battery, and has power consumption of 0.5 μW in active-mode and 10 pW in sleep-mode operation. While excited with 1 g vibration, the platform is tested to charge an initially depleted 70 mF ultra-capacitor to 1.85 V in 50 minutes (at 155 Hz vibration), and a 20 mF ultra-capacitor to 1.35 V in 7.5 min (at 419 Hz). The end-to-end rectification efficiency from the harvester to the ultra-capacitor is measured as 58-86%. The system can harvest from a minimum vibration level of 0.1 g.
Radar–Rain Gauge Comparisons under Observational Uncertainties

Abstract A simple, analytically tractable model of the radar–rain gauge rainfall observational process, including measurement errors, is presented. The model is applied to study properties of different reflectivity–rainfall (Z–R) relationships estimated from radar and rain gauge data. Three common Z–R adjustment schemes are considered: direct and reverse nonlinear regression, and the probability matching method. The three techniques result in quite different formulas for the estimated Z–R relationships. All three also are different from the intrinsic Z–R of the model and depend strongly on the assumed observational uncertainties. The results explain, to a degree, the diversity of Z–R relationships encountered in the literature. They also suggest that development of new tools that account for the uncertainties is necessary to separate the observational and natural causes of the Z–R variability.
Computer-aided design for manufacturing process selection

This paper describes an expert system that helps designers select a manufacturing process in the early stage of product design. First, the paper focuses on net-shape manufacturing processes and identifies the major factors that affect the selection of an appropriate process. Examples of these factors include shape, production volume and material. A versatile methodology should consider all the factors simultaneously in assessing the suitability of the candidate processes. The proposed system uses the concept of design compatibility analysis to represent the suitability of candidate processes with respect to the given product specifications. The system uses this knowledge to eliminate incompatible candidates and rank the compatible set of processes. A prototype system called DFPS uses HyperCard and Prolog to implement the proposed methodology. DFPS also contains information related to each process.
A Marriage Made in Heaven? Mismatches and Misunderstandings between Worker Centres and Unions

Worker centres, community-based mediating institutions that provide support to low-wage workers in the United States, have grown from five in 1992 to 160 in 2007. With unions increasingly targeting low-wage immigrant workers employed in non-footloose industries for organizing drives, it would seem that worker centres and unions are a match made in heaven. On the ground, however, it has been more of a mismatch. This article examines the underlying sources of the mismatch embodied in the structures, ideologies and cultures of worker centres and unions.
Ion ejection from fourier transform mass spectrometry trapped ion cells due to non-adiabatic changes in trapping potentials

Abstract The z -axis ejection of ions due to non-adiabatic changes in trapping potentials in Fourier transform mass spectrometry (FTMS) trapped ion cells is evaluated. This ejection mechanism is a kinetic energy rather than a mass dependent phenomenon which has important consequences for quantitative measurements that involve ion flight to or from the trapped ion cell. Ion trajectory simulations indicate that a large percentage of ions is ejected when gated trapping is used in external source spectrometers and that at least 20% of the initial ion population is lost in typical dual cell FTMS experiments. A z -axis equation of motion is developed to approximate the anharmonic effects of the grounded conductance limit in dual cell experiments and to allow an investigation of macroscopic properties of the resulting ion cloud including spatial and kinetic energy distributions. The model predicts that an initial z -axis coherence to the ion cloud exists after gated trapping events in dual cell instruments which results in periodic fluctuations in FTMS signal amplitude in non-uniform excitation fields. This effect was verified experimentally with a pluse sequence that yields the predicted z -axis trapping frequencies in cubic cells.
Associations between toxic metals in follicular fluid and in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes

Purpose We previously reported associations between trace concentrations of Hg, Cd and Pb in blood and urine and reproductive outcomes for women undergoing in-vitro fertilization (IVF). Here we assess measurements in single follicular fluid (FF) specimens from 46 women as a presumably more relevant marker of dose for reproductive toxicity.
Polymer-on-Polymer Stamping: Universal Approaches to Chemically Patterned Surfaces

A new approach to create chemically patterned surfaces utilizing polymers and copolymers is introduced. In this approach, chemical patterns are achieved by the direct stamping of functional polymers onto a surface containing complementary functional groups. The resulting pattern is then used as a template for the further deposition of materials on the surface. This concept can be applied to various functional polymer and substrate systems as well as different thin film deposition techniques. This approach is demonstrated with the direct stamping of polystyrene−poly(acrylic acid) block copolymers (PS−PAA) to create alternating hydrophobic/hydrophilic regions and polyelectrolytes to create alternating positively and negatively charged regions. This approach has been used for patterning surfaces and templating materials deposition. When a patterned polyelectrolyte film is used as the base layer or substrate in this process, functionality can be incorporated in the underlying layer, making this approach parti...
Comparative effectiveness research in spine surgery

Degenerative spine disorders are a significant cause of patient morbidity and are a prominent factor in healthcare costs in many countries. Pressure for healthcare cost control and the desire for improved outcomes have led to an expanding emphasis on evidence-based medicine methodologies in spine research. Determination of the optimal treatment paradigm for many common degenerative spinal disorders has proven difficult and comparative effectiveness research is increasingly being employed to examine these clinical dilemmas. The Swedish Spine Registry and the Registry of the Scoliosis Research Society are two of the long-standing databases compiling data for spine patients. Spine surgery professional organizations have recently taken a prominent role in assembling procedural- and diagnosis-based registries, specifically addressing therapeutic outcomes for spine patients. As healthcare systems continue to evolve, comparative effectiveness research driven by spine registries may better elucidate the appropriate clinical choices for patients with these challenging illnesses.
A supercluster catalog

The largest available complete redshift sample of rich clusters of galaxies is used to construct a three-dimensional catalog of superclusters complete to redhsift of about 0.08 or less. The criterion of membership in the catalog is the density enhancement of clusters over the mean density; the catalog is presented for various values of this parameter. The dependence of the identified sample of superclusters on the overdensity is studied, and the sensitivity of the identified superclusters to various quantities and selection procedures is investigated. The validity of the identification procedure is established by comparisons with random catalogs.
SIMPLIFIED TURBIDIMETRIC ASSAY OF LIPASE IN DOSAGE FORMS.

A simplified turbidimetric procedure for the standardization of lipase activity in dosage forms is described. The procedure compares in accuracy to the best titrimetric methods and simplifies the handling of a large number of samples to be assayed.
Thin film delamination: A discrete dislocation analysis

Interface delamination during indentation of micron-scale ceramic coatings on metal substrates is modeled using discrete dislocation (DD) plasticity to elucidate the relationships between delamination, substrate plasticity, interface adhesion, elastic mismatch, and film thickness. In the DD method, plasticity in the metal substrate occurs directly via the motion of dislocations, which are governed by a set of physically based constitutive rules for nucleation, motion and annihilation. A cohesive law with peak stress sigma characterizes the traction-separation response of the metal/ceramic interface. The indenter is a rigid flat punch and plane strain deformation is assumed. A continuum plasticity model of the same problem is studied for comparison. For low interface strengths (e.g. sigma textless sigma(y)), DD and continuum plasticity results are quantitatively similar, with delamination being nearly independent of interface strength, and easier for thinner, lower-modulus films. For higher interface strengths (sigma/sigma(y) textgreater 2), continuum plasticity predicts no delamination up to very high loads while the DD model shows a smooth increase in the critical indentation force for delamination with increasing interface strength. Tensile delamination in the DD model is driven by the accumulation of dislocations, and their associated high stresses, at the interface upon unloading. The DD model is thus capable of predicting the nucleation of cracks, and its dependence on material parameters, in realms of realistic constitutive behavior and/or small length scales where conventional continuum plasticity fails. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Dosimetric effect of setup motion and target volume margin reduction in pediatric ependymoma.

Abstract Purpose Quantify the dosimetric effect of inter- and intrafractional motion on intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and three-dimensional (3D) planning via changes in the generalized equivalent uniform dose (gEUD), predicted tumor control probability (TCP) and normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) for pediatric ependymoma. Methods and materials Twenty patients treated between 1998 and 2002 with a 3D plan (CTV=1cm, PTV=5mm) were selected. Two IMRT plans were created for the 1cm CTV (PTV=5mm and PTV=0mm), and a third IMRT plan for a 5mm CTV (PTV=0mm). Direct simulation with inter- and intrafractional motion was performed for 3D and IMRT plans based on daily pre and post-treatment cone beam CT information obtained from 20 well-matched patients (age, supine/prone, use of GA) on a localization protocol. Calculated TCP, NTCP, Conformity Index (CI), and predictive IQ were compared. Results IMRT improved the calculated TCP by 2.8±2.8 vs. 3D ( p p =0.02) and 0.0±0.1 ( p =0.14) for the IMRT plan with PTV=0mm. Mean NTCP for 3D and IMRT with PTV=5mm, PTV=0mm, and CTV=5mm for the cochlea was: 66.6, 29.4, 8.7. Mean NTCP change due to motion was Conclusions IMRT improves calculated TCP vs. 3D. Daily localization can allow for a safe reduction in the PTV margin, while maintaining target coverage; reducing the CTV margin can further reduce NTCP and may reduce future side-effects.
Perceptions of Distance Education Among Nursing Faculty Members in North America

A strategy to increase access to nursing education, train nurses for practice, and prepare future nurse educators is distance education. Faculty member shortages are cited as the main reason for not accepting qualified applicants. Faculty members are the core of nursing education. In order to address nursing faculty members' concerns regarding distance education and to assist in faculty member recruitment, retention, growth, and development in order to improve and enhance the quality of distance education, one must answer the question: What are nursing faculty members' perceptions of distance education in nursing? Utilizing a number of databases to locate research specific to this topic, this article provides an integrative review of the nursing literature to ascertain the faculty members' perspective of distance education. The research was analyzed, findings summarized, and limitations mentioned. Utilizing a brief supplementary review of the literature, the implications, recommendations, and need for future research are discussed.
Effect of gold doping on the superconducting critical temperature and transition width in single-crystal YBa2Cu3O? (YBCO)

Single-crystal YBa2Cu3O−δ (YBCO) has been made with some of the copper atoms in the copper-oxygen chains replaced by gold. The samples were made by a flux method. The gold concentration was determined by EDX (energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy) as a function of the nominal (i.e., flux) composition. Up to about 4.8% of all the copper atoms can be replaced by gold. The effect of the gold doping on the superconducting transition temperature (T c ) and the transition width (ΔT c ) were determined.
Matrix-dependent bias in total thyroxine measurement on the Beckman Access.

Abstract Background: Total thyroxine assays continue to be an integral part of thyroid status testing. We experienced a significant number of elevated total thyroxine values in patients with normal thyroid stimulating hormone and thyroxine binding globulin concentrations using the Beckman Access and hypothesized that these were due to a sample matrix effect. Methods: We compared the total thyroxine assays on the Beckman Synchron, Beckman Access, and Dade Dimension using individual patient specimens and two uniform matrices: a serum pool and an albumin-based matrix that were both supplemented with l -thyroxine to span the linear assay range. Results: Access total thyroxine values in individual patient specimens exhibited sporadic positive bias as high as 77 nmol/l (6 μg/dl) when compared to the Synchron and Dimension. The use of uniform matrices had little effect on the Synchron in comparison to the Dimension but significantly improved the agreement between the Access and the Dimension or Synchron as indicated by a statistically significant improvement in correlation coefficients. Conclusions: The Access total thyroxine assay is prone to a variable and clinically significant positive bias that is mediated by a component of the sample matrix.
The Human Werner Syndrome Protein Stimulates Repair of Oxidative DNA Base Damage by the DNA Glycosylase NEIL1

The mammalian DNA glycosylase, NEIL1, specific for repair of oxidatively damaged bases in the genome via the base excision repair pathway, is activated by reactive oxygen species and prevents toxicity due to radiation. We show here that the Werner syndrome protein (WRN), a member of the RecQ family of DNA helicases, associates with NEIL1 in the early damage-sensing step of base excision repair. WRN stimulates NEIL1 in excision of oxidative lesions from bubble DNA substrates. The binary interaction between NEIL1 and WRN (K(D) = 60 nM) involves C-terminal residues 288-349 of NEIL1 and the RecQ C-terminal (RQC) region of WRN, and is independent of the helicase activity WRN. Exposure to oxidative stress enhances the NEIL-WRN association concomitant with their strong nuclear co-localization. WRN-depleted cells accumulate some prototypical oxidized bases (e.g. 8-oxoguanine, FapyG, and FapyA) indicating a physiological function of WRN in oxidative damage repair in mammalian genomes. Interestingly, WRN deficiency does not have an additive effect on in vivo damage accumulation in NEIL1 knockdown cells suggesting that WRN participates in the same repair pathway as NEIL1.
Rulers of the Ruhr: Leadership and Authority in German Big Business Before 1914

The rise of heavy industry and its managerial elite in the German Empire and in the United States provides stimuhting parallels and contrasts. Professor Spencer discusses the social constraints under which a professional management class developed in the German coal, iron, and steel industry during the generation before World War I. Ranking distinctly below the landed aristocracy and the governmental bureaucracy (both of which they would gladly have emulated), and preoccupied with the maintenance of order in the midst of rapid economic and social change, German managers used their power and influence to sustain and manipulate existing systems of authority, and came to play no broader role in the development of their commonwealth than did their American counterparts.
Solubility of Gases in Liquids. 15. High-Precision Determination of Henry Coefficients for Carbon Monoxide in Liquid Water at 278 to 323 K

The solubility of carbon monoxide in pure liquid water was measured in the pressure range 60 to 110 kPa and the temperature range 278 to 323 K with a high-precision apparatus of the Benson-Krause type. These data are used to derive Henry coefficients H2, 1(T, Ps, 1), the temperature dependence of which is accounted for by both a Clarke-Glew type fitting equation and a power series in T−1. The imprecision of our measurements is characterized by an average deviation of H2, 1(T, Ps, 1) from these smoothing equations of about ±0.04%. From the temperature variation of H2, 1(T, Ps, 1) the partial molar quantities pertaining to the solution process (such as standard changes in enthalpy and heat capacity) are obtained. In addition, Ostwald coefficients are given in tabular form at rounded temperatures. Experimental results are compared with values calculated via scaled particle theory.
Growth of LiGd3(MoO4)5 single crystals

Only two different compounds of the lithium-gadolinium-molybdate pseudobinary system are known to exist in single crystalline forms. They are LiGd(MoO4)7. This communication deals with various techniques for the growth of LiGd3(MoO4)5 single crystals. Optically this new crystal is transparent, briefringent and uniaxial. It is body centered tetragonal having lattice constants α = 5.203 A and c = 11.414 A. It melts at 1084 ± 3°C and its density is 5.58 g cm -3. Most likely LiGd3(MoO4)5 is ferroelectric and it should be an attractive material for fundamental as well as for applied research.
Breaking barriers: Using poetry as a tool to enhance diversity understanding with youth and adults

Diversity is a word that invokes a broad spectrum of reactions often focused primarily on race. Just saying the word sometimes puts people on the defensive. The use of poetry, when implemented effectively, can enable individuals to communicate in non-threatening ways and open themselves up to other views of seeing the world. Presented in this article is an example of the use of poetry drawn from a particular training workshop representative of many classroom and training experiences conducted by the authors. The utilization of poetry is designed to enhance the ability of participants to embrace both the differences and similarities that everyone brings to the human encounter.
Site-dipole field and vortices in confined water

We use molecular dynamics simulations to examine how the spatial patterns formed by the diffusive motion of water molecules are influenced by confinement between hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces. For bulk liquid water, Higo et al. found that the long-range orientational order of spatial dipole moments can form vortex-like spatial patterns for as long as 300 ps [Higo et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 98, 5961 (2001)]. We perform a similar analysis for confined water and we find that the existence of vortices in these systems is dependent on both the surface separation and the surface hydrophilicity. Vortices perpendicular to the surface normal disappear when the surface separation is reduced to a thickness where the system is comprised of mostly interfacial water molecules. Vortices exist at slightly smaller separations for hydrophobic surfaces than for hydrophilic surfaces because the dipoles are less aligned at the hydrophobic surfaces. The dipole alignment that is induced by the hydrophilic surfaces is counter to the direction required by vortices.
Review of superconducting electronics

This review will sketch the present state of affairs in applications of Josephson junctions and SQUIDs to: magnetometry, DC and RF metrology, detection and amplification of electromagnetic signals, frequency metrology, noise thermometry and computers. It will also mention recent progress in super-stable oscillators using superconducting resonant circuits, pulse transmission lines, and thin-film deviees to detect radiation or charged particles. Many of these topics are maturing nicely.
Evaporation from a riparian system in a semi-arid environment

Measurements of micrometeorological variables were made for a complete annual cycle using an automatic weather station and two energy budget–Bowen ratio systems at a field site adjacent to the Santa Cruz River in southern Arizona. These data were used to provide the basis of an estimate of the evaporation from a one-mile long losing reach of a riparian corridor in this semi-arid environment. A remotely sensed map of vegetation cover was used to stratify the corridor into five categories of surface cover. The total evaporation was calculated as the area-weighted average of the measured evaporation for sampled areas of the two most common covers, and appropriate estimates of evaporation for the less common covers. Measurements showed a substantial, seasonally dependent evaporation from the taller, deep-rooted riparian cover in the study reach, while the short, sparse vegetation provided little evaporation. In terms of the volume of water evaporated from the study reach, the evaporation from irrigated agriculture accounts for almost half of the total loss, while the majority of the remaining evaporation is from the taller riparian vegetation covers, with about one-quarter of the total loss estimated as coming from obligatory phreatophytes, primarily cottonwood. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Accuracy and convergence properties of multiple-scattering theory in three dimensions

We present a numerical and analytical study of the accuracy and convergence properties of multiple-scattering theory (MST) in three dimensions. The convergence with respect to the number of angular momentum states, ${\mathit{l}}_{\mathrm{max}}$, of the solutions to the three-dimensional MST equations for two muffin-tin potentials is studied analytically and by means of numerical calculations. The rate of convergence appears to be a universal quantity which depends, in the limit of ${\mathit{l}}_{\mathrm{max}}$\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\infty}, only on the separation between the scatterers relative to their radii. No evidence of error in the energy, the wave function, or the derivative of the wave function in the limit ${\mathit{l}}_{\mathrm{max}}$\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\infty} is found. In numerical tests which use square-well potentials and truncated Coulomb potentials it is found that the accuracy of the calculated wave functions and their derivatives is limited by the precision with which real numbers can be represented on the digital computers available to the authors (approximately one part in ${10}^{28}$) rather than by postulated errors inherent in MST. Analytic formulas, valid in the limit of large ${\mathit{l}}_{\mathrm{max}}$, for the residual errors in the solutions of the MST equations indicate that these errors vanish in the limit ${\mathit{l}}_{\mathrm{max}}$\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\infty}. These results are inconsistent with the claim of Badralexe and Freeman [Phys. Rev. B 37, 10 469 (1988); 41, 10 226 (1990)] that multiple-scattering theory does not yield exact solutions to the wave equation for muffin-tin potentials.
Gender Differences in the Use of Assistance Programs

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine differences in factors influencing use of entrepreneurial assistance programs by male and female entrepreneurs. Design/methodology/approach – Data from the Panel Study of Entrepreneurial Dynamics I are used to determine drivers of assistance program use by men and women using logistic regression. These drivers include size and composition of the start-up team and personal network, experiences of the entrepreneur, team and network; support provided by the team and network, and other factors. Findings – In total, 31 percent of female entrepreneurs and 24 percent of male entrepreneurs in the sample used entrepreneurial assistance programs. Results show that drivers of assistance use do vary by gender. Education, business/entrepreneurial knowledge and involvement in a technology-based start-up are drivers of program use by women. Personal network size, entrepreneurial experience of start-up team, and having worked for parents’ business are drivers of program u...
Experimental Studies on the Neurocardiovascular Effects of Urapidil

The major purpose of our study was to determine whether urapidil acts in the central nervous system (CNS) to lower arterial blood pressure. Once demonstrating a CNS antihypertensive action of urapidil we further set out to determine: (1) the relative role of a CNS antihypertensive action to the total antihypertensive effect of urapidil; (2) the brain site of action for the antihypertensive effect of urapidil; and, (3) the receptor mechanism whereby urapidil acts in the CNS to lower arterial blood pressure. Studies were conducted in chloralose-anaesthetised cats, and arterial blood pressure and heart rate were monitored. Drugs were administered intravenously (IV), into the cerebral ventricles (ICV), topically by application to the ventral surface of the medulla and by microinjection into specific nuclei. Receptor binding studies were also conducted using rat cerebral cortex homogenates. We found that injection of urapidil into the fourth ventricle decreased arterial pressure. Local application of urapidil to the ventral medullary surface also decreased arterial blood pressure. Microinjection of urapidil into one of the nuclei associated with the ventral surface of the medulla, the rostral part of the nucleus reticularis lateralis (rLRN), produced a similar degree of antihypertensive effect. The effect of urapidil was not altered by α1-receptor blockade. Instead, the urapidil effect resembled that produced by drugs that stimulate serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine)-1A receptors (B695-40 and 8-OH-DPAT). Furthermore, urapidil was found to have the highest potency for binding to serotonin-1A receptor sites (as compared to α1- and α2receptor sites). Urapidil administered IV was shown to lower arterial blood pressure in part by blocking peripheral α1-adrenoceptors but also, in high doses, by acting in the CNS to decrease central sympathetic outflow. These data indicate that urapidil is a unique drug, possessing both peripheral and CNS actions which contribute to its antihypertensive effect. Urapidil may also be unique in that its central action may involve activation of serotonin-1A receptors.
Variability in percent energy from fat throughout the day: Implications for application of total diet goals

Abstract In spite of the general agreement that dietary recommendations apply to the diet over time, the quantitative levels for total and saturated fat have been used in establishing federal policy related to intakes for a single day, meal, and even an individual food. Application of these recommendations uniformly to meals across a day implies that fat intake is uniform throughout the day. This analysis of the 1985 Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals demonstrates that percent energy intake from fat across eating occasions within a day is not uniform. Percent energy intake from total and saturated fat is lower at the morning meal and at snacks among women at all levels of fat consumption, suggesting that fat is restricted more often at these two eating occasions. Intake of total and saturated fat was also more variable at these two eating occasions. These findings suggest that restricting fat intake at these eating occasions and liberalizing fat intake at midday and evening meals occurs commonly and may be an effective fat-reduction strategy. Daily variability in percent energy from fat should be considered in designing dietary fat reduction interventions and in applying quantitative recommendations for percent energy from total and saturated fat in nutrition guidance directed to individual meals.
Optimizing Timing and Dosage: Does Parent Type Moderate the Effects of Variations of a Parent-Based Intervention to Reduce College Student Drinking?

Research on parent-based interventions (PBIs) to reduce college student drinking has explored the optimal timing of delivery and dosage. The present study extended this work by examining the effectiveness of three different PBI conditions on student drinking outcomes as a function of parenting types and students’ pre-college drinking patterns. Four hypotheses were evaluated (early intervention, increased dosage, invariant, and treatment matching risk). A random sample of 1,900 college students and their parents was randomized to four conditions: (1) pre-college matriculation, (2) pre-college matriculation plus booster, (3) post-college matriculation, or (4) control, and was assessed at baseline (summer prior to college) and 5-month follow-up. Baseline parent type was assessed using latent profile analysis (positive, pro-alcohol, positive, anti-alcohol, negative mother, and negative father). Student drinking patterns were classified at baseline and follow-up and included: non-drinker, weekend light drinker, weekend heavy episodic drinker, and heavy drinker. Consistent with the treatment matching risk hypothesis, results indicated parent type moderated the effects of intervention condition such that receiving the intervention prior to college was associated with lower likelihood of being in a higher-risk drinking pattern at follow-up for students with positive, anti-alcohol, or negative father parent types. The findings are discussed with respect to optimal delivery and dosage of parent-based interventions for college student drinking.
The use of a self-control package to enhance temporal generality of a parent training program

Abstract The purpose of the present study was to examine the effectiveness of a self-control package in enhancing temporal generality of a parent training program. Sixteen mothers and their clinic-referred noncompliant children were assigned to either a parent training alone group, or a parent training plus self-control group. All mother-child dyads were treated individually by teaching the mother to reward compliance and other prosocial behavior, and to use time-out for noncompliance. In addition, mothers who also received self-control training learned to self-monitor their use of their new parenting skills and to reinforce themselves for use of the skill during a 2 month follow-up period. Assessment consisted of four home observations by independent observers prior to treatment, after treatment, and at a 2 month follow-up. The data indicated that the children in the parent training plus self-control group were significantly more compliant and less deviant at the 2 month follow-up than the children in the parent training alone group. Parental behavior did not differ between the two groups at the follow-up.
Strangeness Parameters of the Proton

The strange magnetic and electric moments of the proton are calculated. The proton is described in the framework of the constituent quark model. The form factors of the constituent quarks are derived using the NJL model of quarks and the numerical results are discussed in context with parity-violating electron scattering experiments.
Effects of image quantization and regularization on lesion detectability in SPECT MAP reconstruction

In penalized likelihood methods for SPECT, the degree of smoothing /spl beta/ controls a noise-resolution tradeoff and would seem to be a crucial parameter in controlling image quality as measured by the SNR of a channelized Hotelling observer (CHO) in an SKE/BKE lesion detection task. Application of the CHO to a floating point reconstruction shows a very weak dependence of SNK and /spl beta/, however, and this dependence is only slightly changed if we modify the floating point reconstruction to the 8-bit quantized version that would be viewed by a human observer. SKE/BKE human studies show a fairly different behavior than that of the CHO, resulting in a strong dependence of SNR on /spl beta/. Attempts to account for the discrepancy by modeling quantization noise in the CHO fail. We repeat the human and model observer studies at more extreme levels of quantization and note some interesting effects.
The longitudinal study of phobic disorder in a community sample from early to late adolescence

Abstract PURPOSE: This study explored the development of phobic disorder as young subjects move into late adolescence. The objectives were to determine: the frequency of clinical, subsyndromal and subthreshold phobia in late adolescence; the incident episode and stability of phobic symptoms as adolescents move from early to late adolescence; and the relationship between demographic characteristics in early adolescence and the presence of clinical, subsyndromal and subthreshold phobia in late adolescents. METHODS: The data were taken from a two-stage epidemiological study to determine the frequency of and risk factors for DSM-III major depressive disorders and suicidal behaviors in a community population of adolescents. Data were also collected for the frequency of phobias. Three levels of phobias were defined. RESULTS: The prevalences of clinical, subsyndromal and subthreshold phobias in late adolescence were 0.40%, 1.34%, and 5.74% respectively. The weighted incidence of clinical phobia was 0.28%, of subsyndromal phobia was 0.19% and of subthreshold phobia was 4.63%. Race, sex, and having a subthreshold phobia at the initial interview were significantly associated with subsyndromal phobia in late adolescence. Diagnosis of clinical phobia at initial interview was significant in all the multivariate models. Having a subthreshold phobia at initial interview was significant for subsyndromal phobia in late adolescence. CONCLUSIONS: Data on late adolescence showed a strong trend towards remission of phobic symptoms and disorder. However, those with clinical phobia at baseline had an increased risk of being diagnosed again at late adolescence. The most frequently reported symptoms were simple phobias, suggesting that simple phobias start early, have a higher prevalence, and are more frequent over time than social or agoraphobia. Further longitudinal studies are needed.
The myopathy of experimental magnesium deficiency.

Selective deficiency of magnesium has not been considered to be a cause of structural disorganization pf skeletal muscle cells in man. In contrast, the well-known functional consequences of magnesium depletion and hypomagnesemia appear to affect conduction in perpheral nerves rather than dysfunction at the neuromuscular junction. At the latter location and on the skeletal muscle cell, changes in concentration of magnesium ions required to induce functional alterations are beyond the range of disturbances seen in clinical magnesium deficiency or excess. In humans, experimental magnesium deficiency leads to symptoms of neuromuscular irritability, but these appear to be marked or persistent only when they occur in the presence of hypokalemia and hypocalcemia (1).
Review: Rhinoviruses and Their ICAM Receptors

The normal function of human intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) is to provide adhesion between endothelial cells and leukocytes after injury or stress. ICAM-1 binds to leukocyte function-associated antigen or macrophage-1 antigen. However, ICAM-1 is also used as a receptor by the major group of human rhinoviruses and is a catalyst for the subsequent viral uncoating during cell entry. The three-dimensional atomic structure of the two amino-terminal domains (D1 and D2) of ICAM-1 has been determined to 2.2 A resolution and fitted into a cryoelectron microscopy reconstruction of a rhinovirus-ICAM-1 complex. Rhinovirus attachment is confined to the BC, CD, DE, and FG loops of the amino-terminal Ig-like domain (D1) at the end distal to the cellular membrane. The loops are considerably different in structure to those of human ICAM-2 or murine ICAM-1, which do not bind rhinoviruses. There are extensive charge interactions between ICAM-1 and human rhinoviruses, which are mostly conserved in both major and minor receptor groups of rhinoviruses.
Antecedents of knowledge transfer from consultants to clients in enterprise system implementations

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems and other complex information systems represent critical organizational resources. For such systems, firms typically use consultants to aid in the implementation process. Client firms expect consultants to transfer their implementation knowledge to their employees so that they can contribute to successful implementations and learn to maintain the systems independent of the consultants. This study examines the antecedents of knowledge transfer in the context of such an interfirm complex information systems implementation environment. Drawing from the knowledge transfer, information systems, and communication literatures, an integrated theoretical model is developed that posits that knowledge transfer is influenced by knowledge-related, motivational, and communication-related factors. Data were collected from consultant-and-client matched-pair samples from 96 ERP implementation projects. Unlike most prior studies, a behavioral measure of knowledge transfer that incorporates the application of knowledge was used. The analysis suggests that all three groups of factors influence knowledge transfer, and provides support for 9 of the 13 hypotheses. The analysis also confirms two mediating relationships. These results (1) adapt prior research, primarily done in non-IS contexts, to the ERP implementation context, (2) enhance prior findings by confirming the significance of an antecedent that has previously shown mixed results, and (3) incorporate new IS-related constructs and measures in developing an integrated model that should be broadly applicable to the interfirm IS implementation context and other IS situations. Managerial and research implications are discussed.
Subtle alterations of the native zinc finger structures have dramatic effects on the nucleic acid chaperone activity of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 nucleocapsid protein.

The nucleocapsid protein (NC) of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 has two zinc fingers, each containing the invariant CCHC zinc-binding motif; however, the surrounding amino acid context is not identical in the two fingers. Recently, we demonstrated that zinc coordination is required when NC unfolds complex secondary structures in RNA and DNA minus- and plus-strand transfer intermediates; this property of NC reflects its nucleic acid chaperone activity. Here we have analyzed the chaperone activities of mutants having substitutions of alternative zinc-coordinating residues, i.e., CCHH or CCCC, for the wild-type CCHC motif. We also investigated the activities of mutants that retain the CCHC motifs but have mutations that exchange or duplicate the zinc fingers (mutants 1-1, 2-1, and 2-2); these changes affect amino acid context. Our results indicate that in general, for optimal activity in an assay that measures stimulation of minus-strand transfer and inhibition of nonspecific self-priming, the CCHC motif in the zinc fingers cannot be replaced by CCHH or CCCC and the amino acid context of the fingers must be conserved. Context changes also reduce the ability of NC to facilitate primer removal in plus-strand transfer. In addition, we found that the first finger is a more crucial determinant of nucleic acid chaperone activity than the second finger. Interestingly, comparison of the in vitro results with earlier in vivo replication data raises the possibility that NC may adopt multiple conformations that are responsible for different NC functions during virus replication.
Comment on "the role of endoscopic ultrasound in the evaluation of chronic mesenteric ischaemia".

We read with great interest the article by Almansa et al. pubished in Digestive and Liver Disease regarding the role of Doppler ndoscopic ultrasound as a comprehensive test to evaluate patients ith chronic upper abdominal pain in order to exclude chronic esenteric ischaemia [1]. In this study, authors employed, both n Doppler endoscopic ultrasound and Dopper transabdominal ltrasound, measurement of Peak Systolic Velocity (PSV) in celiac rtery and superior mesenteric artery as single parameter for the etection of chronic mesenteric ischaemia. We would add that, eside PSV, another Doppler parameter could be considered: Endiastolic Velocity (EDV) appears comparable or superior to PSV n identify significant arteriography-detected stenosis, and is not nfluenced by an hyperdynamic circulation as for PSV [2–5]. In the tudy of Almansa et al., Doppler endoscopic ultrasound (assessed by eans of PSV) presented a specificity of 84% in detecting chronic esenteric ischaemia; this figure could be even more appealing mploying EDV.
Parameter identifiability in parallel reaction networks with application to single-walled carbon nanotubes

The class of parameter estimation problems is characterized for which only the ratio of the model parameters can be identified. A mathematical signature is provided for identifying such systems, which include fed-batch reactors commonly operated in the chemical and biotechnology industries, in which reaction networks operate under quasi-steady-state conditions due to limiting addition of a reagent. The theoretical results are demonstrated through application to a single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) reaction network relevant to the design of nanobiosensors. Sensitivity analysis implies that such a quasi-steady-state operation of a fed-batch reactor results in the loss of information, in which none of the model parameters can be estimated.