cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Podagra, Uric Acid, and Cardiovascular Disease

Hippocrates would not be surprised to read that persons with gout had higher mortality, and particularly cardiovascular-related mortality, than persons without gout.1 On the other hand, he might well have been bemused, nearly 2500 years after he described the syndrome, that this made news. Article p 894 He should not have been. All too often, rigorous examination debunks conventional wisdom. Reassuringly, in this case, Drs Choi and Curhan found evidence to support long-standing belief. These dedicated and productive students of the pathogenesis and natural history of gout have here reported empiric data from the 51 000 male nonphysician health professionals who participated in the Health Professions Follow-up Study. From initial examination in 1986 through nearly 600 000 person-years of follow-up, 5825 deaths occurred, of which 2132 were cardiovascular and 1576 were ascribed to coronary heart disease, rates that attest to the generally good health of the group. The ≈6% prevalence of gout, at baseline, in men in their mid-50s, who mirror the general US population in body mass index, reported history of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes mellitus, was higher than expected. Interim biennial questionnaires identified incident cases of gout. Participants with gout were both more likely to report coronary heart disease (CHD) at baseline and, regardless of CHD status, more likely than gout-free persons to have cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. Results were presented after stratification by CHD status at baseline. As expected, the incidence of all-cause and CHD mortality was much greater in those with than in those without prevalent CHD. The adjusted increased relative risk of those with gout (compared with those without) for all-cause, CVD, and CHD mortality was ≈25%. The single exception was a near doubling of increased relative risk of CHD mortality among those free of CHD at baseline. Neither the inclusion of incident …
A Mobile Application for Interactive Voice Forums: Design and Pilot Deployment in Rural India

This paper describes the design and pilot deployment of a mobile application to support interactive voice forums, in which users can record messages and listen to messages that others have recorded. While such forums have typically relied on voice calls for participation, participation through a mobile application (and mobile Internet) can offer benefits in terms of costs, offline access to downloaded content, and supplements with other media types, such as photos. Using the Android platform, we implement an application to support CGNet Swara, a voice-based citizen journalism platform. We describe an early-stage pilot deployment that is already seeing unsupervised usage in rural India.
The Problem of Underqualified Teachers: A Sociological Perspective.

staffed by qualified teachers. Many states have pushed for more-rigorous preservice teacher education, training, and certification standards. Moreover, a host of recruitment initiatives have attempted to increase the supply of teachers: alternative licensing, midcareer change programs, financial incentives, and even overseas recruitment. The capstone of these efforts was the enactment of the No Child Left Behind Act
Scanning electrochemical microscopy. 49. Gas-phase scanning electrochemical microscopy measurements with a Clark oxygen ultramicroelectrode

The use of an ultramicroelectrode tip as a basis for a Clark membrane electrode allows the sensing of oxygen concentration using the oxygen reduction signal and the application of scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) to pure gas-phase measurements. A 25-μm-diameter Pt wire was sealed in glass and the glass coated with silver paint near the tip to produce a Ag ring, Pt disk electrode. A drop of electrolyte provided the contact between the Pt cathode indicator electrode and the Ag anode counter/reference electrode, while the liquid phase was maintained by a high-density polyethylene membrane pulled over the tip and fastened with an O-ring. The membrane isolated the electrode both electrically and chemically from the sample environment. The electrode was tested with both solution- and gas-phase samples, and SECM approach curves were recorded. The presence of a membrane caused a deviation in electrode behavior from theory in both solution and gas phases, due in part to an increase in the electrode respo...
Complete elimination of incessant polymorphic ventricular tachycardia in an infant with MIDAS syndrome: use of endocardial mapping and radiofrequency catheter ablation.

Catheter Ablation of Polymorphic VT. Experience with radiofrequency catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia (VT) in pediatric patients is limited. A 5-month-old white female infant (body weight 5.5 kg) with MIDAS syndrome who suffered from incessant polymorphic VT (ventricular rates 250 to 300 beats/min) and was unresponsive to medical treatment resulting in significantly depressed left ventricular (LV) function underwent a total of four catheter ablation procedures during a 5-month period. Each of the procedures reduced the number of morphologies and the rate of the tachycardia, but VT returned after each of the first three procedures, despite concomitant medical therapy. Activation mapping and pace mapping were used to identify the anatomic substrates, which were found at different locations at the LV septum and LV free wall. All forms of VT finally were ablated successfully. There were no significant complications. After the fourth procedure, the patient was in continuous sinus rhythm. Follow-up examination 29 months after the last procedure while the child was not taking any medication showed normal sinus rhythm and normal LV function. This report demonstrates the usefulness and safety of radiofrequency catheter ablation in an infant with polymorphic VT who was unresponsive to medical therapy.
Comparison of nutshell granular activated carbons to commercial adsorbents for the purge-and-trap gas chromatographic analysis of volatile organic compounds

Abstract Granular activated carbons (GACs) made from agricultural by-products were investigated as adsorbents for short path thermal desorption gas chromatographic analysis of selected polar and nonpolar organic compounds. GACs made from macadamia nut, black walnut and hazelnut shells were compared to four commercially available adsorbents, namely, Tenax TA, Carboxen 569, Carbosieve SIII and coconut charcoal for their properties in purge-and-trap analysis. Adsorption values and breakthrough volumes were calculated for compounds from C3 and C6–C10. GACs derived from macadamia nut shells were found to adsorb and desorb between 80% (benzene) and 277% (ethylbenzene) more acetone (C3), benzene (C6), toluene (C7), ethyl- (C8), n-propyl- (C9), or sec.-butylbenzenes (C10) purged from water at the 100 ppb level than the commercial adsorbents tested.
A Demonstration of Cat Seminal Plasma Antifertility Activity

SummaryCSP has a reversible, partially heat-labile, antifertility effect on rabbit spermatozoa. In an in vivo fertilization assay for capacitation, CSP-treated sperm fertilize significantly fewer ova than do control sperm (P < 0.005). Heating the CSP to 60° for 10 min destroys some of the activity, while heating it to 100° for 10 min further attenuates it. In both cases, CSP-treated sperm still fertilize fewer ova than do control sperm (P = 0.005). CSP also contains partially heat-labile trypsin inhibitor activity which may be partially responsible for the antifertility activity.This work supported in part by Grant HD06573 and Career Development Award 12,760 to one of us (C. E. H.) from the USPHS.
Carcinoma arising in median ectopic thyroid (including thyroglossal duct tissue)

Carcinoma may arise in ectopic thyroid tissue. In this report, seven cases of papillary carcinoma found in association with median ectopic thyroid rests are discussed. Six patients presented with midline lesions in the thyrohyoid space. These were diagnosed clinically as thyroglossal duct cysts. The seventh lesion was described as a mass in the region of the submandibular salivary gland. All seven patients were treated initially with local resections. Ectopic apparently normal thyroid follicles were demonstrated in all seven specimens; in four, a thyroglossal duct cyst was also recognized. A separate microscopic focus of papillary carcinoma was identified in the thyroid gland in one of the three individuals who subsequently underwent total thyroidectomy. None of the seven patients, followed for from 6 months to 15 years, has had clinical evidence of recurrent disease. The differentiation between a carcinoma arising in median ectopic thyroid tissue and a metastatic papillary carcinoma from an occult primary in the main thyroid gland is discussed.
Densification of sol-gel silica: Constant rate heating, isothermal and step heat treatments

Abstract Sol-gel silica monoliths have been prepared with 16 mol water per mol tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) under acid conditions. These materials have been converted to a physical duplicate of fused silica by employing viscous sintering. The densification of these gels has been accomplished by various heat treatments. An understanding of the densification behavior is drawn from constant rate heating (CRH), isothermal treatments (single 4 h step) and isothermal treatments in steps (multistep). The number of steps for the multistep treatments was as many as five in 50 or 100° increments. During isothermal treatments at 600°C and above, the apparent viscosity was calculated from the cylinder model for viscous sintering. The effects of dehydroxylation and structural relaxation were studied in the context of densification. All in all, the kinetics of the gel-to-glass conversion depend strongly on thermal history.
Negative strain rate sensitivity and compositional dependence of fracture strength in Zr/Hf based bulk metallic glasses

Abstract Quasistatic and dynamic compression tests on Zr/Hf based bulk metallic glasses revealed decreasing fracture strength with increasing strain rate and decreasing Hf content. It is believed that dynamic loading promotes crack nucleation immediately following shear band initiation whereas quasistatic loading promotes shear bands to grow to maturity.
Management of venous thromboembolism in the intensive care unit

Venous thromboembolism, manifested as either deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism (PE), is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients admitted to the intensive care unit. Clinically, PE may present as massive thromboembolism associated with cardiogenic shock or may be asymptomatic, as may occur with anatomically small emboli without hemodynamic or respiratory compromise. The management of venous thromboembolism in the critically ill patient can be exceedingly complex. The main treatment objectives are the prevention of recurrent PE and, in case of hemodynamic compromise, definitive therapy for deep venous thrombosis or PE involving removal of thrombus. Prevention of recurrent PE is accomplished with anticoagulation and/or placement of an inferior vena cava filter. Definitive therapy involves thrombolysis and surgical or catheter embolectomy. Fluid and vasoactive therapy with norepinephrine may be indicated for refractory hypotension in patients with massive PE.
Determination of 241Am in sediments by direct counting of low-energy photons

Abstract A method is described for the non-destructive measurement of 241Am in sediments. The procedure involves direct counting of the 59.6-keV γ-ray emission of 241Am. The dependence of self-absorption of this low-energy γ-ray on sample density is accounted for by a simple technique utilizing direct γ-ray transmission measurements on the sample and efficiency calibration standard. Measurements on five sediment and soil reference materials show that the technique provides a detection limit of about 1 mBq/g for a 2.5 × 105s count. The utility of the technique in environmental studies is illustrated through results of 241Am measurements on a 210Pb-dated Lake Ontario sediment core.
Visual monitoring of predators: occurrence, cost and benefit for escape

Escape theory assumes that prey monitor predators to assess risk, but surprisingly little is known about cost and benefits of monitoring behaviour. I simulated a predator to examine effects of impaired monitoring on escape and use of monitoring behaviour by the lizards Sceloporus virgatus and S. jarrovii . For approaches (from directly behind or ahead) impeding or preventing monitoring, flight initiation distance in S. virgatus was shorter than that for approaches from the side, establishing a benefit of monitoring. Distance fled by S. virgatus was longer for approaches from the side than for those from ahead or behind. This effect was not predicted by escape theory or the margin of safety hypothesis, but it does not contradict either because neither applies when monitoring is impossible. Lizards may have fled a short distance upon detecting predators previously out of view and then stopped to monitor and assess risk. Both species cock their heads (turn them to the side) to bring objects into view, providing a visible marker for monitoring. They head-cocked to reestablish monitoring within seconds of losing visual contact. After fleeing behind rocks, they exposed only their heads upon emerging, which enabled monitoring with reduced likelihood of being detected and reduced exposure if attacked. Thus, prey monitor predators even when doing so increases risk of being detected, implying trade-offs between risk caused by monitoring and benefits of information. The findings emphasize the value of current information on predator location and complement information about risk assessment based on alert distance.
Changes in the adenylate energy charge in human blood platelets induced by adenosine diphosphate.

WHEN platelet rich plasma at 37° C is exposed to low concentrations of adenosine diphosphate (ADP) the platelets change in shape from flat disks to irregular spheres1 and if the mixture is stirred and provided that necessary cofactors including calcium ions and fibrinogen are present, aggregation then takes place. The detailed mechanism of this response to ADP is the subject of a number of speculative hypotheses2–5. Here I report an observation on the effects of exogenous ADP on platelet adenine nucleotide metabolism that may be relevant to the induction of platelet aggregation.
Impact-Induced ESD and EMI/EMP Effects on Spacecraft—A Review

Recent studies have indicated that the effects of meteoroid and debris impacts on spacecraft are not being adequately considered in spacecraft design. They imply that electrical effects, including both charging and plasma production, caused by meteoroid and debris impacts have not been sufficiently addressed. To address these concerns, this paper will present the current evidence for impact-induced electrical anomalies and the characteristics of the impact-generated plasma and electromagnetic environments associated with hypervelocity particle impacts. This paper will be limited to describing the effects of hypervelocity impacts of particles fast enough to generate a plasma or impulse sufficient to affect spacecraft systems but sufficiently small that the classic mechanical damage to the system is of limited concern. Because this failure mechanism scales highly with velocity, we consider effects from particles as small at 10-15 grams, which are far more numerous and therefore more likely to impact spacecraft. Mitigation methods will be presented that are aimed at limiting the effects of the resulting plasmas and their electrostatic discharge and electromagnetic interference/pulse effects rather than at the typical structural or mechanical failures expected from such impacts. The ultimate intent of this paper is to focus on the description and mitigation of this relatively ignored form of in-space charging and motivate further experimental studies of this interesting and rich phenomenon.
Bounds for second-order optical properties from quantum-mechanical sum rules and the theory of moments

Abstract Quantum-mechanical sum rules and results from the theory of moments are employed in the construction of rigorous bounds to the second-order optical properties of atoms and molecules.
The pH dependence of stability of the activation helix and the catalytic site of GART.

Abstract We have predicted the free energy of unfolding for the pH-dependent helix-coil transition of the activation helix of GART using continuum electrostatic calculations and structural modeling. We have assigned the contributions of each element of secondary structure and of each ionizable residue, within and in the vicinity of the activation helix, to the stability of several fragments of GART that participate in the formation of the catalytic site. We demonstrate that the interaction of His121–His132 contributes 2.2 kcal/mol to the ionization free energy between pH 0 and approximately 6. We also show that the ionization state of a network of five histidines, His108, His119, His121, His132 and His137, and two aspartic acids Asp141 and Asp144, contributes approximately 12 kcal/mol to the stability of the catalytic site of GART, out of a total stability of 16 kcal/mol of the whole enzyme. These interactions are important for the formation of the catalytic site of GART.
Dielectric Mixing as Evidenced in a Wide Range of (Sr0.8Pb0.2)TiO3-MgO Composites

Using a composite of a high dielectric permittivity (ϵ) ferroelectric and low ϵ oxide to check dielectric mixing rules, often the high ϵ ferroelectric is strongly sensitive to elastic and dielectric boundary conditions. So its ϵ changes as volume fraction and microstructure change invalidating any checking. In the strontium lead titanate (SPT)-magnesium oxide composites reported here, the SPT is well above its Curie point and much less sensitive, however, both phases contain pores. Since the pore fractions are low and almost constant, the system may be treated as quasi-two-phase and is found to follow closely the model proposed by Wakino.
A Novel Approach For Wireless Communication Of In Vivo Data From Freely Moving Research Animals

In vivo electrochemistry has become a fascinating research tool allowing neuroscientists to study the release of oxidizable neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain of freely moving animals (Garris et al., 1997, J. Neurochem., 68(1): 152–161). The main limitation of this technique is the wired connection from the working electrode at the animal's head to the data acquisition apparatus, thus restricting the animal's freedom of motion. To overcome this limitation, we are designing an electronic device with the capability of performing fast-scan cyclic voltammetry measurements and wirelessly transmitting the recorded data. The device consists of two parts: the base station, which is connected to a PC, and the remote unit, which the rat carries on its back. The base station can wirelessly transmit the potential waveform applied to the working electrode, using the Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) protocol. At the remote unit, a capacitance compensation circuit partially removes the capacitive background current present in voltammetric measurements due to charging of the Debye double layer. This increases the device's dynamic range, allowing for the detection of lower neurotransmitter levels. Although the forward telemetry (PC to remote unit) is functional, we have not yet characterized the reverse telemetry (remote unit to PC) in A2DP format. After finalizing the design, the device will be tested in vivo and subsequently employed in behavioral experiments, allowing researchers to obtain data from freely behaving rodents.
Meniscoid lesions of the ankle in soccer players

In 1950, Wolin and his colleagues described nine patients who exhibited a "meniscoid" lesion of the ankle. He used this term to describe a mass of hyalinized tissue that formed following an inversion sprain of the ankle. This band of tissue was predisposed to trapping between the fibula and the talus. His patients presented with persistent pain and swelling over the anterior aspect of the ankle. In the last 3 years, four patients have presented with this lesion at the Methodist Sports Medicine Center in Indianapolis. They were all soccer players who had experienced repeated ankle sprains accompanied by persistent pain, swelling and trapping. Initially, these patients were treated with physical therapy, taping, and antiinflammatory medication. After 6 months of treatment, they continued to have symptoms and underwent arthroscopic examination. In each case a band of white, fibrous tissue was found during surgery and was removed. After an appropriate period of rehabilitation, all four patients returned to competition with a cessation of symptoms. However, one patient reported recurrent pain on rare occasions.
Alarm call production and temporal variation in predator encounter rates for a facultative teleost grazer in a relatively pristine seagrass ecosystem

Predation risk can structure the spatial and temporal patterns and strength of grazer impacts on primary producer communities. Although teleost grazers have the potential to exert strong top-down effects on seagrass communities, relatively little is known about how risk might structure these effects. Here, we used tethering trials to identify potential predators of an abundant facultative teleost grazer, the western striped trumpeter (Pelates octolineatus, Jenyns 1840), and investigate patterns of predator encounter rates in a relatively pristine seagrass ecosystem. Pied cormorants (Phalacrocorax varius) were identified as the most common predator during 116 tethering trials that were video-recorded. Trumpeters also were preyed upon by giant shovelnose rays (Glaucostegus typus), nervous sharks (Carcharhinus cautus), and blue swimmer crabs (Portunus pelagicus). Predation events on tethered fish were higher during trials conducted during a warm period than a colder period, which corresponded to variation in cormorant densities observed along standardized transects. Activity rates of fish that survived the tether trials were similar to those that were preyed upon. Fish vocalization rates were low throughout the majority of tethering trials, but high immediately preceding and during predatory attacks suggesting that trumpeters may produce alarm calls. Although further studies are needed, our data suggest that seasonal variation in predation risk could be an important factor in structuring the behavior and foraging impacts of an abundant facultative teleost grazer in a relatively pristine seagrass ecosystem.
The impact of gender schematic processing on the Self Directed Search responses of gifted and talented female adolescents

Abstract According to gender schema theory ( S. L. Bem, Gender schema theory: A cognitive account of sex typing. Psychological Review, 1981 , 88, 354–364), gender schematic processing not only restricts assimilation of information into the self-concept to that which is congruent with the gender schema but also restricts the individual's response patterns in that responses are based on gender schema congruence or incongruence rather than upon a complete memory search. As a result of such gender schematic processing, the response patterns of gifted and talented female adolescents on Holland's (1977) Self Directed Search (SDS) should vary as a function of their gender schema. Multivariate and univariate analyses of variance were conducted on the SDS responses of 284 gifted and talented female adolescents to test whether sex-typed female adolescents would score significantly higher on the gender congruent Social, Artistic, and Conventional dimensions while scoring significantly lower on the gender incongruent Investigative, Enterprising, and Realistic dimensions than did their cross sex-typed counterparts. The results indicated that while SDS total scores did vary significantly as a function of gender group, the direction of noted group differences failed to provide consistent support for predictions derived from gender schema theory. An alternative interpretation based on a generalization of Gottfredson's theory is discussed.
Analytical boundary of the workspace for general 3-DOF mechanisms

An analytical method is presented to obtain all surfaces en veloping the workspace of a general 3-DOF mechanism. The method is applicable to kinematic chains that can be mod eled using the Denavit-Hartenberg representation for serial kinematic chains or its modification for closed-loop kinematic chains. The method developed is based upon analytical crite ria for determining singular behavior of the mechanism. By manipulating the Jacobian of the underlying mechanism, first- order singularities are computed. These singularities are then substituted into the constraint equation to parameterize singu lar surfaces representing barriers to motion. Singular surfaces are those resultihg from a singular behavior of a joint gen eralized coordinate, allowing the manipulator to lose one or more degrees of mobility. These surfaces are then intersected to determine singular curves, which represent the manipulator losing at least two degrees of mobility. Difficulties in sepa rating singular behaviors at points along sin...
A Dual-Mode Human Computer Interface Combining Speech and Tongue Motion for People with Severe Disabilities

We are presenting a new wireless and wearable human computer interface called the dual-mode Tongue Drive System (dTDS), which is designed to allow people with severe disabilities to use computers more effectively with increased speed, flexibility, usability, and independence through their tongue motion and speech. The dTDS detects users' tongue motion using a magnetic tracer and an array of magnetic sensors embedded in a compact and ergonomic wireless headset. It also captures the users' voice wirelessly using a small microphone embedded in the same headset. Preliminary evaluation results based on 14 able-bodied subjects and three individuals with high level spinal cord injuries at level C3-C5 indicated that the dTDS headset, combined with a commercially available speech recognition (SR) software, can provide end users with significantly higher performance than either unimodal forms based on the tongue motion or speech alone, particularly in completing tasks that require both pointing and text entry.
The Integration and Impact of Effective Knowledge Management Systems in the Advancement of the Decision Making Process in Complex Organizations to Realize Economic Growth

Abstract One could argue that the rise of discourse surrounding the role of knowledge management systems in economic growth coincides with the technocratic progression of society itself. To understand the current state of discourse surrounding role of knowledge management systems on the decision making process, it is beneficial to understand the contribution made by theoretical precursors in laying the foundation upon which contemporary theories as well as the discourse, rests. The field of knowledge engineering is shifting from the archetypal transfer perspective to a more simulative modeling perspective which requires modeling the human decision making process and problem solving techniques of the domain expert into the artificial intelligence system to facilitate effective knowledge based improvement strategies in complex organizations. The research will highlight the application of technological fixes to address sociological challenges paying particular attention to elements that incentivize private firms and governments to invest in knowledge management systems to maximize productivity and growth.
Persistence of the inhibitory effects of phosphoroamides on urea hydrolysis in soils

Abstract The persistence of the inhibitory effects of three phosphoroamides [N‐(n‐butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT), phenylphosphorodiamidate (PPD), and thiophosphoryl triamide (TPT)] on urea hydrolysis in soils was assessed by measuring the ability of four soils to hydrolyze urea after they had been treated with 5 μg phosphoroamide/g soil and incubated at 15°C or 30°C for 0, 3, 7, 14, or 28 days. The soils used differed markedly in pH, texture, and organic‐matter content. The data obtained showed that the persistence of the effects of the phosphoroamides studied decreased with increase in soil temperature from 15°C to 30°C and that whereas the effect of PPD decreased with increase in the time of incubation, the effects of NBPT and TPT sometimes increased before decreasing with increased time of incubation. These observations are in harmony with the recent findings that PPD is a potent inhibitor of urease activity, but decomposes in soils with formation of phenol, which is a relatively weak inhibitor ...
Short-term effects of physiological and pharmacological doses of estradiol on estrogen receptor and uterine growth.

Estradiol (E2) regulation of estrogen receptor (ER) concentrations has been shown to be both time- and dose-dependent. E2 concentrations of 0.5 mg/ml or greater contained in Silastic capsules suppr...
Assessment of Right Ventricular Inefficiency Using Energy Transfer Ratio in Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot

Pulmonary insufficiency (PI) induces pulmonary regurgitation and often leads to right ventricular (RV) enlargement and RV pressure overloading in repaired Tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF) patients. The appropriate timing of surgical treatments to renormalize RV function remains uncertain due to lack of suitable clinical diagnostic parameters. An energy transfer ratio (eMPA) between the net energy (Enet) transferred at main pulmonary artery (MPA) from RV and stroke work (SW) by RV was calculated using RV volume and pressure data for subjects in two study groups: the rTOF patient group (n = 7) and the control group (n = 7). Statistical analysis was performed to determine the difference of eMPA between the two groups. The mean eMPA for rTOF patients (0.64) was significantly lower (60.2%, p<0.05) than that of controls (1.61).Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Achieving a new urban diversity: What have we learned?

Since the 1960s, many of America’s major cities have lost population while suburban jurisdictions burgeoned. Successive waves of families seeking larger homes on bigger lots, better schools, safer streets, and more amenities left the central city for new communities farther and farther from the urban core. In 1990, only about a third of the Americans who lived in metropolitan areas were central-city residents, down from more than half in 1950. Perhaps more important, most cities lost middleand upperincome residents, with those remaining behind more likely to be poor and minority. As a consequence, central cities are now substantially poorer than the suburbs that surround them. In 1990, for example, median incomes in central-city jurisdictions nationwide were almost 30 percent lower than in the suburbs. And the gap between city and suburbs is far greater in some of the largest metropolitan areas of the Northeast and Midwest.
Digital citizenship: parameters of the digital divide

This study presents results from a 2002 Midwest urban random sample survey (N = 167 adults). It is proposed that attitudes toward technology have a direct impact on digital citizenry and are colored by racial and educational differences. A path model showed several key results. Desire for computer skills increased among respondents with lower levels of educational attainment. Respondents with higher levels of education were more likely to use computers at home and work. Non-Whites were more likely than Whites to agree that technological information is key to citizen empowerment and that computers should be accessible to all citizens, as well as reporting increased interest in learning computer skills. Interest in developing computer skills was positively associated with digital citizenship. Viewing technology as a source of informational power was positively related to support for digital government and to support for computer access equity.
The sensitivity of vehicle-to-grid revenues to plug-in electric vehicle battery size and EVSE power rating

This work uses a two-stage stochastic program (SP) to simulate a vehicle-to-grid (V2G) system operator participating in an electricity market to provide frequency regulation. The model developed for this work challenges four principal assumptions used in V2G models in the literature: the V2G system operator as a price taker; pre-scheduled vehicle use; deterministic vehicle state-of-charge; and deterministic regulation deployments. The results shown focus specifically on the effect of PEV battery size and PEV charging station (EVSE) power rating on V2G operator revenues and potential compensation for V2G program participants. These results indicate that battery size has a limited effect, but that increasing EVSE power rating can significantly increase revenues and compensation. Consequently, for the battery sizes in most PEVs, the V2G operator's market participation is constrained by available power, not energy, which is consistent with the magnitudes and time scales of typical frequency regulation deployments.
Effect of Water on the HNO3 Pressure Dependence of the Reaction between Gas-Phase HNO3 and NaCl Surfaces

We show here that the dissociative adsorption of HNO3(g) on NaCl to form NaNO3(s) and HCl(g) follows single-site Langmuir adsorption behavior. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy is also used to show that the amount of “strongly adsorbed water” on the surfaces of NaCl particles strongly depends on the particle size. Particles of 1−10 μm diameter show large quantities of adsorbed water that remain on the sample up to temperatures of 200 °C. Particles in the size range of 500 μm diameter have less, but still easily measurable, amounts of strongly adsorbed water. Water desorbs completely from low defect density NaCl(100) surfaces under vacuum at temperatures well below room temperature. We present a model for the recently reported HNO3 pressure dependence of the reactive sticking coefficient of HNO3 on NaCl under steady-state reaction conditions. The origin of the pressure dependence in the model is the competition between site blocking on the surface by the build-up of the NaNO3 reaction product and the water-...
Reductions in brain phosphatidylinositol kinase activities in Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract Background: Converging lines of evidence suggest that alterations in the intracellular trafficking of the amyloid precursor protein, its derivatives, and other relevant proteins may contribute to the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Since phosphatidylinositol (PI) kinase plays a pivotal role in the sorting and transport of newly synthesized proteins to their final destinations, we explored the hypothesis that AD is associated with alterations in the specific activities of these enzymes in postmortem brain tissue. Methods: The specific activities of soluble and particulate pools of PI 3-kinase and PI 4-kinase from the frontal cortex were compared between 11 cases with histopathologically confirmed AD and 11 nondemented controls matched for sex, race, age at death, and postmortem interval. Potential associations of these activities with sociodemographic and clinical features were also explored. Results: AD was associated with 43–59% reductions in the specific activities of the soluble forms of both lipid kinases; but no significant change in the specific activities of the particulate species. Associations of these specific activities with sex, age at onset or death, duration of illness, postmortem interval, or densities of morphologic lesions in the frontal cortex were not observed among the 11 AD cases. Conclusions: In addition to regulating protein sorting and trafficking, PI kinases participate in a wide range of cellular processes including protection from apoptosis, differentiation and cell growth, regulation of the cytoskeleton, and glucose metabolism. The results of this study suggest that one or more of these alterations in AD may result from a common abnormality in PI kinase regulation.
On semi-classical bounds for eigenvalues of Schrödinger operators

Our principal result is that if the semiclassical estimate is a bound for some moment of the negative eigenvalues (as is known in some cases in one-dimension), then the semiclassical estimates are also bounds for all higher moments.
Plasmon-enhanced Performance of Dye-sensitized Solar Cells Based on Electrodeposited Ag Nanoparticles

In the present work, pulse current deposition is used to deposit evenly distributed and uniformly sized Ag nanoparticles onto a TiO2 nanotube array as photoelectrode in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), and the size and amount of loading Ag nanoparticles are controlled by the pulse deposition time. Due to the enhanced light absorption and electron–hole separation caused by plasmon effect, DSSCs based on Ag-modified TiO2 nanotube arrays show higher energy conversion efficiencies than those based on bare nanotubes with the same tube length. Particularly, DSSC based on nanotubes modified using pulse deposition time 1 s/3 s delivers the highest energy conversion efficiency of 1.68% and the largest short-circuit current of 4.37 mA/cm2, while DSSC consisting of bare nanotubes exhibits efficiency of 1.20% and short-circuit current of 2.27 mA/cm2, which represents a 40% enhancement of cell efficiency in DSSC based on Ag-modified TiO2 nanotubes. It is also noted that overly long pulse deposition time will not further increase DSSC efficiency due to agglomeration of Ag particles. For example, when the pulse deposition time is increased to 2 s/6 s, DSSC based on Ag-modified nanotubes exhibits a lower efficiency of 1.42%. Moreover, high-concentration TiCl4 treatment on TiO2 nanotube arrays can further increase the energy conversion efficiencies to 3.82% and 2.61% for DSSC based on Ag-modified TiO2 nanotubes and DSSC based on bare TiO2 nanotubes, respectively, by significantly creating more surface area for dye loading.
A Bayesian Model of Cycle Time Prediction

In this paper, we propose a Bayesian statistical approach to cycle time modeling. Three models of cycle time in complex manufacturing environments are proposed. These models capture changes in cycle time mean and variance at different levels of work-in-process. We model cycle time mean during a period as a two-segment piecewise linear function of the period's work-in-process and consider three variance models. The challenge is to estimate the breakpoint between the two segments, and the parameters of each model. To accomplish this, we use the Gibbs sampler and Metropolis-Hastings algorithm to perform a Bayesian analysis. With three competing models, Bayesian model selection is used to identify the most plausible and model averaging is performed on the selected model. We compare the resulting model to an analytical non-linear model on an example and provide some insights.
Not Dead Yet: Why the Institutional LMS is Worth Saving

Are Google Wave or WordPress making professional learning management systems obsolete? Many instructors are pushing the open education movement by adopting freeware technologies and cobbling them together to meet their needs, rather than using a licensed LMS. However, there are at least three other factors promising to keep institutionally adopted and integrated LMSs alive for years to come.
Exact Modeling of the Spatial Rigid Body Inertia Using the Finite Element Method

In the classical finite element literature beams and plates are not considered as isoparametric elements since infinitesimal rotations are used as nodal coordinates. As a consequence, exact modeling of an arbitrary rigid body displacement cannot be obtained, and rigid body motion does not lead to zero strain. In order to circumvent this problem in flexible multibody simulations, an intermediate element coordinate system, which has an origin rigidly attached to the origin of the deformable body coordinate system and has axes which are parallel to the axes of the element coordinate system in the undeformed configuration was introduced. Using this intermediate element coordinate system and the fact that conventional beam and plate shape functions can describe an arbitrary rigid body translation, an exact modeling of the rigid body inertia can be obtained. The large rigid body translation and rotational displacements can be described using a set of reference coordinates that define the location of the origin and the orientation of the deformable body coordinate system. On the other hand, as demonstrated in this investigation, the incrementalfinite element formulations do not lead to exact modeling of the spatial rigid body mass moments and products of inertia when the structures move as rigid bodies, and such formulations do not lead to the correct rigid body equations of motion. The correct equations of motion, however, can be obtained if the coordinates are defined in terms of global slopes. Using this new definition of the element coordinates, an absolute nodal coordinate formulation that leads to a constant mass matrix for the element can be developed. Using this formulation, in which no infinitesimal or finite rotations are used as nodal coordinates, beam and plate elements can be treated as isoparametric elements.
Pharmacology of peripheral neuropeptide and inflammatory mediator release

Research conducted in the last 10 years has increased our knowledge on pain mechanisms substantially. Although many local tissue mediators, including neuropeptides, are known to exert pro-inflammatory effects, comparatively little is known about the actual tissue levels of these inflammatory mediators and their pharmacologic regulation. This article describes two new methods, clinical microdialysis and superfusion of dental pulp, which provide data on the pharmacology of peripheral neuropeptide and inflammatory mediator release. Collectively, these methods provide a biochemically based approach toward determining the mechanisms and management of orofacial pain.
Investigations of Edible Oils for Volatile Nitrosamines

Twenty-one commercial edible oils and five margarine samples were purchased locally and analyzed for nitrosamines (NAs) by a gas-liquid chromatograph interfaced with a Thermal Energy Analyzer. N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), at levels of 0.22–1.01 ppb, was the only volatile apparent NA detected. These levels were found in 7/7 corn, 6/6 olive, 2/2 sunflower, 1/3 soybean, 2/3 undesignated oils, and 4/5 margarine samples. The other three oils and one margarine sample showed no NDMA at the lower limit of 0.1 ppb. These levels of nitrosamine detected in the edible oils tested were much lower than the levels previously reported.
Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Recommendation May be Linked to Reimbursement: A Survey of Virginia Family Practitioners and Gynecologists

Abstract Objective Concerns have been raised about gynecologists as vaccinators. This survey evaluated use of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, attitudes, and barriers among gynecologists and family practitioners for differences between the 2 specialties. Design A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a 50-item, self-administered questionnaire mailed to participants. Setting The study was conducted in Virginia through the University of Virginia Center for Survey Research. Participants The questionnaire was mailed to 500 family practitioners and 500 gynecologists. Interventions The questionnaire asked provider and practice demographics, vaccine practices, knowledge, HPV vaccine attitudes, and barriers to vaccination. Main Outcome Measures We compared gynecologists to family practitioners for the outcome of offering HPV vaccination. Logistic regression was performed to determine factors associated with providers choosing to offer and recommend the HPV vaccine. Results After exclusion of ineligible physicians, 385 of 790 doctors responded (48.7%). Seventy percent of family practitioners and 73.5% of gynecologists currently offer the HPV vaccine. There were no significant differences in demographics or practice patterns between the specialties. The most frequent barrier to vaccination reported by both groups was reimbursement. In multivariate logistic regression, inadequate reimbursement was negatively associated with offering the HPV vaccine (odds ratio [OR] 0.41; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.15-1.1) and with recommending the vaccine to patients (OR 0.45; 95% CI 0.26-0.76). Experience treating HPV- related disease was positively associated with offering the HPV vaccine (OR 2.3; 95% CI 1.1-4.8). Conclusions Gynecologists are providing HPV vaccination at rates similar to family practitioners. Reimbursement concerns may negatively have an impact on doctors’ recommendation of the HPV vaccine.
VaMV: variability-aware memory virtualization

Power consumption variability of both on-chip SRAMs and off-chip DRAMs is expected to continue to increase over the next decades. We opportunistically exploit this variability through a novel Variability-aware Memory Virtualization (VaMV) layer that allows programmers to partition their application's address space (through annotations) into virtual address regions and create mapping policies for each region. Each policy has different requirements (e.g., power, fault-tolerance) and is exploited by our dynamic memory management module (VaMVisor), which adapts to the underlying hardware, prioritizes the memory resources according to their characteristics (e.g., power consumption), and selectively maps data to the best-fitting memory resource (e.g., high-utilization data to low-power memory space). Our experimental results on embedded benchmarks show that VaMV is capable of reducing dynamic power consumption by 63% on average while reducing total execution time by an average of 34% by exploiting: 1) SRAM voltage scaling, 2) DRAM power variability, and 3) Efficient dynamic policy-driven variability-aware memory allocation.
Analysis of Chromium-51 release assay data using personal computer spreadsheet software

The Chromium-51 release assay is a widely used technique to assess the lysis of labeled target cells in vitro. We have developed a simple technique to analyze data from Chromium-51 release assays using the widely available LOTUS 1-2-3 spreadsheet software. This package calculates percentage specific cytotoxicity and lytic units by linear regression. It uses all data points to compute the linear regression and can determine if there is a statistically significant difference between two lysis curves. The system is simple to use and easily modified, since its implementation requires neither knowledge of computer programming nor custom designed software. This package can help save considerable time when analyzing data from Chromium-51 release assays.
Influence of functional bowel disease on outcome of surgical antireflux procedures.

Patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have a coexisting diagnosis of functional bowel disease (FBD) in approximately 30% of cases. Symptom improvement after surgical therapy for GERD may be less in patients with FBD when compared to patients without this coexisting problem. A retrospective review of patients undergoing Nissen fundoplication between 1996 and 2000 evaluated patients with documented FBD or FBD symptoms to determine operative outcome. Poor postoperative outcome included recurrent heartburn, gas bloat syndrome, dysphagia requiring reoperation or dilation, or delay in resumption of normal diet. Bivariate comparison and multivariate logistic regression evaluated the independent impact of a documented diagnosis of FBD or preoperative symptoms of FBD on outcome. This study examined 155 patients: 32% reported having symptoms of FBD and 10% had a confirmed diagnosis of FBD. Poor postoperative outcomes occurred in 27%. Patients with a documented diagnosis of FBD were significantly more likely to have a poor outcome when compared to patients without symptoms of FBD (53% vs. 23%, P= 0.01). Patients with preoperative symptoms of FBD (but without a documented diagnosis of FBD) also had a higher incidence of poor outcome (5% vs. 23%, P= 0.09). Patients with FBD are at increased risk of poor results after antireflux surgery. Patients with these conditions should be counseled preoperatively regarding the potential for recurrent postoperative symptoms.