cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of incremental flaxseed supplementation of an herbage diet on methane output and ruminal fermentation in continuous culture

Abstract A 4-unit dual-flow continuous culture fermentor system was used to assess the effect of increasing flaxseed ( Linum usitatissimum ) supplementation of an herbage-based diet on nutrient digestibility, microbial N synthesis, and methane (CH 4 ) output. Treatments were randomly assigned to fermentors in a 4×4 Latin square design, with 7d for diet adaptation and 3d for data and sample collection. Treatments were 0, 5, 10, and 15% ground flaxseed supplementation of an orchardgrass ( Dactylis glomerata L.) diet [70g of total dry matter (DM) fed daily]. Samples were collected from the fermentors 4 times daily at feeding (0730, 1030, 1400, and 1900h) on d 8 to 10 of each of four 10-d periods and analyzed for pH, ammonia-N, and volatile fatty acids. Gas samples for CH 4 analysis were collected immediately before and 1 and 2h after the 0730h feeding on d 8, 9, and 10 and at the 1400h feeding on d 7, 8, and 9 of each period. Effluents were analyzed for DM, organic matter, crude protein, and neutral detergent fiber for determination of nutrient digestibilities, and for total purine concentration for estimation of microbial protein synthesis. Apparent DM, organic matter, and neutral detergent fiber digestibilities decreased linearly with increasing supplemental flaxseed, whereas true DM and organic matter digestibilities were not significantly affected by treatment, averaging 77.6 and 79.1%, respectively. Mean ruminal pH and concentration of total volatile fatty acids were not significantly affected by increasing the dietary concentration of flaxseed, averaging 6.68 and 55.9mmol/L across treatments, respectively. However, molar proportions of acetate and propionate increased linearly, whereas those of butyrate and valerate decreased linearly with increasing flaxseed supplementation. Although CH 4 output decreased linearly as supplemental flaxseed increased from 0 to 15% of diet DM, ammonia-N concentration, apparent crude protein digestibility, and microbial N synthesis did not differ across treatments. Incremental ground flaxseed supplementation of an herbage-based diet resulted in a corresponding decrease in CH 4 output in a dual-flow continuous culture fermentor system. However, apparent nutrient digestibility also decreased with flaxseed supplementation, which, at the cow level, could result in decreased DM intake, milk production, or both.
Cost Performance Analysis in Multi-level Tree Networks

A monetary network cost problem involving a homogeneous multi-level tree of processors and links is discussed. The monetary network cost of processing a divisible load, which is linearly dependent on the amount of divisible workload, is basically composed of a communication cost and a computing cost. A monetary network analysis is performed by aggregating the network speed parameters and network cost parameters. This allows one to obtain a closed form solution for the total monetary network cost with maintaining a minimum total parallel processing finish time. Through a mathematical derivation of the ratio of total computing time variation to total network cost variation against changes in network size, insights on trends of network performance against network cost are achieved.
A computer program for analysis of inelastic electron scattering from nuclei

Abstract A partial wave analysis of inelastic electron scattering is carried out for electric and magnetic multipole excitations of the nucleus. The results of this analysis which includes the effects of energy loss and Coulomb retardation have been programmed for the computer. The resulting FORTRAN IV program is capable of calculating inelastic electron scattering differential and total cross sections for a large range of incident electron energies and transitions of multipolarity 1 to 5. The methods of calculation and the limitations of the program are discussed in some detail.
Doppler Effect in the Slow Neutron Resonance in Rhodium

The variation in transmission of a rhodium foil to 1.26-ev neutrons has been measured as a function of foil temperature using a crystal spectrometer. A change in transmission of approximately two percent per 100-degree temperature change has been observed over a temperature range from 120\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K to 860\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. After correction for instrument resolution and Doppler effect, a peak cross section of 4850\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}200 barns results. Comparison has been made with the theory of Bethe and Placzek as extended by Lamb.
UCP3 and thyroid hormone involvement in methamphetamine-induced hyperthermia

Abstract Here, we determined the extent of hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis and uncoupling protein-3 (UCP3) involvement in methamphetamine (METH)-induced hyperthermia. Sprague–Dawley rats treated with METH (40 mg/kg, s.c.) responded with a hyperthermic response that peaked 1 h post-treatment and was sustained through 2 h. After METH treatment, thyroparathyroidectomized (TX) animals developed hypothermia that was sustained for the 3 h monitoring period. In TX animals supplemented for 5 days with levothyroxine (100 μg/kg, s.c.), METH-induced hypothermia was eliminated and the hyperthermic response was restored. Thyroid hormone levels (T3 and T4), measured in euthyroid animals 1 h after METH, remained unchanged. As seen in rats, 1 h post-METH (20 mg/kg, i.p.) treatment, wild-type (WT) mice developed profound hyperthermia that was sustained for 2 h. In marked contrast, UCP3−/− animals developed a markedly blunted hyperthermic response at 1 h compared to WT animals. Furthermore, UCP3−/− mice could not sustain this slight elevation in temperature. Two hours post-METH treatment, UCP3−/− animal temperature returned to baseline temperatures. UCP3−/− mice were also completely protected against the lethal effects of METH, whereas 40% of WT mice succumbed to the hyperthermia. These findings suggest that thyroid hormone plays a permissive role in the thermogenic effects induced by METH. Furthermore, the findings indicate that UCP3 plays a major role in the development and maintenance of the hyperthermia induced by METH. The relationship of these results to the hyperthermia induced by 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is also discussed.
Possibility of superconductivity in rapidly quenched silicon

Abstract We observed the symmetric negative conductance spike structures at non-zero bias voltages in Si-Si point contact junctions. This observation will be understood in terms of the characteristics of a network of micro-Josephson junctions of ultrarapidly quenched granules of Si.
ASSESSMENT OF HEARING-IMPAIRED ATHLETES' ANXIETY AND SELF-PERCEPTIONS

70 hearing-impaired basketball players participating in a national basketball tournament completed Neeman and Harter's Self-perception Profile examining their feelings of social acceptance, athletic competence, and global self-worth. In addition, players completed the Sport Competition Anxiety Test for trait anxiety and the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory evaluating their cognitive and somatic anxiety as well as their feelings of self-confidence. Correlations indicated an inverse relationship for subjects' ratings of athletic competence with their scores on trait anxiety and rated cognitive and somatic state anxiety. The correlation between rated self-worth and the subjects' feelings of confidence was low and positive. Results are discussed in relation to achievement-motivation theory.
Circulatory transport of iodoantipyrine and water in the isolated dog heart.

The exchanges of 125 I-labeled 4-iodoantipyrine (I-Ap), 14 C-labeled antipyrine ( 14 C-Ap), and tritiated water (THO) were studied in isolated blood-perfused, beating, nonworking dog hearts. From a first set of experiments, analysis of externally monitored myocardial clearance curves of I-Ap after its injection into coronary artery blood showed its washout to be flow limited at flows ranging from 0.8 to 3.8 ml. g -1 . min -1 . Therefore, these curves can be used for estimating coronary blood flow. In a second set of experiments, coronary sinus dilution curves of simultaneously injected I-Ap and THO were found to be indistinguishable in shape at high coronary flows. At low flows ( -1 . min -1 ), THO curves showed an earlier upslope and higher peak than antipyrine, indicating either a diffusional shunt for water or a larger volume of distribution for antipyrine. 14 C-Ap had a slightly faster washout than I-Ap. The differences are partially attributable either to differences in solubility of I-Ap, 14 C-Ap, and THO in erythrocytes or to differences in their volumes of distribution, and partially to diffusional shunting of water.
Postoperative opioid usage in children receiving Remifentanil vs. sufentanil

Summary Background Studies have found a 30–50% increase in postoperative opioid demand following intraoperative use of remifentanil infusion, suggesting development of acute opioid tolerance. This study was undertaken to compare postoperative opioid requirements in children who received remifentanil versus sufentanil infusions during spine fusion. Methods A secondary review of data from children 8–18 years of age, who had undergone spine fusion was conducted. Patients who had received remifentanil infusions were matched by age, procedure, and duration of anaesthesia to those who received sufentanil infusions. Data included patient demographics, total intraoperative and postoperative opioids, and self-reported pain scores. Postoperative pain was managed with morphine patient controlled analgesia, and acetaminophen and diazepam as needed. Results Forty-four children (13.5 ± 3 years) were included. Demographic and procedural data were similar between groups. There were no differences between remifentanil or sufentanil groups in high pain scores (5.3 ± 2.4 vs. 5.7 ± 2.6, respectively) or cumulative morphine requirements (1.02 ± 0.32 mg/kg vs. 1.07 ± 0.48 mg/kg) during the first 24 h after surgery. Conclusion This study found no difference in opioid consumption between children who received remifentanil versus sufentanil infusions. Findings suggest that these short-acting potent opioids similarly affect morphine requirements following spine fusion.
Nuclear refinery—advanced energy complex

Abstract In planning for increased U.S. energy user's demand after the year 2000 there are essentially four salient vectors: (1) reduced reliance in imported crude oil; (2) provide a secure supply with stable economics; (3) supply system must be in concert with improved environment goals; and (4) maximum use to be made of indigenous resources. For the last decade of this century the aforementioned will likely be met by increasing utilization of natural gas. Early in the next century, however, in the U.S. and the newly industrializing nations, the ever increasing energy demand will only be met by the combined use of uranium and coal. The proposed nuclear refinery concept is an advanced energy complex that has at its focal point an advanced modular helium reactor (MHR). This nuclear facility, together with a coal feedstock, could contribute towards meeting the needs of the four major energy sectors in the U.S., namely electricity, transportation, industrial heating and chemical feedstock, and space and water heating. Such a nuclear/coal synergistic system would be in concert with improved air quality goals. This paper discusses the major features and multifaceted operation of a nuclear refinery concept, and identifies the enabling technologies needed for such an energy complex to become a reality early in the 21st century.
A robust control technique for damping inter-area oscillations

In order to reduce the detrimental effects of inter-area oscillations on system stability, it is possible to use Linear Matrix Inequalities (LMIs) to design a multi-objective state feedback control. The LMI optimization comes up with a control law that stabilizes numerous operating conditions simultaneously using a polytopic model of the system. However, the number of cases to be considered is limited by computational complexity and increased chances of infeasibility. In order to circumvent this problem, this paper presents a method for solving multiple polytopic problems having a common base case. The proposed algorithm determines which polytopic control is necessary for a particular contingency and classifies them as belonging to that polytopic domain. The technique was tested on an 8-machine, 13 bus system and provided satisfactory results.
Insertion reactions of carbon dioxide into Zn-N bonds: syntheses and structures of tetrameric and dimeric alkylzinc carbamato complexes.

The formal insertions of carbon dioxide into a series of methylzinc dialkylamide complexes (MeZnNR2) initially form solvent-free, tetrameric zinc carbamato complexes [Me4Zn4(O2CNR2)4] (NR2 = N(i-Pr...
Sustainable development indicators: a case study on the city of Flagstaff and Coconino county

The application of capitalist theory and the perception of an autonomous economy have created a range of environmental and social ramifications not addressed via traditional economic reasoning. In order to effectively and efficiently abate sustainability issues, the sustainable development discourse developed evaluation methods such as sustainable development indicators to gauge progress towards sustainability in communities without using traditional cost–benefit methods of analysis. The indicators created in this work are intended to be applied as a method of project evaluation in local community development departments. Using local growth management policy as a basis, these indicators have been designed to show how a development project contributes to policy goals that relate to all three dimensions of sustainability: environmental, economic, and socio-economic.
Electrical conductivity and chemical diffusion in sintered YBa2Cu3Oy

Abstract Sintered specimens of the superconducting ternary oxide, YBa2Cu3Oy, were equilibrated in air or in pure oxygen in the temperature range of 293–932 °C. The effect of chemical diffusion on the conductivity shows that the reduction/oxidation processes when oxygen is incorporated on or removed from lattice sites (p-type conduction). Using measured conductivity data and oxygen stoichiometries, the concentration and mobility of holes were calculated.
IX OPHIUCHI: A HIGH-VELOCITY STAR NEAR A MOLECULAR CLOUD

The molecular cloud Barnard 59 is probably an outlier of the Upper Sco/ρ Oph complex. B59 contains several T Tauri stars (TTSs), but outside its northwestern edge are three other Hα-emission objects whose nature has been unclear: IX, KK, and V359 Oph. This paper is a discussion of all three and of a nearby Be star (HD 154851), based largely on Keck HIRES spectrograms obtained in 2004. KK Oph is a close (16) double. The brighter component is an HAeBe star, and the fainter is a K-type TTS. The complex BVR variations of the unresolved pair require both components to be variable. V359 Oph is a conventional TTS. Thus, these pre-main-sequence stars continue to be recognizable as such well outside the boundary of their parent cloud. IX Oph is quite different. Its absorption spectrum is about type G, with many peculiarities: all lines are narrow but abnormally weak, with structures that depend on ion and excitation level and that vary in detail from month to month. It could be a spectroscopic binary of small amplitude. Hα and Hβ are the only prominent emission lines. They are broad, with variable central reversals. However, the most unusual characteristic of IX Oph is the very high (heliocentric) radial velocity: about -310 km s-1, common to all spectrograms, and very different from the radial velocity of B59, about -7 km s-1. There is no detectable Li I λ6707 line. There is reason to believe that IX Oph is actually a background object, only aligned with B59. Several conceivable interpretations are discussed: (1) It is unlikely that it is a high-velocity ejectee from the Upper Sco or Upper Cen-Lup associations (the lack of detectable λ6707 shows that it is not the product of a very recent event, and the proper motion points in the wrong direction) or that it was born in or ejected from one of the distant high-velocity CO clouds at this longitude (l = 357°). (2) A stronger possibility is that it is simply a metal-poor high-velocity G- or K-type giant (but such stars are not irregularly variable in light and do not have such strong Balmer emission lines). More likely, (3) IX Oph is a member of the high-velocity, low-metallicity SRd class of semiregular variables found in the field and in some globular clusters. At some phases, those stars show Hα emission like that found in IX Oph and, in one example, emission lines of neutral metals and double absorption lines as in IX Oph.
Lateral root inducing compounds from the bacterium Erwinia quercina: Isolation, structure and synthesis

Abstract The structures lateral root inducing compounds produced in culture by the bacterium Erwinia quercina were shown to be two diastereomers of 4,5-dihydroxy-6-phenylhexanoic acid. All four chiral isomers of the active structure were synthesized.
Design and performance of a scheduling framework for resizable parallel applications

This paper describes the design and initial implementation of a software framework for exploiting resizability in distributed-memory parallel applications. By ''resizable'' we mean the ability at run-time to expand or contract the number of processes participating in a parallel application. The ReSHAPE framework described here includes a cluster scheduler, a library supporting data redistribution and process remapping, and an application programming interface (API) which allows applications to interact with the scheduler and resizing library with only minor code modifications. Parallel applications executed using the ReSHAPE framework can expand to take advantage of additional free processors or contract to accommodate a high priority application without being suspended. Experimental results show that the ReSHAPE framework can significantly improve individual job turn-around time and overall system throughput, even with very simple application scheduling policies. In addition, the framework serves as a convenient platform for research into much more sophisticated cluster scheduling policies and methods.
Empathy as a “Risky Strength”: A Multilevel Examination of Empathy and Risk for Internalizing Disorders

Learning to respond to others' distress with well-regulated empathy is an important developmental task linked to positive health outcomes and moral achievements. However, this important interpersonal skill set may also confer risk for depression and anxiety when present at extreme levels and in combination with certain individual characteristics or within particular contexts. The purpose of this review is to describe an empirically grounded theoretical rationale for the hypothesis that empathic tendencies can be “risky strengths.” We propose a model in which typical development of affective and cognitive empathy can be influenced by complex interplay among intraindividual and interindividual moderators that increase risk for empathic personal distress and excessive interpersonal guilt. These intermediate states in turn precipitate internalizing problems that map onto empirically derived fear/arousal and anhedonia/misery subfactors of internalizing disorders. The intraindividual moderators include a genetically influenced propensity toward physiological hyperarousal, which is proposed to interact with genetic propensity to empathic sensitivity to contribute to neurobiological processes that underlie personal distress responses to others' pain or unhappiness. This empathic personal distress then increases risk for internalizing problems, particularly fear/arousal symptoms. In a similar fashion, interactions between genetic propensities toward negative thinking processes and empathic sensitivity are hypothesized to contribute to excess interpersonal guilt in response to others' distress. This interpersonal guilt then increases the risk for internalizing problems, especially anhedonia/misery symptoms. Interindividual moderators, such as maladaptive parenting or chronic exposure to parents' negative affect, further interact with these genetic liabilities to amplify risk for personal distress and interpersonal guilt as well as for consequent internalizing problems. Age-related increases in the heritability of depression, anxiety, and empathy-related constructs are consistent with developmental shifts toward greater influence of intraindividual moderators throughout childhood and adolescence, with interindividual moderators exerting their greatest influence during early childhood. Efforts to modulate neurobiological and behavioral expressions of genetic dysregulation liabilities and to promote adaptive empathic skills must thus begin early in development.
The nurse's role in the assessment and treatment of bipolar disorder

The prevalence of bipolar disorder is underestimated, and the condition is often misdiagnosed as depression. Because bipolar disorder does not appear to respond to standard treatments for depression, misdiagnosed patients may suffer increased morbidity and mortality. Nurses have the ability to significantly impact the successful care of these patients by recognizing and assessing bipolar disorder, managing treatment with appropriate mood stabilizers and therapies, and educating patients and their families. Bipolar disorder diagnosis, the consequences of misdiagnosis and mismanagement, lifestyle factors that may increase the risk for episode recurrence, and useful interventions are discussed.
Evaluation and Management of Shunt Infections in Children with Hydrocephalus

Shunt infections constitute one of the main risks of shunt surgery for hydrocephalus, which is the single most common type of surgery performed by pediatric neurosurgeons. Infectious complications are responsible for increased morbidity and mortality, lengthy hospitalizations, and high cost. Most modern series report infection rates approaching 10% of all shunt procedures. Despite the high incidence of this complication, optimal management is still unknown, and research on prevention has been hampered by single-institution series and small numbers. This article will review the history, causes, presentation, management, and outcome from shunt infections in children. Pitfalls in diagnosis and management will be reviewed. Finally, prevention strategies and research questions still remaining in this area will be outlined.
Code‐switching between Mandarin and English

: A data-based study of the code-switching (CS) patterns of bilingual speakers of Mandarin and English was conducted. The purpose is to discover the interrelationship between form and function in bilingual CS discourse with reference to topics and interlocutors. The informants of this study consist of 12 officers of the Mandarin College Fellowship of the Chinese Lutheran church of Honolulu. A 1-hour audio-taped recording of the officer's meeting held in March 1990 is the source for the present study. Both structural and functional analyses were conducted to examine the data. The results show that certain syntactic forms are utilized to express certain functions in CS discourse and the participation of interlocutors in a discussion played a very important role in establishing the base language of the discussion. This study also incorporated the ethnographic and communicative approaches to gain a fuller understanding of what factors influence bilingual CS behaviors.
Robust optimization of intensity modulated proton therapy.

Purpose: Intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT) is highly sensitive to range uncertainties and uncertainties caused by setup variation. The conventional inverse treatment planning of IMPT optimized based on the planning target volume (PTV) is not often sufficient to ensure robustness of treatment plans. In this paper, a method that takes the uncertainties into account during plan optimization is used to mitigate the influence of uncertainties in IMPT. Methods: The authors use the so-called ''worst-case robust optimization'' to render IMPT plans robust in the face of uncertainties. For each iteration, nine different dose distributions are computed--one each for {+-} setup uncertainties along anteroposterior (A-P), lateral (R-L) and superior-inferior (S-I) directions, for {+-} range uncertainty, and the nominal dose distribution. The worst-case dose distribution is obtained by assigning the lowest dose among the nine doses to each voxel in the clinical target volume (CTV) and the highest dose to each voxel outside the CTV. Conceptually, the use of worst-case dose distribution is similar to the dose distribution achieved based on the use of PTV in traditional planning. The objective function value for a given iteration is computed using this worst-case dose distribution. The objective function used has been extended to further constrainmore » the target dose inhomogeneity. Results: The worst-case robust optimization method is applied to a lung case, a skull base case, and a prostate case. Compared with IMPT plans optimized using conventional methods based on the PTV, our method yields plans that are considerably less sensitive to range and setup uncertainties. An interesting finding of the work presented here is that, in addition to reducing sensitivity to uncertainties, robust optimization also leads to improved optimality of treatment plans compared to the PTV-based optimization. This is reflected in reduction in plan scores and in the lower normal tissue doses for the same coverage of the target volume when subjected to uncertainties. Conclusions: The authors find that the worst-case robust optimization provides robust target coverage without sacrificing, and possibly even improving, the sparing of normal tissues. Our results demonstrate the importance of robust optimization. The authors assert that all IMPT plans should be robustly optimized.« less
Spectratyping analysis of the islet-reactive T cell repertoire in diabetic NOD Igμ null mice after polyclonal B cell reconstitution

Non Obese Diabetic mice lacking B cells (NOD.Igμnull mice) do not develop diabetes despite their susceptible background. Upon reconstitution of B cells using a chimera approach, animals start developing diabetes at 20 weeks of age. We have used the spectratyping technique to follow the T cell receptor (TCR) V beta repertoire of NOD.Igμnull mice following B cell reconstitution. This technique provides an unbiased approach to understand the kinetics of TCR expansion. We have also analyzed the TCR repertoire of reconstituted animals receiving cyclophosphamide treatment and following tissue transplants to identify common aggressive clonotypes. We found that B cell reconstitution of NOD.Igμnull mice induces a polyclonal TCR repertoire in the pancreas 10 weeks later, gradually diversifying to encompass most BV families. Interestingly, these clonotypic BV expansions are mainly confined to the pancreas and are absent from pancreatic lymph nodes or spleens. Cyclophosphamide-induced diabetes at 10 weeks post-B cell reconstitution reorganized the predominant TCR repertoires by removing potential regulatory clonotypes (BV1, BV8 and BV11) and increasing the frequency of others (BV4, BV5S2, BV9, BV16-20). These same clonotypes are more frequently present in neonatal pancreatic transplants under the kidney capsule of B-cell reconstituted diabetic NOD.Igμnull mice, suggesting their higher invasiveness. Phenotypic analysis of the pancreas-infiltrating lymphocytes during diabetes onset in B cell reconstituted animals show a predominance of CD19+ B cells with a B:T lymphocyte ratio of 4:1. In contrast, in other lymphoid organs (pancreatic lymph nodes and spleens) analyzed by FACS, the B:T ratio was 1:1. Lymphocytes infiltrating the pancreas secrete large amounts of IL-6 and are of Th1 phenotype after CD3-CD28 stimulation in vitro. Diabetes in NOD.Igμnull mice appears to be caused by a polyclonal repertoire of T cell accumulation in pancreas without much lymphoid organ involvement and is dependent on the help by B cells.
HIV-1 gp120-mediated increases in IL-8 production in astrocytes are mediated through the NF-κB pathway and can be silenced by gp120-specific siRNA

Background The exact mechanism underlying HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders still remains largely unresolved. However, viral genes (for example gp120 and tat) and their effect on cytokine/chemokine expressions have been linked with neuroinflammation. Conversely, interlekin-8 (IL-8) is a known proinflammatory chemokine and is known to be over-expressed in human brain microvascular endothelial cells in response to gp120. In this study, we sought to address whether HIV-1gp120 could affect IL-8 expression in astrocytes and whether the NF-κB pathway is involved in this phenomenon.
An exploration of risk information search via a search engine: Queries and clicks in healthcare and information security

The general public is increasingly using search engines to seek information on risks and threats. Based on a search log from a large search engine, spanning three months, this study explores user patterns of query submission and subsequent clicks in sessions, for two important risk related topics, healthcare and information security, and compares them to other randomly sampled sessions. We investigate two session-level metrics reflecting users' interactivity with a search engine: session length and query click rate. Drawing from information foraging theory, we find that session length can be characterized well by the Inverse Gaussian distribution. Among three types of sessions on different topics (healthcare, information security, and other randomly sampled sessions), we find that healthcare sessions have the most queries and the highest query click rate, and information security sessions have the lowest query click rate. In addition, sessions initiated by the users with greater search engine activity level tend to have more queries and higher query click rates. Among three types of sessions, search engine activity level shows the strongest effect on query click rate for information security sessions and weakest for healthcare sessions. We discuss theoretical and practical implications of the study.
Turning Professional: Content-Based Communication and the Evolution of a Cross-Cultural Language Curriculum

: The fact that nine out of ten students drop out of language classes between the elementary and advanced levels demonstrates the need for addressing the traditional division of language and content courses prevailing in most modem language departments. Furthermore, the increasing demand for professional language classes makes it necessary to adjust the overall undergraduate program so that these courses fit meaningfully into the mainly humanities-oriented curriculum. If students are to bridge the gap between form and meaning, courses need to move from communicative training at the elementary level through an intermediate stage that combines communicative and content-based instruction. Finally, training students successfully for future careers in a global economy means that courses cannot focus only on content and form, but also must include a thorough development of cultural awareness. Applying ethnographic intercultural training methods to the language classroom ensures that the students attain not only linguistic but also cultural proficiency. The course structure presented in this paper demonstrates that professional school students can be trained alongside humanities majors by making minor but far-reaching adjustments to the elementary and intermediate language program, and without placing undue constraints on departmental resources.
Acute 60 Hz magnetic field exposure effects on the melatonin rhythm in the pineal gland and circulation of the adult Djungarian hamster.

Yellon SM. Acute 60Hz magnetic field exposure effects on the nucleation rhythm in the pineal gland and circulation of the adult Djungarian hamster. J. Pineal Res. 1994; 16: 136–144. Abstract Adult male and female hamsters in long days (16 hr of light) were exposed to a 1 gauss 60 Hz magnetic field for 15 min starting 2 hr before lights off. Sham-exposed controls were placed in an adjacent exposure system but current was not applied. Hamsters were decapitated at 0.5–2 hr intervals from 1 hr before lights off to 1 hr after lights on (n = 4–6/clocktime/group); sera were harvested and pineal glands obtained for melatonin radioimmunoassay. In controls, pineal melatonin significantly increased from an average daytime baseline of less than 0.3 ng/gland to 3 ng/gland by 3 hr after lights off (P < 0.05, ANOVA). This increase was sustained for the duration of the night and returned to baseline within 1 hr after lights on. A similar melatonin rhythm was found in serum; concentrations ranged from 30 to 50 pg/ml at night and returned to a baseline of 12 pg/ml or less by 1 hr before lights on. The single magnetic field exposure reduced the duration and blunted the rise in the nocturnal melatonin rhythm. The study was then repeated in its entirety 6 months later. The same magnetic field treatment significantly suppressed pineal melatonin content at 5 hr after lights off and reduced serum melatonin concentrations at 3 and 5 hr after dark onset compared to sham-exposed controls. Thus, the acute magnetic field exposure was again found to blunt the increase and suppress the duration of the nighttime melatonin rise. Point-by-point comparisons with the first study, however, did not replicate the magnetic field-associated reduction in pineal melatonin content at 3 hr into the night, as well as in pineal and serum melatonin at 7. 5 hr after lights off. Concern about this divergence led us to repeat the experiment for a second time 6 months later. In both sham- and magnetic field-exposed groups, melatonin increased within 3 hr after lights off and this rise was sustained until 0. 5 hr before lights on; nighttime melatonin content in the pineal gland was approximately 2 ng while in circulation melatonin concentrations averaged 60 pg/ml or less. No statistical differences were evident between the control and magnetic field exposed hamsters at any clocktime (P < 0. 05, ANOVA). Thus the absence of an effect of magnetic field exposure on the melatonin rhythm in either the pineal gland or circulation in this second replicate study contrasts with the clear suppression of the nocturnal melatonin rhythm in two previous experiments. Further work is needed to define the parameters of magnetic field exposure that consistently affect the pineal gland and its circadian melatonin rhythm. The time of the year for experimentation, animal age, or the endogenous response to exposure may be variables that might be understood before the physiological importance of magnetic fields for circadian time keeping mechanisms may be realized.
Optimal Delay Region for Cross-Layer Resource Allocation

This paper characterizes the delay region that is quite useful for multi-user packet scheduling. In a quasi-static channel, the optimal delay region is defined as every set of total delay vectors achieved by some scheduling policies when there are no further packet arrivals. Each user's total delay is equivalent to the amount of time until that user's queue backlog is cleared. The optimal delay region shows the fundamental limit on each user's achievable queueing delay and describes the trade-off among the users in terms of queueing delay when different scheduling policies are applied. In addition, the concept of the delay region is shown to be extendable to each packet's average delay as well as total delay.
'Finding a good thing': the use of quantitative and qualitative methods to evaluate an exercise class and promote exercise for adults with mobility impairments

Purpose: Physical inactivity in people with severe disabilities is common and has severe consequences. Conditioning classes are one way to increase activity and promote its health related outcomes....
A New Network Reduction Methodology for Power System Planning Studies

System planning on a large-scale electric power system is computationally challenging. Network reduction into a small system can significantly reduce the computational expense. The Ward equivalent technique is widely used for the reduction; however, it may not yield the same flow pattern as the original network. In this paper, a new methodology for network reduction is proposed and the results are compared with those from other methodologies.
Non-invasive measurement of gastric myoelectrical activity and its analysis and applications

Gastric myoelectrical activity regulates gastric motility and can be measured non-invasively using abdominal surface electrodes. The noninvasive recording is called the electrogastrogram (EGG). In recent years, the EGG has received more and more attention among physicians and researchers. This paper summarizes the recent development of the EGG from the point of view of biomedical engineering. The following areas are specifically discussed: the noninvasive method of electrogastrography; the validation of electrogastrography methodology with internal recording; waveform and spectral analysis of the EGG; derivation of EGG parameters and their physiological or clinical meaning; and clinical applications of the EGG.
Data driven power optimization of sequential circuits

In this paper we present an efficient technique to reduce the power dissipation in a technology mapped CMOS sequential circuit based on logic and structural transformations. The power reduction is achieved by adding sequential redundancies from low switching activity gates to high switching activity gates such that the switching activities at the output of the connected to gates are significantly reduced. We show that the power reducing transformations result in a circuit that is a valid replacement of the original. The notion of validity used here is that of a delay safe replacement, i.e., the original circuit and the transformed circuit cannot be distinguished by observing the input and output behavior as long as the transformed circuit is clocked a finite number of cycles before applying any useful inputs. The potential transformations are found by direct logic implications applied to the circuit netlist. Therefore the complexity of each individual transformation is polynomial in the size of the circuit, allowing the processing of large designs.
Application and safety of outpatient ergonovine testing in accurately detecting coronary spasm in patients with possible variant angina

Abstract We analyzed the results of 61 consecutive outpatient ergonovine provocation tests to determine the safety and efficacy of such outpatient testing for detecting coronary artery spasm (CAS). Criteria for outpatient testing included: clinical history suggestive of variant angina, noncritical coronary artery disease documented by coronary arteriography, normal exercise treadmill test, no symptomatic arrhythmias, and no history of recent myocardial infarction. All antianginal medications were tapered and stopped. Ergonovine maleate was given as a bolus at 3-minute intervals in consecutive doses of 0.05, 0.10, and 0.25 mg. A positive test was defined as chest pain accompanied by > 0.1 mV ST segment elevation on 12-lead ECG. If pain and ST-segment elevation occurred, intravenous and sublingual nitroglycerin were immediately administered for rellef of myocardial ischemia. Of the 61 patients studied, 10 had positive tests; there were no complications. Follow-up of the 51 patients with negative studies has not revealed cardiac etiology for their chest pain. We conclude that outpatient ergonovine testing is a safe and accurate diagnostic test for identifying CAS in a highly selected population of patients with possible variant angina when performed under carefully controlled conditions.
Optical Properties of Multi-Component Cadmium-Silver Nanocluster Composites Formed in Silica by Sequential Ion Implantation

Formation and optical properties of nanometer dimension metal colloid composites formed by sequential implantation of Cd then Ag and by single element implantations of Cd and Ag in silica were characterized by TEM and optical spectroscopy. A nominal dose of 6x10{sup 16} ions/cm{sup 2} as determined by current integration was used for both ion species. Doses used for the sequential implantations were a 1 to 1 ratio of Cd to Ag. Sequential implantations of Cd and Ag led to formation of both multi-component metal nanoclusters and elemental nanoclusters. Electron diffraction indicated that the polycrystalline particles of Ag{sub 5}Cd{sub 8} and elemental Ag were formed. The optical response was consistent with results expected from effective medium theory.
On computing smooth, singular, and nearly singular integrals on implicitly defined surfaces

We present numerical methods for the approximation of smooth, singular, and nearly singular integrals on implicitly defined surfaces. We begin with a high-order quadrature formula for an integral over a compact smooth implicitly defined hypersurface. Our high-order formula is novel in that it has spectral convergence but does not require a set of overlapping patches. Rather, certain hypersurface points, called quadrature points, must be determined. To find the quadrature points, we search for certain line segments, called brackets, for which the level set function has a sign change at the endpoints. We show that as the segment spacing tends to zero, that each quadrature point must be eventually contained in exactly one bracket. To find the quadrature point within a bracket we use standard one dimensional root finding techniques. Next, we show how to accelerate the process of finding the brackets by restricting the line segment search to cells that are near the hypersurface. Finally, we give an optimal algorithm for finding the quadrature points that has an observed runtime proportional to the number of quadrature points. The high-order convergence of our new quadrature formula is demonstrated numerically on a number of complex implicitly defined surfaces and smooth integrands. Using standard interpolation and finite differencing techniques, we show how to achieve high-order accuracy in the case where the level-set function and integrand are only known at regularly spaced grid points. We next address the problem of computing double layer and single layer potentials. By using a locally flat cutoff function, we decompose the layer potential into a global part and a local part. We numerically verify that our new quadrature formula has high-order convergence when applied to the global part of a singular double layer potential by computing Gauss's integral on a number of complex implicitly defined surfaces. For the local part, we focus on the single layer potential. In particular, we give a constant runtime complexity algorithm for evaluating the local part of a single layer potential for both the singular and nearly singular cases. To compute the local part, we write the integral in certain local polar coordinates and consider the angular and radial parts separately. We first prove that the angular part can be approximated to high order using the trapezoid rule. In particular, we show that due to our choice of local coordinates, the integrand of the angular part is well approximated by a low degree trigonometric polynomial which is integrated exactly by the trapezoid rule with a small number of quadrature points. We next show that by multiplying the radial integrands by certain helper functions and using a change of variable, the radial integrals can be written in terms of standard integrals that can be precomputed and stored in a lookup table. We demonstrate the high-order convergence of our constant runtime local single layer potential integration method with a number of numerical examples on complex implicitly defined surfaces.
Self-aligned contact submicron E/D MODFET IC process: device characteristics and simple circuit applications

A high-speed, low-power GaAs enhancement/depletion (E/D) IC process for MSI applications (10/sup 3/ devices) is described. The process relies on high-quality molecular-beam-epitaxy (MBE)-grown modulation-doped wafers, and an etch-stop reactive ion etch (RIE) process that preserves the inherent uniformity and control achievable with this growth technique. >
Comparison of outcomes with coils versus vascular plug embolization of the internal iliac artery for endovascular aortoiliac aneurysm repair

Objective To compare the safety and efficacy of coil embolization (COIL) to Amplatzer vascular plug embolization (PLUG) to achieve internal iliac artery (IIA) occlusion prior to endovascular aortiliac aneurysm repair (EVAR). Methods Data from consecutive patients who underwent IIA embolization prior to EVAR over a 6-year period (2004-2010) were retrospectively reviewed. Patient demographics, treatment modalities, and outcomes were compared. Results From January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2010, a total of 53 patients underwent percutaneous embolization of 57 IIAs prior to EVAR. Twenty-nine IIAs underwent COIL and 28 IIAs underwent PLUG embolization. Patient demographics and risk factors were similar between the two groups. Patients underwent repair for aneurysmal dilation of the infrarenal aorta in conjunction with the common or internal iliac arteries (n = 35, 62%) or isolated iliac artery aneurysms (n = 19, 38%). A significantly greater number of embolization devices were used in the COIL group (5.8 ± 3.8 vs 1.1 ± 0.4; P P = .008) and fluoroscopy times (32.6 ±14.6 vs 14.4 ± 8.6 minutes; P = .002). However, radiation dose between the groups did not differ (COIL: 470,192.7 ± 190,606.6 vs PLUG: 300,972.2 ± 191,815.7 mGycm 2 ; P = .10). Overall periprocedural morbidity did not differ between the groups (COIL: 11% vs PLUG: 6%; P = 1.0), and there were no perioperative mortalities or severe complications. Nontarget embolization occurred in two COIL and no PLUG cases (COIL: 6.9% vs PLUG: 0%; P = .49). Patient-reported buttock claudication at 1 month was 17.2% for COIL and 39.3% for PLUG patients ( P = .08). At last follow-up, persistent buttock claudication was reported in 13.8% of COIL and in 14.3% of PLUG embolizations ( P = 1.0). There was no significant difference in charges for the embolization material, operating room, or overall hospital charges (COIL: 44,720 ± 19,153 vs 37,367 ± 10,915; P = .22). Lastly, zero endoleaks in the COIL group and three in the PLUG group ( P = .40) were detected on the most recent follow-up computed tomography imaging. No endoleak was related to the site of IIA embolization. Conclusions COIL and PLUG embolization both provide effective IIA embolization with low complication rates when used for EVAR. Buttock claudication did occur in approximately one-third of patients but resolved in half of those affected. PLUG embolization took significantly less time to perform and required decreased fluoroscopy times. Based on outcomes and cost-analysis, COIL and PLUG embolization are equivalent methods to achieve IIA occlusion during EVAR.
The myth of automated, high‐throughput two‐dimensional gel analysis

Many software packages have been developed to process and analyze 2-D gel images. Some programs have been touted as automated, high-throughput solutions. We tested five commercially available programs using 18 replicate gels of a rat brain protein extract. We determined computer processing time, approximate spot editing time, time required to correct spot mismatches, as well as total processing time. We also determined the number of spots automatically detected, number of spots kept after manual editing, and the percentage of automatically generated correct matches. We also determined the effect of increasing the number of replicate gels on spot matching efficiency for two of the programs. We found that for all programs tested, less than 3% of the total processing time was automated. The remainder of the time was spent in manual, subjective editing of detected spots and computer generated matches. Total processing time for 18 gels varied from 22 to 84 h. The percentage of correct matches generated automatically varied from 1 to 62%. Increasing the number of gels in an experiment dramatically reduced the percentage of automatically generated correct matches. Our results demonstrate that these 2-D gel analysis programs are not automatic or rapid, and also suggest that matching accuracy decreases as experiment size increases.