cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analytical Solution for the Optimal Spacing of Wind Turbines

The lateral and longitudinal spacing between individual turbines in a wind turbine array must be large enough to minimize the wake effects caused by an upstream turbine on those that lie downstream from it. Here, the flow downstream of a single wind turbine is examined by modeling its far-field development as a turbulent axisymmetric wake which is well described in the turbulence literature. In particular, the velocity defect profile in the wake is approximated by a Gaussian function in the radial coordinate. Scaling laws are used to derive closed-form solutions for the wake diameter, wake velocity defect, and wake power recovery as functions of downstream distance from the rotor. Our results show that at a downstream distance of 10 rotor diameters, the wake centerline velocity will recover to 77% of the free-stream value. It is also seen that the power within the wake recovers quickly for small downstream distances, but beyond about 10 rotor diameters, the rate of power recovery slows down. Implications for the optimal spacing of wind turbines are discussed based on these findings.
Decreased scholastic achievement in overweight middle school students.

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether overweight students achieved a lower relative degree of scholastic achievement compared to nonoverweight students. Subjects consisted of 6th and 7th grade students enrolled in a large public middle school in a suburb of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. We compared grade point averages (GPAs), nationally standardized reading scores, school detentions, school suspensions, school attendance, tardiness to school, physical fitness test scores, and participation on school athletic teams among nonoverweight, at risk for overweight, and overweight students. Overweight students achieved lower grades (P < 0.001) and lower physical fitness scores (P < 0.0001) than their nonoverweight peers. Overweight students demonstrated a 0.4 letter grade lower GPA (on a 4.00 scale) and 11% lower national percentile reading scores than their nonoverweight peers. The overweight students also demonstrated significantly more detentions, worsened school attendance, more tardiness to school, and less participation on school athletic teams than their nonoverweight peers. Our study suggests that body mass is an important indicator of scholastic achievement, attendance, behavior, and physical fitness among middle school students, reiterating the need for healthy lifestyle intervention and prevention measures.
Preserving mobile customer privacy: an access control system for moving objects and customer profiles

A key challenge for Mobile services is to offer personalized contents while preserving the privacy of customers. In mobile applications, location information is modeled as moving objects. Providing proper protection to customer information can be achieved by an access control system. However, providing such system is a challenging task due to: 1) the spatio-temporal nature of the constraints as well as the location information, and the interaction among them; 2) the complexity of resolving spatio-temporal and granularity conflicts; and 3) the required scalability and efficiency. In this paper, we present a solution that includes an access control model for moving objects and customer profiles. We also present a mechanism that enforces the spatio-temporal policies. The mechanism consists of three components: a text encoder, a spatio-temporal module that computes interactions between moving objects and spatio-temporal constraints, and a new data structure referred to as the Adaptive Search Multi-way trie (ASM-trie). We present the insertion and search algorithms of the ASM-trie and an evaluation study that shows the positive impact of the ASM-trie on the search efficiency.
Risk Factors for Interstage Death After the Norwood Procedure

Operative survival after the Norwood procedure has significantly improved during the past 10 years. However, there remains attrition among Norwood survivors before reaching planned second-stage palliation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate potential risk factors for interstage mortality among Norwood survivors. All patients undergoing the Norwood procedure at the Medical University of South Carolina from January 1996 through January 2001 were retrospectively reviewed. Patient and procedural variables were examined as potential risk factors for interstage mortality. Among 50 Norwood survivors, 8 (16%) died prior to second-stage palliation. The mean age at death was 102 ± 72 days (median, 61; range, 35–208). By multivariate analysis, the presence of an arrhythmia in the postoperative period (p = 0.02) and decreased ventricular function at hospital discharge (p = 0.05) were identified as risk factors for interstage mortality. There remains a significant risk for interstage mortality among Norwood survivors. Patients with postoperative arrhythmias and/or decreased ventricular function at discharge are at increased risk for interstage death after Norwood procedure. More frequent follow-up and aggressive medical management of arrhythmia or decreased function may be warranted for these high-risk patients.
Experimental Observations of the Deformation Characteristics in Layered Structures

A novel experimental configuration is devised to measure the evolution of the deformation field and the corresponding toughness evolution within soft metallic films constrained by hard layers. The experimental configuration provides pure shear state within the constrained film. The material system utilized was comprised of a ductile layer of Tin based solder, encapsulated within relatively hard copper shoulders. Different Tin-Lead compositions are tested with grain size approaching the film thickness. The in-plane strain distribution within the film layer is measured by a microscopic digital image correlation system. The toughness evolution within such highly gradient deformation field is monitored qualitatively through a 2D surface scan with a nano-indentor. The measurements showed a highly inhomogeneous deformation field within the film with discreet shear bands of concentrated strain. The localized shear bands showed long-range correlations of the order of 3–4 the grain size. A size-dependent macroscopic response on the layer thickness is observed. However, the corresponding film thickness is approximately 100–1000 times larger than those predicted by non-local continuum theories and discreet dislocation.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Technology and New Directions in Professional Development: Applications of Digital Video, Peer Review, and Self-Reflection

Pedagogical applications of technology—including digital video, course management systems, online discussion forums, and CD-ROM compilations—for development of professional skills were tested in three distinct professional graduate programs. Role-playing, peer review, and self-reflection instructional methods were technologically enhanced by creating customized interfaces for use in counseling, library science, and teacher education graduate programs. Implications for further iterations of integrating technology and professional development, potential uses in a variety of disciplines, and ways in which the process can be improved are also discussed.
Conduction band energy determination by variable temperature spectroelectrochemistry

The conduction and valence band energy positions of nanostructured semiconductors are arguably the most important physical parameters of these materials; however they have also proven the most problematic to measure. In this work, we describe a new method of variable temperature spectroelectrochemistry, which is a simple way to directly measure the absolute conduction band energy of nanostructured electrodes with minimal assumptions. In addition, the extinction coefficient of free conduction band electrons is simultaneously determined by this method. Results of variable temperature spectroelectrochemistry measurements of nanoparticle TiO2 electrodes are presented. Values of −0.761 to −0.936 V vs. Ag/AgCl were determined for the conduction band energy, which was found to shift with EF in excellent agreement with literature estimates. We believe this method will be applicable to a large variety of materials and systems.
Decrease in Nosocomial Clostridium difficile–Associated Diarrhea by Restricting Clindamycin Use

Objective: To report the investigation and effective control of a nosocomial epidemic of Clostridium difficile–associated Diarrhea. Design: Concurrent surveillance for identification of new nosocom...
NEURAL MECHANISMS OF VISUAL MOTION PERCEPTION IN PRIMATES

I wish to thank David Bradley, Jim Crowell, Krishna Shenoy, and Carol Andersen for comments on the manuscript; Sylvie Gertmenian for editorial assistance; and David Bradley and John Pezaris for assistance with the figures. The experiments from the author's laboratory discussed here were supported by grants from the National Eye Institute, the Sloan Center for Theoretical Neurobiology at Caltech, the Human Frontiers Scientific Program, and the Office of Naval Research.
Molecular imaging of epidermal growth factor receptor expression-activity at the kinase level in tumors with positron emission tomography

Because of the importance of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling pathway in oncogenesis, maintenance, and progression of different types of tumors, there has been an intense effort to develop non-invasive imaging approaches for selection and monitoring of EGFR-targeted therapies. During the past decade, EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors have been explored as potential radiotracers for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of EGFR over-expressing tumors. The development of agents for PET imaging of EGFR at the tyrosine kinase level has been so far based exclusively on anilinoquinazoline core structure, which has been “borrowed” as the key pharmacophore from the leading EGFR-inhibitory pharmaceuticals. The I-124, F-18, and C-11 radiolabeled irreversible inhibitors of EGFR demonstrate the greatest potential for derivatization into effective EGFR kinase imaging agents. PET imaging with radiolabeled agents specific for activated forms of EGFR kinase will facilitate the selection (stratification) of patients which will have more favorable responses to therapy with EGFR signaling inhibitors.
Does Primary Biliary Cirrhosis in Men Differ from Primary Biliary Cirrhosis in Women

Primary biliary cirrhosis is infrequently diagnosed in men, so that the clinical, biochemical and histopathological spectrum of this disease in men has not been evaluated. Therefore, we studied 30 men who had a histological diagnosis of primary biliary cirrhosis and had positive tests for antimitochondrial antibodies. Five patients had no hepatobiliary symptoms, and two of these patients had neither biochemical nor histological evidence of cholestasis. These 30 male patients' findings were compared with the findings in 30 age-matched women who also had primary biliary cirrhosis and antimitochondrial antibodies. Six of these patients were asymptomatic. Clinical findings and symptomatic status, in addition to biochemical and histopathological features, were generally similar in both male and female patients. The possible significance of higher serum alkaline phosphatase activities and lower frequency of occurrence of piecemeal necrosis in men with primary biliary cirrhosis, as compared with women, requires further study.
Rhyolite magmas of central America

True rhyolites are found in two contrasting occurrences in Central America: in recent obsidian domes in the basalt-rhyolite association of southeastern Guatemala, and in late Tertiary ignimbrites in Honduras and adjacent parts of Nicaragua. Both are on the inner side of the main volcanic axis in a region that is visibly underlain by older metamorphic and plutonic rocks. They have not been found in southern Central America where the basement series consists only of older volcanic rocks, eugeosynclinal sediments, and peridotite.
The Friedman-Eilber Resection Arthroplasty of the Pelvis

The Author(s) 2009. This article is published with open access at Springerlink.com Abstract It has been argued that internal hemipelvectomy without reconstruction of the pelvic ring leads to poor ambulation and inferior patient acceptance. To determine the accuracy of this contention, we posed the following questions: First, how effectively does a typical patient ambulate following this procedure? Second, what is the typical functional capacity of a patient following internal hemipelvectomy? In the spring of 2006, we obtained video documentation of eight patients who had undergone resec- tion arthroplasty of the hemipelvis seen in our clinic during routine clinical followup. The minimum followup in 2006 was 1.1 years (mean, 8.2 years; range, 1.1-22.7 years); at the time of last followup in 2008 the minimum followup was 2.9 years (mean, 9.8 years; range, 2.9-24.5 years). At last followup seven of the eight patients were without pain, and were able to walk without supports. The remaining patient used narcotic medication and a cane or crutch only occasionally. The mean MSTS score at the time of most recent followup was 73.3% of normal (range 53.3-80.0%; mean raw score was 22.0; range 16-24). All eight patients ultimately returned to gainful employment. These obser- vations demonstrate independent painless ambulation and acceptable function is possible following resection arthroplasty of the hemipelvis. Level of Evidence: Level IV, case series. See Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Ryanodine sensitive calcium release channel from left ventricle, septum, and atrium of canine heart

Objective: The aim was to consider the possibility that functionally distinct forms of the ryanodine sensitive calcium release channel are expressed in different regions of heart. Methods: Membranous fractions enriched in ryanodine binding activity were isolated from canine left ventricular free wall, interventricular septum, and atrium. Ryanodine receptors (RyR) were purified by sucrose density gradient centrifugation, following solubilisation of sarcoplasmic reticular membranes with the detergent Chaps. Single channel currents were measured, upon reconstitution of sarcoplasmic reticular vesicles and the purified RyR into planar lipid bilayers. Results: Ryanodine sensitive Ca2+ release channels from three different regions of canine heart displayed the same [3H]ryanodine binding and single channel characteristics. Conclusions: The left ventricular free wall, septum, and atrium of canine heart may express functionally related, if not identical, ryanodine receptor/Ca2+ release channels. Cardiovascular Research 1993; 27 :1815-1819
A unified numerical approach for thermal stress waves

Abstract A unified numerical approach is introduced for the analysis of thermal stress waves. The algorithm is derived from the concept of heat displacement and a variational formulation in Lagrangian form. The objective of the paper is to demonstrate that by using the unified approach an existing computer code for isothermal finite element stress analysis can easily be modified to extend its capability to solve thermal stress problems. Numerical examples are given for the Danilovskaya's problems in dynamic thermoelasticity using a plane analysis computer code. It shows that the unified approach is particularly suitable for the study of thermally-induced waves including thermomechanical coupling effects.
Isolation and X-ray structural characterization of a dicationic homotrimer of 2,3,6,7-tetramethoxy-9,10-dimethylanthracene cation radical

Abstract Electrochemical oxidation of 2,3,6,7-tetramethoxy-9,10-dimethylanthracene (1) showed that it undergoes a highly reversible electrochemical oxidation (Eox = 0.81 V vs SCE) and forms a modestly stable cation-radical salt in solution. X-ray crystallography established that 1+ SbCl 6 - crystallizes as a (centrosymmetric) dicationic homotrimer via a close cofacial association of a pair of cationic and one neutral molecule of 1 with an interplanar separation of ∼3.2 A. The structure of the dicationic homotrimer was also reproduced by DFT calculations. Furthermore, the structure of a dicationic spiro adduct, formed by a slow decomposition of a solution of 1+ SbCl 6 - , was also established by X-ray crystallography.
Actin activates a cryptic dimerization potential of the vinculin tail domain

The tail domain of vinculin (V(t)) is an actin binding module containing two regions that interact with F-actin. Although intact V(t) purified from a bacterial expression system is a globular monomer, each actin binding region dimerizes when expressed individually, suggesting the presence of cryptic self-association sites whose exposure is regulated. We show that actin modulates V(t) self-association by inducing or stabilizing a conformational change in V(t) that allows dimerization. Chemical cross-linking studies implicate one of the actin binding regions in mediating dimerization in the presence of actin. Actin-induced V(t) dimers may play a role in the filament cross-linking activity of this protein. The V(t) dimers induced by actin are biochemically distinct from the V(t) dimers and higher oligomers induced by acidic phospholipids such as phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate, suggesting structural differences in V(t) bound to these two ligands that may provide a mechanistic basis for inhibition of F-actin binding by phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate. The ability of actin to regulate the dimerization state of an actin binding protein suggests that, rather than serving a passive structural role, actin filaments may directly participate in signal transduction and other cellular events that are known to depend on cytoskeletal integrity.
Nursing Actions to Prevent and Alleviate Pain in Hospitalized Children

Nurses are confronted daily with the responsibility to care for hospitalized children in pain, yet the substantive knowledge base about that care and how effective it is remains extremely limited. Although there is initial evidence of effectiveness of several pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic pain relief approaches, little evidence of use or effectiveness in clinical nursing practice exists. To begin to address this knowledge deficit, two studies conceptualized within Orem's (1991) general theory of nursing were undertaken: one involving ethnographic interviews to determine what pain relief actions are taken by nurses with recognized expertise in caring for children in pain and another, follow-up survey to examine the frequency with which these actions are used by general nursing staff. Data about perceived effectiveness of the actions were also obtained. The results of these two studies of nursing actions to prevent and alleviate pain in hospitalized children document that nurses use a wide variety of creative methods to relieve pain. From interviews with the nurse experts both specific actions and action patterns and themes were identified. Furthermore, these patterns were congruent with methods of helping used by nurses as described by Orem. Results of this research currently serve as the basis for development and testing of nursing action protocols for alleviation of pain in hospitalized children.
Association of neuronal pp60c-src with growth cone glycoproteins of rat brain

Tyrosine phosphorylation and protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) activity in the growth cone membrane-associated glycoprotein (GCGP) fraction of 1-day-old rat brain were examined. Using immunoblotting and immunoprecipitation techniques, pp60c-src was identified as one of the major PTKs associated with GCGPs. Furthermore, only GCGP-associated src that was also tyrosine phosphorylated was active. Immunoprecipitation experiments using various src antibodies revealed that pp60c-src contributed partially to the PTK activity detected in GCGPs, and that it is associated with several proteins of Mr 140 K, 120 K, 85 K and 50 K. This association of src protein with GCGPs was specific, and another src family member p59fyn, which is also abundant in the brain, did not exhibit such an association. In addition to pp60c-src, the GCGP fraction contained several major phosphotryosine-containing proteins of Mr 140 K, and a 97/90 K doublet that corresponded to the beta subunits of IGF-I/ insulin receptors. These studies show that pp60c-src associated with GCGPs is an active PTK that could be involved in neuronal growth and development, transmembrane signalling, and in recognition and/or adhesive events. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
All competition is not alike: Neural mechanisms for resolving underdetermined and prepotent competition

People must constantly select among potential thoughts and actions in the face of competition from (a) multiple task-relevant options (underdetermined competition) and (b) strongly dominant options that are not appropriate in the current context (prepotent competition). These types of competition are ubiquitous during language production. In this work, we investigate the neural mechanisms that allow individuals to effectively manage these cognitive control demands and to quickly choose words with few errors. Using fMRI, we directly contrast underdetermined and prepotent competition within the same task (verb generation) for the first time, allowing localization of the neural substrates supporting the resolution of these two types of competition. Using a neural network model, we investigate the possible mechanisms by which these brain regions support selection. Together, our findings demonstrate that all competition is not alike: resolving prepotent competition and resolving underdetermined competition rely on partly dissociable neural substrates and mechanisms. Specifically, activation of left ventrolateral pFC is specific to resolving underdetermined competition between multiple appropriate responses, most likely via competitive lateral inhibition. In contrast, activation of left dorsolateral pFC is sensitive to both underdetermined competition and prepotent competition from response options that are inappropriate in the current context. This region likely provides top—down support for task-relevant responses, which enables them to out-compete prepotent responses in the selection process that occurs in left ventrolateral pFC.
CHROMOSOME NUMBERS IN MEXICAN ASTERACEAE

Chromosome numbers are reported for 100 collections distributed among 68 species and 46 genera of Mexican Asteraceae. Included are systematic discussions regarding chromosome numbers of the following taxa: Haplopappus spinulosus var. scabrellus (n = 4, 8); Hofmeisteria fasciculata (n = 19), Malperia tenuis (n = 10), and Pleurocoronis laphamioides (n = 9); Cymophora pringlei (2n = 16); Plummera (n = 15); and Porophyllum tridentatum var. crassifolium (n = 15) as related to Chrysactinia and Nicolletia.
Restoration of a stem-loop structure required for potato virus X RNA accumulation indicates selection for a mismatch and a GNRA tetraloop.

Abstract The 5′ region of potato virus X (PVX) RNA contains a stem-loop structure, stem-loop 1 (SL1), that is required for efficient plus-strand RNA accumulation. To determine how changes to individual elements in SL1 are accommodated by the virus, we inoculated PVX transcripts containing modifications in the terminal tetraloop (TL), stem C (SC), and stem D (SD) regions onto Nicotiana benthamiana plants and analyzed progeny RNAs over a series of passages. Several progeny RNAs isolated from plants inoculated with the TL mutants containing changes to the first nucleotide of the GAAA motif or deletion of the entire TL sequence were found to contain multiple A insertions within the terminal loop region. The wild-type TL motif, GAAA, was recovered for all TL mutants by the second passage, suggesting that the sequence and potential structure of this element are crucial for PVX infection. Revertant RNAs isolated from plants inoculated with mutants in SD and the central region of SC indicated that increased stem length is tolerated. Restoration of SD length to the 4 bp typical of the wild-type PVX RNA was accompanied by A insertion into loop C. Mutants with a conversion of the C55–C78 mismatch to a G–C pair, relocation of this mismatch within the central region of SC, or deletion of C55–C78 were unable to infect protoplasts and plants. In contrast, the mutant with a conversion of the C55–C78 mismatch to an A–C mismatch, which exhibited low levels of PVX plus-strand RNA in protoplasts, was able to infect plants and quickly reverted to the wild-type C–C mismatch. These data indicate that important sequence and secondary structural elements within SL1 are required for efficient viral infection and that multiple A insertions within the TL and loop C regions, potentially by polymerase stuttering, accompany restoration of SL1 structure.
A Compact 3-D Harmonic Repeater for Passive Wireless Sensing

A high-efficiency 3-D harmonic repeater for narrow band, wireless sensing applications is described herein. This repeater consists of a diode doubler and conjugate-matched 3-D receive and transmit antennas. The antennas are designed on the surface of a cube in part to provide a convenient volume for packaging the sensor electronics. The device operates by receiving a 2.4-GHz signal and re-radiating a 4.8-GHz signal and has been optimized for an RF input power level between - 30 and -20 dBm with zero dc power. The design enables the return signal to be readily modulated with very low ( ; 50 m in a free space environment. To the best of the authors' knowledge, the presented harmonic repeater has the best overall performance among previously published designs, in terms of conversion gain, communication range, and occupied electrical volume. A new approach for remote calibration of passive sensors using orthogonal polarization of the interrogation signal is also proposed in this paper.
Climatic adaptation in the energetics of heteromyid rodents

Abstract 1. 1. The temperature regulation and heat production of two heteromyid rodents, Heteromys anomalus and Dipodomys deserti , were studied. 2. 2. Heteromys has a high basal rate and a high minimal thermal conductance: D. deserti has a low basal rate and a low conductance. Other heteromyids, all of which, like D. deserti , live in arid environments, also have low basal rates and low thermal conductances. The depression of metabolism and conductance is most pronounced in small pocket-mice ( Perognathus ). 3. 3. Low basal rates are an alternative to the production of a concentrated urine as a means of reducing water turnover in mammals with low water intake. Thus. among kangaroo-rats, species that live in mesic microenvironments and feed upon foods of a high water content, such as D. microps , have higher relative basal rates than other species. Heteromys differs from other heteromyids by inhabiting tropical rainforests, where water conservation is of minimal importance. Low basal rates may also be an adaptation to seasonally variable mast crops. 4. 4. In the maintenance of a temperature differential with the environment, low conductances compensate for low rates of metabolism, especially at small body sizes. 5. 5. These data are interpreted to mean that phylogeny, independent of ecological relations, has little influence on the energetics of endotherms.
Seedling survivorship, growth, and response to disturbance in Belizean mangal

Species zonation patterns across tidal gradients in mangrove forests are formed by successful seedling establishment and maintained by replacement of adults by conspecific seedlings. These two processes rarely have been examined experimentally in neotropical mangal. We studied survivorship and growth of seedlings of two species of mangrove, Rhizophora mangle L. and Avicennia germinans (L.) Steam, across a tidal gradient in Belize, Central America. Propagules of each species were planted in common gardens at tidal elevations corresponding to lowest low water (LLW), mean water (MW), and highest high water (HHW). Sixty-nine percent of Rhizophora seedlings planted at MW and 56% of those planted at LLW survived 1 year. Forty-seven percent of MW Avicennia seedlings also survived 1 year. No individuals of either species survived at HHW, and neither did any LLW Avicennia seedlings. Among the surviving Rhizophora seedlings, LLW seedlings grew more rapidly in terms of height, diameter, leaf production, and biomass than did MW seedlings. Insect herbivory was twice as high on MW seedlings as on LLW Rhizophora seedlings. We also examined the response of established Rhizophora seedlings to experimental removal of the adult Rhizophora canopy. Seedlings in canopy removal areas had higher survivorship, grew twice as fast, produced more leaves, and had less than half the herbivory of seedlings growing beneath an intact canopy. These results provide insights into underlying causes and maintenance of zonation in Caribbean mangrove forests. Mangrove forests, or mangal, are characterized by one or more species of salt-tolerant trees that form distinct monospecific zones along tropical protected coastlines (Davis, 1940; Lugo and Snedaker, 1974; Chapman, 1976; Tomlinson, 1986). On neotropical coastlines, mature stands of the red mangrove Rhizophora mangle L. (Rhizophoraceae) extend from the lowest reaches of the intertidal to the highest reaches of the tides, with maximum density between lowest low water (LLW) and mean water (MW). Mature Avicennia germinans (L.) Steam (Avicenniaceae), the black mangrove, dominate the regions between MW and high water (HW). The white mangrove (Laguncularia racemosa [L.] Gaertn., Combretaceae) and the buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus L., Combretaceae) predominate from HW to highest high water (HHW) (Da
Energy in american homes: Changes and prospects

Abstract Average energy consumption per U.S. household has fallen by just under 20% in the last ten years. Much of this drop occurred after 1979, when gas and electricity prices as well as oil prices rose in real terms. The response of households to higher prices has involved physical modifications on and in the home and changes in behavior. Many actions have been taken by households, but the most important single factor has been a significant reduction in indoor temperatures. The greater energy efficiency of new homes and appliances has also helped to depress residential energy demand, although improvements have levelled off in the last few years. There are signs that the momentum of energy conservation is less now than it was 2 years ago, but it appears that energy prices will be high enough to discourage households from returning to former energy-using practices. Along with the continued replacement of homes and appliances with more efficient models, and other factors such as the migration to wanner regions and the movement to more apartments and smaller homes, this will probably keep U.S. residential energy consumption at about its present level through the 1980s.
Prevalence of Rhabdomyolysis in Sympathomimetic Toxicity: a Comparison of Stimulants

Synthetic cathinones have emerged as popular drugs of abuse and produce sympathomimetic toxicity. It is unknown if rhabdomyolysis occurs more frequently following the use of synthetic cathinones compared to other stimulants. This retrospective study sought to determine the prevalence of rhabdomyolysis in patients with sympathomimetic toxicity and compare rates among patients using specific agents. Patients greater than 14 years of age with sympathomimetic toxicity and detection of a stimulant agent in urine via gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) were included. Patients were excluded if clinical sympathomimetic toxicity was not present, a serum creatine kinase (CK) was not measured, or urine GC-MS was not performed. Rhabdomyolysis and severe rhabdomyolysis were defined as CK > 1000 and 10,000 IU/L, respectively. Prevalence of rhabdomyolysis and severe rhabdomyolysis were reported. Logistic regression was performed to determine the relative effect in single-agent exposures of a synthetic cathinone compared to other sympathomimetics on rhabdomyolysis. A secondary outcome, a composite endpoint defined as need for mechanical ventilation, renal replacement therapy, development of compartment syndrome, or death, was also analyzed. One hundred two subjects met inclusion criteria; median age (IQR) was 32 (25–42) years with a range of 14–65 years; 74 % were male. Rhabdomyolysis occurred in 42 % (43/102) of subjects. Patients whose sympathomimetic toxicity could be ascribed to a single agent were considered for further statistical analysis and placed into four groups: methamphetamine (n = 55), synthetic cathinone (n = 19), cocaine (n = 9), and other sympathomimetic (n = 6). In 89 subjects with single stimulant exposure, the prevalence of rhabdomyolysis was as follows: synthetic cathinone, 12/19 (63 %); methamphetamine, 22/55 (40 %); cocaine, 3/9 (33 %); and other single agent, 0/6 (0 %). The occurrence of severe rhabdomyolysis (CK > 10,000 IU/L) for each of the four groups was synthetic cathinone with 5/19 (26 %), methamphetamine with 2/55 (3.6 %), cocaine with 1/9 (11 %), and other with 0/6 (0 %). Median maximal CK (range) by groups was as follows: synthetic cathinone, 2638 (62–350,000+) IU/L; methamphetamine, 665 (61–50,233) IU/L; cocaine, 276 (87–25,614) IU/L; and other, 142 (51–816) IU/L. A statistically significant difference (p = 0.004) was found when comparing maximal CK among the four groups. Exposure to a synthetic cathinone compared with other sympathomimetics was associated with increased risk of developing rhabdomyolysis and severe rhabdomyolysis with odds ratios of 3.09 and 7.98, respectively. In this cohort of patients with sympathomimetic toxicity, 42 % developed rhabdomyolysis. Synthetic cathinones were associated with an increased risk of rhabdomyolysis and severe rhabdomyolysis compared with other stimulants.
Spin and Parity Analysis from Production and Decay of Hyperon Resonant States

Processes dominated by the LAMBDA - pi resonance state, Y*, should exhibit correlations permitting the determination of the Y* spin; the relative parities of tbe LAMBDA , SIGMA , K, and Y*;, and the ratios of the various hyperon decay asymetry parameters. The cases of Y* spin 1/2 and 3/2 are examined in detail and a number of exact relations between measurable quantities are given for the various spin and parity assignments. The longitudinal component of polarization of the hyperon from the Y* decay is, for parity-conserving reactions, the same for all final hyperons, independent of their parities. This allows the ratio of the decay asymmetary parameters for various hyperons to be determined. For a given Y* spin the transverse hyperon polarization is determined by the longitudinal polarization up to a sign which is fixed by the Y*- hyperon parity. Thus the transverse polarizations for final LAMBDA and SIGMA particles are the same or opposite if tbe parities are tbe same or opposite, respectively. For the spin 3/2 case there are four independent contributions to the longitudinal polarization, each proportional to a diffenent pseudoscalar spherical harmonic of the decay direction. These give four independent experimental deternanations of tbe ratios ofmore » the decay asymmetry parameters. Similarly, from the transverse components there are six independent determinations of relative parities. If the initial and final states of the production process are restricted to S and P waves, all ten of the experimental parameters determining tbe hyperon polarization are given, except for tbe aforementioned sign dspendence on the Y*-Y relative parity, by a single parameter in a manner fixed by the K-Y* parity. (auth)« less
Hearing impairment and cognitive decline in senile dementia of the Alzheimer's type

Hearing impairment has been hypothesized as contributing to symptoms of dementia. Data from a longitudinal study were analyzed to determine if auditory status predicted cognitive functional decline in senile dementia of the Alzheimer's type (SDAT). As part of a larger study, 156 consecutive SDAT outpatients had received a comprehensive medical evaluation including baseline screening for hearing impairment with the finger friction test and serial assessment of cognitive function with the Mini-Mental State examination. Age and cognitive function at entry to the study were greater among individuals with impaired hearing (N = 36) than with normal hearing (N = 120). The demographic profiles of the impaired and normal hearing groups were otherwise similar, as was the prevalence of depression. Intervening mortality rates were nearly identical. Decline in cognitive function one year later, however, was nearly twice as great in the impaired hearing group, a statistically significant difference (P less than .05, by one-tailed t test) even when controlled for age and initial cognitive function. These results, which need to be verified with sophisticated audiometric techniques, suggest that hearing impairment may be a prognostic indicator for subsequent cognitive dysfunction in SDAT. They are consistent with the hypothesized relationship between hearing impairment and dementia in SDAT as well as alternative hypotheses discussed in the text.
Communicating Risks and Benefits of Aquaculture: A Content Analysis of US Newsprint Representations of Farmed Salmon

It is widely recognized that mass media can affect public perception of risk. In recent years, the public has been exposed to stories on emerging health and environmental risks, including risks from aquaculture. Two key studies ("trigger events") compared contaminants in farmed and wild salmon and evaluated potential health risks of consumption. This study investigates how US newspaper coverage of farmed salmon fluctuated in the face of this emerging scientific information and which types of purported risks and benefits received the most attention. We hypothesized that media attention to farmed salmon would focus more on negative information (e.g., health risks) than on positive information (e.g., health benefits) and that those health risks highlighted most often would be dramatic, rare, or vivid. US newspaper stories specific to farmed salmon and published from 2000 to 2005 were collected from online databases (N = 206). Stories were content analyzed for amount of text covering various human health and environmental risks and health benefits associated with farmed salmon. Over all time periods, 49% of text about farmed salmon discussed human health risks, while benefits were described less than 10% of the time. The two trigger events corresponded with a shift in media attention away from environmental risks to human health risks, as media generally reported the studies' conclusions as true. Risks emphasized the most tended to be severe or dreadful, such as cancer and developmental defects, while other health risks and all environmental risks received much less attention. This pattern presented the public with a message of severe health consequences from consuming farmed salmon and could induce the public to perceive health risks as being much greater than could be offset by its health benefits.
DFF, a Heterodimeric Protein That Functions Downstream of Caspase-3 to Trigger DNA Fragmentation during Apoptosis

We have identified and purified from HeLa cytosol a protein that induces DNA fragmentation in coincubated nuclei after it is activated by caspase-3. This protein, designated DNA Fragmentation Factor (DFF), is a heterodimer of 40 kDa and 45 kDa subunits. The amino acid sequence of the 45 kDa subunit, determined from its cDNA sequence, reveals it to be a novel protein. Caspase-3 cleaves the 45 kDa subunit at two sites to generate an active factor that produces DNA fragmentation without further requirement for caspase-3 or other cytosolic proteins. In cells undergoing apoptosis, the 45 kDa subunit is cleaved in the same pattern as it is cleaved by caspase-3 in vitro. These data delineate a direct signal transduction pathway during apoptosis: caspase-3 to DFF to DNA fragmentation.
Ciguatera poisoning in Rarotonga, southern Cook Islands

Abstract The central Pacific Ocean has arguably more ciguatera poisoning than any other place on earth. Here we tested two competing hypotheses that outline the primary causes of ciguatera outbreaks: (1) the ‘new surface hypothesis’ and (2) the ‘climate oscillation hypothesis’. Our findings indicated that in Rarotonga, from 1994 to 2010, the annual incidence of ciguatera poisoning ranged from 204 to 1,058 per 10,000 population per year. We found that the widest reefs of Rarotonga elicited the most cases of ciguatera poisoning, but found no relationship between ciguatera outbreaks and reef exposure. We also found strong correlations between cases of ciguatera poisoning and (i) the positive phase of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation, (ii) El Nino years, and (iii) periods with frequent disturbances. Yet, most disturbances occurred during the above-mentioned climate phases. This study links the two supposedly, mutually exclusive hypotheses. Moreover, as predicted by the ‘climate oscillation hypothesis’, the Pacific Ocean is now, in 2010, experiencing a negative phase of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation, and Rarotonga is reporting few cases of ciguatera poisoning.
Modulation of separation distress by α-MSH

Abstract The effects of centrally administered α-MSH on separation-induced distress vocalizations (DVs) and squatting were evaluated in domestic chicks for dose-response, time course, and interactions with peripheral naloxone and both peripheral and central morphine. Some of the tests were conducted in both the presence and absence of social stimuli (mirrors or a conspecific). Doses of 0.04 μg of α-MSH or greater eliminated the usual suppression of DVs produced by mirrors or conspecifics. This effect lasted 10–15 minutes and was followed by inhibition of DVs, accompanied by a dose-dependent vigilant squatting posture, that lasted about one hour. These effects showed no development of tolerance to repeated α-MSH injections over a six-day period, and no apparent interaction with the effects of peripherally injected naloxone or either peripherally or centrally injected morphine. It is suggested that, in keeping with its role in defensive camouflage in amphibians, α-MSH in chicks may activate a central state akin to fear to adaptively modulate DVs and defensive hiding.
Taxation within Cournot oligopoly

Abstract When the production of output causes pollution, we often consider taxation as a means to reduce it. This paper examines various forms of taxation to control pollution within Cournot oligopoly. It shows that two commonly used forms can actually increase pollution. In contrast, both of these forms unambiguously reduce pollution within the competitive model. The paper provides conditions, in terms of demand and technology, that make taxation effective in the Cournot oligopoly case. Another implication of the analysis is that, outside the price-taking framework, asymmetry of cost functions is particularly important and deserves careful attention when we examine the effect of taxation.
Constrained variational refinement

A non-uniform, variational refinement scheme is presented for computing piecewise linear curves that minimize a certain discrete energy functional subject to convex constraints on the error from interpolation. Optimality conditions are derived for both the fixed and free-knot problems. These conditions are expressed in terms of jumps in certain (discrete) derivatives. A computational algorithm is given that applies to constraints whose boundaries are either piecewise linear or spherical. The results are applied to closed periodic curves, open curves with various boundary conditions, and (approximate) Hermite interpolation.
Leptin Functions Peripherally to Regulate Differentiation of Mesenchymal Progenitor Cells

Leptin functions through a well-documented central neuroendocrine pathway to regulate bone mass. However, the ability of leptin to modulate bone mass through a peripheral mechanism has been debated due to conflicting in vitro results and lack of sufficient in vivo models. We utilized mice with LoxP sites introduced into the long-form leptin receptor (ObRb) gene to determine how leptin regulates mesenchymal progenitor cell (MPC) differentiation and osteoblast function in vitro and in vivo. Rapid phosphorylation of Stat3 after leptin treatment of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) from mice with conditional deletion of ObRb in macrophages (LysM(Cre+F/F)) confirmed expression of functional leptin receptors by BMSCs. Adenovirus-Cre mediated disruption of ObRb in primary stromal cells decreased mineralization and increased adipogenesis. In contrast, BMSCs harvested from leptin-signaling deficient Ob/Ob or Db/Db mice showed increased mineralization. To determine the physiologic relevance of these differences, mice with cell-specific deletion of ObRb in mesenchymal precursors (3.6(Cre+F/F)) or osteoblasts (2.3(Cre+F/F)) were generated. Although the 2.3(Cre+F/F) mice were grossly normal, the 3.6(Cre+F/F) mice displayed mild obesity that was not attributed to food intake. Femurs of 3.6(Cre+F/F) animals showed a 58%-61.9% increase in trabecular bone volume and a 65.5%-74% increase in bone mineral density. Cortical volume and mineral content were also increased 18%-22%. Primary 3.6(Cre+F/F) BMSCs recapitulated the high mineralization phenotype of Ob/Ob and Db/Db BMSCs. We conclude that leptin may have multiple peripheral roles depending on the differentiation state of MPC. Leptin (a) helps maintain MPCs in an undifferentiated state and (b) promotes mineralization of more differentiated osteoblasts.
Neural network-based run-to-run controller using exposure and resist thickness adjustment

This paper describes the development of a run-to-run control algorithm using a feedforward neural network, trained using the backpropagation training method. The algorithm is used to predict the critical dimension of the next lot using previous lot information. It is compared to a common prediction algorithm - the exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA) and is shown to give superior prediction performance in simulations. The manufacturing implementation of the final neural network showed significantly improved process capability when compared to the case where no run-to-run control was utilised.© (2003) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Early Cenomanian "hot greenhouse" revealed by oxygen isotope record of exceptionally well-preserved foraminifera from Tanzania

The search into Earth’s mid-Cretaceous greenhouse conditions has recently been stimulated by the Tanzania Drilling Project (TDP) which has recovered exceptionally well-preserved biogenic carbonates from subsurface pre-Neogene marine sediments in the eastern margin of central Africa. Published Tanzanian oxygen isotope records measured on exquisitely preserved foraminiferal tests, dating to as old as ~93Ma, provided evidence for a Turonian “hot greenhouse” with very high and stable water-column temperatures. We have generated a comparable data set of exceptionally well-preserved foraminifera from a lower Cenomanian interval of TDP Site 24 spanning 99.9–95.9Ma (planktonic foraminiferal Thalmanninella globotruncanoides Zone; nannofossil Corollithion kennedyi to Lithraphidites eccentricus Zones), thereby extending the age coverage of the Tanzanian foraminiferal δO record back by ~7 million years. Throughout the interval analyzed, the new foraminiferal δO data are consistently around 4.3‰ for surface-dwelling planktonic taxa and 1.9‰ for benthic Lenticulina spp., which translate to conservative paleotemperature estimates of >31°C at the surface and >17°C at the sea floor (upper bathyal depths). Considering the ~40°S Cenomanian paleolatitude of TDP Site 24, these estimates are higher than computer simulation results for accepted “normal” greenhouse conditions (those with up to 4X preindustrial pCO2 level) and suggest that the climate mode of the early Cenomanian was very similar to the Turonian hot greenhouse. Taking account of other comparable data sources from different regions, the hot greenhouse mode within the normal mid-Cretaceous greenhouse may have begun by the latest Albian, but the precise timing of the critical transition remains uncertain.