cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Results and efficiency of programmed ventricular stimulation with four extrastimuli compared with one, two, and three extrastimuli.

BACKGROUNDConventional programmed ventricular stimulation protocols are inefficient compared with more recently proposed protocols. The purpose of the present study was to determine if additional efficiency could be derived from a 6-step programmed ventricular stimulation protocol that exclusively uses four extrastimuli.METHODS AND RESULTSThe subjects were 209 consecutive patients with coronary artery disease and documented sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia, nonsustained ventricular tachycardia, aborted sudden death, or syncope. These patients underwent 159 electrophysiological tests in the absence of antiarrhythmic drug therapy and 105 electrophysiological tests in the presence of antiarrhythmic therapy. Programmed stimulation was performed with two protocols in random order in each patient. Both protocols used an eight-beat drive train, 4-s intertrain pause, and basic drive cycle lengths of 350, 400, and 600 ms. The 6-step protocol started with coupling intervals of 290, 280, 270, and 260 ms...
Enhanced sensitivity to drug-induced QT interval lengthening in patients with heart failure due to left ventricular systolic dysfunction.

Torsades de pointes is a potentially life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia that may be induced by inhibitors of the rapid component of the delayed rectifier potassium current (IKr).1 More than 50 drugs available in the United States, from multiple classes, may cause torsades de pointes.2 Drugs that induce torsades de pointes are used commonly in patients with heart failure. Atrial fibrillation is present in 15% to 30% of patients with heart failure3,4 and in as many as 50% of patients with severe heart failure.5 Approximately 29% of patients with atrial fibrillation have concomitant heart failure.6 Most drugs used for restoration or maintenance of sinus rhythm, including dofetilide, sotalol, ibutilide, and, to a lesser degree, amiodarone and dronedarone, prolong the QT interval and may induce torsades de pointes.2 Patients with heart failure are at increased risk for drug-induced torsades de pointes. In patients with normal left ventricular function, the incidence of dofetilide-induced torsades de pointes is <1%7 compared with 3.3% in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction.8 The incidence of ibutilide-induced torsades de pointes is 1.7% to 4.1% in patients with normal left ventricular function9-11 but is 5.9% to 11.4% in patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction.12,13 Heart failure is an independent risk factor for sotalol-induced torsades de pointes.14 Mechanisms by which heart failure increases the risk of drug-induced torsades de pointes have not been widely studied. Little is known regarding potential variation in relationships between serum concentrations of QT interval–prolonging drugs and QT interval response among populations at risk for drug-induced torsades de pointes. The purpose of this investigation was to test the hypothesis that patients with heart failure due to left ventricular systolic dysfunction exhibit enhanced sensitivity to drug-induced QT interval lengthening.
Do Maltreated Children who Remain at Home Function Better than Those who Are Placed

The majority of children in the child welfare system remain with their maltreating parents, yet little is known about their level of functioning and whether they are in need of mental health intervention. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the mental health functioning of an ethnically diverse sample of 302 maltreated children and 151 non maltreated children ages 9-12 to see if there were differences between those who remained at home, those placed in kin care, non-relative foster care or a comparison group of children who were not maltreated. Children were evaluated on multiple measures of mental health functioning, both self report and caregiver report. Results showed that the maltreated children did not differ by placement type but did score significantly higher than the comparison children on many measures. There were substantial numbers of maltreated children scoring in the clinical range of measures in all placement types with over 60% of those remaining with birth parents being seen as functioning at a level that indicated a need for mental health intervention. While fewer comparison children had scores indicating a need for mental health care, the numbers were higher than noted in national studies. Implications of the findings are presented.
The Relationship of Ethnic Group Membership to the Measurement and Meaning of Attitudes Towards Reading: Implications for Validity of Test Score Interpretations.

Scores reflecting the attitudes of fourth, fifth, and sixth-grade Mexican-American and Anglo students about reading were compared to assess the relevance and validity of the Estes Reading Attitude Scale for each group. The validity of application of results from the Estes Reading Attitude Scale when administered to students of differing ethnic backgrounds was examined by considering the factorial complexity of the instrument overall for Anglo and Mexican American children, as well as at three grade levels. The comparability of the internal consistency indices and of factorial structure between ethnic groups within grade levels, and the consistency of item interpretation (or lack of item "bias") between ethnic groups within grade level suggested that scores on the scale afforded a valid means for interpretation of attitudes held by elementary school pupils towards reading irrespective of their ethnic status (Anglo or Mexican-American).
Results of treatment of children with recurrent medulloblastoma/primitive neuroectodermal tumors with lomustine, cisplatin, and vincristine

Primitive neuroectodermal tumors/medulloblastoma (PNET/MB) are the most common posterior fossa tumors in childhood. Despite surgery and radiation therapy, 40% to 50% of children with PNET/MB will have recurrent disease. Various chemotherapeutic agents are transiently effective in recurrent PNET/MB, but long-lasting responses are rarely attainable. To increase the rate and duration of response in children with recurrent PNET/MB, the authors treated seven patients (ages 2-18 years; median, 10 years) with lomustine (CCNU) (100 mg/m2), cisplatin (CPDD) (90 mg/m2) and vincristine (VCR) (1.5 mg/m2; maximum, 2 mg) in a 6-week cycle for a maximum of eight cycles. Six of six evaluable patients responded to chemotherapy. Four patients had a complete response; three with complete disappearance of tumor by imaging studies; and one with eradication of extraneural disease for a median of 24 months from relapse (13-29 months). Overall disease-free survival was 18.5 months. All six patients have subsequently died of recurrent tumor. Major toxicities consisted of reversible bone marrow suppression (six of six), high frequency hearing loss (six of six) and decreased renal function (three of six). All patients required dosage modification for toxicity. A regimen of CCNU, VCR, and CPDD is effective therapy in children with relapsed PNET/MB and can produce relatively long-term disease control with good quality of life. Further investigation into the efficacy of this combination as adjuvant chemotherapy in newly diagnosed high-risk PNET/MB is now being performed.
Association of morbidity with markers of nutrition and inflammation in chronic hemodialysis patients: a prospective study.

Association of morbidity with markers of nutrition and inflammation in chronic hemodialysis patients: A prospective study. Background Numerous studies suggest a strong association between nutrition and clinical outcome in chronic hemodialysis (CHD) patients. Nevertheless, the pathophysiological link between malnutrition and morbidity remains to be clarified. In addition, recent evidence suggests that nutritional indices may reflect an inflammatory response, as well as protein–calorie malnutrition. In this study, we prospectively assessed the relative importance of markers of nutritional status and inflammatory response as determinants of hospitalization in CHD patients. Methods The study consisted of serial measurements of concentrations of serum albumin, creatinine, transferrin, prealbumin, C-reactive protein (CRP), and reactance values by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) as an indirect measure of lean body mass every 3months over a period of 15months in 73 CHD patients. Outcome was determined by hospitalizations over the subsequent three months following each collection of data. Results Patients who required hospitalization in the three months following each of the measurement sets had significantly different values for all parameters than patients who were not hospitalized. Thus, serum albumin (3.93 ± 0.39 vs. 3.74 ± 0.39g/dl), serum creatinine (11.0 ± 3.7 vs. 9.1 ± 3.5mg/dl), serum transferrin (181 ± 35 vs. 170 ± 34mg/dl), serum prealbumin (33.6 ± 9.2 vs. 30.0 ± 10.1mg/dl), and reactance (50.4 ± 15.6 vs. 43.0 ± 13.0 ohms) were higher for patients not hospitalized, whereas CRP (0.78 ± 0.89 vs. 2.25 ± 2.72mg/dl) was lower in patients who were not hospitalized. All differences were statistically significant ( P P Conclusions The results of this study strongly indicate that both nutritional status and inflammatory response are independent predictors of hospitalization in CHD patients. CRP and reactance values by BIA are reliable indicators of hospitalization. Visceral proteins such as serum albumin, prealbumin, and transferrin are influenced by inflammation when predicting hospitalization. When short-term clinical outcomes such as hospitalizations are considered, markers of both inflammation and nutrition should be evaluated.
Structure Elucidation at the Nanomole-Scale. 3. Phorbasides G-I from Phorbas sp.

Three new phorbasides (G-I), chlorocyclopropyl ene-yne macrolide glycosides, were isolated from the sponge Phorbas sp. in yields of 7-9.5 mug and fully characterized by MS, CD, and microcryoprobe NMR. The structures of the new compounds differ only in the nature of the sugar residues. The absolute configurations of the new compounds were correlated by ROESY and CD with the parent compounds phorbasides A and B.
Marine Gastrotricha of the Near East: 1. Fourteen new species of Macrodasyida and a redescription of Dactylopodola agadasys Hochberg, 2003

The near eastern geographical region is almost devoid of reports of macrodasyidan gastrotrichs, the exceptions themselves being part of this study. Here, as Part 1 are described fourteen new Macrodasyida from countries of the Near East (Cyprus, Egypt and Israel, representing both the Mediterranean and the Red Seas), and a redescription of the previously described Dactylopodolidae: Dactylopodola agadasys Hochberg, 2002. The new species are: Cephalodasyidae (2) - Cephalodasys dolichosomus; Cephalodasys saegailus; Dactylopodolidae (1) Dendrodasys rubomarinus; Macrodasyidae (5) - Macrodasys imbricatus; Macrodasys macrurus; Macrodasys nigrocellus; Macrodasys scleracrus; Urodasys toxostylus; Thaumastodermatidae(4) - Tetranchyroderma corallium; Tetranchyroderma rhopalotum; Tetranchyroderma sinaiensis; Tetranchyroderma xenodactylum; Turbanellidae(2) - Paraturbanella levantia; Turbanella erythrothalassia - spp. n.
Wet removal of highly soluble gases

Partition, not kinetics, ultimately determines the concentration of highly soluble gases in cloud droplets. Partition equations are formulated and applied to idealized air-mass thunderclouds and precipitating stratus. Contribution to aqueous concentrations from sub-cloud scavenging of highly soluble gases is estimated at between 10 and 20% under relatively unpolluted conditions. Data indicate that evaporation can produce enhancements in concentration of as much as a factor of 3. The calculations give large-scale mean coefficients of wet removal of highly soluble gases of about 2.8×10-6 s-1 (4-day residence time) for air-mass thunderclouds and precipitating stratus. Removal is so effective that the mean scale heights of these gases should be decreased to 2 km or less. The criterion of high solubility in this paper is that KH (Henry's Law coefficient) > 105 mol l-1 atm-1. Gases that are effectively highly soluble include HCl, HNO3, H2SO4, H2O2, NH3 in acid droplets, SO2 in oxidizing droplets (and probably some light amines and sulfonic acids), but not SO2 in the absence of oxidants, nor HCHO. A variation of removal coefficient and scale height with solubility is presented. A comparison of atmospheric NH3 concentrations deduced from rain NH4+ and measured directly gives reasonable agreement.
Occupied interstices in stoichiometric and hyperstoichiometric V2H(D)

Abstract A geometric model based on criteria of a minimum hole size for occupation by H(D) and a minimum distance between pairs of H(D) atoms has been applied to V 2 H(D). The model allows a rationalization for the observed occupation of octahedral o Z1 sites in the stoichiometric compound and for randomization in all o Z sites in hyperstoichiometric V 2 H.
Survey of U.S. Land-Grant Universities for Training of Plant Breeding Students

A survey was conducted to identify land-grant universities in the USA having plant breeding programs, and to determine the number of domestic and international plant breeding students graduating at the M.S. and Ph.D. levels from those programs in 1995 to 2000. A total of 71 U.S. land-grant universities were identified. There were 409 (53%) Ph.D. and 361 (47%) M.S. degrees awarded. Of the total, 362 (47%) graduates were domestic and 408 (53%) were international. There was no major change in the total number of plant breeding graduates during the 6-yr period. The largest numbers of plant breeding students were trained in agronomy (crop science) departments, followed by plant breeding departments or groups, horticulture departments, plant science departments, and combined agronomy-horticulture departments. Universities with an average of seven or more graduates per year were University of Wisconsin-Madison, North Carolina State University, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Cornell University, University of Minnesota-St. Paul, Iowa State University, and Texas A&M University. The downward trend noted in previous surveys has continued to the point where there are only a few universities with large plant breeding programs remaining in each region of the country. If the USA is going to continue its public effort in plant breeding research and graduate student training, sufficient federal and state funding will have to be provided to support at least the current regional centers.
The role of palatable food and hunger as trigger factors in an animal model of stress induced binge eating.

Objective Dieting and stress are etiological factors in eating disorders, and dieting strongly predicts stress-induced overeating in the nonclinical population. We developed an animal model of binge eating in sated rats that is evoked by stress, but only in rats with a history of caloric restriction and only if highly palatable food (HPF) is available after stress. This study investigated the effect of known binge triggers, a taste of HPF and of hunger, on this type of binge eating. Method Female rats were cycled through the R/S protocol but this time were given just a taste of HPF with ad lib regular chow. After another R/S cycle, rats were stressed during restriction (while hungry) and were given HPF and chow. Results Although binge eating did not occur if only chow was available after stress, just a taste of HPF sufficed to increase chow intake to more than 160% (p < 0.001) of rats with a history of restriction only, stress-only, or neither. Hunger increased the proportion of chow consumed by both restricted groups, but stress magnified this hunger-induced overeating by increasing HPF intake to 137% of restriction-only rats (p < 0.001). Discussion These effects suggest that binge eating in this model is motivated by reward, not metabolic need, and parallels observations of binge triggers described in clinical binge-eating disorders. This strengthens the validity of using this animal model to target the physiology and treatment of eating disorders preceded by dieting and stress. © 2003 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 34: 183–197, 2003.
A MOLECULAR APPROACH FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF MEIOFAUNAL TURBELLARIANS (PLATYHELMINTHES, TURBELLARIA)

In the absence of reliable morphological characters, or in conjunction with morphology-based identifications, meiofaunal turbellarians may also be identified using the nucleotide sequence of a portion of the large subunit of the ribosomal RNA (26/28S rRNA). A 284 base pair-long region of the 26/28S rRNA has been identified by isolating genomic DNA from ten species of turbellarians belonging to four orders, namely, the Proseriata, Macrostomida, Prolecithophora and Acoela. The proseriates had been collected from localities in Europe and Israel and were preserved in ethanol. The remaining turbellarians were isolated from intertidal sediment samples collected from two sites on the Maine and New Hampshire coast, USA in 1992. Amplification of the genomic DNA was carried out using two primers designed to match the nucleotide sequence of a portion of the 26/28S rDNA gene of the terrestrial nematode,Caenorhabditis elegans (Maupas 1900). This area consists of a highly variable, about 150 base pair-long region, called the D3 expansion segment, followed by a very conserved stretch of sequence. When folded into its secondary structure, the conserved region will form stem structures that correspond to helices 15 to 18 of theC. elegans structural model. The sequence alignment program PILEUP was used to perform a cluster analysis (unweighted pair group method using arthmetic averages, UPGMA) on the sequences. This analysis revealed that the helices allow for the classification of the turbellarians at the level of families and above, whereas if the D3 expansion segment itself was included in the analysis, intrageneric and intraspecific groupings could be established.
A rapid petiole sap nitrate-nitrogen test for potatoes

Abstract A rapid test for measuring petiole sap nitrate‐N in potatoes was developed using a pH/ISE meter equipped with a nitrate‐ion specific electrode. Nitrate‐N measurements were made on fresh sap that was diluted with a solution of 0.075M Al2(SO4)3‐18H2O and 0.02M H3BO3. The sap nitrate‐N concentration, as determined by the rapid test, was highly correlated (r = 0.91, P<0.01) with dry matter nitrate‐N. Because of the non‐clogging design properties of the electrode used, this test procedure produced rapid and reliable results with good instrument stability and long electrode life. The chemicals used for this test are relatively non‐hazardous and the required tools can be assembled into a small portable kit. When properly calibrated, this test will provide added impetus to growers to rely on tissue analysis for corrective in‐season nitrogen (N) fertilization of potatoes.
Institutional Characteristics and College Student Dropout Risks: A Multilevel Event History Analysis

In the past two decades, although access to higher education for American students has improved, student persistence in 4-year institutions is far from assured. There have been a number of research studies on student persistence/dropout in higher education, but most have focused on the characteristics and behavior of students as illustrated by the “student-centered research tradition”. This study focuses on what institutional characteristics contribute to conditions that reduce student dropout risks. By analyzing longitudinal and hierarchical data, this research proposes and tests a multilevel event history model that identifies the major institutional attributes related to student dropout risk in a longitudinal process. Evidence indicates that institutional expenditure on student services is negatively associated with student dropout behavior. Implications of the results for institutional practices and future research are discussed.
Great Britain's ‘Blue-Water’ Policy, 1689–1815

(1988). Great Britain's ‘Blue-Water’ Policy, 1689–1815. The International History Review: Vol. 10, No. 1, pp. 33-58.
Coulomb excitation of 115Sn

Abstract Coulomb excitation of the nucleus 115 Sn was studied with beams of 4 He and 16 O. Level energies, spins, mean-lives and B (E2) and B (M1) transition probabilities were obtained. Spin 3 2 + states were observed at 497.35 and 1280.08 keV and spin 5 2 + states were observed at 986.54 and 1416.78 keV. A state of 612.79 keV was observed to be indirectly excited by decay of the Coulomb excited states. Eleven B (E2) values and nine B (M1) values were obtained for the transitions between the low-lying states. In contrast to previous particle transfer results which suggested a clear distinction between shell-model and collective 3 2 + and 5 2 + states, our results suggest the collective strength is shared by the two 3 2 + and two 5 2 + states.
Contextual variations in implicit evaluation.

In the present research, the authors examined contextual variations in automatic attitudes. Using 2 measures of automatic attitudes, the authors demonstrated that evaluative responses differ qualitatively as perceivers focus on different aspects of a target's social group membership (e.g., race or gender). Contextual variations in automatic attitudes were obtained when the manipulation involved overt categorization (Experiments 1-3) as well as more subtle contextual cues, such as category distinctiveness (Experiments 4-5). Furthermore, participants were shown to be unable to predict such contextual influences on automatic attitudes (Experiment 3). Taken together, these experiments support the idea of automatic attitudes being continuous, online constructions that are inherently flexible and contextually appropriate, despite being outside conscious control.
Parathyroid Hormone (PTH)/PTH-related Peptide Type 1 Receptor (PPR) Signaling in Osteocytes Regulates Anabolic and Catabolic Skeletal Responses to PTH

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is the only Food and Drug Administration-approved anabolic agent to treat osteoporosis; however, the cellular targets of PTH action in bone remain controversial. PTH modulates bone turnover by binding to the PTH/PTH-related peptide (PTHrP) type 1 receptor (PPR), a G-protein-coupled receptor highly expressed in bone and kidneys. Osteocytes, the most abundant cells in adult bone, also express PPR. However, the physiological relevance of PPR signaling in osteocytes remains to be elucidated. Toward this goal, we generated mice with PPR deletion in osteocytes (Ocy-PPRKO). Skeletal analysis of these mice revealed a significant increase in bone mineral density and trabecular and cortical bone parameters. Osteoblast activities were reduced in these animals, as demonstrated by decreased collagen type I α1 mRNA and receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) expression. Importantly, when subjected to an anabolic or catabolic PTH regimen, Ocy-PPRKO animals demonstrated blunted skeletal responses. PTH failed to suppress SOST/Sclerostin or induce RANKL expression in Ocy-PPRKO animals compared with controls. In vitro, osteoclastogenesis was significantly impaired in Ocy-PPRKO upon PTH administration, indicating that osteocytes control osteoclast formation through a PPR-mediated mechanism. Taken together, these data indicate that PPR signaling in osteocytes is required for bone remodeling, and receptor signaling in osteocytes is needed for anabolic and catabolic skeletal responses. Background: Osteocytes, the most abundant cells in adult bone, express PPR. Results: Mice with constitutive PPR deletion in osteocytes demonstrate blunted anabolic and catabolic bone responses and the inability to recruit osteoblasts and osteoclasts upon PTH administration. Conclusion: PPR in osteocytes is needed for a full skeletal response to PTH administration. Significance: PPR signaling in osteocytes is necessary for PTH-driven anabolic effects during osteoporosis therapy.
Transplanetary subway systems

Abstract Planetran is a global subway in which passengers recline comfortably on gimballed seats, having paid $54 to travel in 54 minutes from the centre of New York to the centre of Los Angeles. Electromagnetic fields propel and support the carriages in evacuated tubes. Energy consumption is negligible, a freight system can be incorporated, tunnel costs can be reduced by providing facilities for defence agencies and other utilities, and there is little environmental pollution. After discussing the economics of Planetran, the author concludes that the political outlook is much less optimistic than the technical one. Even if Planetran is not implemented, we should now be making integrated transport plans for our future needs.
Relay-Assisted Interference Network: Degrees of Freedom

This paper investigates the degrees of freedom of the interference channel in the presence of a dedicated multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) relay. The relay is used to manage the interference at the receivers. It is assumed that all nodes including the relay have channel state information only for their own links and that the relay has M ≥ K antennas in a K-user network. We pose the question: what is the benefit of exploiting the direct links from the source to destinations compared to a simpler two-hop strategy. To answer this question, we first establish the degrees of freedom of the interference channel with an MIMO relay, showing that a K -pair network with an MIMO relay has [(K)/2] degrees of freedom. Thus, appropriate signaling in a two-hop scenario captures the degrees of freedom without the need for the direct links. We then consider more sophisticated encoding strategies in search of other ways to exploit the direct links. Using a number of hybrid encoding strategies, we obtain nonasymptotic achievable sum rates. We investigate the case where the relay (unlike other nodes) has access to abundant power, showing that when sources have power P and the relay is allowed power proportional to O(P2) , the full degrees of freedom K are available to the network.
A different approach to recruiting girls in engineering

Tremendous energy and intensive efforts have been directed at recruiting girls to choose engineering majors in college. Between 1970 and 1996 the numbers earning engineering degrees in this country rose from about 1% to about 16%. Growth has slowed and currently women constitute 18–19% of engineering majors. The percentage of practicing female engineers is only about 10% even though more than 50% of the undergraduate population and work force are women. The problem with increasing the female engineering population may be due to lack of education of the general population resulting in a poor perception of the role of engineers in society. Girls have the skills to succeed but have not witnessed first hand the benefits of engineering to everyday life or the inherent problem-solving nature of the profession. A different approach to cultivating awareness of engineering as an admirable and appropriate career choice for girls is warranted. At the United States Naval Academy (USNA), engineering Professors Angela Moran, Currie Wooten, and Samara Firebaugh have instituted a technology camp to encourage girls to consider engineering, not just as an educational major but as a lifelong pursuit. The message to our audience, middle school and high school girls, is that engineers can make a difference since engineering touches every aspect of our lives. Computer engineers designed the PC used to type this page. Chemical engineers refined the paper and the printer ink used to print it. Civil engineers designed and built the bridges and tunnels we drive everyday. Mechanical engineers designed your car and the manufacturing systems that built your car while metallurgical engineers improved A Different Approach to Recruiting Girls in Engineering
Effect of ordering on the infra-red spectrum of ammonium chloride

Abstract The infra-red spectra of sublimed films of ammonium chloride have been recorded between 250 and 4000 cm−1as functions of temperature from 85 to 300°K. Special emphasis was given to data near the lambda temperature at 242°K. Two new features are reported in detail. The binary overtone of the v6 librational mode was directly observed in the low-temperature spectra as a band at 749 cm−1. At low temperatures, the v4 NH4+ bending vibration gives rise to a strong, sharp band at 1403 cm−1; as the temperature is increased from 100 to 300°K, a new component appears at 1444 cm−1 and grows rapidly in intensity. This behavior is associated with the breakdown of translational symmetry as the crystal becomes disordered, and the intensity variation can be quantitatively correlated with the short-range order parameter.
Some E-optimal row−column designs having unequally replicated treatments

Abstract We consider the determination and construction of E-optimal row-column designs for usage in experimental situations where heterogeneity is to be eliminated in two directions. In particular, some sufficient conditions are derived for a row-column design to be E-optimal in an experimental setting where υ treatments are to be tested on experimental units arranged in b columns and k rows and where bk/υ is not an integer. Methods for constructing row-column designs satisfying the sufficient conditions for E-optimality obtained are also illustrated.
An 0.18μm CMOS electrochemical sensor readout IC for exhaust gas monitoring

A fully integrated 8-channel gas readout analog front-end IC is presented. The IC enables detection and identification of harmful environmental pollutants in exhaust gas fumes for extended periods, which in turn helps with correlating different pollutants with several illnesses. The system can read out an array of eight conductometric and amperometric electrochemical sensors while multiplexing analog-front-end circuitry to reduce die size. The IC consists of a low noise front-end and low DC offset, multiplexed ADC. The conductometric sensor uses a novel current steering approach for extracting impedance of the sensor. To reduce 1/f noise and DC offset voltage, a nested-chopper stabilized ADC is used. The detection analog front-end achieves 67.2 dB SNR at 1.57 mW quiescent power consumption per channel, enabling a chemical detection sensitivity of 1ppm in volume.
Discrimination of previously searched, host-free sites by Microplitis croceipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

The ability of free- ranging parasitoids to discriminate between previously visited and unvisited sites containing host kairomone (caterpillar frass) but not hosts was tested. Females of Microplitis croceipes,a host specialist and plant generalist larval parasitoid of Helicoverpa (Heliothis) zea,were allowed to fly freely in a simulated plant patch in a flight chamber. Wasps spent less time searching frass sites previously searched by themselves or by conspecifics than unsearched frass sites. In addition to chemical marking, spatial memory of visual cues was implicated as a mechanism for discriminating against self-visited, host-free sites.
Dynamic regulation of mitochondrial function in preimplantation embryos and embryonic stem cells

Mitochondrial function is dependent upon regulation of biogenesis and dynamics. A number of studies have documented the importance of these organelles in both preimplantation embryos and embryonic stem cells (ESCs), however it remains unclear how mitochondria respond to their immediate microenvironment through modulation of morphology and movement, or whether perturbations in these processes will have a significant impact following differentiation/implantation. Here we review existing literature on two key aspects of nuclear-mitochondrial cross-talk and the dynamic processes involved in mediating mitochondrial function through regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis, morphology and movement, with particular emphasis on embryos and ESCs.
Hydrogen sulfide emission by cucumber leaves in response to sulfate in light and dark

Abstract Young leaf discs of cucumber ( Cucumis sativus ) emit H 2 S at 50–100 pmol/min/cm 2 in response to 25 mM K 2 SO 4 and light. The light-de
Oligomerization and cis-trans isomerization equilibria in dichloropalladium(II) metallacrown ethers and a dichloropalladium(II) complex of 1,12-bis(diphenylphosphino)dodecane

Quantitative 31P{1H} NMR spectroscopic studies of monomer–oligomer and cis-trans equilibria in chloroform-d solutions of PdCl2{Ph2P(CH2CH2O)nCH2CH2PPh2-P,P′}n (n = 3, 4, 5) metallacrown ethers and of PdCl2{Ph2P(CH2)12PPh2-P,P′} are reported. The NMR data for all of the complexes can be adequately modeled using a single cis-trans isomerization equilibrium and two step-polymerization (dimerization, oligomerization) equilibria. As expected, both the dimerization and oligomerization equilibrium constants for the metallacrown ethers increase as n increases. However, the dimerization equilibrium constants of the metallacrown ethers are much smaller than are the oligomerization equilibrium constants. In contrast, the dimerization and oligomerization equilibrium constants for PdCl2{Ph2P(CH2)12PPh2-P,P′} are nearly identical and are significantly larger than are those of the metallacrown ethers. Kinetic studies of monomer–oligomer and cis-trans equilibria in solutions of cis-PdCl2{Ph2P(CH2CH2O)3CH2CH2PPh2-P,P′} indicate that the trans monomer and trans oligomers are formed at approximately the same rates and that the reactions follow reversible first-order kinetics. The very different dimerization constants for the metallacrown ethers and PdCl2{Ph2P(CH2)12PPh2-P,P′}and the similar rates of formation for the trans monomer and trans oligomers suggest that the isomerization and dimerization reactions have a common rate-determining step that involves cleavage of a palladium–phosphorus bond.
Empirical Likelihood-Based Confidence Intervals for the Sensitivity of a Continuous-Scale Diagnostic Test with Missing Data

In a continuous-scale diagnostic test, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve is useful to evaluate the range of the sensitivity at the cut-off point that yields a desired specificity. Many current studies on inference of the ROC curve focus on the complete data case. In this paper, an imputation-based profile empirical likelihood ratio for the sensitivity, which is free of bandwidth selection, is defined and shown to follow an asymptotically scaled Chi-square distribution. Two new confidence intervals are proposed for the sensitivity with missing data. Simulation studies are conducted to evaluate the finite sample performance of the proposed intervals in terms of coverage probability. A real example is used to illustrate the new methods.
Re-presenting Ireland: tourism, branding and national identity in Ireland

This article examines sources of national identity formation under rapidly changing social and economic conditions. Specifically, it links constructivist notions of national identity formation and reformulation to the growing practice of nation branding. Following a discussion of the contributions of constructivism to the literature on national identity, the article summarises the emergence of nation branding as a contemporary strategy to promote a particular image of the nation to a specific audience. While that audience was once confined to political and economic elites, it has broadened in recent years to include potential tourists, diaspora communities and even one's own citizens. The case study of tourism branding in Ireland demonstrates that while the branding message often differs from reality, its content constitutes a powerful tool for the state in reinforcing a particular notion of national identity.
Nuclear data sheets for A = 201

Experimental data pertaining to nuclei with A = 201 are compiled and evaluated. Ccopyright 1986 by Academic Press, Inc.
Depth-Averaged Two-Dimensional Numerical Modeling of Unsteady Flow and Nonuniform Sediment Transport in Open Channels

A depth-averaged two-dimensional (2D) numerical model for unsteady flow and nonuniform sediment transport in open channels is established using the finite volume method on a nonstaggered, curvilinear grid. The 2D shallow water equations are solved by the \ISIMPLE(C)\N algorithms with the Rhie and Chow’s momentum interpolation technique. The proposed sediment transport model adopts a nonequilibrium approach for nonuniform total-load sediment transport. The bed load and suspended load are calculated separately or jointly according to sediment transport mode. The sediment transport capacity is determined by four formulas which are capable of accounting for the hiding and exposure effects among different size classes. An empirical formula is proposed to consider the effects of the gravity on the sediment transport capacity and the bed-load movement direction in channels with steep slopes. Flow and sediment transport are simulated in a decoupled manner, but the sediment module adopts a coupling procedure for the computations of sediment transport, bed change, and bed material sorting. The model has been tested against several experimental and field cases, showing good agreement between the simulated results and measured data.
Beam scanning technique for multibeam circularly-polarized reflector antennas

Further development is presented for the novel technique introduced by M.A. Terada (see Proc. IEEE Int. Symp. Antennas and Propag., p.770-3, 2003) for beam scanning with circularly polarized reflector antennas. A thorough investigation was conducted into finding a good compromise between the squint angle and the loss that was incurred for the geometry given by Terada. Furthermore, it is investigated whether the technique is suitable for multiple feeds in multibeam applications.
Electrodialytically assisted catalytic reduction (EDACR) of perchlorate in dilute aqueous solutions

Abstract Perchlorate is an emerging contaminant that has received much attention among the public and private sectors in water purification. There is need for innovative technology to remove perchlorate from dilute aqueous solutions at reasonable reaction rate and to reduce it to potentially benign states such as chloride simultaneously. This study investigated the removal of perchlorate using hydrogen as the major electron donor using an electrodialytically assisted electrocatalytic process. The process superimposes an electrodialysis process on a catalytic medium that functions as a cathode. The electrodialysis system facilitates the transport of anionic perchlorate toward the cathodically charged catalytic medium and brings about an accumulation of perchlorate at the vicinity of the catalytic medium surface. The catalytic medium is a stainless steel mesh coated with nano-sized metallic catalysts. Upon the application (at constant current) of a cathodic current, hydrogen atoms are generated which react rapidly with the weakly adsorbed perchlorate on the surface of catalysts. Results indicated that the electrodialytically assisted catalytic reduction (EDACR) system was able to reduce perchlorate at low concentrations (i.e., 10–100 ppm) in synthetic solutions. The reduction reaction can be described by the Langmuir–Hinshelwood kinetics with an observed rate constant ( k ′ obs ) of 2.4 × 10−4 M/h. Under ultra-low perchlorate concentrations, i.e.,
Distribution of the 75-kd low-affinity nerve growth factor receptor in the primate peripheral nervous system

Disruption of the 75-kD low-affinity nerve growth factor (NGF) receptor (p75) has been shown to result in sensory and sympathetic nervous system deficits (Lee et al., 1992a,b). In order to establish precisely which subsets of neurons are capable of responding to neurotrophins (NTs) through the low-affinity NGF receptor, p75 was localized in the primate autonomic and somatic sensory nervous systems. In the autonomic system, cell bodies of some parasympathetic and enteric neurons expressed detectable levels of p75, whereas all sympathetic neurons expressed the protein. In the sensory system, some, but not all, cell bodies were labeled in cranial and spinal sensory ganglia and in the mesencephalic nucleus. Some peripheral and central projections of the sensory neurons were also labeled. Centrally, most of the labeled processes were found in regions containing primarily small unmyelinated fibers, including lamina II of Rexed and areas of the solitary tract and nucleus. Peripherally, labeled processes were ass...
Dielectric response of two level systems to strain fields at low temperatures

Recent experiments at low temperatures in amorphous insulators have studied ac dielectric response to the rapid application of a dc electric field. We are performing a similar experiment, measuring e′(ω,T) of an amorphous insulator while applying a uniform elastic strain, at temperatures both above and below the minium of e′(ω,T). Measurements of δe′ in response to sudden and slowly varying strain are reported. Preliminary results show a depressed e′ response around zero strain, similar to that seen previously near zero bias electric field, which becomes shallower with increasing T. We discuss frequency dependence of this response, as well as future work.
Crossflow evaporating sprays in gas–solid flows: Effect of aspect ratio of rectangular nozzles

Abstract Many industrial applications of rapidly evaporating sprays in gas–solid suspensions involve the use of rectangular spray nozzles and crossflow spray injection. This paper presents a numerical study on the effects of aspect ratio of rectangular nozzles on the spray characteristics and phase interactions in such spray–gas–solid three-phase flows. The gas–solid flow is simulated via Eulerian two-fluid modeling and the spray is tracked via Lagrangian trajectory approach. Our study shows that the effect of aspect ratio has a significant impact on the penetration length and trajectories of the spray jet under the same flow conditions. The vertically oriented rectangular nozzles (i.e., nozzles with aspect ratios less than unity) have deeper penetration than the horizontally oriented ones (i.e., nozzles with aspect ratios more than unity) with the same nozzle injection area whereas the effect of aspect ratio has little impact on the spray deflection. The spray cross-section maintains the rectangular shape that expands basically following the original fan angle of the nozzle jet. The simulation also shows some strong phase interactions caused by the rapid spray evaporation, such as the formation of a dense layer of solids around the spray from the compression effect of vapor expansion and rigid wall of gas–solids flow chamber and the existence of a large diluted solids region in the vicinity of downstream of nozzle from the combined effects of evaporation and vapor crossflow convection.
Biosynthesis of secretory lipids from [2-14C]acetate by bovine mammary cells in vitro

Bovine mammary cells were cultured in vitro and their capacity to synthesize lipids peculiar to the bovine mammary gland was studied using [14C]cetate as substrate. Primary cultures of bovine cells avidly used exogenous acetate (70%) and rapidly incorporated it into fatty acids. The composition and specific activities of the fatty acids produced were similar to those normally synthesized by the intact bovine mammary gland. These de novo synthesized fatty acids were rapidly incorporated into all the lipid classes particularly into the triglycerides. The specific activity-time curves suggested that the triglycerides were produced by the acylation of 1,2-diglycerides with endogenously synthesized fatty acids. The cultured cells actively secreted labeled triglycerides which were compositionally similar to those isolated from bovine milk. In vitro cultures of bovine cells showed an attenuation in lipogenesis from acetate when maintained in culture for periods beyond 72 h. Whereas primary cell cultures incorporated newly synthesized fatty acids into triglycerides for secretion, older subcultures of mammary cells fabricated phospholipids apparently to meet the structural demands of cell proliferation.
The impact of HIV status and perceived status on fertility desires in rural Malawi.

Surprisingly little is known about how or if knowledge of one’s HIV status influences the desire to have children in sub-Saharan Africa. This paper takes advantage of a unique situation in rural Malawi where no one knew their HIV status prior to testing being introduced as part of an ongoing panel study. Using a sample of men and women (n = 1,380) who were interviewed in 2001 and 2006, we examine how HIV positive and negative test results impact respondents’ desires to continue childbearing. We then consider how prior perceptions of one’s status influence this effect. Respondents who received a positive test result reduced their childbearing desires. When self-assessed likelihood of infection was considered, however, only those who were surprised by their test result altered their fertility preferences, a finding which held true for both positive and negative results. The implications of the results and potential applications to other HIV/AIDS research are discussed.
Subjective effects of humidification of oxygen for delivery by nasal cannula. A prospective study.

Humification of oxygen prior to administration by nasal cannula is an expensive practice which has been justified on the basis that it improves the comfort of patients receiving supplemental oxygen therapy. Routine humidification of low-flow oxygen (≤4 L/min) delivered by nasal cannula has recently been challenged based on theoretic grounds and on the results of a clinical study. Nevertheless, we found, in a telephone survey of medium-sized American hospitals, that routine humidification of nasal cannula oxygen remains a common practice. To further evaluate the necessity of oxygen humidification, we prospectively evaluated, on a daily basis, the subjective complaints of consecutive patients in our institution who were ordered to receive nasal oxygen at relatively high flow rates (5 L/min). Of the 185 patients evaluated over a period of three wintertime months, 99 received humidified oxygen and 86 received dry oxygen. Complaints, especially dry nose and dry throat (42.9 percent and 43.9 percent of the daily interviews, respectively) were common in both groups, but the symptoms were relatively mild and did not increase significantly when oxygen was administered without prior humidification. We conclude that routine humidification of oxygen for administration by nasal cannula is not justifiable, and that cessation of this practice would result in significant reductions in both time and material costs in respiratory care.
Making sure: registered nurses watching over their patients.

Background Surveillance has been identified as an important patient quality and safety intervention, but the process used by registered nurses as they perform this function with their hospitalized patients on a single work shift has not been conceptualized or studied. Objective The purpose of this study was to generate a substantive theory of the process used by hospital registered nurses as they watch over their assigned patients during a work shift. Methods Classical grounded theory was used to generate the substantive theory. Fifteen registered nurses from a variety of hospital patient care settings were interviewed to determine the process they used to watch over their assigned patients during a work shift and the conditions that facilitated or hindered their abilities to watch over their patients. Results Making Sure emerged as the basic social process used by registered nurses as they watch over their assigned patients during a single work shift. Making Sure was conceptualized as a process involving six categories: (a) knowing what's going on and (b) being close set conditions for (c) watching in which the nurse is (d) not taking anything for granted. As necessary, (e) taking action occurs to achieve the outcome of this process, (f) protecting patients from harm and negative events to the extent possible. As more information about the patient is obtained through the process, this information is incorporated into the knowing what's going on category. Conclusions The results of this study provide the theoretical basis for the process used by registered nurses as they watch over their patients on a work shift and provide insight into one of the key nursing care processes that may impact patient outcomes. Measures should be developed to operationalize the concepts of the theory and to conduct quantitative testing of the theory.