cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chemiresistor array with nanocluster interfaces as a micro-GC detector

An integrated array of chemiresistor (CR) microsensors employing a novel set of Au-thiolate monolayer-protected nanoclusters (MPN) as interface materials has been developed and tested as an ultra-low-dead-volume detector for a micro gas chromatograph (/spl mu/GC). Six MPNs 3-5 nm in mean core diameter each with a different type of organo-thiolate ligand were synthesized by a single-phase method, spray cast onto interdigital electrodes, and exposed to several organic vapors. Four of these MPNs were coated onto the same CR array and used as a detector for a conventional GC to analyze a mixture of 15 vapors. The array provides characteristic vapor response patterns, linear calibration curves, and good overall sensitivity, which increases at lower temperatures and detector-cell flow rates. On the basis of injected mass, GC responses indicate that detection limits in the low part-per-trillion range are achievable from preconcentrated sample volumes of <1 L. Sensitivity does not vary significantly among similarly coated CRs having electrode spacings ranging from 0.1-15 /spl mu/m consistent with a response model based on bulk-film swelling.
Micromechanical aspects of mesangial cells of the kidney

With video microscopy and whole-cell patch-clamp recording techniques, the response of mesangial cells (MCs) of the rat kidney to the exposure of hypoosmotic media was investigated in the authors' study. It was observed that, decreasing extracellular tonicity by increments as large as 40 mosM, whole-cell patched mesangial cells can maintain their volumes without lysis. A model for cell volume regulation was proposed, whereby MCs are both sensors and effecters of water balance in the glomerulus. To investigate the membrane elasticity of mesangial cells, positive pressures were applied to pre-swollen cells through micropipette. Changes in cell dimension were measured, and area expansion modulus of mesangial cells was calculated based on Hooke's Law. The maximum fractional area expansion observed was 25%, which was much greater than the elastic limit reported (2-3%) for the bilayer. The estimated area expansion modulus was 230 dynes/cm for mesangial cells. >
Together Again: Business, Government, and the Quest for Cost Control

Corporate America leads the pack in the collective anxiety attack over health care costs. But will the business community add its considerable political power to the movement for national health reform? Conventional wisdom suggests not: businessmen seldom rally for collective concerns, have traditionally been biased against government action, and have diverse interests. This article guardedly offers grounds for greater optimism about corporate participation, arguing that the proper institutional context can help businessmen to see their preferences as consistent with health reform. Business groups have already proven critical to the issue development stage, where a dedicated group of corporate health reformists were key to getting reform on the national agenda. Business may also respond to strong leadership from President Clinton and assist in the legislation of national health reform. Yet the price of this corporate support is a decidedly conservative slant to the proposed legislation.
Community postpartum care needs assessment and systems development for low income families.

Decreased lengths of stay for U.S. childbirth hospitalization, infant morbidities, repeat adolescent pregnancies, and high no-show rates for postpartum visits among disadvantaged populations suggest barriers to continuity of maternity care. Findings of a survey of maternity health professionals (N = 78) providing postpartum case management with an urban Healthy Start project indicated less tracking and follow-up for postpartum care as compared to prenatal care as well as maternal postpartum health education, social support, and environmental needs. Recommendations included: (a) earlier timing of postpartum visit, (b) community care sites and home visiting, (c) coordinated postpartum maternal and infant care, and (d) increased postpartum psychosocial and environmental services.
Activities of daily living. Old-fashioned or still useful?

1 The Index of Activities of Daily Living (ADL) is used by many nurses to assess function in older adults, but there is debate regarding the scoring, wording of questions, and validity in diverse populations. 2 Older adults may give inaccurate answers to ADL questions because they misunderstand the questions, have personal reasons for underreporting or overreporting difficulty in ADL, or fail to recognize difficulty because they have adapted to changes in function. 3 Physical performance tests, especially of the lower extremities, may be an alternative method of assessing function, especially in high-functioning older adults who report no difficulty in ADL. Language: en
Open-path FT-IR spectrometry : is completely unattended operation feasible

Abstract Most protocols used for open-path Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (OP/FT-IR) require that spectra be measured at a resolution of 1 cm−1 and that the concentrations of the analytes be calculated by classical least squares regression (CLS). These specifications were largely developed for monitoring light molecules with easily resolvable rotational fine structure. For most volatile organic compounds in air, the rotational fine structure is not resolvable and better accuracy can be obtained when the spectrum is measured at lower resolution (typically 8 cm−1), provided that the algorithm used for quantification is partial least squares regression (PLS). By measuring the spectrum at low resolution, the need for a liquid-nitrogen-cooled mercury cadmium telluride detector is reduced and a pyroelectric detector operating at ambient temperature can be used instead. By using PLS rather than CLS, spectral features due to water vapor do not have to be compensated and a short-path background spectrum can be used, greatly simplifying field measurements.
Detecting Modifications in Paper Documents: A Coding Approach

This paper presents an algorithm called CIPDEC (Content Integrity of Printed Documents using Error Correction), which identifies any modifications made to a printed document. CIPDEC uses an error correcting code for accurate detection of addition/deletion of even a few pixels. A unique advantage of CIPDEC is that it works blind - it does not require the original document for such detection. Instead, it uses fiducial marks and error correcting code parities. CIPDEC is also robust to paper-world artifacts like photocopying, annotations, stains, folds, tears and staples. Furthermore, by working at a pixel level, CIPDEC is independent of language, font, software, and graphics that are used to create paper documents. As a result, any changes made to a printed document can be detected long after the software, font, and graphics have fallen out of use. The utility of CIPDEC is illustrated in the context of tamper-proofing of printed documents and ink extraction for form-filling applications.
Interactive Storyboard for Overall Time-Varying Data Visualization

Large amounts of time-varying datasets create great challenges for users to understand and explore them. This paper proposes an efficient visualization method for observing overall data contents and changes throughout an entire time-varying dataset. We develop an interactive storyboard approach by composing sample volume renderings and descriptive geometric primitives that are generated through data analysis processes. Our storyboard system integrates automatic visualization generation methods and interactive adjustment procedures to provide new tools for visualizing and exploring time-varying datasets. We also provide a flexible framework to quantify data differences and automatically select representative datasets through exploring scientific data distribution features. Since this approach reduces the visualized data amount into a more understandable size and format for users, it can be used to effectively visualize, represent, and explore a large time-varying dataset. Initial user study results show that our approach shortens the exploration time and reduces the number of datasets that users visualized individually. This visualization method is especially useful for situations that require close observance or are not capable of interactive rendering, such as documentation and demonstration.
Rationally Not Caring About Torture: A Reply to Johansson

Death can be bad for an individual who has died, according to the “deprivation approach,” by depriving that individual of goods. One worry for this account of death’s badness is the Lucretian symmetry argument: since we do not regret having been born later than we could have been born, and since posthumous nonexistence is the mirror image of prenatal nonexistence, we should not regret dying earlier than we could have died. Anthony Brueckner and John Martin Fischer have developed a response to the Lucretian challenge by arguing that it is rational to have asymmetric attitudes toward posthumous and prenatal nonexistence. Recently, Jens Johansson has criticized the Brueckner/Fischer position, claiming that it is irrelevant whether it is actually rational to care about future pleasures but not past pleasures. What matters, according to Johansson, is whether it would be rational for us to care about past pleasures had we come into existence earlier. In this paper, I add to the conversation between Johansson and Brueckner/Fischer by suggesting a way to defend the latter side’s position in a way that has not yet been suggested. I do this by considering a suggestion of Johansson’s for interpreting the Brueckner/Fischer position and by arguing that Johansson’s worry for the position I consider is actually incoherent.
Internal Oxidation–Nitridation of Ferritic Fe(Al) Alloys in Air

Exposure of undoped Fe(Al) and Fe(Al)+Cr ferritic alloys in laboratory air at 900–1,000 °C resulted in significant internal attack after 5,000 h, including oxides and underlying nitrides. In the most severely attacked alloys, kinetics based on mass gain and maximum penetration depth were linear; also, the deepest penetrations were a significant fraction of the specimen thickness, and were thickness-dependent. Little internal attack was observed at 700–800 °C where these compositions may be used as coatings. The extent of internal attack did not decrease with increasing Al or Cr content which may indicate that rather than classical internal oxidation this attack is related to the permeation of N through a defective external scale. No internal attack was observed in alloys doped with Y, Zr, Hf or Ti where the substrate-alumina scale interface was flatter.
MULTIPARAMETRIC ASSESSMENT OF BURSAL LYMPHOCYTE APOPTOSIS

When bursal lymphocytes are placed in cell culture, they undergo an apoptotic form of cell death that can be inhibited by phorbol esters and protein synthesis inhibitors. The goal of the current study was to evaluate the time course of this process and the inhibition of this process using several different assays to detect apoptosis: (1) terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick end labeling (TUNEL) of lymphocyte DNA strand breaks with dUTP-FITC; (2) propidium iodide (PI) staining of lymphocyte chromatin; (3) chloromethyl-x-rosamine (CMX-Ros) binding to lymphocyte mitochondria; (4) merocyanine-540 (MC-540) binding to the lymphocyte plasma membrane; (5) flow cytometric analysis of light scatter from lymphocytes; (6) analysis of genomic DNA from lymphocytes by agarose gel electrophoresis; and (7) cellular caspase-3 activity of lymphocytes. When bursal lymphocyte apoptosis was analyzed as a function of time, or inhibited by phorbol esters or cycloheximide, all of these assays corroborated the apoptotic process. However, treatment of lymphocytes with a cytotoxic level of the proteinase inhibitor, n-ethylmaleimide (NEM) resulted in a putative, necrotic form of cell death that revealed discrepancies among the various assays in the detection of apoptotic cells. Specifically, the CMX-Ros and MC-540 assays erroneously detected the necrotic cells as being apoptotic cells following NEM treatment. These findings indicate the need for additional assays and appropriate treatment controls to verify the apoptotic process when using the CMX-Ros and MC-540 assays.
Coding of arbitrarily varying multiuser channels

The capacity region for the arbitrarily varying multiple-access channel is determined. A region of achievable rate triplets for the arbitrarily varying general broadcast channel is then given. Finally a region of achievable rate triplets for the general broadcast channel is given including as special cases all capacity regions known until now for broadcast channels.
Impact of electronic prescribing in a hospital setting: A process-focused evaluation

Abstract Objective To evaluate effects of a natural CPOE implementation in a hospital setting and inform the efficacy of using CPOE rather than traditional paper medication orders. Design A multiple-baseline, quasi-experimental study of a naturally occurring CPOE intervention, with a non-equivalent control site. Measurements Compliance with medication-ordering protocols and time to first dose of antibiotics. Results Medication orders placed using CPOE were significantly more compliant than paper-based medication orders, and first doses of antibiotics were delivered significantly faster when ordered with CPOE than when placed using the standard paper-based system (p Conclusion Findings support the use of CPOE and justify the need for interventions to increase CPOE adoption and consistent use among physicians.
Local anesthesia for prostate brachytherapy.

Abstract Purpose: To demonstrate the technique and feasibility of prostate brachytherapy performed with local anesthesia only. Methods and Materials: A 5 by 5 cm patch of perineal skin and subcutaneous tissue is anesthetized by local infiltration of 10 cc of 1% lidocaine with epinephrine, using a 25-gauge 5/8-inch needle. Immediately following injection into the subcutaneous tissues, the deeper tissues, including the pelvic floor and prostate apex, are anesthetized by injecting 15 cc lidocaine solution with approximately 8 passes of a 20-gauge 1.0-inch needle. Following subcutaneous and peri-apical lidocaine injections, the patient is brought to the simulator suite and placed in leg stirrups. The transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) probe is positioned to reproduce the planning images and a 3.5- or 6.0-inch, 22-gauge spinal needle is inserted into the peripheral planned needle tracks, monitored by TRUS. When the tips of the needles reach the prostatic base, about 1 cc of lidocaine solution is injected in the intraprostatic track, as the needle is slowly withdrawn, for a total volume of 15 cc. The implants are done with a Mick Applicator, inserting and loading groups of two to four needles, so that a maximum of only about four needles are in the patient at any one time. During the implant procedure, an additional 1 cc of lidocaine solution is injected into one or more needle tracks if the patient experiences substantial discomfort. The total dose of lidocaine is generally limited to 500 mg (50 ml of 1% solution). Results: To date, we have implanted approximately 50 patients in our simulator suite, using local anesthesia. Patients’ heart rate and diastolic blood pressure usually showed moderate changes, consistent with some discomfort. The time from first subcutaneous injection and completion of the source insertion ranged from 35 to 90 minutes. Serum lidocaine levels were below or at the low range of therapeutic. There has been only one instance of acute urinary retention in the patients treated so far, and no unplanned admissions to the hospital or need to reschedule a patient to be implanted under general or spinal anesthesia. Conclusions: The substitution of local anesthesia has facilitated rapid introduction of a high-volume brachytherapy program at an institution that previously had none, without requiring the allocation of significant operating room time. Although the patients reported here were implanted without conscious sedation, we are starting to try various sedatives and analgesics for patients who we anticipate will have substantial anxiety with the procedure.
ENUMERATION OF ISOBARIC INHERENT STRUCTURES FOR THE FRAGILE GLASS FORMER O-TERPHENYL

The widely investigated organic substance o-terphenyl (OTP) displays thermal and kinetic behavior prototypical for “fragile” glass formers. The special relationship between its heat capacity in sup...
Endochondral resorption of chick sterna in culture.

Endochondral resorption is most clearly recognized at the metaphyseal interface of the growth plate with the adjacent vasculature: however, apparently identical processes of endochondral resorption are seen in sites of primary and secondary ossification of the cartilaginous anlage of bones and in ossifying fracture callus. Recent evidence of the expression of the hypertrophic phenotype in osteoarthrotic articular cartilage suggests that endochondral resorption also may be a factor in the loss of articular cartilage in this condition. To investigate the mechanism of endochondral resorption, a model culture system was developed and characterized. The two primary centers of ossification with surrounding cartilage were dissected from embryonic chick sterna prior to (18-day-old embryos) or after (20-day-old embryos) the initiation of resorption. They were cultured either in plastic culture dishes or on chorioallantoic membranes, and resorption was detected by analysis of the loss of types II and X collagen and by histological characterization. Only sterna showing active resorption in vivo were resorbed when cultured on chorioallantoic membrane. The histological appearance of the resorption site and the specificity of resorption to the primary ossification center, seen from both the analysis of loss of collagen and histological observation, suggested that the resorption of sterna cultured on chorioallantoic membrane was similar to that observed in vivo. These studies further indicated that both vascular cells and viable chondrocytes were required for resorption. Susceptibility to resorption could be induced in resistant primary ossification centers by prior culture in the absence of vascular cells, and it is suggested that it results from the accumulation of resorption-susceptible cells and matrix as a result of continued chondrocyte development.
The vibrational spectrum of dimethyl cyanamide

Abstract The infrared spectrum of gaseous dimethyl cyanamide has been observed in the region from 5000 to 350 cm −1 and the Raman spectrum of the liquid observed in the region from 3100 to 200 cm −1 . Twenty-four of the twenty-seven fundamentals have been assigned. Raman polarization data indicate that the molecule has a planar or very nearly planar skeleton.
Human visfatin expression: relationship to insulin sensitivity, intramyocellular lipids, and inflammation.

Context: Visfatin (VF) is a recently described adipokine preferentially secreted by visceral adipose tissue (VAT) with insulin mimetic properties. Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the association of VF with insulin sensitivity, intramyocellular lipids (IMCL), and inflammation in humans. Design and Patients: VF mRNA was examined in paired samples of VAT and abdominal sc adipose tissue (SAT) obtained from subjects undergoing surgery. Plasma VF and VF mRNA was also examined in SAT and muscle tissue, obtained by biopsy from well-characterized subjects with normal or impaired glucose tolerance, with a wide range in body mass index (BMI) and insulin sensitivity (SI). Setting: The study was conducted at a University Hospital and General Clinical Research Center. Intervention: SI was measured, and fat and muscle biopsies were performed. In impaired glucose tolerance subjects, these procedures were performed before and after treatment with pioglitazone or metformin. Main Outcome Measures: We measure...
The Global Weather Experiment 1. The Observational Phase Through the First Special Observing Period

Abstract An unprecedented analysis of the atmosphere of planet Earth is currently underway with the involvement of over 140 countries in the Global Weather Experiment—the largest international scientific experiment yet attempted. After many years of planning, the Operational Year began in December of 1978. Following the field phase and data management phase, a multi-year evaluation and research program will commence and continue until the late 1980s. During this period, scientists and technicians will examine the atmosphere, the sea surface, and the upper layer of the world's oceans in the most intense survey and study ever made. A number of successes and failures occurred in preparing for the observing phase and these are mentioned as each observing system actually deployed in the field is reviewed. The focus of the paper is on the quantity of data gathered and how it was obtained. The article concludes with some suggestions for assurances of final success of the Experiment.
A cryogenic system for RF measurements on superconducting vortex flow transistors

A scheme for measuring the RF properties of the superconducting vortex flow transistor (VFT) is presented. This scheme features a low-crosstalk RF launcher with solderless contacts, a cryogenic system that permits room temperature access in close proximity to the VFT, and a circuit configuration that allow vector S-parameter measurements at power levels below -90 dBm. >
Automatic vehicle classification system with range sensors

Traffic management systems use inductive loop detectors and more recently video cameras to detect vehicles. Loop detectors are expensive to maintain and video-based systems are sensitive to environmental conditions and do not perform well in vehicle classification. Cameras based upon range sensors are not sensitive to lighting and may be less sensitive to other environmental conditions. In addition, range imagery should provide data to form a good basis for vehicle classification applications. In this paper, we describe methods for processing range imagery and performing vehicle detection and classification. A vehicle classification rate of over 92% accuracy was obtained in classifying vehicles into different vehicle classes.
Prototype CCD-based detector for whole-breast digital mammography

We describe a prototype multi-mode CCD-based detector for digital mammography. Each module incorporates a CCD bonded to a demagnifying fiberoptic taper. The x-ray-to-light converter is formed by depositing Gd2O2S:Eu onto the large end of the taper. The modules are held together in an array in order to cover a large area. We have constructed a 2-module prototype to evaluate the performance of this design and to develop software and hardware methods for the final multi-module detector. The 2-module detector forms an imaging area of 10 X 20 cm. with a 30-50 micrometers gap between the modules. Each module incorporates a 3.5:1 demagnifying fiberoptic taper and a 2048 X 2048, 14 micrometers -pixel CCD, resulting in an effective pixel size of 50 micrometers . For each 20keV x-ray photon incident on the phosphor converter approximately 7 electrons are generated in the CCD. For a 1 second exposure, the image noise is approximately 15 e/pixel and the dynamic range of the detector is approximately 20,000. The detector MTF is comparable to hat of a MinR screen/film system and the detector is able to resolve all features except the smallest spec group in an ACR phantom.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Generic models for pedestrian-level winds in built-up regions

Wind conditions over streets in built-up cities were examined in a boundary-layer wind-tunnel model study. Presented in this paper are results of wind speeds affected by a number of parameters such as the spatial density of street blocks, the building height over surroundings, the relative location of buildings and the direction of approaching wind. Based on literature information and current findings, some generic models have been established with the empirical relations between wind conditions and building configurations. These models can be applied for the preliminary estimation of pedestrian-level wind environmental conditions in built-up regions.
Computer playfulness and anxiety: positive and negative mediators of the system experience effect on perceived ease of use

Perceived ease of use plays a critical role in predicting and determining a user's decision to use an information system. Users perceive a system easier to use as they gain more knowledge and confidence through direct experience in using the system. Our research traced the link between system experience and ease of use via both positive (computer playfulness) and negative (computer anxiety) responses using a sample of 116 users of electronic spreadsheets. As expected, system experience was significantly related to perceived ease of use. Both computer playfulness and computer anxiety were found to be significant mediators of the effect that system experience has on ease of use. However, the effect was fully mediated only by computer anxiety, revealing that the negative side of user reaction is a more potent mechanism than the positive side, Moreover, the findings indicate that those interventions found to influence the mediating variable of computer anxiety should be used to effectively enhance ease of use perceptions.
Large extinction ratio and low threshold dual intra-cavity contacted polarisation switching VCSELs

A novel dual intra-cavity contacted VCSEL capable of switching between two orthogonal polarisation states is presented. Polarisation switching is controlled by changing the current injection direction. A record-low threshold current of 0.19 mA and an extinction ratio >21dB from fit are achieved.
Poster: PLFS/HDFS: HPC Applications on Cloud Storage

Long running large scale HPC applications protect themselves from failures by periodically checkpointing their state to a single file stored in a distributed network filesystem. These filesystems commonly provide a POSIX-style interface for reading and writing files. HDFS is a filesystem used in cloud computing by Apache Hadoop. HDFS is optimized for Hadoop jobs that do not require full POSIX I/O semantics. Only one process may write to an HDFS file, and all writes are appends. Our work enables multiple HPC processes to checkpoint their state into an HDFS file using PLFS. PLFS is a middleware filesystem that converts random I/O into log-based I/O. We added a new I/O store layer to PLFS that allows it to use non-POSIX filesystems like HDFS as backing store. HPC applications can now checkpoint to HDFS, allowing HPC and cloud to share the same storage systems and work with each others data.
Rethinking Research and Pedagogy in the Social Studies: The Creation of Caring Connections Through Technology and Advocacy

(2000). Rethinking Research and Pedagogy in the Social Studies: The Creation of Caring Connections through Technology and Advocacy. Theory & Research in Social Education: Vol. 28, No. 1, pp. 121-131.
Surface micromachined arch-shape on-chip 3-D solenoid inductors for high-frequency applications

We present the design, fabrication, and characterization of surface micromachined on-chip 3-D air-core arch-shape solenoid micro- inductors. Combinations of unique surface micromachining fabrication process techniques, such as deformation of polymeric sacrifical molds and conformal electrodeposition of photoresist molds on nonplanar sac- rificial polymer mounds, are utilized. An air gap inserted between the inductor's body and the substrate is used to reduce the degradations of high-frequency inductor performances. Fabricated inductors are charac- terized and modeled at high frequencies from S-parameter measure- ments. ABCD parameters, derived from measured S parameters, are translated into a simplified physical p model. The resulting 2-, 3-, and 5-turn arch-shape suspended air-core solenoid inductors have induc- tances between 0.62 to 0.79 nH, peak quality (Q) factors between 15.42 to 17 at peak-Q frequencies between 4.7 to 7.0 GHz, and self-resonant frequencies between 47.6 to 88.6 GHz. © 2003 Society of Photo-Optical Instru-
The Z-plasty: Biomechanics and mathematics

Summary The following observations were made in experimental Z-plasties in dogs: 1.Z-plasties of different sizes: Single 8 cm. Z-plasties (60°-60°) neeed seven to ten times as much force for closure as 1 cm. and 2 cm. Z-plasties. Lengthening was almost directly proportional to the size of the Z-plasty. 2.Serial Z-plasties differing in number and size of flaps but equal in length: The fewer the flaps in the series, the greater was the lengthening effect. Corollary: The larger the flaps, the greater the lengthening effect. 3.Z-plasties with differing tip angles: A 90°-90° Z-plasty required about ten times as much tension for closure as a 30°-30° Z-plasty and lengthening ranged from 10 per cent for the 30°-30° Z-plasty to 75 per cent for a 90°-90° Z-plasty. 4.Asymmetrical Z-plasties: The narrow flap always required less tension for closure than the wide flap, but was subjected to more distortion. Greater strain in the surrounding skin was associated with the wide flap. 5.Field strain: The surrounding skin stretched over a disproportionately larger area, the larger the Z-plasty or the wider the tip angles. 6.Distortion of tip angles and limb lenghts: After transposition, Z-plasties on flat surfaces showed an increase in the length of the post-operative central limbs (at right angles to the pre-operative central limbs), diminished length of the side limbs, and narrowing of the tip angles, which were unaccounted for by geometrical calculations. Biomechanical explanations were suggested and strain topography maps were devised. 7.Z-plasties on webs: A continuum of three-dimensional Z-Plasty forms was noted, beginning with the Z-plasty on a flat surface, progressing through the "wide web", the tetrahedral, and the "narrow web" forms. Increasing tension and lengthening were noted with widening of the peak angle beyond "ideal". Increasing overhang of the flaps was noted in progressing from the tetrahedral through the "narrow-web" forms. 8.Single vs. serial Z-plasties on a web: A single 6 cm. Z-plasty proved more effective than a series of three 2 cm. Z-plasties in obliterating the axillary web of a dog's foreleg. 9.Measured lengthening vs. predicted lengthening: In each instance where lengthening was anticipated in the above studies, lengthening was always less than predicted by the usual geometrical calculations, although the values were almost always directly proportional to the geometrical predictions. 10.Tension related curves: Throughout the studies each tension related curve showed a more or less exponential rise as the size of the tip angles, peak angles, or limbs of the Z-plasties increased in size, reminiscent of the Gibson-Kenedi curve for load deformation of skin. 11.Z-plasty mathematics: An equation solving for lengthening in any Z-plasty, regardless of configuration, was derived, and a graph was assembled from which lengthening of any Z-plasty on a flat surface would be obtained.
8-Chloroadenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (8-Cl-cAMP) selectively eliminates protein kinase A type I to induce growth inhibition in c-ras-transformed fibroblasts

8-Chloroadenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (8-Cl-cAMP), a site-selective cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) analogue, exhibits growth inhibition in a broad spectrum of cancer cell lines. We investigated the effect of 8-Cl-cAMP on c-ras-transformed mouse fibroblasts (MP3/3T3) which were established by transfection of Balb3T3 cells (Balb3T3) with the point-mutated c-ras gene [G12-->V12]. 8-Cl-cAMP (2-5 microM) exerted over 80% growth inhibition by day 4 on MP3/3T3, while inhibiting parental Balb3T3 cell growth less than 40%. In order to distinguish the effect of 8-Cl-cAMP from that of 8-chloroadenosine (8-Cl-adenosine), we examined the effect of 8-Cl-cAMP in serum-free medium. 8-Cl-cAMP demonstrated a potent growth inhibition of MP3/3T3 cells cultured in serum-free medium, suggesting that the growth inhibitory effect of 8-Cl-cAMP was not due to its hydrolysed product, 8-Cl-adenosine. In addition, both Balb3T3 and MP3/3T3 contained cAMP phosphodiesterases mainly composed of isozyme IV which has previously been reported to be insensitive towards the hydrolysis of 8-Cl-cAMP. Non-transformed Balb3T3 cells contained only type II cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), whereas transformed MP3/3T3 exhibited a marked increase in type I PKA. The growth inhibition of MP3/3T3 by 8-Cl-cAMP accompanied almost complete elimination of type I PKA without affecting type II PKA. Moreover, 8-Cl-cAMP induced an arrest in the G0/G1-phase of the cell cycle in MP3/3T3. 8-Cl-adenosine had little or no effect on the cell cycle kinetics of MP3/3T3 cells. These results show that 8-Cl-cAMP is a novel cAMP analogue which selectively eliminates type I PKA to induce growth inhibition in transformed fibroblasts.
Hepatic steatosis and increased adiposity in mice consuming rapidly vs. slowly absorbed carbohydrate.

Objective: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is fast becoming a major public health concern, coincident with the increasing prevalence of obesity. Although lifestyle greatly influences development of NAFLD, the specific dietary causes remain largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a diet high in rapidly absorbed carbohydrate (RAC) vs. slowly absorbed carbohydrate (SAC), controlled for confounding dietary factors, causes NAFLD in mice with similar body weight. An animal model was chosen because of logistical and ethical challenges to conducting this study in humans. Research Methods and Procedures: Male 129SvPas mice were fed diets high in either RAC (amylopectin; high glycemic index) or SAC (amylose; low glycemic index) for 25 weeks. Diets were controlled for macronutrient and micronutrient content, differing only in starch type. Body weight and composition were measured throughout the study. Hepatic and plasma triacylglycerol concentrations were quantified at the end of the study. Results: Body weight was not significantly different between the two groups. However, total body adiposity increased twice as much, in absolute terms, in the mice fed RAC vs. SAC (12.2 ± 2.9% vs. 6.1 ± 4.2%, p < 0.0001). Hepatic triacylglycerol content was 2-fold greater in the RAC group (20.7 ± 9.4 vs. 9.6 ± 4.9 mg/g, p = 0.01). In addition, plasma insulin and triacylglycerol concentrations were higher in the RAC group. Discussion: A diet high in RAC causes accumulation of fat in liver, adipose tissue, and plasma in mice. Therefore, a low glycemic index diet may help prevent or treat NAFLD in humans.
On the accuracy of the Banerjee test

Abstract The Banerjee test is commonly considered to be the more accurate of the two major approximate tests used in automatic vectorization/parallelization of loops, the other being the GCD test. From its derivation, however, there is no simple explanation of why the Banerjee test should be nearly as accurate as it is given credit for. We prove a sufficient condition for the Banerjee test's accuracy and explain the test's perceived superiority by showing that under circumstances which occur extremely frequently in actual code, it is, in fact, not approximate, but perfectly accurate.
The place of culture in trauma studies: an american view

The place of culture in psychiatry and trauma studies has become increasingly important in recent years. In theoretical studies, research and in clinical assessment and treatment, it is essential to incorporate concepts and guidelines from diverse fields, including medicine, psychiatry and psychology and the social sciences. War trauma and migration have greatly influenced the direction of research and clinical care in the field and have underscored the importance and relevance of anthropological perspectives. There are both universal and culturally-specific ways that trauma is experienced and processed by individuals, families and the culture at large. It is important for healers working with those who have experienced trauma to provide a safe, secure and predictable environment for the healing process and to bridge symbolic systems of meaning relevant for effective healing in both the specific cultural group and the majority society. These issues also have important implications for the effective education and training of professionals working with a variety of cultural and ethnic groups.
Structure/permeability relationships of polyimides with branched or extended diamine moieties

Mean permeability coefficients for CO2, O2, N2, and CH4 in seven types of 6FDA polyimides with branched or extended diamine moieties were determined at 35.0°C (95.0°F) and at pressures up to 10.5 atm (155 psia). In addition, solubility coefficients for CO2, O2, N2, and CH4 in six of these polyimides were determined at 35.0°C and at 6.8 atm (100 psia). Mean diffusion coefficients for the six gas/polyimide systems were calculated from the permeability and solubility data. The relationships between the chemical structure of the polyimides, some of their physical properties (glass transition temperature, mean interchain spacing, specific free volume), and their gas permeability, diffusivity, and solubility behavior are discussed. The 6FDA polyimides studied here exhibit a considerably lower selectivity for the CO2/CH4 and O2/N2 gas pairs than 6FDA polyimides with short and stiff aromatic diamines with comparable CO2 and O2 permeabilities. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
A periodic walk: a series of first-row transition metal complexes with the pentadentate ligand PY5.

A series of transition metal complexes derived from the pentadentate ligand PY5, 2,6-(bis-(bis-2-pyridyl)-methoxymethane)pyridine, illustrates the intrinsic propensity of this ligand to complex metal ions. X-ray structural data are provided for six complexes (1-6) with cations of the general formula [M I I (PY5)(Cl)] + , where M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn. In complexes 1-4 and 6, the metal ions are coordinated in a distorted-octahedral fashion; the four terminal pyridines of PY5 occupy the equatorial sites while the axial positions are occupied by the bridging pyridine of PY5 and a chloride anion. Major distortions from an ideal octahedral geometry arise from displacement of the metal atom from the equatorial plane toward the chloride ligand and from differences in pyridine-metal-pyridine bond angles. The series of complexes shows that M(II) ions are consistently accommodated in the ligand by displacement of the metal ion from the PY5 pocket, a tilting of the axial pyridine subunit, and nonsymmetrical pyridine subunit ligation in the equatorial plane. The displacement from the ligand pocket increases with the ionic radius of M(II). The axial pyridine tilt, however, is approximately the same for all complexes and appears to be independent of the electronic ground state of M(II). In complex 5, the Cu(II) ion is coordinated by only four of the five pyridine subunits of the ligand, resulting in a square-pyramidal complex. The overall structural similarity of 5 with the other complexes reflects the strong tendency of PY5 to enforce a distorted-octahedral coordination geometry. Complexes 1-6 are further characterized in terms of solution magnetic susceptibility, electrochemical behavior, and optical properties. These show the high-spin nature of the complexes and the anticipated stabilization of the divalent oxidation state.
DNA cycle of Myxococcus xanthus.

Abstract The rate of DNA synthesis during the division cycle of Myxococcus xanthus growing on a defined medium has been determined. Non-synchronized exponential phase cultures were pulse-labeled with radioactive thymidine and then prepared for quantitative autoradiography. Measurements of both cell size and grain number were performed on 2400 cells. Analysis of the distribution of grains in each of 20 size groups showed that: (a) cells do not synthesize any DNA during 20% of the division cycle; (b) those cells that are synthesizing DNA are doing so at a constant rate independent of cell size or cell age; and (c) the DNA cycle extends from 0.02 to 0.81 generation, septum formation occurs at 0.90 generation, and physical separation of sister cells at 1.0 generation. Chemical analysis of the average DNA content of M. xanthus growing in the defined medium yielded 14 × 10−9 μg DNA per cell, corresponding to 1.7 ± 0.2 chromosomes/cell. Thus, the rate of DNA synthesis reported here, 2.5 × 104 base pairs/minute, is the rate of synthesis of one replicating chromosome.
Development of low‐cost data acquisition hardware as an undergraduate capstone senior design project

This paper discusses a capstone senior design project involving development of a data acquisition system for gaining understanding of digital signal processing at the level of hardware architecture. The Pentium II PC-based design includes a microphone with corresponding conditioning circuitry, an analog-to-digital converter, an 8255 peripheral interface adapter, a MATLAB® interface, a digital-to-analog converter, and speakers. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 12: 198–207, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae.20016
Recovery of Molybdate from Dilute Aqueous Solutions by Complexation with Cationic Surfactants and Extraction with Isobutanol

Although the molybdate anion in aqueous solution is known to be an effective acid catalyst for bleaching pulp with hydrogen peroxide, and other similar agents, its use commercially has been hampere...
Arginine vasopressin infusion stimulates adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol release in the ovine fetus

Arginine vasopressin may play a role in the control of adrenocorticotropic hormone release during stress in the adult animal. Arginine vasopressin is also considered an important stress hormone in the fetus. The effect of arginine vasopressin infusion on adrenocorticotropic hormone release in the fetus was investigated in 14 chronically cannulated ovine fetuses with normal blood gas and pH values between 103 and 137 days' gestation. There was a significant increase in adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol levels during a 30-minute infusion of arginine vasopressin. Plasma renin activity was unchanged. The corticotropin-releasing activity of arginine vasopressin was not blocked by pretreatment with a V 1 -receptor antagonist and was not significantly different when the pressor response was attenuated by sodium nitroprusside infusion.
The health rationale for urban parks in the nineteenth century in the USA

Urban parks in the USA sprang from multiple influences, but the belief that they would contribute to improved health has not previously received detailed attention in the parks literature. They emerged in the industrial cities where squalor and filth characterised living conditions. Taking their lead from peers in the UK, the US medical community believed these conditions created miasmas (obnoxious gases) that were the source of all diseases. Urban parks were perceived to provide oxygenised oases that offered protection against miasmas. Thus, they were viewed by government entities as contributing to reducing societal costs associated with pauperism and lost labour productivity, while individuals viewed parks as offering a defence against disease contagion and epidemics.
Artificial infestations of beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), used to estimate an economic injury level in tomato

Abstract Although beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hubner), can be a major pest of tomato in the Southeastern USA, relatively little is known about the direct relationship between beet armyworm feeding and tomato yield. An economic injury level (EIL) specifically for this species in the absence of other lepidopteran species has yet to be established for tomato. In 2005, two methods were field tested for artificially infesting tomato to produce a population of beet armyworm that could cause significant tomato yield loss. In 2006, one of the methods, egg infestation, was used again at higher rates to establish an artificial population of beet armyworm in both early and late season to test for a negative correlation with yield loss. Early infestations were significantly correlated with yield loss, but late infestations were not. An EIL of one beet armyworm per 20 tomato plants was estimated from the 2006 trial based on an early season infestation.
The turbulent heat flux from arctic leads

The turbulent transfer of heat from Arctic leads in winter is one of the largest terms in the Arctic heat budget. Results from the AIDJEX Lead Experiment (ALEX) suggest that the sensible component of this turbulent heat flux can be predicted from bulk quantities. Both the exponential relation N = 0.14R x 0.72 and the linear relation N = 1.6 × 10−3 R x+ 1400 fit our data well. In these, N is the Nusselt number formed with the integrated surface heat flux, and R x is the Reynolds number based on fetch across the lead. Because of the similarity between heat and moisture transfer, these equations also predict the latent heat flux. Over leads in winter, the sensible heat flux is two to four times larger than the latent heat flux. The internal boundary layer (IBL) that develops when cold air encounters the relatively warm lead is most evident in the modified downwind temperature profiles. The height of this boundary layer, δ, depends on the fetch, x, on the surface roughness of the lead, z 0 and on both downwind and upwind stability. A tentative, empirical model for boundary layer growth is % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+-% feaafeart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn% hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr% 4rNCHbGeaGqiVu0Je9sqqrpepC0xbbL8F4baFfea0dXde9vqpa0lb9% cq0dXdb9IqFHe9FjuP0-iq0dXdbba9pe0lb9hs0dXda91qaq-xfr-x% fj-hmeGabaqaciGacaGaaeqabaWaaeaaeaaakeaadaWcaaqaaiabes% 7aKbqaaiaadQhadaWgaaWcbaGaaGimaaqabaaaaOGaeyypa0JaeqOS% di2aaeWaaeaacqGHsisldaWcaaqaaiaadQhadaWgaaWcbaGaaGimaa% qabaaakeaacaWGmbaaaaGaayjkaiaawMcaamaaCaaaleqabaGaaGim% aiaac6cacaaI4aaaaOWaaeWaaeaadaWcaaqaaiaadIhaaeaacaWG6b% WaaSbaaSqaaiaaicdaaeqaaaaaaOGaayjkaiaawMcaamaaCaaaleqa% baGaaGimaiaac6cacaaI0aaaaaaa!472D!\[\frac{\delta }{{z_0 }} = \beta \left( { - \frac{{z_0 }}{L}} \right)^{0.8} \left( {\frac{x}{{z_0 }}} \right)^{0.4} \] where L is the Obukhov length based on the values of the momentum and sensible heat fluxes at the surface of the lead, and Β is a constant reflecting upwind stability. Velocity profiles over leads are also affected by the surface nonhomogeneity. Besides being warmer than the upwind ice, the surface of the lead is usually somewhat rougher. The velocity profiles therefore tend to decelerate near the surface, accelerate in the mid-region of the IBL because of the intense mixing driven by the upward heat flux, and rejoin the upwind profiles above the boundary layer. The profiles thus have distinctly different shapes for stable and unstable upwind conditions.
Gender differences in correlations of cerebral glucose matabolic rates in young normal adults

Correlational analysis of normalized regional cerebral metabolic data obtained by positron emission tomography, in healthy subjects in the ‘resting’ state (eyes covered, ears plugged) using [18F]2-fluuro-2-deoxy-dgllucose, demonstrated gender differences in patterns of functional associations. Fifteen women and 18 men ( rF; and most rF > rM cases involved left frontal and sensorimotor ROIs, whereas most rM > rF cases involved right sensorimotor and occipital ROIs. The finding demonstrate gender differences in the pattern of functional neocortical interactions at the ‘resting’ state.