cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Perinatal and infant mortality : trends and risk factors in Norway 1967-90

Neither the infant nor the under 24 hours mortality rates in Norway improved in the 1980s. The late neonatal mortality rate did not improve significantly in either the 1980s or the 1970s. The postneonatal mortality rate rose steadily throughout the last 15 years. The major mortality declines for all age groups took place in the 1970s. In the 1980s, only the 1-7-day mortality improved significantly. As a result, Norway fell behind in the international ranking of perinatal and infant mortality. Disparities among the perinatal mortality rates of Norwegian counties diminished throughout the 1970s. In the 1980s, the county disparities intermittently increased. Postneonatal deaths represented an increasing proportion; in the late 1980s, they amounted to half of the infant deaths and one-third of the total perinatal and infant deaths. In 1988, the postneonatal mortality rate was about twice as high in Norway as in Finland, Iceland, or Sweden. Birth injuries and infections almost disappeared as causes of perinatal and infant death. Other perinatal causes also diminished substantially. The incidence of congenital anomalies remained stable. The incidence of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), the single cause with continuous rate rise, more than doubled. In the late 1980s, SIDS caused one-quarter of the infant and more than half of the postneonatal deaths. The share of perinatal deaths from placentoumbilical causes (mostly placenta previa and abruptio placentae) and maternal diseases increased substantially. The affluence of Norway surged in the late 1970s and the 1980s, but health care was not given a higher priority. About 80% of fertile women used contraceptives. The use of modern methods increased substantially; oral contraceptives, in particular. About 60,000 confinements and 15,000 legally induced abortions took place in Norway each year. The number of induced abortions increased in women in their twenties, but decreased in all other age groups. As the total fertility decreased, each woman, on average, gave birth to 1.9 children and experienced 0.5 legally induced abortion. Maternal mortality was reduced to nil. Fewer marriages were contracted, and the divorce rate more than doubled. As a result, more than 35% of all births now occur out of wedlock, as compared with 5% in the late 1960s. The individual importance of birth out of wedlock as a risk factor has been reduced substantially. The mean maternal age increased from 26 to 28 years. The proportion of births by teenage mothers dropped from 8 to 3%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Coherence Tuning in Optically Coupled Phased Vertical Cavity Laser Arrays

Vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser arrays can be designed to operate in a coherently coupled mode, however, high yield has been challenging in past efforts. We discuss microcavity laser arrays that are designed to be optically coupled but with independent bias current injection into each array element. We demonstrate that these arrays can be electronically tuned to coherently coupled operation and at bias conditions not previously realized. Control of injection bias conditions to individual array elements allows resonance tuning of each element with the result that the phase relation and coherence of the array can be engineered. This control enables increased output power in either in-phase or out-of-phase coherent operation from a single array, and ensures coherent operation from nearly all arrays. This ability to tune into coherence will enhance the performance of phased vertical cavity laser arrays as well as improve their fabrication yield.
Votrax real time hardware for phoneme synthesis of speech

A real time phonetic voice synthesizer roughly the size of a small hi-fi amplifier has been developed. It accepts a string of phoneme commands, each consisting of 8 bits. 6 bits determine the phoneme uttered while 2 bits determine the inflection associated with that phoneme. The synthesizer contains an active filter network which simulates the transfer function of the human vocal tract. This analog network is excited by both voicing and fricative sound sources. The sound sources and the vocal tract filter transfer function are dynamically manipulated in response to the numerous phoneme command sequences to produce articulatory synthesis by rule.
“Every Place Has a Ghetto…”: The Significance of Whites' Social and Residential Segregation

The residential and social segregation of whites from blacks creates a socialization process we refer to as “white habitus.” This white habitus limits whites' chances for developing meaningful relationships with blacks and other minorities spatially and psychologically. Using data from the 1997 Survey of College Students' Social Attitudes and the 1998 Detroit Area Study, we show that the spatial segregation experienced by whites from blacks fosters segregated lifestyles and leads them to develop positive views about themselves and negative views about blacks. First, we document the high levels of whites' residential and social segregation. Next, we examine how whites interpret their own self-segregation. Finally, we examine how whites' segregation shapes their racial expressions, attitudes, cognitions, and even their sense of aesthetics as illustrated by their views on the subject of interracial marriage.
Cell-type Specific Targeting of the α2c-Adrenoceptor EVIDENCE FOR THE ORGANIZATION OF RECEPTOR MICRODOMAINS DURING NEURONAL DIFFERENTIATION OF PC12 CELLS

We have previously shown differences in the intracellular targeting of α2a (α2A)- and α2c (α2C)-adrenoreceptors expressed in the same cell line (von Zastrow, M., Link, R., Daunt, D., Barsh, G., and Kobilka, B. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 763–766; Daunt, D. A., Hurt, C., Hein, L., Kallio, J., Feng, F., and Kobilka, B. K. (1997) Mol. Pharmacol. 51, 711–720). α2A-Adrenoreceptors reside primarily in the plasma membrane in HEK 293 cells, while co-expressed α2C-adrenoreceptors are found mainly in an intracellular compartment. Since α2c-adrenoreceptors are expressed primarily in the brain, we compared the intracellular targeting of α2C-adrenoreceptors in two neuroendocrine cell lines with the targeting in three epithelial cell lines and one fibroblast cell line. In transiently transfected COS7 cells, and in stably transfected normal rat kidney cells, Madin-Darby canine kidney cells, and Rat1 fibroblasts, a significant proportion of α2C-adrenoreceptor detected by immunocytochemistry co-localized with markers for both the endoplasmic reticulum and the cis/medial Golgi compartments. In contrast, both PC12 cells and AtT20 cells efficiently targeted α2C-adrenoreceptors to the plasma membrane. Ligand binding and Western blot analyses indicate that intracellular receptor in normal rat kidney cells is functional and undergoes normal post-translational processing. In PC12 cells the expressed α2C-adrenoreceptors become concentrated in neurite outgrowths in discrete regions of the plasma membrane having a high density of F-actin following treatment with nerve growth factor. These findings provide evidence for cell-type specific factors that facilitate the targeting of the G protein-coupled receptors to the plasma membrane.
A Scientific Basis for International Animal Health Regulation: Bluetongue Epidemiology

ABSTRACTThe work which will be reviewed is the product of collaboration between researchers at the University of Wisconsin, the University of Florida, the Organismo Internacional Regional de Sanidad Agropecuaria (Central American Plant and Animal Health Organization), the Interamerican Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture, the USDA Agricultural Research Service Arthropod-borne Animal Disease Laboratory and the Regional Bluetongue Team comprising veterinarians and animal scientists of each of the Ministries of Agriculture of each of the participating countries. Support for this work was provided by the USDA Office of International Cooperation and. Development. A paper published in the American Journal of Veterinary Research will discuss the detailed data (1). Genetic improvement of livestock is enhanced by the free and open international movement of germplasm. Restriction of such movement is sometimes necessary to prevent the introduction of exotic disease. When such restrictions are applied, they shou...
Nerve fiber degeneration following a single experimental cerebral concussion in the rat

Abstract This study has demonstrated widespread nerve fiber degeneration (nfd) following experimental cerebral concussion (ECC) in the rat by use of the Fink-Heimer modification of the Nauta-Gygax silver staining method for impregnation of degenerating axons. Beginning approximately 1 mm rostral to the optic chiasm and progressing caudally to the level of the cervical spinal cord and sampling at 600 μm intervals, 60 of the most prominent neuronal structures showing nfd have been identified and tend to be associated with 3 sites of injury; the coup, the contrecoup and the craniocervical junction. The duration of ECC was compared to the extent of nfd observed.
Strategies for Internationalizing the Business School: Educating for the Global Economy:

The global dimension of business has grown greatly in importance and has become an important aspect of business education. Business school curricula must be modified to reflect this new dimension. This article presents and evaluates the various strategies to achieve this change and finds that the strategy most appropriate for a given school depends on its objectives and the nature and extent of its long term commitment to the internationalization process.
What Level of Knowledge Do Elementary School Teachers Possess Concerning the Care of Children With Asthma? A Pilot Study

A self-report questionnaire was used to assess the level of knowledge among a convenience sample of 34 elementary school teachers in a rural school district in Illinois. The questionnaire addressed general asthma knowledge and management, including signs and symptoms, triggers, and treatment. The results suggest a knowledge deficit among this sample of elementary school teachers; the average score was 75%. Teachers with an increased exposure/experience with asthma scored significantly higher than did those with limited exposure. Implications of these findings for schools in rural areas are discussed.
Relation between ventilation and carbon dioxide production in patients with chronic heart failure.

Abstract Objectives. The aim of this study was to analyze the relation between ventilation and carbon dioxide production and the control of ventilation in patients with chronic heart failure. Background. Patients with chronic heart failure exhibit an increased ventilatory response to exercise. Ventilation is closely linked to carbon dioxide production, producing a high correlation between the two variables. This relation is nonlinear at high levels of exercise. Methods. The ventilation/carbon dioxide production ratio during exercise was examined in 29 patients with chronic heart failure and 9 normal volunteers. Results. In the patients with heart failure, there were three patterns: in the least severely affected patients, the pattern was similar to that of the normal subjects, with an initial decrease in the ventilation/carbon dioxide production ratio to a plateau maintained during exercise; in more severely affected patients, there was an increase in the ratio at the end of exercise, and in the most severely affected patients, the ratio increased from the outset of exercise. The ventilation/carbon dioxide relation is not adequately described by a straight line relation. Conclusions. The ventilation/carbon dioxide ratio is not fixed, and the changes that occur in this ratio reflect either a noncarbon dioxide-driven ventilatory stimulus or an increase in ventilation-perfusion mismatch due to increased dead space ventilation. The different patterns of this ratio may provide clues to the pathophysiologic mechanisms of the excessive ventilation and breathlessness seen during exercise in chronic heart failure.
Identification of LOS in time-varying, frequency selective radio channels

A method is proposed to identify the existence of line-of-sight (LOS) for time-varying, frequency selective radio channels. The proposed method considers the second-order statistical characteristics of underlying process in the channel taps. Identification is established by comparing the autocorrelation coefficients of the first tap with those of any other tap when the other tap reaches its coherence time. Numerical results and related discussions are presented considering several practical scenarios.
Microsomal Triglyceride Transfer Protein Binding and Lipid Transfer Activities Are Independent of Each Other, but Both Are Required for Secretion of Apolipoprotein B Lipoproteins from Liver Cells

Recent studies indicate that microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) and apolipoprotein B (apoB) interact physically via two specific binding sites located within the amino-terminal globular region of apoB100. The first site is thought to be within the first 5.8% of the amino-terminal sequence, and the second site is between 9 and 16% of the amino-terminal sequence. It is not clear from prior studies whether these sites have unique or overlapping functions. Furthermore, there are no data differentiating between lipid transfer and potential chaperone functions of MTP. In the present study we have attempted to further characterize the physiologic interaction between apoB and MTP and to determine the relationship between the binding and lipid transfer aspects of the interaction. HepG2 cells were transiently transfected with apoB cDNAs, and MTP binding to apoB polypeptides was determined by two-step immunoprecipitation. MTP bound equally well to apoB polypeptides with (apoB13, 16,β, apoB34, and apoB42) or without (apoB16, apoB13, and 16 or apoB13, 13, and 16) β sheet domains. When proteasomal degradation of newly synthesized apoB polypeptides was blocked, MTP binding to all of the apoB polypeptides was only modestly affected by lipid availability and was independent of MTP-associated lipid transfer. Furthermore, MTP did not bind directly to a portion of the first β sheet domain. We created two apoB constructs (apoB16del and apoB34del) by deleting the first 210 amino acids of apoB16 and apoB34. These apoB polypeptides, therefore, lacked the putative first MTP binding site. MTP binding to apoB16del and apoB34del was decreased significantly. However, the secretion of apoB16del was not different from apoB16, whereas the secretion of apoB34delwas impaired significantly. Our results indicate that the interaction between MTP and apoB involves independent binding and lipid transfer activities but that both activities are required for the secretion of apolipoprotein B from liver cells.
The mean of the conditional, truncated multinormal distribution

An expression is derived for the mean of the conditional, truncated multinormal distribution in the general case, and for the situation where the conditioning variates have iden¬tical correlation. This equicorrelated case occurs in some models of duration and in panel data. An example is taken from economics, where a cross section of firms consider the adoption of several technological innovations. The results of the paper are used to estimate the firm-specific.
Full vectorial, ultrashort, unidirectional pulse propagators

Rapid progress in recent years in the development of high power ultrashort pulse laser systems has opened up a whole new vista of applications and computational challenges. Amongst those applications that are most challenging from a computational point of view are those involving explosive critical self-focusing with concomitant explosive growth in the generated light spectrum. Moreover, new experimental developments in the field of extreme nonlinear optics will require more rigorous propagation models beyond those existing in the current literature. Specific applications areas chosen for illustration in this paper include atmospheric light string propagation and nonlinear self-trapping in condensed media. These examples exhibit rather different aspects of intense femtosecond pulse propagation and demonstrate the robustness and flexibility of the unidirectional Maxwell propagator. A novel aspect of our approach is that the pulse propagator is designed to faithfully capture the light-material interaction over the broad spectral landscape of relevance to the interaction. Moreover the model provides a seamless and physically self-consistent means of deriving the many ultrashort pulse propagation equations presented in the literature.
Une mesure précise de la demie-vie de 235U pour l'émission α (1)

Une mesure precise de la demie-vie de 235U pour l'emission α a ete faite par une analyse detaillee du spectre α de l'uranium naturel. Par rapport a une chambre d'ionisation, la resolution et la stabilite des detecteurs a jonctions permettent des mesures plus precises pendant des periodes plus longues. La constante radioactive de 235U (λ235) est donnee par la relation suivante : λ235 = λ 238 R N238/N235. La constante radioactive de 238U (λ238) et le rapport isotopique de 238U et 236U (N238/N235) en pourcent d'atomes dans l'uranium naturel sont connus avec precision. La constante R, determinee a partir du spectre α de l'uranium naturel, est egale au rapport de l'intensite α due a 235U a la valeur moyenne des intensites α des isotopes 234 et 238 en equilibre dans l'uranium naturel. Si le spectre α est tel que le groupe central du a 235U (abondance relative de 85,6 % [1]) est suffisamment separe des autres pics, son intensite peut etre determine avec precision. Notre mesure donne : R = 0,0474 ± 0,006, d'ou l'on deduit pour la demie-vie de 235U : T 1/2 = (6,92 ± 0,09) 108 annees. Cette valeur est plus precise et est en accord avec des mesures precedentes.
Schwefel‐Substitutionsprodukte von Aminozuckern II. S‐β‐D‐Glucosaminylxanthogenat

Das Hydrochlorid des S-β-D-Glucosaminylxanthogenats (IV) wurde uber zwei Zwischenprodukte aus dem kurzlich beschriebenen 1-Brom-1-desoxy-3.4.6-triacetyl-N-anisal-α-D-glucosamin (I) dargestellt: Raney-Nickel-Desulfurierung der O.N-Tetraacetylverbindung ergab den 2-Acetamino-2-desoxy-1.5-anhydro-D-sorbit, der ebenfalls durch Lithiumalanat-Reduktion des 1-Brom-1-desoxy-3.4.6-triacetyl-α-D-glucosamin-hydrobromids erhalten werden konnte.
Ligand topology effects on olefin oxidations by bio-inspired [FeII(N2Py2)] catalysts.

Linear tetradentate N2Py2 ligands can coordinate to an octahedral FeII center in three possible topologies (cis-α, cis-β, and trans). While for the N,N′-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-1,2-diaminoethane (bpmen) complex, only the cis-α topology has been observed, for N,N′-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane (bpmcn) both cis-α and cis-β isomers have been reported. To date, no facile interconversion between cis-α and cis-β topologies has been observed for iron(II) complexes even at high temperatures. However, this work provides evidence for facile interconversion in solution of cis-α, cis-β, and trans topologies for [Fe(bpmpn)X2] (bpmpn=N,N′-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-1,3-diaminopropane; X=triflate, CH3CN) complexes. As reported previously, the catalytic behavior of cis-α and cis-β isomers of [Fe(bpmcn)(OTf)2] with respect to olefin oxidation depends dramatically on the geometry adopted by the iron complex. To establish a general pattern of the catalysis/topology dependence, this work presents an extended comparison of the catalytic behavior for oxidation of olefins of a family of [Fe(N2py2)] complexes that present different topologies. 18O labeling experiments provide evidence for a complex mechanistic landscape in which several pathways should be considered. Complexes with a trans topology catalyze only non-water-assisted epoxidation. In contrast, complexes with a cis-α topology, such as [Fe(bpmen)X2] and [Fe(α-bpmcn)(OTf)2], can catalyze both epoxidation and cis-dihydroxylation through a water-assisted mechanism. Surprisingly, [Fe(bpmpn)X2] and [Fe(β-bpmcn)(OTf)2] catalyze epoxidation via a water-assisted pathway and cis-dihydroxylation via a non-water-assisted mechanism, a result that requires two independent and distinct oxidants.
Quantifying fractal dynamics of groundwater systems with detrended fluctuation analysis

Summary Groundwater system is a complex dynamic system characterized by nonstationary input (recharge), output (base flow), and response (groundwater levels). In this paper, scaling properties of the observed nonstationary groundwater levels, streamflow, and base flow are quantified with detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) method. With the results obtained with DFA, we further verify that fluctuations of groundwater levels may indeed be fractional Brownian motion and that fractal scaling may be universal since fluctuations of groundwater levels are affected by various processes over multiple time scales. We also found that there may exist at least two crossovers in fractal scaling of groundwater level fluctuations: one between a few days and 10.0 days and the other between a few months to one year. Variations of groundwater levels are persistent (scaling exponent α > 1.50) at small time scales (less than a few to 10.0 days), anti-persistent (1.00 > α > 1.50) at intermediate time scales (between 10.0 days and a few months), and 1/f noise (α ≅ 1.00) at large time scales (more than a few months). In general, the values of α or temporal correlations decrease as time scale increases, but increase from rainfall to streamflow, to groundwater level, and to base flow due to the dampening effect by the land surface, soils, and aquifers.
Ultra-high-quality Whispering-Gallery-Mode Resonators for Single Nanoparticle Detection and Measurement

We discuss a self-referencing sensing technique using high-quality Whispering-Gallery-Mode (WGM) resonators for detection and measurement of single nanoparticles. We also demonstrate self-heterodyne detection of nanoparticles with radius of 10 nm using WGM microlasers.
East Asian Olympic desires: identity on the global stage in the 1964 Tokyo, 1988 Seoul and 2008 Beijing games

The East Asia Olympic Games of 1964 Tokyo, 1988 Seoul and 2008 Beijing are symbolised to legitimate the Olympic Games as abstracted, universal parade of nations that is severed from their specific, geopolitical conditions. Celebrated as ‘coming out parties,’ these East Asian Olympics are visual spectacles of the globalisation of the Olympic Movement and its espoused universalism. Central to countering these Games as allegories of the ‘universalisation of universalism,’ however, is to historicise the Olympic desires of each host nation. The East Asian Olympic desires for each East Asian Olympic Games will be briefly discussed in terms of how they function within the Olympic Movement and global modernity.
Selective facilitation of synapses in the neocortex by heterosynaptic activation

Heterosynaptic facilitation (HF) of different excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) can be recorded in the motor cortex os anesthetized cats following repetitively applied EPSP-spike stimulus pairs. HF turned out to be synapse-specific in many cases, because not all of the stimulated inputs in the same neuron could produce it. Furthermore, membrane depolarization, increase in membrane resistance and firing activity, can appear with or without HF of a test EPSP.
Naiveté and an aquatic–terrestrial dichotomy in the effects of introduced predators

There is much evidence that suggests that freshwater systems are more sensitive to introduced predators than are terrestrial or marine systems. We argue here that this dichotomy reflects widespread naivete toward introduced predators among freshwater prey. Continental terrestrial animals are seldom naive toward novel predators owing to the homogenizing effects of historical biotic interchanges. Comparable biotic interchanges might have also precluded prey naivete in most marine systems. By contrast, freshwater systems exhibit persistent large- and small-scale heterogeneity in predation regimes. This heterogeneity promotes naivete at multiple spatial scales in freshwater prey, thereby producing a systemic vulnerability to introduced predators that is not seen in continental terrestrial or marine systems.
Dynamic On-Chip Thermal Sensor Calibration Using Performance Counters

Numerous sensors are currently deployed in modern processors to collect thermal information for fine-grained dynamic thermal management (DTM). Due to process variation and silicon aging, on-chip thermal sensors require periodic calibration before use in DTM. However, the calibration cost for thermal sensors can be prohibitively high as the number of on-chip sensors increases. In this paper, a model which is suitable for online calculation is employed to estimate the temperatures of multiple sensor locations on the silicon die. The estimated sensor and actual sensor thermal profile show a very high similarity with correlation coefficient ${\sim}{\rm 0.9}$ for most tested benchmarks. Our calibration approach combines potentially inaccurate temperature values obtained from two sources: temperature readings from thermal sensors and temperature estimations using system performance counters. A data fusion strategy based on Bayesian inference, which combines information from these two sources, is demonstrated along with a temperature estimation approach using performance counters. The average absolute error of the corrected sensor temperature readings is ${ and the standard deviation of error is less than ${ for tested benchmarks.
Nocturnal Respiration Rates and Malic Acid Accumulation in Five Species of Talinum (Portulacaceae) during CAM-Cycling

Summary Dark respiration rates of leaf slices of five species of Talinum (Portulacaceae) did not significantly correlate with nocturnal increases in leaf malic-acid concentrations. Thus, respiration rate does not appear to be the primary limiting factor regarding the degree of nocturnal malic acid accumulation in plants exhibiting CAM-cycling. Instead, these findings support the possibility that the biochemical capacity for CAM limits the amount of malic acid synthesized at night during CAM-cycling.
Semi-serial electron-micrographic reconstruction of putative transducer sites in Pacinian corpuscles.

The Pacinian corpuscle (PC) is composed of an afferent neurite surrounded by an accessory capsule formed by concentric layers of lamellae. Projecting from the neurite, which is elliptical in cross-section, are “filopodia” or axonal, spike-like extensions. These filopodia are the putative sites of transduction. It has been proposed that two populations of filopodia organized in morphofunctional opposition exist, and that this arrangement is responsible for the bidirectional sensitivity of PCs as seen in receptor potential recordings. In order to explore this possibility, PCs obtained from cat mesentery were processed for electron microscopy, and semiserial reconstructions were made. We evaluated the extensions' (n > 110) locations, inclusions, shapes, and sizes. The filopodia were found to project along the major elliptical axis of the neurite, their density being approximately 2.8 per micron. The filopodia were found to contain filaments, vesicles, and amorphous ground substance, and dense accumulations o...
Electron capture and loss by kilo-electron-volt oxygen atoms in collisions with He, H 2 , N 2 , and O 2

Absolute differential cross sections are reported for electron capture and loss by (1-5)-keV oxygen atoms incident on He, H{sub 2}, N{sub 2}, and O{sub 2} for scattering angles between 0.02 deg. and 1.73 deg. in the laboratory frame. The form of the differential cross sections is seen to vary significantly with energy and between different targets. Differences between the present O-atom electron-loss cross sections and those for H atoms reported previously imply that the underlying physical mechanism may not be the same. The integral cross sections, also reported here, are consistent with most previous studies. The consensus of the available electron-loss data suggests that the cross sections of Fogel et al. [Soviet Phys. JETP 35, 601 (1959)] are in error.
Computer-critiqued blood ordering using the HELP system

Abstract Recently the medical risk of blood transfusions has emphasized the need to improve the safe use of blood products. For the past 2 1 2 years at LDS Hospital we have used the HELP computer system to assist and critique ordering of blood products “on-line” by physicians and nurses. This report details the computer methods used to order blood products and to critique the appropriateness of those orders. Physicians personally enter the orders for more than 45% of the blood products using computer terminals, whereas 7% are from physician standing orders. Nurses enter the remaining orders from written orders (26%), verbal orders (14%), and phone orders (8%). There were 3396 blood orders for 1043 patients generated by 273 physicians during the fourth quarter of 1989. Each order is justified at the time it is entered by selecting from a menu of physician-approved criteria. The criteria are linked to supportive data in the data base, i.e., laboratory results and clinical data. The computer verified that 82% of these orders met criteria. Quality Assurance nurses verified the remaining 18%. Of these 18% only one in eight required manual chart review. After computer and Quality Assurance review, only eight (0.24%) of the orders were found to be true exceptions to established criteria. Physicians and nurses have accepted the computerized critiquing system. Through use of the computer we provide “on-line” critiquing and improve the use of scarce blood product resources.
Effect of Hydroxypropylation on Retrogradation and Water Dynamics in Wheat Starch Gels Using 1H NMR

ABSTRACT The water dynamics in gels made from native wheat starch, control (alkali-treated) starch, and hydroxypropylated starch were studied using 1H NMR relaxometry. Transverse relaxation studies showed that at least two domains of water exist in the starch gel, one with a T2 of 0.5–8 msec and one with a T2 at 8–200 msec. For starch gels held at 5°C for up to 15 days, the peak T2 of both regions decreased with time for gels made from native starch, but not for those made from hydroxypropylated starch. Changes in integrated signal in each region suggests that water migrates out of the lower T2 domain during retrogradation. Gels made from isolated amylose had a single, relatively mobile water domain, with T2 dependent on gel concentration. This fraction did not change during storage at 5°C. Granule-rich gels showed two water domains, one with a T2 range similar to that for amylose gels, which varied over time and were thermally reversible. During storage, most significant changes occurred in the relativel...
Specific association of the gene product of PKD2 with the TRPC1 channel

The function(s) of the genes (PKD1 and PKD2) responsible for the majority of cases of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease is unknown. While PKD1 encodes a large integral membrane protein containing several structural motifs found in known proteins involved in cell–cell or cell–matrix interactions, PKD2 has homology to PKD1 and the major subunit of the voltage-activated Ca2+ channels. We now describe sequence homology between PKD2 and various members of the mammalian transient receptor potential channel (TRPC) proteins, thought to be activated by G protein-coupled receptor activation and/or depletion of internal Ca2+ stores. We show that PKD2 can directly associate with TRPC1 but not TRPC3 in transfected cells and in vitro. This association is mediated by two distinct domains in PKD2. One domain involves a minimal region of 73 amino acids in the C-terminal cytoplasmic tail of PKD2 shown previously to constitute an interacting domain with PKD1. However, distinct residues within this region mediate specific interactions with TRPC1 or PKD1. The C-terminal domain is sufficient but not necessary for the PKD2–TRPC1 association. A more N-terminal domain located within transmembrane segments S2 and S5, including a putative pore helical region between S5 and S6, is also responsible for the association. Given the ability of the TRPC to form functional homo- and heteromultimeric complexes, these data provide evidence that PKD2 may be functionally related to TRPC proteins and suggest a possible role of PKD2 in modulating Ca2+ entry in response to G protein-coupled receptor activation and/or store depletion.
Sharing responsibility for student learning

This final chapter examines some of the factors that may influence whether colleges and universities are able to respond effectively to the renewed interest in accountability and suggests that institutional researchers have an important role to play in moving ahead constructively.
Respiratory inhibition and hypoglycemia by biguanides and decamethylenediguanidine.

Abstract Data are presented which support the view that the condensed diguanidines, phenethyl- and amylbiguanide, procedure hypoglycemia through a primary inhibitory effect on certain respiratory enzymes. Succinoxidase was found to be inhibited by the two biguanide compounds and by Synthalin A. The succinic dehydrogenase complex was mildly inhibited by PEBG and Synthalin A, but not by ABG. Cytochrome c oxidation by cytochrome oxidase was inhibited by all three compounds. Synthalin A was found to be 4–6 times more potent than the biguanides in inhibiting cytochrome oxidase activity in vitro . Thus, cytochrome oxidase may be a principal site of inhibition by the biguanides and related guanidines such as Synthalin A. The relationship of the inhibition of respiration to the development of hypoglycemia is discussed.
A focus+context technique based on hyperbolic geometry for visualizing large hierarchies

We present a new focus+context (fisheye) technique for visualizing and manipulating large hierarchies. Our technique assigns more display space to a portion of the hierarchy while still embedding it in the context of the entire hierarchy. The essence of this scheme is to lay out the hierarchy in a uniform way on a hyperbolic plane an d map this plane onto a circular display region. This supports a smooth blending between focus and context, as well as continuous redirection of the focus. We have developed effective procedures for manipulating the focus using pointer clicks as well as interactive dragging, and for smoothly an imating transitions across such manipulation. A laboratory experiment comparing the hyperbolic browser with a conventional hierarchy browser was conducted.
CONTROL OF LITTER DECOMPOSITION IN A SUBALPINE MEADOW-SAGEBRUSH STEPPE ECOTONE UNDER CLIMATE CHANGE

Litter decomposition is an important component of the global carbon and nitrogen cycles. Because climate exerts strong controls over rates of litter decomposition, climate change may alter both cycles. Climate change can influence litter decomposition rates directly, or indirectly through changes in litter quality. The relative importance of climate and litter quality in controlling rates of decomposition varies across ecosystem types. Thus, ecosystem responses to climate change are not readily predictable. This study examines in situ litter decomposition rates of native plant litter of different growth forms (grass, forb, and shrub) in two microclimates (xeric and mesic). In a Colorado subalpine meadow-sagebrush steppe ecotone, a climate-warming treatment was used to determine the influence of litter quality, microclimate, and warming on the rates of decomposition. Three one-year litter bag experiments were performed using senescent leaf litter of the three growth forms from a xeric microclimate (shrub, Artemisia tridentata; grass, Festuca thurberi; forbs, Delphinium nuttallianum, Erigeron speciosus) and a mesic microclimate (shrub, Pentaphylloides floribunda; grass, Festuca thurberi; forbs, Erythronium grandiflo- rum, Ligusticum porteri). A reciprocal transplant litter experiment was performed in the third year to determine the direct effect of warming on litter quality and subsequent litter mass loss rates. Evidence suggests that decomposition was limited by moisture in the xeric zone and by temperature in the mesic zone. Decomposition rates were strongly correlated with the initial lignin:N ratio of the litter. The forbs had a much lower initial lignin:N ratio and, therefore, decomposed at a much higher rate than did the grasses or shrubs. In a changing climate, initial microclimate and changes in litter quality of the bulk litter produced as a result of shifts in species composition may be more important in determining rates of litter decomposition than the direct effect of warming.
The Southern Mount Kenya forest since independence: A social analysis of resource competition

Abstract Large forest reserves represent a long-standing state response to tropical forest destruction. There are, however, growing doubts about their effectiveness as sustainable resource management regimes. This case study uses a social and historical perspective to examine conflicts about the use and management of the Mount Kenya Reserve in Kirinyaga District, Kenya since independence in 1963. Official policies and practices have treated local households and small-scale forest enterprises as the most serious threat to the reserve. In contrast, the paper argues that forest degradation has long been associated with official mismanagement and government-sanctioned development activities. In addition, it suggests that planned and spontaneous conversion of woodlands accelerated in the mid-1980s largely because of the implementation of government plans to establish extensive forest plantations. The paper also discusses proposals by the local and national government to convert forest reserves into tea revenue farms.
Solution of flow in complex geometries by the pseudospectral element method

Abstract A multi-grid domain decomposition approach with the Schwarz alternating procedure has been developed for the solution of flow in complex geometries by the pseudospectral element method in primitive variable form. The approach for flow problems is first to divide the computational domain into a number of simple blocks (fine-grid or coarse-grid subdomains) with the inter-overlapping zone, of which the overlapped grids may or may not be coincided with each other. An isoparametric mapping is next to map each block onto a simple square (or cube), where c 0 pseudospectral elements (quadrilateral or hexahedral), generated by linearly interpolating the shape function which defines the geomery of their parent elements (blocks), are further used to partition the mapped domain. Schwarz alternating procedure is used to exchange data among the blocks, where the multi-grid (two grid) technique is implemented to remove the high frequency error that occurs when the data interpolation from the fine-grid subdomain to the coarse-grid subdomain is conducted. The solution of the pressure equation in each block can be efficiently solved by the two-level preconditioned minimal residual method in terms of eigenfunction expansion technique, which greatly reduces the inverse of the preconditioned matrix to the simplest "algebraic" form with the least storage requirement, i.e., O( N 3 ) in 3D and O( N 2 ) in 2D. Numerical experiments have been performed for both the two-dimensional flow over a cylinder in a channel (Re = 100-1000) and three-dimensional bifurcation flow (Re = 500) to account for the versatility of the proposed technique. The shedding frequency behind a cylinder, Strouhal number increases with increasing Reynolds number, which is different from those found in a square cylinder. As for the bifurcating case, the streamwise velocity profiles of the two-dimensional flow model underestimates the three-dimensional results due to the negligence of boundary effect.
Fluorescence lifetimes of several structurally rigid t-stilbene derivatives

Abstract Fluorescence lifetimes of t-stilbene and its structurally rigid derivatives, i.e. substituted tetrahydrochrysenes, are reported. Single component fluorescence decays are observed for all these compounds. These t-stilbene derivatives show the same spectral features as found in a spectrum of t-stilbene recorded at 77 K but with lower transition energies. All the t-stilbene derivatives have significantly longer fluorescence lifetimes in accordance with that of t-stilbene at lower temperatures.
Evaluation of the effect of an AIDS prevention program on high school students' sexual risk-taking behavior.

The study evaluated the effects of an AIDS prevention program on 179 high school students’ sexual risk-taking behavior. Young actors role modeled behaviors to reduce the risk of AIDS. Sexual risk-taking behavior was assessed prior to and 3 months after attending the program. The pre-test mean sexual risk-taking score was 1.8 (SD = 3.5) with 0 to 30 as the potential range. There were significant differences between pre- and post-test sexual risk-taking behavior for the low-risk group (1.8), Wilcoxon (127) = -4.5, p =. 000, and high-risk group (1.8), Wilcoxon (52) = -2.2, p =. 03. Findings suggest support for role modeling strategies in decreasing sexual risk-taking behavior among high school students.
Improving AIRS spatial co-registration by resampling

The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) was launched on May 4, 2002 on the NASA Aqua Satellite. AIRS measures the infrared spectrum in 2378 channels with a very high spectral resolution of approximately 1200. In this paper, the spatial properties of the infrared channels are presented in their flight configuration. The spatial response for any single channel is slightly irregular and rotates off nadir due to image rotation in the scan mirror. AIRS has several channels with the same spectral frequencies but different spatial responses. These channels are used to demonstrate the efficacy of resampling using standard techniques to improve the co-registration
Examination of prolactin and pituitary-adrenal axis components as intervening variables in the adrenalectomy-induced inhibition of gonadotropin response to castration.

Adrenalectomy performed at the same time as, or 12 h after, castration delays the postcastration rise in LH and FSH for at least 12 h. We tested three mechanisms previously advanced as possible mediators in this suppression: 1) blocking PRL in castrate-adrenalectomized males with bromoergocryptine did not restore the normal postcastration rise in serum LH and FSH, eliminating high PRL levels as a cause of this gonadotropin suppression; 2) exogenous ACTH given at the time of orchidectomy did not inhibit either gonadotropin, eliminating high peripheral ACTH as an agent of adrenalectomy-induced suppression of LH and FSH; and 3) intestinal traction performed at the same time as orchidectomy suppressed the secretion of LH and FSH to the same degree as adrenalectomy, ruling out the lack of any adrenal factor as a means by which adrenalectomy blocked gonadotropin secretion. Our data suggest that the adrenalectomy-induced suppression of LH is due to a neurally mediated stress response probably resulting in suppre...
Structure property correlation for CR-39 polycarbonate in dosimetry

Abstract Commercial CR-39 monomers were distilled to a high degree of purity for the preparation of consistent polymers using a reliable initiator. The extent of polymerization and the degree of crosslinking were characterized by various techniques. New CR-39 polymers made from purified CR-39 monomers have a higher crosslinking density and uniformity compared to commercial CR-39 polymers. Commercial and new CR-39 polymers were irradiated with high energy neutrons of various energies. The neutron tracks were developed by chemical and electrochemical etching processes followed by examination with an automatic image analyzer coupled with an interference microscope. A linear correlation of track density versus dosage was obtained in the 0–5 rem range. A preliminary study on a copolymer of CR-39 and maleic anhydride showed much higher etching velocity compared to CR-39 homopolymers, which may reduce track development time drastically.
Materials Science of Lignocellulosics

Wood and other lignocellulosics have been used as “engineering materials” because they are economical, low in processing energy, renewable, and strong. In some schools of thought, however, lignocellulosics are not considered “materials” in that they do not have consistent, predictable, reproducible, continuous, and uniform properties. This is true for solid lignocellulosics such as wood, but not necessarily true for composites made from lignocellulosics. The chemistry of the components of lignocellulosics can be modified to produce a material with consistent, predictable, and uniform properties. Properties such as dimensional instability, biodegradability, flammability, and degradation due to ultraviolet light, acids, and bases can be altered to produce property-enhanced composites.
Stomatal conductance and gross photosynthesis of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) as influenced by irradiance, temperature, and growth stage

Stomatal conductance (SC) and gross photosynthesis (PG) of two potato clones were measured simultaneously with a dual-isotope porometer. Maximum PG rates by Russet Burbank in the field were at intermediate levels early in the season, nearly doubled during mid-season, and declined during August. Maximum SC and PG rates by Russet Burbank in the field occurred about 11h00, although leaf temperature did not reach its maximum unit1 about 16h00. PG rates by Russet Burbank in the glasshouse were maximum at about 24–30°C; SC was maximum by about 24°C and remained relatively constant at higher temperatures even though PG declined. Clone A6948-4 had higher PG rates in the field than Russet Burbank under all conditions and did not reach maximum levels until 1350 μE. The PG response by Russet Burbank to varied irradiance in the glasshouse was similar to its response in the field.
The time dependence of coherence transfer in homonuclear isotropic mixing experiments

Abstract The fundamental behavior of coherence transfer in isotropic mixing experiments (TOCSY or HOHAHA) is examined. A numerical simulation program has been written to calculate the time dependence of coherence transfer under the isotropic scalar coupling interaction for arbitrary spin systems. Results are shown for a variety of amino acids and for deoxyribose, which should facilitate the selection of optimum mixing times in practical applications of the TOCSY experiment.
Visualization of pulse propagation through an anomalously dispersive intracavity medium

It is well-known that a transfer function method is useful to predict the profile of a pulse after it propagates through an intracavity fast-light medium. However, by using this technique, a behavior of the pulse inside the medium cannot be determined. In this paper, we describe a new theoretical approach to deal with this constraint. In the new method, we find an analytical solution for a monochromatic field of infinite spatial and temporal extents, and add the waves with the weighted amplitude and with the tailored phase to embody a Gaussian input pulse moving toward the cavity. At different time frames, the sum of these waves produces a spatial profile of the pulse before, inside and after the cavity. In particular, the pulse profile can be visualized during a superluminal propagation through the intracavity fast-light medium with zero group index. This model allows us to understand the physical process behind the superluminal propagation through a white light cavity, which is significant to realize a high bandwidth data buffer system overcoming conventional delay bandwidth product(DBP) problem.