cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mouse strain differences in operant self-administration of ethanol.

By the use of operant conditioning procedures, we determined whether mice from two strains, C57BL/6J and BALB/cJ, differ in ethanol-reinforced behavior. To establish ethanol as a reinforcer, drinking was induced by feeding mice prior to the 30-min experimental session. Initially mice received water and then a series of increasing ethanol concentrations (1, 2, 4, and 8%, w/v) in response to a lever press. The volume of liquid consumed per unit of body weight remained relatively constant across concentrations, and thus the amount of ethanol consumed (g/kg) increased with increases in ethanol concentration. At all concentrations the C57BL/6J mice drank larger volumes than the BALB/cJ mice. After shifting the time of feeding from before to after the session, the consumption of 8% ethanol declined 56% for the C57B/6J mice and 81% for the BALB/cJ mice. To determine if ethanol was serving as a reinforcer, behavior and intake were then compared during ethanol and water availability. The ethanol consumption of the C57BL/6J mice markedly exceeded the water consumption and resulted in blood ethanol levels of 199 ±27 mg/dl. These levels significantly exceeded the 8% ethanol intake of the BALB/cJ mice, while 0% intake was low and not significantly different between strains. The 8% ethanol drinking of the BALB/cJ mice did not differ from their water drinking. Thus, ethanol was established as a positive reinforcer for C57BL/6J mice but not for BALB/cJ mice.
Foundations of the American Customer Satisfaction Index

How do we know if an economy is performing well? How do we know if a company is performing well? The fact is that we have serious difficulty answering these questions today. The economy-for nations and for corporations-has changed much more than our theories and measurements. The development of national customer satisfaction indices (NCSIs) represents an important step towards addressing the gap between what we know and what we need to know. This paper describes the methodology underlying one such measure, the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). ACSI represents a uniform system for evaluating, comparing, and - ultimately - enhancing customer satisfaction across firms, industries and nations. Other nations are now adopting the same approach. It is argued that a global network of NCSIs based on a common methodology is not simply desirable, but imperative.
Error Space Motion Control Methodology for Complex Contours

Motion control is a critical component of many engineering systems (e.g., manufacturing, robotics). Most systems have standard interpolation and control schemes for linear and circular contours; therefore, complex contours are often decomposed into a series of line segments and circular arcs. However, there are discontinuities where the line segments and arcs are joined together, and time to complete the contour is substantially increased when acceleration/deceleration interpolation schemes are employed. A motion control scheme known as the error space motion control methodology is proposed in this paper to design servomechanism motion control systems that may be utilized for complex contours. The error space motion control methodology is applied to a two-axis motion control system and simulation studies are conducted for linear, circular, elliptical, and limacon contours. The results demonstrate the excellent tracking ability of the proposed error space motion control methodology and its utility for complex contours.
The unusual narrow line FIR modes of cytidine

Abstract We report the FIR ( −1 ) optical absorption of crystalline powders of cytidine at cryogenic temperatures. The spectrum is unusual insofar as it can be described by 3 series of equally spaced very sharp lines. The data are interpreted as arising from rotations or librations of side groups (OH and NH 2 ) of the molecule coupled with a very low frequency lattice vibration of the 4 molecules in the unit cell of the crystal.
Detection and classification of cyclostationary signals via cyclic-HOS: a unified approach

Detection and classification of cyclostationary signals in noise of unknown distribution is addressed and novel tests for cyclostationarity are proposed. Both cases of known and unknown signal statistics are considered. The proposed approaches exploit the asymptotic normality of sample cyclic- cumulant and polyspectrum estimators for deriving asymptotically optimal X 2 tests. Simpler, but generally suboptimal versions are also presented. Simulations are performed to test the proposed algorithms and illustrate their insensitivity to any stationary noise as well as the ability of higher-than second-order schemes to suppress cyclostationary Gaussian interferences of unknown covariance.
High-energy density storage of natural gas in light hydrocarbon solutions

The storage of natural gas in other light hydrocarbons is one procedure for automotive natural gas usage that reduces the requirement of high-pressure or cryogenic storage. Model solutions of methane in n-butane, propane, and a liquefied-bottled-gas mixture were simulated using the Benedict-Webb-Rubin-Starling equation of state to determine the pressures necessary to maintain a liquid phase with perturbations in both temperature ({minus}1 C to 38 C) and mole fraction (50 to 80 mol% methane). Methane storage in these liquid solutions is between 45 and 93% of an equal tank volume of compressed natural gas (CNG) at 21 MPa and 15 C. The simulation results indicate that solutions of this type contain 40 to 67% of the energy of gasoline at pressures that range from 60 to 40% that of CNG at 21 MPa and 15 C.
Surface-plasmon dispersion in the infinite-barrier model

The linear term in the nonretarded, long-wavelength dispersion relation of the surface plasmon for an infinite-barrier model is evaluated. The calculations are based on the first moment of the density fluctuation at the surface. Both a numerically exact and approximate solutions are presented.
Differential growth of human enteric adenovirus 41 (TAK) in continuous cell lines

Abstract Differing reports exist about the replication of human enteric adenoviruses (EnAds) in various cell lines. There was a suggestion that EnAds are defective, do not grow on primary human diploid cells, and behave like Ad host-range mutants, i.e., they require early gene products from other Ad types for efficient growth. Thus, initially the Graham-293 cell line, which contains the El region (El A, El B) of Ad5, was thought to be an ideal host for EnAds, because it provided the needed functions. Our findings, however, question this contention and show that Ad41 strain TAK, cultured on 293 cells, rapidly loses its infectivity (>90% on the first and 100% by the second passage). In contrast to the results with 293 cells, we found that Ad41 strain TAK can be serially grown to high titers on several continuous cell lines: namely, HeLa, HI407, or HEp-2 cells. In order to investigate the basis for the rapid loss of the Ad41 infectivity upon passaging in 293 cells, Ad41 virions were purified from 293, as well as from HEp-2 cells, and their composition was analyzed. When structural proteins of the complete virions (ϱ = 1.34 g/cm3) were compared by Western blot analysis using polyclonal antibodies to HEp-2-grown virus, only traces of protein V (Mr 46,000 Da) could be detected in particles from 293 cells. In contrast, Ad41 particles obtained from HEp-2 cells exhibited a strong band at the position of protein V. Further, if polyclonal antibodies to 293-grown Ad41 were used in the Western blot, no protein V band was detected in HEp-2-grown virus. Finally, we note that new protein bands (Mr 25,000–35,000 Da) could be observed upon Western blot analysis of 293-derived complete and incomplete Ad41 particles. All of these observations taken together suggest that the low infectivity of Ad41 particles, prepared from 293 cells, could be due to a defect in assembly.
Inhibition of Transcription Factor IIIA-DNA Interactions by Xenobiotic Metal Ions

Transcription factor IIIA (TFIIIA), a cysteine-rich regulatory protein, is the prototype for the largest known superfamily of eukaryotic transcription factors. Members of the TFIIIA superfamily contain Cys2His2 zinc finger domains responsible for nucleic acid binding. Xenobiotic metal ions, which lack known biological function, were previously used as probes for the structure and function of steroid hormone receptors which contain Cys2Cys2 zinc finger domains. Structural alterations in cysteine-rich regulatory proteins by such ions in vivo might potentiate carcinogenesis and other disease processes. In the present study cadmium and other xenobiotic metal ions were used to probe the structure and function of TFIIIA. The specific interaction of TFIIIA with the internal control region (ICR) of the 5S RNA gene, as assayed by DNase I protection, was inhibited by Cd2+ ion concentrations of > or = 0.1 microM. Aluminum ions were also found to inhibit the TFIIIA-5S RNA gene interaction, albeit at higher concentrations (> or = 5 microM). Inhibition by either metal ion was not readily reversible. Other xenobiotic metal ions, such as mercury or cesium, were not found to be inhibitory under these conditions. None of these ions at the concentrations used in this study affected the ability of DNase I to digest DNA or restriction enzymes to specifically cleave DNA. Preincubation of TFIIIA bound to 5S RNA with either Cd2+ or Al3+ resulted in subsequent DNA binding upon dilution and RNA removal, whereas preincubation of free TFIIIA with the metal ions resulted in inhibition of subsequent DNA binding. Because 5S rRNA also binds the TFIIIA zinc finger domains, these results indicate that the 5S RNA bound to TFIIIA protects the protein from metal inhibition and implicates the zinc fingers in the inhibition mechanism. The nature of the footprint inhibition indicates that the N-terminal fingers of TFIIIA are affected by the metal ions. Cd2+ and Al3+ ions also inhibited the ability of TFIIIA to bind complementary single-stranded DNA and promote renaturation, as measured by Tris-phosphate agarose gel electrophoresis. This gel assay is sensitive to DNA conformation and Al3+ ions were found to alter the conformation of single- and double-stranded DNA in this assay. The inhibition of TFIIIA function in vitro by xenobiotic metals offers new insights into the structure and function of TFIIIA and TFIIIA-type zinc finger proteins. Inhibition by Cd2+ occurs at much lower concentrations than previously observed with steroid hormone receptors and suggests that Cys2His2 zinc finger proteins may be especially sensitive to such agents in vivo.
influence of ambient temperature on sleep and body temperature after phentolamine in rats

Phentolamine, an alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist, both decreases rapid-eye-movement sleep (REMS) and causes a dose- and ambient temperature (Ta)-dependent drop in body temperature (Tb). The purpose of this paper was to examine the correlation between changes in sleep and changes in Tb after phentolamine at various Ta's. Tb and sleep were recorded in male rats for 4 h after i.p. injection of either saline or phentolamine (1 mg/kg at Ta 20 degrees C; 5 mg/kg at 20, 30 and 32 degrees C; 10 mg/kg at 20, 30, 32, and 34 degrees C). Changes in sleep were highly correlated with changes in Tb: when Tb dropped, amounts of sleep, especially REMS, also were decreased. The largest effects were seen at Ta 20 degrees C. After 5 mg/kg, Tb was below normal for 2 h and latency to REMS increased 82 +/- 27 min (P less than 0.025). After 10 mg/kg Tb was decreased for 3 h, and latency to REMS increased 91 +/- 19 min (P less than 0.001). While Tb was lower amounts of REMS were also decreased. Smaller effects were observed on slow wave sleep. At those conditions where phentolamine had no effect on Tb (i.e. Ta 20 degrees C, 1 mg/kg, and Ta 32 degrees C, 5 and 10 mg/kg) no differences were found in any measure of sleep. These results demonstrate that the effects of phentolamine on sleep are not caused by direct action on sleep mechanisms, but rather by its actions on thermoregulatory and possibly other mechanisms that modulate sleep.
Two-dimensional amorphous silicon image sensor arrays

Abstract Large two-dimensional amorphous silicon image sensor arrays offer an advantage for high speed document scanning and medical X-ray imaging. We describe our page sized 200 spot per inch imager and the accompanying high speed readout electronics. The spatial resolution performance for white light and X-ray imaging is illustrated. We discuss how the important issues of noise and resolution depend on the properties of a-Si:H, and show how the material can be used to give improved performance of the imagers.
A Novel Method for Dynamic Short-Beam Shear Testing of 3D Woven Composites

A new test method for performing dynamic short-beam shear tests using a momentum trapped Hopkinson pressure bar is proposed. Angle-interlock 3D woven composite specimens were tested under quasi-static and dynamic loading conditions to determine the effect of loading rate on damage evolution. The equilibrium condition in the composite specimen under dynamic loads was verified using finite element analysis of the experiment. A high speed camera was used to capture delamination initiation and propagation during both quasi-static and dynamic experiments. Analysis of the load-deflection curves and the high speed images revealed a good correlation between the modes of damage initiation and propagation with the features in the loading response. The apparent inter-laminar shear strength and the bending stiffness increased with rate of loading. While the damage was observed to propagate at a relative steady rate during quasi-static loading, the high rate of energy input during dynamic loading resulted in a rapid propagation of damage and a subsequent loss of stiffness in the composite as noted in the load-deflection curve.
Ecological relationships among sympatric lizards in a transitional forest in the northern Amazon of Brazil

Sympatric lizards in a transitional forest of Roraima, Brazil, dividing Amazon rain forest from savanna, contained a lizard assemblage of 16 species representing six families. Lizards varied in size, activity (diurnal versus nocturnal), microhabitats used, exposure to various conditions of light availability, prey types, and prey sizes. Overlaps in microhabitat occurrence varied from 0 (no overlap) to 1.0 (total overlap) whereas overlaps in prey types varied from 0.005 to 0.607. Microhabitat overlaps were higher overall than dietary overlaps. Pseudocommunity analyses on microhabitat data indicate that the community is not randomly assembled and that two distinct guilds exist, a leaf-litter guild and an arboreal guild, each with four species. Similar analyses on diet data revealed no apparent guild structure ast the first rank (nearest neighbour). Lizard diets did not differ from a random assortment based on prey type. At lower levels, the assemblage was structured with respect to food. Variation in prey use among lizard species was tied more closely to the effect of lizard body size on prey size (lizards ate different-sized prey items). Although exploitative competition among species may maintain structure within this assemblage it does not necessarily cause the observed differences. Several species are nearly identical ecologically to sister taxa in other environments and within different lizard assemblages suggesting that composition of the local assemblage limits the species that can enter the assemblage. Finally, lack of structure at the lowest (most similar) neighbour ranks may reflect the impact of a transitional habitat on stability of species interactions at the local level.
Existence of the Dynamic Symmetries O4 and SU3 for All Classical Central Potential Problems

It is found that all classical dynamic problems (relativistic as well as non-relativistic) in­ volving central potentials, inherently possess both 0 4 and SU3 symmetry. This leads to a generalization of both the Runge-Lenz vector in the Kepler problem and the conserved sym­ metric tensor in the harmonic oscillator problem. For a general central potential, an explicit construction of the elements of the Lie algebra of 0 4 and SUa in terms of canonical variables is given. The, question of a possible quantum-mechanical analog is discussed. Also, a con­ structive technique is given for imbedding the Lorentz group and SU3 in an infinite-dimensional Lie algebra. After the initial success of SU3 in particle physics, various attempts were made to embed both the internal and external symmetry groups within a larger structure in order to relate different SUa multiplets. How the internal and external symmetry groups interlock, and whether useful results can be obtained from a finite larger algebra has been the subject of much discussion.ll In related investigations, the whole question of internal invariance has come under close scrutiny. The internal invariances that are most clearly understood are those which arise in classical problems ; for these, the invariances derive from a dynamical origin. Recently, a number of classical problems have been extensively re-investigated from the group-structure point of view. Our paper will also be primarily concerned with internal invariances of classical dynamical problems. We shall show that all such central potential problems-relativistic as well as non-relativistic-inherently have both 0 4 and SU3 symmetries. An internal symmetry associated with the non-relativistic Kepler problem (which is responsible for its accidental degeneracy) has been known for a long
Cardiac myocyte remodeling in hypertrophy and progression to failure

Contracting myocytes are highly variable in size and generally resemble elliptical cylinders in shape. Although their arrangement within the ventricular wall is rather complex, their length runs in a tangential manner, and their transverse axis runs transmurally. Consequently, it was proposed many years ago that changes in myocyte length (L) may contribute to chamber dilatation while myocyte transverse growth may be largely responsible for wall thickening during cardiac hypertrophy. In recent years, the development of more efficient, comprehensive, and precise methods of measuring cardiac myocyte dimensions has confirmed this. Specifically, pressure overloading during the compensated phase leads to concentric hypertrophy, which is characterized by an increase in myocyte cross-sectional area (CSA). Volume overloading during the compensated phase leads to a proportional increase in chamber diameter/wall thickness, which is characterized by increased L and CSA. Excessive myocyte lengthening (from series sarcomere addition) without a further change in CSA, appears to be the primary cellular alteration leading to chamber dilatation in the progression to failure. This event occurs long before the development of symptomatic heart failure. Understanding and targeting the associated abnormal signaling underlying this cellular change should have considerable clinical consequences.
Evaluating the Integrity of Adhesive Bonds by the Measurement of Acoustic Properties under Stresses

Adhesively bonded components and structures are widely used in many critical aerospace applications. Several techniques have been developed to evaluate the integrity of adhesive bonds nondestructively. Most of the techniques rely on the ability to correlate the bond integrity to the behavior of the bondline region to elastic wave propagation. Testing for the relative rigidity between the adherend and adhesive layer at the bond interface will yield reliable information of the bond integrity. This can be achieved by either applying stress in the bondline region externally, or be induced internally.
Balls hierarchy: Image segmentation by graph spanner

We propose a novel approach for solving the image segmentation and grouping problem. Our approach focuses on color and regional proximity relations in the image data. We treat image pixels as nodes in the graph so that proximity relations among both pixel's color and position are kept in geometric spanners. Geometric spanners for both color and position are created in hierarchical data structure so-called balls hierarchy. Balls hierarchy creates a multiresolution hierarchical subgraph that reflects a great deal about the original graph while maintaining all the existing proximity information in the image. We show that balls hierarchy can be used for image segmentation and grouping problems. We have applied our novel approach to several exemplary images such as histopathologic images and found results encouraging.
On the completeness of root vectors generated by systems of coupled hyperbolic equations

The paper is the second in a set of two papers, which are devoted to a unified approach to the problem of completeness of the generalized eigenvectors (the root vectors) for a specific class of linear non-selfadjoint unbounded matrix differential operators. The list of the problems for which such operators are the dynamics generators includes the following: (a) initial boundary-value problem (IBVP) for a non-homogeneous string with both distributed and boundary damping; (b) IBVP for small vibrations of an ideal filament with a one-parameter family of dissipative boundary conditions at one end and with a heavy load at the other end; this filament problem is treated for two cases of the boundary parameter: non-singular and singular; (c) IBVP for a three-dimensional damped wave equation with spherically symmetric coefficients and both distributed and boundary damping; (d) IBVP for a system of two coupled hyperbolic equations constituting a Timoshenko beam model with variable coefficients and boundary damping; (e) IBVP for a coupled Euler-Bernoulli and Timoshenko beam model with boundary energy dissipation (the model known in engineering literature as bending-torsion vibration model); (f) IBVP for two coupled Timoshenko beams model, which is currently accepted as an appropriate model describing vibrational behavior of a longer double-walled carbon nanotube. Problems have been discussed in the first paper of the aforementioned set. Problems are discussed in the present paper.
Effect of alveolar volume and sequential filling on the diffusing capacity of the lungs: II. Experiment.

The diffusing capacity of the lung, DL, is a critical physiological parameter, yet the currently accepted clinical model (Jones‐Meade) assumes a well-mixed alveolar region, and a constant DL independent of alveolar volume, VA, despite experimental evidence to the contrary. We have formulated a new mathematical model [Tsoukias, N.M, Wilson, A.F., George, S.C., 2000. Respir. Physiol 120, 231‐249] that considers variable alveolar mixing through a single parameter, k (0BkB1), and a DL that is a positive function of VA (DL a bVA or DLaVA b ). The goal of this study is to determine the suitability of this model to determine the unknown parameters a, b, a, b, and k from experimental data in normal subjects. The model predicts that the normal lung fills, in part, sequentially (k 0.519 0.35). The following average values in all seven subjects were obtained: DLNO 48·VA 2:3 ml:min:mmHg and DLCO200.7·VA ml:min:mmHg (STPD) where VA is expressed in L (STPD). We conclude that the mathematical model is suitable for identifying the unknown parameters and thus can be used to characterize the degree of alveolar mixing (or sequential filling) as well as the volume dependence of DL. © 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Average Grain Size in Polycrystalline Ceramics

A model is proposed which realistically characterizes the grain structure of polycrystalline ceramics. The average grain size of a log-normal distribution of grain sizes with tetrakaidecahedral (truncated octahedral) shape is related to the average intercept size by a proportionality constant. This result can be used to determine the average grain size of a sintered powder compact composed of nontextured grains which shows no discontinuous grain growth.
The Epstein-Barr virus Zta transactivator: a member of the bZIP family with unique DNA-binding specificity and a dimerization domain that lacks the characteristic heptad leucine zipper motif.

Introduction of the zta gene of Epstein-Barr virus into latently infected B cells leads to induction of the entire lytic cycle program of the virus. The Zta gene product is a sequence-specific DNA-binding protein of 35 kilodaltons that behaves as a specific transcriptional transactivator in transient cotransfection assays. All known Zta-responsive target promoters contain one or more members of a family of consensus-binding sites known as ZREs. On the basis of the presence of limited amino acid similarity within a basic carboxy-terminal domain, Zta has been proposed to be a highly divergent member of the c-Jun/c-Fos/GCN4 family of AP-1-binding proteins. We show here that in vitro-translated Zta and the Jun:Fos proteins have overlapping but distinct target DNA-binding specificies; both recognize canonical AP-1 sites, but only Zta recognizes ZRE sites and only Jun:Fos recognizes CRE sites. The relative binding affinity of Zta for oligonucleotides containing the 7-base-pair c-Fos AP-1 site TGAGTCA was twofold greater than that for the ZRE core motifs TGAGCAA, TG TGCAA, and TGAGTAA, but 10-fold greater than that for TGTGTCA, as measured by gel mobility retardation and competition DNA-binding assays. Cross-linking and cotranslational heterodimerization assays showed that like GCN4, Zta forms a stable homodimer in both its DNA-bound and unbound forms. Furthermore, we show that a potential coiled-coil helical domain adjacent to the basic domain of Zta can substitute for the leucine zipper of c-Fos to produce a DNA-binding protein that has a very stringent target DNA specificity and can only recognize symmetric 9-base-pair AP-1 sites (ATGAGTCAT). Therefore, despite the absence of the repeated heptad leucine zipper motifs, the Zta protein retains the characteristic features of a juxtaposed basic region and an exactly aligned coiled-coil alpha-helical dimerization domain of the bZIP class of transcriptional regulatory factors. Images
SURVEILLANCE FOR LEPTOSPIROSIS IN AN ILLINOIS DEER HERD

Serologic tests for leptospiral antibodies were conducted on 3236 sera from white-tailed deer killed in Pope County, Illinois from 1957 through 1968. Antibodies were detected to Leptospira pomona in 162 (5.0%) samples. The percentage of reactors was significantly less in female deer and in fawns of both sexes. The distribution of reactors in the county showed a reactor incidence (reactors/1000 deer tested) of 103 in areas with lower deer densities and higher cattle densities. The incidence in areas with more deer and fewer cattle ranged from 14 to 44.
Choosing where to look next in a mutation sequence space

Motivation: Many biomedical projects would benefit from reducing the time and expense of in vitro experimentation by using computer models for in silico predictions. These models may help determine which expensive biological data are most useful to acquire next. Active Learning techniques for choosing the most informative data enable biologists and computer scientists to optimize experimental data choices for rapid discovery of biological function. To explore design choices that affect this desirable behavior, five novel and five existing Active Learning techniques, together with three control methods, were tested on 57 previously unknown p53 cancer rescue mutants for their ability to build classifiers that predict protein function. The best of these techniques, Maximum Curiosity, improved the baseline accuracy of 56–77%. This article shows that Active Learning is a useful tool for biomedical research, and provides a case study of interest to others facing similar discovery challenges.
Pure-culture growth of fermentative bacteria, facilitated by H2 removal: bioenergetics and H2 production.

We used an H2-purging culture vessel to replace an H2-consuming syntrophic partner, allowing the growth of pure cultures of Syntrophothermus lipocalidus on butyrate and Aminobacterium colombiense on alanine. By decoupling the syntrophic association, it was possible to manipulate and monitor the single organism's growth environment and determine the change in Gibbs free energy yield (ΔG) in response to changes in the concentrations of reactants and products, the purging rate, and the temperature. In each of these situations, H2 production changed such that ΔG remained nearly constant for each organism (−11.1 ± 1.4 kJ mol butyrate−1 for S. lipocalidus and −58.2 ± 1.0 kJ mol alanine−1 for A. colombiense). The cellular maintenance energy, determined from the ΔG value and the hydrogen production rate at the point where the cell number was constant, was 4.6 × 10−13 kJ cell−1 day−1 for S. lipocalidus at 55°C and 6.2 × 10−13 kJ cell−1 day−1 for A. colombiense at 37°C. S. lipocalidus, in particular, seems adapted to thrive under conditions of low energy availability.
Hemodynamic changes during laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients with severe cardiac disease

Abstract Study Objective: To evaluate the hemodynamic changes and need for pharmacologic interventions during laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients with severe cardiac dysfunction. Design: Prospective open study. Setting: University hospital. Patients: 17 ASA physical status III and IV patients with severe cardiac dysfunction undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Interventions: A standardized general anesthetic and surgical technique was used for all patients. In addition to routine monitoring, invasive hemodynamic monitoring included radial and pulmonary artery (PA) cannulation. Measurements and Main Results: Hemodynamic parameters were recorded prior to induction of anesthesia, 5 minutes after induction of anesthesia but prior to incision, 5 minutes after carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) insufflation and head-up tilt, every 10 minutes after change of position, after deflation of the abdomen and return to supine position, and 10 minutes after attaining supine position. Need for any pharmacologic interventions [to maintain mean arterial pressure (MAP) −5 , and/or cardiac index (CI) >1.5 L/min/m 2 ] and the incidence of any myocardial morbidity and mortality was noted. CI decreased significantly ( p p 2 insufflation. Three of the 17 patients required administration of nitroglycerin to maintain the MAP and SVR within the accepted limits, one of whom also required administration of dobutamine to maintain CI. There was no myocardial morbidity or mortality in the perioperative period. Conclusion: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients with severe cardiac dysfunction results in significant hemodynamic changes.
Developmental Interventions for Biologically At-Risk Infants at Home.

There has been a dramatic reduction in mortality rates for premature/low birthweight infants. Surviving infants are at increased developmental risk. Efforts to enhance the development of infants have taken many forms. Experimental studies investigating the effects of home-based early intervention are reviewed in this article. Implications are drawn for early interventionists.
Capillary-wave scattering from an infinitesimal barrier and dissipation at dynamic contact lines

The interaction of pure capillary waves with boundaries that constrain the contact line are of interest for problems involving liquids contained by minimal solid contact for applications in low gravity and at small scales in normal gravity. Time-harmonic capillary waves on a liquid cylinder axially incident on and scattered by an infinitesimal concentric barrier are considered theoretically in the inviscid limit. The barrier is taken to be infinitesimally small in the sense that its immersed depth is of the order of the amplitude of contact-line motion. Edge conditions on the barrier that are investigated include a pinned contact line and a moving contact line by an effective-slip model, assuming that contact-line velocity is proportional to the deviation of the contact angle from equilibrium multiplied by a slip coefficient. The incident waves are taken to be those with wavelengths short enough to be stable on the liquid cylinder. Scattering and dissipation by the contact line are determined as a function of wavenumber and slip coefficient. Zero transmission is approached in the long-wave limit. The short-wave limit agrees with established results for the scattering of planar gravity–capillary waves on a deep liquid by a surface-piercing vertical barrier in the limit of zero barrier depth and zero gravity. We find that contact-line dissipation at the barrier is a maximum for incident waves whose phase speed is of the order of the slip coefficient, which is interpreted as an effect of impedance matching. Transmission past an infinitesimal barrier is found to be low over all parameter space, illustrating the importance of contact-line constraints.
How Much Calcium Is in Your Drinking Water? A Survey of Calcium Concentrations in Bottled and Tap Water and Their Significance for Medical Treatment and Drug Administration

Introduction Different forms of water vary in calcium content. High divalent ion (i.e., Ca2+, Mg2+, etc.) concentration is deleterious to the absorption and efficacy of the bisphosphonate group of drugs in osteoporosis treatment. Water with high calcium concentration may also present an alternate pathway of calcium administration. In either case, knowing the actual concentration is critical.
Modeling of a Dual Stator Winding Induction Machine Including the Effect of Main Flux Linkage Magnetic Saturation

The air-gap flux linkage of a dual-stator-winding squirrel-cage induction machine comprises of four fundamental flux components due to the currents flowing in the two stator windings with P1 and P2 pole numbers and the currents that they induce in the squirrel cage. In view of the dissimilar pole numbers of the stator windings and frequencies of the supply voltages, the air-gap flux linkage waveform is complex, particularly when the stator and rotor teeth are saturated. This paper explores this complexity using analytic computer simulation, finite-element analysis, and some experimental results. Furthermore, a fundamental component circuit model of the machine is set forth, which, with the use of a specially defined reference frame transformation, permits an accurate simulation of the transient and dynamic characteristics. Computer simulation results are validated by some experimental results obtained from a 2-hp machine.
Violation of the weak energy condition in inflating spacetimes

We argue that many future-eternal inflating spacetimes are likely to violate the weak energy condition. It is possible that such spacetimes may not enforce any of the known averaged conditions either. If this is indeed the case, it may open the door to constructing nonsingular, past-eternal inflating cosmologies. Simple nonsingular models are, however, unsatisfactory, and it is not clear if satisfactory models can be built that solve the problem of the initial singularity.
The Influence of African Easterly Waves on Convection over Tropical Africa and the East Atlantic

AbstractUsing data from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM), the modulation of convection by African easterly waves (AEWs) is investigated over regions of the east Atlantic and tropical Africa. To explain the modulation of convection, the large-scale environment (lift, moisture, conditional instability, and shear) is also examined as a function of AEW phase in each region.Over semiarid portions of tropical Africa, unconditional rain rates are greatest in the northerly phase of AEWs due to the strong adiabatic forcing for ascent. Along the Guinea Coast, the western coast of Africa, and over the east Atlantic—where forcing for ascent is weaker—rainfall is shifted toward the trough where the air is moist. Significant contrasts in the characteristics of convection as a function of AEW phase—comparable in magnitude to regional contrasts—are also observed. In all regions, large and high echo-top convective systems are more sensitive to AEW phase than small and low echo-top systems. In semiarid region...
Ultratrace Metals Analysis by Electrothermal Atomization Atomic Absorption — Present Technology and Potential Developments

The history of electrothermal atomization atomic absorption (ETAA) is briefly reviewed for background. Some principles of ETAA and its differences from more traditional flame AA are discussed to explain the advantages of this technique for ultratrace metals analysis. The present status of ETAA is also reviewed — ETAA is now routinely used for certain trace metals in a wide variety of samples. Some refractory elements (examples are V, Mo, Ba) are now readily analyzed, and there area growing number of applications to solid samples and even indirect analysis of non-metallics. Some recent advances in temperature and power control methods have greatly improved sensitivity and repeatability of analytical conditions. Likely future developments of ETAA are in enhanced sensitivity, applicability to an ever-wider variety of samples, and multielement determinations. Some of the author’s research on substrate effects, fill gas effects, and speciation is discussed where applicable to the future of ETAA.
[Recent infected and newly reported HIV cases in Jiangsu province, 2011-2013].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the status of recent infected and newly reported HIV cases in Jiangsu province. METHODS: Information including general demographic mode of transmission and sample source of newly reported HIV infected cases was collected. Corresponding serum or plasma samples were collected and tested with BED-CEIA. Proportions of recent HIV infections among different populations were calculated and associated factors of recent HIV infection calculated. RESULTS: Among cases infected through different channels as homosexual heterosexual and needles sharing the proportions of recent infections were 29.19% 17.40% and 21.75% respectively. Statistically significant difference was seen between different populations(P < 0.05). Compared with female cases male cases were more likely to be recent infected (OR = 1.569 95%CI: 1.168-2.107). Compared with cases older than 35 years of age the ones that younger than that age were more likely to be recently infected (OR = 1.556 95% CI:1.289-1.879). Compared with cases who remained single those married cases were more likely to be long-term infections(OR = 0.789 95%CI:0.649-0.960). Compared with patients identified by hospitals the recent HIV infections were more likely to be found through voluntary counseling programs and testing (OR = 2.278 95%CI: 1.853-2.801) project-based surveillance programs (OR = 2.409 95%CI:1.860- 3.120) and unpaid blood donation sites (OR = 2.911 95%CI:2.118-4.001)(P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Proportion of MSM ranked 1st in the newly reported HIV cases in Jiangsu province. Related HIV case-finding programs should be strengthened to reduce the secondary transmission.
The natural history of abdominal pain associated with primary biliary cirrhosis.

Objectives The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence and natural history of abdominal pain in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis. Methods We studied 178 patients with well-defined primary biliary cirrhosis enrolled in a prospective randomized trial of ursodeoxycholic acid. These patients underwent upper endoscopy and upper abdominal ultrasound prior to entry, at 2 yr, and as indicated. Fourteen patients had additional evaluations including abdominal CT (four), colon x-ray (five), colonoscopy (three), endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (two), and upper gastrointestinal x-ray (two). Results Patients with abdominal pain generally presented with right upper quadrant discomfort. Thirty-one patients (17%) had pain at study entry: 33% of these had pain persisting at 1 yr, and 20% of these had pain persisting at 2 yr. The resolution of pain was not clearly affected by ursodeoxycholic acid. Evaluation with ultrasound and upper endoscopy found four patients with asymptomatic cholelithiasis, one with esophageal erosions, four with gastric erosions, one with a gastric ulcer, and two with duodenal erosions. Additional tests were unrevealing in 14 patients. Patients with pain were similar to patients without pain with regard to age, histological stage, gender, and liver biochemistries. Conclusions We conclude that chronic right upper quadrant pain is not uncommon in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis, that it usually resolves spontaneously, and that upper endoscopy is the most important diagnostic test to use to exclude treatable causes of pain.
The Voting Problem

(1959). The Voting Problem. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 66, No. 9, pp. 761-763.
Therapeutic boundaries in telepsychology: Unique issues and best practice recommendations

Technology-assisted mental health services are becoming much more routinely utilized by clients and practitioners alike. Clinicians practicing telepsychology must prepare themselves in order to provide competent care in this ever-evolving context of service delivery. Although much has been written with regards to considerations of ethical and legal practice, practical and logistical guidelines, and the advantages and disadvantages of the delivery of services via the use of technology, little to no attention has been paid to issues related to therapeutic boundaries in the telepsychology relationship. Clinicians must consider how to maintain appropriate boundaries in telepsychology settings in order to prevent harm and optimize treatment gains. Such considerations are also necessary given that it is probable that the telepsychology clinician will encounter novel boundary issues that are unlikely to occur in the traditional face-to-face therapy setting. We discuss the clinical utility of boundaries, potential boundary issues in telepsychology settings, and suggested best practice recommendations to ensure competent, ethical, and efficacious treatment in this novel context of service delivery.
Analysis on accreditation results of 29 laboratories in Chongqing

Objective:To analyze document for metrology accreditatior of 29 laboratories in Chongqing,and facilitate further improving of quality management in these laboratories.Methods: Field accreditation review reports of 29 laboratories in Chongqing were analysed by Excel.Results: In total,744 nonconformities were screened,with an average of 25.7 items per laboratory,accounting for 15.1% of the items reviewed.A normal distribution was observed in the accreditation results.The nonconformities occurred in more than 30% factors included document control,purchasing services and supplies,management review,records,contract review and management system.Conclusion: There are still some nonconformities in each laboratory,especially on document control,purchasing services and supplies and management review.More attention shouldbe paid to improve the quality management systems.
FLUCTUATION EXPERIMENTS ON SODIUM CHANNELS OF NERVE

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses fluctuation experiments on the sodium channels of nerve. Rapid gating currents of nerve membranes, which are thought to be associated with the activation of Na channels, are reversibly blocked by depolarization. The block resembles the inactivation process of Na channels by its voltage and time dependence. This observation, and the absence of gating current attributable to the inactivation process, has led to propose a reaction scheme where inactivation requires partial or complete activation and where, in turn, inactivation prevents a complete reversal of activation. Two kinds of fluctuation experiments have been devised for testing this hypothesis in an independent way. The open probability of Na channels at the peak of the Na current is determined. Channels that inactivate only after they have become activated have by this time a larger chance to be open than channels that can inactivate at any time after a depolarizing step.
The diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in malnourished Kenyan children.

SUMMARYGuidelines available for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) in children vary widely. In an area of high prevalence, pulmonary TB was often suspected but difficult to confirm. In a prospective study, diagnostic methods were recorded in 144 consecutive children admitted and diagnosed as having pulmonary TB. Six of the 144 children had bacteriologically confirmed tuberculosis. Seventy-five children had probable tuberculosis, the diagnosis being based on the tuberculin response in 19, a history of family contact in 34 and a diagnostic chest radiograph in 22. The remaining 63 children had suspected tuberculosis: 23 of these had an inconclusive chest X-ray. The suspected group were significantly younger than the probable group (mean ages 2·8 and 4·4 years respectively), experienced a longer delay between admission and the start of anti-tuberculous chemotherapy and suffered a significantly higher mortality (30% and 8% respectively). A diagnostic process is proposed which takes account of the hig...
Effects of aging on the structural, mechanical, and thermal properties of the silicone rubber current transformer insulation bushing for a 500 kV substation.

In order to analyze the cracking and aging reason of the silicone rubber current transformer (CT) insulation bushing used for 8 years from a 500 kV alternating current substation, characteristics including Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, mechanical properties analysis, hardness, and thermo gravimetric analysis have been carried out. The FTIR results indicated that the external surface of the silicone rubber CT insulation bushing suffered from more serious aging than the internal part, fracture of side chain Si–C bond was much more than the backbone. Mechanical properties and thermal stability results illustrated that the main aging reasons were the breakage of side chain Si–C bond and the excessive cross-linking reaction of the backbone. This study can provide valuable basis for evaluating degradation mechanism and aging state of the silicone rubber insulation bushing in electric power field.
Teens Engage More with Fewer Photos: Temporal and Comparative Analysis on Behaviors in Instagram

Research has suggested that teens are more active and engaged than adults on social media. Most of such observations, however, have been made through the analysis of limited ethnographic or cross-sectional data. Using a temporally extended, large-scale dataset and comparative analyses to remedy this shortcoming, we examined how and why the age difference in the behaviors of users in Instagram might have occurred through the lenses of social cognition, developmental psychology, and human-computer interaction. We proposed two hypotheses -- teens as digital natives and the need for social interactions -- as the theoretical framework for understanding the factors that help explain the behavioral differences. Our computational analysis identified the following novel findings: (1) teens post fewer photos than adults; (2) teens remove more photos based on the number of Likes the photos received; and (3) teens have less diverse photo content. Our analysis was also able to confirm prior ethnographic accounts that teens are more engaged in Liking and commenting, and express their emotions and social interests more than adults. We discussed theoretical and practical interpretations and implications as well as future research directions from the results. Our datasets are available at: https://goo.gl/LqTYNv
A Commentary on Three Consensus Development Conferences on Transfusion Medicine

Summary The panel's conclusions were specific, stating that the available evidence does not support the use of a single criterion such as 10 g/30% and that there is no evidence that mild to moderate anemia contributes to perioperative morbidity. Due to the risk of disease transmission and immune changes, homologous transfusion should be minimized. A variety of promising alternatives to homologous transfusion are being developed and will decrease the use of homologous blood products. “However, in the foreseeable future homologous blood transfusion will continue to be the therapeutic mainstay… Future research is necessary to define the best indications for red cell transfusion and the safest methods of blood conservation and delivery.”