cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Long-chain acyl-coenzyme A synthetase from rat brain microsomes

The activation of docosahexaenoic acid by rat brain microsomes was studied using an assay method based on the extraction of unreacted [1-14C]docosahexaenoic acid and the insolubility of [1-14C]docosahexaenoyl-CoA in heptane. This reaction showed a requirement for ATP, CoA, and MgCl2 and exhibited optimal activity at pH 8.0 in the presence of dithiothreitol and when incubated at 45°C. The apparent Km values for ATP (185 μM), CoA (4.88 μM), MgCl2 (555 μM) and [1-14C]docosahexaenoic acid (26 μM) were determined. The presence of bovine serum albumin or Triton X-100 in the incubation medium caused a significant decrease in the Km and Vm values for [1-14C]docosahexaenoic acid. The enzyme was labile at 45°C (t1/2 : 3.3 min) and 37°C(t1/2:26.5 min) and lost 36% of its activity after freezing and thawing. The transition temperature (Tc) obtained from Arrhenius plot was 27°C with the activation energies of 74kj/mol between 0°C adn 27°C and 30kJ/mol between 27°C and 45°C. [1-14C]Palmitic acid activation in rat brain and liver microsomes showed apparent Km values of 25 μM and 29 μM respectively, with V values of 13 and 46 nmol × min −1 xmg protein −1. The presence of Triton X-100 (0.05%) in the incubation medium enhanced the V value of the liver enzyme fourfold without affecting the Km value. Brain palmitoyl-CoA synthesis, on the other hand, showed a decreased Km value in the presence of Triton X-100 with unchanged V. The Tc obtained were 25°C and 28°C for brain and liver enzyme with an apparent activation energy of 109 and 24kJ/mol below and above Tc for brain enzyme and 86 and 3.3 kJ/mol for liver enzyme. The similar results obtained for the activation of docosahexaenoate and palmitate in brain microsomes suggest the possible existence of a single long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase. The differences observed in the activation of palmitate between brain and liver microsomes may be due to organ differences. Fatty acid competition studies showed a greater inhibition of labeled docosahexaenoic and palmitic acid activation in the presence of unlabeled unsaturated fatty acids. The Ki values for unlabeled docosahexaenoate and arachidonate were 38 μM and 19 μM respectively for the activation of [1-14C]docosahexaenoate. In contrast, the competition of unlabeled saturated fatty acids for activation of labeled docosahexaenoate is much less than that for activation of labeled palmitate. The preferential inhibition by unsaturated fatty acids, especially the polyunsaturated fatty acids, of the activation of docosahexaenoic and palmitic acids, as compared to inhibition by saturated fatty acids may be the results of the higher affinity or ready accessibility of these more unsaturated substrates to the membrane-bound enzyme.
Integrating cognitive levels into the interface

This paper describes how research in the field of Cognitive Science offers a methodology for examining how information processing systems (IPSs), such as humans and computers, acquire and use knowledge. As an example, the paper illustrates how computer interface designers might use connectionist models of brain activity to design more effective hypermedia interfaces. This paper maps Paul Smolensky's four levels of the mind Meaning Operation Subsymbolic Physical to "cognitive modes." The author suggests that interface designers who work in hypermedia can provide similar cognitive levels for the nodes in a network.
Nanosecond pulsed electric field interactions with microglia and astrocytes

Pulsed electrical fields (PEFs) that weaken the integrity of cellular membranes have been used for a variety of biomedical applications. Recent work suggests that nanosecond PEFs (nsPEFs) might be more beneficial than longer duration PEFs due to their slightly different mechanism of interaction with the cells. The nervous system presents an attractive, yet underutilized, biological target for nsPFE applications. In this paper we describe an in vitro primary mixed cortical cell system to test the effects of nsPFEs.
From extraneous noise to categorizable signatures: using multi-scale analyses to assess implicit interaction needs of older adults with visual impairments

The holistic understanding of human-computer interaction (HCI) is increasingly important, especially given the impending influx of older users who present dynamic needs that evolve with age. This study explores pupillary response behavior (PRB) during computer interaction to identify underlying differences between older adults of varying ocular profiles. PRB was measured from two groups of individuals diagnosed with Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and a visually healthy control group. Unconventional analytical techniques – wavelet-based multifractal analyses – were used to identify PRB anomalies resulting from the effects of aging and/or ocular pathology. A distribution of regularity indices was extracted from the data signals to reveal signatures of PRB change patterns. One characteristic of the multifractal spectrum, Left Slope (LS), fully distinguished the user groups, revealing trends of increasing PRB irregularity with increasing levels of ocular dysfunction.
Numerical Modeling of Circulators

The sections in this article are 1 Computer-Aided Design of Planar Circulators 2 Ferrite Material Parameters Affecting Modeling 3 Uniform Two-Dimensional Green's Function 4 Uniform Three-Dimensional Green's Function 5 Inhomogeneous Two-Dimensional Dyadic Green's Function 6 Inhomogeneous Three-Dimensional Dyadic Green's Function 7 Multiple Layers Under the Circulator Metallization 8 Loss Contributions 9 Matching Sections 10 Numerical Studies and Comparison with Experiment 11 Future Developments
MYOGLOBIN IN PELAGIC SMALL CETACEANS

Although myoglobin (Mb) is considered to contribute significantly to the oxygen and diving capacity of marine mammals, few data are available for cetaceans. Cetacean by-catch in the tuna driftnet fisheries in the Sulu Sea, Philippines, afforded the opportunity to examine Mb content and distribution, and to determine muscle mass composition, in Fraser's (Lagenodelphis hosei) and spinner (Stenella longirostris) dolphins and a pygmy killer whale (Feresa attenuata). Age was estimated by body length determination. Stomach contents were analyzed for the presence or absence of milk and solid foods. It was hypothesized (a) that Mb concentration ([Mb]) would be higher in Fraser's and spinner dolphins than in other small cetaceans because of the known mesopelagic distribution of their prey, (b) that [Mb] would vary among different muscles according to function during diving, and (c) that [Mb] would increase with age during development. The results were as follows. (1) Myoglobin concentrations of the longissimus muscle in adult Fraser's (6.8-7.2 g 100 g-1 muscle) and spinner (5-6 g 100 g-1 muscle) dolphins and in an immature pygmy killer whale (5.7 g 100 g-1 muscle) were higher than those reported previously for small cetaceans. (2) [Mb] varied significantly among the different muscle types in adult dolphins but not in calves; in adults, swimming muscles had significantly higher [Mb] than did non-swimming muscles, contained 82-86 % of total Mb, and constituted 75-80 % of total muscle mass. (3) Myoglobin concentrations in Fraser's and spinner dolphins increased with size and age and were 3-4 times greater in adults than in calves. The high Mb concentrations measured in the primary locomotory muscles of these pelagic dolphins are consistent with the known mesopelagic foraging behaviour of Fraser's and spinner dolphins and suggest that the pygmy killer whale is also a deep-diving species. The high Mb concentrations in epaxial, hypaxial and abdominal muscle groups also support the primary locomotory functions suggested for these muscles in other anatomical studies. As in other species, the increase in [Mb] during development probably parallels the development of diving capacity.
A catalogue of splice junction sequences

Abstract Splice junction sequences from a large number of nuclear and viral genes encoding protein have been collected. The sequence CAAG/GTAGAGT was found to be a consensus of 139 exon-intron boundaries (or donor sequences) and (TC)nNCTAG/G was found to be a consensus of 130 intron-exon boundaries (or acceptor sequences). The possible role of splice junction sequences as signals for processing is discussed.
GLOBAL CLIMATE SCIENCE, UNCERTAINTY AND POLITICS: DATA-LADEN MODELS, MODEL-FILTERED DATA

(1999). Global climate science, uncertainty and politics: Data‐laden models, model‐filtered data. Science as Culture: Vol. 8, No. 4, pp. 437-472.
Negative and secondary ion formation in low-pressure flames

Mass spectrometry and Langmuir probes have been used in a study of negative- and secondary positive-ion formation in low-pressure flames. Individual positive- and negative-ion profiles have been examined as a function of pressure and flame composition. Two mechanisms for secondary positive ion formation are proposed: The first consists of a series of charge-exchange reactions involving the primary ion (e.g., CHO + ) and stable neutral combustion intermediates: CHO + +CH 2 O→CH 2 OH + +CO CHO + +CH 3 OH→CH 3 OH 2 + +CO CHO + +CH 3 CHO→CH 3 CHOH + +CO CHO + +C 2 H 2 O→C 2 H 3 O + +CO. The plausibility of these reactions has been demonstrated by addition of CH 2 O, CH 3 OH, and CH 3 CHO to atomic diffusion flames. The second mechanism is one in which a primary ion undergoes a chain of oxidative degradation reactions which includes the observed ions as intermediates. Addition of N 2 and CO 2 to flames, together with the observed effects of varying flame composition, has led to the conclusion that, in addition to CHO + , an important primary ion is C 3 H 3 + . The proposed process responsible for the formation of C 3 H 3 + is: CH * +C 2 H 2 →C 3 H 3 + + e . Langmuir probe studies of a C 3 H 8 -air flame at 40 Torr have confirmed the importance of diffusional loss mechanisms in low-pressure flames and have led to the conclusion that the recombination coefficient α is temperature-independent. The measured values for the recombination coefficient and ambipolar diffusion coefficient are: α =2.4×10 −7 cm 3 /sec; D a =60 cm 2 /sec (referred to 1 Torr, 298°K). Taken together with values in the literature we conclude that α =2.4±0.4×10 −7 cm 3 /sec independent of temperature and pressure. Mass-spectrometric negative-ion profiles demonstrate, for the first time, the presence of significant quantities of negative ions in flames at 1 to 3 Torr. Dissociative attachment processes are the most probable formation route, and arguments are presented for C 2 − as the first negative ion formed via e +C 2 H 2 O * →C 2 − +H 2 O.
In Vitro Targeting of Antibody-Conjugated Echogenic Liposomes for Site-Specific Ultrasonic Image Enhancement

Tissue-specific ultrasonic enhancement can be used for the detection and characterization of atherosclerosis. We have previously demonstrated the generation of inherently echogenic (acoustically reflective) liposomes solely by varying lipid composition and controlling the method of production. In this study, echogenic liposomes composed of phosphatidylcholine (PC), 4-(p-maleimidophenyl) butyryl phosphatidyl-ethanolamine (MPB-PE), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), and cholesterol were conjugated to human gamma globulin to determine the effect of antibody conjugation on liposomal acoustic reflectivity. The liposomes remained highly echogenic following antibody conjugation. Echogenic liposomes were also conjugated to rabbit antihuman fibrinogen to study their ability to target fibrin. Antibody-conjugated liposomes were targeted to fibrin-coated filter paper and slides, thrombi made in vitro, and segments of atheroma in an animal model of atherosclerosis. Liposomes were detected by scanning electron microscopy, radiolabeling, and imaging with intravascular ultrasound. Electron microscopy revealed attachment of antibody-conjugated liposomes to fibrin on slides and to the fibrous plaques of the arterial segments, whereas unconjugated liposomes did not attach. Similarly, conjugated liposomes did not attach to normal arteries, indicating their binding to the arterial segment is directed towards a component of the fibrous plaque. Ultrasound imaging of the thrombi demonstrated surface attachment of the acoustic conjugated liposomes. 125I-Labeled liposomes conjugated to rabbit anti-human were targeted to fibrin-coated paper. Counting specifically bound radioactivity showed that > 84% of applied liposomes remained attached to the fibrin after washing with saline. These results demonstrate the potential of acoustically reflective liposomes for site-specific targeting and acoustic enhancement.
Learner-Centered Teaching and the Use of Technology

This article explores the use of various learning technologies as tools for facilitating learner-centered teaching. The article offers another perspective on the scholarship of teaching with technologyâ€”through discussion of various theoretical models of learner-centered teaching, the role of technology on the student/instructor relationships, the impact on technology in different educational settings and contexts, and learnersâ€™ cultural differences. The article concludes with a brief discussion of future trends, cautions, and speculations related to technology use in learner-centered teaching.
Characterization of the heat shock response in mature zebrafish (Danio rerio).

Abstract Heat shock proteins (Hsps) are involved in many physiological and pathological processes and are diminished with age in a variety of species. As zebrafish embryos have proven to be excellent models for studying Hsp response during development, we sought to characterize the response in mature zebrafish to demonstrate the utility of the zebrafish model in studying late-life diseases and the biology of aging. Accordingly, mature zebrafish were exposed to a 37 °C heat stress and mRNA was isolated from various tissues and subjected to analysis by RT-PCR. We found that Hsp70 was upregulated in brain, liver, and muscle, while Hsp47 was upregulated in brain, but not liver or muscle. Hsp90alpha, Hsp90beta, and heat shock factor 1a (Hsf1a) were expressed in all three tissues, but were not upregulated in response to heat stress. A comparison of Hsp expression in young versus mature zebrafish revealed decreased basal levels of Hsp70 and increased levels of Hsf1a in mature fish. These results indicate that the heat shock response is detectable in mature zebrafish and that there are age differences in their heat shock response, suggesting that mature zebrafish may be a useful model for studying Hsp response during the aging process.
Globalización: Estado y sociedad civil: El nuevo contexto histórico de los derechos humanos

La globalizacion es la palabra clave de la transformacion estructural que esta sufriendo nuestro mundo. Sufriendo es el termino adecuado, aun reconociendo el extraordinario desarrollo tecnologico y economico que estamos viviendo en las sociedades desarrolladas, porque el proceso de cambio se presenta para la mayoria de las personas como ajeno, incontrolable e inevitable. De ahi que hayan surgido fuertes reacciones defensivas y movimientos criticos contra el proceso de globalizacion. Y una de esas criticas se refiere al desarrollo unidimensional de la globalizacion en torno a intereses economicos capitalistas. Pero en realidad la transformacion que estamos viviendo es multidimensional. Y junto a la globalizacion de la tecnologia y la economia se plantea con fuerza creciente la globalizacion de la politica y la cultura. Por arriba, mediante la conexion entre los estados y la expansion planetaria de los medios de comunicacion. Por abajo, mediante la emergencia de voces criticas y movimientos sociales que plantean el control social de la globalizacion economica, junto con la globalizacion de los derechos humanos y la afirmacion politica de su respeto universal. Para avanzar la investigacion teorica en este debate es necesario partir de la observacion de los procesos recientes, asi como del esclarecimiento analitico de las cuestiones que se plantean. Mi planteamiento es que una comprension adecuada de la relacion entre globalizacion y derechos humanos requiere estudiar el cambio de relaciones entre estado y sociedad civil, en una epoca caracterizada por la crisis del estado nacion, sometido a la tension contradictoria entre globalizacion instrumental y localizacion identitaria
Sterols of Saccharomyces cerevisiae erg6 Knockout Mutant Expressing the Pneumocystis carinii S‐Adenosylmethionine:Sterol C‐24 Methyltransferase

The AIDS-associated lung pathogen Pneumocystis is classified as a fungus although Pneumocystis has several distinct features such as the absence of ergosterol, the major sterol of most fungi. The P. carinii S-adenosylmethionine:sterol C24-methyltransferase (SAM:SMT) enzyme, coded by the erg6 gene, transfers either one or two methyl groups to the C-24 position of the sterol side chain producing both C28 and C29 24-alkylsterols in approximately the same proportions whereas most fungal SAM:SMT transfer only one methyl group to the side chain. The sterol compositions of wild type Sacchromyces cerevisiae, the erg6 knockout mutant (Δerg6), and Δerg6 expressing the P. carinii or the S. cerevisiae erg6 gene were analyzed by a variety of chromatographic and spectroscopic procedures to examine functional complementation in the yeast expression system. Detailed sterol analyses were obtained using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-NMR). The P. carinii SAM:SMT in the Δerg6 restored its ability to produce the C28 sterol ergosterol as the major sterol, and also resulted in low levels of C29 sterols. This indicates that while the P. carinii SAM:SMT in the yeast Δerg6 cells was able to transfer a second methyl group to the side chain, the action of Δ24(28)-sterol reductase (coded by the erg4 gene) in the yeast cells prevented the formation and accumulation of as many C29 sterols as that found in P. carinii.
Everyday Security: Default to Decency

Sociological study of normal routine behavior informs us of the mechanisms through which safety and social order are maintained. From ethnographic studies of public sites such as the New York subway system, we learn how workers' routines fit or do not fit into official security-era policies coming from above. Suggestions are provided for concrete mechanisms likely to enhance security while providing collateral benefits of enhanced efficiency and pleasure to members of the public.
Calorimetric evidence for a two-state unfolding of the β-hairpin peptide Trpzip4

β-Sheets are a common secondary structural element found in proteins. The difficulty in studying β-sheet folding and stability is that their formation is often dependent on the tertiary structural environment within the protein. However, the discovery of water-soluble β-hairpin peptides has allowed them to be used as model systems because they represent the smallest units of β-sheet structure independent of tertiary structural context. Trpzip4 has been used as a model β-hairpin peptide to study β-hairpin folding and stability because it is highly soluble in aqueous solutions, maintains its monomeric state, and shows reversible cooperative thermal unfolding. The previously determined thermodynamic parameters for trpzip4 thermal unfolding vary depending on the spectroscopic probe used, which questions the assumption that trpzip4 unfolds in a two-state manner. Here we provide direct calorimetric evidence that the unfolding of trpzip4 follows a two-state unfolding mode. Furthermore, the thermal unfolding of t...
A numerical study of cell-to-cell variations in a SOFC stack

A numerical investigation of cell-to-cell voltage variation is performed by considering the impact of flow distribution and heat transfer on a SOFC stack. The stack model used is based on a one-dimensional co-flow cell model developed in prior work. The influence of radiative heat transfer between the PEN (positive electrode, electrolyte, negative electrode body) and the neighboring separator plates on the temperature distribution is also considered. Variations in cell voltage are attributed to asymmetries in stack geometry (boundary effects) and non-uniformity in flow rates, more particularly, flow thermal capacity. Simulations were done in a parallel computing environment with each cell computed in a separate (CPU) process. This natural decomposition of the fuel cell stack reduced the number of communicated variables thereby improving computational performance. The parallelization scheme implemented utilized a message passing interface (MPI) protocol where cell-to-cell communication is achieved via exchange of temperature and thermal fluxes between neighboring cells.
Final evolution of stars in the range 103-104M⊙

The final dynamical collapse of oxygen cores of 103 and 104M⊙ which undergo the pair formation instability is computed. These cores are found to suffer complete collapse, presumably to form black holes, in contrast to cores of ∼ 100M⊙ which have previously been found to explode completely, leaving no remnant. These calculations represent a first attempt to ascertain the outcome of evolution over several decades of mass previously unexplored. The outcome may have some relevance to models of X-ray sources in globular clusters.
Kinetics of Phenylacetylene Hydrogenation over Pt/γ-Al2O3 Catalyst

The kinetics of phenylacetylene hydrogenation over Pt/γ-Al2O3 catalyst was investigated using stirred semibatch reactors over a range of temperatures, pressures, and initial phenylacetylene concentrations. Analysis verified that the results were obtained in the absence of transport limitations. Equations for the rates of change for phenylacetylene, styrene, and ethylbenzene were derived from a system of elementary reactions and tested against experimental data. The model was found to accurately predict rate dependencies on catalyst weight, initial concentration, and pressure. The kinetic parameters were determined by minimizing the error between the model predictions and the experimental results, and the obtained activation energy values compared favorably with those reported in the literature.
Ladar sensor modeling and image synthesis for ATR algorithm development

A new synthetic ladar image generation tool has been developed for use in ATR algorithm development and evaluation. The image generation tool, called SYLVER, was designed originally for air-to-ground targeting scenarios and simulates the effects of arbitrary platform and target motion as well as sensor scanning. Particular attention has been given to realistic rendering in the vicinity of range discontinuities, since edges are important to many recognition algorithms. This paper presents an overview of the image generation approach and details the mathematical models employed. Example images are shown and characteristics of the simulated imagery are compared with those of field collected data.
Three-dimensional bond-charge models for potential curves of diatomic molecules

Several simple three-dimensional Fermi-gas models for potential energy curves of diatomic molecules are suggested. Bond-charge parameters close to those predicted by the earlier point bondcharge model of Borkman, Simons and Parr [J. Chem. Phys. 49, 1055 (1968); 50, 58 (1969)] are obtained for models assuming uniform spherical or elliptical electron distributions in the bond region.
Management of Childhood Hyperopia: A Pediatric Optometrist's Perspective

ABSTRACTPurpose.To provide an optometric perspective on the management of hyperopia in children without strabismus or amblyopia.Methods.Factors that have potentially shaped optometry's viewpoint and influenced its prescribing philosophy for childhood hyperopia, such as optometry school and residency
Lack of oscillations in cyclic AMP, cAMP-protein kinase and glycogen phosphorylase during the cardiac cycle in perfused rat hearts

It is unclear whether reported fluctuations in the level of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) during a single cardiac cycle in ventricular muscle are associated with distal changes in cAMP-dependent processes. The degree of cAMP variation and its effect, if any, on biochemical sequelae during the cardiac cycle, were investigated by determining the level of cAMP and the activity ratios of cAMP-dependent protein kinase and glycogen phosphorylase in the rat ventricular myocardium. Isolated perfused hearts contracting at 240 beats/min and free of exogenously administered catecholamines were freeze-clamped, utilizing an automated clamping device capable of freezing the entire heart in less than 50 ms. The cardiac cycle was segmented into phases utilizing three different segmentation schemes. No significant difference was detected between phases regardless of the method of segmentation for cAMP, cAMP-dependent protein kinase, or glycogen phosphorylase levels. These results suggest that the levels of cAMP and the activities of cAMP-dependent protein kinase and glycogen phosphorylase do not vary significantly during a single cardiac cycle in the mammalian myocardium.
Metacontrast as a function of internal contour and target width

Extent of metacontrast was examined as a function of target internal contours and target thickness. Forty college students participated in a spatial forced-choice method of presentation with target-mask interstimulus intervals ranging from 1 to 100 msec. Masking decreased as both target thickness and target internal contour increased.
The treatment of bronchiectasis.

To summarize the treatment of bronchiectasis we may say that: 1.The anatomical changes seen on the x-ray or on the post mortem table are not the most important factors. Inadequate drainage and persistent infection are necessary for the clinical entity of bronchiectasis. 2.Upper lobe lesions and other types with adequate drainage seldom require much or any therapy. 3.Treatment may be surgical with removal of the diseased area only when it is sufficiently limited to make such total removal possible. 4.Medical treatment is needed for the majority of cases. This is designed to create drainage and remove infection. 5.Chemotherapy is not as yet developed into a definite weapon against this disease.
The need for a new vaccine against lyme borreliosis

Lyme borreliosis (LB) is a multisystem inflammatory disease caused by infection with tick-borne bacterial spirochetes of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) species complex, occurring in the...
Electronic structure of one-dimensional silicon-chalcogen polymers

Abstract Electronic structures in the optimized geometries of one-dimensional silicon dichalcogenide polymers, silicon trichalcogenide polymers and related compounds are studied theoretically on the basis of the one-dimensional tight-binding self-consistent field-crystal orbital (SCF-CO) method. Results show that silicon trichalcogenide polymers containing covalent Si-Si bonds possess smaller bandgap values than silicon dichalcogenide polymers. It is assumed that the relatively small bandgap value of silicon trisulfide polymer is affected by the interaction between the bridgehead silicon atoms which is caused by a somewhat large electron density in silicon resulting from a small negative charge transfer from silicon to sulfur.
Lumen Maintenance and Light Loss Factors: Consequences of Current Design Practices for LEDs

AbstractLight loss factors are used to help lighting systems meet quantitative design criteria throughout the life of the installation, but they also carry ancillary consequences, such as influencing first cost and energy use. As the type of light sources being specified continues to evolve, it is an appropriate time to evaluate the methods used in calculating light loss factors and understand the broad effects of performance attributes like lumen maintenance. Because of the unique operating characteristics of light emitting diodes (LEDs) and lack of a comprehensive lifetime rating—as well as the problematic relationship between lifetime and lumen maintenance—determining an appropriate lamp lumen depreciation (LLD) factor for LED products is difficult. The IES recommends using an LLD of not greater than 0.70 when quantity of light is an important design consideration. This approach deviates from the typical practice for conventional sources of using the ratio of mean to initial lumen output and may misrep...
A study on the BaIrO3 system

Abstract The compound BaIrO 3 has been studied over the years but a complete characterization, both in terms of structure and properties, has not yet been reported. A recent publication on the structure of Ba 7 Ir 6 O 19 prompted us to complete our studies on the parent compound BaIrO 3 , and to report the physical properties obtained on several polytypes having this particular chemical composition. Thermal decomposition of the precursor BaIr(OH) 6 led to a series of BaIrO 3 polytypes, “6H”, “3H”, and “18R”, with final decomposition to the monoclinic Ba 7 Ir 6 O 19 compound. Solid state preparations, performed at high temperatures, yielded only the “18R” polytype. Crystal growth attempts at approximately 1000°C in a BaCl 2 flux yielded large crystals. These were found to possess a pseudorhombohedral structure which approximated an “18R” structure. On closer examination, however, a monoclinic cell was observed for untwinned crystals. Several polytypes or polymorphs of BaIrO 3 were formed as a function of temperature, but only one polytype was obtained in single-crystal form for structural studies. The unit cell parameters of the hydroxide precursor and of all the single-phase polytypes are presented. The magnetic properties of two pure BaIrO 3 polytypes, studied as a function of temperature, exhibited an interesting magnetic transition at 160 K. The electrical properties, on powder compacts, indicated low resistivity at room temperature which increased rapidly on cooling to lower temperatures.
Parallelization of a large-scale IMM-based multitarget tracking algorithm

Abstract The Interacting Multiple Model (1MM) estimator hasbeen shown to be superior, in terms of tracking accuracy,to a well-tuned Kalman filter when applied to trackingmaneuvering targets. However, because of the increas- ing number of filter modules necessary to cover the possi-ble target maneuvers, the 1MM estimator also imposes an additional computational burden. Hence, in an effort todesign a real-time 1MM-based multitarget tracking algo-rithm that is independeni of the number of modules used in the 1MM estimator, we propose a "coarse-grained" (dy- namic) parallel implementation that is superior, in terms of computational performance, to previous "fine-grained"(static) parallelizations of the 1MM estimator. In addition to having the potential of realizing superlinear speedups, the proposed implementation scales to larger multiproces- sor systems and is robust. We demonstrate the perfor-mance results both analytically and using a measurementdatabase from two FAA air traffic control radars.
First-principles theory of the temperature dependence of vibrational lifetimes for light impurities in Si

AbstractFirst-principles theory in Si periodic supercells is used to calculate the vibrational lifetime of the asymmetric stretch of bond-centeredhydrogen (H +BC ) as a function of temperature. We discuss the method used to calculate lifetimes and introduce a general method tosimulate the background temperature of a supercell in equilibrium without thermalization or thermostat.r 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. PACS: 63.20.Mt; 61.72.BbKeywords: Vibrational lifetimes; Hydrogen in Si; Molecular dynamics; Theory 1. IntroductionThe lifetimes of local vibrational modes (LVMs) of lightimpurities in Si have been measured by transient bleachingspectroscopy [1,2]. Surprisingly, the observed lifetimes ofnearly identical H-related LVMs vary by some two ordersof magnitude. For example, at low temperatures, themeasured lifetimes of the 1998cm 1 LVM of H +BC [1], the2072cm 1 mode of the di-vacancy–di-hydrogen complex(VH HV), and the 2062cm 1 LVM of the H 2* pair [2] are295, 8, and 4ps, respectively.Generally, vibrational lifetimes exhibit a strong tem-perature dependence and fall off at higher temperatures.An expression for the temperature dependence [3] has beenused to ﬁt the experimental data to a set of acceptingmodes [1,2]. In the case of H
Effect of Dielectric Constant, Cavities in Series, and Cavities in Parallel on the Product Distribution of the Oligomerization of Methane via Microwave Plasmas

The use of microwave-induced plasmas as a method to oligomerize methane to higher hydrocarbons has been studied. The pressure range used was 10-20 Torr and the applied power was 60 W. The microwave power is coupled to the plasma by means of either an Evenson or a Beenakker cavity, the Beenakker being the most effective. We explored the effect of the presence of a dielectric material on the product distribution for this reaction. The values of the dielectric constants for these materials varied from 2.6 for Pb(Ac){sub 2} to 10,000 for MnO{sub 2} relative to the vacuum. No direct correlation was found, but in some cases the selectivities toward C{sub 6s}to C{sub 8s} were enhanced. TiO{sub 2}and Li{sub 2}CO{sub 3} increased the selectivities toward C{sub 6s}. SnO{sub 2} was the best for selectivities to C{sub 7s}and C{sub 8s}. When a coating of Si/SiC on the reactor walls was present in the plasma zone, the selectivities toward C{sub 6s} and C{sub 7s} increased with respect to both materials (Si and SiC) by themselves. We also studied the effect of cavities in series and cavities in parallel on the oligomerization of methane with and without dielectric material in between the cavities. Whenmore » methane and iodine are activated separately and then recombined, it seems that the oligomerization of methane is enhanced toward higher hydrocarbons. We found that when a dielectric material is placed in between and when the distance between the two cavities in series is the largest, the oligomerization of methane toward high molecular weight hydrocarbons is maximized. 45 refs., 9 figs., 1 tab.« less
Exogenous androgen during development alters adult partner preference and mating behavior in gonadally intact male rats

In the rat, neonatal administration of testosterone propionate to a castrated male causes masculinization of behavior. However, if an intact male is treated neonatally with testosterone (hyper-androgen condition), male sexual behavior in adulthood is disrupted. There is a possibility that the hyper-androgen treatment is suppressing male sexual behavior by altering the male's partner preference and thereby reducing his motivation to approach the female. If so, this would suggest that exposure to supra-physiological levels of androgen during development may result in the development of male-oriented partner preference in the male. To test this idea, male rats were treated either postnatally or prenatally with testosterone, and partner preference and sexual behavior were examined in adulthood. The principal finding of this study was that increased levels of testosterone during early postnatal life, but not prenatal, decreased male sexual behavior and increased the amount of time a male spent with a stimulus male, without affecting the amount of time spent with a stimulus female during partner preference tests. Thus, the reduction in male sexual behavior produced by early exposure to high levels of testosterone is not likely due to a reduction in the male's motivation to approach a receptive female.
Noninteraction of temazepam and cimetidine

The possible kinetic interaction of the hypnotic temazepam and the H2-receptor antagonist cimetidine was evaluated. Nine healthy male and female volunteers received a 30-mg oral dose of temazepam on two occasions in random sequence, separated by at least 1 week. On one occasion, temazepam was given in the otherwise drug-free state; on the other, temazepam was given with concurrent administration of cimetidine, 300 mg every 6 h. Mean pharmacokinetic parameters for temazepam in control versus cimetidine trials were: peak plasma concentration, 560 versus 498 ng/mL; time of peak concentration, 2.0 versus 2.1 h after the dose; volume of distribution, 1.30 versus 1.39 L/kg; elimination half-life, 9.9 versus 11.4 h; total clearance, 1.59 versus 1.60 mL/min/kg; free fraction of temazepam in plasma, 4.1 versus 3.8% unbound. Cimetidine has been shown to reduce the metabolic clearance of the benzodiazepines that are biotransformed by oxidative mechanisms. Temazepam, transformed by conjugation, appears unaffected by the coadministration of cimetidine.
Differences in correlates of energy balance in normal weight, overweight and obese adults

Summary Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine differences in total daily energy expenditure (TDEE), energy expenditure in various intensities, as well as total daily energy intake (TDEI) and diet quality in normal weight, overweight and obese men and women. Further, the association of energy expenditure and energy intake with body fatness was examined. Methods: The cross-sectional analysis included 430 adults (27.7 ± 3.8 years; 49.3% male). Body weight and height were measured according to standard procedures and percent body fat (BF) was assessed via dual X-ray absorptiometry. Energy expenditure was determined via the SenseWear Armband. Energy intake and the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) were calculated based on multiple 24-h recalls. Results: Weight adjusted TDEI and TDEE were significantly lower in overweight and obese adults compared to their normal weight peers (p < 0.001) and obese women had a lower HEI (p = 0.006). Overweight and obese adults further displayed a higher proportion of energy expenditure spent in sedentary and in light activities (p < 0.001), while the proportion of energy expenditure in moderate-tovigorous physical activity (MVPA) was lower compared to their normal weight peers
Note on the K* (730 MeV)

It is shown that even if there is no evidence for the decay process K/ sup */(885) yields K/sup */(730) + pi , this is not necessarily inconsistent with the assumption of vector K/sup */(730). The determination of K/sup */(730) spin is discussed. 15 references. (R.E.U.)
End-tidal carbon dioxide as a goal of early sepsis therapy

Abstract Objective To determine the use of end-tidal carbon dioxide (etco 2 ) as an end point of sepsis resuscitation. Methods This was a prospective, observational, single-center cohort study of emergency department patients receiving treatment for severe sepsis with a quantitative resuscitation protocol. Three etco 2 readings were taken during a 1-minute time frame at 0, 3, and 6 hours of treatment. Linear regression was used to characterize the association between etco 2 and central venous oxygen saturation (SCVo 2 ) and lactate and also to determine the relationship between their change. Analysis of variance was used to determine the relationship between etco 2 and disposition. Results Sixty-nine patients were included in our final analysis. For baseline values, linear regression failed to show a relationship between etco 2 and SCVo 2 ( β = −0.04, t (70) = −0.53, P = .60) but showed a nearly significant relationship ( β = −0.51, t (70) = −1.90, P = .06) with lactate. There was no significant relationship between etco 2 and SCVo 2 at 3 hours ( β = 0.12, t (70) = 1.43, P = .16) or 6 hours ( β = 0.05, t (64) = 0.82, P = .67). There was also no significant relationship between 6-hour change in etco 2 and change in SCVo 2 ( β = 0.04, t (64) = 0.43, P = .67) or lactate ( β = 0.04, t (59) = 0.52, P = .60) or disposition ( F (4) = 0.78, P = .54). Conclusion End-tidal carbon dioxide is unlikely to be a useful clinical end point for sepsis resuscitation, although it may be useful as a triage tool in suspected sepsis because baseline values may reflect initial lactate.
Nalmefene : A long-acting opioid antagonist. Clinical applications in emergency medicine

The use of the opioid antagonist naloxone is well known to the experienced health care provider. The availability of the longer acting opioid antagonist nalmefene has several potential benefits in clinical practice. Nalmefene has a plasma half-life of almost 11 h, compared to 60-90 min for naloxone. Nalmefene has been shown to reverse opioid intoxication for as long as 8 h, reducing the need for continuous monitoring of intoxicated patients and repeated dosing of naloxone. Single dose administration has also been used effectively in the reversal of opiate-assisted conscious sedation. In addition, this agent has been used in the treatment of diseases as diverse as interstitial cystitis and chronic alcohol dependence. However, the long duration of action enables extended withdrawal reactions in the chronically opioid-dependent patient. The prolonged opioid antagonism of nalmefene has several applications in the clinical practice of emergency medicine, and is a useful addition in certain situations to the pharmacologic armamentarium of the practicing emergency physician.
Adiabatic, evaporating, two‐phase flow of steam and water in horizontal pipe

The adiabatic, evaporating, two-phase flow of steam and water in horizontal pipe including the critical flow was successfully described by a system of nonlinear differential equations which include different phase velocities, fluid acceleration, wall shear forces, interface shear forces, and mass and energy transfer between the phases. The solution of the differential equations by the method of Runge-Kutta was facilitated with a high-speed digital computer. Experimental data were obtained which included void fraction measurement by X-ray attenuation and showed that the theoretical equations described the complex flow phenomena to ± 10% when radial temperature gradients were small. Design charts based on the numerical solution of the theoretical equations are presented for rapid evaluation of the flow variables for the system steam-water including critical flow for inlet pressures from 30 to 150 lb./sq.in.abs., mass flow rates per unit area from 300 to 1,000 lb./sq. ft. sec., and L/D ratios from 25 to 1,000. The critical flow is defined as the maximum flow rate for a given pressure at the point of initial vaporization and L/D ratio.
Flexible filaments in a flowing soap film as a model for one-dimensional flags in a two-dimensional wind

The dynamics of swimming fish and flapping flags involves a complicated interaction of their deformable shapes with the surrounding fluid flow. Even in the passive case of a flag, the flag exerts forces on the fluid through its own inertia and elastic responses, and is likewise acted on by hydrodynamic pressure and drag. But such couplings are not well understood. Here we study these interactions experimentally, using an analogous system of flexible filaments in flowing soap films. We find that, for a single filament (or 'flag') held at its upstream end and otherwise unconstrained, there are two distinct, stable dynamical states. The first is a stretched-straight state: the filament is immobile and aligned in the flow direction. The existence of this state seems to refute the common belief that a flag is always unstable and will flap. The second is a flapping state: the filament executes a sinuous motion in a manner akin to the flapping of a flag in the wind. We study further the hydrodynamically coupled interaction between two such filaments, and demonstrate the existence of four different dynamical states.
The responsiveness of State Mental Health Authorities to parents with mental illness

The majority of adults with serious mental illness living in the community are parents, many of whom may be receiving services from State Mental Health Authorities (SMHA). Innovative intervention approaches are available to improve outcomes for these parents and their children. Analyses of SMHA and state-level data, as well as qualitative interviews of administrators, service providers, and consumers, underscore the importance of organizational structure and philosophy, an advocacy presence, and available funding to SMHA efforts on behalf of parents and their families.
Compositional analysis of Miscanthus giganteus by near infrared spectroscopy

Fourier transform near infrared spectroscopy was applied to ball-milled and dried whole plant Miscanthus × giganteus samples in combination with partial least square regression analysis for prediction of main constituents of the biomass. The developed models with 172 calibration samples had an R2 in the range of 0.96–0.99. For the first time, the acetyl content was modeled for Miscanthus. An independent calibration set of 58 samples revealed a low root mean square error of prediction of 0.414 % for extractives, 0.485 % for glucan, 0.249 % for xylan, 0.061 % for arabinan, 0.050 % for acetyl, 0.198 % for Klason lignin, 0.226 % for total ash and 0.133 % for ash after extraction, an indication of a high level of accuracy. The results showed major improvement over previously reported models, which was attributed to the smaller particle size used. The models are a valuable tool for the fast monitoring of the composition of M. × giganteus in e.g. plant breeding studies.
Through an Activist Lens: Social Movement Theory and Practice

Zapatista Big Noise Films Language: English and Spanish Subtitles Color/55 minutes/Documentary/Not Rated/1998 Narration: Edward James Olmos, Daryl Hannah, Geronimo Pratt, and Mumia Abu-Jamal This i...
Modification of nicotinic ganglionic transmission by muscarinic slow postsynaptic potentials in the in vitro rabbit superior cervical ganglion.

The influence of slow muscarinic postsynaptic potentials, i.e., the s-IPSP and s-EPSP, on synaptic transmission mediated through nicotinic receptors was studied in the superior cervical ganglion of the rabbit. Postganglionic spikes and synaptic potentials were elicited by delivery of conditioning and test stimulus pulses to afferent fibers. When paired stimulus volleys were separated by brief intervals (20-100 msec) or long intervals (1,000-8,000 msec), the population spike elicited by the test stimulus was larger in amplitude than that elicited by the conditioning volley. When paired stimulus volleys were separated by 250-500 msec, the amplitude of the population spike elicited by the test volley was smaller than that elicited by the conditioning stimulus. Gallamine, which selectively blocks the s-IPSP, reduced the suppression of the test spike which occurred when stimulus IPIs ranged between 250-500 msec. Pirenzepine, which selectively blocks the s-EPSP, reduced the late facilitation of test postganglionic spikes which occurred with stimulus IPIs greater than 1,000 msec. The non-selective muscarinic antagonist QNB, produced changes in postganglionic spike amplitude that were similar to the combined effects of gallamine and pirenzepine. The evidence indicates that the s-IPSP and s-EPSP modified the excitability state of the ganglionic neurons and subsequent synaptic transmission that was mediated through nicotinic receptors.
Children's Memory for Recurring Linguistic and Nonlinguistic Material in Relation to Reading Ability

Abstract Good beginning readers typically surpass poor beginning readers in memory for linguistic material such as syllables, words, sentences. Here we present evidence that this interaction between reading ability and memory performance does not extend to memory for nonlinguistic material like faces and nonsense designs. Using an adaptation of the continuous recognition memory paradigm of Kimura (1963) we assessed the ability of good and poor readers in the second grade to remember three different types of material: photographs of unfamiliar faces, nonsense designs, printed nonsense syllables. For both faces and designs, the performance of the two reading groups was comparable; only when remembering the nonsense syllables did the good readers perform at a significantly superior level. These results support other evidence that distinctions between good and poor beginning readers do not turn on memory, per se, but rather on memory for linguistic material. Thus they extend our previous finding that poor readers encounter specific difficulty with the use of linguistic coding in short-term memory.