cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Longitudinal Assessment of Older Drivers in a DMV Setting

A brief battery of functional assessments designed to detect crash riskamong older drivers was developed and evaluated initially in 1999 in Marylandmotor vehicle licensing sites following the routine vision screening exam. Thisbattery contained a number of cognitive tests (e.g., UFOV® subtest 2, the closuresubtest of the Motor Free Visual Perception Test (MVPT), Trails A and B, cuedrecall, delayed recall), and several physical measures (e.g., Rapid Pace Walk,Head and Neck Rotation, Foot Tap, Arm Reach). Older adults (N=4,173; meanage = 69 years) were approached by the staff after license renewal and asked tohelp evaluate the brief battery. Of the 4,173 older adults approached at the fieldsites, 2,114 individuals 55-96 years of age participated. Subsequently, the originalsample of 2,114 participants was invited to come in once again, during their fiveyearlicense renewal cycle, and the functional tests were administered once again.To date, 939 individuals have completed the second screening evaluation. Anexamination of the crash data from the interval between assessments for theseindividuals indicates that the same cognitive measures are predictive of at-faultcrashes. Furthermore, approximately 10% of those passing the assessment in 1999are now failing the assessment in 2004. Performance-based cognitive measuresare predictive of future at-fault motor vehicle collisions among older adults.Cognitive performance, in particular, is a salient predictor of subsequent crashinvolvement among older adults. High-risk older drivers can be identified throughbrief, performance-based measures administered in a DMV setting.
Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome secondary to Capnocytophaga canimorsus septicemia and demonstration of bacteremia by peripheral blood smear.

Abstract Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome caused by Capnocytophaga canimorsus septicemia was fatal in a previously healthy 47-year-old woman. The patient died suddenly in less than 12 hours after p...
Modelling abiotic indicators when obtaining spatial predictions of species richness

When conservation biologists formulate strategy used in decisions concerning the locations of new national parks, refuges and reserves, accurate information about species richness and spatialpatterns of species distributions can be critical. Recent research has demonstrated that spatial models and bioindicator taxa can be quite useful for determining generalized spatial patterns of unrelated taxa on a continental scale. In this research, I incorporate abiotic effects, in this case altitudinal relief, into both the mean and the covariance structures of the spatial prediction model. I use bird species data collected in the Indian subcontinent and cross-validation techniques to illustrate the degree of improvement in prediction accuracy engendered by using theabiotic factor and the modified spatial models.
A negative staining-carbon film technique for studying viruses in the electron microscope. II. Application to adenovirus type 5.

Two-dimensional and three-dimensional crystalline arrays of adenovirus type 5 were rapidly formed in vitro in the presence of negative stains when applied according to the negative staining-carbon procedure. The adenovirus capsids within the crystal lattice were packed predominantly in hexagonal arrays. Capsids were observed to be packed in positions viewed along axes of threefold symmetry and in other lattice arrays showed capsids in twofold symmetry positions. These crystalline arrays were extended over areas of several hundred microns across and provided ideal specimens for both optical diffraction and low-angle electron diffraction studies. When the adenovirus preparations were subjected to different negative staining and pH conditions, the capsids were observed to disrupt gradually at the specimen support surface. The released components were studied at high resolution and the structural components associated with the hexon and penton capsomeres were resolved. A detailed scale model of the adenovirus capsid was constructed from the information contained in the electron micrographs and the model used to illustrate the possible packing arrangements of the icosahedral capsid and penton fibres in the observed crystalline lattice.
The influence of atrial contraction and mitral valve mechanics on ventricular filing. A study of instantaneous mitral valve flow in vivo.

Abstract Instantaneous blood flow across the normal mitral valve was studied in calves. Heart rate and atrial timing varied, allowing an assessment of the relative importance of atrial contraction to ventricular filling and to mitral valve closure. Results were: (1) The pattern of flow varied with heart rate and P-R interval; (2) at normal heart rates six phases of mitral valve flow were identified, and they defined the dynamics of the atrium and mitral valve; (3) a properly timed atrial contraction can augment ventricular filling by 20 per cent; (4) the contribution of atrial contraction to ventricular filling varied with its timing and with heart rate; (5) the mitral valve closed without regurgitation during sinus or nodal rhythm; (6) premature ventricular contractions could produce mitral regurgitation, but the volume was negligible; (7) the major role of atrial contraction is the augmentation of left ventricular filling and not the prevention of mitral regurgitation.
Abstract 14952: Volumetric Echocardiographic Particle Image Velocimetry (V-Echo-PIV)

Introduction: The two-dimensional (2D) echocardiographic particle image velocimetry technique that was introduced in 2010 received much attention in clinical cardiology. Cardiac flow visualization based on contrast echocardiography results in images with high temporal resolution that are obtainable at relatively low cost. This makes it an ideal diagnostic and follow-up tool for routine clinical use. However, cardiac flow in a cardiac cycle is multidirectional with a tendency to spin in three dimensions rather than two-dimensional curl. Here, for the first time, we introduce a volumetric echocardiographic particle image velocimetry technique that robustly acquires the flow in three spatial dimensions and in time: Volumetric Echocardiographic Particle Image Velocimetry (V-Echo-PIV). Methods: V-Echo-PIV technique utilizes matrix array 3D ultrasound probes to capture the flow seeded with an ultrasound contrast agent (Definity). For this feasibility study, we used a pulse duplicator with a silicone ventricular...
Effects of corn silage particle size, supplemental hay, and forage-to-concentrate ratio on rumen pH, feed preference, and milk fat profile of dairy cattle

Two experiments (Exp.) were conducted to study effects of feeding long or short corn silage total mixed rations (TMR) on rumen pH, feed preference, and dairy cow performance and to determine the rate of recovery from grain-induced subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA). Both experiments utilized a crossover design with 12 lactating, multiparous, Holstein cows each (including 4 ruminally cannulated cows) and consisted of two 26-d periods. Each period consisted of 12d of adaptation followed by 14d of data collection. Each period was divided into 4 phases: adaptation, d 1 to 12; baseline, d 13 to 14; challenge, d 15 to 19; and recovery, d 20 to 26. Treatments in Exp. 1 were TMR based on corn silage with long (L) or short (ST) particle size in a 65:35 forage-to-concentrate (F:C) diet. Treatments in Exp. 2 were TMR based on corn silage with short (SH) or long (LH) particle size in a 65:35 F:C diet with 3.3% (DM basis) orchardgrass hay offered as a supplement to the diet. In both experiments, during the challenge phase cows received a 50:50 F:C diet to initiate SARA. Animals were housed individually, milked twice per day, and fed once per day for 10% refusal rate on an as-fed basis. Data were analyzed using PROC MIXED of SAS. Feeding L and LH diets increased acetate-to-propionate ratio in the rumen, which resulted in the maintenance of a ratio >2 from the start of the SARA challenge through recovery. In Exp. 1, feeding long corn silage TMR resulted in lower milk fat concentration on the third day of the challenge, whereas cows fed short corn silage TMR had lower milk fat concentration on the final day of the challenge compared with d 13. Providing supplemental hay to cows fed TMR based on long or short corn silage in Exp. 2 prevented acidosis when cows were challenged with a high-grain diet. Milk fat concentrations substantially decreased during the challenge phase in both diets supplemented with hay, but feeding LH did not lower milk fat concentrations until d 20 compared with d 17 for cows fed SH. Under the conditions of these experiments, cows selected for shorter particles compared with longer particles, despite the rumen challenge. However, when feeding a 50:50 F:C diet, feeding long corn silage TMR or supplementing the diet with grass hay increased rumen pH, acetate-to-propionate ratio in the rumen, and rate of recovery from SARA.
MEC-17 is an α-tubulin acetyltransferase

In most eukaryotic cells, subsets of microtubules are adapted for specific functions by post-translational modifications (PTMs) of tubulin subunits. Acetylation of the epsilon-amino group of K40 on alpha-tubulin is a conserved PTM on the luminal side of microtubules that was discovered in the flagella of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Studies on the significance of microtubule acetylation have been limited by the undefined status of the alpha-tubulin acetyltransferase. Here we show that MEC-17, a protein related to the Gcn5 histone acetyltransferases and required for the function of touch receptor neurons in Caenorhabditis elegans, acts as a K40-specific acetyltransferase for alpha-tubulin. In vitro, MEC-17 exclusively acetylates K40 of alpha-tubulin. Disruption of the Tetrahymena MEC-17 gene phenocopies the K40R alpha-tubulin mutation and makes microtubules more labile. Depletion of MEC-17 in zebrafish produces phenotypes consistent with neuromuscular defects. In C. elegans, MEC-17 and its paralogue W06B11.1 are redundantly required for acetylation of MEC-12 alpha-tubulin, and contribute to the function of touch receptor neurons partly via MEC-12 acetylation and partly via another function, possibly by acetylating another protein. In summary, we identify MEC-17 as an enzyme that acetylates the K40 residue of alpha-tubulin, the only PTM known to occur on the luminal surface of microtubules.
Current-mode control for load sharing converter systems with dynamic current distribution

A current-mode control scheme for load sharing converter systems with dynamic current distribution is introduced. These converters may be driven by different sources with various minimum available power levels. With this control feature, the system is able to dynamically distribute the total output current among the converters according to these levels. A converter with a higher power level will deliver a larger portion of the total output current. The current distribution control algorithm and the system stability are described and analyzed in detail. These analyses and descriptions are confirmed with computer simulation results. >
Insulin increases intracellular magnesium transport in human platelets

Evidence suggests that magnesium (Mg) deficiency may play a key role in cardiovascular disease. In particular, Mg deficiency may lead to a potentiation of platelet aggregation. However, the factor(s) regulating intracellular-free Mg concentration ([Mg2+]i) in platelets is not known. We studied the effects of insulin on the changes of [Mg2+]i in human platelets. Preincubation of hirudinized platelet-rich plasma with insulin had a dose- and time-dependent effect on the increase of [Mg2+]i measured in Mag-fura-2-loaded cells with a fluorescence spectrophotometer. The maximal effect was achieved by incubation with 200 microU/mL insulin for 30 min. [Mg2+]i increased from the basal value of 266 +/- 23 mumol to 355 +/- 46 (SD, P < 0.001). In the presence of an antiinsulin receptor monoclonal antibody the effect of insulin was abolished suggesting that the Mg transport mechanism was an insulin-receptor mediated process. Furthermore, the insulin-stimulated Mg transport was inhibited by the addition of chelating ag...
Cardiovascular protection by oestrogen—a calcium antagonist effect?

During their premenopausal years, women have a lower risk than men of getting cardiovascular disease. This protection continues after the menopause if women receive oestrogen replacement. Based on new experimental evidence we propose that some of the cardiovascular benefits of oestrogen replacement therapy may be due to a long-term calcium antagonist effect of oestrogen.
Evolutionary aseismic design and retrofit of structures with passive energy dissipation

A new computational framework is developed for the design and retrofit of building structures by considering aseismic design as a complex adaptive process. For the initial phase of the development within this framework, genetic algorithms are employed for the discrete optimization of passively damped structural systems. The passive elements may include metallic plate dampers, viscous fluid dampers and viscoelastic solid dampers. The primary objective is to determine robust designs, including both the non-linearity of the structural system and the uncertainty of the seismic environment. Within the present paper, this computational design approach is applied to a series of model problems, involving sizing and placement of passive dampers for energy dissipation. In order to facilitate our investigations and provide a baseline for further study, we introduce several simplifications for these initial examples. In particular, we employ deterministic lumped parameter structural models, memoryless fitness function definitions and hypothetical seismic environments. Despite these restrictions, some interesting results are obtained from the simulations and we are able to gain an understanding of the potential for the proposed evolutionary aseismic design methodology. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Interactions of Energy Levels Offered to Holstein Cows Prepartum and Postpartum. II. Reproductive Performance

Abstract Thirty-two cows were provided with 115% of their maintenance digestible energy requirements (low-prepartum) during the last six to eight weeks of gestation for comparisons with 32 cows fed 160% of their maintenance energy needs (high-prepartum). The 64 cows were factorially assigned to two energy levels postpartum. One group was fed alfalfa hay at 2% of body weight and enough concentrates to maintain relatively constant body weights through a complete lactation (high-postpartum). A second group was fed alfalfa hay at 2% of body weight and enough concentrates to satisfy the National Research Council energy recommendations of 1958 (low post-partum). Average birth weights of 43.6 kg (low-prepartum), and 42.9 kg (high-prepartum) were not significantly different (P
Intraoperative IGS/CT updates for complex endoscopic frontal sinus surgery.

Introduction: Computer-aided surgery (CAS) systems integrate endoscopic visualization with real-time localization based on preoperative imaging. One short-coming of the current syst
The Impact of a Universal Income Maintenance Program on Income and Employment

There are presently three public assistance cash programs-Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) for one-parent families, and, in about half the states, Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Unemployed Parent (AFDC-UP) for certain low income, twoparent families. These programs are categorical in nature in that a family cannot qualify on the basis of low income alone, but must meet other eligibility requirements. Among the poor, the least adequately covered by these three programs is the so-called working poor-two-parent families in which the head is able-bodied and of working age. About half of the nation's poor live in such families, yet less than 10% of those families receive any public assistance (Blechman, Gramlich, and Hartman, p. 180). Nor does Unemployment Insurance (UI) do much to fill the gap. Almost half of the male heads of these families work full-time the entire year. Many others receive no UI benefits because they are not covered, because they have been unemployed too long, or because they have had short but frequent periods of joblessness. 1 The only transfer program to which the working poor are universally entitled is the Food Stamp Program. The Food Stamp Program, now offered in all states, is available to all lo income families, but benefits are conditioned upon income. Because of the relative ewness of the program and because of limited outreach efforts, participation in the Food Stamp Program among eligible families is quite low--estimates range from 30% to 60%. Participation among eligible families headed by a nonaged, able-bodied male, however, is even lower-around 15%.
Resonating-group study of p+α scattering from 68 to 125 MeV

The resonating-group method, together with a phenomenological consideration of reaction effects, is used to analyze $p+\ensuremath{\alpha}$ scattering data at the relatively high c.m. energies of 68, 80, and 124.8 MeV. The nucleon-nucleon potential employed contains a weakly repulsive core and yields a reasonably satisfactory description of not only the two-nucleon scattering data but also the essential properties of the $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ particle. The result shows that satisfactory agreement with experiment can be obtained. In particular, it is found that, because of the use of a totally antisymmetric wave function, the scattering behavior at large angles is adequately described.[NUCLEAR REACTIONS $^{4}\mathrm{He}(p,p)$, $E=68,80,\mathrm{and} 124.8$ MeV (c.m.); calculated phase shifts and $\ensuremath{\sigma}(\ensuremath{\theta})$. Resonating-group method.]
Neuromuscular Contacts in Intracranial Arteries of the Cat

Nerves of intracranital arteries of the cat were restricted to adventitia, with neuromuscular contacts observed only at the border of adventitia and media. Axons of such neuromuscular contacts possessed at least two different populations of synaptic vesicles. One axonal type contained manzy small (500 angstroms in diameter) granular vesicles and occasional agranular vesicles. The other contained only agranular vesicles.
Serum hepcidin in clinical specimens

The hepatic antimicrobial protein, hepcidin, is implicated in duodenal iron absorption and mobilization. Overexpression of the hepcidin gene is associated with a hypoferraemic, microcytic, iron-refractory anaemia. On the basis of these observations, it has been proposed that hepcidin is a mediator of the common clinical syndrome, anaemia of chronic disease (ACD), and recent findings evaluating urinary hepcidin production in patients support this hypothesis. In the present report, serum hepcidin concentrations were measured in 55 specimens submitted for ferritin determination, and in 37 specimens collected from anaemic patients undergoing diagnostic bone marrow examination. The serum hepcidin concentration exhibited a statistically significant correlation with serum ferritin concentrations in both patient subsets. No statistically significant correlations were observed between serum hepcidin and other laboratory markers of iron status or anaemia diagnosis. Serum hepcidin does not appear to correlate as well with clinical diagnosis as urinary hepcidin, suggesting that a better understanding of the clearance and metabolism of this protein is required to understand fully its potential contribution to the pathogenesis of ACD.
Alpha-2 receptor antagonist add-on therapy in the treatment of schizophrenia; a meta-analysis

Abstract Introduction Reduced dopaminergic activity in the pre-frontal cortex may partially explain the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Animal models have shown that adding an alpha-2 adrenergic receptor antagonist to a D2 antagonist can efflux dopamine into the frontal cortex increasing dopaminergic activity. Trials of alpha-2 antagonist add-on therapy in humans have been limited by small sample sizes. Therefore, a meta-analysis was conducted to determine if adding an alpha-2 antagonist to a D2 antagonist improves schizophrenia treatment by reducing negative symptoms. Methods Randomized, placebo-controlled trials of the addition of an alpha-2 antagonist to a D2 antagonist were identified through a PubMed search. Treatment effects were measured using schizophrenia rating scales and meta-analyzed as standardized mean differences using random effects models. Results Eight unique studies were identified, each including 18 to 41 patients and lasting four to eight weeks. The overall effect size of add-on alpha-2 therapy across the eight trials was an improvement of 0.16 (95% C.I., −.30 to 0.62) for positive symptoms, 0.84 (95% C.I., .17 to 1.51) for negative symptoms, 0.28 (95% C.I., −.08 to 0.64) for general symptoms, and .80 (95% C.I., .15 to 1.46) for symptoms overall. Negative symptom improvements were independent of improvements in depressive symptoms, measured using the Hamilton depression rating scale, for 3 of the 5 studies. Conclusions Add-on agents with alpha-2 antagonist activity appear to improve the efficacy of D2 antagonists for the treatment of schizophrenia by reducing negative symptoms. These results support conducting a more definitive confirmatory clinical trial.
Multiperiod Consumption and Investment Behavior with Convex Transactions Costs

The effect of convex transactions costs on consumers' derived utility functions and on optimal consumption and investment decisions is examined in a general multiperiod framework. The extent to which multiperiod consumption-investment behavior and capital market equilibrium may be studied in a single period framework is discussed. Optimal investment policy, in terms of a region of no transactions, is shown to be of a particularly simple form.
Modeling of Very Large Interacting Multiple-Beam Systems with Application to Suspension Bridge Cables

Systems of parallel beams connected with springs appear often in engineering. Typical examples are bundles of wires, such as the ones appearing in suspension bridge cables. These connections result in coupling of the differential equations describing the problem. In this paper, two systems of parallel beams connected with springs perpendicular to the beams are examined: multiple beams connected with springs, and multiple beams of common stiffness connected with springs and subjected to a common tensile axial load. A method is proposed to decouple the system of coupled equations into uncoupled differential equations for which exact shape functions can be constructed, so that the computational effort associated with systems involving a very large number of beams can become manageable. Numerical examples are presented demonstrating the capabilities of the proposed method.
Quantitative analysis of an enlarged area Solid State X-ray Image Intensifier (SSXII) detector based on Electron Multiplying Charge Coupled Device (EMCCD) technology.

Present day treatment for neurovascular pathological conditions involves the use of devices with very small features such as stents, coils, and balloons; hence, these interventional procedures demand high resolution xray imaging under fluoroscopic conditions to provide the capability to guide the deployment of these fine endovascular devices. To address this issue, a high resolution x-ray detector based on EMCCD technology is being developed. The EMCCD field-of-view is enlarged using a fiber-optic taper so that the detector features an effective pixel size of 37 μm giving it a Nyquist frequency of 13.5 lp/mm, which is significantly higher than that of the state of the art Flat Panel Detectors (FPD). Quantitative analysis of the detector, including gain calibration, instrumentation noise equivalent exposure (INEE) and modulation transfer function (MTF) determination, are presented in this work. The gain of the detector is a function of the detector temperature; with the detector cooled to 50 C, the highest relative gain that could be achieved was calculated to be 116 times. At this gain setting, the lowest INEE was measured to be 0.6 μR/frame. The MTF, measured using the edge method, was over 2% up to 7 cycles/ mm. To evaluate the performance of the detector under clinical conditions, an aneurysm model was placed over an anthropomorphic head phantom and a coil was guided into the aneurysm under fluoroscopic guidance using the detector. Image sequences from the procedure are presented demonstrating the high resolution of this SSXII.
The Experimenter-as-Fixed-Effect Fallacy

ABSTRACT Few studies in psychology are designed to provide a valid basis for generalizing beyond the specific—fixed—sample of experimenters who conducted the study; that is, they commit the experimenter-as-fixed-effect fallacy. We conducted a model experiment to demonstrate remedies to this fallacy by (a) creating an experimenter factor with each experimenter construed as one level of the factor and by (b) statistically treating the experimenter factor as random. Results are compared, using the appropriate design and statistics, with results that would have been reported if the experimenter factor had been treated as fixed or ignored altogether. In this article, we also discuss the use of a random experimenter factor to increase generalization and to avoid failure to replicate.
MATRIX DAMAGE OF FIBROUS COMPOSITES: EFFECTS OF THERMAL RESIDUAL STRESSES AND LAYER SEQUENCES

Abstract A simplified micromechanics model and a damage evolution function are incorporated into a finite-element analysis program for laminated fibrous composite structures in order to investigate the effects of microscale damages on the structural response. The computer program can analyze both fiber failure and matrix cracking. However, the present study focuses on matrix cracking. In the present study, two kinds of problems are solved using the computer program. The first study is to investigate effects of contiguous stacking of 90 ° layers in cross-ply composites on reduction of composite stiffness. The analyses show that more contiguous stacking of 90 ° layers in cross-ply composites causes a greater stiffness reduction for the same amount of matrix cracking. The second study investigates the effect of thermal residual stresses on the composite stiffness reduction. The results show that the thermal residual stresses play an important role in matrix cracking of cross-ply, fibrous composites.
Cortical networks representing object categories and high-level attributes of familiar real-world action sounds

In contrast to visual object processing, relatively little is known about how the human brain processes everyday real-world sounds, transforming highly complex acoustic signals into representations of meaningful events or auditory objects. We recently reported a fourfold cortical dissociation for representing action (nonvocalization) sounds correctly categorized as having been produced by human, animal, mechanical, or environmental sources. However, it was unclear how consistent those network representations were across individuals, given potential differences between each participant's degree of familiarity with the studied sounds. Moreover, it was unclear what, if any, auditory perceptual attributes might further distinguish the four conceptual sound-source categories, potentially revealing what might drive the cortical network organization for representing acoustic knowledge. Here, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to test participants before and after extensive listening experience with action sounds, and tested for cortices that might be sensitive to each of three different high-level perceptual attributes relating to how a listener associates or interacts with the sound source. These included the sound's perceived concreteness, effectuality (ability to be affected by the listener), and spatial scale. Despite some variation of networks for environmental sounds, our results verified the stability of a fourfold dissociation of category-specific networks for real-world action sounds both before and after familiarity training. Additionally, we identified cortical regions parametrically modulated by each of the three high-level perceptual sound attributes. We propose that these attributes contribute to the network-level encoding of category-specific acoustic knowledge representations.
Opening-mode dominated crack growth along inclined interfaces : Experimental observations

Abstract This experimental study investigates the dynamic decohesion of inclined interfaces between aluminum and a polymeric material PSM-1. Two lead azide explosive charges are detonated to initiate dynamic loading in a specially designed bimaterial specimen. The dynamic loading results in crack initiation, propagation and arrest in the same experiment. Photoelasticity, in conjunction with high-speed photography, is used to observe the dynamic event. Dynamic complex stress intensity factor and the energy release rate histories are obtained using the available steady-state singular stress field equations. The dependence of the dynamic initiation and arrest toughness on the mixity under dynamic loading is also investigated. Mixity at crack initiation is controlled by the inclination of the interface. The results show that the initiation toughness is higher than the arrest toughness by about 21%. Based on the experimental observations, a dynamic fracture criterion for subsonic crack growth along the bimaterial interfaces is proposed. According to this criterion, the displacement at a point behind the crack tip varies exponentially with the crack-tip velocity (0 s ; where c s is the shear wave speed of the compliant material). This criterion establishes a generalized relationship between the dynamic energy release rate and the instantaneous crack-tip velocity.
Current signature compression for IR-drop analysis

We present a novel approach to compress current signatures for IR-drop analysis of large power grids. Our approach divides the original current signature into error bounded compression sets. Each compression set has a representative timepoint. The compressed current signature consists of the representative timepoints. The compression technique exploits the pattern of change of individual currents, time locality and periodicity to achieve very high quality results. We provide error guarantees for the compression. Our results are superior in compression and accuracy in comparison to other compression methods such as the single cycle compression.
Consumers' Perceptions and Misperceptions of Energy Costs

This paper presents three initial stylized facts from the Vehicle Ownership and Alternatives Survey (VOAS), a nationally representative survey that elicits consumers' beliefs about gasoline prices and the relative energy costs of autos with different fuel economy ratings. First, American consumers devote little attention to fuel costs when purchasing autos. Second, consistent with a cognitive bias called "MPG Illusion," consumers underestimate the fuel cost differences between low-MPG vehicles and overestimate the differences between high-MPG vehicles. Third, Americans' mean and median expected future gas prices were above current prices and predictions of the futures market at the time of the survey. Although it is often argued that misperceived energy costs justify policies to encourage the sale of energy efficient durable goods, these results show that misperceptions and expectations that differ from market information could either increase or decrease energy efficiency.
Thermal behavior of HeLa and KB cells in suspension and attached to glass

Abstract HeLa S-3 and KB cells were grown in a LKB Batch Microcalorimeter under a variety of nutrient medium conditions and mixing intervals. These conditions produced rather large apparent endothermic and exothermic responses on mixing that could be correlated with the presence of suspended cells (unattached) as well as cells attached to the glass calorimeter vessel. Cells capable of being resuspended upon mixing of the calorimeter vessel produces first an endothermic followed by an exothermic signal while attached cells produced only an apparent endothermic response. The exothermic response is believed to be associated with increased metabolic heat on suspending the cells followed by partial suppression of the steady state metabolic heat on cell settling. Rates of cell settling correlated well with the rate of decay of the exothermic signal. The rapid appearance of endothermicity on mixing suggests it is associated with rapid events such as binding of nutrients to cell surfaces. The response in the endothermic direction on mixing is discussed in terms of the disruption of mechanisms which tend to exclude nutrients from the surface of the cell.
Studies on the mechanism of phage adsorption: Interaction between phage ϵ15 and its cellular receptor

Abstract The temperate Salmonella phage ϵ15 and a soluble protein present at late times in ϵ15-infected cells can cleave the phage receptor site on the surface of sensitive cells. The phage receptor, a heteropolysaccharide containing mannose, rhamnose, and galactose is degraded by the specific cleavage of rhamnosylgalactose linkages. The products are a series of oligosaccharides. The soluble protein, purified from phage-infected cell lysates, has properties expected of a component of the phage tail. It adsorbs specifically to phage-sensitive cells, it interacts with anti-ϵ15 phage serum blocking its action on ϵ15 phage, and it contains a single polypeptide component which corresponds to one of the major polypeptides present in the ϵ15 virion by the criterion of SDS-acrylamide gel electrophoresis.
Glomerular and vascular tissues do not down-regulate nitric oxide synthesis during protracted endotoxemia.

Glomerular and vascular tissues do not down-regulate nitric oxide synthesis during protracted endotoxemia. Down-regulation of cytokines is implicated as an important component of the phenomenon of tolerance to bacterial products in humans and animals. Since many effects of endotoxin and cytokines are mediated by nitric oxide, this study was designed to evaluate in vivo the L-arginine:NO pathway in endotoxin tolerance. Sublethal injections of E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 mg/kg body wt, i.p.) were given to rats daily for five days. Blood levels of NO 2 - / NO 3 - , stable metabolites of nitric oxide (NO), significantly increased on day 1 (baseline, 89.64 ± 40, day 1, 260.32 ± 36 nmol/ml; P NO 2 - / NO 3 - remained significantly elevated several-fold throughout the study period (baseline, 121.25 ± 11.4, day 1, 899.35 ± 15.8, day 5,250.23 ± 21.4 nmol/hr/100 g body wt). Glomeruli and aortae obtained from these rats showed increased NO production that was maintained at similar levels even at day 5 (glomeruli: control, 0.01 ± 0.0, day 1, 22.4 ± 0.3, and day 5, 22.0 ± 2.5, P P in vitro LPS challenge. However, peritoneal macrophages, liver and spleen showed an initial increase in NO production that decreased significantly by the fifth day of LPS and could not be further stimulated by in vitro LPS challenge. Thus, in vivo NO synthesis is down-regulated during protracted LPS. Our results show that the process is relatively specific to the liver, spleen and macrophages, and is qualitatively and quantitatively different in vascular tissues such as aortae and glomeruli.
Sub-module differential power processing for photovoltaic applications

In this paper, a sub-module differential power processing (DPP) architecture for solar photovoltaic (PV) applications is presented, along with a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) control scheme that requires minimum communication and no local current sensing. The efficiency, size and cost benefit of this architecture are analyzed, and the control challenges associated with this architecture are addressed. A hardware prototype is implemented and tested in a controllable indoor test setup that enables replication of real-world partial shading conditions. We experimentally verified a substantial increase in total system energy capture compared to module-level MPPT solutions, through the use of the proposed DPP architecture and control strategy.
Effects of Tantalum on the Temporal Evolution of a Model Ni-Al-Cr Superalloy During Phase Decomposition

The effects of a 2.0 at.% addition of Ta to a model Ni-10.0Al-8.5Cr (at.%) superalloy aged at 1073 K are assessed using scanning electron microscopy and atom-probe tomography. The gamma'(Ll2)-precipitate morphology that develops as a result of gamma-(fcc)matrix phase decomposition is found to evolve from a bimodal distribution of spheroidal precipitates, to {001}-faceted cuboids and parallelepipeds aligned along the elastically soft {001}-type directions. The phase compositions and the widths of the gamma'-precipitate/gamma-matrix heterophase interfaces evolve temporally as the Ni-Al-Cr-Ta alloy undergoes quasi-stationary state coarsening after 1 h of aging. Tantalum is observed to partition preferentially to the gamma'-precipitate phase, and suppresses the mobility of Ni in the gamma-matrix sufficiently to cause an accumulation of Ni on the gamma-matrix side of the gamma'/gamma interface. Additionally, computational modeling, employing Thermo-Calc, Dictra and PrecipiCalc, is employed to elucidate the kinetic pathways that lead to phase decomposition in this concentrated Ni-Al-Cr-Ta alloy.
Electrophorus electricus acetylcholinesterases; separation and selective modification by collagenase.

— The multiple forms of acetylcholinesterase found in the electric organ of the eel Electrophorus electricus have been fractionated by differential solubilization from an ammonium sulfate precipitate by means of a column elution procedure (King, 1972). This procedure cleanly separates ‘native’ forms from ‘degraded’ forms, and subsequent sedimentation reveals three native and two degraded forms. All three native forms, in distinction to the degraded ones, are insoluble at low ionic strength and are shifted to higher sedimentation constants by limited collagenase treatment. These results suggest that the long (500 A) tail seen previously on the native forms of this enzyme (Dudaiet al., 1973; Riegeret al., 1973a, b) may contain collagen.
A limitation of the generation of magnetic fields

Simple arguments are put forward to show that the currents produced in disks by radiative or other types of drag forces on electrons must give rise to extraordinarily small magnetic fields. The field strengths are consistent with earlier (more complex) treatments of this class of problem, but inconsistent with the claims of recent papers in the literature. The discrepancies involve the treatment of self-induction. Ion-electron inductive coupling limits the generated magnetic field to have an associated ion Larmor radius greater than or of order of the radius of the disk, a result which follows most directly from conservation of canonical ion momentum, p + eA/c. An explicit time-dependent model for the buildup of the field leads to the same conclusion. If internal velocity gradient scales are smaller than the ion Larmor radius, and the plasma is not collision dominated, standard dynamo amplification within the disk is hardly likely to be effective. But to explain the Galactic field, dynamo amplification in a collisional plasma is also likely to be problematic. The difficulties posed by the existence of ordered Galactic-scale magnetic fields are made all the more acute by the simplicity and the scope of the discussed field limitation.
Traffic jams during vesicle cycling lead to synaptic depression.

During prolonged stimulation, fusion of thousands of synaptic vesicles poses a challenge for the temporal and spatial coordination of exocytosis and endocytosis. In this issue of Neuron , Hosoi and colleagues reveal that [Ca 2+ ] i -microdomains trigger compensatory endocytosis. Block of endocytosis enhances short-term depression by delaying vesicle recruitment to docking sites on active zones.
Is Vertesszöllös II an occipital of European Homo erectus

THE taxonomy of the two human fossils discovered at the Intermindel occupation site of Vertesszollos in western Hungary has been a topic of considerable interest. The fragments of a deciduous tooth representing the first individual (V1) were judged by Thoma to be indistinguishable from deciduous teeth from Choukoutien1, but he later concluded that the second individual (V2), represented by an occipital fragment, is a member of the taxon Homo sapiens2,3. He places V2 on the lineage leading to Swanscombe, in preference to separate lineage leading to the neandertals.
The effects of mild diastolic hypertension on the results of tests of cognitive function in adults 22 to 59 years of age

Objective:To test the hypothesis that mild diastolic hypertension (90 to 104 mm Hg) may induce asymptomatic impairment of cognitive function. Design:Cross-sectional. Setting:Community participants recruited to a university-based ambulatory care center. Participants:Three hundred twelve men and women with untreated essential hypertension and 47 normotensive subjects, 22 to 59 years of age. Measurements and main results:Cognitive function tests measured reaction time to and accuracy in interpreting predetermined visual stimuli, the ability to acquire, reproduce, and change a set of arbitrary stimulus — response associations, and memory and learning of verbal information. These tests were selected to detect subtle differences in performances as opposed to differentiating neurologically normal persons from brain-damaged persons. After controlling for age, gender, and education, results showed that there was no significant difference between the normotensive and hypertensive subjects in two measures of reaction time to and four measures of accuracy in interpreting predetermined visual stimuli, in the measure of arbitrary stimulus-response associations, or in seven memory and learning variables. Although confidence intervals for the differences between means were wide, clinically significant differences were not likely to be present. Younger age was associated with faster reaction times, fewer errors, and better performance on memory and learning tasks, independent of diastolic blood pressure. Conclusions:The few detectable effects of untreated mild hypertension on cognitive function reported in the literature may be due to chance and are of questionable clinical significance.
Service-based computing for agents on disruption and delay prone networks

As computing and communication hardware becomes smaller and more powerful, computer networking is being applied to a wide array of problems and settings. The ubiquity of wireless Internet access in urban society is just one symptom of this advance. However, in many domains the nature of the network is significantly unlike that of traditional wired networking. Common assumptions regarding properties such as delay, connectivity models, and hosts often do not hold, posing many new challenges to be addressed. Two archetypical settings highlighting these are Interplanetary Internet and mobile ad-hoc networks. The network layer alone cannot resolve many of these issues---it is not possible to completely shield the application layer from factors such as long delays and frequent disconnects. Agents in these settings cannot behave as they would on a wired network and achieve similar performance. Developing effective agent-based systems for these environments therefore requires new approaches, techniques, and agent behaviors to account for these constraints.
Comparison of the ease of tolerance induction in thymus and bone marrow of three strains of mice.

Abstract Three strains of mice which vary in their susceptibility to induction of immune tolerance with human gamma-globulin were studied to evaluate the cellular basis for their sensitivity to induction of the unresponsive state. Tolerance induction in BALB/c mice was difficult to establish, while tolerance induction was easily achieved in C57BL/6 and CBF1 (BALB/c × C57BL/6) mice. The degree of unresponsiveness obtained with various tolerogen doses in intact C57BL/6 and CBF1 mice was reflected in the sensitivity of their thymocytes to the production of the unresponsive state. In the BALB/c mouse strain slight immune suppression observed at low tolerogen doses was correlated with bone marrow cell unresponsiveness while significant levels of tolerance observed at a high tolerogen dose was due to suppression of thymus cells. It was apparent that CBF1 mice had inherited both thymus cells and bone marrow cells which exhibited the sensitivity to induction of immune tolerance characteristic of those same cells of their C57BL/6 parent.
Interpretation of chemical and isotopic compositions of brines based on mixing and dilution, “Clinton” sandstones, eastern Ohio, U.S.A.

Abstract The chemical compositions of 24 selected brine samples from the gas and oil-bearing “Clinton” sandstones of eastern Ohio can be attributed to mixing of two components in the subsurface. The concentrations of major anions and cations of the mixed brines were subsequently altered by dilution with groundwater or surface water that entered the brines either during production or subsequent storage on the surface. The two brine types identified in this study are characterized by high concentrations of NaCl and CaCl2, respectively. After removing the effects of dilution, the abundance of the NaCl brine decreases with depth within the Clinton sandstones, whereas the abundance of the CaCl2 brine increases. These results support the conclusion that the Ca-rich brine component originates from sources at depth and is mixed with the Na-rich brine that may form by solution of rock salt in the overlying Salina Formation. The isotope compositions of oxygen and hydrogen of 12 brine samples from a linear array in coordinates of δ18O and δD. The array formed by the Clinton brines can be explained satisfactorily as a product of mixing of the two brine types characterized by differences in their chemical composition. The Ca-rich brine is enriched in18O relative to the Na-rich brine. The87Sr/86Sr ratios of Sr in 7 brine samples range from 0.70913 to 0.71364 and vary inversely with the Sr concentrations. This relationship is likewise attributable to mixing of the two brine types which have different isotopic compositions and concentrations of Sr. The Na-rich brine is enriched in radiogenic87Sr compared to the Ca-rich brine. Therefore, both chemical and isotopic parameters support the conclusion that mixing and dilution account for the observed compositions of brine samples from the Clinton sandstones of eastern Ohio.
Students' Expectations About Peer Pressure to Engage in Misconduct

Previous research suggests that students with learning disabilities may differ from other students in their expectations of how peers are likely to propose engaging in misconduct. This study followed up on these findings using a methodology that did not require the participants to produce their responses verbally. Participants were 74 students with learning disabilities (53 male, 21 female) and 85 students without disabilities (40 male, 45 female) from high schools in three types of communities (urban, primarily black; urban, primarily Hispanic; suburban, primarily white). The students were presented with a series of pairs of statements that might be made by a teenager trying to entice a peer into misconduct and were asked to indicate which statement in each pair was the more persuasive. The results partially replicated the earlier research. The methodological and social implications of these results are discussed.
Prediction of Functional Sites in SCOP Domains using Dynamics Perturbation Analysis

Dynamics perturbation analysis (DPA) finds regions in a protein structure where proteins are "ticklish", i.e., where interactions cause a large change in protein dynamics. Previously, such regions were shown to predict the location of native binding sites in a docking test set, but the more general applicability of DPA to the prediction of functional sites in proteins was not shown. Here we describe the results of applying an accelerated algorithm, called Fast DPA, to predict functional sites in over 50,000 SCOP domains.