cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On non-local form factors

A non-local formalism is suggested for relating classical ideas about unitary fields with the current methods of making calculations about elementary particles. In the proposed scheme the form factors and masses of all particles are obtained from a single invariant through a classical lagrangian principle.
Changes in Systemic and Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism after Cardio-Pulmonary-Cerebral Resuscitation

心停止後の脳および全身の代謝の変化は,複雑で不明瞭な部分も少なくない。われわれは,心停止後の蘇生に心肺バイパス装置(CPB)を採用した理想的な蘇生モデルを用い,動脈血(A)および全身と脳の混合静脈血〔肺動脈血(PA)と矢状静脈洞血(SS)〕における酸素(O2),糖(G),乳酸(L)を経時的に観察し,蘇生後の代謝変化を明確にするとともに,これら代謝産物の連続定量の臨床的意義を検討した。同一血統coonhound成犬8頭を対象に心室細動(VF)による12.5分の血流停止状態を作成し,短期間(2～3分間)のCPBによる蘇生後,24時間の集中管理を施行した。心拍出量(CO),頭蓋内圧(ICP)をはじめとした心脳血管系の圧変数をモニターし,A, PA, SSのO2およびA, SSのG, Lを経時的に定量した。心肺機能の変数では,COが蘇生後4時間目に約30%の減少が認められた以外は全経過を通じて安定していた。ICPは蘇生直後に軽度の上昇が認められただけであった。全身および脳における代謝の変数では全身の動静脈酸素含量較差はわずかの増加にとどまったのに対し,脳では蘇生後4時間目において最大で約2倍にまで上昇し脳酸素代謝/脳血流の不均衡が明確にされた。脳酸素抽出率(CeOER)は心停止前は0.34であったが,蘇生直後の血流増加期には0.06にまで一過性に低下し,ついで血流低下期には0.74と上昇し,蘇生後4時間目の脳における酸素供給の著しい低下が示唆された。嫌気性解糖反応の評価を目的とした酸素糖指標(OGI)や乳酸糖指標(LGI)は,糖の定量の著しい正確さが要求されるため,必ずしも汎用し得るものではなかった。その点,乳酸酸素指標(LOI)は算出が容易で,これを用いた検討では,蘇生後の脳血流増加期を含め2時間の上昇が認められた。以上の結果より,心肺蘇生後は,脳におけるOERは頭蓋外臓器のそれと比較して著しく高値を示し,脳への酸素供給が低下していることを示唆しており,LOIの変化もそのことを示唆していた。
Induction of stable RNA interference in mammalian cells

Over the last years, RNA interference (RNAi) has become a widely used technique that permits the knock-down, and hence functional analysis, of individual genes in vertebrate cells. However, the high failure rate of the RNA molecules used in RNAi experiments continues to be a problem. In this paper, I describe a set of design criteria, experimental steps and expression vectors that can facilitate the effective knock-down of almost any vertebrate gene product in cultured cells or in experimental animals.Gene Therapy (2006) 13, 503-508. doi:10.1038/sj.gt.3302656; published online 29 September 2005.
Evoked brain responses to auditory and visual stimuli of equal subjective magnitude.

Evoked brain response (EBR) waveforms to auditory and visual stimuli of equal subjective modalities were described well by power functions. Power function exponents for auditory EBR functions were greater than for visual EBR functions. This finding corresponds with psychophysical data reported in the literature which indicate that loudness power functions grow faster than those for brightness. In addition, EBR waveforms computed to bimodal stimuli appear to be an algebraic summation of unimodal EBR waveforms. No sensory interaction is suggested by bimodal EBRs.
Kinetics of the thermal dehydrochlorination of vinylidene chloride barrier polymers

Vinylidene chloride copolymers containing a predominance of vinylidene chloride (85-90%) have long been important barrier polymers widely used in the plastics packaging industry. These materials display excellent barrier to the ingress of oxygen and other small molecules (to prevent food spoilage) and to the loss of food flavor and aroma constituents (to prevent flavor scalping on the supermarket shelf). While these polymers have many outstanding characteristics, which have made them commercial successes, they tend to undergo thermally-induced degradative dehydrohalogenation at process temperatures. The dehydrochlorination occurs at moderate temperatures (120-200°C) and is a typical chain process involving initiation, propagation and termination phases. Defect structures, namely internal unsaturation (allylic dichloromethylene groups), serve as initiation sites for the degradation. These may be introduced during polymerization or during subsequent isolation and drying procedures. If uncontrolled, sequential dehydrohalogenation can lead to the formation of conjugated polyene sequences along the polymer mainchain. If sufficiently large, these polyenes absorb in the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, and give rise to discoloration of the polymer. The dehydrochlorination process may be conveniently monitored by thermogravimetric techniques. Both initiation and propagation rate constants may be readily obtained.
Topography of the lunar poles from radar interferometry : A survey of cold trap locations

Detailed topographic maps of the lunar poles have been obtained by Earth-based radar interferometry with the 3.5-centimeter wavelength Goldstone Solar System Radar. The interferometer provided maps 300 kilometers by 1000 kilometers of both polar regions at 150-meter spatial resolution and 50-meter height resolution. Using ray tracing, these digital elevation models were used to locate regions that are in permanent shadow from solar illumination and may harbor ice deposits. Estimates of the total extent of shadowed areas poleward of 87.5 degrees latitude are 1030 and 2550 square kilometers for the north and south poles, respectively.
Hypothermia in the Nursing Home: Adverse Outcomes in Two Older Men

Abstract Older people are vulnerable to extreme changes of ambient temperatures caused by impaired thermoregulatory function. This results in a high mortality in older subjects during increases and decreases in the environmental temperature. 1 From 1979 through 1994, a total of 11,817 deaths were reported in the United States for which hypothermia was the underlying cause (average annual number and rate: 739 and 0.3 per 100,000 population). Half of these occurred in adults older than age 65. For reasons that are unclear, mortality in men was more than double that in women (1.8 vs. 0.8). 2 , 3 Presented are two cases of hypothermia with adverse outcomes in male residents living in long-term care facilities (LTCF) .
Solubility and Electrophoretic Behavior of Some Proteins of Post-Mortem Aged Bovine Muscle

SUMMARY The solubility characteristics and starch gel electrophoretic properties of intracellular bovine muscle proteins from the longissimus dorsi and semitendinosus muscles were investigated during a 336-hr post-mortem aging period. The relationship of solubility and electrophoretic behavior to post-mortem tenderization was also investigated. In the semitendinosus muscle, the solubility of sarcoplasmic protein was highest at slaughter and decreased as post-mortem aging proceeded, but no change was observed in the longissimus dorsi muscle. Fibrillar protein was least ex-tractable at 24 hr post-mortem, but its solubility was significantly higher at 168 and 336 hr than at 24 hr post-mortem in both muscles studied. The amount of extractable fibrillar nitrogen was negatively related to Warner-Bratzler shear values as post-mortem aging proceeded. The increase in amount of soluble fibrillar nitrogen during the post-mortem aging periods of 24-168, 24-336, and 168-336 hr was positively related to the decrease in shear value for the respective periods. Fifteen zones were definable in the starch gel electrophoretic patterns of the sarcoplasmic proteins. At the pH used in this experiment, most of the zones were anionic. These anionic zones exhibited more discrete boundaries in the latter stages of aging, and certain new zones appeared or increased in intensity as aging progressed.
Rehabilitation after critical care: using audit to guide changes in practice, a multidisciplinary (MDT) approach

To audit the holistic assessment and treatment planning of critical care patients of more than 5 days stay, in line with the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines published in March 2009. The guidelines state that each patient should have a full comprehensive assessment and reassessment of all physical and nonphysical potential problems, individual goal-setting and documented communication between patient, MDT and family members.
A power take-off mechanism for maximizing the performance of an oscillating water column wave energy device

Active control is a possible means of improving the cost effectiveness of wave energy devices. This paper suggests a power take-off mechanism for controlling the hydrodynamic response of a full scale oscillating water column (OWC) device. A system comprising an air turbine, a float, and a hydraulic power conversion apparatus is proposed. In order to understand the performance requirements of the mechanism, numerical investigations were carried out for the terminator and the attenuator devices. The air turbine mechanism was built in the laboratory and found to be self-starting.
A comparison of the financial institutions' view and the market's view of country creditworthiness

In 1979, both Institutional Investor and Euromoney began publishing country risk ratings. For years, international commercial bankers have used these rating services as part of their international evaluation process for lending to sovereign governments. An examination of these services suggests that Institutional Investor's ratings, which are based upon questionnaire responses from commercial bankers, reflect the financial institutions' perception of country creditworthiness. On the other hand, Euromoney's ratings represent a market view in that they are based upon data observed from financial and credit markets. The purpose of this article is to investigate the consistency between the financial institutions' view and the market's view in assessing the creditworthiness of developing and newly industrialized countries.
Exploring knowledge and population swarms via an agent-based Cultural Algorithms Simulation Toolkit (CAT)

Cultural algorithms employ a basic set of knowledge sources, each related to knowledge observed in various social species. These knowledge sources are then combined to direct the decisions of the individual agents in solving optimization problems. While many successful real- world applications of cultural algorithms have been produced, we are interested in studying the fundamental computational processes involved in the use of cultural systems as problem solvers. Here we describe a Java-based toolkit system, the cultural algorithm toolkit (CAT) developed in the repast symphony simulation environment. The system allows users to easily configure and visualize the problem solving process of a cultural algorithm. Currently the system supports predator/prey problem solving in a "cones world" environment as well as a suite of benchmark problems in engineering design. Example runs of a predator prey example are presented to demonstrate the systems' capabilities.
A reaction network for the hydrothermal liquefaction of Nannochloropsis sp.

Abstract We isolated the solid, aqueous-phase, and biocrude product fractions from the hydrothermal liquefaction of Nannochloropsis sp. and then further reacted each individually. These results permitted construction of a detailed reaction network for hydrothermal liquefaction that comprises the pathways for consumption and formation of each product fraction. We used the reaction network to develop a quantitative kinetic model and estimated its parameters using experimental results for the hydrothermal liquefaction of Nannochloropsis sp. at different temperatures and times. The model accurately predicted previously published biocrude and gas yields for the hydrothermal treatment of Nannochloropsis sp., though predictions became poorer further outside the experimental parameter space used to determine the model parameters. The reaction path between aqueous-phase products and heavy biocrude switches direction during the course of liquefaction. It initially produces aqueous-phase products, but after several minutes it consumes aqueous-phase products and produces heavy biocrude. The activation energies for the gas formation pathways (66 and 80 kJ/mol) are in good accord with the value (71 kJ/mol) estimated from literature for algae gasification in supercritical water [2]. The model predicts that the yields of light and heavy biocrudes are highest at temperatures > 300 °C and reaction times
Diabetes: outfoxing insulin resistance?

Resistance to insulin predisposes people to diabetes; it is characterized by increased storage of fats and a failure to stop glucose synthesis. The molecular underpinnings of these effects have been uncovered.
Choice of Variables and Gender Differentiated Prediction within Selected Academic Programs.

The existence of differential prediction of 2-year grade point average is reported for gender groups within programs of study at a large state university. Johnson-Neyman analyses indicate regions on the predictor score scales where differential prediction has practical impact within each program. A significant portion of students is generally affected. It is shown that careful selection of a subset of variables reduces differential prediction while maintaining predictive potency.
Factors governing the nature of submarine volcanism

Examination of the volumetric expansion of vesiculating water vapor at temperatures and pressure corresponding to those of basaltic and rhyolitic magmas erupting under various depths of sea water indicates that explosive ash formation is unlikely at depths greater than 500 meters. Rhyolitic magmas could produce ash at greater depths, but only if the water content were greatly enriched.
Historical Perspectives on African American Males as Subjects of Education Policy

The intent of this article is to frame the contemporary policy prescriptions concerning the plight and prospects of African American males in historical perspective. The authors argue that the emergence of African American males as a special subject of educational policy represents a more explicit rendering of a deeply rooted social and educational policy discourse in which African American males figured prominently but seldom as a targeted subject. Selected historical literature in African American education, sociology, and educational policy are reviewed, noting relevant trends over time.
Purification and characterization of a molluscan egg-specific NADase, a second-messenger enzyme.

An egg-specific NADase has been purified to homogeneity from the ovotestis of the opisthobranch mollusk Aplysia californica. Unlike other NADases, the Aplysia enzyme generates primarily cyclic-ADP-ribose (cADPR) rather than ADP-ribose from NAD. cADPR has been shown to stimulate the release of Ca2+ from microsomes prepared from sea urchin egg and, when injected into intact eggs, to activate the cortical reaction, multiple nuclear cycles, and DNA synthesis. The Aplysia enzyme was initially identified as an inhibitor of cholera and pertussis toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation. By the use of an NADase assay, it was purified from the aqueous-soluble fraction of ovotestis by sequential column chromatography. The enzyme has an apparent molecular mass of 29 kDa, a Km for NAD of 0.7 mM, and a turnover rate of approximately 27,000 mol NAD.min-1.mol enzyme-1 at 30 degrees C. Monoclonal antibodies were generated to the NADase. Immunoblots of two-dimensional gels revealed multiple isoforms of the enzyme, with pls ranging from 8.1 to 9.8. The multiple isoforms were resolved with a cation exchange high-pressure liquid chromatography column and shown to generate cADPR. Immunohistochemical analysis of cryostat sections of Aplysia ovotestis shows that the enzyme is specific to the eggs and restricted to large 5- to 10-microns granules or vesicles. To date the cADPR-generating enzyme activity has been identified in various organisms, including mammals. The Aplysia enzyme is the first example in which the enzyme that generates cADPR has been purified. All of the available evidence indicates that this NADase is a second-messenger enzyme, implying that other NADases may serve a similar function.
Effect of growth factors on hepatic drug metabolism in diabetic-hypophysectomized rats.

In vivo administration to diabetic-hypophysectomized rats of either the growth factor produced by the plerocercoid larvae of the tapeworm, Spirometra mansonoides, or mammalian growth hormone caused inhibition of hepatic drug metabolism measured in vitro.
Designing a Graphical Domain-Specific Modelling Language Targeting a Filter-Based Data Analysis Framework

We demonstrate the application of a Model-Driven Software Development (MDSD) methodology using the example of an analysis framework designed for a data logging device in the field of vehicle testing. This mobile device is capable of recording the data traffic of automotive-specific bus systems like Controller Area Network (CAN), Local Interconnect Network (LIN), FlexRay and Media Orientied Systems Transport (MOST) in real-time. In order to accelerate the subsequent analysis of the tremendous amount of data, it is advisable to pre-filter the recorded log data on device, during the test-drive. To enable the test engineer of creating data analyses we built a component-based library on top of the languages System{C}/C++. Problematic with this approach is that still substantial programming knowledge is required for implementing filter algorithms, which is usually not the domain of a vehicle test engineer. In a next step we developed a graphical modelling language on top of our library and a graphical editor. The editor is able of verifying a model as well as of generating source code which eliminates the need of manually implementing a filter algorithm. In our contribution we show the design of the graphical language and the editor using the Eclipse platform and the Graphical Modelling Framework (GMF). We describe the automatic extraction of meta-information, such as available components, their interfaces and categorization annotations by parsing the library's C++ implementation with the help of Xtext. The editor will use that information to build a dedicated tool palette providing components that the designer can instantiate and interconnect using drag-and-drop.
Optimal Rollover Prevention With Steer by Wire and Differential Braking

This paper uses Model Predictive Control theory to develop a framework for automobile stability control. The framework is then demonstrated with a roll mode controller which seeks to actively limit the peak roll angle of the vehicle while simultaneously tracking the driver’s yaw rate command. Initially, control law presented assumes knowledge of the complete input trajectory and acts as a benchmark for the best performance any controller could have on this system. This assumption is then relaxed by only assuming that the current driver steering command is available. Numerical simulations on a nonlinear vehicle model show that both control structures effectively track the driver intended yaw rate during extreme maneuvers while also limiting the peak roll angle. During ordinary driving, the controlled vehicle behaves identically to an ordinary vehicle. These preliminary results shows that for double lane change maneuvers, it is possible to limit roll angle while still closely tracking the driver’s intent.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Systems Pharmacology Modeling Predicts Delayed Presentation and Species Differences in Bile Acid–Mediated Troglitazone Hepatotoxicity

Troglitazone (TGZ) caused delayed, life-threatening drug-induced liver injury (DILI) in some patients, but was not hepatotoxic in rats. This study investigated altered bile acid (BA) homeostasis as a mechanism of TGZ hepatotoxicity using a systems pharmacology model incorporating drug/metabolite disposition, BA physiology/pathophysiology, hepatocyte life cycle, and liver injury biomarkers. In the simulated human population, TGZ (200–600mg/day×6months) resulted in delayed increases in serum ALT>3× ULN in 0.3–5.1% of the population with concomitant bilirubin elevations>2× ULN in 0.3–3.6%. In contrast, pioglitazone (15–45mg/day×6months) did not elicit hepatotoxicity, consistent with clinical data. TGZ was not hepatotoxic in the simulated rat population. In summary, mechanistic modeling based only on BA effects accurately predicted the incidence, delayed presentation, and species differences in TGZ hepatotoxicity, and the relative liver safety of pioglitazone. Systems pharmacology models integrating physiology and experimental data can evaluate DILI mechanisms and may be useful to predict hepatotoxic potential of drug candidates.
Duplication of AP1 within the Spinacia oleracea L. AP1/FUL clade is followed by rapid amino acid and regulatory evolution

The AP1/FUL clade of MADS box genes have undergone multiple duplication events among angiosperm species. While initially identified as having floral meristem identity and floral organ identity function in Arabidopsis, the role of AP1 homologs does not appear to be universally conserved even among eudicots. In comparison, the role of FRUITFULL has not been extensively explored in non-model species. We report on the isolation of three AP1/FUL genes from cultivated spinach, Spinacia oleracea L. Two genes, designated SpAPETALA1-1 (SpAP1-1) and SpAPETALA1-2 (SpAP1-2), cluster as paralogous genes within the Caryophyllales AP1 clade. They are highly differentiated in the 3', carboxyl-end encoding region of the gene following the third amphipathic alpha-helix region, while still retaining some elements of a signature AP1 carboxyl motifs. In situ hybridization studies also demonstrate that the two paralogs have evolved different temporal and spatial expression patterns, and that neither gene is expressed in the developing sepal whorl, suggesting that the AP1 floral organ identity function is not conserved in spinach. The spinach FRUITFULL homolog, SpFRUITFULL (SpFUL), has retained the conserved motif and groups with Caryophyllales FRUITFULL homologs. SpFUL is expressed in leaf as well as in floral tissue, and shows strong expression late in flower development, particularly in the tapetal layer in males, and in the endothecium layer and stigma, in the females. The combined evidence of high rates of non-synonymous substitutions and differential expression patterns supports a scenario in which the AP1 homologs in the spinach AP1/FUL gene family have experienced rapid evolution following duplication.
183A Turnpike: A Design-Build Success Story

This Paper presents the planning, design and construction experience of P.E. Structural Consultants, Inc. and URS Corporation structural design team on the 183A Turnpike Project in Austin, TX. An overview of the toll road project is provided and unique structural and aesthetic design solutions for the bridges and related structures are highlighted. Lessons learned through the Design-Build Delivery Method are offered.
The effects of acute alcohol on motor impairments in adolescent, adult, and aged rats.

Abstract Acute alcohol exposure has been shown to produce differential motor impairments between aged and adult rats and between adolescent and adult rats. However, the effects of acute alcohol exposure among adolescent, adult, and aged rats have yet to be systematically investigated within the same project using a dose-dependent analysis. We sought to determine the age- and dose-dependent effects of acute alcohol exposure on gross and coordinated motor performance across the rodent lifespan. Adolescent (PD 30), adult (PD 70), and aged (approximately 18 months) male Sprague–Dawley rats were tested on 3 separate motor tasks: aerial righting reflex (ARR), accelerating rotarod (RR), and loss of righting reflex (LORR). In a separate group of animals, blood ethanol concentrations (BEC) were determined at multiple time points following a 3.0 g/kg ethanol injection. Behavioral tests were conducted with a Latin square repeated-measures design in which all animals received the following doses: 1.0 g/kg or 2.0 g/kg alcohol or saline over 3 separate sessions via intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection. During testing, motor impairments were assessed on the RR 10 min post-injection and on ARR 20 min post-injection. Aged animals spent significantly less time on the RR when administered 1.0 g/kg alcohol compared to adult rats. In addition, motor performance impairments significantly increased with age after 2.0 g/kg alcohol administration. On the ARR test, aged rats were more sensitive to the effects of 1.0 g/kg and 2.0 g/kg alcohol compared to adolescents and adults. Seven days after the last testing session, animals were given 3.0 g/kg alcohol and LORR was examined. During LORR, aged animals slept longer compared to adult and adolescent rats. This effect cannot be explained solely by BEC levels in aged rats. The present study suggests that acute alcohol exposure produces greater motor impairments in older rats when compared to adolescent and adult rats and begins to establish a procedure to determine motor effects by alcohol across the lifespan.
Food, foragers, and folklore: the role of narrative in human subsistence

Abstract Narrative is a species-typical, reliably developing, complex cognitive process whose design is unlikely to have emerged by chance. Moreover, the folklore record indicates that narrative content is consistent across widely divergent cultures. I have argued elsewhere that a storyteller may use narrative to manipulate an audience's representations of the social and/or physical environment to serve his or her own fitness ends. However, my subsequent research suggests that such manipulation results from a broader selection pressure which narrative effectively alleviates: information acquisition. By substituting verbal representations for potentially costly first-hand experience, narrative enables an individual to safely and efficiently acquire information pertinent to the pursuit of fitness in local habitats. If this hypothesis is true, narrative should be rich with information useful to the pursuit of fitness. One class of information integral to the accomplishment of this task is foraging knowledge. In this paper, then, I present evidence that foraging peoples use narrative to transmit subsistence information: specifically, I demonstrate how various narrative devices (e.g., setting, description, mimicry, anthropomorphism) are used to communicate foraging knowledge.
The Kelp Highway Hypothesis: Marine Ecology, the Coastal Migration Theory, and the Peopling of the Americas

ABSTRACT In this article, a collaborative effort between archaeologists and marine ecologists, we discuss the role kelp forest ecosystems may have played in facilitating the movement of maritime peoples from Asia to the Americas near the end of the Pleistocene. Growing in cool nearshore waters along rocky coastlines, kelp forests offer some of the most productive habitats on earth, with high primary productivity, magnified secondary productivity, and three-dimensional habitat supporting a diverse array of marine organisms. Today, extensive kelp forests are found around the North Pacific from Japan to Baja California. After a break in the tropics—where nearshore mangrove forests and coral reefs are highly productive—kelp forests are also found along the Andean Coast of South America. These Pacific Rim kelp forests support or shelter a wealth of shellfish, fish, marine mammals, seabirds, and seaweeds, resources heavily used historically by coastal peoples. By about 16,000 years ago, the North Pacific Coast ...
A recursive clustering methodology using a genetic algorithm

This paper presents a recursive clustering scheme that uses a genetic algorithm-based search in a dichotomous partition space. The proposed algorithm makes no assumption on the number of clusters present in the dataset; instead it recursively uncovers subsets in the data until all isolated and separated regions have been classified as clusters. A test of spatial randomness serves as a termination criteria for the recursive process. Within each recursive step, a genetic algorithm searches the partition space for an optimal dichotomy of the dataset. A simple binary representation is used for the genetic algorithm, along with classical selection, crossover and mutation operators. Results of clustering on test cases, ranging from simple datasets in 2-D to large multidimensional datasets compare favorably with state of the art approaches in genetic algorithm-driven clustering.
PitchPerfect: integrated rehearsal environment for structured presentation preparation

Rehearsal is a critical component of preparing to give an oral presentation, yet it is frequently abbreviated, performed in ways that are inefficient or ineffective, or simply omitted. We conducted an exploratory study to understand the relationship between the theory and practice of presentation rehearsal, classifying our qualitative results into five themes to motivate more structured rehearsal support deeply integrated in slide presentation software. In a within-subject study (N=12) comparing against participants' existing rehearsal practices, we found that our resulting PitchPerfect system significantly improved overall presentation quality and content coverage as well as provided greater support for content mastery, time management, and confidence building.
Inhibition of Histamine-Stimulated Increases in Neart Rate in Man with the H2-Histamine Receptor Antagonist Cimetidine

The influence of an H2-histamine receptor antagonist, cimetidine, on histamine-induced changes in heart rate and blood pressure was examined in a randomized double-blind study in six fasted male subjects. The intravenous infusion of histamine (10 microgram/min) for 20 minutes caused an immediate and sustained increase in heart rate (26 per cent and a transient fall in mean arterial blood pressure (10 per cent). Cimetidine pretreatment (300 mg intravenously) inhibited histamine-elevated heart rate by 75 per cent (P less than 0.05) and histamine-decreased blood pressure by 54 per cent (P less than 0.05). Cimetidine by itself did not cause significant changes in heart rate or blood pressure. These results illustrate that H2-histamine receptor antagonists significantly inhibit histamine-induced increases in heart rate in man and support the potential use of cimetidine in certain cases of tachyarrhythmia.
Effects of Oxygen During Close-Spaced Sublimation of CdTe Solar Cells

The presence of oxygen during close-spaced sublimation (CSS) deposition of CdTe has been regarded as necessary for high-efficiency CdS/CdTe solar cells. To date, research has focused on the effect of oxygen on the acceptor density in the CdTe absorber. We find that although oxygen may influence the doping density, a perhaps more significant effect is its influence on nucleation and growth of the film. Oxygen partial pressures of 0 to 24 torr and total pressures of 5 to 45 torr (balance He) have been explored for CSS depositions. We find that increasing the O2 partial pressure increases the density of CdTe nucleation sites, thereby suppressing pinhole formation and likely reducing defects at the junction. However, increasing O2 also tends to decrease grain size and faceting in the films. In addition to influencing the film properties, O2 adversely affects the source material, producing non-uniformly oxidized surfaces that reduce deposition rates and impair device uniformity and run-to-run reproducibility. We have also determined that the graphite susceptors typically used with CSS deposition convert a portion of the oxygen ambient to CO and CO2 during deposition. The amount converted is highly dependent on the type and age of the graphite susceptor used. The COx byproducts are not efficiently incorporated in the CdTe film and do not influence the deposition as oxygen does. We describe the effect of the changing oxygen partial pressure during the course of deposition. Finally, we report high-efficiency solar cells (12.8% AM 1.5) made without oxygen.
Toward a miniaturized mechanical surgeon

Recent advances in sub-millimeter scale engineering suggest the possibility for constructing miniaturized tetherless medical tools for in vivo diagnostics and therapeutics. We review the challenges associated with the design and implementation of small, remotely controlled or autonomous surgical devices. Two key milestones are the creation of tiny mimics of macroscopic surgical devices with chemical, mechanical and electronic functionalities; and wireless strategies to control them or enable independent decision making (autonomous actuation). We summarize early results obtained in this area and discuss possible solutions with a focus on the challenges that can be addressed by innovations in materials science and engineering.
The Prevalence of Quality Management System Options in United States Academic Libraries

This article examines the different types of quality management systems and extent to which academic libraries in the United States have implemented these approaches. This discussion is based on a preliminary study that supports a larger research agenda on adaptation of ISO 9000 standards for quality assurance in technical services. Various forms of quality management systems and approaches are described, such as quality control, Total Quality Management, Continuous Quality Improvement, ISO 9000, and the Balanced Scorecard. The results of two preliminary data sets, (1) a record of the literature on these quality management systems and (2) a brief survey of technical services directors of academic libraries that are members of the Association of Research Libraries, are presented and discussed.
Effect of dietary calcium and phosphorus on 54Mn metabolism following single tracer intraperitoneal and oral doses in rats.

SummaryThe effects of dietary calcium [0.1% (low) or 0.6% (normal)] and phosphorus [0.4% (normal) or 0.9% (high)] on 54Mn metabolism were determined following single ip or oral dosing in weanling rats. Rats receiving the low calcium diet excreted much more 54Mn from both ip and oral doses via feces and urine, and their tissues retained much less. Within each dietary calcium level, urinary excretion of ip administered 54Mn was far less on the high phosphorus diet. With orally administered 54Mn, high dietary phosphorus increased 54Mn tissue concentrations. These results show that low dietary calcium has a major effect on manganese metabolism at the tissue level as well as within the gut.
Thin film materials exposure to low Earth orbit aboard Space Shuttle

To study the effects of Atomic Oxygen on various thin film materials, fourteen thin film samples were exposed to the corrosive environment of low Earth orbit. Total exposure was 42 hours, resulting in a nominal atomic oxygen fluence of 2.2 X 1020 atoms/cm2. The films included aluminum, diamondlike carbon, diamond, and multilayer stacks. Included are experimental details of sample preparation, exposure, and post-flight results. Pre-flight characterization techniques included Variable Angle Spectroscopic Ellipsometry, optical reflectance and transmittance, Atomic Force Microscopy, and Raman scattering. Post-flight analysis repeated pre-flight characterization. Aluminum films resisted degradation. Surface contaminants were identified using Auger Electron Spectroscopy. Contaminants were SiC>2, fluorine, and sulfur which most likely result from degradation of cargo bay lining, waste water dumps, and outgassing. Diamondlike carbon films were completely etched away during exposure. Polycrystalline diamond films were extremely resistant to atomic oxygen degradation, showing no post-flight structural, compositional, or mass changes. Aluminum films 23.5 nm thick simultaneously protect silver reflecting layers from oxidation and increase the ultraviolet reflectance of the stack. Decreasing the aluminum thickness to 7.5 nm resulted in complete oxidation during exposure and failure as a protective coating.
A comparative compositional study of Ln2-xMxCuO4-y electron-doped superconductors

Abstract We present the results of temperature-dependent magnetization and electrical resistivity measurements for a systematic series of compositions and concentrations of the electron-doped copper-oxide superconducting compounds Ln 2− x M x CuO 4− y (Ln = Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu; M = Ce, Th). The concentration dependences of normal and superconducting properties for both the Ce- and Th- doped systems are nearly identical, indicating that the Ce dopant ions exhibit simple tetravalent behavior. A number of distinct measures of superconducting properties display similar sharply-peaked concentration dependences; such variation is discussed in terms of phase homogeneity.
Three Modifications of the Dodecyl Sulfate Method of Kay et al. for Isolating DNA from Calf Thymus

Abstract Two rapid methods for the isolation of calf thymus DNA are described which are modifications of the method of Kay et al. 1 for isolating DNA. The principal changes introduced are that degelation of the DNA-nucleo-protein gels is accomplished rapidly by the use of mild shear or by pH adjustment in the presence of isopropanol instead of by the more time-consuming autolytic proteolysis used in the original method.
Determinants of Survivorship Care Plan Use in US Cancer Programs

Cancer programs are increasingly required to use survivorship care plans (SCPs). Compliance with SCP use requirements will be evaluated at the cancer program level. Cancer program-level determinants of SCP use may suggest strategies for compliance. The objective of this study was to describe SCP use and identify its cancer program-level determinants. We surveyed employees knowledgeable about survivorship practices in cancer programs throughout the USA with a wide range of annual incident cancers, program types, and cancer care quality improvement organization memberships (81/100 response rate). We used descriptive statistics to describe SCP use and bivariate statistics to identify its cancer program-level determinants. Most respondents (56 %) reported that SCPs were not used. In programs reporting use, SCP use is restricted primarily to breast (82 %) and colorectal (55 %) cancer survivors, and few providers use SCPs. When developed, SCPs seldom reach survivors and their primary care providers. Most respondents (78 %) reported beginning to use SCPs because of requirements. Frequently cited barriers included insufficient resources (76 %), perceived difficulty using SCPs (29 %), and lack of advocacy for SCP use from influential people (24 %). SCP use was positively associated with academic program type (p = .009) and membership in the National Cancer Institute’s Community Cancer Centers Program (p = .009) and negatively associated with freestanding program type (p = .02). SCP use in the US cancer programs is highly inconsistent. Many cancer programs plan to implement SCPs to comply with SCP use requirements. Support specifically intended to facilitate SCP use may be more effective than non-specific resources.
Biking Without Pedaling

It is well known that skilled bicycle riders can balance and propel themselves forward using motions of the handlebar. We present the complete nonlinear dynamics and control of such a pedal-less bicycle with a rider. Propulsion is achieved not by pedaling but by a cyclic motion of the steering axis of the bicycle. It is shown that this kind of actuation results in net forward motion of the bicycle and a building up of momentum. The dynamics of the bicycle and rider in a transverse plane are similar to that of a two link underactuated system where only the second link is actuated. A linear analysis of the bicycle is used to derive a control law for the rider to stabilize the bicycle about its upright position while the periodic motion of the steering axis drives the bicycle forward. After the bicycle attains a higher speed, it is easily stabilizable.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
A Frequentistic Approach to Sequential Estimation in the General Linear Model

Abstract Independent observations Y 1, Y 2, … are generated via the general linear model Yi = Xi β + ∈ i , X i being either a random or a sequentially designed matrix. The parameter β is estimated sequentially using the least squares estimator subject to a loss structure that is the sum of a cost due to sampling and a loss due to estimation error. If ∈1, ∈2, … are iid N(0, σ2 I) with σ unknown, no fixed-sample procedure will minimize the risk for all 0 < σ < ∞. The sequential procedure presented here performs nearly as well as the constant risk best fixed-sample procedure when σ2 is known. Its risk and the regret in not knowing σ2 are calculated up to terms that are o(c), as the cost of one observation c → 0 (or as σ → ∞). The asymptotic moments of the stopping time are given and the normalized stopping time's limiting distribution is shown to be normal. Its first two moments are calculated up to second-order terms.
Perceived danger while intoxicated uniquely contributes to driving after drinking

BACKGROUND: Previous findings suggest that alcohol alters perceptions of risky behaviors such as drinking and driving. However, studies testing these perceptions as a predictor of drinking and driving typically measure these perceptions while participants are sober. This study tested whether the perceived danger of driving after drinking assessed while intoxicated was associated with increased willingness to drive and self-reported drinking-and-driving behavior over and above perceptions assessed while sober. Additionally, we tested the effect of acute tolerance on the perceived danger of driving after drinking assessed on the ascending and descending limbs of the breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) curve. METHODS: Eighty-two young adults attended 2 counterbalanced laboratory sessions. In one session, participants consumed a moderate dose of alcohol (men: 0.72 g/kg, women: 0.65 g/kg) and reported their perceived danger of driving and willingness to drive at multiple points across the BrAC curve. On a separate occasion, participants remained sober and appraised the dangerousness of driving at a hypothetical, illegal BrAC. RESULTS: Perceptions of the dangerousness of driving following alcohol administration were associated with increased willingness to drive and higher rates of self-reported drinking-and-driving behavior over and above perceptions reported when sober. Furthermore, perceived danger was reduced on the descending limb of the BrAC curve, compared with the ascending limb, suggesting the occurrence of acute tolerance. CONCLUSIONS: Results from this study suggest that intoxicated perceptions are uniquely associated with drinking-and-driving decisions and that the perceived danger of drinking and driving is lower on the descending limb of the BrAC curve. Efforts to prevent alcohol-impaired driving have focused on increasing awareness of the danger of driving after drinking. Prevention efforts may be enhanced by educating drivers about how intoxication can alter perceived danger, and interventions may benefit from targeting perceptions of dangerousness while individuals are intoxicated in addition to when they are sober. Language: en
Social Determinants of Adolescent Depression: An Examination of Racial Differences

Conventional behavior theories that assert adolescent risk behaviors are determined by peer and parental relationships are being challenged as research begins to consider broader socioenvironmental factors. This study, using data from the Longitudinal Study for Adolescent Health (Add Health), Wave II, Public Use Data, and the Social Determinants of Adolescent Risk Behaviors (SDOARB) framework, examines relationships among socioeconomic status (SES), academic performance, perceived peer prejudice, and perceived teacher discrimination as predictors of depressive symptoms among high school adolescents. Overall, the study found that GPA was a significant predictor of depressive symptoms across all three racial groups (Black, White, and Other Minority). Teacher discrimination predicted depressive symptoms among White and Other minority adolescents, but not Black adolescents. These findings suggest the need for interventions within schools for both students and teachers around racial differences in perceptions of prejudice and discrimination. Failure to address overt and covert subtleties of discrimination and prejudice within schools and policies which affect these interpersonal dynamics may have a significant impact on the overall mental wellbeing of adolescents.
Simulation of the formation of O+ density troughs at 6000 km altitude in the polar cap ionosphere‐magnetosphere region

[1] Spacecraft-based in situ observations have indicated considerable variability in O+ densities in the polar cap ionosphere-magnetosphere region near 6000 km altitude, from above 10 O+ cm−3 to lower than 0.01 O+ cm−3. Regions with densities in the low range have been referred to as O+ density troughs or ion depletion zones at these altitudes. In this paper, we use the UT Arlington Dynamic Fluid-Kinetic (DyFK) ionospheric plasma transport model to simulate O+ density profiles under various conditions, in order to reproduce O+ densities which were observed by the Thermal Ion Dynamics Experiment (TIDE) on the Polar spacecraft on 20 August 1998 near Polar perigee. Using solar wind parameters and IMF conditions as inputs driving the time-varying high-latitude electric potential model and incorporating auroral processes involving the effects of soft electron precipitation and wave-driven transverse ion heating, we simulate the ionosphere-magnetosphere plasma transport and the associated O+ bulk parameter profiles within four flux tubes convecting in the high-latitude region. The principal competing processes controlling the O+ density levels at these altitudes are the auroral processes, which elevate the O+ densities in the ∼6000 km altitude region, and the effects of F region O+-electron recombination in darkness, which decrease the O+ densities at higher altitudes through draining to the reduced F region ionosphere. Depending chiefly upon the flux tube convection trajectories and their relationship to estimated auroral oval locations, both elevated and trough-like densities are seen at ∼6000 km altitudes in the simulations, as observed by Polar/TIDE in the polar cap magnetosphere.
Vitamin/Mineral Supplement Use Among General Practice Patients in the United Kingdom

Many patients take vitamin/mineral supplements, sometimes in doses which may cause toxicity. A survey of 186 patients in one general practice showed that 44% consumed supplements; almost half of these took them daily, and over half had taken them for longer than a year. Younger patients were more likely to take vitamins than older ones. Multivitamins were the most frequently used supplement, followed by iron and vitamin C. Major reasons patients cited for supplement use were to ensure good nutrition, to prevent illness, and for tiredness/fatigue. Patients were most influenced in their decision to take vitamins by family and friends rather than by doctors. General practitioners may find it valuable to include questions about vitamin/mineral supplement use in the medical history.
Multiple phosphorylated forms of the product of the fission yeast cell division cycle gene cdc2

The 34 kilodalton protein product (p34) of the cdc2+ cell cycle control gene of Schizosaccharomyces pombe was expressed in bacteria. Monoclonal antibodies raised against this protein are capable of immunoprecipitating p34cdc2 from yeast lysates. Immunoprecipitates of [35S]methionine- and [32P]orthophosphate-labeled p34cdc2 were analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The cdc2+ gene product is homogeneous in size but resolves into seven species of differing charge. At least four of these species are phosphorylated. Phosphoamino acid analysis reveals that phosphorylation occurs mainly on threonine residues. The pattern of p34 phosphorylation is unaltered at the nonpermissive temperature in strains carrying temperature sensitive alleles of weel-50 and ran1-114 or in a strain overproducing the ran1+ gene product.