cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Two-dimensional electron gas in δ -doped SrTiO 3

It is shown that Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations in ${\text{SrTiO}}_{3}$ $\ensuremath{\delta}$-doped with La can be understood as arising from a two-dimensional electron gas of one subband immersed in the space charge layer. Despite the inherent complexity of a subband that is derived from four $d$-band states near the conduction-band minimum of ${\text{SrTiO}}_{3}$, the quantum oscillations can be modeled quantitatively by recognizing that the magnetic field $(B)$ induced effective spin splitting and Landau-level splitting are comparable. The oscillations are not strictly periodic in $1/B$, which can be understood as caused by a weak dependence of the electron density on the magnetic field in the subband that produces the observed oscillations.
Structure and growth of thin films on metals exposed to oxygen

Abstract Reaction of oxygen with a clean metal surface follows the sequence (1) adsorption, (2) formation of oxide nuclei, (3) growth of continuous oxide. For stage (1) physical adsorption of O 2 is followed by chemisorption of atomic O. Low energy electron diffraction data show that for Ni a specific number of metal atoms move into the plane of adsorbed O atoms, forming a stable structure which remains on the surface even after heating Ni to near the melting point. The stable chemisorbed atomic O layer together with an overlying chemisorbed O 2 layer are considered to make up the passive film, accounting for the corrosion resistance of many passive transition metals including Ni, Fe, Cr, Ti and the stainless steels. The adsorbed film functions not as a diffusion barrier, but increases instead the activation energy for hydration and dissolution of the metal lattice by displacing adsorbed H 2 O and anions. On continued exposure to low pressure oxygen, oxide nuclei grow rapidly to a thickness limited by the electron tunnelling distance. Thereafter, electron transfer at the metal-oxide interface assumes control of oxide thickness, accounting for predominant lateral growth of nuclei until the film becomes continuous. Growth of the continuous film follows logarithmic oxidation kinetics, with a constant density negative space charge in the oxide progressively slowing down electron transfer at the metaloxide interface. At a critical thickness of oxide, trapped charge dissociates, resulting in a diffuse space charge and increase of oxidation rate, leading to two-stage logarithmic behaviour. The stable chemisorbed oxygen-metal atom monolayer probably persists during growth of continuous oxide, the work function of which, rather than of clean metal, determines electron transfer and oxidation rates. Hence the (111) surface of Ni on which O is adsorbed has the highest work function and is also the face which oxidizes least.
Random walks and the number theoretic density

The limiting behavior of many random walks on the line is related to the number theoretic density.
Beyond the point: projectile manufacture and behavioral inference

Abstract This paper is an attempt to model forager organization as it relates to aspects of weaponry production in the Main Folsom component at the Agate Basin site, Wyoming. Central to the argument presented here is the quantification of projectile point manufacture based on the reconstruction of nodules. This methodology takes advantage of the archaeological visibility of Folsom point manufacture and offers an estimate of the number of points manufactured, even though these points might have been removed from the site by the prehistoric occupants. Results indicate that a minimum of 38 points was successfully manufactured at the site, while only three points were discarded there. This case exemplifies a gearing up situation in which weaponry is produced to anticipate needs, and demonstrates that Folsom technological organization integrates future-oriented decisions. Ultimately, the study illustrates how hunter–gatherer regional organization and long-term planning can be inferred from an individual locality through the identification of site-specific behavior and its integration into a broader perspective of human organization.
Concentrations of metals in ash from municipal solid waste combusters

Abstract Using a database of nearly 500 documents, this study presents a comparison of levels of metals in municipal solid waste, the ash produced after incinerating the refuse, and the soils in which the ash is landfilled. The data are extremely variable.
Biological surveys – new perspectives in the Pacific

Abstract Biological surveys have provided a wealth of data to advance the understanding, use and management of natural resources and were important in the establishment and development of museums of natural history. Museums, which hold billions of specimens worldwide, are now important repositories of biodiversity data. In the Pacific, the Bishop Museum has combined research and collections activities into the Hawaii Biological Survey and is integrating and synthesizing more than four million specimen records from Hawaii into an information system to guide future research and survey priorities. This has helped highlight the conservation importance of Hawaii and stimulate further research on Hawaii's biota. The Museum is now in the process of developing a Pacific Biological Survey and is working with a variety of partners to link all museum data – more than 22 million specimens – with other biodiversity and ecosystem data under the auspices of the Biological Resources Division of the U.S. Geological Survey, as part of IBOY, to create a Pacific Basin Information Node (PBIN). This effort is also linked to the development of a Pacific-Asia Biodiversity Transect Network (PABITRA) through DIVERSITAS to advance the understanding and management of island ecosystems.
Generator Damper Windings at Wilson Dam

The majority of water-wheel generators now in service have been built without damper windings. Recent technical investigations and laboratory tests have indicated that, in addition to reducing oscillations and improving system stability, damper windings are very effective for reducing high-peak voltages during unbalanced short circuits. This applies particularly under switching conditions of clearing a fault when the load is disconnected from the distant end of a transmission line, and the charging current results in capacitive loading of the unfaulted phases. The existence of similar overvoltage conditions was recognized by the Wilson Dam operating staff and later confirmed by oscillograms during tests. This paper summarizes the studies and tests based on the observed overvoltage conditions and describes a method for adding damper windings to large water-wheel generators which are already installed. Short-circuit tests are extended to generators on a large scale which confirm the earlier theoretical and laboratory tests and demonstrate the advantages to be gained by adding damper windings to other water-wheel generators now in service. The tests show that damper windings in one generator when operated in parallel with another generator without dampers are effective in reducing high-peak voltages during unbalanced faults. Data are given to show the changes in machine reactances due to adding damper windings.
Small data blow-up for semilinear Klein-Gordon equations

Energy heuristics predict global existence from small data for semi-linear Klein-Gordon systems when the nonlinearity has order p 1 + 2/n. We complement these heuristics and previous rigorous existence results by demonstrating blow-up from small data for p ≤ 1 + 2/n.
Signaling through Gα13 Switch Region I Is Essential for Protease-activated Receptor 1-mediated Human Platelet Shape Change, Aggregation, and Secretion

This study investigated the involvement of Gα13 switch region I (SRI) in protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR1)-mediated platelet function and signaling. To this end, myristoylated peptides representing the Gα13 SRI (Myr-G13SRIpep) and its random counterpart were evaluated for their effects on PAR1 activation. Initial studies demonstrated that Myr-G13SRIpep and Myr-G13SRIRandom-pep were equally taken up by human platelets and did not interfere with PAR1-ligand interaction. Subsequent experiments revealed that Myr-G13SRIpep specifically bound to platelet RhoA guanine nucleotide exchange factor (p115RhoGEF) and blocked PAR1-mediated RhoA activation in platelets and human embryonic kidney cells. These results suggest a direct interaction of Gα13 SRI with p115RhoGEF and a mechanism for Myr-G13SRIpep inhibition of RhoA activation. Platelet function studies demonstrated that Myr-G13SRIpep specifically inhibited PAR1-stimulated shape change, aggregation, and secretion in a dose-dependent manner but did not inhibit platelet activation induced by either ADP or A23187. It was also found that Myr-G13SRIpep inhibited low dose, but not high dose, thrombin-induced aggregation. Additional experiments showed that PAR1-mediated calcium mobilization was partially blocked by Myr-G13SRIpep but not by the Rho kinase inhibitor Y-27632. Finally, Myr-G13SRIpep effectively inhibited PAR1-induced stress fiber formation and cell contraction in endothelial cells. Collectively, these results suggest the following: 1) interaction of Gα13 SRI with p115RhoGEF is required for G13-mediated RhoA activation in platelets; 2) signaling through the G13 pathway is critical for PAR1-mediated human platelet functional changes and low dose thrombin-induced aggregation; and 3) G13 signaling elicits calcium mobilization in human platelets through a Rho kinase-independent mechanism.
Representing nursing assessments in clinical information systems using the logical observation identifiers, names, and codes database

In recent years, the Logical Observation Identifiers, Names, and Codes (LOINC) Database has been expanded to include assessment items of relevance to nursing and in 2002 met the criteria for "recognition" by the American Nurses Association. Assessment measures in LOINC include those related to vital signs, obstetric measurements, clinical assessment scales, assessments from standardized nursing terminologies, and research instruments. In order for LOINC to be of greater use in implementing information systems that support nursing practice, additional content is needed. Moreover, those implementing systems for nursing practice must be aware of the manner in which LOINC codes for assessments can be appropriately linked with other aspects of the nursing process such as diagnoses and interventions. Such linkages are necessary to document nursing contributions to healthcare outcomes within the context of a multidisciplinary care environment and to facilitate building of nursing knowledge from clinical practice. The purposes of this paper are to provide an overview of the LOINC database, to describe examples of assessments of relevance to nursing contained in LOINC, and to illustrate linkages of LOINC assessments with other nursing concepts.
Utilization of Nutrients in a Crystalline Amino Acid Diet as Influenced by Certain Non-Essential Amino Acids

Abstract In a previous report, Klain et al. (1959), it was shown that a mixture of crystalline amino acids simulating casein, supported excellent chick growth when the concentration of arginine was increased to 2.06 percent of the diet. Of equal significance was the improved gain-feed ratio that resulted when arginine was adequate. In all prior experiments with crystalline amino acid diets the gain per unit of feed consumed has been substantially inferior to that noted on the simulated casein. Since a major difference between the amino acid mixtures was the presence of certain non-essential amino acids in the simulated casein mixture it seemed desirable to ascertain whether (1) the amino acid diet would perform equally as well when the “non-essential” amino acids (aspartic acid, proline, alanine and serine) were omitted from the mixture and (2) whether there is an interaction between these amino acids and arginine. The amino acid mixture simulating …
Cohesion and reuse in an object-oriented system

We define and apply two new measures of object-oriented class cohesion to a reasonably large C++ system. We find that most of the classes are quite cohesive, but that the classes that are reused more frequently via inheritance exhibit clearly lower cohesion.
Rigid Body Motion Characteristics and Unified Instantaneous Motion Representation of Points, Lines, and Planes

The article presents a unified algebraic approach for the modeling of the instantaneous motions of all linear elements, such as points, lines, and planes, embedded in a rigid body. The paper first addresses the Clifford algebra based displacement operator and its higher derivatives from which the coordinate-independent characteristic numbers with simple geometric meaning are defined. With Clifford algebra, the paper also presents the computation method and examples to demonstrate the process of obtaining the displacement operator and the characteristic numbers. Because of the coordinate independent feature, no tedious coordinate transformation typically found in the conventional instantaneous invariants method is needed.
The Changing Character of Stepfamilies: Implications of Cohabitation and Nonmarital Childbearing*

Divorce, nonmarital childbearing, and cohabitation are reshaping family experience in the United States. Because of these changes, our traditional definitions of families decreasingly capture the social units of interest. We have noted how a significant proportion of officially defined single-parent families actually are two-parent unmarried families. The present paper expands on this perspective with respect to stepfamilies. We must broaden our definition of stepfamilies to include cohabitations involving a child of only one partner, and must recognize the large role of nonmarital childbearing in the creation of stepfamilies. We find that cohabitation and nonmarital childbearing have been important aspects of stepfamily experience for at least two decades, and that this is increasingly so. To define stepfamilies only in terms of marriage clearly underestimates both the level and the trend in stepfamily experience: when cohabitation is taken into account, about two-fifths of all women and 30% of all children are likely to spend some time in a stepfamily.
Redefining risk in acute coronary syndromes using molecular medicine.

Acute coronary syndromes represent a complex phenotype involving the interplay of many elements. The risk of developing an acute coronary syndrome and related complications has been defined by variables such as age, diabetes, smoking history, serum creatine phosphokinase, or electrocardiographic findings. However, in the past 5 years the wide-scale acceptance of a protein—troponin—has changed the diagnostic profile. With advances in molecular medicine, this protein is a segue to a panel of molecular assays that will improve screening and tailored intervention. We expound upon some of these factors and the potential they may carry in changing clinical medicine.
Delocalized polarons in self-assembled poly(3-hexyl thiophene) nanocrystals

Abstract We have studied the characteristic properties of charged excitations (polarons) in thin films of regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) (RRPHT) by optical spectroscopies. We found that the increased interchain coupling that exists in self-assembled lamellae in these films drastically changes the properties of the polaron excitations. The traditional self-localized polaron in one-dimension delocalizes in two-dimensions, resulting in a much-reduced relaxation energy and multiple absorption bands, the most dominant being in the mid-infrared (IR) spectral range. Also it has associated IR and Raman active vibrations with reverse absorption bands [anti-resonances (AR)] compared with the continuum electronic band. The AR are attributed to the electron–phonon interaction.
Classification of pen gestures using learning vector quantization

This paper deals with the classification of pen gestures using the learning vector quantization algorithm, a supervised learning technique. Both single stroke and multi stroke gestures are considered. The slope information from the strokes is extensively preprocessed before classification. The preprocessing and the classification algorithms chosen help to obtain very high rates of gesture classification. This is especially true in the multi stroke case. The recognition of the pen gestures is independent of their position, orientation, and size.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
O-fucose modifications of epidermal growth factor-like repeats and thrombospondin type 1 repeats: unusual modifications in unusual places.

Recent discoveries revealing that carbohydrate modifications play critical roles in a wide variety of biological processes have brought wide recognition to the field of glycobiology. Growing attention has focused on the function of unusual O-linked carbohydrate modifications such as O-fucose. O-fucose modifications have been described in several different protein contexts, including epidermal growth factor-like repeats and thrombospondin type 1 repeats. The O-fucose modifications on thrombospondin type 1 repeats have only recently been described, but the site of modification occurs in a region proposed to play a role in cell adhesion. O-fucose modifications on epidermal growth factor-like repeats have been described as important players in several signal transduction systems. For instance, Notch, a cell-surface signaling receptor required for many developmental events, bears multiple O-fucose saccharides on the epidermal growth factor-like repeat of its extracellular domain. The O-fucose moieties serve as a substrate for the β1,3 N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase activity of Fringe, a known modifier of Notch function. The alteration of O-fucose structures by Fringe influences the ability of Notch ligands to activate the receptor and provides a means to regulate Notch signaling. Thus, O-fucose and Fringe provide a clear example of how carbohydrate modifications can have direct functional consequences on the proteins they modify.
Structures, Stabilities, and Electronic Properties of Endo- and Exohedral Complexes of T10−Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane Cages

The geometries of endohedral and exohedral complexes of the polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) cage molecule (HSiO3/2)10 with the atomic or ionic species Li0, Li+, Li-, Na0, Na+, Na-, K0, K+, K-, F-, Cl-, Br-, He, Ne, and Ar have been optimized at the B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) level of theory. Single point MP2 calculations were carried out at the DFT-optimized geometries. The properties of these complexes depend on the nature of the species encapsulated in, or attached to, the (HSiO3/2)10 cage. Encapsulation of noble gas atoms (He, Ne, and Ar) has almost no effect on the cage geometry. Encapsulation of alkali metal cations, in contrast, exhibits attractive interactions with cage oxygen atoms and leads to cage shrinkage. Encapsulation of halide ions results in cage expansion. Endohedral Li+, Li-, Na+, F-, Cl-, and Br- complexes are energetically favored relative to the separated species. The fluoride ion is predicted to migrate into the (HSiO3/2)10 cage with little or no energy barrier with the cage remai...
Affect as a motivational state

Using Brehm's (1999) intensity of emotion paradigm, we investigated whether basic positive or negative affect operates like a motivational state. We focused on one of the most basic affects, the sensory affect experienced when eating food. Participants tasted a delicious chocolate truffle (Study 1) or some bitter chocolate (Study 2) and were exposed to either a weak, moderately strong, or a very strong reason for feeling an opposing-valence affect or to no reason. In line with the predictions, the affect that participants reported in response to chocolate functioned like a motivational state as its intensity was a cubic function of the importance of the reason for feeling an opposing affect. We discussed the implications of these findings for the conceptualisation of affect and consider several applications for food advertising and consumer rating research.
APL continuous system modelling program: an interactive simulation language

Abstract APL continuous system modelling program (APL-CSMP) is an APL based compiler and simulator system that enables the user to define and execute mathematical equations which may contain certain predefined mathematical functions and special operation blocks, supplied by APL-CSMP. Facilities allowing definition and changing of parametric data, end conditions, error bounds for computations, selection of the integration method, and control of the display of the results produced by the simulation run can also be included within the model. The source language has a syntax very similar to that of CSMP-III. Models are directly entered via the APL terminal in the form of mathematical equations and analysed by a compiler. The result of the compilation is a set of automatically generated APL functions incorporating an APL program equivalent to the model.
Seed Oil and Fatty Acid Content in Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) and Related Species

Approximately 1100 genebank accessions of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) and 540 additional accessions that included six of its related species-A. caillei, A. crinitis, A. esculentus, A. ficulneus, A. manihot, A. moschatus and A. tuberculatus-were evaluated for seed oil content using time domain NMR (TD-NMR). Oil content in seed of A. caillei, A. esculentus, A. ficulneus, A. manihot, A. moschatus and A. tuberculatus was in the ranges 2.51-13.61%, 12.36-21.56%, 6.62-16.7%, 16.1-22.0%, 10.3-19.8% and 10.8-23.2%, respectively. Accession PI639680 (A. tuberculatus) had the highest seed oil content (∼23%). Accessions of A. esculentus with high seed oil content included PI nos. PI274350 (21.5%), PI538082 (20.9%) and PI538097 (20.9%). Values for the three accessions of A. manihot with the highest seed oil content were PI nos. PI639673 (20.4%), PI639674 (20.9%) and PI639675 (21.9%), all representing var. tetraphyllus. Average percent seed oil in materials of A. esculentus from Turkey and Sudan (17.35% and 17.36%, respectively) exceeded the averages of materials from other locations. Ninety-eight accessions (total of six species) were also examined for fatty acid composition. Values of linoleic acid ranged from 23.6-50.65% in A. esculentus. However, mean linoleic acid concentrations were highest in A. tuberculatus and A. ficulneus. Concentrations of palmitic acid were significantly higher in A. esculentus (range of 10.3-36.35%) when compared to that of other species, and reached a maximum in PI489800 Concentrations of palmitic acid were also high in A. caillei (mean = ∼30%). Levels of oleic acid were highest in A. manihot, A. manihot var. tetraphyllus and A. moschatus.
From control flow to dataflow

Abstract Are imperative languages tied inseparably to the von Neumann model or can they be implemented in some natural way on data-flow architectures? In this paper, we show how imperative language programs can be translated into dataflow graphs and executed on a dataflow machine like Monsoon. This translation can exploit both fine-grain and coarse-grain parallelism in imperative language programs. More importantly, we establish a close connection between our work and current research in the imperative languages community on data dependences, control dependences, program dependence graphs, and static single assignment form. These results suggest that dataflow graphs can serve as an executable intermediate representation in parallelizing compilers.
Intoxicated drivers: everyone's problem

Kimball Maull a nationally recognized trauma surgeon writes "It is important to know that injury is a free ticket to absolution from drunk driving and that impaired survivors are rarely investigated." While legal remedies are part of the solution, driving while intoxicated is only a symptom of a deeper problem. The neuroscience nurse who cares for the alcohol-impaired patient has a unique opportunity to exert an impact on the DUI problem. Neuroscience nurses can assist in several ways; they can continue to help identify repeat offenders and problem drinkers and attempt to get counseling for them. They can lobby their legislatures for mandatory jail sentences, license revocations and fines for DUI offenders and making DUI a reportable offense. Finally, neuroscience nurse can take an active role in preventive activities, making prevention of alcohol-related injury and death part of their routines.
An R111C Polymorphism in Wild Turkey Cardiac Troponin I Accompanying the Dilated Cardiomyopathy-related Abnormal Splicing Variant of Cardiac Troponin T with Potentially Compensatory Effects

Cardiac muscle contraction is regulated by Ca2+ through the troponin complex consisting of three subunits: troponin C (TnC), troponin T (TnT), and troponin I (TnI). We reported previously that the abnormal splicing of cardiac TnT in turkeys with dilated cardiomyopathy resulted in a greater binding affinity to TnI. In the present study, we characterized a polymorphism of cardiac TnI in the heart of wild turkeys. cDNA cloning and sequencing of the novel turkey cardiac TnI revealed a single amino acid substitution, R111C. Arg111 in avian cardiac TnI corresponds to a Lys in mammals. This residue is conserved in cardiac and skeletal muscle TnIs across the vertebrate phylum, implying a functional importance. In the partial crystal structure of cardiac troponin, this amino acid resides in an α-helix that directly contacts with TnT. Structural modeling indicates that the substitution of Cys for Arg or Lys at this position would not disrupt the global structure of troponin. To evaluate the functional significance of the different size and charge between the Arg and Cys side chains, protein-binding assays using purified turkey cardiac TnI expressed in Escherichia coli were performed. The results show that the R111C substitution lowered binding affinity to TnT, which is potentially compensatory to the increased TnI-binding affinity of the cardiomyopathy-related cardiac TnT splicing variant. Therefore, the fixation of the cardiac TnI Cys111 allele in the wild turkey population and the corresponding functional effect reflect an increased fitness value, suggesting a novel target for the treatment of TnT myopathies.
Line tension of liquid helium at prewetting transitions

A simple model based on interfacial description is used to calculate the line tension of liquid helium at prewetting transitions, i.e. the energy associated with the region which joins the two phases in equilibrium, as a function of the amplitude of the prewetting jump d. The values are typically one order of magnitude smaller than σd, where σ is the surface tension.
Abscisic Acid Induces Formation of Floating Leaves in the Heterophyllous Aquatic Angiosperm Potamogeton nodosus.

Potamogeton nodosus tubers produce floating-type instead of submersed-type leaves when exposed to 10 –5 molar synthetic abscisic acid. Abscisic acid-induced leaves have stomata on upper leaf surfaces and higher width/length ratios than controls. These effects are wholly or partially overcome by simultaneous exposure to abscisic acid combined with gibberellic acid, kinetin, or benzyladenine.
Opinion Piece: The next generation of integrated marketing communication

When integrated marketing communication (IMC) first emerged in the late 1980s, it was a concept that challenged the traditional thinking of both academic and professional communities. And it still does.
A parameter sensitivity study for Czochralski bulk flow of silicon

Abstract A series of digital simulations indicates that an accurate measurement of the surface-tension temperature coefficient is important to the understanding of melt flow in Czochralski growth of silicon. If that parameter lies near the upper end of its presently conjectured range, the flow is also sensitive to the value of the viscosity coefficient.
Heuristic evaluation functions for general game playing

A general game playing program plays games that it has not previously encountered. A game manager program sends the game playing programs a description of a game's rules and objectives in a well-defined game description language. A central challenge in creating effective general game playing programs is that of constructing heuristic evaluation functions from game descriptions. This paper describes a method for constructing evaluation functions that represent exact values of simplified games. The simplified games are abstract models that incorporate the most essential aspects of the original game, namely payoff, control, and termination. Results of applying this method to a sampling of games suggest that heuristic evaluation functions based on our method are both comprehensible and effective.
Doppler shift of self-reflected optical pulses at an interface: Dynamic nonlinear optical skin effect.

We introduce the dynamic nonlinear optical skin effect in which a pulse incident on a saturable absorbing interface is self-reflected from a moving absorption front. The motion of the front causes the self-reflected wave to be redshifted by the Doppler effect, which in turn serves as an experimentally observable signature for the front propagation.
Diurnal variations, chemical composition and relation to meteorological variables of the summer aerosol in the New York subregion

Abstract The distribution and chemical nature of sulfate aerosol and related aerosol and gaseous precursors at four sites (two urban, one semi-rural and one rural) in the New York subregion during the summer of 1977 are discussed. The results indicate that sulfate concentration distributions were regionally homogenous and increased with increasing ozone levels covariant with several other pollutant and meteorological parameters. Sulfate concentrations correlated strongly with ammonium and strong acid at all sites. No significant diurnal patterns for sulfate or ammonium were seen at any site for low and high ozone levels, except for one small local source-related morning peak at one urban site. Strong acid concentrations were highest at the rural and semi-rural sites, lowest at the urban sites, increased with increasing ozone levels and exhibited diurnal patterns which matched the ozone diurnal patterns. Resultant surface winds from the south to the west (180°–287°) were statistically associated with significantly higher levels of all pariculate and gaseous pollutants measured as well as higher temperatures and relative humidities and reduced visibility at all sites. These findings suggest that the transport of sulfate aerosol is more likely important than local generation in establishing summer sulfate levels observed in the New York subregion.
Whole blood analysis of gluconeogenic amino acids for estimation of de novo gluconeogenesis using pre-column o-phthalaldehyde derivatization and high-performance liquid chromatography

Abstract By measuring the potential glucose precursors entering and exiting the liver, an estimate of the maximal rate of de novo gluconeogenesis can be made. Tradiotionally, measurements of gluconeogenic amino acids have been extracted from full amino acid profiles using conventional ion-exchange chromatography. These methods are labor intensive, costly procedures that do not focus on gluconeogenic amino acids. The present paper describes a method that provides an accurate whole blood gluconeogenic amino acid profile (intra-assay coefficients of variation from 0.8 to 1.1% and inter-assay coefficients of variation from 2.9 to 4.3%) using high-performance liquid chromatography with o -phthalaldehyde chemistry. This automated method is relatively fast (injection to injection time = 30 min), and linear ( r 2 >0.996) for both standards and deproteinized whole blood. Furthermore, it is economical and capable of assessing gluconeogenic amino acids across a broad physiological range of concentrations using small sample volumes.
Using Molecular Representations To Aid Student Understanding of Stereochemical Concepts

Stereochemistry is an important topic in organic chemistry. It is also a difficult topic for students to learn. This study investigated the relative effectiveness on students’ understanding of three kinds of molecular representations of stereochemistry concepts. Instructional activities compared the use of either: (i) computer-based molecular visualization software; (ii) handheld ball and stick models; or (iii) two-dimensional perspective drawings to represent stereochemical structures. Results showed that computer visualization software could be an effective tool for teaching stereochemistry.
Evaluation of field-measured vertical obscuration and full waveform lidar to assess salt marsh vegetation biophysical parameters

Abstract Local, high-resolution, accurate data sets are needed to support restoration and other management initiatives in coastal salt marshes, yet field collections of site-specific vegetation data is often impractical. In this study, a novel combination of full-waveform light detection and ranging (lidar) and field techniques for assessing the distribution of aboveground biomass throughout its height and its light blocking properties were investigated. Using new field methods, strong correlations were observed (r > 0.9) between subsamples' vertical biomass (VB), the distribution of vegetation biomass by height, and vertical obscuration (VO), the measure of the vertical distribution of the ratio of vegetation to airspace, for Spartina alterniflora . Also, it was found that simple metrics derived from the lidar waveforms, such as waveform width, can provide new information to estimate salt marsh vegetation parameters. The strong correlations between field-collected biophysical parameters and metrics derived from lidar data suggest that remote sensing methods can be used to estimate some vegetation biophysical parameters such as plant height and proportion of vegetation area (PVA) using smaller, more targeted field surveys. Future work will be needed to verify the extensibility of the methods to other sites and vegetation types.
Respect as an organizing normative category for research ethics.

Rosamond Rhodes calls for a reconceptualization of research ethics and a fundamental shift in attitude toward both research subjects and scientific investigators. She recognizes the limits of the e...
The facilitated pediatric resuscitation room.

Abstract Pediatric resuscitation is challenging for the emergency physician because the diverse range in the age and size of the patients encountered complicates the appropriate selection of medications, equipment, and supplies. The following enhancements in the pediatric resuscitation room were made to facilitate effective management of critically ill neonates and children: 1) expanding the concept of the Broselow tape as the central color theme of organization of all medication doses and equipment; 2) use of a large, simplified, color-coded wall chart to define patient parameters; 3) color-coded equipment; 4) adjustable “break-away” resuscitation stretcher; and 5) equipment suspended from the ceiling: a) radiant warmer; b) suction, oxygen, and electricity; c) cardiac monitor and fluid controller; d) X-ray unit. These changes give the resuscitation team greater accessibility to both the patient and the needed resuscitation supplies.
On the Distribution of the Eigenvalues of the Hyperbolic Laplacian for PSL(2, Z), II☆

In this paper we show by employing the Selberg trace formula that the \(t_j \log t_j\) are rather regularly distributed mod \(2 \pi\) (that is, we show that some degree of cancellation occurs) where
Provisioning virtualized datacenters through Virtual Computing Lab

Virtual Computing Lab (VCL) is an Apache licensed, open source, on demand, remote access system that dynamically provisions computing resources to end users. In the hands-on labs for the new course Virtualization Technologies, each student installs and administers a virtualized datacenter, which contains two VMware ESX servers, a VMware vCenter server and a data storage server. In a normal lab environment, these servers require high-end hardware to run. Instead of using expensive physical machines to set up the physical datacenters, we created a VCL virtual environment which included four virtual machines that hosted ESX servers, the vCenter server and the Openfiler iSCSI/NFS storage server. The virtual datacenter image can be loaded, on demand, on VCL blade servers. As a result, every student has the opportunity to manage her/his own virtual datacenter and complete hands-on exercises, individually, at any time and from any place. Our virtual datacenter image is different from other typical VCL virtual environments in that Windows/Linux virtual machines are deployed on the virtual machines running ESX servers — a VM-inside-VM solution. VCL provides a scalable, cost-effective solution for students to learn virtualized datacenter skills and cloud computing administration.
Homicide, Sex Role Differences and Role Relationships

This study, based upon Palmer's theory of role unreciprocity and other directed violence, investigates similarities and differences between male and female homicide offenders, as well as between murderers and non-aggressive property offenders. Role unreciprocity refers to blockage an individual experiences in the performance of social roles. Two hypotheses are tested: (1) as individual's lives tend to be characterized by situations of high unreciprocity, the likelihood of homicide increases; and (2) both male and female homicide offenders tend to experience similar degrees of unreciprocity. The findings support the first hypothesis and provide qualified support for the second hypothesis. High degrees of role unreciprocity are positively associated with female homicides in the childhood, marital and parental roles, while similarly high degrees of unreciprocity are positively associated with male homicide in roles of student and employee. Palmer's theoretical formulation is given empirical support and speci...
Earthquake cycle deformation in the Tibetan plateau with a weak mid‐crustal layer

[1] Geodetic observations of interseismic deformation across the Tibetan plateau contain information about both tectonic and earthquake cycle processes. Time-variations in surface velocities between large earthquakes are sensitive to the rheological structure of the subseismogenic crust, and, in particular, the viscosity of the middle and lower crust. Here we develop a semianalytic solution for time-dependent interseismic velocities resulting from viscoelastic stress relaxation in a localized midcrustal layer in response to forcing by a sequence of periodic earthquakes. Earthquake cycle models with a weak midcrustal layer exhibit substantially more near-fault preseismic strain localization than do classic two-layer models at short ( 50 mm/yr) postseismic velocities in the years following the coseismic ruptures. We suggest that earthquake cycle models with a localized midcrustal layer can simultaneously explain both preseismic and postseismic geodetic observations with a single Maxwell viscosity, while the classic two-layer model requires a rheology with multiple relaxation time scales.
A pharmacist-based screening program of octogenarians starting new medications.

OBJECTIVE: To measure the impact of clinical pharmacists in primary care practices who closely monitor patients older than 80 years after initiation of new medications. METHODS: The study was an uncontrolled pilot trial performed at a group-model health maintenance organization in the Pacific Northwest between August and December 1999. Forty-eight patients who were older than 80 years and were prescribed at least one new medication in their primary care clinic were called at home 3 to 6 days after starting a new medication and asked questions focusing on compliance and potential adverse drug events. RESULTS: More than 20% of patients (10 of 48) had a clinically important change made as a result of the pharmacist telephone monitoring; 42% of patients (20 of 48) either experienced an undesired medication effect (14 of 48) or an inadequate effect (6 of 48). Pharmacists spent an average 11.3 minutes at an estimated cost of $6.40 per patient.
Percutaneous approaches to valvular disease

Until the early 1980s, surgery was the only possible treatment for severe valvular lesions; then, a new alternative appeared: percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty. We deal here with percutaneous valvuloplasty for acquired valvular stenoses and also briefly describe the first steps of percutaneous valve replacement and repair. Rheumatic mitral stenosis continues to be endemic in developing countries, where mitral stenosis is the most frequent valve disease.1 Although the prevalence of rheumatic fever has greatly decreased in Western countries, it continues to represent an important clinical entity because of outmigration from developing countries. The figure given by the registry Euro Heart Survey, run in 2001, shows that mitral stenosis accounts for 12% of the single native valve disease.2 K. Inoue and colleagues3 were the first to perform percutaneous mitral commissurotomy (PMC) in 1982.3 The good results obtained by the technique have led to its increasing worldwide use. ### Evaluation Before PMC Clinical evaluation is the first step of the decision to intervene. Under particular scrutiny here are functional disability and any possible risks with surgery. The assessment of anatomy aims to eliminate contraindications and define prognostic considerations. The presence of left atrial thrombosis is the main contraindication for the technique and requires the performance of transesophageal echocardiography before the procedure. Echocardiographic assessment allows the classification of patients into anatomic groups with a view to predicting the results. Most authors use the Wilkins score4 (Table 1), although others use a more general assessment of valve anatomy5 (Table 2). More recently, scores have been developed that take into account the uneven distribution of anatomic abnormalities, in particular in commissural areas.6 In fact, none of the scores available have been shown to be superior to the others. View this table: TABLE 1. Anatomic Classification of the Mitral Valve: Wilkins’ Score View this table: TABLE 2. Anatomic Classification of the …
Hydrogen trapping in Ferrovac E-iron, mild steel and 4340 steel

Hydrogen diffusion rates through Ferrovac E-iron, mild steel and 4340 steel have been studied using an electrochemical permeation cell. Thermal-mechanical processing included cold rolling and annealing and, in case of 4340 steel, quench and tempering. Apparent diffusion coefficients were determined from the slope of plots of log [(P-P0)√t] versus 1/t where P, P0 and t are the permeation rate at time t, the initial permeation rate and the time, respectively. Apparent diffusion coefficients are dependent on processing. Cold rolling and quenching produce trap sites that are annihilated during annealing and tempering, respectively. These traps are associated with lattice imperfections. In addition, the steels have trap sites at the interface between different phases. Both types of traps behave reversibly.
An evolution programming approach on multiple behaviors for the design of application specific programmable processors

This paper proposes an Evolution Programming Approach for behavior-level area-efficient design of ASPPs (Application Specific Programmable Processors). This approach, based on a given behavioral-level kernel, randomly transforms each of the input behaviors, then the behavioral kernel is used in the evolution process to guide the survival of data flow graphs (DFGs). Finally, instead of the given DFGs, the surviving DFGs are used to synthesize a programmable architecture. This leads to an area-efficient design for all the input behaviors. Experimental results indicate this approach is encouraging.
Challenges in the design of a 100 Gb/s Internet

A 100 Gb/s Internet can be implemented with 100 Gb/s links and switches. 100 Gb/s wavelength division multiplexed links are commercially available. Experimental time division multiplexed optical links have been demonstrated. Current memory based ATM switches are limited to 100 million packets a second while a 100 Gb/s link is equivalent to 230 million ATM packets per second. Current ATM switches will have to be organized into parallel multi stage switching fabric to distribute the load and the packet size will have to be lengthened.
Local perceptions of jaguars (Panthera onca) and pumas (Puma concolor) in the Iguaçu National Park area, south Brazil

Abstract Jaguars ( Panthera onca ) have been killed by local residents within the boundaries and lands surrounding Iguacu National Park (INP), Brazil. Both jaguars and pumas ( Puma concolor ) occur in the region, however, livestock predation by pumas has rarely been reported. Our objective was to assess the local perceptions about jaguars and pumas. We identified two major factors that distinguished the perceptions towards the two species: less people feared the puma than the jaguar; and most people believed that jaguars, but not pumas, were released into INP by local authorities. Interestingly, despite those major differences in these perceptions, feelings towards the two species tended to be the same. Perceptions towards jaguars were not influenced by the predation history of the properties, suggesting that the predation impact was not remarkable enough to influence local perceptions towards carnivores. This is apparently the first study on local perceptions towards large carnivores in Brazil.
Microarray analysis of aberrant gene expression in actinic keratosis: effect of the Toll-like receptor-7 agonist imiquimod.

Summary Background The molecular events leading to actinic keratosis (AK) are not well understood. Objective To identify and compare gene expression changes in AK lesions and in sun-exposed nonlesional skin and to determine the effect of imiquimod 5% cream on these changes. Method A double-blind, vehicle-controlled, randomized study was conducted to evaluate the molecular changes in AK treated with imiquimod. Seventeen male subjects with ≥ 5 AK lesions on the scalp applied vehicle or imiquimod three times a week for 4 weeks. Gene expression analysis using Affymetrix® oligonucleotide arrays was performed on shave biopsies of lesions taken before and after treatment. Confocal microscopy was performed on the study area as an adjunctive diagnostic procedure. Results We identified gene expression changes which occur in sun-exposed, nonlesional skin as well as in AK lesions. These changes include, but are not limited to, the overexpression of oncogenic and proliferative genes and diminished expression of tumour suppressor genes. The gene expression changes observed in AK lesions and in sun-exposed, nonlesional skin were consistent with the confocal microscopy observations, which showed abnormalities in the sun-exposed, nonlesional skin, similar in nature but less pronounced than abnormalities seen in AK. Imiquimod partially or totally reversed the aberrant expression of some of the genes observed in AK, consistent with clearing of lesions and normalization of confocal cellular images. Conclusions The data show that profound gene expression changes occur in sun-exposed, nonlesional skin which progress further in AK lesions. The data also suggest that imiquimod may play a role in normalizing gene expression and cellular morphology in sun-damaged skin.