cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Single-channel recordings from two types of amiloride-sensitive epithelial Na+ channels.

We report here the first evidence in intact epithelial cells of unit conductance events from amiloride-sen-sitive Na+ channels. The events were observed when patch-clamp recordings were made from the apical surface of cultured epithelial kidney cells (A6). Two types of channels were observed: one with a high selectivity to Na+ and one with relatively low selectivity. The characteristics of the low-selectivity channel are as follows: single-channel conductance ranged between 7 and 10 pS (mean = 8.4 ± 1.3), the current-voltage (I–V) relationship displayed little if any nonlinearity over a range of ± 80 mV (with respect to the patch pipette) and the channel Na+ /K+ selectivity was approximately 3–4:1. Amiloride, a cationic blocker of the channel, reduced channel mean open time and increased channel mean closed times as the voltage of the cell interior was made more negative. Amiloride induced channel flickering at increased negative potentials (intracellular potential with respect to the patch) but did not a...
The effects on output of anticipated and unanticipated money growth: a case study of an oil-producing country

The new classical macroeconomic hypotheisis regarding the effecs of money growth on real variables sugggests that the anticipated changes in money supply on real variables are neutral, irrespective of the time horizon; whereas, the unanticipated changes in the money supply, although neutral in the long run, exert, significant influence on real variables in the short run. This proposition has produced unsettled empirical results. The present study attempts to verify empirically the new classical hypothesis in the case of a developing oil-producing Middle Eastern country, Iraq. Our study suggests that the anticipated components of money growth rates have positive and significant influence on real variables. The results of this study do not lend support to the new classical hypothesis. Instead they suggest that a steady growth rate of money supply that is fully anticipated by economic agents builds confidence by reducing errors in expectation regarding the behaviour of the money supply and provides easier ac...
Isolation and characterization of endogenous inhibitors of nitrate reductase of peach [Prunus persica (l.) Batsch] and their distribution in the genus Prunus 1

Abstract Endogenous inhibitors of nitrate reductase (NR) of peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] seedlings were identified as mandelonitrile and cyanide. The compounds gave greater than 90% inhibition at 0.019 μM and were noncompetitive with respect to nitrate when preincubated with the enzyme in the absence of nitrate. Competitive inhibition in respect to nitrate occurred when nitrate was present prior to the addition of enzyme. Concentration and distribution of NR inhibitors were: leaf > stem > roots as determined by two independent methods. Nitrate reductase inhibitor was detected in 12 diverse species of Prunus and was tentatively identified as cyanide by high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and biological activity. The degradation products of the cyanogenic‐glucoside amygalin were tested to determine NR inhibition. Amygdalin, prunasin and benzaldehyde were not inhibitors of NR, whereas mandelonitrile and cyanide were. Prunasin was determined to be the precursor of the NR inhibitors in peach le...
The effect of soil temperatures on brown center development in potatoes.

A study was conducted to determine the effect of different soil temperatures on the development of brown center in potatoes,Solanum tuberosum L. cv Russet Burbank. Plants were grown in 19 liter (5-gal) nursery pots under warm conditions, previously shown to be non-inductive to brown center development, until shortly after tuber formation. They were then moved to a cool growth room and grown in 4 soil temperature regimes until harvest. Soil temperatures of 10°C (50°F) and 15°C (60°F) produced greater development of brown center than either 4°C (40°F) or 21°C (70°F).
Criteria-directed task scheduling

Abstract Scheduling complex problem solving tasks, where tasks are interrelated and there are multiple different ways to go about achieving a particular task, is an imprecise science and the justification for this lies soundly in the combinatorics of the scheduling problem. Intractable problems require specialized solutions, perhaps even a cadre of different specialized techniques. We have developed a new domain-independent approach to task scheduling called Design-to-Criteria that controls the combinatorics via a satisficing methodology and custom designs, schedules to meet a particular client's goal criteria. In Design-to-Criteria, criteria directed focusing, approximation, and heuristics, in conjunction with soft goal criteria are used to make the scheduling problem tractable. We describe the interesting facets of the Design-to-Criteria approach and give examples of its power at reducing the complexity of the scheduling task while designing custom satisficing schedules.
Upper and Lower Temperature Tolerance Limits for Juvenile Red Drums from Texas and South Carolina

Abstract Upper and lower temperature tolerance limits, reported as temperatures lethal to 50% of the test fish (LT50s), were determined for juveniles of red drum Sciaenops ocellatus obtained from Texas and South Carolina brood stock. This information on red drum thermal tolerance limits was used to determine whether a more northerly distributed population exhibits greater cold tolerance and could therefore be used to improve success of stocking programs. A 96-h temperature tolerance test was performed on juveniles (71–155 mm total length) acclimated to water temperatures ranging from 12.0 to 28.0°C at a salinity of 20‰. Test fish were transferred directly into a series of high-temperature (27.0–37.0°C) or low-temperature (2.0–16.0°C) water baths. The upper LT50 for Texas red drums acclimated to 28.0°C was within 1.1 °C of that calculated for South Carolina red drums acclimated to the same temperature (upper LT50s were 35.7 and 34.6°C). Upper LT50s for fish acclimated to 20.0 and 12.0°C were also similar b...
Bis(diethoxyselenophosphinoyl) triselenide and bis(diisopropoxyselenophosphinoyl) diselenide

The title compounds, bis(diethoxyselenophosphinoyl) triselenide, [P(OEt)2Se]Se3[P(OEt)2Se], and bis­(diisopropoxy­selenophosphinoyl) diselenide, [P(OiPr)2Se]Se2[P(OiPr)2Se], comprise an Se3 chain or an Se2 chain bridging two (RO)2PSe groups.
System for indoor 3D mapping and virtual environments

The key to navigate in a 3D environment or designing autonomous vehicles that can successfully maneuver and manipulate objects in their environment is the ability to create, maintain, and use effectively a 3D digital model that accurately represents its physical counterpart. Virtual exploring of real places and environments, either for leisure, engineering design, training and simulation, or tasks in remote or hazardous environments, is more effective and useful if geometrical relationships and dimensions in the virtual model are accurate. A system which can rapidly, reliably, remotely and accurately perform measurements in the 3D space for the mapping of indoor environments is needed for many applications. In this paper we present a mobile mapping system that is designed to generate a geometrically precise 3D model of an unknown indoor environment. The same general design concept can be used for environments ranging from simple office hallways to long winding underground mine tunnels. Surfaces and features can be accurately mapped from images acquired by a unique configuration of different types of optical imaging sensor and dead reckoning positioning device. This configuration guarantees that all the information required to create the 3D model of the environment is included in the collected data. Sufficient overlaps between 2D intensity images, in combination with information from 3D range images, insure that the complete environment can be accurately reconstructed when all the data is simultaneously processed. The system, the data collection and processing procedure, test results, the modeling and display at our virtual environment facility are described.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Endpoint error in smoothing and differentiating raw kinematic data: An evaluation of four popular methods

'Endpoint error' describes the erratic behavior at the beginning and end of the computed acceleration data which is commonly observed after smoothing and differentiating raw displacement data. To evaluate endpoint error produced by four popular smoothing and differentiating techniques, Lanshammar's (1982, J. Biomechanics 15, 99-105) modification of the Pezzack et al. (1977, J. Biomechanics, 10, 377-382) raw angular displacement data set was truncated at three different locations corresponding to the major peaks in the criterion acceleration curve. Also, for each data subset, three padding conditions were applied. Each data subset was smoothed and differentiated using the Butterworth digital filter, cubic spline, quintic spline, and Fourier series to obtain acceleration values. RMS residual errors were calculated between the computed and criterion accelerations in the endpoint regions. Although no method completely eliminated endpoint error, the results demonstrated clear superiority of the quintic spline over the other three methods in producing accurate acceleration values close to the endpoints of the modified Pezzack et al. (1977) data set. In fact, the quintic spline performed best with non-padded data (cumulative error = 48.0 rad s-2). Conversely, when applied to non-padded data, the Butterworth digital filter produced wildly deviating values beginning more than the 10 points from the terminal data point (cumulative error = 226.6 rad s-2). Each of the four methods performed better when applied to data subsets padded by linear extrapolation (average cumulative error = 68.8 rad s-2) than when applied to analogous subsets padded by reflection (average cumulative error = 86.1 rad s-2).
A Review of: “We Shall Not Fail: The Inspiring Leadership of Winston Churchill”

Leadership books are common; their topic, however, is not. Much is made of leadership nowadays with little regard for what truly defines a leader. Thereby, the title may become cheapened unless we ...
Effect of Removal of the Temporal Muscle on the Coronoid Process in Guinea Pigs : Quantitative Triple Fluorochrome Study

A triple fluorochrome labeling sequence was used to measure the osseous activity in the coronoid process after the removal of the temporal muscle. Statistically significant differences between the control and the experimental animals were found for hematoporphyrin, DCAF, DCTC, and total labeled bone.
Space-time wormholes with Yang-Mills fields

Abstract Recently, Hosoya and Ogura found a wormhole instanton solution with a nontrivial SU(2) magnetic field. In this paper, we identify their solution with the gravitating meron configuration of the SU(2) gauge theory. In addition, we also find a generalized Yang-Mills wormhole solution with nontrivial electric and magnetic fields. These correspond to the “nested” meron wormholes. Fermion dynamics on these wormhole backgrounds and implications for low-energy physics are also discussed.
A Six Decade Linear Response Digitized Electrometer

The design of a wide range digitized electrometer with an operating range from 10-12 to 10-6 ampere is described. A linear tire-base output within ± 1% of a decade over a 6-decade operating range has been realized. The design utilized the input current to charge a small capacitor as the time element. As the capacitor is charged to a predetermined threshold voltage, it causes an astable mrultivibrator to free-run for one cycle, producing an output pulse. The charging capacitor is then immediately reset and reactivated for the next cycle.
A Chebyshev/rational Chebyshev spectral method for the Helmholtz equation in a sector on the surface of a sphere: defeating corner singularities

When the boundaries of a domain meet at an angle, the solutions to an elliptic partial differential equation will usually be singular at the corner. Using the example of the Helmholtz equation on the surface of a sphere in a domain bounded by meridians, we show how corner singularities can be defeated by mapping the corner to infinity. By applying a Chebyshev series in longitude and a rational Chebyshev series in the ''Mercator'' coordinate, y=arctanh(cos(colatitude)), we obtain an exponential rate of convergence despite the corner singularities.
Psychiatry in the Deep South: a pilot study of integrated training for psychiatry residents and seminary students.

Background The authors describe an interdisciplinary training experience developed for psychiatry residents and seminary students that assessed each group’s beliefs and attitudes toward the other’s profession. The training was designed to enhance awareness, positive attitudes, and interaction between the disciplines.
Behavior of tungsten-silver composite under cyclic loading

Continuous tungsten-filament silver-matrix composites prepared by different processes and with differing filament orientations are tested under cyclic loading at stress levels above and below the proportional limits of the composites. Cyclic stress increases the secondary proportional limit; the primary proportional limit being hardly affected. Composites with higher fiber contents (0° and 10° orientations) suffer higher permanent sets than those with lower fiber contents. At 90° orientation, the reverse is found to be true. Prestraining through cyclic loading increases the damping capacity of the composite. Both primary and secondary elastic moduli decrease slowly during cycling, most probably due to the presence of voids in the composites.
The politics of neglect: Adult learners in higher education

We challenge the broader adult education community to examine how they are either accommodating or reproducing hegemonic campus policies toward adult learners, take action to resist these policies, and support the development of improved policies, procedures, programs, and practices aimed toward adult learners in higher education.
Foraminiferal Trends in South Sandwich Trench: ABSTRACT

Foraminifera were studied in 18 small gravity cores and 6 trawl samples from the area of the South Sandwich trench. The samples ranged in depth from 558 to 7,700 meters. Nine core samples were collected in a traverse across the central trench area from 57½° to 59° S. Lat. Foraminiferal trends are discussed in terms of groups of species with similar depth distributions. Calcareous Foraminifera (Cassidella sp. group) may be as abundant as 40 per cent of the foraminiferal fauna between 558 and 805 m., but gradually decrease with depth to insignificant numbers below 1,058 m. As calcareous Foraminifera decrease with depth, Haplophragmoides membranaceum group increases and becomes characteristic of the zone between 1,244 and 1,841 meters. Textularia antarctica group remains remarkably constant throughout these depths but also declines below 1,841 meters. Samples from the lower bathyal zone (2,976-4,800 m.) contain large numbers of species including Cyclammina pusilla, Cribrostomoides subglobosus, and Martinottiella communis. A diverse Trochammina fauna (Troc ammina sp. A group) is especially characteristic. The upper abyssal fauna (1,076-1661 m.) is a reduced lower bathyal fauna dominated by Trochammina antarctica, a species common at all depths. A core and a trawl from 7,700 meters both were barren of Foraminifera. End_of_Article - Last_Page 1084------------
Precision technique for trimming dies using a magnification device

This article described a technique for trimming a die under magnification. However, the microscope is also useful for checking (1) margins of wax patterns for completeness, (2) the internal surfaces of castings for imperfections, bubbles, or retained investment particles which could prevent proper seating of the castings on the dies, (3) for cracks or contamination in dental porcelain as well as porcelain flash on margins; and (4) precision attachment operation after casting or soldering procedures. Attention to detail in these laboratory procedures greatly improves the final fit of dental castings and saves subsequent chairside adjustments and remakes.
Advantages and Limitations of Teleneurology

Importance The growing disparity between the demand for neurological services and the need for neurologists requires new and innovative strategies for delivering care. Teleneurology allows neurological expertise to be delivered to remote locations to supplement or replace in-person neurological care. Objective To summarize the current status of teleneurology. Applications of teleneurology include acute care, outpatient teleneurology, and teleconsultations. Existing barriers to further expansion of teleneurology are also discussed. Evidence Review Published studies pertaining to teleneurology were reviewed. Practical experience with telemedicine in neurological practice contributed to the conclusions. Findings Outcomes after intravenous tissue plasminogen activator treatment via telemedicine (telestroke) are similar to those achieved with in-person evaluations. Other aspects of teleneurology are less established but have demonstrated feasibility, high patient satisfaction, and, in some cases, cost savings. Conclusions and Relevance Teleneurology provides neurological expertise to rural areas with limited availability of neurologists and improves care for patients with difficulty traveling owing to neurological disease. It is likely that use of teleneurology will continue to grow and become incorporated into many aspects of neurological practice. Understanding the advantages and limitations of teleneurology is vital to delivering optimal clinical care for patients with neurological disease regardless of the setting.
Localization and expression of ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) in postmortem sciatic nerve from patients with motor neuron disease and diabetic neuropathy

Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) is thought to play an important role in the maintenance of the mature motor system. The factor is found most abundantly in myelinating Schwann cells in the adult sciatic nerve. Lack of neuronal growth factors has been proposed as one possible etiology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Growth factor replacement therapies are currently being evaluated as a treatment for motor neuron disease. In this report we determined whether the expression of CNTF in sciatic nerve differed in patients with motor neuron disease compared to controls or patients with another form of axonopathy. We identified 8 patients (7 with ALS and 1 with SMA) with motor neuron disease and 6 patients with diabetic motor neuropathy who had autopsy material available. Immunoperoxidase staining showed reduced CNTF expression in nerves of patients with motor neuron disease but not in patients with diabetic motor neuropathy. Decreased CNTF appears be associated with primary motor neuron disease rather than a generalized process of axon loss. This result supports suggestions that CNTF deficiency may be an important factor in the development of motor neuron disease.
Improvement of saturation property of iron powder core by flux homogenizing structure

A new core structure is proposed to improve the saturation property of an inductor made of iron powder core. In the conventional structure made of a single core material, converging flux lines cause local magnetic saturation at the inner side of the corners of the magnetic path. Therefore, the conventional inductor shows worse saturation property than expected from its core material. This degradation mechanism is solved in the proposed core structure through homogenization of the flux distribution at the corners. Experiments are performed to evaluate the flux homogenization and improvement of the saturation property. Results show a homogenized flux distribution in the proposed core structure. Furthermore, the flux level improved by 28% while the inductance decreased by 40% of its initial value. Both these results are consistent with theoretical expectations, except that a larger improvement is found in the experiment compared to the 16% improvement predicted by numerical calculation. © 2013 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
The mechanical behaviour of polymers under high pressure

Abstract The effect of pressure on the tensile deformation of amorphous polycarbonate and poly(ethylene terephthalate) and semi-crystalline polychlorotrifluoroethylene and polytetrafluoroethylene was investigated up to 8 kb. Tensile deformations of polycarbonate at atmospheric pressure at temperatures down to 116°K were also performed. The former three polymers showed increases of yield stress, yield strain and elastic modulus, and decreases of fracture strain. Polytetrafluoroethylene behaved in an analogous manner up to 4 kb, beyond which both the ‘yield’ stress and elastic modulus deviated systematically from the lower-pressure behaviour. This was found to correlate with changes of bulk modulus at a solid–solid phase transition near 5 kb. The pressure dependence of yield stress was fitted by modified von Mises and Mohr–Coulomb yield criteria. A material parameter describing this pressure dependence was obtained for these and other polymers and was found to correlate qualitatively with the strength-limit...
Accumulation of B-chromosomes by preferential segregation in females of the grasshopper Melanoplus femur-rubrum.

In a population of Melanoplus femur-rubrum 13.9% of the males and 9.1% of the females sampled possessed a metacentric B chromosome (B). In crosses of females with one B (1 B females) and 0 B males 0.82 ± 0.05 of the offspring received the B. The value expected from Mendelian segregation is 0.5. In crosses of 1 B males and 0 B females the frequency of offspring receiving the B was 0.53 ± 0.02. The B is heterochromatic during prophase I of spermatogenesis but is euchromatic during prophase I of oogenesis. The observation that in 1 B females only one B was present in metaphase I of oogenesis suggested strongly that the high rate of transmission of the B by the females resulted from preferential segregation of the B into the secondary oocyte. The maintenance of the B in the species in discussed.
On the Matter of Prepositions: Peter de Bona's The Discourse of the Sublime

Review Essay. On the Matter of Prepositions: Peter de Bona's The Discourse of the Sublime This review essay is available in Studies in 20th Century Literature: http://newprairiepress.org/sttcl/vol17/iss2/13
Arthroscopic treatment of full-thickness rotator cuff tears: 2- to 7-year follow-up study

This study analyzes the midterm follow-up results of 40 full-thickness rotator cuff tears treated by arthroscopic subacromial decompression and debridement. Patients were selected for this prospective study based on a variety of factors, including physiologic age, handedness, activity level in occupation or avocation, and preoperative estimate of repairability. Patients were divided into three groups based on the size of the tear as measured during surgery; results were evaluated on the UCLA shoulder rating scale. This study emphasizes the importance of patient selection when applying arthroscopic treatment for full-thickness rotator cuff tears. Small (0-2 cm) tears (n = 10) in older individuals not involved in strenuous activities did well (90% satisfactory). Patients with larger (2-4 cm) repairable tears (n = 8) did poorly (50% satisfactory) in comparison with our previous study of the results of open repair (84% satisfactory). Arthroscopic treatment in patients with massive, irreparable tears (n = 22) did not restore lost strength or range of motion, but there was significant pain relief, and 86% were satisfied with the results on a limited-goals basis. The study concludes that with proper patient selection, arthroscopic treatment has a valuable, but limited, role in the treatment of full-thickness rotator cuff tears.
Ownership conversion and closure in the nursing home industry.

Ownership conversions and closures in the nursing home literature have largely been treated as separate issues. This paper studies the predictors of nursing home ownership conversions and closure in a common framework after the implementation of the Prospective Payment System in Medicare skilled nursing facilities. The switch in reimbursement regimes impacted facilities with greater exposure to Medicare and lower efficiency. Facilities that faced greater financial difficulty were more likely to be involved in an ownership conversion or closure, but after controlling for other factors the effect of exposure to Medicare is small. Further, factors that predict conversion were found to vary between not-for-profit and for-profit facilities, while factors that predict closure were the same for each ownership type. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comparison of knowledge-based and distance geometry approaches for generation of molecular conformations.

A knowledge-based approach for generating conformations of molecules has been developed. The method described here provides a good sampling of the molecule's conformational space by restricting the generated conformations to those consistent with the reference database. The present approach, internally named et for enumerate torsions, differs from previous database-mining approaches by employing a library of much larger substructures while treating open chains, rings, and combinations of chains and rings in the same manner. In addition to knowledge in the form of observed torsion angles, some knowledge from the medicinal chemist is captured in the form of which substructures are identified. The knowledge-based approach is compared to Blaney et al.'s distance geometry (DG) algorithm for sampling the conformational space of molecules. The structures of 113 protein-bound molecules, determined by X-ray crystallography, were used to compare the methods. The present knowledge-based approach (i) generates confor...
Latinos and the exclusionary space of engineering education

Popular ideas about retention in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) suggest that women and minorities are at the greatest risk for dropping out or switching majors. However, recent data show that Latinos/Latinas who matriculate into engineering persist at the same rates as their White counterparts. Still, few college-bound Latinos and Latinas choose engineering education as a pathway; some researchers have argued that engineering has an exclusionary culture. Here we disaggregate engineering from the larger STEM category, argue that the larger issue for Latinos/Latinas in engineering is recruitment not retention, and offer strategies for reaching Latino youth.
Variations in Asian Americans: How Neighborhood Concordance Is Associated With Health Care Access and Utilization.

We examined associations of different levels of same-ethnicity neighborhood concordance with health care access and utilization among all Asian American, Chinese, Filipino, and Vietnamese adults (aged 18–64 years) using the 2005, 2007, and 2009 California Health Interview Survey and the 2010 US Census. Although associations varied by subgroup, Asian Americans in highly concordant neighborhoods were more likely to lack a usual source of care but did not lack doctor visits or experience delays in medical care and prescriptions.
Design and construction of an Electric Fish Finder

We provide notes on the design and construction of an Electric Fish Finder - a portable differential amplifier for detecting the electrostatic fields of gymnotiform knifefishes. The device can be adapted to locate electric fishes in any kind of aquatic environment. It is rugged, water resistant, and powered by alkaline batteries. This contribution is part of a series of technical papers designed to encourage students of neotropical ichthyology to explore the ecology, systematics, and electric signaling of gymnotiform fishes.
Recurrent Spontaneous Pneumothorax in Diffuse Scleroderma: Report of a Case

well-known complication of histiccytmis X (eosinophilic granuloma) because of bleb and cyst formation,' but as a complication in sdderma it probably is rare, since we were able to find only five such cases reported in the literature." Recently, we saw a young man with diffuse sderoderma and recurrent spontaneous pneumothorax. We wish to report this case since it represents only the sixth such case and is the first in which full pulmcnary testing was done. CASE PBrnRT A 30-year-old white man was first seen at the Mayo Clinic on February 12, 1965, for epigastric burning and pain This pain had been present for six monh and was chancterisdc of the pain that is assmiated with esophagitis. There was no dysphagia. The p-t illness began in 1961, with the onset of dinear and tightnear in both hands and difficulty in making a fut. The patient's history aim ded that Raymud's phenomenon was p-t for four years and sclemais of the skin of the fingers for two
Assessing depth of sociocognitive processing in peer groups' science discussions

The purpose of this study was to apply the depth of cognitive processing construct to a social constructivist analysis of students' collaborative knowledge building in science. Ten sensemaking discussions of five groups of 8th grade students in five physical science classrooms were analysed. Sense-making discussions were defined by the teachers as those in which students explained thier laboratory observations, or construted, applied, and refined conceptual models of the nature of matter. Discussion diagrams were used to depict both the conceptual content and the reasoning processes within the peer groups' discussions. Depth of processing was judged by the extent to which students elaborated on and connected ideas, scrutinised and clarified propositions, constructed explanations rather than reiterated observations, and backed explanations with evidence. Two of the groups tended to process information on a surface level, while the other three groups tended to engage in deeper processing. The interplay of depth of sociocognitive processing with the motivational, cognitive, and discursive elements of groups' interactions are discussed, as is the relationship between accuracy of ideas and depth of processing. Finally, suggestions are made for how both student and teacher strategies can be enhanced to increase students' depth of sociocognitive processing when they collaboratively build knowledge with their peers.
EFFECTS OF AN ENDURANCE TRAINING REGIMEN ON ASSESSMENT OF WORK CAPACITY IN PREPUBERTAL CHILDREN

The cardiovascular effects of a 12-week endurance training regimen were studied among normally active and healthy prepubertal children. Twenty-six 8- to 12-year-old children (20 boys and 6 girls) volunteered and 10 acted as control subjects. The training regimen consisted of distance running for progressively longer periods (from 10 to 35 min) 2 to 3 times per week, with 2 additional sessions per week devoted to running games. Those who were trained ran a cumulative average distance of 95.6 km (58.9 miles). Intensity of work was assessed from running pace and heart rate. The target workout intensity was 75% to 80% of aerobic capacity (Vo2 max). Growth and development accounted for increases in height, weight, body circumferences, and diameters, and fat-free body weight. Heart rate (HR) during submaximal workloads, both running and walking, decreased in the trained group (p less than 0.01) and (p less than 0.05). HRmax did not change, but Vo2 max increased significantly (average 7%) in the trained group but not in the controls. No significant change attributable to training was found for submaximal cardiac output, stroke volume, or arteriovenous oxygen difference. The Vo2 max value before conditioning was a relatively poor predictor of the magnitude of improvement in functional capacity, but those with higher initial Vo2 max logged more cumulative training mileage. It was concluded that prepubertal children respond to an endurance training regimen by improving their running capacity, which is, to a limited extent, associated with increased aerobic capacity.
Developmental Environments for Teachers.

environments designed to help different teachers enhance their unique instructional and personal capabilities. Broadly speaking, any educational environment is a set of conditions external to people that encourages their learning. When the learner happens to be a teacher, this environment may be defined in terms of those conditions that promote his or her professional development or competence, defined generally in terms of personal skills, knowledge or attitudes.1
Automated 2-D building footprint extraction from high-resolution satellite multispectral imagery

A fully automated algorithm for the extraction of building footprints from commercial high-resolution satellite imagery is presented. The algorithm is based on identifying buildings and their shadows in the differential morphological profile (DMP) of 1-m resolution panchromatic imagery. The DMP is a multi-scale image analysis technique where an image profile is constructed through the use of morphological opening and closing operations while varying the size of the structuring element. A variety of shape-based features are utilized to extract buildings and their shadows from the DMP. The algorithm has been tested on an IKONOS image, and the results are promising.
Measurements of tokamak fusion test reactor D-T radiation shielding efficiency

Abstract Measurements of neutron and gamma dose-equivalents were performed in the test cell, at the outer test cell wall, in nearby work areas, and out to the nearest property lines at a distance of 180 m. Argon ionization chambers, moderated 3He proportional counters, and fission chamber detectors were used to obtain measurements of neutron and gamma dose-equivalents per D-T neutron during individual tokamak fusion test reactor (TFTR) discharges. These measured neutron and gamma D-T dose-equivalents per TFTR neutron characterize the effects of local variations in material density resulting from the complex asymmetric site geometry. The measured dose-equivalents per TFTR D-T neutron and the cumulative neutron production were used to determine that the planned annual TFTR neutron production of 1 × 1021 D-T neutrons is consistent with the design objective of limiting the total dose-equivalent at the property line, from all radiation sources and pathways, to less than 10 mrem per year.
Clinically silent myocardial infarctions in the CKD community

Burden of clinically silent myocardial infarction in patients with kidney disease Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) are at a greater risk for incident myocardial infarction and death from coronary heart disease (CHD) compared with the general population [1]. The presence of CKD may accelerate the formation of vulnerable plaques, increase the frequency of plaque disruption and may increase thrombogenicity of the blood, making patients with CKD at high risk for myocardial infarction and mortality. Once diagnosed with CHD, patients with CKD have a greater incidence of recurrent cardiovascular events and mortality [2]. Research has suggested that CHD is unique in patients with CKD and ESRD compared with the general population with early onset, more rapid progression, atypical symptoms and higher rates of death. Although it is estimated that ∼13% of patients with CKD have suffered an acute myocardial infarction [3], it is likely that many patients with CKD have clinically silent CHD, which may have serious clinical implications on long-term cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. In a provocative study in this issue of NDT, Rizk et al. examine the prevalence and long-term impact of unrecognized myocardial infarctions among patients with CKD. In this large study of 18 864 patients with and without CKD enrolled in the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) cohort, 12-lead ECGs were used to identify the presence of Q-wave abnormalities [4]. Recognized myocardial infarction was defined as the concurrence of self-reported myocardial infarction as well as Q-wave abnormalities on ECG, whereas unrecognized myocardial infarction was defined as the presence of diagnostic Q-wave abnormalities without self-report. The investigators report that, in patients with eGFR <30 mL/min/1.73 m 2 , the prevalence of unrecognized myocardial infarction was 13% compared with 4% in those without CKD [4]. The presence of macroalbuminuria was associated with a 10% risk of unrecognized myocardial infarction compared with 4% in patients without albuminuria. After 4 years of follow-up, the investigators found that among patients with CKD, the risk of death was similar in those with unrecognized versus recognized myocardial infarctions [4]. These compelling results suggest that unrecognized myocardial infarction appears to be more common in patients with CKD; and notably, unrecognized myocardial infarction conveys a similar negative prognosis compared with a clinically recognized myocardial infarction. This study makes an important contribution in being one of the first to define the burden of clinically silent myocardial infarctions in the CKD community. Several limitations of this study must be noted. The study cohort was primarily African-American (by design) so results may not be generalizable to other populations. This was a cohort that oversampled from the ‘stroke belt’ so participants likely had a higher prevalence of risk factors for stroke and thus CHD. The authors chose to utilize Q-wave abnormalities on baseline ECGs and self-report
Symbolic solution of the multiconductor transmission-line equations for lines containing shielded wires

The multiconductor transmission line equations that characterize crosstalk in a multiconductor transmission line containing a shielded wire are solved in symbolic form, that is, the resulting crosstalk voltages are determined in terms of symbols rather than numerical values. The resulting solutions show the frequency range for which the widely used, low-frequency, inductive-capacitive coupling model is a valid representation. The solution shows that the inductive-capacitive coupling model is an adequate characterization of crosstalk for lines that are electrically short and whose termination impedances do not differ substantially from the characteristic impedances of the lines that are involved. For lines whose termination impedances differ drastically from the line characteristic impedances, the inductive-capacitive coupling model is valid only for frequencies where the line is extremely short, electrically. For higher frequencies of excitation, the model may give predictions that are substantially below the true crosstalk even for frequencies where the line is electrically short. >
P1C-9 Prostate Cancer Detection Based on Three Dimensional Sonoelastography

In this paper, we evaluate the performance of sonoelastography for prostate cancer detection. Ultrasound (US) B-mode and sonoelastographic volumes were acquired from five prostate glands ex vivo. Additionally, one more gland was imaged in vivo using a transrectal US probe. Semi-automatic algorithms were used to segment the surface of the gland from the B-mode volume and the tumors from sonoelastographic data. To assess the detection performance, three dimensional (3D) sonoelastographic findings were compared in size and position to 3D histological data. Sonoelastography detected seven out of nine cancers in the ex vivo prostate glands and two out of three malignant masses in the in vivo experiment. Overall, 3D sonoelastography has shown potential for prostate cancer detection albeit based on limited data.
Advanced Control and Real Time Optimization for Power and Industrial Energy

The talk will summarize new development in the area of model predictive control and real time optimization focused on power plant and industrial energy as well as implementation on a new distributed, software component based platform. Successful solution has to bring together process control and optimization functions based on both technical/technological criteria and economic criteria with the application flexibility provided by the latest software technologies.
Stochastic dynamic clamping as a method for studying the effects of biological noise sources

A crucial issue in the study of the nervous system is the determination of how biophysical noise from probabilistic voltage-dependent and synaptic processes acts to limit neuronal reliability. Experimental and computational work provides indirect evidence that synaptic noise is the major noise source in many cases, but that intrinsic noise from voltage-gated channels makes important contributions in some cells. Rigorous evaluation of the effects and importance of biological noise sources requires one to block the natural noise source pharmacologically, then replace it with an accurate artificial analog. Using this method, which the authors call stochastic dynamic clamping, one can manipulate levels of artificial noise to measure unequivocally the effects of each noise source on neuronal dynamics, excitability, and reliability. The authors are currently developing such systems using two approaches: one that depends on a dedicated digital signal processing card, and one that uses Real-Time Linux.
A local limit theorem for perturbed random walks

Abstract The main result reported here is a Stone type local limit theorem for perturbed random walks Z n = S n + ξ n when some slow variation conditions are imposed on ξ n 's.
A Small World Threshold for Economic Network Formation

We introduce a game-theoretic model for network formation inspired by earlier stochastic models that mix localized and long-distance connectivity. In this model, players may purchase edges at distance d at a cost of d∝, and wish to minimize the sum of their edge purchases and their average distance to other players. In this model, we show there is a striking "small world" threshold phenomenon: in two dimensions, if ∝ 2 then every Nash equilibrium results in a network whose diameter grows as a root of the network size, and thus is unbounded. We contrast our results with those of Kleinberg [8] in a stochastic model, and empirically investigate the "navigability" of equilibrium networks. Our theoretical results all generalize to higher dimensions.
Racial Discrimination and Resilience in African American Young Adults: Examining Racial Socialization as a Moderator

Research has indicated that racial discrimination places African Americans at risk for psychological distress, in which they experience low levels of well-being. Yet many African Americans are resilient, or have preserved well-being, when faced with this adversity. Using a strength-based approach, this study determined whether racial socialization messages preserved African Americans’ resilience when experiencing racial discrimination. Results with a sample of 290 young adult African American college students indicated that overall racial socialization messages, as well as specific messages to appreciate cultural legacy, moderated the relationship between racial discrimination and resilience. As expected, racial discrimination was negatively related to resilience for students who reported fewer racial socialization messages, and racial discrimination was no longer negatively associated with resilience for students reporting a greater number of these messages. Additionally, racial socialization messages pr...
On Cognitive Network Channel Selection and the Impact on Transport Layer Performance

In this paper, we investigate the machine learning based strategies for dynamic channel selection in Cognitive Access Points (CogAPs) of WLANs. We employ Multi-layer Feedforward Neural Network (MFNN) models that utilize historical traffic information from network environment for learning the influence of spatio-temporal-spectral factors on the network and then predicting future traffic loads on each of the channels. Based on the future traffic loads, CogAP chooses the best channel for serving wireless clients. An important factor is the time scale of traffic prediction. We construct three kinds of traffic predictors that predict traffic at different time scales: MLP (Minute Level Prediction), MILP (Minute Interval Level Prediction), and HLP (Hourly Level Prediction) schemes and study their prediction accuracy. Experiment results show that MFNN predictors perform better than traditional autoregressive models in terms of prediction accuracy. In addition to accurate prediction, another factor that influences the design of cognitive network channel selection is the impact of channel selection strategy on the transport layer performance. We, therefore, conduct performance studies on the TCP throughput achieved on the above mentioned cognitive channel selection strategies. The MFNN predictors will also help CogAP to find and switch to the optimal channel, leading to a higher and more sustained throughput.
Defining and Measuring Interpersonal Continuity of Care

BACKGROUND In an effort to learn more about the importance of continuity of care to physicians and patients, I reviewed the medical literature on continuity of care to define interpersonal continuity and describe how it has been measured and studied. METHODS A search of the MEDLINE database from 1966 through April 2002 was conducted to find articles focusing on the keyword “continuity of patient care,” including all subheadings. Titles and abstracts of the resulting articles were screened to select articles focusing on interpersonal continuity in the physician-patient relationship or on the definition of continuity of care. These articles were systematically reviewed and analyzed for study method, measurement technique, and research theme. RESULTS A total of 379 original articles were found that addressed any aspect of continuity as an attribute of general medical care. One hundred forty-two articles directly related to the definition of continuity or to the concept of interpersonal continuity in the physician-patient relationship. Although the available literature reflects little agreement on how to define continuity of care, it is best defined as a hierarchy of 3 dimensions; informational, longitudinal, and interpersonal continuity. Interpersonal continuity is of particular interest for primary care. Twenty-one measurement techniques have been defined to study continuity, many of which relate to visit patterns and concentration rather than the interpersonal nature of the continuity relationship. CONCLUSIONS Future inquiry in family medicine should focus on better understanding the interpersonal dimension of continuity of care.
Using the grid spacing ratio as a continuous variable in one dimensional adaptive grid generation

Abstract A new method for one dimensional adaptive grid generation is introduced based on defining the grid spacing ratio as a continuous variable. In this paper we validate our theoretical results in order to justify their use in numerical construction of adaptive grids in one dimension.