cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thermal stress analysis of conical shells

Abstract The differential equation of a conical shell subjected to axisymmetrical temperature distributions is derived. The temperature distributions may vary in the meridional direction and linearly through the thickness. In order to obtain a particular solution to the differential equation, the expression for the temperature distributions is assumed to be the sum of hyperbolic and cubic functions. The particular solution is superposed on the homogeneous solution and all the formulae for a complete analysis are given.
Effects of acetylcholine and transport inhibitors on K content in dispersed submandibular salivary cells of newborn and adult rats.

Abstract These isolated cells were used to measure uptake of the radioactive tracer 86 Rb as an index of changes in K + content. There was time-dependent tracer uptake in the absence of secretagogue in both one-day-old and adult cells. Kinetic analysis of this uptake revealed two components, a fast one during the first 5 min of incubation and a slower one between 5 and 30 min. The early (fast) component was slower in the newborn cells (0.084 nmol mg −1 min −1 ) than in adult cells (0.116 nmol mg −1 min −1 ). Values for the second component of uptake were, respectively, 0.015 and 0.009 nmol mg −1 min −1 . Basal uptake of K + was inhibited by both ouabain and furosemide (at 1 mM concentrations) but, after 5 min of incubation, the effect was more pronounced in adult cells. The K + content (i.e. K + uptake) was increased after exposure to 1 μM acetylcholine in both cell types, but the effect was larger in those from one-day-old rats after 5 min incubation (16 per cent increase, compared to 9 per cent increase in adult cells). The secretagogue-induced increase in K + uptake or content was inhibited by ouabain (57 per cent in adult cells, 24 per cent in newborn cells), and by furosemide (25 and 37 per cent, respectively). These findings suggest that K + uptake in submandibular cells occurs by both an ouabain-sensitive Na, K pump and a diuretic-sensitive transport system. Both appear to have lower resting activities in the cells of newborn rats but can be significantly stimulated cholinergically. The contribution of the Na, K pump to K + uptake is larger in the cells of adult animals, a finding which correlates with the increase in Na, K ATPase activity observed during glandular maturation.
Does disaggregation of fair value information increase the value relevance of the fair value hierarchy

Abstract In response to pressures from Congress, the SEC and investors, the FASB issued ASU 2010-06, Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurement . ASU 2010-06 mandates that firms provide disaggregated fair value information by class of financial instruments under each level of the fair value hierarchy. Using financial statements of publicly traded banks for the first quarters of 2009 and 2010, this study examines whether providing class-level information increases the value relevance of the fair value hierarchy. In support of our hypothesis, we find that fair value relevance increases under ASU 2010-06.
POVERTY REFORM THROUGH PHILANTHROPIC INITIATIVE

W ith Bill Clinton's call in 1996 to "end welfare as we know it" came the culmination of a decade and a half of steady declines in federal support for the nation's poor. There has been much policy tall in the past few years about the consequences of devolution, the transfer of fiscal responsibility for social policy from the federal government to the states. Questions such as "Can state governments adequately address the needs of the poor?" have preoccupied journalists, policymakers, and academics alike. There is another important policy matter surrounding devolution that has received comparatively little attention. This is the issue of what poverty reform initiatives undertaken without government support of any kind look like. Although even nowadays private funding for the poor remains a mere drop in the bucket compared to public support, the site for poverty reform increasingly involves players far removed from the apparatus of the state. Recall back to August 1988 when George Bush, in accept ing the GOP presidential nominat ion, spoke about how his efforts to continue Ronald Reagan's push for small government would usher in "a thousand points of light." Here, Bush was invoking a piece of party ideology that had become accepted political wisdom during the Reagan years: the notion that small government and greater private philanthropic initiative went hand in hand. The idea was that private individuals and foundations would compensate for any proposed cuts in government funding. Social scientists have debated whether this equation has empirically held true. Yet regardless of whether or not it has, it certainly appears that small government is here to stay. All indicators suggest that during the next administration poverty reform is likely to continue to occur more and more through wholly private initiatives. This transformation of the policymaking climate raises many questions. Among these include the following: How do private policy initiatives unfold? W h i c h ac to r s have p r o m i n e n c e w i t h i n the policymaking process? How do they interact in formulating policy? To Fred answers to these questions, one could look to any of a number of American cities where comprehensive poverty reform initiatives were taking place during the early 1990s. These cities includedAtlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Hartford, Los Angeles, Miami, Milwaukee, NewYork, and St.Paul. From 1995-1997, I looked closely at one of these cases of comprehensive poverty re form-the Chicago Initiative. Its story provides an interesting glimpse into what the policymaking process looks like in an era of small government, highlighting specifically how a mix of nonprofi ts--private foundations and community-based organizations--jointly formulate urban poverty reform agendas.
Design Considerations for Monolithic Microwave Circuits

Monolithic microwave integrated circuits based on silicon-on-sapphire (SOS) and gallium arsenide technologies are being considered seriously as viable candidates for satellite communication systems, airborne radar, and other applications. The low-loss properties of sapphire and semi-insulating GaAs substrates, combined with the excellent microwave performance of metal-semiconductor FET's (MESFET's), allows, for the first time, a truly monolithic approach to microwave integrated circuits. By monolithic we mean an approach wherein all passive and active circuit elements and interconnections are formed into the bulk, or onto the surface of the substrate by some deposition scheme, such as epitaxy, ion implantation, sputtering, evaporation, and other methods. The importance of this development is that microwave applications such as airborne phased-array systems based on a large number of identical circuits and requiring small physical volume and/or light weight, may, finally, become cost effective. The paper covers in some detail the design considerations that must be applied to monolithic microwave circuits in general, and to gallium arsenide circuits in particular. The important role being played by computer-aided design techniques is stressed. Numerous examples of monolithic circuits and components which illustrate the design principles are described. These provide a cross section of the world-wide effort in this field. A glimpse into the future prospects of monolithic microwave circuits is made.
Influence of fiber bridging on structural size-effect

Abstract The size-effect of structural element has been experimentally determined in concrete members under various load types. The importance of size-effect on safe structural design has been well recognized. Theoretical models explaining and predicting size-effect based on fracture mechanics of brittle and quasi-brittle materials have made significant advances in the last decade. Structural size-effect can be reduced by modifying the crack bridging behavior of concrete. An effective means of controlling the crack bridging law is by fiber reinforcement. Since the bridging law is fundamentally governed by fiber and interface properties, proper materials engineering can lead to effective means of reducing structural size-effect. This paper studies analytically the effectiveness of fiber bridging on the FRC beam structural size effect, by means of a flexural model which takes into account matrix crack extension and fiber bridging. The flexural strength (MOR) is shown to decrease with beam height following Bazant's Size-Effect Law for ordinary concrete. When fiber bridging is introduced, the MOR is shown to be much less dependent on matrix properties. Instead fiber and interface parameters dominate the MOR of the FRC beam. At the same time, beam height-size-effect on MOR is shown to diminish within the practical range of real structural sizes. The relationships between structural strength MOR, the composite σ-δ bridging relation, the material characteristics length, and the constituent fiber, matrix and interface properties are clarified. A generic size-effect law for FRC beams is obtained. Other related issues such as size-effects on R -curve behavior, critical crack length at MOR, etc., are also studied.
Role for cyclic adenosine monophosphate in modulating insulin‐like growth factor binding protein secretion by muscle cells

The modulation of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein (IGFBP) secretion is an important variable affecting muscle cell metabolism, proliferation, and differentiation. We have previously shown that secretion of IGFBP-4 and IGFBP-5 by L6 and BC3H-1 muscle cells was stimulated by treatment with either insulin, IGF-I, or IGF-II. Herein, these cells were used to further identify mechanisms involved in controlling IGFBP secretion. Agents that elevate intracellular cAMP concentrations (dcAMP, forskolin, isoproterenol, and prostaglandin [PGE1]) increase secretion of IGFBP-4 and IGFBP-5 from L6 cells. Similar increases in IGFBP secretion were found by treatment with either insulin, IGF-I, or dcAMP. The effects of dcAMP and either insulin or IGF-I were additive, but the effects of insulin and IGF-I were not additive. These results suggest that insulin/IGF-I and dcAMP are acting via distinct mechanisms to stimulate IGFBP secretion. Indomethacin, which blocks endogenous prostaglandin synthesis, and progesterone, which decreases intracellular cAMP levels, decreased IGFBP-4 and IGFBP-5 secretion. IGFBP-5 secretion by BC3H-1 cells was increased by either insulin or IGF-I. Agents which elevate intracellular cAMP concentrations did not increase IGFBP-5 secretion. Additionally, these agents were not synergistic with either insulin or IGF-I. However, indomethacin and progesterone depressed IGFBP-5 secretion by BC3H-1 cells. In summary, there appear to be at least two intracellular signaling mechanisms controlling IGFBP-4 and IGFBP-5 secretion by L6 and BC3H-1 muscle cells. IGFBP secretion by L6 cells is stimulated by both insulin/IGF-I and cAMP-dependent pathways, whereas IGFBP-5 secretion by BC3H-1 cells is stimulated only by the insulin/IGF pathway. IGFBP secretion by both cell lines can be decreased by agents which depress cAMP levels. Our results suggest that two divergent but synergistic pathways modulate IGFBP production and these mechanisms can potentially modulate IGF activity during muscle cell proliferation and differentiation. J. Cell. Physiol. 174:293–300, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Care management for Type 2 diabetes in the United States: a systematic review and meta-analysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis aims at assessing the composition and performance of care management models evaluated in the last decade and their impact on patient important outcomes. A comprehensive literature search of electronic bibliographic databases was performed to identify care management trials in type 2 diabetes. Random effects meta-analysis was used when feasible to pool outcome measures. Fifty-two studies were eligible. Most commonly reported were surrogate outcomes (such as HbA1c and LDL), followed by process measures (clinic visit or testing frequency). Less frequently reported were quality of life, patient satisfaction, self-care, and healthcare utilization. Most care management modalities were carved out from primary care. Meta-analysis demonstrated a statistically significant but trivial reduction of HbA1c (weighted difference in means -0.21%, 95% confidence interval -0.40 to -0.03, p < .03) and LDL-cholesterol (weighted difference in means -3.38 mg/dL, 95% confidence interval -6.27 to -0.49, p < .02). Most care management programs for patients with type 2 diabetes are 'carved-out', accomplish limited effects on metabolic outcomes, and have unknown effects on patient important outcomes. Comparative effectiveness research of different models of care management is needed to inform the design of medical homes for patients with chronic conditions.
MICROBIAL ACTIVITY IN HEATED AND UNHEATED TOMATO SERUM CONCENTRATES

Tomato serum (4.25% total solids), which contained all the water-soluble constituents of the tomato but little of the water insoluble fibrous material, was concentrated to 37.17, 42.53, 47.64 and 53.70% levels of total solids. Half of each concentrate was given a heat treatment designed to destroy vegetative cells and to activate spore germination and outgrowth. Microbial activity in both heated and unheated concentrates was monitored. The unheated serum concentrates spoiled rapidly at the lower concentration levels. Spoilage seemed to be caused by bacteria at the lower concentration levels and by yeasts at the higher solids levels. At 53.70% solids the microbiological stability of the unheated concentrates was questionable following 28 days of incubation. Data on serum concentrates heated 13 min at 80°C indicated microbiological stability at all four concentration levels. Malt agar plate counts indicated the absence of both viable yeasts and molds in the heated serum concentrates.
Quantitative Fundus Autofluorescence and Optical Coherence Tomography in Best Vitelliform Macular Dystrophy

Purpose Quantitative fundus autofluorescence (qAF), spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) segmentation, and multimodal imaging were performed to elucidate the pathogenesis of Best vitelliform macular dystrophy (BVMD) and to identify abnormalities in lesion versus nonlesion fundus areas. Methods Sixteen patients with a clinical diagnosis of BVMD were studied. Autofluorescence images (30°, 488-nm excitation) were acquired with a confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope equipped with an internal fluorescent reference to account for variable laser power and detector sensitivity. The grey levels (GLs) of each image were calibrated to the reference, zero GL, magnification, and normative optical media density, to yield qAF. Horizontal SD-OCT scans were obtained and retinal layers manually segmented. Additionally, color and near-infrared reflectance (NIR-R) images were registered to AF images. All patients were screened for mutations in BEST1. In three additional BVMD patients, in vivo spectrofluorometric measurements were obtained within the vitelliform lesion. Results Mean nonlesion qAF was within normal limits for age. Maximum qAF within the lesion was markedly increased compared with controls. By SD-OCT segmentation, outer segment equivalent thickness was increased and outer nuclear layer thickness decreased in the lesion. Changes were also present in a transition zone beyond the lesion border. In subclinical patients, no abnormalities in retinal layer thickness were identified. Fluorescence spectra recorded from the vitelliform lesion were consistent with those of retinal pigment epithelial cell lipofuscin. Conclusions Based on qAF, mutations in BEST1 do not cause increased lipofuscin levels in nonlesion fundus areas.
Validated equilibrium and sequential spatial competition games

Abstract We introduce a refinement of subgame-perfect equilibrium called validated equilibrium, which develops a notion of ‘cheap talk’ for complete information games. We utilize the concept to select a unique intuitive equilibrium in a sequential spatial competition game with many subgame-perfect equilibria.
Understanding school climate, aggression, peer victimization, and bully perpetration: contemporary science, practice, and policy

Existing scholarship suggests that classroom practices, teacher attitudes, and the broader school environment play a critical role in understanding the rates of student reports of aggression, bullying, and victimization as well as correlated behaviors. A more accurate understanding of the nature, origins, maintenance, and prevalence of bullying and other aggressive behavior requires consideration of the broader social ecology of the school community. However, studies to date have predominantly been cross-sectional in nature, or have failed to reflect the social-ecological framework in their measurement or analytic approach. Thus, there have been limited efforts to parse out the relative contribution of student, classroom, and organizational-level factors. This special topic section emphasizes a departure from a focus on student attitudes and behaviors, to a social-contextual approach that appreciates how much features of the school environment can mitigate or perpetuate aggression. This collection of articles reflects innovative and rigorous approaches to further our understanding of climate, and has implications for theory, measurement, prevention, and practice. These studies highlight the influence of school climate on mental health, academic achievement, and problem behavior, and will hopefully stimulate interest in and further scholarship on this important topic.
Development of a low-cost x-ray mask for high-aspect-ratio MEM smart structures

A cost-effective process with short fabrication time for making x-ray masks for research and development purposes is described here for fabricating high-aspect ratio microelectromechanical structures using synchrotron based x- ray lithography. Microscope cover glass slides as membrane material is described. Slides with an initial thickness of 175 micrometers are etched to a thickness in the range of 10 - 25 micrometers using a diluted HF and buffered hydrofluoric acid solutions. The thinned slides are glued on supportive mask frames and sputtered with a chromium/silver sandwich layer which acts as a plating base layer for the deposition of the gold absorber. The judicial choice of glue and mask frame material are significant parameters in a successful fabrication process. Gold absorber structures are electroplated on the membrane. Calculations are done for contrast and dose ratio obtained in the photoresist after synchrotron radiation as a function of the mask design parameters. Exposure experiments are performed to prove the applicability of the fabricated x-ray mask.
An exploratory study of the influence of the IS function and organizational context on business process reengineering project initiatives

To help evaluate the risk of process reengineering failure and enhance the prospect of its success, three potential sources of influence on BPR initiatives and success are examined in this study. These include the innovative capacity of the organization, IS maturity and strategy-IS interface. It was found that while factors related to IT maturity and influence such as experience in mainframe and client/server computing may facilitate the decision to reengineer, they are not critical in the later stages of the initiative. On the other hand, factors having significant relationships beyond the initial decision include variables pertaining to innovative capacity of the organization and strategy-IS interface. These findings suggest that technical IT competence as a critical enabler is necessary but not sufficient for reengineering success. Based on study findings regarding the innovative capacity of the organization, guidelines for reengineering risk assessment are proposed. In addition, implications of the findings, limitations of the study and opportunities for further research are also discussed.
Probing ~100 AU Intergalactic Mg II Absorbing “Cloudlets” with Quasar Microlensing

Intergalactic Mg II absorbers are known to have structures down to scales ~102.5 pc, and there are now indications that they may be fragmented on scales 10-2.5 pc according to Hao and coworkers. When a lensed quasar is microlensed, the microimages of the quasar experience creation, destruction, distortion, and drastic astrometric changes during caustic crossings. I show that quasar microlensing can effectively probe Mg II and other absorption "cloudlets" with sizes ~10-4.0 to 10-2.0 pc by inducing significant spectral variability on timescales of months to years. With numerical simulations, I demonstrate the feasibility of applying this method to Q2237+0305, and I show that high-resolution spectra of this quasar in the near future would provide a clear test of the existence of such metal-line absorbing "cloudlets."
A NEW FORM OF CONGENITAL HEMOLYTIC ANEMIA WITH EXTREME MICROCYTOSIS AND CALCIUM LEAK

A 4 year old male child with congenital hemolytic anemia and bizarre red cell morphology has been studied. Many cells showed blunt projections plus fragmentation and there were numerous microspherocytes. Splenomegaly was present and splenectomy at the age of 21 months resulted in an increase in hemoglobin from 4 to 10 gm% and a fall in reticulocytes from 23 to 3%. However, the abnormal red cell morphology persisted. Microcytosis remained extreme with MCV 42 μ3 and the MCHC was 38-44 gm%. Osmotic fragility was greatly increased. Tests for usual red cell abnormalities and unstable hemoglobin were negative while the intracellular concentrations of Na+ and K+ were normal. Moreover both active and passive components of Na+ and K+ fluxes were normal. Inward Ca2+ movement was measured in cells in which the activity of the outwardly-directed Ca2+ pump was inhibited. When cells were incubated in 1.5 mM Ca2+, the entry of Ca2+ was increased more than 10-fold, from 64.0' nanomole/ml cells/4 hr. for the patient compared with Ca2+ 5.3± 1.6 nanomole/ml cells/4 hr. for normals. Measurement of activity in the patient's red cells was normal. The results suggest that a selective inward Ca2+ leak may be responsible for the red cell fragmentation and microcytosis in this syndrome.
An epidemiological comparative analysis of CVID patients with or without lung damage

Abstract Rationale CVID is a heterogeneous disorder with a wide range of clinical manifestations including recurrent infections of the lower respiratory tract which may cause lung damage. This study looks for predictive parameters of lung damage in patients with CVID. Methods In this study, we reviewed the charts and clinical history of 18 patients with CVID. Of these, 8 patients were characterized as having documented lung damage based on abnormal chest CT findings. The subjects were subsequently separated into two groups: those with lung damage and those without lung damage. Results Individuals with lung damage had higher mean levels of IgA and IgM than patients without lung damage. Markers of inflammation (CRP and ESR) were more elevated in patients with lung damage, and these patients had lower mean PFT values. Furthermore, there were no smokers in the group without lung damage compared to 25% smokers in those with lung damage. There was no difference in gender or number of previous pneumonias in the two groups. Conclusions These results suggest there may be a benefit in considering factors such as tobacco use, PFT's, and inflammatory marker levels in predicting a patient's risk of developing lung damage. This study also suggests that higher IgA and IgM levels may be related to developing lung damage.
Infant state: relationship to heart rate, behavioral response and response decrement.

The relationship of state to HR and behavioral responding to white noise stimulation was investigated in 2-week old infants. Results indicated that state is a potent determinant of various behavioral and HR phenomena. State was related to prestimulus HR levels. Cardiac responses elicited in active sleep were larger than those elicited in quite awake, even after prestimulus effects on responding were partialled out. Infants who were asleep throughout testing (group I) showed rapid behavioral and large HR response decrement. Infants whose state changed from active sleep to awake (group II), from quiet awake to asleep (group III), and from quiet awake to crying (group IV), showed significantly slower behavioral response decrement than those in group I, but behavioral response decrement was nevertheless evident in all groups. Cardiac response over trials also was examined in these 4 groups.
Strategic direction for high demand degrees: an analysis of the US pharmacy degree competitive market

Porter’s competitive analysis and strategic positioning are applied to the high demand pharmacy degree in the USA. Specifically, we tested the hypothesis that there are significant differences between pharmacy programs positioned in the Top 25 (per US News and World Report ) compared to others in variables that represent Porter’s two primary generic strategies: differentiation and cost leadership. There are significant differences between Top 25 and other pharmacy programs on differentiation (competitive research awards), but not on cost (tuition). However, post hoc analysis using public institutions only demonstrated significant differences on both measures. Overall, the results support Porter’s theory.
Leading to Linking: Introducing Linked Data to Academic Library Digital Collections

This article introduces the concepts of linked data within the context of digital collections, outlines the rationale for beginning work in linked data for digital collections, provides an overview of a focused linked data project, discusses technologies adopted for transforming metadata into linked data, and reports lessons learned to date.
Biosynthetic and immunochemical characterization of a large protein in frog and cattle rod outer segment membranes

Abstract Rod outer segment membranes contain a large protein in addition to opsin. This protein is invariably detected in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels as a minor slowly migrating component with an apparent mol. wt. of 291 000 in frog membranes and 238 000 in cattle. The protein constitutes about 1–3% of the outer segment membrane protein and thus its molar ratio compared to rhodopsin is 1 : 300–1 : 900. Biosynthetic studies indicate that it is transported on membranes from sites of synthesis in the inner segment to the outer segment. Immunochemical analysis by two-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis indicates that the large protein of frog membranes does not cross-react with the cattle molecule. In contrast, there is complete immunochemical homology of the two species' opsins. There is also no cross-reactivity between the large proteins and opsin. The protein cannot be solubilized from membranes with salts, chelating agents, reduction, urea or light exposure but it is dissolved in detergents.
Usability Testing for e-Resource Discovery: How Students Find and Choose e-Resources Using Library Web Sites

ABSTRACT In early 2010, library staff at Bowling Green State University (BGSU) in Ohio designed and conducted a usability study of key parts of the library web site, focusing on the web pages generated by the library's electronic resources management system (ERM) that list and describe the library's databases. The goal was to discover how users find and choose e-resources and identify ways the library could improve access to e-resources through its web site. This article outlines the usability study conducted at BGSU, presents its conclusions about how students at BGSU find and choose databases, contextualizes these findings with other current research about user behavior, and makes recommendations for increasing student use of library e-resources.
Citation structure of an emerging research area on the verge of application

A case study of an emerging research area is presented dealing with the creation of organic thin film transistors, a subtopic within the general area called “plastic electronics.” The purpose of this case study is to determine the structural properties of the citation network that may be characteristic of the emergence, development, and application or demise of a research area. Research on organic thin film transistors is highly interdisciplinary, involving journals and research groups from physics, chemistry, materials science, and engineering. There is a clear path to industrial applications if certain technical problems can be overcome. Despite the applied nature and potential for patentable inventions, scholarly publications from both academia and industry have continued at a rapid pace through 2007. The question is whether the bibliometric indicators point to a decline in this area due to imminent commercialization or to insurmountable technical problems with these materials.
Dubai's brand assessment success and failure in brand management – Part 1

The purpose of this article is to analyze Dubai's branding management at a macro level. This article aims to brand Dubai as a destination with certain demographic groups. Dubai decision makers establish the city in the upper echelon of international markets including tourism, real estate, business hospitality and learning centers. This study reveals that instead of replicating what other competitive destinations have already achieved, Dubai offers innovative products and services to investors and tourists alike: the indoor ‘skiing in the desert’ facility, the luxury ‘seven star’ hotel on the Dubai coastline, the world's largest man-made island and the world's tallest building are only a few examples of what the city has to offer. Dubai has pursued a well-defined and unique brand identity through a clear strategy including unique value proposition, attraction and brand promise. Developing Dubai's brand image is a key factor in distinguishing it in the highly competitive global environment. Dubai's strategic branding approach provides a rare case that demonstrates the importance of the brand identity and equity on the global stage. Dubai earned itself a track record for making every project a success, regardless of its ambitious conception. Dubai's 13 per cent GDP growth every year since 2000, which is higher than the GDPs of both India and China, proves the realization of the city's successful branding process. This market analysis sheds light on Dubai's competency: brand development that has led to its admired position in the world.
Gas permeability properties of Matrimid® membranes containing the metal-organic framework Cu–BPY–HFS

Abstract A microporous metal-organic framework Cu–4,4′-bipyridine–hexafluorosilicate (Cu–BPY–HFS), having a surface area of 2000 m2/g, was combined with Matrimid® polymer to form free standing films. The permeability properties of Cu–BPY–HFS–Matrimid® mixed-matrix membranes were tested for the pure gases H2, N2, O2, CH4, and CO2 and the gas mixtures CO2/CH4, H2/CO2 and CH4/N2. The ideal selectivity of CH4/N2 increased from 0.95 to 1.21, which suggests that Cu–BPY–HFS has a strong affinity towards CH4 and favors its permeation. The higher solubility of CH4 in the membranes leads to higher selectivity for CH4/N2. The enhanced CH4 transport is also apparent in the case of ideal selectivity for CO2/CH4 and H2/CH4. For CH4/N2 gas mixtures, the selectivity increased from 0.95 to 1.7. The Cu–BPY–HFS's affinity towards CH4, and its large surface area increased the solubility of CH4 in the mixed-matrix membranes, which led to higher selectivity towards CH4.
Visual perceptions of head-fixed and trunk-fixed anterior/posterior axes

The purpose of the present experiment was to determine the preferred visual "straight ahead" or anterior/posterior (a/p) axis at the perceptual level. The ability of 12 neurologically normal, young adult subjects to position a rod parallel to the head and trunk a/p axes while viewing eccentrically located visual targets were studied under six conditions: 1. fixed-subjects stood erect with the head aligned to the trunk and viewed a central target while visually aligning a hand-held rod to the head and trunk a/p axis. 2. eyes-subjects moved only their eyes to view eccentric targets and aligned the rod to the head and trunk a/p axis. 3. head-trunk-subjects viewed the eccentric targets by rotating the head about a vertical axis and aligned the rod to the trunk a/p axis. 4. head-head-subjects viewed the targets as in 3 and positioned the rod parallel to the head a/p axis. 5. trunk-head-subjects viewed the targets by rotating the trunk and head as a unit about the vertical axis and aligned the rod parallel to the head a/p axis (note that the head and trunk a/p axes were misaligned by the experimenter prior to target viewing). 6. trunk-trunk-subjects viewed targets as in 5 and positioned the rod parallel to the trunk a/p axis. Subjects performed 25-35 consecutive trials within each condition. Perceptual errors were similar for aligning the rod to the trunk and head a/p axes; however, moving the trunk produced much larger constant and variable perceptual errors than moving the head. In a second experiment, four subjects controlled the position of a lighted rod held by a robot arm in complete darkness. They were instructed to align the rod to either the head or trunk a/p axis under conditions similar to the fixed, head-trunk, and head-head tasks described above. Perceptual errors were much larger when aligning the rod to the head a/p axis than to trunk a/p axis when the head was moved. This shows that the trunk a/p axis is clearly preferred at the perceptual level when visual background cues are not present. These data strongly suggest that the visual coordinate system uses a trunk-fixed a/p axis to define the subjective straight-ahead direction and right/left position of a target. Implications of these findings for sensorimotor transformations in control of upper limb movements to visual targets are discussed.
An updated view of the national anesthesia personnel shortfall.

UNLABELLED Reports of anesthesia personnel shortages in 2001 led to the first comprehensive analysis of labor supply and demand for anesthesiologists since 1993. We now update this analysis and forecast, incorporating newly available data about residency composition, American Board of Anesthesiology and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist certification, the 2002 residency match, surgical facilities, and the US physician workforce. In addition, US residency programs were surveyed; national health care utilization and economic data were reviewed. Adjusted for the new information, our model still shows an anesthesiologist shortfall in 2002, projected to continue through 2005. We now estimate a current shortage of 1100-3800 anesthesiologists in 2002, on the basis of past service demand growth assumptions of 2%-3%, respectively. By 2005 this number is expected to be 500-3900, depending on a future service demand growth of 1.5%-2%, respectively. To avoid a surplus of anesthesiologists in 2006-2010, our model suggests that the number of graduates should level out at 1600 yearly, with a 1.5% service demand growth. To forecast the anesthesia personnel market more accurately, thereby helping supply match demand, substantially better quantification of future demand for anesthesia services is needed. If sustained growth in service demand >1.5% is likely, entry into the specialty should be encouraged beyond the current level. IMPLICATIONS With updates from training programs, surgical activity, and other sources, our previously described model estimates a continuing shortfall of 1000-3800 anesthesiologists in 2002 and 500-3900 in 2005, assuming that service demand growth is 1.5% or 2% annually. If service growth >1.5% is likely, entry into the specialty should be encouraged beyond current levels.
Medulloblastomas in childhood: histological factors influencing patients' outcome.

Sixty-five medulloblastomas in infancy and childhood treated from 1965 through 1981 were reviewed, and the correlation between histological findings of medulloblastomas and clinical course of the patients was studied. Thirty-five patients died but the remaining 30 are alive and without clinical evidence of recurrence 5 years or more after surgery. Certain histological features on light microscopic examinations (e.g., pleomorphism of tumor cells, nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio, mitotic index, degree of vascularity and endothelial proliferation) do influence patient outcome with statistical significance (P<0.05). Thirty out of 65 medulloblastomas were examined further, using immunohistochemical methods with glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), neuron specific enolase (NSE), and factor VIII/vW factor (F VIII/vWF). GFAP stain was negative in 20%, NSE stain in 13.3% and F VIII/vWF stain in 16.7% of the medulloblastomas studied. “Desmoplastic” medulloblastomas showed a strong tendency toward positive NSE and GFAP staining in the glomerular portion. There was no correlation between patient outcome and the results of applied immunohistochemical studies. Our data indicate that certain histological features may influence patient outcome, but the degree and pattern of cellular differentiation do not predict outcome.
Applying thermoelasticity to impact-damaged structural components

An experimental method is presented for quantifying impact damage in composite materials using specimens of glass fiber reinforced polyurethane and epoxy. Thermoelastic stress analysis (TSA) was used to quantify the stress concentration associated with impact-damage. Following impact and TSA imaging, the samples were fatigued to failure over a range of stress amplitudes. The stress concentration factors acquired from TSA were used to determine a modified stress for each sample that collapsed the impact, then fatigue data onto a master curve on stress-life axes. This approach provides a quantitative measure of impact damage and a rational estimate of the expected residual fatigue lifetime of impact damaged composites.
Hyperglycemia increases mitochondrial superoxide in retina and retinal cells.

Oxidative stress is believed to play a significant role in the development of diabetic retinopathy. In this study, we have investigated the effects of elevated glucose concentration on the production of superoxide anion by retina and retinal cells, the cellular source of the superoxide, the effect of therapies that are known to inhibit diabetic retinopathy on the superoxide production, and the role of the superoxide in cell death in elevated glucose concentration. Superoxide release was measured from retinas collected from streptozotocin-diabetic rats (2 months) treated with or without aminoguanidine, aspirin, or vitamin E, and from transformed retinal Muller cells (rMC-1) and bovine retinal endothelial cells (BREC) incubated in normal (5 mM) and high (25 mM) glucose. Diabetes (retina) or incubation in elevated glucose concentration (rMC-1 and BREC cells) significantly increased superoxide production, primarily from mitochondria, because an inhibitor of mitochondrial electron transport chain complex II normalized superoxide production. Inhibition of reduced nicotinamine adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase or nitric oxide synthase had little or no effect on the glucose-induced increase in superoxide. Treatment of diabetic animals with aminoguanidine, aspirin, or vitamin E for 2 months significantly inhibited the diabetes-induced increase in production of superoxide in the retinas. Despite the increased production of superoxide, no increase in protein carbonyls was detected in retinal proteins from animals diabetic for 2-6 months or rMC-1 cells incubated in 25 mM glucose for 5 d unless the activities of calpain or the proteosome were inhibited. Addition of copper/zinc-containing superoxide dismutase to the media of rMC-1 and BREC cells inhibited the apoptotic death caused by elevated glucose. Diabetes-like glucose concentration increases superoxide production in retinal cells, and the superoxide contributes to impaired viability and increased cell death under those circumstances. Three therapies that inhibit the development of diabetic retinopathy all inhibit superoxide production, raising a possibility that these therapies inhibit retinopathy in part by inhibiting a hyperglycemia-induced increase in superoxide production.
Development and Validation of a Porous Medium Computational Fluid Dynamics Model for a Jet

The fast boron shutdown injection in a PHWR consists of a jet flowing through a very large moderator tank that contains an array of cylindrical coolant channels. The accurate prediction of the turbulent jet mixing is required to determine an accurate distribution of boron inside the moderator tank to model the insertion of negative reactivity into the reactor during fast shutdown. A CFD code is used to determine the distribution of boron in the moderator tank. The flow is analyzed with a porous medium model based on volume averaged momentum, turbulent kinetic energy, and turbulence dissipation equations. The additional source terms arise due to the averaging must be constituted. The constitutive relations that are implemented in the present model are: (i) the drag force on an array of cylinders for the momentum equations and (ii) the additional mixing effect of the cylinders which results in the sources of turbulent kinetic energy and turbulence dissipation transport model. The CFD analysis is performed on a porous, axis symmetric domain. The CFD results are finally compared with data for the boron concentration distribution obtained in a scaled geometrically similar experiment, demonstrating the validity of the approach.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Born Model Calculations of the Properties of the Alkali Azides I. Cohesive Energies, Lattice Parameters, and Specific Volumes

Calculations have been performed in which potentials developed for Born model calculations of the defect properties of KN3 have been used to evaluate the cohesive energies of the alkali azides, KN3, NaN3, RbN3, and CsN3. The stability of the lattices under small deformations about the experimental values of the lattice parameters has also been studied. Three forms for the azide repulsive potential are employed all of which give reasonable agreement with experiment for the body centered tetragonal structures but only one of which provides agreement across the series of alkali azides. Comparisons are made to previous calculations. Berechnungen wurden durchgefuhrt, bei denen die Potentiale, die aus Rechnungen des Bornschen Modells fur die Defekteigenschaften von KN3 entwickelt wurden, benutzt werden, um die Kohasionsenergien der Alkalinitride KN3, NaN3, RbN3 und CsN3 zu bestimmen. Die Stabilitat der Gitter bei kleinen Deformationen um die experimentellen Werte der Gitterparameter wird ebenfalls untersucht. Drei Arten des Abstosungspotentials der Nitride werden verwendet, die alle vernunftige Ubereinstimmung mit dem Experiment fur die raumzentrierte tetragonale Struktur ergeben, jedoch nur eine liefert Ubereinstimmung fur die Serie der Alkalinitride. Vergleiche mit fruheren Berechnungen werden durchgefuhrt.
Body condition and endocrine profiles of Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) pups during the early postnatal period

Body condition indices have been useful in assessing the health of domestic and free ranging populations of terrestrial mammals. Given the high energy demand and rapid growth during the postnatal period of Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) (SSL) pups, body condition was expected to be related to concentrations of a suite of hormones (cortisol, aldosterone, thyroxine, triiodothyronine, leptin) previously associated with changes in body mass and composition in developing pinnipeds. Blood samples were collected from free ranging SSL pups of known ages and sex. A body condition index (BCI) previously developed for SSL pups based on a mass and length relationship was applied to 61 SSL pups ranging in age from 5 to 38days old. BCI was not related to pup age. Overall, male pups were larger than females and older pups were larger than younger pups. Aldosterone was negatively correlated with BCI only in female pups, whereas no relationship was observed between aldosterone and BCI in males. Further, male pups had higher aldosterone concentrations than females. Concentrations of cortisol, total and free thyroxine (T4), and total triiodothyronine (T3) decreased when regressed against the elapsed time between researchers' arrival on the rookery and removal of pup from the holding corral for blood collection. While the overall variation attributed to the rookery disturbance was low (r(2)<0.293), it may be of significance for future studies on free ranging pinnipeds. This study adds to the current knowledge of the postnatal changes in free ranging SSL pups by providing ranges of the BCI and several hormone concentrations from an apparently stable population.
An Investigation of Various Information Sources for Classifying Biological names

The classification task is an integral part of named entity extraction. This task has not received much attention in the biomedical setting, partly due to the fact that protein name recognition has been the focus of the majority of the work in this field. We study this problem and focus on different sources of information that can be utilized for the classification task and investigate the extent of their contributions for classification in this domain. However, while developing a specific algorithm for the classification of the names is not our main focus, we make use of some simple techniques to investigate different sources of information and verify our intuitions about their usefulness.
Importance of annealing times in the PCR amplification of GC-rich genes

This combined theoretical and experimental study conclusively demonstrates that annealing times play a crucial role in the PCR amplification of GC-rich templates. To assist with the DNA amplification of GC-rich targets, a theory has been developed that evaluates the fraction of annealed primer/polymerase complex at the correct binding site as a function of annealing temperature and annealing period. Optimum annealing times lie in the range of 3 to 6 s, and annealing times greater than 10 s yield smeared PCR amplified products. The theory has been applied to the PCR amplification of the following human cDNA templates: ARX gene (78.2%, 660 bp), LMX1B (66.6%, 1039 bp), FOXL2 (72.2%, 1100 bp), and POU3F3 (73.92%, 1503 bp). The model has been applied to the ARX gene and the results are in excellent agreement with the experimental findings (Figs. 1 and 2). The most important conclusions that can be drawn from the study are: (a) the theoretical model predicts that, in the absence of competitive binding, the efficiency of annealing is a monotone function of annealing time. Thus the theory suggests that prolonged annealing improves yield—a strategy that is followed by conventional PCR protocols, (b) there are alternative sites on the template where primers may bind, then the annealing time has a local optimum. The annealing time must be sufficiently long to form the ternary complexes at the correct template site, but too long annealing time creates the opportunity for ternary complexes to form at incorrect binding sites. Thus, PCR protocols must adopt shortened annealing times to optimize the efficiency of annealing and (c) the optimum position of the efficiency can be adjusted on the temperature-time plane within limits by changes in the primer and polymerase concentrations. But for typical primer concentrations (e.g. 10 picomole per 25 μl) and polymerase concentrations (0.5–1 EU per 25 μl), the optimum annealing time is in the order of 3 to 6 s.