cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Accuracy of serum β-human chorionic gonadotropin cutoff values at 42 and 49 days' gestation

Abstract Objective: The accuracy of serum β-human chorionic gonadotropin levels as cutoff values for estimating gestational age was studied. Material And Methods: A database was created using information from previously performed research studies, which allowed entry of women both less than and greater than 49 days' gestation, involving medical abortion. Serum β-human chorionic gonadotropin determinations and vaginal ultrasonography were performed in all studies before treatment. A total of 574 women had data available for analysis. A receiver operating characteristic curve was created to evaluate the predictive value of potential β-human chorionic gonadotropin cutoff values for 42 and 49 days' gestation. Results: Appropriate serum β-human chorionic gonadotropin cutoff values for 42 and 49 days' gestation were 23,745 mIU/mL (sensitivity, 96%; specificity, 91%; positive predictive value, 68%; negative predictive value, 99%) and 71,160 mIU/mL (sensitivity, 95%; specificity, 62%; positive predictive value, 76%; negative predictive value, 91%), respectively. Under 42 days' gestation, the serum β-human chorionic gonadotropin– time relationship appears to be linear, with a greater diversity of individual values after 42 days. Conclusion: Serum β-human chorionic gonadotropin values can be used with reasonable accuracy to screen for a gestational age up to 49 days' gestation. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2001;185: 966-9.)
Measuring macroeconomic and financial market interdependence: a critical survey

Purpose – Study of the interdependence among economies is of considerable importance. This area includes issues such as the increasing importance of regional economic interactions, the effects of economic growth and recession in the advanced economies on emerging market countries, and financial contagion. A wide range of related terms and methodologies are used in the literature of interdependence. The purpose of this paper is to review the major concepts and various measurements of interdependence in financial markets and the real economy, serving as a reference and benchmark for future research on interdependence among specific regional or global economies.Design/methodology/approach – Major measurements of interdependence are reviewed from simple approach to more complicated ones, and strengths and weaknesses of the various measurements of interdependence are discussed.Findings – This paper surveys the various major measurements of interdependence and illustrates how they have been used to address a su...
The Impact of Status Seeking on Consumers’ Word of Mouth and Product Preference—A Comparison Between Luxury Hospitality Services and Luxury Goods:

Despite the rapid growth of the luxury hospitality market, academic research has largely neglected the differences between luxury hospitality services and luxury goods, as well as the role of status seeking on luxury consumption. Relying on the status consumption and experience recommendation theories, the authors examine the combined effects of consumer characteristics (need for status) and product type (hospitality services vs. goods) on consumers’ word-of-mouth intentions. The results suggest that parvenus, who are high in need for status, are more likely to talk about their luxury goods purchases than patricians, who are low in need for status. More interestingly, both parvenus and patricians indicate equally strong intentions to spread positive word of mouth on luxury hospitality purchases. This study also extends the experience recommendation theory and reveals that parvenus are less likely to choose luxury hospitality services than patricians to advance their happiness.
Improved detectability of hypoechoic regions with short-lag spatial coherence imaging: experimental validation

The ability of an ultrasound system to differentiate signals in the presence of clutter is of key clinical importance. There are several sources of clutter but assessing their relative importance and developing methods of reducing them remain areas of active research. We have developed a novel method called short-lag-spatial-coherence (SLSC) imaging that allows formation of high quality ultrasound images in the presence of clutter. The method is based on the van-Cittert- Zernike theorem. Specifically, the images are formed by utilizing the spatial coherence of the pressure field at the surface of the transducer. We compare matched SLSC and B-mode images beamformed from simulated data and data acquired on human liver in vivo. SLSC images have higher contrast and CNR then their B-mode counterparts for all acoustic-noise conditions (low, medium, and high noise). Nevertheless, SLSC brings highest improvement of target detectability in the medium noise environment. When the received signal is saturated with noise, both Bmode and SLSC produce low-quality images.
In Vitro Transdermal Delivery of a Melanotropic Peptide Through Human Skin

Abstract A superpotent analogue of α-MSH, (Nle 4 , D-Phe 7 )-α-MSH, when applied topically to mice induces darkening of follicular melanocytes throughout the skin. In vitro studies have demonstrated delivery of the peptide across mouse but not rat skin. This variation in permeability of skin of animal models prompted us to use human skin in vitro . The melanotropin was applied to the surface of human skin samples through a permeation apparatus and allowed to penetrate for 24 h at 36°C. Passage of the analogue was shown by both bioassay and radioimmunoassay. These assays correlated well and demonstrated both the presence and the biologic integrity of the peptide after transdermal passage. Regional differences were noted in the degree of transdermal penetration. In addition, split thickness skin allowed greater penetration suggesting dermal binding of the hormone. This study is the first to show that a melanotropic peptide can be delivered transdermally through human skin in vitro . This has potential importance in the development of therapies for hypopigmentary disorders and for the stimulation of skin tanning without ultraviolet light.
The relationship between Quest religious orientation, forgiveness, and mental health

Little is known about how religious orientation, specifically Quest, relates to forgiveness. In addition, research on the relationship between Quest and psychological distress has yielded conflicting findings, possibly because previous studies have conceptualised Quest as a unidimensional construct. This study investigated how Quest and its recently recognised dimensions related to forgiveness and psychological distress. Participants (N = 242) were undergraduates from a Midwestern Catholic university. They completed measures of Quest, forgiveness, and psychological distress. Results suggested that certain dimensions of Quest were better predictors of forgiveness (e.g., Tentativeness, Exploration, and Moralistic Interpretation) and distress (e.g., Change, Religious Angst, and Existential Motives). Importantly, results revealed that the same dimensions that were positively related to distress were negatively related to forgiveness. Further, the relationship between Quest and forgiveness was moderated by the...
Analysis of Power Supply Noise in the Presence of Process Variations

Characterizing the impact of variability on circuit performance measurements (delay, power, and signal integrity) is necessary to avoid chip failure. The authors present a comprehensive methodology for analyzing the impact of device and metal variations on the power supply noise, and hence the signal integrity, of on-chip power grids.
What Fascinates Me

These questions and their implied answers are already taking the form of a fiction-or even a science fiction, if you choose the 1840s as your anchor in time. I soon decided to let it rest, to be satisfied, in other words, with the lack of satisfactory answers. Or perhaps another marginal, local and trite detail is now absorbing me, also involving a writer and a mathematician: I wonder if Georges Perec was familiar with John Conway and his "Game of Life." A fascinating question, I assure you. University of California, Santa Barbara
Tissue-specific control of CFTR endocytosis by Dab2: Cargo recruitment as a therapeutic target.

Clathrin-mediated endocytosis dynamically regulates cell membrane abundance of CFTR and plays an essential role in CFTR-dependent Cl- conductance in fluid-transporting epithelia. It requires two closely related, but distinct processes: assembly of the clathrin coat and recruitment of cargo proteins for endocytosis. The assembly polypeptide-2 complex (AP-2) is the prototypical endocytic adaptor responsible for optimal clathrin coat formation. Disabled-2 (Dab2) is a clathrin associated sorting protein (CLASP) that also mediates clathrin assembly and cargo selection. Both of these complexes have clearly been shown to play roles in CFTR endocytosis in cells that endogenously express the channel. However, their precise functions exhibit cell-specific differences. While Dab2 appears to play a central role in CFTR recruitment to the clathrin coat in airway epithelial cells, it does not play a direct role in CFTR endocytosis in intestinal epithelial cells. Here, we review our current understanding of the role of ...
Subsolutions of an Isaacs Equation and Efficient Schemes for Importance Sampling

It was established in Dupuis and Wang [Dupuis, P., H. Wang. 2004. Importance sampling, large deviations, and differential games. Stoch. Stoch. Rep.76 481--508, Dupuis, P., H. Wang. 2005. Dynamic importance sampling for uniformly recurrent Markov chains. Ann. Appl. Probab.15 1--38] that importance sampling algorithms for estimating rare-event probabilities are intimately connected with two-person zero-sum differential games and the associated Isaacs equation. This game interpretation shows that dynamic or state-dependent schemes are needed in order to attain asymptotic optimality in a general setting. The purpose of the present paper is to show that classical subsolutions of the Isaacs equation can be used as a basic and flexible tool for the construction and analysis of efficient dynamic importance sampling schemes. There are two main contributions. The first is a basic theoretical result characterizing the asymptotic performance of importance sampling estimators based on subsolutions. The second is an explicit method for constructing classical subsolutions as a mollification of piecewise affine functions. Numerical examples are included for illustration and to demonstrate that simple, nearly asymptotically optimal importance sampling schemes can be obtained for a variety of problems via the subsolution approach.
Math6 expression during kidney development and altered expression in a mouse model of glomerulosclerosis

Math6 is a tissue-restricted member of the Atonal family of basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors and has been implicated in specification and differentiation of cell lineages in the brain. We identify here Math6 as a podocyte-expressed bHLH protein that was down-regulated in human immunodeficiency virus-associated nephropathy (HIVAN); a collapsing glomerulopathy characterized by podocyte dedifferentiation. Early in metanephric development, Math6 was expressed in metanephric mesenchyme but not ureteric bud-derived cells, with overall Math6 expression most abundant in the nephrogenic zone, including developing glomeruli. In adult kidney, Math6 expression was restricted to podocytes. In adult podocyte cell lines and kidneys from the transgenic mouse model of HIVAN, Math6 podocyte expression was reduced concurrent with previously reported reductions in Nephrin and Synaptopodin expression, suggesting a correlation between the loss of Math6 expression and typical podocyte terminal differentiation markers. These studies suggest that Math6 may participate in kidney development and may be a permissive factor for podocyte differentiation.
Eradicating Nasal Carriage of Staphylococcus aureus As a Strategy for Preventing Health Care-associated Infections in Nonsurgical Patients.

Introduction: Staphylococcus aureus may be the single most important cause of health care–associated infection. Several studies have demonstrated that patients who harbor S. aureus in their anterior nares are at increased risk for infection caused by this pathogen, and that those infections are often caused by the same strain that was carried by the patient before the onset of the infection [1]. These findings have led investigators to examine the effectiveness of eradicating nasal S. aureus carriage as a prophylactic measure against nosocomial infection in various patient populations. Although the results of such studies have been mixed, several have demonstrated reduction in S. aureus infection rates among selected patient populations by eradicating nasal carriage with intranasal application of mupirocin, particularly among surgical patients, patients who require hemodialysis, and patients with recurrent skin infections [2]. In this study, Wertheim et al. tested this strategy in a nonsurgical patient population.
Sea-level rise and coastal marsh sustainability: geological and ecological factors in the Mississippi delta plain

Chronostratigraphic approaches to coastal geomorphology frequently include consideration of salt marsh deposits as indicators of past sea-level positions. Continuous horizons of such deposits can be used to infer that salt marshes were keeping pace with local rates of relative sea-level rise (RSLR). Rates of past accumulation, estimated using dating techniques, are then used to hindcast the rate of sea-level rise in that area. Estimates of contemporary sea-level rise rates are often derived from tide gauge records. This approach allows identification of subdecadal variations in mean water level. Accumulation rates of both organic and inorganic sediments can also be derived at these time scales and studies from many coastal marshes demonstrate the episodic nature of inorganic sediment deposition. The frequency and spacing of these events does not necessarily coincide with periods of increased local sea level. In addition, short-term increases in sea level could result in marsh deterioration as soils become excessively waterlogged. A conceptual model of changes in geomorphic and ecological processes contributing to marsh sustainability during the Holocene has been developed for the Mississippi delta plain (MDP). The survival of some marshes in this area, despite high rates of subsidence, indicates that the combined effect of organic and inorganic accumulation processes can be adequate to sustain coastal marshes in the face of sea-level rise.
The role of soy phytoestrogens in prostate cancer

Epidemiological data of phytoestrogens and prostate cancer strongly supports the cancer protective effects of isoflavones found in soy products. Inhibition of cell proliferation via hormone-dependent and hormone-independent mechanisms by soy phytochemicals has been studied extensively in cell culture and animal studies. Herein, we review the current literature on the epidemiology and effects of two soy phytoestrogens, genistein and daidzein, and would stress the need for controlled human trials to assess the true preventive and therapeutic effects of these compounds.
Communication signals used in worker–drone interactions in the honeybee, Apis mellifera

Although the use of communication signals during worker–queen interactions in honeybees have been studied in detail, signals involved in worker–drone interactions have received less attention. We determined whether workers perform piping and the vibration signal on drones, and whether drones respond in ways that potentially enhance their mating success. Workers did not produce piping on drones, but they did perform vibration signals. Approximately 50% of the drones examined received vibration signals, and drones were more likely to be vibrated when they were sexually immature than when they were mature. Drones responded to the vibration signal by increasing movement and by interacting more with workers, which contributed to an increase in the proportions of time that they received trophallaxis and grooming. Because trophallaxis supplies nutrients necessary for sexual maturation, and because grooming may also contribute to drone health, workers could potentially use the vibration signal to promote development and mating performance in drones. We found no evidence that the vibration signal was associated with drone flight. The majority of signals were performed on drones in the morning several hours before flight activity, there was no relationship between the level of vibration activity experienced by drones in the morning and flight activity later that same day, and drones were rarely vibrated when returning to the nest between consecutive mating flights. In many social insect species, reproductive males are fed through trophallaxis and workers perform vibrational signals to influence activity of nestmates. Tactile, vibratory signals may therefore provide mechanisms for investigating the role of worker–drone interactions in colony reproductive decisions for a wide array of species.
The Diurnal Variation of Mixing Height by Season over White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico

Abstract An important tool in the evaluation of the dispersion potential of the atmosphere is the mixing height. Quartiles representing the variation of mixing height between 0500 and 2100 MST over White Sands Missile Range are displayed graphically and listed tabularly for the months of December, March, June and September. The results are based on radiosonde observations irregularly spaced throughout the daylight hours during the period 1961–72.
Changes in Calcium Kinetics in Adolescent Girls Induced by High Calcium Intake

To identify the mechanism/s whereby calcium retention is increased by calcium intake in adolescent girls, kinetic studies were performed using stable calcium isotope tracers. Girls (n = 10; 12 ± 1 yr old, mean ± sd) were studied while on a controlled diet containing a low (21.2 mmol/day) and a high (47.4 mmol/day) calcium intake, in randomized order, using a cross-over design. Studies were separated by 1 month. Calcium tracers were administered after 1 week on the study diet, orally and iv; and serum, urine, and feces were collected for the following 14 days. Tracers were measured using fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, and kinetic data were analyzed by compartmental modeling. Biochemical markers of bone turnover were measured in serum and urine samples. On high (compared with low) calcium intake, fractional absorption did not differ, absorbed calcium increased (19.6 ± 7.5 vs. 8.0 ± 2.5 mmol/day, mean ± sd, P < 0.001), calcium excreted in urine increased (2.8 ± 1.7 vs. 2.1 ± 1.1 mmol/day, P < 0.01)...
A multispecies approach to subsetting logbook data for purposes of estimating CPUE

Abstract An initial step in catch and effort analysis is determination of what subset of the data is relevant to the analysis. We propose an objective approach to subsetting trip records of catch and effort data when fishing locations are unknown; the species composition taken on a fishing trip is used to infer if that trip's fishing effort occurred in a habitat where the species of interest (the target species) is likely to occur. We use a logistic regression of multispecies presence–absence information to predict the probability that the target species would be present. A critical value of probability that best predicts target species presence and absence in the data set forms an objective basis for subsetting the trip records. We test this approach by applying it to a data set where individual fishing locations are known, and we show that the method is an effective substitute for information on individual fishing locations.
Is There A Difference in Bone Ingrowth in Modular Versus Monoblock Porous Tantalum Tibial Trays

Contemporary total knee designs incorporating highly porous metallic surfaces have demonstrated promising clinical outcomes. However, stiffness differences between modular and monoblock porous tantalum tibial trays may affect bone ingrowth. This study investigated effect of implant design, spatial location and clinical factors on bone ingrowth. Three modular and twenty-one monoblock retrieved porous tantalum tibial trays were evaluated for bone ingrowth. Nonparametric statistical tests were used to investigate differences in bone ingrowth by implant design, tray spatial location, substrate depth and clinical factors. Modular trays (5.3 ± 3.2%) exhibited higher bone ingrowth than monoblock trays (1.6 ± 1.9%, P = 0.032). Bone ingrowth in both designs was highest in the initial 500 μm from the surface. Implantation time was positively correlated with bone ingrowth for monoblock trays.
Alcohol levels are increased in social drinkers receiving ranitidine

Abstract OBJECTIVE: Ranitidine increases blood alcohol concentrations by decreasing the first pass metabolism of ethanol. The effect of ranitidine on alcohol levels has been found to be variable when using large doses of alcohol or conditions in which its first pass metabolism is known to be minimal. Despite a consensus that the drug increases alcohol levels after small doses of ethanol, this effect has been considered inconsequential, because of the low alcohol levels. However, social drinking comprises repetitive consumption of small doses of alcohol and the ranitidine effect could thereby be potentiated. METHODS: To study this factor, alcohol levels were determined by breath analysis in nine men (social drinkers), after four drinks of 0.15 g/kg ethanol given postprandially every 45 min, before and after ranitidine (150 mg b.i.d. for 7 days). RESULTS: Their blood alcohol increased with repeated doses, reaching peak values of 24 ± 3 mg/dl before ranitidine and 33 ± 2 after ranitidine (p = 0.04). In seven of the nine subjects blood alcohol exceeded 25 mg/dl, a level at which impairment of judgment and of finely tuned skills occurs and which exceeds legal limits of driving in some European countries. Moreover, the high levels persisted for a longer time with than without the drug. These effects were associated with a 62% decrease in first pass metabolism. CONCLUSION: Under conditions mimicking social drinking, ranitidine increases blood alcohol to levels known to impair psychomotor skills needed for driving.
Muscular Thin Films for Building Actuators and Powering Devices

We demonstrate the assembly of biohybrid materials from engineered tissues and synthetic polymer thin films. The constructs were built by culturing neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocytes on polydimethylsiloxane thin films micropatterned with extracellular matrix proteins to promote spatially ordered, two-dimensional myogenesis. The constructs, termed muscular thin films, adopted functional, three-dimensional conformations when released from a thermally sensitive polymer substrate and were designed to perform biomimetic tasks by varying tissue architecture, thin-film shape, and electrical-pacing protocol. These centimeter-scale constructs perform functions as diverse as gripping, pumping, walking, and swimming with fine spatial and temporal control and generating specific forces as high as 4 millinewtons per square millimeter.
Confirmation of nasogastric tube placement by colorimetric indicator detection of carbon dioxide: a preliminary report.

Background: Inadvertent insertion of nasogastric tubes into the trachea and distal airways is reported to range from 0.3% to 15% of insertions. Critically ill, mechanically ventilated patients are at a higher risk for such complications, some of which can be fatal.Objective: This preliminary prospective clinical investigation was designed to determine whether a colorimetric carbon dioxide (CO2) indicator device (Easy-Cap™, Nellcor, Inc., Hayward, CA) attached to the proximal end of a small bore feeding tube (FT) would reliably discriminate between those tubes passed into the airways and those passed into the alimentary tract.Methods: Ten critically ill, mechanically ventilated trauma patients requiring a FT insertion were evaluated. An Easy-Cap™ device was adapted to the proximal port of each FT. Each patient had one tube inserted per the nasogastric route and then another through the endotracheal tube while the Easy-Cap™ was observed for color changes consistent with the presence of CO2.Results: All tran...
Chemical compositions of four high-latitude A-F supergiants

The atmospheric parameters and chemical composition of HR 6144, HD 161796, 89 Her, and HR 7671, four representative members of the class of A- and F-type supergiants lying at high Galactic latitudes, are determined. The abundance results for HR 6144, HD 161796, and 89 Her are strongly atypical of Population I supergiants in that they are slightly metal-poor and have an overabundance of both C and N. Their locations in the H-R diagram and the difficulty of assigning them to Population I suggest that high-latitude supergiants are low-mass stars in a post-AGB evolutionary stage. However, they do not reveal the heavy s-process element enhancements seen in highly evolved B stars. HR 7671 differs from the other three stars in that it is very metal-poor, slightly deficient in C and O, has s-process abundances enhanced by a factor of four above solar, and has a surprising amount of Li. It may be a post-AGB star descended from a Li-rich S-type star. 81 refs.
Determination of diffusion coefficients by supercritical fluid chromatography: Effects of mobile phase mean velocity and column orientation.

Abstract The supercritical fluid (SCF) chromatographic technique based on the Taylor dispersion theory has been widely applied in determination of diffusion coefficients of various organic compounds in SCFs. This study was aimed to understand impacts of mobile phase mean velocity (MPMV) and column orientation on diffusion coefficient measurements. The benzene/SCCO2 system was investigated. Experiments were carried out at 40 and 60 °C and 9–15 MPa over a wide range of CO2 densities at varying MPMV and repeated in two column orientations, vertical and horizontal. It was found that both MPMV and column orientation significantly affected measurements of diffusion coefficients in SCFs. When the column was installed vertically, apparent diffusion coefficients obtained at relatively low CO2 density (
The distribution of carrier-free silver-110M between mercury and aqueous solutions of mercurous perchlorate☆

Abstract Measurements of the distribution of carrier-free silver-110 m between mercury and aqueous solutions of mercurous perchlorate indicate that the equilibrium constant expression for the reaction, 2 Hg + 2 Ag + (aq·) = Hg 2 2+ aq·) + 2 Ag (Hg) , is valid at silver (I) concentrations as low as ∼2 × 10−10f.
Effect of protein disulfide isomerase on the regeneration of bovine ribonuclease A with dithiothreitol.

Abstract The role of protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) in the regeneration of ribonuclease A with dithiothreitol (DTT) was investigated at three different temperatures. The rates of formation of the native protein were markedly increased in the presence of PDI, 9-fold at 15°C, 6-fold at 25°C and 62-fold at 37°C, respectively. In the presence of PDI, major changes were found in the distribution of intermediates in the three-disulfide region at 25 and 15°C and also in the one-disulfide region at 15°C, with the fast accumulation of the two native-like species des-[65-72] and des-[40-95]. The present results indicate that PDI does not alter the two major parallel pathways involving des-[65-72] and des-[40-95] in the regeneration of ribonuclease A with DTT.
Consistent tangent operators for rate-independent elastoplasticity☆

Abstract It is shown that for problems involving rate constitutive equations, such as rate-independent elastoplasticity, the notion of consistency between the tangent (stiffness) operator and the integration algorithm employed in the solution of the incremental problem, plays a crucial role in preserving the quadratic rate of asymptotic convergence of iterative solution schemes based upon Newton's method. Within the framework of closest-point-projection algorithms, a methodology is presented whereby tangent operators consistent with this class of algorithms may be systematically developed. To wit, associative J 2 flow rules with general nonlinear kinematic and isotropic hardening rules, as well as a class of non-associative flow rules are considered. The resulting iterative solution scheme preserves the asymptotic quadratic convergence characteristic of Newton's method, whereas use of the socalled elastoplastic tangent in conjunction with a radial return integration algorithm, a procedure often employed, results in Newton type of algorithms with suboptimal rate of convergence. Application is made to a set of numerical examples which include saturation hardening laws of exponential type.
Kondo physics and dissipation: A numerical renormalization-group approach to Bose-Fermi Kondo models

We extend the numerical renormalization-group method to treat Bose-Fermi Kondo models BFKMs describing a local moment coupled both to a conduction band and to a dissipative bosonic bath representing, e.g., lattice or spin collective excitations of the environment. We apply the method to the Ising-symmetry BFKM with a structureless band and a bath spectral function s . The method is valid for all bath exponents s and all temperatures T. For 0s 1, the range of interest in the context of heavy-fermion quantum criticality, an interacting critical point, characterized by hyperscaling of exponents and /T scaling, describes a continuous quantum phase transition between Kondo-screened and localized phases. For Ohmic dissipation s =1, where the model is relevant to certain dissipative mesoscopic qubit devices, the transition is found to be Kosterlitz-Thouless-like. In both regimes the impurity spectral function for the corresponding Anderson model shows clearly the collapse of the Kondo resonance at the transition. Connection is made to other recent results for the BFKM and the spin-boson model.
PROSTAGLANDIN-MEDIATED CONTROL OF NEONATAL CEREBRAL BLOOD FLOW

Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) represents a major problem of preterm neonates & is believed to be secondary to alterations in cerebral blood flow (CBF). The newborn beagle pup provides an excellent model for the study of this problem as well as for the study of neonatal CBF. We have studied the alterations in CBF in the newborn beagle pup exposed to hemorrhagic hypotension followed by volume re-expansion for IVH & the effects of the PG-system inhibitors, indomethacin (INDO), ethamsylate (ETHAM) & superoxide dismutase (SOD) in this model system. INDO, believed to inhibit the cyclo-oxygenase pathway, prevented IVH (8% incidence), blunted the BP changes found in saline pretreated pups (IVH rate 75%) & prevented the cortical & germinal matrix CBF changes found in that group as well. ETHAM thought to inhibit the PG-specific synthetic enzymes, lowered baseline CBF, but prevented IVH less well than INDO (30%). ETHAM only somewhat blunted CBF changes & did not prevent the BP changes found in this model. SOD, a free-radical scavenger, prevented IVH (10%) but had no effect on CBF or BP. INDO & ETHAM inhibited the synthesis of TXB2 & 6-keto PGF1α, the breakdown products of TXA2 & PGI2 respectively (baseline controls: TXB2 700 pg/ml, 6-keto PGF1α 650 pg/ml; after INDO 289, 250 respectively; after ETHAM 132, 247 respectively). SOD had no effect on the synthesis of either PG. We hypothesize that neonatal IVH may be secondary to both alterations in CBF & free radical mediated germinal matrix capillary changes.
Statewide Transportation Policy Planning: Pennsylvania's Collaborative Approach

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) determined that a collaborative approach would be most effective for compliance with Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA) requirements for the development and implementation of its Statewide Transportation Policy Plan. The process for developing and adopting the plan, along with its companion document, the Performance Report, included cooperative efforts among PennDOT and its transportation partners. Both documents were developed within the contexts of current and future planning initiatives and tailored to fit PennDOT's overall business strategy, mission statement, and vision for the 21st century. Plan development activities included data collection, cooperative and coordinated planning efforts with metropolitan planning organizations and local development districts, consideration of ISTEA's 23 planning factors, coordination with private and public transportation interests, and extensive outreach and consensus-building pr...
Resistance of mice to reinfection with the bile-duct cestode, Hymenolepis microstoma.

Abstract Mice, immunized with lethally irradiated 7-day-old Hymenolepis microstoma , were challenged with cysticercoids 8, 50, 100, and 150 days after inoculation. The challenge worms were removed after 10 days, counted, and measured. Worms in immunized mice were significantly fewer and shorter than controls. This inhibitory response arose between 8 and 50 days after immunization, and began to decline between 100 and 150 days, a pattern of response which has not previously been reported as due to lumen-inhabiting cestodes.
Land Use/Land Cover and Soil Type Covariation in a Heterogeneous Landscape for Soil Moisture Studies Using Point Data

This research investigates the spatial covariation of soil and land use/land cover (LULC) at the Little River watershed to assess landscape heterogeneity and the spatial extent to which point data ...
Glucocorticoid use in rheumatoid arthritis

More than 50 years after their discovery, glucocorticoids continue to be a mainstay of treatment for many patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Although the short- and moderate-term efficacy of glucocorticoids in RA is seldom debated, increasing evidence favors a disease-modifying role of glucocorticoids. Despite renewed enthusiasm based on this newer long-term data, glucocorticoid use is marred substantially by the potential for many serious adverse events. Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis is one of the most predictable and serious complications for many chronic and some acute users. The correct identification of patients at high risk for bone complications and the institution of appropriate preventive measures may partially attenuate this adverse outcome.
Epitaxial growth defects and interfacial structures of Cu deposited on TiO2

Epitaxial growth defects and the interfacial structure between vapor deposited Cu and TiO2(110) have been studied by combined high-resolution electron microscopy (HREM) and image simulations. The Cu film was found to grow epitaxially with an orientation given by Cu(111)//TiO2(110) and Cu〈110〉//TiO2 [001]. With this relationship, there exist two equivalent domain orientations which are rotated with respect to each other by 180°. Localized misfit dislocations have not been detected, but {111} stacking faults and microtwins were observed which may occur as a result of 3-D island coalescence. HREM observations and image simulations have been used to study the interface atomic structure. The dominant interfacial structure has a stoichiometric (110) TiO2 surface with bridging rows of O atoms and occasionally, an interfacial structure having a reduced (110) TiO2 surface terminated by both Ti and O atoms has been observed locally.
Nonisothermal Analysis of the Reaction Kinetics for Chlorine in Basic Hydrogen Peroxide

The effect of temperature on the reaction kinetics of chlorine with basic hydrogen peroxide (BHP) war investigated for the system of Cl 2 at atmospheric pressure absorbing into 4 M KOH in aqueous hydrogen peroxide for the temperature range of 0-20 o C. This reaction is important for the production of singlet delta oxygen [O 2 ( 1 Δ g )] used in the chemical oxygen-iodine laser (COIL)
Improved solar PV cell Matlab simulation model and comparison

This paper presents an improved mathematical and simulation model for Solar Photovoltaic (PV) cells and compares it to an existing model. The model is able to simulate both the I-V characteristics curves and the P-V characteristics curves. The model is used to study different parameters variations effects on the PV array including operating temperature and solar irradiation level The results of the PV characteristics curves are compared to the curves provided by BPSX150 PV module datasheet. Matlab®/Simulink® software is used to implement the models and obtain the simulation results.
Tradeoff analysis and optimization of power delivery networks with on-chip voltage regulation

Integrating a large number of on-chip voltage regulators holds the promise of solving many power delivery challenges through strong local load regulation and facilitates systemlevel power management. The quantitative understanding of such complex power delivery networks (PDNs) is hampered by the large network complexity and interactions between passive on-die/package-level circuits and a multitude of nonlinear active regulators. We develop a fast combined GPU-CPU analysis engine encompassing several simulation strategies, optimized for various subcomponents of the network. Using accurate quantitative analysis, we demonstrate the significant performance improvement brought by on-chip low-dropout regulators (LDOs) in terms of suppressing high-frequency local voltage droops and avoiding the mid-frequency resonance caused by off-chip inductive par-asitics. We perform comprehensive analysis on the tradeoffs among overhead of on-chip LDOs, maximum voltage droop and overall power efficiency. We conduct systematic design optimization by developing a simulation-based nonlinear optimization strategy that determines the optimal number of on-chip LDOs required and on-board input voltage, and the corresponding voltage droop and power efficiency for PDNs with multiple power domains.
Mass spectrometry identification of NASP binding partners in HeLa cells

Nuclear autoantigenic sperm protein (NASP) is a linker histone binding protein that is cell-cycle regulated. Synchronized HeLa cells are delayed in progression through the G1/S border when transiently transfected to overexpress full-length NASP, but not the histone-binding site (HBS) deletion mutant (NASP-DeltaHBS). The purpose of the current study was to identify possible NASP-associated proteins in HeLa cell nuclei that could elucidate NASP's influence on the cell cycle and chromatin remodeling. For this purpose, we employed a new approach: mass spectrometry identification of initially cross-linked proteins after their separation in a second dimension by reducing SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Of the twelve proteins identified, three appear to be relevant to NASP's function: heat shock protein 90 (HSP90), DNA-activated protein kinase, and ATP-dependent DNA helicase II (70-kDa subunit). Individual protein-protein interactions were tested by immunoprecipitation techniques. This new method can be used for expedited identification of binding partners of different proteins in enriched fractions and as a complementary or alternative strategy to the yeast two-hybrid system and immunoprecipitation methods.
Counting the Number of Hamilton Cycles in Random Digraphs

We show that there exists a a fully polynomial randomized approximation scheme for counting the number of Hamilton cycles in almost all directed graphs.
CPDLC integration with URET - a concept for improving airspace user services

New decision support tools are becoming operational to support the achievement of the Free Flight concept. Two such capabilities, the User Request Evaluation Tool (URET) and Controller Pilot Data Link Communication (CPDLC), have plans for deployment such that they will-be-colocated at most if not all en route facilities by 2005. Progress in getting each developed was made by taking an independent path to deployment. The only integration accomplished will be in the use of critical Host Computer System data and computing resources. Each system will bring benefits to the aviation community in the areas of controller efficiency in user service delivery, safety, and user cost savings. In particular, the user cost savings are important in providing justification for funding of additional enhancements and airline investment in future avionics. This paper postulates an integration, strategy and explores what additional benefits could be gathered when the two systems are integrated.
Giant thoracic schwannoma masquerading as transverse myelitis.

### Learning Point for Clinicians Clinicians must consider schwannomas in acute paraparesis in young people. Prompt diagnostic imaging is critical for early intervention. Surgical decompression can result in significant improvement and favorable outcomes, especially when performed early. A thorough neurologic examination will allow proper anatomic localization and guide further investigations. Schwannomas are neoplasms that arise from schwann cells of the posterior spinal root, cranial nerves or peripheral nerves. They account for up to 30% of all spinal tumors and have roughly the same incidence as meningiomas. They may involve multiple spinal compartments (intradural extramedullary 72%, extradural 13%, intradural and extradural 13% and intramedullary 1%).1 Classification of these tumors uses location and extent and entails five distinct classes.2 Class V has been described almost exclusively in the lumbosacral spine and as intrascaral lesions.2,3 However, rare reports have described giant thoracic schwannomas.4 We report the case of a patient with type V thoracic schwannoma mimicking acute …
Male Gender Role Conflict and Multiculturalism Implications for Counseling Psychology

The new multicultural guidelines reemphasized the importance of developing knowledge of, and skills in working with, individuals outside of the majority group. In this article, the author will detail recent advances in understanding how identified consequences of male gender role socialization, specifically male gender role conflict (GRC), intersect with other aspects of race, cultures, and sexual orientations. The literature surrounding male gender role conflict will be briefly summarized. Next, the multicultural competencies framework of beliefs and attitudes, knowledge, and skills, will be used to outline how GRC might apply to some men of color and offer suggestions for counseling practice. After synthesizing what this might offer counseling psychologists, the general implications for research and theory will be explored.
A 40 bps speech coding scheme

We describe a method and an implementation for producing a highly compressed representation of speech, in the order of 40 bps. This compression method uses a speech recognition engine to analyze the speech signal at the morphological level, i.e. the words. The words are then coded using a word-level text compression mechanism. After decompression, the speech message is recovered using text-to-speech synthesis. We report experimental results of our implementation. In particular, we observed that human listeners were able to recover from errors introduced by the speech recognition engine, and that the human perceptual errors were highly dependent on the content of the messages, especially regarding familiarity with the topic.
Molecular-Level Study of the Effect of Prior Axial Compression/Torsion on the Axial-Tensile Strength of PPTA Fibers

A comprehensive all-atom molecular-level computational investigation is carried out in order to identify and quantify: (i) the effect of prior longitudinal-compressive or axial-torsional loading on the longitudinal-tensile behavior of p-phenylene terephthalamide (PPTA) fibrils/fibers; and (ii) the role various microstructural/topological defects play in affecting this behavior. Experimental and computational results available in the relevant open literature were utilized to construct various defects within the molecular-level model and to assign the concentration to these defects consistent with the values generally encountered under “prototypical” PPTA-polymer synthesis and fiber fabrication conditions. When quantifying the effect of the prior longitudinal-compressive/axial-torsional loading on the longitudinal-tensile behavior of PPTA fibrils, the stochastic nature of the size/potency of these defects was taken into account. The results obtained revealed that: (a) due to the stochastic nature of the defect type, concentration/number density and size/potency, the PPTA fibril/fiber longitudinal-tensile strength is a statistical quantity possessing a characteristic probability density function; (b) application of the prior axial compression or axial torsion to the PPTA imperfect single-crystalline fibrils degrades their longitudinal-tensile strength and only slightly modifies the associated probability density function; and (c) introduction of the fibril/fiber interfaces into the computational analyses showed that prior axial torsion can induce major changes in the material microstructure, causing significant reductions in the PPTA-fiber longitudinal-tensile strength and appreciable changes in the associated probability density function.
Complex dielectric permittivity of organically modified bentonite suspensions (0.2–1.3 GHz)

To quantify the impact of organic carbon on the complex dielectric permittivity of organoclays, nine organically modified clays were synthesized with controlled organic carbon structure and density of loading. Resonance polarization responses were observed for six of the organoclays at resonant frequencies from 0.74 to 1.37 GHz; however, organoclays synthesized with the smallest organic cations did not exhibit resonant frequency. A structural model of water molecules near the surface of organoclay and in the diffuse layer was proposed, which consists of a surface-bound water layer, an organic cation-interactive zone, and bulk water. The Cole–Cole equation was used to fit the resonance response. Increasing the density of loading (30% to 100% of the cation exchange capacity of the base clay) on the clay surface led to a reduction in the resonance time of the clay, while increasing the size of the organic cation led to a longer dielectric resonance time for the clay, which indicates that altering the structu...
THE RESPIRATORY RESPONSE TO CARBON DIOXIDE

1. A technique for determining the respiratory response to carbon dioxide on the Peabody principle is described. 2. The relation between minute volume of total pulmonary ventilation and percentage of carbon dioxide in the inspired air can be expressed by a simple mathematical formula, viz. Y = K + abz, in which Y is the ventilation rate, X is the CO2 content of the inspired air, and K, a, and b are constants characteristic for the individual. 3. The respiratory response to carbon dioxide as expressed by the total pulmonary ventilation is slightly greater at high oxygen percentages (90 per cent ±) than at normal oxygen percentages in the inspired air. 4. Respiratory fatigue may consist of two elements—one nervous, manifesting itself in increased excitability of the center and a more marked response when the demand for pulmonary ventilation is small, the other muscular and involving an inability to respond when the demand for pulmonary ventilation is great.