cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Synthesis, Calpain Inhibitory Activity, and Cytotoxicity of P2-Substituted Proline and Thiaproline Peptidyl Aldehydes and Peptidyl α-Ketoamides

Calpain is a cytosolic cysteine endopeptidase that has been implicated in a number of disorders including cancer. We have synthesized and studied the mu-calpain inhibitory activity and cytotoxicity of peptidyl aldehydes and peptidyl alpha-ketoamides with N-substituted D-proline or L-thiaproline residues at the P2-postion. The most potent and most selective members of the series were (R)-1-(4-nitrophenylsulfonyl)-N-((R,S)-1-oxo-3-phenylpropan-2-yl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxamide (1j) and (R)-1-(4-iodophenylsulfonyl)-N-((R,S)-1-oxo-3-phenylpropan-2-yl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxamide (1n). The compounds inhibited mu-calpain with Ki values of 0.02 microM and 0.03 microM, respectively, and displayed over 180-fold (1j) and 130-fold (1n) greater affinity for mu-calpain compared to cathepsin B. The cytotoxic effect of the compounds was evaluated in two leukemia cell lines (Daudi and Jurkat) and three solid tumor cell lines (DU-145, PC-3, and HeLa). Generally the compounds were modestly cytotoxic and displayed no correlation between the cytotoxic activity and mu-calpain inhibition.
Communicating identity congruence in e-health information seeking: a preliminary investigation

The current study analyzed the perceptions of online health information seekers regarding identity-congruent information to learn whether identity matching is a factor in motivation and confidence in seeking and using this information if attainable. African Americans and European Americans were recruited to participate in an online survey. Results showed that the degree of identity congruence varied among groups, as did motivation to use sites representing these identities. Both groups established a strong preference for searching for, finding, and using health websites that represented their neighborhood or place-based identity. The significance of place-based identity has practical implications for the design of web-based health information and public health research that examines the impact of neighborhoods on individual health.
Pollination Ecology of Pedicularis in the Teton Mountain Region

A field study of the pollination ecology of Pedicularis bractaosa, P. contorta, P. groenlandica, P. procera and P. racemosa was conducted in the Grand Teton Mountain area of North America. A total of 875 pollinating bumblebees (Bombus Latr.), including pollinators of Mimulus lewisii, Aconitum columbianum and Epilobium angustifolium, was collected and identified, and 575 corbicular pollen loads from them were microscopically analyzed. Pollinating behavior of insects was photographically recorded. The queen-to-worker ratio of pollinators on Pedicularis species decreased as the season progressed. Overall pollen-foraging constancy on Pedicularis ranged from 59% to 85% with a mean value of 74% for queens and 66% for workers. Highest frequencies of the nine bumblebee species on Pedicularis were 48% nectar/pollen foraging B. flavifrons+B. mixtus queens on P. bracteosa, and 72% pollen-foraging B. occidentalis workers on P. procera. Unlike the nectariferous P. procera flowers in the Colorado Rocky Mountains pollinated by hummingbirds and bumblebees, those in the Teton Mountains were nectarless and pollinated only by bumblebees. The pollination adaptation of these Pedicularis species in their respective communities suggests a product of continuing natural selection.
The Clipper Project: Exploring Whether Early Engagement through Web-Based Instruction Can Help Ease High School Students' College Transition:

Colleges are under mounting pressure to increase retention rates by easing incoming students' academic and social transition to college. Finding time in first-year students' busy schedules to provide this additional support can be difficult, however. Thus, the Clipper Project set out to test whether offering online, college level courses to high school seniors might be one way postsecondary institutions could “reach out” to incoming students and help them begin their transition to college before matriculation. We found that early engagement with the University can help participants adjust more quickly, but the best time to engage incoming students may not be during the second semester of the high school senior year.
Correspondence Between DSM-III-R and DSM-IV Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Objective To evaluate the correspondence between DSM-III-R and DSM-IV definitions of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in clinically referred children. Results of the field trials led to the hypothesis that there would be a strong correspondence between DSM-III-R and DSM-IV subtypes. Method The sample consisted of all children and adolescents consecutively referred to a pediatric psychopharmacology clinic ( N = 405). Children were comprehensively evaluated with structured diagnostic interviews assessing both DSM-III-R and DSM-IV ADHD. DSM-III-R symptoms were used to approximate DSM-IV subtypes. Kappa statistics and conditional probabilities were used to examine the correspondence between DSM-III-R and DSM-IV ADHD. Results Ninety-three percent of children who received a DSM-III-R diagnosis of ADHD also received a DSM-IV ADHD diagnosis. The K coefficient assessing the agreement between DSM-III-R and DSM-IV ADHD was .73 ( z = 14.6, p DSM-III-R -approximated subtypes and the actual DSM-IV subtypes was .71 ( z = 15, p Conclusion These results confirm previous findings and indicate that the change from DSM-III-R to DSM-IV results in minimal changes in case identification and provides support for diagnostic continuity between the two classification systems.
Comparison of the serotonin‐sensitive and Ca(2+)‐activated K+ channels in Aplysia sensory neurons.

1. Single potassium channel currents were recorded in cell-attached and cell-free patches from Aplysia sensory neurons. Two prominent classes of K+ channels were identified that have similar single-channel current amplitude at 0 mV: (1) the resting conductance serotonin-sensitive K+ channels (S-channels) previously described in these neurons; and (2) a calcium-activated K+ channel. A series of experiments were carried out which enable these channels to be distinguished on the basis of their biophysical properties. These experiments also provide further insight into the gating and ionic selectivity of the S-channel. 2. In inside-out patches, single calcium-activated K+ channel currents (IK,Ca) show a linear i-V curve with a slope conductance of 66 pS (normal sea water outside, 360 mM-KCl inside) whereas single S-channels display an outwardly rectifying i-V curve with a slope conductance of 90 pS at 0 mV. 3. The gating of IK,Ca has a steep voltage dependence, with open probability showing an e-fold increase for a 16 mV depolarization. Increasing internal calcium concentration from 0.2 to 10 microM shifts the activation curve by 60 mV in the hyperpolarizing direction. 4. S-channel gating is independent of internal calcium (from less than 10 nM up to 100 microM). Steady-state open probability of the S-channel generally shows a weak dependence on membrane potential, with open probability increasing twofold for a 30-100 mV depolarization. Occasional patches were observed with S-channels displaying a much greater voltage sensitivity, with open probability increasing e-fold for a 16-20 mV depolarization. 5. S-channels are selective for K+ over Na+. The selectivity ratio depends on the ratio of Na+ to K+ concentration on the same side of the membrane. Increasing K+ concentration appears to increase relative Na+ permeability, suggesting ion-ion interactions within the channel. 6. We conclude that Aplysia sensory neurons contain two prominent distinguishable classes of K+ channels, the Ca(2+)-independent S-channel and a Ca(2+)-activated channel. The gating properties of the S-channels allow them to contribute outward repolarizing current over a wide range of membrane potentials so that their modulation by neurotransmitters contributes to changes in both resting potential and action potential duration.
Effects of amygdala lesions on sleep in rhesus monkeys

The amygdala is important in processing emotion and in the acquisition and expression of fear and anxiety. It also appears to be involved in the regulation of sleep and wakefulness. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of, fiber-sparing lesions of the amygdala on sleep in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). We recorded sleep from 18 age-matched male rhesus monkeys, 11 of which had previously received ibotenic acid lesions of the amygdala and seven of which were normal controls. Surface electrodes for sleep recording were attached and the subjects were seated in a restraint chair (to which they had been adapted) for the nocturnal sleep period. Despite adaptation, control animals had sleep patterns characterized by frequent arousals. Sleep was least disrupted in animals with large bilateral lesions of the amygdala. They had more sleep and a higher proportion of rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep than did either animals with smaller lesions or control animals. Based on these results, it seems likely that, in the primate, the amygdala plays a role in sleep regulation and may be important in mediating the effects of emotions/stress on sleep. These findings may also be relevant to understanding sleep disturbances associated with psychopathology.
Intrauterine Diagnosis and Treatment of Fetal Goitrous Hypothyroidism

Newborn screening programs for the detection of congenital hypothyroidism have dramatically shortened the time before treatment is begun. However, concern still exists about central nervous system sequelae which may persist due to a period of untreated intrauterine hypothyroidism. Presence of polyhydramnios led to the ultrasound diagnosis of a fetal goiter. Hypothyroidism was confirmed at 34 weeks gestation by percutaneous fetal blood sampling, which revealed an elevated TSH (186 mU/L) and a low T4 (19.3 nmol/L). Intraamniotic fluid injections of 500 micrograms levothyroxine sodium (T4) every 10-14 days increased fetal serum T4 (59.2 nmol/L), decreased fetal serum TSH (14 mU/L), decreased amniotic fluid TSH, and decreased the size of the fetal goiter. The infant was born at term without perinatal complications. Thyroid function studies on cord blood were normal (T4, 109.4 nmol/L; TSH, 1.3 mU/L), and the infant was discharged on oral T4. Follow-up examination at age 6 weeks revealed that the infant was developmentally normal and clinically and chemically euthyroid. Intrauterine T4 therapy can suppress fetal TSH and treat fetal hypothyroidism despite hypothyroid levels of serum T3. Highly sensitive TSH assays may allow the use of amniotic fluid TSH as a marker for fetal hypothyroidism.
Assessing the Potential for Diol and Hydroxy Sulfate Ester Formation from the Reaction of Epoxides in Tropospheric Aerosols

Polyols and sulfate esters have recently been identified in the secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formed in the photooxidation of biogenic hydrocarbons both in the laboratory and under ambient atmospheric conditions. In the present study, the potential role of the reactions of epoxides in SOA to form diols and hydroxy sulfate esters is explored. Nuclear magnetic resonance methods were used to monitor the bulk reaction kinetics of the epoxide hydrolysis reactions for a number of simple epoxides. The experiments were carried out at various acid concentrations in order to confirm the acid-catalysis rate order and to determine the second-order rate constants for such reactions in aerosols under the previously studied laboratory conditions and under ambient atmospheric conditions. The measured rate constants depended systematically on the carbon substitution nature of the epoxide ring, with the tertiary epoxides characterized by the largest rate constants. The hydroxy sulfate yield was observed to depend linearly on the total sulfate concentration, with yields as high as 30% observed at high sulfate concentrations. Due to the large values of the observed rate constants, these reactions are expected to be efficient even for mostly neutralized tropospheric SOA, let alone the much more acidic SOA particles previously studied in laboratory experiments. Therefore, the epoxide hydrolysis mechanism appears to be a kinetically feasible route to the formation of the diols and hydroxy sulfate esters observed in the SOA resulting from the photooxidation of biogenic hydrocarbons.
An extinction procedure for eliminating self-destructive behavior in a 9-year-old autistic girl.

A 24-week program of 2 daily 2-hour sessions of noncontingent social isolation was successful in eliminating multiple self-destructive behaviors in a 9-year-old autistic child. A previous program of response-contingent shock met with failure, resulting in (1) increased self-destructive responding, (2) complete suppression of self-feeding, and (3) the necessity for constant physical restraint. Generalization of the extinction program to the ward was inferred on the basis of the subject's subsequent cessation of restraint-wearing, a decrease in self-destructive behavior in the dayroom and subsequently in other settings following the removal of restraints, and a renewed interest in food. A brief program based upon elements of the noncontingent social isolation program was sufficient to reinstitute self-feeding. The subject was gradually removed from social isolation sessions with no reappearance of self-destruction. However, during week 72, self-destructive behavior again appeared, at which time a reinstatement of the original program dramatically reduced its rate.
TREATMENT OF Substance Misuse in Older Women: USING A BRIEF INTERVENTION MODEL

Alcohol and benzodiazepine misuse is a significant problem in older women for a number of reasons such as physiological changes, outdated prescribing practices, and failure to identify hazardous use. In addition, treatment barriers involving the health-care system, conflicting information, and ageism also exist. Substance misuse among older women is predicted to become a bigger problem as the baby boom generation ages. Brief interventions that consist of assessment, feedback, responsibility, advice, menu, empathy, and self-efficacy, or A-FRAMES, have the potential to reduce alcohol and benzodiazepine misuse among older women in a cost-effective manner.
Dendroecological testing of the pyroclimatic hypothesis in the central Great Basin, Nevada, USA

In the Great Basin region of western North America, records of past climate and wildfire variability are needed not only for fire use, but also for understanding the mechanisms behind the century-long expansion of pinon-juniper woodlands. The Mt. Irish area (Lincoln County, south-eastern Nevada) is a remote mountain ecosystem on the hydrographic boundary between the Great Basin and the Colorado River Basin. Non-scarred ponderosa pines (Pinus ponderosa C. Lawson var. scopulorum Engelm.) and single-needle pinyons (Pinus monophylla Torr. & Frem.) were used to develop a tree-ring reconstruction of drought (mean PDSI for May–July from NV Climate Division 3) from 1396 to 2003. A hypothetical fire regime was obtained from the PDSI reconstruction and from explicitly assumed relationships between climate and wildfire occurrence. A census of fire-scarred trees was then sampled at the study area, and crossdated fire-scar records were used to generate the fire history, independently of the pre-existing pyroclimatic m...
Doing What It Takes to Make It Work Flexibility, Relational Focus, and Stability Among Long-Term Couples With Children

This study began with an interest in how long-term marital couples are able to maintain stability in light of changing social and personal contexts. Using a qualitative grounded theory method as a part of an ongoing study of how couples manage the tension between ideals of partnership and stability over time, 21 couples were selected by theoretical sampling. Participants had to be living together for at least 10 years, with an oldest child at least aged 6. Flexibility—a dyadic process involving how partners adjust to and are influenced by each other, situations, environments, and life changes—emerged as a key component enabling couples to maintain marital stability. This analysis focuses on three processes that seem to influence couples’ ability to maintain flexibility in their relationships: (a) mutual decision making, (b) mutual accommodation regarding household tasks, and (c) mutual giving of personal time. Demonstrating these was associated with a focus on the relationship.
Tunable piezoelectric MEMS resonators for real-time clock

This paper reports on the design, simulation and characterization of small form factor, tunable piezoelectric MEMS resonators for real time clock applications (32.768 kHz). The structures were fabricated on a thin-film AlN-on-SOI substrate to enable piezoelectric actuation of an out-of-plane flexural mode, as well as electrostatic frequency tuning by utilizing the handle layer as a DC voltage electrode. Resonators of only a few hundred of µm in size exhibit greater than 3100 ppm of tuning using voltages no larger than 4 V; this tuning sufficiently compensates for frequency variations across temperature from −25 to 100 °C. The devices exhibit low motional impedance that is completely independent of the tuning potential.
A practical harmonics elimination method for multilevel inverters

This paper proposes a new practical harmonics elimination method for multilevel inverters. Unlike other methods published before, the proposed method does not need to solve high order polynomials. Only four simple equations and minimum calculation time are needed.
Adjusted regression estimation for time-to-event data with differential measurement error

Differential measurement error data plausibly arise in epidemiology and biomedical studies but have been rarely dealt with explicitly, especially for time-to-event data. We propose an estimation equation correction method in semiparametric censored linear regression to deal with differential measurement error for time-to-event data with validation samples. The method does not require explicit modelling of the error-prone covariates and leads to unbiased estimation. Copyright 2013, Oxford University Press.
Divergent effects of epinephrine and prostaglandin E2 on glucose-induced insulin secretion from perifused rat islets.

Abstract The impact of the catecholamine epinephrine and the postulated inhibitory second messenger prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ) on the kinetics and magnitude of glucose-induced insulin secretion were compared and contrasted. In agreement with a number of studies, epinephrine was a most effective antagonist of glucose-induced insulin secretion. Dose-response studies using 8 to 10 mmol/L glucose as stimulant established that levels as low as 1 to 10 nmol/L of the catecholamine were effective at inhibiting release. Glucose (20 mmol/L) caused an approximately 25-fold increase in insulin secretion, an effect that was completely abolished by 1 μ mol/L epinephrine. Under conditions where it completely abolished 20 mmol/L glucose–induced insulin release, epinephrine (1 μ mol/L) reduced, but did not abolish, the stimulatory effect of glucose on phospholipase C activation. Chronic 3-hour exposure to 10 mmol/L glucose alone desensitized the islet to subsequent stimulation by glucose. Despite its ability to completely suppress secretion to 10 mmol/L glucose, epinephrine failed to protect the islet from hyperglycemia-induced desensitization. In sharp contrast to epinephrine, PGE 2 at levels ranging from 1 to 10 μ mol/L had no discernible adverse effect on 10 mmol/L glucose–induced secretion. These findings suggest that multiple mechanisms contribute to the inhibitory impact of epinephrine on release and, in conjunction with other studies, cast serious doubt on the concept that PGE 2 plays any significant inhibitory role in the regulation of glucose-induced secretion.
Effects of altering the ratio of dietary n-6 to n-3 fatty acids on performance and inflammatory responses to a lipopolysaccharide challenge in lactating Holstein cows

The study was designed to evaluate the effects of altering the ratio between n-6 and n-3 fatty acids (FA) in the diet and the intake of these FA by lactating dairy cows on lactation performance and inflammatory acute phase responses to a challenge with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Multiparous Holstein cows (n=45) were blocked based on milk yield from d 6 to d 10 postpartum and, within each block, assigned randomly to 1 of 3 dietary treatments at 14d postpartum; treatments lasted for 90d. Diets were supplemented with a mixture of Ca salts of fish, safflower, and palm oils to create 3 different ratios of n-6 to n-3 FA; namely, 3.9, 4.9, or 5.9 parts of n-6 to 1 part of n-3 FA (R4, R5, and R6, respectively). During the first 5 wk of the study, blood was sampled weekly and analyzed for concentrations of metabolites and hormones. On d 75 postpartum, cows received an infusion of 10µg of LPS into one quarter of the mammary gland to evaluate inflammatory acute phase responses. Altering the ratio of dietary n-6 to n-3 FA was reflected in changes in the FA composition of plasma and milk fat. Reducing the ratio of n-6 to n-3 FA from R6 to R4 increased dry matter intake (24.7, 24.6, and 26.1±0.5kg/d for R6, R5, and R4, respectively), with concurrent increases in yields of 3.5% fat-corrected milk (43.4, 45.4, and 48.0±0.8kg/d), milk fat (1.53, 1.60, and 1.71±0.03kg/d), milk true protein (1.24, 1.28, and 1.32±0.02kg/d), and milk lactose (2.12, 2.19, and 2.29±0.04kg/d). After the LPS challenge, concentrations of IL-6 in plasma increased as the ratio of n-6 to n-3 FA increased (112.5, 353.4, and 365.1±86.6pg/mL for R4, R5, and R6, respectively). Elevations of body temperature and somatic cell count were greater for cows fed R5 compared with those fed R4 or R6 (41.3, 40.8, and 40.8±0.2°C; 4.33, 3.68, and 3.58±0.25×10(6)/mL, for R5, R4, and R6, respectively). Haptoglobin concentration was greatest at 24h after LPS challenge for cows fed R6. Phagocytosis and oxidative burst by neutrophils collected from circulation were unaffected by dietary treatment in the first 48h after intramammary LPS infusion. In conclusion, supplying the same quantity of FA in the diet of early lactation dairy cows but altering the ratio of the polyunsaturated FA of the n-6 to n-3 families influenced lactation performance and inflammatory responses to an LPS challenge.
Boots for Achilles: Progesterone's Reduction of Cholesterol Is a Second-Order Adaptation

Progesterone and cholesterol are both vital to pregnancy. Among other functions, progesterone downregulates inflammatory responses, allowing for maternal immune tolerance of the fetal allograft. Cholesterol a key component of cell membranes, is important in intracellular transport, cell signaling, nerve conduction, and metabolism Despite the importance of each substance in pregnancy, one exercises an antagonistic effect on the other, as periods of peak progesterone correspond with reductions in cholesterol availability, a consequence of progesterone's negative effects on cholesterol biosynthesis. This arrangement is understandable in light of the threat posed by pathogens early in pregnancy. Progesterone-induced immunomodulation entails increased vulnerability to infection, an acute problem in the first trimester, when fetal development is highly susceptible to insult. Many pathogens rely on cholesterol for cell entry, egress, and replication. Progesterone's antagonistic effects on cholesterol thus partially compensate for the costs entailed by progesterone-induced immunomodulation. Among pathogens to which the host's vulnerability is increased by progesterone's effects, approximately 90% utilize cholesterol, and this is notably true of pathogens that pose a risk during pregnancy. In addition to having a number of possible clinical applications, our approach highlights the potential importance of second-order adaptations, themselves a consequence of the lack of teleology in evolutionary processes.
Time-resolved tryptophan phosphorescence spectroscopy: a sensitive probe of protein folding and structure

Room-temperature tryptophan phosphorescence from proteins is a sensitive probe of the local structural environment of the luminescent amino acid. Tryptophan phosphorescence lifetimes can vary over 3-4 orders of magnitude depending on the structural rigidity of the emitter environment and the proximity of quenching interactions, and this sensitivity can be used to characterize the local structural environment of the chromophore. Tryptophan phosphorescence lifetime can be easily monitored as a function of time, and thus is capable of producing effectively real-time information on dynamic processes in proteins. We discuss the origins and characteristics of tryptophan phosphorescence, and its application to monitoring folding processes in proteins and to studying protein conformation and flexibility. We also present the extension of phosphorescence techniques to study, for the first time, triplet emission at room temperature from tryptophan residues engineered into specific positions as reporters of protein structure.
CRETINISM IN RATS INDUCED BY THIOURACIL1

THE well-known syndrome caused by a failure of thyroid function has been described in a variety of animals. The effects of thyroparathyroidectomy in new-born rats has been studied quite thoroughly by Salmon (1938), who has observed the usual characteristics of cretinism, i.e., retarded growth, lowered body temperature, sluggish reflexes, awkward muscular movements, persistence of infantile skull proportions, andgreatly retarded skeletal development. As an alternative method of inducing hypothyroidism, thyroid activity can be inhibited or abolished by the administration of anti-thyroid drugs without the side-effects attendant upon surgical operation (MacKenzie and MacKenzie,1943; Astwood, Sullivan, Bissell and Tyslowitz, 1943). In view of this fact, it was decided to determine the effect of the administration of one of these drugs, thiouracil, on the early development of this species. METHODS Rats of the Long-Evans strain were used. Thiouracil2 was administered daily from birth by the subcutaneous injectio...
A fractionally spaced MLSE receiver

A new receiver structure is proposed that employs maximum likelihood sequence estimation (MLSE) on a sequence of T/2-spaced samples for systems having at most 100% excess bandwidth. A fixed analog filter is implemented in the proposed receiver that is matched to the transmitted pulse instead of the received pulse. A noise-whitening matched filter is also implemented in the receiver, having a fixed structure that is independent of the unknown channel. It is shown that the performance of the proposed receiver is identical to a conventional MLSE receiver and is insensitive to the sampler timing phase. The new receiver is suitable for rapidly time-variant channels.
Effect of Clarifying Students' Misperceptions Associated with Alcohol Consumption at a Connecticut Public University

Chief student affairs officers believe that problems with alcohol use are increasing and are searching for ways to cope with them (Gallagher, Harmon, & Lingenfelter, 1994). A new technique used to prevent alcohol abuse is to clarify students' misperceptions regarding (a) their peers' consumption of alcohol (Perkins & Berkowitz, 1986a), and (b) their peers' feelings of comfort in drinking situations (Prentice & Miller, 1993).The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of clarifying students' misperceptions regarding their peers' consumption of alcohol and feelings of comfort in drinking situations. Quantitative and qualitative approaches were used to determine if providing students with information would impact on their perceptions. The study also focused on whether there was a significant difference between males and females regarding their perceptions of their peers' feelings of comfort in drinking situations.A posttest-only control-group experimental design was employed to investigate the efficacy of clarifying students' misperceptions. The experimental group was provided with information gleaned from the literature regarding students' misperceptions. Participants were administered a questionnaire developed for this study to determine: (a) their drinking habits (i. e., frequency and quantity), (b) how comfortable they feel in drinking situations, (c) their perceptions regarding their peers' drinking habits, and (d) their perceptions regarding how comfortable their peers feel in drinking situations.The findings included: (a) students overestimated the alcohol consumed by their peers; (b) students inaccurately believed that their peers are more comfortable in drinking situations than they are themselves; (c) information appears to have clarified female students' misperceptions associated with feelings of comfort in drinking situations; and (d) there were no significant differences between males and females regarding their misperceptions of their peers' feelings of comfort in drinking situations.Focus groups were used to explore in-depth students' responses regarding the intervention effort to provide understanding and insight in order to see reality from their point of view (Krueger, 1994). A theory grounded in reality (Corbin & Strauss, 1990, Glaser & Strauss, 1967; Lincoln & Guba, 1985) emerged from this study based on these results. The Preemptory Clarification Theory suggests that activities designed to clarify students' misperceptions regarding their peers' consumption of alcohol and feelings of comfort in drinking situations need to be implemented before students enter the college or university. The Alcohol Consumption Prevention Model: Clarifying Students' Misperceptions was developed to assist administrators and alcohol abuse prevention specialists address this concern.
Visualizing the Java heap to detect memory problems

Many of the problems that occur in long-running systems involve the way that the system uses memory. We have developed a framework for extracting and building a model of the heap from a running Java system. Such a model is only useful if the programmer can extract from it the information they need to understand, find, and eventually fix memory-related problems in their system. This paper describes the visualization strategy we use for interactively displaying the model and related information to achieve these goals.
Biophysical isopycnic-coordinate modelling of plankton dynamics in the Arabian Sea

A Nutrient–Phytoplankton–Zooplankton–Detritus (NPZD) ecosystem model is coupled to the Miami Isopycnic-Coordinate Ocean Model (MICOM) to study plankton dynamics in the Arabian Sea. Experiments oriented to testing the NPZD–MICOM coupled model sensitivity to variations in several parameters are performed. Particular attention is paid to the rates of detritus sinking and maximum phytoplankton growth rate. The coarse features of the blooms are captured by all the experiments considered, and agree with earlier models for the biological activity of the region. Intensity, duration, and peaks of the blooms are found to be quite sensitive to the parameter choices. The existence of an offshore deep chlorophyll maximum in the model is found to be closely related to the increase of the detritus sinking rate. The use of temperature-dependent maximum growth rate of phytoplankton and the increase of detritus sinking rate are shown to improve model results compared with in situ and satellite observations. The differences between the present results and those from previous modelling efforts in the region, where few- or multi-layer hydrodynamical models or even fixed-level hydrodynamical models have been employed, are found to be in the same range as the differences among the results from the various sensitivity experiments presented here. This indicates that a small uncertainty in the knowledge of the ecosystem model parameters can be more important in ecosystem modelling than the uncertainty associated to the differences in the vertical coordinate representation of the underlying hydrodynamical model. There are still biological processes, such as denitrification which affect the vertical distribution of nutrient concentrations, that are not included neither in the previous works in the area nor in the present work. This might mask any potential advantages of the present NPZD-MICOM coupled model, especially at mid-depths in the ocean. 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Least Action Principle for Mem-Elements

We study the principle of least (stationary) action for mem-elements. The least action principle allows us to derive relationships between the electrical variables for each of the six mem-elements. The principle of least action from modern physics is a natural environment to characterize mem-elements, including various one-period loops in the context of periodic circuits. The time-integrals of Lagrangian lead to the action and coaction quantities and a full characterization of mem-elements with periodic control variables.
Summary of Hypersonic Transition Research Coordinated Through NATO RTO AVT-136 ⁄

Hypersonic laminar-turbulent transition is one of the key unresolved issues in aerothermodynamics. Since the AVT has no resources of its own, it can only serve to coordinate efiorts that are funded by the various member countries. The problem is complex and difflcult, so the AVT-136 efiort could make only an incremental advance. Since transition often depends on many subtle factors, and is known to depend on the freestream disturbance environment, it is important to perform both experiments and computations in several locations using difierent facilities and personnel [1]. Each contributor beneflts from iteratively comparing their results to the results of others. In addition, no single wind tunnel can simulate all aspects of hypersonic ∞ight, so it is important to compare results from various facilities which can each simulate difierent aspects. This is particularly important because the facilities and associated instrumentation are very expensive and time consuming to develop. Computational simulations are also complex, involve numerous simplifying assumptions that difier between codes, and are time consuming to develop. Therefore, transition work under AVT-136 focused on developing an international cooperation that compares experiments and computations in several nations, funded by the various national governments, and coordinated towards a goal of common interest. Such a cooperation is complex and time consuming, so the 3-year time-frame of AVT-136 could serve only as a beginning. Introductory information is omitted here, as the reader is assumed to be familiar with the fleld.
Senile cardiac amyloidosis. A clinicopathologic enigma.

Despite its common occurrence in the aged, senile cardiac amyloidosis is often overlooked because it is overshadowed by the degenerative lesions that cause coronary atherosclerosis. At present the most important diagnostic aids are a high index of suspicion, recognition of the pathognomonic nodules in the endocardium of the atria, and use of routine tinctorial methods to determine presence of amyloid in persons over 65 years old.
Past the Point of Speeding Up: The Negative Effects of Workload Saturation on Efficiency and Patient Severity

Service organizations face a trade-off between high utilization and responsiveness. High utilization can improve financial performance, but causes congestion, which increases throughput time. Employees may manage this trade-off by reducing processing times during periods of high workload, resulting in an inverted U-shaped relationship between utilization and throughput time. Using two years of inpatient data from 203 California hospitals, we find evidence that patient length of stay (LOS) increases as occupancy increases, until a tipping point, after which patients are discharged early to alleviate congestion. More interestingly, we find a second tipping point—at 93% occupancy—beyond which additional occupancy leads to a longer LOS. These results are indicative of a workload-related “saturation effect” where employees can no longer overcome high workload by speeding up. Our data suggest that the saturation effect is due to an increase in the workload requirements of the remaining patients. Collectively, w...
Clinical and serologic responses of volunteers infected with Phlebotomus fever virus (Sicilian type)

Twenty volunteers were inoculated with various doses of human serum containing Phlebotomus fever virus (Sicilian type) to determine their clinical and serologic responses as well as the human infectious dose50 of the virus. All infected subjects developed fever which varied in duration from 6 to 74 hours. The most common symptoms during sandfly fever were headache, anorexia, myalgia, photophobia, low back and retro-orbital pain. Infected individuals developed a marked leukopenia characterized by an initial lymphopenia followed by protracted neutropenia. Little complement fixing antibody was detected in convalescent sera but most subjects developed significant rises in hemagglutination inhibiting antibodies. All infected subjects developed specific neutralizing antibodies with titers ranging from 1:40 to 1:2,560. Of the three serologic tests performed, the plaque reduction neutralization method appears to be the most sensitive test for detecting antibodies to Phlebotomus fever viruses.
Inequality Constraint Analysis for Condition Flow Control

This paper analyzes the conditions for state variables caused by constrained of the inequality:variable failed adjusted unbalance requirements and impeded the mutual convergence and the problem of control variables independently into the associated non-convergence of iterations;on this basis,differential co-ordination method which is according to flexibility requirements of the target conditions correspond linear combination to solve these problems.Through a practical example of the calculation and analysis,it shows that the state variable inequality constraints of the differential coordinate treatment,it can maintain the convergence of Newton method which can accurately meet the needs of operating conditions.
Radial dispersion angle of directional fragments in multi-mode warhead

To investigate the characteristics of directional fragments mode in multi-mode warhead,a charge configuration with an ejectable incisory cover fixed at a proper place before the liners was analyzed.The process of the liner forming directional fragments by passing through two different kinds of incisory covers was simulated using LS-DYNA3D.Simulation results coincided well with the experimental data.This charge structure can form fragments with a definite mass and direction,and a velocity between 1 500 m/s and 2500 m/s.A Formula of the radial dispersion angle(α) of fragments was got.Influences of the diameter(D),the yield strength of the incisory wire and the distance between the incisory cover and the liner(d) on α were discussed.It′s proved that the bigger D,the larger α;that the bigger the yield strength,the more benefit to the forming of fragments,yet with little influence on α;and that d should be in a proper range in order to form ideal fragments,and it has an optimum value.
Injury prevention in anesthesiology.

Anesthesia personnel routinely perform procedures that put them at risk for contact with blood and body fluids. Some of these exposures are to skin and mucous membranes; many are percutaneous injuries associated with the frequent use of needled devices. The high risk in anesthesia procedures for contact with infected body fluids is associated with a high incidence rate of actual infection with bloodbome pathogens.
Assessing Anger Expression: Construct Validity of Three Emotion Expression-Related Measures

Self-report measures of emotional expression are common, but their validity to predict objective emotional expression, particularly of anger, is unclear. We tested the validity of the Anger Expression Inventory (AEI; Spielberger et al., 1985 ), Emotional Approach Coping Scale (EAC; Stanton, Kirk, Cameron, & Danoff-Burg, 2000 ), and Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20; Bagby, Taylor, & Parker, 1994 ) to predict objective anger expression in 95 adults with chronic back pain. Participants attempted to solve a difficult computer maze by following the directions of a confederate who treated them rudely and unjustly. Participants then expressed their feelings for 4 min. Blinded raters coded the videos for anger expression, and a software program analyzed expression transcripts for anger-related words. Analyses related each questionnaire to anger expression. The AEI Anger-Out scale predicted greater anger expression, as expected, but AEI Anger-In did not. The EAC Emotional Processing scale predicted less anger expression, but the EAC Emotional Expression scale was unrelated to anger expression. Finally, the TAS-20 predicted greater anger expression. Findings support the validity of the AEI Anger-Out scale but raise questions about the other measures. The assessment of emotional expression by self-report is complex and perhaps confounded by general emotional experience, the specificity or generality of the emotion(s) assessed, and self-awareness limitations. Performance-based or clinician-rated measures of emotion expression are needed.
Entrepreneurial Philanthropy and University Creation: An Economic Model

A century ago, great entrepreneurs of American capitalism created major research universities. Today, donations are largely being channeled to the most successful universities. This paper explores the impact of entrepreneurial philanthropy on the creation and endowment of universities. It presents an integro-differential model that yields a nonlinear relation between university endowment and quality. Empirical tests validate the model, showing that university quality bears a nonlinear (quadratic) relationship with private giving (endowments).
The mystery of atonement and Swinburne's reparation theory

Traditional Christianity holds that Jesus Christ somehow helps to bring about our salvation. A ‘theory of atonement’ is a theory about how he does this. One influential and elegant theory of atonement is Richard Swinburne's reparation theory. In this article, I contend that this theory fails to satisfy an important condition of adequacy on theories of atonement that has been overlooked in the literature. I first argue that in order to be plausible, a theory of atonement must not imply that failure to believe in the correct theory of atonement greatly hinders one from being benefited by Christ's salvific work. I then argue that reparation theory does have this problematic implication.
Abstract 295: Sodium Restriction Increases Ophthalmic Artery Systolic Velocity in Healthy Subjects

Changes in ocular blood flow occur in systemic diseases. A high peak systolic velocity (PSV) in the ophthalmic artery (OA) has been observed in diabetes mellitus and hypertension, conditions often associated with high tissue renin-angiotensin system (RAS) activity and reduced renal plasma flow (RPF). Since our group has demonstrated that sodium restriction ( a high RAS state ) is associated with a decrease in RPF which is correctable with ACE inhibition, we hypothesized that sodium restriction would result in higher ophthalmic PSV. Sixteen healthy volunteers (age 46.2±13.2, male 69%, white 75%, BMI 26±3.7) were placed on a low sodium (LS) diet (10 mmol/day) for 1 week followed by high sodium (HS) diet (200 mmol/day). Sodium balance was assessed by 24hr urine collection. BP, RPF (PAH clearance) and OA hemodynamic measurements (Multigon, NY) were made after overnight fasting and rest in the supine position. Sodium restriction did not affect BP (systolic/diastolic LS: 121/73 ± 12/7 vs HS: 122/72 ± 15/9 mmHg, mean ± SD, NS) or heart rate (69 ± 16 vs 70 ± 15/min, NS). As expected, RPF was lower on LS compared with HS (599.2 ± 89.8 vs 633.4 ± 93.5ml/min/1.73 m 2 , p=0.006). Sodium restriction was associated with higher OA peak (38.8 ± 6.4 vs 33.2 ± 6.0 cm/sec, p=0.018) and mean (19.7±2.9 vs 17.1±3.5, p=0.003) systolic velocity ( Figure ). There was no change in end-diastolic velocity (10.6±2.5 vs 9.7±2.4, p=0.266) with sodium restriction. In conclusion, sodium restriction was associated with an increase in OA peak and mean systolic velocity in healthy individuals. Further studies are required to investigate the potential relevance of our results to diabetic and hypertensive retinopathy.
A steady-state continuous flow chamber for the study of daytime and nighttime chemistry under atmospherically relevant NO levels

Abstract. Experiments performed in laboratory chambers have contributed significantly to the understanding of the fundamental kinetics and mechanisms of the chemical reactions occurring in the atmosphere. Two chemical regimes, classified as “high-NO” vs. “zero-NO” conditions, have been extensively studied in previous chamber experiments. Results derived from these two chemical scenarios are widely parameterized in chemical transport models to represent key atmospheric processes in urban and pristine environments. As the anthropogenic NO x emissions in the United States have decreased remarkably in the past few decades, the classic “high-NO” and “zero-NO” conditions are no longer applicable to many regions that are constantly impacted by both polluted and background air masses. We present here the development and characterization of the NCAR Atmospheric Simulation Chamber, which is operated in steady-state continuous flow mode for the study of atmospheric chemistry under “intermediate NO” conditions. This particular chemical regime is characterized by constant sub-ppb levels of NO and can be created in the chamber by precise control of the inflow NO concentration and the ratio of chamber mixing to residence timescales. Over the range of conditions achievable in the chamber, the lifetime of peroxy radicals ( RO2 ), a key intermediate from the atmospheric degradation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), can be extended to several minutes, and a diverse array of reaction pathways, including unimolecular pathways and bimolecular reactions with NO and HO2 , can thus be explored. Characterization experiments under photolytic and dark conditions were performed and, in conjunction with model predictions, provide a basis for interpretation of prevailing atmospheric processes in environments with intertwined biogenic and anthropogenic activities. We demonstrate the proof of concept of the steady-state continuous flow chamber operation through measurements of major first-generation products, methacrolein (MACR) and methyl vinyl ketone (MVK), from OH- and NO3 -initiated oxidation of isoprene.
Evaluation of shielding performance for newly developed composite materials

Abstract With the advancement of fabrication technology, composite materials that consist of isotopes with different radiation interaction properties can be manufactured and used as effective radiation shielding materials. This work details an investigation into the contributing factors behind the success of newly developed composite shielding materials. Monte Carlo simulation methods were utilized to assess the shielding capabilities for neutron and the secondary radiation production characteristics in four different composite materials: aluminum boron carbide, tungsten boron carbide, bismuth borosilicate glass, and Metathene. The study is performed under neutron irradiations with various energy spectra. The resulting data regarding shielding performance and generated secondary radiation suggested that tungsten boron carbide was the most effective composite shield material. An analysis of the macroscopic cross-section contributions from constituent materials and interaction mechanisms was then performed in an attempt to better understand the relative shielding performance of the investigated composite materials. This analysis found that increased thermal absorber content was associated with improved neutron shielding performance within both the thermal and epi-thermal neutron energy regions and that composites containing low Z material demonstrated greater shielding performance within the faster neutron energy regions.