cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Oceanographic profiler for shallow water

This paper is a detailed explanation of the design and development of a small, inexpensive oceanographic profiler. The profiler is easy to deploy and recover, is expendable, and can be deployed in large quantities over a broad area to take synoptic measurements. The profiler uses a ballast tank, altering buoyancy to descend and ascend. To detect the pressure at the maximum depth of 50 meters, a simple pressure switch is used. At 50 meters the pressure creates a force great enough to puncture a pressurized 12-gram CO/sub 2/ canister. The pressurized gas feeds into the ballast tank forcing the water out, and the now positively buoyant profiler ascends to the surface. Testing showed that the descent rate could be controlled from 3 to 20 centimeters per second by adjusting the net weight of the device. Also the pressure switch worked at a range of depths with an accuracy of 5 meters, before returning to the surface. A rod with a foam ball, painted international orange, attached to the top of the device allows easy recovery in relatively calm waters. This ball is suspended approximately 45 centimeters above the surface when the profiler returns at the end of a deployment. The prototype is a flexible platform that can accommodate a variety of payloads and descent rates.
Diversity of Archaea Communities within Contaminated Sand Samples from Johnston Atoll

ABSTRACT A molecular 16S rRNA gene (SSU rDNA) analysis was performed for the determination of Archaea communities in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)- and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)-contaminated sand samples obtained from Johnston Atoll. The objective of this study was to investigate Archaea community structure and phylogenetic diversity in a PAH- and PCB-contaminated marine environment that may potentially be intrinsically bioremediating these compounds. The clones obtained from this analysis were equally represented between the Crenarchaeota and Euryarchaeota phyla. This isolated marine environment is predominantly reef habitat, suggesting that the xenobiotic compounds introduced over time influenced the community structure of autochthonous Archaea. Phylogenetic diversity within these samples suggests that the resident Archaea populations were only distantly related to cultivated taxa and cloned sequences found in the public domain from both marine and terrestrial origins.
Comparison of protein phosphorylation patterns produced in adrenal cells by activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase and Ca-dependent protein kinase

Bovine adrenal fasciculata cells, exposed to either ACTH or AII, synthesize glucocorticoids at an enhanced rate. It is generally accepted that the signaling pathways triggered by these two peptides are not identical. ACTH presumably acts via a cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) and AII, via a calcium-dependent protein kinase. We have found that either peptide hormone stimulates synthesis of a mitochondrial phosphoprotein pp37, leading to accumulation of its proteolytically processed products pp30 and pp29. On the basis of a number of criteria, this 37 kDa protein is the bovine homolog of the 37 kDa protein that we have characterized in rodent steroidogenic tissue (Epstein L. F. and Orme-Johnson N. R.: J. Biol. Chem 266 (1991) 19,739-19,745). Further, bovine pp37 is phosphorylated when PKA or protein kinase C (PKC) is activated directly by (Bu)2 cAMP or PMA, respectively. These studies indicate that either pp37 is a common substrate for PKA and PKC in these cells or there is a common downstream kinase, which is activated by exposure to either ACTH or AII. Rat adrenal glomerulosa cells, exposed to either ACTH or AII, show an enhanced rate of mineralocorticoid synthesis. As for bovine fasciculata cells, it is thought that the signaling pathway triggered by ACTH differs from that triggered by AII. As we found for bovine fasciculata, pp37 is phosphorylated when the rat cells are exposed to either peptide hormone. However, in contrast to the finding for bovine fasciculata, while exposure of the rat glomerulosa cells to (Bu)2cAMP does cause the synthesis of pp37, exposure of the cells to PMA does not. Taken together, these findings provide further evidence that the subcellular signaling events, triggered by the action of AII on bovine adrenal fasciculata and rat adrenal glomerulosa cells, differ. Further, the fact, that pp37 is phosphorylated only when the rate of steroidogenesis is enhanced, reaffirms its potential involvement in the signaling pathway that causes stimulation of steroid hormone biosynthesis.
Stroke: Consensus on evidence-based implementation of early supported discharge

Early supported discharge (ESD) is a model of stroke care that decreases the inpatient length of stay and provides superior functional benefit compared with inpatient rehabilitation. Recently published consensus guidelines from a panel of ESD trialists provide a practical blueprint for implementing the ESD model and measuring its effectiveness.
Prognosis of acute renal failure in children

Acute renal failure (ARF) is the acute loss of renal function over a period of hours or days. Given the poor prognosis of ARF among children, there is some urgency to identifying more effective prognostic indicators for detecting disease onset. Such indicators would help provide the means of selecting patients who would benefit the most from early aggressive treatment. In this study we assessed the etiologic and prognostic indicators of ARF, including several risk factors such as sepsis, respiratory distress, age, among others, in 300 children who were admitted to the Ali Asghar Children’s Hospital, Tehran, Iran, from 1990 to 2003. Statistical analysis was performed using multiple regression and chi-square methods, and a score to determine the prognosis of ARF in children was developed. Result: Based on the results of this study the three common causes of ARF are acute tubular necrosis (ATN, 38%), acute glumerulonephritis (24%) and hemolytic uremic syndrome (24.1%). The overall mortality rate among our patients was 24.7%, with the highest risk group being those patients suffering from ischemic ATN. In addition, the correlation (p<0.0005) between the etiology and mortality rate was particularly high in patients with ischemic ATN. Mortality was also high (68%) in children younger than 2 years. Multiple regression models revealed that among those factors that significantly differed between the survivors and nonsurvivors, only the necessity of dialysis (p<0.0005), the use of mechanical ventilation (p=0.05) and disseminated intravascular coagulation (p=0.038) can be regarded as independent determinants of ARF prognosis in children.
Kinetics of supersaturation decay in the crystallization of lysozyme

The molecular architecture of proteins can be determined by analysing the X-ray diffraction patterns of their crystals. The technology of X-ray crystallography has reached the point, however, where the determination of the structure of a given crystal is controlled by the limited availability of the crystals themselves. Proteins can often be crystallized from pH buffered aqueous solutions of strong electrolytes. When dissolved protein in solution is more stable than crystalline protein, the appearance of crystals can be said to be under thermodynamic control. If, on the other hand, the crystals are more stable than the dissolved protein, and still crystals are slow to appear, the crystallization can be said to be under kinetic control. Using dilatometry, we have followed the rate of decay of the protein supersaturation in crystallizing solutions of chicken egg-white lysozyme under conditions of kinetic control. We have found that the rate of decay of the supersaturation is first order in the supersaturati...
Steepest-edge simplex algorithms for linear programming

We present several new steepest-edge simplex algorithms for solving linear programming problems, including variants of both the primal and the dual simplex method. These algorithms differ depending upon the space in which the problem is viewed as residing, and include variants in which this space varies dynamically. We present computational results comparing steepest-edge simplex algorithms and approximate versions of them against simplex algorithms that use standard pivoting rules on truly large-scale realworld linear programs with as many as tens of thousands of rows and columns. These results demonstrate unambiguously the superiority of steepest-edge pivot selection criteria to other pivot selection criteria in the simplex method.
Investigation of oxygen reduction on activated carbon electrodes in alkaline solution

Oxygen reduction has been studied on gas diffusion electrodes made from various kinds of activated carbon materials. The potentiodynamic method was used to study the electrochemical behavior of the reduction reaction, while nitrogen gas adsorption and powder X-ray diffraction were used to determine the pore size distribution and the crystal structure of the carbon material, respectively. The relationship between the catalytic activity of activated carbon and the surface content of edge orientation was discussed. The specific catalytic activity of activated carbon is determined by the percentage of the edge orientation on the surface. The higher the content of the edge plane, the lower the oxygen reduction overpotential. The reduction overpotential is also related to the effective surface area, which determines the local current density.
Bioavailability of capsaicin and its implications for drug delivery.

The dietary compound capsaicin is responsible for the “hot and spicy” taste of chili peppers and pepper extracts. It is a valuable pharmacological agent with several therapeutic applications in controlling pain and inflammation. Emerging studies show that it displays potent anti-tumor activity in several human cancers. On a more basic research level, capsaicin has been used as a ligand to activate several types of ion-channel receptors. The pharmacological activity of capsaicin-like compounds is dependent on several factors like the dose, the route of administration and most importantly on its concentration at target tissues. The present review describes the current knowledge involving the metabolism and bioavailability of capsaicinoids in rodents and humans. Novel drug delivery strategies used to improve the bioavailability and therapeutic index of capsaicin are discussed in detail. The generation of novel capsaicin-mimetics and improved drug delivery methods will foster the hope of innovative applications of capsaicin in human disease.
A Critique of Neoliberalism with Fierceness: Queer Youth of Color Creating Dialogues of Resistance

As a form of deregulated capitalism that has run amok, commodifying all that is in its path, and as a cultural means of commodifying Black and brown bodies, neoliberalism has taken a serious toll o...
A non-iterative localization approach based on multi-dimensional scaling method for wireless sensor networks

The location information of the sensor node is very important and should be known by the end user to take full advantage of the sensor network. In this paper, we proposed a non-iterative localization approach for wireless sensor network (WSN) using multi-dimensional scaling (MDS) method. MDS offers various advantages. It is robust to environmental errors, provides accurate localization, and calculates the location of all the sensor nodes in a network at the same time not individually. It also provides the relative locations of the nodes in the absence of anchor nodes.
Substance Use, Self-Esteem, and Self-Efficacy Among Homeless and Runaway Youth in New Orleans

Each year, nearly 1.7 million children and adolescents in the US run away or are forced out by their caregivers. Although several studies have examined numerous risk and protective factors among homeless and runaway youth (HRY), little is known about this population’s self-efficacy. This cross-sectional study investigates substance use, self-esteem, and self-efficacy in 51 HRY in New Orleans. Results include high rates of substance use disorders, lower self-esteem and self-efficacy compared with that of non-HRY in previous studies, and no significant correlation between substance use and self-esteem or self-efficacy. The authors interpret these findings and discuss their implications for practice and future research.
Integrating Palliative Care for Liver Transplant Candidates: “Too Well for Transplant, Too Sick for Life”

Chronic liver disease results in more than 1 million physician visits and more than 300 000 hospitalizations per year in the United States. More than 27 000 patients annually progress to end-stage liver disease (ESLD), liver failure, or death. Patients with ESLD experience such complications as encephalopathy, malnutrition, muscle wasting, ascites, esophagogastric variceal hemorrhage, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, fatigue, and depression. Despite significant improvements in palliation, patients' quality of life diminishes and their disease will often inexorably progress. Liver transplantation, a valid treatment option, increases life and reduces many symptoms. With the current shortage of organs, up to 10% to 15% of these patients die without receiving an organ. Many patients also are not candidates for transplantation due to comorbid illness. In addition, some patients receive a transplant but succumb to complications of the transplant itself. Such patients and families face the conundrum of a potentially treatable yet often fatal illness. Through the case of a 55-year-old woman with a life-long history of hepatitis B virus infection who is awaiting transplant, we discuss the transplant eligibility process and the struggle with maintaining hope for a cure in the face a life-threatening illness. In all of these circumstances, the health care team must combine elements of palliative care with life-sustaining therapy to maximize the patient's quality and quantity of life.
Conservative high order semi-Lagrangian finite difference WENO methods for advection in incompressible flow

In this paper, we propose a semi-Lagrangian finite difference formulation for approximating conservative form of advection equations with general variable coefficients. Compared with the traditional semi-Lagrangian finite difference schemes 5,25], which approximate the advective form of the equation via direct characteristics tracing, the scheme proposed in this paper approximates the conservative form of the equation. This essential difference makes the proposed scheme naturally conservative for equations with general variable coefficients. The proposed conservative semi-Lagrangian finite difference framework is coupled with high order essentially non-oscillatory (ENO) or weighted ENO (WENO) reconstructions to achieve high order accuracy in smooth parts of the solution and to capture sharp interfaces without introducing spurious oscillations. The scheme is extended to high dimensional problems by Strang splitting. The performance of the proposed schemes is demonstrated by linear advection, rigid body rotation, swirling deformation, and two dimensional incompressible flow simulation in the vorticity stream-function formulation. As the information is propagating along characteristics, the proposed scheme does not have the CFL time step restriction of the Eulerian method, allowing for a more efficient numerical realization for many application problems.
ANTIBODIES TO POLYNUCLEOTIDES IN HUMAN SERA: ANTIGENIC SPECIFICITY AND RELATION TO DISEASE

The specificities of anti-polynucleotide antibodies found in human sera were studied using several immunological procedures. Anti-native DNA (NDNA) antibodies and certain anti-double-stranded RNA (DSRNA) antibodies were found to react with single-stranded DNA (SDNA), and anti-NDNA antibodies were observed to react more avidly with SDNA than with NDNA in most sera tested. Antibodies to NDNA showed no preferential reactivity with NDNA or SDNA derived from mammalian tissue, bacterial, or viral sources. Precipitating antibodies reactive with individual bases, with common determinants of bases, and with common determinants of SDNA and NDNA were detected utilizing synthetic polydeoxyribonucleotides. Antibodies to DSRNA were also heterogeneous and reactive with both Poly A · Poly U and Poly I · Poly C in addition to reactivity with Poly A and SDNA. In contrast, antibodies to a ribonucleo-protein determined by hemagglutination and by precipitation showed no reaction with NDNA, SDNA, or DSRNA. Serial studies of serum specimens from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) indicated that anti-NDNA antibodies were closely associated with disease activity. Titers of antibodies to SDNA or DSRNA were also frequently increased during these periods but in addition showed peaks during quiescent periods. Anti-NDNA antibodies were detected in most patients' sera at sometime during the course of the disease. Three patients were observed with active SLE, who did not develop anti-NDNA antibodies, even in the presence of severe renal disease. Evidence that other antigen-antibody systems may also play a role in the pathogenesis of the renal disease was particularly apparent in these patients. Anti-ribonucleoprotein antibodies were not well correlated with the peaks of antibody activity of other polynucleotide antibodies, suggesting that an independent immunogen was responsible for induction of these antibodies. The close association of certain populations of anti-polynucleotide antibodies during the course of active SLE, the presence of cross-reacting antigenic determinants of SDNA, NDNA, and DSRNA, the preferential avidity of anti-NDNA antibodies for SDNA, and the frequent increase of anti-SDNA antibodies in SLE and other diseases associated with active tissue destruction suggest that SDNA is a ubiquitous antigen that may stimulate the formation of antibodies reactive with a variety of polynucleotides.
A New Aircraft Inlet for Sampling Interstitial Aerosol: Design Methodology, Modeling, and Wind Tunnel Tests

The design of a new aerosol sampler, called the blunt-body aerosol sampler (BASE), to sample interstitial particles inside clouds while avoiding the problem of cloud droplet shatter artifacts is introduced. The primary design feature of the inlet is a blunt body that houses an aerosol inlet toward its aft end. The housing is designed to be blunt enough to deflect large cloud particles traveling around the body while being streamlined enough to maintain an attached boundary layer under aircraft flow conditions. The attached flow requirement ensures that shatter particles formed from the impaction of cloud droplets on the blunt body are retained close to the surface of the body. A region of large particle shadow is, thus, created in the aft of the blunt-body housing, where an aerosol inlet can sample interstitial particles in the absence of cloud particles. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations are used to optimize the shape of the blunt body, and the final sampler design is predicted to sample par...
Feature representation and classification for automatic process planning systems

Abstract There is no universally accepted definition and representation for object features. However, it is generally agreed that features must have attributes that have to do with the geometry of the part. Features also have attributes that deal with the function they serve in the part. In general, feature representation and classification are domain-specific. In this paper, a generalized feature definition is presented and schemes for classification and representation of features in the domains of mechanical assembly and sheet metal fabrication are developed and presented.
COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT AT PRESCHOOL‐AGE OF INFANTS OF DRUG‐DEPENDENT MOTHERS

A prospective longitudinal study on the development of children of drug-dependent mothers who used combinations of cocaine, heroin and methadone during pregnancy was carried out in Amsterdam. The children and a contrast reference group were followed from birth to the age of 5 1/2 years. Cognitive functioning was assessed at 3 1/2, four, 4 1/2 and 5 1/2 years. The children of drug-dependent mothers repeatedly showed delays in cognitive functioning at preschool-age. Individual difficulties, as well as differences in developmental patterns over time, were found most clearly when facets of language development formed part of the assessments. Intervention programmes should focus on improvements of early language development and communication, in addition to the children's ability to adapt to task situations.
Anxiolytic effects of acute tryptophan depletion in anorexia nervosa.

Objective: Recent studies have raised the question as to whether a dysregulation of the neurotransmitter serotonin may contribute to the alterations in mood seen in anorexia nervosa (AN). People with AN tend to be anxious, obsessional, perfectionistic, and harm avoidant. These traits are premorbid and persist after recovery. It has been suggested that increased activity of brain serotonin systems could contribute to this pathologic condition. Dieting in AN, which serves to reduce plasma levels of tryptophan (TRP), may serve to reduce symptoms of dysphoric mood. Method: Fourteen women currently symptomatic with AN (ILL AN), 14 women recovered from AN (REC AN), and 15 healthy control women (CW) underwent acute tryptophan depletion (ATD). Measures of psychological state were self- assessed at baseline and hourly after ATD to determine whether ATD would reduce negative mood. Results: ILL AN and REC AN had significantly higher mean baseline TRP/LNAA (tryptophan/large neutral amino acids) ratios compared with CW. In contrast to placebo, the ATD challenge demonstrated a significantly greater reduction in the TRP/LNAA ratio for ILL AN (� 95%) and REC AN (� 84%) compared with CW (� 70%). Both the ILL AN and REC AN had a significant reduction in anxiety on the ATD day compared with the placebo day. Discussion: These data demonstrate that a dietary-induced reduction of TRP, the precursor of serotonin, is associated with decreased anxiety in people with AN. Restricting dietary intake may represent a mechanism through which individuals with AN modulate a dysphoric mood. # 2003 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 33: 257-267, 2003.
The treatment of skin carcinoma with podophyllum derivatives.

SUMMARY.— The local chemotherapy of cutaneous carcinoma with 5-fluorouracil, methotrexate and colcemide is reviewed. The use of podophyllin has been less reported and the results of the treatment of 68 cases are given here. These are compared with a similar use of podophyllotoxin. This has been followed by trials of Proresid, the ethyl hydrazide of podophyllic acid. The results are comparable with those obtained by other methods and warrant further investigation. Local irritant effects are minimal and the risk of systemic toxicity is remote. The possible advantages of this form of treatment are considered.
Program transformation in the presence of errors

Language designers and implementors have avoided specifying and preserving the meaning of programs that produce errors. This is apparently because being forced to preserve error behavior severely limits the scope of program optimization, even for correct programs. However, preserving error behavior is desirable for debugging, and error behavior must be preserved in any language that permits user-generated exceptions.This paper presents a technique for preserving the power of general program transformations in the presence of a rich collection of distinguishable error values. This is accomplished by introducing an annotation, “Safe”, to mark occurrences of functions that cannot produce errors. Succinct and general algebraic laws can be expressed using Safe, giving program transformations in a language with many error values the same power and generality as program transformations in a language with only a single error value.
Wetting behaviour and mullite formation at the interface of inviscid melt-spun CaO-Al2O3 fibre-reinforced Al-Si alloy (4032) composite

Inviscid melt-spun calcia-alumina fibre-reinforced aluminium-silicon alloy (4032) composites were produced using a melt-infiltration technique. Scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to investigate interfacial wetting and interphase formation, and identify the crystalline phase of the interphase of these composites. The composites processed at 700°C showed a good interfacial wetting and silicon accumulation at the interface. The composites processed at 927°C showed formation of an interphase region of about 10–20 μm thick, as well as excellent interfacial wetting. EDS analysis gave averaged compositions of this interphase region at 74 wt % Al and 26 wt % Si, which corresponds to the composition of mullite (3Al2O3 · 2SiO2). The formation of mullite at the interface was confirmed by XRD analysis.
Effect of film size on drainage of foam and emulsion films

All available theoretical analyses for the drainage of thin plane-parallel liquid films, such as those existing between two approaching liquid droplets or bubbles in the coalescence process, predict essentially the same dependence of rate of thinning of the intervening film on its size as is described by the Reynolds equation - that is, drainage time increases with the square of the film radius. Recently, the authors reported experimental data for both foam and emulsion films which showed that the measured drainage times increase with about a 0.8 power of the film radius, a value much smaller than the theoretically predicted value of 2.0. Here they present a hydrodynamic analysis to predict the experimentally observed effect of film size on the kinetics of thinning of emulsion and foam films. They extend the applicability of the Reynolds model by accounting for the flow in the Plateau borders as well as the London-van der Waals forces in the thin film phase. Their theoretical predictions are in good agreement with the experimental data on the dependence of drainage time of both foam and emulsion films on their radii.
Dielectric normal-mode relaxation of entangled cis-polyisoprene melts: Effects of polydispersity

The effects of polydispersity on the dielectric normal-mode relaxation of entangled, cis-polyisoprene melts are considered. We use a linear mixing rule and reptation theory in conjunction with a theoretical molecular weight distribution (MWD) of variable breadth to predict loss spectra of model cis-polyisoprene melts. The half-widths of the predicted spectra show a nonlinear dependence on polydispersity index, with the greatest sensitivity near the monodisperse limit. The calculations are in agreement with literature data on narrowly dispersed samples. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Mansouri-Chang gravitation theory

The gauge theory of gravitation introduced by Mansouri and Chang (1976) is investigated; a symbolic manipulation computer system generates the Mansouri-Chang field equations in various coordinate systems. It is found that all vacuum Einstein spaces are vacuum Mansouri-Chang spaces in four dimensions, though for higher dimensions an Einstein vacuum space is not generally a Mansouri-Chang solution. The possibility that no solutions of the Mansouri-Chang equations are not Einstein vacuum spaces is discussed.
Elevation-related differences in novel environment exploration and social dominance in food-caching mountain chickadees

Harsh and unpredictable environments have been assumed to favor the evolution of better learning abilities in animals. At the same time, individual variation in learning abilities might be associated with variation in other correlated traits potentially forming a behavioral syndrome. We have previously reported significant elevation-related differences in spatial memory and the hippocampus in food-caching mountain chickadees. Here, we tested for elevation-related differences in novel environment exploration, neophobia, and social dominance—behavioral traits previously thought to correlate with individual variation in cognition, using different birds from the same elevations. Compared to low-elevation birds, high-elevation chickadees were slower at novel environment exploration, but there were no detectable differences in neophobia. High-elevation chickadees were also socially subordinate to low-elevation chickadees in pairwise interactions. Considering previously reported elevation-related differences in cognition and the brain, our results suggest, however indirectly, that elevation-related variation in spatial memory might be associated with differences in novel environment exploration and in ability to obtain a high social rank in winter social groups. Whether these behavioral traits represent a behavioral syndrome or whether climate might affect these traits independently, our results suggest that multiple differences between elevations might assist with elevation-related separation. High-elevation chickadees would likely experience higher mortality if they move to lower elevation due to their low social dominance status and low-elevation chickadees might experience higher mortality if they move to higher elevation due to reduced memory ability and lack of behavioral adaptations to colder climate.
Estrogen/Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Interactions in the Fetus: the Interplay Between Placenta and Fetal Brain:

The hormonal interactions between the placenta and the fetal hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis are reviewed. This review addresses data obtained from the chronically catheterized fetal sheep, drawing relevant comparisons to human fetuses. In the sheep, and perhaps in primate species, parturition is initiated by an increase in the activity of the HPA axis. The endogenous mechanisms underlying the increase in activity of the fetal HPA axis are incompletely understood but might involve an interplay between placenta and fetal hypothalamus and pituitary. Various hypotheses have been proposed, involving placental secretion of prostaglandins and various components of the fetal HPA axis. In the sheep, the influence of estradiol appears to be potent, and various experiments have suggested the possibility that, in late gestation, there exists a positive feedback relationship between placental estrogen secretion and pituitary adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) secretion. Estradiol circulates in concentrations known to stimulate fetal ACTH secretion. Additionally, estradiol circulates in the form of estradiol-3-sulfate, a molecular form that is taken up by the fetal brain and deconjugated by steroid sulfatase, which is expressed in the fetal brain. Recent evidence suggests that the interaction between estradiol and ACTH might involve production of paracrine or autocrine substances in the fetal brain. One candidate mediator is prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), highlighted by the action of estradiol on the expression of prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase-2 (PGHS-2 or COX-2) in brain regions known to be important for controlling HPA activity. Estradiol, secreted by the placenta in increasing amounts in late gestation, is a potent stimulator of fetal ACTH secretion. The interactions between estradiol and the fetal HPA axis might function as a positive feedback loop that increases the concentrations of both hormones before birth.
Local area networks for libraries — cast and recast

In 1984 the Health Sciences Library at the State University of New York at Buffalo created a local area network (Lan) for the Library Consortium of Health Institutions in Buffalo using a multi‐user microcomputer. The rationale, methodology, capabilities and problems of the Lan are discussed. The changed demands of the Consortium and new University specifications on compatibility which have prompted plans for a new Lan are stated. The rationale and design for the new network are presented, and suggestions for Lan planners are made.
Variation in the chemical composition of the cell walls of Bacillus subtilis during growth in different media.

DURING recent years the chemical composition of the cell wall has been used as an aid in the classification of micro-organisms1. Although differences in the composition of the cell wall have been demonstrated during growth of organisms with: (a) variable morphological forms2; (b) complex auxotrophic requirements3; (c) addition of D-amino-acids4, many investigations have not considered the variations which occur in the amino-acid and amino-sugar content of more stable stains of bacteria during the growth cycle and in response to different growth media. The results presented here demonstrate that the amino-acid and amino-sugar content of the cell wall of Bacillus subtilis varies not only with growth but is also significantly influenced by the composition of the growth medium. Furthermore, galactosamine, one of the major components of the cell wall of the highly transformable strain B. subtilus 168 I-C+, is consistently decreased when this strain is grown under conditions which do not permit the development of the capacity to bind deoxyribonucleic acid (competence). A marked decrease in galactosamine is also observed in three poorly transformable strains of B. subtilis.
Causes of bulk carbon and nitrogen isotopic fractionations in the products of vegetation burns: laboratory studies

Abstract Bulk stable isotope analysis is a means for the characterization of the sources of carbonaceous and nitrogenous material aerosols derived from biogenic sources. In order to use stable isotope techniques for characterizing the products of vegetation burns the isotope effect of combustion must be known. The C3 vegetation Colospherum mopane and Eucalyptus sp. and the C4 vegetation Cenchris cilliarus, Antephora pubesence and Saccharum officinarum, were burned under controlled conditions in the laboratory in order to better understand how the process of combustion affects the isotopic fractionation of the produced material. Carbon isotopes for aerosol particles formed during controlled laboratory burns of C3 vegetation were higher in δ 13 C by 0.5‰ compared to the source vegetation. Aerosol particles captured above the controlled laboratory burns of C4 vegetation were lower in δ 13 C by 3.5‰ compared to the source vegetation. The proposed causes for the different isotope effects shown for C3 and C4 sourced products are differences in the oxidation chemistry of these two plant types. Aerosol particulate material and ashes produced during the controlled laboratory burns of the vegetation are higher in δ 15 N than the source vegetation by 6.6‰ and 2.5‰, respectively. Furthermore, δ 15 N values for the residual material produced when Eucalyptus sp. samples were heated at discrete temperatures, suggest that different pools of nitrogenous compounds are accessed at different temperatures of heating.
The Cultural Work of Learning Disabilities

Culturally and educationally, the United States specializes in the production of kinds of persons described first by ethnic, racial, and linguistic lines and second by supposed mental abilities. Overlaps between the two systems of classification are frequent, systematically haphazard, and often deleterious. An examination of classrooms around the country shows shifting currents of concern and tension that invite the attribution of labels for mental and/or minority-group status. This article introduces a language for a cultural analysis—a language of people interpreting the interpretations of others—and pursues an example from a classroom where both the good sense and the dangers of categories for learning-disabled and minority-group status are on display.
Wireless Nerve Positional Control of Prosthetic Device

Artificial limb control is an active area of research, and the control of prosthetic devices using electromyographic (EMG) interfaces is well established. The authors have previously performed a feasibility study which demonstrated that wireless nerve control of a prosthetic device is possible. This is critical for injuries that result in the loss of muscle which prevent EMG control. The purpose of this study is to extend the authors’ current research by providing enhancements to the system designed in the feasibility study. The objective of this current study is to take simulated nerve signals and transform them into corresponding positional motion control realized by a servo motor. The system designed has four functioning blocks: artificial nerve signal generation, wireless transmitter, wireless receiver, and servo motor. The artificial nerve generator used a PIC microcontroller to simulate and apply the signals directly to the wireless transmitter. A one-byte message, that indicated when the appropriate signal characteristics were met, was wirelessly transmitted. After receiving the message, the wireless receiver sent a corresponding pulse-width modulated (PWM) signal to the servo motor for positional control. Various input signal combinations were used to test the system.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Quantal Self-Assembly of Polymer Layers in Polypeptide Multilayer Nanofilms

Simple molecular models predict key aspects of the “microscopic” assembly behavior of various peptide systems in the fabrication of multilayer films. Such films show substantial differences in density for different peptide systems. The data suggest that exponential film growth is possible in the absence of polymer diffusion and that “macroscopic” assembly behavior is more a function of peptide-peptide interactions than peptide sequence alone.
On relations between sets

With a view to future applications in relational biology, the notion of relations between sets is introduced and several theorems are demonstrated.
Using GREENSCOPE indicators for sustainable computer-aided process evaluation and design

Abstract Manufacturing sustainability can be increased by educating those who design, construct, and operate facilities, and by using appropriate tools for process evaluation and design. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's GREENSCOPE methodology and tool, for evaluation and design of chemical processes, suits these purposes. This work describes example calculations of GREENSCOPE indicators for the oxidation of toluene and puts them into context with best- and worst-case limits. Data available from the process is transformed by GREENSCOPE into understandable information which describes sustainability. An optimization is performed for various process conversions, with results indicating a maximum utility at intermediate conversions. Lower conversions release too much toluene through a purge stream; higher conversions lead to the formation of too many byproducts. Detailed results are elucidated through the context of best- and worst-case limits and graphs of total utility and GREENSCOPE indicator values, which are calculated within an optimization framework for the first time.
Management support and information security: an empirical study of Texas state agencies in the USA

Information security has been consistently rated as one of the most important management challenges that public sector organisations face. However, information security is perhaps the most understudied area of public sector information systems. This article examines the relationship between management support for information security and some of the most important issues faced in information security. This research conducted a survey of information resource managers in Texas state agencies in the USA, to examine the issue of management support for information security. Management support for information security was evident in five of six noted factors in the information security literature. Management support is a critical success factor for information security adoption, and public sector organisations should work on strategies to inform management of its importance.
Post-ablation tubal sterilization syndrome following NovaSure endometrial ablation: two case reports

Endometrial ablation procedures are extensively used for the treatment of menorrhagia on premenopausal patients who failed medical therapy. The increasing popularity of safe, effective, less invasive, nonresectoscopic global endometrial ablation procedures could potentially increase the incidence of unusual adverse outcomes. Post-ablation tubal sterilization (PATSS) is one of these delayed complications, which could be challenging to diagnose. PATSS is a complication that potentially occurs following a global endometrial ablation in women with previous tubal sterilization. PATSS presents as cyclic pelvic pain caused by tubal distention from occult bleeding into the obstructed tubes. Review of the literature shows that majority of PATSS occurred after rollerball resection and ablation. We report two cases of PATSS after NovaSure® radiofrequency endometrial ablation.
A two‐step growth curve from undisturbed cultures of Tetrahymena pyriformis

Cell counts from T. pyriformis cultures conform to a two-step logistic growth curve if such populations are left undisturbed until sampling and, sampled only once. This curve, drawn according to the integral function and confirmed by a reduced asymptote technique, displays an inflection acceleration near 5 × 103 cells/cm3 which can be explained as an effect of the onset of bioconvective fluid instability in the culture.
Cognitive Growth, Instruction, and Student Success

As Diane Zabel points out, the literature on information literacy is voluminous.1 Amidst the challenges of volume and multiple points of view, there are some astute observations, innovative approaches, and critical assessment. Of necessity, the works referred to here do not represent the expanse or the diversity of thought on information literacy, but they will offer a substantive grounding for the present study. A seemingly logical place to begin is the standards on information literacy propounded by the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL).2 These standards address the importance of identifying an information need, the skill required to use structured resources, and the critical acumen necessary to the evaluation of retrieved information. We can probably stipulate for the time being that the content of the standards is necessary, but is it sufficient? That is, are the standards and the accompanying performance indicators exhaustive with regard to the goals of an instruction program? The answer suggested here is no; there are some essential factors that are not included in the standards and that may even be at odds with some specific points articulated by ACRL. What will be presented here is an alternative conceptual framework that can be called “phenomenological cognitive action.” The framework and its name are original to this work, although some particular ideas are borrowed from a variety of philosophers and cognitive scientists. The framework is examined within the context of a newly created course, offered in the fall semester 2006 at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Since much of the course includes aspects that follow from the intent of the ACRL Standards (the necessary elements), the focus here will be on those elements that illustrate the framework.
Autonomy for Democracy in a Primary Classroom: A First Year Teacher's Struggle.

Abstract The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine how a beginning teacher's autonomous teaching beliefs were translated into classroom practice. This study revealed that the teacher had an overarching belief in autonomy as an avenue for participation in a democratic society. It was represented in her practical teaching philosophy through four interrelated themes: (1) valuing children as individuals while promoting dynamic group membership for everyone; (2) questioning students to facilitate their thinking; (3) setting clear expectations for behavior; and (4) expecting children to accept responsibility for their behavior. The teacher encountered extreme pressure to conform to the existing school culture which valued teacher-oriented practices. After the explication of this teacher's struggle and the role of critical reflection, as well as other factors, implications for first-year teachers and teacher education are discussed.
Changing health care worker behavior in relation to respiratory disease transmission with a novel training approach that uses biosimulation

Background This pilot study was conducted to determine whether supplementing standard classroom training methods regarding respiratory disease transmission with a visual demonstration could improve the use of personal protective equipment among emergency department nurses. Methods Participants included 20 emergency department registered nurses randomized into 2 groups: control and intervention. The intervention group received supplemental training using the visual demonstration of respiratory particle dispersion. Both groups were then observed throughout their work shifts as they provided care during January-March 2005. Results Participants who received supplemental visual training correctly utilized personal protective equipment statistically more often than did participants who received only the standard classroom training. Conclusion Supplementing the standard training methods with a visual demonstration can improve the use of personal protective equipment during care of patients exhibiting respiratory symptoms.
Nanostructured Biodegradable Polymer Composites Generated Using Lyotropic Liquid Crystalline Media

In tissue engineering applications the physical properties and degradation behavior of the designed synthetic scaffold are crucial for successful growth and function of desired tissue. Combining tw...
Development and fecundity of the Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hübner), reared on diets of irradiated nutmeats.

Abstract The Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella, was reared for one to four generations on irradiated diets of four kinds of nutmeats. Diets were treated with 0, 33, 66 and 100 krad of gamma radiation. Each generation was checked for fertility and fecundity. No biologically significant effects on either the numbers of progeny or their reproductive ability were found.
Accent and stereotypes: Their effect on perceptions of teachers and lecture comprehension

Abstract This study had three goals: 1) to argue that a topology of accents (British, North American English and Malaysian) based on similarity to the listener will yield different perceptions of accented teachers, 2) to assess the relationship between stereotypes and perceptions of teachers, and 3) to examine how accents affect comprehension. Results indicated that students assigned more favorable ratings to teachers with standard North American accents. Accentedness also affected comprehension. Subjects recalled more information from North American teachers than from British or Malaysian teachers. Stereotyping had no measurable effect on perception formation or comprehension.
The Future of Data Analysis

For a long time I have thought I was a statistician, interested in inferences from the particular to the general. But as I have watched mathematical statistics evolve, I have had cause to wonder and to doubt. And when I have pondered about why such techniques as the spectrum analysis of time series have proved so useful, it has become clear that their “dealing with fluctuations” aspects are, in many circumstances, of lesser importance than the aspects that would already have been required to deal effectively with the simpler case of very extensive data, where fluctuations would no longer be a problem. All in all, I have come to feel that my central interest is in data analysis, which I take to include, among other things: procedures for analyzing data, techniques for interpreting the results of such procedures, ways of planning the gathering of data to make its analysis easier, more precise or more accurate, and all the machinery and results of (mathematical) statistics which apply to analyzing data.