cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Significance of the amyloidogenic transthyretin Val 122 Ile allele in African Americans in the Arteriosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) and Cardiovascular Health (CHS) Studies.

Background Many African Americans carry an amyloidogenic transthyretin mutation (TTR V122I), with a high risk for cardiac TTR amyloid deposition after the age of 65 years. We wished to determine the allele frequency and its clinical penetrance in community-dwelling African Americans. Methods Five thousand consenting African Americans, aged 41 to 93 years, in 2 community studies of cardiovascular risk (CHS and ARIC) were included in the study. The following were performed: genotyping of banked DNA for TTR V122I allele status and review of cardiovascular and demographic parameters in CHS and ARIC databases, with statistical comparisons of the frequency of congestive heart failure, survival, and occurrence of features of cardiac amyloidosis in carriers of the amyloidogenic allele and controls. Results One hundred nineteen (3.23%) of 3,712 ARIC and 17 (2.12%) of 805 CHS African Americans carried TTR V122I. After the age of 65 years (CHS), the frequencies of congestive heart failure (38% vs 15%, relative risk 2.62, P = .04) and mortality (76% vs 53%, relative risk 1.46, P = .08) were higher in V122I allele carriers than in age-, gender- and ethnically matched controls. In ARIC (all subjects Conclusions Heterozygosity for the amyloidogenic TTR V122I mutation is relatively common in community-dwelling African Americans. Before the age of 65 years, the allele has no discernible impact on cardiac function or mortality. After the age of 70 years, carriers show a higher frequency of congestive failure and greater mortality with more echocardiographic evidence suggestive of cardiac amyloidosis, findings consistent with age-dependent clinical penetrance of this autosomal dominant gene.
Experimental Platforms for Computational Photography

In this article, take a look at the lack of experimental platforms for computational photography (that is, cameras that are programmable), and talk about one possible solution-the Frankencamera architecture designed in the laboratory at Stanford as part of our Camera 2.0 project.
A study of the airline boarding problem

Abstract The airline industry is currently under intense pressure to simultaneously increase efficiency, customer satisfaction, and profitability. The boarding process is one way to achieve this objective as it lends itself to adaptive changes. The purpose of this paper is to determine the most cost-effective way to board passengers and still maintain quality and customer satisfaction. We conclude that the best strategy is to use a non-traditional methodology of outside-in or some modification thereof. The findings suggest that airline managers should consider issues related to evenly distributing boarding activity throughout the aircraft, developing more effective policies for managing carry-on luggage, and using simultaneous loading through two doors.
Six uneventful years with a pacing lead in the left ventricle.

A 61-year-old asymptomatic man was referred to our institution for surgical repair of an aortic root aneurysm. His medical history was significant for mechanical aortic valve replacement 9 years ago, subsequent long-term anticoagulation, and dual-chamber pacemaker implantation for heart block 6 years ago. A preoperative electrocardiogram (Figure 1A) showed a right bundle branch block pattern of paced beats that raised the suspicion of lead malposition in the left ventricle (LV). Lateral (Figure 1B) and posteroanterior (Figure 1C) chest radiography further suggested the diagnosis. On the lateral chest radiography, the ventricular lead (arrow) appeared to
Could primordial black holes be the source of the cosmic ray antiprotons

Antiprotons (p) are expected to be found in the cosmic rays at the level of ∼10−4 relative to protons (p) as they should be produced by cosmic-ray proton collisions with the interstellar medium1–3. The recent observations of Buffington et al.4 are puzzling, however, because the total p flux observed is ∼10 times larger than predicted, and the shape of the p spectrum differs greatly from that predicted. We explore here the possibility that primordial black holes (PBHs) of mass ∼1013 – 1015 g which evaporated after decoupling (t≳1014 s) are the primary source of the cosmic ray ps. The PBH scenario predicts a universal p/p ratio of ∼10−4–10−8.
Comparison of the surface chemical reactivity of hafnium diboride and hafnium

Abstract The surface chemistry of the Hf terminated hafnium diboride surface is compared with the surface chemistry of Hf metal. The HfB2 surface was prepared by growing an epitaxial film of HfB2 on top of a Hf(0001) single crystal substrate. Previous experiments demonstrated that the epitaxial film has the same surface properties as a HfB2(0001) single crystal. The reactivity of the Hf and HfB2 surfaces toward carbon monoxide, diborane, and 1,2-dicarba-closo-dodecaborane were studied with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and reflection absorption IR spectroscopy. It was found that the two surfaces display distinctly different surface chemical properties.
Multi-Vehicle Cooperative Search with Uncertain Prior Information

We present a possible solution for the multi-vehicle cooperative search problem that is based on the idea of surrogate optimization to adaptively identify a terrain map on-line and use it to produce decentralized controllers yielding trajectories in a coordinated manner. We establish a discrete mathematical model for the multi-vehicle cooperative search stationary target with uncertain prior information. We reformulate the Past, Present and Predicted Future (PPP) algorithm we introduced in previous work based on the new model and propose an implementation to adapt to the new scenario to incorporate uncertain prior information. Monte Carlo simulations indicate that the new implementation achieves better performance. Moreover, the scalability of the PPP algorithm is addressed.
Magnetoexciton dispersion in graphene bilayers embedded in a dielectric

A study of the magnetoexciton binding energy in graphene bilayers embedded in a dielectric is presented. The calculations are based on the relativistic Bethe-Salpeter equation assuming a strong magnetic field regime where the lowest Landau-level approximation takes place. It is shown that in graphene bilayer structures the magnetoexciton mass (binding energy) is four times lower (higher) than the corresponding magnetoexciton mass (binding energy) in coupled quantum wells with parabolic dispersion.
Energetic particle orbits in the National Spherical Tokamak Experiment

The trajectories of neutral beam injected energetic ions in spherical tokamaks are examined. The large poloidal magnetic field in the outboard region of spherical tokamaks causes neutral beam injected ions to be born on trapped orbits even with cotangential injection. Numerical solutions to the equations for particle motion and for guiding center drifts are compared in several magnetic equilibria for a range of particle initial conditions. Even when rL/a∼1/4 the guiding center orbits closely resemble the path of the instantaneous center of gyration of the particle motion; exceptions occur primarily for orbits near the trapped/passing boundary. Finite Larmor radius effects are included in guiding center simulations of prompt orbit loss in the National Spherical Tokamak Experiment (NSTX) [J. Spitzer et al., Fusion Technol. 30, 1337 (1996)]. Orbit loss in the NSTX is caused primarily by collisions with the close fitting conducting shell, and severe losses would be expected with counter directed injection. Wh...
Misconduct versus Honest Error and Scientific Disagreement

Researchers sometimes mistakenly accuse their peers of misconduct. It is important to distinguish between misconduct and honest error or a difference of scientific opinion to prevent unnecessary and time-consuming misconduct proceedings, protect scientists from harm, and avoid deterring researchers from using novel methods or proposing controversial hypotheses. While it is obvious to many researchers that misconduct is different from a scientific disagreement or simply an inadvertent mistake in methods, analysis or misinterpretation of data, applying this distinction to real cases is sometimes not easy. Because the line between misconduct and honest error or a scientific dispute is often unclear, research organizations and institutions should distinguish between misconduct and honest error and scientific disagreement in their policies and practices. These distinctions should also be explained during educational sessions on the responsible conduct of research and in the mentoring process. When researchers wrongfully accuse their peers of misconduct, it is important to help them understand the distinction between misconduct and honest error and differences of scientific judgment or opinion, pinpoint the source of disagreement, and identify the relevant scientific norms. They can be encouraged to settle the dispute through collegial discussion and dialogue, rather than a misconduct allegation.
Numerical Analysis of Eddy Viscosity Models in Supersonic Turbulent Boundary Layers

Three multilayer eddy viscosity models by Herring-Mellor, Cebeci-Smith-Mosinskis, and Maise-McDonald are compared in this investigation. The aforementioned models were incorporated into an implicit finite difference numerical scheme for compressible turbulent boundary layers. Calculations were performed over Mach number ranges of approximately 0 to 4.55 with the Reynolds number spanning the range of 4 x 106 to 1.41 x 109 for zero pressure gradient and adiabatic wall. All selected viscosity models produced comparable results and provided excellent agreement with the experimental measurements. The calculated results revealed the dominant nature of the viscous sublayer while modifications in the law of the wake region exhibited a relatively mild influence on the numerical solutions.
Local vs. global covert visual attention: Are two states necessary? Comment on Liechty et al., 2003

Liechty, Pieters, and Wedel (2003) report an eye-tracking experiment that is taken to support the distinction between two states of covert visual attention: local versus global. We discuss several logical problems with this dichotomy and their experiment, and then provide an alternate account of their data using a model, E-Z Reader, that requires only a single attention state.
Selective induction of parturition in cattle

Abstract Sixty pregnant beef cows 2 to 10 yrs of age were assigned to a control or treated group. Treated cows received 3.5 mg of flumethasone at 1600 hrs on each consecutive Monday, beginning 20 to 2 days prior to expected term and continuing until parturition occurred. Cows were successfully induced with 1, 2 or 3 treatments of flumethasone. Cows requiring 2 or more treatments (7 days apart) to induce parturition had parturition limited to only 2 days a week. Induction treatments resulted in: shorter gestations (P=.001); no reduction in birth weights; no increase in calving difficulty; improved calf vigor (P=.058) and increased incidence of retained placenta (P=.024).
Methods for estimating epidemiological effects of quantitative resistance to plant diseases.

A model developed by R.C. Lewontin relating rate of population increase to key parameters of the organism's fecundity curve is described and adapted for use with plant pathogenic fungi. For diseases such as cereal rusts, rice blast, and powdery mildew and downy mildew of cucumber, the sporulation curves for the pathogens have been shown to follow an approximately triangular pattern. In the Lewontin model the key features of the pattern are: A, the time from inoculation to first sporulation (i.e. latent period); T, the time of peak spore production per day; W, the time at which sporulation ceases; and S, the area of the triangle (total reproduction per generation). For exponential increase, the values of A, T, W, and S are related to r 1, the rate of population increase, according to the following equation: $$\begin{gathered} \gamma ^2 (W - A)/2S = [(e^{ - rA} - e^{ - rT} )/(T - A)] \hfill \\ {\text{ + }}[(e^{ - rW} - e^{ - rT} )/(W - T)] \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ This equation was used to generate families of curves showing effects on r 1 of changes in the position of the triangle (altering latent period) or area (altering reproduction per generation). Data for barley leaf rust, oat crown rust, wheat leaf rust, wheat stem rust, rice blast, cucumber downy mildew, and cucumber powdery mildew were analyzed according to the model to show the effects of different components of resistance on r 1 for each disease. Predictions from the model for barley leaf rust were compared with published data for components of resistance and rates of disease increase for eight barley cultivars. For cultivars of similar crop canopy type (two cultivars sparse; six cultivars, dense canopies), the predicted r 1 values closely corresponded to observed values. Applications of the model to cultivar mixtures and to integrated control (involving protectant fungicides in combination with quantitative resistance) are also discussed.
Construction industry in developing countries

Abstract This paper provides a review of the construction capability available in the developing countries to meet the demand for shelter. It discusses the role of construction in the process of development and its importance to economic growth. It considers the issues facing the growth of a viable indigenous construction industry in the developing world within the context of the activities involved in the creation of constructed facilities – planning, design, construction and maintenance; it also examines the environment within which the industry has developed. For each construction activity the paper reviews available capabilities, the various resources needed for the development of an indigenous industry, and some possible means of accommodating these needs.
The effects of clonidine on EEG wavebands associated with sleep in the rat

Clonidine was studied for its efffects in rats on the occurence of several EEG waves that characterize the sleep/waking cycle. Intraperitoneal administration of the drug (0.001–0.1 mg/kg) at the onset of the daily light period induced low frequency (4–7 Hz) rhythmical slow activity (RSA), and suppressed delta-wave occurrence. These effects were more prominent with increasing dose. Clonidine also had a biphasic effect on spindles: at low doses it suppressed, while at high doses it enhanced spindle occurrence. These effects could not be characterized as modifications in any of the classical sleep stages. A clearly non-classical state was induced by the clonidine in these studies. These results suggest that in rat, effects of clonidine cannot simply be interpreted as an alteration in one or more of the classically-defined sleep states.
Non-Linear Behaviour of Foam Cores and Sandwich Materials, Part 2: Indentation and Three-Point Bending

This paper validates and applies a modelling procedure for analysing the non-linear behaviour of structures made of foams or sandwich materials with foam cores, subjected to mechanical loading. Modelling considers the non-linear behaviour of foam cores and permits the investigation of the fracture processes induced in the foam cores, in the skin layers or at the interfaces between the foam cores and the skins. Results deduced from the modelling procedure are compared with the experimental results obtained first in the case of indentation tests performed on foams and sandwich materials with foam cores and next in the case of foam sandwich materials subjected to three-point bending tests.
Automatic computer-compatible digital data acquistion system for amino acid analysis

Abstract A simple data logging system is described. This system digitizes analog signals from an amino acid analyzer and records the data on a seventrack incremental digital tape recorder for subsequent processing by a central computer. Provisions have been made for sign and overrange indications as well as for automatic generation of interrecord gaps and, when changing samples automatically, of end-of-file marks on the tapes.
MgO-Supported Rh6 and Ir6: Structural Characterization during the Catalysis of Ethene Hydrogenation

We report a comparison of MgO-supported Rh 6 and MgO-supported Ir 6 as catalysts for ethene hydrogenation. The catalysts were prepared by decarbonylation of hexanuclear metal carbonyl precursors on the support. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure and infrared spectroscopies were used to characterize the structures of the working catalysts and the adsorbates formed on them during catalysis. The data identify the octahedral clusters as the catalytically active species. Supported Rh 6 is 1-2 orders of magnitude more active than supported Ir 6 for ethene hydrogenation; this difference in activity is consistent with that observed for conventional rhodium and iridium catalysts consisting of bulklike particles of metal on SiO 2 . The results demonstrate that the influence of metal composition on catalytic activity extends from quasi-molecular metal clusters to metallic particles.
Maternal investment mediates offspring life history variation with context‐dependent fitness consequences

Maternal effects, such as per capita maternal investment, often interact with environmental conditions to strongly affect traits expressed early in ontogeny. However, their impact on adult life history traits and fitness components is relatively unknown. Theory predicts that lower per capita maternal investment will have strong fitness costs when the offspring develop in unfavorable conditions, yet few studies have experimentally manipulated per capita maternal investment and followed offspring through adulthood. We used a surgical embryonic yolk removal technique to investigate how per capita maternal investment interacted with an important ecological factor, larval density, to mediate offspring life history traits through reproductive maturity in an amphibian, Ambystoma talpoideum. We predicted that increased larval density would reinforce the life history variation induced by differences in per capita investment (i.e., Controls vs. Reduced Yolk), with Reduced larvae ultimately expressing traits associated with lower fitness than Controls when raised at high densities. We found that Reduced individuals were initially smaller and more developed, caught up in size to Controls within the first month of the larval stage, but were smaller at the end of the larval stage in low densities. Reduced individuals also were more likely to undergo metamorphosis at high densities and mature 'females invested in more eggs for their body sizes than Controls. Together, our results do not support our hypothesis, but instead indicate that Reduced individuals express traits associated with higher fitness when they develop in high-density environments, but lower fitness in low-density environments. The observed life history and fitness patterns are consistent with the "maternal match" hypothesis, which predicts that when the maternal environment (e.g., high density) results in phenotypic variation that is transmitted to the offspring (e.g., reduced per capita yolk investment), and offspring face that same environment (e.g., high larval density), the fitness of both mother and offspring is maximized.
Heavy metals in tissues of stranded short-finned pilot whales.

Abstract Selected tissues from four short-finned pilot whales that stranded at Cumberland Island National Seashore were analyzed for total cadmium, mercury and selenium by neutron activation. Cadmium reached a maximum mean wet weight concentration of 31.4 ppm in the kidney tissues. Maximum mean wet weight concentrations of mercury, 230.9 ppm, and selenium, 44.2 ppm, were found in the liver tissues. The lowest concentration of each metal was found in the blubber. Postmortem examination showed that the whales had no food in their stomachs. The whales must have been utilizing metabolic reserves, contaminated with residual concentrations of heavy metals, prior to beaching. This utilization of reserves probably resulted in the high concentrations of cadmium, mercury and selenium found in the liver and kidney tissues. Since the heavy metal concentrations were three to four times greater in the stranded whales, as compared to apparently healthy whales of the same species, it is suggested that heavy metal toxicosis may have been a factor contributing to this particular stranding.
Zeeman coherence and quantum beats in ultrafast photon echoes of N-V centers in diamond

Ultrafastphoton echo experimentsrevealhighlymodulated quantum beats in nitrogen-vacancycentersin diamond, providingdirect measurementsof excitedstate splittingsfor the first time.Wealso confirmthe existenceof newpeaks in echo excitationspectra and report novel polarization dependentinterferences.
Effect of periodate oxidation on the detection of antibodies against the M-antigen of histoplasmin by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) inhibition

An enzyme immunoassay (EIA) inhibition method was devised that detects antibodies against the M-factor, a major protein antigen in histoplasmin. Purified M-factor still contains a large amount of a carbohydrate antigen impurity, but this can be inactivated by periodate oxidation. The resulting product improves the performance of the EIA to detect anti-M by (a) giving a more specific measurement, (b) increasing the percent inhibition in sera that contain antibodies to M-factor, and (c) increasing the precision in measuring negative reactions. An inhibition of 20% or greater is recommended for recording a result as positive.
Charge- and Angular-Correlated Inelasticities in MeV/Nucleon Ion-Atom Collisions

Using an Elbek high-resolution magnetic spectrograph, we measured energy loss an angular distributions of MeV/nucleon projectile ions in coincidence with target recoil-ion charge state. We investigated collisions of 10 and 20 MeV C/sup 6 +/ on He, Ne, Ar, and Kr where the target atom is multiply ionized and the projectile emerges in charge state q or q-1. The amount of energy transferred to the continuum electrons exceeds, by far, the sum of the values of the ionization potentials and shows a strong target Z dependence. Both an n-body classical-trajectory Monte Carlo method (nCTMC) and an energy deposition model are used for comparison with the experimental data. 12 refs., 3 figs.
Enzyme systems in Tetrahymena geleii S. IV. Combination of arsonoacetate with carboxyl affinity points on the succinic dehydrogenase.

Summary o 1. Arsonoacetate competetively inhibits the succinic dehydrogenase activity of the protozoon Tetrahymena geleii S. The inhibitor acts by combining with carboxyl affinity points on the enzyme surface; sulfhydryl groupings are not affected. 2. The quinquevalent arsonoacetate, and not a reduced, trivalent arseno compound, is the active inhibitor. 3. The inhibitor does not affect the activity of succinic dehydrogenase obtained from rat heart, kidney, liver, brain or muscle.
Evaluation of a pilot medication therapy management project within the North Carolina State Health Plan.

Abstract Objective To assess the feasibility of a pharmacist-based medication therapy management (MTM) service for North Carolina State Health Plan enrollees. Design Before/after design with two control groups. Setting Community pharmacies and an ambulatory care clinic in North Carolina serving patients from October 2004 to March 2005. Participants 67 patients who used a large number of prescription drugs, 10 community/ambulatory care pharmacists, and more than 600 participants from two control groups. Interventions Pharmacist-conducted MTM reviews for volunteering patients. Main outcome measures Process measures (type and frequency of drug therapy problems detected and services performed), economic measures (number and cost of medications dispensed), and humanistic measures (patient satisfaction with services). Results Pharmacists identified an average of 3.6 potential drug therapy problems (PDTPs) per patient at the first visit. The most common PDTP categories were "potential underuse" and "more cost-effective drug available." Pharmacist actions were divided nearly equally between activities that would result in increased and decreased drug use. Pharmacists recommended a drug therapy change in about 50% of patients and contacted the prescriber more than 85% of the time. About 50% of patients with PDTPs had a change in drug therapy. Prescription use during the postintervention period decreased in both the study and control groups but was statistically significant only among the control groups. No significant differences were observed in patient co-payment or insurer prescription costs. Pharmacists provided the following educational services: medication use (90%), disease management (88%), adherence, and self-care (60%). Survey results indicated that patients highly valued the service. Conclusion A voluntary MTM program targeted at ambulatory patients using a large number of medications reduced the number of PDTPs but did not necessarily result in reductions in prescription drug use or cost. Nearly all patients received some form of medication adherence or disease education associated with problem detection and resolution. Patient satisfaction levels with the service were very high.
Resistance to plant viruses: Obtaining genes by non-conventional approaches

Plant viruses cause considerable losses to crops and none of the three current approaches to disease control are likely to give the long-term answer. The new concept of non-conventional protection, in which the expression of a viral or virus-related sequence in the plant genome interferes with the virus infection cycle, holds considerable promise for designing new resistance or protection ‘genes’. A series of targets in the viral genome is identified and a range of mechanisms for attacking those targets is discussed. There are several current systems which have been proved to give protection, at least to a certain extent, and many systems which are being researched upon for the future. Some of these are described to give a picture of the current situation and of the thinking for the future. The problems of field deployment of the transgenic plants are discussed, especially those associated with the risk to the environment. Various questions which molecular biologists and plant breeders will have to consider include what are desirable characters to have in protection ‘genes’ and how these new ’genes’ should be deployed.
Endoscopic versus traditional saphenous vein harvesting: a prospective, randomized trial

Abstract Background . Saphenous vein harvested with a traditional longitudinal technique often results in leg wound complications. An alternative endoscopic harvest technique may decrease these complications. Methods . One hundred twelve patients scheduled for elective coronary artery bypass grafting were prospectively randomized to have vein harvested using either an endoscopic (group A, n=54) or traditional technique (group B, n=58). Groups A and B, respectively, were similar with regard to length of vein harvested (41 ± 8 cm versus 40 ± 14 cm), bypasses done (4.1 ± 1.1 versus 4.2 ± 1.4), age, preoperative risk stratification, and risks for wound complication (diabetes, sex, obesity, preoperative anemia, hypoalbuminemia, and peripheral vascular disease). Results . Leg wound complications were significantly ( p ≤ 0.02) reduced in group A (4% [2 of 51] versus 19% [11 of 58]). Univariate analysis identified traditional incision ( p ≤ 0.02) and diabetes ( p ≤ 0.05) as wound complication risk factors. Multiple logistic regression analysis identified only the traditional harvest technique as a risk factor for leg wound complications with no significant interaction between harvest technique and any preoperative risk factor ( p ≤ 0.03). Harvest rate (0.9 ± 0.4 cm/min versus 1.2 ± 0.5 cm/min) was slower for group A ( p ≤ 0.02) and conversion from endoscopic to a traditional harvest occurred in 5.6% (3 of 54) of patients. Conclusions . In a prospective, randomized trial, saphenous vein harvested endoscopically was associated with fewer wound complications than the traditional longitudinal method.
Charge-density wave and magnetoresistance anomaly in graphite

The magnetoresistance of graphite exhibits a sharp increase at a certain critical field ${H}_{c}$ (${H}_{c}\ensuremath{\ge}22$ T), where ${H}_{c}$ is sensitive to temperature. This anomaly was ascribed to the formation of an electronic charge density wave by Yoshioka and Fukuyama (YF). To obtain an expression of ${H}_{c}$ versus $T$, it is very important to estimate the screening constant of the Coulomb interaction beyond the Thomas-Fermi approximation which was employed in YF theory. By introducing the non---Thomas-Fermi term in the screening constant we can obtain an expression for ${H}_{c}$ versus $T$ which is in good agreement with the observed results. The Hamiltonian is diagonalized by using a decoupling procedure in the Hartree-Fock scheme. With the use of these results, the transverse magnetoresistance is calculated, and the calculation describes the qualitative features of the observed results.
Determination of pharmaceutical compounds in aqueous dimethyl sulfoxide by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

Standard solutions of reserpine, dextromethorphan, imipramine and amitriptyline in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), DMSO containing 0.1% formic acid, and DMSO/H2O (1:1, v/v) containing 0.1% formic acid were analyzed by positive electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). A triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer equipped with a TurboIonspray (TIS) interface was used for the ESI-MS analyses. The samples dissolved in the respective DMSO solution were infused directly into the mass spectrometer at 10 μL/min using an infusion pump. The positive Q1 full-scan (m/z 50–650) mass spectrum of DMSO (MW = 78) showed three main peaks at m/z 79, 101 and 179, corresponding to the protonated molecule [DMSO+H]+, and the sodiated adducts [DMSO+Na]+ and [2DMSO+Na]+, respectively. The ESI of the compounds in DMSO and DMSO containing 0.1% formic acid was promoted by using the TIS gas (GS2) combined with the nebulizer gas (GS1), and TIS source temperature set to 250°C. In contrast, samples dissolved in DMSO/H2O (1:1, v/v) containing 0.1% formic were sprayed at a lower temperature (100°C) using only the nebulizer gas. The TIS voltage (V) was optimized in order to establish the lowest voltage necessary to achieve optimum ESI of each pharmaceutical compound with the voltage maintained below the onset potential required to produce a corona discharge at the TIS probe (sprayer). Detection limits of 10 ng/mL were achieved for reserpine, dextromethorphan, imipramine and amitriptyline in each solvent composition. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Flamespread Variability of Candidate Wood-Based Reference Materials

We determined the flamespread variability of four wood composite panel products that were being considered as possible standard reference material. We examined the effect of density, moisture content, heating rate, thermal conduc tivity, and specific heat on this variability. Of these, density has the greatest ef fect on variability. Of the four types of materials tested, material C had one of the smallest density variabilities. We recommend that this material be used in ASTM E 84 tests to establish its use as a standard reference material for flame spread tests, and that material selection and statistical design procedures outlined in this paper be followed.
Development of a fulcrum methodology to replicate the lateral ankle sprain mechanism and measure dynamic inversion speed

When the ankle is forced into inversion, the speed at which this movement occurs may affect the extent of injury. The purpose of this investigation was to develop a fulcrum device to mimic the mechanism of a lateral ankle sprain and to determine the reliability and validity of the temporal variables produced by this device. Additionally, this device was used to determine if a single previous lateral ankle sprain or ankle taping effected the time to maximum inversion and/or mean inversion speed. Twenty-six participants (13 with history of a single lateral ankle sprain and 13 with no history of injury) completed the testing. The participants completed testing on three separate days, performing 10 trials with the fulcrum per leg on each testing day, and tape was applied to both ankles on one testing day. No significant interactions or main effects were found for either previous injury or ankle taping, but good reliability was found for time to maximum inversion (ICC = .81) and mean inversion speed (ICC = .79...
On the Inverse Classification Problem and its Applications

In this paper, we discuss the inverse classification problem, in which we desire to define the features of an incomplete record in such a way that will result in a desired class label. Such an approach is useful in applications in which it is an objective to determine a set of actions to be taken in order to guide the data mining application towards a desired solution. This system can be used for a variety of decision support applications which have pre-determined task criteria.
Development of a time-resolved immunofluorometric assay for quantitation of mucosal and systemic antibody responses

We developed a solid phase immunoassay that measured mucosal and systemic antibody responses from mice inoculated with either a staphylococcal enterotoxin B vaccine (SEBv) or noninfectious virus-like particles (VLP) of lentiviral origin. The assay used time-resolved fluorescence (TRF) with affinity-purified goat anti-mouse IgA and IgG conjugated to samarium and europium chelates, respectively. By employing these fluorogenic conjugates with different spectral emissions, IgA and IgG specific for SEB or VLP were readily detected in serum and saliva from mice inoculated intranasally. The TRF assay detected antigen-specific IgA in saliva 10 min after the addition of enhancement solution, while a conventional alkaline phosphatase-based assay for salivary IgA required 18 h after substrate addition. The TRF assay also provided a significantly higher signal-to-noise ratio and exhibited greater sensitivity. TRF assays detected both IgA and IgG in the same well, thereby reducing sample and reagent requirements.
Improved yield of Bridgman grown AgGaSe2 crystals using shaped crucibles

Abstract Precision tapered fused quartz growth ampoules and controlled seeding have made possible the growth of high quality AgGaSe2 boules in both circular and square cross-section. From square cross-section boules, cutting yields in the manufacture of 1 cm2 optical crystals are significantly higher than from circular cross-section boules. A relatively simple vacuum-forming technique has been developed to fabricate the circular and square cross-section fused quartz growth ampoules required with precise dimensional control.
Jamming-Resistant Communication: Channel Surfing without Negotiation

Channel surfing is an effective method to prevent jamming attacks in wireless communications. In traditional channel surfing schemes, two parties have to negotiate beforehand, in order to agree on the channel switching sequence. However, the negotiation process itself is vulnerable to jamming attacks. In this paper, we propose a novel channel surfing method without relying on such negotiation. Taking advantage of the reciprocity of the wireless fading channel, our method switches channels according to the random channel states observed by the two parties during their communication. Therefore, it does not introduce any extra communication overhead and can achieve strong security. To evaluate our method, we carry out extensive experiments using off-the-shelf 802.11 devices in a real indoor environment. Experimental results validate the efficiency and security of our method.
Parallel pathways for spectral coding in primate retina.

The primate retina is an exciting focus in neuroscience, where recent data from molecular genetics, adaptive optics, anatomy, and physiology, together with measures of human visual performance, are converging to provide new insights into the retinal origins of color vision. Trichromatic color vision begins when the image is sampled by short- (S), middle- (M) and long- (L) wavelength-sensitive cone pho- toreceptors. Diverse retinal cell types combine the cone signals to create separate luminance, red-green, and blue-yellow pathways. Each pathway is associated with distinctive retinal architectures. Thus a blue-yellow pathway originates in a bistratified ganglion cell type and associated interneurons that combine excitation from S cones and inhibition from L and M cones. By contrast, a red-green pathway, in which signals from L and M cones are opposed, is associated with the specialized anatomy of the primate fovea, in which the "midget" ganglion cells receive dominant excitatory input from a single L or M cone.
THE COMPETITIVE POSITION OF SOUTHERN COMMODITIES IN INTERNATIONAL MARKETS: A SYNOPSIS

International markets have been important to Southern agriculture since the 17th century. During that early period, the colonization of the South was primarily oriented to the production of such crops as rice, tobacco, forest products, and cotton for export to Europe (McPherson and Langham). In more recent times, the South has also been an important source of exports of wheat, corn, and soybeans.
Is the outer Solar System chaotic

One-sentence summary: Current observational uncertainty in the positions of the Jovian planets precludes deciding whether or not the outer Solar System is chaotic. 100 word technical summary: The existence of chaos in the system of Jovian planets has been in question for the past 15 years. Various investigators have found Lyapunov times ranging from about 5 millions years upwards to infinity, with no clear reason for the discrepancy. In this paper, we resolve the issue. The position of the outer planets is known to only a few parts in 10 million. We show that, within that observational uncertainty, there exist Lyapunov timescales in the full range listed above. Thus, the “true” Lyapunov timescale of the outer Solar System cannot be resolved using current observations. 100 word summary for general public: The orbits of the inner planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars) are practically stable in the sense that none of them will collide or be ejected from the Solar System for the next few billion years. However, their orbits are chaotic in the sense that we cannot predict their angular positions within those stable orbits for more than about 20 million years. The picture is less clear for the outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune). Again their orbits are practically stable, but it is not known for how long we can accurately predict their positions within those orbits.
Adrenomedullin: An Autocrine/Paracrine Factor for Cardiorenal Protection

Since 1993, with the discovery of adrenomedullin (AM) by Kitamura and coworkers,1 we have gained many insights into the biology of this new peptide. Although AM was originally found in human pheochromocytoma, preproAM gene expression and its immunoreactivity are widely distributed in humans and rodents and found in cardiovascular tissues, kidney, digestive organs, nervous system, and tumor cells.2–4⇓⇓ While this ubiquitous AM distribution has prompted many investigators to clarify the role of AM, we advance the concept that the role of endogenous AM is especially important in cardiovascular and renal homeostasis. We now know that AM circulates in plasma and is present in organs and tissues with increases in AM activity in heart failure, hypertension, and renal dysfunction.5,6⇓ Although AM synthesis may be mainly regulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and cytokines, it has been reported that hormones, as well as physical stimuli, stimulate AM synthesis in smooth muscle cells (SMCs), endothelial cells (ECs), and cardiomyocytes.7–12⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓ It is also accepted that AM has multiple functional properties linked to intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) elevation. Indeed, exogenous AM administration induces vasodilation and natriuresis with cAMP elevation, resulting in beneficial cardiorenal response in humans with heart failure.13 Although AM was originally found by monitoring cAMP elevation in platelets,1 supporting a key role for cAMP, it has been reported that the nitric oxide (NO)-cGMP pathway also contributes to actions of …
Submerged Shorelines and Shelves in the Hawaiian Islands and a Revision of Some of the Eustatic Emerged Shorelines

The paper presents new C 14 and uranium series dates on Oahu and their bearing on the dating of fluctuations of sea level due to glacioeustatisin during the Wisconsinan. The −60- and −120-ft shorelines are shown to be Wisconsinan. Scuba and submersible diving has made it possible to study the submerged shorelines. Some of the submerged shorelines are notches in vertical cliffs and were not previously found by detailed soundings. The −350-ft shelf, previously thought to be a drowned wave-cut platform, proved to be a drowned coral reef. Shorelines and drowned reefs indicate stillstands below sea level at 15, 30, 60, 80, 120, 150, 185, 205, 240±, 350, 1,200 to 1,800, and 3,000 to 3,600 ft. Those above −450 ft are thought to be glacioeustatic. Those below −450 ft are the result of subsidence.
Hemodynamics associated with breathing through an inspiratory impedance threshold device in human volunteers.

Abstract : Objective: Increased negative intrathoracic pressure during spontaneous inspiration through an impedance threshold device (ITD) causes elevated arterial blood pressure in humans. This study was performed to determine whether the acute increase in blood pressure induced by breathing through an ITD is associated with increased stroke volume and cardiac output. Design: Randomized, blinded, controlled trial. Setting: Laboratory. Subjects: Ten women and ten men. Interventions: We measured hemodynamic and respiratory responses during two separate ITD conditions: 1) breathing through a face mask with an ITD (impedance of 6 cm H 2 O [0.59 kPa]) and 2) breathing through the same face mask with a sham ITD (control). Stroke volume was measured by thoracic bioimpedance. Measurements and Main Results: Compared with the control condition, ITD produced higher stroke volume (124 + or - 3 vs. 137 + or - 3 mL; p = .013), heart rate (63 + or - 3 vs. 68 3 beats/min; p = .049), cardiac output (7.69 vs. 9.34 L/min; p = .001), and systolic blood pressure (115 + or - 2 to 122 + or - 2 mm Hg [15.33 + or - 0.3 to 16.26 + or - 0.3 kPa]; p = .005) without affecting expired minute ventilation (6.2 + or - 0.4 to 6.5 + or - 0.4 L/min; p = .609). Conclusions: Breathing with an ITD at relatively low impedance increases systolic blood pressure by increasing stroke volume and cardiac output. The ITD may provide short-term protection against cardiovascular collapse induced by orthostatic stress or hemorrhage.
Sensorless Control of the Doubly-Fed Induction Generator for Wind Energy Generations Using a Speed-Adaptive Full-Order Flux Observer

In this paper, a speed-adaptive full-order flux observer for sensorless vector control of doubly-fed induction generators (DFIGs) is proposed. The observer is a simulation of the full-order electrical model of DFIGs with feedback of the rotor current estimation error and a speed adaptation loop. The observer gains are selected based on a stability analysis and validated by the linearized closed-loop observer model. Simulation results demonstrate desired steady-state and dynamic performance of this sensorless control approach for DFIG-based variable speed wind turbines.
The Use of BMI in the Clinical Setting

BMI has been recommended for evaluating overweight and obesity in children and adolescents in the clinical setting. Definitions of overweight and obesity are based on percentile cutoff points. There are both strengths and limitations of BMI for this use. The strengths include the fact that BMI is cheap and relatively easy to use. The weaknesses include the fact that BMI percentiles are not widely used, and categorization of BMI percentiles may not adequately define risk of comorbid conditions. In addition, percentiles are not optimal for stratifying children and adolescents with very high BMI. Alternatives to the use of BMI and BMI percentiles include waist circumference to evaluate regional fat deposition and replacement of percentiles with z scores. Despite limitations, BMI and BMI percentiles have great utility in the clinical setting and the potential to be even more useful as BMI is used more frequently and more appropriately by primary care providers. Additional research on alternatives or adjuncts to BMI is needed.
THE INFORMATION USED TO JUDGE SUPPORTIVENESS DEPENDS ON WHETHER THE JUDGMENT REFLECTS THE PERSONALITY OF PERCEIVERS, THE OBJECTIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF TARGETS, OR THEIR UNIQUE RELATIONSHIPS

Abstract People who judge their relationships as more supportive enjoy better mental health than people who judge their relationships more negatively. We investigated how people made these judgments; specifically, how people weighed different types of information about targets under three different conditions: when judgments reflected the personality of perceivers, the objective characteristics of targets, and the unique relationships between perceivers and targets. Participants (i.e., perceivers) judged the same four videotaped targets on personality, similarity to perceivers and likely supportiveness. As in previous research, perceivers based their judgments on perceived target similarity to perceivers, and on target personality. However, how perceivers weighed personality and similarity information varied dramatically depending upon whether the judgment reflected the personality of perceivers, the objective characteristics of targets, or the relationship between perceivers and targets. Implications for...
Modeling the Impact of Inclement Weather on Freeway Traffic Speed at Macroscopic and Microscopic Levels

Inclement weather conditions, such as snowy and icy conditions, could have major impacts on driver behavior and on the performance of surface transportation systems. Recently, researchers have had an increased interest in understanding this impact better as well as in modeling it. This study contributes to the emerging literature in the impact of snowy and icy conditions on traffic and driver behavior by modeling the impact of inclement weather on freeway traffic speed, at both the macroscopic and microscopic levels, with data from Buffalo, New York. At the macroscopic level, freeway speed data observed on a Buffalo section of the New York State Thruway were correlated to a set of weather indices introduced by the study; the result was a regression model that could be used to estimate the average freeway speed as a function of weather conditions. At the microscopic level, the study was the first attempt to calibrate a cellular-automata traffic simulation model, specifically, the TRANSIMS model, to inclement weather (i.e., snowy) conditions. For the calibration of TRANSIMS, a vehicle equipped with a Global Positioning System collected second-by-second vehicle dynamics information during both normal and snowy weather conditions. The collected information was the basis for the adjustment of several of the TRANSIMS model parameters. The adjusted parameters enabled the model to closely replicate observed traffic flow parameters at both the macroscopic and microscopic scales.