cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An Evaluation of Observations from Satellites for the Study and Prediction of Mesoscale Events and Cyclone Events

Quantitative observational guidelines have been developed for the study and forecasting of mesoscale events and cyclone events; many of these guidelines have resulted from major meteorological field programs. Increasingly sophisticated satellite-borne instruments in low and geosynchronous orbits have provided valuable measurements of these events. The major deficiencies in the measurements taken from geosynchronous orbit today, relative to guidelines, are (1) the lack of temperature profiles and moisture profiles below clouds, and the poor vertical resolution of these profiles; (2) the insufficient combination of spatial resolution and temporal resolution and spectral intervals available in generating images (imaging); and (3) the lack of accurate precipitation mapping. Considerably more-powerful instrumentation is possible on geosynchronous satellites that can substantially reduce these deficiencies. The capability of advanced geosynchronous observations and those expected with future instrumentation in low-orbit are evaluated with respect to tropical cyclone and severe local-storm observational guidelines. A high percentage of the guidelines are expected to be fulfilled with geosynchronous measurements: (1) using microwave instruments for imaging and for obtaining temperature profiles and moisture profiles, (2) very high spectral-resolution infrared profiling, (3) very high spatial-resolution and very high temporal-resolution imaging, and (4) ozone mapping.
Control of plasma aldosterone in primary aldosteronism: distinction between adenoma and hyperplasia.

ABSTRACT In 9 of 11 ambulatory patients with hyperaldosteronism due to aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA). plasma aldosterone fell during the morning; but in all 7 cases of idiopathic adrenal hyperplasia (IAH) standing caused an increase in plasma aldosterone. Further comparisons of the 9 cases of “typical” APA with the 7 patients with IAH showed other differences. The diurnal curve of plasma aldosterone in APA showed a decline from early morning to late evening, parallel with falling plasma cortisol, regardless of stimulation of renin by posture, sodium depletion or spironolactone. In APA, plasma aldosterone was increased after ACTH injection and decreased after dexamethasone. In IAH, although aldosterone secretion can be stimulated by ACTH, the ordinary diurnal rhythm of plasma aldosterone does not parallel plasma cortisol, and is not consistently altered by dexamethasone. Plasma aldosterone in IAH is consistently increased by standing, as well as by a low-sodium diet. After spironolactone, both PRC an...
Reactive distillation for methyl acetate production

We describe a hierarchy of methods, models, and calculation techniques that support the design of reactive distillation columns. The models require increasingly sophisticated data needs as the hierarchy is implemented. The approach is illustrated for the production of methyl acetate because of its commercial importance, and because of the availability of adequate published data for comparison. In the limit of reaction and phase equilibrium, we show (1) the existence of both a minimum and a maximum reflux, (2) there is a narrow range of reflux ratios that will produce high conversions and high purity methyl acetate, and (3) the existence of multiple steady states throughout the entire range of feasible reflux ratios. For finite rates of reaction, we find (4) that the desired product compositions are feasible over a wide range of reaction rates, up to and including reaction equilibrium, and (5) that multiple steady states do not occur over the range of realistic reflux ratios, but they are found at high reflux ratios outside the range of normal operation. Our calculations are in good agreement with experimental results reported by Bessling et al., [Chemical Engineering Technology 21 (1998) 393].
Optimal sequential search technique for radar target localization

In this paper we consider a discretized version of the problem of optimal beam-forming, or radar transmit and receive pattern design, for stationary radar target localization in the presence of white Gaussian noise. We assume that the target is equally likely to be in one of N discrete cells and the number of allowed observations L is strictly less than N, making an exhaustive search not feasible. We propose two new approaches for beam-form design in target localization problems: a fixed, off-line beam-form design approach and an adaptive, on-line beam-form design technique. The beam-form is designed off-line in the fixed approach to minimize the probability of error after exactly L observations. In particular, the decision is available only after the last (Lthe) observation is acquired. We show that this fixed beam-form design approach is directly related to signal constellations design in digital communications. By contrast, the beam-form is optimized after each observation to minimize the probability of incorrectly localizing the target after the next observation is acquired at each step of the process. The optimization relies on the previously acquired information. The adaptive approach has a better performance than the fixed one. Unlike binary search, these two approaches can work with any number of observations. This work falls under the area of optimal search, which deals with optimal allocation of effort in search problems. The need for optimal search strategies arises in many areas such as the radar target localization problems that we address here, fault location in circuits, localization of mobile stations in wireless networks and Internet information searches.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Design of a minicomputer network for the automatic determination of amino acid sequences in proteins

A protein is a simple, nonbranching chain, where any link in the chain is one of approximately twenty different amino acids. The chemical tools available for the determination of the primary structure of a protein (that is, the types of amino acids that are in the protein and the sequence in which they are linked) are relatively few in number and vary greatly in sophistication.
Neuromuscular effects of 600 μg·kg−1 of rocuronium in infants during nitrous oxide‐halothane anaesthesia

Summary Rocuronium bromide (Zemuron) is a new steroidal nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocking drug. We were interested in determining the effect of a bolus of rocuronium in infants during halothane anaesthesia as we did previously in older children. Eighteen infants (2-11 months) received a bolus of 600 μg·kg−1, which is equal to twice the dose of rocuronium estimated to produce 95% depression of neuromuscular function (ED95) in children (2-12 yr). Neuromuscular blockade was monitored by recording the electromyographic activity of the adductor pollicis muscle resulting from supramaximal stimulation of the ulnar nerve at 2 Hz for 2 s at 10-s intervals. Time (mean ± SEM, range) from administration of 600 μg·kg−1 rocuronium to 90% (B90) and 100% (B100) neuromuscular block was 37 ± 2 (20-60) s and 64 ± 10 (20-180) s, respectively. The time to recovery of neuromuscular transmission to 10% (T10) was 35.3 ± 3.0 (20.7-57.8) min and to 25% of baseline (T25) was 41.9 ± 3.2 (24.3-67.7) min. The recovery index (T25-T75) was 26.6 ± 2.7 (11.7-44.5) min, and the time to recovery of the train-of-four ratio (T4/T1) ± 0.75 was 82.1 ± 6.9 (53.2-138.3) min. The plasma concentration of rocuronium when T1 had recovered to about 30% was 654 ± 34 (417-852) ng·ml−1 which is similar to that observed in children. Six-hundred μg·kg−1 of rocuronium has a rapid onset of effect in infants and prolonged duration of action in infants compared to children.
Judaism and philosophy in Levinas

The fundamental message of Jewish thought in Levinas' version can be summarized by the following quote: It ties the meaning of all experiences to the ethical relation among humans; it appears to the personal responsibility of man, who, thereby, knows himself irreplaceable to realize a human society in which humans treat one another as humans. This realization of the just society is ipso facto an elevation of man to the society with God. This society is human happiness itself and the meaning of life. Therefore, to say that the meaning of the real must be understood in function of ethics, is to say that the universe is sacred. But it is sacred in an ethical sense. Ethics is an optics of the divine. No relation to God is more right or more immediate.
Persistent inhibition of oxygen-induced retinal neovascularization by anthrax lethal toxin.

PURPOSE To evaluate the role of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MKK) signaling in a mouse model of oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) that mimics retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). METHODS Postnatal day 7 mice were exposed to elevated oxygen for 5 days to induce retinopathy. Anthrax lethal toxin (LeTx), an MKK inhibitor, was injected into the vitreous after restoration to normoxia, and its effects on vascular growth were analyzed by whole mount immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy. Pericyte coverage was determined by PDGFR-β and α-SMA staining. Macrophage presence was determined by F4/80 staining. Vitreal cytokine secretion was measured by ELISA and multianalyte profiling. RESULTS Intravitreal injection of LeTx over a restricted time interval after return to normoxic conditions blocked the progression of OIR. This block was independent of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) release and did not alter the release of cytokines and growth factors associated with OIR. VEGFR2 expression and activation were similarly unaffected. LeTx had no statistically significant effect on macrophage recruitment. LeTx sensitivity correlated with vessel maturity, extent of hypoxia, and growth of the deep vascular plexus network. CONCLUSIONS Correlation among pericyte coverage, deep vascular plexus growth, and hypoxia after LeTx treatment indicate immature vessels in a hypoxic environment are preferentially sensitive to LeTx-mediated MKK inhibition. The persistence of VEGF without concomitant induction of neovascular growth or revascularization of vaso-obliterated zones suggests MKK inhibition causes an inability of the cells that are present, or a failure to recruit cells able, to respond to proangiogenic stimuli. These results indicate the inhibition of MKK signaling presents a novel strategy for the inhibition of vascular retinopathies such as OIR and ROP.
The Reductionist Gamble: Open Economy Politics in the Global Economy

International political economy (IPE) should transition to “third-wave” scholarship because Open Economy Politics (OEP), which dominates current American IPE scholarship, can generate inaccurate knowledge. OEP can produce inaccurate knowledge because it studies domestic politics in isolation from international or macro processes. This methodological reductionism is often inappropriate for the phenomena IPE studies because governments inhabit a complex social system. As a result, the political choices that OEP strives to explain are typically a product of the interplay between domestic politics and macro processes. When OEP omits causally significant macro processes from empirical models, the models yield biased inferences about the domestic political relationships under investigation. Although scholars tolerated such errors when the gains from OEP were large, these errors are less tolerable now that OEP has matured. Consequently, the field should transition toward research that is nonreductionist, problem-driven, and pluralistic.
Medicaid Section 1115 Waivers: Shifting Health Care Reform to the States

This article focuses on recent developments in state Medicaid programs and the role of Section 1115 waivers in this process. The evidence presented here demonstrates quite clearly that the states are using Section 1115 waivers to experiment with a broad range of innovative health-care service delivery, reimbursement, and eligibility concepts. This has allowed the states to reconfigure their Medicaid systems. More important, perhaps, the use of Section 1115 waivers has also increased the role of the states in the American health-care policy process.
Two exponential decay of 3371 å laser excited CS2 fluorescence

Abstract We have observed time resolved CS 2 fluorescence excited by an N 2 + pulsed laser at 3371 A. The optical absorption in this region is unassigned; we find two fluorescing states with collision free lifetimes of 2.9 ± 0.3 and 17 ± 2 μsec. Deactivation rates for both states are reported for the collision partners CS 2 , Ar, O 2 , and N 2 . All rates are near gas kinetic; the 2.9 ± 0.3 μsec state exhibits exceptionally fast deactivation, with the rate constant for CS 2 being (7.9 ± 1.2) × 10 −10 cm 3 /molecule sec.
Applying computer-assisted detection schemes to digitized mammograms after JPEG data compression: an assessment.

Rationale and Objectives. The authors' purpose was to assess the effects of Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) image data compression on the performance of computer-assisted detection (CAD) schemes for the detection of masses and microcalcification clusters on digitized mammograms. Materials and Methods. This study included 952 mammograms that were digitized and compressed with a JPEG-compatible image-compression scheme. A CAD scheme, previously developed in the authors' laboratory and optimized for noncompressed images, was applied to reconstructed images after compression at five levels. The performance was compared with that obtained with the original noncompressed digitized images. Results. For mass detection, there were no significant differences in performance between noncompressed and compressed images for true-positive regions (P = .25) or false-positive regions (P = .40). In all six modes the scheme identified 80% of masses with less than one false-positive region per image. For the detection of microcalcification clusters, there was significant performance degradation (P Conclusion. The JPEG algorithm did not adversely affect the performance of the CAD scheme for detecting masses, but it did significantly affect the detection of microcalcification clusters.
Small Au and Pt Clusters at the Anatase TiO2(101) Surface: Behavior at Terraces, Steps, and Surface Oxygen Vacancies

The adsorption properties of Au and Pt metal nanoclusters on TiO2 anatase (101) were calculated using density functional theory. Structures and energetics of adsorbed Au and Pt monomers, dimers, and trimers at clean anatase TiO2(101) terraces and two major step edges, as well as O-vacancies, were systematically determined. The theoretical predictions were tested by vapor-depositing small coverages of Au and Pt on anatase (101) and investigating the resulting clusters with Scanning Tunneling Microscopy. On the clean surface, Au shows a strong tendency to form large clusters that nucleate on step edges. A preference for adsorption at type D-(112) steps is observed, which is probably a result of kinetic effects. For Pt, clusters as small as monomers are observed on the terraces, in agreement with the predicted large binding energy of 2.2 eV. Step edges play a less important role than in the case of Au. Oxygen vacancies, produced by electron irradiation, dramatically influence the growth of Au, while the nucl...
Material selection for double heterojunction lasers--A higher bandgap does not necessarily mean lower refractive index

Double heterojunction (DH) lasers are composed of a lower energy bandgap active layer sandwiched between higher bandgap cladding layers, and the refractive index of the active layer has to be higher than that of the cladding layer. A number of published papers are based on the belief that higher bandgap materials necessarily have lower refractive indexes, so that the correct-bandgap DH structure automatically satisfies the requirement for the refractive index. This paper points out that this belief appears to be incorrect, and presents a series of examples in support of this statement.
Environmental signals influence expression of a cortical areal phenotype in vitro independent of effects on progenitor cell proliferation

Abstract We have shown previously that,in vitro,cortical progenitor cells isolated from specific locations of the cerebral wall can adopt area-specific fates, assayed by expression of the limbic system-associated membrane protein (LAMP; R. T. Ferri and P. Levitt,Cereb. Cortex3, 187–198, 1993). Progenitors destined to produce LAMP neurons, however, will differentiate to express the limbic molecular phenotype if grown with TGFα and collagen type IV (R. T. Ferri and P. Levitt,Development121, 1151–1160, 1995), while other signals fail to induce LAMP. The present study used BrdU labeling of progenitor cells to examine whether modulation of LAMP expression was paralleled by predictable changes in cell proliferation. The general pattern of proliferation is similar under a variety of culture conditions: approximately half the cells are mitotic, and activity is always highest during the first 24 hrin vitro,with little cell division occurring by the third day. Moreover, the rate of proliferation, in the presence or absence of TGFα, is the same on all substrates tested, with the exception of laminin. The TGFα/collagen type IV signaling system that induces LAMP expression by the precursors has no modulating effect on their proliferative kinetics. Nonetheless, only progenitors that are mitotically active respond to LAMP-inducing signals; only 60% of the neurons, representing those that have divided at least once in culture, can be induced to express LAMP. The data suggest that while specific signals affect choice of area phenotype during the cell cycle, they do so in the absence of major changes in proliferative behavior.
Analysis of the binary phase-only filter

Abstract The transform method is applied to the binary phase-only filter (BPOF) resulting in an infinite sum of harmonic terms. It clearly shows how the well-known correlation and convolution response of the BPOF arises. The effects of the various harmonic terms on the total correlation signal at the output plane are investigated.
Inverse problems in atmospheric dispersion with randomly scattered sensors

Abstract We consider the problem of monitoring the concentration and dispersion of pollutants in the atmosphere using a collection of randomly scattered sensors. The sensors are capable of only indicating that the concentration has exceeded a randomly selected threshold and providing this information through a transponder-like mechanism to an airborne imaging radar. We use this information together with a standard atmospheric dispersion model to estimate the concentration as well as the time and location of the pollutant source. We use the expectation–maximization algorithm to find the maximum likelihood estimate of the quantities of interest.
Hospital Credentialing and Privileging of Surgeons: A Potential Safety Blind Spot

Innovative procedures and technologiesare regu-larly introduced into clinical practice. Although the USFood and Drug Administration (FDA) exercises strictregulatorycontrolovernewdrugs,itexertsminimalover-sightfornewdevicesandnooversightfornewsurgicaltechniques.WhentechnologysuchasthedaVincirobotentersthefieldofsurgery,itislessclearwhoisrespon-sibleforensuringitssafeintroduction.When implementing new technologies, physiciansareguidedbytheirsenseofprofessionalismandthepo-tential liability for medical malpractice; hospitals jointlysharethemedicolegalrisksbyconfirmingthequalifica-tionsoflicensedphysicians(credentialing)andbyautho-rizingthosephysiciansforspecificpatientcareservices(privileging).Inrecentyears,controversyhasarisenwhenmanufacturersgobeyondtheirtraditionalrole(ie,torea-sonably design and manufacture a device) and partici-pateintrainingandcredentialingphysicianstousetheircompany’s product. This Viewpoint reviews an impor-tantlegalrulingonroboticsurgerythathighlightspoten-tialsafetyconcernsregardingtheregulationofnovelpro-ceduresandtechnologiesastheyenterclinicalpractice.In 2000, the da Vinci Surgical System (IntuitiveSurgical)wasinitiallyapprovedbytheFDAforuseingen-erallaparoscopicsurgicalprocedures.Despitelittleevi-dence, robotic surgery was touted to have many ben-efits. Dissemination of this technology was rapid in itsfirstdecadeastheFDAexpandeditslistofapprovedin-dications across general surgery, urology, gynecology,cardiothoracicsurgery,pediatricsurgery,andotolaryn-gologydisciplines.Thewidespreadadoptionofroboticsurgeryhasbeenpartiallyattributedtoaggressivemar-ketingtactics,whichincreaseddemandforthetechnol-ogy from patients and invoked fascination among pa-tients,surgeons,andhospitals.A recent legal ruling on the lawsuits against Intui-tiveSurgicalshedslightonwheretheresponsibilitymaylie for ensuring the safe introduction of new proce-dures.In2013,
Monolithic Wavelength-Selective Switches and Cross Connects with Integrated MEMS Mirror Array

Wavelength-selective switches (WSSs) and wavelength-selective cross connects (WSXCs) enable flexible, intelligent wavelength-division-multiplexed (WDM) networks as well as reduce the operating cost. In a 1xN WSS, the wavelengths from the input port can be independently switched to any of the N output ports. WSXC allows switching of optical signals at wavelength level between N input ports and N output ports. Most of the WSS and WSXC reported to date are realized by free-space optical systems with either micro-electro-mechanical-systems (MEMS) or liquid crystal (LC) beamsteering array, or by silica-based planar lightwave circuits with cascaded 2x2 thermal optical switches. In this paper, we report on the approach to monolithically integrate the WSS and WSXC on a single silicon-on-insulator (SOI) chip. Optical waveguides, microgratings, parabolic reflectors, as well as MEMS active switching micromirrors are fabricated on the same substrate using a one-step etching process. We have successfully fabricated a 1x4 WSS with CWDM (20nm) channel spacing on a 1x2-cm 2 chip, and achieved a fiber-to-fiber insertion loss of 11.7 dB, and a switching time of 0.5 msec. The monolithic 4x4 WSXC is realized by integrating four 4x1 WSSs and four 1x4 multi-mode interference (MMI) splitters on the same wafer. No fiber connections or external splitter are required. The fabricated 4x4 WSXC has a chip area of 3.2x4.6 cm 2 and an insertion loss of 24 dB, including a 6-dB splitting loss. The WSXC supports unicast, multicast, and broadcast functions. The devices can be further scaled to DWDM (100-GHz) channel spacing.
Experimentally realized linewidths of narrow (⩽10−10eV) nuclear gamma resonances

Abstract The experimental status of Mossbauer linewidths are reviewed and reported for the three narrowest gamma resonances: 73Ge, 67Zn, and 181Ta. The crucial role played by the solid-state host in achieving narrow emission or absorption linewidths, as well as high recoil-free fraction are emphasized. Factors contributing to line-broadening in experiments with 181Ta and 67Zn gamma resonances are highlighted. Consequences of these observations on a choice of a suitable lasing medium for Mossbauer gamma-ray lasers is commented upon.
Long‐term effects of copper rich swine manure application on continuous corn production

Abstract Three long‐term field experiments were established in the spring of 1978 and continued through 1988 to evaluate corn (Zea mays L.) response to high Cu levels from Cu rich swine manure and CuSO4 applications. The field research was conducted on soils with diverse properties, i.e., on a Bertie fine sandy loam (fine‐loamy, mixed, thermic, Aquic Hapludults), a Guernsey silt loam (fine, mixed, mesic, Aquic Hapludalfs), and a Starr‐Dyke clay loam (fine‐loamy, mixed, thermic Fluventic Dystrochrepts‐clayey, mixed, mesic, Typic Rhodudults). Three treatments in the long‐term field experiments on the three soils were i) a control, ii) annual applications of Cu as Cu rich swine manure, and iii) annual applications of Cu as CuSO4 equivalent to that in the manure. After the 11 years, 1109 mt ha‐1 of wet Cu rich swine manure were applied for the manure treatment. The Cu rich manure, which contained an average of 1316 mg Cu kg‐1, was produced by swine fed diets supplemented with an average of 251 mg Cu kg‐1 as C...
Stable Transfection of LLC-PK1 Cells with Human Microsomal GlutathioneS-Transferase Gene Increases Haloalkene GlutathioneS-conjugate Formation and Cytotoxicity

Nephrotoxic haloalkenes undergo glutathione- and cysteine conjugate beta-lyase-dependent bioactivation, and glutathione S-conjugate formation with haloalkenes as substrates is preferentially catalyzed by the hepatic microsomal glutathione S-transferase (mGST). Porcine kidney-derived LLC-PK1 cells, which are competent to bioactivate glutathione and cysteine S-conjugates of haloalkenes, show low mGST activity. Stable transfection of LLC-PK1 cells with the gene encoding mGST would be expected to increase glutathione S-conjugate formation and, therefore, to increase haloalkene cytotoxicity. Transfection of LLC-PK1 cells with human mGST genes resulted in increased expression of mGST protein in microsomal fractions, in increased glutathione S-conjugate formation with hexachloro-1,3-butadiene and 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene as the substrates, and in increased cytotoxicity of hexachloro-1,3-butadiene. In addition, transfection with mGST gene also increased the activity of cytosolic glutathione S-transferases.
Prediction of Heat Transfer to a Thin Liquid Film in Plane and Radially Spreading Flows

The energy equation is incorporated in the solution algorithm of Rahman et al. (1990) to compute the heat transfer to a thin film in the presence or absence of gravity. For a plane flow under zero gravity, it is found that, for both isothermal and uniformly heated walls, the heat transfer coefficient gradually decreases downstream, with Nu-asterisk (the Nusselt number in terms of film height) remaining approximately constant except for regions very close to the entrance. In the case of radial flow under zero gravity, Nu-asterisk is found to decrease monotonically when the plane is uniformly heated. Two different flow regimes are identified in the presence of gravity for both plane and radial flows. The results of the study may be applicable to the design of space-based cooling systems.
Democracy, Development, and the Countryside: Urban-Rural Struggles in India

Preface Introduction 1. Town-Country struggles in development 2. Nehru's agricultural policy: a Reconstruction 3. Policy change in the mid-1960s 4. Rise of Agrarian power in the 1970s 5. Organizing the countryside in the 1980s 6. Has rural India lost out? 7. Paradoxes of power and the intracacies of economic policy 8. Conclusion: democracy and the countryside Endnotes.
A model for predicting slip velocity during extrusion with fluoropolymer processing additives

A molecular model, based on the concept of the activation rate theory, is developed for slip of a polymer as it flows through a die. The model correctly predicts the dependence of the apparent slip velocity of high molecular weight, linear polyethylene resins on wall shear stress, up to the onset of gross melt fracture. It also predicts the increased slip which occurs when die surfaces are coated with a fluoropolymer processing aid having a low surface tension.
A robust GTP-induced shift in α2-adrenoceptor agonist affinity in tissue sections from rat brain

A method is presented for monitoring the coupling of the alpha(2)-adrenoceptor, as well as other receptors, to their G proteins using the GTP-induced shift in agonist affinity states. In tissue sections GTP, but not ATP, induces a robust decrease in agonist affinity of greater than 100-fold, which is much larger than previously found in membrane preparations. A sensitive and easy procedure to monitor the extent of coupling is to compare the amount of [(3)H]RX821002 binding remaining in the presence of 100 nM brimonidine in the absence and presence of 100 microM GTP. This method should be especially applicable for determining the extent of coupling of receptors to their G proteins in multiple brain regions using autoradiographic procedures.
Dynamic surface tension of polydisperse surfactant solutions: A pseudo-single-component approach

A method for treating both the equilibrium and dynamic surface tension of polydisperse surfactant solutions is introduced and explored. The model is expressed in terms of a pseudo-single-surfactant approximation, where the polydisperse mixture is treated as if it were a pure single-component surfactant. The theory presented is based on the Langmuir adsorption isotherm and suggests that polydisperse surfactants behave as pseudo-single surfactants at equilibrium but diverge from the pseudo-single approach under certain dynamic conditions. Parametric studies provide further insight, suggesting that the dynamic surface tension of polydisperse solutions approaches the pseudo-single-surfactant approximation when competition for interfacial area by surfactant molecules is absent. For systems where competitive adsorption is present, surface tension generally equilibrates more slowly. Finally, the static and dynamic surface tensions of the Tergitol 15-S-n series, an important commercial grade nonionic surfactant, ...
A Survey of Health Behaviors in Minority Women in Pregnancy: The Influence of Body Mass Index

Abstract Background An effective behavioral intervention for gestational weight gain in minority obese women needs to incorporate their baseline health behaviors and nutrition patterns. The objective of this study was to compare racial/ethnic differences in health behaviors and nutrition in pregnant obese and non-obese minorities. Methods A face-to-face, 75-item survey was administered to 94 women (46% non-obese, 54% obese; 71% Black, 29% Hispanic) at a prenatal visit to an inner-city clinic. Television watching, exercise, and nutrition were compared between obese and non-obese women and racial/ethnic differences were compared within each body mass index (BMI) category using chi-square and Fisher's exact tests. Interactions between BMI category and race/ethnicity for each health behavior were examined. Findings More obese women described their nutrition as "fair" or "poor" (36% vs. 15%; p = .02) and missed more meals per day (21% vs. 6%; p = .03) compared with non-obese women. Obese Blacks were less likely to improve their nutrition during pregnancy compared with obese Hispanics (28% vs. 58%; p = .08). Non-obese Blacks watched more television ( p = .03) and exercised less during pregnancy ( p = .04) than non-obese Hispanics. Except for dairy products, there were no differences in daily nutrition (fruit, soda, vegetables, chips) among the BMI categories and racial/ethnic groups; however, fewer than 50% of all participants consumed fruits and vegetables every day. There was an interaction between BMI category and race/ethnicity: Obese Hispanics exercised less before pregnancy ( p = .02), but exercised more during pregnancy ( p = .01) compared with non-obese Hispanics. Conclusions Interventions for gestational weight gain in obese women may have greater success if they considered racial/ethnic differences in health behaviors, especially related to exercise.
Challenges in the assessment of decision-making capacity

Abstract The considerations for and challenges of developing an instrument for the assessment of oder adult descision-making capacity are discussed. A variety of conceptual and methodological issues are discussed, using experience with the development of the Hopemont Capacity Assessment Interview to illustrate the directions one might take in instrument development. Research questions are raised in the context of these conceptual and methodological issues.
Transforming Growth Factor-β Stimulates Interleukin-11 Transcription via Complex Activating Protein-1-dependent Pathways

Studies were undertaken to characterize the mechanism by which transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1) stimulates epithelial cell interleukin (IL)-11 production. Nuclear run-on studies demonstrated that TGF-β1 is a potent stimulator of IL-11 gene transcription. TGF-β1 also stimulated the luciferase activity in cells transfected with reporter gene constructs containing nucleotides −728 to +58 of the IL-11 promoter. Studies with progressive 5′ deletion constructs and site-specific mutations demonstrated that this stimulation was dependent on 2 AP-1 sites between nucleotides −100 and −82 in the IL-11 promoter. Mobility shift assays demonstrated that TGF-β1 stimulated AP-1 protein-DNA binding to both AP-1 sites. Supershift analysis demonstrated that JunD was the major moiety contributing to AP-1-DNA binding in unstimulated cells and that c-Jun-, Fra-1-, and Fra-2-DNA binding were increased whereas JunD-DNA binding was decreased in TGF-β1-stimulated cells. The sequence in the IL-11 promoter that contains the AP-1 sites also conferred TGF-β1 responsiveness, in a position-independent fashion, on a heterologous minimal promoter. Thus, TGF-β1stimulates IL-11 gene transcription via a complex AP-1-dependent pathway that is dependent on 2 AP-1 motifs between nucleotides −100 and −82 that function as an enhancer in the IL-11 promoter.
Determining the steady-state output of nonlinear oscillatory circuits using multiple shooting

In this paper, we propose a time-domain approach for computing the steady-state response of nonlinear oscillatory circuits using multiple shooting techniques. For nonautonomous circuits, the algorithm is easily adapted from the multiple shooting techniques currently used to solve boundary value problems. The nonautonomous multiple shooting algorithms must be modified to work in the autonomous case as the period T is unknown. The two algorithms developed in this paper are compared with previously proposed single shooting methods on several example circuits. Additionally, the multiple shooting algorithm is compared with single shooting on a parallel machine to demonstrate its easy adaptation to this type of computer platform. The proposed multiple shooting algorithms contain both the desirable attribute of quadratic convergence while exhibiting a larger region of convergence than previously proposed single shooting methods. >
Linearization of nonlinear systems about constant operating points

For bilinear-realizable nonlinear systems described by a Volterra series, an input-output definition of the linearized system about a constant operating point is given. This definition is then compared to the usual notion of linearization in terms of a bilinear realization of the nonlinear system. Properties of the linearized system with respect to the original nonlinear system are developed, and implications for analysis and design of nonlinear systems are discussed.
Effect of BQ-123 and Tissue Plasminogen Activator on Vasospasm After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in Monkeys

Background and Purpose We aimed to determine the effect of intracisternal administration of an endothelin-A receptor antagonist (BQ-123) against vasospasm in a monkey model and to determine whether this drug would have adverse interactions with intracisternal tissue plasminogen activator (TPA). Methods Thirty-three monkeys were randomly allocated to undergo baseline cerebral angiography, creation of right subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), and intracisternal delivery of (1) placebo (n=10); (2) low-dose BQ-123 (5 mg/kg per day, n=7); (3) high-dose BQ-123 (10 mg/kg per day, n=9); or (4) BQ-123 10 mg/kg per day plus TPA 1 mg every 12 hours for three doses (n=7). Angiography was repeated after 7 days, and animals were killed. Vasospasm was assessed by comparisons of angiograms within groups across time by paired t test and by comparisons across groups at each time by ANOVA. Results Significant clot remained in the basal cisterns in all groups except those receiving TPA, in whom complete clot clearance was noted. ...
Psychosis During Pregnancy: Treatment Considerations

The onset of psychosis during pregnancy presents several difficult management decisions and a careful risk-benefit analysis is required. Withholding antipsychotic treatment may produce more risks than benefits. Studies on neuroleptic teratogenicity are contradictory. Most of the commonly used neuroleptics exhibit a pregnancy risk of category C. Neuroleptic use during pregnancy may be associated with adverse effects in the pre- and postnatal period. These concerns include compromising uterine blood flow, post-partum neonatal sedation, and extrapyramidal signs expressed in the neonate. Each neuroleptic exhibits a unique pharmacokinetic profile. The antipsychotic properties and side effects considered most significant include sedation, half-life, hypotension, and apparent hydrophilicity. In this case study a decision to select molindone was based on these parameters.
Sustainability Concepts and Total Economic Valuation

Academic and policy debate about the conceptual and operational meaning of “sustainability” has flourished since the World Commission on Environment and Development (1987) report, Our Common Future. Much of this debate has focused on the theoretical significance of future economic values, especially nonuse values for natural resource and environmental goods, in aggregate social decision rules (e.g. Pearce et al., 1990; Van Pelt, 1993; Toman, 1994). Relatively little attention, however, has been given to empirical measurement of total economic values that encompass nonuse values. This is a serious shortcoming since any efforts to implement sustainable policies must incorporate some explicit or implicit value for future resource availability (Toman, 1994).
“Facebook Depression?” Social Networking Site Use and Depression in Older Adolescents

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the association between social networking site (SNS) use and depression in older adolescents using an experience sample method (ESM) approach. Methods Older adolescent university students completed an online survey containing the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 depression screen (PHQ) and a weeklong ESM data collection period to assess SNS use. Results Participants (N = 190) included in the study were 58% female and 91% Caucasian. The mean age was 18.9 years (standard deviation=.8). Most used SNSs for either 2 hours (n = 16, 8%). The mean PHQ score was 5.4 (standard deviation=4.2). No associations were seen between SNS use and either any depression ( p = .519) or moderate to severe depression ( p = .470). Conclusions We did not find evidence supporting a relationship between SNS use and clinical depression. Counseling patients or parents regarding the risk of "Facebook Depression" may be premature.
Earth pillar formation on the Mountain Pine Ridge, Belize

The roadcuts of Belize's Mountain Pine Ridge feature numerous coarsely textured earth pillars less than 10 cm in height. Preferential impregnation of iron occurs over a buried pebble resulting in a dripline. The higher concentration of iron along the buried pebble's dripline is later oxidized and exposed to the surface by rainsplash erosion. For slopes greater than five degrees, the intensity of sheetwash erosion is great enough to remove pillars. Earth pillar genesis thus seems a function of laterization, slope angle, and sheetwash intensity.
Affirming Less as More: Scholarly Engagements with Aphoristic Rhetoric

Focused on perceptible gains and trends in biblical scholarship during the past two decades as it engages the self-contained aphorisms that abound in Proverbs 10–29, this essay offers a critical di...
Screening for Domestic Violence in Public Welfare Offices An Analysis of Case Manager and Client Interactions

Despite a high prevalence of domestic violence among welfare clients, most studies of the implementation of the Family Violence Option (FVO) under welfare reform find that women rarely receive domestic violence services in welfare offices. This study reviews findings from current research on the factors that improve the likelihood that women will reveal their domestic violence experiences to service personnel, and uses the guidelines drawn from this review to evaluate domestic violence screening practices in welfare offices using 782 transcribed interviews between welfare workers and clients from 11 sites in four states. The analysis found that only 9.3% of case encounters involved screening for domestic violence. Screening rates differed by state, interview type, and length of worker employment. Qualitative analysis of the interviews showed that the majority of screening by workers was routine or consisted of informing clients of the domestic violence policy without asking about abuse. Only 1.2% of the interviews incorporated at least two of the procedures that increase the likelihood of disclosure among domestic violence survivors, suggesting deeply inadequate approaches to screening for abuse within the context of welfare offices, and a need for improved training, protocol, and monitoring of FVO implementation.
Alterations in Polyamine Metabolism during Continuous Intravenous Infusion of α-Difluoromethylornithine Showing Correlation of Thrombocytopenia with α-Difluoromethylornithine Plasma Levels

Polyamine biosynthesis is important for cell proliferation and growth. The purpose of this study was to determine the biochemical and pharmacological parameters associated with host toxicity from a continuous infusion of alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO). Twenty-five patients with metastatic carcinoma of the colon or rectum received continuous infusion of DFMO at a median dose of 8 g/m2/day (range, 6-14) for 28 days. DFMO plasma levels, RBC, plasma putrescine, spermidine, and spermine levels, and patient toxicities were evaluated. There was a significant decrease in RBC and plasma levels of putrescine, spermidine, and spermine following DFMO administration compared with the baseline RBC and plasma levels. Pearson correlation coefficient comparing nadir platelet count and steady-state DFMO level was statistically significant (n = 37; P less than 0.01; r = -0.53). Sustained suppression of circulating polyamine levels was also achieved with continuous DFMO infusion. The correlation between steady-state plasma DFMO levels and lowering of platelet count warrants prospective evaluation to determine its clinical usefulness.
SPY vs. SLY: Run-time thread-scheduler aware reconfigurable hardware allocators

Periodic run-time scheduling of reconfigurable hardware (RH) is based on a simple prediction: RH needs in the near future will be similar to that of the recent past. Generally, this prediction is good; application behavior is phased, and RH needs are stable in each phase. A short RH scheduling interval then allows the system to adapt to application phase changes. However, there is one important case in multitasking systems where recent past behavior does not predict the near future: application thread context switch. When the OS performs a context switch, a different application will execute and have different RH needs. In this paper, we present two run-time thread-scheduler aware allocators: SPY and SLY. Both techniques modify the RH allocation based on software context switches. SLY improves performance for single-processor systems, but dramatically degrades it for two-CPU systems. SPY can improve performance for both one- and two-processor systems, but requires further development to avoid reallocating RH “too soon” and make it more effective for multi-processors.
A Further Study of the Mechanisms of Cell Regeneration, Propagation, and Development within Two-Dimensional Multicell Storms

The mechanisms of cell regeneration, development, and propagation within a two-dimensional multicell storm proposed by Lin, Deal, and Kulie (hereafter LDK) were further investigated by conducting a series of sensitivity tests. LDK’s advection mechanism was reexamined by performing simulations utilizing a plateau with five additional wind profiles having a wider range of shear. All five cases gave results that show that the cell regeneration period decreases with the storm-relative midlevel inflow, similar to that proposed by LDK. It was also found that a rigid lid is not an appropriate upper boundary condition for multicell storm simulations. In order to test whether the advection mechanism is responsible for cell regeneration with a different sounding, an idealized sounding was used. A multicell storm was produced along with a strong density current and gust front updraft. Investigation of this storm supports the advection mechanism within the growing mode and a gravity wave mechanism in the propagation mode, as proposed by LDK. From further investigation, the relaxation mechanism proposed by Fovell and Tan was shown to exist within these simulations yet found to be dependent on the advection mechanism to cause cell regeneration. To avoid some problems that occurred when using a plateau, a prescribed heat sink was used to produce a more realistic density current. This experiment demonstrates that the advection mechanism is responsible for cell regeneration and the gravity wave mechanism is responsible for cell propagation within the storm. It was found that without precipitation loading, an individual cell is still able to split. In this case, the compensating downdraft produced by vertical differential advection is responsible for cell splitting and merging.
Visual, saccade-related, and cognitive activation of single neurons in monkey extrastriate area V3A.

Area V3A is an extrastriate visual area that provides a major input to parietal cortex. To identify the sensory, saccade-related, and cognitive signals carried by V3A neurons, we recorded from sing...
Observation of iron spin-states using tabletop x-ray emission spectroscopy and microcalorimeter sensors

X-ray emission spectroscopy (XES) is a powerful probe of the electronic and chemical state of elemental species embedded within complex compounds. X-ray sensors that combine high resolving power and high collecting efficiency are desirable for photon-starved XES experiments such as measurements of dilute, gaseous, and radiation-sensitive samples, time-resolved measurements, and in-laboratory XES. To assess whether arrays of cryogenic microcalorimeters will be useful in photon-starved XES scenarios, we demonstrate that these emerging energy-dispersive sensors can detect the spin-state of 3d electrons of iron in two different compounds, Fe2O3 and FeS2. The measurements were conducted with a picosecond pulsed laser-driven plasma as the exciting x-ray source. The use of this tabletop source suggests that time-resolved in-laboratory XES will be possible in the future. We also present simulations of and spectra that reveal the spin-state sensitivity of different combinations of sensor resolution and accumulated counts. These simulations predict that our current experimental apparatus can perform time-resolved XES measurements on some samples with a measurement time of a few 10 s of hours per time delay.
The effects of maternal employment and educational attainment on the sex-typed attributes of college females

The hypothesis was tested that differences in maternal sex-typed behavior manifested by employment outside the home and by advanced educational attainment would be related to the sex-typed characteristics of daughters. Participants were 43 female undergraduates. The amount the mother had worked was positively related to the daughter’s masculine personality characteristics, her plans for attending graduate school, plans for working after marriage, and negatively related to some feminine personality characteristics. These relationships did not depend on the amount of identification. The mother’s educational attainment was not related to any of the daughter’s characteristics.