cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Obesity on campus.

The "O" word on campus is not Oprah or online; it is obesity. During the past few years, administrators and faculty members have been discussing obesity as they see greater numbers of overweight students. News media accounts about rising rates of obesity provide an impersonal perspective of the problem, but observing obesity face-to-face in our classrooms and across our campuses makes it real. Increasing numbers of "super-sized" students are right in front of our eyes. They should not be ignored. Epidemiologists paint a gloomy picture of the health of our young people. During the past two decades, a significant increase in obesity and obesity-related disorders such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia has occurred among people in their teens and 20s (1,2). Those of us who are middle-aged have difficulty accepting chronic disease in our own lives; seeing it prematurely affect the younger generation is even more distressing. Little progress has been made in controlling or preventing obesity, because the cards are stacked against us. Obesity is a complex adaptation to existing environments that greatly favor high energy intake and low energy expenditure (3). Food is everywhere, and it is generally inexpensive, flavorful, large-portioned, and high-calorie. In addition, we rely on energy-saving devices and technology throughout the day, and most of our waking hours are spent sitting. No medical breakthrough is on the horizon. Even with continued advances in genomics and molecular medicine, scientists are unlikely to discover an effective, safe, and affordable drug that would cure or prevent obesity. From a public health perspective, the best solution remains encouraging positive behavior changes associated with diet and physical activity. However, although obesity is generally acknowledged as a serious problem and difficult to solve, many college and university leaders view helping overweight students as being outside the purview of higher education.
Providing spatial navigation for the World Wide Web

The World Wide Web (WWW) is a rapidly growing distributed hypertext on the Internet. This paper presents a way to enable users to navigate the WWW spatially by providing a spatial user interface metaphor in a textual virtual environment. This may help users to orient themselves in the masses of information available. The term “spatial navigation” stresses the fact that the structure of the information space is made explicit in this type of navigation whereas hypertext itself, and especially the WWW tend to hide this structure. We review common navigational strategies on the WWW and point out how these strategies indirectly make use of the underlying structure of the information space. Whereas hypertexts hide their structure, virtual environments explicitly show it. We outline navigational differences between hypertexts and (textual) virtual environments and describe a way to combine the advantages of both. In our system, presently implemented at the Georgia Institute of Technology, a textual virtual environment is combined with the WWW to create a mirror space to a part of the WWW. Navigating this virtual environment users also navigate the WWW, but in a spatial way. The system supports interaction between users and therefore collaborative navigation. This allows conducting guided tours and describing paths to information vaguely, like in real environments.
Elementary-Particle Propagation via 3-Scale ``Towers of Quartet Rings'' Within a Dyonic History Lattice

Massless elementary-particle propagation is represented historically (cosmologically) through 3-scale ``towers of quartet rings'' within a lattice of magneto-electrodynamically communicating ``pre-events''. The lightlike intervals within a ring of 4 pre-events (discrete ``closed string'') display transverse GUT-scale and longitudinal ``particle scale''. The lightlike (longitudinal) spacing between successive rings of a tower is at Planck scale. Ratio between GUT scale and Planck scale relates quantum-dynamically to elementary magnetic charge. Permutations of a ring quartet, in conjunction with Lorentz-group representations, control elementary-particle quantum numbers.
96-Hour Paclitaxel Infusions: At Least 93 Hours Too Long

Esophageal cancer remains a difficult clinical problem particularly when metastatic. When paclitaxel emerged as a potentially effective esophageal cancer drug in the early 1990s, it appeared as tho...
Error resilient scalable audio coding (ERSAC) for mobile applications

Delivering high-fidelity audio over wireless channels is a challenging task because the wireless channel presents not only erasure errors, but also random bit errors. These errors have severe adverse effect on decompressing the received audio bitstream and may crash the decoder completely if not handled properly. To solve this problem, this paper addresses error resilient scalable audio coding (ERSAC) for wireless audio. Specifically, we perform data partition and reversible variable length coding, in the scalable audio bitstream. Simulation results show that ERSAC has very effective error-resilience in addition to bitstream scalability.
A hybrid MoM-UTD analysis of the coupling between large multiple arrays on a large platform

This paper addresses the problem of coupling between large finite multiple phase scanned arrays on an even larger metallic platform (e.g. a tower on a naval ship). The arrays are assumed to consist of waveguide fed slots for convenience in the present study; however, the method is not restricted to this type of slot array. Basically, the problem is formulated in terms of the governing coupled integral equations for the arrays in which the kernel is a platform Green's function which takes into account the presence of the platform; the unknowns to be solved in the coupled integral equations are thus reduced to only the slot array aperture fields. These unknowns are solved via MoM. Since an exact platform Green's function is not available in general, the UTD is employed here for obtaining an asymptotic high frequency approximation for this Green's function. The unknowns are thus solved in a hybrid fashion by combining MoM and UTD. The number of unknowns is drastically reduced in the present hybrid MoM-UTD approach as compared to the conventional MoM.
The Exact Smile of some Local Stochastic Volatility Models

We introduce a class of local stochastic volatility models. Within our framework, we obtain an expression for both (i) the price of any European option and (ii) the induced implied volatility smile. To illustrate our method, we perform specific computations for a CEV-like model.
Mechanism for efficient collision induced intramolecular vibrational relaxation: Comparisons with experiment

Abstract We outline a theory to explain the efficient collision induced vibrational transitions observed in large molecules, the dependence of the rates on long-range interactions, the presence of propensity rules, and the perturber independence of relative rates. Comparisons are made with experimental data for benzene, aniline and difluorodiazirine.
Stochastic stability theory for systems containing interval matrices

Known conditions for the stability of stochastic, linear time-varying (LTV) dynamical systems based on Liapunov theory are applied to LTV dynamical systems containing interval matrices; both discrete and continuous time processes are considered. These conditions are sufficient for stability with probability 1 (wp1) and, in the case of discrete time, also necessary for stability in m.s. They lead to a simple, noniterative technique that involves the computation of eigenvalues of matrices whose elements often consist of first- and/or second-order moments. The results are useful in areas such as robust design, feedback control, perturbation analysis, and fault tolerant systems.
Contemporary Black Theology: A Review Essay

Books reviewed in this article: Dwight N. Hopkins, Introducing Black Theology of Liberation Dwight N. Hopkins, Down, Up, and Over; Slave Religion and Black Theology Dwight N. Hopkins, Heart and Head: Black Theology–Past, Present, and Future
On the Uniqueness of AdS Space-Time in Higher Dimensions

In this paper, based on an intrinsic definition of asymptotically AdS space-times, we show that the standard anti-de Sitter space-time is the unique strictly stationary asymptotically AdS solution to the vacuum Einstein equations with negative cosmological constant in dimension ≤ 8. Instead of using the positive energy theorem for asymptotically hyperbolic spaces with spin our approach appeals to the classic positive mass theorem for asymptotically flat spaces.
Probing Na+-Induced Changes in the HIV-1 TAR Conformational Dynamics Using NMR Residual Dipolar Couplings: New Insights into the Role of Counterions and Electrostatic Interactions in Adaptive Recognition†

Many regulatory RNAs undergo large changes in structure upon recognition of proteins and ligands, but the mechanism by which this occurs remains poorly understood. Using NMR residual dipolar coupling (RDCs), we characterized Na+-induced changes in the structure and dynamics of the bulge-containing HIV-1 transactivation response element (TAR) RNA that mirrors changes induced by small molecules bearing a different number of cationic groups. Increasing the Na+ concentration from 25 to 320 mM led to a continuous reduction in the average inter-helical bend angle (from 46° to 22°), inter-helical twist angle (from 66° to −18°), and inter-helix flexibility (as measured by an increase in the internal generalized degree of order from 0.56 to 0.74). Similar conformational changes were observed with Mg2+, indicating that nonspecific electrostatic interactions drive the conformational transition, although results also suggest that Na+ and Mg2+ may associate with TAR in distinct modes. The transition can be rationalize...
Immunomodulatory peptides and the central nervous system

La thymosine et les lymphokines peuvent stimuler l'axe hypophysosurrenalien mais ne stimulent pas directement la corticosurrenale. Elles agissent au sein du systeme nerveux central. De la thymosine α1 est presente dans le systeme nerveux central
Corticofugal influences in the rat on responses of neurons in the trigeminal nucleus interpolaris to mechanical stimulation

We recorded effects of electrical stimulation of sensorimotor cortex on the responses of 45 neurons in the interpolar trigeminal nucleus to mechanical stimulation of vibrissae. Responses elicited by peripheral mechanical stimulation were enhanced when a neuron's receptive field (RF) included the RF of the cortical stimulating locus, and suppressed when the RFs of the cortical site and the interpolar neuron did not overlap. Several interpolaris neurons influenced by cortical stimulation were shown to project to the cerebellum.
Intravascular lesions of the hand

Intravascular lesions of the hand comprise reactive and neoplastic entities. The clinical diagnosis of such lesions is often difficult, and usually requires pathologic examination. We present the largest series to date of intravascular lesions affecting the hand. A retrospective review of intravascular (arterial and venous) lesions involving the hand was conducted. Data regarding clinicopathologic findings were analyzed. We identified 10 patients with intravascular lesions of their hands including thromboemboli (n = 3), reactive intravascular conditions such as papillary endothelial hyperplasia or Masson's tumor (n = 2) and fasciitis (n = 1), as well as vascular neoplasms including pyogenic granuloma (n = 2) and angioleiomyoma (n = 2). Blood vessel injury and/or venous thrombosis may predispose to several intravascular lesions of the hand. Recognition of reactive entities from neoplastic conditions is important.
Search for supermassive Cahn-Glashow particles in lead.

A radiochemical search has been made for negatively charged massive elementary particles (X/sup -/) bound to lead nuclei by utilizing the fact that such systems would have the nuclear properties of lead but the chemical properties of thallium. We looked for evidence of PbX/sup -/ by searching for ..gamma.. rays emitted following the ..beta.. decay of /sup 206/BiX/sup -/ produced by PbX/sup -/(p,xn) reactions. No evidence of such decays was observed and a limit has been established on the possible concentration of X/sup -/ particles in lead of <1.5 x 10/sup -13/ per nucleon.
Cation Exchange Capacity of Layer Silicates and Palagonitized Glass in Mafic Volcanic Rocks: A Comparative Study of Bulk Extraction and In Situ Techniques

The cation exchange capacities (CEC) and extractable cations in smectite, corrensite and palagonitized glass from hydrothermally-altered pillow lavas and hyaloclastite breccias were measured by both bulk wet chemical and in situ microanalytical techniques. Smectite has CEC’s between 60 and 120 meq/100 g, palagonitized glass between 30 and 60 meq/100 g, and corrensite approximately 35 meq/100 g as determined by the in situ CsCl-exchange method. These experiments generally verify that Cs exchanges for those cations that are presumed (from the stoichiometry implied by microprobe analyses) to occupy interlayer sites in sheet silicates. Results of conventional CEC determinations are consistent with those determined by the in situ experiments: the individual microanalytical values for smectite and palagonitized glass bracket the bulk CEC values. The in situ experiments imply that Mg is the major extractable cation in smectite, Ca in corrensite, and both Mg and Ca in the palagonitized glass. We speculate that discrepancies between the equivalents of extractable cations predicted from elemental analysis and the equivalents of Cs sorbed may be due to the presence of charge-balancing protons that are not detected by the microprobe analyses. The sum of equivalents of cations extracted by NH4-acetate is about the same as the CEC determined by both the in situ and the bulk methods. Cation proportions indicated by NH4-acetate extractions from bulk samples are also generally consistent with the in situ results for all elements except Mg, which is a minor leachate of the NH4-acetate extractions in all the samples. To explain this discrepancy, we propose that 1) Mg may occupy structural sites within palagonitized glass, which inhibit its extraction by NH4 or Cs, and/or 2) there is a significant quantity of smectite, unsampled by the electron microprobe analyses, which contains insignificant interlayer Mg.
Avian cells expressing the Newcastle disease virus hemagglutinin-neuraminidase protein are resistant to Newcastle disease virus infection.

Abstract The cDNA derived from the Newcastle disease virus (NDV) hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) gene was inserted into a replication-competent Schmidt-Ruppin Rous sarcoma virus-derived vector. Chick embryo cells transfected with this vector expressed HN-sized protein which could be precipitated with anti-HN antibody. These cells adsorbed avian red blood cells and the cell surfaces exhibited neuraminidase activity while cells transfected with an antisense version of the gene were negative for hemadsorption and neuraminidase. The cells transfected with the retroviral vector containing the HN gene were resistant to infection by NDV and influenza virus, viruses which bind to sialic acid containing receptors, but sensitive to vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV). Cells transfected with the antisense version of the HN gene were sensitive to NDV, influenza virus, and VSV infection. Thus the HN protein-expressing cells are likely resistant to NDV and influenza virus due to the destruction of the cellular receptors by the neuraminidase of the HN protein. The expression of the influenza virus HA protein using the same retrovirus vector has been reported previously (L. A. Hunt, D. W. Brown, H. L. Robinson, C. W. Naeve, and R. G. Webster, 1988, J. Virol. 62, 3014–3019) . Cells infected with this vector were sensitive to infection with influenza virus, NDV, and VSV. Thus expression of a viral surface protein does not necessarily confer resistance of the cell to the homologous virus.
Effects of climate-driven freshwater inflow variability on macrobenthic secondary production in Texas lagoonal estuaries: A modeling study

Abstract Freshwater inflow to estuaries delivers nutrients that drive primary production, but does inflow also affect secondary production? An ecological model was used to predict system-wide secondary production for two trophic groups of benthic organisms in response to different freshwater inflow regimes that result from the climatic ecotone along the Texas coast. The bioenergetic model was calibrated using an 11-year dataset (from 1988 to 1999) and validated with a 20-year data (from 1988 to 2008) from four estuaries in South Texas: Lavaca-Colorado (LC), Guadalupe (GE), Nueces (NE) and Laguna Madre Estuaries (LM). The estuaries lie in a climatic gradient where LC and GE receive more rainfall than NE, and NE receives more rainfall than LM. Consequently inflow and nutrient loading decreases and salinity increases along the gradient. In addition there is year-to-year variation in rain and inflow that results in wet and dry years. Therefore, this combination of the climatic gradient and temporal variability can be used to identify the effects of inflow variability on estuarine secondary production. Among Texas estuaries, increased salinity (and thus decreased inflow) benefited deposit feeders, while suspension feeders were reduced; thus there is a decrease in functional diversity when salinity is increased because of loss of a trophic guild. Within estuaries, the upstream benthic community is reduced by reduced inflow, whereas, the downstream community increases with reduced inflow and higher salinities. This is because lower salinity regimes are required to support food production for suspension feeders, and polyhaline deposit feeding species increase during marine conditions. This study demonstrates that freshwater inflow is important to maintain secondary productivity and functional diversity in estuaries, which is required to maintain estuarine health and sustainability.
Feedback Control of Dissipative Hyperbolic Distributed Parameter Systems with Finite Dimensional Controllers

Abstract The class of dissipative hyperbolic distributed parameter systems is defined here; it includes many physical phenomena such as mechanically flexible structures and certain linear wave propagation problems. Feedback control theory for this class of systems is investigated. Although some results on infinite dimensional controllers are presented, the emphasis is on practical (i.e., finite dimensional) controllers based on reduced-order models of the distributed parameter system and the closed-loop operation of such controllers in the actual system. Sufficient conditions, in terms of “spillover” bounds for the unmodeled residuals, are presented for exponentially stable closed-loop operation.
Factors Influencing the Rate of Deposit Formation on Hydrophilic Lenses

Tear film components, especially proteins, have been shown to be major constituents of many hydrophilic lens deposits. In this study the total and major individual protein concentrations of the tear film for a group of patients were quantified and related to the rate of deposit formation on HEMA lenses. The Schirmer test for tear quantity and tear film break-up times (B.U.T.) were also determined for these patients and compared to the rate of deposit formation. No correlation was found between the protein concentration and rate of deposition; however, there was a correlation of deposition rate with both the Schirmer test and break-up time. A short B.U.T. was found best correlated with rapid deposit formation.
Perceived Burdensomeness as an Indicator of Suicidal Symptoms

The Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicidal Behavior proposes precursors to serious suicidality, including the perception that one is a burden on loved ones. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the association of perceived burdensomeness and key suicide-related variables in 343 adult outpatients of the Florida State University Psychology Clinic (187 female; 156 male). Participants completed the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation and the Beck Depression Inventory, as well as items on perceived burdensomeness and hopelessness. Perceived burdensomeness remained a significant predictor of suicidality indicators (i.e., attempt status and BSSI scores) above and beyond the contribution one of the most robust predictors of suicidality, hopelessness. Results suggest that both burdensomeness and hopelessness display predictive power with regards to suicidal behavior and that perceived burdensomeness displayed the signature of a resilient suicide risk factor. Thus, targeting perceived burdensomeness in the assessment of suicidal behavior may aid in treatment and prevention efforts.
How important is wilderness? Results from a United States survey

The designation and management of federal wilderness areas has generated much controversy in the United States. The decade of the 1980s has been a difficult one for public land managers as there has been growing opposition to their traditional “conserve but use philosophy.” Public lands are to be managed for the public benefit. Unfortunately there has been little survey research to find out what the attitudes of the public are towards the management of federally designated wilderness. We report the results of a national survey of 2670 residents of wilderness counties. We found that the presence of wilderness is an important reason why 53% of the people moved to or live in the area; 81% felt that wilderness areas are important to their counties; and 65% were against mineral or energy development in wilderness areas. On some issues there was less agreement as 43% of the respondents wanted more access to wilderness, and 39% were in favor of additional wilderness with 26% undecided. There were no large differences between counties and regions despite the differences in economic and social characteristics and the historical contexts within which they evolved.
On the Need for a National Board To Assess Dual Use Research of Concern

After dispersal of anthrax spores through the U.S. mail in 2001, there was heightened awareness of the potential of biological knowledge to be used for nefarious purposes. Consequently, there was greater scrutiny of published articles for information that, although not intended for this purpose,
Divide and Conquer in Australia: A Study of Labor Segmentation:

This study uses a sample of 982 Australian workplaces to ascertain whether labor segmentation affects the Australian economy. Cluster analysis allocates private-sector workplaces among the primary ...
Recurrence of high concentration values in a diffusing, fluctuating scalar field

We propose a simple model for esimating the average number of occurrences per unit time η(c 0) that a threshold concentration c 0 is exceeded. It is based on the joint probability density of the observed concentration c(t) and its time derivative ċ(t) under the assumption that c(t) is a stationary time series; this assumption leads to the hypothesis that c(t) and ċ(t) are statistically independent. Adopting plausible forms of the frequency distributions of c and ċ, we apply the model to diffusion from an infinite area source and from an elevated point source, both in the neutral boundary layer, and obtain simple results for η(c 0) and the average duration of one excursion above c 0 as functions of c 0, the mean and the standard deviation of the concentration, and surface-layer variables.
Lighting and perceptual cues: Effects on gait measures of older adults at high and low risk for falls

The visual system plays an important role in maintaining balance. As a person ages, gait becomes slower and stride becomes shorter, especially in dimly lighted environments. Falls risk has been associated with reduced speed and increased gait variability. Twenty-four older adults (half identified at risk for falls) experienced three lighting conditions: pathway illuminated by 1) general ceiling-mounted fixtures, 2) conventional plug-in night lights and 3) plug-in night lights supplemented by laser lines outlining the pathway. Gait measures were collected using the GAITRite© walkway system. Participants performed best under the general ceiling-mounted light system and worst under the night light alone. The pathway plus night lights increased gait velocity and reduced step length variability compared to the night lights alone in those at greater risk of falling. Practically, when navigating in more challenging environments, such as in low-level ambient illumination, the addition of perceptual cues that define the horizontal walking plane can potentially reduce falls risks in older adults.
America's Problems and Needed Reforms: Confronting the Ethic of Personal Advantage

Executive Overview This article addresses some of America's pressing problems and the important role of administration and executive leadership in remedying the problems. Three major problems are described: the degradation of the environment, the growing number of people included in the “underclass,” and the ethical abuses which have been so prevalent recently. These problems are traced to some basic values that currently are widely held in American society. These values include 1) a short-term rather than a long-term perspective: 2) a focus on the ends rather than the means: and 3) an emphasis on the individual over the community. We call this combination of values the ethic of personal advantage. Our suggestions for reform include educational debate, legal oversight and restrictions, and internal organizational changes. But most of all courageous leadership is needed. Our problems must be raised to the level of a national debate centered on reform and guided by our administrative and managerial elite.
Development of the ventricular septum of the heart

In man, development of the cardiovascular system begins in embryos of about 3 weeks ovulation age and is essentially completed 3 weeks later. Cardiovascular development, therefore, takes place very early and proceeds rapidly. This is a major reason why the study of cardiovascular development is difficult. Events of major importance for the understanding of the processes which lead to cardiac septation and the formation of atrio-ventricular and arterial valves take place so quickly and are so elusive that we still don’t have a thorough understanding of what exactly happens. These uncertainties continue to fuel controversies concerning not only normal cardiovascular development but also the pathogenesis of congenital cardiac defects. Considerable progress, however, has been made in the past few decades [1–9] and the blanks in our knowledge and understanding of heart development are becoming fewer and smaller.
POLYPROPYLENE: AN INTRODUCTION

Polypropylene now has a history of nearly 45 years since its discovery and 40 years since its commercialization. It has established itself as one of the most important polymers that has engineering plastic properties at commodity plastics prices. The end of the growth of polypropylene is not in sight.
Dithiocarbamate chelating agents for toxic heavy metals

Abstract Simple methods for the preparation of water soluble dithiocarbamates, several of which are newly synthesized, are presented along with some of their physical properties and a preliminary examination of their acute toxicity and their ability to offset acute mercuric chloride poisoning. Such compounds, although they do not possess great thermal stability, recommend themselves for wider application because of their ease of preparation and general effectiveness in binding those metal ions which form insoluble sulfides. Those compounds which possess an appreciable water solubility because of polar groups possess a rather slight degree of toxicity when administered intraperitoneally to mice. Some of these compounds are clearly effective as antidotes for acute mercury poisoning.
Entanglement Entropy of Fermions in Any Dimension and the Widom Conjecture

We show that entanglement entropy of free fermions scales faster than area law, as opposed to the scaling L(d-1) for the harmonic lattice, for example. We also suggest and provide evidence in support of an explicit formula for the entanglement entropy of free fermions in any dimension d, S approximately c(deltagamma, deltaomega)L(d-1) logL as the size of a subsystem L-->infinity, where deltagamma is the Fermi surface and is the boundary of the region in real space. The expression for the constant c(deltagamma, deltaomega) is based on a conjecture due to Widom. We prove that a similar expression holds for the particle number fluctuations and use it to prove a two sided estimate on the entropy S.
Material Choices: Refashioning Bast and Leaf Fibers in Asia and the Pacific

Review of Material Choices: Refashioning Bast and Leaf Fibers in Asia and the Pacific . Roy W. Hamilton and B. Lynne Milgram, eds. 2008. Fowler Museum at UCLA, Los Angeles. Pp. 187, bibliography, index, copious color illustrations. $30.00 (paper). ISBN-13 9780974872988.
Doping of ZnSe using gas source molecular beam epitaxy

Gas source molecular beam epitaxy (GSMBE) of ZnSe has been performed with emphasis in understanding the incorporation of substitutional donor and acceptor impurity species. Elemental Zn and hydrogen selenide provide the constituent species, whereas ZnCl2 and nitrogen gas, combined with the use of a radio frequency plasma cell, provide the dopant species for n- and p-type ZnSe, respectively. The hydrogenation behavior of ZnSe:Cl and ZnSe:N are compared, and we have found that the presence of hydrogen does not significantly affect the electrical behavior of n-type layers. However, the presence of hydrogen very effectively passivates acceptor species of nitrogen to prohibit p-type conductivity. Conventional and rapid thermal annealing have been investigated to modify the degree of hydrogen passivation.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Efficient UV emission of addressable pixel arrays of Si microplasma devices

Summary form only given. The array of Si microcavity plasma device is a new light source for generating emission with high efficiency and pixel-to-pixel uniformity. As the device operates with specific power loading higher than tens of kW/cm3, it can achieve any region of emission wavelengths between UV and IR through the discharge of various atomic or molecular gases. In this paper, we report the performance of AC-excited Si microplasma arrays having (50 mum)2 and (100 mum)2 microcavity dimension operated in the atmospheric pressures of molecular UV emitters. Each microcavity is comprised of a pair or three metal electrodes which are individually patterned and embedded in the multilayer structure. The devices operated in the mixtures of molecular gases such as N2, H2, D2, H2O in Ar. All the arrays exhibit stable, reproducible behavior with AC (sinusoidal) or bipolar waveform excitation at total gas pressures of 400-800 torr. In case of Ar/D2 discharge, operating voltages as low as 200 V of RMS voltage are observed in Ar/D2 gas pressure of 500 torr and excitation frequency of 20 kHz. The emission spectrum shows strong D2 continuum band over the wavelength range of 250-400 nm. (100 mum)2 microcavity device shows higher UV emission intensity and efficiency than (50 mum)2 device in a given condition. The discharge properties in various UV emitting gases will be discussed in detail
Differential CO2-induced c-fos gene expression in the nucleus tractus solitarii of inbred mouse strains

Genetic determinants confer variation between inbred mouse strains with respect to the magnitude and pattern of ventilation during hypercapnic challenge. Specifically, inheritance patterns derived ...
Visual Representation of Fatness and Health in High School Health Texts

This project examines visual portrayals of fatness in a sample of five high school health textbooks. Findings include gross underrepresentation of fat people, universally negative portrayals of fatness, assumptions about the incompatibility of fatness with health, and numerous instances of confusing, contradictory, or dangerous advice to teens. These texts are likely to contribute to further stigmatization and marginalization of fat people and to negatively affect the psychological well-being of teenagers exposed to them.
Gender differences in preclinical markers of kidney injury in a rural north Carolina african-american cohort.

Introduction: The incidence rate of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is highest among African American (AA) males. The reason for this disparity in ESRD for AA males remains unclear but it is well established that diabetes is the leading risk factor. Prediabetes may also be a risk for kidney disease since prediabetics have increased risk for cardiovascular disease and prediabetics often do not receive drug interventions unless their hemoglobin A1c (A1c) level is above 6%. Perhaps AA males are at greater risk because they often are untreated prediabetics and this predisposes them to renal injury. Therefore, we hypothesize that prediabetic AA males have higher albumin:creatinine ratio (ACr), a biomarker of renal injury, than their female counterparts. Methods: Male and female AAs were recruited (53 females and 47 males; 45 ± 2 years old) from a rural northeastern region of NC. Blood and urine samples were collected for A1c and albumin measurements, respectively. Participants were stratified based on their A1c levels: non-diabetic: < 5.7%, pre-diabetic: ≥ 5.7% but <6.5%, and diabetic: ≥ 6.5%. Results: The proportion of males that are normal, prediabetic, and diabetic differed from that of females (p=0.002). Interestingly, prediabetic men tended to be younger (41 ± 4 vs. 51 ± 3, respectively; p=0.027) than prediabetic females (p=0.027). A1c and ACr were not associated with blood pressure in males or females. AA males had a relative risk of 0.9, 2.5, and 1.4 for microalbuminuria for non-diabetic, prediabetic, and diabetic, respectively, compared to AA females. Conclusion: These results support our hypothesis that AA males may be predisposed to prediabetes kidney injury compared to their female counterpart. Thus, young AA males should be screened for biomarkers of kidney injury even if they have normal glucose and blood pressure levels.
Velocity dependent friction of granite over a wide range of conditions

Direct shear sliding experiments on bare ground surfaces of Westerly Granite have been conducted over an exceptionally wide range of sliding rates (10-4 µm/s to 103 µm/s) at unconfined normal stresses (sn) of 5, 15, 30, 70, and 150 MPa. A new sample configuration was developed that permitted measurements at normal stresses of 70 and 150 MPa without immediate sample failure. Measurements of steady-state velocity dependence of friction at velocities between 10-4 and 1 µm/s show similar velocity weakening behavior at all normal stresses, with more negative dependence at lower slip rates. However, at rates above 10 µm/s, velocity weakening is observed only at σn = 30, 70 and 150 MPa, while velocity neutral behavior is observed at σ n = 15 MPa and velocity strengthening is observed at (5, = 5 MPa. The greater velocity weakening observed at velocities below 10-2 µm/s may suggest a transition in competing deformation mechanisms, or the influence of additional mechanisms. The transition to velocity strengthening at high velocity and low normal stress implies that rapid slip on shallow faults could be arrested before resulting in true stick-slip behavior. Stable fault creep and creep events observed at shallow levels on some natural faults may result from this transition in velocity dependence.
Urban Health Insurance Reform in China

The healthcare system for urban employees in China was established in the early 1950s. The first stage (1950s-1980) mainly consisted of two parts, the Government Insurance Scheme (GIS) and the Labor Insurance Scheme (LIS). The GIS and LIS achieved remarkable success with limited resources, contributed to economic development and social stability, and won high praise from the World Health Organization. The second stage (1980s to date) aimed at controlling costs and expanded the risk pool to the city level, but experienced several problems, was not well received by the public, and drew negative government evaluations. This study examines underlying reasons and offers recommendations for improvement.
The model permanent magnet based on iron-dysprosium-carbon

Transformation of Fe/sub 17/Dy/sub 2/C/sub x/ to Fe/sub 14/Dy/sub 2/C produces Fe-Dy-C alloys with intrinsic coercivities exceeding 1200 kA/m (15 kOe). After the material is crushed to produce -325 mesh ( >
HIF‐1α: A key survival factor for serum‐deprived prostate cancer cells

Background Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) is commonly overexpressed in prostate cancer (PCa) cells. As PCa cells are known to survive serum deprivation, we investigated the effect of prolonged serum deprivation on HIF-1α expression, and the function of HIF-1α in regulating the survival of normoxic serum-deprived PCa cells.
The mdx mouse model as a surrogate for Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Research into fundamental principles and the testing of therapeutic hypotheses for treatment of human disease is commonly performed on mouse models of human diseases. Although this is often the only practicable approach, it carries a number of caveats arising from differences between the two species. This review focuses on the example of skeletal muscle disease, in particular muscular dystrophy, to identify some of the principal classes of obstacles to translation of data from mouse to humans. Of these, the difference in scale is one of the most commonly ignored, and is of particular interest because it has quite major repercussions for evaluation of some classes of intervention and of outcome criteria, while having comparatively little bearing on others. Likewise, inter-species differences and similarities in cell and molecular biological mechanisms underlying development, growth and response to pathological processes should be considered on an individual basis. An awareness of such distinctions is crucial if we are to avoid misjudging the likely applicability to humans of results obtained on mouse models.
Contents of several amino acids in the cerebellum, brain stem and cerebrum of the 'staggerer', 'weaver' and 'nervous' neurologically mutant mice.

— The content of glutamate, GABA, aspartate, glycine and alanine was determined in the cerebellum, brain stem and cerebrum of three different mutant mice which have been named ‘staggerer’, ‘weaver’ and ‘nervous’ on the basis of neurological symptoms. In the ‘staggerer’ and ‘weaver’ mutants there is an almost complete absence of granule cells in the cerebellar cortex while in the ‘nervous’ mutant there is a loss of Purkinje cells (and to a lesser extent a loss of granule cells) in the cerebellar cortex. In the cerebellum of the ‘weaver’ mutant, the content of glutamate was signficantly lower (P < 0.025) than control values (8.77 ± 0.76 vs 12.0 ± 1.3 μmol/g tissue wet wt) and the contents of GABA and glycine were significantly greater than normal levels. In the cerebellum of the ‘staggerer’ mutant, the content of glutamate was significantly lower (6.62 ± 0.70 μmol/g) and the contents of glycine and alanine significantly higher than control values. In the cerebrum and brain stem regions of the staggerer mutant, weaver mutant and the normals the contents of the five amino acids were the same. The contents of glycine and alanine in the cerebellum, GARA and glycine in the brain stem and GABA and alanine in the cerebrum of the nervous mutants were higher than control values. The data are discussed in terms of a possible role for glutamate functioning as an excitatory transmitter when released from the cerebellar granule cells.
Optimization of adhesively-bonded single lap joints by adherend notching

The effect of adherend notching on the strength and deformation behavior of single lap joints was investigated. First, a parametric study was conducted using finite element analysis (FEA). This initial part of the research into the effect of notches on joint behavior involved determination of the optimum notch location and notch dimensions. This was done by using FEA in a series of models with different notch positions and geometries. The results of this parametric study were used to select the most promising lap geometries for further study. Next, more detailed FEA were conducted on the selected lap geometries. These data were compared with the experimental single-lap shear test results to assess the applicability of different failure criteria. Three different model adhesives were used: a rubber toughened film epoxy with nylon carrier, a styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer based deformable 'gel' adhesive, and a two-part, metal filled brittle epoxy adhesive. The FEA for single lap joints containing ...
Fabrication of Suspended Silica Glass Nanofibers from Polymeric Materials Using a Scanned Electrospinning Source

We report on the fabrication of suspended silicon dioxide nanofibers using a scanned electrospinning source and a calcination process. We measured the mechanical oscillations of individual suspended fibers, driven by a piezoelectric actuator. The scanned electrospinning method was utilized to extrude polymeric nanofibers from a blended polymeric solution and deposit oriented nanofibers on patterned surfaces to form suspended structures. The deposited polymeric nanofibers were converted to silicon oxide by calcination without changing their morphologies. By utilizing this technique, a suspended nanofiber with a diameter of 120 nm was fabricated with a resonant frequency of 10.8 MHz and a mechanical quality factor of 1600. Because of the simplicity of the process steps to create organized inorganic nanofibers and the ability to produce suspended structures, this approach opens new opportunities in the study and device use of inorganic nanofibers.
Inhibition of transforming growth factor-beta signaling in human cancer: targeting a tumor suppressor network as a therapeutic strategy.

Transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) is both a tumor suppressor and tumor promoter. The loss or attenuation of TGFβ signaling in epithelial cells and stroma is permissive for epithelial cell transformation, whereas the introduction of dominant-negative TGFβ receptors into metastatic cancer cells
An anti-inflammatory NOD-like receptor is required for microglia development.

Summary Microglia are phagocytic cells that form the basis of the brain's immune system. They derive from primitive macrophages that migrate into the brain during embryogenesis, but the genetic control of microglial development remains elusive. Starting with a genetic screen in zebrafish, we show that the noncanonical NOD-like receptor (NLR) nlrc3-like is essential for microglial formation. Although most NLRs trigger inflammatory signaling, nlrc3-like acts cell autonomously in microglia precursor cells to suppress unwarranted inflammation in the absence of overt immune challenge. In nlrc3-like mutants, primitive macrophages initiate a systemic inflammatory response with increased proinflammatory cytokines and actively aggregate instead of migrating into the brain to form microglia. NLRC3-like requires both its pyrin and NACHT domains, and it can bind the inflammasome component apoptosis-associated speck-like protein. Our studies suggest that NLRC3-like may regulate the inflammasome and other inflammatory pathways. Together, these results demonstrate that NLRC3-like prevents inappropriate macrophage activation, thereby allowing normal microglial development.
Epidermal nevi and the epidermal nevus syndromes: a review of 233 cases.

It is likely that most if not all epidermal nevi can be explained on the basis of genetic mosaicism, with each of the many types of nevi representing the cutaneous manifestation of a different mosaic phenotype. Hence there are potentially many different epidermal nevus syndromes
Rancière and revolution

This paper explores what role Ranciere's work can play in the struggle for a more democratic world. It highlights the strength of Ranciere's conception of democracy, which clearly identifies democr...
Minimizing the maximum lateness in real-time computations with extended deadlines

Abstract We present an algorithm for scheduling real-time computations with extended deadlines. The extended execution model allows part of a real-time computation to be executed after the primary deadline but before a secondary, or extended , deadline. The model can be used by real-time computations which must provide a timely result before a tight deadline but only need to finish the rest of the computation before a much later deadline. Although the computations have extended deadlines, it is still desirable to finish their executions as close to the primary deadlines as possible. We present an algorithm which minimizes the maximum lateness of any computation. We also show the complexity of our algorithm.
Two-dimensional model of water transport in the root zone and plant for container-grown chrysanthemum

Abstract A two-dimensional model was developed to quantify soil water transport in the plant-environment system of potted crops. This included three main components: water transport in root medium, root water uptake, and evapotranspiration. The root medium volume in which the plant was growing was divided into a series of layers of equal depth and concentric cylindrical shells of equal thickness. Water transport in the medium was simulated based on Darcy's law and mass conservation. Root water uptake was dependent on plant water potential, root resistance, and soil water status. Root resistance was a function of root length density and soil water content. Transpiration and evaporation were estimated based on meteorological data, calculated single-leaf stomatal conductance and surface resistances. The leaf area and canopy height increase sigmoidally with time. Required inputs into the model included initial soil water content (or soil matric potential) distribution, root length density distribution and environmental data (including irrigation data). The model simulated the patterns of soil water content, root water uptake, soil surface evaporation, plant transpiration, and plant water potential over the day. The model was validated with measured soil water content data. The simulation results of soil water content agree with the measured data reasonably well. The model reproduced the dynamics of soil water content under both irrigated and unirrigated conditions.
Independent Currency Authorities: An Analytic Primer

This paper provides an analytic overview of independent currency authorities (ICAs), sometimes called currency boards. ICAs issue and redeem domestic currency against an exchange standard on demand and back such operations through a 100 percent marginal foreign reserve cover. They also impose significant constraints on the banking system and the budget of the country that operates them. When supporting institutions have been put in place, ICAs appear to have promoted price stability, foreign trade, saving, and investment.