cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Joint position sense in elderly fallers: a preliminary investigation of the validity and reliability of the SENSERite measure.

Abstract You SH. Joint position sense in elderly fallers: a preliminary investigation of the validity and reliability of the SENSERite measure. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2005;86:346–52. Objectives To establish the validity and reliability of the SENSERite system and to determine and compare proprioceptive acuity thresholds (PATs) among 3 groups. Design Between groups, repeated measures, with randomized sequence. Setting University research laboratory. Participants Forty-six adults recruited into 1 of 3 groups: group 1, 10 healthy young adults (mean age, 22.20y); group 2, 22 healthy older adults (mean age, 73.12y); and group 3, 14 older adults with a history of falls (mean age, 73.21y). Interventions The validity of SENSERite’s joint position measure was determined by comparing the system’s performance with a validated goniometer measure. The test-retest reliability was determined by repeatedly measuring the established joint positions for the neutral, inversion, eversion, plantarflexion, and dorsiflexion on 2 separate occasions, approximately 24 hours apart. In addition, PATs were measured to determine group differences. Data were analyzed by means of a univariate analysis of variance (ANOVA), intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC 2,k ), and paired t tests. Main outcome measures Error in active reproduction of position and PAT derived from the 5 respective joint position sense tests. Results Excellent clinical goniometer and SENSERite correlation (ICC 2,k =1.0, P 2,k range, .88–.99; P Conclusions The ability of the SENSERite to measure joint angular position was as good as that of a clinical goniometer; it had an adequate reliability when tested on 2 separate occasions. The device detected differences between elderly and young subjects, but it did not discriminate differences between fallers and nonfallers. This finding indicates that there is no significant difference between the fallers and nonfallers in proprioceptive acuity.
Adolescent Psychiatric Inpatients' Risk of Suicide Attempt at 6-Month Follow-up

Adolescent inpatients (of whom 48 were admitted for a suicide attempt, 33 were admitted for suicidal ideation, and 53 had no history of clinically significant suicidal ideation or attempt), were interviewed while in the hospital and then followed up 6 months later. Of the 134 patients followed up, 13 (9.7%) had made a suicide attempt. The vast majority of those who attempted suicide had been suicidal while in the hospital (12/13 or 92.3%). Other risk factors for suicidal behavior include major depression at intake, affective disorder with nonaffective comorbidity, a depressive disorder that continued through follow-up, death of a relative, and family financial problems. Suicidal inpatients, particularly those with chronic and recurrent affective illness, are at substantial risk for making a suicide attempt within 6 months of discharge. At follow-up, an even higher proportion showed attempts or suicidal ideation with a plan (N = 36 or 26.8%), with risk factors similar to those noted above. More intense outpatient or partial hospital interventions as a transition from the inpatient environment may be necessary to reduce the rate of recidivism among suicidal adolescents.
T-cells inhibit Friend murine leukemia virus infection of B-cells in vitro.

Abstract The ability of splenic T-cells to regulate Friend murine leukemia virus replication in lipopolysaccharide-activated target B-cells infected in vitro was investigated. Removal of the T-cell fraction from spleen cells resulted in an 8- to 10-fold enhancement in the number of productively infected cells in the remaining B-cell-enriched fraction, as compared with unseparated spleen cells, and the addition of increasing numbers of purified T-cells to isolated B-cells prior to infection resulted in a directly proportional reduction in the number of B-cells releasing infectious progeny virus. Separation of splenic T-cells into Lyt 2− and Lyt 2+ T-cells before addition to infected B-cell cultures resulted in inhibition of infection only with the Lyt 2− T-cells; Lyt 2+ Tcells did not inhibit infection, even at high 1:1 ratios. Similarly, separation of splenic T-cells into L3T4+ and L3T4− T-cells before addition resulted in inhibition by L3T4+ but not L3T4− T-cells. Also, cytotoxic treatment of splenic T-cells with monoclonal anti-L3T4 antibody and complement before addition to B-cell cultures destroyed the regulatory effects. Finally, depletion of macrophages from both T-cells and B-cells before infection and coculture had no effect on the ability of T-cells to regulate B-cell infection. Collectively these results demonstrate that L3T4+ T-cells can inhibit Friend murine leukemia virus replication in target B-cells. Culture of isolated splenic T-cells with Friend murine leukemia virus in vitro resulted in the induction of α β but not interferon-γ synthesis and in some experiments interferon-containing supernatants from T-cell-virus cultures were able to mediate suppression of B-cell infection with Friend helper virus; the addition of antibody specific for interferon- α β to cultures inhibited the ability of T-cells to regulate B-Cell infection.
A study of the antiviral mechanism of action of 2-deoxy-D-glucose: normally glycosylated proteins are not strictly required for herpes simplex virus attachment but increase viral penetration and infectivity.

Abstract The production of infectious herpes simplex 1 was reduced 94–98% by growth in 6 mM 2-deoxy- d -glucose. This concentration of 2-deoxy- d -glucose had only a modest effect on total protein synthesis, yet inhibited the incorporation of glucosamine into cellular and viral glycoproteins by approximately 65–70%. DNA isolated from herpesvirus grown in the presence of 2-deoxy- d -glucose was as competent at transfecting Vero cells as DNA from control virus. Thus, the decreased infectivity of herpesvirus grown in 2-deoxy- d -glucose appears to be the result of alterations in the early events of the viral replication cycle. Virus grown in the presence of 2-deoxy- d -glucose was capable of binding to Vero cells almost as well as control virus, even though it was much less infectious. An assay was developed to directly study herpesvirus penetration. The rate as well as amount of penetration was substantially less for virus grown with 2-deoxy- d -glucose than for control virus. Furthermore, the infectivity of virus grown in medium containing 2-deoxy- d -glucose could be significantly enhanced, relative to control virus infectivity, by treating cell monolayers after viral adsorption with polyethylene glycol, to promote viral penetration. Therefore, an alteration in the ability to penetrate the cell surface of virus grown in the presence of 2-deoxy- d -glucose is a significant factor in the antiviral action of 2-deoxy- d -glucose.
Abstract 4498: Prognostic significance of nuclear factor kappa B expression in human papillomavirus-associated oropharyngeal cancer

Nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) has been implicated in the development of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) from premalignant changes to tumor progression and recurrence. However, the prognostic significance of cytoplasmic or nuclear localization of NFκB expression in human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated HNSCC has not been investigated largely due to limited patient samples. We hypothesized that cytoplasmic and/or nuclear expression of NFκB may be a poor prognostic factor for tumor recurrence and overall survival (OS) regardless of p16 status. We conducted a retrospective study with archival formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor biopsies collected from 188 patients with oropharyngeal SCC between October 1994 and February 2008 from Emory University Department of Pathology. Median follow-up was 21.7 and 58.0 months for p16- and p16+ patients, correspondingly. Tumors were evaluated for p16 expression (a surrogate marker for HPV) by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Cytoplasmic expression of NFκBp65 by IHC or total expression combining cytoplasmic and nuclear localization were significantly greater in p16- patients (N=58) than p16+ patients (N=130), p Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4498. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-4498
Conversion and proxy functions for symmetric key ciphers

As a general design criterion, a symmetric key cipher should not be closed under functional composition due to the implications on the security of the cipher. However, there are scenarios in which this property is desirable and can be obtained without reducing the security of a cipher by increasing the computational workload of the cipher. We expand the idea of a symmetric key cipher being closed under functional composition to a more general scenario where there exists a function that converts the ciphertext resulting from encryption under a specific key to the ciphertext corresponding to encryption with another key. We show how to perform such a conversion without exposing the plaintext. We discuss the tradeoff between the computational workload and security, and the relationship between such conversions and proxy cryptography. We conclude with a description of some practical applications of our results.
Surgery for mitral regurgitation.

Mitral regurgitation is a valvular heart lesion that is difficult to diagnose accurately; thus, it is difficult to determine the appropriate timing for surgical correction. With increasing use of reparative techniques, including local resection of valve pathology and placement of an annuloplasty ring, and the realization that chronic atrial fibrillation leads to decreased long-term survival, the timing of surgery has changed. In addition, serial noninvasive studies have indicated that despite the absence of symptoms, patients may progress to a myopathic condition if the regurgitation progresses over a long period and surgery is not performed when signs of left ventricular dysfunction are evident. Preservation of the papillary muscle is also extremely important for late postoperative function in patients with mitral regurgitation, and reparative surgery that preserves both anterior and posterior papillary muscle complexes and continuity with the anulus appears to satisfy this assumption. Worldwide experience is reviewed and I present conclusions related to the appropriate indications for mitral valve repair or replacement in patients with mitral regurgitation. ( JAMA 1988;260:2883-2887)
Adjustment of the fetal head and adult pelvis in modern humans

In nonhuman anthropoids, the anteroposterior (AP) diameters of the fetus are greater than the transverse (TR) diameters and the AP diameters of the pelvic planes are greater than the TR diameters: during labor, therefore, the fetus moves through the birth canal without changing position or orientation. In modern humans, the fetal head at term is encephalized and the fetal chest is flattened. The maternal pelvic inlet is flattened in an AP direction, the sacral promontory and the ischial spines are prominent. As a result, AP TR at the midpelvis and outlet. In addition, the birth canal presents a marked sacral curvature in the AP direction. The human fetus successfully negotiates the birth canal because the three crucial fetal adaptations: (1) spheroidicity of the presenting part of the fetal head, which allows it to “roll” in the pelvis; (2) mobility of the head and chest in all directions; and (3) a capacity for cranial molding, which adapts fetal head dimensions to pelvic dimensions. The result is that the human fetal head and chest can perform multiple rotational movements in order to always present the greatest fetal diameters to the greatest pelvic diameters. Monkeys show a limited degree of encephalization and suffer from narrow TR pelvic diameters without any possibility of fetal adaptations as shown by humans. Apes also show some encephalization but, because of wider TR diameters in the pelvis, they achieve an easy delivery with no need of fetal adaptations.
Respiratory Function in Poultry Workers and Pharmacologic Characterization of Poultry Dust Extract

A group of 343 workers (252 males and 91 females) employed in four poultry farms in Croatia was studied for the prevalence of acute and chronic respiratory symp forms and lung function changes. There were significantly higher prevalences of chronic cough, chronic phlegm, chronic bronchitis, and chest tightness in poultry workers than in control workers. Male poultry workers who were smokers had significantly higher prevalences of chronic cough, chronic phlegm, and chronic bronchitis than poultry workers who were nonsmokers (P < 0.01). Poultry workers exposed for more than 10 years had significantly higher symptoms prevalences than those workers with shorter exposures (except among female smokers). There was also a high prevalence in poultry workers of acute symptoms which developed during the work shift. The measured FVC, FEV1, and FEF25 in poultry workers were significantly lower than predicted normal values. Workers exposed for more than 10 years had lower ventilatory capacity tests (expressed as percentage of predicted) than those workers with shorter exposures. Changes in FEV1, FEF50, and FEF25 were less pronounced than in FVC. Additionally we showed that a water-soluble poultry dust extract obtained from this workplace caused a dose-related contraction of nonsensitized guinea pig tracheal smooth muscle when studied in vitro. Pharmacologic studies of this response indicate that it may result from the release of multiple endogenous mediators. Our data suggest that work in poultry farms may, for some workers, cause the development of acute and chronic respiratory symptoms and lung function changes.
Selective Photochemistry of Bromine Using a Ruby Laser

Gas‐phase photochemical addition of bromine to olefin molecules has been studied by inducing the reaction with monochromatic light near 6940 A from a pulsed, tunable ruby laser. All previous photochemical reactions of bromine were induced with light at wavelengths shorter than 6800 A, and were found to proceed by means of free radical chains. The Br atoms initiating these chains are produced by direct dissociation of Br2 molecules upon absorption of light in the continuum. The present investigation shows that free‐radical chains are responsible for the reaction at 6940 A, also. However, direct dissociation at this wavelength is found to be negligible, and the Br2 molecules are excited to individual bound levels 500 to 800 800 cm− 1 below the dissociation energy. Kinetic and isotopic evidence shows that the additional energy is furnished by subsequent collisions, so that about 1% of the excited Br2 molecules become dissociated and can initiate the reaction. The remaining excited Br2 molecules relax by collisions to the ground state at a rate somewhat higher than the gas–kinetic‐collision rate.
Combined weakest link and random defect model for describing strength variability in fibres

A mathematical model which describes the strength variability along the length of a fibre was developed. The model is a combination of the modified weakest link and random defect models. This combined model describes very well the strength variability data of aramid fibres.
Assessing Gender-Related Differential Item Functioning and Predictive Validity With the Institutional Integration Scale

This study examined the gender-related differential predictive validity of five subscales of the Institutional Integration Scale (IIS) with regard to college student withdrawal. Differential functioning of the IIS across genders was assessed using an item response theory (IRT)—based framework of differential item and test functioning. The results confirmed the absence of differential functioning and supported the predictive validity of two of the five subscales for student withdrawal. IRT analyses revealed that a number of the items did not adequately reflect the construct and should be revised or removed from the measure. A discussion of these results and the implications for higher education institutions focused on preventing student withdrawal are presented.
Leveling with Lagrange: An Alternate View of Constrained Optimization

(2009). Leveling with Lagrange: An Alternate View of Constrained Optimization. Mathematics Magazine: Vol. 82, No. 3, pp. 186-196.
Determination of 2,3,7,8-chlorine-substituted dibenzo-p-dioxins and -furans at the part per trillion level in United States beef fat using high-resolution gas chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry

As part of the U.S. EPA Dioxin Reassessment Program, the 2,3,7,8-chlorine-substituted dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans were measured at part per trillion (ppt) levels in beef fat collected from slaughter facilities in the United States. This is the first statistically designed national survey of these compounds in the U.S. beef supply. Analyte concentrations were determined by high-resolution gas chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry, using isotope dilution methodology. Method limits of detection on a whole weight basis were 0.05 ppt for TCDD and 0.10 ppt for TCDF, 0.50 ppt for the pentas (PeCDDs/PeCDFs)/hexas (HxCDDs/HxCDFs)/heptas (HpCDDs/HpCDFs), and 3.00 ppt for the octas (OCDD/OCDF). Method detection and quantitation limits were established on the basis of demonstrated performance criteria utilizing fortified samples rather than by conventional signal-to-noise or variability of response methods. The background subtraction procedures developed for this study minimized the likelihood of false positives and increased the confidence associated with reported values near the detection limits. Mean and median values for each of the 2,3,7,8-Cl-substituted dioxins and furans are reported, along with the supporting information required for their interpretation. The mean toxic equivalence values for the samples are 0.35 ppt (nondetects = 0) and 0.89 ppt (nondetects = 1/2 LOD).
Feedforward nets for interpolation and classification

Abstract This paper deals with single-hidden-layer feedforward nets, studying various aspects of classification power and interpolation capability. In particular, a worst-case analysis shows that direct input to output connections in threshold nets double the recognition but not the interpolation power, while using sigmoids rather than thresholds allows doubling both. For other measures of classification, including the Vapnik-Chervonenkis dimension, the effect of direct connections or sigmoidal activations is studied in the special case of two-dimensional inputs.
Comparison of the effect of development paradigms on increases in complexity

As maintenance costs continue to increase at an alarming pace, improved techniques for controlling the maintenance process become imperative. The need to seek methods, applied throughout the development process, that address the maintainability of software has never been greater. One approach to improving the maintainability of software is to control the complexity of the module at the design phase. Since complexity is a measure of the effort to comprehend and maintain software, maintenance effort increases as complexity increases. This study provides an analysis of the changes in complexity during the development of two systems based on different development paradigms. Inter-system and intra-system comparisons of complexity increases are performed. Six complexity metrics representing structure, length and composite characteristics are evaluated. Results of the study include variances in complexity increases between systems based on different development paradigms.
Ramulator: A Fast and Extensible DRAM Simulator

Recently, both industry and academia have proposed many different roadmaps for the future of DRAM. Consequently, there is a growing need for an extensible DRAM simulator, which can be easily modified to judge the merits of today's DRAM standards as well as those of tomorrow. In this paper, we present Ramulator , a fast and cycle-accurate DRAM simulator that is built from the ground up for extensibility. Unlike existing simulators, Ramulator is based on a generalized template for modeling a DRAM system, which is only later infused with the specific details of a DRAM standard. Thanks to such a decoupled and modular design, Ramulator is able to provide out-of-the-box support for a wide array of DRAM standards: DDR3/4, LPDDR3/4, GDDR5, WIO1/2, HBM, as well as some academic proposals (SALP, AL-DRAM, TL-DRAM, RowClone, and SARP). Importantly, Ramulator does not sacrifice simulation speed to gain extensibility: according to our evaluations, Ramulator is 2.5 $\times$ faster than the next fastest simulator. Ramulator is released under the permissive BSD license.
Scattering characteristics of high-resolution meteor head echoes detected at multiple frequencies

[1] Meteor data collected at the Kwajalein Missile Range (KMR) during the peak of the 1998 Leonid storm comprise the only simultaneous observations of meteor head echoes and trails using seven frequencies (very high frequency (VHF), ultrahigh frequency (UHF), L-, S-, C-, Ka-, and W-band spanning 160 MHz to 95 GHz). The primary sensor was the ARPA Long-Range Tracking and Instrumentation Radar (ALTAIR) radar operating at 160 MHz with 30 m range resolution and 422 MHz with 7.5 m range resolution, including both interferometric and polarization capabilities. This paper presents an analysis of this high-resolution data set with the following results: First, these observations support the theory that head echo scattering arises from an ionized region with a density sufficiently high that its plasma frequency exceeds the radar frequency (overdense reflection). Second, radar cross section (RCS) decreases rapidly with decreasing wavelength because higher frequencies must penetrate further into the increasing density of the plasma surrounding the meteoroid to reach its reflection point. Third, head echo angle measurements indicate that most of the observed meteors are sporadics not originating from the Leonid radiant. Fourth, polarization ratios showed that head echo reflections result from plasmas with a circular cross section. Fifth, the highest RCS values are detected near 105 km altitude, where the meteoroid gives up the most kinetic energy during its decent. This paper presents the first analyses of a three-frequency head echo as well as the polarization ratios and RCS characteristics from numerous two-frequency head echoes, which will allow us to develop a better understanding of meteor physics.
Infant social development: Some experimental analyses of an infant-mother interaction during the first year of life

Abstract An infant-mother interaction was studied over a period of about 1 year. During this time, experimental analyses of the infant's developing verbal behavior were conducted. Results indicated that his mother served as an effective source of reinforcement for several infant responses classes. In addition, the data revealed that some infant response classes were functionally related to older infant response classes.
Evaluation of SMMR satellite-derived snow depth using ground-based measurements

Abstract Daily snow depth data for 284 first-order hydromet stations located in the former Soviet Union have been made available for climatological analysis by the U.S.S.R. State Committee for Hydrometeorology. The data are compared with the snow depth product derived from Scanning Multichannel Microwave Radiometer (SMMR) passive microwave brightness temperatures for the year 1980. Results suggest some discrepancies between the two data sources. Anomalies are considered to emanate from a variety of sources. These may include: (a) problems comparing a point measurement to one averaged over a pixel area; (b) an algorithm bias given deep snow conditions; (c) geographical influences such as elevation and forest cover; and (d) presence of depth hoar.
Distress Tolerance and Pathological Worry: Tests of Incremental and Prospective Relationships.

Abstract Pathological worry and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) have been linked with low distress tolerance (DT), although questions remain including whether this association exists independent of depression and comorbidity, the directionality of the relationship between worry and DT, and DT’s nonredundancy with other worry-relevant variables (i.e., emotional reactivity, stressful life events). Further, it is unclear whether DT is merely a correlate of excessive worry or acts as a risk factor for its development. Two independent studies were completed to evaluate these questions. In Study 1, DT was examined in patients with GAD and healthy controls. In Study 2, a nonclinical sample completed baseline measures of DT, negative affect, and worry, as well as daily assessments of these constructs and stressors for 1 month. In Study 1, lower DT was associated with GAD diagnosis and greater worry symptoms independent of extent of comorbidity and depressive symptoms. In Study 2, lower baseline DT predicted unique variance in daily worry and increases in worry over time, whereas baseline worry did not predict daily DT or decreases in DT 1 month later. Findings suggest that low DT plays a role in excessive worry independent of relevant covariates (i.e., comorbidity, emotional reactivity, stressful life events) and that this relationship is unidirectional. Further, preliminary evidence indicates that low DT may be an overall risk factor for the development of worry, particularly during periods of romantic stress, although further research and replication is required.
Identification of the 30 kDa polypeptide in post mortem skeletal muscle as a degradation product of troponin-T.

Abstract Although a 30 kDa polypeptide frequently is seen by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis of post mortem (pm) skeletal muscle and in turn is used as an indicator of proteolysis, its origin has not been conclusively identified. We used antibodies to selected myofibrillar proteins, including some known to be degraded pm, to identify this polypeptide. The left side of eight beef carcasses was electrically stimulated (ES) within 1 h after slaughter, and the right side served as the non-stimulated (NS) control. The longissimus lumborum (LL) muscle was removed from the carcass at 24 h pm and was stored at 2°C. Myofibrils were prepared from the LL muscle immediately after stimulation (0 day) and from the stored muscle sample at 1, 3, 7, 14 and 28 days pm for analysis of SDS-PAGE and Western blots. By SDS-PAGE, troponin-T (TN-T) decreased in amount more rapidly pm in ES samples than in NS samples. By SDS-PAGE, a 30 kDa band increased and became a prominent band by 7 days pm in both NS and ES samples. A monoclonal antibody (mAb) to TN-T labeled purified TN-T, as well as the TN-T in myofibrils, a prominent 30 kDa polypeptide and a family of lower molecular mass polypeptides in pm muscle. This mAb also labeled a 30 kDa band that had been electrophoretically purified from pm muscle. The 30 kDa band in blots of myofibrils was prominent from day 3 through 28 in both ES and NS samples, but was exaggerated in the ES samples. Antibodies to other myofibrillar proteins (titin, nebulin, α-actinin and desmin) did not label the 30 kDa band. We conclude, on the basis of labeling with a mAb to TN-T, that the prominent 30 kDa polypeptide often observed in pm bovine skeletal muscle is a degradation product of TN-T and, furthermore, that an entire family of lower molecular mass polypeptides (one of which is the 30 kDa polypeptide) originates from TN-T.
Play: The handmaiden of work

The natural habitat of geomorphologists is at play in the fields of the Lord. Picnics, not the work ethic, often motivate the most productive. As in the field, so too in the mind, creative insights derive from the play of ideas. As in much of science today, Earth scientists are called upon to ‘solve’ immediate problems, but problems whose solutions lie at the cutting edge of the research frontier. The impact of anthropogenic activities in the context of natural processes, the playground where many geomorphologists work, requires continuous reciprocal exchange between research and application. Apologies are not needed for choices of orientation, but only for destructive separation.
Characterization and Optimization of Interdigitated Ultramicroelectrode Arrays as Electrochemical Biosensor Transducers

Interdigitated ultramicroelectrode arrays (IDUAs) were fabricated on glass wafers and investigated to obtain optimal oxidation and reduction reactions of potassium ferro/ferrihexacyanide, Fe2+/3+(CN)6, when using a 2-electrode set up. These electrodes will be used as transducers in portable microfluidic-based biosensors in the future for the detection in an aqueous, biocompatible matrix. IDUAs were designed to maximize the signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) investigating electrode height, gap size, finger width, and material. Interesting differences in the electrode materials gold and platinum were found, which were due to the oxidization of platinum and gold during the IDUA fabrication process. It resulted in gold IDUAs being by far superior in respect to signal-to-noise ratio and overall signal magnitude to those made of platinum. The effects of gap size, electrode width and number of electrode fingers were as expected. Optimal electrode heights were in the range of 70 nm–140 nm, much larger and smaller electrodes had lower signal-to-noise ratios due to overall reduced signal or increased background. The optimized IDUA was made out of gold, had 400 fingers with a finger width of 2.7 μm, a finger height between 70 nm and 140 nm and a gap size of 0.9–1 μm. A detection limit of as low as 0.1 μM ferro/ferrihexacyanide measured in a simple 2-electrode set up was obtained with a signal-to-noise ratio of 9.7.
On the kinetics of an austenite → martensite phase transformation induced by impact in a CuAlNi shape-memory alloy

The kinetics of a propagating phase boundary in a single crystal of Cu-Al-Ni is determined. As particles cross this moving interface, they transform from austenite to β'_1-martensite; the former phase is cubic, while the latter is monoclinic. The data that are used in this paper were obtained by Escobar and Clifton (Escober, J. C. and Clifton, R. J., On pressure-shear plate impact for studying the kinetics of stress-induced phase transformations. J. Mater. Sci. Engng, 1993, A170, 125–142; Escober, J. C. and Clifton, R. J. Pressure-shear impact-induced phase transitions in Cu-14.4Al-4.19Ni single crystals. SPIE, 1995, 2427, 186–197) and Escobar (Escobar, J. C., Plate impact induced phase transformations is Cu-Al-Ni single crystals. Ph.D. dissertation, Brown University, Providence, RI, 1995) from experiments in which the transformation was induced by impact. These data, together with an analysis based on a certain linearization, are used to determine the values of phase boundary velocity and driving force in each impact experiment. The resulting kinetic law which relates these two quantities is displayed in a figure later in the text.
Depolarization and insulin like growth factor-l (IGF-l) differentially regulate the mitotic cycle in cultured rat sympathetic neuroblasts

Although neuroblast generation is highly reproducible temporospatially, the underlying regulation is undefined. Employing a fully defined sympathetic neuroblast culture system, we previously found that insulin growth factors regulated the mitotic cycle. We now report that depolarizing stimuli, including elevated K+ and veratridine, also increased the proportion of mitotic neuroblasts in vitro. Moreover, Na+ channel blockade prevented effects of depolarization, but not that of insulin-like growth factor I, suggesting that these influences stimulate mitosis by different membrane transduction mechanisms.
Carbonate Rock Physics: Analytical Models and Validations Using Computational Approaches and Lab/Log Measurements

Developing robust, accurate, and practical carbonate rock physics models is a crucial step for successful geophysical applications in carbonate reservoirs. We extended the Xu- White model, originally designed for clastic rocks, to carbonates and observed some promising results. For example, our shear-wave prediction method was accurate after the mineralogy effect was correctly handled. However, several technical issues still need to be addressed to better understand the seismic response to carbonate rock properties.
Multicast group behavior in the Internet's multicast backbone (MBone)

The multicast backbone (MBone) is a network overlaying the global Internet and designed to support multipoint applications. The authors first give an overview of the development and architecture of the current MBone. One important characteristic of the MBone is its reliance on IP multicast which allows receivers to join and leave groups asynchronously. The authors describe the Mlisten data collection tool that was created to provide a mechanism for capturing information about when members join and leave a multicast group. Using data collected with Mlisten, the authors present statistics about some of the MBone sessions they monitored. Results are provided for key parameters including multicast participant interarrival times and participant durations, multicast tree size and characteristics, and intersession relationships. Collecting data about MBone usage can improve our understanding of how multicast communication and real-time protocols are being used today.
A “Two-Way” Candling and Grading Bench for Use in Egg Packing Plants

Abstract IN PACKING eggs for central markets, it is necessary that the candling and grading process be simplified, but at the same time well controlled. This paper describes briefly a grading and candling device which is used in several Indiana packing plants, where eggs are being graded under the U. S. Government standards. The common candling room arrangement is often inadequate to handle the government standards, and we have found it necessary to develop a “two-way” candling and grading bench. After using the “two-way” bench for several months, we are strongly of the opinion that the arrangement is completely justified. Figure 1 illustrates the general plan of the candling and grading bench. It provides a slightly slanted table top. On one side and in the center is mounted a candling device. Moveable wooden strips are provided to keep the various grades separated after being candled for interior qualities. Low benches are . . .
On the magnetic field dependence of acoustic wave velocity in the mixed state of a high-Tc superconductor

Abstract The variation of the acoustic wave velocity with applied magnetic field in the mixed state of a high- T c superconductor is studied theoretically on the basis of a phenomenological model in which the coupling between the flux line lattice and the crystal lattice via the pinning potential is taken into account in a consistent manner. The theory gives good agreement with the recent results of Dolgopolov et al. in YBaCuO obtained experimentally using electromagnetically excited sound waves. The frequency dependence of the fractional change in acoustic velocity is also accounted for.
Stroke prevention with losartan in the context of other antihypertensive drugs

Several large clinical trials have demonstrated that successful control of blood pressure decreases the incidence of strokes. Also, drugs that stimulate the production of angiotensin II, such as diuretics, calcium channelblockers (CCBs) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), provide additional stroke reduction than drugs that suppress angiotensin II production such as beta-blockers and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. Since the stroke-protective effect of angiotensin II is mediated through stimulation of the AT 2 receptors, drugs that selectively block the AT 1 , such as the ARBs, provide greater stroke protection than the other antihypertensive drugs. The blockade of the AT 1 receptors lessens local brain ischemia, whereas the stimulation of the AT 2 receptors increases local blood flow through recruitment of collateral vessels. Among the ARBs, losartan possesses certain unique properties not shared by other members of its class, which enhance its stroke-protective effects. These include the prevention of platelet adhesiveness and aggregation and the decrease of serum uric acid levels, which both lead to reduction in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events.
Second International Symposium on Cardiovascular Drug Delivery

The Second Annual International Symposium on Cardiovascular Drug Delivery was held October 13-15, 1996, in Cambridge, Mass. Drs Steven Bailey of the University of Texas, Elazer R. Edelman of the Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School and MIT, and Keith March of the University of Indiana and the Krannert Institute organized the 2½-day event. More than 225 people attended, and 47 speakers from a range of cardiovascular disciplines presented overviews of principles and leading experiments in the field. The symposium commenced with seven interactive workshops dedicated to critical issues in cardiovascular drug delivery. Dr Keith Robinson of Emory University and Dr Robert Schwartz of the Mayo Clinic reviewed the current state of animal models of cardiovascular disease and the techniques available for their quantitative assessment. An extensive and comprehensive review of model protocols and tissue preservation, handling, and analysis was provided, along with an evaluation of computer-based resources for morphometric assessment. Drs Renu Virmani and Andrew Farb of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology provided an overview of cardiovascular pathology and anatomy including a detailed histological account of accelerated vascular disease in animal models and humans. Dr Jeffrey Hubbel of the California Institute of Technology and Dr Prasad Shastri of MIT described the field of polymer chemistry and biomaterials. Starting with first principles, they provided rules by which to choose proper materials for drug-delivery platforms and tissue-engineered scaffoldings. Dr Charles Lambert of the University of Florida and Dr Bailey discussed the current status of catheters and their use in local vascular drug delivery. They reviewed the currently available catheters as well as considerations of basic design, functional characteristics, and results from animal and human studies. Dr Steve Hanson of Emory University and Mark Lovich of MIT described issues related to pharmacokinetics and how this discipline impacts on drug delivery …
Stochastic matrices. I. Similarity via stochastic transforms

Abstract Suppose two stochastic matrices A and B of order n are similar in the set of all matrices of order n over a real field R . We obtain sufficient conditions in order that A and B be right similar, left similar, and similar in the set of all stochastic matrices of order n over R . As a corollary, we obtain the known result that two doubly stochastic matrices of order n which are similar in are also similar in the set of all doubly stochastic matrices of order n over R . Examples are given to show that these sufficient conditions are not necessary and are also not vacuous. Finally, we give an application of some of these results to the transition probability matrices of stationary finite Markov processes.
Distal urinary acidification from Homer Smith to the present

Distal urinary acidification from Homer Smith to the present. Since Smith's time, the essential role of collecting duct intercalated cells in controlling net acid excretion has been recognized. Rather than employing an H + -exchange mechanism, intercalated cells have V-ATPase on the plasma membrane and in plasmalemma-associated tubulovesicles, which functions in the bicarbonate reabsorption, regeneration, and bicarbonate secretion required for acid-base homeostasis. Several distinct mechanisms participate in regulating V-ATPase-driven H + secretion in different cell types: (1) Renal epithelial cells have the capacity to express different structural forms of V-ATPase that have intrinsic differences in their enzymatic properties. 2) The kidney produces cytosolic regulatory proteins, capable of interacting directly with the V-ATPase, that may modify its activity. V-ATPases in different cell types may differ in the degree to which their activity is affected by regulatory factors, as a result of variations in V-ATPase structure. (3) In the α intercalated cell, the number of active V-ATPases on the luminal membrane is controlled in vivo by membrane vesicle-mediated traffic that may require unidentified mediators. In the β intercalated cell, the number of active V-ATPases on the basolateral membrane may be controlled by regulated assembly and disassembly, responding directly to extracellular pH.
Object-Oriented Modeling of Structural Analysis and Design with Application to Damping Device Configuration

This paper presents an object-oriented (OO) software framework for computer-aided structural analysis and design research, where different structural analysis methods and design procedures need to be implemented and investigated. The framework is designed with four basic modules: structure, load, analysis, and design. Each module includes a set of cooperating interfaces and classes. Through the predefined interfaces, the framework provides architecture for many structural design applications. A variety of similar entities, such as different design applications, design procedures, and analysis methods, can be built on this architecture by implementing the necessary interfaces. The clearly defined interactions between the modules accommodate the future extensions within the modules. The final OO design of the framework can be communicated by many well-known design patterns, and it is described by unified modeling language. The framework is then customized to the application for optimizing the configuration ...
Out on the Web: The Relationship between Campus Climate and GLBT-related Web-based Resources in Academic Libraries

This article explores the relationship between the perceived campus environment for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) students at colleges and universities and how academic libraries have deployed GLBT-related resources on the Web. Recommendations are made for increasing GLBT-related materials and information in academic libraries.
Measurement of the spectral linewidth of semiconductor lasers for use with coherent optical communication systems

Semiconductor laser diodes with narrow linewidths (10 kHz–10 MHz) are essential for coherent fiber optical communication systems. Linewidth measurement techniques fall into three groups. We discuss each group and then focus our attention on the unbalanced interferometric method. We have developed, theoretically, the correlated unbalanced interferometric method and show that the envelope function of the beat signal is the Fourier transform of the original laser lineshape. We also propose novel approaches to the linewidth measurement techniques, such as serial use of two acoustooptic modulators for cross-correlation measurement and combination of Mach-Zehnder and Sagnac interferometers.
Noncovalent Interactions of Derivatized Pyrenes with Metallic and Semiconducting Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

Pyrene has been a popular molecular structure in the noncovalent functionalization of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), and the selectivity between metallic and semiconducting SWNTs for the underlying interactions has been exploited for the postproduction metallic–semiconducting nanotube separation. Two pyrene derivatives, 1-pyreneacetic acid (PyAA) and 1-docosyloxylmethylpyrene (DomP), which are hydrophilic and hydrophobic, respectively, were evaluated on their noncovalent interactions with SWNTs, as relevant to their selectivity and applicability to the postproduction separation. The results suggested that the interactions were not only dependent on molecular structures but also sensitive to solvent conditions and that a relatively lower solvent strength environment (solutions of less polar solvents) might be more favorable to the realization of the selectivity between interactions with metallic and semiconducting SWNTs. The surprising differences for the two pyrene derivatives in terms of their d...
Effects of temperature and pressure on the performance of a solid oxide fuel cell running on steam reformate of kerosene

Abstract A button solid oxide fuel cell with a La 0.6 Sr 0.4 Co 0.2 Fe 0.8 O 3 cathode and a nickel-YSZ anode was tested over a range of temperatures from 650 to 800 °C and a range of pressures from 101 to 724 kPa. The fuel was simulated steam-reformed kerosene and the oxidant was air. The observed increases in open circuit voltages (OCVs) at elevated pressures were accurately predicted by the Nernst equation. Kinetics also increased with the pressure, although the power boost due to improved kinetics was just more than half as large as the boost due to increased OCV. The power boost increased almost linearly with the logarithm of pressure. At constant voltage the relative power boost due to increased pressure was higher at higher temperatures. At constant current the relative power boost was the same for all temperatures. When the pressure was increased from 101 to 724 kPa, the total power boost at 750 °C and 0.8 V was 66%. A significant decrease in electrodic losses at elevated pressures was observed by impedance spectroscopy. Complex impedance spectra were dominated by a combination of low frequency processes that decreased markedly with increasing pressure. A composite of high-frequency processes also decreased with pressure, but to a lesser extent.
Scanning Laser Image Generation As A Diagnostic Tool For Semiconductor Materials And Circuits

This paper describes some of the potential applications of scanning laser generated images for use in material characterization, process control, and failure analysis in semi-conductor device manufacturing. Two applications are described in detail: CMOS latchup site identification and photoluminescence imaging of defects in gallium arsenide. Laser scanning is shown to be capable of identifying every site in a CMOS circuit which will sustain latchup under given bias conditions and identifying the relative sensitivities of each site. Photoluminescence imaging is shown to be capable of identifying the locations of dislocation clusters in gallium arsenide. These relatively inexpensive nondestructive tech-niques may prove to be powerful analytic tools in semiconductor device manufacturing.
Evidence of CFTR Function in Cystic Fibrosis after Systemic Administration of 4-Phenylbutyrate

Abstract Most individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF) carry one or two mutations that result in a maturation defect of the full-length protein. One such mutation, ΔF508, results in a mutant membrane glycoprotein that fails to progress to the apical membrane, where the wild-type protein normally functions as a cyclic AMP-regulated chloride channel. 4-Phenylbutyrate (Buphenyl), an orally bioavailable short chain fatty acid, modulates heat shock protein expression and restores maturation of the ΔF508 protein in vitro and in vivo . We performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation and safety study of Buphenyl in 19 adults with CF (homozygous ΔF508) to test the hypothesis that Buphenyl would be safe, well-tolerated, and associated with an increase in chloride transport in nasal epithelia. Three dose levels (20, 30, or 40 g divided t.i.d.) of drug or placebo were given for 1 week. Serial measurements of chloride transport by nasal potential difference (NPD) testing and metabolic safety testing were performed. A maximum tolerated dose of 20 g was defined based on minimal adverse reactions, the safety profile, and a statistically significant induction of chloride transport that was maximal by day 3. This short-term phase I/II study demonstrates proof of principle that modulation of ΔF508 CFTR biosynthesis and trafficking is a viable therapeutic approach for cystic fibrosis.