cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Relating Computer, Communication, and Computer-Mediated Communication Apprehensions to New Communication Technology Use in the Workplace

This study explores three issues regarding the use of multiple workplace communication technologies: the relationships between distinct forms of apprehension (computer, communication, and writing) and use, the relative contribution of computer-mediated communication (CMC) apprehension for predicting use, and changes in these relationships over time. A trend study, which consisted of the collection of data from two samples (N= 205) separated by a 5-year interval, suggests full or partial support for the hypotheses involving computer and communication apprehension. Although apprehension levels remain stable, usage frequency changed for several of the technologies examined—resulting in stronger relationships between apprehensions and those technologies for which use has changed the most in the past 5 years. Most notably, a new measure of CMC apprehension generally predicts communication technology use—especially text-based and conferencing tools—more strongly than do more traditional apprehension types.
Best Practices in Policy Creation and Administration in Meeting Housing Needs for People with Disabilities and Their Families: A Case Study in Ottawa County, Michigan

For people with disabilities across the spectrum of disability categories, there is a need for better understanding of current and projected housing needs options. What housing, programs and policies exist to serve the disability community? How are policies and programs for people with disabilities, their families and caregivers being implemented? What gaps remain in the knowledge about housing and disability as well as in policy and implementation/administration arenas surrounding housing for people with disabilities and their families? Through a participatory action process, this project seeks to improve understanding and policy and program recommendations on housing options for the disability community. The topics identified as central to housing for the disability community that need better understanding include affordability of housing, accessibility, available individual supports and access to community amenities, such as transportation, that exist or are lacking. Through review of current data and a collection of new data in the form of a case study from Ottawa County, Michigan, this project will work to improve understanding and create a set of recommendations regarding housing options for people with disabilities, their families, and their caregivers.
Effectiveness of a Warning as Measured by Behavior Change

Few studies of the effectiveness of warnings have evaluated the extent to which the warning actually affects the behavior that can lead to the hazard. This study provided such an opportunity. It arose because a person was injured while climbing onto a commuter rail platform instead of using the stairs that were at the other end of the platform. It was suggested that a warning may have deterred the hazardous behavior. Persons were observed by video approaching and climbing onto the platform at two stations having similar characteristics as where the accident occurred, both before and after a sign warning of the hazard was erected. Before and after the sign was in place all who approached the end without the stairs climbed onto the platform, even those who clearly looked at the sign. The sign had no effect on changing the behavior.
Winter annual grassy weeds increase over‐winter mortality in autumn‐sown wheat

Summary Over-winter mortality, that is, winterkill, reduces cereal crop competitive ability and yield. While management and environmental variables are known to affect winterkill, the extent to which weeds contribute to increased winterkill is largely unknown. Winter annual weeds may increase winterkill through resource competition and by increasing incidence of and damage from plant pathogens that cause winterkill. We evaluated the impact of summer annual (Avena fatua) and winter annual (Bromus tectorum) weeds on the over-winter survival rate of winter wheat over three winters, during which plots were covered with snow. Pink snow mould (Microdochium nivale), a winterkill pathogen known to infect B. tectorum and winter wheat, was common in wheat stands. In weed-free treatments, mortality rates were initially near zero, but increased by nearly 45% in each subsequent winter, presumably due to an increase in snow mould disease in continuously cropped winter wheat. Whereas A. fatua infestation had no impact on crop survival rates, winter wheat survival in B. tectorum-infested plots was 50% less than the weed-free control in the second and third years of this study. Among B. tectorum-infested plots, winter wheat over-winter survival declined with increasing weed seed produced in the previous summer. Overall, this study demonstrated that winter annual weed infestations can reduce crop stand densities below replanting thresholds by reducing fall-sown cereal winter survival. The effects of winter annual weeds on winter wheat may be meditated by increased proliferation of snow mould disease.
CAD-Centric Attribution Methodology for Multidisciplinary Optimization Environments: Enabling Parametric Attribution for Efficient Design Space Formulation and Evaluation

AbstractMultidisciplinary design optimization (MDO) processes that automate the workflow between a parametric product model and performance simulation engines can compress design cycle time, increa...
Corporate and Labor PAC Contributions in House Elections: Measuring the Effects of Majority Party Status

Among other factors, interest groups consider candidates' party label when deciding how to invest their contributions. For many decades, however, the Democratic Party and the majority party were synonymous in the U S. House, thereby prohibiting an empirical distinction between the two. Does majority party status have an effect independent of party on PAC contributions? Controlling for a number of factors, a measure of majority party status outperforms party as a predictor of corporate PAC contributions. All else being equal, candidates whose party is in the majority receive greater corporate contributions than candidates whose party is in the minority. In contrast, labor PACs do not appear to reward candidates for their majority party status.
Synchrony and Asynchrony for Neuronal Dynamics Defined on Complex Networks

We describe and analyze a model for a stochastic pulse-coupled neuronal network with many sources of randomness: random external input, potential synaptic failure, and random connectivity topologies. We show that different classes of network topologies give rise to qualitatively different types of synchrony: uniform (Erdős-Renyi) and "small-world" networks give rise to synchronization phenomena similar to that in "all-to-all" networks (in which there is a sharp onset of synchrony as coupling is increased); in contrast, in "scale-free" networks the dependence of synchrony on coupling strength is smoother. Moreover, we show that in the uniform and small-world cases, the fine details of the network are not important in determining the synchronization properties; this depends only on the mean connectivity. In contrast, for scale-free networks, the dynamics are significantly affected by the fine details of the network; in particular, they are significantly affected by the local neighborhoods of the "hubs" in the network.
Mobilizing respect and politeness in classrooms

Abstract This introduction to the special issue articulates a linguistic anthropological approach to the study of respect and politeness in classrooms. Ideas about respect and politeness suffuse educational encounters and mediate teachers’ identification of students’ as ready, willing, and able to learn. The ethnographic, discourse analytic studies of classroom interaction included in this volume examine how teachers model and communicate to students what counts as polite or respectful behavior in the classroom and how teachers mobilize models of ‘politeness’ and ‘respect’ to manage their classrooms and to understand student conduct. The authors argue for a semiotic model of politeness that accounts for how the broadly circulating models and stereotypes connecting communicative repertoires to aspects of identity and personhood are instantiated, inhabited, and deployed in sometimes unexpected ways in everyday interactions.
Surgical Therapy of Pulmonary Tuberculosis at a Veterans Administration Chest Center

The surgical therapy in pulmonary tuberculosis at a Veterans Administration chest center (Castle Point), has been described with a discussion of indications and results of various procedures. Stress has been placed on recent additions to the field including: 1)Indications for open pneumonolysis. 2)Surgical intervention for the establishment of a pneumothorax space in cases in whom attempt at pneumothorax was unsuccessful. 3)Revision of thoracoplasty with intrapleural pneumonolysis. 4)Thoracoplasty performed from below upwards. 5)Combined pneumonectomy and pleurectomy.
Visual Impairment in Diabetes

Visual acuity was measured in a population-based study of diabetic retinopathy in southern Wisconsin. Persons diagnosed prior to 30 years of age and taking insulin (younger onset, n = 996) and those diagnosed at 30 years of age or older (older onset, n = 1370) were examined. Best corrected visual acuity was determined using the Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study protocol. In the younger onset group, 1.4% had moderate visual impairment (best corrected visual acuity in the better eye of 20/80 to 20/160) and 3.6% were legally blind (visual acuity in the better eye of 20/200 or worse). Visual impairment in this group was associated with older age at examination, longer duration of diabetes, presence of proliferative retinopathy, and presence of senile cataracts. In the older onset group, 3.0% had moderate visual impairment and 1.6% were legally blind. Visual impairment in this group was associated with older age at examination, longer duration of diabetes, presence of senile cataract, presence of macular edema, and proliferative diabetic retinopathy. When assigning causes of impaired vision, diabetic retinopathy was responsible in part for 86% of eyes with visual acuity of 20/200 or worse in younger onset persons and for 33% in older onset persons.
Bullous pyoderma gangrenosum after granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor treatment

The hematopoietic growth factors are under investigation for the treatment of patients with chemotherapy-induced bone marrow suppression. One such trial at the University of California, Los Angeles involves chemotherapy with or without granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) in patients with small cell lung cancer. The authors report a case of a patient who had bullous pyoderma gangrenosum at the site of previous eczema during treatment with G-CSF. The lesions resolved promptly when the drug was discontinued. Other investigators have recently reported inflammatory complications of G-CSF and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) but this is the first case report of biopsy-proven neutrophilic dermatosis associated with administration of a hematopoietic growth factor. Patients should be monitored for development of inflammatory processes during G-CSF therapy and this therapy should be given with caution to those patients with existing inflammatory conditions.
Ge-based Active Devices for Si Photonics

We present waveguide-coupled, Ge-based photodetectors and electro-absorption (EA) modulators for active Si integrated photonics. These devices offer high optoelectronic performance and compatibility with Si CMOS process.
Pregnancy as a source of bias in performance appraisals

Notwithstanding recent gains, women have still not achieved parity with men in the workplace. This is further complicated by common negative images of pregnant women (Taylor and Langer, 1977). The present study investigated (1) stereotypes about pregnant working women, and (2) the effect of an employee's pregnancy on performance evaluation. In the first study, subjects' attitudes about pregnant employees were assessed via questionnaire. Substantial negative stereotyping was found to exist, especially among males. In Study 2, subjects viewed videotapes of either a pregnant or a non-pregnant women doing assessment-center-type tasks and were asked to evaluate her performance. When the employee was pregnant, she was consistently rated lower compared to when she was non-pregnant. A main effect of rater sex and a rater sex by pregnancy condition interaction were found, indicating that males assigned lower ratings than females and were also more negatively affected by the pregnancy condition. Implications for organizational policy regarding employee pregnancy and performance appraisal systems are discussed.
Incidence of acute symptomatic seizures in Rochester, Minnesota, 1935-1984

We determined the incidence of seizures due to acute CNS insults for residents of Rochester, Minnesota, U.S.A., from 1935 through 1984. The age-adjusted incidence rates for 1955-1984, the period of most complete case ascertainment, was 39.0/100,000 person-years (United States 1970 population as standard). The age-adjusted incidence was considerably higher in men: 52.0 as compared with 29.5 in women. The 3.6% risk of experiencing an acute symptomatic seizure in an 80-year lifespan approaches that of developing epilepsy. The major causes of acute symptomatic seizures were traumatic brain injury, cerebrovascular disease, drug withdrawal, and CNS infections. Each type of acute symptomatic seizure has age, gender, and time period patterns that reflect the occurrence of the underlying cause.
The Effect of Meal Feeding on Small Intestine Weight

Two trials were conducted using feed forms of pellets and mash to determine whether parts of the digestive tract (small intestine) were enlarged by meal feeding. Results obtained show that meal feeding of broilers significantly increases small intestine weight for both mash and pellet broiler groups when compared with continuously fed broilers. The body weight, feed conversion, and mortality did not differ between the continuous-fed versus meal-fed groups. Pelleting the diet during the growing period (3 to 6 wk of age) significantly improved both growth rate and feed conversion of broilers.
Integration of metal oxide nanobelts with microsystems for nerve agent detection

We have assembled tin dioxide nanobelts with low-power microheaters for detecting dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP), a nerve agent simulant. The electrical conductance of a heated nanobelt increased for 5% upon exposure to 78 parts per billion DMMP in air. The nanobelt conductance recovered fully quickly after the DMMP was shut off, suggesting that the single-crystal nanobelt was not subject to poisoning often observed in polycrystalline metal oxide sensors. While the sensitivity can be improved via doping nanobelts with catalytic additives, directed assembly or growth of nanobelts on microsystems will potentially allow for the large-scale fabrication of nanosensor arrays.
Phase-volume relationship at the point of phase inversion in liquid dispersions

The point of inversion of a water-in-oil type of dispersion to an oil-in-water type is investigated for several water-oil systems by studying the volume ratios of the phases in relation to their physical properties. The point of inversion for each system of an immiscible organic liquid and water and organic liquid mixture and water is obtained by varying the phase-volume ratios and determining the type of dispersion after complete mixing. The effects of temprature, interfacial tension, and density are found to have no correlation generally applicable to the systems studied. A volume-viscosity relationship is found to exist within limits. This correlation is that the phase-volume ratio at the point of inversion is equal to the square root of the ratio of teh viscosities of the respective phases at the interface. The theoretical aspects of this relationship are studied along with its limitations.
Observation of long-lived exciton magnetic polarons in Zn 1 − x Mn x Se/ZnSe multiple quantum wells

Using time-resolved photoluminescence to study ${\mathrm{Zn}}_{1\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{x}}$${\mathrm{Mn}}_{\mathit{x}}$Se/ZnSe multiple quantum wells, we show that the formation and decay kinetics of exciton magnetic polarons (EMP's) depend strongly upon the Mn concentration. We suggest that as the Mn ion concentration in the barrier is increased, three different types of EMP may form: (i) both the electron and hole are confined to the magnetic material (type-I EMP), (ii) the electron and hole are spatially separated (type-II EMP), or (iii) confined at the interface. In agreement with previous results in thick epilayers, we find that both the formation time and recombination lifetime of the type-I EMP are approximately 400 ps, so that the majority of the EMP's never fully achieve their equilibrium configuration. In contrast, the recombination lifetime of the spatially indirect type-II EMP observed here is greater than 20 ns (nearly forty times the formation time), so that the EMP's in quantun wells may be studied in thermal equilibrium.
Vapor-liquid equilibria of water from first principles: comparison of density functionals and basis sets

Gibbs ensemble Monte Carlo simulations were run with an efficient mixed-basis electronic structure method to explore the phase equilibria of water from first principles using Kohn–Sham density functional theory. The Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof exchange/correlation density functional gives a higher critical temperature (700 K) and boiling point (480 K) than experiment, although good agreement is found for the saturated liquid densities. A systematic increase in the size of the basis set for the Becke–Lee–Yang–Parr exchange/correlation density functional from a double-ζ to quadruple-ζ split valence leads to further deviations from experiment on the saturated liquid and vapor densities, while the intermediate basis set gives the best results for the heat of vaporization at T = 423 K. Analysis of the liquid structure for all simulations shows changes that can partially be explained by the different densities at a given temperature, and both density functionals show a similar temperature dependence of the liquid st...
Schizophrenia and Semantic Aphasia: A Clinical Comparison

In recent years, there has been an emerging body of evidence which suggests that some types of schizophrenia may have a neurologic pathogenesis. This paper is addressed to the exploration of cortical mechanisms in schizophrenia by comparing the language disturbances of chronic schizophrenia with those of semantic aphasia. While there is little commonality between schizophrenic word-salad and jargon aphasia, there are similarities between schizophrenic agrammatism and semantic aphasia in terms of impressive and expressive grammar and in the manifestation of paraphasia and paralogia. It is concluded that while no cortical lesions are likely in schizophrenia, there may be a neurologic arousal/attention abnormality which impairs cortical efficiency, giving rise to a language disturbance symptomatically similar to, but pathogenically different from semantic aphasia.
An Organizational Approach to Understanding Sex and Race Segregation in U.S. Workplaces

This article examines the influ ence of resource dependence and institutional processes on post-Civil Rights Act changes in private sector workplace segregation. We use data collected by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission from 1966 through 2000 to examine organizations embedded within their firm, industry, local labor market and federal regulatory environments. Sex segregation declines precipitously from 1966 through 2000, but we see little evidence that organizations in the same industrial environment have established a stable pattern of segregation and integration. In other words, sex segregation has not been institutionalized. Race segregation, on the other hand, shows strong and increasing evidence of institutionalization, but weak declines after 1980. Firm visibility, field concentration and federal contractor density, but not direct federal affirmative action reporting, prove to be particularly important for understanding changes in segregation levels and institutionalization within industries. Results point to the importance of organizational fields and labor queues for motivating both persistence and change in workplace inequality. Most explanations of inequality focus on the attributes of either individuals or employment positions. Scholars have occasionally considered the site of inequality: the workplace. Still fewer situate workplace inequality within the context of organizational environments. This relative absence seems odd because jobs are located within organizations and organizational power dynamics determine their very existence. The resources available to reward individuals and construct employment positions also depend
National Network/Libraries of Medicine

The National Network/Libraries of Medicine is a program of the National Library of Medicine designed to promote accessibility to biomedical databases for U.S. health care providers.
The effect of verbal elaborations on memory in young and older adults

The Stein paradigm was used to examine the circumstances under which verbal elaborations enhance memory in young and older adults. Subjects studied target adjectives that were embedded in one of three sentence contexts that varied in elaboration of the subject-adjective relationship: (1) nonelaborated base sentences; (2) base sentences with semantically consistent, but arbitrary verbal, elaborations; and (3) base sentences with explanatory verbal elaborations that clarified the significance of the subject-adjective relationship. The presence of the elaborations was varied at encoding and retrieval, and cued recall of the target adjectives was tested with incidental and intentional learning procedures. In Experiments 1A and 1B, explanatory elaborations at encoding and retrieval yielded the largest memorial facilitation for both young and older adults, and the benefit was comparable for the incidental and intentional learning measures. In Experiment 2, age-related differences in recall were minimal with explanatory elaborations at encoding and retrieval, but larger age differences occurred in the nonelaborated comparison conditions. In Experiment 3, explanatory elaborations present at encoding but not at retrieval enhanced recall when the original Stein stimuli were used, but not with the present stimuli. The implications of these results with regard to the mnemonic efficacy of verbal elaborations for young and older adults are discussed.
On the transition from electronically nonadiabatic to solvent-controlled electron transfer

Abstract Path integral techniques are used to study a simple model of barrierless electron transfer where the energy gap between two electronic states is subject to Gaussian random noise induced by solvent fluctuations. The kinetics of electron transfer are related to the statistics of zero-crossings of the noise. We argue that these statistics are different in the cases of Markovian and non-Markovian Gaussian-correlated noise, leading to qualitatively different types of transition from electronically nonadiabatic to solvent-controlled electron transfer. We also demonstrate that for the typical situation where solvent relaxation consists of a fast inertial Gaussian-correlated and a slow exponentially relaxing component, the rate of electron transfer is primarily controlled by the fast component.
Defensin-mediated innate immunity in the small intestine

Epithelial cells contribute to innate immunity by releasing antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) onto mucosal surfaces. In the small bowel, Paneth cells at the base of the crypts of Lieberkuhn secrete alpha-defensins and additional AMPs at high levels in response to cholinergic stimulation and when exposed to bacterial antigens. The release of Paneth cell products into the crypt lumen is inferred to protect mitotically active crypt cells that renew the epithelial cell monolayer from colonization by potentially pathogenic microbes and to confer protection from enteric infection. The most compelling evidence for a Paneth cell role in enteric resistance to infection is evident from studies of mice transgenic for a human Paneth cell alpha-defensin, HD-5, which are completely immune to infection and systemic disease from orally administered Salmonella typhimurium. Alpha-defensins in Paneth cell secretions may also interact with bacteria in the intestinal lumen above the crypt-villus boundary and influence the composition of the enteric microbial flora, but that remains to be demonstrated.
Cobalt 5-bromoisophthalate coordination polymers containing bis(pyridyl)piperazine-type long spanning ligands and water molecule aggregations

Abstract Divalent cobalt coordination polymers containing long-spanning bis(pyridyl)piperazine and 5-bromoisophthalate (Brip) ligands have been hydrothermally synthesized and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. {[Co(H 2 O) 2 (4-bpmp) 2 ](HBrip) 2 ·14H 2 O} n ( 1 , 4-bpmp = bis(4-pyridylmethyl)piperazine), and {[Co(Brip)(H 2 O) 3 (4-bpfp)]·6.5H 2 O} n ( 2 , 4-bpfp = bis(4-pyridylformyl)piperazine) both show 1-D coordination polymer connectivity, but with different intriguing water molecule aggregations. An unprecedented T4(4)6(6)6(6)10(8) classification water tape is seen in 1 , while a discrete 11-molecule water cluster is observed in 2 . {[Co 2 (Brip) 2 (H 2 O) 4 (3-bpmp)]·4H 2 O} n ( 3 , 3-bpmp = bis(3-pyridylmethyl)piperazine) manifests a 2D + 2D → 3D mutually inclined interpenetrated system of parallel sets of (4,4) rhomboid grids, with isolated water molecule pairs.
1034 COMBINED CMV-EBV INFECTION TREATED WITH ORAL TRANSFER FACTOR (OTF)

A 4-year old male had recurring episodes of arthritis, skin rash, abdominal pain, vomiting and atypical lymphocytosis for 1½ years following an acute illness in Jan. 1978 that included pharyngitis. No etiology was found during the first 2 months of illness; further serological testing identified the probable cause as EBV. Fluctuating CMV titers suggested a dual infection. CMV viruria was first detected in April 1978 and persisted for 15 months with a peak titer of 1010 INFU/ml in March 1979. CMV was present in a buffy coat culture during an episode in Nov. 1978. Although CMV titers were persistently increased, in vitro lymphocyte responses to CMV remained negative (SI 3.0); responses to mitogen were normal. A 7-month trial of levamisole was ineffective. Bovine OTF from an animal skin test positive to infectious rhinotracheitis virus (cross reacts with human CMV) was administered every three weeks for 6 months. Two months after starting OTF, symptoms and viruria ceased and CMV SI was 4.0. He has remained symptom-free with a continued positive SI for 1 year without further therapy. Recovery from this chronic CMV infection was temporally related to OTF administration. Further evaluation of treatment with OTF for chronic virus infection accompanied by abnormal cellular immunity is suggested.
Empirical equations of state for solids

A comparison of three one-parameter empirical equations of state due to Lennard-Jones, Bardeen, and Birch using Bridgman's experimental compression data shows that they do not generally fit the data within experimental error. Heuristic arguments are used to derive a well known three-parameter equation of state which includes these equations as special cases. Several simple two-parameter equations of state, including the Murnaghan equation, can be obtained as special cases of the general form. All of these two-parameter equations are shown to fit Bridgman's data within experimental error with about equal success. It is also shown that the general three-parameter equation, and hence its special cases, is consistent with the observation of Grover, Getting, and Kennedy that the log of the bulk modulus of solids is a linear function of compression. Several of the two-parameter special cases are shown to give satisfactory extrapolations.
Enhanced human lysozyme production in biofilm reactor by Kluyveromyces lactis K7

Abstract Lysozyme is an antimicrobial compound, which has been used in pharmaceutical and food industries. Chicken egg is the commercial source of lysozyme. However, human lysozyme is more effective and safer than egg-white lysozyme. Human milk is an important source for human lysozyme, but it is not feasible to provide the needed lysozyme commercially. Biofilm reactors provide passive immobilization of cells onto the solid support, which may lead to higher productivity. The aim was to evaluate the fermentation medium composition for enhanced human lysozyme production by Kluyveromyces lactis K7 in biofilm reactor with plastic composite supports. Yeast nitrogen base was selected as the best nitrogen source when compared to the yeast extract and corn steep liquor. Moreover, inhibition effect of NaCl and NH4Cl at the concentrations of 25 and 50 mM was observed. Three factors Box–Behnken response surface design was conducted and the results suggested 16.3% lactose, 1.2% casamino acid, 0.8% yeast nitrogen base as optimum medium composition for maximum human lysozyme production. Overall, the human lysozyme production by K. lactis K7 was increased to 173 U/ml, which is about 23% improvement in biofilm reactor and 57% improvement compared to the suspended-cell fermentation.
Transgenic mice in immunological research

Various strategies exist for transferring cloned DNA sequences to animals. Transferred genes will be expressed often in a tissue-specific and developmentally-regulated manner. A number of genes related to immune function have been transferred to mice. Both histocompatibility (Class I and II) and immunoglobulin (mu, gamma and kappa) genes have been expressed in appropriate cell types in transgenic mice. These mice have been useful in studies of B cell differentiation. Transgenes have been shown to affect the rearrangement and idiotypic expression of endogenous immunoglobulin genes. It can be expected that transgenic animals will contribute greatly to further studies of the immune system.
Synergy between pairs of competitive antagonists at adult human muscle acetylcholine receptors.

Background Synergistic neuromuscular blocking effects have been observed clinically with certain pairs of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) competitive antagonists. The mechanism for synergy has not been elucidated. We tested the hypothesis that synergy arises from a differential selectivity of antagonists for the two ligand binding sites on adult human nAChR. Methods We expressed nAChR in BOSC23 cells. We applied ACh with or without antagonists to outside-out patches and measured macroscopic currents at room temperature. We determined the IC(90) for (+)-tubocurarine, metocurine, pancuronium, vecuronium, cisatracurium, rocuronium, and atracurium. For 15 combinations of two antagonists, we determined the IC(90) for one antagonist in the presence of the IC(70) of a second antagonist. We constructed isobolograms for 90% inhibition. For single antagonists, we measured inhibition of receptors containing mutations in the epsilon- and delta-subunits to determine site selectivity. Results Two pairs of antagonists, metocurine+cisatracurium and cisatracurium+ atracurium exhibited additive inhibition. Ten combinations, including (+)-tubocurarine+ pancuronium and pancuronium+vecuronium, were highly synergistic such that the combination was two to three times more effective than expected for additivity. Three combinations were 1.5-1.6 times more effective than expected for additivity. Inhibition by (+)-tubocurarine and metocurine was sensitive to mutations in the epsilon-subunit only. Vecuronium was affected by the delta-subunit mutation only. Inhibition by other antagonists was decreased by mutations in either subunit. Conclusions Many combinations of antagonists exhibited synergistic effects on adult human nAChR. Synergy was observed with structurally similar and dissimilar antagonists. The degree of synergy did not always correlate well with site specificity assayed with mutants. In some, but not all cases, the synergy at the receptor level correlated with clinical determinations of synergy. We conclude that the synergistic actions of muscle relaxants can be partially explained by direct interactions with adult human nAChR.
A comparison of five tree species for intesive fiber production

Abstract Total height, diameter growth, survival, and above-ground biomass production were evaluated for five deciduous tree species grown in closely spaced (0.9 m × 0.6 m) plantations in the Ohio Valley Region of western Kentucky (U.S.A.). The five species tested were: American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis L.), European alder (Alnus glutinosa L.), river birch (Betula nigra L.), green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh.) and a hybrid poplar (Populus sp.). Total biomass production for the various species ranged from 28 mt/ha for green ash to 92 mt/ha for the hybrid poplar. The relative ranking for biomass production was as follows: green ash
Rapid characterization of biomass using near infrared spectroscopy coupled with multivariate data analysis: Part 1 yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera L.)

This paper is the first of a two series papers on the use of near infrared (NIR) coupled with multivariate data analysis (MVDA) as a process analytical technology (PAT) tool for the rapid characterization of physical and chemical properties of two common West Virginian hardwood species, northern red oak (Quercus rubra) and yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera L.). These two wood species are potential feed stock for the bio-refinery industry. In Part 1, we report our results on yellow-poplar. The results of this study demonstrated that some preprocessing operations on the NIR spectra (first derivative) greatly improved all the prediction models developed in the study. Predictive PLS1 models developed using selective spectra regions, 1300-1800 nm and the full NIR region (800-2400 nm), were similar. The selective spectra region, 1300-1800 nm, included the first and second overtone of the NIR spectrum (1300-1800 nm). Measured and predicted physical and chemical properties of yellow-poplar yielded moderate to high correlation (R2).
Self-regulation of stimulation for ADD-H children during reading and vigilance task performance.

The present study examines the hypothesis that motor responses added into rote tasks would modulate the sensation-seeking activity and impulsive errors of hyperactive (ADD-H) children. To this purpose 22 ADD-H and 25 comparison children were administered two repetitive tasks (word decoding and an auditory vigilance task) under both an active response and a passive response condition. Findings were that the impulsive errors, talking/noisemaking, and activity of ADD-H children was normalized (i.e., did not differ from comparison children) only in the high stimulation active response conditions. Behavioral improvements for ADD-H children were documented in both tasks in the active condition, but performance gains were found only in the vigilance task. The findings supported predictions derived from the optimal stimulation theory that the excessive activity and attraction to novel stimuli of ADD-H children can be channeled into appropriate instrumental motor and attention responses.
Radiation dose management in nuclear power plants

Various approaches available for radiation dose management in nuclear power plants are reviewed in this paper. These approaches include radiation field reduction, accurate dose reporting, good health physics planning, exposure control during job execution, and implementation of a radiation protection culture. For the reduction of radiation fields, a wide variety of technological methods are also available. These include controlling cobalt sources, preconditioning of replacement components, controlling primary chemistry, controlling reactor shutdown and startup chemistry, chemical decontamination, minimizing fuel failures, and using sub-micron purification filters. Successful radiation management requires cooperation among the various groups with relevant responsibilities at a nuclear power plant if the desired exposure goals are to be achieved.
Head size and shape in relation to grass feeding in Acridoidea (Orthoptera)

Abstract Among grasshoppers, grass-feeding species had relatively very large heads and species feeding on other herbaceous plants had small ones. Those feeding on both food types were intermediate in size. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that head size is determined by the need for large mandibles and large mandibular adductor muscles, which are in turn associated with hard or tough diets.
Polymer- and surfactant-coated capillaries for isoelectric focusing

This paper reports a method for deactivation of fused-silica capillaries to be used in capillary isoelectric focusing (cIEF). Deactivation was achieved by adsorbing either a surfactant or hydrophilic polymer to alkylsilane-derivatized capillaries. The surfactant PF-108 and methyl cellulose reduced electro-osmotic flow (EOF) 20 to 30 fold in comparison to underivatized capillaries. Although EOF was reduced sufficiently to allow focusing to permit separations to be completed before proteins were swept through the capillary, there was adequate flow to obviate the need for a separate mobilization step. This reduces the complexity of cIEF and increases reproducibility. Based on resolution of hemoglobin variants, proteins that varied 0.03 pH units in isoelectric point were resolvable. This is equivalent to the highest resolution achieved in conventional slab and tube gel isoelectric focusing.
The response of cation-sensitive glass electrodes to alkali metal ions in partially aquated media

Abstract The response of cation-sensitive glass electrodes to alkali metal ions in ethanol-water and acetone-water mixtures has been evaluated. The increase in measured potential when water is replaced with organic solvent is proved result from to the changing liquidjunction potential of the reference electrode. The response of the glass electrode is essentially solvent-independent for a given concentration and type of solute.
Prolactin stimulation by protein is mediated by amino acids in humans.

ABSTRACT In normal humans, ingestion of protein stimulates PRL secretion. I investigated the mechanism of this effect by feeding free amino acids, both singly and in combination, to normal subjects. The serum PRL response to a high protein liquid mixed meal was duplicated by ingestion of an equivalent free amino acid mixture, indicating that intact protein or peptides are not required. The time course of the response and the presence of normal responses in two vagotomized subjects suggest that neither traditional gut hormones nor vagus nerve activity is involved in this response. Of the single amino acids tested, phenylalanine and tyrosine were the most potent stimulators of PRL secretion and can account for most, if not all, of the PRL-releasing activity of the mixed meal. D-Phenylalanine, the biologically inactive optical isomer, was nearly ineffective in releasing PRL. Administration of naloxone, phentolamine, or propranolol did not alter the PRL response to the various test meals, indicating that neit...
Reducing Upstream Compliance Induces Downstream High Pulsatility Flow-Dependent Inflammatory Response in Pulmonary Endothelial Cells via TLR2/NF-KB Pathway

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a group of chronic, progressive and fatal diseases, characterized by the dysfunction of the small arteries and microvasculature in the pulmonary circulation. Due to high blood pressure and high resistance in the pulmonary arteries, PAH causes detrimental damage on the lung and right heart ventricle. If left untreated, PAH quickly becomes life threatening. Although the exact pathophysiology remains unknown, there is increasing evidence suggesting that inflammation likely plays an important role in inducing and perpetuating the PAH progress. Although anti-inflammatory therapy has been shown effective in certain connective-tissue-disease-associated PAH, this approach has not been tested in other PAH conditions. The potential benefit of anti-inflammatory therapy to treat various PAH conditions could be of importance and require further study on the possible pathological mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
The effects of parental influences on children's food intake, physical activity, and relative weight

The current investigation assessed the relationship between observed child mealtime behavior, physical activity, selected parent behaviors, and child relative weight. Subjects were 30 (15 male, 15 female) preschool children varying in age from 22 to 46 months (mean = 30.5 months). Each subject and parents were observed during the dinnertime meal with an observational instrument designed to measure children's mealtime behaviors and parental influences on child eating. Further, children's activity levels were assessed for one hour and parental influences on child activity were observed. Results indicated that parental encouragements to eat correlated both with the percent of time the child ate and with child relative weight. Similarly, parental encouragements to be active correlated to extreme levels of child motor activity and negatively to relative weight. Implications of the current study are discussed and the present findings are compared and contrasted with previous research.
High-Tc superconductivity status in the Republic Of China

Abstract Five research institutes and nine universities are actively working on high temperature superconductivity (HTSC) in the Republic of China (R.O.C.). Over eighty PhD. level researchers are heading for exploring new materials, wire forming technology, thin film fabrication and various applications. Recognizing the importance of HTSC to the progress of science and technology, research actvities on HTSC are strongly supported by the government. Fundings for the research are in the range of U.S. $ 8 millions yearly. In this talk, current status and future perspectives of research on HTSC in R.O.C. will be briefly presented.
Direct transport of cocaine from the nasal cavity to the brain following intranasal cocaine administration in rats

Individuals who consume cocaine illegally have long since adopted or explored the nasal route of administration. This study was designed to determine in an animal model whether nasally applied cocaine could be transported directly from the nasal cavity to the central nervous system. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were used in the study. The nasal cavity was isolated to prevent drainage of nasally applied dosing solution to nonnasal regions. Cocaine was then administered, either by intranasal (in) administration or by intravenous (iv) injection. At different times post dose, blood and tissues from different regions of the brain were collected. Cocaine concentrations in plasma and tissue samples were analyzed by HPLC. After iv administration, similar cocaine contents in different brain regions were observed. Following in administration, cocaine content in samples collected within 60 min post dose were found to differ considerably in different brain regions. The highest content was observed in the olfactory bulb, followed by the olfactory tract and then the remaining part of the brain. To allow comparison of brain cocaine content after iv and in administration, brain cocaine contents were normalized by plasma cocaine concentrations. The ratios of the area under the cocaine concentration-time curve (AUC) between the olfactory bulb and plasma at early times following in administration were significantly higher than those obtained after the iv dose (13.4 +/- 5.56 vs 6.16 +/- 0.94, p < 0.05, for AUC ratio up to 2 min post dose; 9.39 +/- 1.47 vs 7.34 +/- 0.59, p < 0.05, for AUC ratio up to 4 min post dose). At 1 min post dose, the olfactory bulb-to-plasma cocaine concentration ratios following in administration was three times those obtained after iv administration. After 1 min, the olfactory bulb-to-plasma concentration ratios following in administration were found to be similar to or smaller than those obtained after iv administration. The tissue-to-plasma concentration ratios in other brain regions following in administration were found to be smaller than those obtained following iv dosing. We conclude that nasally administered cocaine was transported directly from the nasal cavity to the brain but that only a very small fraction of the dose was transported via the direct pathway.
Adolescent coping styles and perceptions of parental child rearing.

To relate adolescent coping styles to parental rearing practices, 107 15-and 17-year-olds were classified into one of four groups (authoritative, authoritarian, indulgent, or neglectful) based on p...
Rapid changes in the extracellular matrix accompany in vitro palatal shelf remodelling.

The sequence of events and the distribution of extracellular matrix (ECM) components was examined during mouse secondary palatal shelf elevation in an in vitro model using standard roller tube culture methods developed for the culture of early embryos. In this culture system, the morphological changes associated with remodelling and reorientation of the palatal shelves of gestational day 13 mouse fetuses were similar to those observed in vivo. However, in specimens explanted 24–30 h prior to reorientation in vivo, remodelling began rapidly after explantation, and significant reorientation was accomplished within 4 h. Midline contact between the shelves did not occur until after 18 h in vitro, concomitant with shelf growth. Therefore, in this in vitro model, events related to palatal shelf remodelling and reorientation can be distinguished from those related to shelf growth. We used this in vitro model to characterize the transient changes in ECM distribution and accumulation that occur concomitant with events in shelf remodelling. Our results show that, during rapid remodelling in vitro, the relative distributions of collagen III, fibronectin and hyaluronate, as visualized by immunofluorescent staining, decreased within specific regions of the mesenchymal compartment. In contrast, the distribution of collagen I within the mesenchyme increased, and the distribution of tenascin did not change significantly. All molecules examined, except tenascin, showed changes in distribution within the basement membrane. These patterns of distribution are similar to those observed during more gradual remodelling in vivo. During remodelling in vitro, the deposition of [3H]-glucosamine- and [3H]-proline-labelled components of the ECM, as visualized by autoradiography, was greatest during the first 3 h of culture. During this period, labelled ECM accumulated within specific regions of the mesenchyme and palatal epithelial basement membrane. Uptake was reduced dramatically during the subsequent 3 h in culture and was restricted mainly to the palatal epithelium and its underlying basement membrane. The in vitro system permitted the characterization of early events in shelf remodelling leading to reorientation. Results suggest that remodelling is accompanied by rapid, local accumulation of ECM in specific regions of the palatal shelf previously thought to play a role in the process.