cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hot playgrounds and children's health: A multiscale analysis of surface temperatures in Arizona, USA

Abstract Objectives To provide novel quantification and advanced measurements of surface temperatures (Ts) in playgrounds, employing multiple scales of data, and provide insight into hot-hazard mitigation techniques and designs for improved environmental and public health. Methods We conduct an analysis of Ts in two Metro-Phoenix playgrounds at three scales: neighborhood (1 km resolution), microscale (6.8 m resolution), and touch-scale (1 cm resolution). Data were derived from two sources: airborne remote sensing (neighborhood and microscale) and in situ (playground site) infrared Ts (touch-scale). Metrics of surface-to-air temperature deltas (ΔTs–a) and scale offsets (errors) are introduced. Results Select in situ Ts in direct sunlight are shown to approach or surpass values likely to result in burns to children at touch-scales much finer than Ts resolved by airborne remote sensing. Scale offsets based on neighbourhood and microscale ground observations are 3.8 C and 7.3 C less than the ΔTs–a at the 1 cm touch-scale, respectively, and 6.6 C and 10.1 C lower than touch-scale playground equipment Ts, respectively. Hence, the coarser scales underestimate high Ts within playgrounds. Both natural (tree) and artificial (shade sail) shade types are associated with significant reductions in Ts. Conclusions A scale mismatch exists based on differing methods of urban Ts measurement. The sub-meter touch-scale is the spatial scale at which data must be collected and policies of urban landscape design and health must be executed in order to mitigate high Ts in high-contact environments such as playgrounds. Shade implementation is the most promising mitigation technique to reduce child burns, increase park usability, and mitigate urban heating.
Evidence of ecdysteroid production by tick (Acari: Ixodidae) fat-body tissues in vitro.

Evidence implicating the diffuse fat body in ecdysteroid production (or release) in feeding Dermacentor variabilis (Say) virgin females is described. Ecdysteroids, identified by radioimmunoassay, were present in the medium used to incubate fat-body tissues associated with the tracheal trunks, as well as in media used to incubate different body organs excised from these ticks. Fat body occurs around tracheae and on the outer surfaces of many internal organs, including those used in this study. Fat body was consistently present in all incubations. Study of the ultrastructure of fat-body tissues revealed features consistent with those of known insect steroid-secreting cells. Cells of unknown origin proliferated in wells in which the excised organs were incubated. Study of the ultrastructure of samples from these populations revealed cellular characteristics similar to those of other tick primary cultures or established cell lines, but not of known steroid-secreting cells. No ecdysteroids were found in such cell cultures after the excised organs or tissues (including hemolymph) were removed, and none was found in cultures of established cell lines.
PARTISAN POLITICS, INTEREST RATES AND THE STOCK MARKET: EVIDENCE FROM AMERICAN AND BRITISH RETURNS IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

We examine the relationship between government partisanship, interest rates and the mean and volatility of stock prices in the United States and United Kingdom. We suggest that traders in the stock market rationally expect higher (lower) post-electoral interest rates during the incumbency of the left-wing (right-wing) party – Democrats and Labor (Republican and Conservative) – and in election years when they expect the left-wing (right-wing) party to win elections. We hypothesize that expectations of higher (lower) interest rates decrease (increase) the mean and volatility of stock prices during the actual incumbency or even anticipation of a left-wing (right-wing) party holding the office of the chief executive. Results from empirical models estimated on data from U.S. and U.K. markets over most of the twentieth century statistically support our claims.
Identity and Change: The Story of the Italian-Canadian Pentecostal Community

1Intrigued, I proceeded to read that the former Italian Pentecostal Church of Canada (IPPC) had changed its name to the Canadian Assemblies of God (CAoG) and in so doing, joined the worldwide network of Assemblies of God denominations. I was not surprised, despite the fact that Italian language services were still being offered. The ethnic character of the denomination was slowly fading and a name change represented the new reality. The normal pattern for immigrant churches is to begin as ethnic enclaves but then, as the children and grandchildren identify more with the new world majority culture, they depart from their exclusively ethnic character, undergo transformation, and meld into the wider culture? 2 The American counterpart of the CAoG, the International Fellowship of
Assessment and Analysis of QuikSCAT Vector Wind Products for the Gulf of Mexico: A Long-Term and Hurricane Analysis

The northern Gulf of Mexico is a region that has been frequently impacted in recent years by natural disasters such as hurricanes. The use of remote sensing data such as winds from NASA's QuikSCAT satellite sensor would be useful for emergency preparedness during such events. In this study, the performance of QuikSCAT products, including JPL's latest Level 2B (L2B) 12.5 km swath winds, were evaluated with respect to buoy-measured winds in the Gulf of Mexico for the period January 2005 to February 2007. Regression analyses indicated better accuracy of QuikSCAT's L2B DIRTH, 12.5 km than the Level 3 (L3), 25 km wind product. QuikSCAT wind data were compared directly with buoy data keeping a maximum time interval of 20 min and spatial interval of 0.1° (≈10 km). R² values for moderate wind speeds were 0.88 and 0.93 for L2B, and 0.75 and 0.89 for L3 for speed and direction, respectively. QuikSCAT wind comparisons for buoys located offshore were better than those located near the coast. Hurricanes that took place during 2002-06 were studied individually to obtain regressions of QuikSCAT versus buoys for those events. Results show QuikSCAT's L2B DIRTH wind product compared well with buoys during hurricanes up to the limit of buoy measurements. Comparisons with the National Hurricane Center (NHC) best track analyses indicated QuikSCAT winds to be lower than those obtained by NHC, possibly due to rain contamination, while buoy measurements appeared to be constrained at high wind speeds. This study has confirmed good agreement of the new QuikSCAT L2B product with buoy measurements and further suggests its potential use during extreme weather conditions in the Gulf of Mexico.
EFFICIENT ESTIMATION OF SEMIPARAMETRIC MODELS BY SMOOTHED MAXIMUM LIKELIHOOD

A smoothed likelihood function is used to construct efficient estimators for some semiparametric models that contain unknown density functions together with parametric index functions. Smoothing the likelihood makes maximization with respect to the unknown density functions more tractable. The method is used to show the efficiency gains from knowledge of population shares in three cases: (1) binary choice; (2) binary choice when only one outcome is sampled, supplemented by random sampling of the explanatory variables; and (3) linear regression, where the shares are defined by a threshold value of the dependent variable. Semiparametric efficiency is achieved both for parametric components and for a class of functionals of the error density.
Pericarditis with tamponade due to cytomegalovirus in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

A 35-year-old male homosexual with AIDS presented with headache and fever and was found to have cryptococcal meningitis. During the patient's hospital course, his hemodynamic status deteriorated as a result of pericardial tamponade. Antemortem analysis of the fluid was unrevealing; however, postmortem examination of the pericardium revealed typical intranuclear inclusions of cytomegalovirus infection. Cytomegalovirus should be included in the differential diagnosis of pericardial effusion in patients with AIDS. (Chest 1991; 99:765–66)
Human disease resulting from gene mutations that interfere with appropriate nuclear factor‐κB activation

The nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB family of transcription factors serves vital roles in a wide array of cell functions. An increasing number of human genetic lesions that result in defined disease entities are linked to inappropriate activation of NF-kappaB. The resulting aberrant NF-kappaB function can lead to cellular defects that ultimately impair normal developmental processes, host immune defenses, or both. Molecular defects that lie upstream in cell-signaling pathways and rely upon NF-kappaB activation tend to give a more specific phenotype, whereas those closer to the actual NF-kappaB proteins have broader defects. A detailed study of these diseases can provide insight into the biochemistry of NF-kappaB activation as well as the role of NF-kappaB in human health.
Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase: Sex Differences and Role in Endothelial Cell Survival

Objective— Sex differences in cerebral ischemic injury are, in part, arrtibutable to the differences in cerebrovascular perfusion. We determined whether the brain microvascular endothelial cells (ECs) isolated from the female brain are more resistant to ischemic injury compared with male ECs, and whether the difference is attributable to lower expression of soluble epoxide hydrolase and higher levels of vasoprotective epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs). We also determined whether protection by EETs is linked to the inhibition of rho-kinase (ROCK). Methods and Results— EC ischemic damage was measured after oxygen–glucose deprivation (OGD) using propidium iodide (PI) and cleaved caspase-3 labeling. Expression of soluble epoxide hydrolase was determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunocytochemistry, EETs levels by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, and ROCK activity by ELISA. EC damage was higher in males compared with females, which correlated with higher soluble epoxide hydrolase mRNA, stronger immunoreactivity, and lower EETs compared with female ECs. Inhibition of soluble epoxide hydrolase abolished the sex difference in EC damage. ROCK activity was higher in male versus female ECs after OGD, and sex differences in EC damage and ROCK activity were abolished by 14,15-EET and ROCK inhibition. Conclusion— Sex differences in ischemic brain injury are, in part, attributable to differences in EET-mediated inhibition of EC ROCK activation after ischemia.
Voluntary heart rate control and perceived affect.

Prior to viewing a stressful dental presentation, high dentally-anxious subjects were exposed to heart rate biofeedback training, relaxation training, or a tracking task. As expected, subjects exposed to biofeedback reported less unpleasantness and showed lower heart rates in response to the dental presentation than did subjects exposed to the other two conditions.
Current status of the Iosipescu shear test method

During the past several years, considerable study of the Iosipescu shear test method has been conducted by a number of investigators, including the present authors. Several different test fixture designs have been developed, and variations of the specimen size and notch configuration have been considered. Materials with properties ranging from isotropic to highly orthotropic have been tested. The response of such materials has also been predicted using finite element techniques, and attempts have been made to correlate these predictions with available experimental data. This recent work is summarized here, with particular emphasis being given to the correlations and contradictions resulting from the published works of these various investigators.
NMR Imaging of Fluid Exchange between Macropores and Matrix in Eogenetic Karst

Sequential time-step images acquired using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) show the displacement of deuterated water (D2O) by fresh water within two limestone samples characterized by a porous and permeable limestone matrix of peloids and ooids. These samples were selected because they have a macropore system representative of some parts of the eogenetic karst limestone of the Biscayne Aquifer in southeastern Florida. The macroporosity, created by the trace fossil Ophiomorpha, is principally well connected and of centimeter scale. These macropores occur in broadly continuous stratiform zones that create preferential flow layers within the hydrogeologic units of the Biscayne. This arrangement of porosity is important because in coastal areas, it could produce a preferential pathway for salt water intrusion. Two experiments were conducted in which samples saturated with D2O were placed in acrylic chambers filled with fresh water and examined with NMR. Results reveal a substantial flux of fresh water into the matrix porosity with a simultaneous loss of D2O. Specifically, we measured rates upward of 0.001 mL/h/g of sample in static conditions, and perhaps as great as 0.07 mL/h/g of sample when fresh water continuously flows past a sample at velocities less than those found within stressed areas of the Biscayne. These experiments illustrate how fresh water and D2O, with different chemical properties, migrate within one type of matrix porosity found in the Biscayne. Furthermore, these experiments are a comparative exercise in the displacement of sea water by fresh water in the matrix of a coastal, karst aquifer since D2O has a greater density than fresh water.
Multidimensional, multicomponent, subsurface reactive transport in nonuniform velocity fields: code verification using an advective reactive streamtube approach

Abstract High performance computing has made possible the development of high resolution, multidimensional, multicomponent reactive transport models that can be used to analyze complex geochemical environments. However, as increasingly complex processes are included in these models, the accuracy of the numerical formulation coupling the nonlinear processes becomes difficult to verify. Analytical solutions are not available for realistically complex problems and benchmark solutions are not generally available for specific problems. We present an advective reactive streamtube (ARS) transport technique that efficiently provides accurate solutions of nonlinear multicomponent reactive transport in nonuniform multidimensional velocity fields. These solutions can be compared with results from Eulerian-based advection–dispersion-reaction models to evaluate the accuracy of the numerical formulation used. The ARS technique includes mixed equilibrium and kinetic complexation and precipitation–dissolution reactions subject to the following assumptions: (1) transport is purely advective (i.e., no explicit diffusion or dispersion), and (2) chemistry is described by a canonical system of reactions that evolves with time and is unaffected by position in space. Results from the ARS technique are compared with results from the massively parallel, multicomponent reactive transport model MCTRACKER on a test problem involving irreversible oxidation of organic carbon and reaction of the oxidation products with two immobile mineral phases, gypsum and calcite, and fifteen aqueous complexes. Truncation error, operator splitting error, and the nonlinear transformation of these errors in the high-resolution reactive transport model are identified for this problem.
PROGESTERONE INDUCTION OF OOCYTE MATURATION IN RANA PIPIENS. REVERSIBILITY OF CYCLOHEXIMIDE INHIBITION

The reversibility of cycloheximide inhibition of progesteroneinduced oocyte maturation was investigated. Progesterone treated immature oocytes underwent nuclear (germinal vesicle breakdown) and cytoplasmic maturation unless inhibited by incubation in the continuous presence of cycloheximide. However, when previously treated oocytes were simply washed in culture media on the day following the initial treatment, they matured without additional exposure to progesterone. The incidence of germinal vesicle breakdown observed after washing and reincubation was similar to that seen in paired oocytes retreated with progesterone, cycloheximide-pretreated control oocytes newly treated with progesterone or control oocytes treated only with progesterone on the first day. Oocytes exposed to low concentrations of progesterone matured the following day whereas paired oocytes inhibited by cycloheximide during the first day did not mature at similar low doses following washing on the second day. The time of germinal vesicle breakdown in oocytes previously inhibited with cycloheximide was either slightly delayed or unaltered as compared to that of control oocytes newly treated with progesterone. The results indicate that an initial step of progesterone induced maturation in Rana is reversibly blocked but not detrimentally altered by cycloheximide. The evidence suggests that the effects of cycloheximide may be mediated through effects on the formation and/or autocatalytic production of maturation promoting factor (MPF). The cellular and molecular significance of these data to the process of meiotic arrest and oocyte maturation are discussed.
Physical Modeling Considerations for Control System Development

A mature process for the development of embedded controls and systems using Model-Based Design relies on libraries of validated models for the physical system components. These models are used throughout the design process and are readily available to the system and controls engineers for design and validation tasks. Models are created at various levels of abstraction to accommodate analysis needs at various stages of the design process. Abstract models are used early in the process for quick assessment of design tradeoffs, while higher fidelity models are used as the design progresses to account for the dynamics that affect system performance. Once acceptable system performance is achieved with desktop simulation, the models are moved to a real-time platform for final verification. Creating real-time capable plant models typically requires making assumptions and compromises to achieve acceptable performance. The end result is successful deployment of the embedded controls system with minimal reliance on expensive prototype hardware during the bulk of the design process. This paper outlines the necessary requirements and key considerations in using plant models as part of Model-Based Design.
An Analysis of Profit Cycles in the Airline Industry

[Abstract] This paper discusses the financial dynamics of the airline industry by identifying the fundamental cycle periods of profitability and their driving factors. Assuming the industry profit cycles could be modeled as an undamped second-order system, the fundamental cycle period was found to be 11.3 years for the U.S. airline industry and 10.5 years for the world airline industry. An empirical profitability model was estimated and the results revealed that such cycle period is endogenous, neither deregulation nor September 11 have significantly changed the cycle length. To analyze the causes of profit cyclicality, parametric models were developed under the hypothesis that phase lag in the system caused the profit oscillations; and two hypotheses, lag in capacity response and lag in cost adjustment were studied. Analysis of the parametric model of capacity response indicated that the system stability depends on the delay between aircraft orders and deliveries and on the aggressiveness in airplane ordering. Exaggerated capacity response was observed in the simulation as the gain in the model has lumped impacts of exogenous factors, suggesting capacity shortfall alone cannot fully explain the industry dynamics. The model also indicates reducing delay may help to mitigate system oscillations. Simulation results of the parametric model regarding cost adjustment were consistent with profit observations. Finally, a coupled model was developed to study the joint effects of capacity and cost. Simulation results indicated that the coupled model explained industry dynamics better than individual capacity or cost models, suggesting that the system behavior is driven by the joint effects of capacity response and cost adjustment.
An Extended Kalman Filter for Real-Time Estimation and Control of a Rigid-Link Flexible-Joint Manipulator

Maximizing the tracking performance of an industrial manipulator requires an accurate expression of manipulator dynamics and efficient model parameterization. These objectives are difficult to achieve in manipulators with flexible joints since link positions typically are not measured. We present in this paper an extended Kalman filter (EKF) observer to estimate manipulator states and couple these estimates to an adaptive rigid-link flexible-joint (RLFJ) controller. In a computer simulation, the EKF-RLFJ controller demonstrated superior tracking performance compared to a traditional adaptive controller. Experimental results for the Mitsubishi PA10-6CE showed improvements in tracking performance using the EKF-RLFJ controller with a 5 kg end-effector payload. Even greater improvements in tracking performance may be achieved in manipulators with significant joint flexibility.
A comparison of empirical and model-driven optimization

Empirical program optimizers estimate the values of key optimization parameters by generating different program versions and running them on the actual hardware to determine which values give the best performance. In contrast, conventional compilers use models of programs and machines to choose these parameters. It is widely believed that model-driven optimization does not compete with empirical optimization, but few quantitative comparisons have been done to date. To make such a comparison, we replaced the empirical optimization engine in ATLAS (a system for generating a dense numerical linear algebra library called the BLAS) with a model-driven optimization engine that used detailed models to estimate values for optimization parameters, and then measured the relative performance of the two systems on three different hardware platforms. Our experiments show that model-driven optimization can be surprisingly effective, and can generate code whose performance is comparable to that of code generated by empirical optimizers for the BLAS.
Experimental study of the oscillations of a rotating drop

Two- and three-lobed oscillations of a rotating liquid drop immersed in an immiscible fluid of comparable density and the same angular velocity were studied experimentally. Using acoustically suspended drops, it has been found that the relative change in the resonance frequencies of the axisymmetric drop-shape oscillations Delta omega-l/omega-l(0) is proportional to the square of the normalized angular speed (Omega/omega-l/0)-squared when omega-l greater than 2 Omega. This is in agreement with a recent analytical study of the same problem. Some preliminary results regarding the effect of rotation on the free-decay rate of the two-lobed oscillations are also presented.
Improving the accuracy of identifying lesbians for telephone surveys about health.

Knowledge about the health status and health care needs of lesbians is limited by the lack of population-based studies, although recent survey methods research offers suggestions that may be relevant to involving lesbians in more rigorous studies. To explore the transferability of findings about the general population to research on lesbian health, focus groups were conducted in 1997-1998 with self-identified lesbians in five U.S. urban areas. Videotaped telephone interviews stimulated discussion about methods for enhancing participation of lesbians in random digit dial telephone surveys. Results are useful for developing improved practices for conducting health surveys with lesbians.
HOXA5 regulates expression of the progesterone receptor.

The majority of breast carcinomas show reduced or no expression of the transcription factor, HOXA5. Recently, we have shown that HOXA5 is a potent transactivator of p53 in breast cells and thus may affect the response of breast cancer cells to DNA damage. To determine whether HOXA5 played a role in growth and homeostasis in breast cells, we studied its interaction with the progesterone receptor. The progesterone receptor (PR) belongs to the superfamily of nuclear receptors whose members co-ordinate morphogenesis of the mammary gland in response to binding to their cognate ligands. An increased expression of the endogenous PR gene was seen in MCF-7 cells following induced expression of an exogenously transfectedHOXA5 gene. HOXA5, but not HOXB4, -B5, or -B7 activated thePR promoter in two breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and Hs578T. Deletion and mutation analysis of the promoter identified a single HOXA5-binding site required for transactivation of thePR gene by HOXA5. HOXA5 binds directly to this site in thePR promoter. Thus, HOXA5 may behave as a transcriptional regulator of multiple target genes, two among which arep53 and the progesterone receptor.
POR-based channel estimation for UWB communications

In an ultrawideband (UWB) system, typically, a Rake receiver is employed to detect information symbols. To fully capture signal energy spread over multiple paths, the desired user's channel parameters are necessary. In this paper, we first convert a time-hopping (TH) UWB signal model using pulse position modulation (PPM) to a linear form similar to that of a code division multiple access (CDMA) system. Then, we apply a power-of-R (POR) technique to blindly estimate multipath parameters of the desired user in a multiple-access (MA) UWB system, where "R" represents the data covariance matrix. The POR technique is related to the subspace technique in that it directly estimates the unknown noise-subspace component in the subspace method but avoids rank estimation where errors may be incurred by perturbations in practical conditions. Performance of the proposed POR channel estimator is analyzed and shown to converge to that of the ideal subspace approach. Detection performance of the Rake receiver constructed from the estimated channel is also studied in terms of output signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) and bit error rate (BER). The proposed method demonstrates superiority to existing maximum-likelihood (ML)-based approaches in terms of either channel estimation or symbol detection. It also outperforms the subspace method for heavily loaded systems.
The surface properties of a hydrophobic transposon (Tn-5) mutant of Rhizobium etli

ABSTRACT The physicochemical surface characteristics of a Tn-5 induced hydrophobic mutant (CE3003) of Rhizobium etli CE3 were investigated. The wild type CE3 was very hydrophilic with low contact angles for polar liquids, while the Tn-5 induced mutant had a surface that was moderately hydrophobic, with polar liquid contact angles in the 50–60° range. As a result, the polar surface free energy components (γ + and γ -) that constitute the acid-base component (γ AB) of surface tension, were greatly reduced on THE surface of the hydrophobic mutant. This decreased electron donicity of the mutant' surface caused an almost five fold increase in the magnitude of the acid-base component of the interfacial interaction free energy between the mutant and hexadecane. The increased adhesion to hexadecane reported earlier is probably attributable to this interaction free energy change and not to any alteration in zeta potential, which was similar for CE3 and CE3003 at pH 7. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed CE3OO3...
OPTIMUM RATE ON TIME DEPOSITS

THE ACTION OF THE Federal Reserve Board in raising the ceiling on time deposit rates reopens the debate about higher rates on time deposits at commercial banks.' Profitable loan and investment outlets, more efficient use of reserves, and the possibility of attracting new funds, either domestic or foreign, argue for higher rates. High marginal costs argue against an increase. The debate, at both national and local bank levels, is hampered by the absence of quantitative information and is clouded by confusion about the potential sources of bank funds. This article attempts to provide a quantitative basis for the discussion and to examine some of the implications of an increase in time deposit rates for credit markets. Since the variables are numerous and the functional relationships have not been empirically tested, the results are stated as a range of possibilities rather than as a single statistical solution. The probable range that can be developed from existing knowledge, however, is narrow enough to be meaningful for most discussions. An optimum rate implies a specific point of view and definite goals. This article approaches the problem from the bankers' point of view and assumes the objective to be the profitability of the banking system. This approach was prompted by the suspicion that the best interest of the banking system might not be served by higher rates on time deposits. Although the optimum rate for the banking system may not correspond to the socially most desirable rate, an understanding of the bankers' position provides the basis for an exam-
Penile scarring with intracavernous injection therapy using prostaglandin E1 : a risk factor analysis

AbstractPurpose: We attempted to identify risk factors for penile scarring in patients using prostaglandin E1 injection therapy.Materials and Methods: Records of 92 patients using prostaglandin E1 therapeutically were reviewed. With statistical methods, patients with (15) and without (77) scarring were compared.Results: No significant differences between the 2 groups were found regarding duration of followup, injection frequency, prostaglandin E1 dose per injection, total number of injections or total prostaglandin E1 dose. Patients with initial penile scarring did not have a significantly higher incidence of further scarring with prostaglandin E1.Conclusions: Penile scarring with prostaglandin E1 injection therapy is sporadic and unpredictable. Patients with initial penile scarring do not have a higher incidence of further scarring.
Sodium and Potassium Distribution in Puffer Fish Supramedullary Nerve Cell Bodies

The Na and K concentration in single supramedullary neurons of the puffer fish (Spheroides maculatus) was measured using a dual channel integrating ultramicroflame photometer. The cells were frozen in situ, sectioned at low temperatures, and freeze-dried to prevent artefactual movements of cations. The density of the nuclear fragments was 0.15, significantly less than cytoplasm's 0.21. The sucrose-14C "space" was 2.1–4.7% in cytoplasm fragments and 0.9–2.1% in nuclear fragments. The K concentration in cytoplasm averaged 134 mmoles/liter tissue volume and in nuclei, 113. The Na concentration in cytoplasm fragments varied between 56 and 138 mmoles/liter per tissue volume; in nuclei between 40 and 135, and in perineural tissue between 55 and 114. This intracellular Na is several times greater than the Na concentration expected from previous estimates. It is probable, however, that the intracellular Na activity is less than half that of the Na concentration, suggesting that much of the intracellular Na is bound to organic molecules within the cell.
Public opinion about syringe exchange programmes in the USA: an analysis of national surveys

Abstract Background : Despite scientific evidence demonstrating their effectiveness, syringe exchange programs (SEPs) have not been as widely embraced by policy-makers in the USA as in some other nations. One reason for this disjunction between science and policy may be the effect of public opinion. Methods : To better understand the role of public opinion in shaping SEP policies, we undertook a systematic search for all reported U.S. national surveys asking about support or opposition to SEPs. Relevant polls were identified through a national database of public opinion questions, and a similar search of a newspaper database. We present the survey findings. The wording of poll questions and the agenda of organisations sponsoring the polls are also examined. Results : Twenty-one questions from 14 different polls conducted from 1987 to 2000 were identified. Support for SEPs ranged from 29 to 66%. Surveys conducted by organisations with a public health agenda were more likely to suggest support for SEPs than those sponsored by organisations with a "family values" perspective. Question wording appeared to strongly influence support for SEPs. Poll questions that referred to "drug addicts" were less likely to indicate majority support for SEPs than those that avoided loaded terms or that provided public health information to respondents. Discussion : Public opinion regarding SEPs is very malleable, strongly affected by question wording or other biases of organisations sponsoring the polls. Therefore, there may be no clear national consensus on the desirability of SEPs. Our findings are particularly relevant for national policy, such as federal funding for SEPs.
Social movement web use in theory and practice: a content analysis of US movement websites

While communication scholars suggest that the internet can serve as an important resource for social movement communication, few studies examine whether and how social movements actually use the internet. This article examines US-based social movement organization (SMO) internet use at one of its most visible points of access, the world wide web. Drawing on alternative media studies, the article develops a typology of communication functions central to social movements and surveys a random sample of SMO websites in order to determine whether and to what degree they exhibit features or attributes related to these types. The survey results suggest that the majority of US-based SMOs are not utilizing the web to its full potential, and posits a number of reasons why this might be the case, including organizational objectives, organizational resources and resource sharing.
A new model for reducing ethanol toxicity.

As early as 1933, Widmark (Widmark, 1933) reported that when either glycine or alanine was co-administered with ethanol, lowered blood ethanol levels resulted as compared to those achieved when ethanol was administered. (The subjects used were dogs.) He concluded that a stable compound was formed between ethanol and the amino acids and that this accounted for decreased appearance of ethanol in the blood.
Abstract 213: Physiogenomic Response to Prolonged Cardiac Arrest and Resuscitation: Hyporesponders Fail to Upregulate Certain Genes

Background: In our porcine laboratory studies of prolonged cardiac arrest and resuscitation we have observed that approximately one out of every four animals appears to be hyporesponsive to vasopressor drug therapy during CPR. These hyporesponsive animals fail to generate an increase in coronary perfusion pressure (CPP) sufficient to attain a return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and cannot be resuscitated. Some humans unexplainably fail resuscitation despite promising conditions (age, witnessed arrest, bystander CPR, rapid EMS response). We conducted this natural experiment in order to compare the physiogenomic responses of animals that were hyporesponsive, to those that responded as expected to vasopressor therapy. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that we would identify genes that were differentially expressed between the two groups (hyporesponders and normal responders). Methods: We sedated, anesthetized, and instrumented 14 female swine (mean mass 28.6 kgs). Micro-manometer tipped catheters were placed to measure CPP for determination of response status. Ventricular fibrillation (VF) was induced and untreated for 10 minutes, then CPR was begun. Two minutes later pressors were given (epinephrine 0.1 mg/kg and vasopressin 0.6 U/kg). At minute 15 the first rescue shock was delivered. Twenty-eight minutes after the induction of VF, femoral artery samples were harvested and snap-frozen. Gene expression was assessed on the Affymetrix Porcine Genome Array, and affected pathways were ordered with Pathway Express (with Impact Analysis of p Results: We compared 4 hyporesponsive pigs to a sample of 5 normal responders. There were 213 differentially expressed genes affecting 10 pathways shown in the Table (with the apoptosis pathway at p=0.056). Conclusion: Hyporesponders differentially express genes that affect vasoregulation, myocardial contractility, calcium regulation and 7 other pathways.
Transportation fuel from coal with low CO2 emissions

Publisher Summary This chapter explores a strategy for mitigating climate change for coal-derived synthetic fuels both by CCS and by choosing an energy carrier that facilitates a shift to more-efficient energy end-use technology. The focus is on dimethyl ether (DME). Its high cetane number makes DME a suitable candidate fuel for compression ignition engine vehicles, which are more energy efficient than spark-ignition engine vehicles. Compression ignition engine vehicles are not more widely used in part because of difficulties in realizing simultaneously low levels of emissions of both NO x and particulate matter (PM), which are being sought in tightening air pollutant emission regulations throughout the world, driven by public health concerns. The tradeoffs that make simultaneous NO x and PM control difficult for diesel fuel do not exist for DME, the combustion of which generates essentially no PM because of the absence of C-C bonds and of sulfur. Low NO x emissions can be realized with much less complicated tailpipe emission control technologies. These pollution control advantages can facilitate a transition to fuel-efficient vehicles such as compression ignition engine/hybrid electric vehicles, although the pollution control advantages offered by DME are offset in part by the refueling infrastructure challenges that arise because at atmospheric pressure. DME is a gas that must be stored in mildly pressurized canisters. It also illustrates the potential DME offers for reducing emissions by facilitating a shift to more energy-efficient vehicles.
Gotham 311: Equitability, Representation, and Public Goods Quality in New York City

Despite generations of research on local public goods and city power structures, there is little recent research that identifies super-local intra-city variations in public goods quality and the causes of this variation. Using geocoded data from New York City’s 311-complaint program, this research examines whether the distribution of public goods conditions are socio-economically equitable and whether they can be tied to representation on the City Council. Census tract-level panel time-series models with serial and spatial controls are estimated for 2004 to 2013. Results do not support the hypothesis of a socio-economic service underclass but do suggest a more political cause: neighborhoods that are represented by city council members who have served longer tend to improve in condition.
Ion Beam Processing of Optical Thin Films

The microstructure and optical properties of vacuum evaporated coatings are a sensitive function of the deposition conditions. In recent years, ion bombardment has been used increasingly for the production of denser, more stable coatings of oxides and other materials. In addition to modifying the microstructure, ion bombardment is emerging as a valuable tool for altering the composition (and hence the optical properties) of thin films. A discussion of the effects of ion beam processing and the methods used to analyze the changes in these films is presented.
Another Proof of the Inequality Between Power Means

(1988). Another Proof of the Inequality Between Power Means. The College Mathematics Journal: Vol. 19, No. 1, pp. 56-58.
Impaired hepatic heme synthesis in the phenobarbital-stimulated selenium-deficient rat.

In 1957 Schwarz and Foltz (1) described an association between dietary selenium deficiency and hepatic necrosis. However, although the dietary requirement for selenium is established, its possible role in the maintenance of normal hepatic function remains speculative. Diplock et al. (2, 3) have recently suggested that selenium may be incorporated into a nonheme iron containing microsomal protein active in the NADPH-dependent electron transfer chain. It is conceivable, therefore, that the integrity of the hepatic microsomal mixed-function oxidase system may in part be dependent on an adequate dietary supply of selenium.We have recently described an impaired inducibility by phenobarbital of cytochrome P450 and cytochrome b5 in the selenium deficient rat (4). The normal inducibility of the flavoprotein component of the mixed function oxidase system, NADPH cytochrome c reductase, in these animals suggested that the impaired response in these selenium deficient rats may be limited to the hemecontaining microso...
K-Bentonites and Graptolite Biostratigraphy in the Middle Ordovician of New York State and Quebec: A New Chronostratigraphic Model

Published correlations of the extensive set of altered vol- canic ash beds (K-bentonites) present in the upper Middle Ordovician rocks of New York State imply that the lower Climacograptus (Diplacanthograptus) spiniferus Zone, the entire Orthograptus ruedemanni Zone, and the upper Corynoides americanus Zone are coeval. Precise new information on the ranges of graptolite and conodont species and the position of zonal boundaries within key Mohawk Valley sections together with new data on the occurrence of K-bentonites provide the foundation for an alternative, integrated chronostratigraphic model for the Middle Ordovician of the Mohawk Valley and the St. Lawrence Lowland of Quebec. This alternative model rec- onciles the K-bentonite and biostratigraphic correlations, but remains to be independently tested
Thinking of the land ticket transaction system risk prevention under the background of the new urbanization——Taking Chongqing city land ticket trade as an example

Chongqing city land ticket trade practice for 5 years,the construction of new towns in Chongqing city played a role in boasting.However,through the analysis and investigation,the author found that the current ticket transaction system of cultivated land protection,the "three rural" rights and environmental risks,these risks will be an important factor affecting the success or failure of the construction of new towns.Therefore,the model under the background of urbanization of ticket transaction risk prevention mechanism of thinking,combined with the construction of the five functional areas of Chongqing and puts forward the Countermeasures of risk prevention in order to ticket transactions can be healthy operation,to boost the new urbanization construction.
Cluster Analysis of the Correlation Coefficient Matrix Based Variables in SPSS

Since the publication of raw data takes up a lot of space,raw data of multivariable are rarely found in sport literature.Therefore,most data that describes the linear correlation between variables to be searched from literature is the correlation coefficient matrix.Because there is no particular module that specialized in statistical analysis of correlation coefficient matrix data in SPSS and also cluster analysis of variables is built up from raw data,it is necessary to research on this topic.Studies have shown that,with only the correlation coefficient matrix data and without raw data,we can set up correlation coefficient matrix data files according to the fixed format of setting up correlation coefficient matrix provided in SPSS.Prior to cluster analysis,it is essential to transform the correlation coefficient matrix to an equivalent distance matrix using so that we can obtain a proper cluster dendrogram plot in order to achieve cluster analysis.
A new species of the bee genus Chlerogella from Panama (Hymenoptera: Halictidae)

A new species of the Neotropical bee genus Chlerogella Michener, 1954 (Halictinae: Augochlorini) is described and figured from San Blas, Panama. Chlerogella clidemiae sp. nov., is differentiated from other members of its genus and is the first species with a floral record; captured on flowers of Clidemia crenulata Gleason (Melastomataceae).
Tunneling-time problem

The desire to minimize the response time of tunneling devices has led to renewed interest in the unresolved fundamental question "How much time, on average, does an incident electron that is ultimately transmitted spend inside a one-dimensional potential barrier?" In addition to this transmission time ⊤t ·,there are two other times of interest: the reflection time ⊤r for electrons that are ultimately reflected and the dwell time TD, which is the average time spent inside the barrier regardless of the ultimate fate of the incident particle. An exact expression for TD and the time-modulated barrier, Feynman path, Larmor clock, and wave-packet evolution approaches for calculating ⊤t and ⊤r arc discussed. It is argued that none of these approaches is completely satisfactory because they all lead to transmission and reflection times that either are complex or, if real, do not satisfy: all of a few reasonable (but not universally accepted) criteria, such as consistency with the exact expression for the dwell time.
Dynamics of Quantitative EEG Changes During Cerebral Hypoperfusion (P4.075)

Objective: To describe the time course of quantitative spectral analysis of EEG during cerebral hypoperfusion. Background: Scalp electroencephalography (EEG) can be used as a surrogate marker for cerebral perfusion in a variety situations including cardiac arrest. Prior reports have demonstrated qualitative EEG changes with cerebral hypoperfusion related to cardiac arrest. However, to our knowledge the time course of EEG changes in the setting of cerebral hypoperfusion from different cardiovascular etiologies has not been described using quantitative objective methods. Methods: Six patients (5 females; 19-60 years old) were included in the study with different cardiovascular events: ventricular tachycardia, pulseless electrical activity, hypotension, ictal asystole, and severe bradycardia. Clinical EEG recordings were quantified by calculating power in standard spectral bands (delta, theta, alpha, beta) at different electrode locations (bipolar double banana montage) over short-duration sliding time windows with partial overlap. Results: After the onset of cardiovascular event, changes in distinct quantitative EEG emerged as early as ~10-15 seconds across different spectral bands, when subtle changes may be appreciated on EEG by visual inspection. The power for each spectral band eventually decreased, reaching a minimum, corresponding to EEG showing minimal activity. During this time, power remained higher in the slower frequency bands (delta and theta) than the faster ones (alpha and beta). Chest compressions (in one case) were associated with re-emergence of EEG activity including faster frequencies. After resumption of sinus rhythm, EEG power recovered within 5-10 seconds though more gradually for the faster frequencies (alpha and beta; 20-30 seconds). Conclusions: We have used spectral techniques to describe dynamics of EEG changes related to cerebral hypoperfusion. Our analysis demonstrates that quantitative EEG is a powerful and objective surrogate marker for cerebral perfusion. Our study also underscores the importance of immediate and effective resuscitation including chest compressions to maintain perfusion and minimize cerebral injury. Disclosure: Dr. Razavi has received stock options from Ceribell for consulting. Dr. Meador has received personal compensation for activities with Eisai, GW Pharmaceuticals, Supernus, Upsher-Smith Laboratories, and UCB Pharma as a consultant. Dr. Meador has received research support from UCB Pharma.
LT (Al)GaAs and Al(Ga)As/AlAsSb oxides for electronic applications

Research into various areas of III-V electronics is presented. GaAs MESFETs passivated with LT Al/sub x/Ga/sub 1-x/As showed increased breakdown voltages (V/sub bkd/=43V) over standard devices (V/sub bkd/=8V). MESFETs and pHEMTs fabricated with insulating oxide buffers (GaAs-On-lnsulator) produced world record power-added efficiencies (PAE=88%). Recently, research has been oriented towards collector-up with oxide current confinement layers for high gain, high speed performance.