cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mix, Match, Rediscovery: A Mashup Experiment of Knowledge Organization in an Enterprise Environment

Knowledge is the fact or knowing something from experience or via association. Knowledge organization is the systematic management and organization of knowledge (Hodge, 2000). With the advent of Web 2.0, Mashups have become a hot new thing on the Web. A mashup is a Web site or a Web application that combines content from more than one source and delivers it in an integrated way (Fichter, 2006). In this article, we will first explore the concept of mashups and look at the components of a mashup. We will provide an overview of various mashups on the Internet. We will look at literature about knowledge and the knowledge organization. Then, we will elaborate on our experiment of a mashup in an enterprise environment. We will describe how we mixed the content from two sets of sources and created a new source: a novel way of organizing and displaying HP Labs Technical Reports. The findings from our project will be included and some best practices for creating enterprise mashups will be given. The future of enterprise mashups will be discussed as well.
Characterizing of tissue microstructure with single detector polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography

Collagen, the most abundant protein in the body, may provide invaluable clinical information of many major disorders due to its birefringence. Assessing collagen birefringence with polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography (PSOCT) could improve characterization of in vivo tissue pathology. Beyond detecting collagen organization, the information potentially gained from PSOCT include collagen type, form vs. intrinsic birefringence, the local environment, collagen angle, and the presence of multiple birefringence materials. In this work, we applied fast Fourier transform (FFT) analysis to both the mathematical model and in vitro bovine meniscus for improved PS-OCT data analysis. The FFT analysis yielded information on tissue composition in addition to identify the presence of organized collagen. PS-OCT images of Helistat(R) phantoms (collagen type I) were also analyzed with the ultimate goal of improved tissue characterization. This study could advance the insights gained from PS-OCT images beyond simply determining the presence or absence of birefringence.
Chemical detection based on adsorption-induced and photo-induced stresses in MEMS devices

Recently there has been an increasing demand to perform real-time in-situ chemical detection of hazardous materials, contraband chemicals, and explosive chemicals. Currently, real-time chemical detection requires rather large analytical instrumentation that are expensive and complicated to use. The advent of inexpensive mass produced MEMS devices opened-up new possibilities for chemical detection. For example, microcantilevers were found to respond to chemical stimuli by undergoing changes in their bending and resonance frequency even when a small number of molecules adsorb on their surface. In our present studies we extended this concept by studying changes in both the adsorption-induced stress and photo-induced stress as target chemicals adsorb on the surface of microcantilevers. For example, microcantilevers that have adsorbed molecules will undergo photo-induced bending that depends on the number of adsorbed molecules on the surface. However, microcantilevers that have undergone photo-induced bending will adsorb differently molecules on their surfaces. Depending on the photon wavelength and microcantilever material, the microcantilever can be made to bend by expanding or contracting. This is important in cases where the photo- induced bending of microcantilevers for chemical detection.
What “What?” Tells Us About How Conversationalists Manage Intersubjectivity

When studying how conversationalists assess mutual understanding, research has focused on one type of evidence: next-turn talk. This article identifies another, antecedent type of evidence involving how talk is produced by reference to repair-opportunity spaces that are systematically provided for by conversation’s generic organization of repair. As current speakers talk, recipients claim understanding ex silentio on an action-by-action basis as they forgo each next repair-opportunity space—that is, as they ‘withhold’ talk at each next transition-relevance place. This conversation-analytic article supports its argument through an analysis of multi-action/TCU turns generally, and specifically when recipients initiate repair on such turns with: “What?” In these cases, people respond by repairing only the most proximate action in their prior turn, which indexes their understanding that people who initiated repair understood relatively distal actions. Data are drawn from naturally occurring, ordinary, telepho...
Reactive astrocytes express NADPH diaphorase in vivo after transient ischemia

Abstract In the hippocampus, ten minutes of transient global ischemia results in the death of CA1 pyramidal cells after a period of one to three days. The neurons in the CA1 region constituatively express NADPH-D (NADPH diaphorase activity). In contrast, astrocytes in the the hippocampus do not normally express NADPH-D; but a population of reactive astrocytes (GFAP+ cells) begin to express of NADPH-D one day after transient global ischemia. NADPH-D is thought to be a histological marker for Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS), the enzyme that is responsible for the synthesis of NO, a potent neurotoxin. We suggest that this increase in NADPH-D/NOS expression is an important element in the sequence of changes that occurs after ischemia, and that NO derived from reactive astrocytes or from neurons may play a causal role in neural cell death after ischemia in the hippocampus.
The politics of race in two languages: an empirical qualitative study

Drawing upon critical analyses of participant observations of classrooms, school documents, and in‐depth interviews with teachers, administrators, and school‐district supervisors conducted from 1999 to 2002, this qualitative study employs a post‐structuralist framework to probe one US public elementary school’s quest to realize educational equity through dual language education. Focused on exploring the ways that students’ racial identities influenced teachers’ pedagogies, analyses of discourses and practices salient within the school’s context revealed an ambivalent racial logic based on whiteness which paradoxically fostered the increased participation of English language learners in educational activities that constrained their access to valued learning resources and schooling opportunities.
Effectiveness of endoscopic dilation for dysphagia from cricopharyngeal bars

The cricopharyngeal (CP) bar is a common radiographic finding that can cause oropharyngeal dysphagia (OPD). Treatment options include CP myotomy, which is problematic given that CP bars primarily affect elderly patients with comorbidities who are at higher risk for peri-operative complications. The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of endoscopic dilation in the management of dysphagia attributed to a CP bar. Review of upper endoscopic (EGD) and videofluoroscopic swallowing studies from 1999–2002 identified 32 patients with CP bars. CP bar was defined by radiology as a distinct posterior impression in the cervical esophagus inferior to the vocal cords. Six of these patients had dysphagia without any other identifiable cause aside from the CP bar. Each of these six patients underwent EGD with Savary (5) or balloon dilation (1) of the upper esophageal sphincter to a diameter of 51–60 Fr. Short- and long-term follow-up was conducted post-dilation at 1–4 weeks and 10–27 months, respectively. The median age of the 32 patients with CP bars was 63 yrs. The 6 symptomatic patients who underwent endoscopic therapy were women with median age of 62 yrs. Each of the 6 patients experienced immediate improvement in dysphagia. None of the patients developed complications of post-dilation pain, bleeding or perforation. Five patients had continued improvement of their OPD at short-term follow-up. One patient who was dilated to 51 Fr using a Savary dilator experienced return of globus sensation after 48 hours, although dysphagia and regurgitation had resolved. A second Savary dilation, one month after the initial procedure, resulted in complete elimination of symptoms at subsequent short-term follow-up. Four patients had continued complete resolution of OPD at long-term follow-up. The remaining two patients reported the recurrence of significant dysphagia after 6 and 8 months, which they stated was less severe than at initial presentation. None of the patients required surgical or endoscopic myotomy for residual or refractory dysphagia. Every patient was satisfied with the results and stated they would recommend endoscopic dilation to others with the same problem.(1) CP bar is an important cause of dysphagia that affects elderly patients. (2) Endoscopic dilation of symptomatic CP bars can produce long-term relief of dysphagia. (3) Further controlled studies are warranted to better define the efficacy and safety of endoscopic CP bar dilation as an alternative to surgical myotomy in symptomatic patients.
Annual and Biennial Modulations in the Tropical Hadley Cell Circulation

THE temperature in the vicinity of the tropical tropopause is lower in January than in July (ref. 1 and our unpublished results), the difference ranging to about 10° C in the 100–50 mbar layer (about 16–21 km). The low temperature depends on the calendar year rather than on mean zenith angle of the Sun, because it occurs in either January or February at tropical stations in both hemispheres (our unpublished results). Concomitantly the tropopause itself is higher at these times. The air near the tropopause is kept cold chiefly by the adiabatic cooling produced by rising motions in the tropical Hadley cell circulation2, the contribution by horizontal motions carrying heat away from tropical regions being relatively small3. The adiabatic cooling is balanced by radiative heating, and Kennedy4 has shown that the main component here is a convergence of radiative flux in the 15 micron carbon dioxide band. At the tropopause itself this infrared component produces heating because the carbon dioxide both above and below is warmer. From either Kennedy's work or more recent radiative heating calculations by Rodgers5 the heating rate is about 0.25° C/day which, together with an observed horizontal heat flux divergence of about 0.05° C/day, leads to a rising motion necessary for balance3 of about 0.02 cm s−1. Similar conclusions about the physical factors governing the tropopause temperature have recently been reached from a numerical model study by Manabe and Hunt6. An important point from Rodgers's results is that the total heating rate at the tropopause is essentially the same in January and July within the limits of accuracy of the calculations.
Fly now or fly later? The delayed consumption problem

Abstract The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is a decision analysis technique that uses judgments from a group of relevant decision makers along with hierarchical decomposition to derive a set of ratio-scaled measures for decision alternatives. This paper addresses implementation issues for the AHP when the problem is one of assessing delayed vs. immediate consumption. The tradeoff that must be evaluated is the immediate benefit of using one's limited resources for the purchase or acquisition of a good or service against the delayed benefit of waiting for future purchase or acquisition. We also allow for the possibility of an increased (or decreased) amount of available resources over time. We develop a technique that combines a dynamic programming algorithm with the AHP approach. Although we present a sample implementation of this technique for the decision of cashing in accumulated frequent flyer points for airline premiums, the technique presented in this paper can be applied to many multiple-criteria, time-dependent decision problems such as production-inventory scheduling, investment in new technologies and aggregate planning. The procedure involves prioritizing criteria of the possible alternatives, scoring the alternatives and then comparing the score of an alternative within a time period with the gains that can be accrued through delayed consumption.
The dissipation of wave energy by bottom friction

A theory is developed for the loss in wave energy as a result of friction by the oscillating motion of waves at the sea bottom. This loss in energy is reflected as a reduction in the wave height as the waves move shoreward. It is shown by numerical examples that this reduction may amount to as much as 30 per cent on very flat beaches for wave periods commonly occurring in the ocean.
Collegiate Athletes' Perceptions of the Coaching Profession:

In this study, we examined college athletes’ interest in and perceptions of the coaching profession. A total of 201 U.S. Division I athletes (100 males, 101 females; 119 White, 81 minority, 1 race unknown) completed measures of a) their intention of entering the coaching profession, b) reasons they would want to enter the coaching profession, c) perceived barriers that would prohibit them from considering the coaching profession, and d) their perception of discrimination in the coaching profession. Results indicated that men were more likely than women to intend to enter coaching at the Division I and professional levels. Gender and racial differences were found in reasons for entering the coaching profession and barriers that prohibit athletes from entering the profession. Women were more likely than men to agree that male and female coaches were treated differently, and minority athletes were more likely than White athletes to agree that coaches are treated differently in sport based on their race/ethnicity. These results may partly explain the lack of women and minority coaches.
Results of 100 consecutive anterior chamber implants

Summary Using an anterior chamber lens made from Perspex CQ, we began a series of 100 consecutive implantations in 1976. Iris tucking of at least one foot of the lens was found in 19 cases, however this complication was not associated with iritis or glaucoma at the time of the study. Tenderness over the operative eye was rare and did not appear to be a significant problem. There were no cases of the uveitis-glaucoma-hyphema syndrome. For an average follow-up time of 12.3 months, 90% of the eyes without pre-existing retinal pathology demonstrated 20/40 or better visual acuity.
Metabolism of all-trans-retinoic acid in hamster liver microsomes: oxidation of 4-hydroxy- to 4-keto-retinoic acid.

Abstract Experimental evidence indicates that the major pathway of retinoic acid metabolism in hamster liver microsomes follows the sequence: retinoic acid → 4-hydroxy-retinoic acid → 4-keto-retinoic acid → more polar metabolites. Using all- trans -[10- 3 H]retinoic acid, it can be shown by reverse-phase high pressure liquid chromatographic analysis that the first and last steps of this sequence require NADPH, whereas the oxidation of 4-hydroxy to 4-keto-retinoic acid is NAD + (or NADP + ) dependent. Both NADPH-dependent steps, but not the NAD + -dependent dehydrogenase reaction, are strongly inhibited by carbon monoxide. The metabolism of retinoic acid but not of 4-hydroxy-retinoic acid is highly dependent on the vitamin A regimen of the animal. Retinoic acid is rapidly metabolized by liver microsomes either from vitamin A-normal hamsters or from vitamin A-deficient hamsters that have been pretreated with retinoic acid, but not by microsomes from vitamin A-deficient animals; in direct contrast, the rate of metabolism of 4-hydroxy-retinoic acid is equivalent in each of these microsomal preparations. Analysis of the kinetics of these reactions yields the following Michaelis constants with respect to the retinoid substrates: retinoic acid, 1 × 10 −6 m ; 4-hydroxy-retinoic acid, 2 × 10 −5 m ; and 4-keto-retinoic acid, 1 × 10 −7 m . The 4-hydroxy to 4-keto-retinoic acid oxidation has been shown to be experimentally irreversible, to have a K m NAD + of 2 × 10 −5 m , to be strongly inhibited by NADH, and to be unaffected by the presence of retinoic acid or its 4-keto-derivative in an equimolar ratio to the 4-hydroxy-substrate.
Using multiple data sources for curriculum revision

Abstract Traditionally, curriculum revisions have been made based primarily on guidelines and standards set forth by professional organizations that identify a core of knowledge that pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs) must know regardless of their practice setting. However, the number and complexity of pediatric health conditions managed by PNPs have expanded beyond this core knowledge. To meet the PNP's changing role and employment needs, curriculum revisions based on the information gathered from surveys of alumni, employers, and a national survey of PNP graduates, as well as on traditional standards and guidelines, were made. J Pediatr Health Care. (2003). 17 , 169-175.
Sport in Asia and Africa: A Comparative Handbook

Preface Introduction An Overview of Sport in Asia and Africa The International and National Expansion of Sports Sport in Asia Sport in Yemen Arab Republic Sport in Japan Sport in South Korea: Ssirum, the YMCA, and the Olympic Games Sport in the People's Republic of China Sport in Thailand Physical Education and Sport in the Philippines Sport in Malaysia Sport in Africa Sport in Egypt: Cultural Reflection and Contradiction of a Society Sport in Botswana Sport in Zaire Sport in Nigeria Sport in Kenya Index
Parathyroid hormone induces interleukin-6 heterogeneous nuclear and messenger RNA expression in murine calvarial organ cultures

The cytokine, interleukin-6 (IL-6), is produced by osteoblasts and may in part mediate parathyroid hormone (PTH)-stimulated bone resorption. The goals of the present study were: (1) to examine PTH induction of IL-6 expression in 7-day-old mouse calvarial organ cultures; (2) to assess the role of intracellular signaling pathways in this model; and (3) to determine whether PTH regulates IL-6 expression by a transcriptional mechanism. Northern blot analysis of calvarial RNA showed that PTH(1-34) at 0.1-100 nmol/L induced IL-6 mRNA at 0.5 h with a peak at 2 h. Forskolin at 10 micromol/L and 8-bromocyclic-AMP at 3 mmol/L also induced IL-6 mRNA with a peak at 2 h. Phorbol myristate acetate induced IL-6 expression, whereas ionomycin and PTH(3-34) amide, an N-terminal-truncated PTH analog that has reduced ability to activate the cAMP-PKA pathway, were much less effective. PMA pretreatment of calvariae greatly blocked IL-6 mRNA induction by a subsequent dose of PMA and decreased induction by PTH and forskolin to a much lesser extent. A reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay was used to measure IL-6 heterogeneous nuclear RNA (hnRNA) and mRNA. A 5' primer spanning exons 1 and 2 and a 3' primer complementary to exon 5 of the murine IL-6 gene were used to detect IL-6 mRNA as a 638 bp product. A 5' primer corresponding to intron 4 of the murine IL-6 gene and the 3' primer were used to detect IL-6 hnRNA as a 370 bp product. RT-PCR of total calvarial RNA showed that the induction of IL-6 hnRNA by PTH and other agonists was similar to their induction of IL-6 mRNA. These data support the conclusion that PTH transcriptionally induces IL-6 gene expression in murine calvarial organ cultures mainly through the cAMP-PKA signaling pathway.
Harder Words: Learning Abstract Verbs with Opaque Syntax

Highly abstract predicates (e.g. think) present a number of difficulties for language learners (Gleitman et al., 2005). A partial solution to learning these verbs is that learners exploit regularities in the syntactic frames in which these verbs occur. While agreeing with this general approach to learning verbs, we caution that this strategy is not sufficient for learning another class of abstract verbs known as “raising” verbs (seem) since their argument structure frames cannot always be directly read off of the surface syntax. We conducted a novel verb learning study to test the role played by subject (in)animacy in determining the syntactic frame of novel verbs that could be categorized as raising verbs. Animacy is useful since raising but not control verbs admit inanimate subjects (The rock seems/#claims to be heavy). We outline a two-step process of probabilistic verb categorization that relies on subject animacy in addition to more traditional Syntactic Bootstrapping assumptions. We conclude by sugg...
Radiation-Induced Effects on Murine Kidney Tumor Cells: Role in the Interaction of Local Irradiation and Immunotherapy

AbstractLocal tumor irradiation enhances the effect of interleukin-2 (IL-2) therapy in the Renca murine renal adenocarcinoma model. To investigate the mechanism(s) of this interaction, we studied the in vitro and in vivo effects of irradiation on the tumor cells. Tumor cells from in situ irradiated renal tumors had diminished proliferation in vitro. A similar growth inhibition was noted following injection of irradiated Renca cells into naive mice, but this effect could be overcome by injecting more cells. Histologic evaluation of tumors derived from irradiated cells revealed a decrease in mitosis and an increase in multinucleated giant cells, apoptosis and micronecrosis. The presence of irradiated tumor reduced the growth of nonirradiated tumor cells when both were injected into separate flanks of the same animal, suggesting that irradiated tumor cells may trigger a systemic antitumor response. Interleukin-2 therapy given after injection of irradiated tumor cells caused a significant increase in leukocyt...
Remote fibre-optic AC magnetometer

A remotely operated fibre-optic magnetometer was fabricated and tested. The system has a real time flat frequency response (±3 dB) across the entire band of 1-45 kHz with a minimum detectable magnetic field of 1.8×10 -7 Gauss/ √(Hz). The sensor is compact and contains no electronic or active components
TU-D-330A-08: Information-Theoretic CAD System in Mammography: Investigation of An Entropy-Based Indexing Scheme for Improved Computational Efficiency and Robust Performance

Purpose: We previously presented a Knowledge‐Based Computer Assisted Detection (KB‐CAD) system for the detection of mammographic masses based on information theoretic similarity measures. The purpose of this study is to integrate an entropy‐based indexing strategy that improves the speed of analysis without compromising the diagnostic performance of the system. Materials and Methods: The KB‐CAD system is designed to compare a query mammographic region with mammographic templates of known ground truth stored in the knowledge databank. The system utilizes normalized mutual information (NMI) as the similarity measure. Previous studies showed that the system's diagnostic performance consistently improves as the knowledge databank increases. However, comparing each query to every template stored in the databank becomes computationally impractical. To address this concern, we implemented an entropy‐based indexing scheme. Instead of comparing the query with the whole knowledge databank, we restrict the comparisons to those stored templates that are most relevant or informative. Only those templates are retrieved for more detailed analysis using the NMI similarity measure. Imageentropy was used to determine the level of information or relevance for each available template. Results: We used a database of 2,318 mammographic regions (905 masses, 1,413 normal) extracted from the Digital Database of Screening Mammography (DDSM). Based on a leaveone‐ out sampling scheme, different clustering implementations of the entropy‐based indexing scheme were investigated. Using entropy‐based indexing, the KB‐CAD system achieved the same performance (ROC area index Az=0.91±0.01 for malignant masses) using only a subset of 600 templates from the knowledge databank (compared to the full set of 2,317 available templates). Conclusion: This study showed that to sustain detection performance while maintaining computational efficiency, an optimized subset of relevant templates could be determined using a sophisticated entropy‐based indexing strategy. Conflict of Interest: This work was supported in part by the National Cancer Institute under grant R01 CA101911.
4520 Usefulness of a pediatric colonoscope for routine colonoscopy in women who have had a hysterectomy.

Aim: Colonoscopy can be difficult in some women who have undergone hysterectomies–which can be associated with a fixed, angulated sigmoid colon from post-op pelvic adhesions.We sought to determine if colonoscopy was easier and more comfortable for women with prior hysterectomies when performed with a pediatric colonoscope, which is narrower in diameter and more flexible than a standard adult colonoscope. Methods: Ninety women with a history of a prior hysterectomy undergoing outpatient colonoscopy were randomized to colonoscopy with a standard colonoscope (Olympus CF-100L or CF-Q140L; 164-cm working length & 13.3-mm outside diameter) or with a pediatric colonoscope (Olympus PCF-100; 133-cm working length & 11.3-mm outside diameter). All procedures were performed by a faculty endoscopist and timed. Following examinations, the endoscopist graded procedure difficulty, and patients were given a questionnaire assessing their experience. Results: The cecum was reached more frequently with the pediatric scope (96%, 44/46) than with the adult scope (72%, 32/44)(p=0.003). In 11 of the cases in which the adult scope was unsuccessful in traversing the sigmoid colon, the endoscopist switched to the pediatric scope, which was then successful in reaching the cecum in 8 cases (73%, 8/11). This increased the cecal intubation rate for cases in which the procedure was started with the adult scope to 91% (40/44). Overall, the cecum was ultimately reached in 84 of 90 cases (93%). There was no significant difference in the two scope groups (pediatric versus adult) in terms of mean time to reach the cecum (11.4 min versus 12.9 min), mean total procedure time (21.2 min versus 22.5 min), mean doses of midazolam given (1.49 mg versus 1.65 mg), scales of procedure difficulty as graded by endoscopists, or comfort scales as graded by patients. Conclusions: The pediatric colonoscope is a reasonable choice to use in women who have had a prior hysterectomy. However, if the endoscopist elects to start the procedure with a standard adult colonoscope, it is helpful to have access to a pediatric colonoscope to switch to if he/she encounters a fixed, angulated sigmoid colon that cannot be easily or safely traversed with the adult scope.
Preserving Functional Lung Using Perfusion Imaging and Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy for Advanced-Stage Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer

Purpose: To assess quantitatively the impact of incorporating functional lung imaging into intensity-modulated radiation therapy planning for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods and Materials: Sixteen patients with advanced-stage NSCLC who underwent radiotherapy were included in this study. Before radiotherapy, each patient underwent lung perfusion imaging with single-photon-emission computed tomography and X-ray computed tomography (SPECT-CT). The SPECT-CT was registered with simulation CT and was used to segment the 50- and 90-percentile hyperperfusion lung (F50 lung and F90 lung). Two IMRT plans were designed and compared in each patient: an anatomic plan using simulation CT alone and a functional plan using SPECT-CT in addition to the simulation CT. Dosimetric parameters of the two types of plans were compared in terms of tumor coverage and avoidance of normal tissues. Results: In incorporating perfusion information in IMRT planning, the median reductions in the mean doses to the F50 and F90 lung in the functional plan were 2.2 and 4.2 Gy, respectively, compared with those in the anatomic plans. The median reductions in the percentage of volume irradiated with >5 Gy, >10 Gy, and >20 Gy in the functional plans were 7.1%, 6.0%, and 5.1%, respectively, for F50 lung, and 11.7%, 12.0%,more » and 6.8%, respectively, for F90 lung. A greater degree of sparing of the functional lung was achieved for patients with large perfusion defects compared with those with relatively uniform perfusion distribution. Conclusion: Function-guided IMRT planning appears to be effective in preserving functional lung in locally advanced-stage NSCLC patients.« less
Gender differences in predictors of body weight and body weight change in healthy adults.

Background: Overweight and obesity are important predictors of a wide variety of health problems. Analysis of naturally occurring changes in body weight can provide valuable insights in improving our understanding of the influence of demographic, lifestyle, and psychosocial factors on weight gain in middle-age adults. Objective: To identify gender-specific predictors of body weight using cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. Methods and Procedures: Anthropometric, lifestyle and psychosocial factors were measured at baseline and then quarterly for 1 year in 572 healthy adult volunteers from Central Massachusetts who were recruited between 1994 and 1998. Linear mixed models were used to analyze the relationship between body weight and potential predictors, including demographic (e.g., age, educational level), lifestyle (e.g., diet, physical activity, smoking), and psychosocial (e.g., anxiety, depression) factors. Results: Over the 1-year study period, on average, men gained 0.3 kg and women lost 0.2 kg. Predictors of lower body weight at baseline in both men and women included current cigarette smoking, greater leisure-time physical activity, and lower depression and anxiety scores. Lower body weights were associated with a lower percentage of caloric intake from protein and greater occupational physical activity levels only among men; and with higher education level only among women. Longitudinal predictors of 1-year weight gain among women included increased total caloric intake and decreased leisure-time physical activity, and among men, greater anxiety scores. Discussion: Demographic, lifestyle and psychosocial factors are independently related to naturally occurring changes in body weight and have marked differential gender effects. These effects should be taken into consideration when designing interventions for weight-loss and maintenance at the individual and population levels.
Prospects for charge sensitive amplifiers in scaled CMOS

Due to its low cost and flexibility for custom design, monolithic CMOS technology is being increasingly employed in charge preamplifiers across a broad range of applications, including both scientific research and commercial products. The associated detectors have capacitances ranging from a few tens of fF to several hundred pF. Applications call for pulse shaping from tens of ns to tens of μs, and constrain the available power per channel from tens of μW to tens of mW. At the same time a new technology generation, with changed device parameters, appears every 2 years or so. The optimum design of the front-end circuitry is examined taking into account submicron device characteristics, weak inversion operation, the reset system, and power supply scaling. Experimental results from recent prototypes will be presented. We will also discuss the evolution of preamplifier topologies and anticipated performance limits as CMOS technology scales down to the 0.1 μm/1.0 V generation in 2006.
Organic reactions at high pressure. Conjugate additions of O-Silylated Ketene Acetals to Activated Enones

Abstract O-Silylated ketene acetals have been added to activated enones possessing varying degrees of β-substitution under 15 kbar (1.5 GPa) pressure in acetonitrile at 20 °C to afford good to excellent yields of 1,4-adducts. The additions at elevated pressures are compared with analogous thermal and Lewis acid promoted reactions.
Analysis of vascular pattern and dimensions in arteriolar networks of the retractor muscle in young hamsters

Abstract A quantitative analysis of the distribution of microvascular blood flow and oxygen delivery requires a detailed description of the vascular network geometry. The distributions of lengths and diameters were determined in terminal arteriolar networks of the cheek pouch retractor muscle of young (34 ± 2 days) hamsters. We compared the Strahler centripetal vessel ordering scheme, which assigns lowest order to the capillaries and proceeds upstream toward the larger vessels, with the centrifugal ordering scheme, which begins with the input arteriole and proceeds downstream toward the capillaries. The terminal networks of the retractor muscle typically contain 2 to 4 Strahler orders and 2 to 6 centrifugal orders. The coefficients of variation of diameter and length are smaller for Strahler ordering than for centrifugal ordering. In addition, for Strahler ordering, we found that the sequence of number of vessels obeyed Horton's law. We have compared three different methods of calculating the bifurcation, diameter, and length ratios. As an alternative method for analyzing network topology, we also studied the distribution of the number of segments on each pathway from the inlet of a network to a capillary. The information obtained from this analysis is useful for the mathematical modeling of flow in the microvascular network.
Growth Kinetics and Materials Properties of Cu5Si

Thin copper films have been passivated by exposure to a dilute silane mixture (2% SiH4/Ar) at temperatures in the range of 225 - 375 °C. Previous XRD characterization indicates the surface layer to be Cu5Si[l]. Subsequently, the growth kinetics were examined by sheet resistance (Rs), RBS and step height measurements. Two distinct growth regimes are observed. The flow rate and time dependencies of the low temperature growth indicate parabolic solid state diffusion limited growth. The corresponding activation energy is 0.7 eV. A mass transport limitation is evidenced at higher temperatures. In addition, the biaxial stress and adhesion responses have been observed using the substrate curvature technique and scotch tape peel tests, respectively. A biaxial modulus (Eb) of 2.9x1011 Pa and coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of 8.6xl0-6 /°C have been determined from stress temperature cycling on Si and a-quartz substrates.
Risk of Hypercalcemia in Blacks Taking Hydrochlorothiazide and Vitamin D

Introduction Hydrochlorothiazide, an effective antihypertensive medication commonly prescribed to blacks, decreases urinary calcium excretion. Blacks have significantly higher rates of hypertension and lower levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D. Thus, they are more likely to be exposed to vitamin D supplementation and thiazide diuretics. The risk for hypercalcemia among blacks using vitamin D and hydrochlorothiazide is undefined.
Numerical modeling of solitary and cnoidal waves propagating over a submerged bridge deck

An initial component in the study of tsunami and storm surge wave forces on a submerged bridge deck is the development of a two-dimensional numerical model of solitary and cnoidal waves propagating over a submerged plate based on the Navier-Stokes (N-S) equations. Results are compared with numerical models based on a non-linear dispersive shallow water wave theory known as the Green-Naghdi (G-N) theory of water waves. Solitary and cnoidal waves are modeled using the open source computational fluid dynamics library OpenFOAM which solves the N-S equations by use of the finite volume method. Solitary waves are initiated by implementing a user defined velocity boundary condition based on the G-N theory and cnoidal waves are initiated using Waves2Foam, a wave generation toolbox developed for OpenFOAM. Results for the surface elevation on and around the bridge deck obtained by solving the N-S equations are compared with the numerical results obtained through the G-N theory. Even though these are two different solvers, solving two different sets of equations, preliminary analysis shows generally good agreement between the N-S and G-N solvers, with the propagation speed, wave amplitude and soliton fission being nearly identical. By solving these problems by two different methods, we are able to increase our confidence in the accuracy of our predictions of wave loads on coastal bridges.
Art statistics and visual processing: Insights for picture coding

Artwork holds much important information regarding the efficient encoding of the natural world, and it is therefore useful both for researchers in vision science and those in signal processing. Painters, like photographers, aim to capture the visual environment in a way that is appealing to viewers. But until recently, little attention has been paid to statistical regularities related to artists' representational strategies. How do artists deal with the very large dynamic range of luminances in scenes, when paintings themselves have a far smaller dynamic range? To what extent do artists reproduce the scale invariant spatial statistics of natural scenes, and what statistical regularities of natural scenes, if any, are retained when artists paint abstractly? This paper discusses findings that shed light on these questions and it suggests ways that these findings could spawn novel strategies for picture coding and image retrieval. It also describes links between artists' representational strategies and neural coding in visual systems.
Role of the ovarian cycle on neural cardiovascular control in sleep-deprived women

The midluteal (ML) phase of the ovarian cycle is often sympathoexcitatory compared with the early follicular (EF) phase. We recently reported that 24-h total sleep deprivation (TSD) augmented cardiovascular reactivity in both men and women, but that sex differences existed in resting muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) responses to TSD. In the present study, we hypothesized increased resting MSNA and augmented cardiovascular reactivity to acute laboratory stressors during the ML phase in sleep-deprived women. Heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), forearm vascular conductance (FVC), and MSNA were measured in 14 eumenorrheic women (age, 20 ± 1 yr) during 10 min supine rest, 5 min mental stress (MS) trial, and 2 min cold pressor test (CPT) trial. Subjects were tested twice after TSD: once during EF phase and once during ML phase (randomized, crossover design). Estradiol (29 ± 2 vs. 63 ± 8 pg/ml, P = 0.001) and progesterone (1.6 ± 0.2 vs. 4.4 ± 0.7 ng/ml, P = 0.002) were elevated during the ML phase. Resting supine MAP (75 ± 2 vs. 72 ± 1 mmHg, P = 0.042) was lower during the ML phase. In contrast, resting supine HR, MSNA, and FVC were not significantly different between EF and ML phases. MAP, HR and FVC reactivity to MS were not statistically different between the EF and ML phases. Similarly, MAP and HR reactivity to CPT were not different between the ovarian phases. Contrary to our original hypothesis, the ML phase was not associated with sympathoexcitation or exaggerated cardiovascular reactivity in sleep-deprived premenopausal women. However, our data reveal elevated resting blood pressure during the EF phase in sleep-deprived women.
HILLTOPPING BEHAVIOR OF TWO SPECIES OF ASTATA (HYMENOPTERA: CRABRONIDAE) IN CENTRAL ARIZONA

Abstract On a hilltop in central Arizona, males of the wasp, Astata boharti, exhibit fidelity to certain perch sites on the ground, while males of Astata occidentalis return to perch sites on the outer twigs of the limbs of trees and shrubs. As is true for other members of the genus, males of both species fly out from and then back to their perches, sometimes in response to passing insects. Both species are present during the late morning to early afternoon in September, when temperatures are still high in the Sonoran Desert. Although during this study, males of neither species were seen interacting with females, their behavior is convergent with that of a variety of other species of insects known to possess a mating system in which males wait for females to come to them at perch sites on hilltops. Hilltopping behavior has been previously documented for only a few crabronid wasps.
Effect of Environment on the Two-Body Abrasion of Polyether Etherketone (PEEK)/Carbon Fiber Composites

The wear behavior of fibrous polymer composites in various environments was investigated and the measured tribological data were correlated with the observed microstructures. The observed data were explained by means of theoretical wear/friction equations derived previously from fracture mechanics concepts. Wear and friction were measured in tests of carbon-fiber reinforced polyether etherketone (PEEK) sliding against emery paper in a pin-on-table abrasive wear machine. Results were obtained in air and also wing water and oil as lubricants. The wear rate decreased as the normal load increased and a fatigue wear mechanism based on microstructural observations was employed to explain the measured data. The microstructural features strongly implied a damage accumulation mechanism via crack initiation/propagation along tile weak path. Presented as an American Society Of Lubrication Engineers paper at the ASME/ASLE Tribology Conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, October 20–22, 1986
Spectral analysis of photic stimulation in migraine

In seeking an electrophysiologic discriminator of migraine, we applied computer technology to power spectral analysis of the EEG with photic stimulation. In 11 normal volunteers and 11 migraineurs (both classic and common) we were able to classify all migraineurs and misclassified only one normal based on the spectral analysis. The discriminator contained 5 elements: the increased driving power of migraineurs with photic stimulation at 24 flashes/sec, 34 flashes/sec, and 38 flashes/sec; and the increased power in the alpha band in both parietal and occipital leads at 20 flashes/sec. Power spectral analysis in conjunction with photic stimulation may provide the necessary data for effective discrimination of migraine from non-migraine states.
Automated querying of genome databases.

Web-based, interactive querying of the genome databases has enabled the analysis of genomes in an integrated and visual manner that previously was difficult or impossible. However, many important biological questions cannot practically be answered using simple interactive methods that query only a single genomic location at a time. Addressing these questions requires batch- and programmatic database-querying. Although these approaches involve an initial, one-time cost of learning how to use the associated API and establishing an access method for programmed querying, the important capabilities they provide for addressing significant and otherwise relatively complex genomic questions often makes this effort well worthwhile. Moreover, as Web-based interfaces like Galaxy—which provide batch data acquisition and post-processing, but do not require programming—evolve, the powerful tools of genome-wide data analysis should become accessible to an ever wider range of biologists.
Distributed signature sequence adaptation for downlink multicode MC-CDMA system

A distributed signature sequence adaptation scheme is considered for the downlink of a MC-CDMA system, wherein each mobile user selfishly adapts its signature sequences to improve its own performance using measurements at its location with no consideration to the performance of other users in the system. The convergence of such an adaptation scheme is shown using a game theory framework. That is, with any initial signature sequences in the system, the proposed adaptation scheme definitely converges to a set of signature sequences at which no user can further improve its own performance with individual adaptation.
Potential role for the hypothalamo–pituitary–adrenal axis in the conditioned reinforcer-induced reinstatement of extinguished cocaine seeking in rats

Abstract Rationale. We have previously reported that pretreatment with the corticosterone synthesis inhibitor ketoconazole blocks the electric foot-shock-induced reinstatement of cocaine-seeking behavior in rats, suggesting a potential role for the hypothalamo–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis in this animal model of relapse. Objectives. This experiment was designed to investigate whether or not ketoconazole would also inhibit the reinstatement of cocaine seeking induced by the presentation of a conditioned reinforcer. The effects of the corticotropin-releasing hormone 1 (CRH1) receptor antagonist CP-154,526 were also investigated to further determine the involvement of the HPA axis in this behavior. Methods. Adult male rats were implanted with jugular catheters and trained to self-administer cocaine (0.25 mg/kg per infusion) during daily 2-h sessions. During training, cocaine delivery was paired with the presentation of a tone and the illumination of a house light. Once a stable baseline of cocaine self-administration was observed, lever pressing was extinguished to less than 20% of baseline rates. During reinstatement testing, responding by rats in the contingent group resulted in the presentation of the conditioned reinforcer (i.e., the house light and tone previously paired with self-administered cocaine). Rats in the non-contingent group were presented with the tone/house light compound stimulus once every 5 min, regardless of responding. Rats were pretreated with ketoconazole (25 mg/kg, i.p.) or CP-154,526 (20 mg/kg, i.p.) 30 min prior to testing for reinstatement with the contingent presentation of the conditioned reinforcer to determine the role for the HPA axis in this behavior. Results. The response-contingent presentation of the conditioned reinforcer reliably reinstated extinguished cocaine-seeking behavior, while the non-contingent presentation of the same stimulus did not. Increases in plasma corticosterone were evident during cocaine self-administration as well as during extinction and reinstatement testing. However, while plasma corticosterone returned to basal levels by the end of the session during extinction, it remained elevated through the end of the session during reinstatement. Pretreatment with ketoconazole reversed the conditioned reinforcer-induced reinstatement of extinguished cocaine-seeking behavior and also attenuated the conditioned increases in plasma corticosterone observed during reinstatement. Pretreatment with CP-154,526 resulted in a similar decrease in cocaine seeking. Conclusions. These data suggest a potential role for the HPA axis in the ability of environmental cues to stimulate cocaine-seeking behavior.
Effect of many weak side modes on relative intensity noise of distributed feedback semiconductor lasers after dispersive propagation

The performance of a lightwave communication system can be affected by the laser's relative intensity noise (RIN) and mode partition noise (MPN). In addition, measurements of RIN after propagation in fiber can be used to obtain several important intrinsic laser parameters. Therefore an accurate and simple model of RIN after dispersive propagation is necessary. We report here an effect of MPN that can affect RIN in low-noise distributed feedback (DFB) lasers even with side-mode suppression ratios higher than 40 dB and at frequencies up to 5 GHz, and which cannot be explained by previous single-mode models. We present a multimode theory of RIN after propagation in fiber in which the effect of FM to AM conversion in the fiber has been included via a generalization of the transfer function approach to the multimode case. The additional parameters that are needed in this multimode model are experimentally obtained from a measurement of the optical spectrum. This allows us to get theoretical fits that agree well with experimental measurements of RIN.
Value of Gallium Imaging in the Evaluation of Tattoo Granulomas due to Sarcoidosis

We report the case of a patient who developed granulomas in a ten-year-old tattoo. Total body gallium scanning detected the presence of bilateral hilar adenopathy not apparent on routine chest roentgenograms and thus established a diagnosis of systemic sarcoidosis.