cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transesophageal echocardiography aortic plaque imaging.

Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) has been used widely as a diagnostic tool during the past two decades to detect cardiac abnormalities that are not visible, or are inadequately visualized, by transthoracic echocardiography or by other noninvasive diagnostic imaging techniques. Recently, the use of TEE to detect cardioembolic sources in patients with acute ischemic stroke or peripheral embolism has increased dramatically. It is estimated that approximately one fourth of all TEE performed in the United States is done for this reason. TEE is far more sensitive than transthoracic echocardiography for cardioembolic source detection and has in fact contributed to the actual discovery of new potential embolic sources. Among them, the presence of large atheromas in the proximal portion of the aorta has been recognized as an important risk factor for stroke in patients older than 60 years, and TEE has become one of the cornerstones of the diagnostic work-up in this subset of patients. This article focuses on the use of TEE to search for atherosclerotic plaques in the aorta and its contribution to the assessment of the associated embolic risk and the prevention of embolic complications. TEE examination of the aorta
Ferric Oxide Mediated Formation of PCDD/Fs from 2-Monochlorophenol

The copper oxide surface-mediated formation of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) from precursors such as chlorinated phenols is considered to be a major source of PCDD/F emissions from combustion sources. Even though iron oxide is present at 2−50 times higher concentrations than copper oxide, virtually no studies of the iron oxide mediated formation of PCDD/Fs have been reported in the literature. We have performed packed-bed, flow-reactor studies of the reaction of 50 ppm gas-phase 2-monochlorophenol (2-MCP) over a surface of 5% iron oxide on silica over a temperature range of 200−500 °C. Dibenzo-p-dioxin (DD), 1-monochlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (1-MCDD), 4,6-dichlorodibenzofuran (4,6-DCDF), and dibenzofuran (DF) were formed in maximum yields of 0.2%, 0.1%, 0.3%, and 0.4%, respectively. The yield of PCDD/Fs over iron oxide peaked at temperatures 50−100 °C higher in temperature than they peak over copper oxide. The maximum yields of DD, 1-MCDD were 2 times and for 4,6-DCDF was 5 time...
Patterns of N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase isoenzymes in the epidermis and hepatopancreas and induction of N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase activity by 20-hydroxyecdysone in the fiddler crab, Uca pugilator

A new staining method for detection of N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase on denaturing SDS polyacrylamide gels was developed. The isoenzyme pattern of N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase in the epidermis of the fiddler crab, Uca pugilator, is different from that in the hepatopancreas. Two isoforms of N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase, with molecular weights of 89 and 45.6 kDa, are present in the hepatopancreas while there is only one form of N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase, 89 kDa, in the epidermis. No sexual dimorphism was found in these patterns of N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase isoenzymes. The characteristic isoenzyme patterns in the epidermis and hepatopancreas occurred consistently throughout the molting cycle. Injections of the molting hormone, 20-hydroxyecdysone, at 25 microg/g live weight, into crabs in premolt substage D1, significantly increased N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase activity in the epidermis by 86%. Since only one form of N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase, 89 kDa, is present in the epidermis, the elevation in epidermal enzymatic activity after 20-hydroxyecdysone administration is entirely accounted for by this N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase isoenzyme. The results reported herein are the first direct evidence that in a crustacean N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase activity is regulated by the steroid molting hormone.
Antigen-responsive, microfluidic valves for single use diagnostics

The growing need for medical diagnostics in resource limited settings is driving the development of simple, standalone immunoassay devices. A capillary flow device using polymerization based amplification is capable of blocking a microfluidic channel in response to target biomaterials, enabling multiple modes of detection that require little or no supplemental instrumentation.
Mean convergence of generalized Jacobi series and interpolating polynomials, I

Abstract Weighted mean convergence of generalized Jacobi series is investigated, and the results are used to prove weighted mean convergence of various interpolating polynomials based on the zeros of generalized Jacobi polynomials.
Importance of quadrupole coupling for low energy pion charge exchange reactions

Pion single and double charge exchange reactions at 50 MeV on $^{14}\mathrm{C}$ are studied using a conventional coupled channels approach. Inclusion of quadrupole transitions through the ${2}^{+}$ T=1 state in $^{14}\mathrm{N}$ is essential for understanding these reactions. Fitting the single charge exchange data and including quadrupole contributions lead directly to a reasonable description of the double charge exchange data. It is the deep forward minimum of the single charge exchange data, not the forward peaking of the double charge exchange data, that is more likely to have new implications for the pion-nucleus interactions. Investigation of the $^{18}\mathrm{O}$ double charge exchange data supports these conclusions.
Evaluating Individualized Education Programs

This paper focuses on the evaluation of individualized education programs or IEPs. The paper discusses IEP evaluation in terms of (a) general considerations for evaluation and (b) evaluation of the overall IEP effort. General considerations discussed include purposes for evaluation, a framework for evaluating the IEP, and participants in the evaluation process . The section on evaluating the IEP effort presents suggestions for the types of standards and methods that might be used in evaluation of each specific component of the total effort.
Some Observations on the Past, Present, and Future of Acquisitions in Research Libraries

In the early 1980s the Association of Research Libraries was concerned about the financial health of libraries and was looking toward national computer networks. Serious attention was being given to cooperative collection development. By the early 1990s. ARL had established the Office of Scientific and Academic Publishing. Collection sharing was increasingly emphasized in American research libraries as budgets failed to keep pace with prices and publication output. The future will likely be characterized by more specific determination of user needs and an emphasis on access to rather than ownership of information. Copyright issues and document delivery will increase in importance. There will be efforts to maintain core collections of resources to support individual institutions' academic programs, even while cooperative collection development efforts continue. These changes will affect acquisitions staffing and activities in various ways.
Morphactin effects on soybean leaf anatomy and chlorophyll content

The effect of chlorflurenol (methyl 2-chloro-9-hydroxyfluorene-9-carboxylate) (CF) on chlorophyll (chl) content was studied in intact plants and floating leaf disks. For intact soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) plants grown in the growth chamber, 2.5 μg/ml CF applied 10 to 20 d after planting retarded chl decline in senescing tissues such as cotyledons and unifoliate leaves and increased chl content in recently expanded tissues such as trifoliate leaves. CF did not retard chl decline in the dark unless regulator application was followed by a period of 24 h in the light prior to darkness. In floating leaf disk tests, CF retarded chl decline in dock (Rumex obtusifolius L.) and radish (Raphanus sativus L.) at concentrations of 10−4 M, but was ineffective at lower concentrations. Chl decline was significantly hastened by CF in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) and soybean, but was unchanged in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). CF treatment increased tissue weight (g fresh wt/cotyledon; g dry wt/ cm2 for unifoliate and trifoliate leaves), decreased moisture content, and increased leaf thickness, palisade layer thickness, and palisade and spongy mesophyll cell counts. We conclude that plants treated with morphactins show greater green coloration predominantly because of growth effects, and only in small part because of prevention of chl decline in senescing tissues.
Selenium in Ruminant Nutrition: A Review

The early interest in selenium related primarily to its toxicity, but since 1957 the element has been recognized as a dietary essential. The dietary requirement for selenium by most species is about .1 ppm. Deficiencies of selenium in cattle and sheep have been confirmed under natural grazing conditions in many countries of the world. Overt signs of inadequacy such as white muscle disease (nutritional muscular dystrophy) occur primarily in young calves or lambs born to selenium deficient dams. Infertility has increased in ewes grazing pastures low in selenium. In general, signs of deficiency have not occurred in older animals such as finishing beef cattle and lactating dairy cows. Subclinical deficiencies of selenium are not determined easily, however, and thus an inadequacy of the element may be limiting maximum animal performance under certain circumstances of drylot feeding. The current nutritional status of ruminant animals in many geographical areas and involving various feeding programs with this element has not been established. The recent widespread deficiency problems with nonruminants suggest that such an assessment should be made. Concentration of selenium in tissue, particularly in the liver, has been used in establishing selenium status of the animal. With lambs glutathione peroxidase activity in certain tissues may be a more accurate indicator of selenium adequacy than is selenium content of the tissue. Supplemental sodium selenite and sodium selenate by either oral administration or parenteral injection have prevented clinical signs of selenium deficiency and animal losses in both ruminant and nonruminant animals. Heavy pellets containing elemental selenium for placement in the rumen have proved effective. In general, organic forms of selenium are absorbed more readily by animals than are inorganic compounds. The dietary requirements for selenium and its metabolism are influenced by many nutrient interrelationships, including its interactions with sulfur, lipids, vitamin E, proteins, amino acids, and several microelements. The Food and Drug Administration gave approval in 1974 for the oral administration of supplemental selenium as either sodium selenite or sodium selenate to certain classes of swine and poultry. Similar approval in the United States for ruminants will require additional information, particularly with regard to the influence of dietary intake on concentrations of selenium in tissue and milk in beef and dairy animals.
Bi2S3 nanowire networks as electron acceptor layers in solution-processed hybrid solar cells

We report the assembly of Bi2S3 into percolated networks. Subsequent infiltration of poly(3-hexylthiophene), P3HT, as the electron donor generates an inorganic–organic active layer. Inverted solar cells fabricated with these active layers exhibit power-conversion efficiencies as high as 3.3%. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of a hybrid solar cell comprising a percolated network of single-crystalline Bi2S3 nanowires and P3HT.
Etiology of the stability of reading difficulties: the longitudinal twin study of reading disabilities.

Results obtained from previous longitudinal studies of reading difficulties indicate that reading deficits are generally stable. However, little is known about the ethology of this stability. Thus, the primary objective of this first longitudinal twin study of reading difficulties is to provide an initial assessment of genetic and environmental influences on the stability of reading deficits. Data were analysed from a sample of 56 twin pairs, 18 identical (monozygotic, MZ) and 38 fraternal (dizygotic, DZ), in which at least one member of each pair was classified as reading-disabled in the Colorado Learning Disabilities Research Center, and on whom follow-up data were available. The twins were tested at two time points (average age of 10.3 years at initial assessment and 16.1 years at follow-up). A composite measure of reading performance (PIAT Reading Recognition, Reading Comprehension and Spelling) was highly stable, with a stability correlation of .84. Data from the initial time point were first subjected to univariate DeFries-Fulker multiple regression analysis and the resulting estimate of the heritability of the group deficit ( h{2}{g}) was .84 ( .26). When the initial and follow-up data were then fitted to a bivariate extension of the basic DF model, bivariate heritability was estimated at .65, indicating that common genetic influences account for approximately 75% of the stability between reading measures at the two time points.
WE‐B‐214‐01: CT Dose Reduction Strategies

The number of CT examinations performed in the United States has been growing at an annual rate of approximately 10% leading to more than 70 million procedures in 2008. The apparent increase in the number of CT procedures,new protocols and the associated radiation dose and risks has drawn considerable attention. It appears that the so‐called ‘slice wars’ with regard to the number of slices provided per CT gantry rotation may be reaching a plateau and increasing concerns about radiation dose due to CT examinations are fueling the efforts to reduce radiation dose and leading to the beginning of the so‐called ‘dose wars’.A number of radiation dose reduction strategies are been considered and many new are been developed. At the same time, efforts to optimize CT protocols, dose modulation techniques and further improvement in image quality and image quantificationsare gaining ground. There is an increasing demand for the medical physicists to assist clinicians in developing, reviewing and recommending changes to the clinical protocols. Therefore, it is critical for the medical physicists to become familiar with the various dose reduction strategies that are currently available and thenew technologies that are been developed. In this lecture, variousCT dose reduction strategies will be discussed. Educational Objectives: 1. To become familiar with radiation dose reduction strategies in CT. 2. To understand various image quality improvements in CT.
Lidocaine pharmacokinetics in pregnant and nonpregnant sheep

Lidocaine disposition kinetics were studied in the pregnant ewe following 0.5-, 1.0-, and 2.0-mg/kg iv bolus doses and in the nonpregnant ewe following a 1.0-mg/kg iv bolus dose. Arterial blood was assayed for lidocaine by GLC. The blood lidocaine concentration-time curves were computer fitted to a two-compartment open model. In the pregnant ewe, the total body clearance of lidocaine (38 ml/min/kg) remained constant with increasing dose and was correlated linearly with preinjection cardiac output. The apparent volume of distribution of the central compartment apparently increased with increasing dose. The half-life of the postdistributive phase and the volumes of distribution at steady state and during the postdistributive phase increased as the dose was increased from 0.5 to 1.0 mg/kg. These observations suggest dose-related distribution of lidocaine in the pregnant ewe. The total body clearance of lidocaine in the pregnant ewe was not different from that in the nonpregnant ewe after 1.0-mg/kg doses; however, the volumes of distribution of the central compartment at steady state and during the postdistributive phase and the half-life of the postdistributive phase were greater in the pregnant ewe. The greater total body clearance for lidocaine in sheep as compared to humans is consistent with the greater hepatic blood flow in sheep; calculated hepatic extraction ratios for sheep are similar to hepatic extraction ratios for humans.
Caught in the Web: Inside the Police Hunt to Rescue Children from Online Predators

Caught in the Web: Inside the Police Hunt to Rescue Children from Online Predators, by Julian Sher, New York, Carroll & Graf, 2007, 319 pp., ISBN 13: 978078671-888-7 1 Canadian journalist Julian Sh...
War of 1812 Buttons from Fort Johnson and Cantonment Davis, Hancock County, Illinois

AbstractRecent archaeological investigations at Fort Johnson and Cantonment Davis, two War of 1812–era American military posts in Hancock County, Illinois, uncovered a diverse artifact assemblage that includes a wide array of button types. Of the 318 recovered buttons, 68 percent exhibit military insignias, including those attributed to the infantry, army general service, riflemen, artillery, light artillery, and dragoons. In addition to describing the assemblage, what these buttons can and cannot tell us regarding the occupations of the two military posts is discussed.
Ground Calibrations of the Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission Spacecraft Thermistor Bolometers

The Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) spacecraft scanning thermistor bolometers will measure earth-reflected solar and earth-emmitted,longwave radiances, at the top-of-the-atmosphere. The measurements are performed in the broadband shortwave (0.3-5.0 micron) and longwave (5.0 - >100 micron) spectral regions as well as in the 8 -12 micron water vapor window over geographical footprints as small as 10 kilometers at the nadir. The CERES measurements are designed to improve our knowledge of the earth's natural climate processes, in particular those related to clouds, and man's impact upon climate as indicated by atmospheric temperature. November 1997, the first set of CERES bolometers is scheduled for launch on the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Spacecraft. The CERES bolometers were calibrated radiometrically in a vacuum ground facility using absolute reference sources, tied to the International Temperature Scale of 1990. Accurate bolometer calibrations are dependent upon the derivations of the radiances from the spectral properties [reflectance, transmittance, emittance, etc.] of both the sources and bolometers. In this paper, the overall calibration approaches are discussed for the longwave and shortwave calibrations. The spectral responses for the TRMM bolometer units are presented and applied to the bolometer ground calibrations in order to determine pre-launch calibration gains.
Seven cases of complete and incomplete forms of Churg-Strauss syndrome not related to leukotriene receptor antagonists

Abstract Background: Various forms of Churg-Strauss syndrome have been reported in association with the use of leukotriene receptor antagonists in asthmatic patients. Objective: Our purpose was to increase awareness that different forms of the Churg-Strauss syndrome occur in patients not receiving leukotriene modifiers. Methods: We searched for all the cases of Churg-Strauss syndrome that were seen in the University of Rochester Medical Center, New York, in the past 4 years. Results: We identified 7 patients, 6 of whom fulfilled the American College of Rheumatology criteria for the classification of Churg-Strauss syndrome. None of them used leukotriene receptor antagonists. All had asthma and sinus disease. The duration and severity of their asthma varied considerably. In the majority of the patients the features of Churg-Strauss syndrome became obvious as the systemic corticosteroid dose was being tapered or discontinued, although 3 patients had not been receiving maintenance oral corticosteroids at disease onset. Three patients had positive antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies test result (perinuclear pattern). There was histologic documentation of vasculitis in 4 patients. Five of 7 patients responded to high-dose corticosteroid treatment. Conclusion: Our 7 cases are similar to the various forms of Churg-Strauss syndrome that have been reported in association with the leukotriene receptor antagonists. Complete or incomplete forms of this syndrome can become apparent in asthmatic patients as systemic corticosteroids are being tapered but can also occur in patients with mild asthma of short duration who use only inhaled corticosteroids. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 1999;104:1060-5.)
Neurotensin: a modulator of enteric cholinergic neurons in the guinea pig small intestine.

Abstract Release of [ 3 H]acetylcholine was studied in the presence of neurotensin (NT) on the myenteric plexus-longitudinal muscle strips (MPLM) from the guinea pig small intestine. In the dose range from 3 pM to 3 nM, NT induced a dose-related increase in the efflux of [ 3 H]acetylcholine from the MPLM. This release was completely inhibited by 1.5 × 10 −6 M tetrodotoxin. The output of acetylcholine evoked by NT (7.5 × 10 −11 M) was significantly depressed by the addition of somatostatin (6.1 ¢ 10 −7 M) or methionine-enkephalin (8.7 × 10 −8 M). Release of newly synthesized [ 3 H]acetylcholine from the isolated synaptic terminals (synaptosomes) was also examined in the presence of NT 31.5 ¢ 10 −7 M) or 20 mM KCl. Release of [ 3 H]acetylcholine was significantly elevated by either stimulants. It was concluded that neurotensin stimulated ACh release via a neurogenic mechanism, probably by a presynaptic site of action on myenteric cholinergic neurons. Despite of a paucity of NT-containing neurons in the myenteric plexus, results from this styd support a neuromodulatory role for NT in the regulation of local cholinergic neuronal activity in the gut.
The diffusivity of carbon in austenite

Abstract The “tracer” diffusion coefficient of carbon in austenite at 1000°C has been measured as a function of carbon concentration. A carbon density gradient was avoided by investigating the mobility of C 14 atoms in diffusion couples constructed so that total concentration of C 12 + C 14 atoms was constant at every point. The “tracer” diffusion coefficient G increases with concentration, although not as quickly as the diffusion coefficient measured in the presence of a C-atom gradient. This variation with composition has been explained by taking the chemical driving force into account as well as the effect which local atomic interactions have on the intrinsic mobility.
Hypothalamic factors involved in the endogenous stimulatory rhythm regulating prolactin secretion.

We recently reported that acute pharmacologic depression of dopaminergic tone at different times of day unmasks a sex-specific endogenous stimulatory rhythm regulating PRL secretion. The PRL secretory responses of ovariectomized rats to the dopamine antagonist domperidone (DOM) were higher at 0300 and 1700 h than at 1200 h. These are the times during which surges of PRL appear in mated rats. This experimental paradigm was used to investigate the roles of the putative PRL-releasing factors (PRFs) oxytocin (OT), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), and serotonin (5-HT) in this rhythm. The role of OT was studied by infusion of the OT antagonist 1- deamino-2-D-Trp-4-Val-8-Om-Oxytocin (OT-A, 0.5 μg/kg min) for 6 h. Two hours after beginning the OT-A infusion DOM was administered, as a single injection of 200 μg/kg iv at either 0300, 1200, or 1700 h. Serial blood samples were collected immediately before and 5, 10, 20, 30, 60, 120, 180, and 240 min after DOM administration. Infusion of OT-A attenuated the heigh...
Effect of temperature on optical fiber transmission

Results are presented concerning the effects of temperature on the transmission properties of various optical fibers including a silicone plastic clad, an acrylic plastic clad, and CVD step-index fibers both with and without polyurethane jackets. Results are presented for the normalized transmitted power vs temperature, the index of refraction vs temperature, and induced attenuation coefficients vs temperature. The data show that the intrinsic transmission of a CVD fiber is independent of temperature over the -110 to +150 C range. Plastic clad fused silica fibers are subject to transmission losses at lower temperatures due to changes in the optical index of the cladding polymer. Acrylic-clad and plastic-clad silica fibers also show transmission losses at lower temperatures, but to lesser extents.
Witten’s vertex made simple

The infinite matrices in Witten's vertex are easy to diagonalize. It just requires some $SL(2,R)$ lore plus a Watson-Sommerfeld transformation. We calculate the eigenvalues of all Neumann matrices for all scale dimensions s, both for matter and ghosts, including fractional s which we use to regulate the difficult $s=0$ limit. We find that $s=1$ eigenfunctions just acquire a p term, and x gets replaced by the midpoint position.
The Influence of Dietary Alterations, Hormones, and Blood Pressure on the Incidence of Dissecting Aneurysms in the Turkey

Abstract INTRODUCTION THE study of spontaneously occurring dissecting aneurysm (aortic rupture) in turkeys has been complicated by the low incidence and by the sporadic nature of the disease. The use of beta-aminopropionitrile (BAPN) to induce aortic ruptures in laboratories is based on the assumption that the two lesions are identical or at least similar enough so that information from laboratory studies may be applied to the spontaneous rupture. Recent studies in our laboratory have shown many morphological and etiological differences between the two ruptures (Ball, 1963). This emphasizes the need for more work with the spontaneously developing condition. The male turkey displays a much higher incidence of natural dissecting aneurysm and has higher blood pressure than does the female turkey according to Ringer (1959). The inference has been drawn that the high blood pressure is causative in the production of the aneurysm (Carlson, 1959; Ringer, 1959; Speckman and Ringer, 1960) although no…
Childhood Physical and Emotional Abuse by a Parent: Transference Effects in Adult Interpersonal Relations

Extending research on transference and the relational self (Andersen & Chen, 2002), female undergraduates with or without a history of physical and emotional abuse by a loved parent participated in an experiment manipulating parental resemblance and threat-relevant interpersonal context in a new person. Transference elicited differences not evident in the control condition between abused and nonabused participants' responses, with greater rejection expectancy, mistrust, dislike, and emotional indifference reported by abused participants. Immediate implicit affect was more positive in transference than in the control condition regardless of abuse history. Yet, abused participants in transference also reported increased dysphoria that was markedly attenuated when interpersonal threat was primed, and no such pattern occurred among nonabused participants. Evidence that interpersonally guarded and affectively complex responses are triggered in transference among previously abused individuals suggests that this social-cognitive process may underlie long-term interpersonal difficulties associated with parental abuse.
Automaticity, mindfulness, and self-control as predictors of dangerous texting behavior

The problems of distracted driving and distracted pedestrian accidents have attracted the attention of public health officials, transportation and psychology researchers, and communication scholars. Though public safety campaigns intended to curb dangerous texting behaviors have been implemented, relatively little is known about the psychological processes involved in these behaviors. Our study integrates emerging research on automatic behavior, self-control, and mindfulness in an attempt to explain why many individuals believe that such behavior is dangerous but engage in it anyway. Our survey study (N = 925) of college students (n = 313) and adults (n = 612) revealed that texting automaticity, trait self-control, and the “acting with awareness” facet of trait mindfulness were all uniquely predictive of texting while driving as well as texting while walking. Further, we observe that texting automaticity is more strongly related to the frequency of texting while walking than driving. Together, the finding...
Reflections from an interprofessional education experience: evidence for the core competencies for interprofessional collaborative practice

The Core Competencies for Collaborative Practice identify the skills needed by every health care provider to be successful in implementing interprofessional practice. Health professions students need to build skills for interprofessional practice as emerging professionals. Reflection is a core skill needed for successful interprofessional practices. This study identifies themes from an interprofessional education research project and discusses their congruency with the Competencies.
Direct-current polarization characteristics of various AlGaAs laser diodes

Polarization characteristics of AlGaAs laser diodes having various device geometries have been measured. Measurements were performed with the laser diodes operating under dc conditions. Results show that laser diodes having different device geometries have optical outputs that exhibit varying degrees of polarization purity. Implications of this result, with respect to incoherent polarization-beam combining, are addressed.
Reduced-order model for monitoring spectroscopic and chromatographic polymer properties

A reduced-order mechanistic polymerization model and its application in the design of a low-dimension multi-rate state estimator (soft sensor) for monitoring spectroscopic and chromatographic polymer properties are presented. A model reduction approach is used to simplify a method-of-moments mechanistic model. Using this approach, the order (number of the state variables) of the model is reduced from 20 to 7. The soft sensor estimates spectroscopic and chromatographic polymer properties from (a) frequent measurements of the reactor temperature and the flow rates of monomer (n-butyl acrylate), initiator (t-butyl peroxy acetate) solution and solvent (xylene) feed streams, and (b) infrequent and delayed measurements of polymer number- and weight-average molecular weights and the concentrations of terminal solvent groups, terminal double bonds and short chain branches. The benefits of using the infrequent measurements in the estimation are shown. The soft sensor is implemented in real-time, and the calculated continuous estimates of polymer number- and weight-average molecular weights and the concentrations of solvent, terminal double bonds and short chain branches are compared to the corresponding chromatographic and spectroscopic measurements. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Application of the rees theory to multiplateau hydrogen absorption isotherms

Abstract A thermodynamic derivation of the Rees theory of multiplateau hydrogen absorption isotherms is presented. It is shown that a choice of variables that differs from that of Rees results in conditions of equilibrium which are more easily solved and are identical with those of the multiplateau Lacher theory. The model is illustrated by the fitting of the isotherms of DyCo 3 H x .
Cimetidine Impairs Clearance of Antipyrine and Desmethyldiazepam in the Elderly

: Sixteen young (21-40 years) and nine elderly (65–78 years) volunteers received single intravenous doses of antipyrine on two occasions: once in the control state, and again while receiving therapeutic doses of cimetidine (300 mg every six hours). In the control state, antipyrine half-life was longer in elderly than in young subjects (16.4 vs 11.0 hours), and metabolic clearance lower (0.48 vs 0.72 ml/min/kg). However, coadministration of cimetidine prolonged antipyrine half-life to a similar extent in elderly and in young groups (150 and 153 per cent of control), and reduced metabolic clearance to a similar extent in both groups (79 vs 69 per cent of control). Three young and six elderly volunteers received a single 15 mg oral dose of clorazepate, a precursor of desmethyldiazepam, with and without cimetidine. As in the case of antipyrine, cimetidine prolonged desmethyldiazepam half-life similarly in young and elderly groups (175 vs 164 per cent of control) and similarly reduced metabolic clearance (51 vs 65 per cent of control). The elderly population may already have an impaired capacity to oxidize drugs. This capacity is further impaired by coadministration of cimetidine.
Estimate of damage area due to a random optical wave

The light intensity of a laser beam which has propagated through the atmosphere will be irregular due to inhomogeneities in the atmosphere. Thus the intensity falling on a target is higher on some target areas and lower in others leading to damaged areas randomly distributed over the illuminated area. This study predicts the average area, A, of a single damaged area using a mathematical treatment, focusing largely on the concepts of two dimensional level crossings and excursion areas. After developing a solution for A for arbitrary probability density function (pdf), a solution for gamma distributed intensity is developed. This solution is then applied to several models for the spectral distribution of the intensity, including graphs illustrating the results. To reduce the problem to a manageable task, several assumptions and approximations are made. First, the pdf for the intensity is assumed to be the gamma distribution. This gamma distribution is applicable for the intensity of a gaussian field, a sum of gaussian fields, and therefore thermal light'. Second, the covariance function of the intensity is assumed to be isotropic. Furthermore, the intensity required to damage an area, Icrit, is assumed to be sufficiently high so that the probability of a damaged area containing an island of undamaged area is small. Although this assumption makes the calculated results approximate, these results become a better approximation for larger values of Icrit. Lastly, the variations in intensity are assumed to be spacially ergodic.© (1990) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Positive or Negative Connotations of Unconventionally and Conventionally Spelled Names

Abstract A set of six positive-negative connotation factors was used to investigate differences in connotation profiles of conventionally and unconventionally spelled names among American students. The factors, which assessed characteristics implied about individuals by their name, were Successful (intelligent, creative), Moral (religious, trustworthy), Popular (healthy, athletic, confident), Warm (loving, caring), Cheerful (friendly, humorous), and Masculine-Ferninine. Unconventionally spelled names, as compared with conventionally spelled names, connoted lower levels of success, morality, popularity, warmth, and cheerfulness to raters of both sexes. Also, unconventionally spelled male names were judged as less masculine than conventionally spelled male names, whereas unconventionally spelled female names were judged as more masculine (less feminine) than their conventionally spelled counterparts. All findings consistently showed, therefore, that persons with unconventionally spelled names were thought t...
Screening for Substance Use Disorders as a Supplement to Caseworker Assessment Among Foster Care–Involved Families

Parental substance abuse is a major factor in families experiencing foster care placement, yet little is known about the potential of screening in determining risk or identifying subpopulations for which elevated risk occurs. One Midwestern state recently implemented screening. This research uses information gathered as part of the screen's implementation to conduct a latent class analysis. The research was extended to provide a detailed examination of differences in child and family characteristics across classes, and to compare the screen results with caseworker impressions. Three distinct typologies emerged, with the high-risk and moderate-risk designations comprising only one quarter of the cases.
OPTICAL AND INFRARED OBSERVATIONS OF TWO MAGNETIC INTERACTING BINARIES: TAU 4 (RXJ0502.8+1624) & SDSS J121209.31+013627.7

We present new optical photometric and spectroscopic observations and K-band spectroscopy of two magnetic interacting binaries: Tau 4 (RXJ0502.8+1624) and SDSS J121209.31+013627.7. Tau 4 shows short-term, highly modulated optical light but no orbital period is firmly detected. K-band spectroscopy shows H and He I emission and reveals a remarkable phase-resolved dataset. We detect clear evidence for cyclotron humps in the K-band implying a magnetic white dwarf with B ~ 7-11 MG and confirming Tau 4 as a magnetic binary. A short self eclipse by the gas stream is evident as the spectrum changes from emission to absorption and back within a few minutes. None of our K-band spectra of Tau 4 appear similar to the previously reported observation. Optical spectroscopy of SDSS J121209.31+013627.7 in 2007 May and June shows Zeeman-split Balmer absorption lines as previously noted in the literature but only weak, sporadic H? emission compared to past data. However, stronger H? emission returned in 2008 February, looking similar to that previously detected in 2006. The variable nature of this emission line makes irradiation from the white dwarf an unlikely cause of the H? emission in J1212. The nature of J1212 is reminiscent of that observed in its near twin, EF Eri.
Insulin-like growth factor-1 activation of extracellular signal-related kinase-1 and -2 in growth hormone-secreting cells.

Intracellular pathways mediating feedback regulation by insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) of pituitary GH gene expression remain incompletely understood. Extracellular signal-related kinases (ERKs), a family of serine/threonine kinases, are activated by tyrosine kinase-associated growth factor receptors. To further define the IGF-1 postreceptor events occurring in GH-secreting cells, we investigated the activity of ERKs in response to IGF-1 in GC cells following stable transfection with either wild type human IGF-1 receptor cDNA (WT cells) or a mutant cDNA encoding a truncated, kinase-defective IGF-1 receptor with a dominant negative effect on endogenous receptor function (952STOP cells). Zymography of immunoprecipitated ERKs in myelin basic protein (MBP)-containing polyacrylamide gels demonstrated dose-dependent induction of ERK-1 and -2 activity by IGF-1 in GC cells with maximal activity occurring at 6 min. IGF-1-induced ERK activity in WT-transfected cells was up to 80-fold basal and 4-fold that obs...
Electrical activation of ion implanted Si in amorphous and crystalline In 0.53 Ga 0.47 As

Abstract The effect of pre-amorphization on the electrical activation of Si implants into In 0.53 Ga 0.47 As is investigated. Electrical measurements show that Si implants into pre-amorphized and crystalline In 0.53 Ga 0.47 As yield similar levels of activation (1.0 × 10 19 cm −3 in the pre-amorphized case and 9.0 × 10 18 cm −3 in the crystalline case) upon rapid thermal annealing for 5 s at 750 °C despite having very different types of resulting damage in the electrically active layers. The subsequent microstructural characterization by TEM indicates that the highly defective regrown layers in the pre-amorphized substrate leads to poor mobility in the active layers, which result in lower sheet resistances. The results suggest that solid phase epitaxy (SPE) in compound semiconductors can lead to some improved activation at lower temperatures and does not prevent substitutional activation of amphoteric dopants upon post SPE annealing.
Economic decision-making compared with an equivalent motor task

There is considerable evidence that human economic decision-making deviates from the predictions of expected utility theory (EUT) and that human performance conforms to EUT in many perceptual and motor decision tasks. It is possible that these results reflect a real difference in decision-making in the 2 domains but it is also possible that the observed discrepancy simply reflects typical differences in experimental design. We developed a motor task that is mathematically equivalent to choosing between lotteries and used it to compare how the same subject chose between classical economic lotteries and the same lotteries presented in equivalent motor form. In experiment 1, we found that subjects are more risk seeking in deciding between motor lotteries. In experiment 2, we used cumulative prospect theory to model choice and separately estimated the probability weighting functions and the value functions for each subject carrying out each task. We found no patterned differences in how subjects represented outcome value in the motor and the classical tasks. However, the probability weighting functions for motor and classical tasks were markedly and significantly different. Those for the classical task showed a typical tendency to overweight small probabilities and underweight large probabilities, and those for the motor task showed the opposite pattern of probability distortion. This outcome also accounts for the increased risk-seeking observed in the motor tasks of experiment 1. We conclude that the same subject distorts probability, but not value, differently in making identical decisions in motor and classical form.
Experience-dependent intrinsic plasticity in interneurons of barrel cortex layer IV.

It is unclear whether intrinsic excitabilities of specific interneurons are modulated by sensory experiences. Here, I examined the intrinsic excitabilities of interneurons in “sensory-spared” and “sensory-deprived” cortices of GAD67-GFP mice. The results showed that whisker trimming, begun at postnatal day 7 for 3 wk, induced significant changes in intrinsic and firing properties of fast-spiking (FS) but not regular spiking nonpyramidal (RSNP) cells. Firing threshold, spike frequency, spike adaptation index, and input resistance of FS cells were significantly altered by sensory deprivation such that FS cells became less excitable. An up-regulation of IA currents in FS cells appeared to be responsible. Along with changes in the intrinsic properties of FS cells, whisker trimming also induced a robust reduction in the number of vesicular glutamate transporter 2 positive varicosities and parvalbumin expression and the strength of thalamocortical (TC) excitatory postsynaptic currents in FS cells in the “sensory-deprived barrels.” The probability of spike induction by TC stimulus was reduced by 30% and the spike jitter was increased in sensory-deprived FS cells. These results suggest that the FS networks are selectively inhibited by sensory deprivation. The concurrent changes of intrinsic properties and expression of parvalbumin in FS but not RSNP cells with TC synapses support a contribution from the TC pathway and glutamate to sensory-induced activity-dependent intrinsic plasticity of inhibitory networks in barrel cortex.
Urinary Chorionic Gonadotropin in Middle and Late Pregnancy in the Chimpanzee

Twenty-four hr urine samples were collected at 7-day intervals from two pregnant chimpanzees during middle, late and post-partum phases of gestation. An aliquot of each sample was prepared by acetone precipitation and the remainder was extracted by a kaolin-acetone method. Chimpanzee chorionic gonadotropin (ChCG) activity was determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA) and rat uterine weight (RUW) bioassay methods. Second International Standard Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) was a suitable reference preparation for both assay methods. Samples prepared by acetone precipitation showed more ChCG activity in RIA and RUW bioassay than those extracted by kaolinacetone procedures, but in general, patterns of change were similar in samples prepared by both methods. ChCG levels were elevated during midgestation. Beginning about 40–50 days before either abortion or normal delivery, the ChCG levels fell precipitously until about 25 days prior to expulsion of the placenta. A brief rise in ChCG excretion was evident at t...
Regulation of cell cycle entry and G1 progression by CSF‐1

Proliferation, differentiation, and survival of monocytes, macrophages, and their immediate progenitors is regulated by the macrophage colony-stimulating factor (CSF-1). CSF-1 initiates a mitogenic response by binding to its receptor (CSF-1R), thereby activating the receptor's intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity and initiating signaling via multiple effector-mediated pathways. CSF-1 is required throughout G1 to ensure entry of bone marrow-derived macrophages into S phase, and persistent CSF-1R kinase activity is necessary to the expression of both immediate early (e.g., c-fos, c-jun, and c-myc) and delayed early (e.g., D-type cyclins) response genes. Ectopic expression of human CSF-1R in different mouse cell lines, including fibroblasts, IL-3-dependent myeloid cells, and early pre-B cells, confers CSF-1 responsiveness by replacing the cells' requirements for other mitogenic growth factors. NIH-3T3 fibroblasts engineered to express a human CSF-1 receptor point mutant (CSF-1R [Y809F]) fail to proliferate in response to CSF-1 and remain arrested in the early G1 phase of the cell cycle. Despite CSF-1-dependent transcription of fos and jun family members, c-myc, D-type, and E-type G1 cyclin mRNAs are not expressed in the latter cells in response to growth factor stimulation. However, enforced expression of c-myc or D-type cyclins, but not cyclin E, resensitizes cells bearing CSF-1R (Y809F) to the mitogenic effects of CSF-1, enabling them to proliferate continuously in liquid culture and to form colonies in agar in response to the growth factor. D-type cyclin mutants defective in binding to the retinoblastoma protein (pRB) were unable to rescue mutant receptor signaling, suggesting that the ability of D-type cyclin-dependent kinases to cancel pRB's growth-suppressive function is necessary for CSF-1-induced G1 exit. By contrast, cyclin E must function in a different pathway. Cells rescued by c-myc were prevented from entering S phase by microinjection of antibodies to cyclin D1. Conversely, cyclin D1-rescued cells were inhibited from forming CSF-1-dependent colonies in agar when challenged with either a dominant-negative c-myc mutant or mad, a transcription factor which competes with myc for max, its requisite heterodimeric partner. Thus, although the expression of c-myc and D-type cyclins is rate limiting for G1 phase progression, their functions are interdependent, with both activities being required for mitogenicity.
On the birth of an infant with sickle cell anemia.

This is the first report in the English literature of the birth of an obligate SS infant whose parents both had sickle cell anemia. The young adult SS parents of this infant and their families did not wish to prevent the birth of this child but had, in fact, many positive reasons to continue the pregnancy to term even in the face of the increased personal risk of pregnancy for this mother. This unusual circumstance initiated a re-appraisal of the realistic expectations with respect to reproduction in patients with homozygous recessive genetic disorders. No definitive studies could be found wllich attempted to evaluate the influence of genetic counseling on reproductive behavior in patients with sickle cell anemia. The questions raised abut the ‘right to reproduce’ and the realistic aims of genetic counseling in adult homozygote patients have been discussed. However, no conclusions seem warranted because of the paucity of available information.