cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Motor vehicle injury prevention in eight American Indian/Alaska Native communities: results from the 2010–2014 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Tribal Motor Vehicle Injury Prevention Program

Abstract Objectives The aim of the study is to increase seat belt (SB) use and reduce motor vehicle (MV) injuries and death; eight tribal communities implemented evidence-based strategies from the Guide to Community Preventive Services during 2010–2014. Study design SB use was measured through direct observational surveys and traffic safety activity data. Traffic safety activities included enhanced enforcement campaign events, ongoing enforcement of SB laws, and media. The number of MV injuries (including fatal and non-fatal) was measured through MV crash data collected by police. Results Percentage change increases in SB use were observed in all eight projects; average annual increases of three projects were statistically significant (ranging from 10% to 43%). Four of the eight projects exceeded their goals for percentage change increases in SB use. Approximately 200 media events and 100 enforcement events focused on SB use were conducted across the eight projects. Five projects had an annual average of ≥100 SB use citations during the project period. MV injuries (fatal and non-fatal combined) significantly decreased in three projects (ranging from a 10% to 21% average annual decrease). Conclusions Increases in SB use and decreases in the number of MV injuries can be achieved by tailoring evidence-based strategies to tribal communities.
Politics of neutrality: Urban knowledge practices and everyday formalisation in Karachi’s waterscape:

Formalisation in cities is commonly associated with top-down processes like slum demolition, land titling and economic regulation. By contrast, this article explores processes of everyday formalisa...
Fact and value in invasion biology

Some invasion biologists contend their science has reached a consensus on 4 facts: cost estimates of the effects of nonindigenous species provided in papers by Pimentel et al. are credible; invasive species generally, not just predators, pose significant extinction threats; characteristic biological differences distinguish novel from native species, ecosystems, communities, and processes; and ontological dualism, which distinguishes between natural and anthropogenic processes and influences, plays a useful role in biological inquiry. I contend there is no convincing empirical evidence for any of these propositions. Leading invasion biologists cite their agreement about these propositions as evidence for them and impugn the motives of critics who believe consensus should be based on evidence not the other way around.
Lactation Leads to Modifications in Maternal Renin-Angiotensin System in Later Life

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is associated with maternal cardioprotective phenotype observed in post-lactated mice later in life. Following the delivery, CD-1 female mice were randomized to one of the following groups: lactated (nursed pups for 3 weeks, n = 10) or non-lactated (pups were removed after birth, n = 10). The mice were sacrificed 6 months after the delivery, and tissues were collected. Protein levels of angiotensinogen, angiotensin type 1 and 2 receptors (AT1R, AT2R), angiotensin converting enzymes (ACE, ACE2), and MAS receptor were determined using Western blot. Results were analyzed using Student's t-test and Mann-Whitney test as appropriate (significance: P < 0.05). Angiotensinogen levels were significantly lower in the liver (P = 0.0002), and ACE was significantly decreased in the lungs (P = 0.04) and kidney (P = 0.001) from lactated mice as compared to non-lactated. The levels of AT2R in the kidney (P = 0.02) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT, P = 0.04), the ACE 2 in the VAT (P = 0.03) and heart (P = 0.04), and MAS receptor in VAT (P = 0.02) were significantly elevated in tissues from lactated mice. No other differences were found. Lactation led to the upregulation and downregulation of selected RAS components in lactated mice as compared to non-lactated group and may be a contributing factor to maternal cardioprotective phenotype later in life. Further studies are needed to dissect the mechanisms between lactation and the long-term maternal cardiometabolic benefits, which could lead to the therapies to prevent cardiovascular disease in women.
Visions of Violence: Christianity and Anti-Humanism in Patricia Highsmith's Ripliad

Though it may seem godlessly immoral, the celebration of violence in Patricia Highsmith's Ripliad is rooted in a Calvinistic sense of sin and the vision of human freedom Highsmith discovered in Christian writers. Throughout the five novels composing her Ripliad, Tom Ripley ironically embodies the talents of Christ's primary antagonist—the Father of Lies—as Highsmith's embittered censure against the disappearance of evil as a meaningful psychological category in postwar culture.
Chapter 9 – Digital preservation

This chapter discusses research and practical approaches to digital preservation in the digital library field. It begins with a review of terminology, definitions, and conceptual frameworks with a special emphasis on theoretical models in digital library research. Next, it examines the challenges, goals, and strategies in preserving digital objects. The focus of the discussion is on understanding the risks associated with preserving digital information and on the approaches developed by the preservation community to mitigate the major threats. Furthermore, this chapter discusses the state of digital preservation practice in the digital library field and provides a set of practical guidelines for preserving digital library assets. Finally, it reviews selected standards and technical solutions to preserving digital content.
Alterations in tRNA Metabolism as Markers of Neoplastic Transformation

Numerous changes in tRNA modification and catabolism are observed when cells undergo neoplastic transformation. The nature of certain of these changes is well established, while others require further characterization. Enzymes involved in the macromolecular modification of tRNA, the tRNA methyltransferases, exhibit idiosyncratic alterations during neoplastic transformation. These alterations include increases in enzyme specific activity as well as the appearance of different tRNA methyltransferases in the malignant tissue1,2. The increased tRNA methyltransferase activity and capacity observed in vitro for the enzymes isolated from transformed cells can also be correlated to increased methylation of specific tRNA iso accepting species, although not total tRNA, in vivo 3.
The Effects of Parental Emotion Regulation Ability on Parenting Self-Efficacy and Child Diet

Child weight issues can be emotionally challenging for parents. The purpose of this study was to examine how parents’ ability to manage negative emotions may facilitate parenting self-efficacy and healthy parenting behaviors (e.g., providing healthy food for a child). In this study, parents (N = 159) of a child between the ages of 6–12 completed a health-specific parenting self-efficacy questionnaire and retrospectively reported their child’s daily servings of fruits and vegetables and sweets and soda. They also completed a parental emotion regulation task where they viewed film clips of families struggling with child weight challenges. During this task, parents managed their emotions by either positively reframing the situation to feel less negative (down-regulate negative emotions) or negatively reframing the situation to feel more negative (up-regulate negative emotions). We tested a mediation model examining the relations among parent emotion regulation, parenting self-efficacy, and child dietary habits. Results revealed that parents’ ability to down-regulate negative emotions was associated with lower parenting self-efficacy, which in turn was associated with greater sweets and soda consumption among children. In contrast, parents’ ability to up-regulate negative emotions was directly associated with lower sweets and soda consumption, regardless of parenting self-efficacy. Our findings have implications for healthcare practice and child weight interventions as they underscore the importance of helping parents consider the consequences of childhood obesity to encourage healthy eating behavior in families.
Solving a stochastic inland waterway port management problem using a parallelized hybrid decomposition algorithm

Abstract This study proposes to develop a mathematical model that captures and appropriately optimizes a number of realistic features (e.g., barge/towboat assignments, maintenance, and availability decisions) for the design and management of an inland waterway transportation network under stochastic commodity supply and water level fluctuations scenarios. To efficiently solve this challenging NP -hard problem, we propose to develop a highly customized parallelized hybrid decomposition algorithm that combines Sample Average Approximation with an enhanced Progressive Hedging and Nested Decomposition algorithm. Computational results indicate that the proposed algorithm is capable of producing high quality solutions consistently within a reasonable amount of time. Finally, a real-life case study is constructed by utilizing the inland waterway transportation network along the Mississippi River. Through multiple experimentations, a number of managerial insights are drawn that magnifies the impact of different key input parameters on the overall inland waterway port operations.
Noncanonical function of long myosin light chain kinase in increasing ER-PM junctions and augmentation of SOCE

Increased endothelial permeability leads to excessive exudation of plasma proteins and leukocytes in the interstitium, which characterizes several vascular diseases including acute lung injury. The myosin light chain kinase long (MYLK-L) isoform is canonically known to regulate the endothelial permeability by phosphorylating myosin light chain (MLC-P). Compared to the short MYLK isoform, MYLK-L contains an additional stretch of ~919 amino acid at the N-terminus of unknown function. We show that thapsigargin and thrombin-induced SOCE was markedly reduced in Mylk-L-/- endothelial cells (EC) or MYLK-L-depleted human EC. These agonists also failed to increase endothelial permeability in MYLK-L-depleted EC and Mylk-L-/- lungs, thus demonstrating the novel role of MYLK-L-induced SOCE in increasing vascular permeability. MYLK-L augmented SOCE by increasing endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-plasma membrane (PM) junctions and STIM1 translocation to these junctions. Transduction of N-MYLK domain (amino acids 1-919 devoid of catalytic activity) into Mylk-L-/- EC rescued SOCE to the level seen in control EC in a STIM1-dependent manner. N-MYLK-induced SOCE augmented endothelial permeability without MLC-P via an actin-binding motif, DVRGLL. Liposomal-mediated delivery of N-MYLK mutant but not ∆DVRGLL-N-MYLK mutant in Mylk-L-/- mice rescued vascular permeability increase in response to endotoxin, indicating that targeting of DVRGLL motif within MYLK-L may limit SOCE-induced vascular hyperpermeability.
“I Have Been a Sojourner in a Foreign Land”: A Qualitative Inquiry on the Psychological Experiences of International Students Enrolled in a Christian University:

International students make up 5.5% of all university students in the United States. In addition, international students consist of approximately 4% of the student population in Christian higher ed...
An Evaluation of the Microvasculature of Macular Nodules in Coats Disease Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography: A Report of 3 Cases:

Purpose:This work aimed to examine the microvasculature of macular fibrosis in Coats disease.Methods:Three boys (aged 3, 4, and 6 years) with Coats disease (stages 2B to 3A2) and macular fibrotic n...
Transcription Factors in the Development and Pro-Allergic Function of Mast Cells

Mast cells (MCs) are innate immune cells of hematopoietic origin localized in the mucosal tissues of the body and are broadly implicated in the pathogenesis of allergic inflammation. Transcription factors have a pivotal role in the development and differentiation of mast cells in response to various microenvironmental signals encountered in the resident tissues. Understanding the regulation of mast cells by transcription factors is therefore vital for mechanistic insights into allergic diseases. In this review we summarize advances in defining the transcription factors that impact the development of mast cells throughout the body and in specific tissues, and factors that are involved in responding to the extracellular milieu. We will further describe the complex networks of factors that impact mast cell physiology and expansion during allergic inflammation and that impact functions from degranulation to cytokine secretion. As our understanding of the heterogeneity of mast cells becomes more detailed, the contribution of specific transcription factors in mast cell-dependent functions will potentially offer new pathways for therapeutic targeting.
3,4-Dihydroxyphenylalanine and related compounds.

This review covers essentially derivatives of β-phenyl-α-alanine which contain two phenolic hydroxyl groups, and some of their analogs and derivatives. They comprise β-(3, 4-dihydroxyphenyl)-α-alanine (dopa) and the few known ethers and ring substituted derivatives of this amino acid, as well as derivatives of dopa substituted in the alanine group. Among these compounds are β-(3, 4-dihydroxyphenyl)serine (3, 4-dops), α-methyldopa, and some of their derivatives. Position isomers containing two phenolic hydroxyl groups in positions other than 3 and 4 have been included. The chemistry, biochemistry and pharmacology of these compounds are the subject of sections of this review.
Qualitätsverbesserung und Materialkostensenkung

Das Bedurfnis, die Kostenprobleme des Betriebes von allen Seiten zu durchleuchten, um auf diese Weise gewisse Kostensenkungsmoglichkeiten zu ermitteln, fuhrte zu der Feststellung, das in der Herstellung von Gutern, die aus Mischungen bestehen, Unwirtschaftlichkeiten sehr haufig vorkommen, weil das Mischungsverhaltnis der verwendeten Stoffe nicht kostengunstig festgelegt worden ist. Operations Research hat bewiesen, das oftmals mehr billigere und weniger teuere Zutaten die gleiche (oder sogar bessere) Qualitat ergeben und somit eine bessere Kostenstruktur erreicht wird. Eine Vorausberechnung der gunstigsten Mischung von Rohstoffen kann also eine Stoffkostensenkung nach sich ziehen, ohne eine Qualitatsverschlechterung zu verursachen. Operations Research hilft mit, die richtige Mischung der Einsatzstoffe festzustellen.
Mineral Nutrition of Plants as Related to Microbial Activities in Soils

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the evidence and concepts concerning metabolic accumulation of ions by plant roots. The nature of the process of nutrient ion accumulation in roots has been the subject of several reviews. Three processes may be involved in inward ionic transfer across the absorbing membranes of roots: diffusion, exchange, and metabolism. Diffusion may be of two types: simple and that involving Donnan equilibrium. The magnitude of either type of diffusional process will be conditional upon the concentrations of ions at the surface of the absorbing roots as well as the concentrations of the ions in the absorbing cells in addition to the permeability of the root cell membranes to the diffusate. Exchange adsorption is involved in ionic accumulation by roots, but there is some question regarding the extent to which this process is limiting in ion accumulation. Ion accumulation through metabolic processes is the most intriguing of the three categories. It is the mechanism by which chemical energy released through catabolism effects the accumulation of ions in the root cells against concentration gradients. The possible and probable effects of the activities of soil microorganisms in ion absorption are also discussed.
Implications of principal, risk, and returns sharing across savings vehicles

Abstract This study illustrates that the choice of savings vehicles [e.g., taxable account, Roth IRA, ortax-deferred accounts such as a 401(k)] affects the portions of principal effectively owned by, returnsreceived by, and risk borne by individual investors. This study examines the implications of thisanalysis for (1) the calculation of an individual’s asset allocation, (2) mean-variance optimizations,and (3) asset location. For example, it illustrates problems when traditional mean-variance optimiza-tion is applied to an individual’s portfolio. Separately, there is broad agreement among scholars thatwe should distinguish between pretax funds and after-tax funds when calculating an individual’s assetallocation. This study suggests an approach to measuring an individual’s asset allocation. © 2007Academy of Financial Services. All rights reserved. JEL classiﬁcation: G11, G12, G23 Keywords: Asset allocation; Mean variance optimization; Asset location 1. Introduction This study illustrates that the choice of savings vehicles [e.g., taxable account, Roth IRA,or tax-deferred accounts such as a 401(k)] affects the portions of principal effectively ownedby, returns received by, and risk borne by individual investors. The analysis has implicationsfor (1) how we should perform mean-variance optimizations for individual investors, (2) theasset location decision, and (3) how we should calculate an individual’s asset allocation.For example, an individual investor in the 25% tax bracket receives all returns and bears
Steady-state tokamak reactors with RF-driven currents

We suggest the injection of net momentum RF waves into a tokamak plasma to permit steady-state reactor operation 1 To continuously support the poloidal magnetic field, high phase velocity waves can establish toroidal currents that are primarily carried by fast electrons. These fast electrons, being relatively collisionless, retain momentum longer than bulk electrons, effectively diminishing the plasma resistivity. We justify this crucial assertion, on which the feasibility of the steady-state reactor concept rests, by analytic and computational calculations which describe the two-dimensional velocity space behavior of magnetized electrons under the combined influence of coulomb collisions and electrostatic traveling waves. We find that currents sufficient for plasma confinement in reactors operating near β p = R/a may be achieved at a power cost is the fusion power density for D-T reactions hear 10keV and w is the wave phase velocity normalized to the thermal velocity. Typical reactor parameters allow P D /P f small, implying acceptable power dissipation in RF-driven reactors, a conclusion previously thought false because of the incorrect modeling of the current as a single electron fluid. 2 A particularly attractive possibility is the generation of the current by lower hybrid waves. These waves can be efficiently excited by an endfire waveguide array and can penetrate the plasma center while dissipating a significant fraction of the incident power. Moreover, we show that demands on waveguide capabilities are modest and deleterious nonlinear effects are unlikely.
Application of gyrator concept to control and operation of boost converter

In this paper, sliding-mode control methodology has been implemented to synthesize a DC-DC power converter and force it to be a R-gyrator and G-gyrator. A Single stage boost converter has been forced to be R-gyrator and the resulting value of the R- gyrator constant has been found 2.33 ohm with no transient response which proves the validity of the linearity of the system. For the second part of this study, the two stage boost converter based G-gyrator was simulated to verify the circuit response integrated with sliding mode feedback control. A Photovoltaic (PV) module has been explored as one of the most attractive applications using G-gyrator through the effectively two stage cascaded Boost converter as a matching impedance network between the PV source module and the load to extract maximum power from the PV module.
113Cd Nuclear Magnetic Resonance of Mammalian Erythrocyte Carbonic Anhydrases

113Cd NMR of the 113Cd(II)-substituted zinc metalloenzymes, human and bovine erythrocyte carbonic anhydrases, is reported. The high activity isozymes, human erythrocyte carbonic anhydrase, isozyme C (HCAC) and bovine erythrocyte carbonic anhydrase, isozyme B (BCAB), are characterized by relatively narrow 113Cd resonances around 220 ppm to lowfield of Cd(ClO4)2. These resonances are relatively invariant between pH 5.5 and 10. In contrast, the low activity isozyme, human carbonic anhydrase B (HCAB), shows no detectable or extremely broad 113Cd resonance at all pH values in the absence of anion inhibitors. Binding of halide anions, Cl- or I-, to the active site cadmium ion in HCAB results in the appearance of a 113Cd resonance at 230 to 240 ppm. The initial absence of resonance in 113Cd(II)HCAB appears to reflect an intermediate rate (10^3 to 10^4 s-1) of chemical exchange of ligands at the active site 113Cd ion. This exchange may modulate the chemical shift by ~100 ppm. The exchanging ligand is most likely coordinated solvent. Exchange is interrupted by substitution of the monodentate anions which form complexes of long lifetimes. In contrast, the narrow resonance observed for the high activity isozymes appears to reflect an initially rapid (>10^5 s-1) solvent ligand exchange rate, a conclusion supported by the temperature dependence of the linewidth of the 113Cd resonance in BCAB. The extreme sensitivity of the active site 113Cd ion's chemical shift to minor changes in the coordination sphere is shown by the isolation of the bovine isozyme A for which the resonance of the 113Cd derivative undergoes an 88-ppm shift on I- binding. These findings are discussed as they relate to the currently proposed mechanisms of action for carbonic anhydrases.
Production of transgenic livestock: promise fulfilled.

The introduction of specific genes into the genome of farm animals and its stable incorporation into the germ line has been a major technological advance in agriculture. Transgenic technology provides a method to rapidly introduce new genes into cattle, swine, sheep, and goats without crossbreeding. It is a more extreme methodology, but in essence, not really different from crossbreeding or genetic selection in its result. Methods to produce transgenic animals have been available for more than 20 yr, yet recently lines of transgenic livestock have been developed that have the potential to improve animal agriculture and benefit producers and/or consumers. There are a number of methods that can be used to produce transgenic animals. However, the primary method to date has been the microinjection of genes into the pronuclei of zygotes. This method is one of an array of rapidly developing transgenic methodologies. Another method that has enjoyed recent success is that of nuclear transfer or cloning. The use of this technique to produce transgenic livestock will profoundly affect the use of transgenic technology in livestock production. Cell-based, nuclear transfer or cloning strategies have several distinct advantages for use in the production of transgenic livestock that cannot be attained using pronuclear injection of DNA. Practical applications of transgenesis in livestock production include enhanced prolificacy and reproductive performance, increased feed utilization and growth rate, improved carcass composition, improved milk production and/or composition, and increased disease resistance. One practical application of transgenics in swine production is to improve milk production and/or composition. To address the problem of low milk production, transgenic swine over-expressing the milk protein bovine α-lactalbumin were developed and characterized. The outcomes assessed were milk composition, milk yield, and piglet growth. Our results indicate that transgenic overexpression of milk proteins may provide a means to improve swine lactation performance.
When Two Case Bases Are Better than One: Exploiting Multiple Case Bases

Much current CBR research focuses on how to compact, refine, and augment the contents of individual case bases, in order to distill needed information into a single concise and authoritative source. However, as deployed case-based reasoning systems become increasingly prevalent, opportunities will arise for supplementing local case bases on demand, by drawing on the case bases of other CBR systems addressing related tasks. Taking full advantage of these case bases will require multi-case-base reasoning: Reasoning not only about how to apply cases, but also about when and how to draw on particular case bases. This paper begins by considering tradeoffs of attempting to merge individual case bases into a single source, versus retaining them individually, and argues that retaining multiple case bases can benefit both performance and maintenance. However, achieving the benefits requires methods for case dispatching--deciding when to retrieve from external case bases, and which case bases to select--and for cross-case-base adaptation to revise suggested solutions from one context to apply in another. The paper presents initial experiments illustrating how these procedures may affect the benefits of using multiple case bases, and closes by delineating key research issues for multi-case-base reasoning.
Labor Planning, Execution, and Retail Store Performance: an Exploratory Investigation

After the cost of goods sold, store labor expense is the largest cost component in the retailing industry. As a result, developing and executing labor plans is a key task for retailers. In this paper we use private data provided by a large retail chain to assess the relationship between labor planning and execution practices and the average transaction (basket) value of a retail store location. We find that consumer basket value varies greatly from store to store and that there is a strong cross-sectional association between labor practices at different stores and basket values. In particular, matching labor deployment to store traffic (rather than to the forecast of sales, as many retailers currently do) is associated with larger basket values. We further separate the task of labor management into the planning component (i.e., creating a labor plan that matches traffic patterns) and the execution components (i.e., deploying part-time employees, full-time employees and managers to match the labor plan), and we find that stores with better plans and stores with better execution of these plans for full-time employees (but not for part-time employees) demonstrate significantly higher basket values. We obtain these results after controlling for customer demographics and product variety, which are also significant in explaining basket values. Our findings suggest that modest improvements in employee scheduling and in execution of the schedule can result in a 3% sales lift at moderate, or even no, additional cost.
Coordination polymers with macrocyclic cages and pockets within their backbones

The reaction between the flexible ligand 1 (1,4-bis(pyridine-2-yl-methanethio)benzene) and Ag+ produces two novel coordination polymers with macrocyclic cages or pockets contained within their backbones, depending upon the ratio of starting materials.
Effect of cigarette smoke exposure on maturation of the antibody response in spleens of newborn mice.

Effect of Cigarette Smoke Exposure on Maturation of the Antibody Response in Spleens of Newborn Mice
Disability Policy Issues in Developing Countries

Few developing countries have articulated disability policies, although disability prevalence in developing countries may be higher than in developed countries. This paper presents a definition of disability policy which includes both manifest and latent aspects of policies in the areas of education, rehabilitation, economics, and civil rights. Educational issues relate to the economics of mainstreaming and whether it is an improvement over no education at all. The rehabilitation issue focuses on whether services can or should be centralized/specialized or decentralized/non-specialized. In economics the issues are sources of money and control over expenditures. Civil rights has not yet received the attention in developing countries that it has begun to receive in developed countries.
Microstructure evolution associated with adiabatic shear bands and shear band failure in ballistic plug formation in Ti―6Al―4V targets

Abstract The microstructures and microstructure evolution associated with adiabatic shear band (ASB) formation in ballistic plugging in thick (2.5 cm) Ti–6Al–4V targets impacted by cylindrical, 4340 steel projectiles (2.0 cm in height) at impact velocities ranging from 633 m/s to 1027 m/s (just above the ballistic limit) were investigated by optical and transmission electron microscopy. ASB width increased from 10 μm to 21 μm as the velocity increased. ASB evolution was accompanied by the evolution of dark deformation bands composed of α′ martensite platelets which increased in density with increasing impact velocity. The corresponding Vickers microindentation hardness also increased from HV 619 to HV 632 in contrast to the surrounding matrix microindentation hardness of HV 555. These deformation bands were not necessarily precursors to ASB formation. The ASB average Vickers microindentation hardness was essentially constant at HV 645, a 16% increase over the matrix. This constant microindentation hardness was characterized by a consistent DRX grain structure which varied from equiaxed, defect-free grains (∼2 μm diameter) to heavily dislocated, equiaxed grains. Cracks nucleating and propagating within the ABSs were observed to increase from 8% to 87% of the ASB length with increasing impact velocity.
Characterization of Polymer Dielectrics for High-Density Electronic Packaging

Because of rapid advances in semiconductor technology, polymer dielectrics are finding widespread use in high-density packaging to improve performance and processability. Notable among these materials are polyimides, benzocyclobutene resins, and fluoropolymer containing composites. Polyimides have been used extensively for chip passivation and first-level packaging. Benzocyclobutenes, processed as conventional thermosets, are being investigated as thin film dielectric for use in multichip modules. A silicon containing derivative can be used as a plasma etch stop. Polytetrafluoroethylene is used either as matrix or reinforcement in circuit boards to produce a low dielectric constant composite. Knowledge of materials properties is crucial to ensure the reliability and function of products incorporating these polymers. In this article, a few selected characterization techniques for the determination of important materials properties such as solvent diffusion, plasma etch rate, and thermomechanical characteristics will be discussed.
General formulation of the cardiovascular control problem--mathematical models of the mechanical system.

The history of our notions about cardiovascular regulation and the development of mathematical descriptions of the mechanical cardiovascular system are briefly reviewed. A mathematical model for the ventricle is developed which incorporates most of our current ideas about the fundamental properties of heart muscle (force-lenght, force-velocity, active state, homeometric autoregulation, series compliance). A FORTRAN program was written for convenient digital simulation, and some of the results of preliminary explorations are described.
Connective tissue responses in Negroes in relation to disease

There is considerable evidence that Negroes have a tendency toward overgrowth of those connective-tissue components concerned with two functions—protection against infection (macrophages and plasma cells) and repair after injury (fibroblasts and their products). Thus, adaptation to the tropical environment in Africans may have involved a tendency toward connective-tissue overgrowth, as well as hypertrophy of the pigmentary apparatus. Both tendencies may have consequences in terms of: (1) susceptibility to certain chronic diseases; and (2) responses to disease processes or drug therapies. Some of these possible consequences are discussed.
Intertrial interval and unconditioned stimulus durations in autoshaping

Four groups of pigeons were exposed to an autoshaping procedure in which a 20-sec key illumination preceded the presentation of response-independent grain, The groups differed according to the duration of feeder access and the intertriai intervals, If feeder durations are not included in the time between trials, two of the groups had identical intertriai intervals. If feeder durations are included, each of the other two groups was identical to one of the first two in terms of the intertriai interval, The speed of acquisition and maintained measures of responding were directly related to the duration of the interval from food offset to signal onset, Groups exposed to equivalent intertriai intervals and different feeder durations did not differ from one another on these measures, The results were interpreted as evidence that feeder durations were not included in the functional intertrial interval and that feeder duration, per se, did not affect autoshaped responding.
Sources of land-derived runoff to a coral reef-fringed embayment identified using geochemical tracers in nearshore sediment traps

Geochemical tracers, including Ba, Co, Th, 7Be, 137Cs and 210Pb, and magnetic properties were used to characterize terrestrial runoff collected in nearshore time-series sediment traps in Hanalei Bay, Kauai, during flood and dry conditions in summer 2006, and to fingerprint possible runoff sources in the lower watershed. In combination, the tracers indicate that runoff during a flood in August could have come from cultivated taro fields bordering the lower reach of the river. Land-based runoff associated with summer floods may have a greater impact on coral reef communities in Hanalei Bay than in winter because sediment persists for several months. During dry periods, sediment carried by the Hanalei River appears to have been mobilized primarily by undercutting of low 7Be, low 137Cs riverbanks composed of soil weathered from tholeiitic basalt with low Ba and Co concentrations. Following a moderate rainfall event in September, high 7Be sediment carried by the Hanalei River was probably mobilized by overland flow in the upper watershed. Ba-desorption in low-salinity coastal water limited its use to a qualitative runoff tracer in nearshore sediment. 210Pb had limited usefulness as a terrestrial tracer in the nearshore due to a large dissolved oceanic source and scavenging onto resuspended bottom sediment. 210Pb-scavenging does, however, illustrate the role resuspension could play in the accumulation of particle-reactive contaminants in nearshore sediment. Co and 137Cs were not affected by desorption or geochemical scavenging and showed the greatest potential as quantitative sediment provenance indicators in material collected in nearshore sediment traps.
The adsorption of human salivary proteins and porcine submaxillary mucin by hydroxyapatite

Abstract Mucins were the major materials most strongly adsorbed by hydroxyapatite (HA) powder from human saliva lacking mucus, cells and debris. The most highly polymerized or aggregated mucin fraction caused clumping of the HA protein complex, which may have mechanistic significance for the formation of bacterial plaque. Other mucins of a lesser degree of polymerization or aggregation were also strongly adsorbed but did not cause clumping. A large proportion of the proteins which precipitate spontaneously from saliva were removed by the lowest level of HA tested, showing that these proteins are among the most strongly adsorbed. The adsorption of salivary proteins decreased as the pH was raised through a physiological range. Sodium hydroxide or sodium phosphate (0.1 M) were capable of desorbing most but not all of the adsorbed proteins, the former electrolyte being somewhat more effective than the latter. M sodium chloride was slightly effective and 6 M urea was ineffective. The proteins remaining adsorbed after alkali or phosphate extraction contained mucin, including the most highly polymerized or aggregated fraction. Purified porcine submaxillary mucin (PSM) behaved similarly to human salivary mucins with regard to adsorption by HA and desorption by alkali and phosphate, but differently in other respects. The removal of calcium from PSM solution and human saliva inhibited the adsorption of protein by HA. These results, in conjunction with those previously published, suggest a possible mechanism for adsorption of salivary mucin to the tooth enamel surface.
Safety and long-term efficacy of revisional surgery in severe obesity.

Background A National Institutes of Health Consensus Conference in 1991 established gastric surgery as accepted therapy for the treatment of severe obesity. The increasing prevalence of obesity in the United States, and the increasing numbers of patients undergoing gastric surgery for severe obesity, result in substantial numbers of patients being considered for revisional surgery. The indications and efficacy of revisional surgery remain controversial. Methods Sixty-three patients were followed prospectively after undergoing revisional surgery for obesity between 1981 and 1994. All patients had previously undergone obesity operations. Weight data were recorded at the time of original obesity surgery, at revisional surgery, and at most current follow-up. Complications following revisional surgery were monitored. Results The follow-up in the group is 98%. Revisional surgery after obesity surgery was associated with a 0% mortality rate and a serious complication rate of 16%. Body mass index (BMI) at the time of original surgery was 50 ± 10 kg/m 2 , at revisional surgery 39 + 9 kg/m 2 , and at recent follow-up 34 ± 10 kg/m 2 ( P 50 kg/m 2 lost significantly more weight ( P 2 . Conclusions Revisional gastric surgery is safe and does provide patients with the opportunity to achieve long-term weight control.
Nanomaterials for Lighting

Luminescent and non-luminescent nano materials are used today in a variety of lighting applications. One example is the thin layer of densely packed nano alumina between glass and phosphor in fluorescent lamps that serves to increase the efficiency, to improve the maintenance and to reduce the mercury consumption of the lamps. Further, non-luminescent nano materials may be used to form a thin conformal coating around phosphor particles that protects the phosphor particles and improves the efficiency and maintenance of fluorescent lamps. Luminescent nano materials have been the subject of extensive research in the last 15 years. For particle sizes below 20 nm, the optical properties of nano phosphors change, e.g. the exciton energy increases and perhaps even more important, scattering decreases. We have synthesized nano Y2O3:Eu of particle sizes down to 10 nm, derived its optical properties, and investigated its use in Hg-free fluorescent lamps based on the Xe-excimer discharge. The possibility of using nano phosphors, e.g. semiconducting nano phosphors as CdSe or rare-earth doped phosphors as LaPO4:RE in LEDs, will be discussed.
Influence of IV Haloperidol on Ventricular Repolarization and Monophasic Action Potential Duration in Anesthetized Dogs

Introduction IV haloperidol is used commonly for sedation in critically ill patients. However, IV haloperidol has been shown to cause the life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmia torsades de pointes. Mechanisms by which haloperidol causes torsades de pointes have not been widely investigated in controlled studies. Study objectives To determine the effects of IV haloperidol on electrophysiologic parameters known to promote torsades de pointes. Interventions Monophasic action potential catheters were guided under fluoroscopy into the right and left ventricles of 14 chloralose-anesthetized dogs (haloperidol, nine dogs; placebo, five dogs). Effective refractory period (ERP), action potential duration at 90% repolarization (APD 90 ), and QTc interval measurements were performed at baseline and after each of four doses of haloperidol (0.15, 0.5, 2.0, and 3.0 mg/kg) or placebo at three different pacing cycle lengths (450, 300, and 250 ms). Measurements and results IV haloperidol significantly prolonged left and right ventricular ERP by a magnitude of 12 to 20% at all pacing cycle lengths. ERP values in the placebo group did not change significantly from pretreatment values in either ventricle. Haloperidol significantly prolonged left ventricular APD 90 at a pacing cycle length of 300 ms. The effects of haloperidol on right ventricular APD 90 approached significance at a cycle length of 450 ms. Overall, haloperidol prolonged APD 90 by 7 to 11%, with less consistent and more variable effects than those for the ERP. APD 90 was not significantly altered in the placebo groups. Haloperidol produced significant prolongation in QTc intervals. The electrophysiologic effects of haloperidol were related to dose, with a plateau reached at the 0.5 mg/kg dose for ERP measurements and at the 2 mg/kg dose for the APD 90 and QTc interval measurements. Conclusions IV haloperidol prolongs ventricular ERP and APD 90 in intact canine hearts. These electrophysiologic effects are likely associated with the clinical torsades de pointes-inducing actions of IV haloperidol in critically ill patients.
Predicting the performance of synchronous discrete event simulation systems

In this paper we propose a model to predict the performance of synchronous discrete event simulation. The model considers parameters including the number of active objects per cycle, event execution granularity and communication cost. We, derive a single formula that predicts the performance of synchronous simulation. We have benchmarked several VHDL circuits on SGI Origin 2000. The benchmark results show that the prediction model explains more than 90% of parallel simulation execution time. We also measure the effect of computation granularity over performance. The benchmark results show that although higher granularity can have better speedup because of dominance of computation over communication, the computational granularity cannot overshadow the inherent synchronization cost. This model can be used to predict the speed-up expected for synchronous simulation, and to decide whether it is worthwhile to use synchronous simulation before actually implementing it.
Trout-skin gelatin-based edible films containing phenolic antioxidants: effect on physical properties and oxidative stability of cod-liver oil model food.

: Trout-skin (Oncorhynchus mykiss) gelatin-based films containing antioxidants (epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), 50 and 250 ppm w/w) and green tea powder (1% and 20% w/w of gelatin) were tested for tensile strength, elastic modulus, and elongation, and oxygen and water vapor transmission rates, in vitro antioxidant activity using the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) assay and effect on stabilizing cod-liver oil held under mild thermal abuse conditions. Cod-liver oil overlaid with films was stored at 40 °C for 20 d and analyzed for peroxide value (PV) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). Antioxidant activity was retained in films containing green tea powder, but was reduced (P 0.05), but the oxygen transmission rate for films with 50 ppm EGCG and 20% green tea powder was significant (P 0.05) at the levels tested and this was confirmed by activation energy calculations. The rate of oil oxidation was more dependent upon the inherent oxygen barrier property of the films than the presence of antioxidants. Practical Application: This research has the potential to enhance the utilization of fish skins, a valuable food processing by-product, as edible films with natural antioxidants to extend the shelf life of foods. The film physical properties and barrier to oxygen and water are investigated.
Improving expert judgment by coherence weighting

This paper extends previous efforts to increase accuracy of probability estimates by weighting multiple probabilistic judgments according to their coherence. The experiment we report involves elicitation of probability estimates that belong to sets in which only one probability is of primary interest; the other estimates serve to measure the individual judges' coherence within sets. Our method shows that asking for only two additional judgments can achieve significant increases in accuracy over a simple linear average. In the aggregation, we adjust the judgments to be coherent and give more weight to judgments that require less adjustment.
COMMUNITY READINESS AND PREVENTION PROGRAMS

Community norms and values are important factors affecting the support of community-based development efforts. This is particularly the case when the programs are prevention efforts, including drug education programs. The purpose of this article is to describe a way to measure the readiness of a community to support drug prevention education. The readiness scale was based on the classic community development models of the social action process (Beal, 1964) and the innovation decision-making process (Rogers, 1994). Development of the scale was based on construction of 45 anchor rating statements for five dimensions of a prevention program and nine stages of community readiness. The community readiness scale was designed for use by community development practitioners working in the field of prevention, through key informants interviews with selected community leaders. Results from 45 communities indicated a bi-modal distribution of readiness levels. Implications of the results and experiences in developing ...
The behavior of isochromosomes and telocentrics in wheat.

Genetic tests with chromosome IX of common wheat showed 13.3% formation of isochromosomes from telocentrics as against 7.0% for the same long arm of normal IX, and 7.0% formation of telocentrics from each arm of iso-IX instead of 10.8% from the same arm of normal IX. The differences are not significant statistically. No differences in frequency of formation of isochromosomes were found among 16 independently produced telocentrics for the long arm of chromosome IX. Somatic loss of both telocentrics and isochromosomes for chromosome IX and other wheat chromosomes has been observed, with loss of the telo being somewhat more frequent. A telocentric gave rise, to an isochromosome somatically. and isochromosomes added a telocentric. Two complex aberrations involving loss and duplication of parts of arms were observed, one of a telo and one of an iso; but these aberrations probably occurred at meiosis.
Commercialization of Honeywell's VCSEL technology: further developments

Each year, more VCSEL technologies make the transition from research curiosities to commercially available products. In this paper we describe several such technologies at Honeywell, each at a different stage of that transition. Oxide-confined devices are already past the transition stage. We describe the generally excellent reliability of oxide-confined devices already in high-volume production, and compare it to results of the most recent-and possibly last-long-term reliability study of proton-implanted VCSELs. We report on detailed package-VCSEL interaction modeling, which is being used to improve performance and extend the life of common form-factor packages. We also note Honeywell's progress toward commercialization of VCSELs and allied products at wavelengths other than 850 nm.
Trifunctional reagents for substrate-protein conjugation: application to pyrrolizidine alkaloid analogues.

Abstract We report the syntheses of two pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA) analogues ( 1 and 2 ) which exploit the novel substrate-protein coupling reagents 4 and 5 . Analogues 1 and 2 incorporate the targeted PA substructural unit (i.e., a macrocyclic diester of retronecine), posses a handle for protein conjugation, and potentially maintain the conformational integrity of macrocyclic PAs.