cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Obesity in Preadolescent Children: The Role of Neighborhood Poverty and Grocery Store Access

Abstract Background: The prevalence of obesity among children continues to rise. Individual-focused health education efforts have been minimally successful in producing the necessary changes to curb this epidemic. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between neighborhood characteristics, grocery store availability and accessibility, and parent-reported fruit and vegetable intake and/or weight status. Methods: Data was collected from 797 preadolescent children (ages 6-11) participating in an obesity prevention study. Individual-level variables were daily fruit and vegetable intake and body mass index. Social and physical environment variables included percent of poverty within neighborhoods (census tracts) and mapped grocery store locations. Bivariate analyses were performed to explore relationships. Results: Most (78%) children (mean age=8.1) failed to meet fruit and vegetable recommendations, and 37% were overweight. Nearly 50% of high poverty neighborhoods had no grocery s...
Near-Earth Object Threat Mitigation Using a Tethered Ballast Mass

The effects of the collision of a near-earth object (NEO) with the Earth could be catastrophic on a local, regional, or global scale depending on the size of the NEO. Therefore, there is considerable interest in determining ways to mitigate the threat posed by these objects. This paper presents a method using the attachment of a tether and ballast mass to alter the trajectory of a NEO on an Earth-intersecting orbit so that it avoids hitting the Earth. Furthermore, a parametric study of such a system is conducted over a wide range of parameters that describe the orbit and the system itself. For each set of parameters, a resulting “miss distance” due to the attachment of the tether and ballast mass is calculated. The results demonstrate that such a system could be used to protect the Earth from Earth-intersecting NEOs.
Licking rate of rats is reduced by intraduodenal and intraportal glucose infusion.

Abstract The effect of isotonic glucose, urea, and NaCl solutions (0.5 ml) delivered directly to the duodenum or portal system on the rate of drinking a 3.2% glucose or a 3.4% sucrose solution was investigated in rats. Both duodenal and portal glucose infusions produced a decrease in licking rate when the licking test vas administered immediately after the infusion. The effect diminished with increasing time intervals between the infusion and the test. Infusions of urea by both the duodenal and portal routes had effects similar to those produced by glucose but the magnitude of the effect was smaller. Control infusions of isotonic NaCl into the portal vein indicate that the depressing effect of portal glucose and urea on licking rate was chemospecific rather than due to local hypervolemia. Intrajugular infusions of glucose did not alter lick rates, suggesting that the chemoreceptors involved in the effects produced by portal infusions are located in the liver.
The Role of Assessment in a Response to Intervention Model

This article discusses the role of assessment in a response-to-intervention model. Although assessment represents only 1 component in a response-to-intervention model, a well-articulated assessment system is critical in providing teachers with reliable data that are easily interpreted and used to make instructional decisions. Three components of an effective assessment system are discussed: (a) a system for assessment in a response-to-intervention model, including an agreed-upon definition of student success at each tier of support; (b) use of valid and reliable measures of student performance; and (c) graphing of student progress data as opposed to their point-in-time performance data. Examples are provided for each of these components along with tables and graphs illustrating major points.
Fate and effects of pentachlorophenol in hard- and soft-water microcosms

The influence of hard water and soft water on the fate and effects of pentachlorophenol (PCP) was investigated in small microcosms. Minor differences in the fate of PCP and minor changes in microcosm structure were noted between the hard- and soft-water systems. Definite differences between hard-and soft-water systems were detected in dissolved oxygen production and dissolved silica concentration at an exposure concentration of 4 mg 1−1 PCP.
Fast timing simulation of transient faults in digital circuits

Transient fault simulation is an important verification activity for circuits used in critical applications since such faults account for over 80% of all system failures. This paper presents a timing level transient fault simulator that bridges the gap between electrical and gate-level transient fault simulators. A generic MOS circuit primitive and analytical solutions of node differential equations are used to perform transistor level simulation with accurate MOS-FET models. The transient fault is modeled by a piecewise quadratic injected current waveform; this retains the electrical nature of the transient fault and provides SPICE-like accuracy. Detailed comparisons with SPICE3 show the accuracy of this technique and speedups of two orders of magnitude are observed for circuits containing up to 2000 transistors. Latched error distributions of the benchmark circuits are also provided.
A simplified approach to solving finite rough surface scattering problems

In this paper a simplified approach is described for the computation of scattering from finite length rough surfaces. In an earlier paper [Fawcett, J. Acoust. Soc. 118, 1348–1357 (2005)], it was described how to solve such problems by considering a scattering chamber and using the method of wavefield superposition to satisfy the various boundary and continuity conditions. In this paper, a form of the field in the interior of the scattering chamber is assumed and the solution to the scattering problem is reduced to solving a system of equations just along the rough surface. The solution to this system of equations can then be used to compute the scattered or total fields anywhere in the half-space. The results of this approach are compared to those obtained by other methods.
ENGAGING DIALOGUE IN OUR DIVERSE SOCIAL WORK STUDENT BODY: A MULTILEVEL THEORETICAL PROCESS MODEL

This article presents a theoretical process model for students engaging in dialogic learning about issues of race and anti-oppression. The model identifies conditions present in the dialogue proces...
Prenatal and Neonatal Risk Factors for Sleep Disordered Breathing in School-Aged Children Born Preterm

Objectives Previously published data from the Cleveland Children's Sleep and Health Study demonstrated that preterm infants are especially vulnerable both to sleep disordered breathing (SDB) and its neurocognitive sequelae at age 8 to 11 years. In this analysis, we aimed to identify the components of the neonatal medical history associated with childhood SDB among children born prematurely. Study design This analysis focuses on the 383 children in the population-based cohort from the Cleveland Children's Sleep and Health Study who were born Results Twenty-eight preterm children (7.3%) met the definition for SDB at age 8 to 11 years. Having a single mother and mild maternal preeclampsia were strongly associated with SDB in unadjusted and race-adjusted models. Unadjusted analyses also identified xanthine use and cardiopulmonary resuscitation or intubation in the delivery room as potential risk-factors for SDB. We did not find a significant link between traditional markers of severity of neonatal illness—such as gestational age, birth weight, intraventricular hemorrhage, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, or duration of ventilation—and childhood SDB at school age. Conclusions These results represent a first step in identifying prenatal and neonatal characteristics that place preterm infants at higher risk for childhood SDB. The strong association between mild preeclampsia and childhood SDB underscores the importance of research aimed at understanding in utero risk factors for neurorespiratory development.
Postcardiac catheterization time-in-bed study: Enhancing patient comfort through nursing research

Abstract Cardiac catheterization has become a routine diagnostic procedure. Little has been written about standards for nursing care related to bed rest postcatheterization. The purpose of this experimental study was to determine whether there was a significant difference in incidence of bleeding from catheter insertion site between those patients who remained in bed for 12 hours and those who remained in bed for 6 hours postprocedure. There was no significant difference between the two groups. Postprocedure bed rest was reduced from 12 to 6 hours in this tertiary care medical center. Decreasing time in bed reduced cost and patient discomfort.
Effects of Insulin Sensitizers on Islet Transplantation

To solve the problems of islet engraftment, we investigated the effects of insulin sensitizers, metformin and rosiglitazone, on the in vitro and in vivo function of mouse islets. The in vitro study was done by culturing 30 isolated C57BL/6 mouse islets with glucose (100 or 300 mg/dL) or rosiglitazone (4.5 mumol/L) for 2, 4, 8, or 12 hours. The in vivo study was performed by syngeneically transplanting 150 C57BL/6 mouse islets under the kidney capsule of streptozotocin-diabetic mice. The metformin group was treated with 200 mg/kg/d in water and the control group was pair-fed the same volume of liquid diet. In the in vitro study, insulin release stimulated by 300 mg/dL glucose (n = 6) was the highest at all time points. That stimulated by rosiglitazone (n = 6) was greater than by 100 mg/dL glucose (n = 6) only at 8 hours. In the recipients treated with metformin (n = 17) and controls (n = 13), the blood glucose decreased and body weight increased gradually after transplantation. However, there was no significant difference between the two groups. Their tolerance to intraperitoneal glucose challenge at 2 and 4 weeks was also comparable. At 4 weeks, 12/17 (71%) in the metformin group and 8/13 (62%) in the control group achieved normoglycemia (P = .60). At 4 weeks, the insulin content of the graft was 8.35 +/- 3.42 mg in the metformin group and 5.28 +/- 4.28 mg in the control group (P = .59). Our data indicate that (1) rosiglitazone stimulated isolated islets to release insulin but was less effective than high levels of glucose; and (2) metformin treatment had no beneficial effect on islet recipients.
Open-cell aluminum foams filled with phase change materials as compact heat sinks

The effects of geometric parameters of open-cell aluminum foams on the performance of aluminum foam-phase change material (PCM) heat sinks were investigated. Paraffin was selected as the PCM. As the surface area density of foams increases, both the heating and cooling times of the copper block, which simulates a device under thermal load, increase. The effect of the surface area density is more pronounced on the cooling time.
Symptomatic internal carotid thrombosis after carotid endarterectomy

Abstract During a study period from 1977 through 1984, 11 (0.4%) of 2651 patients who had undergone carotid endarterectomy at The Cleveland Clinic had early, symptomatic thrombosis of the internal carotid artery (ICA) and underwent urgent reoperations. With only two exceptions, neurologic deficits occurred after lucid intervals when the patients had recovered from general anesthesia and were discovered within the first 8 hours in three patients, within 8 to 24 hours in five patients, and on the second postoperative day in one patient. Surgical management consisted of thrombectomy alone in two patients, thrombectomy and vein patch angioplasty in eight patients, and thrombectomy of the external carotid artery with ligation of the ICA in a single patient in whom retrograde ICA flow could not be reestablished. Eight (73%) of the 11 patients recovered substantial neurologic function after reoperations, six of whom had complete or nearly complete resolution of their symptoms. One patient (9%) sustained a fatal hemorrhagic cerebral infarction. In a collected series of 41 patients from this study and other reports, prompt surgical treatment of thrombosis occurring after carotid endarterectomy was associated with clinical improvement in 61% of patients and appears to be the preferred approach to this catastrophic complication. (J VASC SURG 1987;5:445-51.)
Ligand exchange reactions in InGaAs metalorganic vapor-phase epitaxy

Abstract Metalorganic vapor-phase epitaxy of In y Ga 1− y As from triethylgallium, trimethylindium and tertiarybutylarsine was studied using on-line infrared spectroscopy to monitor the organometallic compounds in the feed and effluent gases. The film composition was measured by X-ray diffraction. Ligand exchange reactions between the group III sources were found to occur in the feed lines. The new species produced were trimethylgallium, dimethylethylgallium, methyldiethylgallium, dimethylethylindium and methyldiethylindium. The thermal stability of these species varied over a wide temperature range. For example, the ethylindium compounds started to decompose at 250°C, while trimethylgallium began to react at 500°C. In the square-duct reactor used in this study, the wide variation in the reactivity of the precursors resulted in films that were indium rich near the reactor inlet and gallium rich near the reactor outlet.
Heuristics for single-pass welding task sequencing

Welding task sequencing is a prerequisite in the offline programming of robot arc welding. Single-pass welding task sequencing can be modelled as a modified travelling salesman problem. Owing to the difficulty of the resulting arc-routing problems, effective local search heuristics are developed. Computational speed becomes important because robot arc welding is often part of an automated process-planning procedure. Generating a reasonable solution in an acceptable time is necessary for effective automated process planning. Several different heuristics are proposed for solving the welding task-sequencing problem considering both productivity and the potential for welding distortion. Constructive heuristics based on the nearest neighbour concept and tabu search heuristics are developed and enhanced using improvement procedures. The effectiveness of the heuristics developed is tested and verified on actual welded structure problems and random problems.
Platinum Nanoclusters Exhibit Enhanced Catalytic Activity for Methane Dehydrogenation

Methane utilization, whether by steam reforming or selective oxidation to produce synthesis gas or alcohols, requires the activation and dissociation of at least one carbon–hydrogen bond. At high temperatures, using platinum nanoparticles as catalysts, this process operates with low activity. However, the catalyst particle shape may be controlled at low temperatures, and faceted particles may catalyze hydrocarbon transformation with increased activity. In this study, we use density functional theory calculations to calculate the thermodynamics of methane dehydrogenation on both (hemi)spherical and tetrahedral platinum nanoclusters. We show all steps of methane dehydrogenation on the hemispherical cluster have high activation barriers (0.4–1.0 eV), thus requiring high temperatures for this process. However, the energy barriers for methane dehydrogenation on the tetrahedral cluster are lower than the corresponding barriers on the hemispherical cluster, and in particular, the dissociation of the methyl group to form methylene and hydrogen has an activation barrier of only 0.2 eV. Thus, we expect that hydrogen production from methane would proceed at a higher rate and conversion on tetrahedral clusters than on hemispherical clusters. The resulting hydrogen and carbon-containing species may then serve as building blocks for the production of chemicals and fuels. We believe that catalyst shape is vitally important in controlling catalytic activity, and the use of faceted catalyst particles opens up possibilities for low-temperature and energy-efficient hydrocarbon transformations.
THYROXINE AND TRIIODOTHYRONINE TURNOVER STUDIES IN DYSTROPHIA MYOTONICA

The turnover of thyroxine and triiodothyronine, the extrathyroidal thyroxine space, the thyroidal uptake of radioiodine, the radioiodine conversion ratio, and the serum protein-bound iodine level were normal in 4 patients with dystrophia myotonica, despite a low basal metabolic rate. The patients were relatively unresponsive to the administration of desiccated thyroid or triiodothyronine.
Why are there so many Preferential Trade Areas? A Political Economy Perspective

Abstract This paper investigates the causes of the phenomenal growth of preferential trade areas (PTAs) in the world economy during recent decades. A political economy analysis suggests that the attraction of PTAs may be due, in large parts, to (a) a preference for manufacturing industry, rather than merely the gross domestic product (GDP), and (b) the prospect of greater foreign direct investments, in countries forming or joining a PTA.
Response to Zubrow

settlements, even though it is doing so at what Zubrow says to be a "rate of change (ra)" (italics his) of 0.8, or 80%, a "rate" greater than that of the change in number of settlements, said to be 0.5 or 50%. This makes it clear that his understanding of the expression "rate of change" is not that of accepted usage, which would see the population to be changing at the rate of 0.2 or 20% per period, while the number of settlements changes at the greater rate of 50%. Almost any table of summary population statistics will provide support for this point. For example, the table on comparative international statistics in StatisticalA bstracts of the United States: 1975 (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1975, pp. 836-838) shows the United States to have increased in population from 204,879,000 in 1970 to 210,404,000 in 1973, and this is specifically said to be at an annual rate of change of 0.9%. If one were to derive the "rate of change" by Zubrow's method, one would arrive at an an ua "rate of change" of 100.9%, a figure which if seriously presented as an annual rate of U.S. population change would boggle the mind of any demographer and of most ordinary readers of newspapers. In Zubrow's book, the expression is made frequent use of in connection with some of the hypotheses derived from his model of carrying capacity, particularly to compare rates of change in population and settlement size. Under circumstances of increase, no significant harm is done. As an example, if population were to be increasing at a rate that would normally be understood as 20% per period, and settlements were proliferating in number at the rate of 50% per period, one would achieve by Zubrow's definition "rates of change" of 120% and 150%, respectively, but despite this oddity it would be completely accurate to say that settlements were changing at a faster rate than population. On the other hand, under circumstances of decrease, if population and settlements should be changing at those same rates (20% and 50%), the normal understanding would still be that settlements were changing at a greater rate than was population; Zubrow's "rate of change," however, reverses such understanding, as he makes clear in the example he presents above.
Molecular depth profiling and imaging using cluster ion beams with femtosecond laser postionization

The emergence of cluster ion sources as viable SIMS probes has opened new possibilities for detection of neutral molecules by laser postionization. Previous studies have shown that with atomic bombardment multiphoton ionization using high-power femtosecond pulses leads to photofragmentation. The large amount of photofragmentation can be mostly attributed to high amounts of internal energy imparted to the sputtered molecules during the desorption process. Several pieces of preliminary data suggest that molecules subjected to cluster beam bombardment are desorbed with lower internal energies than those subjected to atomic beam bombardment. Lower energy molecules may then be less likely to photodissociate creating less photofragments in the laser postionization spectra. Here we present data taken from coronene films prepared by physical vapor deposition comparing a 40 keV C60+ ion source with a 20 keV Au+ ion source, which supports this hypothesis. Furthermore, the depth profiling capabilities of cluster beams may be combined with laser postionization to obtain molecular depth profiles by monitoring the neutral flux. In addition, imaging and depth profiling may be combined with atomic force microscopy (AFM) to provide three-dimensional molecular images.
Flow of superfluid 3He-B past a specular wall: A finite-temperature calculation.

We report the first numerical solution of the quasiclassical equations for superfluid {sup 3}He-{ital B} flowing past a single specular wall. The superfluid gap function has (for finite flow) three nondegenerate components: The two components perpendicular to the flow are nearly unaffected by the flow; the component parallel to the flow is suppressed. We find that the critical current density given by our finite-temperature calculation is almost equal to the Ginzburg-Landau value down to temperatures of approximately {ital T}/{ital T}{sub {ital c}}=0.5.
Cool Laser Optics Treatment of Large Telangiectasia of the Lower Extremities

background. Lower extremity telangiectases have been traditionally treated using sclerotherapy. However, because of significant side effects from sclerotherapy, laser treatments have been investigated. Results from laser treatments have been generally unsatisfactory. objective. This study was based on the premise that simultaneous cooling and lasing would permit more effective treatment. methods. Thirty lower extremity telangiectases on 13 patients were treated by a technique of simultaneous cooling and lasing. Argon (488/514 nm) and argon dye (577 nm, 585 nm) laser light were delivered through a new cooling device to telangiectatic vessels of approximately 1-mm diameter on the thigh and leg. Pulsed and continuous beam treatments were utilized at high levels of irradiance. results. Sixty-seven percent of treated sites were improved; half of these were completely or nearly completely cleared. There were no complications. In only 2 of 30 (7%) treated sites were there persistent pigmentary changes. conclusion. These results compare favorably with other methods for treatment of lower extremity telangiectases. Successful treatment of large lower extremity telangiectases by simultaneous cooling and lasing with minimal side effects suggests a reduction of thermal injury to nonvascular tissue while allowing destruction of ectatic vasculature.
The safety of foods developed by biotechnology

Recombinant DNA techniques are now being used to develop new plant varieties that will be sources of foods, such as fruits, vegetables, grains, and their by-products. These techniques enable developers to make specific genetic modifications in plants, including modifications that introduce substances into plants that could not be introduced by traditional methods. To ensure the safety of the resulting foods and to foster innovation, the FDA is taking the initiative, before foods from such plants are ready to enter the market, to see that there is an agreed upon scientific basis to evaluate the safety of whole foods and animal feeds derived from new plant varieties. Here, the authors summarize their regulatory framework and their approach to safety assessment and discuss its scientific basis. Their safety assessment approach addresses new varieties of food crops developed by both traditional and newer methods of genetic modification and provides guidance on how safety issues should be addressed.
Correlation of the Metabolic Syndrome with Estrogen Receptor Negative Breast Cancer in a Retrospective Review.

Background: Obesity is a risk factor for breast cancer by increased peripheral estrogen aromatization. Obesity is one component of the metabolic syndrome. The relationship of the metabolic syndrome to breast cancer is unknown. The metabolic syndrome occurs more commonly among African American women and other ethnic groups with a relatively greater percentage of women at a lower socioeconomic status. We hypothesized that the occurrence of the metabolic syndrome may be associated with a more biologically aggressive cancer and may be a contributor to breast cancer disparities. One indicator of a more biologically aggressive disease is the absence of hormonal receptors. We proposed ER- breast cancer would be associated with more components of the metabolic syndrome than hormonally responsive breast cancer.Materials and Methods: 775 female breast cancer patients age 50 and over, diagnosed from 1999-2005, were identified through the Wake Forest University Tumor Registry. A retrospective chart review of the electronic medical records (EMR) was then performed to gather diagnoses of obesity, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemias, and hypertension for 2 years from the date of their breast cancer diagnosis. We restricted our study to postmenopausal women to limit the impact of breast cancer treatment on the secondary health effects that may occur with therapy induced menopause. To assure we captured all the components of the metabolic syndrome that were not coded in the EMR, available blood pressures, heights, weights, medications and glucose and lipid measurements were queried for each woman.Results: 187 women were ER- and 588 were ER+. African American women were more likely to have ER- breast cancer (43% vs 21%, p Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr 2061.
Mothers' causal explanations for their son's schizophrenia: Relationship to depression and guilt

This study investigated the relationship between mothers' causal explanations for their son's schizophrenia and the depression and guilt mothers experience. Thirty-three mothers who were primary caregivers to a schizophrenic son were interviewed using the Causal Dimension Scale and the Multiscore Depression Inventory. Twenty-nine mothers generated 50 causal explanations for their son's schizophrenia. The most frequently cited causal category was physiological/biological factors. Guilt was associated with causal explanations characterized as internal, whereas depression was unrelated to causal dimensions. The findings support the need to assess mothers' causal explanations for their son's schizophrenia and to research the health consequences of causal explanations.
A non-intuitive aspect of Swensson's LROC model

If the locations of abnormalities (targets) in an image are unknown, the evaluation of human observers' detection performance can be complex. Richard Swensson in 1996 developed a model that unified the various analysis approaches to this problem. For the LROC experiment, the model assumed that a false-positive report-arises from the latent decision variable of the most suspicious non-target location of the target stimuli. The localization scoring was based on the same latent decision variable, i.e., when the latent decision variable at the non-target location was greater than latent decision variable at the target location the response was scored as a miss. Human observer reports vary, i.e., different locations have been identified during replications. A Monte Carlo model was developed to investigate this variation and identified a non-intuitive aspect of Swensson's LROC model. When the number of potentially suspicious locations was 1, the model performance was greater than apparently possible. For example, assume that target expected latent decision variable is 1.0. Both target and non-target standard deviations were assumed to be 1.0. The model predicts the area-under-the-ROC is 0.815, which implies d a =1.27. If the target latent decision variable was 0.0, then d a =0.61. The reason was the number latent decision variables in the model for the non-target stimuli is one, while the number latent decision variables for the target stimuli is the maximum of 2. The simulation indicated that the parameters of a LROC fit, when the number of suspicious locations is small or the observer performance is low, does not have the same intuitive meaning as ROC parameters of a SKE task.
The thermal stability of one-transistor ferroelectric memory with Pt-Pb/sub 5/Ge/sub 3/O/sub 11/-Ir-poly-SiO/sub 2/-Si gate stack

The thermal stability of one-transistor ferroelectric nonvolatile memory devices with a gate stack of Pt-Pb/sub 5/Ge/sub 3/O/sub 11/-Ir-Poly-SiO/sub 2/-Si was characterized in the temperature range of -10/spl deg/C to 150/spl deg/C. The memory windows decrease when the temperatures are higher than 60/spl deg/C. The drain currents (I/sub D/) after programming to on state decrease with increasing temperature. The drain currents (I/sub D/) after programming to off state increase with increasing temperature. The ratio of drain current (I/sub D/) at on state to that at off state drops from 7.5 orders of magnitude to 3.5 orders of magnitude when the temperature increases from room temperature to 150/spl deg/C. On the other hand, the memory window and the ratio of I/sub D/(on)/I/sub D/(off) of the one-transistor memory device displays practically no change when the temperature is reduced from room temperature to -10/spl deg/C. One-transistor (1T) memory devices also show excellent thermal imprint properties. Retention properties of 1T memory devices degrade with increasing temperature over 60/spl deg/C.
The use of swift, brief isolation as a group control device for institutionalized delinquents.

Abstract An attempt was made to control misbehavior around the pool table in a training school cottage. The Ss were fifteen boys, ages 13–15, committed by courts. Misbehavior included breaking the rules of the game, throwing pool cues, scuffling, kibitzing and bouncing balls on floor. In Phase I (7 weeks), misbehavior resulted in S being immediately confined in a “time-out” room for 15 min. In Phase II (13 weeks), S was verbally reprimanded. In Phase III (20 weeks), confinement was resumed. Ss' cumulative records showed decreasing rates of misbehavior during confinement condition and rapid recovery during reprimand condition. The conclusion is that swift, brief confinement was a useful control device. The problems of obtaining greater resistance to extinction and also, positive generalization to other situations remain to be studied.
Modification of hypoxia-induced injury in cultured rat astrocytes by high levels of glucose.

Preexisting hyperglycemia exacerbates central nervous system injury after transient global and focal cerebral ischemia. Increased anaerobic metabolism with resultant lactic acidosis has been shown to cause the hyperglycemic, neuronal injury. The contribution of astrocytes in producing lactic acidosis under hyperglycemic/ischemic conditions is unclear, whereas the protective role of astrocytes in ischemic-induced neuronal injury has been documented. The ability of astrocytes to maintain energy status and ion homeostasis under hyperglycemic conditions could ultimately reduce neuronal injury. Therefore, we determined the effects of increased glucose concentrations on glucose utilization, lactate production, extracellular pH, and adenosine triphosphate concentrations in hypoxia-treated astrocyte cultures.Primary astrocytes were prepared from neonatal rat cerebral cortices. After 35 days in vitro, cultures were incubated with 0-60 mmol/L glucose and subjected to hypoxic conditions at 95% N2/5% CO2 for 24 hours...
The Toba Caldera Complex

Abstract The Toba Caldera in Indonesia is one of the most remarkable volcanic features formed during Quaternary geologic time. Its rich history of research for over a century has yielded important information on the physical volcanology of silicic calderas and super-eruptions, geochemical evolution of silicic magma bodies, and geophysical imaging of active sub-volcanic systems. During the past 1.3 my, the Toba area has erupted intermediate composition lavas, followed by intermediate pyroclastics, three quartz-bearing silicic tuffs, and most recently, intermediate to silicic lavas. This pattern represents the incremental assembly and periodic eruption of a crustal magma body of batholithic proportions. The apparent migration of activity to the west, may have implications for the next? Toba super-eruption.
Rotatory dispersion studies of biologically active metalloporphyrin compounds

THE recent application of rotatory dispersion studies in the elucidation of structures of biologically important molecules has involved consideration of two types of asymmetry; namely, the asymmetry of single carbon atoms, and the asymmetry due to the handedness of coiled macromolecules such as proteins and nucleic acids. Since many biomolecules contain metal atoms, and since such metal atoms can also give rise to asymmetry in the molecules, the presence of the metal atoms constitutes a third factor infiuencing the rotatory dispersion. Because the metal atoms frequently coincide with the site of biological activity, any experimental technique that focuses upon the metals should yield valuable clues about the structure of such molecules at important locations within them. Many metallo-biological molecules contain the metal attached to a porphyrin, and it is with this class of compounds that the present discussion shall be concerned. The most frequent combination of metal and porphyrin that is encountered is the iron complex of protoporphyrin,,called heme when the iron is in the + 2 oxidation state; the structure of heme is as’follows:
The Causes of and Gains from Intertemporal Trade

The authors show how the causes of and the gains from current account imbalances can be integrated into undergraduate economics courses using the same pedagogical tools that are used to explain comparative advantage and the gains from trade. A nonzero current account provides a mechanism for intertemporal trade, and a country has a comparative advantage in present (or future) goods if its autarky real interest rate is below (or above) the world real interest rate. The authors explain why the intertemporal approach to the current account reaches different conclusions from the traditional approach regarding welfare effects. Also, the authors integrate alternative approaches for explaining the underlying cause(s) of nonzero current account balances.
WHAT WE SHOULD STUDY, PROBLEMS WE SHOULD SOLVE: PERSPECTIVES OF TWO CONSTITUENCIES

Qualitative data from management and non-management employees were content analyzed to assess their perceptions of what organizational problems they would most like academic researchers to study. These data are then compared to the publications that have appeared in empirical journals over ten journal years (Campbell, Daft, and Hulin, 1982). Results indicate: (1) specific problem areas health care practitioners want studied: (2) strong congruence between the interests of the management and non-management subsamples; and (3) areas where academicians are not meeting the research needs of this sample.
EPR Study of the Semiquinone Biradical QA•-QB•- in Photosynthetic Reaction Centers of Rhodobacter sphaeroides at 326 GHz: Determination of the Exchange Interaction Jo

The magnitude of the exchange interaction Jo, defined by ℋexch = −JoSA·SB, between unpaired spins SA and SB in biological molecules is an important parameter in calculating electron-transfer rates. In a previous work, we obtained an approximate value of Jo for the biradical QA•-QB•-, which forms an intermediate state in the photocycle of reaction centers (RCs) of the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides (Calvo, R. et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2000, 122, 7327). In that work Jo was derived from EPR measurements at 35 and 94 GHz, frequencies at which the EPR spectra are relatively insensitive to Jo. In this work we obtained EPR spectra between 5 and 80 K at 326 GHz, a frequency at which the spectrum is more sensitive to Jo. Consequently, we were able to improve the accuracy of Jo approximately by an order of magnitude. From a global fit with a spin-Hamiltonian of the spectra at five temperatures we obtained a value of Jo/h = (−82 ± 3) MHz. The value of Jo is within the experimental uncertainty of the...
U‐C analysis: Management's new tool

Given the growing complexity of organizations, business and human resource planners continue to look for new ways to systematically assess their activities and those of their departments. Information is needed that will help identify critical system features, work characteristics and personnel relationships, leading to improved job and system designs and quicker identification of new human resource needs.
Submarine sedimentary features on a fjord delta front, Queen Inlet, Glacier Bay, Alaska

Side-scan sonar images provide a view of an actively changing delta front in a marine outwash fjord in Glacier Bay, Alaska. Numerous interconnected gullies and chute-like small channels form paths for the transport of sand and coarse silt from the braided glacial outwash streams on the delta plain to the sinuous turbidity-current channels incised into the fjord floor. These turbidity-current channels carry coarse sediment through the fjord and into the adjoining glacial trunk valley. Several sedimentary processes affect the development of this delta front: overflow plumes deposit fine sediment; sediment gravity flows result from episodic delivery of large loads of coarse sediment; and mass movement may be triggered by earthquakes and, more regularly, by spring-tidal drawdown or hydraulic loading.
TU‐A‐ValB‐01: Multi‐Slice CT Artifacts and Quality Control

This presentation will focus on examples and causes of artifacts produced by modern multi‐slice CTscanners. Many of these artifacts were recognized because of a stringent quality control program implemented in our institution. The design of this quality control program will be described, along with its relative costs and benefits. Extending such a program among scanners produced by different vendors will be discussed. Learning Objectives: 1. To recognize basic artifacts in patient and phantom images generated by modern multi‐slice CTscanners. 2. To understand some basic requirements of a quality control program for multi‐slice CTscanners.
Optimized radiographic spectra for digital subtraction angiography in the mouse

The availability of genetically altered mouse models of human disease and the increasing use of small animals in basic research have spurred extraordinary interest in new imaging methodologies-particularly magnetic resonance microscopy, microCT, and microPET. To date, very little attention has been given to planar radiographic imaging. Yet there exists enormous potential for this modality given the ease of use and its potential speed. Functional imaging in mouse models can be addressed particularly well through the use of digital subtraction angiography. We describe here a system designed explicitly for digital subtraction angiography in the mouse and the optimization of acquisition parameters required to perform the highest quality functional subtraction angiograms. We focus on optimization of contrast using selective K-edge filters and the optimization of contrast agent though a carefully controlled biological pulse sequence.
Role of Spin Noise in the Detection of Nanoscale Ensembles of Nuclear Spins

When probing nuclear spins in materials on the nanometer scale, random fluctuations of the spin polarization will exceed the mean Boltzmann polarization for sample volumes below about $(100\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{nm}{)}^{3}$. In this Letter, we use magnetic resonance force microscopy to observe nuclear spin fluctuations in real time. We show how reproducible measurements of the polarization variance can be obtained by controlling the spin correlation time and rapidly sampling a large number of independent spin configurations. This allows significant improvement in the signal-to-noise ratio for nanometer-scale magnetic resonance imaging.
Evaluation of the substitution of Ir-192 seed ribbons for wires in Paris system using dose nonuniformity ratio

The substitution of Ir-192 seed ribbons for wires in the Paris system of interstitial implants was re-evaluated using the dose nonuniformity ratio. The dose nonuniformity ratio, which is based on volumetric data, measures the dose nonuniformity of the implant quantitatively. The lower the dose nonuniformity ratio value, the smaller the dose nonuniformity, and the better is the dose homogeneity for the implant. Implants configured in a single-plane and double-planes in the form of squares or triangles using Ir-192 wires or seed ribbons were considered. The difference between the particular reference dose rate that yielded a minimum in the dose nonuniformity ratio curve for wire implants and seed implants is about 4 cGy/hr. The difference between the minimum dose nonuniformity ratio value representing the optimal dose homogeneity of the implants is about 5%. The dose homogeneity may be considered better for implants configured using seed ribbons.
Modified French Window as an Alternative to Thoracotomy for Complex Intrathoracic Pathology

Video-assisted thoracic surgery is associated with less pain and shorter recovery than open procedures. Due to limited exposure, video-assisted thoracic surgery is not suitable for the management of all intrathoracic pathology. Muscle-sparing thoracotomies are smaller, but they are not associated with less pain or faster recovery. A modified French window is a useful approach to complex intrathoracic pathology and may result in less postoperative pain and shorter recovery than standard and muscle-sparring thoracotomies. This technique is suitable for the management of complex intrathoracic disease.
User guidance for creating precise and accessible property specifications

Property specifications concisely describe aspects of what a system is supposed to do. No matter what notation is used to describe them, however, it is difficult to represent these properties correctly, since there are often subtle, but important, details that need to be considered. Propel aims to guide users through the process of creating properties that are both accessible and mathematically precise, by providing templates for commonly-occurring property patterns. These templates explicitly represent these subtle details as options. In this paper, we present a new representation of these templates, a Question Tree that asks users a hierarchical sequence of questions about their intended properties. The Question Tree representation is particularly useful for helping users select the appropriate template, but it also complements the finite-state automaton and disciplined natural language representations provided by Propel. We also report on some case studies and on an experimental evaluation of the understandability of the disciplined natural language representation.
INTEGRATING GEOSPATIAL TECHNOLOGIES AND SECONDARY STUDENT PROJECTS: THE GEOSPATIAL SEMESTER

Resumen: El Semestre Geoespacial es una actividad de educacion geografica centrada en que los estudiantes del ultimo curso de secundaria en los institutos norteamericanos, adquieran competencias y habilidades especificas en sistemas de informacion geografica, GPS y teledeteccion. A traves de una metodologia de aprendizaje basado en proyectos, los alumnos se motivan e implican en la realizacion de trabajos de investigacion en los que analizan, e incluso proponen soluciones, diferentes procesos, problemas o cuestiones de naturaleza espacial. El proyecto esta coordinado por la Universidad James Madison y lleva siete anos implantandose en diferentes institutos del Estado de Virginia, implicando a mas de 20 centros educativos y 1.500 alumnos. Los alumnos que superan esta asignatura de la ensenanza secundaria obtienen la convalidacion de determinados creditos academicos de la Universidad de referencia. Palabras clave: Sistemas de informacion geografica, ensenanza, didactica de la geografia, semestre geoespacial. Abstract: The Geospatial Semester is a geographical education activity focused on students in their final year of secondary schools in the U.S., acquiring specific skills in GIS, GPS and remote sensing. Through a methodology for project-based learning, students are motivated and involved in conducting research using geographic information systems and analyze, and even propose solutions, different processes, problems or issues spatial in nature. The Geospatial Semester university management not only ensures proper coaching, guidance and GIS training for teachers of colleges, but has established a system whereby students who pass this course of secondary education gain the recognition of certain credits from the University. Key words : Geographic information system, teaching, geographic education, geospatial semester . Resume : Le semestre geospatial est une activite axee sur l'education geographique des etudiants en derniere annee des ecoles secondaires aux Etats-Unis, pour l'acquisition de competences specifiques en matiere de SIG, GPS et teledetection. Grâce a une methodologie pour l'apprentissage par projet, les eleves sont motives et impliques dans la conduite de recherche utilisant des systemes d'information geographique et analysent, et meme ils proposent des solutions, des processus differents, des problemes ou des questions spatiales. La gestion de Semestre geospatial par l’Universite assure non seulement un bon encadrement, d'orientation et de formation sur le SIG pour les enseignants des colleges, mais a mis en place un systeme dans lequel les etudiants qui passent ce cours d'enseignement secondaire gagnent la reconnaissance de certains credits de l'universite. M ots-Cles : Systemes d'information geographique, enseignement, didactique de la geographie, semestre geospatial.
Wave breaking velocity effects in depth-integrated models

A simple model for predicting the velocities under breaking waves in depth-integrated models is developed. A velocity modification due to wave breaking is formulated based on a specific exponential profile, which is then added to the numerically predicted, depth-integrated velocity profile. This modification is superficial in that it does not directly change the hydrodynamic calculations inside the depth-integrated model. The modifications can be employed in any of the numerous Boussinesq-type models, and is not dependant on the use of a particular breaking dissipation scheme. Horizontal velocity profiles, both mean and instantaneous, are compared with experimental data in the surf zone. The comparisons show good agreement, markedly better than the un-modified results, and on par with published numerical results from sophisticated models.
WAVE REFLECTION FROM ENERGY DISSIPATION REGION

The forward and the backward scattered wave fields from an energy dissipation region are investigated. Analytical solutions are obtained for two‐dimensional problems. Results can be used in estimating the reflection coefficient for a crib‐type breakwater. For three‐dimensional problems, numerical solutions are obtained using the parabolic approximations. It is shown that the numerical results agree very well with analytical solution for a special case of circular dissipation region.
Modeling and Measuring Systemic Risk

An important challenge worthy of NSF support is to quantify systemic financial risk. There are at least three major components to this challenge: modeling, measurement, and data accessibility. Progress on this challenge will require extending existing research in many directions and will require collaboration between economists, statisticians, decision theorists, sociologists, psychologists, and neuroscientists.
On Input-to-State Stability of Impulsive Systems

This paper introduces appropriate concepts of input-to-state stability (ISS) and integral-ISS for systems with impulsive effects. We provide a set of Lyapunov-based sufficient conditions to establish these properties. When the continuous dynamics are stabilizing but the impulsive effects are destabilizing, the impulses should not occur too frequently, which can be formalized in terms of an average dwell-time condition. Conversely, when the impulses are stabilizing and the continuous dynamics are destabilizing, there must not be overly long intervals between impulses, which is formalized in terms of a reverse average dwell-time condition. We also investigate limiting cases of systems that remain stable for arbitrarily small/large average dwell-times.