cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Elective primary cesarean delivery: attitudes of urogynecology and maternal-fetal medicine specialists.

OBJECTIVE To compare the attitudes of urogynecology and maternal-fetal medicine specialists in the United States regarding elective primary cesarean delivery. METHODS A Web-based questionnaire was sent by e-mail to members of the American Urogynecologic Society (AUGS) and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) who reside in the United States. The first e-mail was sent in October 2003, and 2 additional e-mails were sent to nonresponders over the next month. The survey included questions about demographics, practice patterns, and opinions about different clinical scenarios regarding elective primary cesarean delivery. RESULTS Of 1,479 surveys sent to functioning e-mail addresses, 782 were completed (52.9% response rate). American Urogynecologic Society and Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine members were similar in response rate (53.0% versus 52.8%, respectively). Overall, 65.4% of physicians would perform an elective cesarean delivery, but AUGS members were significantly more likely to agree to perform an elective cesarean than SMFM members (80.4% versus 55.4%, respectively, P < .001). In a logistic regression model that included age, sex, having no children, years in practice, and subspecialty (urogynecology or maternal-fetal medicine), AUGS members were 3.4 times (95% confidence interval 2.3-4.9, P < .001) more likely to agree to perform an elective cesarean. CONCLUSION Among respondents, a majority of urogynecology and maternal-fetal medicine specialists surveyed would perform an elective primary cesarean delivery. Urogynecologists were significantly more likely to support elective cesareans. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE II-3.
A Statistical Estimate of Errors in the Calculation of Radio-Occultation Bending Angles Caused by a 2D Approximation of Ray Tracing and the Assumption of Spherical Symmetry of the Atmosphere

Abstract Atmospheric data from National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) analyses and orbital parameters from 133 real Global Positioning System (GPS) meteorological data soundings are used to compute the “true” bending angle profiles using an accurate 3D ray-tracing procedure. They are then compared with approximate profiles obtained using the spherical symmetry assumption and an efficient 2D ray-tracing model. The average fractional error of the bending angles due to the spherical symmetry assumption is less than 0.15%. The average fractional error due to the use of the 2D ray-tracing model is slightly greater than that due to the spherical symmetry assumption. The vertical error correlations due to the spherical symmetry assumption are sharp between 6 and 8 km and broader above and below this layer. The vertical error correlations associated with the 2D forward model show a nearly diagonal structure below 15 km with high correlation confined to a 2-km layer centered at the observation level.
Comparison of Thermal Stability Characteristics of Fischer-Tropsch and Hydroprocessed Alternative Jet Fuels in a Fixed Bed Reactor

The recent volatility in oil prices has fueled uncertainty about the world’s ability to meet future demands. Furthermore, the growing concern over the negative environmental impacts produced by emissions has resulted in worldwide efforts for developing renewable jet-fuel alternatives. This has led current military and civilian fuel specifications to allow the use of Fischer-Tropsch (FT) and Hydroprocessed fuels (HEFA) in blends up to 50% in volume with regular Jet-A/JP-8. On the other hand, physical properties, and the broad chemical composition, including trace elements in those fuels, may result in engine performance issues found only after extensive operation. This may result in higher maintenance and operation costs. This study presents the coking depositions of several renewable fuels after being stressed in a fixed bed reactor. This was done in an effort to assess the effects (if any) on the thermal stability of renewable fuels interacting with materials representative of state of the art aircraft systems (steel, aluminum, titanium tubing) and to determine whether the use of renewable fuels enhances thermal stability when blended, up to 50%, with oil-derived fuels.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
A joint investigation of public support and public values: case of instream flows in New Mexico

Abstract Instream flow can be defined as the flow of water in its natural channels without diversion. Alone among the western US states, New Mexico (NM) fails to provide any mechanism for the protection of instream flows and has a long history of political resistance to any change in the status quo. Using the combined results from two statewide telephone surveys, this study jointly investigates stated voting preferences for a proposed institutional change and stated valuation preferences for minimum instream flow protection. The contingent valuation (CV) question uses a dichotomous choice (DC) elicitation format and a voluntary contribution trust fund payment vehicle. Results show a highly significant positive correlation between expressed voting preferences and expressed valuation preferences. Additionally, those individuals who respond YES to the voting question have an expected willingness to pay (WTP) of $80 with a 95% confidence interval (CI) that is always positive ($62–97), while those who respond NO to the voting question, have an expected WTP that is actually slightly negative (−$6) with a 95% CI containing zero (−$14–2). Taken together, these results provide evidence of construct validity. Estimation results are also shown to be temporally reliable across repeated samples. Thus, there is strong evidence of public support for instream flow protection and its associated nonmarket benefits. Such evidence helps to provide instream flow concerns with standing in future NM water policy debates. Prominent examples include explicitly defining `beneficial use' and `public welfare' to allow consideration of instream flow protection.
Magnetic impurity states of Fe doped intermetallic compound β'-NixAl100-x

Abstract Resistivity measurements were made on the Fe doped intermetallic compound β'-Ni x Al 100-x (x = 46.9 to 51.5 at.%). No resistivity minimum was observed for x ≤ 49.0 while for x ≥ 49.5, a clear resistivity minimum was observed. We interpret the previously reported Kondo-like phenomena in β'-NiAl as being due to the presence of impurities and present data on the discontinuous local moment formation.
Avalanche drift instability in planar passivated p-n junctions

Some factors which affect the breakdown voltage of planar passivated p-n junctions and which influence breakdown drift instability are discussed. Experiments describing these phenomena are reported. An activation energy for walk-out recovery is given as approximately 0.35 eV. It is argued that charge motion parallel to and probably within the oxide-semiconductor interface is occurring. Experiments performed to verify this parallel charge drift are related which confirm the effect. Finally, evidence for a mobile negative species is given.
Model Systems for Flavoenzyme Activity. Specific Hydrogen Bond Recognition of Flavin in a Silicate Sol-Gel

Replication of the functionality and isolation provided by enzyme active sites is an important goal in the creation of effective models. To provide both of these attributes, we have covalently incorporated flavin mononucleotide (FMN) into a silicate matrix using the sol-gel process. In these sol-gels, the isolation provided by the cybotactic region of the silicate replicates the sequestered nature of an enzyme active site. Specific hydrogen bonding recognition of the flavin within the sol-gel matrix was then established via doping with diacyl diaminopyridine 3. The presence, specificity, and magnitude of this host−guest interaction was established via quenching of the flavin fluorophore by receptor 3.
SU‐FF‐T‐379: Biological Radial Dose Functions for Brachytherapy Sources

Purpose: Brachytherapy is often used in combination with external-beam-radiotherapy to deliver a tumoricidal dose, while respecting critical organ tolerances. Its biological equivalence to an external beam dose fractionation has conventionally been considered via only the prescribed dose, preventing the 3D summation of brachytherapy and external beam dose distributions. We investigate a methodology that calculates a brachytherapy dose distribution biologically equivalent to an external beam dose fractionation schedule using a commercial treatment-planning system that has only conventional brachytherapy dose calculation models. Method and Materials: Dose distributions from high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy treatments, including point-source, line-source, planar, and intracavitary gynecological implants were converted to their biological equivalents for corresponding external beam dose fractionations using the linear quadratic equation and an α/β ratio of 10. The radial-dose-function (RDF) values of an Ir-192 source were modified (BRDF) to yield these biologically-equivalent dose distributions using the conventional dose calculation formalism. Use of this formalism was demonstrated by planning an IMRT treatment of cervical cancer constrained by delivered HDR dose distributions. Results: The BRDFs of HDR Ir-192 treatments vary as a function of external beam dose fractionations, the α/β ratio used, and implant geometry. BRDF's dependence on implant geometry is due to the nonlinearity of the linear-quadratic equation. BRDF's have non-unitary values at 1 cm from the source, depending on the equivalence of prescribed external beam and brachytherapy doses. Comparisons between the biological-equivalent dose distributions and the approximations obtained using BRDF showed excellent agreement. Conclusion: A method is proposed to allow calculation of biologically-equivalent brachytherapy dose distribution in commercial treatment planning systems. Preliminary studies using the BRDF demonstrated its usefulness in the IMRT treatment planning when constrained by delivered brachytherapy dose distribution. The process can also be used to review brachytherapy implant dose distributions at conventional external-beam fractionation schedules.
High-performance hydrophobic interaction chromatography of estrogen receptors and magnesium dependent protein kinase(s): detection of two molecular forms of estrogen receptors in the presence and absence of sodium molybdate.

Abstract The separation characteristics of estrogen receptors (ER) from human breast cancer were evaluated based on their hydrophobic properties. Results show that (1) two distinct hydrophobic isoforms of ER exist either in the presence of sodium molybdate (peaks MI and MII with retention times of 15–17 min and 24–26 min) or in its absence (peaks I and II with retention times of 25–27 min and 34–36 min respectively); (2) this is observed whether molybdate (MoO 4 2− ) is added to prepared cytosol or to the buffer prior to homogenization; (3) isoform MII and I separated with similar retention times suggesting they are the same ER species; and (4) isoform MI ( R t = 15–17 min) is a distinct ER species from either MII/I ( R t = 25–28 min) or II ( R t = 34–36 min). The latter isoform represents a highly hydrophobic species seen only in the absence of MoO 4 2− . Finally, (5) MoO 4 2− ions appear to interconvert the most hydrophobic species (II) into the least hydrophobic isoform (MI) with virtually no change in the quantity of isoform(s) MII/I. However, it cannot be ascertained if the II → MI interconversion proceeds via isoform MII/I. Isoform II may result from the interaction with the stationary phase via its DNA binding site since MoO 4 2− , which is suggested to directly interact with this site, selectively interacts with peak II. These results imply the usefulness of inclusion of receptor stabilizing reagents in the mobile phase for preserving receptor integrity and in elucidating the interrelationships of ER isoforms and associated macromolecules.
Fullerene-functionalized gold nanoparticles: electrochemical and spectroscopic properties.

Fullerene (C60)-tethered gold nanoparticles were synthesized by the coupling of the fullerene molecules with peripheral amine moieties on the particle surface. The particle composition was determined by thermogravimetric analysis and FT-IR spectroscopy. The resulting particles exhibited unique optical and electrochemical properties. UV−visible measurements showed that the C60 characteristic absorption remained practically invariant whereas the fluorescence demonstrated rather drastic enhancement of emission efficiency as compared to the behaviors of C60 monomers. Tethering of C60 on the particle surface has virtually no effect on the particle molecular capacitance when C60 is in neutral state, whereas when C60 is electroreduced, the particle effective capacitance increases drastically, reflected in the quantized capacitance charging measurements. The strong affinity of C60 to amine moieties was also exploited to assemble multilayers of C60 and gold particle nanocomposite structures. Quartz crystal microba...
Simulation of the initial stages of nucleation and growth of Au/NaCl(100)

Abstract The results of a computer simulation of the initial stages of the nucleation and growth of gold on NaCl(100) are presented. A potential energy scaling Monte Carlo model employing a 50 × 50 array, mobile monomers, dimers and trimers, and gold atom vertical “roll up” was used. The parameters in the model were obtained from the work of Robinson and Robins, other published sources and/or found by calculation. Simulations of the migration of single gold adatoms over the surface permitted the determination of the diffusion coefficient as a function of the reciprocal temperature which returned the same activation energy given by the potential field, thus indicating the consistency of the model. Initial cluster densities were determined using deposition rates of R d = 10 15 cm -2 s -1 and R d = 10 14 cm -2 s -1 over the temperature range T =200–425 K. Initial cluster growth was found to occur primarily by surface phase transport and resulted in clusters that were shaped like very thin disks. Using the equations from the work of Velfe and coworkers, calculations were made to extrapolate the computer simulation data in order to permit an indirect comparison with the data of Robinson and Robins. Good agreement was achieved. Initial condensation coefficients determined over a 250 ms interval showed that α ≈ 0 at T > 425 K and α ≈ 1 at T R d =10 15 cm -2 s -1 .
Nurses' Responses to Organ Procurement from Nonheartbeating Cadaver Donors

Brain-dead donors (ie, heartbeating cadaver donors) have been an accepted source of transplantable organs for many years. Clinicians in some medical centers are considering nonheartbeating cadaver donors (ie, patients who decide to discontinue life-support measures and become organ donors) as another source of transplantable organs. This study explored registered nurses' responses to caring for nonheartbeating cadaver donors and described their intentions to care for such donors, their reactions to caring for them, and the meaning of these reactions and intentions. The nurses interviewed expressed resentment at the intrusion of technology; they preferred brain-dead status in organ donors; they feared legal repercussions from families; they speculated about nonheartbeating cadaver donors' ability to feel pain, and they expressed concern about withdrawing life-support measures, honoring patients' wishes, allocating nursing care as a scare resource, and witnessing family members' pain.
Effects of silvicultural activity on ecological processes in floodplain forests of the southern United States: a review of existing reports

Activities associated with timber harvesting have occurred within floodplain forests in the southern United States for nearly two hundred years. However, it is only in the last ten years that any information has become available about the effects of harvesting on the ecological functions of this valuable resource. Hydrology is the driving influence behind all ecological processes in floodplains, and timber harvesting alone usually has little long-term effect on hydroperiod. However, logging roads, built in association with harvest sites, can sometimes alter hydroperiod to the extent that vegetation productivity is raised or lowered. There is no evidence that harvesting followed by natural regeneration represents a threat to ground or surface water quality on flood plain sites, as long as “best management practices” are followed. Harvested floodplains may increase or have little effect on decomposition rates of surface organic matter. The nature of the effect seems to be controlled by site wetness. Data from recently harvested sites (i.e. within the last ten years) suggest that vegetation productivity is maintained at levels similar to those observed prior to harvests. During the early stages of stand development, tree species composition is heavily influenced by harvest method. Similarly, amphibian populations (monitored as bioindicators of ecosystem recovery) seem to rebound rapidly following harvests, although species composition may be different from that of unharvested stands.
Synthesis and properties of poly(quadrol methacrylate) hydrogel

Synthese du dimethacrylate et du methacrylate de quadrol; polymerisation en masse en presence de tetrabutylperoxypivalate, ou en solution en presence de persulfate d'ammonium
Transmissions of real economic shocks across the Pacific Rim economies

Abstract We use Asian International Input–Output Tables 1995 in measuring trade dependencies of 10 Pacific Rim economies within a regional general equilibrium model. We develop two sets of metrics in measuring the trade dependencies of the economies. First, we use final demand elasticity of exports in measuring the sensitivities of the economies in the model to autonomous changes in the final demand in any other economy in the region. Second, we use a final-demand-weighted index of export elasticities that are induced by variations in the final demand vector of any economy in the model as indicators of the strength of the shocks transmitted across countries. The estimated coefficients have important policy implications. First, these coefficients identify the most vulnerable sectors of the economies in terms of the export/import dependency. Second, these coefficients may be readily used in bilateral and regional trade negotiations. Using these coefficients, policy makers can provide mutual trade concessions in dampening the effects of real and financial shocks transmitted from the trading partners.
Review: protein secondary structure prediction continues to rise.

Abstract Methods predicting protein secondary structure improved substantially in the 1990s through the use of evolutionary information taken from the divergence of proteins in the same structural family. Recently, the evolutionary information resulting from improved searches and larger databases has again boosted prediction accuracy by more than four percentage points to its current height of around 76% of all residues predicted correctly in one of the three states, helix, strand, and other. The past year also brought successful new concepts to the field. These new methods may be particularly interesting in light of the improvements achieved through simple combining of existing methods. Divergent evolutionary profiles contain enough information not only to substantially improve prediction accuracy, but also to correctly predict long stretches of identical residues observed in alternative secondary structure states depending on nonlocal conditions. An example is a method automatically identifying structural switches and thus finding a remarkable connection between predicted secondary structure and aspects of function. Secondary structure predictions are increasingly becoming the work horse for numerous methods aimed at predicting protein structure and function. Is the recent increase in accuracy significant enough to make predictions even more useful? Because the recent improvement yields a better prediction of segments, and in particular of β strands, I believe the answer is affirmative. What is the limit of prediction accuracy? We shall see.
A pinch or a lesion: a reconceptualization of biting consequences in mice.

Intruder and resident male colony mice exhibit an array of distinct defensive and offensive behaviors. Intruders typically show more boxing, flight, defensive sideways position, on the back position and general locomotion, while residents exhibit higher levels of attack, olfactory investigation, aggressive grooming, and biting, with a preference for dorsal bite locations. Here, analysis of bite locations on the body of the intruder mice showed that the majority of bites produced few lesions (i.e. actual puncturing of the skin) when compared to scrapes or no markings. Most bites were directed to the back of the opponent animal with very few bites directed towards the opponents' vulnerable ventrum. In particular, bites directed at the relatively hairless ventrum produced no lesions. These findings, along with previous work on mice and rats, suggest that intraspecific offense with preferred target sites for biting, facilitates an effective but largely nonwounding interaction between resident and intruder mice. Furthermore, bruise and wound analyses suggest an association between bite targets and tissue damage. The preference for specific bite locations may be complimented by a differential intensity of attack, with the back attracting the strongest bites and the ventrum the weakest. This apparent nonwounding fighting pattern contradicts the current evaluation of rodent wounding severity in this paradigm and can therefore refine the usage of this model and of the protocols associated with it. Aggr. Behav. 33:545–551, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Variation of cone photoreceptor packing density with retinal eccentricity and age.

As the first stage of vision, the photoreceptors provide the spatial information to higher stages of visual processing. Packing density and arrangement of photoreceptors are related to the development, function, and evolution of the visual system.1–4 The human cone photoreceptors distribution has the following features2,5,6: (1) a high peak cone packing density at the foveal center; (2) a rapid decrease in packing density within the central 2 mm of retina and then a more gradual decrease farther away; and (3) isodensity contours of cone photoreceptor distribution that are elongated along the horizontal axis, sometimes referred to as a cone streak.2 Previous studies of the effect of aging on the retina suggest that normal aging is accompanied by photoreceptor changes. Both rod7 and cone8 outer segments have been reported to become disorganized with aging, especially when they are close to the fovea. Cone photopigment is also reduced with age4,9 and Swanson et al.10 reported that the decreased photopigment is largest in the central 1° of the retina, suggesting a change in foveal architecture with age, which is supported by findings of changes in both photopigment and macular pigment distributions.11 However, the question of whether there is loss of cone photoreceptors with aging in the human retina is still controversial. Pandajonas et al.12 found a loss of 37% of rods and 18% of cones extrapolated to a lifespan of 100 years. Gao et al.13 and Curcio et al.14 found that loss of rods occurs with age but did not find a decrease in cone density, although variability among individuals was high.2 A limitation of these histologic approaches is that these measurements have been possible only ex vivo, which requires experimental manipulation of tissue before the measurements. The best data can only be collected in very fresh tissue, which is hard to obtain, and thus the total sample of data is relatively small and the age distribution sampling is variable. In recent years, adaptive optics has enabled high-resolution retinal imaging, sufficient for measuring the cone packing density in vivo.5,6,15–20 In the present study, we used state-of-the-art adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscopes (AOSLO),21,22 to measure the variation in cone photoreceptors in two normal populations that differed in age. We used the rapid acquisition capability to systematically collect data along four retinal meridians from near the fovea to approximately 12° retinal eccentricity. The cone packing density was compared as a function of retinal eccentricity, meridian, and age.
Will you be my friend? Social networking in the workplace

Purpose – This paper aims to provide an overview of the perceptions of librarians regarding the use of social networking in their professional lives. Design/methodology/approach – A survey was administered to a random sample of librarians at academic institutions. Findings – Adoption rates for social networking were high, with 85 percent of the 765 respondents reporting an account in at least one social networking account. Responses reveal opinions about privacy, boundaries, and professional relationships within social networking, suggesting that it does influence relationships within the profession. Research limitations/implications – The paper presents a snapshot of users' perceptions. Since social media changes rapidly, it is likely that perceptions will also likely change over time. Practical implications – The paper presents a snapshot of the perceptions of librarians towards social media. This article could be useful to librarians who currently use or are considering creating a social media account....
The Real Problem Is Consent for Treatment, Not Consent for Research

When thinking about the ethics of comparative effectiveness research—termed “research studying standard of care interventions” by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) when it announce...
Amplitude-modulated ultrasound radiation force combined with phase-sensitive optical coherence tomography for shear wave elastography

Tissue stiffness can be measured from the propagation speed of shear waves. Acoustic radiation force (ARF) can generate shear waves by focusing ultrasound in tissue for ~100 μs. Safety considerations and electronics abilities limit ultrasound pressures. We previously presented shear wave elastography combining ARF and phase-sensitive optical coherence tomography (PhS-OCT) [1]. Here, we use amplitude-modulated ARF to enhance shear wave signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) at low pressures. Experiments were performed on tissue-mimicking phantoms. ARF was applied using a single-element transducer, driven by a 7.5 MHz, 3-ms, sine wave modulated in amplitude by a linear-swept frequency (1 to 7 kHz). Pressures between 1 to 3 MPa were tested. Displacements were tracked using PhS-OCT and numerically compressed using pulse compression methods detailed in previous work [2]. SNR was compared to that of 200-μs bursts. Stiffness maps were reconstructed using time-of-flight computations. 200-μs bursts give barely detectable displacements at 1 MPa (3.7 dB SNR). Pulse compression gives 36.2 dB at 1.5 MPa. In all cases with detectable displacements, shear wave speeds were determined in 5%-gelatin and 10%-gelatin phantoms and compared to literature values. Applicability to ocular tissues (cornea, intraocular lens) is under investigation.
Tapping Resources in Municipal Solid Waste

Problems to be solved and advantages offered in the recycling of municipal solid wastes are analyzed. The development of materials recovery systems is still in an elementary stage except for ferrous metals recovery. However, only a very small fraction of municipal solid waste is subjected to any type of materials recovery. The problems to be solved in the recovery of nonferrous metals, potentially the most valuable recovered products, are summarized. Glass recovery and plastics recovery are considered. The production of fuel from municipal wastes is receiving increasing interest as one way to alleviate the oil shortages. Problems other than technical to be solved in the recycling of municipal solid wastes are indicated. (JSR)
Nonlinear and noncompensatory processes in performance evaluation

Abstract Anecdotal experience suggests that such common judgment tasks as performance evaluation typically evoke nonlinear and noncompensatory information processing strategies. Yet, the simple linear model is typically used to model judges' policies. Two performance evaluation studies using the policy capturing (“paper people”) paradigm are reported here. In the first study, nursing supervisors evaluated profiles of registered nurse and licensed vocational nurse performance. In the second study, faculty members evaluated profiles of nontenured faculty scholarly productivity. Conclusions drawn from these studies were (a) most judges appeared to use nonlinear judgment strategies, (b) for many judges, the nonlinearity was compatible with a noncompensatory judgment strategy, and (c) regression methods are capable of detecting nonlinearity in a series of judgments, at least in the performance evaluation context. Implications of these results for work in performance appraisal are discussed.
Bence Jones KWR protein structures determined by X-ray crystallography.

A Bence Jones protein isolated in the early 1960s from a patient (initials KWR) suffering from plasma-cell dyscrasia was crystallized and its structure was analyzed in four different unit cells by X-ray diffraction. The final models of the molecule in all crystal forms were virtually the same, although the elbow angles relating the constant and variable domains of the Bence Jones dimers varied over a range of 10°. The tetragonal form had an R factor of 22.6% and an Rfree of 28.3% at 2.2 A resolution. Phosphate or sulfate ions (depending on the crystallization conditions) were found in the antigen-combining sites in all crystals, as well as an unidentified ligand tightly bound in the hydrophobic `deep pocket' beneath the antigen-binding site. The ligand was treated as a phenol molecule. Two trigonal crystal forms were among those solved. One was grown at pH 4.0 and the other was only obtained after sitting for more than eight months at room temperature. The latter crystal was composed of molecules that were degraded in their constant domains. Both low pH and proteolytic degradation of constant domains are known to promote the polymerization of some Bence Jones proteins into amyloid fibrils. Indeed, in both trigonal crystal forms the molecules are organized with pseudo-hexagonal symmetry about the unique crystallographic axes in a manner suggestive of such fibrils. The arrangement of Bence Jones dimers is also consistent with other observations regarding Bence Jones amyloid-fibril structure and current models.
Nonlinear problems of parametric vibrations of imperfect laminated plates

Abstract Two nonlinear problems of parametric vibrations of imperfect antisymmetrically laminated angle-ply plates are considered. In the first problem the response of plates subjected to biaxial pulsating loads is studied. The second problem deals with the behavior of the plate initially subjected to axial static loading. In this problem two solutions for the motion due to the subsequent application of the pulsating stresses are obtained based on the nonlinear and linearized equations, respectively. In the last case the problem allows analytical solution. Numerical analysis is presented for both problems considered.
Adaptation properties of the ERG in the grasshopper, Romalea microptera

The grasshopper ERG displays a rapid recovery of responsivity following the onset of a background light. Although observed earlier in skate and frog, this phenomenon has not previously been seen in an invertebrate. Furthermore, a period of hyperresponsivity exists in early dark adaptation and resembles that found in skate and frog. Thus, recovery in the light and hyperresponsivity in the dark seem to be corollaries of each other. Finally, spectral sensitivity of the ERG is determined and two peaks are found: one at 510 nm and the other at 360 nm. The former appears to be a rhodopsin-mediated sensitivity but the latter does not and they are not clearly separated by chromatic adaptation.
Total cholesterol and neuropsychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer's disease: The impact of total cholesterol level and gender

Background: Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are a major factor in nursing home placement and a primary cause of stress for caregivers. Elevated cholesterol has been linked to psychiatric disorders and has been shown to be a risk factor for AD and to impact disease progression. The present study investigated the relationship between cholesterol and NPS in AD. Methods: Data on cholesterol and NPS from 220 individuals (144 females, 76 males) with mild-to-moderate AD from the Texas Alzheimer’s Research and Care Consortium (TARCC) cohort were analyzed. The total number of NPS and symptoms of hyperactivity, psychosis, affect and apathy were evaluated. Groups based on total cholesterol (TC; ≥ 200 vs. <200 mg/dl) were compared with regard to NPS. The impact of gender was also assessed. Results: Individuals with high TC had lower MMSE scores as well as significantly more NPS and more symptoms of psychosis. When stratified by gender, males with high TC had significantly more NPS than females with high TC or than males or females with low TC. Conclusion: The role of elevated cholesterol in the occurrence of NPS in AD appears to be gender and symptom specific. A cross-validation of these findings will have implications for possible treatment interventions, especially for males with high TC.
Approaches to designing thermally stable Schottky contacts to n-GaN

The barrier heights of PdIn, Ni/Ga/Ni and Re Schottky contacts to n-GaN were investigated by current-voltage and capacitance-voltage measurements. Elemental Pd and Ni contacts were also investigated for comparison. In each case, the barrier heights were determined as a function of annealing temperature. It was shown that stoichiometric PdIn contacts were more stable than Pd-only contacts. Similarly, Ni/Ga/Ni diodes were found to be more stable than Ni diodes. Both the Ni/Ga/Ni contact and the elemental Re contact were stable on short-term annealing up to 700 ?C.
Evaluating Effects of Fish Meal on Milk Fat Yield of Dairy Cows

Experiment 1 measured the effect of different amounts of dietary fish meal on milk yield and composition. Milk fat percentage and yield were decreased by increased fish meal intake, but this change was not associated with changes in ruminal fermentation patterns. Plasma long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids were increased as intake of fish meal increased. Ruminal disappearance of DM, CP, and lipid in fish meal was measured in situ. Seventy percent of lipid disappeared by 8 h. Intraruminal administration of fish oil did not alter ruminal fermentation and only slightly changed fatty acid profiles in duodenal digesta, plasma, or milk. Duodenal infusion increased plasma n-3 fatty acids but did not affect composition of fatty acids in milk. Experiment 2 compared effects of dietary fish meal and fish oil on milk production and composition. Fish meal increased n-3 fatty acids in plasma compared with those of the fish oil treatment. No changes were found in milk yield or composition because of experimental treatments. Cows fed fish meal or fish oil differed significantly in plasma fatty acid profiles but did not differ in ruminal VFA concentrations or milk fat yield.
Motorcycle waste heat energy harvesting

Environmental concerns coupled with the depletion of fuel sources has led to research on ethanol, fuel cells, and even generating electricity from vibrations. Much of the research in these areas is stalling due to expensive or environmentally contaminating processes, however recent breakthroughs in materials and production has created a surge in research on waste heat energy harvesting devices. The thermoelectric generators (TEGs) used in waste heat energy harvesting are governed by the Thermoelectric, or Seebeck, effect, generating electricity from a temperature gradient. Some research to date has featured platforms such as heavy duty diesel trucks, model airplanes, and automobiles, attempting to either eliminate heavy batteries or the alternator. A motorcycle is another platform that possesses some very promising characteristics for waste heat energy harvesting, mainly because the exhaust pipes are exposed to significant amounts of air flow. A 1995 Kawasaki Ninja 250R was used for these trials. The module used in these experiments, the Melcor HT3-12-30, produced an average of 0.4694 W from an average temperature gradient of 48.73 °C. The mathematical model created from the Thermoelectric effect equation and the mean Seebeck coefficient displayed by the module produced an average error from the experimental data of 1.75%. Although the module proved insufficient to practically eliminate the alternator on a standard motorcycle, the temperature data gathered as well as the examination of a simple, yet accurate, model represent significant steps in the process of creating a TEG capable of doing so.
Peaceman—Rachford procedure and domain decomposition for finite element problems

This paper presents a general method to associate the operator splitting for the Peaceman—Rachford procedure with a decomposition of the domain in problems arising from finite element discretization of partial differential equations. The algorithm is provably convergent without any symmetry requirement. Moreover, this method possesses the significant advantage of making the linear systems of the Peaceman—Rachford iteration block diagonal and therefore perfectly appropriate for parallel processing. Not only is sparsity not affected but a reduction of the bandwidth occurs. In fact, for appropriate choices of nonconforming finite element spaces, this method makes directly possible elementwise processing. This option remains available in general for higher-dimensional problems by applying the splitting algorithm recursively. Practical implementation requires nothing more than the standard finite element assembly procedure and some bookkeeping to relate a few different orderings of the nodes. In addition to all these attractive features, the method is rapidly convergent and remains highly competitive even when used on a serial machine.
Service oriented architecture (SOA) a new paradigm to implement dynamic e-business solutions

Software development has undergone various stages of paradigms - the very last one is called Object-Oriented (O-O) paradigm. Typical of this paradigm has been culminated by several OO programming languages such as C++, Java and VB. With the advent of Internetworking and evolvement of web technologies, business needs, especially isolated service requests/components, put a new demand on new software architecture. Existing models are examined in the light of their constraints and limitations to meet these constant changing business requirements. Service-oriented Architecture (SOA), as the next generation software architecture and through the utilization of the web service, XML and other related technologies provides viable working solution to implement dynamic e-business. This paper discusses SOA model and how it fits into implementing dynamic e-business solutions.
Effects of adrenergic agents on locomotor behavior and reproductive development in Drosophila

Inhibition of tyrosine hydroxylase, the rate-limiting enzyme in catecholamine biosynthesis, by α-methyl-p-tyrosine (αMT) at media concentrations of 0.3–3.0 mM, markedly inhibited (>90%) fly reproduction and development as evidenced by progeny count. Under these conditions adult spontaneous locomotor activity (SMA) was also dose-dependently reduced. However, no significant effects on behavior were observed at 0.3 mM. The behavioral effects of αMT were prevented by coadministration of L-DOPA. Similar effects on behavior and development were produced by reserpine at doses of 0.1–1.0 mM. The higher doses affected behavior, but no behavioral effects occurred at 0.1 mM. Rescue from the effects of reserpine was also achieved with L-DOPA. Treatment at 1 mM with the mammalian catecholamine receptor blockers propranolol (β1β2), raclopride (D2), SK&F 83566 (D1), prazosin (α1), and rauwolscine (α2) did not affect behavior. The two α adrenoceptor inhibitors, however, markedly decreased fly development. These results suggest that the receptor mechanisms mediating the effects of catecholamines on behavior and development are different. The locomotor behavior of adult progeny of parents treated with the lowest doses of αMT and reserpine described above was markedly suppressed by these drug treatments. This result indicates an increased sensitivity of the progeny to compounds which share the ability to deplete tissue catecholamines. Thus, alterations in catecholamine function during development may have behavioral consequences in surviving organisms. Drug Dev. Res. 50:142–146, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Somatic hybridization between birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) and L. conimbricensis Willd.

Somatic hybrid plants were produced by fusion of birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) cv ‘Leo’ and L. conimbricensis Willd. protoplasts. Birdsfoot trefoil etiolated hypocotyl protoplasts were inactivated with iodoacetate to inhibit cell division prior to fusion with L. conimbricensis suspension culture protoplasts. L. conimbricensis protoplasts divided to form callus which did not regenerate plants. Thus, plant regeneration from protoplast-derived callus was used to tentatively identify somatic hybrid cell lines. Plants regenerated from three cell lines exhibited additive combinations of parental isozymes of phosphoglucomutase, and L. conimbricensis-specific esterases indicating that they were somatic hybrids. The somatic chromosome number of one somatic hybrid was 36. The other somatic hybrid exhibited variable chromosome numbers ranging from 33 to 40. These observations approximate the expected combination of the birdsfoot trefoil (2n=4x=24) and L. conimbricensis (2n=2x=12) genomes. Somatic hybrid flowers were less yellow than birdsfoot trefoil flowers and had purple keel tips, a trait inherited from the white flowered L. conimbricensis. Somatic hybrids also had inflorescence structure that was intermediate to the parents. Fifteen somatic hybrid plants regenerated from the three callus lines were male sterile. Successul fertilization in backcrosses with birdsfoot trefoil pollen has not yet been obtained suggesting that the hybrids are also female sterile. This is the first example of somatic hybridization between these two sexually incompatible Lotus species.
Characterization, properties, and processing of LaRC™ PETI‐5 as a high‐temperature sizing material. I. FTIR studies on imidization and phenylethynyl end‐group reaction behavior

The imidization and phenylethynyl end-group reaction behavior of phenylethynyl-terminated imide oligomers (LaRC PETI-5) with a number-average molecular weight of 2500 g/mol has been extensively interpreted in terms of the disappearance and appearance of several characteristic absorption peaks. Most characteristic FTIR absorption bands including the phenylethynyl end group occurring via imidization and cure during dynamic and isothermal heat treatments of LaRC PETI-5 were clearly resolved and assigned in the present study. The results give some information on temperature- and time-dependency of the cure of LaRC PETI-5, which may be useful for determining the processing conditions necessary for use as a high-temperature fiber-sizing material. This study also measures the extent of imidization and the activation energy of cure reaction of this material.
dHCPS: decentralized hierarchically clustered p2p video streaming

Peer-to-Peer (P2P) based live video streaming service has been gaining popularity. The new generation of P2P live streaming systems not only attracts a large number of viewers, but also increasingly provides better video quality by adopting advanced coding techniques and supporting higher streaming rates. It is, therefore, crucial to design scalable P2P streaming solutions that offer excellent user Quality of Experience (QoE) in order to prevail in a competitive market place. In this paper, we propose a decentralized Hierarchically Clustered P2P Video Streaming (dHCPS) solution that can accommodate large viewer populations and support streaming rates approaching the optimal upper bound. In dHCPS, the peers are grouped into clusters and a hierarchy is formed among peer clusters. Peers retrieve video data from the source server in a hierarchical fashion. dHCPS employs a distributed P2P streaming design with minimum coordination overhead among peers. We propose a queue-based peer uploading algorithm that adaptively converges to the optimal operating point in a dynamic network environment. The prototype of dHCPS is implemented. Experiments over the PlanetLab demonstrate the effectiveness of dHCPS.
What's in your wallet?: implications for global e-wallet design

As part of a comparative ethnographic study of everyday life of young professionals in London, Los Angeles, and Tokyo, we conducted a detailed survey of wallets and their contents, through photographs, interviews, diary studies, and observation. Despite prominent differences in culture and lifestyle, there were remarkable similarities across all three sites in terms of what wallets contained and how they were used. Individuals arrived at similar (if imperfect) solutions to common problems of temptation management and access control, identity management and partitioning, and collecting tokens of affiliation and history. Our findings suggest that future electronic wallets (e-wallets), whether physical devices or distributed functionalities, will be able to capitalize on these existing patterns, solve some of the existing problems, and encounter new challenges. Furthermore, they frame the potential value of e-wallets in a broader context than traditional concerns over privacy, security, and efficiency.
ADVANCES IN TRANSFORMATIONAL DESIGN: CORRELATING CONTEXT EVALUATION TO QUALITY FEASIBILITY AND NOVELTY

In response to the call for multi-functional products, we have developed several relevant ideation techniques. These techniques are tailored for design of transformers- devices with multiple functional states. In this paper, we present significant advancements in transformational design. Primarily, we introduce a method to enhance quality, novelty, and feasibility (QNF) of design solutions. The method is used to classify design problem context and suggest pursuit of one of the two following device archetypes, transformer or monomorphdevices with a single functional state. The Indicators method is associated with a significantly increased probability of producing a design problem solution with higher QNF than a control (standard) design method. The claim that this method is accurate, its results are repeatable, and usage thereof enhances QNF is supported by a network of experiments and analyses. Statistical analysis is used to establish the accuracy, precision and repeatability of the method. Industry-standard qualitative methods, including inter-rater reliability analysis, demonstrate that usage of the Indicators method enhances design concept QNF. Concurrent minor analyses highlight the novelty of transformable designs; and some positive psychological effects of using the method. Additionally, the contextual (archetype) indicators have shown implicit promise as a core element for future research into ideation methods.