cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development of enkephalinergic neurons in the gut of the chick.

The content and distribution of met-enkephalin immunoreactivity in the developing chick gut was studied by radioimmunoassay and immunocytochemistry. Met-enkephalin was detected by radioimmunoassay in the duodenum of the 5-day chick embryo. The concentration in this region increased 4-fold by 13 days of incubation and declined thereafter to the levels found in the 4-week chicken. The concentration of enkephalin in the midgut increased about 2-fold between 9 and 13 days of incubation and remained constant until hatching. In the 7-day duodenum, metenkephalin immunoreactivity was found in a network of darkly stained nodes (accumulations of ganglion cells) and faintly stained internodal nerve bundles; this network of immunoreactivity was localized to the myenteric plexus. By 9 days of incubation, the network was more extensive and the intensity of staining was increased. At 13 days of incubation, varicosities were found in the region of the ganglion cells and in internodal nerve bundles. At this time, immunoreactivity was clearly visualized in the submucosal plexus. In the newly hatched chicken, met-enkephalin was found in nerves within the circular smooth muscle, as well as the myenteric and submucosal plexuses. The early appearance of met-enkephalin in the developing chick enteric nervous system suggests this peptide may act as a primary neurotransmitter in the organization and control of gut motility.
The symbolic finite element analysis system

Abstract This paper describes a working system for the generation of global stiffness matrices whose elements are functions of shape parameters. The Symbolic Finite Element Analysis System (SFEAS) takes a STRUDL-like [R. D. Logcher, J. J. Connor, Jr and M. F. Nelson, ICES STRUDL-II The Structural, Design Language Engineering User's Manual, Volume 2 Additional Design and Analysis Features , ICES Users Group, Cranston, RI (1983)] syntax. The important difference between this and STRUDL is that the joint coordinates, material properties, and forces are entered as expressions of various parameters. The result is a K matrix, each element being a function of those same parameters.
High accuracy stable numerical solution of 1D microscale heat transport equation

We investigate the use of a fourth-order compact finite difference scheme for solving a one-dimensional heat transport equation at the microscale.The fourth-order compact scheme is used with a Crank–Nicholson type integrator by introducing an intermediate function for the heat transport equation. The new scheme is proved to be unconditionally stable with respect to initial values. Numerical experiments are conducted to compare the new scheme with the existing scheme based on second-order spatial discretization. It is shown that the new scheme is computationally more efficient and more accurate than the second-order scheme. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Relation of early mononuclear and polymorphonuclear cell infiltration to late scar thickness after experimentally induced myocardial infarction in the rat.

This report describes the relationship between the intensity of early inflammation after acute myocardial infarction and the later thickness of the left ventricular (LV) scar. Histologic sections of hearts from methylprednisolone-treated (MP), cobra venom factor-treated (CVF), and untreated control rats that had been subjected to either 2 or 21 days of coronary artery occlusion were studied. In the rats examined at 2 days (n=20 for MP, n=16 for CVF, and n=20 for controls), a semiquantitative inflammation score (1–4) was attributed to each infarct. Mononuclear (MN) cells were counted in 4 oil-immersion fields per section and polymorphonuclear (PMN) cells in 9 oil-immersion fields per section. In the rats examined at 21 days (n=22 for MP, n=22 for CVF, and n=26 for controls), the thickness of the LV scar was measured every 1.6 mm along its circumference. Inflammation scores at 2 days were 3.5±.6 for controls, 1.5±.5 for MP, and 2.9±.8 for CVF (p<.05 among groups). The MN cells counted were 73±7 for controls, 47±5 for MP, and 61±9 for CVF (p<.05 among groups). There was no difference in PMN infiltrate among groups. Scar thickness at 21 days were .9±.1 mm for controls, .7±.1 mm for MP, and .9±.1 mm for CVF (MP compared to CVF and controls, p<.01).
Effect of 5-bromodeoxyuridine on extracellular matrix during odontogenesis in vitro.

Maxillary and mandibular incisor primorida were dissected from 16-day old rat embryos and maintained in organ culture for up to 120 h. Substantial histological, cytological, and biochemical odontogenic differentiation had occurred during the 5 days in vitro. Whenever incisor primordia were incubated in the presence of 10 μg/ml of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) for the first 16 h of organ culture, no comparable evidence for subsequent odontogenic differentiation could be detected during the 120 h in vitro. Because previous work had shown that overall DNA, RNA, and protein biosynthetic rates were relatively unaffected by incorporation of the thymidine analog (Schwartz and Kirsten, 1974), we examined the relative composition and organization of the specialized extracellular matrix characteristic of rat embryonic incisor primordia. The control rudiments utilized increasing amounts of radiolabeled proline, glucosamine, and sulfate into acid-insoluble products during 120 h in vitro. In contrast, BrdU-treated counterparts incorporated far less amounts of the matrix precursors into acid-insoluble radioactive materials. Furthermore, whereas control rudiments elaborated mostly type I collagen, analog-treated primordia retained the more characteristically immature mixture of types I and III after 5 days in vitro. In light of the presumed “instructional” and inductive role of the extracellular matrix in odontogenic epithelial-mesenchymal interactions, these findings suggest that BrdU specifically and differentially terminated differentiation in vitro through compositional and organizational modifications of matrix constituents.
The Neodymium-YAG Laser and Gastrointestinal Malignancy

• Thirty-seven patients with either bleeding or obstructive metastatic gastrointestinal malignant neoplasms were treated with the neodymium-YAG laser between June 1985 and December 1988. The age range for the group was 55 to 99 years, with a mean of 71 years. There were 25 upper gastrointestinal lesions, including 22 obstructive lesions (20 esophageal and two prepyloric gastric) and three bleeding lesions (one metastatic melanoma to the stomach, one duodenal, and one pancreatic carcinoma). Of the esophageal tumors, three were proximal, eight were middle, and nine were distal third. The mean number of laser treatments was 2.6, and the overall survival ranged from 1 to 20 months, with a median of 8 months. The dysphagia grade was improved overall but depended on the site of the tumor. All bleeding lesions were successfully photocoagulated. Twelve colorectal malignant neoplasms were treated palliatively, six for obstruction (three intraperitoneal colon and three rectal) and six for bleeding (three intraperitoneal and three rectal). The mean number of treatments for the group was 1.5, and the overall survival ranged from 2 to 38 months, with a median survival of 15 months. The neodymium-YAG laser was found to be effective as a palliative mode of therapy for the management of malignant gastrointestinal lesions. ( Arch Surg . 1990;125:1152-1154)
The Woodcock-Johnson Revised-Its Factor Structure

Data from the manual for the Woodcock-Johnson Revised Achievement Tests (WJ-R) were subjected to an exploratory factor analysis. Two highly correlated oblique factors were found rather than the multi-factor structure posited by the test authors. The major factor, use and comprehension of language, may represent general intelligence. The second factor, number skill, was relatively small. The use of discrepancies among WJ-R scores and between them and measures of intelligence is not warranted for the evaluation of learning disabilities.
Development of 22.9 kV high-temperature superconducting cable for KEPCO

Abstract Superconducting cable is expected to be one of the most economical ways to improve both the stability and capacity of electrical transmission and distribution lines, so several studies of high-temperature superconducting (HTS) cable have been initiated around the world. SEI was recently engaged by the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) to install a 22.9 kV–1250 A HTS cable system, comprising a 100 m HTS cable, two terminations and a cooling system, all manufactured in Japan and shipped to the KEPCO Gochang test site in Cheolabuk-Do, ROK (Republic of Korea). After system installation and assembly, the cable was cooled with liquid nitrogen. Following several checks, including measurements of critical current and heat loss, and AC voltage and current tests, a commissioning test saw the cable carry 1250 A at 22.9 kV for 48 h, meeting all requirements. This report outlines the KEPCO HTS cable project, including system design, manufacture, installation and testing.
Age-related changes in associative memory for emotional and nonemotional integrative representations

Events often include novel combinations of items. Sometimes, through the process of integration, we experience and remember these items as parts of a whole rather than as separate entities. Recent research with younger adults has demonstrated that successfully integrating two non-emotional items at encoding, instead of imagining them separately, produces a disproportionately larger associative memory benefit than integrating an emotional and a non-emotional item (Murray & Kensinger, 2012). In the first study to examine whether age and emotion interact to influence integration, we use two measures of integrative success – the ability to successfully retrieve integrations, measured through associative cued recall, and the ability to successfully generate integrated representations at encoding, measured through self report. The cued recall results (Expt. 1 and 2) reveal that the emotional content of the word pairs interacts to influence the effect of integration on older adults’ associative memory, but in the opposite direction of younger adults: Older adults show no associative retrieval benefit of integration over non-integration for non-emotional pairs, but they show a significant integrative benefit for emotional pairs. We also demonstrate (Expt. 2) that encoding time interacts with emotion and integration in different ways for older and younger adults: Putting younger adults under time pressure reduces their success in generating integrated representations at encoding for non-emotional pairs, whereas for older adults it disrupts their ability to generate integrated representations for emotional pairs. We discuss possible age-related differences in the processes used to create emotional and non-emotional integrations.
Long-Term Changes in Corneal Endothelium Following Intraocular Lens Implantation

To understand the long-term effects of intraocular lens implantation on corneal endothelium, 52 eyes with intraocular lens implantations and 35 eyes with simple cataract extractions were studied using clinical specular microscopy. Endothelial photographs were obtained preoperatively and at least four times in the postoperative period in each case. The postoperative period ranged from 16 to 43 months. Our observations demonstrated that intraocular implants produce a greater magnitude of endothelial cell damage and iris-supported lenses have a more deleterious effect on the corneal endothelium compared with anterior chamber lenses. Seventy-one percent of the eyes with intraocular implants demonstrated precipitates on the endothelium with 16% developing guttata-like areas. All these changes were progressive with time with no such phenomenon occurring in eyes with simple cataract extractions. The progressive endothelial cell damage may be a sequel of chronic, smoldering uveitis associated with intraocular implants.
Lyman's Law is active in loanwords and nonce words: Evidence from naturalness judgment studies

Abstract Lyman's Law is a general phonotactic restriction in Japanese which prohibits two voiced obstruents within the same morpheme. This law manifests itself, for example, in the blockage of Rendaku, a phenomenon which voices the initial consonant of the second member of a compound. Lyman's Law blocks Rendaku when the second member already contains a voiced obstruent. Lyman's Law has been formulated as a general phonotactic restriction against two voiced obstruents ( Ito and Mester, 1986 ), and believed to hold only in native words, not in loanwords, because there are many loanwords that violate this restriction (e.g. [ g aa d o] ‘guard’ and [ b a g u] ‘bug’: Ito and Mester, 2003, 2008 ). Building on Vance (1980) , Tateishi (2003) and Nishimura (2003, 2006) , however, this study shows that Lyman's Law is active even in loanwords, and nonce words more generally. In Experiments I and II, native speakers of Japanese judged Rendaku in nonce words to be less natural when it resulted in a violation of Lyman's Law. In Experiment III, native speakers of Japanese judged devoicing of real loanwords and nonce words to be more natural when devoicing was caused by Lyman's Law. Therefore, the three experiments, as a package, show that Lyman's Law is active both as a blocker and a trigger of phonological alternations. A general implication of this study is that a restriction with many lexical exceptions can still impact native speakers’ treatment of loanwords and nonce words, as predicted by theories that posit that constraints are violable ( Legendre et al., 1990a,b; Prince and Smolensky, 1993/2004 ).
A combined-nanoimprint-and-photolithography patterning technique

We propose a new lithography technique that combines the advantages of nanoimprint lithography (NIL) and photolithography. In this combined-nanoimprint-and-photolithography (CNP) technique, we introduce a hybrid maskmold made from UV transparent material and with a light-blocking metal layer placed on top of the mold protrusions. We demonstrate that the CNP method using such a hybrid mold can achieve resist patterns without residual layer, and the resist patterns can have higher aspect ratio than the feature on the mold. In addition, the photoresist used in the CNP technique can provide higher etching durability compared with thermal plastic polymers that are commonly used in NIL.
Early Identification of and Intervention for Infants and Toddlers Who Are at Risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Providing intensive early intervention is critical to maximizing outcomes for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and evidence suggests that the earlier intervention can begin, the better the outcome. The first purpose of this article is to review the earliest indicators of ASD in very young children—social and communication impairments—which have important implications for early identification. The second purpose is to review evidence-based intervention practices for children with ASD and to develop a set of guiding principles for providing intervention for infants and toddlers who are at risk for ASD. Issues that are delineated include providing intervention in natural environments, supporting families in early intervention, and embedding intervention in daily routines.
How to Protect DES Against Exhaustive Key Search (an Analysis of DESX)

The block cipher \DESX is defined by \DESXk.k1.k2(x) = k2\xor \DESk (k1\xor x) , where \xor denotes bitwise exclusive-or. This construction was first suggested by Rivest as a computationally cheap way to protect \DES against exhaustive key-search attacks. This paper proves, in a formal model, that the DESX construction is sound. We show that, when F is an idealized block cipher, \FXk.k1.k2(x)=k2\xor Fk(k1\xor x) is substantially more resistant to key search than is F . In fact, our analysis says that \FX has an effective key length of at least ? + n - 1 - \lg m bits, where ? is the key length of F , n is the block length, and m bounds the number of \langle x, \FXK(x)\rangle pairs the adversary can obtain.
Immunity to K1 Killer Toxin: Internal TOK1 Blockade

K1 killer strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae harbor RNA viruses that mediate secretion of K1, a protein toxin that kills virus-free cells. Recently, external K1 toxin was shown to directly activate TOK1 channels in the plasma membranes of sensitive yeast cells, leading to excess potassium flux and cell death. Here, a mechanism by which killer cells resist their own toxin is shown: internal toxin inhibits TOK1 channels and suppresses activation by external toxin.
Robust Negative Input Shapers for Vibration Suppression

Input shaping is a control method that limits motion-induced oscillation in vibratory systems by intelligently shaping the reference command. As with any control method, the robustness of input shaping to parameter variations and modeling errors is an important consideration. For input shaping, there exists a fundamental compromise between robustness to such errors and system rise time. For all types of shapers, greater robustness requires a longer duration shaper, which degrades rise time. However, if a shaper is allowed to contain negative impulses, then the shaper duration may be shortened with only a small cost of robustness and possible high-mode excitation. This paper presents a thorough analysis of the compromise between shaper duration, robustness, and possible high-mode excitation for several negative input-shaping methods. In addition, a formulation for specified negative amplitude, specified insensitivity shapers is presented. These shapers provide a continuous spectrum of solutions for the duration/robustness/high-mode excitation trade-off. Experimental results from a portable bridge crane verify the theoretical predictions.
EasyGO: Gene Ontology-based annotation and functional enrichment analysis tool for agronomical species

It is always difficult to interpret microarray results. Recently, a handful of tools have been developed to meet this need, but almost none of them were designed to support agronomical species.
Momentum and contrarian strategies in international stock markets: Further evidence

Abstract Previous studies have shown that market participants underestimate earnings growth for past winner stocks, and that growth stocks are more sensitive to earnings surprises. These findings suggest implementing momentum strategies with growth stocks. This study investigates linkages between value versus growth investment styles and momentum strategies in international markets. In addition, we extend Jegadeesh and Titman (2001)-type tests, which attempt to distinguish between competing explanations of the momentum phenomenon, to international market indices. Our full sample results show that momentum profits are concentrated in the growth indices, and that there is evidence of short-term overreaction in these and other indices that is subsequently corrected. Our subsample results are mixed; there is some evidence that the profitability of momentum (but not contrarian) strategies persists in the post-December 1987 period. However, unlike the earlier period, there is no evidence that markets overreact and that these overreactions are subsequently corrected.
Diet and predictors of dietary intakes in women with family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer

Abstract Background: Dietary intakes of vegetable, fruit, fiber, folate, and B vitamins have been associated with reduced breast and/or ovarian cancer risk. However, few studies have assessed dietary intakes and factors associated with diet in women with family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer (FHBOC). We examined dietary intakes and predictors of diet in women with FHBOC ( n =211) enrolled in a population-based cancer family registry. Methods: We assessed diet via a food frequency questionnaire, family history by telephone and demographic variables by questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were performed, and multivariate linear regression analyses were conducted to examine variables [body mass index (BMI), age, parity, energy intake, alcohol use, smoking and education] associated with dietary intakes. Results: Mean daily intakes were: 2.57 vegetable servings [±standard deviation (SD) 1.22], 1.56 fruit servings (±0.9), 11.21g fiber (±5.32) and 33.85% energy from fat (±9.05), 241.98μg folate (±120.80) and 1.33mg vitamin B6 (±0.62). Regression analyses showed that younger age, smoking, lower education and higher BMI had a significant association with decreasing vegetable, fruit and/or fiber intakes. BMI had a significant positive association with % energy from fat. Similar results were observed when assessing independent variables with micronutrient intakes studied. Conclusions: These data suggest that women with FHBOC should be encouraged to meet dietary guidelines for cancer prevention. Specifically, public health dietary interventions should target women with FHBOC who are smokers, less educated, have a higher BMI and are younger. Such interventions may potentially reduce breast and/or ovarian cancer risk in this population.
Unique responses of auditory cortex networks in vitro to low concentrations of quinine.

Abstract The anti-malarial drug quinine has several side effects including tinnitus. The aim of the study was to determine if cultured auditory networks growing on microelectrode arrays exhibited unique dynamic states when exposed to quinine. Eight auditory cortex networks (ACN), eight frontal cortex networks (FCN), and five inferior colliculus networks (ICN) were used in this study. Response of ACNs to quinine was biphasic, with an excitatory phase followed by inhibition. FCNs and ICNs revealed only inhibitory responses. The concentrations at which the spike rate was inhibited by 50% (IC50 mean ± SE) were 42.5 ± 3.9, 28.7 ± 4.8 and 23.9 ± 2.1 μM for ACNs, FCNs, and ICNs, respectively. Quinine increased the regularity and coordination of bursting in all three tissues. The increased burst pattern regularity of ICNs coupled with the excitatory responses seen only in ACNs between 1 and 10 μM show a unique susceptibility of auditory tissues to quinine that may be related to the underlying mechanism that triggers tinnitus-like activity.
Aggressive telecommunications overbooking ratios

The Internet is comprised of vast networks of wires and fiber. A common misconception is that there is an unlimited amount of bandwidth; in reality there exists only a finite amount. Each length of wire and fiber is owned by a company, and every company wants to maximize its profit. One means of improving profit is to overbook existing transmission lines in order to increase income without increasing expenses. If too much overbooking is performed, the quality of service (QoS) seen by customers declines. This paper explains a process to achieve an optimal overbooking ratio (OR) for admission control in network routers. By optimizing the overbooking ratio, profits can be increased while minimizing QoS problems for users.
Differences in decision making regarding risk taking: A comparison of culturally diverse and culturally homogeneous task groups

Abstract This study examined the differences in the group decision making of culturally diverse and culturally homogeneous groups regarding tasks in which alternatives consisted of a wide range of risk. One hundred and nineteen subjects were divided into 14 culturally diverse groups (having members of three different ethnic/cultural backgrounds) and 18 culturally homogeneous groups. Each group was presented with a series of decision problems that required making choices of action involving varying degrees of risk. Significant differences were noted between the decisions made by the two types of groups, indicating differences in their risk-taking propensities. The rule of the more diverse the more conservative versus the more similar the more risky was developed from the results. Investigation of the group process also indicated interaction behavior differences between culturally diverse and culturally homogeneous groups. Diverse groups had more problems with interaction behaviors that interfered with problem-solving, whereas homogeneous groups indicated more facilitating interaction behaviors. Discussion of interaction differences due to cultural diversity is offered. Implications of findings for effective management of culturally diverse groups are also given.
Overweight and Obese Humans Demonstrate Increased Vascular Endothelial NAD(P)H Oxidase-p47phox Expression and Evidence of Endothelial Oxidative Stress

Background— Obesity may alter vascular endothelial cell protein expression (VECPE) of molecules that influence susceptibility to atherosclerosis. Methods and Results— Quantitative immunofluorescence was performed on vascular endothelial cells collected from 108 men and women free of clinical disease who varied widely in adiposity (body mass index 18.4 to 36.7 kg/m2; total body fat 5.8 to 55.0 kg; waist circumference: 63.0 to 122.9 cm). All 3 expressions of adiposity were positively associated with VECPE of the oxidant enzyme subunit NAD(P)H oxidase-p47phox (part correlation coefficient [rpart] 0.22 to 0.24, all P<0.05) and the antioxidant enzyme catalase (rpart=0.71 to 0.75, all P<0.001). Total body fat was positively associated with VECPE of nitrotyrosine (rpart=0.36, P=0.003), a marker of protein oxidation, and, in men, with Ser1177-phosphorylated endothelial nitric oxide synthase (rpart=0.46, P=0.02), an activated form of endothelial nitric oxide synthase. Overweight/obese subjects (body mass index ≥25...
Exploring the Within-Person Coupling of Blood Pressure and Cognition in Elders

In this study, we examined the relationship between within-person blood pressure and cognitive functioning. We conducted an analysis on 36 community-dwelling elderly individuals (age range = 60-87 years). Participants measured their blood pressure and completed cognitive tasks (i.e., the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Task, the Letter Series test, and the Number Comparison test) twice a day over 60 consecutive days. We observed a significant interaction between within-person change in blood pressure and average blood pressure for the Letter Series test. Individuals with high blood pressure tended to perform poorly, particularly on occasions when their blood pressure level was above their personal average. These results demonstrate that the relationship between blood pressure and cognition at the between-person level and the relationship within each individual should be further explored simultaneously.
Electron-Hole Pairs Created by Photons and Intrinsic Properties in Detector Materials

A Monte Carlo (MC) code has been developed to simulate the interaction of gamma-rays with semiconductors and scintillators, and the subsequent energy partitioning of fast electrons. The results provide insights on the processes involved in the electron-hole pair yield and intrinsic variance through simulations of full electron energy cascades. The MC code has been applied to simulate the production of electron-hole pairs and to evaluate intrinsic resolution in a number of semiconductors. In addition, the MC code is also able to consider the spatial distribution of electron-hole pairs induced by photons and electrons in detector materials, and has been employed to obtain details of the spatial distribution of electron-hole pairs in Ge, as a benchmark case. The preliminary results show that the distribution of electron-hole pairs exhibit some important features; (a) the density of electron-hole pairs along the main electron track is very high and (b) most electron-hole pairs produced by interband transitions are distributed at the periphery of the cascade volume. The spatial distribution and density of thermalized electron-hole pairs along the primary and secondary tracks are important for large scale simulations of electron-hole pair transport.
Interactive effects of elevated CO2 and potassium deficiency on photosynthesis, growth, and biomass partitioning of cotton

Abstract In modern cotton production systems, potassium (K) deficiency is one of the major factors limiting lint yield and affecting fiber quality. Although influence of K deficiency on cotton plant physiology and growth and lint yield responses to K fertilizer applications have received intensive studies, it is not clear whether elevated atmospheric CO 2 concentration [CO 2 ] affects plant requirements and sensitivity to K. An experiment was conducted in sunlit controlled-environment chambers to determine the interaction effects of elevated [CO 2 ] and K deficiency during squaring and flowering on cotton plant growth, photosynthesis, and biomass accumulation and partitioning. The treatments included two levels of [CO 2 ] (360 and 720 μL L −1 ) and five levels of K supply (optimum (control) and 40, 20, 5, and 0% of the control K) at each [CO 2 ] level. Elevated [CO 2 ] significantly increased photosynthesis, leaf area and biomass production of K sufficient plants, but did not affect leaf K concentration. Potassium deficiency not only reduced these growth variables but also changed biomass partitioning among plant tissues with the greatest decrease in fruit biomass. There were significant interactive effects of [CO 2 ] × K on leaf area, canopy photosynthesis, and biomass accumulation and partitioning. The stimulation of the physiological and growth parameters observed due to elevated [CO 2 ] was lost under severe K deficiency. Under ambient [CO 2 ], leaf critical K level depended on growth variables measured and was 17 g kg −1 for leaf area expansion and 12 g kg −1 for canopy photosynthesis, stem elongation and biomass accumulation. Plants grown under elevated [CO 2 ] were more sensitive to K deficiency with higher leaf critical K levels. The information from this study is useful for understanding the cotton K requirement in the present as well as in the future higher [CO 2 ] environment and for recommendations of K application.
Screening For Hypertension Annually Compared With Current Practice

PURPOSE Hypertension is the most common diagnosis in ambulatory care, yet little evidence exists regarding recommended screening intervals or the sensitivity and specificity of a routine office-based blood pressure measurement, the most common screening test. Screening for hypertension is usually performed by measuring blood pressure at every outpatient visit, which often results in transiently elevated findings among adults who do not have a diagnosis of hypertension. We hypothesize that a more limited annual screening strategy may increase specificity while maintaining sensitivity. METHODS A retrospective case-control study of 372 adults without hypertension and 68 patients with newly diagnosed hypertension was conducted to compare the usual screening practice of checking blood pressure at every visit with a second strategy that considered only annual blood pressure measurements. RESULTS Specificity improved from 70.4% (95% CI, 65.5%-75.0%) for the usual practice to 82.0% (95% CI, 77.7%-85.8%) for the annual screening strategy. No statistically significant difference in sensitivity existed between the 2 methods. CONCLUSION A limited annual screening strategy for hypertension can improve specificity without sacrificing sensitivity when compared with routine screening at every visit in previously normotensive adults.
Evaluation of a high rate hybrid energy storage module (HESM)

There is considerable need for a mobile, reliable, efficient, and compact prime power supply for a host of applications including directed energy and electrical grid backup among others. Electrochemical energy storage devices, which possess either high power density or high energy density, have been developed recently and are very applicable for use in these applications. The need for both high energy and high power, however, makes the design and implementation of such a prime power supply a non-trivial task. While lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are available, which possess both high power and energy density, operation at high power reduces their cycle life, decreasing the reliability and increasing the cost of the system when replacement becomes necessary more frequently. One method proposed involves optimally combining high energy batteries with high power electric double layer capacitors (EDLCs) using actively controlled power electronics to regulate the current to and from each respective device. In such a scheme, energy can be slowly sourced to and from the batteries while the capacitors are used to supply or accept the bulk of the current when the demand is high, especially during fast transients. This type of scheme should not only maximize the batteries' cycle life and ensure that both the energy and power required of the load(s) is always available, but will also increase the instantaneous power capabilities of the system, offering a well-rounded solution to sourcing steady and/or transient loads. At UTA, an actively controlled, high rate HESM has been constructed to evaluate its performance under the typical load condition of directed energy weapon operation. It has been assembled using lithium-ion batteries, EDLCs, and commercial off the shelf (COTS) power electronic converters. A discussion about the future of HESMs, the experimental setup at UTA and the results obtained thus far will be presented here.
An Investigation of Concept Mapping to Improve the Reading Comprehension of Science Texts

This study investigated how well 74 6th-grade science students represented text structures from a 900-word textbook chapter on soil conservation, given a concept map template with four superordinate terms and 24 unsorted concepts. Findings suggest students were more successful at classifying pre-selected terms under given superordinate categories than they were at fully identifying relevant concept sets and articulating three different relationship types between terms. No significant differences were noted in the mapping performance of students at different reading levels. About two-third of students indicated they enjoyed concept mapping and would prefer to both read and map rather than just read without mapping. Students also expressed a strong preference for mapping in pairs or small groups compared to mapping alone. Multiple recommendations are provided for improving the relational thinking of students tasked with concept mapping expository science texts, including bridging to more open-ended maps, embedding mapping in longer-term inquiry projects, and leveraging collaborative and tool-based scaffolds.
Reply to 'Comments on the robust stability analysis of adaptive controllers using normalizations'

The author addresses a statement in the above-titled paper by P.P. Khargonekar and R. Ortega (see ibid., vol.34, no.4, p.478, April (1989)) that the proofs in four earlier papers, including two of which he is a coauthor, failed to establish that the proposed adaptive controllers provide a nonvanishing robustness margin for the considered class of unmodeled dynamics. He shows that the results in those papers are correct and that the above statement and its implications are misleading. He also rebuts an incorrect statement that mu * is inversely proportional to the initial condition mod eta (0) mod of the unmodeled dynamics, leading the reader to the conclusion that the results of the four papers cannot be global with respect to mod eta (0) mod . >
A Comparative Study of Electronic Performance Support Systems

Electronic performance support systems (EPSS) deliver relevant support information to users while they are performing tasks. The present study examined the effect of different types of EPSS on user performance, attitudes, system use and time on task. Employees at a manufacturing company were asked to complete a procedural software task and received support from either an intrinsic, extrinsic, external performance support system or no system at all. Results revealed significant differences on performance, attitudes and use between several treatment groups. The study suggests that providing any kind of EPSS to support task performance is better than having none at all. In addition, designers can improve user performance, attitudes and use by creating systems that integrate with the primary work interface.
Techniques, analysis, and noise in a Salt Lake Valley 4D gravity experiment

Repeated high-precision gravity measurements using an automated gravimeter and analysis of time series of 1-Hz samples allowed gravity measurements to be made with an accuracy of 5 Gal or better. Nonlinear instrument drift was removed using a new empirical staircase function built from multiplestationloops.Thenewtechniquewasdevelopedbetween March 1999 and September 2000 in a pilot study conducted in the southern Salt Lake Valley along an east-west profile of eight stations from the Wasatch Mountains to the Jordan River. Gravity changes at eight profile stations were referenced to a set of five stations in the northern Salt Lake Valley, which showed residual signals of 10 Gal in amplitude,assumingareferencestationneartheGreatSaltLake to be stable. Referenced changes showed maximum amplitudes of 40 through 40 Gal at profile stations, with minima in summer 1999, maxima in winter 1999‐2000, and some decrease through summer 2000. Gravity signals were likelyacompositeofproduction-inducedchangesmonitored by well-water levels, elevation changes, precipitation-induced vadose-zone changes, and local irrigation effects for whichmagnitudeswereestimatedquantitatively.
An implicit finite element method for elastic solids in contact

Focuses on the simulation of mechanical contact between nonlinearly elastic objects such as the components of the human body. The computation of the reaction forces that act on the contact surfaces (contact forces) is the key for designing a reliable contact handling algorithm. In traditional methods, contact forces are often defined as discontinuous functions of deformation, which leads to poor convergence characteristics. This problem becomes especially serious in areas with complicated self contact such as skin folds. We introduce a novel penalty finite element formulation based on the concept of material depth, the distance between a particle inside an object and the object's boundary. By linearly interpolating pre-computed material depths at node points, contact forces can be analytically integrated over contact surfaces without increasing the computational cost. The continuity achieved by this formulation supports an efficient and reliable solution of the nonlinear system. This algorithm is implemented as part of our implicit finite element program for static, quasistatic and dynamic analysis of nonlinear viscoelastic solids. We demonstrate its effectiveness on an animation showing realistic effects such as folding skin and sliding contacts of the tissues involved in knee flexion. The finite element model of the leg and its internal structures was derived from the Visible Human data set.
Old age security and inheritance in Nepal: motives versus means.

This paper documents expectations of old age support in rural Nepal. Current living arrangements of the elderly have been analysed with a focus on the ownership of land holdings. It is argued that the intergenerational transfer of property through inheritance from the older to the younger generation especially among sons together with the Nepali normative prescription that sons care for their aged parents provides a mechanism for old age support. However land is becoming a scarce resource cultural traditions are breaking down through modernisation and the living conditions of the elderly are likely to deteriorate as this process continues. (EXCERPT)
Good nutritional control may prevent polyneuropathy after bariatric surgery

Introduction—Previously we showed that peripheral neuropathy occurs after bariatric surgery and was associated with malnutrition (mainly sensory polyneuropathy). This study asks whether a multidisciplinary approach to bariatric surgery lowers risk for developing peripheral neuropathy. Methods—We performed a retrospective cohort study of all patients with bariatric surgery at Mayo Clinic between 1985 and 2002. Patients underwent intensive nutritional management before and after surgery. Potential risk factors were analyzed using life-table methods (Cox regression). Results—Univariate analysis showed the following risk factors: increased serum glycosylated hemoglobin and triglycerides, prolonged hospitalization, postoperative gastrointestinal symptoms, nausea and vomiting. Peripheral neuropathy occurred less frequently (7% vs. 13%, p<0.01) and specifically the sensory polyneuropathy subtype (1% vs. 7%, p<0.0001) than in our prior cohort. Discussion—A systematic, multidisciplinary approach of intensive nutritional management before and after surgery with frequent follow-up greatly decreased development of peripheral neuropathy (especially sensory polyneuropathy) in patients receiving bariatric surgery.
Reduction of Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol by Dietary Intervention in Children at High Risk for Premature Coronary Artery Disease

The identification and treatment of children with elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels is considered to be a high priority in any initiative to reduce the risk of premature coronary artery disease (CAD). Children who would benefit most from such treatment often have a strong family history of premature CAD. In the present study, 54 subjects in 35 families met the following criteria: they were identified through a parent with symptomatic atherosclerotic CAD and/or a strong family history of early CAD: they were between the ages of 2 and 19 years; they had fasting LDL cholesterol level above the normal range defined as greater than the 90th percentile for an age-matched control population (>120 mg/dl). At visit 1, they were counseled to follow a dietary regimen that would reduce dietary cholesterol intake to 200-250 mg/day, reduce fat intake to 30% of total calories, and increase the polyunsaturated : saturated fat ratio to 1 : 1. At visit 2, 1-12 months later (6.7 ±3.4 months), plasma lipid levels were again measured. There was a highly significant reduction in LDL cholesterol level in the group, from 170 ± 50 to 150 ± 49 mg/dl (paired t = 6.68, P 200 mg/dl), the reduction in LDL cholesterol level, although similar to that for the rest of the group, was not sufficient to put them into the normal range. No significant reduction in the plasma apolipoprotein-B level was observed.
The molluscan neuropeptide FMRFamide: calcium-dependent release and blood levels in Macrocallista (Bivalvia).

Abstract Ganglia dissected from the marine bivalve, Macrocallista nimbosa , were pooled and incubated in a series of seawater media designed to promote or inhibit the release of the neuropeptide PheMetArgPheNH2 (FMRFamide). The amount of peptide released, determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA), was enhanced two to seven times when the medium contained high potassium. FMRFamide release was reversibly inhibited when calcium was omitted from the high potassium medium. Immunoreactive FMRFamide was found in Macrocallista hemolymph in a concentration (10−9M) that excites isolated Macrocallista ventricles. Although the in vivo release sites have not yet been localized, these findings already show that the endogenous neuropeptide FMRFamide can be characterized as a neurohormone or as a neurotransmitter in Macrocallista .
Catfish and Mandala: Triple Vision

In this essay I provide a reading of Andrew X. Pham's Catfish and Mandala within a theoretical framework that I call Pham's "triple vision." This vision expands upon W.E.B. Du- Bois's concept of "double consciousness," which describes the tension produced by white attitudes and prejudices toward black subjectivity. "Triple vision," on the other hand, includes his experience of "threeness," three warring ideals in one body. I do not see Pham as a giant standing straight, one foot in each country, his body symbolizing the ability to transcend rigid national boundaries. I instead argue that an unresolved struggle takes place, not between two, but at least three worlds: a Vietnamese American community dominated by first-generation Vietnamese, mainstream America, and Vietnam.
Underground nuclear astrophysics studies with CASPAR

The drive of low-energy nuclear astrophysics laboratories is to study the reactions of importance to stellar burning processes and elemental production through stellar nucleosynthesis, over the energy range of astrophysical interest. As laboratory measurements approach the stellar burning window, the rapid drop off of cross-sections is a significant barrier and drives the need to lower background interference. The natural background suppression of underground accelerator facilities enables the extension of current experimental data to lower energies. An example of such reactions of interest are those thought to be sources of neutrons for the s-process, the major production mechanism for elements above the iron peak. The reactions 13 C(α,n)16 O and 22 Ne(α,n)25 Mg are the proposed initial focus of the new nuclear astrophysics accelerator laboratory (CASPAR) currently under construction at the Sanford Underground Research Facility, Lead, South Dakota
Creating a New Community of Support for Students With Food Allergies

Managing food allergies in schools is a necessary but complex task. Breakdowns in implementation of school policies have resulted in devastating consequences and can create a divided school community. School nurses play the central role in the food allergy education of staff, parents and students. An educated school community can then be united in supporting children with food allergies. A thoughtful approach that takes these different members of the school community into consideration is essential to put a successful food allergy policy into action. This article outlines issues to consider when educating each specific group as well as discussing the challenges that can hamper school community–wide education and their potential solutions. The ultimate goal of food allergy management education is to create a community of support and to create a self-sustaining environment of understanding and awareness that may save time, decrease divisiveness, and even save a life.
Effect of calcitonin on DNA synthesis in experimental wounds.

Summary3H-thymidine incorporation and intracellular distribution in epidermal cells and fibroblasts of scar tissue from wounded rabbits were studied following synthetic salmon calcitonin administration. Both scintillation counting and electron microcscopic autoradiography revealed a marked increase in 3H-thymidine incorporation within nuclear dense chromatin of epidermal and fibroblasts cells, mainly in 2-day wounded rabbits and at 2.5 hr. Then, 3H-thymidine uptake decreased moderately. These findings demonstrate an important role of calcitonin on DNA synthesis.
Real-time short-circuit analysis of active distribution systems

In this paper a real-time short-circuit calculation method for large-scale distribution systems with a high penetration of distributed generators is proposed. Recent years have witnessed increasing penetration of distributed generators. Thus, distribution systems have become active, where the fault current flow is no more straightforward. Additionally, modern distributed generator's models differ from the classical synchronous generator's models. Hence, traditional short-circuit calculation methods are not applicable in today's systems. The proposed method is based on the superposition theorem. An improved back/forward sweep in the sequence domain is used for calculation of the faulted system state. Results show that the proposed method is highly accurate and particularly suitable for real-time applications in large-scale systems, where the calculation time is of critical interest.