cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Neutrophil function in neonates born to gestational diabetic mothers.

To examine neutrophil functional activity in the cord blood of term neonates born to gestational diabetic mothers, in association with the type of diabetes and the development of neonatal hypoglycemia. Neutrophil chemotaxis, random motility, and chemiluminescence was evaluated in the cord blood of 30 healthy term neonates: 12 were born to gestational diabetic mothers who received no-insulin (GDM-NI), eight to gestational diabetic mothers who received insulin (GDM), and 10 to mothers without diabetes (neonatal controls). In addition, the neutrophil functional activity in the peripheral venous blood of 10 healthy adults was analyzed. Neutrophil functional activity in the cord blood of the neonates with and without maternal gestational diabetes was significantly lower than that in adults. As compared to neonatal controls, neonates born to both groups of GDM had decreased chemotaxis, random motility, and chemiluminescence (GDM-NI: 52.8±2.1 μm, p<0.001, 42.1±4.4 μm, p<0.001, and 140.1±6.9 counts per minute (cpm) × 103, p<0.01, respectively, and GDM: 53.0±1.9 μm, p<0.01, 41.8±4.0 μm, p<0.001, and 143.0±6.8 cpm × 103, p<0.01, respectively). Unlike controls, a tight correlation was identified between the tested neutrophil parameters in the cord blood of neonates born to diabetic mothers (r=0.70 to 0.91). The prevalence of hypoglycemia after birth was almost equal (50.0 to 41.7%) in the two groups of neonates born to diabetic mothers. There were differences in the neutrophil functional activity in the cord blood of the neonates with and without hypoglycemia. Maternal gestational diabetes leads to impairment of cord blood neutrophil motility and postphagocytic bactericidal capacity independently from the insulin requirements for the maintenance of normoglycemia during pregnancy.
Agreement between Drug Treatment Data and a Discharge Diagnosis of Diabetes Mellitus in the Elderly

The authors examined agreement between drug treatment data and a discharge diagnosis of diabetes, considered whether agreement was modified by demographic variables and measures of comorbidity, and evaluated construct validity through consideration of relations with subsequent mortality. The study sample comprised 81,700 residents of New Jersey aged 65-99 years who had prescription drug coverage either through Medicaid or that state's Pharmacy Assistance for the Aged and Disabled program and had at least one hospitalization between July 1, 1989, and June 30, 1991. In this population, 16.4% filled a prescription for insulin or an oral hypoglycemic agent during the 120 days before admission, and 16.3% had a discharge diagnosis of diabetes. Overall agreement between these two indicators was modest (kappa = 0.67, 95% confidence interval 0.66-0.67) and was weaker in those aged 85 years and above (kappa = 0.58, 95% confidence interval 0.56-0.60), those in nursing homes (kappa = 0.42, 95% confidence interval 0.39-0.44), and those with a high level of comorbidity (modified Charlson index > or =5; kappa = 0.59, 95% confidence interval 0.56-0.62). Presence of a diagnosis of diabetes was associated with an apparent 24% reduction in the risk of death during the study interval (p<0.001), while prior treatment for diabetes had little relation to mortality (p = 0.15). These paradoxical associations with mortality and the lower agreement between discharge diagnoses and drug treatments associated with older age, nursing home residence, and comorbidity suggest limitations in the use of claims data to identify diabetes in the elderly.
Efficacy and safety of eco-friendly inhalers: focus on combination ipratropium bromide and albuterol in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality and its treatment is critical to improve quality of life, reduce symptoms, and diminish the frequency of COPD exacerbations. Due to the harmful environmental effects of pressurized metered-dose inhalers (pMDIs) containing chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), newer systems for delivering respiratory medications have been developed.
Rapid bioenabled formation of ferroelectric BaTiO3 at room temperature from an aqueous salt solution at near neutral pH.

A 12-mer peptide, identified through phage display biopanning, has been used for the first time to induce the rapid formation of ferroelectric (tetragonal) nanocrystalline BaTiO3 at room temperature from an aqueous salt precursor solution at near neutral pH. BaTiO3 is widely used in capacitors, thermistors, displays, and sensors owing to its attractive dielectric, ferroelectric, pyroelectric, optical, and electrochemical properties. Two 12-mer peptides (BT1 and BT2) were selected from a phage-displayed peptide library via binding to tetragonal BaTiO3 powder. While these peptides possessed various types of amino acids, 8 of the 12 amino acids were common to both peptides. Each of these peptides induced the formation of faceted nanoparticles (50−100 nm diameter) from an aqueous precursor solution. X-ray diffraction and selected area electron diffraction patterns obtained from these faceted nanoparticles were consistent with the BaTiO3 compound. Rietveld analyses of the X-ray diffraction patterns yielded goo...
NMDA receptor-mediated excitotoxicity depends on the coactivation of synaptic and extrasynaptic receptors

N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDAR) overactivation is linked to neurodegeneration. The current prevailing theory suggests that synaptic and extrasynaptic NMDAR (syn- and ex-NMDAR) impose counteracting effects on cell fate, and neuronal cell death is mainly mediated by the activation of ex-NMDAR. However, several lines of evidence implicate the limitation of this theory. Here, we demonstrate that activation of NMDAR bi-directionally regulated cell fate through stimulating pro-survival or pro-death signaling. While low-dose NMDA preferentially activated syn-NMDAR and stimulated the extracellular signal-regulated kinase ½-cAMP responsive element-binding protein-brain-derived neurotrophic factor pro-survival signaling, higher doses progressively activated increasing amount of ex-NMDAR along with syn-NMDAR and triggered cell death program. Interestingly, the activation of syn- or ex-NMDAR alone did not cause measurable cell death. Consistently, activation of syn- or ex-NMDAR alone stimulated pro-survival but not pro-death signaling. Next, we found that memantine, which was previously identified as an ex-NMDAR blocker, inhibited intracellular signaling mediated by syn- or ex-NMDAR. Simultaneous blockade of syn- and ex-NMDAR by memantine dose-dependently attenuated NMDAR-mediated death. Moreover, long- but not short-term treatment with high-dose NMDA or oxygen-glucose deprivation triggered cell death and suppressed pro-survival signaling. These data implicate that activation of syn- or ex-NMDAR alone is not neurotoxic. The degree of excitotoxicity depends on the magnitude and duration of syn- and ex-NMDAR coactivation. Finally, genome-wide examination demonstrated that the activation of syn- and ex-NMDAR lead to significant overlapping rather than counteracting transcriptional responses.
Gaffnian holonomy through the coherent state method

We analyze the effect of exchanging quasiholes described by Gaffnian quantum Hall trial state wave functions. This exchange is carried out via adiabatic transport using the recently developed coherent state ansatz. We argue that our ansatz is justified if the Gaffnian parent Hamiltonian has a charge gap, even though it is gapless to neutral excitations, and may therefore properly describe the adiabatic transport of Gaffnian quasiholes. For nonunitary states such as the Gaffnian, the result of adiabatic transport cannot agree with the monodromies of the conformal block wave functions, and may or may not lead to well-defined anyon statistics. Using the coherent state ansatz, we find two unitary solutions for the statistics, one of which agrees with the statistics of the non-Abelian spin-singlet state by Ardonne and Schoutens.
Coronary arterial thrombolysis with combined infusion of recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator and urokinase in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

To determine whether tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and urokinase (UK) act synergistically to achieve coronary thrombolysis, incremental doses of both drugs were infused intravenously over 60 min. In 146 consecutive patients treated 3.0 +/- 1.0 hr from symptom onset, coronary angiography was performed 90 min after the start of the infusion and at 7 days. The groups of patients treated by different dose regimen were as follows: group I, 14 patients treated with t-PA 25 mg and UK 0.5 million U; group II, 20 patients given t-PA 25 mg and UK 1.0 million U; group III, 24 patients given t-PA 1.0 mg/kg and UK 0.5 million U; group IV, 33 patients treated with t-PA 1.0 mg/kg and UK 1.0 million U; and group V, 55 patients given t-PA 1.0 mg/kg and UK 2.0 million U. In groups I and II, patency of the infarct-related vessel at 90 min was only 36% and 42%, respectively. With 1 mg/kg t-PA and increasing doses of UK (groups III to V), patency ranged from 72% to 75% (overall 73%). Repeat catheterization at 7 days demonstrated reocclusion in groups III to V in 10 of 110 (9%). The patency and reocclusion rates in groups III to V were not significantly different from those in our previous study of 386 patients treated with t-PA alone (150 mg over 6 to 8 hr). In that study the patency rate of the infarct-related vessel at 90 min was 75% (p = .66) and reocclusion occurred in 15% (p = .11).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
On using humor to market higher education: at whose expense is the clowning?

This essay examines the deliberately humorous approaches undertaken in two recent higher education marketing endeavors: The American Council on Education's ‘Solutions for Our Future’ campaign and Stanford's ‘Hail, Stanford, Hail’ initiative. Three television commercials from each project are described and discussed in light of a view of comedy advanced by philosopher Kenneth Burke. Specifically, this essay identifies among each trio of videos a markedly different ‘clown’ – a figure at whom the audience is encouraged to laugh yet ultimately redeem. In turn, higher education marketing professionals and leaders are invited to reflect on choices associated with employing humorous messaging strategies.
Words, Woods, Woyds: Variation and Accommodation in Schwar Realization among African American, White, and Houma Men in Southern Louisiana

This study examines variation in the schwar realization for an area of rural Louisiana where local French varieties previously dominated and some bilingualism persists. A generational GoldVarb analysis of African American, white, and Houma (Native American) men’s speech reveals significant variation in r-ful, r-less, and diphthongal realizations by ethnoracial identity, age, and education. Apparent-time change suggests long-term, contact-influenced accommodation in which younger generations of African American men with Creole French ancestry increasingly use the dominant nondiphthongal and r-ful variants. In addition, effects of accommodation to dominant regional patterns found in the South today are observed in increasing levels of r-fulness across ethnoracial groups.
Impact of lung transplantation on site of death in cystic fibrosis.

Abstract Background Cystic fibrosis (CF) remains a lethal condition where a palliative approach is often taken at the end of life. We wanted to evaluate how lung transplantation impacts end of life care in adult CF patients. Methods Data were abstracted using a standardized data collection instrument from all outpatient and inpatient records of adult CF patients with an FEV1≤30% or prior lung transplantation followed at our Center. Comparisons were made between those who were listed/received lung transplant and those who were not listed. Results A total of 41 patients met the entry criteria. Of these, 63% ( n =26) were referred for lung transplant evaluation and 39% ( n =16) had undergone lung transplantation. Of these 41, 59% ( n =24) are deceased. The majority of deceased patients expired in an acute care hospital (63%, n =15). There was no difference in site of death between the two groups (hospital versus home). However, listed/transplanted patients were more likely to die in an intensive care unit setting compared to patients not listed/transplanted ( p =.013). Conclusions Most of our CF patients' deaths occurred in an acute care hospital. Lung transplant significantly alters site of death and shifts it from medical floors to the intensive care unit.
Detection of complex point targets in a MIMO radar system with distributed assets and partially correlated signals

A complex point target is a mathematical model for a radar target that is not resolved in space, but exhibits varying complex reflectivity across different bistatic view angles. The complex reflectivity can be modeled as a complex stochastic process whose index set is the set of all bistatic view angles, and the parameters of this stochastic process follow from an analysis of a target model comprising a number of ideal point scatterers randomly located within some radius of the targets center of mass. Six different models are summarized here, with different assumed distributions on the locations of the point scatterers within the target. We develop data models for the received signals from such targets in a MIMO radar systems with distributed assets and partially correlated signals, and consider the resulting detection problem. The problem reduces to the familiar Gauss-Gauss detection problem with hypoexponential test statistic. A related problem of adapting the transmitted signals to the target model is discussed.
Comparison of SNR and CNR for in vivo mouse brain imaging at 3 and 7 T using well matched scanner configurations

Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) for magnetic resonance microimaging were measured using two nearly identical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners operating at field strengths of 3 and 7 T. Six mice were scanned using two imaging protocols commonly applied for in vivo imaging of small animal brain: RARE and FLASH. An accounting was made of the field dependence of relaxation times as well as a small number of hardware disparities between scanner systems. Standard methods for relaxometry were utilized to measure T1 and T2 for two white matter (WM) and two gray matter (GM) regions in the mouse brain. An average increase in T1 between 3 and 7 T of 28% was observed in the brain. T2 was found to decrease by 27% at 7 T in agreement with theoretical models. The SNR was found to be uniform throughout the mouse brain, increasing at higher field by a factor statistically indistinguishable from the ratio of Larmor frequencies when imaging with either method. The CNR between GM and WM structures was found to adhere to the expected field dependence for the RARE imaging sequence. Improvement in the CNR for the FLASH imaging sequence between 3 and 7 T was observed to be greater than the Larmor ratio, reflecting a greater susceptibility to partial volume effects at the lower SNR values at 3 T. Imaging at 7 T versus 3 T in small animals clearly provides advantages with respect to the CNR, even beyond the Larmor ratio, especially in lower SNR regimes. This careful multifaceted assessment of the benefits of higher static field is instructive for those newly embarking on small animal imaging. Currently the number of 7 T MRI scanners in use for research in human subjects is increasing at a rapid pace with approximately 30 systems deployed worldwide in 2008. The data presented in this article verify that if system performance and radio frequency uniformity is optimized at 7 T, it should be possible to realize the expected improvements in the CNR and SNR compared with MRI at 3 T.
Effects of growth temperature and arsenic pressure on size distribution and density of InAs quantum dots on Si (001)

Abstract InAs self-assembled quantum dots (QDs) were grown on Si (001) substrates via molecular beam epitaxy. The size distribution and density of InAs QDs grown under different conditions were studied using plan-view transmission electron microscopy. Dot density was shown to strongly depend on arsenic beam equivalent pressure (BEP) ranging from 2.8×10 -5 to 1.2×10 -3 Pa. In contrast, dot density was nearly independent of substrate temperature from 295 to 410 °C under constant arsenic BEP, while broadening of size distribution was observed with increasing temperature. The mechanism accounting for some of the main features of the experimental observations is discussed. Finally, InAs quantum dots with optimized narrow size distribution and high density were grown at low arsenic BEP of 7.2 ×10 -5 Pa and low temperature of 250 °C followed by annealing at arsenic BEP of 1.9 ×10 -4 Pa and temperature of 410 °C.
On-chip optical processing

Microoptical components, such as diffractive and refractive microlenses, micromirrors, beam splitter and beam combining have recently received considerable attention in the optics R&D centers and finally in the manufacturing community. This achievement is due to MEM technology that demonstrated major improvements in overall performance/cost of optical systems while offering the possibility of relatively rapid transition to products for military, industrial and consumer markets. Because of these technology advances, an industrial infrastructure is rapidly becoming established to provide combining microoptical components and MEM-based microactuators for on-chip optical processing. Optical systems that once were considered to be impractical due to the limitations of bulk optics can now easily be designed and fabricated with all required optical paths, signal conditioning, and electronic controls, integrated on a single chip. On-chip optical processing will enhance the performance of devices such as focal plane optical concentrator, smart actuators, color separation, beam shaping, FDDI switch, digital micromirror devices (DMDs), and miniature optical scanners. In this paper we review advances in microoptical components developed at Rockwell Science Center. We also review the potential of on-chip optical processing and recent achievement of free-space integrated optics and microoptical bench components developed at UCLA, and DMDs developed at Texas Instruments.
A hybrid structured-unstructured grid method for unsteady turbomachinery flow computations

A hybrid grid technique for the solution of 2D, unsteady flows is developed. This technique is capable of handling complex, multiple component geometries in relative motion, such as those encountered in turbomachinery. The numerical approach utilizes a mixed structured-unstructured zonal grid topology along with modeling equations and solution methods that are most appropriate in the individual domains, therefore combining the advantages of both structured and unstructured grid techniques.
Ultrasonographic assessment of fetal growth: comparison between human and ovine fetus.

Abstract OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to evaluate the rate of ovine fetal growth for several body parameters by serial ultrasonographic measurements and to compare them with analogous data in the human fetus. STUDY DESIGN: Forty-three ewes with singleton gestations were studied. Four parameters were measured: biparietal diameter, abdominal circumference, femur length, and tibia length. Ultrasonographic examinations were performed weekly from 50 to 138 days of gestation (term 147 days). Quadratic regression analysis was used to describe each data set. RESULTS: The biparietal diameter showed a significant deceleration of its growth rate. The abdominal circumference showed a linear growth pattern. Both femur and tibia revealed a significant acceleration of the growth rate. CONCLUSION: The ovine fetal growth pattern is different from that observed in the human fetus, in which all four parameters show deceleration of the growth rate in late gestation. In comparison to the ovine, the human fetus reaches similar abdominal circumference and femur length values at term, but in a gestational period that is twice as long. In sharp contrast to abdominal circumference and femur length growth, the biparietal diameter has a similar growth rate in both species. Thus the human fetus has a slower rate of somatic growth and its greater biparietal diameter at term results from the longer gestational period.
Membrane curvature generation by a C-terminal amphipathic helix in peripherin-2/rds, a tetraspanin required for photoreceptor sensory cilium morphogenesis

Vertebrate vision requires photon absorption by photoreceptor outer segments (OSs), structurally elaborate membranous organelles derived from non-motile sensory cilia. The structure and function of OSs depends on a precise stacking of hundreds of membranous disks. Each disk is fully (as in rods) or partially (as in cones) bounded by a rim, at which the membrane is distorted into an energetically unfavorable high-curvature bend; however, the mechanism(s) underlying disk rim structure is (are) not established. Here, we demonstrate that the intrinsically disordered cytoplasmic C-terminus of the photoreceptor tetraspanin peripherin-2/rds (P/rds) can directly generate membrane curvature. A P/rds C-terminal domain and a peptide mimetic of an amphipathic helix contained within it each generated curvature in liposomes with a composition similar to that of OS disks and in liposomes generated from native OS lipids. Association of the C-terminal domain with liposomes required conical phospholipids, and was promoted by membrane curvature and anionic surface charge, results suggesting that the P/rds C-terminal amphipathic helix can partition into the cytosolic membrane leaflet to generate curvature by a hydrophobic insertion (wedging) mechanism. This activity was evidenced in full-length P/rds by its induction of small-diameter tubulovesicular membrane foci in cultured cells. In sum, the findings suggest that curvature generation by the P/rds C-terminus contributes to the distinctive structure of OS disk rims, and provide insight into how inherited defects in P/rds can disrupt organelle structure to cause retinal disease. They also raise the possibility that tethered amphipathic helices can function for shaping cellular membranes more generally.
"CERE": A CachE Recommendation Engine: Efficient Evolutionary Cache Hierarchy Design Space Exploration

Design Space Exploration is a critical step in chip design. Unfortunately, it takes significant amounts of time and resources to explore a fraction of the design space. Herein, we present a heuristic, evolutionary approach (Genetic Algorithm) to exploration that significantly cuts down on the time and resources, obtaining a near optimal design. We demonstrate the real-world utility of our tool-chain "CERE" by rapidly and efficiently designing the cache hierarchy which maximizes the performance of a web-browser navigating to a set of famous websites running on a single ARM core. We rapidly traverse 134,136 possible configurations. At about two days per simulation on the Gem5 full system simulator, the entire space would have taken 268,272 CPU-Days or 734 CPU-Years (3.7 Years on a cluster of a hundred dual core machines) to brute force search. "CERE" provided results in 4.5 days and used 17.5 CPU-Days on our cluster. We ran the configurations that "CERE" chose through Gem5 to verify that "CERE" made the right choices and we were able to observe a 17.1% speedup going from the "best" hierarchy relative to the "Worst" hierarchy.
Introduction to the Special Issue: The Statistical Analysis of Political Text

Text is arguably the most pervasive—and certainly the most persistent—artifact of po- litical behavior. Extensive collections of texts with clearly recognizable political—as distinct from religious—content go back as far as 2500 BCE in the case of Mesopotamia and 1300 BCE for China, and 2400-year-old political discussions dating back to the likes of Plato, Aristotle, and Thucydides are common fare even in the introductory study of political thought. Political tracts were among the earliest productions following the introduction of low-cost printing in Europe—fueling more than a few revolutions and social upheavals—and continuous printed records of legislative debates, such as the British parliament's Hansard and precursors tracing to 1802, cover centuries of political discussion. The possibility that the analysis of texts could provide insights into the political pro- cesses also has a long pedigree. The Italian humanist Lorenzo Valla's careful philological analysis of the reputed Donation of Constantine in 1439 convincingly demonstrated, using purely textual methods, that the document was a medieval forgery that must have postdated the Emperor Constantine I by at least four centuries. Moving toward our own day, the first modern, theoretically driven content analysis project was Harold Lasswell's Wartime Communications Project just prior to the outbreak of World War II (Janowitz 1968), and subsequently, content analysis became a standard analytical tool in the West, partic- ularly for the analysis of ''enemy'' communications, first Nazi and later Communist. Given the tedious nature of human coding, researchers recognized early on that system- atic textual analysis might be suited to automation. Harvard'sGeneralInquirer (Stone et al. 1966) emerged as the first widely used computer program for automated content analysis, and re-written from the original IBM language PL/1 into Java, it persists to this day. 1 How- ever, most of the development of automated tools within the context of the social sciences occurred in Europe (see Alexa and Zuell 1999; Popping 2000), though automated natural language processing in general continued apace in computer science (e.g., Salton 1989; Smith 1990), and occasionally, these efforts would move into the political realm (e.g., ARPA 1993).
Updraft properties deduced statistically from Rawin soundings

Between 1966 and 1973, National Severe Storms Laboratory mesonetwork soundings were taken near thunderstorms and squall lines. Thirty-four of these soundings sampled updrafts at various levels. Because of instrumental noise and atmospheric fine structure, many of the individual soundings were hard to interpret. However, significant results were obtained from the data as a whole and from the four fastest updraft cases.
Use of cyclic carbonate oligomers in the synthesis of bisphenol-a polycarbonate-polydimethylsiloxane copolymers

Polydimethylsiloxane-polycarbonate block copolymers were prepared by sequential anionic polymerizations of cyclic carbonate oligomers and octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane, or by reaction of hydroxy-terminated polydimethylsiloxane oligomers with cyclic carbonates or by reaction of hydroxy-terminated polycarbonate oligomers (derived from cyclic carbonates) with chlorine-terminated polydimethylsiloxane oligomers. The use of cyclic carbonates for making the copolymers afforded a synthetic flexibility not available through conventional methods involving phosgene.
Cholesterol synthesis in tissues of young and old Fisher 344 and Sprague-Dawley rats

Abstract Slices of liver, kidney, spleen and colon from young (45-day) or old (18-month) Fisher 344 and Sprague-Dawley rats were used to measure cholesterol synthesis from sodium (1- 14 C) acetate. Cholesterogenesis is reduced with age. Kidney and colon slices from young Fisher 344 rats synthesized more cholesterol that their Sprague-Dawley counterparts. Synthesis of cholesterol by tissues from old rats was similar in the two strains.
THE ADOPTION OF THE MULTIDIVISIONAL FORM OF ORGANIZATION: A CONTINGENCY MODEL*

This article examines the proposition that the multidivisional structure is determined by both power and efficiency imperatives. It is theorized that combining the coalitional power and information-processing perspectives of organizational choice enables us to explain and predict organizational form. The theory is tested on 291 Fortune 500 firms. The results largely confirm theoretical expectations. It is submitted that the multidivisional paradigm illustrates the central premises of the article: (1) a synthesis of efficiency and power perspectives is a viable research programme; and (2) theoretical pluralism increases empirical content and should be valued by those concerned with progress in the emerging field of strategic management.
Stability of carbon monoxide adsorbed on nanoparticle Pt and Pt/Ru electrodes in sulfuric acid media

Abstract Pt and Pt/Ru nanoparticle electrodes were used as substrates for studies of stability of chemisorbed CO and its interactions (exchange) with carbon monoxide and hydrogen gas admitted to sulfuric acid solution, which served as the supporting electrolyte for these measurements. The surface bound, radioactive CO was obtained after decomposition of 14 C labeled methanol or formic acid from the same solution. The stability and/or exchange of the surface bound CO was examined after (i) the 14 C CO containing electrolyte was replaced by the clean supporting electrolyte (to remove the CO solute from the bulk) and (ii) after hydrogen and, separately, non-radioactive CO was admitted to the cell. We found no displacement of adsorbed CO due to the exchange of electrolyte or introduction of hydrogen to the cell. However, non-radioactive CO rapidly displaced the adsorbed 14 C CO on the surface leaving behind a monolayer of chemisorbed but non-radioactive CO. Both results were independent of the electrode potential applied and they neither dependent on the source of surface CO, that is, whether it was deposited from methanol or formic acid solutions.
Do rats prefer water, near beer, or beer with ethanol?

Preference of 11 female albino rats for water or beer containing varying amounts of ethanol was tested for 12 h daily across five phases, each lasting 15 days. During Phase 1, the animals had free access to beer containing 3.2% ethanol, beer without ethanol (near beer), and water. During Phases 2, 3, and 4, they had free access to 3.2% beer and water, 4.5% beer and water, and 10% beer and water, respectively. During Phase 5, they again had 3.2% beer, near beer, and water. Between phases, there were 5 days of baseline water consumption. During Phases 1 and 5, 3.2% beer was preferred over water, and near beer was overwhelmingly preferred over the other two fluids. In fact, the volume of near beer consumed during Phases 1 and 5, respectively, was 5.2 and 3.3 times the volume of water consumed at baseline. During Phase 2, 3.2% beer was preferred to water, and during Phase 3,4.5% beer was preferred to water. Only when the ethanol concentration reached 10%, during Phase 4, was water preferred to beer.
Bacterial transport suppressed by fluid shear

Bacteria often reside in fluids. Now, it is shown that hydrodynamic shear, which creates forces and torques on bacterial suspensions, stimulates the attachment of bacteria to surfaces and seriously hinders chemotaxis.
Evidence for the onset of feedback regulation of cortisol in larval summer flounder

Abstract We investigated the functional development of feedback regulation of cortisol levels during early development in a marine teleost, summer flounder, using a novel pharmaceutical approach. Larvae were immersed for 4 h in the glucocorticoid agonist dexamethasone (20 μM) and/or the glucocorticoid-receptor antagonist RU486 (0.12 μM) at 1, 7, or 21 days after hatching. The hypothesis was that, if feedback regulation were operational, tissue cortisol concentrations would be suppressed by dexamethasone and stimulated by RU486. Whole-body cortisol content of 1-day-old larvae was significantly decreased from 0.32 ng/g body weight (mean) to 0.08–0.12 ng/g by immersion in dexamethasone, RU486, or both, perhaps due to displacement of cortisol from the yolk sac. There were no changes in cortisol content among treatment groups in 7-day-old larvae. The expectations of our hypothesis were met in 21-day-old larvae. Immersion in RU486 increased cortisol content from 0.29 ng/g (control) to 2.00 ng/g, whereas immersion in dexamethasone (with or without RU486) suppressed cortisol to 0.03–0.04 ng/g. The results indicate that a fully functional hypothalamic–pituitary–interrenal axis is established by 3 weeks after yolk-sac resorption, but before the onset of metamorphosis in summer flounder. This is the earliest detection of feedback regulation in a teleost fish.
A note on the comparison of five heuristic optimization techniques of a certain retrieval queries

Abstract We describe five heuristic techniques to optimize decision trees of uniform depth, that is, to minimize their storage requirement. We also compare them in terms of speed and effectiveness.
Subcutaneous allergen immunotherapy restores human dendritic cell innate immune function.

Background We recently reported that human blood dendritic cells from allergic subjects have impaired IFN-α production following TLR9-dependent innate immune stimulation. It is not known how subcutaneous allergen immunotherapy (SCIT) affects dendritic cell immune responses.
Development of adiabatic shear bands in annealed 316L stainless steel: Part II. TEM studies of the evolution of microstructure during deformation localization

The evolution of adiabatic shear localization in an annealed AISI 316L stainless steel has been investigated and was reported in Part I of this paper (Met. Trans. A, 2006, Vol. 37A, pp. 2435–446). In the present research (Part II), a comprehensive transmission electron microscopy (TEM) examination was conducted on the microstructural evolution of shear localization in this material at different loading stages. The TEM results indicate that elongated subgrain laths and an avalanche of dislocation cells are the major characteristics in an initiated band. Development of the substructures within shear bands is controlled by dynamic recovery and continuous dynamic recrystallization. The core of shear bands was found to consist of fine equiaxed subgrains. Well-developed shear bands are filled with a mixture of equiaxed, rectangular, and elongated subgrains. The equiaxed subgrains, with a typical size less than 100 nm, are postulated to result from either the breakdown and splitting of subgrain laths or the reconstruction of subcells.
Caring for a spouse with end-stage heart failure through implantation of a left ventricular assist device as destination therapy

Abstract Objectives This qualitative study describes the experiences of spousal caregivers of a patient with end-stage heart failure (HF) from pre-LVAD to post-LVAD-DT implantation. Background LVAD-DTs are implanted as permanent devices for end-stage HF patients with the goal of improving the length and quality of life. LVADs create new demands for both patients and caregivers. Methods In-depth, semi-structured interviews of 10 spousal caregivers were thematically analyzed. Results Throughout the process of caregiving, pre-implant through post-implant, all caregivers discussed their ability to adapt within the role as a caregiver. Adaptation as a caregiver occurred through three distinct time frames following the progression of the patient's HF and subsequent LVAD implantation: caring for a spouse with HF, decision for LVAD implantation made, and caring for a spouse with the LVAD-DT. Conclusions Caregivers were able to adapt and develop effective strategies to incorporate the demands of caring for a spouse with an LVAD-DT, but the role remained challenging. The findings underscore the need for continued research that may be translated into effective interventions to support patient and caregivers as they live through this end-of-life trajectory.
On the simultaneous calcination and sintering of YBa2Cu3O7−x in high magnetic fields

Abstract YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7− x was prepared from Y 2 O 3 , BaCO 3 and CuO by calcination and sintering carried out in one step (without intermediate grinding and pressing) at 900°C and 12 T for 9 h. The resulting superconductor had higher J c perpendicular to the magnetic field than parallel to the field. J c perpendicular to the field was slightly larger than that for the case without a magnetic field and all J c values were low due to the high porosity resulted from having no intermediate grinding and pressing. In contrast to previously published work, no crystallographic alignment was indicated by X-ray diffraction, so the degree of alignment of the c -axis texture parallel to the magnetic field was, if present, very small. We conclude that the method of calcination and sintering in a magnetic field for possible alignment of YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7− x crystals is not practical.
Geographies of global telephony in the age of the internet

Abstract This paper offers an overview of the massive regulatory, technological, and social changes that have reshaped the world’s telephony markets since the rise of the internet. It begins by examining how neoliberalism has reworked the world’s telecommunications markets, and then turns to the global wave of deregulation that this transformation has entailed. It then focuses on the geographies of mobile or cellular telephony, which exceeds traditional landlines by a factor of 10 and is having substantial impacts, particularly in the developing world. The fourth part delves into the rapidly expanding domain of Voice Over Internet (VOIP) telephony such as Skype, which comprises more than a quarter of the world’s telephone traffic.
Dihydropyridine sensitive calcium channels in a smooth muscle cell line.

The pharmacological properties of voltage sensitive calcium channels (VSCC) were examined in a rat aortic smooth muscle cell line (A10). The inorganic VSCC blockers Co2+ and Cd2+ blocked 45Ca2+ uptake into these cells in both 5 mM K+ and 50 mM K+ (depolarizing) conditions. The organic VSCC antagonists nitrendipine, nimodipine, D-600 and diltiazem also blocked 45Ca2+ uptake at low concentrations. The relative potencies of blockade were similar to those found in intact vascular smooth muscle. The VSCC “agonist” BAY K8644 enhanced 45Ca2+ uptake and this effect could be reversed by nitrendipine. These results indicate that A10 cells possess VSCC and that these VSCC behave similarly to those in authentic smooth muscle.
Late Onset Mania

ABSTRACT Late-onset mania is a rare condition that can he successfully treated but is easily unrecognized and misdiagnosed. When mania manifests against a background of pre-existing cognitive impairment in an elderly patient, it may be difficult to distinguish from agitated states occurring in the course of dementia or delirium. Secondary mania occurs in the elderly as result of a variety of medical and/or pharmacological antecedents. Primary mania occurs as a phase of manic-depressive illness similar to that seen in young adults. Two elderly patients who presented with first episode mania in late life are described, and the clinical, diagnostic and management problems are discussed. In both cases there were no significant abnormalities on laboratory tests or CAT scan. In one patient there was cognitive impairment. Both patients responded to valproic acid.
From private lives to collective action: Recruitment and participation incentives for a community energy program

Community energy initiatives offer a potentially important means for reshaping the electrical system in a manner compatible with emissions reduction goals. Many such initiatives, however, focus upon top-down, institutionally structured approaches that understand community residents as atomistic, economically motivated, and minimally engaged. This paper examines a number of case studies that are based upon a bottom-up approach rooted in a civic culture that seeks to maximize the capacities of an active and engaged citizenry. The paper focuses upon two mutually dependent issues: first, recruiting community members, and second, sustaining their participation.
Binding of muscimol-conjugated quantum dots to GABAC receptors.

Functionalization of highly fluorescent CdSe/ZnS core−shell nanocrystals (quantum dots, qdots) is an emerging technology for labeling cell surface proteins. We have synthesized a conjugate consisting of ∼150−200 muscimols (a GABA receptor agonist) covalently joined to the qdot via a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) linker (∼78 ethylene glycol units) and investigated the binding of this muscimol−PEG−qdot conjugate to homomeric ρ1 GABAC receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes. GABAC receptors mediate inhibitory synaptic signaling at multiple locations in the central nervous system (CNS). Binding of the conjugate was analyzed quantitatively by determining the fluorescence intensity of the oocyte surface membrane in relation to that of the surrounding incubation medium. Upon 5- to 10-min incubation with muscimol−PEG−qdots (34 nM in qdot concentration), GABAC-expressing oocytes exhibited a fluorescent halo at the surface membrane that significantly exceeded the fluorescence of the incubation medium. This halo was ab...
The subsurface methane maximum in the Southern California Bight

Abstract The distribution of dissolved methane in the water column of the Santa Monica Basin was investigated on five cruises in the Southern California Bight. The cruises included summer, fall and winter sampling dates. A subsurface methane maximum was usually observed but it was not a consistent feature. Its absolute depth, depth relative to other features and its magnitude all varied on the scale of hours, as well as among seasons. The surface water was always supersaturated with respect to the atmosphere, but the steady state diffusive sea-air flux was small due to the low aqueous concentrations. A single wind event could change the surface concentrations drastically and enhance the air-sea flux by several fold. Methane oxidation rates were negligible in the depth interval of the subsurface concentration maximum, implying that methane is not an active component of the surface ocean carbon cycle. Internal tides and waves are implicated as major factors controlling the methane distribution, due to the apparent semidiurnal periodicity in depth and magnitude of the methane maximum.
National School on Neutron and X-ray Scattering

The National School on Neutron and X-ray Scattering (NXS) provides graduate students at the start of their thesis research who are attending universities in North America with a comprehensive introduction to the wide array of neutron and X-ray scattering techniques available at large-scale user facilities. The two-week-long NXS school combines both a classroom component, which lays out a theoretical foundation of these techniques, and hands-on demonstration experiments on state-of-the-art instruments at the facilities to provide a practical introduction on how specific measurements are performed and analyzed. During the classroom lectures, the students are introduced to the basic principles of neutron and X-ray scattering theory, the characteristics of the sources, detectors, optics, and familiarized with various specific techniques available at the facilities. These topics are covered by ~25 lecturers each year, drawn from leading experts in academia, national laboratories, and industry. In addition, mor...
Least‐squares finite element method on adaptive grid for PDEs with shocks

We apply the least-squares finite element method with adaptive grid to nonlinear time-dependent PDEs with shocks. The least-squares finite element method is also used in applying the deformation method to generate the adaptive moving grids. The effectiveness of this method is demonstrated by solving a Burgers' equation with shocks. Computational results on uniform grids and adaptive grids are compared for the purpose of evaluation. The results show that the adaptive grids can capture the shock more sharply with significantly less computational time. For moving shock, the adaptive grid moves correctly with the shock. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq, 2006
An empirical investigation of relationships between official development assistance (ODA) and human and educational development

Purpose – This paper aims to investigate the relationship between official development assistance (ODA) and human and educational development in countries in Southeast Asia.Design/methodology/approach – In the study described here, empirical evidence was used to investigate the relationship between ODA provided between 1990 and 2004 and its impact on the human and educational development of countries in Southeast Asia.Findings – A review of efforts made over the past 15 years in providing developmental aid reveals that there still remain gaps in the human development dimensions – income, education, and health – within and between countries. Second, real gross domestic product and foreign direct investment have significant associations with human and educational development, while, at the aggregate level, ODA has a significant positive association only with human development. Third, ODA that is targeted to support socio‐economic development has a significant relationship with human development. Fourth, ODA...
Prolongation of thrombus-formation time in rabbits given chondroitin sulfate A

Summary A single intravenous injection of 80 mg chondroitin sulfate A/kg of body weight resulted in a significant increase in thrombus-formation time over pre-injection levels in rabbits as determined by the Chandler loop method. This effect did not occur immediately after injection but thrombus-formation times began to increase 3–6 h after injection and reached maximal levels (approximately 4 times pre-injection levels) 12 h after injection. 24 and 48 h after injection thrombus-formation times averaged 3 times pre-injection levels. Thereafter they dropped although they were still elevated over pre-injection levels 120 h after injection. Rabbits injected with 40 mg or 20 mg chondroitin sulfate A/kg of body weight also exhibited an increase in thrombus-formation time although to a lesser extent. No significant increase in thrombus-formation time over pre-injection levels occurred following the intravenous injection of saline solution alone. A single intravenous injection of heparin sodium (2000 U. heparin/kg of body weight) resulted in a striking prolongation of thrombus-formation time ( i.e. , in excess of 4 times the maximal prolongation obtained with chondroitin sulfate A) in blood taken 1.5 h after injection but thrombus-formation times averaged only slightly longer than pre-injection levels in blood taken 12 h after injection. Findings indicate that the prolongation of thrombus-formation time following the intravenous administration of chondroitin sulfate A was not due to a reduction in blood platelet count or plasma fibrinogen levels.
Magnesium content within the skeletal architecture of the coral Montastraea faveolata : locations of brucite precipitation and implications to fine-scale data fluctuations

Small portions of coral cores were analyzed using a high-resolution laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (LA ICP-MS) to determine the geochemical signatures within and among specific skeletal structures in the large framework coral, Montastraea faveolata. Vertical transects were sampled along three parallel skeletal structures: endothecal (septal flank), corallite wall, and exothecal (costal flank) areas. The results demonstrate that trace element levels varied among the three structures. Magnesium (Mg) varied among adjacent structures and was most abundant within the exothecal portion of the skeleton. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed the presence of hexagonal crystals forming thick discs, pairs or doublets of individual crystals, and rosettes in several samples. High Mg within these crystals was confirmed with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), infrared spectrometry, and LA ICP-MS. The chemical composition is consistent with the mineral brucite [Mg(OH2)]. These crystals are located exclusively in the exothecal area of the skeleton, are often associated with green endolithic algae, and are commonly associated with increased Mg levels found in the adjacent corallite walls. Although scattered throughout the exothecal, the brucite crystals are concentrated within green bands where levels of Mg increase substantially relative to other portions of the skeleton. The presence and locations of high-Mg crystals may explain the fine-scale fluctuations in Mg data researchers have been questioning for years.