cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Laser generated ultrasound by material ablation using fiber optic delivery

This paper presents a laser/optical fiber ultrasonic probe capable of generating ultrasound by material ablation. In addition to the Q-switched Nd:Yag laser and optical fiber(s), a focusing objective is required to ensure ablation, and provides for a safe distance between optics and test specimen. This paper includes a discussion of the development of the optical delivery system and system calibration. The laser/optical fiber probe is highly suited to industrial applications because it combines the flexibility of optical fiber delivery with strong generation capabilities.
Carboxyhemoglobin levels in children with nonspecific flu-like symptoms.

Although carbon monoxide intoxication is thought to account for approximately half of all deaths caused by poisons] the incidence of sublethal toxicity has not been well investigated in a pediatric population. The manifestations of CO poisoning may be severe or subtle. 24 Commo nly, signs and symptoms are gradual and simulate other illnesses.? ,3.5 Flu-like symptoms such as headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, and drowsiness are frequent? The purpose of our study was to determine the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning as a cause of nonspecific flu-like symptoms in children who had no recognized exposure. METHODS Children younger than 18 years of age, consecutively seen in The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Emergency Department for evaluation of flu-like symptoms (headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, altered mental status), were eligible for entry into the study. Excluded were patients with symptoms specifically suggestive of a viral illness, including fever >38.9 ~ C, watery stools, viral exanthem or enanthem, or with a history of smoke inhalation. Enrollees were also required to have one or more exPosure criteria, including the occurrence of symptoms while (1) a motor vehicle passenger; (2) a resident of a home with combustible fuel heat, including kerosene heaters, wood stoves, fireplaces, natural gas appliances, Sterno units, or central heating systems older than 10 years; or (3) exposed to chemical fumes such as those generated by paint strippers.
Innovation overview and future challenges

This article reviews the changing understanding of the word “innovation”. It contains a summary of the critical criteria for innovation to take place, based upon a study of previous researchers’ work in this area. Explores the way in which developments in materials and other technologies have acted to allow innovation to take place. It is argued that materials development is a constant source of new opportunity, and that other advances periodically occur that also support successful change. Micro‐electronics is cited as a technology that has become a major enabler to innovation. The pressures on modern industry to achieve improvements to the quality, cost and development time of products are reviewed, and it is postulated that the response to these pressures encourages conservatism in new designs and thus acts to suppress innovation.
Effects of a behavioral health carve-out on inpatient-related quality indicators for major depression treatment.

OBJECTIVES To analyze the effects of the 1993 Massachusetts behavioral health carve-out for state employees on readmissions and follow-up treatment after hospitalization for major depressive disorder (MDD). METHODS The sample consisted of 218 continuous enrollees in preferred provider organization and/or indemnity plans who had any MDD admissions during fiscal years 1992 to 1995. These users accounted for 310 MDD admissions. Eligibility files and behavioral health claims were used to analyze readmissions and follow-up treatment after discharge. Kaplan-Meier survival functions were obtained for pre/post (pre-carve-out vs. post-carve-out) comparisons of the two indicators. Cox regression models were used to estimate carve-out effects on readmission and follow-up treatment while controlling for patient variables. Postdischarge contact categories were also compared. RESULTS The risk of readmission did not change significantly after the carve-out, in either the Kaplan-Meier or Cox regression analyses. Follow-up treatment was significantly more likely after the carve-out, including in the early postdischarge period. There was a significant decrease in the proportion of discharged patients followed by readmission only, and a significant increase in patients receiving follow-up treatment prior to a readmission. CONCLUSIONS Under this behavioral health carve-out, follow-up treatment was more likely, and estimated risk of readmission did not change significantly for a seriously ill subgroup of enrollees. This was true even when controlling for patient variables and using data for extended time "at risk" for each indicator. Future research on carveouts should move toward direct clinical quality measurement.
Kinamycin-mediated DNA cleavage under biomimetic conditions

Abstract The kinamycins are biologically active secondary metabolites characterized by an uncommon diazobenzo[ b ]fluorene skeleton. Kinamycin D has been shown to potently cleave DNA under mild biomimetic conditions. Use of the endogenously abundant reductant glutathione at 570 μM, kinamycin D effectively cleaved DNA in a concentration, temperature, and time-dependent fashion. Dithiothreitol also proved effective at low concentration while other reductants failed to induce DNA cleavage. Mechanistic consequences of the DNA cleavage results are described.
Borders, Laborers, and Racialized Medicalization Mexican Immigration and US Public Health Practices in the 20th Century

Throughout the 20th century, US public health and immigration policies intersected with and informed one another in the country's response to Mexican immigration. Three historical episodes illustrate how perceived racial differences influenced disease diagnosis: a 1916 typhus outbreak, the midcentury Bracero Program, and medical deportations that are taking place today. Disease, or just the threat of it, marked Mexicans as foreign, just as much as phenotype, native language, accent, or clothing. A focus on race rendered other factors and structures, such as poor working conditions or structural inequalities in health care, invisible. This attitude had long-term effects on immigration policy, as well as on how Mexicans were received in the United States.
Fault-tolerant adaptive scheduling for embedded real-time systems

Describes a fault-tolerant algorithm which uses a time-value scheduling approach to detect faults, sustain high processor utilization, and ensure timely execution of critical tasks.
Salt marsh rhizosphere affects microbial biotransformation of the widespread halogenated contaminant tetrabromobisphenol-A (TBBPA)

Abstract Estuarine sediments are the repository for a wide range of contaminants. Anthropogenic impacts and variations in the belowground biomass of salt marsh plants potentially select for different sediment microbial communities with different functional capabilities, including the ability to biotransform anthropogenic contaminants. There are large differences in both root morphology and the amount of fine root biomass of Spartina alterniflora and Phragmites australis ; Spartina is the species commonly used to replace Phragmites in northeastern US salt marsh restoration projects. Our study compared the effect of these two macrophyte species on sediment microbial communities responsible for the biotransformation of the halogenated flame retardant tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA). Sediments were obtained from contaminated and uncontaminated salt marsh field sites in New Jersey. Anaerobic methanogenic sediment microcosms were established and incubated for up to 130 days. TBBPA was reductively dehalogenated resulting in the transient formation of two intermediates, identified as tribromobisphenol A and dibromobisphenol A, and the formation and accumulation of bisphenol A (BPA) as the end product. Spartina sediments from both sites were found to dehalogenate TBBPA more rapidly than the Phragmites or unvegetated sediments, resulting in greater production of BPA. Microbial community diversity as measured by in situ sediment phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) composition prior to TBBPA exposure, was found to be higher in the uncontaminated sediments; differences in microbial PLFA diversity were not seen in contaminated sediments associated with either the different plant species or unvegetated sediment. The results of this study demonstrate that these two plant species affected sediment microbial community function with respect to dehalogenation capabilities, even though the disturbed and undisturbed sediments varied in microbial community composition.
Fluorescence characteristics and sources of dissolved organic matter for stream water during storm events in a forested mid‐Atlantic watershed

[1] The concentrations and quality of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and their sources were studied for multiple storm events collected over a three-year period (2008–10) in a forested headwater (12 ha) catchment in the mid-Atlantic Piedmont region of the USA. DOM constituents were characterized using a suite of indices derived from ultraviolet absorbance and PARAFAC modeling of fluorescence excitation emission matrices. Runoff sources and hydrologic flow paths were identified using an end-member mixing model, stable isotope data, and groundwater elevations from valley-bottom saturated areas. DOM constituents and their sources differed dramatically between base flow and storm-event conditions. The aromatic and humic DOM constituents in stream water increased significantly during storm events and were attributed to the contributions from surficial sources such as throughfall, litter leachate and soil water. Groundwater sources contributed a large fraction of the DOM constituents during base flow and were responsible for the high % protein-like fluorescence observed in base flow. Hydrologic flow paths and runoff sources were critical for explaining the differences in DOM among the storm events. This study underscored the value of studying multiple storm events across a range of hydrologic and seasonal conditions. Summer events produced the highest concentrations for humic and aromatic DOM while the corresponding response for winter events was muted. A large event following summer drought produced a complex DOM response which was not observed for the other events. These extreme events provided important insights into how DOM quality may change for future changes in climate and water quality implications for sensitive coastal ecosystems.
Preparing manuscripts for online submission: basic information and avoidance of common pitfalls.

Objectives: After reading this article, users will be able to do the following: •Understand the requirements of online submission of manuscripts; •Prepare manuscript, figure, and table files to optimize digital formats; •Avoid common pitfalls encountered in online submission processes; and •Speed the processing and review time.
Novel expression of functional luteinizing hormone/chorionic gonadotropin receptors in cultured glial cells from neonatal rat brains.

Adult rat brains contain LH/hCG receptors, and these receptors are functional in neuroendocrine regulation and behaviors. Since glial cells are important for development, maturation, and functioning of the brain, we tested the hypothesis that these cells from neonatal rat brains may also contain functional LH/hCG receptors. Reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction amplified an expected 256 base-pair LH/hCG receptor fragment from glial cells. This fragment can bind to LH/hCG receptor cDNA in Southern blotting. Northern blotting demonstrated that glial cells contain a major 2.6-kilobase (kb) and a minor 4.3-kb transcript of LH/hCG receptors. Western immunoblotting demonstrated that glial cells also contain an 80-kDa receptor protein and that its levels are significantly higher in secondary and tertiary glial cells than in primary glial cells. Immunocytochemistry confirmed that LH/hCG receptor immunostaining is present in glial cells. Since glial cells are quite active in synthesis of prostaglandins (PGs), we investigated the effect of highly purified hCG on PGD 2 and PGE 2 levels. The results showed that culturing secondary glial cells for three days with highly purified hCG resulted in a dose-dependent and hormone-specific increase in PGD 2 and a decrease in PGE 2 levels in the medium as compared to control levels. In summary, we conclude that cultured glial cells from neonatal rat brains contain functional LH/hCG receptors. Through regulation of PG synthesis, LH and hCG may influence glial cell functions that are important for neonatal brain development and function.
Scanning electron microscopy of enameloid and dentine in fish teeth.

Abstract The structure of enameloid and dentine in teeth of pike ( Esox lucius ), cod ( Gadus morhua ) and dogfish ( Squalus acanthias ) was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in calcified and decalcified states. The surface of the enameloid layer on calcified tooth tips in all three species was smooth and lacked any pattern or imbrication lines such as are found on human enamel surfaces. In dogfish and pike, the surface layer of the enameloid was formed from a terminal membrane composed of a highly calcified non-fibrillar basement membrane (1–2 μm thick) fused to the tooth surface. The similar appearance of the enameloid surface of cod teeth suggests it is formed by a terminal membrane. Terminal membranes are probably formed and calcified by the inner dental epithelial cells of the tooth organ. The bulk of the enameloid tissue (200–300 μm thick) in all three species was subjacent to the terminal membrane and consisted of fibrous-appearing, radially and longitudinally arranged crystals. The whole of the enameloid both terminal membrane and fibrous layer dissolved upon acid decalcification. A distinct dentine-enameloid tissue junction (DEJ) was present in teeth of all three species. Interdigitation of enameloid and dentine at the DEJ provided mechanical stability. The dentine of pike, cod and dogfish consisted largely of bundles of longitudinally arranged coarse collagen fibrils which form the matrix of both osteodentine and primitive orthodentine.
Thermal conductivity of 3He near the liquid-vapor critical point

Abstract A study of the thermal conductivity of 3 He is reported along several isotherms and the critical isochore above the critical temperature, and the results are compared with predictions from theory. Furthermore, the relaxation times τ for reaching the steady state after switching the heat flux on and off are reported along the critical isochore, and are compared with calculations using the static results of thermal diffusivity.
Ascorbic Acid Potentiation of Arsenic Trioxide Anticancer Activity Against Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia

Introduction. Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a malignant disorder of the white blood cells. Arsenic trioxide (As2O3) has been used as a therapeutic agent to treat APL and other tumors. Studies suggest that ascorbic acid (AA) supplementation may improve the clinical outcome of As2O3 for APL patients. Our aim was to use human leukemia (HL-60) APL-cells as an in vitro test model to evaluate the effect of physiologic doses of AA on As2O3-induced toxicity and apoptosis of HL-60 cells. Methods. HL-60 cells were treated either with a pharmacologic dose of As2O3 alone and with several physiologic doses of AA. Cell survival was determined by trypan blue exclusion test. The extent of oxidative cell/tissue damage was determined by measuring lipid hydroperoxide concentration by spectrophotometry. Cell apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry using Annexin-V and propidium iodide (PI) staining. Results. AA treatment potentiates the cytotoxicity of As2O3 in HL-60 cells. Viability decreased from (58 3)% in cells with As2O3 alone to (47 2)% in cells treated with 100 mM AA and 6 mg/mL As2O3 with P < 0.05. There was a significant (P < 0.05) increase in lipid hydroperoxide concentrations in HL-60 cells co-treated with AA compared to As2O3 alone. Flow cytometry assessment (Annexin V FITC/PI) suggested that AA co-treatment induces more apoptosis of HL-60 cells than did As2O3 alone, but this was not statistically significant. Taken together, our experiment indicates that As2O3 induced in vitro cell death and apoptosis of HL-60 cells. Administration of physiologic doses of AA enhanced As2O3-induced cytotoxicity, oxidative cell/tissue damage, and apoptosis of HL-60 cells through externalization of phosphatidylserine. Conclusions. These suggest that AA may enhance the cytotoxicity of As2O3, suggesting a possible future role of AA/As2O3 combination therapy in patients with APL.
Emerson: accessible scripting for applications in an extensible virtual world

This paper presents Emerson, a new programming system for scripting objects in user-extensible virtual worlds such as Second Life, Active Worlds, and Open Wonderland. Emerson's primary goal is to make it easy for novice programmers to write and deploy interesting applications. Scripting applications for these worlds is difficult due to two characteristics: the worlds must scale to millions of users and are therefore distributed, and there is no central authority or design so interaction is mostly between mutually untrusting applications.To simplify scripting for novices, Emerson employs two abstractions: multi-presencing and execution sandboxes. Multi-presencing allows a single program to centrally control what seem to be many distributed geometric objects. Execution sandboxes allow safely running application code provided by another object, borrowing the execution and deployment model of modern web applications.Emerson itself is implemented as a scripting plugin for the Sirikata open source virtual world platform. We evaluate the benefits of its design by describing several application examples. Through these examples, we explore the interactions between sandboxing and multi-presencing as well as their implications and discuss potential future authentication mechanisms that would make secure in-world application development more accessible.
Nucleation and evolution of zinc phthalocyanine thin films on the deactivated Si(111)-B √3 × √3 R30° surface

Abstract We report the growth evolution of thermally evaporated zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) on the deactivated Si(111) surface using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). We find that the Ehrlich–Schwoebel barrier (ESB) associated with the ZnPc step edges is negligible, while the formation of molecular domain boundaries provides an activation barrier and additional nucleation sites which increases the film roughness and interrupts the anisotropic step-flow growth. By increasing the substrate temperature, the grain boundary density is significantly reduced, resulting in a well-controlled surface morphology. This study provides insight into the influence of the ESB and the grain boundary crossing barrier on the growth dynamics of organic thin films.
Electronic structure of calcium clusters

The electronic structure of calcium clusters containing up to 13 atoms is studied within the general gradient approximation (GGA) of the density-functional formalism. For the calcium dimer it is observed that the exchange functional in GGA overestimates the binding energy, while a hybrid approach including Hartree-Fock exchange gives a better agreement with the experimental results. Binding energies, optimized geometries, vibrational frequencies, and thermodynamic properties have been calculated for several isomers at each cluster size. Various structures corresponding to saddle points of the energy curve are reported, along with the isomerization reaction path for ${\mathrm{Ca}}_{5},$ ${\mathrm{Ca}}_{6},$ and ${\mathrm{Ca}}_{7}.$ It was found that ${\mathrm{Ca}}_{12}$ undergoes a structural transition as a function of temperature, changing structure at T=317 K. A comparison of the minimum energy isomer geometry and binding energy obtained for each cluster size with those obtained from the Murrell-Mottram empirical potential shows that this potential overestimates the binding energies and does not adequately predict the optimized structures for several cluster sizes.
Compact finite difference schemes for the Euler and Navier-Stokes equations

Implicit compact finite difference schemes for the Euler equations are described which furnish equivalent treatment of the conservation and nonconservation forms; a simple modification yields an entropy-producing scheme. An extension of the scheme also treats the compressible Navier-Stokes equations; when the viscosity and heat conduction coefficients are negligible only the boundary data appropriate to the Euler equation influence the solution to any significant extent, a result consistent with singular perturbation theory.
Design of Electric Vehicle Charging and Swapping Business Management Based on Platform - Plugin Structure

The dynamic compatibility of the device and communication protocols in operation management system of electric vehicles charging station was studied. Using NPAPI plug-in technique of Netscape series browser, the communication plug-in models are set up which separate the channel management and communication protocols translation from the charging and swapping business management system, and the cross-platform package is successfully developed. The protocols identifying, frames composing and decomposing are realized through designing the data structure and the functions in the modules. Practice indicates that with the communication plug-in, different remote terminal units can be compatible dynamically by operation management system on different platform, and charging business management of the system can be completed. Thus the business management system can run stably and efficiently.
GIS for E-Planning in India

With increasing globalization and the integration of various economies, public finance and fiscal policy have acquired a new dimension in countries around the world, including India. This new era has witnessed a massive proliferation of various information and communication technologies ICTs the world over opening novel prospects for information storage, retrieval and analysis. Such novel prospects are not only being used for decision making by private sector industries but also more interest has been demonstrated in investing in technologies for public administration purposes. In the Indian context, the driving force behind an increasing use of ICTs for public administration include such objectives as improving and simplifying governance, instilling transparency and eliminating corruption and bureaucracy. The massive proliferation of ICTs in India has led to a transformation from traditional governance to e-governance. Several planning projects have been launched under the rubric of e-governance and have witnessed novel use of various information technologies, GIS being one of them. This study focuses on the Nirmala Nagara project NNP, a programme launched by the Government of Karnataka to address issues of urban development using GIS with municipal e-governance being one of its key agendas. This is one of the most ambitious Municipal e-Governance projects in the country encompassing 213 urban local bodies. This article is an initial effort towards a larger project that will focus on the process of GIS spatial knowledge production situated in contemporary India.
Profiles of reproductive hormones associated with fertile and nonfertile inseminations of dairy cows

Abstract Blood and urine samples were collected at 8-hr intervals prior to ovulation (Day 0), daily through Day 8, and during alternate Days 10 to 18. The purpose was to determine if hormonal profiles differed between fertile and nonfertile inseminations (cases). Among 37 cases involving 30 lactating cows, 32 had a palpable corpus luteum after insemination, and 11 were fertile. Hormonal values among every nonfertile case were outside the limits observed for 10 of 11 fertile cases during one or more segments of the sampling period. A consistent difference among nonfertile cases was delayed estrus and delayed preovulatory increase in LH after progesterone decreased to less than .75 ng/ml. These 14 cases represented 75% of the cases having subnormal progesterone after ovulation. Compared to fertile cases, asynchronies among nonfertile cases involved plasma progesterone, LH and estrogen, and urinary estradiol-17α most frequently prior to Day 0. Examples of abnormal hormonal profiles also included those for ovarian cysts, and early and late regression of the corpus luteum.
A New Governance Explanation for the Creation of a Minority Economic Development Public-Private Partnership in Florida

The Florida Black Business Investment Board was created to support the creation and expansion of black-owned businesses. Under a contract with the Governor's Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development, the board was tasked with increasing the number of qualified black business enterprises, increasing employment opportunities, establishing networks for black entrepreneurs, and increasing access to capital. To achieve these goals, it provided capitalization funds to regional black business investment corporations, which in turn gave loans and loan guarantees to business owners. This article uses the new governance approach to examine the relationship between the investment board, the governor's office, and the investment corporations to determine whether policy tools influence the organizational and accountability structures of public-private partnerships. It finds that the use of loans and loan guarantees influenced the organizational structure and associated accountability measures of the capitali...
Communication patterns and models in prism: a spectral element-Fourier parallel Navier-Stokes solver

In this paper we analyze communication patterns in the parallel three-dimensional Navier-Stokes solver Prism, and present performance results on the IBM SP2, the Cray T3D and the SGI Power Challenge XL. Prism is used for direct numerical simulation of turbulence in non-separable and multiply-connected domains. The numerical method used in the solver is based on mixed spectral element-Fourier expansions in (x-y) planes and z-direction, respectively. Each (or a group) of Fourier modes is computed on a separate processor as the linear contributions (Helmholtz solves) are completely uncoupled in the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations; coupling is obtained via the nonlinear contributions (convective terms). The transfer of data between physical and Fourier space requires a series of complete exchange operations, which dominate the communication cost for small number of processors. As the number of processors increases, global reduction and gather operations become important while complete exchange becomes more latency dominated. Predictive models for these communication operations are proposed and tested against measurements. A relatively large variation in communication timings per iteration is observed in simulations and quantified in terms of specific operations. A number of improvements are proposed that could significantly reduce the communications overhead with increasing numbers of processors, and {\em generic} predictive maps are developed for the complete exchange operation, which remains the fundamental communication in Prism. Results presented in this paper are representative of a wider class of parallel spectral and finite element codes for computational mechanics which require similar communication operations.
Obstetrician and gynecologists’ population-based screening practices

AbstractBackground: The ability to obtain genetic information can now be accomplished in far greater detail, and more quickly than in the past. It is important to understand obstetrician–gynecologists’ (ob-gyns) screening practices as these changes occur.Methods: Cross-sectional survey was performed by mailing paper surveys to Fellows of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and a subset of Fellows who belong to the Collaborative Ambulatory Research Network (CARN).Results: Response rates were 57% for the CARN network. Almost all responders (92%) offer population-based genetic screening in the prenatal period and almost all (93%) conduct counseling prior to the provision of genetic testing. Almost all (92%) counsel patients when the result is positive, with 46% being the primary counselor and 55% calling the patient themselves. When results are negative, 73% counsel with 58% indicating they are the primary counselor and 17% call patients themselves. A total of 72% have received continuing...
Preparation and characterization of solid-state sintered aluminum-doped zinc oxide with different alumina contents

Aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) ceramics with 0− 2 ·5 wt.% alumina (Al2O3) content were prepared using a solid-state reaction technique. It was found that AZO grains became finer in size and more irregular in shape than undoped ZnO as the Al2O3 content increased. Addition of Al2O3 dopant caused the formation of phase transformation stacking faults in ZnO grains. The second phase, ZnAl2O4 spinel, was observed at the grain boundaries and triple junctions, and inside the grains. In this study, a 3-inch circular Al2O3 (2 wt.%)-doped ZnO ceramic target sintered at 1500°C for 6 h has a relative density of 99·8% with a resistivity of 1·8 × 10 − 3 Ω-cm. The AZO film exhibits optical transparency of 90·3% in the visible region and shows an electrical resistivity of 2·5 × 10 − 3 Ω-cm.
Microstructure and fatigue of a Ni,Cr, Al-TaC eutectic composite

The Ni,10Cr,5Al-TaC aligned eutectic has been heat treated subsequent to solidification to produce several microstructural conditions. High cycle fatigue tests have been conducted at 25 and 825°C, while creep tests were performed at 825 and 950°C. Experimental variables in the fatigue tests were stress level, test frequency, and environment. Post solidification heat treatments caused substantial improvements in fatigue properties at 825°C, but had little effect at room temperature. Elevated temperature fatigue lives were substantially reduced at low test frequencies in vacuum, accompanied by a shift from external to internal crack nucleation sites. Dislocation substructures produced in high temperature fatigue tests resembled those of creep specimens.
An isentropic analysis of the wintertime vorticity exchange in relation to extratropical heat sources and sinks

The influence of heat sources and sinks on the time-averaged atmospheric circulation is studied through an isentropic analysis of the balance of dynamic vorticity. The property of isentropic dynamic vorticity, the vertical component of the curl of the momentum ( k ·∇ × ρ JU ), is based on Bjerknes' definition of circulation, his theorems and their application to problems of physical hydrodynamics including the general circulation of the earth's atmosphere. The diagnostics emphasize the three-dimensional exchange of dynamic vorticity occurring within migratory cyclone-scale waves of the Northern Hemisphere extratropics. Analysis reveals that the maintenance of the dynamic vorticity balance in the wintertime Northern Hemisphere is directly coupled to the three-dimensional distribution of heating and cooling. An isentropic mass circulation previously identified transports energy from extratropical oceanic heat sources to polar continental heat sinks. A corresponding systematic vorticity exchange occurs through air-mass exchange within mid-latitudes between continents and oceans. In the lowest isentropic layers, the balance of dynamic vorticity is maintained by absolute vorticity transport from anticyclonic circulations over Asia, North America and Greenland to cyclonic circulations over the North Pacific and Atlantic Oceans in concert with solenoidal sources and sinks within these regions. The scale of dynamic vorticity transport and solenoidal processes that occur within the isentropic mass circulation correspond with the scale of extratropical heat sources and sinks. As such, the commonality among the scales of the isentropic mass circulation, energy exchange and vorticity exchange reveals a direct response to differential heating in the maintenance of the time-averaged extratropical circulation of the Northern Hemisphere. DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0870.1991.t01-1-00003.x
Ultralighltweight Mirror Blanks

The background and historical development at Corning Glass Works of lightweight mirror blanks are presented. Design considerations using a new low-expansion glass are given. The combination of the new material with near-zero thermal expansion and a fused monolithic core technology allows lightweight mirrors to be manufactured with weight savings approaching 80 percent of the equivalent solid and, at the same time, provides exceptional thermal and dimensional stability. Illustrations of lightweight mirror structures and core configurations are also presented.
Wireless Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring in Inpatient Full-Term Pregnant Women: Testing Functionality and Acceptability

We tested functionality and acceptability of a wireless fetal monitoring prototype technology in pregnant women in an inpatient labor unit in the United States. Women with full-term singleton pregnancies and no evidence of active labor were asked to wear the prototype technology for 30 minutes. We assessed functionality by evaluating the ability to successfully monitor the fetal heartbeat for 30 minutes, transmit this data to Cloud storage and view the data on a web portal. Three obstetricians also rated fetal cardiotocographs on ease of readability. We assessed acceptability by administering closed and open-ended questions on perceived utility and likeability to pregnant women and clinicians interacting with the prototype technology. Thirty-two women were enrolled, 28 of whom (87.5%) successfully completed 30 minutes of fetal monitoring including transmission of cardiotocographs to the web portal. Four sessions though completed, were not successfully uploaded to the Cloud storage. Six non-study clinicians interacted with the prototype technology. The primary technical problem observed was a delay in data transmission between the prototype and the web portal, which ranged from 2 to 209 minutes. Delays were ascribed to Wi-Fi connectivity problems. Recorded cardiotocographs received a mean score of 4.2/5 (± 1.0) on ease of readability with an interclass correlation of 0.81(95%CI 0.45, 0.96). Both pregnant women and clinicians found the prototype technology likable (81.3% and 66.7% respectively), useful (96.9% and 66.7% respectively), and would either use it again or recommend its use to another pregnant woman (77.4% and 66.7% respectively). In this pilot study we found that this wireless fetal monitoring prototype technology has potential for use in a United States inpatient setting but would benefit from some technology changes. We found it to be acceptable to both pregnant women and clinicians. Further research is needed to assess feasibility of using this technology in busy inpatient settings.
Qualitative Assessment of a 3D Simulation Program: Faculty, Students, and Bio-Organic Reaction Animations

Research shows that computer-based simulations and animations are especially helpful in fields such as chemistry where concepts are abstract and cannot be directly observed. Bio-Organic Reaction Animations (BioORA) is a freely available 3D visualization software program developed to help students understand the chemistry of biomolecular events. This paper introduces BioORA, presents a qualitative research study exploring the different features of the program that faculty and students perceive as educationally beneficial, and addresses the value of using 3D simulations in education. Findings reveal faculty and student experiences with the software as well as aspects of their experiences within the field, and also suggest how other software programs can be developed and used for education.
C-Fms-mediated differentiation and priming of monocyte lineage cells play a central role in autoimmune arthritis

Introduction Tyrosine kinases are key mediators of multiple signaling pathways implicated in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We previously demonstrated that imatinib mesylate--a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved, antineoplastic drug that potently inhibits the tyrosine kinases Abl, c-Kit, platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR), and c-Fms--ameliorates murine autoimmune arthritis. However, which of the imatinib-targeted kinases is the principal culprit in disease pathogenesis remains unknown. Here we examine the role of c-Fms in autoimmune arthritis.
Evaluation of blood components exposed to coated arterial filters in extracorporeal circuits

Background: Biocompatible surfaces play an important role in the inflammatory response during cardiopulmonary bypass (CBP), with the arterial filter contributing a large surface area of the circuit...
The Effects of NAD+ on Apoptotic Neuronal Death and Mitochondrial Biogenesis and Function after Glutamate Excitotoxicity

NAD+ is an essential co-enzyme for cellular energy metabolism and is also involved as a substrate for many cellular enzymatic reactions. It has been shown that NAD+ has a beneficial effect on neuronal survival and brain injury in in vitro and in vivo ischemic models. However, the effect of NAD+ on mitochondrial biogenesis and function in ischemia has not been well investigated. In the present study, we used an in vitro glutamate excitotoxicity model of primary cultured cortical neurons to study the effect of NAD+ on apoptotic neuronal death and mitochondrial biogenesis and function. Our results show that supplementation of NAD+ could effectively reduce apoptotic neuronal death, and apoptotic inducing factor translocation after neurons were challenged with excitotoxic glutamate stimulation. Using different approaches including confocal imaging, mitochondrial DNA measurement and Western blot analysis of PGC-1 and NRF-1, we also found that NAD+ could significantly attenuate glutamate-induced mitochondrial fragmentation and the impairment of mitochondrial biogenesis. Furthermore, NAD+ treatment effectively inhibited mitochondrial membrane potential depolarization and NADH redistribution after excitotoxic glutamate stimulation. Taken together, our results demonstrated that NAD+ is capable of inhibiting apoptotic neuronal death after glutamate excitotoxicity via preserving mitochondrial biogenesis and integrity. Our findings provide insights into potential neuroprotective strategies in ischemic stroke.
The AGU position statement, “Human Impacts on Climate” —Rationale and process

In December 2002, AGU Council voted to extend the lifetime of AGU's position statement, “Climate Change and Greenhouse Gases,” for one year until a new statement was prepared. A year later, Council voted unanimously to adopt a new statement, “Human Impacts on Climate,” that reflected advances in the relevant science since 1998 when the original statement was adopted (see Eos, 23 December 2003). The purposes of this article are to provide the rationale for this revision, and to explain the process for formulating and approving this new statement. Background material for this new AGU statement can be found in several sources. These include Ledley et al. [1999], IPCC [2001],NRC [2001],and CSSP [2003]. The statement itself is available at http://www.agu.org/sci_soc/policy/climate_change_position.html.
Degree of bother caused by nocturia in women.

Aims The prevalence of nocturia in women has been studied, but its severity has not been categorized based on degree of bother. The number of nighttime voids that defines clinically significant nocturia has not been established. The objective of this study was to establish how bothersome nocturia is in women and to determine whether number of nighttime voids correlates with the degree of bother. We also sought to determine if this correlation was affected by age or continence status. Materials and Methods The charts of 1,214 neurologically healthy women that presented to a female urology office were reviewed. All women completed the American Urological Association Symptom Index (AUASI) and the symptom problem index (SPI). Question no. 7 of the AUASI assesses the number of voids per night and question no. 3 of the SPI assesses the bother of nighttime voiding. The correlation of these two variables was evaluated using a proportional odds model. Results Mean age was 54.6 years (18–93). 87.3% complained of waking at least one time per night to void. Bother score increased as the number of nightly voids increased, irrespective of age or continence status. The proportional odds model showed that as the number of voids increases 1 value on AUASI, the odds of having an increase in bother increases 2.7 times (P<0.0001). Conclusions As the number of nighttime voiding episodes increases, the bother increases, independent of age or continent status. Based on the degree of bother, we propose that clinically significant nocturia in women be classified as two or more episodes per night. Neurourol. Urodynam. 23:130–133, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Colorectal cancer prevention and treatment by inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2

Population-based studies have established that long-term intake of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), compounds that inhibit the enzymatic activity of cyclooxygenase (COX), reduces the relative risk for developing colorectal cancer. These studies led to the identification of a molecular target, COX-2, that is involved in tumour promotion during colorectal cancer progression. Recent studies in humans indicate that therapy with specific COX-2 inhibitors might be an effective approach to colorectal cancer prevention and treatment.
Understanding complex ecologies: an investigation of student experiences in adventure learning programs

The GoNorth! Adventure Learning (AL) Series delivered educational programs about global climate change and sustainability from 2006 to 2010 via a hybrid-learning environment that included a curriculum designed with activities that worked in conjunction with the travels of Team GoNorth! as they dog sledded throughout the circumpolar Arctic. This study addresses a gap in the AL literature by identifying factors that lead to high levels of student engagement and reveals strategies for instructional designers and educators on how to design emotionally engaging online learning environments. A mixed methods study was conducted to explore patterns of learner engagement in relation to two AL programs: GoNorth! Fennoscandia 2008 and GoNorth! Nunavut 2009. Survey data were drawn from a total of 101 students in 2008 and 2009.
A Practical Metric for Fading Environments

Wireless communications occurring in and about structures, vehicles, and other non-ideal environments are susceptible to channel fading due to multi-path conditions. For mobile communications, channels are typically modeled as Rician or, as a worst-case, Rayleigh. Emerging wireless systems, e.g., wireless sensor networks, have been shown to experience fading even more severe. We propose a metric, the 10% fade depth, by which large channel data sets can be readily distilled to characterize the fading environment be it Rician or hyper-Rayleigh. The metric is compared with the K-factor and applied to illustrate benefits of selection and polarization diversity.
Endoscopic palliation of unresectable malignant oesophageal strictures with self-expanding metal stents: comparing Ultraflex and Esophacoil stents.

Abstract Background. Two types of self-expanding metal stents to palliate dysphagia in patients with unresectable malignant oesophageal strictures have been compared. Methods. From February 1996 to October 2000, 50 metal stents (23 covered Ultraflex and 27 Esophacoil) were placed in 50 patients (40 males, mean age: 67±12 years, range: 33–100, mean dysphagia score: 3.18±0.66) with unresectable malignant oesophageal strictures. Patients were followed until death. A retrospective review has been made of a prospectively collected database. Results. The two groups were comparable as far as concerns degree of dysphagia, location and stricture length. Stent placement was successful in all cases. Covered Ultraflex stent was placed in 2 patients with oesophagobronchial fistula. No procedure-related deaths were seen. Early severe complications occurred in 2 patients (perforation in 1 and tumour bleeding in 1, in the Esophacoil group). Nine patients and 1 patient complained of pain following Esophacoil and Ultraflex stent placement, respectively. Late complications were asymptomatic rupture of distal Esophacoil rings in 2 patients, symptomatic Ultraflex stent migration in 2 and tumour overgrowth in 3 (Esophacoil 1, Ultraflex 2). Mean dysphagia score at 4 weeks after stent placement was 1.9±0.77. Mean survival was 177±109 days (range: 35–603 days). There were no significant differences in technical success, dysphagia palliation, complications (except chest pain) and survival using the two types of stent. Conclusions. Self-expanding metal stents are safe with high technical success and achieve satisfactory long-term palliation for dysphagia. The covered Ultraflex and Esophacoil stents are equally effective.
Precipitation monitoring for climate change detection

An important measure of the reliability of simulated precipitation fields by general circulation models will be its ability to reproduce the more important features of observed precipitation, including its spatial distribution, annual cycle characteristics, and the more salient features of its interannual variability.
Fibrinogen is an efficient antioxidant

Fibrinogen has been included among the risk factors for vascular disease. Fibrinogen belongs with albumin, ceruloplasmin and transferrin to an acute phase protein group in the plasma. Albumin, ceruloplasmin and transferrin are already recognized as natural antioxidants. In the present study we used three different oxygen generating systems in order to test whether fibrinogen is able to act as an antioxidant in an in vitro system. We used 1) pyrogallol auto-oxidation, 2) the reaction catalysed by xanthine oxidase coupled with the reduction of ferricytochrome c and 3) chemiluminescence. We found that in a dose-dependent manner fibrinogen inhibited superoxide generation (pyrogallol and xanthine-xanthine oxidase reactions), ferrous ion oxidation and hydroxyl radical dependent degradation (of deoxyribose). Fibrinogen also inhibited LDL oxidation (copper and azo compound-induced), hydrogen peroxide oxidation and chemiluminescence produced by polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Fibrinogen, albumin, ceruloplasmin and transferrin act as a supplementary antioxidant defense mechanism against oxidative stress arising from inflammatory conditions.
Dynamic mechanical analysis of bismaleimidodiphenyl methane and diallylbisphenol‐A crosslinked polymers

Crosslinked compositions prepared from bismaleimidodiphenyl methane and diallylbisphenol A in the weight ratio of 0.99 to 1.31 have been subjected to dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA). The glass transition temperatures of all these fully cured compositions are above 300°C. The stoichiometry of the reactants in the above range does not change the thermal degradation pattern of these crosslinked polymers. DMTA shows that there is a very small decrease in storage modulus at room temperature with increasing amount of diallylbisphenol A. The glass trnasition temperature decreases slightly as the amount of diallylbisphenol A increases; the Tg range is 330–339°C.