cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hypomagnesemia in patients in postoperative intensive care.

In order to study the clinical consequences of postoperative hypomagnesemia, the serum magnesium (Mg) concentration was measured in samples of blood collected from 193 patients admitted to two postoperative ICUs. On admission to the ICU, 117 patients (61 percent) had hypomagnesemia (serum Mg 2.0 mEq/dl). There were no correlations between the severity of illness score (r = 0.145) or the degree of hypoproteinemia (r = 0.01) and the postoperative serum Mg level. Patients with sever hypomagnesemia (serum Mg ≤1.0 mEq/dl) experienced hypokalemia more often (p (Chest 1989; 95:391-97)
One Personality, Multiple Selves: Integrating Personality and Social Roles

How do people maintain multiple, role-specific self-conceptions as well as a consistent sense of self? In a sample of middle-aged women, we examined three issues: (a) the ways in which people view themselves as both different and similar across social roles (e.g., parent, friend, worker), (b) how role-specific self-conceptions and general self-conceptions are related, and (c) the merits of predicting role-specific criteria from role-specific and general self-conceptions. Results showed that subjects' self-conceptions were specific to role contexts, yet highly correlated across those same role contexts. In addition, role-specific self-conceptions were more similar to the general self-concept for roles with which the individual was more satisfied. Finally, as predicted from the bandwidth-fidelity trade-off, ratings of the general self correlated moderately with outcomes across all role domains, whereas ratings of role-specific self-conceptions correlated strongly with outcomes for the same role, but not in other roles.
An examination of Value Line¿s long-term projections.

Abstract Unlike previous papers, which have focused on the timeliness ranks, we examine Value Line’s 3–5 year projections for stock returns, earnings, sales and related measures. We find that Value Line’s stock return and earnings forecasts exhibit large positive bias, although their sales predictions do not. For stock returns, Value Line’s projections lack predictive power; for other variables predictive power may exist to some degree. Our findings suggest the spectacular past performance of the timeliness indicator reflects either close alignment with other known anomalies or data mining, and that investors and researchers should use Value Line’s long-term projections with caution.
Outlier detection in the state space model

Abstract Zellner (1975), Chaloner and Brant (1988), and Chaloner (1991) used the posterior distributions of the realized errors to define outliers in a linear model. The same concept is used here to define outliers in a state-space model. An effective approach to compute the posterior probabilities of observations being outliers is developed and illustrated by means of examples. The detection of two outliers is straightforward.
Spectral pulse shaping with adaptive feedback in fiberized CPA systems for sub-picosecond, high contrast pulses

Sub-picosecond, transform-limited pulses with parabolic optical intensity profile were generated for fiber based chirped pulse amplification (CPA) systems. By utilizing parabolic pulse shaping with both spectral intensity and phase modulation, pulse peak power was increased by a factor of 5 when using chirped fiber Bragg gratings (CFBG) stretcher, and by a factor of 6.2 with a fiber spool stretcher. This is a very robust and versatile technique, easy to integrate into a wide range of CPA systems and applications.
On education in entrepreneurship: an interview with Jessica Mah

Jessica Mah started her first company, internshipIN.com, at the age of 13, shortly after she began her studies in computer science at the University of California, Berkeley. Currently Product Architect and CEO of inDinero.com, which she co-founded during her undergraduate studies, she discusses the value of her computer science education and how it affected her entrepreneurial path.
Failure Analysis of Worn Surface Micromachined Microengines

Failure analysis (FA) tools have been applied to analyze failing polysilicon microengines. These devices were stressed to failure under accelerated conditions in both oxidizing and non-oxidizing environments. The dominant failure mechanism of these microengines was identified as wear of rubbing surfaces. This often results in either seized microengines or microengines with broken pin joints. Analysis of these failed polysilicon devices found that wear debris was produced in both oxidizing and non-oxidizing environments. By varying the relative percent humidity (%RH), they observed an increase in the amount of wear debris with decreasing humidity. Plan view imaging using scanning electron microscopy revealed build-up of wear debris on the surface of microengines. Focused ion beam (FIB) cross sections revealed the location and build-up of wear debris on the surface of microengines. Focused ion beam (FIB) cross sections revealed the location and build-up of wear debris within the microengine. Seized regions were also observed in the pin joint area using FIB processing. By using transmission electron microscopy in conjunction with energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS), they were able to identify wear debris produced in low (1.8% RH), medium and high (39% RH) humidities.
Role of Cellular RNA Processing Factors in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 mRNA Metabolism, Replication, and Infectivity

Expression of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 genome requires several cellular factors regulating transcription, alternative splicing, RNA stability, and intracellular localization of the viral transcripts. In vitro and ex vivo approaches have identified SR proteins and hnRNPs of the A/B and H subfamilies as cellular factors that regulate different aspects of viral mRNA metabolism. To understand the role of these protein families within the context of the full replicating virus, we altered the expression levels of hnRNPs H, F, 2H9, GRSF1, A1, A2, and A3 and SR proteins SC35, SF2, and SRp40 in HEK 293 cells transfected with the proviral clone pNL4-3. Quantitative and semiquantitative PCR analyses showed that overexpression as well as downregulation of these proteins disrupted the balance of alternatively spliced viral mRNAs and may alter viral transcription. Furthermore, expression of hnRNPs H, F, 2H9, A1, and A2 and SR proteins SF2 and SRp40 increased nuclear localization of the unspliced Gag/Pol mRNA, while the same factors increased the cytoplasmic localization of the partially spliced Env mRNA. We also report that overexpression of hnRNPs A1 and A2 and SR proteins SF2, SC35, and SRp40 causes a dramatic decrease in virion production. Finally, utilizing a reporter TZM-bl cell line, we show that virion infectivity may be also impacted by deregulation of expression of most SR proteins and hnRNPs. This work demonstrates that cellular factors regulating mRNA processing have wide-ranging effects on human immunodeficiency virus type 1 replication and should be considered novel therapeutic targets.
Influence of nitrogen doping on oxygen reduction electrocatalysis at carbon nanofiber electrodes.

Nondoped and nitrogen-doped (N-doped) carbon nanofiber (CNF) electrodes were prepared via a floating catalyst chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method using precursors consisting of ferrocene and either xylene or pyridine to control the nitrogen content. Structural and compositional differences between the nondoped and N-doped varieties were assessed using TEM, BET, Raman, TGA, and XPS. Electrochemical methods were used to study the influence of nitrogen doping on the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The N-doped CNF electrodes demonstrate significant catalytic activity toward oxygen reduction in aqueous KNO(3) solutions at neutral to basic pH. Electrochemical data are presented which indicate that the ORR proceeds by the peroxide pathway via two successive two-electron reductions. However, for N-doped CNF electrodes, the reduction process can be treated as a catalytic regenerative process where the intermediate hydroperoxide (HO(2)(-)) is chemically decomposed to regenerate oxygen, 2HO(2)(-) O(2) + 2OH(-). The proposed electrocatalysis mechanisms for ORR at both nondoped and N-doped varieties are supported by electrochemical simulations and by measured difference in hydroperoxide decomposition rate constants. Remarkably, approximately 100 fold enhancement for hydroperoxide decomposition is observed for N-doped CNFs, with rates comparable to the best known peroxide decomposition catalysts. Collectively the data indicate that exposed edge plane defects and nitrogen doping are important factors for influencing adsorption of reactive intermediates (i.e., superoxide, hydroperoxide) and for enhancing electrocatalysis for the ORR at nanostructured carbon electrodes.
Midbrain unit activity during classical conditioning

Summary In behaving rats, unit activity recorded from the ventral tegmentum and from the reticular formation was monitored during classical conditioning. Rewarding electric stimulation of the medial forebrain bundle was used as the unconditioned stimulus (UCS). Only those cells possessing prior responses to the conditioned stimulus (CS) changed their responses as a result of conditioning. Responses recorded from cells which were driven by both the auditory CS and the brain shock UCS were significantly more often changed than those driven by the CS alone. These data show that the auditory and brain shock fields of influence interact in at least some brain regions prior to conditioning and that pairing the two kinds of stimuli is more likely to influence auditory responses recorded from these regions than those recorded elsewhere. It is possible to imagine that the intersection of the two fields is a sine qua non of conditioning and that the two prior actions caused the change by interacting at or near the recording point.
Effect of riluzole and gabapentin on cocaine- and methamphetamine-induced behavioral sensitization in mice.

Rationale: Recent studies have suggested the involvement of excitatory amino acid (EAA) and inhibitory gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) transmission in the effects of psychostimulants such as cocaine and amphetamines. Objectives: The present study was undertaken to investigate whether drugs that are considered to inhibit glutamate release (e.g., riluzole) or increase GABAergic transmission (e.g., gabapentin) attenuate the induction and expression of sensitization to cocaine and methamphetamine (METH) in Swiss Webster mice. Methods: Sensitizationto the psychomotor stimulating effect of cocaine and METH was rendered by five daily injections of cocaine (20 mg/kg) or METH (1.0 mg/kg). Locomotor activity was measured by infrared beam interrupts. Results: Pretreatment with riluzole (2.5–20.0 mg/kg) affected neither the expression nor the induction of sensitization to cocaine. The pretreatment with riluzole (20 mg/kg) blocked the acute response to METH on day 1 and the expression of the sensitized response on day 5 but not the induction of sensitization to METH. Pretreatment with gabapentin (10 mg/kg and30 mg/kg) affected neither the expression nor the induction of sensitization to cocaine. The pretreatment with gabapentin attenuated the acute response to METH on day 1 and the expression of the sensitized response on day 5, but it failed to block the induction of sensitization to METH. Psychostimulant-induced conditioned locomotion was affected neither by riluzole nor by gabapentin. Conclusions: Riluzole and gabapentin had no effect on the induction of sensitization to cocaine and METH; however, they attenuated the expression of sensitization to METH but not to cocaine. These findings suggest that riluzole- and gabapentin-mediated changes in EAA and GABAergic transmission, respectively, had no effect on mechanisms associated with the induction of sensitization, but they may affect the expression of the sensitized response to METH.
Estimating Winter Salmonid Abundance in Small Western Washington Streams: A Comparison of Three Techniques

Abstract We compared the relative efficiency of day snorkeling, night snorkeling, and multiple-removal electrofishing at estimating abundance of juvenile coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch and trout Oncorhynchus spp. during winter in four small western Washington streams. Salmonid abundance was estimated within 32 individual habitats at low to moderate winter flows and low water temperatures (<7.0°C). Day snorkel counts were significantly less than both night snorkel counts and multiple-removal electrofishing estimates. Night snorkel counts were not significantly different from electrofishing estimates, although the percentage of electrofishing estimates accounted for by night snorkeling varied by stream from 50% to 175% for coho salmon and from 75% to 82% for trout. The difference between electrofishing estimates and night snorkel counts was positively correlated with fish density for coho salmon, indicating that night snorkel counts were most similar to electrofishing estimates at densities less than 0.5 ...
Methods of determining heat release rate: State-of-the-art

The heat release rate of combustible materials gives some insight into their behaviour in fire. In this paper three thermal methods and a gas analysis method of determining heat release rate are reviewed. Delayed response due to thermal inertia of the apparatus and radiative heat release when it is significantly great, are two major problems with the thermal methods. The gas analysis method, or the oxygen consumption method, is simple and more generally applicable; its accuracy can be improved by determining, in addition to oxygen, other gases in the effluent.
Preface: psychophysiology and cognitive neuroscience.

Abstract The intersection of psychophysiology and cognitive neuroscience has proved to be fertile ground for advancing our understanding of the neurobiological basis of behavior. The eight original empirical articles in this special issue contribute a variety of new evidence for how various bodily processes interrelate with brain processes, especially in the service of emotions and feelings. The findings are rich in their own right, and they also underscore the value of psychophysiological approaches in the investigation of brain–behavior relationships. This type of work is helping to shape a new field of “affective neuroscience.”
The Status and Quality of Radiation Measurements in Water—1977

The data returned to the Quality Assurance Branch, Environmental Monitoring and Support Laboratory, Las Vegas, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, by participants in the Environmental Radioactivity Laboratory Intercomparison Studies Program are summarized. Some 150 state, federal, private, and international laboratories analyzed samples of unknown concentration at or near environmental levels for various radionuclides as part of the Intercomparison Studies Program for Water. In all, 24 water studies were conducted in 1977, requiring participating laboratories to measure the following radionuclides: gross alpha, gross beta, tritium, chromium-51, zinc-65, cobalt-60, ruthenium-106, cesium-134, cesium-137, strontium-89, strontium-90, radium-226, radium-228, and plutonium-239. The precision and accuracy of the cumulative reported intercomparison data for the 1977 water analyses are examined.
Going deep: Learning from campuses that share responsibility for student success

Nearly two years of intensive research into the daily work of twenty institutions may finally put to rest any doubt that building cross-campus collaborations to facilitate student success is essential.
Lunar Erosion and Brownian Motion

RECENT photographs of the lunar surface taken by the U.S. Ranger space craft indicate that erosion occurs on the face of the Moon. A number of speculations as to the source of this erosion have appeared. I suggest that Brownian motion provides a mechanism of lunar erosion which seems likely to account for at least part of the observed erosion.
Monte Carlo uncertainty and sensitivity analysis of the CACM chemical mechanism

[1] This paper presents a global uncertainty and sensitivity analysis of the Caltech Atmospheric Chemistry Mechanism (CACM). Emphasis is placed on the characterization of uncertainties for product concentrations that constitute secondary organic aerosol (SOA) in CACM. The sensitivity analysis of the chemical mechanism is performed using Monte Carlo techniques combined with Latin hypercube sampling. Uncertainties in rate parameters are propagated through box model simulations with CACM for three different summer cases. Cases studied cover a range of initial concentrations of reactive organic gases and nitrogen oxides that represent episodes of high ozone levels in polluted urban areas. In addition to estimated uncertainties of gas-phase SOA precursor concentrations, similar calculations are performed for O 3 , HCHO, H 2 O 2 , and peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN). Results indicate that SOA precursor concentrations predicted using nominal CACM rate parameters are similar to estimates from the Monte Carlo simulations. SOA gas-phase precursors in CACM present relative errors that range from 30% at a VOC:NO x ratio of 8:1 to 39% when the ratio changes to 32:1.
Directed 2D‐to‐3D Pattern Transfer Method for Controlled Fabrication of Topologically Complex 3D Features in Silicon

A process that allows control over the 3D motion of catalyst nanostructures during metal-assisted chemical etching by their local pinning prior to etching is demonstrated. The pinning material acts as a fulcrum for rotation of the catalyst structures resulting in etching of silicon features with rotational geometry.
Step-like signal processing with distinct finite number of levels

An algorithm for filtering noisy step-like signals is proposed. This algorithm is based on the assumption of Gaussian contamination. In this procedure data within a moving window is divided into two almost equal clusters and a hypothesis tests (F-test) for differences in the means between two such clusters. Histograms analysis and/or our a priori knowledge about the number of discrete amplitudes in the ideal noise free signal provide information that is used to filter the signal further and produce a clean signal with the desired number of discrete amplitudes (levels). As an illustration the method is tested by simulation. >
Cognitive and Aggressive Reactions of Male Dating Violence Perpetrators to Anger Arousal

In the current study, 20 dating violent and 27 non-violent college males provided verbal articulations and self-report data regarding cognitive biases, change in affect, and aggressive reactions following anger induction through the articulated thoughts in simulated situations paradigm. Violent, relative to non-violent, males articulated more cognitive biases and verbally aggressive statements during provocation. These same relationships did not hold for a retrospective self-report measure. Greater cognitive biases and aggressive articulations reliably distinguished between violent and non-violent males in the current study. Results suggest that assessing cognitive and affective content “in the heat of the moment” may be a more sensitive indicator of dating violence than retrospective self-reports.
Component Reliability Importance

The concept of reliability importance gives a measure of how much changes in the reliability of a particular component of a coherent system affects the reliability of the system. The definition of the importance of component k is I(k) = ∂r(p)/∂pk, where p is the vector of component reliabilities and r(p) is the system reliability function. Examples of the reliability importance for common systems are given. The structural reliability importance is also given, along with its relationship to the reliability importance. Keywords: system reliability; structural component reliability
Disposition of lead (Pb) in saliva and blood of Sprague-Dawley rats following a single or repeated oral exposure to Pb-acetate

Biological monitoring for lead (Pb) is usually based upon a determination of blood Pb concentration; however, saliva has been suggested as a non-invasive biological matrix for assessing exposure. To further evaluate the potential utility of saliva for biomonitoring, the disposition of Pb was evaluated in whole blood (WB), red blood cells (RBC), plasma, parotid gland, bone, and saliva following either a single oral dose of 100mg Pb-acetate/kg body weight in rats or approximately 1-week after 5 sequential daily oral gavage doses of 1, 10, or 100mg Pb-acetate/kg/day. Saliva volume, pH, total saliva protein, and alpha-amylase activity were also determined. At specified times post-dosing groups of animals were anesthetized and administered pilocarpine to induce salivation. Saliva was collected, the animals were humanely sacrificed, and tissue samples were likewise collected, weighed, and processed for Pb analysis. Following a single dose exposure to Pb-acetate, Pb was detectable in all samples by 30 min post-dosing. For both the single and repeated dose treatments the concentration of Pb was highest in WB and RBC relative to plasma and saliva. However, the Pb rapidly redistributed (within 5-days post-treatment) from the blood into the bone compartment based on the substantial decrease in WB and RBC Pb concentration, and the concurrent increase in bone Pb following repeated exposure at all dose levels. Although there is clear variability in the observed Pb concentrations in plasma and saliva, there was a reasonable correlation (r(2)=0.922) between the average Pb concentrations in these biological matrices, which was consistent with previous observations. The single oral dose of Pb-acetate resulted in a decrease in salivary pH which recovered by 24h post-dosing and a decrease in alpha-amylase enzyme activity which did recover within 5-days of ceasing exposure. It is currently unclear what impact these slight functional changes may or may not have on Pb salivary clearance rates. These results demonstrate a feasibility to rapidly detect Pb in saliva and suggest that saliva may correlate best with plasma Pb concentration.
Invasive Fungal Infections among Organ Transplant Recipients: Results of the Transplant‐Associated Infection Surveillance Network (TRANSNET)

Methods. The Transplant-Associated Infection Surveillance Network (TRANSNET) is a consortium of 23 US transplant centers, including 15 that contributed to the organ transplant recipient dataset. We prospectively identified IFIs among organ transplant recipients from March, 2001 through March, 2006 at these sites. To explore trends, we calculated the 12-month cumulative incidence among 9 sequential cohorts. Results. During the surveillance period, 1208 IFIs were identified among 1063 organ transplant recipients. The most common IFIs were invasive candidiasis (53%), invasive aspergillosis (19%), cryptococcosis (8%), nonAspergillus molds (8%), endemic fungi (5%), and zygomycosis (2%). Median time to onset of candidiasis, aspergillosis, and cryptococcosis was 103, 184, and 575 days, respectively. Among a cohort of 16,808 patients who underwent transplantation between March 2001 and September 2005 and were followed through March 2006, a total of 729 IFIs were reported among 633 persons. One-year cumulative incidences of the first IFI were 11.6%, 8.6%, 4.7%, 4.0%, 3.4%, and 1.3% for small bowel, lung, liver, heart, pancreas, and kidney transplant recipients, respectively. One-year incidence was highest for invasive candidiasis (1.95%) and aspergillosis (0.65%). Trend analysis showed a slight increase in cumulative incidence from 2002 to 2005. Conclusions. We detected a slight increase in IFIs during the surveillance period. These data provide important insights into the timing and incidence of IFIs among organ transplant recipients, which can help to focus effective prevention and treatment strategies.
FNAL Main Ring to Energy Saver Antiproton Transfer System for Tevatron I

A system for antiproton beam transfer from the Main ring to the Energy Saver for colliding beam operations has been designed and fabricated. The system is similar to the existing proton beam transfer system used for fixed target operation of the Energy Saver. Using a fast kicker in the Main Ring, one or several bunches of 150 GeV pbars will be kicked horizontally across the septa of two Lambertsons into a short transfer line. At the end of this line, they are injected into the Energy Saver through two more Lambertsons and kicked onto a closed orbit by a second fast kicker. For commissioning and tune-up, the system will be operated in reverse, extracting 150 GeV protons from the Energy Saver to the Main Ring. In addition to a description of the design of the system and its components, the status of the installation and commissioning will also be discussed.
Understanding the Nutrigenomic Definitions and Concepts at the Food–Genome Junction

Abstract The marked differences in individual response to dietary factors have led to major controversies in nutrition and puzzled nutrition scientists over the last century. The emerging field of ...
ECOLOGY AND NATURAL HISTORY OF IRIDAEA CORDATA (RHODOPHYTA; GIGARTINACEAE): POPULATION STRUCTURE1

SUMMARY The population structure of 4 California Iridaea cordata (Turner) Bory populations was studied. Random sampling procedures were used to measure seasonal variations in standing crops, density and size-class distribution of life history stages. The results describe aspects of the in situ life history; a prerequisite to realistically considering the distribution, ecology or life history expressions of an alga. Seasonal fluctuations in density occur only in the juvenile stage, which is initiated during the winter (November to January) predominantly from the basal perennial crusts. Both the gametangial and tetrasporangial stages are present throughout the year. The tetrasporangial stage is dominant in relation to the sexual stages in both density and biomass during most of the year, except spring when the new crop in just maturing and all stages are abundant. Density in nearly constant and observable changes in the populations are due to biomass fluctuations. Seasonal lows in biomass occur during the winter with the majority of thalli in the smaller size-classes. Growth and maturation culminate in peak summer crops and dominance of the tetrasporangial stage, followed by autumnal senescence and die-back in winter. Carrageenans analyzed from immature thalli showed a predominance of lambda-type, previously determined as specific for tetrasporangial plants. This indirect evidence for the tetrasporangial nature of immature plants suggests that dominance of the diploid stage occurred prior to blade development and most likely at the spore level. Alternatively, field results indicate a major contribution and possible replacement of alternation of gametangial and tetrasporangial stage by thallus perennation and vegetative reproduction.
Geospatial data sharing based on geospatial semantic web technologies

Geospatial data sharing is a concern in geospatial science because of the heterogeneity of existing geographical information systems. This study aims to examine the use of Geospatial Semantic Web technologies such as ontology web services and the service‐oriented architecture for enabling disparate heterogeneous legacy GIS to share and integrate information in a cost effective way to reduce spatial data duplication. A framework based on the Geospatial Semantic Web technologies is proposed in this study. Experimental results from an implemented prototype show that the proposed framework allows searching and accessing geospatial data and services at the semantic level based on their content instead of keywords in the metadata.
Comparison of K+-channel genes within the genomes of Anopheles gambiae and Drosophila melanogaster

Background Potassium channels are the largest and most diverse type of ion channel found in nature. The completion of the sequencing of the genomes of Drosophila melanogaster and Anopheles gambiae, which belong to the same order, the Diptera, allows us to compare and contrast K+-channel genes and gene families present within the genomes of two dipterans.
Effects of excess calcium on a fluoride-magnesium interrelationship in chicks.

The effects of excess calcium on the previously reported fluo ride-magnesium interrelationship were studied using a factorial arrangement of treatments involving two levels of calcium (1.0 and 1.67%), two of fluoride (0.005 and 0.085% ) and two of magnesium (0.07 and 0.47% ). As noted earlier, growth rate was reduced by fluoride alone, but was reduced to a much greater extent with fluoride plus magnesium. Magnesium alone did not influence growth rate. Excess calcium improved growth in chicks fed fluoride alone or fluoride plus magnesium, but growth rate was still inferior, particularly in the fluoride plus magnesium group, to the control or the diet containing magnesium alone. Growth rate was not affected by calcium level in chicks fed the other diets. Bone ash was increased with fluoride alone, reduced slightly with magnesium alone and reduced greatly by the combination of fluoride and magnesium. Excess cal cium increased bone ash only slightly in chicks fed high magnesium alone or in combination with fluoride. The characteristic leg weakness observed in chicks fed the high fluoride-high magnesium diet was not influenced by dietary cal cium. Excess calcium drastically reduced the fluoride content of plasma and bone of chicks fed the high fluoride diets. High dietary calcium also reduced plasma magnesium levels in chicks fed high magnesium diets. From these re sults, it was concluded that the beneficial effects of excess calcium on the fluo ride-magnesium interrelationship are mediated primarily through reduced ab sorption of fluoride, and possibly magnesium, rather than through correction of a relative calcium deficiency. J. Nutr. 102: 1699-1708, 1972. Earlier studies showed that feeding pens in electrically heated, wire-floored chicks high levels of both fluoride and mag- chick batteries. Each of the eight experi- nesium resulted in a greater depression mental treatments was assigned to four in growth than observed in chicks fed pens (replicates) of 10 chicks each with fluoride alone, and produced a character- the restriction that no replicate of the same istic leg weakness and reduced bone ash treatment could appear in the same battery not observed in chicks fed either fluoride or the same deck level, or magnesium alone (1â€"5).Increasing die- The treatments were arranged factori- tary phosphorus (1) or calcium (2) had ally with two levels of calcium (1.0 and some beneficial effect in alleviating certain 1.67%), two of fluoride (0.005 and symptoms of the high fluoride-high mag- 0.085% ) and two of magnesium (0.07 nesium interrelationship, but did not cor- and 0.47% ). An increase of 0.67% cal- rect the condition. The purpose of the prA¨s- cium in the high calcium diet was chosen ent investigation was to investigate the since this level is equivalent on a gram mechanism by which increasing dietary molecule basis to 0.4% of magnesium, the calcium exerted a beneficial effect. increment used to produce the high mag nesium diet. The diets used were the same EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES
Regulation of human mesangial cell collagen expression by transforming growth factor-β1

Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 has been implicated in glomerular extracellular matrix accumulation. Since the spectrum and mechanism of changes in collagen turnover have not been fully charact...
Feeding responses of Japanese beetle to naturally occurring metabolites found in Rosaceous plants

Abstract Endogenous allelochemicals can have a profound influence on host plant resistance to arthropod pests. This study evaluated 22 naturally-occurring compounds found in Rosaceous trees for their influence on feeding of adult Japanese beetles [Popillia japonica (Newman)]. Individual compounds were incorporated into artificial diets at concentrations from 0 to 100 mM. No-choice feeding trials were conducted over 24 hours. Four general trends were recognized among the dose responses: 1) no response: benzaldehyde, calcium oxalate, tannic acid, 2) stimulatory: rutin, 3) optimal peak: benzoic acid, phloridzin, quercetin, catechin, geraniol, arbutin, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, and 4) inhibitory: p-coumaric acid, eugenol, amygdalin, phloretin, naringenin, o-coumaric acid, arginine, asparagine, oxalic acid, and gallic acid. These results suggest that variation in chemical constituents and concentrations may have a strong influence on host plant resistance to Japanese beetles among Rosaceous plants.
What Kind of Being Is Anthrōpos? The Anthropology of the Contemporary. Paul Rabinow in Conversation With Reiner Keller

Der weltweit fur seine Arbeiten uber den franzosischen Philosophen Michel FOUCAULT und fur seine theoretischen, begrifflichen und empirischen Arbeiten zur aufkommenden Biosozialitat bekannte US-amerikanische Anthropologe Paul RABINOW hat in den letzten Jahren eine Anthropologie des Zeitgenossischen entwickelt. Darin wird Anthropologie als eine Praxis der Erforschung der Formierungen und des Zusammenhangs von Wissen, Denken und Sorge um sich selbst und um Andere in sich verschiebenden Machtrelationen verstanden. RABINOW argumentiert, dass gegenwartig die vorherrschenden Praktiken, Institutionen und Orte der Wissensproduktion uber Angelegenheiten des Menschlichen im 21. Jahrhundert in institutioneller und epistemologischer Hinsicht unangemessen sind. In Reaktion darauf hat er Formen des Experimentierens und des gemeinsamen Arbeitens entworfen, die aus der fokussierten Arbeit an Begriffen und der Exploration neuer Formen fallorientierter Forschungen und Erkundungen bestehen. Die Herausforderung besteht darin, Wissen in einer Weise herzustellen, dass diese Arbeit uns in ethischer, wissenschaftlicher, politischer und ontologischer Hinsicht bereichert. Welche Konzepte, Orte und Formen eignen sich am besten, um eine reflexive Beziehung zu unserer Gegenwart herzustellen? Das nachfolgende Interview ladt dazu ein, uber die "Forderungen des Tages" in der zeitgenossischen anthropologischen und sozialwissenschaftlichen Forschung nachzudenken. URN: http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs1601199
Quantification of Back Motion during Manual Material Handling Tasks

The objective of this project was to study the effects of asymmetric (twisting) free dynamic lifting on back motion characteristics in the sagittal, frontal and transverse planes of the body. Back motion charateristics were quantified both as a function of task asymmetry and task weight. An experiment with 21 subjects was performed in the laboratory, which simulated free dynamic manual material handling tasks of the industrial workplace. The results quantified the range of motion, peak velocity, average velocity, and peak acceleration in each plane necessary to complete the task. Plots were made of the statistically significant back motion parameters. The results quantified the amount of transverse plane back motion required for specific task asymmetries. Task asymmetries greater than 120 degrees require transverse motion that puts a person at high risk of suffering a low back injury. The results provide new insight into factors associated with the risk of developing low back disorders.
Understanding Professional Connections in Linkedin — A Question of Trust

As the popularity of online social networks grow, it becomes important to understand how context and individual participants influence trust formation within the network. We investigate the impact that trust — both at the individual level and network level — has on the strength of association between members of the professional social networking site LinkedIn. A model of trust adapted from previous literature is empirically tested using an online survey sent to a random sample of LinkedIn members. The findings indicate that dyadic tie strength is influenced by an individual's disposition to trust and by the trust belief between the respondent and the respondent's last connection made in LinkedIn. Trust in LinkedIn did not influence the relationship.
Communications-Effectiveness of Comparative Advertising: A Laboratory Analysis:

Recent debate on comparative advertising has focused on its ethical rather than its effectiveness dimension. A laboratory experiment was performed to assess the communications-effectiveness of a co...
Antenatal inflammation and gestational diabetes mellitus risk among pregnant African-American women

Although inflammation is associated with risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), little is known if there is an association between inflammation and GDM in African-American women, a group at higher risk for GDM complications. In the present study, we aimed to determine if selected inflammatory cytokines (i.e. TNF-α, hs-CRP, IL-6, IL-10, IL-6/IL-10 ratio, IL-1β) measured in the 2nd trimester, were associated with GDM risk in 185 pregnant African-American women. GDM was defined as a physician-documented GDM diagnosis, a fasting glucose between 92 and 125mg/dl, or evidence of glucose intolerance (defined using the 3-h glucose tolerance test). A total of 18 women (9.7%) had GDM. After covariate adjustment, C-reactive protein, measured at a mean 21.2±3.7 weeks gestation, was statistically significantly associated with GDM development (P=0.025); for every one-unit increase in log-transformed C-reactive protein, the odds of GDM increased by 5.3. Results were similar using a principal component analysis approach. This study provides evidence that higher levels of 2nd trimester C-reactive protein is associated with increased risk of GDM in African-American women. Further research is needed to examine whether C-reactive protein may be a useful early-pregnancy screen for evaluating potential GDM risk in African-American women.
Anti-infective agents and hepatic disease

Numerous factors such as changes in plasma protein binding, tissue binding, hepatic blood flow, hepatic metabolism, and distribution may occur in hepatic disease. The impact of these physiologic changes on pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters of anti-infective agents is likely to be clinically significant. Unfortunately, these issues have not been thoroughly investigated. Even within the same type of liver disease, there is considerable interpatient variability in pharmacokinetic variables, rendering it difficult to predict drug disposition accurately. Pharmacokinetics of selected anti-infective agents are altered in hepatic disease, necessitating careful monitoring and dosage titration to avoid enhanced drug concentrations and risk of toxicity.
Determination of the Width of the Single Phase Stability Field of Nickel Titanate Spinel

The width of the single-phase stability field of nickel titanate spinel (Ni 2(1+x) Ti 1−x O 4 ) has been determined in order to resolve an ambiguity in the analysis of the microstructure of equilibrated and quenched spinel-containing specimens. Bulk polycrystalline diffusion couples of the constituent oxides, NiO and NiTiO 3 , have been prepared at several reaction temperatures between 1400°C and 1550°C. The microstructure of the reaction layers of slow-cooled specimens has been examined by SEM and the composition has been mapped using x-ray microanalysis. It is concluded that the nickel titanate spinel phase has a narrow range of stability, and that the stoichiometry of the spinel is temperature dependent. The microstructure of equilibrated and quenched specimens is discussed in light of these findings.
Achieving National Preparedness Goals: Practices in the Motorcoach Industry Post-9/11

The events of 9/11 instilled a need to increase preparedness throughout many industries and sectors in the United States. As terrorism threats have increased, the media has reported attacks on mass transport around the world. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) indicates that mass transport and public venues are prime targets for terrorists, given the impact that disruption of transport could have on the economy and major destinations.
Predator-risk-sensitive foraging behavior of Carolina chickadees (Poecile carolinensis) and tufted titmice (Baeolophus bicolor) in response to the head orientation of snake predator models

The risk of predation varies with behavioral cues and body characteristics of potential predators. One such body characteristic is the head/face orientation of the predator. However, a prey individual’s ability to detect the head may be more difficult when the predator’s body is serpentine, with little distinguishing the head from the tail. Here, we tested whether individuals in mixed-species flocks of Carolina chickadees (Poecile carolinensis) and tufted titmice (Baeolophus bicolor) distinguish the head orientation of predator snake models. We conducted behavioral observations at multiple sites each having a bird feeder stocked with seed. Each chickadee and titmouse flock was exposed to two counterbalanced trials: a snake model with head closest to the seed area of the feeder and with tail closest to the seed area of the feeder. Observers recorded the number of seeds taken by each species and also the number of unsuccessful feeder visits. Chickadees and, to a lesser extent, titmice took fewer seeds and had more unsuccessful feeder visits when the head of the snake model was closest to the seed, compared to when the tail was closest to the seed. Titmice, furthermore, had more unsuccessful feeder visits to the black snake model type representing a real snake nest predator for these small songbirds. Therefore, head orientation seems an important factor that some species use to assess predation risk, even for predatory species where head orientation may be a subtle cue.
Lyapunov-Based Control of an Uncertain Euler-Lagrange System with Uncertain Time-Varying Input Delays without Delay Rate Constraints

Abstract A tracking controller is developed for a class of uncertain Euler-Lagrange systems with bounded external disturbances and an uncertain time-varying input delay. A novel filtered tracking error signal is designed to obtain a delay-free input signal in the closed-loop error system to facilitate the control design and analysis. The designed novel filtered tracking error consists of a finite integral over a constant estimated delay interval of the past control inputs as a means to compensate for the input delay. The maximum tolerable error between unknown time-varying delay and a constant estimate of the delay can be determined based on the selection of the control gains to provide uniformly ultimately bounded convergence of the tracking error to the origin. Lyapunov-Krasovskii functionals are used in the Lyapunov-based stability analysis
LLNL Data Disk Evaluation Report and Information Gathering Document #449.R1.3

This is a report on Data Storage Disk Evaluation and characterization. The purpose of this memo is to capture new recipients due to some recent characterization issues with the Hammer Mill process. The Data Storage Disk Evaluation report was generated utilizing data acquired during 2009 and 2010 from submitted storage media.
Simulating Simple Societies

Just as the realization that human systems and sufficiently rich deterministic systems cannot be scientifically/empirically distinguished has consequences for what we can aspire to understand about individual behavior, this insight has implications for how we approach the study of human society. Like formal axiomatic systems, human behavior and human societies will exhibit both regularities and regions that are epis-temologically inaccessible. At the same time, simple computational systems can and do exhibit the kinds of regularities that one ordinarily associates with conscious design or law-like behavior. Computational routines are capable of illustrating the tension between predictable order and unpredictability that must permeate social science.
Tumor angiogenesis: functional similarities with tumor invasion.

In this review the functional relationship between tumor cell invasion and tumor-induced angiogenesis is discussed. Emphasis is placed on the similarities of the invasive phenotype in both processes and the common themes of αvs3 expression and gelatinase A activity.
Chebyshev Polynomials and the Minimal Polynomial of cos(2π/n)

The minimal polynomial of cos(2π/n) allows one to realize the value of cos(2π/n) as the root of a polynomial with rational coefficients. These polynomials prove to be instrumental in expressing som...
Application of the Luminex Platform for Multiplexed Genotyping of Non-Deletional Alpha Thalassemia Mutations.

Abstract Objectives: Certain point mutations in the alpha globin gene may lead to unstable hemoglobins such as Hb Constant-Spring and Hb Quong-Sze. These alpha chain variants, when inherited with deletional α-thalassemia mutations cause more severe forms of HbH disease. To evaluate the utility of the Luminex xMAP platform for rapid screening of non-deletional α-thalassemia mutations, we developed a multiplexed genotyping assay to detect six mutations in the α2-globin gene. that are clinically significant or, when coinherited with α-thalassemia-1, result in HbH disease. Methods: A panel of positive controls with known heterozygosity for Hb Constant-Spring, Hb Quong-Sze, Hb J-Toronto, Hb Hasharon, Hb G-Philadelphia and Hb G-Norfolk, was obtained from anonymized whole blood or newborn dried blood spots. The α2 gene was amplified using nested PCR and single base chain extension (SBCE) was carried out using the PCR products, capture-tagged primers, thermosequenase, and one of four biotinylated ddNTPs. Biotinylated amplicons were hybridized to fluorescent microspheres containing allele-specific capture probes and analyzed by flow cytometry on the Luminex100. Results: Median flourescent intensity (MFI) values uniformly discriminated between wild type and mutant alleles in three independent experiments. Mean background-subtracted MFIs ranged from 255 to 1000 for all positive alleles and genotypes were correctly identified in all of the samples tested. Conclusions: As HbH disease is becoming more prevalent in the U.S., early detection of this disorder using accurate, affordable diagnostic methods will permit timely delivery of health care and prevention of severe clinical manifestations of disease. As the severity of many of these disorders has not been well-characterized, an understanding the phenotypic expression of these hemoglobin disorders is essential to providing adequate counseling and treatment options.
DAVINCI: Deep atmosphere venus investigation of noble gases, chemistry, and imaging

DAVINCI is one of five Discovery-class missions selected by NASA in October 2015 for Phase A studies. Launching in November 2021 and arriving at Venus in June of 2023, DAVINCI would be the first U.S. entry probe to target Venus' atmosphere in 45 years. DAVINCI is designed to study the chemical and isotopic composition of a complete cross-section of Venus' atmosphere at a level of detail that has not been possible on earlier missions and to image the surface at optical wavelengths and process-relevant scales.