cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
CARlasso: An R package for the estimation of sparse microbial networks with predictors

Microbiome data analyses require statistical tools that can simultaneously decode microbes' reactions to the environment and interactions among microbes. We introduce CARlasso, the first user-friendly open-source and publicly available R package to fit a chain graph model for the inference of sparse microbial networks that represent both interactions among nodes and effects of a set of predictors. Unlike in standard regression approaches, the edges represent the correct conditional structure among responses and predictors that allows the incorporation of prior knowledge from controlled experiments. In addition, CARlasso 1) enforces sparsity in the network via LASSO; 2) allows for an adaptive extension to include different shrinkage to different edges; 3) is computationally inexpensive through an efficient Gibbs sampling algorithm so it can equally handle small and big data; 4) allows for continuous, binary, counting and compositional responses via proper hierarchical structure, and 5) has a similar syntax to lm for ease of use. The package also supports Bayesian graphical LASSO and several of its hierarchical models as well as lower level one-step sampling functions of the CAR-LASSO model for users to extend.
The acorn squash problem: a digestible conceptualisation of barriers to emergency food assistance.

BACKGROUND: In common narratives of emergency food assistance, donors likely believe their efforts directly manifest as people consuming their donated food. For example, a person donating canned lima beans during a canned food drive may visualise someone eventually eating those lima beans. However, cultural and socio-economic barriers often exist that prevent people from accessing and consuming the donated food. These barriers are often complex and otherwise well-intentioned donors, volunteers and organisations may not initially consider them. METHOD: This commentary article, which draws from existing US emergency food systems literature, uses the imagery of an acorn squash one might find at a US food pantry to conceptualise these barriers in a straightforward way. RESULTS: Examining emergency food assistance through the lens of the acorn squash problem can help donors, volunteers and organisations better connect with food-insecure people. The lens of the acorn squash problem also allows for deeper critiques of some practices of emergency food systems.
Imprint of chondrule formation on the K and Rb isotopic compositions of carbonaceous meteorites.

Chondrites display isotopic variations for moderately volatile elements, the origin of which is uncertain and could have involved evaporation/condensation processes in the protoplanetary disk, inco...
High-Speed CORDIC Based on an Overlapped Architecture and a Novel σ-Prediction Method

This paper presents architectural and algorithmic approaches for achieving high-speed CORDIC processing in both of the two operating modes: vectoring and rotation. For vectoring mode CORDIC processing, a modified architecture is proposed, which aims at reduction of computation time by overlapping the stages for redundant addition and selection of rotation direction. In addition, a novel rotation direction prediction scheme for rotation mode CORDIC is presented. The method is based on approximation of the binary angle input to a number with the arctangent weights (tan^−1 2^−i). The implementation is designed to keep the fast timing characteristics of redundant arithmetic in the x/y path of the CORDIC processing. The characteristics are analyzed with respect to latency time and area, and compared with those obtained by conventional CORDIC implementations. The results show that the proposed techniques reduce not only the block latency but also the overall computation time. Thus, they achieve higher throughput in pipelining.
Studies on the Herpes-Type Virus Recovered from the Burkitt's Tumor and Other Human Lymphomas

Publisher Summary Viruses have been established as etiological agents of leukemias and lymphomas in chickens, mice, guinea pigs, and cats. Evidence is accumulating, which suggests that viruses may be implicated in the induction of canine and bovine leukemias. From these observations it is reasonable to believe that certain human lymphomas may also be viral induced. The African lymphoma (Burkitt's tumor) because of its apparent dependence on certain environmental factors offers a real challenge to virologists. This chapter starts with a discussion on geographical distribution of Burkitt's tumor and dependence on environmental. This is followed by a look at the characteristics of Burkitt's tumor. The characteristics of tumor cell cultures and of the virus are discussed next. This chapter also discusses implication of the herpes-type virus by immunological procedures, and reovirus isolation from Burkitt's tumor.
On the ability to infer spatial catchment variability using streamflow hydrographs

[1] Spatially distributed models can potentially provide improved hydrologic predictions because of their ability to exploit spatially distributed data while providing estimates of hydrologic variables at interior catchment locations. However, attempts to estimate spatially distributed parameter fields via model calibration have been fraught with difficulty. This paper examines the factors that can influence the ability to infer spatial properties of a distributed model when the only information available for model evaluation is catchment streamflow response. In particular, we investigate the conditions under which spatial variability in parameters and rainfall cause sufficiently strong variations in the streamflow hydrographs to justify their representation in catchment models and whether such information can be detected via commonly used model performance measures. Our results show that spatial variability in parameter and precipitation fields can, indeed, have a detectable impact on the properties of the streamflow hydrograph but that this impact can be so greatly diminished by the damping and dispersive effects of routing that it is virtually nondetectable by conventional performance measures by the time the water reaches the catchment outlet. And although measures based on information theory may be able to detect subtle variations of this kind, the information may not ultimately be useful in the face of model structure and data errors. The only reasonable way forward therefore is to explore other kinds of catchment information (including multiple interior flow gauging locations) for use in estimation of spatially distributed parameter fields.
Association between polymorphic blood markers and risk factors for cardiovascular disease in a large pedigree.

A large pedigree with high prevalence of heart disease is investigated to analyse the association between polymorphic blood markers and quantitative risk factors for cardiovascular disease. The analysis incorporates a familial correlation structure among the individuals in the pedigree and a generalized power transformation to induce approximate residual normality of the risk factors. A total of 380 marker/ risk factor combinations are analysed, and at the nominal 1 % significance level, positive associations are found between the A antigen of the ABO locus and both serum total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and negative associations are found between the B antigen of the ABO locus and serum total cholesterol, and between the B allele of acid phosphatase (AP) locus and systolic blood pressure.
Characterization of the Thermal Conductivity for Fibrous Refractory Composite Insulations

Thermal conductivity for a family of fibrous, refractory composite insulations are characterized through the use of an engineering model and arc-jet data. The model defines the composite as a uniform pore material using measured physical and mechanical properties. Efficiency parameters assigned to the solid and radiation conduction terms in the thermal conductivity equation were found to be dependent only on solid volume fraction and porosity.
A Proposed Evolutionary, Self-Organizing Automaton for the Control of Dynamic Systems

BOXES is a well known methodology that learns to perform control maneuvers for dynamic systems with only cursory a priori knowledge of the mathematics of the system model. A limiting factor in the BOXES algorithm has always been the assignment of appropriate boundaries to subdivide each state variable into regions. In addition to suggesting a method of alleviating this weakness, the paper shows that the accumulated statistical data in near neighboring states may be a powerful agent in accelerating learning, and may eventually provide a possible evolution to self-organization. A heuristic process is postulated that may allow strong areas of knowledge in the system domain to create larger cellular structures, while causing the more delicate, uncertain, or untested regions to take on a finer granularity. The paper theorizes that these untrainable states may contain valuable and sufficient information about the location of switching surfaces. The paper concludes with some future research questions.
Joel Peter and David Newman, eds., The Routledge Handbook on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (London and New York: Routledge, 2013), 475 pp

The Israeli-Palestinian struggle is a source of fascination for a cornucopia of global media outlets, governments, non-governmental organizations, and other actors. In some ways, this is perfectly ...
Innate and Adaptive Receptors Interact to Balance Humoral Immunity

B and T lymphocytes are the respective origins of adaptive humoral and cellular immunity due to their exquisite Ag-specific receptors. On the other side of the fence, the complement system, neutrophils, and monocytes deal with acute infections through innate mechanisms. This dichotomy permeated the
American Newspaper Comics: An Encyclopedic Reference Guide

From its earliest appearance in the 1890s, the newspaper comic strip has told the story of America, from the Irish ghetto of the Yellow Kid to flappers, war heroes, hippies, and today's office drones and soccer moms. American Newspaper Comics is the first comprehensive, authoritative reference work to document this fascinating history, listing over 7,000 different comic strip and cartoon features from American newspapers. While previous books have typically concentrated on the most popular comic strips and panel cartoon series, American Newspaper Comics is designed to be all-inclusive, providing detailed information on important but previously overlooked artists and features. The result of more than twenty years of meticulous research, American Newspaper Comics provides the most complete picture to date of the evolution of newspaper cartoon features and corrects misinformation that has circulated for years in other references. American Newspaper Comics offers a wealth of information, including the start and end dates of features, their format, frequency, creators and distribution companies. The book also includes handy cross-indexes and a guide to book-length compilations of newspaper cartoons and comics. In addition, the book includes a CD with samples of more than 2,000 cartoon features, including some that may be new to even the most ardent fan or collector.
Overexpression and assembly of the herpes simplex virus type 1 helicase-primase in insect cells

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) encodes a helicase-primase that consists of three polypeptides encoded by the UL5, UL8, and UL52 genes (Crute, J.J., Tsurumi, T., Zhu, L., Weller, S.K., Olivo, P.D., Challberg, M.D., Mocarski, E.S., and Lehman, I.R. (1989) Proc. Natl. Acad, Sci, U.S.A. 86, 2186-2189). To obtain sufficient quantities of the enzyme for study, we have overexpressed the three genes using the baculovirus expression system. We find that the fully active enzyme can be assembled in vivo by triply infecting Spodoptera frugiperda SF9 cells with a baculovirus recombinant for each gene. The recombinant enzyme which we have purified to near homogeneity from the insect cells has a molecular weight of 270,000 and is composed of the three polypeptides encoded by the UL5, UL8, and UL52 genes. The enzyme possesses DNA-dependent ATPase, DNA-dependent GTPase, DNA helicase, and DNA primase activities that are essentially identical to the enzyme isolated from HSV-1-infected cells.
An Electromagnetism-like Mechanism for Global Optimization

This paper proposes a new heuristic for global optimization. The method utilizes an attraction-repulsion mechanism to move the sample points towards the optimality. The proposed scheme can be used either as a stand-alone approach or as an accompanying procedure for other methods. Some test results on nonlinear test functions in the category of ``minor to moderate difficulty'' are included. The ease of implementation and flexibility of the heuristic show the potential of this new approach.
Teaching with and about film and television: Integrating media literacy concepts into management education

Reviews some characteristics of video‐based educational materials by describing the intellectual heritage of the movement to include media analysis and media productions as basic skills for the information age. Identifies the opportunities and challenges that management educators face in their use of video‐based tools in both business settings and higher education.
Thermal characteristics and measurement of nanoscale materials

Numerical prediction of the physical properties of nanocomposites is an attractive area that requires more discussion and investigation. In this paper, we calculate the thermal conductivity of nanocomposites embedded with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) based on the representative volume element (RVE) concept. The RVE, which encompasses a single CNT, was constructed assuming that the CNTs are distributed in polymeric material homogeneously, and also assuming that the CNTs have no interaction with other CNTs. This research describes the thermal characteristics of nanoscale materials – CNTs filled nanocomposites – as a case study and measured their thermal conductivity, for the purpose of validation of numerical results. The dispersion state of the CNTs was observed using field emission scanning electronic microscope (FESEM). We found that the numerically predicted thermal conductivity is closely matches the experimental one and that the numerical tool employed in the study is superior to other analytical and numerical methods.
Graft-Versus-Host Disease of the Intestine: A Protein Losing Enteropathy Characterized by Fecal α1-Antitrypsin

Severe hypoproteinemia often accompanies the development of graft-versus-host disease of the intestine in allogeneic bone marrow transplant patients. To determine whether or not protein loss occurs across the intestinal mucosa in this severe diarrheal illness, we measured fecal α1-antitrypsin once per week in 24-h stool specimens from 25 consecutive patients during hospitalization for bone marrow transplantation. The mean α1-antitrypsin concentration and serum clearance for these patients before transplantation were below 2.6 mg/g stool and 13.0 ml/day (upper limits for normals). Values for all patients increased moderately after pretransplant conditioning. Values for patients who did not develop graft-versus-host disease of the intestine returned to baseline levels; however, those for patients with graft-versus-host disease of the intestine became markedly and persistently elevated (concentration ranged from 16.6 to 51.1 mg/g, clearance from 66.6 to 384.5 ml/day). We conclude that mucosal protein exudation contributes to the hypoproteinemia of graft-versus-host disease of the intestine and that measurement of fecal α1-antitrypsin can be used as a marker for this disease.
Oil Spills and Community Resilience: Uneven Impacts and Protection in Historical Perspective

Louisiana's coastal residents have endured centuries of hurricanes and decades of oil spills. Locally based, inherent resilient practices have enabled them to persist in place. This paper documents...
Near-infrared Spectroscopy to Assess Cerebral Perfusion during Head-up Tilt-table Test in Patients with Syncope.

Objective Neurocardiogenic syncope (NCS) is the most common cause of syncope in children and adolescents. Neurocardiogenic syncope occurs secondary to cerebral hypotension because of bradycardia, hypotension, or both. Head-up tilt-table test (HUTT) is the primary diagnostic test. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a noninvasive technology that directly monitors trends in regional tissue oxygen saturations over a specific body region. Placing an NIRS probe over the temporal region allows an indirect measurement of cerebral perfusion. Our hypothesis is that regional tissue oxygen saturation will decrease during an NCS episode and will remain stable in patients without syncope. Patients and Design The investigators conducted a retrospective review of all HUTT utilizing cephalic NIRS performed at our institution from August 2012 to January 2013. Tests were classified as positive, negative, or psychogenic reactions. Paired t-test was used to determine statistical significance of NIRS changes and one-way analysis of variance was used to analyze baseline characteristics among the three groups. Results Twelve patients were included in the study (female = 10). The average age was 14.4 years (range: 12–17). Five tests were positive for NCS, four were negative, and three demonstrated psychogenic reactions. Patients with a positive test had a sudden, significant decrease in regional tissue oxygen saturations (P = .009) by an average of 11.3 ± 5.2% compared with baseline. The decrease in regional tissue oxygen saturation preceded symptoms, hypotension, and bradycardia in all patients. Regional tissue oxygen saturation levels remained stable in patients with a negative test or psychogenic syncope. Conclusions NIRS monitoring during HUTT produces a reliable, positive result that precedes clinical signs and symptoms. Further, it helps distinguish NCS from psychogenic syncope.
Bacterial Association in the Gastrointestinal Tract of Beagle Dogs

Abstract Nine male beagle dogs, housed in either a conventional or locked environment for 2.5 years, were killed, and the bacterial flora present in various regions of each gastrointestinal tract was assessed by culture techniques, light microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. All dogs possessed a complex microflora in their colons; in almost every dog anaerobes predominated. The highest number of bacteria cultured was 1010/g (dry weight) of tissue and contents; highest counts obtained with a Petroff-Hauser counting chamber were 1010/ml (wet weight). Although there was a consistency in the detectable genera, there were also noticeable differences in the flora of dogs housed under different environmental conditions. These differences included qualitative and quantitative changes in the flora as well as alterations in the distribution and localization of microorganisms along the gastrointestinal tract and in the crypts of Lieberkuhn. No bacterial layers were detected on the surfaces of stomach or proximal bowel in any of the dogs. Dogs housed in a conventional, open, environment had bacteria that occurred in layers on their ceca and colons and in their crypts of Lieberkuhn; however, dogs housed under “locked” environmental conditions did not possess them or had them less frequently. Dogs removed from the locked environment and kept (30 days) in conventional housing conditions were the only ones with detectable segmented filamentous microbes in their ilea. This study shows that the microbial flora does not simplify when dogs are housed in a locked environment. Indeed, it may increase in complexity and cause alterations in the bacterial flora that is associated closely with gastrointestinal epithelial cells and crypts of Lieberkuhn.
Location of the continuous spectrum in complex flows of the UCM fluid

Abstract In contrast to the Newtonian case, linear stability problems for viscoelastic flows involve continuous as well as discrete spectra, even if the flow domain is bounded. Numerical methods approximate these continuous spectra poorly, and incorrect claims of instability have been published as a result of this on more than one occasion. In this paper, we shall derive some analytical results on the location of the continuous spectrum for linear stability of flows of the upper convected Maxwell fluid. In general, we shall show that in ‘subsonic’ flows, where the fluid speed is always slower than the speed of shear wave propagation, there are only three possible contributions to the continuous spectrum: 1. A part on the line Re λ=−1/W , where W is the relaxation time of the fluid. 2. A part associated with the short wave limit of wall modes which has real parts confined between −1/ W and −1/(2 W ). 3. A part associated with the integration of stresses in a given velocity field. If the flow is two-dimensional and has no stagnation points, then the latter part also has real part on the line Re λ=−1/W , and hence the continuous spectrum is always stable.
RGB calibration for color image analysis in machine vision

A color calibration method for correcting the variations in RGB color values caused by vision system components was developed and tested in this study. The calibration scheme concentrated on comprehensively estimating and removing the RGB errors without specifying error sources and their effects. The algorithm for color calibration was based upon the use of a standardized color chart and developed as a preprocessing tool for color image analysis. According to the theory of image formation, RGB errors in color images were categorized into multiplicative and additive errors. Multiplicative and additive errors contained various error sources-gray-level shift, a variation in amplification and quantization in camera electronics or frame grabber, the change of color temperature of illumination with time, and related factors. The RGB errors of arbitrary colors in an image were estimated from the RGB errors of standard colors contained in the image. The color calibration method also contained an algorithm for correcting the nonuniformity of illumination in the scene. The algorithm was tested under two different conditions-uniform and nonuniform illumination in the scene. The RGB errors of arbitrary colors in test images were almost completely removed after color calibration. The maximum residual error was seven gray levels under uniform illumination and 12 gray levels under nonuniform illumination. Most residual RGB errors were caused by residual nonuniformity of illumination in images, The test results showed that the developed method was effective in correcting the variations in RGB color values caused by vision system components.
Conflicts of Interest: Relational Self-construal and Decision Making in Interpersonal Contexts

People with highly relational self-construals define themselves based on their close relationships. In two studies, these individuals were expected to be less inclined than others to view the outcomes of conflicts as only benefiting one person (i.e., a zero-sum perception). In Study 1, 294 participants completed a measure of relational self-construal, read hypothetical conflicts of interest and evaluated various courses of action. Results indicated less zero-sum perceptions among high relationals than among lows. In Study 2, 173 participants evaluated their own conflict of interest with either a close or distant other. Results revealed that high relationals evaluated the outcome positively when their decision favored a close other. These results demonstrate high relationals' tendency to integrate their interests with others.
Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of antiulcer agents in llama.

Plasma concentration time curves following intravenous (i.v.) administration of 1.5 mg/kg of ranitidine, 0.2 mg/kg, 0.4 mg/kg and 0.8 mg/kg of omeprazole, respectively, were analysed in six llamas. Plasma profiles after i.v. administration of both drugs showed plasma concentrations declining in a biexponential manner with a rapid distribution phase. Pharmacokinetics parameters after ranitidine administration to six llamas showed a mean elimination half-life of 1.53 +/- 0.26 h. The mean volume of distribution (Vdss) in llamas was 1.77 +/- 0.31 L/kg, and mean body clearance in llamas was 0.778 +/- 0.109 L/kg/h. Ranitidine produced only a small transitory (<1 h) decline in acid production when administered i.v. at a dose of 1.5 mg/kg. Omeprazole showed dose-dependent nonlinear pharmacokinetics. The mean half-life of 0.2 mg/kg i.v. omeprazole was shorter than that of 0.4 and 0.8 mg/kg i.v. omeprazole, i.e. 0.61, 0.72 and 1.07 h, respectively. The area under the curve (AUC) and mean residence time (MRT) increased with increasing dose, while clearance decreased as dose increased. The decline in acid production following 0.2 mg/kg i.v. omeprazole was highly variable and did not produce a clinically useful suppression of third compartment acid production. In contrast, both 0.4 mg/kg and 0.8 mg/kg omeprazole i.v. administration significantly reduced third compartment acid production. The reduction in acid production following 0.8 mg/kg omeprazole was not significantly greater than the reduction observed following 0.4 mg/kg dosage. Misoprostol (10 microg/kg) was administered i.v. in an absolute alcohol solution. Two animals collapsed following drug administration. While the side-effects could have been produced by either misoprostol or the alcohol vehicle, the clinical changes were more consistent with an adverse drug reaction. Unfortunately, the limitation of UV detection did not provide the sensitivity needed to quantify the amount of misoprostol in llama plasma, and the pharmacokinetics could not be evaluated.
New insights into microtubule structure and function from the atomic model of tubulin

The structure of tubulin has recently been solved by electron crystallography of zinc-induced tubulin sheets. Because tubulin was studied in a polymerized state, the model contains information on the interactions between monomers that give rise to the αβ dimer as well as contacts between adjacent dimers that result in the structure of the protofilament. The model includes the binding site of taxol, an anti-cancer agent that acts by stabilizing microtubules. The present tubulin model gives the first structural framework for understanding microtubule polymerization and its regulation by nucleotides and anti-mitotic drugs at the molecular level.
Grid-based management of biomedical data using an XML-based distributed data management system

This paper presents the application of a generic, XML-based distributed data management system for Grid-enabled management and integration of biomedical data, including image, molecular, and outcome data. We discuss the use of this system in three inter-related application scenarios: Management of large-scale image data, access to data from Internet-based bioinformatic data repositories, and integrating clinical data stored in an enterprise information warehouse into translational research.
Structural characterization of the (1 monolayer Sb)/GaP(110) interface using x-ray standing waves.

The x-ray-standing-wave technique has been applied to the (1 monolayer Sb)/GaP (110) interface. Using the back-reflection geometry from (200) and (220) planes, the buckling of the Sb chains was determined to be 0.04\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.10 \AA{}, and the perpendicular displacement of these chains from the extrapolated bulk (220) plane was determined to be 2.31\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.10 \AA{}. These measurements favor a structure such that Sb adatoms occupy sites analogous to those of the next extrapolated substrate layer.
The Patient–Doctor

It had been a few years, but I soon remembered the feeling of the vinyl pillow slipping out from its thin cotton case, the weight of industrial-issue clothes laced with sweat, and the pink irritati...
A passion for the mundane, and our medical education and threatened teaching hospitals

Summary Teaching hospitals, a critical component of medical education and a provider of indigent care, are in crisis. Competition from our own well-trained graduates practicing in sophisticated community hospitals, the rapid development of managed care, federal restructuring of funding, and erosion of our public economic base are important factors. The failure of teaching hospitals is likely to adversely alter medical education and threaten our professional status as doctors and educators as we compete to survive. The problem is identified, but the clear solution is not. My treatise began with the idea that the public recognizes that their teaching hospitals are in crisis. Yet there is some element of public optimism reflected in a Time magazine article that states, "Whatever happens, no one doubts that teaching hospitals will survive." 1 Although neither government nor medicine are widely respected as organized entities, we do have the best medical care system in the world and the most trusted politicians and doctors on an individual basis. We may or may not be able to improve things substantially, but we must try. In spite of difficulties in the process, we will ultimately live up to Sir Winston Churchill's expectations: "The American people will… do the right thing, but only after they have tried everything else." 2
Quality assurance and system stability of a clinical MRI-guided focused ultrasound system: Four-year experience

To retrospectively evaluate the four-year experience of a quality assurance method for a MRI-guided focused ultrasound system that uses temperature maps acquired during heating in an ultrasound/MRI phantom. This quality assurance method was performed before 148 clinical uterine fibroid thermal ablation treatments. The stability of the peak temperature rise, the targeting accuracy, the shape of the heated zone, and the noise level in the imaging was evaluated. The peak temperature rise was mostly stable for the first three years. An increase in heating was observed when the system was replaced after year three. Detection of this increase was taken into account in the subsequent clinical treatments. A small secondary hotspot was detected by the temperature maps and was seen to be resolved after system calibration. The average standard deviation in unheated regions of the phantom in the temperature maps was 0.5 +/- 0.2 degrees C; it was less than 1 degrees C in all but one procedure. The average initial targeting error was 2.8 +/- 1.8 and 2.8 +/- 2.1 mm in two radial directions and 7.7 +/- 2.9 mm along the ultrasound beam direction. The width of the heating profile was consistent over the four years. This simple method to evaluate the performance appeared to be sensitive to small changes in system performance, which was adequately stable over a four-year time period.
Synthesis of H3-Ethyl Parathion

Tritium is a very valuable radioisotope for labeling compounds used in metabolic studies, for it combines good stability (half-life 12.5 years) with the potential for obtaining specific activities very much larger than with C14. Tritium purchased as H3 2O is cheap, and a method is available for using H3 2O for labeling some aromatic pesticides. This method, however, is unsuitable for labeling most organophosphates (Hilton and O'Brien 1964). We have therefore frequently synthesized organophosphates from H3-alcohols. Unfortunately, these H3 alcohols are expensive, and the isotopic yields in the usual syntheses are relatively low on a micro scale. Thus Potter and O'Brien (1964) had a 2.5% isotopic yield in synthesizing parathion by reacting H3 ethanol with P2S5, chlorinating and reacting with p-nitrophenate. The drawbacks to the usual procedures are, 1st, the H3-alcohol is introduced in the 1st step, and losses of H3 inevitably occur in each of the later steps, 2nd, one customarily “drives” the ethylating step by using a large excess of ethanol, and of course this is impossible when labeled ethanol is employed.
Simulation of Self-Heating and Temperature Effect in GaN-based Metal-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor

Two-dimensional electro-thermal simulations of GaN-based metal-semiconductor field-effect transistor are performed in the framework of the drift-diffusion model. The dependence of the hot spot temperature in transistors with many gates on the gate-to-gate pitch is studied. The case of SiC substrate is compared to the case of sapphire substrate. The ambient temperature effect on transistor performance is simulated. The specific of a thermal breakdown in GaN-based devices is discussed. The results obtained can be useful for the optimization of the thermal design for field-effect transistors.
Cognitive self-efficacy in relation to personal mastery and goal setting across the life span.

This article is an integrative review of empirical studies of cognitive self-efficacy from childhood through old age. Issues of definition and measurement are addressed and the relation of self-efficacy to personal mastery is evaluated. Research on academic achievement in children and adolescents, complex decision-making in young adults, and memory and intellectual functioning in older adults supports a variety of theoretically driven hypotheses regarding the sources and effects of self-efficacy. Percepts of self-efficacy are based on a variety of sources of information, including personal mastery and perceived control beliefs. Self-efficacy has predictable effects on a variety of task engagement variables (e.g. persistence, effort, goal setting, strategy usage, chioce) that mediate the relationship between self-efficacy and performance. Generalisations regarding the applicability of self-efficacy to understanding cognitive development across the life span are discussed in terms of age-relevant domains an...
Role of GABAA receptors in the GABA attenuation of ethanol neurotoxicity.

We have previously reported that GABA reverses the neuronotoxic effects of ethanol in neuroblast-enriched cultures derived from 3-day-old whole chick embryo (E3WE). In the present study, we examined the effects of GABA agonists and antagonists on morphological growth patterns and on cholinergic neuronal phenotypic expression, using choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity as a marker. E3WE neuroblast-enriched cultures showed positive immunoreactivity for neurofilament and as previously reported, control cultures exhibited the characteristic pattern of outgrowth of neurites of varying thickness radiating from the aggregates. In contrast, cultures grown in ethanol consisted of neuronal aggregates lacking fasciculation but having a complex network of individual thin neurites. Both GABA and GABAA agonist muscimol enhanced neuritic fasciculation and arborization in control and ethanol-treated cultures, and this growth enhancement was inhibited by GABAA antagonist bicuculline. No effects were noted with GABAB agonist baclofen. GABA increased ChAT activity in E3WE control cultures, as previously reported. A similar effect was seen with GABAA agonist muscimol, but not with GABAB agonist baclofen. However, the GABA effect was not apparent in the presence of GABAB antagonist phaclofen. Thus, it appears that the cholinotrophic effects of GABA are mediated by both GABAA and GABAB receptors. In ethanol-treated cultures the already-reported ChAT decline was reversed by GABA and muscimol, but not by baclofen. Moreover, the GABA effect in ethanol-treated cultures was not antagonized by GABAB antagonist phaclofen, suggesting that the GABA effect was mediated by a GABAA receptor. We conclude from these findings that the cholinotrophic effects of GABA are mediated by GABAA and GABAB receptors, while the rescuing effects of GABA in the ethanol-treated cultures are mediated via GABAA receptors. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Reproducible Diuresis and Chloruresis for Bioassay of Antidiuretic Activity

Summary(1) Three different methods of hydrating rats were explored and the diuresis produced was measured in 4 separate ways.(2) The most reproducible results were obtained by hydrating with 2 doses of water and by recording diuresis as the area of the excretion curve.(3) Pituitrin solutions, over a considerable range of concentrations, could be assayed more accurately by measuring their chloruretic effect than by measuring their anti diuretic effect.
Use of recursive partitioning in the sequential screening of G-protein-coupled receptors.

Abstract High-throughput screening (HTS) is changing as more compounds and better assay techniques become available. HTS is also generating a large amount of data. There is a need to rationalize the HTS process, because, in some cases, the screening of all available compounds is not economically feasible. In addition to the selection of promising compounds, there is a need to learn from the data that we collect. In this paper, we use a data-mining method, recursive partitioning, to help uncover and understand structure–activity relations and to help biology and chemistry experts make better decisions on which compounds to screen next and better characterize. The sequential-screening process is presented and the results of applying that process to 14 G-protein–coupled receptor assays are reported.
Comparing criteria of hearing impairment in the elderly: a functional approach

We determined and compared the associations of four commonly used audiometric criteria of hearing impairment with two functional outcome measures in 152 aged persons screened in primary care medicine practices. The outcome measures were the Sickness Impact Profile (SIP, a measure of global function), and the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly-Screening Version (HHIE-S, a communication-specific measure of functional impairment). There were five main findings. (1) The four criteria of hearing loss were not independent. (2) The criterion of loss chosen depends on the functional measure of impairment. (3) Functional hearing impairment may also be classified by the number of criteria met. (4) A large subset (21%) of aged persons met one criterion but had little in the way of communicative or global dysfunction. (5) Hearing handicap as measured by the HHIE-S was directly associated with global dysfunction as measured by the SIP.
Perceptual Preferences and Imprinting in Chicks

Whether initially exposed to a strikingly patterned model or to a plain white one, Vantress-cross chicks subsequently preferred to follow the striking model. Controls given the choice at the initial training age, and other (untrained) controls given the choice at the subsequent testing age, did not show a preference.
Electromyogram-Triggered Neuromuscular Stimulation for Improving the Arm Function of Acute Stroke Survivors: A Randomized Pilot Study

Abstract Objective: To assess the efficacy of electromyogram (EMG)-triggered neuromuscular stimulation (EMG-stim) in enhancing upper extremity motor and functional recovery of acute stroke survivors. Design: A pilot randomized, single-blinded clinical trial. Setting: Freestanding inpatient rehabilitation facility. Patients: Nine subjects who were within 6 weeks of their first unifocal, nonhemorrhagic stroke were randomly assigned to either the EMG-stim ( n = 4) or control ( n = 5) group. All subjects had a detectable EMG signal (>5μV) from the surface of the paretic extensor carpi radialis and voluntary wrist extension in synergy or in isolation with muscle grade of Intervention: All subjects received two 30-minute sessions per day of wrist strengthening exercises with EMG-stim (experimental) or without (control) for the duration of their rehabilitation stay. Main Outcome Measures: Upper extremity Fugl-Meyer motor assessment and the feeding, grooming, and upper body dressing items of the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) were assessed at study entry and at discharge. Results: Subjects treated with EMG-stim exhibited significantly greater gains in Fugl-Meyer (27.0 vs 10.4; p = .05), and FIM (6.0 vs 3.4; p = .02) scores compared with controls. Conclusion: Data suggest that EMG-stim enhances the arm function of acute stroke survivors.
Use of adenylate energy charge as a physiological indicator in toxicity experiments.

Recently, investigators have decreased the test levels of exposure, to concentrate on the physiological changes that are induced in organisms exposed to chronic or low levels of pollutants. One of the procedures that can be used in toxicity experiments to study organismal responses at the biochemical-cellular level is the measurement of Adenylate Energy Charge or AEC. This study was conducted to determine if values of Adenylate Energy Charge can be used as an index of sublethal stress for phytoplankton exposed to toxic materials. The results are contrasted with changes in biomass (chlorophyll a and ATP) as well as variations in primary production.
The defect in the cblB class of human methylmalonic acidemia: Deficiency of cob(I)alamin adenosyltransferase activity in extracts of cultured fibroblasts

Abstract We show that the reductants present in the in vitro assay used to measure the formation of adenosylcobalamin from cob(III)alamin by cell-free extracts of human fibroblasts result in the non-enzymatic reduction of cob(III)alamin to cob(I)alamin. Hence, the in vitro assay uniquely estimates the activity of ATP:cob(I)alamin adenosyltransferase (EC 2.5.1.17). Based on additional studies with extracts of fibroblasts from patients in the cbl B class of human methylmalonic acidemia and from their parents, we conclude that this mutant class results from a specific deficiency of adenosyltransferase activity which is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait.
The dual variable method for finite element discretizations of Navier/Stokes equations

The numerical solution of two-dimensional, transient, incompressible Navier–Stokes problems is considered. The dual variable method, originally developed in the context of a finite difference discretization, is a technique to considerably reduce the size of the linear system to be solved at each time step. The steps involved in the method are (1) the determination of the rank of the discrete divergence operator, A, (2) the determination of a basis for the null space of A, N(A), and (3) the calculation of a particular solution of the discrete continuity equation. A finite element implementation of the method is presented using quadrilateral piecewise bilinear velocity/constant pressure elements. Algorithms for the determination of a basis for N(A) and a particular solution are presented. Numerical comparisons of primitive versus dual variable formulations on several problems demonstrate the advantage of the dual variable method, in terms of both execution speed and memory requirements.
Remote elemental analysis using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

Focusing powerful laser pulses on a material produces microplasmas that vaporize and excite a small amount of the sample. By spectrally resolving the plasma emission, the elemental composition of the material can be determined. This method, termed laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), has many advantages that make it particularly suited for field-based monitoring. These include: simplicity, multielement detection capability, minimal sample preparation, and remote analysis capability. The remote elemental analysis capability of LIBS is unique compared to other conventional analysis methods. Remote analysis can be provided either by direct focusing of laser pulses on a distant object or by fiber optic delivery of the laser energy to the sample. To date, useful spectra of rock samples have been obtained by projecting the laser pulses out to a distance of 24 meters and collecting the plasma light with a simple lens system. Elements at major and minor concentrations were easily detected. Using fiber optic delivery of the laser pulses, LIBS spectra can be obtained from samples in relatively inaccessible locations (e.g. down a borehole, in a reactor). Laser pulses of 80 mJ at 10 Hz repetition rate have been used to remotely generate the laser plasmas and to collect the plasma light using a single fiber optic.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Handgrip Strength with the Bare Hand and in the NASA Spacesuit Glove

This study examined handgrip strength with the bare and spacesuit-gloved hand, in three hand and two elbow positions. Sixteen subjects from the suited-subject pool at NASA/Johnson Space Center gripped a hand dynamometer encased in a vacuum chamber designed to simulate the pressure differential of the spacesuit in space. With the bare hand (at one atmosphere), there was an effect for hand position and a hand-position x elbow-position interaction. With the spacesuit-gloved hand, there was only an effect for hand position. Two different pressure differentials (psid) were used: the glove at 0.5 psid was responsible for a 35% grip decrement (when compared to bare handgrip); the glove at 4.3 psid (normal operating pressure) was responsible for a 42% grip decrement. Bare and gloved-handgrip were positively correlated with hand size, body weight, height, and forearm circumference. Post-hoc, subjects were grouped by hand size; the four subjects in the XL hand-size group lost an average of 17% in grip in the glove ...
Outflow Resistance as an Independent Determinant of Cardiac Performance

In the modified heart-lung preparation of the dog, sudden increases in outflow resistance were imposed during the diastolic interval between two beats. The changes in cardiac performance which were recorded during the first beat at higher resistance represent the response to augmented resistance per se, since there was no change in the initial length or initial tension of the ventricular myocardial fibers. Increased resistance elicited an immediate elevation of the peak aortic systolic pressure. This pressure rise was a direct function of the magnitude of the outflow resistance, and the effect was enhanced at higher left atrial pressures. Peak aortic flow and stroke volume were inversely related to the magnitude of the outflow resistance. At slight to moderate increases of resistance, stroke work was relatively unaffected; with more severe augmentations of resistance, however, stroke work varied inversely with outflow resistance. Arterial compliance played an important role in the ventricular response. For any given increase of resistance, the reductions of peak aortic flow and ventricular power were more severe when the arterial system was more rigid. It is concluded that the limits of cardiac performance are determined by the initial conditions, such as fiber length or tension, previous activity, temperature, and nervous and humoral factors. Within these limits, however, ventricular performance is determined by the afterload, of which the outflow impedance is an integral component.