cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analysis of the development of children's spatial reference systems

Abstract Four, six, and ten-year-old children were required to copy an object's location and orientation within a two-dimensional spatial layout under two conditions: when both E 's standard board and that of the S 's were in the same orientation and when they were rotated 180 ° from each other. The failure of the 4-yr-olds to copy location and orientation under both conditions even when space was topographically coded indicates that at this age the child does not conceptualize space within two dimensions. Although the errors of the 4-yr-olds tended to be of a self-reference nature with respect to orientation and location on rotation trials the axes of the self-reference system were not coordinated. Six and 10-yr-old children performed significantly better on both conditions, with the exceptions that the 6-yr-olds continued to preserve some orientations within a self-reference system. When topographical codes were removed and S imagined rotation there were no significant age differences in total errors; however, older children organized entire subspaces within a self-reference system. The findings support Piaget and Inhelder's hypothesis that two-dimensional reference systems do not develop until the period of concrete operational thought, and they also indicate that even at age 10, the self-reference system continues to function when topographical codes are absent. Several cognitive mechanisms proposed to account for the development of spatial abilities are critically discussed.
Desmopressin-Induced Improvement in Bleeding Times in Chronic Renal Failure Patients Correlates with Platelet Serotonin Uptake and ATP Release

Hemostatic defects resulting in life-threatening hemorrhagic episodes are a common occurrence in the chronic renal failure patient. Hemorrhagic tendencies correlate best with laboratory tests of bleeding times. The identification of a specific hemostatic defect and its role in bleeding dyscrasias has yet to be elucidated. Our studies demonstrate that factor VIII coagulant activity and factor VIII related antigen (vWF:Ag) are normal or greatly elevated in uremic renal failure patients with greatly prolonged bleeding times. The multimeric state of the von Willebrand factor is also normal in these patients. The bleeding times were normalized in all 15 patients, 90 minutes post-infusion with desmopressin (DDAVP). No significant changes in factor VIII/vWF associated properties, blood cell counts, or coagulation factors were observed post-DDAVP treatment. However, a significant increase in platelet serotonin uptake (p less than .025) and ATP release (p less than .025) was detected after DDAVP treatment. These results indicate that DDAVP acts on the platelet membrane. This is further substantiated by the ability of DDAVP to block vasopressin-induced platelet aggregation in a dose- and time-dependent fashion. Perturbations in the movement and storage of serotonin and the release of adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) in the platelets of uremic individuals are proposed to play a critical role in regulating bleeding times.
Arrays for minimum wave drag of bodies of revolution

The wave drag of two identical Sears-Haack bodies at transonic and supersonic speeds has been determined by using the supersonic area rule. The solution is found for these bodies displaced parallel to each other, both laterally and longitudinally. The results show that the drag of a pair of bodies can be either doubled, or nearly halved, depending upon the lateral and longitudinal spacings of the bodies. The magnitude of this drag is determined by the degree of mutual interference between the bodies. It is shown how reductions in wave drag can be obtained by proper spacing of external bodies. The regions of favorable mutual interference are delineated. It is also shown how to apply the two-body results to many-body arrays. Some remarks are made on applying the results to store-airframe interference and on further aspects of the store-airframe drag problem.
Inhibition of Cell Cycle Progression by the Novel Cyclophilin Ligand Sanglifehrin A Is Mediated through the NFκB-dependent Activation of p53

Sanglifehrin A belongs to a novel family of immunophilin-binding ligands. Sanglifehrin A is similar to cyclosporin A in that it binds to cyclophilins. Unlike cyclosporin A, however, the cyclophilin-sanglifehrin A complex has no effect on the calcium-dependent protein phosphatase calcineurin. It has been previously shown that sanglifehrin A specifically blocks T cell proliferation in response to interleukin 2 by inhibiting the appearance of cell cycle kinase activity cyclinE-Cdk2. How sanglifehrin A treatment leads to the cell cycle blockade has remained unknown. We report that sanglifehrin A is capable of activating the tumor suppressor gene p53 at the transcription level, leading to up-regulation of p21 that then binds and inhibits the cylcinE-Cdk2 complex. Further analysis of different elements in the p53 promoter showed that sanglifehrin A activates p53 transcription primarily through the activation of the transcription factor NFκB by activating IκB kinase in a manner that is similar to several genotoxic agents. Unlike other genotoxic drugs, sanglifehrin A does not cause DNA damage, making it a unique natural product that is capable of activating the NFκB signaling pathway without affecting DNA.
Junk Bonds—Have They Lost Their Luster?

High‐yield bonds have made giant takeovers possible. The largest takeover recorded so far, Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co.'s (KKR) $24 billion acquisition of RJR‐Nabisco, was financed in large part by high‐yield bonds. Even though it was almost twice the size of the largest transaction up to that point, KKR had no trouble raising the money. Like many takeover financings, the offer was oversubscribed.
Polarization computations by means of the multislab approximation

Beckeret al. (1951, 1958), discussed a step-discontinuity approximation method for rapidly determining the polarization of low frequency echoes including the effect of collisions and the earth's magnetic field. In the present paper, the results of this method are compared with those of a multislab approximation, and it is shown that the step method yields satisfactory results. For two electron density profiles (one near critical coupling and one far removed) the Rydbeck coupling region was subdivided into slabs of uniform media; by matching the fields between adjacent slabs, N − 1 simultaneous equations (for N slabs) were obtained. Because of the complexity of these equations, digital computer techniques were employed to obtain the desired solutions. The rate of convergence was estimated by using an increasing number of slab approximations (as high as 10).
Controlled boron trifluoride catalysis of epoxy polymerizations

A new technique which permits of the use of boron-trifluoride for catalysis of epoxy polymerizations is described. The destructive exotherm that ordinarily accompanies contact of this substance with epoxy compounds is avoided by gradual release of the catalyst. This controlled release is accomplished through use of the catalyst in the form of the liquid boron trifluoride-ethyl ether complex absorbed on a particulate carrier, the component particles being coated with a paraffin barrier layer. Employing this catalyst system a smooth but rapid reaction is obtained starting with all reactants initially at room temperature and without application of external heat. Polymerization is essentially complete within several minutes following addition of the catalyst system.
Optimal error bounds for hermite interpolation

On obtient des bornes d'erreurs optimales pour l'interpolation d'Hermite en completant le theoreme de Birkhoff-Priver
Clonidine attenuates conditioned aversion produced by naloxone-precipitated opiate withdrawal.

Abstract Clonidine, an α2-adrenoreceptor agonist, is used to alleviate withdrawal severity during detoxification from chronic opiate use. The effectiveness of clonidine has been challenged because it attenuates some, but not all, withdrawal signs in humans and nimals. Because somatic assessments may not reflect opiate withdrawal aversion, this study used a one-trial place conditioning procedure. Naloxone was paired with the most preferred side and the amount of time spent on this side and on the vehicle-paired side was measured after training. This procedure led to a dose-related decrease in the time spent on the naloxone-paired side in morphine-exposed rats, but not in non-morphine-exposed rats. This conditioned place aversion shown by morphine-exposed rats was significantly attenuated by clonidine. These results suggest that in addition to clonidine's ability to lessen some somatic signs of opiate withdrawal, it also attenuates the aversive aspects of this state.
Spectroscopic Evidence for Small Metallicity Variations among M92 Giants

We present spectroscopic evidence for small star-to-star variations in the abundance of the atoms from Ca to Ni (primarily Fe) among three bright giants in the metal-poor globular cluster M92: V-45, XI-19, and XII-8. Although all three have very similar B - V colors and visual magnitudes, weak "iron peak" absorption lines are typically about 15%–30% stronger in the spectrum of star XI-19. A line-by-line analysis shows that the abundances of the "iron peak" elements are very similar in stars V-45 and XII-8; the (logarithmic) mean difference is only 0.01 ± 0.01 dex for 106 lines. The average abundance of the "iron peak" elements is 0.18 ± 0.01 dex larger in XI-19 (121 lines). The very small "internal" error in the mean difference can be traced to (1) comparing the abundances one line at a time in order to avoid errors introduced by uncertain gf-values, (2) averaging equivalent widths for two spectra for both XI-19 and the comparison stars to reduce random errors in the equivalent widths, and (3) using a large number of lines to drive down the error in the mean. The "external" errors must also be small: the very small differences in the positions of the stars in the (V, B - V) color-magnitude diagram imply such similar values of Teff and log g that the line-strength differences must be due to real abundance differences. Comparison of small "iron peak" abundance variations with the larger variations that have been observed in the abundances of the light elements C, N, O, Na, Mg, and Al or the n-capture elements Ba and Eu in metal-poor Galactic globular clusters appears to be possible and may shed some light on the origins of both in the future.
Personal health habits and symptoms of depression at the community level.

Abstract This investigation examined the relationship between lifestyle, as defined by common health habits, and symptoms of depression in a general community sample. The study was conducted using data from a longitudinal survey involving four interviews of 1,003 Los Angeles County adults. The survey focused on the epidemiology of depression and helpseeking behavior, which included questions about seven health habits identified in the Alameda County Study as predictive of health status. The group used for this analysis comprised 752 adults who participated in and had usable depression scores (as measured with the 20-item CES-D scale) at all interviews. Depression prevalence rates were higher for six of the seven “poor” health habits examined compared with the “good” health habit. Prevalence odds ratios were greater than 2.0 for poor sleeping and drinking habits (both sexes) and equaled 1.8, among women only, for poor physical activity and smoking habits. Multivariate regression analyses showed a simple sum of the total number of good habits to be a significant independent predictor of depression after controlling for prior depression and various sociodemographic factors. The finding of an independent contribution of health habits to depression status emphasizes that lifestyle may influence mental as well as physical health.
Rac1 controls Schwann cell myelination through cAMP and NF2/merlin

During peripheral nervous system development, Schwann cells (SCs) surrounding single large axons differentiate into myelinating SCs. Previous studies implicate RhoGTPases in SC myelination, but the mechanisms involved in RhoGTPase regulation of SC myelination are unknown. Here, we show that SC myelination is arrested in Rac1 conditional knock-out (Rac1-CKO) mice. Rac1 knock-out abrogated phosphorylation of the effector p21-activated kinase and decreased NF2/merlin phosphorylation. Mutation of NF2/merlin rescued the myelin deficit in Rac1-CKO mice in vivo and the shortened processes in cultured Rac1-CKO SCs in vitro. Mechanistically, cAMP levels and E-cadherin expression were decreased in the absence of Rac1, and both were restored by mutation of NF2/merlin. Reduced cAMP is a cause of the myelin deficiency in Rac1-CKO mice, because elevation of cAMP by rolipram in Rac1-CKO mice in vivo allowed myelin formation. Thus, NF2/merlin and cAMP function downstream of Rac1 signaling in SC myelination, and cAMP levels control Rac1-regulated SC myelination.
A numbering system for camptothecin based on its biogenesis.

Un mode de numerotation pour la camptothecin est propose, base sur la biogenese de cet alcaloide.
Structure of Music May Influence Cognition

Classical music has been said to enhance cognition, which effect may be related to musical structure. 19 subjects who listened to highly structured music scored somewhat higher afterwards on cognitive performance than the 15 who listened to less structured music. Since this did not reach statistical significance, other as yet unidentified factors may also be involved.
Psychometric Properties of the Scale for Suicide Ideation in China

The Chinese version of Scale for Suicide Ideation (SSI; Beck, Kovacs, & Weissman, 1979) was examined with high school students (n = 292) in rural China. Results indicated that the SSI had high internal reliability and high item-total correlations. The SSI was highly correlated with measures of trait anxiety, hopelessness, and favorable attitude towards suicide. These findings indicated that the Chinese version of the SSI has excellent psychometric properties for measuring suicidal ideation in Chinese populations.
Task Dependency of User Perceived Utility in Autonomic VoIP Systems

The transmission of voice-over-Internet protocol (VoIP) network traffic is used in an increasing variety of applications and settings. Many of these applications involve communications where VoIP systems are deployed under unpredictable conditions with poor network support. These conditions make it difficult for users to configure and optimize VoIP systems and this creates a need for self configuring and self optimizing systems. To build an autonomic system for VoIP communications, it is valuable to be able to measure the user perceived utility of a system. In this paper we identify factors important to the estimation of user perceived utility in task dependent VoIP communications.
Costs, Revenue, and Business-Level Strategy

There is an ongoing debate as to whether the strategies of differentiation and cost leadership are mutually exclusive or whether they can be achieved simultaneously. Using transaction cost theory, a model of business-level strategy is developed that reconciles these divergent perspectives. It is argued that when transaction costs, production costs, and revenue are considered within the calculus of a single model, the trade-offs a firm faces when choosing a business strategy become clearer.
Molecular Assembly in Ordered Mesoporosity: A New Class of Highly Functional Nanoscale Materials

Assembly of organized molecular structures in ordered mesoporosity has shown to be a very powerful approach to synthesize novel functional nanoscale materials. This approach allows rational design of a wide range of material properties, such as pore dimension, surface chemistry, stereochemistry, spatial distribution of functionality, etc. This paper discusses molecular conformations and assembly mechanisms and illustrates the principles involved in fabricating sophisticated molecular structures in the pore channels. First, an introduction highlights the important progress in synthesizing and understanding ordered mesoporous materials and in incorporating functional molecules and groups in these mesoporous materials. Next, the molecular conformations of simple alkyl chains are discussed as related to chain lengths and pore geometry. The pore size, as well as the uniformity of the porosity, can affect how the long-chain molecules are assembled. Homogeneous molecular layers can be formed in 10 nm pores. Smal...
Critical behavior in systems with a long-range correlated frozen-in random field

The critical behavior of inhomogeneous systems with a frozen-in random field having a nonlocal correlation function decaying according to the power law $|\mathbf{x}\ensuremath{-}{\mathbf{x}}^{\ensuremath{'}}{|}^{\ensuremath{-}b}$ is considered. The problem is studied within the context of a model which partially considers interactions of fluctuations and belongs in the same universality class as the spherical model. Depending on the relationship between the power b and the space dimensionality d, a new critical behavior arises.
Preliminary studies of a fast screening method for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soil by using solvent microextraction-gas chromatography.

Solvent microextraction (SME) was applied to the extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from spiked and real environmental soil samples with different matrices. Soil sample was mixed with 7 mL of acetone and 14 mL of water to allow partitioning of the PAHs from the soil to the liquid phase. A 2 µL octane drop suspended from a microsyringe needle tip was then immersed into the stirred solution–soil mixture for extraction. After an 11 min extraction, the octane drop was withdrawn into the syringe and injected directly into the GC for identification and quantification. The whole analysis procedure took 27 min, with an extraction time of 11 min, and a GC separation time of 16 min. A second extraction could be undertaken whilst the GC is running, hence the GC run time currently limits the sample throughput. In this method, a small amount of organic solvent was used for the extraction process, which produced little waste. The limits of detection for lower molecular weight (<230) PAHs range from 0.13 to 0.36 mg kg−1, and for higher molecular weight (>250) PAHs are estimated to be between 0.5 and 1.0 mg kg−1, with RSD values generally under 20%. Due to the small volumes of organic solvent used, the consumable cost per extraction is only US$ 0.12. This is the first report of the application of SME to solid samples, and the first report of the use of SME for the analysis of PAHs.
Inheritance of theory in the ADABTPL language

Abstract The ADABTPL language is a functional specification language which attempts to support a programming paradigm that is natural and flexible, which supports concise programs, and which also promotes proofs of system properties. ADABTPL supports this paradigm by tying the compiler to a powerful induction based theorem prover in the style of Boyer and Moore. The theorem prover uses a tailored theory about particular programs that captures more of the application semantics than is usual in programming verification. Such theory is generated during compilation by instantiating selected parts of generic theorems about second order functions. The instantiated theory is more particular to the program in which it will be used and thus decreases the amount of search that is needed to prove program specific properties. This approach constitutes an instance of theory inheritance, and can also be used to make sound program transformations. Our work indicates, against intuition, that the introduction of higher order mechanisms does not necessarily complicate formal reasoning about programs, but instead provides a powerful abstraction mechanism for simplifying mechanical reasoning.
Suppression of UVB-induced phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases and nuclear factor kappa B by green tea polyphenol in SKH-1 hairless mice.

Suppression of UVB-induced phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases and nuclear factor kappa B by green tea polyphenol in SKH-1 hairless mice
Repeated resource sharing among selfish players with imperfect binary feedback

We develop a novel design framework for resource sharing among self-interested players, who adjust their resource usage levels to compete for a common resource. We model the interaction among the players as a repeated resource sharing game with imperfect monitoring, which captures four unique features of the considered interaction. First, the players inflict negative externality to each other due to the interference/congestion among them. Second, the players interact with each other repeatedly because of their long-term coexistence in the system. Third, since the players are decentralized, they are selfish and aim to maximize their own long-term payoffs from utilizing the resource rather than obeying any prescribed sharing rule. Finally, the players are informed of the interference/congestion level through a binary feedback signal, which is quantized from imperfect observation about the interference/congestion level. We first characterize the set of Pareto optimal operating points that can be achieved by deviation-proof resource sharing policies, which are policies that the selfish players find it in their self-interests to comply with. Next, for any given operating point in this set, we show how to construct a deviation-proof policy to achieve it. The constructed deviation-proof policy is amenable to distributed implementation, and allows players to use the resource in an alternating fashion. In the presence of strong negative externality, our policy outperforms existing resource sharing policies that dictate constant resource usage levels by the players. Moreover, our policy can achieve Pareto optimality even when the players have imperfect binary feedback, as opposed to existing solutions based on repeated game models, which require a large amount of feedback. The proposed design framework applies to many resource sharing systems, such as power control, medium access control (MAC), and flow control.
Actuator placement optimization in a Kagome based high authority shape morphing structure

An optimization protocol for a high authority shape morphing plate is described. The shape morphing design incorporates an active back-plane comprising a Kagome truss, capable of changing the shape of a solid face, connected to the back-plane by means of a tetrahedral truss core. Several members of the Kagome truss are replaced by actuators, enabling the structure to deform. The trusses to be replaced depend on the desired deformation, subject to the load capacity of the individual actuators. A two-level scheme is used comprising a heuristic algorithm with a simplex based optimization providing the cost function. It is shown that methods capable of avoiding entrapment in local minima, such as simulated annealing and the genetic algorithm, give good results.
Chemical and Structural Analysis of Fibre and Core Tissues from Flax

Samples of flax (Linum usitatissimum) stems from the cultivars ‘Natasja’ and ‘Ariane’ were separated into fibre and core fractions and analysed by gas–liquid chromatographic methods, 13C CPMAS NMR spectrometry, histochemistry, electron microscopy and UV absorption microspectrophotometry to assist in determining the structure and composition of these cell walls in relation to quality and utilisation. Analyses from chromatography and NMR gave similar results for carbohydrate and phenolic constituents in various samples and in the lower, more mature regions of the stem. Amounts of uronic acids and xylose were lower while amounts of mannose, galactose and glucose were higher in fibre vs core fractions. Quantities of phenolic constituents were significantly higher in the core than the fibre, with groups representative of both guaiacyl and syringyl lignins; amounts of phenolic acids were low. NMR showed a low intensity signal for aromatics in fibre, and it is possible that such signals arise from compounds in the cuticle rather than the fibre. Microscopic studies indicated that aromatic constituents were present in core cell walls, cuticle of the epidermis, and cell corners and middle lamellae of some regions within the fibre tissues. The lignin in fibre appeared to be of the guaiacyl type and may be too low in concentration to be unambiguously detected by NMR. Aromatic compounds were not observed in the epidermis or parenchyma cell walls. Similar analyses of dew-retted (unscutched) samples indicated that core tissues were mostly unchanged from unretted samples. Retted fibre tissues still contained lignified cell corners and middle lamellae in some regions. The cuticle, which was associated with retted fibres, was not degraded by dew-retting fungi. Fungi removed interfibre materials in some places and at times degraded the secondary wall near the cell lumen of fibre cells. Results indicate that microspectrophotometry and histochemistry are useful to identify the location and type of aromatics in fibre cell walls.
Anesthesia for laparoscopic surgery

With improvement in technology and growing surgical expertise, more extensive and prolonged laparoscopic procedures will be performed in a wide range of patients. Modification of the anesthetic technique and the prevention of common postoperative complications including pain, nausea, and vomiting using the multimodal approach should allow early recovery. Although the laparoscopic approach provides significant benefits, a thorough understanding of the associated cardiopulmonary changes and the potential complications is necessary to maintain patient safety.
Electric Field Induced Sphere-to-Cylinder Transition in Diblock Copolymer Thin Films

An electric field induced sphere-to-cylinder transition in thin films of asymmetric polystyrene-b-poly(methyl methacrylate) diblock copolymers was observed. In the absence of an applied electric field, thin films of the asymmetric diblock copolymer consisted of layers of spherical microdomains with poor in-plane long-range ordering. Under a ∼40V/μm applied electric field, hexagonally packed cylindrical microdomains normal to the surface were found. Cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy images of the intermediate stages of the alignment indicated that, under an electric field, the asymmetric diblock copolymer formed spherical microdomains that were deformed into ellipsoids and, with time, interconnected into cylindrical microdomains oriented in the direction of the applied electric field. Simulations suggest that improved long-range order of the cylindrical microdomains could be achieved by cycling the electrical field.
Sub-100-nm DRAM cell patterning results and relation with lens aberration at 248-nm lithography era

248nm wave lithography process is being pushed and extended to sub 130nm node by continuous RET(Resolution Enhancement Technique) improvement. By applying various kind of RET such as exposure lens NA(Numerical Aperture) enlargement, more strong OAI(Off Axis Illumination), elaborated OPC(Optical Proximity Correction), and high performance resist, we still can’t give up for 248nm wave technology 130nm node and beyond. But there are some major challenges to reduce MEEF(Mask Error Effect Factor) and understand lens aberrations. This paper will try to find out mutual relationship between 248nm 0.8NA exposure lens aberration and actual patterns. Influence of lens aberration on patterning characteristic will be investigated by using in house simulation tool.
Latest developments in the display of large-scale ionospheric and thermospheric data sets

Over the past decade, data base sizes have continually increased and will continue to do so in the future. This problem of size is further compounded because the trend in present-day studies is to use data from many different locations and different instruments and then compare it with data from global scale physical models. The latter produce data bases of comparable if not even larger size. Much of the data can be viewed as 'image' time sequences and is most readily viewed on color display terminals. These data sets reside in national or owner-generated data bases linked together by computer networks. As the size increases, just moving this data around, taking 'quick-looks' at the data, or even storing it locally become severe problems compromising the scientific return from the data. Is the present-day technology with these analysis techniques being used in the best way? What are the prospects for reducing the storage and transmission size of the data sets? Examples of such problems and potential solutions are described in this paper.
Soviet test yields

Soviet seismologists have published descriptions of 96 nuclear explosions conducted from 1961 through 1972 at the Semipalatinsk test site, in Kazakhstan, central Asia [Bocharov et al., 1989]. With the exception of releasing news about some of their peaceful nuclear explosions (PNEs) the Soviets have never before published such a body of information. To estimate the seismic yield of a nuclear explosion it is necessary to obtain a calibrated magnitude-yield relationship based on events with known yields and with a consistent set of seismic magnitudes. U.S. estimation of Soviet test yields has been done through application of relationships to the Soviet sites based on the U.S. experience at the Nevada Test Site (NTS), making some correction for differences due to attenuation and near-source coupling of seismic waves.
PdSi focal-plane array detectors for short-wave infrared Raman spectroscopy of biological tissue: a feasibility study

We have used a PdSi focal-plane array detector to measure short-wave infrared Raman spectra of pure compounds and human tissue. Raman bands of the pure compounds are clearly visible in the spectra, and a calcification feature at 960 cm−1 is readily identifiable in the spectra of diseased human aorta. The performance characteristics of our detection device were good; dark noise contributed approximately 60 (electrons/s)/pixel, and the read noise was ~50 rms electrons/pixel. The primary noise in the spectra was due to fixed-pattern noise, which is the variation in measured signal across a detector when it is uniformly illuminated.
Growth and Properties of Micro-Crystalline (Si,Ge):H Films

This paper reports on the growth and characterization of micro-crystalline (Si,Ge) films deposited on glass and polyimide substrates. The films were grown using a hydrogen diluted remote ECR plasma process. The feedstock gases were silane and germane. The entire range of composition from 100% Si to 100% Ge was studied. A low-pressure, low-substrate temperature, and high-power environment was used to change the morphology from amorphous to micro-crystalline. The films deposited at 5 mT pressure are generally micro-crystalline. The film’s structure was studied using Raman spectroscopy. Raman spectra show clear, sharp crystalline-type Si and Ge peaks. Electronic properties of the films, such as activation energy and absorption constant down to α = 1 cm-1 were also measured. The sub-gap absorption data also show crystalline absorption behavior, with the absorption shifting to lower energies as the Ge content is increased. This absorption data shows that the materials have low defect densities.
Ethics and Amniocentesis for Fetal Sex Identification

Two types of parents request fetal sex identification by amniocentesis: the first group risk transmitting a sex-linked hereditary disorder and the second want to select the gender of their next child. Physicians generally encourage the first type of parent but discourage the second. Prenatal diagnosis for sex choice is controversial because of ethical objections to the use of abortion for such a reason and because of the question of whether amniocentesis, a scarce medical resource, can prudently be used for this purpose.1 The issue is complex and involves many competing ethical claims. I have re-evaluated my position on this issue . . .
Antihypertensive effectiveness of terazosin: a new long-acting alpha-adrenergic inhibitor

Eighteen patients aged 35-70 years (mean + SEM 58+2) with poorly controlled hypertension on various regimens, participated in the present studies. After a 4-week placebo-controlled lead-in period, 12 patients were randomized to terazosin treatment and 6 to placebo. They were followed in the clinic every 2 weeks for 13 weeks, where their supine (5 min) and the upright (2 min) arterial pressure and heart rate were measured. In addition, all patients had a complete laboratory evaluation at the beginning and end of the study. Depending on pressure response, the experimental drug was increased at each visit from 1.0 mg/day to 2.0, 5.0,15.0, and 20.0 mg/day, if the supine diastolic pressure was greater than 90 mmHg. Terazosin decreased the systolic and diastolic pressure in both the supine and upright positions, and had no significant effect on heart rate. Placebo did not exert any effects on either arterial pressure or heart rate. No adverse clinical or metabolic effects were observed with the administration of either terazosin or placebo. We conclude that: (1) Terazosin is a new effective long-acting alpha blocker given in combination with other antihypertensive drugs, and (2) it is safe and well tolerated by the patients.
Power modeling of graphical user interfaces on OLED displays

Emerging organic light-emitting diode (OLED)-based displays obviate external lighting; and consume drastically different power when displaying different colors, due to their emissive nature. This creates a pressing need for OLED display power models for system energy management, optimization as well as energy-efficient GUI design, given the display content or even the graphical user interface (GUI) code. In this work, we present a comprehensive treatment of power modeling of OLED displays, providing models that estimate power consumption based on pixel, image, and code, respectively. These models feature various tradeoffs between computation efficiency and accuracy so that they can be employed in different layers of a mobile system. We validate the proposed models using a commercial QVGA OLED module. For example, our statistical learning-based image-level model reduces computation by 1600 times while keeping the error below 10%, compared to the more accurate pixel-level model.
Estradiol inhibits smooth muscle cell growth in part by activating the cAMP-adenosine pathway

Estradiol inhibits smooth muscle cell growth; however, the mechanisms involved remain unclear. Because estradiol stimulates cAMP synthesis and adenosine inhibits cell growth, we hypothesized that the conversion of cAMP to adenosine (ie, the cAMP-adenosine pathway) mediates in part the inhibitory effects of estradiol on vascular smooth muscle cell growth. To test this hypothesis, we examined the effects of estradiol (0.001 to 1 micromol/L) on serum-induced DNA, collagen, and total protein synthesis and cell number in the absence and presence of 1, 3-dipropyl-8-p-sulfophenylxanthine (10 nmol/L; A(1)/A(2) adenosine receptor antagonist), KF17837 (10 nmol/L; selective A(2) adenosine receptor antagonist), 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (10 nmol/L; selective A(1) adenosine receptor antagonist), and 2', 5'-dideoxyadenosine (10 micromol/L; adenylyl cyclase inhibitor). Estradiol inhibited all measures of cell growth, and the concentration-dependent inhibitory curves for estradiol were shifted to the right (P<0.05) by 1,3-dipropyl-8-p-sulfophenylxanthine, KF17837, and 2',5'-dideoxyadenosine but not by 8-cyclopentyl-1, 3-dipropylxanthine. Moreover, the inhibitory effects of estradiol were enhanced by stimulation of adenylyl cyclase with forskolin and by inhibition of adenosine metabolism with erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)adenine plus iodotubericidin (adenosine deaminase and kinase inhibitors, respectively). Estradiol also increased levels of cAMP and adenosine, and these effects were blocked by 2',5'-dideoxyadenosine (P<0.05). Our results support the hypothesis that estradiol stimulates cAMP synthesis and cAMP-derived adenosine regulates smooth muscle cell growth via A(2) adenosine receptors. Thus, the cAMP-adenosine pathway may contribute importantly to the antivasooclusive effects of estradiol.
Effect of consumption choices on fluxes of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus through households

Households are an important scale of analysis for human ecosystems because they are a major source of pollutants and could thus be a new focus for pollution management, particularly for education-based source reduction strategies. The household is also a meaningful unit for analysis of human ecosystems, being common to all human cultures. This study develops a Household Flux Calculator (HFC) to compute C, N, and P fluxes for scenarios intended to represent three levels of household consumption: low, typical, and high. All three scenarios were developed for suburban households with two adults and two children in the Minneapolis-St. Paul (Twin Cities) metropolitan area, Minnesota. Calculated ratios of fluxes between high and low consumption households were 3.5:1 for C, 2.7:1 for N and 1.4:1 for P. Results suggest a high level of discretionary consumption that could be reduced without a substantial reduction in standard of living. Thus, modest changes in behavior in high consumption households would greatly reduce fluxes of C, N, and P without major changes in lifestyle.
GM-CSF action in the CNS decreases food intake and body weight

Many proinflammatory cytokines, such as leptin, play key roles in dynamic regulation of energy expenditure and food intake. The present work tested a role for the proinflammatory cytokine GM-CSF. Central but not peripheral administration of GM-CSF to adult rats significantly decreased food intake and body weight for at least 48 hours. Similar results were observed following central administration of GM-CSF in mice. GM-CSF receptor immunoreactivity was found on neurons within the paraventricular and arcuate nuclei of the hypothalamus. GM-CSF-deficient (GM-/-) mice weighed more and had significantly higher total body fat than wild-type (GM+/+) mice. Energy expenditure in GM-/- mice was decreased compared with that in GM+/+ mice. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that GM-CSF signaling in the CNS can regulate energy homeostasis.
Application of a variational theorem for boundary values in shell theory

A variational theorem of three-dimensional linear elasticity, for which the comparison functions satisfy all the differential equations of the problem, and all boundary conditions are Euler equations of the variational equation, is reformulated so as to apply to the two-dimensional theory of thin shallow shells of revolution. This variational equation is then applied to the problem of the approximate determination of the interior solution state of a shallow spherical shell, without consideration of the associated edge zone solution state. Explicit results are obtained for the stress boundary value problem and the displacement boundary value problem, and a proceedure, involving an infinite linear system of ordinary equations, is indicated for a mixed problem with different boundary conditions being prescribed along different portions of the edge of the shell. Additionally, possible further developments of a similar nature are discussed.
Evidential Bodies: The Forensic and Abject Gazes in C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigation

This essay argues that CBS-TV’s C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigation constructs a multiplicity of gazes for viewers with a particular focus on the forensic and abject gazes.The abject gaze is both repulsive and attractive in its focus on the physiological effects of death on the human body. The abject nature of the corpse is mediated by the investigators’ forensic gaze, which seeks to control crime, death, and abjection. In C.S.I., the forensic gaze also promotes the secondary gazes of voyeurism and forensic science as visual spectacle. Ultimately, the series’ forensic gaze can be associated with the prevalence and proliferation of biological identification technologies in modern society.
A model of sonoluminescence

A bubble of air, trapped at the center of a spherical container of water on the surface of which spherical sound waves are maintained by transducers, may emit light, a phenomenon known as sonoluminescence. The surface of the bubble expands and contracts in obedience to the Rayleigh-Lamb equation, which requires knowledge of the gas pressure on the surface of the bubble. In many investigations of bubble pulsations, it is assumed that the air in the bubble moves adiabatically. To understand sonoluminescence, however, it is necessary to allow for the possibility that shocks are generated within the bubble. We couple the Rayleigh-Lamb equation governing the bubble radius to Euler's equations governing the motion of air in the bubble, and solve the two equations simultaneously. The air is modelled by a van der Waals gas. Results are presented for a number of slightly different conditions of excitation, but in which the response of the system is widely different.
Sleep-Disordered Breathing and Caffeine Consumption: Results of a Community-Based Study

Background Sleepiness is one of the most burdensome symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). While caffeine is frequently used to avert sleepiness, the association between SDB and caffeine use has not been thoroughly explored. The current study examined whether SDB is associated with caffeine consumption and if factors such as sex, age, and daytime sleepiness explain or modify the association. Methods Data from the Sleep Heart Health Study, a community-based study on the consequences of SDB, were used to characterize the association between SDB and caffeine intake. SDB was assessed with full-montage polysomnography. Caffeine use was quantified as the number of cans of soda or the cups of coffee or tea consumed daily. The Epworth Sleepiness Scale was used to assess daytime sleepiness. Multivariable negative binomial regression models were used to characterize the independent association between SDB and caffeine use. Results Caffeinated soda, but not tea or coffee, intake was independently associated with SDB severity. Compared with participants without SDB, the relative ratios for caffeinated soda consumption in women with mild, moderate, and severe SDB were 1.20 (CI, 1.03–1.41), 1.46 (CI, 1.14–1.87), and 1.73 (CI, 1.23–2.42), respectively. For men, an association was only noted with severe SDB and caffeinated soda use. Age did not modify the SDB-caffeine association, and sleepiness could not explain the observed associations. Conclusions SDB is independently associated with caffeinated soda use in the general community. Identifying excessive caffeine used in SDB has potential significance given the cardiovascular effects of caffeine and untreated SDB.
FOUR NEW SPECIES OF ACANTHOBOTHRIUM (CESTODA: TETRAPHYLLIDEA) FROM THE WHIPTAIL STINGRAY DASYATIS BREVIS IN THE GULF OF CALIFORNIA, MEXICO

Examination of the spiral intestines of 29 whiptail stingrays, Dasyatis brevis, from 6 sites in the Gulf of California, Mexico in 1993 and 1996 resulted in the discovery of 4 new species of Acanthobothrium: Acanthobothrium bullardi, Acanthobothrium dasi, Acanthobothrium rajivi, and Acanthobothrium soberoni. This brings the total number of species of Acanthobothrium known from the eastern Pacific Ocean to 34. With 22 additional species reported from elasmobranchs from the western Atlantic Ocean, and over 100 species globally, the number of interspecific comparisons required to justify the designation of a new species is rather unwieldy. To facilitate these and future comparisons, and in the absence of a phylogenetic hypothesis for this genus, the 56 species of Acanthobothrium from these 2 geographic regions were categorized for 4 characters: total length (≤ or >15 mm), number of segments (≤ or >50 segments), number of testes (≤ or >80), and symmetry of poral and aporal ovarian lobes. These 56 taxa and thei...
Ultrastructural studies of infalmmation induced in rats by injection of antigen‐antibody precipitates

Single intramucosal injectins of ferritin-antiferritin into the palate adjacent to the 1st molar produced a dense neutrophil infiltration within perivscular tissue adjacent to the palatal bone. Neutrophil degranulatin related to the phagocytosisi of antigen-antibody (Ag-Ab) precipitates occurred during the 1st 24 hours post injection. Rapidly developing bone damage was characterized by periosteal disruption, osteoblast and osteocyte necrosis and occasional swquestration of necrotic bone. Cytoplasmic changes such as dilated endowere observed inosteoblasts within 2 hrs of Ag-Ab injection. Wound healing with regeneraionof periosteal tissue at the margins of the lesion was observed to begin at 4 days post injection. New bone was formed directly over the older necrotic bone without any intervening bone resorption. Extracellular matrix vesicles were observed adjacent ot newly differentiated bone cells.
BTEX exposures in an area impacted by industrial and mobile sources: Source attribution and impact of averaging time

ABSTRACTThe impacts of emissions plumes from major industrial sources on black carbon (BC) and BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, xylene isomers) exposures in communities located >10 km from the industrial source areas were identified with a combination of stationary measurements, source identification using positive matrix factorization (PMF), and dispersion modeling. The industrial emissions create multihour plume events of BC and BTEX at the measurement sites. PMF source apportionment, along with wind patterns, indicates that the observed pollutant plumes are the result of transport of industrial emissions under conditions of low boundary layer height. PMF indicates that industrial emissions contribute >50% of outdoor exposures of BC and BTEX species at the receptor sites. Dispersion modeling of BTEX emissions from known industrial sources predicts numerous overnight plumes and overall qualitative agreement with PMF analysis, but predicts industrial impacts at the measurement sites a factor of 10 l...
A Hybrid Guitar Physical Model Controller: The BladeAxe

The BLADEAXE is a guitar-like controller that uses “real world” audio excitations from six piezoelectric films (one per “string”) to drive a physical model of a guitar on a laptop. The BLADEAXE body is made out of laser cut acrylic sheets and can be easily reproduced. As a fully “plug and play” interface, it can be used on any computer to communicate with our open-source virtual-guitar software.
The Collateral Damage of C2C Communications on Social Networking Sites: The Moderating Role of Firm Responsiveness and Perceived Fairness

Social networking sites are important to firms as firms use them to communicate with their customers. This study investigates the overlooked collateral damage (the accidental negative outcomes that occur when customers communicate with each other via social networking sites) that customer-to-customer communications, through social networking, has for firms. Based on 3 experimental surveys with 614 participants, we found that information that is received publicly by way of social networking sites elicit higher levels of betrayal than information that is received via nonsocial networking platforms. Further, perceived betrayal increased negative word-of-mouth and patronage reduction. Fortunately, the study finds that perceived firm responsiveness and perceived fairness mitigate the negative impact of betrayal on both negative word-of-mouth and patronage reduction. Managerial and theoretical implications are provided.
Dynamic Fiber Bundle Model of Biopolymer Deformation

A statistical model is developed to study the loading-rate dependent mechanical response of biopolymer arrays. Using the kinetic Monte Carlo method, bundles of fibers are studied under load-controlled and displacement-controlled conditions.