cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
High superconducting anisotropy and weak vortex pinning in Co-doped LaFeAsO

Here, we present an electrical transport study in single crystals of LaFe${}_{0.92}$Co${}_{0.08}$AsO (${T}_{c}\ensuremath{\simeq}9.1$ K) under high magnetic fields. In contrast to most of the previously reported Fe based superconductors, and despite its relatively low ${T}_{c}$, LaFe${}_{0.92}$Co${}_{0.08}$AsO shows a superconducting anisotropy which is comparable to those seen, for instance, in the cuprates or ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{H}={H}_{c2}^{ab}/{H}_{c2}^{c}={m}_{c}/{m}_{ab}\ensuremath{\simeq}9$, where ${m}_{c}/{m}_{ab}$ is the effective-mass anisotropy, although, in the present case and as in all Fe based superconductors, $\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}1$ as $T\ensuremath{\rightarrow}0$. Under the application of an external field, we also observe a remarkable broadening of the superconducting transition particularly for fields applied along the interplanar direction. Both observations indicate that the low dimensionality of LaFe${}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}$Co${}_{x}$AsO is likely to lead to a more complex vortex phase diagram when compared to the other Fe arsenides and consequently, to a pronounced dissipation associated with the movement of vortices in a possible vortex liquid phase. When compared to, for instance, F-doped compounds pertaining to the same family, we obtain rather small activation energies for the motion of vortices. This suggests that the disorder introduced by doping LaFeAsO with F is more effective in pinning the vortices than alloying it with Co.
Current readings: computed tomography screening for lung cancer.

Computed tomography screening for lung cancer is rapidly transitioning from the research realm to the clinical arena, but important questions remain regarding the ideal selection criteria, the optimal frequency and duration of screening, and other factors. The purpose of this review is to familiarize readers with recently published articles that address computed tomography screening for lung cancer and other synergistic methods to reduce mortality among individuals with a history of tobacco use. In this review, we summarize the key points from each article and discuss the relevance of these findings for thoracic surgeons. The articles reviewed here add to the growing body of knowledge about screening and have the potential to help maximize the benefits of screening while minimizing the risks.
Correction: Recovery Only ST-Segment Depression

Excerpt To the Editors:We recently reported the predictive values of ST-segment changes occurring only in the recovery period of exercise testing (1). These relatively high predictive values were a...
Applying Weick's model of organizing to health care and health promotion: highlighting the central role of health communication.

Abstract Objective Communication is a crucial process in the effective delivery of health care services and the promotion of public health. However, there are often tremendous complexities in using communication effectively to provide the best health care, direct the adoption of health promoting behaviors, and implement evidence-based public health policies and practices. This article describes Weick's model of organizing as a powerful theory of social organizing that can help increase understanding of the communication demands of health care and health promotion. The article identifies relevant applications from the model for health communication research and practice. Conclusion Weick's model of organizing is a relevant and heuristic theoretical perspective for guiding health communication research and practice. There are many potential applications of this model illustrating the complexities of effective communication in health care and health promotion. Practice implications Weick's model of organizing can be used as a template for guiding both research and practice in health care and health promotion. The model illustrates the important roles that communication performs in enabling health care consumers and providers to make sense of the complexities of modern health care and health promotion, select the best strategies for responding effectively to complex health care and health promotion situations, and retain relevant information (develop organizational intelligence) for guiding future responses to complex health care and health promotion challenges.
Microstructure of Mg–8Zn–4Al–1Ca aged alloy

Abstract The microstructure of Mg–8Zn–4Al–1Ca aged alloy was investigated by TEM and HRTEM. The results show that the hardening produced in the Mg–8Zn–4Al–1Ca alloy is considerably higher than that in the Mg–8Zn–4A1 alloy. A dense dispersion of disc-like Ca 2 Mg 6 Zn 3 precipitates are formed in Mg–8Zn–4Al–1Ca alloy aged at 160 °C for 16 h. In addition, the lattice distortions, honeycomb-looking Moire fringes, edge dislocations and dislocation loop also exist in the microstructure. The precipitates of alloy aged at 160 °C for 48 h are coarse disc-like and fine dispersed grainy. When the alloy is subjected to aging at 160 °C for 227 h, the microstructure consists of numerous MgZn 2 precipitates and Ca 2 Mg 6 Zn 3 precipitates. All the analyses show that Ca is a particularly effective trace addition in improving the age-hardening and postponing the formation of MgZn 2 precipitates in Mg–8Zn–4Al alloy aged at 160 °C.
Burnout in radiation therapists: The predictive value of selected stressors

Abstract Purpose: As cancer caregivers, radiation therapists experience a variety of stresses that may develop into burnout, which has been demonstrated to impact patient care, employee health, and organizational effectiveness. The purpose of the study was to assess the levels of radiation therapists' burnout at three stages. Additionally, the ability of selected workplace variables to predict each of the three stages of burnout was examined. Methods and Materials: We used descriptive and inferential statistical analyses on reliable and valid instruments, which measured stress, burnout, and social support. Results: Radiation therapists have high levels of the first two stages of burnout: emotional exhaustion and depersonalization. Although personal stress, organizational stress, guidance, reassurance of worth, and work load predicted 50% or more of the variance in emotional exhaustion and depersonalization, their predictive ability for personal accomplishment was low. Conclusion: Efforts to alleviate burnout among radiation therapists within an organization should have positive effects, including increased quality of patient care, improved quality of work life, higher levels of job satisfaction, and commitment and lower staff turnover.
Math-Fact Retrieval as the Cognitive Mechanism Underlying Gender Differences in Math Test Performance

Males from select populations receive better scores on standardized math achievement tests than females. The research reported in this article evaluates the hypothesis that the reason for these differences is that males are faster at retrieving basic math facts. Studies 1-3 demonstrate that math-fact retrieval predicts performance on math achievement tests with students in grades 5-8 and in college. Studies 4-6 show that males and females in grades 2-8 and in college have different patterns of math-fact retrieval performance and that males at the high positive end of the retrieval distribution are faster than comparable females. Study 5 also demonstrates that math-fact retrieval varies in three populations (Anglo-American, Chinese-American, Hong Kong Chinese) and that speed of retrieval improves with practice. Studies 7-9 tested the hypothesis that males are faster than females on retrieval tasks in general. Study 7 showed that there were no gender differences on simple retrieval tasks, and Studies 8 and 9 showed that females were slightly faster than males on verbal-processing tasks. The General Discussion indicates that the math-fact retrieval hypothesis is consistent with previous research. It also relates the math-fact retrieval hypothesis to theories of cognitive performance and introduces the practice and engagement hypothesis. This hypothesis explains the origin of gender differences in math and reading and relates those differences to the existing literature on gender differences in academic performance. The article concludes with a description of needed future research and a discussion of the educational implications of the math-fact retrieval hypothesis. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.
Iron-sulfur clusters as oxygen-responsive molecular switches.

FNR is a global regulator of the Escherichia coli aerobic-anaerobic growth transition and relies on an [Fe-S] cluster cofactor to control its oxygen-dependent activity. Details of the chemical reaction of oxygen with the [Fe-S] cluster reveal how this cofactor is used for oxygen sensing.
Responsible Mothers and Invisible Men Child Protection in the Case of Adult Domestic Violence

This commentary identifies critical issues regarding social interventions with families where both child maltreatment and woman battering are suspected. The author addresses several common assumptions of service providers and suggests changes in current practice.
Longitudinal principal component analysis of somatic and motor characteristics.

Longitudinal principal component analysis was applied to the study of growth patterns of several somatic and motor characteristics. The data are from the "Leuven Growth Study of Belgian Boys," in which six annual observations were made. Peak growth velocity and age at peak growth velocity for each variable were estimated. The results for height show three components sufficient to provide an adequate representation of the original information. The first component can be interpreted as a growth distance component, which characterizes the general position of an individual growth curve relative to the average growth curve during the period analyzed. Components 2 and 3 reflect fluctuations in percentile level during the age period studied and can be conceived as indices of stability. Component 2 provides additional information about the age at peak height velocity; component 3 characterizes variation in peak height velocity. These interpretations can, in general, be assumed for the other characteristics analyzed.
Remote sensing of clouds and water vapor by microwave limb sounding

Passive radiometers at 100-700 GHz offer great potential for remote sensing of cirrus clouds and upper-tropospheric water vapor from space because radiation at these frequencies can penetrate and interact with cirrus clouds without being cut off at/near cloud surface. This paper focuses mostly on satellite microwave observations from UARS MLS at 186.5 and 203.2 GHz. Advantages of limb-viewing geometry include better vertical resolution and less contamination of Earth's surface conditions since the limb background radiance depends only on pointing and water vapor abundance. MLS radiance measurements show that water vapor and cloud signals are separable with frequencies of different sensitivities to water vapor. The cloud-induced radiances can be used to directly retrieve ice water content at 14- 18km altitudes if the ice particles are smaller than 100 microns. Model simulations at these frequencies are also presented for various cloud types and heights. With the modified MLS radiative transfer mode, we are able to simulate limb and nadir radiances at all frequencies between 10 and 1000GHz for both cloudy and clear atmospheres. Our sensitivity studies show that brightness temperature depression at the lowest MLS tangent height can be used to infer cloud height and ice content in the upper troposphere. With more channels near 122, 240, and 640 GHz, we find that the chance of separating cirrus cloud and water vapor is greatly enhanced, and these radiometers are to be flown as the future MLS on board NASA CHEM-1 spacecraft.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Targeted Awareness Campaigns: Advocating for Coordinated School Health Programs

(2003). Targeted Awareness Campaigns: Advocating for Coordinated School Health Programs. American Journal of Health Education: Vol. 34, No. 2, pp. 117-118.
The structure of SpnF a standalone enzyme that catalyzes [4 + 2] cycloaddition

Establishing the existence of a Diels-Alderase—an enzyme that catalyzes a concerted [4 + 2] cycloaddition—is made easier by a crystal structure of SpnF, which, along with computational and biochemical analysis, should enable mechanistic investigations.
Elementary, Static Beam Theory is as Accurate as You Please

Starting with a solution of elementary beam theory and integrating polynomials in the thickness coordinate, we generate kinematically-admissible strain fields and statically-admissible strain fields whose average approximates the actual two-dimensional strain field in an orthotropic beam to within a relative mean square error of the order of magnitude of an arbitrary power of the ratio of the thickness of the beam to a characteristic wavelength of the elementary beam solution.
Numerical solution of the Nernst-Planck and poisson equation system with applications to membrane electrochemistry and solid state physics

Abstract An efficient finite difference simulation procedure for the steady state and transient solution of the Nernst-Planck and Poisson equation system is presented. The procedure is general and extremely efficient, containing refinements in time and distance scaling. The implicitly-formulated non-linear equations are solved with an iterative Newton-Raphson technique. The derivation is presented in sufficient detail for the reader to directly formulate similar computer codes. Steady state solutions, transient responses, and impedance-frequency responses are presented for a number of examples from the fields of membrane electrochemistry and solid state physics.
Chromatin Changes in Dicer-Deficient Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells in Response to Retinoic Acid Induced Differentiation

Loss of Dicer, an enzyme critical for microRNA biogenesis, results in lethality due to a block in mouse embryonic stem cell (mES) differentiation. Using ChIP-Seq we found increased H3K9me2 at over 900 CpG islands in the Dicer-/-ES epigenome. Gene ontology analysis revealed that promoters of chromatin regulators to be among the most impacted by increased CpG island H3K9me2 in ES (Dicer-/-). We therefore, extended the study to include H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 marks for selected genes. We found that the ES (Dicer-/-) mutant epigenome was characterized by a shift in the overall balance between transcriptionally favorable (H3K4me3) and unfavorable (H3K27me3) marks at key genes regulating ES cell differentiation. Pluripotency genes Oct4, Sox2 and Nanog were not impacted in relation to patterns of H3K27me3 and H3K4me3 and showed no changes in the rates of transcript down-regulation in response to RA. The most striking changes were observed in regards to genes regulating differentiation and the transition from self-renewal to differentiation. An increase in H3K4me3 at the promoter of Lin28b was associated with the down-regulation of this gene at a lower rate in Dicer-/-ES as compared to wild type ES. An increase in H3K27me3 in the promoters of differentiation genes Hoxa1 and Cdx2 in Dicer-/-ES cells was coincident with an inability to up-regulate these genes at the same rate as ES upon retinoic acid (RA)-induced differentiation. We found that siRNAs Ezh2 and post-transcriptional silencing of Ezh2 by let-7g rescued this effect suggesting that Ezh2 up-regulation is in part responsible for increased H3K27me3 and decreased rates of up-regulation of differentiation genes in Dicer-/-ES.
Evaluating computer-generated domain-oriented vocabularies

Abstract It is generally accepted that natural language understanding systems are not now able to deal successfully with unrestricted text, except in very superficial ways. Certainly no current NL system exhibits any significant degree of understanding over arbitrary subject matter. Moreover, there is no convincing reason to believe this situation will change in the near future. Successful systems, therefore, have been restricted to specific applications in particular discourse domains. In those situations where users are expected to provide the domain vocabulary (e.g., TEAM, TQA, etc.) it would be very desirable to provide at least suggestions as to what this vocabulary might be, because a good part of the difficulty in customizing a general system consists of supplying the domain vocabulary and specifying its grammatical properties. This paper discusses some methods for identifying domain vocabulary, as well as techniques for evaluating the quality of the resulting word list.
Product searching with shopping bots

Shopping bots are an important new innovation which support consumers with the product search and identification stage in e‐shopping. This paper reviews the search facilities offered by shopping bots. A number of shopping bots that include books in their product range, have been visited with a view to analysing their search facilities. Using trial searches for three different best‐selling books, title, author, and keyword search facilities available in a number of bots were further investigated. Finally the output from the search in terms of the number of items, and suppliers identified, and the price, was analysed. The effectiveness of bots does not only depend upon search facilities but also depends upon product coverage, and other added value features such as publisher and consumer reviews. Consumer search behaviour, in general, and the way in which consumers will use shopping bots are fruitful areas for further research.
Numerical performance of layer stripping algorithms for two-dimensional inverse scattering problems

Numerical results of implementing a two-dimensional layer stripping algorithm to solve the two-dimensional Schrodinger equation inverse potential problem are pre- sented and discussed. This is the first exact (all multiple scattering and diffraction effects are included) numerical solution of a multi-dimensional Schrtidinger equation inverse potential problem, excluding optimization-based approaches. The results are as follows: (1) the layer stripping algorithm successfully reconstructed the potential from scattering data measured on a plane (as it would be in many applications); (2) the algorithm avoids multiple scattering errors present in Born approximation reconstructions; and (3) the al- gorithm is insensitive to small amounts of noise in the scattering data. Simplifications of layer stripping and invariant imbedding algorithms under the Born approximation are also discussed.
Waterside corrosion in zirconium alloys

The influence of the alloy microstructure and microchemistry on uniform waterside corrosion of zirconium alloys is reviewed, with special attention to the various stages of corrosion, such as pre-transition, transition, and breakaway.
The prevalence of phosphorus-containing food additives in top-selling foods in grocery stores.

Objective The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of phosphorus-containing food additives in best-selling processed grocery products and to compare the phosphorus content of a subset of top-selling foods with and without phosphorus additives. Design The labels of 2394 best-selling branded grocery products in northeast Ohio were reviewed for phosphorus additives. The top 5 best-selling products containing phosphorus additives from each food category were matched with similar products without phosphorus additives and analyzed for phosphorus content. Four days of sample meals consisting of foods with and without phosphorus additives were created, and daily phosphorus and pricing differentials were computed. Main Outcome Measures Presence of phosphorus-containing food additives, phosphorus content. Results Forty-four percent of the best-selling grocery items contained phosphorus additives. The additives were particularly common in prepared frozen foods (72%), dry food mixes (70%), packaged meat (65%), bread and baked goods (57%), soup (54%), and yogurt (51%) categories. Phosphorus additive-containing foods averaged 67 mg phosphorus/100 g more than matched nonadditive-containing foods ( P = .03). Sample meals comprised mostly of phosphorus additive-containing foods had 736 mg more phosphorus per day compared with meals consisting of only additive-free foods. Phosphorus additive-free meals cost an average of $2.00 more per day. Conclusion Phosphorus additives are common in best-selling processed groceries and contribute significantly to their phosphorus content. Moreover, phosphorus additive foods are less costly than phosphorus additive-free foods. As a result, persons with chronic kidney disease may purchase these popular low-cost groceries and unknowingly increase their intake of highly bioavailable phosphorus.
Stimulation of acinar cell proliferation by isoproterenol in the postnatal rat submandibular gland

During the postnatal development of the submandibular gland, the stimulation of DNA synthesis and mitosis by a single injection of isoproterenol, measured as the percentage of labeled cells in radioautographs, was dependent on the age of the rat. The drug had no effect on the proliferative activity in two day old rats, but stimulated DNA synthesis in older (7–42 day old) animals. In general, the degree of stimulation was directly related to the proportion of acinar cells and inversely related to the proliferative activity in the gland of control rats. An analysis of various cell types revealed that the stimulation of DNA synthesis in the gland was essentially restricted to the acinar cells in rats older than 14 days of age. In seven day old rats, the acinar cells were not stimulated, but their precursors, the proacinar cells, the terminal tubule cells and the intercalated duct cells were stimulated to synthesize DNA by isoproterenol. This suggested that isoproterenol had an effect on the transformation of precursor cells to acinar cells.
Thylakoid membrane responses to moderately high leaf temperature in Pima cotton

Photosynthesis is inhibited by high temperatures that plants are likely to experience under natural conditions. Both increased thylakoid membrane ionic conductance and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) deactivation have been suggested as the primary cause. The moderately heat-tolerant crop Pima S-6 cotton ( Gossypium barbadense ) was used to examine heat stressinduced inhibition of photosynthesis. Previous field-work indicated that moderate heat stress ( T = 35‐45 ∞ ∞ ∞ C) is associated with very rapid leaf temperature changes. Therefore, a system was devised for rapidly heating intact, attached leaves to mimic natural field heat-stress conditions and monitored Rubisco activation, carbon-cycle metabolites, thylakoid ionic conductance, and photosystem I activity. As a proxy for NADPH and stromal redox status the activation state of NADP-malate dehydrogenase (NADP-MDH) was measured. In dark-adapted cotton leaves, heating caused an increase in thylakoid permeability at temperatures as low as 36 ∞ ∞ ∞ C. The increased permeability did not cause a decline in adenosine 5 ¢¢ -triphosphate (ATP) levels during steady-state or transient heating. Rapid heating caused a transient decline in ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate without a decrease in Rubisco activation. Sustained heating caused a decline in Rubisco activation and also oxidized the stroma as judged by NADP-MDH activation and this is hypothesized to result from increased cyclic photophosphorylation, explaining the maintenance of ATP content in the face of increased thylakoid membrane ion leakiness.
Distributed sorting algorithms for multi-channel broadcast networks

Abstract A multi-channel broadcast network is a distributed computation model in which p independent processors communicate over a set of p shared broadcast channels. Computation proceeds in synchronous cycles, during each of which the processors first write and read the channels, then perform local computations. Performance is measured in terms of the number of cycles used in the computation, where each bit to be transmitted is assumed to require a separate cycle. In this paper we investigate the problem of sorting p bit strings of uniform length m, each string initially located at a different processor in the broadcast network. We develop an efficient sorting method that first reduces the length of the strings without affecting their relative order, then proceeds using only the shorter strings. A sequence of three successively improved algorithms based on this approach is presented, the best of which runs in O(m + p log p) cycles. By showing a lower bound of Ω(m) cycles, we prove that the algorithm is optimal for sufficiently large m. Our results improve by a factor of log p the solution of the multiple identification problem presented by Landau, Yung and Galil (1985).
The Emergence, Transmission, and Acceptance of Themes in a Temporary System of Interacting Groups

The purpose of the descriptive research presented in this article was to investigate the process of these emergence, transmission, and acceptance in a system of interacting groups. Twenty-five sessions of a group relations conference were audiotaped and transcribed, and a content analysis was performed on the final sessions to determine the themes that had gained acceptance during the conference. The identified themes were competition, acceptance-ejection, anger, differences-labels, and seduction. These themes were traced through all 25 sessions to determine when they emerged and how they were transmitted from group to group. Themes did not emerge randomly, nor were they initiated or transmitted by influential members or leaders. There are similar patterns of emergence and transmission within similar group types, across group types, and within the system as a whole. Although some variation does exist, there are discernible patters, and these patterns resemble those describe in the literature on group deve...
Multiheterodyne Infrared Spectroscopy with Pitch-agile Optical Frequency Comb Generators

Multiheterodyne spectroscopy performed with electro-optic modulator frequency combs generated from a single continuous-wave seed laser provides comb-mode-spacing (pitch) agility by simply tuning the drive frequency of a fast microwave source
The Benefits of Experimental Methods for the Study of Campaign Effects

Researchers rely heavily on observational designs to study the effects of political campaigns. In doing so, scholars often overlook serious threats to causal inference that bedevil their research designs. The strategic nature of campaigns leads to serious selection biases in voter exposure to campaign stimuli and, ultimately, generates biased estimates of campaign effects. Standard approaches to establishing causal effects in observational research, such as the collection of panel data and the inclusion of covariates, are often inadequate. In contrast, experimental approaches offer researchers a more promising way to estimate accurately the causal effects of campaigns. In this essay, I discuss the recent renaissance of experimental research in the study of campaigns and illustrate how scholars can use lab, field, and survey experiments to good effect. When experimental methods are not feasible, studies of campaign effects would benefit from paying better attention to the causal identification strategy. In...
Myocardial infarction management with peripheral streptokinase

The early management of myocardial infarction (MI) is undergoing a new evolution. Aggressive treatment and new invasive modalities have brought improved prognosis to these patients. Intracoronary administration of fibrinolytic agents is rapidly gaining wide acceptance. We report a pilot protocol for administration of peripheral intravenous (IV) versus direct intracoronary fibrinolytic agents in acute MI. Thirty patients with acute evolving MI were assigned consecutively to receive fibrinolytic therapy; 15 patients received intracoronary streptokinase and 15 received peripheral IV streptokinase at a dosage of 1.5 million units over a 30-minute period. Evaluation by clinical symptoms, ECG changes, and hemodynamic studies by angiography and radionuclide ventriculography indicated comparable and beneficial results for both groups. Patients assigned to the IV therpay were able to receive streptokinase therapy 1.5 hours earlier than those receiving intracoronary therapy, and they had a higher incidence of reperfusion. We conclude that IV streptokinase therapy may be preferable to intracoronary therapy in view of a higher reperfusion frequency, fewer complications, and greater ease of administration. With both treatment modalities, comparable improvement in left ventricular function was noted. Institutions that do not have invasive techniques available may well be the first to benefit from this method of myocardial salvage, and we encourage cooperation between emergency and cardiology departments.
Firm level export decisions: The role of information cost

Abstract Costs necessary to conform with rules and regulations governing market access (i.e. compliance costs) are uncertain prior to export or collection of information which is not cost free for an individual firm. In this paper, we extend the heterogeneous firm model of Melitz to analyze how an individual firm may reduce or eliminate the uncertainty of compliance costs by paying for the information cost prior to making decisions to export. Our model indicates that in the presence of uncertain compliance costs and non-zero information cost, average profits and productivity differences between exporting and non-exporting firms are reduced.
Galanin-like peptide rescues reproductive function in the diabetic rat

Galanin-like peptide (GALP) is expressed in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus and is regulated by leptin and insulin. Centrally administered GALP stimulates gonadotropin secretion and sexual behavior in the rat. Type 1 diabetes is associated with reduced expression of GALP, as well as an overall decline in reproductive function. We postulated that tonic activity of GALP in the brain is required to sustain normal reproductive activity. To test this hypothesis, we examined whether central (intracerebroventricular) immunoblockade of GALP would reduce sexual behaviors and serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) in normal adult male rats. We found that GALP antibody reversibly reduced serum levels of LH and abolished male sexual behaviors (P < 0.05 and 0.001, respectively). Second, we tested whether intracerebroventricular GALP could restore normal plasma LH levels and sexual behavior in diabetic animals. We compared groups of diabetic rats that received intracerebroventricular GALP or vehicle and found that GALP increased serum levels of LH and sexual behavior. Third, we examined whether intracerebroventricular administration of affinity-purified GALP antibody could block the effect of insulin and leptin in reversing the effects of diabetes on LH and sexual behavior. We found that treatment of diabetic animals with insulin and leptin nearly normalized LH levels and sexual behaviors; however, this effect was attenuated by intracerebroventricular administration of GALP antibody (P < 0.05). These observations demonstrate that endogenous GALP provides trophic support to the neuroendocrine reproductive axis, including sexual behavior.
Spatial and memory circuits in the medial entorhinal cortex

The large capacity of episodic memory is thought to be supported by the emergence of distinct hippocampal cell assemblies for unrelated memories, such that interference is minimized. In large-scale population recordings, the orthogonal nature of hippocampal representations across environments is evident in the complete reorganization of the firing locations of hippocampal place cells. Entorhinal grid cells provide inputs to the hippocampus, and their firing patterns shift relative to each other across different environments. Although this suggests that altered grid cell firing could generate distinct hippocampal population codes, it has recently been shown that new and distinct hippocampal place fields emerge while grid cell firing is compromised. We therefore propose that separate circuits within the medial entorhinal cortex are specialized for performing either spatial or memory-related computations.
Nongeometric error identification and compensation for robotic system by inverse calibration

Abstract In order to achieve the stringent accuracy requirement of some robotic applications such as robotic measurement systems, it is critical to compensate for nongeometric errors such as compliance errors and thermal errors in addition to geometric errors. This paper investigates the effect of geometric errors, link compliance and temperature variation on robot positioning accuracy. A comprehensive error model is derived for combining geometric errors, position–dependent compliance errors and time–variant thermal errors. A general methodology is developed to identify these errors simultaneously. A laser tracker is applied to calibrate these errors by an inverse calibration method. Robot geometric errors and compliance errors are calibrated at room temperature while robot parameter thermal errors are calibrated at different temperatures when the robot warms up and cools down. Empirical thermal error models are established using orthogonal regression methods to correlate robot parameter thermal errors with the corresponding temperature field. These models can be built into the controller and used to compensate for quasi-static thermal errors due to internal and external heat sources. Experimental results show that the robot accuracy is improved by an order of magnitude after calibration.
Morbidity and mortality among US adolescents: An overview of data and trends.

OBJECTIVES: This article reviews the health status of adolescents in the United States 1979 through 1994. METHODS: An extensive array of data from federal agencies, private organizations, and published literature was reviewed, analyzed, and cross-validated. RESULTS: Significant shifts in mortality and morbidity among America's youth have occurred over the past decade. Adolescents have recorded significant reductions in motor vehicle deaths,; alcohol, cigarette, and illicit substance use; and gonorhea and syphilis. Overall, mortality in the second decade of life has declined by 13%. However, reductions in unintentional injuries have been largely offset by increases in teenage homicide, while worsening poverty as well as risk-taking behavior continue to influence the morbidities of teenagers adversely. Violence, suicide, and teenage pregnancy continue to be overwhelming problems for young people. CONCLUSIONS: After years of downward spiral in the health of America's youth, there have been significant improv...
Heterologous Cftr Expression is Antagonized By Nitric Oxide (No) ♦ 1955

Cystic fibrosis is the most frequent autosomal recessive inherited disease among Caucasians. CF is caused by mutations of the CFTR gene. Novel therapies for CF currently under trial include pharmacological modulators of epithelial ion transport, CFTR expression and/or processing, anti-inflammatory therapy and gene therapy. To improve the efficiency of gene therapy, host responses limiting CFTR transgene expression need to be identified, and strategies to overcome these limitations have to be designed. We studied the mechanisms of NO-dependent inhibition of heterologous CFTR expression in a model epithelium. LLCPK1 cells stably transduced with CFTR (LLCPKWTCFTR) were subjected to treatment with NO derived either from a chemical NO-donor (diethyl triamine; DETA) or produced by 3T3 cells stably transduced with the inducible NO-synthase (3T3iNOS). CFTR expression was quantified using immunoprecipitation followed by in vitro phosphorylation, SDS-PAGE analysis and phosphor imaging densitometry. Exposure to NO produced either by DETA, or by 3T3iNOS cells inhibited heterologous CFTR expression in LLCPKWTCFTR cells.The inclusion of freshly isolated red blood cells, i.e., NO scavengers, rescued CFTR expression in DETA treated cells and treatment with L-NG-monomethyl arginine, i.e., a NOS inhibitor, abrogated the inhibitory effect of the co-cultured 3T3iNOS cells on CFTR expression in LLCPKWTCFTR cells. None of the treatment conditions were cytotoxic for LLCPKWTCFTR cells as determined by LDH release and/or apoptosis assays. 1H-[1,2,4]Oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one, an inhibitor of guanylyl cyclase, had no effect on NO-inhibition of CFTR expression, and 8Br-cGMP had no effect on heterologous CFTR expression. These data indicate that heterologous CFTR expression is inhibited by NO in a model epithelium, and that this inhibition is not mediated by cGMP-dependent signaling. These findings caution that inflammation and consequent NO generation should be considered as potential stumbling blocks for CF gene therapy.
Dirac and Klein-Gordon equations: convergence of solutions in the nonrelativistic limit

The convergence of solutions of the Dirac and Klein-Gordon equations to solutions of the Pauli and Schrodinger equations in the non-relativistic limit is discussed. An abstract theory of these equations is developed which is general enough to allow physical space to be an arbitrary complete Riemannian manifold.
Monitoring diapause development in the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata, under field conditions using molecular biomarkers

A multiplex PCR protocol was developed using five diapause-regulated genes to monitor diapause development of the Colorado potato beetle under field conditions. A total of 870 beetles from the Red River valley of North Dakota and Minnesota, USA, were screened for three consecutive years. Out of the 32 possible expression profiles, eight could be arranged in chronological order of diapause development. These eight profiles account for over 92% of the beetles surveyed. Intra-population variation in diapause phenotypes was observed in the field. Some beetles were already in the diapause initiation phase in June when the day length was greater than 17 h. Inter-seasonal variation in the timing of diapause development was also noted. The greatest differences were before the day length decreased to less than 15 h. Anomalies in the results, e.g., the presence of the diapause maintenance phase profiles in beetles collected on the potato plants, argue that laboratory results are not always equivalent with what is observed under field conditions.
Towards a philosophy of strategy: reassessing five critical dilemmas in strategy formulation and change

Although there has been a considerable amount of prescriptive research in the strategic management field, top executives are still faced with a number of somewhat philosophical ‘judgment calls’ when formulating strategies for their companies. Five of these key issues include: (1) approaching strategy as an art or as a science; (2) publicizing strategy content or maintaining its secrecy; (3) seeking strategic consistency over the long term or maintaining flexibility; (4) embracing or avoiding strategic risk; and (5) adopting a top-down or a bottom-up approach to strategic planning. This paper examines the predispositions of managers concerning these challenges and integrates them into four comprehensive philosophical approaches to strategy formulation. Prospects for future research are also presented. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Efferent projections from the paraventricular nucleus mediating α2-noradrenergic feeding

Feeding behavior elicited by central injection of the α-noradrenergic agonists, norepinephrine (NE) and clonidine (CLON), are believed to be mediated via postsynapticα2-type receptors located in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN). To map the course taken by essential efferent (descending) fibers of this PVN system for noradrenergically-stimulated feeding, the impact of diencephalic and lower brainstem coronal knife cuts, on the responses elicited by PVN-injected NE and CLON, was assessed. Rats that sustained damage in the periventricular gray area of the caudal thalamus and midbrain exhibited significant losses in feeding elicited by PVN injections of these drugs. In the case of animals with midbrain periventricular gray knife cuts, a significant increase in daily food intake was also observed, and this increase was positively correlated in magnitude with the attenuation of NE-induced feeding. This decrease in sensitivity toα2-noradrenergic stimulation occurred with discrete periventricular knife cuts extending only 0.5 mm lateral to midline. In contrast, large ventral or lateral coronal knife cuts throughout the dorsal and ventral midbrain tegmentum left intact NE- and CLON-induced feeding. These findings provide evidence for localization of anatomical substrates which underlie PVNα2-noradrenergic feeding. The efferent fibers of this system appear to exit from the PVN in a dorsomedial direction and course through the thalamic periventricular area. As this projection descends into the midbrain, it remains quite medial, maintaining this position throughout the midbrain central gray substance. At the level of the pons, just rostral to the locus coeruleus, this fiber projection appears to course ventrolaterally into the dorsolateral pontine tegmentum and possibly continue towards the dorsal vagal complex of the dorsomedial medulla.
The Study of Immunity Function in Infants with Critical and Severe Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease

Objective: To investigate the immunologic function in infants with critical and severe hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD).
On relativistic thermodynamics

Abstract The thermodynamics of moving bodies is developed from first principles. To do this, it is necessary to augment the laws of thermodynamics with a new principle, which asserts the impossibility of thermal equilibrium between bodies in relative motion. Clausius' theorem is generalized to heat flow between moving systems, and leads naturally to the identification of heat and temperature as Lorentz scalars. The formulation of relativistic statistical mechanics is carried out and the correspondence with classical quantities is made. The quantum distribution laws are generalized to the relativistic case, and are found to differ from their accepted relativistic form.
An infrastructure for the development of kernel network services proof of concept: fast UDP

Scientific applications demand tremendous amounts of computational capabilities. In the last few years, the computational power provided by clusters of workstations and SMPs has become popular as a cost-effective alternative to supercomputers. Nodes in these systems are interconnected using high-speed networks via "smart" Network Interface Controllers (NIC). These controllers allow the overlap of computation and communication by processing communication tasks on the NIC and computational tasks on the host processor(s).
Re-expansion pulmonary edema.

One patient with re-expansion pulmonary edema is presented. Dual purposes of this report are to remind physicians of the existence and natural history of this process, and to stimulate interest in research into its cause and management.
The performance of interventional loopless MRI antennae at higher magnetic field strengths

Interventional, “loopless antenna” MRIdetectors are currently limited to 1.5 T . This study investigates whether loopless antennae offer signal-to-noise ratio(SNR) and field-of-view (FOV) advantages at higher fields, and whether device heating can be controlled within safe limits. The absolute SNR performance of loopless antennae from 0.5 to 5 T is investigated both analytically, using electromagnetic (EM) dipole antenna theory, and numerically with the EM method of moments, and found to vary almost quadratically with field strength depending on the medium’s electrical properties, the noise being dominated by direct sample conduction losses. The prediction is confirmed by measurements of the absolute SNR of low-loss loopless antennae fabricated for 1.5, 3, and 4.7 T , immersed in physiologically comparable saline. Gains of 3.8 ± 0.2 - and 9.7 ± 0.3 -fold in SNR, and approximately 10- and 50-fold gains in the useful FOV area are observed at 3 and 4.7 T , respectively, compared to 1.5 T . Heat testing of a 3 T biocompatible nitinol-antenna fabricated with a redesigned decoupling circuit shows maximum heating of ∼ 1 ° C for MRI operating at high MRI exposure levels. Experiments in the rabbit aorta confirm the SNR and FOV advantages of the 3 T antenna versus an equivalent commercial 1.5 T device in vivo. This work is the first to study the performance of experimental internal MRIdetectors above 1.5 T . The large SNR and FOV gains realized present a major opportunity for high-resolution imaging of vascular pathology and MRI-guided intervention.
Process modification for coating SnO2:F on stainless steels for PEM fuel cell bipolar plates

Abstract Our previous procedure for depositing SnO 2 :F on stainless steels for interfacial contact resistance (ICR) reduction and as a protective coating for metal bipolar plates was modified by pre-etching and coating characterization. Only ferrite stainless steels acquired a good quality SnO 2 :F coating. The modified SnO 2 :F coating decreased the ICR over our previous coating results, confirming the beneficial effect of the pre-etching; however, the corrosion resistance we obtained was significantly reduced. For the pre-etched and coated AISI444 and AISI446, both dynamic and potentiostatic polarizations revealed that the corrosion resistance of the modified coated steels is not as good as that obtained with the original coating process. The pre-etched and coated AISI444 showed higher currents in the polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) anode environment, as compared with earlier coated (original) AISI444 results. It took 10–50 min to reach a stabilized current for the pre-etched and coated AISI446; moreover, the stable currents are higher than those for original coated AISI446. Inductive coupled plasma (ICP) analysis for dissolved metallic ions in the test solutions was in agreement with the polarization results. Additionally, both the polarization and ICP analysis results indicate that the PEMFC cathode environment is more corrosive to the coated steels (especially AISI444) than the PEMFC anode environment. The Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) investigation showed that the pre-etched and coated AISI444 had heavy dissolution in the PEMFC cathode environment, confirming that for this process it has enhanced corrosion over the PEMFC anode environment. Both coated AISI444 and coated AISI446 showed cracks and peel-off of the modified coating after the polarization. This is apparently the source for the higher anodic currents in the polarization curves as compared to our original process for coating the steels. The conclusion is that both the corrosion resistance in PEMFC environments and the adhesion of the modified SnO 2 :F coating are challenges for further development.
Molecular Diagnosis of Respiratory Tract Infection in Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Acute exacerbations are significant events in the course of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Modern diagnostic techniques have revealed an infectious cause for the majority of exacerbations. Common respiratory viruses contribute to 25%-50% of exacerbations. Detection of viral nucleic acids in nasopharyngeal swab or sputum samples has become the preferred method to study viral exacerbations instead of viral cultures and serologic examination. Clinical application of such molecular detection requires additional studies to clarify interpretation of a positive result. Bacteria account for 25%-50% of exacerbations. Studies comparing molecular detection of bacteria in sputum with conventional culture techniques have shown that a substantial proportion of bacteria are not detected by the latter method. However, as with molecular viral detection, clinical application of molecular bacterial diagnosis requires additional studies. Although still faced with several challenges and requiring additional development, it is quite likely that molecular methods will become the preferred methods for determining the etiology of exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.