cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analysis of arsenic speciation in mine contaminated lacustrine sediment using selective sequential extraction, HR-ICPMS and TEM

Abstract In order to determine how As speciation in lacustrine sediment changes as a function of local conditions, sediment cores were taken from three lakes with differing hydrologic regimes and subjected to extensive chemical and TEM analysis. The lakes (Killarney, Thompson and Swan Lakes) are located within the Coeur d’ Alene River system (northern Idaho, USA), which has been contaminated with trace metals and As, from over 100 a of sulfide mining. Previous analyses of these lakebed sediments have shown an extensive amount of contaminant metals and As associated with sub-μm grains, making them extremely difficult to analyze using standard methods (scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction). Transmission electron microscopy offers great advantages in spatial resolution and can be invaluable in determining As speciation when combined with other techniques. Data indicate that because of differences in local redox conditions, As speciation and stability is dramatically different in these lakes. Killarney and Thompson Lakes experience seasonal water-level fluctuations due to drawdown on a downstream dam, causing changes in O 2 content in sediment exposed during drawdown. Swan Lake has relatively constant water levels as its only inlet is dammed. Consequently, Killarney and Thompson Lakes show an increase in labile As-bearing phases with depth, while Swan Lake data indicate stable As hosts throughout the sediment profile. Based on these observations it can be stated that As in lakebed sediments is much less mobile, and therefore less bioavailable, when water is kept at a constant level.
The ecology of tick-transmitted infections in the redwood chipmunk (Tamias ochrogenys).

Abstract The redwood chipmunk contributes to the maintenance of tick-borne diseases in northern California. The range of redwood chipmunks overlaps that of western black-legged ticks and tick-borne disease, including granulocytic anaplasmosis and Lyme borreliosis. Chipmunks have high Anaplasma phagocytophilum PCR- and seroprevalence, are infested with a diversity of Ixodes spp. ticks, and are reservoir competent for Borrelia burgdorferi. We hypothesized that chipmunks could maintain tick-borne disease on the forest floor while also potentially bridging infection to arboreal sciurids as well. We used radio-telemetry to evaluate chipmunk movement and use of trees, characterized burrows, described prevalence of tick-borne disease, and identified ticks on these chipmunks. A total of 192 chipmunks from Hendy Woods, Mendocino County, California, USA, was evaluated between November 2005 and April 2009. The mean density was 2.26–5.8 chipmunks/ha. The longest detected life span was 3 years. Female weights ranged from 80 to 120 g and males from 80 to 180 g. The A. phagocytophilum and Borrelia spp. seroprevalence was 21.4% and 24.7%, respectively, and PCR prevalence for these pathogens was 10.6% and 0%, respectively. Ixodes spp. ticks included I. angustus, I. ochotonae, I. pacificus, and I. spinipalpis. The mean infestation level was 0.92 ticks/chipmunk. Based on telemetry of 11 chipmunks, the greatest distance traveled ranged from 0.14 to 0.63 km for females and 0.1–1.26 km for males. Areas occupied by chipmunks ranged from 0.005 to 0.24 km2 for females and 0.006–0.73 km2 for males. On 3 occasions, chipmunks were found in trees. Burrows were identified under a moss-covered redwood log, deep under a live redwood tree, under a Douglas fir log, in a clump of huckleberry, in a root collection from an overturned Douglas fir tree, and in a cluster of exposed huckleberry roots. The biology of the redwood chipmunk has multiple features that allow it to be an important reservoir host for tick-borne disease in northwestern California.
Perceived cardiac risks and beliefs about health and running in elite older runners.

Summary.-Beliefs about the perceived health benefits of exercise of 24 elite runners were compared on an objective measure of risk for coronary heart disease. Results showed a 4- to 6-fold increase in estimates of perceived risk as compared to the objective estimate of risk, suggesting that these runners held somewhat exaggerated beliefs about the health benef~ts of running. In addition, these beliefs remained stable over time.
Effects of Various Synthetic Sucrose Esters on Weed Seed Germination and Crop Growth: Structure−Activity and Dose−Response Relationships

Twelve synthetic sucrose ester (SE) products with C7−C10 chain lengths and various degrees of esterification (DE) were tested for their influence on seed germination of prosomillet and velvetleaf and on growth of broccoli and bell pepper plants. At 100 ppm most SE caused virtually total inhibition of germination; at lower concentrations dose−response and structure−activity relationships were apparent. Sucrose esters with seven and eight carbon acyl groups were most effective, and activities decreased for nonanoyl and decanoyl esters, respectively. With respect to DE, products high in di-, tri-, and tetraacyl esters were most active. Increased DE caused decreasing activities; however, the lowest DE (higher in monoacyl esters) was also less active. The biologically most active SE product was characterized by mass spectrometric techniques. The product consisted of 7.5% monoheptanoyl and 20.7% di-, 33.5% tri-, 23.6% tetra-, 7.7% penta-, and 1.3% hexaheptanoyl esters. Structure−activity relationships with resp...
Rh i isoelectronic sequence: analysis of the 4d 9 –4d 8 5p transition array in La xiii

The spectrum of twelve-times ionized lanthanum (La xiii) was produced by a triggered, high-voltage, vacuum spark discharge and photographed by using the 10.7-m grazing-incidence spectrograph at the National Bureau of Standards. The wavelengths of spectral lines of the 4d9–4d85p array were measured in the 92–110-A range. Twenty-eight observed lines in this array have been classified as transitions from twenty-five levels of the 4d85p configuration to the 4d9 2D ground term. Radial energy integrals were fitted to the observed levels of 4d85p, and the relative intensities of lines in the array were calculated with fitted eigenvectors. These intensities are in good qualitative agreement with the relative intensities visually estimated from the spectrograms. Least-squares-fitted values for the energy parameters and their ratios to the calculated Hartree–Fock values are given.
The regulative capacity of prespore amoebae as demonstrated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting and green fluorescent protein.

The ability of prespore Dictyostelium discoideum amoebae to undergo redifferentiation so as to reestablish normal spore/stalk proportioning has been demonstrated in various ways over the years, beginning with the classic microdissection work of K. Raper. The discovery of anterior-like cells in the slug posterior, however, cast doubt on that ability, and more recent experiments using a cell-specific toxin suggested that prespore redifferentiation may not in fact occur. To reexamine this question, we performed fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) upon amoebae expressing a mutated green fluorescent protein gene (S65T-GFP) under the control of a prespore-specific (PsA) promoter. FACS produced prespore cell populations with purities, measured by GFP expression, as high as 99. 5%. Sorted GFP(+) cells were developmentally competent and produced normally proportioned fruits, indistinguishable from those of "sham-sorted" (permissively gated, mixed GFP(+) and GFP(-)) amoebae. This result confirms the developmental totipotency of prespore amoebae.
Linear forms of nonlinear expressions: New insights on old ideas

We show how recent linearization methods for mixed 0-1 polynomial programs can be improved and unified through an interpretation of classical techniques. We consider quadratic expressions involving the product of a linear function and a binary variable, and extensions having products of binary variables. Computational results are reported.
Passive solar performance of TECH House V

The performance of a passive solar modular house located in Knoxville, Tennessee (TECH House V) was determined for the 1981-82 heating season. The 111 m/sup 2/ (1200 ft/sup 2/) house has 13.7 m/sup 2/ (144 ft/sup 2/) of south facing glass and 20 vertical water tubes. The auxiliary heat was measured directly while the net solar gain was calculated using hourly measured vertical insolation, weather, and inside-space temperature data. The solar collection efficiency was 64 percent and the solar fraction was 0.40.
The boundary stabilization of a linearized self-excited wave equation

We study the linearized self-excited wave equation uu - c2 ▵ u - p(x) u1 = 0, where P(x)  0, and P(x) e L∞ (ohm; ), in a bounded domain Ω ⊂ R n with smooth boundary Γ where boundary damping is present. We observe that the energy is not monotonically non-increasing, owing to negative internal damping P which causes self-excitation. Hence, the system may become unstable. Having considered the partition { Γ +,Γ − } of the boundary f on which u = o on Γ − we find two different bounds for P such that the energy of the system decays exponentially as t tends to infinity (here, we assume ¯Γ + ∩ ¯Γ = φ for n  3)Both bounds depend on Q. Moreover, the second bound depends on the feedback functions Kor more precisely it depends on a positive function k(x)e L∞ (Γ + ) which determines K and L on the partition T+
Paradigms lost, paradigms found: the New Milton Criticism

“Conflict, ambivalence, and open-endedness” occupy a contested place in Milton studies. While discontinuities in Milton’s works have long been noted, Miltonists have traditionally regarded them as anomalies, and the critics who opted to explore, without resolving, them were often designated as marginal, or outliers in the field. The predilection for coherence and resolution in Milton studies has led Nigel Smith to observe that “the nature and complexity of [Milton’s] contradictory energy is not appreciated, even by Milton specialists.” The New Milton Criticism seeks to provide and encourage the appreciation Smith calls for. The chapters assembled here interrogate various paradigms of certainty that have characterized many contributions to the field. This book also intends to show through a variety of approaches how analyses of Milton’s irresolvable complexities can enrich our understanding of his writings. To be sure, as Paul Stevens recognizes, “there is a degree to which almost all Milton criticism tends to imagine itself, at some point, as the New Milton Criticism.” We hope, however, to earn this label by showcasing a Milton criticism resistant to reading Milton into coherence, a criticism that treats his work – Paradise Lost especially but not exclusively – as conflicted rather than serene, and that explicitly highlights the spirit of critical inquiry in Milton’s writing. Interpretations of the Pilot metaphor in the first epic simile demonstrate how paradigms of certitude and a will to order have traditionally shaped criticism on Paradise Lost . In attempting to describe Satan’s size to the reader, the Muse declares that the fallen angel is as huge as: that Sea-beast Leviathan , which God of all his works Created hugest that swim th’ Ocean stream: Him haply slumbring on the Norway foam The Pilot of some small night-founder’d Skiff, Deeming some Island, oft, as Sea-men tell, With fixed Anchor in his skaly rind Moors by his side under the Lee, while Night Invests the Sea, and wished Morn delayes: So stretcht out huge in length the Arch-fiend lay. (1.200–9) Crucially, Milton defies expectation and his various sources by not supplying the anticipated or traditional conclusion. In fact, he leaves the episode unresolved, with the Pilot stranded on the whale “while Night / Invests the Sea, and wished Morn delayes” (1.207–8). Most readers assume that the whale dives and takes the Pilot with him, even though Milton’s verses provide no such evidence.
The accuracy of single-seed dose superposition for I-125 implants

The Monte Carlo method was used to study perturbations of single I‐125 seed dose distributions created by the presence of one or three neighboring seeds for the case of seeds immersed in a water phantom. Perturbation factors were determined within the geometric shadow of neighboring seeds for two‐seed designs, four‐seed spacings, and several choices of dose point. The results were compared to dose estimates obtained by the simple superposition of single‐seed data for one‐ and two‐plane implants. Some significant differences were found.
Clinical Outcomes of Local and Metastatic Testicular Sex Cord-Stromal Tumors

Purpose: We evaluated pathological variables of testicular sex cord-stromal tumors, management options and clinical outcomes.Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 48 patients with testicular sex cord-stromal tumors treated at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center between 1997 and 2012. Clinical outcomes were compared based on treatment and previously described pathological factors associated with metastatic potential.Results: Of the 48 patients 37 underwent surveillance without retroperitoneal lymph node dissection, including 34 with no high risk feature and 3 with 1. Median followup was 14.5 months (IQR 6.9–32.5). No patient experienced recurrence. Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection was performed in 11 patients, including 6 with clinical stage I disease and 2 or more high risk features who underwent early dissection, 2 with clinical stage IIa disease at diagnosis who underwent early dissection and 3 with clinical stage I disease and 2 or more high risk features who were ob...
Surgery of necrotizing enterocolitis.

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) has become a frequent neonatal surgical emergency. This disease, characterized by crepitant intestinal necrosis, occurs primarily in premature infants. Operation is necessary if intestinal perforation or gangrene occurs. Of the many proposed indications for operation in NEC, those of proven validity are: pneumoperitoneum, a fixed dilated loop on serial x-rays, erythema of the abdominal wall, an abdominal mass, or a positive paracentesis (consisting of brown fluid and/or bacteria on Gram's stain). Paracentesis has aided the early identification of infants with intestinal gangrene prior to perforation. Early recognition of gangrene is important because the mortality rate following operation after perforation (64%) is double that of operation for gangrene (30%). The cardinal principles of operation for acute NEC are excision of all the gangrenous bowel, exteriorization of the marginally viable ends, and preservation of as much intestine as possible. Our preferred method of exteriorization is by the Mikulicz enterostomy, because its subsequent closure appears to be safer than closure of a double enterostomy with separated stomas. The survival of infants operated on for NEC at the University of New Mexico Hospital was 34 of 63 (54%). Six late deaths occurred, for an overall survival of 28 of 63 (44%). Nine survivors (32%) required treatment for late intestinal strictures. Recent follow-up studies on infants surviving NEC show an encouraging prognosis for normal growth and development.
Arsenate Adsorption by Unsaturated Alluvial Sediments

Arsenic can occur naturally in excess of drinking water standards. Earlier a field-scale recharge pond experiment in the Antelope Valley ground water basin, Mohave Desert, California, was performed to determine the effectiveness of naturally occurring minerals in the unsaturated zone to treat high As water. The extent to which the remediation can be continued on any site is unknown and depends on the As adsorption properties and capacity of the sediments. Therefore, arsenate adsorption reactions as a function of solution As concentration and solution pH were investigated on five alluvial sediments obtained from various depths of a borehole adjacent to the recharge pond. Arsenate adsorption increased with increasing solution pH, exhibited a maximum around pH 4 to 5, and then decreased with increasing pH. The constant capacitance model was able to fit arsenate adsorption on the sediments as a function of solution As concentration and solution pH. A general regression model was used to predict arsenate surface complexation constants from routinely measured chemical parameters. The predicted arsenate constants were used to predict adsorption on the sediments, thereby providing a completely independent evaluation of the ability of the model to describe arsenate adsorption. The prediction equations were able to satisfactorily predict arsenate adsorption on one of the five sediments whose chemical properties fell into the range for the set of soils used to develop the prediction equations. Equimolar phosphate concentrations did not affect the extent of arsenate adsorption indicating that the extent of arsenate remediation by the sediments will be unaffected by the low amounts of native phosphate.
Parallel Ion Parking of Protein Mixtures

The multiple charging phenomenon resulting from electrospray ionization of proteins, while useful for the ability to make several mass measurements on a single component, can lead to highly complex spectra when mixtures are analyzed, as each component can generate multiple ions of distinct mass-to-charge ratio. Ion/ion proton-transfer reactions can overcome this problem by reduction of all components to the +1 charge state, but this typically requires the ability to extend the mass range of the instrument well beyond that available in most commercial instruments. Furthermore, reduction of protein charge to +1 also results in a reduction in detector response. Here it is shown that application of a relatively high amplitude, low-frequency auxiliary ac signal to the end cap electrodes of a 3-D ion trap during an ion/ion reaction can slow the ion/ion reaction rates of ions over a broad m/z range, in a process termed HALF parallel ion parking. Adjustment of the frequency and amplitude of the applied voltage al...
Oats, Antioxidants and Endothelial Function in Overweight, Dyslipidemic Adults

Objective: To determine effects of oat and antioxidant vitamin (C 500 mg, E 400 IU) ingestion on endothelial function in overweight, dyslipidemic adults.Design: Randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover trialIntervention(s): Subjects (16 males ≥ age 35; 14 postmenopausal females) were assigned, in random order, to oats (60 g oatmeal), vitamin E (400 IU) plus vitamin C (500 mg), the combination of oats and vitamins, or placebo, and underwent brachial artery reactivity scans (BARS) following a single dose of each treatment, and again following 6 weeks of daily ingestion, with 2-week washout periods. At each test, a provocation high-fat meal (50 g, predominantly saturated) was administered and subjects were scanned pre, and 3 hours post-ingestion.Results: Mean flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD; measured as percent diameter change before and after treatments) at baseline was 6.35 ± 3.37. Oats increased FMD non-significantly (p > 0.05) with both single acute dose (from 6.07 ± 6.25 to 9.22 ± 8.82) and si...
Further experiments on pyrolysis of 2,2‐dimethylpropane behind shock waves

Pyrolysis of a dilute mixture of neopentane (2,2-dimethylpropane) has been studied behind incident shock waves at an average pressure of 0.35 atm; the reaction was followed by absorption spectroscopy for H atoms. In the temperature range 1230–1455 K, the rate constant for dissociation of neopentane to t-butyl and methyl radicals is 1.1 E 13 exp(−62 kcal/RT) s−1. These data and some of the literature results, between 1000 and 1450 K, can be fitted by an RRKM model of the hindered Gorin type, with five active internal rotors in the complex. To match our data with other literature data down to 800 K, a vibrational model was more satisfactory, but this did not fit very low pressure pyrolysis data in the 1000–1100 K range. Apparently, the VLPP data are too high because of heterogeneous processes or chain reactions.
The first carboranyl bis(adenosine diphosphate) (CBADP): a synthetic investigation

Abstract The synthesis of the first carboranyl bis(adenosine diphosphate) (CBADP) ( 5 ) was achieved in three steps. The first step involved the reaction of o -carborane dianion, 1 , with methyl dichlorophosphate to yield 2 . Reagent 4 was synthesized by the reaction of bis-benzoyl-protected adenosine with phosphoryl chloride, followed by the protection of the free hydroxyl group in the product, 3 , with methyl triflate. The final step converged both 2 and 4 into the title compound, CBADP ( 5 ).
Does protein phosphorylation govern host cell entry and egress by the Apicomplexa

Members of the phylum Apicomplexa are responsible for a wide range of diseases in humans and animals. The absence of an effective vaccine or safe curing drugs and the continuous emergence of resistant parasites to available treatments impose a high demand on the identification of novel targets for intervention against the apicomplexans. Protein kinases are considered attractive potential therapeutic targets not only against cancers but also to combat infectious diseases. The scope and aim of this review is to report on the recent progress in dissecting the impact of protein phosphorylation in regulating motility and invasion.
Failure mechanisms in AlGaAs/GaAs power heterojunction bipolar transistors

We report the failure mechanisms resulting in the second breakdown characteristics found in AlGaAs/GaAs power heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs). The dominant failure mechanism is identified to be the increasingly larger base-collector leakage current at elevated junction temperatures. This failure mechanism is compared with those found in silicon bipolar transistors.
Steady-State Measurements on the Fructose 6-Phosphate/Fructose 1,6-Bisphosphate Interconversion Cycle

Steady-state measurements are presented of the concentration of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate (F16BP) in a flow reactor containing the enzymes phosphofructokinase 1, fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase, and creatine kinase, under the regulation of combinations of the regulatory species fructose 2,6-bisphosphate, citrate, glycerol 3-phosphate, and adenosine 5‘-monophosphate. We use a recently described capillary electrophoresis protocol for sample analysis, which allows for the simultaneous separation and quantification of many glycolytic species, including isomers. We compare our results to theoretical work on logical properties of biological reaction networks and conclude that the fructose 6-phosphate/fructose 1,6-bisphosphate interconversion cycle can be considered to be a switch in glycolysis: a fuzzy logic aggregation operator.
The timing of elective colectomy in diverticulitis: a decision analysis.

Background Determining the optimal strategy for elective colectomy in patients with diverticular disease involves a balance of the morbidity, mortality, costs, and quality of life associated with both elective and expectant management. We used decision and cost analysis to simulate the clinical and economic outcomes after recovery from an episode of nonsurgically treated diverticulitis to determine the preferable management strategy. Study design A Markov model was constructed to evaluate lifetime risks of death and colostomy, care costs, and quality of life associated with elective colectomy after subsequent episodes of diverticulitis. The analysis was from the payer's perspective, using hypothetical cohorts of 35- and 50-year-old patients who recovered from a nonsurgically treated diverticulitis episode. Probabilities of clinical events and costs for the base-case analysis were derived from a large cohort using a statewide administrative database and published estimates. Results Performing colectomy after the fourth rather than the second episode in patients older than 50 years resulted in 0.5% fewer deaths, 0.7% fewer colostomies, and saved $1,035 per patient. In younger patients, performing colectomy after the fourth episode compared with the first episode resulted in 0.1% fewer deaths, 2% fewer colostomies, and saved $5,429 per patient. Expectant management through three recurrent episodes with elective colectomy after the fourth episode was the dominant strategy across the full range of the variables tested in the sensitivity analysis compared with earlier intervention. Conclusions This study suggests that expectant management is associated with lower rates of death and colostomy and is cost-saving for both younger and older patients.
ULTRASONIC NEBULIZED IN COMPARISON TO INSTILLED SURFACTANT TREATMENT OF PRETERM LAMBS. 1276

ULTRASONIC NEBULIZED IN COMPARISON TO INSTILLED SURFACTANT TREATMENT OF PRETERM LAMBS. 1276
Amorphous hydrogenated carbon films for tribological applications I. Development of moisture insensitive films having reduced compressive stress

Abstract Although earlier investigations on the tribological behaviour of amcrphous hydrogenated carbon (AHC) films in sliding contact with steel showed encouraging results, four open issues were identified. They were: (a) dependence of friction and wear on humidity (i.e., the friction coefficient and the wear increased with humidity), (b) limitations on film thickness (i.e., films greater than 2 μm thick delaminated due to large compressive stress), (c) deposition of films on substrates other than silicon and (d) lubricant compatibility (i.e., formation of lubricant-derived antiwear films on AHC film surfaces). Steps were taken to address some of these open issues by incorporating silicon in AHC films. Friction and wear tests were conducted on AHC films containing various amounts of silicon. Incorporation of silicon in AHC films rendered the friction coefficients and the wear of a steel counterface insensitive to moisture. Silicon incorporation in AHC films also significantly reduced compressive stress. This allowed deposition of 10 μm thick films. These effects were achieved without any compromise with the friction coefficient and the film wear if the amount of silicon in the film was kept within a certain concentration range. In addition, silicon-containing AHC films were thermally more stable than silicon-free films. Experiments conducted with two lubricants resulted in significantly lower wear of the silicon-free AHC films than that obtained for unlubricated sliding. Similar friction coefficients were obtained for AHC film/steel and steel/steel combinations in lubricated sliding.
Effect of Deoxycorticosterone on Organ Weights of Rats During Maturation

SummaryOrgan weights of control and DOC-treated rats have been determined for animals of different ages and body weights. The relationships between kidney weight and body weight as well as heart weight and body weight are best fitted by hyperbolic functions. Males have larger kidneys than females for comparable body weights, but DOC-induced hypertrophy of the kidney is independent of sex. The extent of hypertrophy after 4 days is as great as after 9 days of DOC treatment. Organ weight to body weight relationships for heart, spleen and liver are independent of sex or DOC treatment.This work was partially supported by grants from the National Science Foundation (GB 35637X) and from the National Institutes of Health (AM 16171). We wish to thank Lucy Moore, April Kopp and Stephan Foster for their expert help in carrying out these studies.
Localized multiscale energy and vorticity analysis: I. Fundamentals

Abstract A new methodology, multiscale energy and vorticity analysis (MS-EVA), is developed to investigate the inference of fundamental processes from oceanic or atmospheric data for complex dynamics which are nonlinear, time and space intermittent, and involve multiscale interactions. Based on a localized orthogonal complementary subspace decomposition through the multiscale window transform (MWT), MS-EVA is real problem-oriented and objective in nature. The development begins with an introduction of the concepts of scale and scale window and the decomposition of variables on scale windows. We then derive the evolution equations for multiscale kinetic and available potential energies and enstrophy. The phase oscillation reflected on the horizontal maps from Galilean transformation is removed with a 2D large-scale window synthesis. The resulting energetic terms are analyzed and interpreted. These terms, after being carefully classified, provide four types of processes: transport, transfer, conversion, and dissipation/diffusion. The key to this classification is the transfer–transport separation, which is made possible by looking for a special type of transfer, the so-called perfect transfer . The intricate energy source information involved in perfect transfers is differentiated through an interaction analysis. The transfer, transport, and conversion processes form the basis of dynamical interpretation for GFD problems. They redistribute energy in the phase space, physical space, and space of energy types. These processes are all referred to in a context local in space and time, and therefore can be easily applied to real ocean problems. When the dynamics of interest is on a global or duration scale, MS-EVA is reduced to a classical Reynolds-type energetics formalism.
Food-processing enzymes from recombinant microorganisms—a review

Enzymes are commonly used in food processing and in the production of food ingredients. Enzymes traditionally isolated from culturable microorganisms, plants, and mammalian tissues are often not well-adapted to the conditions used in modern food production methods. The use of recombinant DNA technology has made it possible to manufacture novel enzymes suitable for specific food-processing conditions. Such enzymes may be discovered by screening microorganisms sampled from diverse environments or developed by modification of known enzymes using modern methods of protein engineering or molecular evolution. As a result, several important food-processing enzymes such as amylases and lipases with properties tailored to particular food applications have become available. Another important achievement is improvement of microbial production strains. For example, several microbial strains recently developed for enzyme production have been engineered to increase enzyme yield by deleting native genes encoding extracellular proteases. Moreover, certain fungal production strains have been modified to reduce or eliminate their potential for production of toxic secondary metabolites. In this article, we discuss the safety of microorganisms used as hosts for enzyme-encoding genes, the construction of recombinant production strains, and methods of improving enzyme properties. We also briefly describe the manufacture and safety assessment of enzyme preparations and summarize options for submitting information on enzyme preparations to the US Food and Drug Administration.
Acid-fast membranes of lipid pneumonia by fluorescence microscopy.

SummaryFluorescence microscopy using carbol-auramin or carbol-thioflavine which are spcific for acid-fast materials is recommended for the study of the membranes formed in lipid pneumonia where unsaturated lipids are suspected and for other familiar lipo-protein combinations, as more sensitive than the brightfield microscopy with Ziehl-Neelsen staining.
Synthesis and investigation of certain biological activities of some thiophosphoric acid derivatives.

Two series of N-substituted phosphoroamidothioates and two phosphorochlorido-thioates were synthesized. Of these, eleven phosphoroamidothioates have not been prepared previously. The compounds were investigated for their activity in vitro toward Cholinesterase and for their ability to inhibit the growth of certain microorganisms as well as the germination of some plant species. Only the two phos-phorochloridothioates showed anticholinesterase activity. None of the synthesized compounds inhibited the growth of the microorganisms selected for this investigation or retarded the growth of roots and shoots of oats or black mustard. The results of the experiments were correlated with the physical properties, the steric configuration and the electronic structure of the investigated compounds.
Packaging effect investigation of WL-CSP with a central opening: A case study on pressure sensors

Abstract This study reports the packaging effects of wafer-level chip scale packaging (WL-CSP) with a central opening on piezoresistive pressure sensors. A regular pressure sensor with calculated sensitivity of 3.1 × 10 −2 mVV −1 kPa −1 and a sensitive pressure sensor with calculated sensitivity of 32.0 × 10 −2 mVV −1 kPa −1 are investigated. A finite element (FE) model validated by experimental measurements is used to explore the sensing characteristics of the pressure sensors. The results show that the output variation of the packaged pressure sensor is dominated by the CTE mismatch not the piezoresistive coefficient change as temperature varies. WL-CSP with small polyimide (PI) thickness and large PI opening produces small packaging induced stress, making it ideal for precision sensing for both regular and sensitive pressure sensors.
Preoperative vaginal preparation with baby shampoo compared with povidone-iodine before gynecologic procedures

Abstract Study objective The objective of this study was to compare the postoperative infection rates between patients receiving either povidone-iodine (PI) or baby shampoo vaginal preparations before gynecologic surgery. Design Cohort study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). Setting University referral center for gynecologic endoscopy. Patients All patients underwent minimally invasive gynecologic surgery including hysteroscopy or laparoscopy. Interventions The agents used for vaginal preparation were either baby shampoo in a 1:1 dilution with sterile normal saline solution or PI 7.5% scrub solution. Measurements and main results Charts were reviewed for evidence of infection within 30 days of surgery (symptoms of urinary tract infection, abdominal or vaginal wound infections, temperature > 100.4° F, and fungal or bacterial vaginitis). A total of 249 cases were collected; 96 subjects underwent surgery before the change to baby shampoo and 153 subjects after. Both groups were well matched for the types of surgery performed, age, risk factors for postoperative infections, and the postoperative diagnosis. The infection rates were 14/96 (14.6%) with PI preparation versus 18/153 (11.8%) with baby shampoo (p = .52). Conclusion Baby shampoo should be studied as an alternative to PI because it is a nonirritating, inexpensive mild detergent. This preliminary study suggests that baby shampoo is as effective as PI in preventing postoperative infection.
Inattention and hyperactivity and the achievement gap among urban minority youth.

OBJECTIVES: To outline the prevalence and disparities of inattention and hyperactivity among school-aged urban minority youth, causal pathways through which inattention and hyperactivity adversely affects academic achievement, and proven or promising approaches for schools to address these problems. METHODS: Literature review. RESULTS: Approximately 4.6 million (8.4%) of American youth aged 6-17 have received a diagnosis of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and almost two thirds of these youth are reportedly under treatment with prescription medications. Urban minority youth are not only more likely to be affected but also less likely to receive accurate diagnosis and treatment. Causal pathways through which ADHD may affect academic achievement include sensory perceptions, cognition, school connectedness, absenteeism, and dropping out. In one study, youth with diagnosed ADHD were 2.7 times as likely to drop out (10.0% vs. 22.9%). A similar odds ratio for not graduating from high school was found in another prospective study, with an 8-year follow-up period (odds ratio = 2.4). There are many children who are below the clinical diagnostic threshold for ADHD but who exhibit signs and symptoms that interfere with learning. Evidence-based programs emphasizing functional academic and social outcomes are available. CONCLUSIONS: Inattention and hyperactivity are highly and disproportionately prevalent among school-aged urban minority youth, have a negative impact on academic achievement through their effects on sensory perceptions, cognition, school connectedness, absenteeism, and dropping out, and effective practices are available for schools to address these problems. This prevalent and complex syndrome has very powerful effects on academic achievement and educational attainment, and should be a high priority in efforts to help close the achievement gap.
Nematic–to–Smectic- A Transition in Aerogel

We study a model for the Nematic--Smectic-A (NA) transition in aerogel, and find that even arbitrarily weak quenched disorder (i.e., low aerogel density) destroys translational (smectic) order. Ignoring elastic anharmonicities, but keeping anharmonic couplings to disorder, leads to the prediction that there is no ``Bragg glass'' phase in this system: it is riddled with dislocation loops induced by the quenched disorder. Orientational (nematic) order is destroyed as well, as is the thermodynamically sharp NA transition, in agreement with recent experimental results.
sEMG based real-time embedded force control strategy for a prosthetic hand prototype

This paper presents a real-time force control strategy for a prosthetic hand. The proposed design is capable of decoding the prerecorded surface electromyographic (sEMG) signal as well as the sensory force feedback from the sensors to control the force of the prosthetic hand prototype. The input sEMG signal is preprocessed using a Half-Gaussian filter with optimized parameters and Chebyshev type II filter. Entropy of the sEMG signal is used as a threshold value to establish the correlation between the sEMG signal and the skeletal muscle force. A simple proportional integral controller along with a two-stage embedded design is used for the force control of the prosthetic hand. The results are transmitted to the computer through the universal asynchronous receiver/ transmitter (UART)interface of the proposed embedded design. The results demonstrate good performance in controlling the force of the prosthetic hand.
Extracellular and metabolic factors affecting the efflux and influx of erythrocyte water.

Water exchanges between rabbit erythrocytes and extracellular solutions equidistant from intracellular osmolarity were studied by freezing point depression techniques. Water efflux was always less than water influx and both were hypotonic to the intracellular and extracellular fluids. The magnitudes of these water exchanges were not dependent on the presence of extracellular cation. Stimulation of oxygen uptake by the addition of glucose and methylene blue increased water influx and, possibly, decreased water efflux. This could not be accounted for by accumulation of osmotically active intracellular metabolic products. O2 uptake was markedly decreased during cellular dehydration, was slightly decreased during cellular overhydration, and was maximum at the water content of erythrocytes when suspended in a medium isotonic with plasma.
Rabies virus interaction with various cell lines is independent of the acetylcholine receptor

Rabies virus infects most cellsin vitro. The presence of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor on the plasma membrane of various cell lines is not an obligate factor for rabies virus susceptibility of those cells.
Verification of rule-based knowledge using directed graphs

The need for demonstrating a rule-based system to be free from error has been widely acknowledged. Interactions among rules and frequent updates to system knowledge make verification a difficult task. This paper presents an alternative approach to rule-based verification, wherein the system is modelled as a directed graph. Several propositions concerning detection of errors are formulated and proved. A conceptually simple algorithm is developed to detect errors. Time complexity analyses concerning detection effort are also presented. Given the greater coverage of errors afforded by this approach over prior strategies, graph-theoretic verification of rule-based knowledge would appear to be a viable verification strategy.
Characterization of generalized weak orders and revealed preference

This short paper provides an alternative framework to axiomatize various binary preference relations such as semiorder, weak semiorder etc. A set of simple axioms is presented in terms of revealed-preferred and revealed-inferior alternatives which makes the connection between various binary preference relations transparent; and every single axiom is necessary and sufficient for the existence of a binary preference relation of a specified type.
Influence of particle interaction on coercivity and squareness of thin film recording media

Digital Recording density in continuous thin films can be significantly larger than in conventional particulate media. For this reason, there is much active research and development in such thin film recording media at present. However, no detailed calculation leading to a satisfactory explanation for the high squareness and an Hc decreasing monotonically with film thickness t has appeared. Using a model of strongly interacting anisotropic grains and neglecting exchange at grain boundaries, we examined here particle interaction and its influence on S and Hc. It is shown that the rather high squareness found in such media (e.g., S?0.8 for films of Co with t≳200A) is related to strong dipolar interaction between the constituent grains. Although such films are continuous, surface roughness due to microscopic film thickness variation from grain to grain‐boundary can be appreciable. Indeed, our calculation shows that these thickness variations can account for Hc and its variation with t experimentally observed.
The development of allergic contact dermatitis in females during the comparison of two predictive patch tests

Ten chemically different compounds were applied to the skin of the backs of male and female volunteers to induce delayed hypersensitivity responses. The 10 compounds had a low, moderate, high or unknown allergenic potential and were divided among five test panels (modified Draize) consisting of 150 subjects each. In each panel, 75 subjects (mean age 31 years) were always male prisoners (50% Caucasians) and the remaining 75 subjects (greater than 90% Caucasians) were divided, age-matched free males and females (mean age 24 years). Three compounds, each on different panels, had a significantly higher sensitization rate in females than in free males or total males. The remaining compounds produced sensitization, usually in lower numbers, but females dominated in sensitization rates. Viewed as absolute rates of sensitization for the 10 compounds, females were higher on eight test compounds and tied on two when compared to all males. These studies show that females develop significantly more cell-mediated immune responses to some chemical haptenes than men and the data also points to an overall higher rate of haptene recognition. Seven of these 10 compounds were simultaneously tested for their sensitization potential by the modified Maximization method (all males) in order to compare the two tests' ability to disclose potential sensitizers. Female sensitizations on the modified Draize accounted for this test's superiority.
Miloš Obrenović and the deposition of a Constantinopolitan Patriarch

In my limited study of the Greek and Serbian Churches in the nineteenth century, I had found numerous cases of Greek meddling in Serbian affairs, but never a reverse case. Then I came across a passing reference in Gavrilovic’s fine biography of Prince MiloS Obrenovic of Serbia (who ruled from 1815 to 1839) to Milos’ playing a major part in ousting a Patriarch of Constantinople. Following up Gavrilovic’s citation led me to the following letter written by Prince Milos during his triumphal visit to Constantinople in 1835. It was written (and it should be noted this means dictated since MiloS was illiterate) to his wife Ljubica on 28 September 1835. Since I have never come across any reference to the events Milos describes in any work I have made use of on the patriarchate in the 19th century, I have taken the liberty of translating the letter from Milos’ Serbian both to call attention to it and to make the text available to a wider range of scholars. The original text is to be found in Mita Petrovic, Financije i Ustanove obnovljene Srbije do 1842 , Beograd, 1901, pp. 336–37.
The photoacoustic effect generated by an isotropic solid sphere

In this paper the production of acoustic waves by irradiation of an optically thin, isotropic solid sphere is discussed. Solutions to the wave equation for the displacement potential are obtained which, together with the conservation equations for acoustic waves at an interface, give a frequency domain solution for the photoacoustic pressure. The time domain response of the sphere to a delta function heating pulse is obtained by Fourier transformation of the frequency domain expression. The photoacoustic waveform generated by a short radiation pulse is shown to depend on the radius of the sphere, the density and longitudinal sound speed of the sphere relative to those of the surrounding fluid, and the ratio of the transverse to longitudinal sound speed of the solid. Experiments are reported where a Q-switched laser was used to excite single spheres.
Designing adaptive intensive interventions using methods from engineering.

Objective Adaptive intensive interventions are introduced and new methods from the field of control engineering for use in their design are illustrated.
Crystallization of amorphous ribbon in NiTi-Cu shape memory alloy

The objective of this work is to study the crystallization process of the amorphous ribbon of NiTi-Cu based shape memory alloys. An amorphous material with a composition of Ti{sub 50}Ni{sub 25}Cu{sub 25} was used to conduct this study. First, a study was conducted to understand the crystallization kinetics of this amorphous material at the isothermal model and continuous heating mode, respectively. The characteristic parameters associated with the crystallization process, such as the start and finish time for isothermal crystallization, the peak temperature for continuous heating crystallization, and activation energy, are obtained. Based on the study of experimental data of crystallization kinetics, a series of isothermal annealing experiments was conducted to study the crystallization process and microstructure of fully crystallized materials. The TEM micrograph shows the crystal phase growths in the amorphous matrix as a perfect geometric sphere. A system analysis was conducted to explain the crystallization micro-mechanism.
The synthesis of ¿optimum¿ transient response: Criteria and standard forms

Methods for synthesizing servomechanisms are reviewed, and it is pointed out that stability criteria, frequency, and root-locus methods reduce to conditions on the transfer-function constants. These may be made mathematically specific following Whiteley's suggestion of ?standard forms.? Eight mathematical criteria for optimum transient responses are critically examined, and the clear superiority of the minimum integral of time-multiplied absolute-value of error is demonstrated. The application of this criterion results in the selection of standard forms, which are presented in tables.
Young children's understanding of interpretation, expectation and direct perception as sources of false belief

Two experiments investigated children's understanding that mistaken beliefs may arise through misinterpretation of ambiguous information. In Expt 1, 4- and 5-year-olds accurately attributed false beliefs based on direct perception, but did not attribute false beliefs based on inferential or interpretive processes. Experiment 2 compared children's ability to predict another person's interpretation with children's ability to explain another person's interpretation after the fact. Although 4-year-olds often provided valid explanations, 7-year-olds were more likely than 4-year-olds to refer to another person's previous experiences to explain the person's interpretation. References to previous experiences were positively correlated with the ability to predict another person's interpretation. These results support the view that understanding false belief and understanding interpretive activity are distinct conceptual acquisitions.