cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Recovery of metal cations from lime softening sludge using Donnan dialysis

Advances in the application of ion exchange membrane processes for material separation provide new approaches for improving the sustainability of industrial operations. In this work, we report on the application of Donnan dialysis to recover metal cations from lime softening sludge, a byproduct of drinking water production. A cation exchange membrane, which preferentially allows the transport of cations, was used in the Donnan cell. Slurries containing lime softening sludge, gypsum, or calcite were placed on the feed side of the cell and an acidic solution was placed on the sweep side. A concentration gradient between the two sides of the cell extracts metal cations from the feed in exchange for hydrogen ions in the sweep side solution. The influence of acid type, starting pH, and time were evaluated. Although the limited solubility of calcite inhibited its study, significant calcium ion recovery was measured from the feed solutions with gypsum. The results were consistent with theoretical expectations and demonstrated that the pH of the sweep side solution controlled the extent and rate of cation recovery. For the treatment of the lime softening sludge, over 99% of the hydrogen ions were exchanged in the recovery of up to 20% of the calcium and 50% of the magnesium from the lime softening sludge. Over time, depletion of the sweep-side hydrogen ions resulted in the preferential recovery of magnesium from the softening sludge. Our results suggest the process exhibits promise in treating the sludge by recovering metal cations for reuse.
A thermal model for laser interaction with thick dielectric film on metallic substrate: Application to Ca–P layer on Ti alloy

Abstract Ca–P coatings on Ti–6Al–4V substrates were synthesized using a direct pulsed Nd:YAG laser writing technique. The phase and morphological evolutions within the coatings as a function of laser processing parameters were evaluated using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy techniques. A three dimensional modeling based on COMSOL's™ Multiphysics was adopted to understand the temperature evolution and corresponding cooling rate as a function of laser processing parameters. The temperature evolutions and cooling rate estimated from the model, satisfactorily explained the variation in phases and melt depth with varying pulse frequency of the laser beam.
Extracellular Matrix Proteomics in Cardiac Ischemia/Reperfusion The Search Is On

Prolonged myocardial ischemia leads to myocyte necrosis, which initiates a localized inflammatory response that catabolizes the cellular debris and initiates deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins.1 In addition to providing a vital structural framework for the three-dimensional organization of cells, the ECM determines the physical properties of biological tissues and acts as a dynamic microenvironment for cellular signaling. A number of cardiac diseases, including myocardial ischemia and reperfusion (I/R), are associated with qualitative and quantitative alterations in ECM proteins.2 Understanding ECM changes is important for identifying factors that tip the balance between favorable reparative remodeling following myonecrosis and adverse remodeling that leads to progressive ventricular dilatation and congestive heart failure. Article see p 789 ECM proteomics is the comprehensive description of the ECM expressed in a tissue at the time of evaluation. This approach generates a global, integrated view of extracellular processes and networks at the protein level. The goal of ECM proteomics is to reconcile gene activation to a particular extracellular phenotype. The ability to examine multiple proteins simultaneously is a substantial improvement over previous ECM studies that simply evaluated the total concentration of single proteins (ie, collagen) without consideration of type (eg, type I versus III versus IV) or quality (full-length versus partially degraded collagen). In this issue of Circulation , Barallobre-Barreiro and colleagues present an innovative extracellular matridomic approach for the analysis of ECM protein changes in a porcine I/R model.3 With the use of a novel proteomic method to enrich for ECM proteins, tissue from infarcted and border zone regions of the left ventricle (LV) were analyzed separately by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry for peptide identification and compared with control animals without I/R. Using these techniques, they identified 139 ECM proteins in porcine hearts subjected to 2 hours of ischemia followed by …
Structure and mechanism of E. coli RNA 2′,3′-cyclic phosphodiesterase

2H (two-histidine) phosphoesterase enzymes are distributed widely in all domains of life and are implicated in diverse RNA and nucleotide transactions, including the transesterification and hydrolysis of cyclic phosphates. Here we report a biochemical and structural characterization of the Escherichia coli 2H protein YapD YadP [corrected], which was identified originally as a reversible transesterifying "nuclease/ligase" at RNA 2',5'-phosphodiesters. We find that YapD YadP [corrected] is an "end healing" cyclic phosphodiesterase (CPDase) enzyme that hydrolyzes an HORNA>p substrate with a 2',3'-cyclic phosphodiester to a HORNAp product with a 2'-phosphomonoester terminus, without concomitant end joining. Thus we rename this enzyme ThpR (two-histidine 2',3'-cyclic phosphodiesterase acting on RNA). The 2.0 A crystal structure of ThpR in a product complex with 2'-AMP highlights the roles of extended histidine-containing motifs (43)HxTxxF(48) and (125)HxTxxR(130) in the CPDase reaction. His43-Ne makes a hydrogen bond with the ribose O3' leaving group, thereby implicating His43 as a general acid catalyst. His125-Ne coordinates the O1P oxygen of the AMP 2'-phosphate (inferred from geometry to derive from the attacking water nucleophile), pointing to His125 as a general base catalyst. Arg130 makes bidentate contact with the AMP 2'-phosphate, suggesting a role in transition-state stabilization. Consistent with these inferences, changing His43, His125, or Arg130 to alanine effaced the CPDase activity of ThpR. Phe48 makes a π-π stack on the adenine nucleobase. Mutating Phe28 to alanine slowed the CPDase by an order of magnitude. The tertiary structure and extended active site motifs of ThpR are conserved in a subfamily of bacterial and archaeal 2H enzymes.
Cross-talk noise and storage capacity of holographic memories with a LiNbO 3 crystal in the open-circuit condition

A solution to the Kukhtarev equations is obtained for a typical holographic memory system in which multiplexed holograms, including the effects owing to a nonuniform beam profile in the focal regions, are used. The various noise mechanisms and storage capacity are analyzed on the basis of this solution. The cross-talk noise of a typical 4f holographic memory configuration with defocus is compared with that of a phase mask. It is shown that the memory capacity and the signal-to-noise can be significantly improved by design of an optimal phase mask. The experimental results with defocus and an eight-level phase mask are presented.
El apartheid global, el coyotaje y el discurso de la migración clandestina: distinciones entre violencia personal, estructural y cultural

ABSTRACT : In this essay I propose a re-orientation of the public and scholarly discourse about international migration that takes place autonomously, beyond the pale of state regulation. This discourse typically features a terminology and a framing of issues that privileges the perspective of state authorities regarding the phenomenon of cross-border migratory movements. In its stead, I offer an alternative framework that views autono-mous migration as a form resistance to global apartheid enforced at nation-state borders. I focus my analysis on coyotaje, the social process by which migrants hire professional service providers to help them cross international boundaries in the face of states’ attempts to exclude them. In particular, I direct my attention to how we should understand the question of violence inflicted upon migrants and how to assess who or what is responsible for that violence. In so doing, I make use of Galtung’s (1969 and 1990) concepts of per-sonal violence, structural violence, and cultural violence to interpreting the tragedies that too often befall migrants as they pursue coyotaje as a border-crossing strategy. Discussion of these issues is based primarily on my field research on the clandestine border-crossing experiences of Mexican nationals in the Northeast Mexico-South Texas migratory corridor in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Geddankenexperiment Examining How Kinetic Energy Would Dominate Potential Energy, in Pre Planckian Space-Time Physics

Abstract. We use Padmabhan’s “Invitation to Astrophysics” formalism of a scalar field evolution of the early universe, from first principles, to show something which seems counter intuitive. How could , just before inflation, KINETIC energy be larger than potential energy in pre Planckian physics, and what physics mechanism is responsible for the Planckian physics result that Potential energy is far larger than KINETIC energy. This document answers that question, as well as provides a mechanism for the dominance of KINETIC energy in Pre Planckian space-time, as well as its reversal in the Planckian era of cosmology. the KE initially proportional to g times T ^ 4 power , with g the initial degrees of freedom and T the initial temperature just before the onset of inflation. Our key assumption is the smallness of curvature, as given in the first equation, which permits adoption of the Potential energy and Kinetic energy formalism used, in the Planckian and Pre Planckian space-time physics.
Sulfur Passivation of InP and GaAs

Passivation of electronic defect states at the SiNx/InP and the SiNx/GaAs interfaces has been achieved using both ‘wet’ (ammonium and phosphorous polysulfide solutions) and ‘dry’ (H2S gas) sulfur treatments. The passivated surfaces are encapsulated by depositing SiNx overlayers at ~ 200 °C using the electron cyclotron resonance plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (ECR-PECVD) technique. The capacitance-voltage (C-V) characteristics of metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) capacitors indicate substantial reduction in the density of interface defects. Schottky diodes, fabricated in sulfur-treated n-GaAs, also exhibit significant improvements. The H2S-treatment provides better reproducibility and uniformity when compared with the ‘wet’ sulfide treatment of the surfaces.
Moving to Understanding and Change

Creating an environment of inclusion for a culturally diverse nursing workforce is complex. The demographic shift in the country forecasted for over a decade has arrived. Today programs set up to recruit and retain multicultural and multilingual nursing staff are important organizational priorities. Employers want to build responsive and welcoming workplaces in which all feel engaged. This requires several things. Leaders must oversee system changes stimulated by a workforce similar to newly emerging cultural groups in their areas of service. The need exists for managers to possess non-ethnocentric management skills and are competent to take charge of teams motivated by a broad range of culture based values and beliefs. Diversity training, mentoring of staff and leadership development are benchmarks of an organization at the "tipping point" of change related to employing a diverse workforce.
Bounds on light, weakly interacting particles from observational lifetimes of helium-burning stars

The lifetimes of low-mass population I helium-burning stars as derived from the number of ''clump'' giants in the open cluster M67 and in the old galactic disk population agree very well with calculations. This provides an observational basis for previous speculative bounds on axions, Majorons, supersymmetric particles, and exotic scalar and vector bosons. We find a slightly improved bound on the neutrino magnetic dipole moment of ..mu../sub ..nu../<3 x 10/sup -11/..mu../sub B/. The possibility of detecting axionlike particles in the laboratory is severely constrained.
Lower Central Nervous System Serotonergic Function and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease Where Are We, What’s Next?

See related article, pages 2228–2233. In 1994 I hypothesized that “deficient central nervous system serotonergic function” is a neurobiological substrate that could account for the clustering of psychosocial, biological and behavioral characteristics that increase risk of developing cardiovascular disease.1 It is gratifying, therefore, to see in this issue of Stroke the report by Muldoon et al2 that an established index of reduced central nervous system (CNS) serotonergic function—a smaller prolactin response to intravenous administration of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) citalopram—is associated with more severe preclinical atherosclerosis as indexed by carotid artery intima-medial thickness. This finding provides encouraging evidence that dysregulated CNS serotonergic function plays a role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease (CVD). There are 2 questions that must be addressed, however, before this role can be considered as established, the precise mechanisms understood, and the knowledge used to guide the development of improved approaches to the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of CVD. First, what determines the individual differences in prolactin response to 5HT reuptake inhibition? One important source of this variability across individuals is variation in genes that regulate 5HT synthesis (tryptophan hydroxylase), release and reuptake (5HT transporter) and metabolism (monoamine oxidase-A), and encode for 5HT receptors that mediate effects of synaptic 5HT on CVD endophenotypes. In their prior work this same group has demonstrated the importance of variation in some of these genes by showing that functional polymorphisms in the 5HT transporter ( 5HTTLPR ) and monoamine oxidase-A ( MAOA-uVNTR ) genes moderate the prolactin response to agents that increase synaptic 5HT in the CNS.3,4 5HTTLPR genotype also influences …
Weekly docetaxel and estramustine in patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer.

Abstract The combination of docetaxel and estramustine has exhibited synergistic activity both in prostate cancer cell lines and in patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC). Based on these promising preclinical and phase I/II data, we conducted a study of weekly docetaxel and estramustine in patients with metastatic HRPC and a poor performance status. A total of 30 patients received (1) a 3-day course of oral estramustine during weeks 1 and 2 of each 3-week cycle plus (2) docetaxel, 35 mg/m 2 intravenously on day 2 of weeks 1 and 2. The median number of cycles per patient was 5, ranging from 1 to 22. The median patient age was 74 years (range, 61 to 90 years), and the median baseline Karnofsky performance status was 60% (range, 50% to 80%). Twenty-three patients (76%) had a ≥50% decrease in serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA); 17 (56%) of these patients had a ≥75% decrease in PSA. Pain scores and performance status likewise improved in 70% of patients. Three complete responses and four partial responses were observed among 12 patients with measurable disease. Toxicities were primarily nonhematologic in nature, with the most common being grade 1 through 3 nausea, asthenia, diarrhea, and edema. Given the activity and tolerability of weekly docetaxel and estramustine in this study, this regimen appears to be more suitable than previously studied docetaxel/estramustine administration schedules for treating metastatic HRPC in elderly patients with a poor performance status.
Management of Coronary Chronic Total Occlusion

A 67-year-old man with chronic stable angina presented with worsening angina to class III despite maximal medical therapy. He was referred for myocardial perfusion imaging, which showed a large area of inferior ischemia. Subsequent coronary angiography revealed a chronic total occlusion (CTO) of the right coronary artery with brisk collateral flow from the left anterior descending artery (Figure 1). There was minimal obstructive disease in the remainder of the coronary tree. An attempt at percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was unsuccessful. He was treated with continuation of his medical therapy, although he remained with lifestyle-limiting class II to III angina. Figure 1. Left, The totally occluded right coronary artery with the expected course of the distal vessel outlined in red and the total occlusion shown by the arrow. Right, Collateralization of the right coronary artery from the left anterior descending (LAD) artery with arrows pointing to the posterior descending artery (PDA) and posterolateral ventricular (PLV) branches of the right coronary artery. The septal collaterals from the LAD to RCA are highlighted. Coronary CTO is characterized by heavy atherosclerotic plaque burden within the artery, resulting in complete (or nearly complete) occlusion of the vessel. Although the duration of the occlusion is difficult to determine on clinical grounds, a total occlusion must be present for at least 3 months to be considered a true CTO.1 Patients with CTO typically have collateralization of the distal vessel on coronary angiography, but these collaterals may not provide sufficient blood flow to the myocardial bed, resulting in ischemia and anginal symptoms. CTO is clinically distinct from acute coronary occlusion, which occurs in the setting of ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction, or subacute coronary occlusion, discovered with delayed presentation after ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction. Clinical features and treatment considerations of these entities differ considerably from CTO. Among patients who have a clinical …
Modeling meets science and technology: an introduction to a special issue on negative emissions

This article introduces the Climatic Change special issue dedicated to negative emissions technologies, also known as carbon dioxide removal (CDR) from the atmosphere. CDR is the only class of mitigation options able to reduce the carbon stock in the atmosphere significantly. In this special issue CDR is explored from the perspectives of integrated assessment, technology optimization, environmental science, and political science.
Genome system architecture and natural genetic engineering in evolution.

: Molecular genetics teaches three lessons relevant to the nature of genetic change during evolution: (1) Genomes are organized as hierarchies of composite systems (multidomain protein-coding sequences; functional loci made up of regulatory, coding, processing, and intervening sequences; and multilocus regulons and replicons) interconnected and organized into specific “system architectures” by repetitive DNA elements. (2) Genetic change often occurs via natural genetic engineering systems (cellular biochemical functions, such as recombination complexes, topoisomerases, and mobile elements, capable of altering DNA sequence information and joining together different genomic components). (3) The activity of natural genetic systems is regulated by cellular control circuits with respect to the timing, activity levels, and specificities of DNA rearrangements (e.g., adaptive mutation, Ty element mobility, and P factor insertions). These three lessons provide plausible molecular explanations for the episodic, multiple, nonrandom DNA rearrangements needed to account for the evolution of novel genomic system architectures and complex multilocus adaptations. This molecular genetic perspective places evolutionary change in the biologically responsive context of cellular biochemistry.
Infections with Vibrio vulnificus

V. vulnificus is an uncommon cause of soft tissue infection and primary septicemia, especially in patients with hepatic disease or who patients who are immunocompromised. The mortality of infection in these patients is extremely high despite timely antibiotic therapy. It is important to consider the possibility of infection with V. vulnificus in patients who present with high fever and rapidly progressive sepsis and have a history of consumption of raw seafood (especially oysters) or exposure of open wounds in a marine environment. Public education regarding the risk of raw seafood consumption is essential to preventing infection with this virulent pathogen.
Quantitative Analysis of a Directed Behavior in the Medicinal Leech: Implications for Organizing Motor Output

The local bend is a directed behavior produced by the leech, Hirudo medicinalis, in response to a light touch. Contraction of longitudinal muscles near the touched location results in a bend directed away from the stimulus. We quantify the relationship between the location of touch around the body perimeter and the behavioral output by using video analysis, muscle tension measurements, and electromyography. On average, the direction of the behavioral output differed from the touch location by <8% of the total body perimeter. We discuss our results in the context of two contrasting behavioral strategies: a Continuous strategy, in which the local bend is directed exactly opposite to stimulus location, and a Categorical strategy, in which there are four distinct bend directions, each elicited by stimuli given in a single quadrant of the body perimeter. To distinguish between these strategies, we delivered two competing stimuli simultaneously. The resulting behavioral output is best described by an average of the effects of each stimulus given alone and thus provides support for the Continuous strategy. We also use a simple model, based on anatomical and physiological data, to predict the responses of the known motor neurons to different stimulus locations. The model shows that the activation of two of the motor neurons (D and V) is inconsistent with a Categorical strategy. However, these neurons are known to be active during the local bend behavior. This result, along with our experimental observations, suggests that the local bend network uses a Continuous strategy to encode stimulus location and produce directed behavioral output.
The interplay of genetics and surgery in ophthalmic care.

Seminars in Ophthalmology ISSN: 0882-0538 (Print) 1744-5205 (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/isio20 The Interplay of Genetics and Surgery in Ophthalmic Care Michael B. Gorin To cite this article: Michael B. Gorin (1995) The Interplay of Genetics and Surgery in Ophthalmic Care, Seminars in Ophthalmology, 10:4, 303-317, DOI: 10.3109/08820539509063801 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/08820539509063801 Published online: 02 Jul 2009. Submit your article to this journal Article views: 9 View related articles Full Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=isio20 Download by: [UCLA Library] Date: 02 May 2017, At: 14:05
Switching power supply regulation of storage ring magnets

The author focuses on nonresonant switching regulators and discusses the general configuration of a system of magnet power supplies, the principles of the electronic circuit designs, the typical cost of such a system, and the power supply performance, including regulation, stability, and reliability. Also presented are some general diagnostics for systems of large numbers of power supplies along with a discussion of the operational benefits from the individual powering of all focusing elements. Since 1977 this type of chopper regulator has demonstrated excellent performance for the independent control of the quadrupole, sextupole, and steering magnets in CESR (Cornell Electron Storage Ring); a number of practical considerations from this experience are included. >
Measurements of arterial blood pressure in the arm and leg: Comparison of sphygmomanometric and direct intra-arterial pressures, with special attention to their relationship in aortic regurgitation

Abstract A comparison has been made of the blood pressures measured in the arm and leg with the cuff and usual auscultatory technique and those obtained by direct methods with the needle manometer. The ordinary arm cuff (13 cm. in width) was used for the arm, and this same cuff and a wider (15.5 cm.) one, such as that recommended by the American Heart Association and the Cardiac Society of Great Britain and Ireland, were used for measurements of femoral pressures. Subjects with normal blood pressure, hypertension, and aortic regurgitation were studied. The cuff pressures in the arm varied both above and below the direct values. As a group, the error was slight for the systolic level, averaging +0.5 per cent, but reached more sizeable proportions for the diastolic pressures of the normotensive and hypertensive groups, in which it was of the order of + 9 per cent. The diastolic cuff error was even greater in subjects with aortic regurgitation, averaging +24 per cent. The femoral pressures obtained with the 13 cm. cuff on the thigh were grossly above the systolic and diastolic values recorded by the direct method (averaged systolic/diastolic error, normotensive group, +17 per cent +58 per cent hypertensive group +28 per cent +46 per cent ; and subjects with aortic regurgitation +34 per cent +92 per cent ). The 15.5 cm. cuff permitted more accurate approximation of the true systolic pressure in the normotensive and hypertensive groups (averaged error, +2.6 per cent, +8 per cent, respectively), but here also the results are in error for the diatolic pressure, averaging +25 per cent for the combined groups. The systolic and diastolic values with the wide cuff on the thigh were most in error in subjects with aortic regurgitation (averaging +29 per cent and +67 per cent, respectively). The direct femoral systolic blood pressure was notably higher than the direct brachial systolic pressure in five of the nine normotensive subjects, four of the nine hypertensive patients, and seven of the ten patients with aortic regurgitation. In the other cases the difference was slight, although in a few cases the systolic pressures were decidedly lower in the femoral artery than in the brachial. The limited number of cases and lack of uniformity of results do not permit any definite conclusion. However, it may be pointed out that the femoral systolic pressure was more frequently elevated in the patients with aortic regurgitation, and that the differences were usually greater here than in the control and hypertensive groups.
Note on Self-Restraint as an Online Entry-Deterrence Strategy

We develop a game-theoretical model to show that in the markets where price consistency across channels is critical, an incumbent brick-and-mortar retailer can deter the online entry of a pure-play e-tailer by strategically refraining from entering online. In the markets where price consistency is not a constraint, we find that the incumbent can deter the e-tailer's entry only if it enters online and credibly operates the online channel as an independent profit center. In other words, the incumbent must be willing to cannibalize its own brick-and-mortar business by charging a low online price. We also discuss some social welfare implications of retail online entry and the managerial insights of our analysis.
Miniaturized HPLC column with nano-pore beads for protein separation on flexible medical implants

This paper reports a miniaturized HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography) column packed with nano-pore beads for flexible medical implants applications. The all-flexible-polymer column capable of integrating with micro/nano-devices on a chip separates biological entities to relax stringent requirements on subsequent detectors and to enable parallel detection in a detector array. The fabricated device has successfully separated a protein mixture using nano-pore beads in a miniaturized column. According to HPLC analysis, the intensity ratio of large to small protein varies significantly, more than a factor of 300, over sample collecting time, ~12mins, suggesting very high separation performance.
Population Dynamics of the Colorado Potato Beetle in an Agroecosystem with Tomatoes and Potatoes with Management Implications to Processing Tomatoes

We evaluated the population dynamics of Colorado potato beetle in processing tomatoes and potatoes using immigration profiles, density through time, rates of development and survivorship. We also evaluated the beetle’s influence on yield of processing cultivars. Colorado potato beetle immigrated into both crops. The first available crop had the earliest immigration event and higher immigrating adult and egg mass densities. Length of time that overwintering adults spent in the field, and duration of oviposition, were more closely related to accumulated degree days than time of immigration. Later in the season there was a trend toward fewer eggs per egg mass from overwintered adults. Rates of development suggested that large larvae developed more quickly in potatoes in 1998, but not in 2000, and small larvae developed at similar rates in either crop. Egg-to-adult survivorship ranged from 0.02 to 0.06, even though initial egg densities varied by approximately an order of magnitude. Survivorship varied more between years than between crops. Colorado potato beetle did not influence yield of processing tomatoes. Our field studies estimated similar life table parameters and population dynamics of Colorado potato beetle in two solaneaceous crops, and concurred with laboratory bioassays in the literature suggesting that this beetle has the potential to achieve similar fitness on both tomatoes and potatoes. However, beetle densities did not influence yield, and thus may have little affect on pest management in processing tomato cultivars.
Studies on fetal physiology in the sheep. Transplacental passage of antibodies and techniques for repeated sampling of the fetal lamb in situ.

Abstract To determine whether antibodies could be transferred from the maternal to the fetal side of the placenta, blood and amniotic fluid were obtained from 5 pregnant ewes and their fetal lambs. This was done during the last trimester of pregnancy, with the ewes under general anesthesia, before and after immunization of the ewes against Salmonella pullorum . Pregnancy was not interrupted. An additional 5 pregnant ewes were used to study antibody transfer in the opposite direction. The ewes in the latter group and their fetal lambs were successfully sampled before treatment; however, all of these pregnancies were interrupted because of the toxicity of the S. pullorum antigen or antibodies given to the fetuses. Transfer of S. pullorum antibodies across the sheep placenta could not be demonstrated in the mother-to-fetus direction. Results are inconclusive regarding the possibility of antibody transfer in the fetus-to-mother direction. It was not possible to develop an antibody pressure on the fetal side. Surgical techniques were developed to permit entering and re-entering the gravid uterus of the sheep during the last trimester of pregnancy without terminating pregnancy or impairing the viability of the fetus. Two ewes, each subjected to 2 successive hysterotomies at an interval of about 20 days, were delivered of live lambs with no complications, by natural birth, 12 and 23 days after the last operation, and they raised their lambs successfully.
What a Transactional Lawyer Needs to Know: Identifying and Implementing Competencies for Transactional Lawyers

While many law schools are beginning to teach transactional skills to train transactional lawyers for the practice of law, a gap remains between the minimal transactional skills a young lawyer should have and those that the recent law school graduate actually possesses. The primary purpose of this article is to identify basic transactional competencies for transactional lawyers and provide resources and direction for obtaining those transactional competencies. The article will take a brief look at the history of formal transactional training in law school; identify basic transactional skills necessary to prepare a lawyer for transactional practice; and provide insight into attaining transactional competency.Both the MacCrate Report and available statistics support the assertion that transactional practice is more than alive and well; it is equal and perhaps dominant to litigation practice. Additionally, even those litigation attorneys who proclaim they have never engaged in transactional practice have undoubtedly drafted the most basic of transactional documents - a settlement agreement. So, indeed, transactional competency is a must. However, while law schools are beginning to meet this real need, there is still a gap between what a transactional lawyer needs to know and what a law student learns in law school.
Development of a sheep challenge model for Rift Valley fever

Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a zoonotic disease that causes severe epizootics in ruminants, characterized by mass abortion and high mortality rates in younger animals. The development of a reliable challenge model is an important prerequisite for evaluation of existing and novel vaccines. A study aimed at comparing the pathogenesis of RVF virus infection in US sheep using two genetically different wild type strains of the virus (SA01-1322 and Kenya-128B-15) was performed. A group of sheep was inoculated with both strains and all infected sheep manifested early-onset viremia accompanied by a transient increase in temperatures. The Kenya-128B-15 strain manifested higher virulence compared to SA01-1322 by inducing more severe liver damage, and longer and higher viremia. Genome sequence analysis revealed sequence variations between the two isolates, which potentially could account for the observed phenotypic differences. We conclude that Kenya-128B-15 sheep infection represents a good and virulent challenge model for RVF.
Stiffness of Resting Lumbar Myofascia in Healthy Young Subjects Quantified Using a Handheld Myotonometer and Concurrently With Surface Electromyography Monitoring

Summary This study aimed to non-invasively quantify passive stiffness of superficial myofascia at a lower lumbar (L3-L4) anatomical level in young healthy male and female subjects and investigate its possible morphological variation. Resting prone lumbar myofascial measurements were quantified using MyotonPro ® and statistically analyzed in 20 young healthy individuals over 3-weekly intervals, concurrently with surface electromyography (sEMG). Averaged mean ± SE stiffness (Newton/meter) over three weeks was significantly (p
Effects of Insecticide Applications on Bemisia argentifolii (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) Densities and Honeydew Production

Results of earlier studies designed to determine adult whitefly, Bemisia argentifolii Bellows & Perring, densities at which cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., should be treated to reduce honeydew contamination have been variable. In this study, we determined the relationship between frequency of insecticide applications triggered by thresholds of 5, 10, 15, and 25 adult whiteflies per leaf and honeydew production by B. argentifolii feeding on cotton. Honeydew production was monitored on 15 dates from 21 May to 27 August 1996 in Brawley, CA, using water-sensitive papers placed on upper and lower leaves and bolls. On 3 dates, lint was collected and analyzed for sugars using high-performance liquid chromatography. Densities of adults per 5th mainstem leaf, adults per 10-s vacuum sample, and whitefly immature instars per square centimeter of leaf were generally higher in control plots (1 insecticide application), plots treated at 25 adults (4 applications), and untreated plots than in plots treated at 5, 10, and 15 adults (11, 6, and 5 applications, respectively). In general, numbers of honeydew drops per square centimeter were higher in control, 25-adult, and untreated plots than in 5-, 10-, and 15-adult plots. Papers placed on uppermost bolls received more drops later in the season than did papers placed on the lowest bolls. Honeydew drop production was generally lowest throughout the season in the 5-adult treatment. However, it was not significantly different than the 10- or 15-adult treatments on 13, 20, and 27 August. Amounts (micrograms) of trehalulose on top and bottom bolls were generally highest in the control treatment and lowest in the 5-adult treatment, but there were generally no significant differences among amounts from 5-, 10-, and 15-adult treatments. Honeydew drop densities were unexpectedly low in control and untreated plots on some later dates. Control and untreated plants also had fewer leaves than other plants during these times, suggesting leaf loss may account for some variability in honeydew production during late season. Seedcotton yields differed only between 10- and 25-adult threshold plots. At Brawley, CA, insecticide treatments at 5 and 10 adults per leaf seemed equally sufficient for reducing whitefly honeydew production. However, by treating at the 10 threshold, fewer applications were needed. This would reduce the immediate costs to growers, and also would reduce long term problems associated with insecticide resistance.
Roles of the olfactory and vomeronasal systems in behavior.

The role of the olfactory system in some general aspects of the behavior of domestic ruminants is discussed. The vomeronasal system is also considered, especially with regard to recent information on the role of flehmen behavior in vomeronasal organ function.
Functionalized Anodic Aluminum Oxide Membrane–Electrode System for Enzyme Immobilization

A nanoporous membrane system with directed flow carrying reagents to sequentially attached enzymes to mimic nature’s enzyme complex system was demonstrated. Genetically modified glycosylation enzyme, OleD Loki variant, was immobilized onto nanometer-scale electrodes at the pore entrances/exits of anodic aluminum oxide membranes through His6-tag affinity binding. The enzyme activity was assessed in two reactions—a one-step “reverse” sugar nucleotide formation reaction (UDP-Glc) and a two-step sequential sugar nucleotide formation and sugar nucleotide-based glycosylation reaction. For the one-step reaction, enzyme specific activity of 6–20 min–1 on membrane supports was seen to be comparable to solution enzyme specific activity of 10 min–1. UDP-Glc production efficiencies as high as 98% were observed at a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min, at which the substrate residence time over the electrode length down pore entrances was matched to the enzyme activity rate. This flow geometry also prevented an unwanted secondary...
The effect of cytosine arabinoside upon the primary immune response in vitro.

SummaryThe effect of cytosine arabinoside, an inhibitor of DNA synthesis, upon the primary induction of plaque-forming, anti-body-producing cells to sheep erythrocytes was investigated using mouse spleen fragments in vitro. It was found: (i) During the first 12 hr, following antigenic stimulation, the immune response proceeded undisturbed by the presence of the drug, (ii) If the inhibitor was permitted to act for the first 18 hr, the number of plaque-forming cells was reduced to 63% of control values. (iii) Extension of the period of action of the drug to the first 24 hr further reduced the number of plaque-forming cells to 33%, and if the inhibitor was allowed to act for the first 48 hr, total suppression of the immune response was observed. These findings indicate that DNA synthesis, essential for the undisturbed progression of the primary immune response as observed in the system employed, is initiated about the eighteenth hour after antigenic stimulation.
Chlorine-Ion Related Corrosion in Cu-Al Wirebond Microelectronic Packages

The increasing price of gold has resulted in industry interest in use of copper as alternative wire bonds interconnect material. Copper wire has the advantages of the lower cost, lower thermal resistivity, lower electrical resistivity, higher mechanical strength and higher deformation stability over the gold wire. In spite of the upside above, the Cu-Al wire bond is susceptible to the electrolytic corrosion and the reliability of Cu-Al wire bond is of great concern. Typical electronic molding compounds are hydrophilic and absorb moisture when exposed to humid environmental conditions. EMC contain ionic contaminants including chloride ions as a result of the chemical synthesis of the subcomponents of the resin, etching of metallization and the decomposition of the die-attach glue. The presence of moisture in the operating environment of semiconductor package makes the ion more mobile in the EMC. The migration of chloride ions to the Cu-Al interface may induce electrolytic corrosion inside the package causing degradation of the bond interface resulting in eventual failure. The rate at which the corrosion happens in the microelectronic packages is dependent upon the rate at which the ions transport through the EMC in addition to the reaction rate at the interface. In this effort, a multiphysics model for electrolytic corrosion in the presence of chloride has been presented. The contaminant diffusion along with the corrosion kinetics has been modeled. In addition, contaminated samples with known concentration of KCl contaminant have been subjected to the temperature humidity conditions (130°C/100RH)The resistance of the Cu-Al interconnects in the PARR test have been monitored periodically using resistance spectroscopy. The diffusion coefficients of chloride ion at various temperatures in the molding compound have been measured using inductively coupled plasma. Measured diffusion coefficients have been incorporated into the COMSOL multiphysics model. Moisture ingress into the EMC has been quantified through measurements of the weight gain in the EMC. Predictions from the COMSOL multiphysics model have been correlated with experimental data.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Development of a Model for Determining the Impact of Password Authentication Practices on Information Security

This research focuses on the development of a model for evaluating the human impact that password authentication issues are having on the security of information systems. Through observational analysis, organizational policy, and retrospective analysis, researchers created a model for predicting the vulnerability that a particular set of conditions will have on the likelihood of error in an information system. The methodology for the experiment and analysis of the results are presented. The findings indicate that human error associated with password authentication can be significantly reduced through the use of passwords which are comprised of meaningful data for the user and which meet the information technology community requirement for strength of password. The details of this study are provided as well as the human factors implications in information security.
A method for improved resolution for fluorescence microscopy using plastic-embedded material subjected to resin extraction.

A protocol is given that uses NaOH, benzene, acetone and methanol to extract epoxy resins from semithin sections. Such sections appear superior to paraffin or unsectioned materials for fluorescence microscopic observations. Use of ultrarapid films (e.g., Kodak T-Max P3200) at ISO 3200 minimizes fading without use of antifading agents and without introducing unacceptable photographic grain size.
Significance of Monitoring Serum Level of Gentamycin in Children with Serious Illness

Objective To explore the serum level of gentamycin for orally in children with serious illness.Methods The serum level of gentamycin in 41 children who were in serious illness [multiple organ dysfunction(MODS)group with 21 cases and non-MODS group with 20 cases ] were monitored and the patients were treated with select decontamination of the digestive tract(SDD) from October 2004 to April 2005.Dosage:10 mg/(kg·d),orally taken three times(every 8 hours) one day.The blood after taking the drug one hour later in the fourth day was selected and the serum level of getamycin was monitored.Results Thirty-six children of 41 cases serum level of gentamycin were negative and 5 children(4 in MODS group and 1 in non-MODS group) who had alimentary tract hemorrhage were masccline in serum after taking gentamycin one hour later in the forth day.The absorption of gentamycin from enteric after orally was not(rela)-ted to MODS.There were statistics value between the gestrintestinal tract ulcer and serum level of gentamycin.Conclusions The safety for treating the children in serious illness with gentamycin for SDD is obvious.But we suggest to monitor the serum level of gentamycin for who has severe alimentary tract hemorrhage together with insufficiency of liver and kindey.
Platelet recovery from aspirin inhibition in vivo; differing patterns under various assay conditions.

Abstract The linear return of platelet malondialdhyde (MDA) production after aspirin ingestion as described by Stuart et al. 4 has been widely accepted as a nonisotopic method for the determination of platelet survival. However, using assays for platelet prostaglandin production and cyclooxygenase activity, a number of authors 2 , 9 , 10 , 11 have now reported a 24 to 48-hr delay in recovery after aspirin. This delay has been interpreted as evidence that aspirin inhibits megakaryocyte as well as platelet cyclooxygenase. The discrepancy in these findings has not been explained. We have measured the return of production of MDA and thromboxane B2 (TXB2) by platelets of normal volunteers after a single dose of aspirin using a variety of assay conditions. We find striking differences in the pattern of recovery depending upon the presence of protein in the medium in which the platelets are stimulated. Production of both MDA and TXB2 returns in a linear fashion with time when platelets are washed, resuspended in buffer and stimulated with either NEM or thrombin. A 48-hr lag in recovery is seen when platelets are stimulated in whole blood or platelet-rich plasma, or when washed platelets are resuspended in either platelet-poor plasma or in buffer containing 4 g % albumin. This lag is present regardless of stimulus or metabolite measured. It does not appear to be an artifact resulting from binding of the arachidonic acid or its metabolic products to the protein in the medium, as we are able to detect TXB2 production by even small numbers of aspirin-free platelets in whole blood mixtures. Therefore, if megakaryocyte cyclooxygenase is inhibited by aspirin, this effect is obscured when the platelets are suspended in protein-free medium. We have also studied a number of patients with short platelet survivals as judged by Cr51 labeling. Survivals using the aspirin method and washed platelets in these patients are consistently longer than those determined simultaneously by Cr51. This leads us to postulate that there is a lag effect even in the washed platelet system, and that this effect is more evident in states of increased platelet turnover. This complex effect must be better understood before aspirin platelet survivals can be accurately interpreted.