cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
CDD Effects in Partial Wave Dispersion Relations and the Dynamical Calculation of Resonances

An almost overwhelming number of resonances are now known to exist. In the pion-nucleon system alone, recent phase shift analyses have revealed a total of 19 resonances at masses up to 2200 MeV,1 and the situation is further complicated by the fact that more than one resonance occurs in some partial waves. An important problem in strong interaction physics is to understand the dynamical origin of these resonances.
Solvent-assisted proton transfer in catalysis by zeolite solid acids

Intermolecular proton transfer in the gas phase is usually strongly disfavoured because the charged products are highly unstable. It is promoted in aqueous solution, however, because the high dielectric constant (e = 78.3) of water allows efficient stabilization of the corresponding cations and anions. Zeolites—microporous catalysts used in petroleum refining and the synthesis of chemical feedstocks—provide another medium for proton-transfer reactions1,2,3, because their anionic aluminosilicate frameworks are highly acidic. The low dielectric constant of zeolites (e ≈ 1.6; ref. 3) suggests, however, that such processes in the zeolite channels should involve concerted action rather than strong charge separation, and thus resemble gas-phase reactions. Here we demonstrate that solution-like proton-transfer behaviour can be induced in zeolites. We find that the co-injection of nitromethane into a catalytic flow reactor clearly enhances the conversion of methanol, isopropanol and acetone over the zeolite catalyst HZSM-5. Conservation of nitromethane during the course of reaction and its effects on the reactant–zeolite interaction complex seen by solid-state NMR indicate that nitromethane behaves in a manner similar to polar solvents: it promotes proton transfer by stabilizing ion-pair structures. These findings suggest that rationally selected solvents might provide a simple means to increase the efficiency of these industrially important catalysts.
THE CRITICALLY ILL CHILD: MANAGEMENT OF STATUS EPILEPTICUS

In the article, "The Critically Ill Child: Management of Status Epilepticus" (Pediatrics, 44 : 732, 1969), the last sentence on page 732 should be modified to read: "Diazepam is commercially dispensed as 10 mg in 2 ml of buffered solution, and should only be administered in the undiluted form."
Modelling defined mixtures of environmental oestrogens found in domestic animal and sewage treatment effluents using an in vitro oestrogen-mediated transcriptional activation assay (T47D-KBluc).

Summary There is growing concern of exposure of fish, wildlife and humans to water sources contaminated with oestrogens and the potential impact on reproductive health. Environmental oestrogens can come from various sources including concentrated animal feedlot operations (CAFO), municipal waste, agricultural and industrial effluents. US EPA’s drinking water contaminant candidate list 3 (CCL3) includes several oestrogenic compounds. Although these contaminants are currently not subject to any proposed or promulgated national primary drinking water regulations, they are known or anticipated to occur in public water systems and may require future regulation under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Using an in vitro transcriptional activation assay, this study evaluated oestrogens from CCL3 both individually and as a seven oestrogen mixture (fixed ray design) over a broad range of concentrations, including environmentally relevant concentrations. Log EC50 and Hillslope values for individual oestrogens were as follows: estrone, −11.92, 1.283; estradiol-17α, −9.61, 1.486; estradiol-17β, 11.77, 1.494; estriol, −11.14, 1.074; ethinyl estradiol-17α, −12.63, 1.562; Mestranol, −11.08, 0.809 and Equilin, −11.48, 0.946. In addition, mixtures that mirrored the primary oestrogens found in swine, poultry and dairy CAFO effluent (fixed-ratio ray design), and a ternary mixture (4 × 4 × 4 factorial design) of oestrogens found in hormone replacement therapy and/or oral contraceptives were tested. Mixtures were evaluated for additivity using both the concentration addition (CA) model and oestrogen equivalence (EEQ) model. For each of the mixture studies, a broad range of concentrations were tested, both above and below environmentally relevant concentrations. Results show that the observed data did not vary consistently from either the CA or EEQ predictions for any mixture. Therefore, either the CA or EEQ model should be useful predictors for modelling oestrogen mixtures.
Coulomb-blockade peak-spacing distribution: Interplay of temperature and spin

We calculate the Coulomb Blockade peak spacing distribution at finite temperature using the recently introduced ``universal Hamiltonian'' to describe the e-e interactions. We show that the temperature effect is important even at kT~0.1\Delta (\Delta is the single-particle mean level spacing). This sensitivity arises because: (1) exchange reduces the minimum energy of excitation from the ground state and (2) the entropic contribution depends on the change of the spin of the quantum dot. Including the leading corrections to the universal Hamiltonian yields results in quantitative agreement with the experiments. Surprisingly, temperature appears to be the most important effect.
Silanol Concentration Depth Profiling during Plasma Deposition of SiO2 Using Multiple Internal Reflection Infrared Spectroscopy

The SiOH concentration profiles as a function of depth within SiO 2 films deposited from SiH 4 , O 2 , and Ar containing plasmas were measured using real-time attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The effective thickness approximation in conjunction with mathematical deconvolution of the temporal evolution of the spatially averaged SiOH concentration during deposition allowed the conversion of integrated SiOH absorbance to local SiOH concentration as a function of distance normal to the substrate surface. Thus, depth profiling of SiOH species in growing SiO 2 films was realized. As an example, SiOH concentration profiles in SiO 2 deposited on Si substrates cleaned with H 2 plasma was studied as a function of SiH 4 -to-O 2 gas flow rate ratio. For the depositions performed after H 2 plasma cleaning, the local concentration profiles revealed strong evidence of high SiOH density at the SiO 2 -Si interface. This method can be applied to measuring concentration depth profiles of Si-H, Si-F, or any other infrared active species in plasma-deposited films in real time.
Toward cultural/ecological perspectives on schooling and achievement in African- and Asian-American children

The review acknowledges that research on the family and its contribution to achievement in ethnic minority children is important. Past research and theorizing suggest the need for new directions, however. For example, research in educational achievement predicts educational failure for African-American students and educational success for Asian-American students. Little differentiation is made either among African-Americans or among Asian-Americans of different cultural, language, immigration, and economic backgrounds. The theory and design of research on family and educational achievement have been influenced by prevailing societal stereotypes. Research and policy implications of this review include the need to move toward cultural/ecological theories of achievement socialization and development.
In Vivo Pharmacodynamic Activity of Daptomycin

Daptomycin is a lipopeptide antibiotic with activity against a wide range of gram-positive bacteria. We used the neutropenic murine thigh model to characterize the pharmacodynamics of daptomycin. ICR/Swiss mice were rendered neutropenic with cyclophosphamide; and the thigh muscles of the mice were infected with strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Enterococcus faecium. Animals were treated by subcutaneous injection of daptomycin at doses of 0.20 to 400 mg/kg of body weight/day divided into one, two, four, or eight doses over 24 h. Daptomycin exhibited linear pharmacokinetics, with an area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) from time zero to infinity/dose of 9.4 and a half-life of 0.9 to 1.4 h. The level of protein binding was 90%. Free daptomycin exhibited concentration-dependent killing and produced in vivo postantibiotic effects (PAEs) of 4.8 to 10.8 h. Nonlinear regression analysis was used to determine which pharmacokinetic (PK) or pharmacodynamic (PD) parameter was important for efficacy by using free drug concentrations. The peak concentration/MIC (peak/MIC) ratio and 24-h AUC/MIC ratio were the PK and PD parameters that best correlated with in vivo efficacy (R2 = 83 to 87% for peak/MIC and R2 = 86% for the AUC/MIC ratio, whereas R2 = 47 to 50% for the time that the concentration was greater than the MIC) against standard strains of S. aureus and S. pneumoniae. The peak/MIC ratios required for a bacteriostatic effect ranged from 12 to 36 for S. pneumoniae, 59 to 94 for S. aureus, and 0.14 to 0.25 for E. faecium. The AUC/MIC ratios needed for a bacteriostatic effect ranged from 75 to 237 for S. pneumoniae, 388 to 537 for S. aureus, and 0.94 to 1.67 for E. faecium. The free daptomycin concentrations needed to average from one to two times the MIC over 24 h to produce a bacteriostatic effect and two to four times the MIC over 24 h to produce greater than 99% killing. The long PAE and potent bactericidal activity make daptomycin an attractive option for the treatment of infections caused by gram-positive bacteria.
The neural correlates of visual working memory decline in normal aging

Although older adults show impaired behavioral performance on a task measuring VWM capacity, their ERP measures indicate that they can maintain a similar amount of information in VWM as younger adults. Further work can determine whether processes like retrieval or comparison contribute to impaired VWM-related behavior in older adults. Visual working memory (VWM) enables one to hold a limited amount of visual information for several seconds. Behavioral studies have indicated that VWM capacity is reduced over the course of normal aging (Brockmole et al., 2008). Research using electroencephalogram (EEG) to measure aspects of VWM have shown that inefficient VWM filtering (Jost et al., 2008) and changes in VWM encoding (Stormer et al., CNS 2012) may contribute to this age-related VWM capacity reduction. In the current study, we asked: Do the ERP correlates of VWM maintenance in healthy older adults differ from that of healthy younger adults?
Causes of WRF surface energy fluxes biases in a stratocumulus region

In this study, we evaluate the ability of the Weather Research and Forecasting model to simulate surface energy fluxes in the southeast Pacific stratocumulus region. A total of 18 simulations is performed for the period of October to November 2008, with various combinations of boundary layer, microphysics, and cumulus schemes. Simulated surface energy fluxes are compared to those measured during VOCALS-REx. Using a process-based model evaluation, errors in surface fluxes are attributed to errors in cloud properties. Net surface flux errors are mostly traceable to errors in cloud liquid water path (LWPcld), which produce biases in downward shortwave radiation. Two mechanisms controlling LWPcld are diagnosed. One involves microphysics schemes, which control LWPcld through the production of raindrops. The second mechanism involves boundary layer and cumulus schemes, which control moisture available for cloud by regulating boundary layer height. In this study, we demonstrate that when parameterizations are appropriately chosen, the stratocumulus deck and the related surface energy fluxes are reasonably well represented. In the most realistic experiments, the net surface flux is underestimated by about 10 W m−2. This remaining low bias is due to a systematic overestimation of the total surface cooling due to sensible and latent heat fluxes in our simulations. There does not appear to be a single physical reason for this bias. Finally, our results also suggest that inaccurate representation of boundary layer height is an important factor limiting further gains in model realism.
Gas chromatographic determination of methylcyclopen- tadienylmanganesetricarbonyl in biological tissues and fluids

Abstract The procedure described for quantitating methylcyclopentadienylmanganese- tricarbonyl (MMT, a fuel additive) in smallsamples of biological fluids and tissues is based on extracting the MMT into hexane containing biphenyl as internal standard, followed by gas chromatographic analysis. With flame ionisation detection, as little as 1–2 ppm of MMT in tissue can be determined relatively easily. The method is also applicable to in vitro investigations of MMT metabolism, and it has been used to show that the enzymic oxidation of MMT by rat-liver microsomes is a cytochrome p-450-dependent process.
A vision test for pediatricían's use.

Summary A brief method for examining eyes which requires little time and only a small amount of inexpensive equipment and yet which is efficient in detecting those children, from about the age of 4 through adolescence, who have either diminished visual acuity or a latent refractive error (hypermetropia), has been described in detail. A supplementation of this test with tests of heterophoria is suggested for those who wish a more complete examination requiring more, but simple, equipment. The necessity for a careful administration of the test because of its brevity and simplicity should be kept in mind.
Mechanisms by which benzo[a]pyrene, an environmental carcinogen, suppresses B cell lymphopoiesis.

Abstract The capacity for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) to suppress immune cell function has been well documented. Nevertheless, mechanisms responsible for PAH immunosuppression and potential effects of PAH on lymphocyte development (lymphopoeisis) remain poorly defined. Murine bone marrow cultures were used in the present studies to determine if and by what mechanism(s) benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), a prototypic and highly carcinogenic PAH, suppresses B cell lymphopoiesis. Emphasis was placed on similarities between the processes leading to transformation and immunosuppression and on a possible role for programmed cell death (apoptosis) in B[a]P lymphotoxicity. Data presented herein indicate that: (1) B[a]P suppresses B cell lymphopoiesis in bone marrow cultures at extremely low concentrations (10−8 m ); (2) benzo[e]pyrene, the relatively noncarcinogenic congener of B[a]P, is approximately 1000 times less potent than B[a]P in suppressing B cell lymphopoiesis; (3) bone marrow cells from PAH-resistant DBA 2 mice are less sensitive to B[a]P than cells from C57BL 6 mice; (4) B[a]P induces preB cell apoptosis; and (5) α-naphthaflavone, an inhibitor of Ahreceptor dependent, P450 isoenzyme activity, blocks B[a]P-mediated preB cell apoptosis and inhibits B[a]P-dependent suppression of lymphopoiesis. The results support the hypothesis that B[a]P suppression of B cell lymphopoiesis is mediated at least in part by the induction of programmed cell death and that the Ah receptor and/or P450 isoenzymes are involved in this process. The results suggest the potential for PAH to affect development of the B lymphocyte repertoire.
Thalamic kindling: electrical stimulation of the lateral geniculate nucleus produces photosensitive grand mal seizures.

Abstract Kindling is traditionally viewed as a chronic, focal epilepsy model which consistently induces complex partial seizures from limbic structures in animals. This study revealed that primary or exceedingly rapid secondary generalized seizures could also be kindled when stimulation was applied to the lateral geniculate nucleus, a thalamic region involved in sleep regulation and possibly also photosensitive epilepsy. Two experiments were conducted in cat. Experiment 1 compared the development of generalized tonic-clonic convulsions and associated sleep disorders following electrical stimulation of the lateral geniculate nucleus ( N = 4) and the amygdala ( N = 4). Experiment 2 described the effects of intermittent light stimulation on seizure thresholds in both groups. Three primary findings distinguished the epileptogenic process in those two brain regions. First, generalized electroencephalographic and clinical seizures accompanied the first afterdischarge obtained with thalamic stimulation. In contrast, focal seizures with secondary generalization appeared during a 3- to 4-week period of afterdischarge elicitations from the amygdala. Second, amygdala-kindled cats showed fewer sleep spindles during slow-wave sleep whereas cats kindled in the lateral geniculate nucleus had abnormal sleep spindles approaching spike wave-like activity. Third, only the latter cats showed reduced seizure thresholds in response to photic stimulation. Based on the anatomic substrates involved, the clinical and electrographic profiles observed during kindling and the type of sleep disturbance shown, we concluded that lateral geniculate nucleus kindling may represent primary generalized epilepsy, possibly of a photosensitive nature; alternatively, the rapid propagation of abnormal discharge was also consistent with the important role of the thalamus in secondary seizure generalization.
The impact of repeated interactions on supply chain contracts: A laboratory study

Abstract In this laboratory study, we investigate the interactive behaviors that develop over a perceived long-term contractual relationship. Specifically, three types of contracts are examined under a two-echelon supply chain setting with stochastic demand: wholesale price contracts, buyback contracts and revenue-sharing contracts. The supply chain contracting theory has demonstrated that the simple linear price contract is inefficient; whereas the latter two contracts can coordinate the channel through risk-sharing, and they are mathematically equivalent. We propose an experimental design that controls for individual decision biases to isolate the behavioral impact of repeated negotiations. Our experimental results indicate that participants systematically deviate from predictions by the normative model that assumes a one-shot interaction between self-interested players. We find that when future opportunities to punish are available, social preferences for fairness and reciprocity are reinforced; and reputation-building behaviors are motivated to achieve long-term economic benefits. As a result, the performance of the overall supply chain is enhanced. Moreover, we observe that buyback contracts behave differently from revenue-sharing contracts by inducing higher order quantities over time.
Talking smack and the telephone game: conceptualizing cyberbullying with middle and high school youth

Cyberbullying has become a mainstream topic in the media as an alarming number of teenagers have taken their lives due to bullying that has occurred in combined unsupervised spaces both in school and online. While suicide is a problem associated with intense cyberbullying and bullying behavior, there are, many more teenagers affected by ‘everyday’ cyberbullying and bullying behavior. Research is emerging about this phenomenon but there are deficits in understanding cyberbullying, identifying victims, and describing the impact of cyberbullying on both victims and perpetrators. Data from four focus groups (n = 24), with students in the sixth to twelfth grades show that they see cyberbullying differently than researchers' current definitions. Findings also indicate that cyberbullying is often connected to gossip and rumors and the outcomes of cyberbullying participation vary widely.
Variation of diameter distribution, number density, and area fraction of fibrils within five areas of the rabbit patellar tendon.

Summary The purpose of this investigation is to show microstructural information at various regions within the rabbit patellar tendon. The properties of the rabbit patellar tendon are well documented mechanically, but detailed information at the microscopic level is not available. Increasing attention has been directed to soft tissue microscopy as the demand for development of biologically inspired materials increases. Microstructural examination of the tendon fibrils is performed to provide further insight into understanding of the structure to function relations within the rabbit patellar tendon. Limited studies on rabbit patellar tendon collagen fibrils at the microscopic level have been computed. Furthermore, evaluation of structure–function relations in multiple regions of any given specimen of a particular tissue type has not been conducted. In this study the number density, area fraction, and diameter distribution of collagen fibrils have been determined. Overall, this examination showed considerable variation within each section of the tendon. Correlating these structural results with mechanical tests of the tendon portions in the various regions could provide additional information on the mechanics of the rabbit tendon as well as insight into development of artificial tissue constructs.
Dealing with Vascular Conundrums with MR Imaging

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is a robust imaging modality for evaluation of vascular diseases. Technological advances have made MR imaging widely available for accurate and time-efficient vascular assessment. In this article the clinical usefulness of MR imaging techniques and their application are reviewed, using examples of vascular abnormalities commonly encountered in clinical practice, including abdominal, pelvic, and thoracic vessels. Common pitfalls and problem solving in interpretation of vascular findings in body MR imaging are also discussed.
The use of cotton balls to collect infant urine samples for 2H/1H and 18O/16O isotope ratio measurements

Abstract To test the validity of cotton balls as a urine collection medium for hydrogen and oxygen isotope ratio measurements, we moistened cotton balls with 1-, 5-, and 10-mL aliquots of urine that contained either natural abundances or one of two enriched levels of 2H and 18O. The liquids were then expressed from the cotton balls, either at once, or after 30 or 60 min of atmospheric exposure, and analyzed for their 2H/1H and 18O/16O isotope ratios. The 2H abundances of the fluids expressed from the cotton balls were significantly lower than the original values. This dilution of 2H, however, diminished in the samples that had a greater volume of urine. We observed no effects of volume or time on 18O. Our results indicate that at low urine volumes, ambient moisture dilutes 2H in the cotton balls, but isotope exchanges and evaporation have little or no effect on the hydrogen and oxygen isotopic abundances of the urine samples. Total body water and energy expenditure values calculated from the 2H and 18O enrichments of 5- and 10-mL urine samples were within 1% of the theoretical values. Therefore, cotton balls are suitable for collection of infant urine samples for hydrogen and oxygen isotope ratio measurements, if the volume of urine that can be expressed from a cotton ball is ⩾ 5 mL.
Oral food clearance and the pH of plaque and saliva

Carbohydrate clearance, plaque pH, and saliva pH resulting from eating foods containing high levels of sugar or starch are measured in identical experiments on the same test subjects. Carbohydrate clearance, plaque pH, and saliva pH resulting from eating foods containing high levels of sugar or starch were measured in the same experimental runs on the same test subjects. Foods with a higher content of sugar were removed more rapidly and depressed the pH of the plaque for a shorter time than did starchy foods containing less sugar. This finding suggests that retention of food in the mouth may be as important an indicator of its cariogenic potential as is the level of the pH it produces in plaque.
The expression of rat brain voltage-sensitive Na+ channel mRNAs in astrocytes.

Abstract Astrocytes from various regions of CNS have been shown to express voltage-activated Na + currents. To date, three distinct subtypes (I, II and III) of Na + channels have been cloned from rat brain. We have applied a combined technique of reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to examine the expression of rat brain Na + channels in rat astrocytes in vivo and in vitro. Five PCR primer sets were used to amplify coding or 3′ non-coding regions of subtype I, II, and III Na + channels. We were able to amplify all three of these rat brain Na + channel subtypes from rat optic nerve, which does not have neuronal cell bodies but does contain astrocytes known to express voltage-sensitive Na + channels. In studies on cultured spinal cord astrocytes, we were also able to amplify all three subtypes of rat brain Na + channel mRNAs. In control experiments, RT-PCR was performed on RNAs prepared from several rat tissues, including brain, skeletal muscle, and liver. Rat brain was shown to express the three Na + channel subtypes as expected. In rat skeletal muscle, subtype I and III Na + channel mRNAs, but not subtype II, were amplified. In rat liver, Na + channel messages were not detectable. The present study provides the first direct evidence that astrocytes in vivo and in vitro express rat brain voltage-sensitive Na + channel mRNAs, which have been considered as mainly neuronal-type Na + channel messages.
Isolation of Marek's disease virus: revisited

Splenocytes from chickens infected with low-passage stocks of Marek's disease virus (MDV) RB-1B, a very virulent (vv) strain and vv+ RK-1 were used to compare the efficacy of chick kidney cells (CKC), chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEF) and chicken embryo kidney cells (CEKC) for virus isolation. CKC were superior to CEF and CEKC. MDV foci were present at 4 days post infection in CKC but not until 6 days post infection in CEF or CEKC. Virus yield was higher in CKC than in CEF or CEKC at 6 days post infection. Passage of RB-1B in CKC yielded a significantly higher virus increase than with CEF or CEKC. The same was true for RK-1 comparing CKC with CEKC. Interestingly, RK-1-infected CEF were negative or had very low number of foci in passage 1, but virus yield increased 500-fold to 600-fold on passage in CKC, CEF, and CEKC. Recommendations on procedures for successful virus isolation are provided.
Maternal Anthropometry and Newborn Weight

OBJECTIVE: We performed a cross sectional study at Edgardo Rebagliati Martins Hospital in 1997, including 238 mothers and their newborns whose birth weight was >2500gr and 40 mothers and their newborns (whose birth weight was≤ 2500gr. Our purpose was to determine whether maternal anthropometric characteristics were associated with the newborn birth weight.
Interview with Paul Pival of the University of Calgary

This interview with Paul Pival, public services systems librarian at the University of Calgary, describes his view on the electronic resources landscapes and the challenges ahead for librarians engaged in providing services to campus-based and distant students.
Roundabouts: Problems of and strategies for access

Abstract The increasing number of roundabout intersections is due in part to the fact that they significantly reduce death and injury rates for motor vehicle occupants. However, roundabouts can exacerbate the challenges that pedestrians with visual impairments encounter when crossing streets. Pedestrians who are blind must use their hearing to perceive gaps in traffic that are long enough to permit crossing the street, or they must detect when vehicles have yielded for them. Strategies to enhance the ability of individuals who are blind to detect gaps and to detect vehicles that have yielded for them are needed to increase access to these intersections by individuals who are blind.
Near-surface and deep hydrofracturing stress measurements in the Waterloo quartzite

Abstract We conducted hydrofracturing stress measurements in two adjacent holes drilled from the surface into the Precambrian Waterloo quartzite, some 3 km NE of Waterloo, Wisconsin. In one hole we carried out three tests at 17, 163 and 238 m depth; in the other we ran ten tests between 2 m and 74 m. Calculations based on the recorded breakdown and shut-in pressures and fracture impressions in both holes reveal two apparent stress fields: one within the top 20 m from the surface (the near-surface field), and the other within the rest of depth range tested (the deeper field). In the near-surface stress field the largest horizontal compressive stress ( σ Hmax ) varies between 1.5–3.0 MPa and is directed at N 30° W ± 25°, and the least horizontal compressive stress ( σ Hmin ) is in the range of 1.0–1.5 MPa at N 60° E ± 25°. In the deeper stress field σ Hmax = 9.4 + 0.01 d at N 60° E ± 15°, and σ Hmin = 5.4 + 0.01 d at N 30° W ± 15° (where magnitudes were obtained from linear regression analysis, stresses are given in MPa, and d is depth in meters). The vertical stress, based on rock density, is equal to 0.026 d . Note that the horizontal principal stresses at all tested depths are larger than the vertical. The deeper stress field is very similar to that at Montello, Wisconsin and appears to represent the regional stress regime. The partial relief and 90° rotation of the horizontal stresses in the near-surface field could have been caused by the free boundary created by a gentle slope of the outcrop where the holes are located. This slope dips WSW toward a nearby creek 15 m lower in elevation. Our present results indicate that surface and shallow measurements may misrepresent stress conditions at depth. Consideration of topography and comparison with deeper tests are recommended as a prerequisite before regional and tectonic implications are made.
Spin resonance spectroscopy of amorphous carbon films

Abstract Spin resonance has been used to study the unpaired spins in amorphous carbon films prepared by the plasma decomposition of propane. The properties of amorphous carbon prepared by this method are very diamond like. The ESR signal shows saturation effects and a fairly large positive g shift ( g =2.003 ± .0003). Both of these characteristics are associated with unpaired spins in a delocalized system, e.g. aromatic radicals. We conclude that there is appreciable trigonal bonding in this form of amorphous carbon which causes some delocalization into a pi molecular orbital.
The learning climate for administration students

Abstract The percentage of MSW students specializing in administrative practice has been declining in recent years, as has the percentage of NASW members who identify themselves as administrators or supervisors. One of many possible explanations for these trends is that schools of social work are inhospitable environments for social work administration. The research reported in this article sought to determine if administration students perceive the school climates at three different universities to be hostile to social work management practice, and, if so, to explore the dynamics of how these climates influence the choices made and the education of administration students. We found that at all three schools, nonadministration students were perceived to be critical of students who selected administration concentrations and administration as a career path, that majorities of students experienced anti-management comments and attitudes in a variety of forms, and that administration students thought their fou...
Effect of Carrier Ionic Strength in Microscale Cyclical Electrical Field-Flow Fractionation

Recent work with cyclical electrical field-flow fractionation systems has shown promise for the technique as a separation and analysis tool, but little is understood about how the carrier composition in the system affects its capabilities. The electrical properties of microscale CyElFFF systems change when the carrier ionic conditions are altered, and it is well known that the effects of increasing ionic strength carriers on retention in normal ElFFF systems are severe. Specifically, retention levels fall significantly. Accordingly, this work seeks to understand the effect that increasing carrier ionic strength in CyElFFF has on nanoparticle retention in the channels. The retention of polystyrene particles in the CyElFFF microsystem is reported at various ionic strengths of ammonium carbonate and at a variety of pH levels. The experiments are compared to the theory of CyElFFF available in the literature. The results indicate that the ionic strength of the carrier has a significant impact on retention and that high ionic strength carrier solutions lead to poor performance of the CyElFFF system. These results have significant impact on the possible uses of the technique and its applications, especially in the biomedical arena.
Interactive remote control for an STS-based superfluid helium transfer demonstration

NASA's superfluid helium on-orbit transfer (SHOOT) experiment, which is a Shuttle-based demonstration of the technology required to service cryogenically cooled satellites in space, is described. The SHOOT Command and Monitoring System software, developed on Macintosh II, will provide a near-real-time highly interactive interface making it possible to control the experiment and to analyze and display its telemetry. User interface is discussed as well as conversion functions, and hardware.
Presynaptically acting snake venom phospholipase A2 enzymes attack unique substrates.

Abstract Synaptosomes were incubated with bovine serum albumin (BSA) to examine whether the presynaptic action of snake venom phospholipase A2 (PLA2) toxins is due either to the release of fatty acids resistant to extraction by BSA or to the liberation of a specific fatty acid type. In the presence of BSA (0.5% or 1.0%) two PLA2 enzymes from Naja naja atra and Naja naja kaouthia snake venoms that do not have a predominant presynaptic action at the neuromuscular junction (PS−) did not stimulate acetylcholine (ACh) release from synaptosomes. In contrast, two PLA2 enzymes (β-bungarotoxin, scutoxin) that do have a predominant presynaptic action at the neuromuscular junction (PS+) did stimulate ACh release. BSA did not antagonize PS− enzymes by more efficiently extracting the fatty acids produced by these enzymes relative to PS+ enzymes. While absolute amounts of total and unsaturated fatty acid produced overlapped for the PS− and PS+ enzymes, the two PS+ enzymes produced a significantly greater absolute amount and relative percentage of palmitic acid (16:0) than did either of the PS− enzymes. However, the levels of free palmitic acid remaining in the synaptosomes where they would exert effects on ACh release were similar for the N. n. kaouthia PLA2 (PS−) and β-bungarotoxin (PS+). Therefore, the total (supernatant plus synaptosomal) amount of palmitic acid produced per se did not account for stimulation of ACh release, since the greater amounts produced by the PS+ enzymes were removed from the synaptosomes by BSA. The production of higher levels of palmitic acid suggests either that PS+ enzymes gain access to sites containing phospholipid substrates unavailable to the PS− enzymes, or that they have a different substrate preference. These findings suggest new possibilities for the mechanism of PS + PLA2 action, including site-directed enzymatic activity and protein acylation.
The Social Production of Altruism: Motivations for Caring Action in a Low-Income Urban Community

Contemporary social science paints a bleak picture of inner-city relational life. Indeed, the relationships of low-income, urban-residing Americans are represented as rife with distress, violence and family disruption. At present, no body of social scientific work systematically examines the factors that promote loving or selfless interactions among low-income, inner-city American individuals, families and communities. In an effort to fill that gap, this ethnographic study examined the motivations for altruism among a sample of adults (n = 40) who reside in an economically distressed housing community (i.e., housing project) in New York City. Content analyses of interviews indicated that participants attributed altruism to an interplay between 14 motives that were then ordered into four overarching categories of motives: (1) needs-centered motives, (2) norm-based motives deriving from religious/spiritual ideology, relationships and personal factors, (3) abstract motives (e.g., humanism), and (4) sociopolitical factors. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Acoustics and perception of emphasis in Urban Jordanian Arabic

Abstract Acoustic and perceptual effects of emphasis, a secondary articulation in the posterior vocal tract, were investigated in Urban Jordanian Arabic. Twelve speakers of Jordanian Arabic recorded both consonants and vowels of monosyllabic minimal CVC pairs containing plain or emphatic consonants in initial and final position to investigate the extent of coarticulatory effects of emphasis. In general, the acoustic correlates of emphasis include a raised F1, lowered F2, and raised F3 in the vowel adjacent to the emphatic consonant, consistent with a narrowing near the uvula. These effects are similar in magnitude for vowels following and preceding emphatic consonants. In addition, the spectral mean of emphatic stops, but not emphatic fricatives, was lower than that of plain consonants. A perception study with cross-spliced natural stimuli explored whether Arabic listeners’ recognition of emphasis is based on information in the target consonant or the rest of the word (vowel+non-target consonant). Results show that the rest of the word contributes significantly more to the perception of emphasis than the target consonant itself. Overall, the acoustic data and perceptual results will address the correlates of emphasis, spread of emphasis, and the asymmetry between stops and fricatives.
The effects of temperature on the growth of juvenile scleractinian corals

Tropical reef corals are well known for their sensitivity to rising temperature, yet surprisingly little is known of the mechanisms through which temperature acts on intact coral colonies. One such mechanism recently has been suggested by the association between the growth of juvenile corals and seawater temperature in the Caribbean, which suggests that temperature causes a transition between isometric and allometric growth scaling in warmer versus cooler years, respectively (Edmunds in Proc R Soc B 273:2275–2281, 2006). Here, this correlative association is tested experimentally for a cause-and-effect relationship. During April and May 2006, juvenile colonies (8–35 mm diameter) of massive Porites spp. from Moorea, French Polynesia, were incubated at warm (27.8°C) and cool (25.7°C) temperatures for 15 days, and their response assessed through the scaling of growth (change in weight) with colony size. The results reveal that the scaling of colony-specific growth (mg colony−1 day−1) was unaffected by temperature, although growth absolutely was greater at the cool compared to the warm temperature, regardless of colony size. This outcome was caused by contrasting scaling relationships for area-specific growth (mg cm−2 day−1) that were negatively allometric under warm conditions, but independent of size under cool conditions. In April 2007, a 22 days field experiment confirmed that the scaling of area-specific growth in juvenile Porites spp. is negatively allometric at a warm temperature of 29.5°C. Based on strong allometry for tissue thickness, biomass, and Symbiodinium density in freshly collected Porites spp., it is hypothesized that the temperature-dependency of growth scaling in these small corals is mediated by the interaction of temperature with biomass.
The digital tendon locking mechanism of the avian foot (Aves)

Representatives of all avian orders were studied in order to establish that the tendon-locking mechanism (TLM), consisting of local specialization of the flexor tendons and the adjacent portion of the flexor tendon sheath, is by no means rare, but rather, constitutes the prevalent condition in a large majority of the avian species sampled. The areas of tubercles on the tendons and the adjacent sheath plications intermesh with one another thereby forming a true tendon-locking mechanism that maintains the distal and other interphalangeal joints of the digits in the flexed position. The TLM seems to function not only in perching, but in a wide variety of other activities of the avian foot including swimming, wading, prey-grasping, clinging, hanging, and tree climbing. The basic structural components of the mechanism are remarkably similar in the divergent avian groups adapted for these activities. Ultrastructural detail of the TLM was studied by means of scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Interdigital variation in distribution of the TLM in all of the digits of individuals were made as were comparisons of the interspecific distribution of the TLM. An analysis of the biomechanics involved in engaging the elements of the TLM and how they produce locking of the flexed joints of the digits includes a consideration of the roles of the podothecal pads, ungual flexor processes, and the elastic flexor and extensor ligaments of the toes. The components of the TLM are differentiated in early fetal development establishing that the TLM components are not acquired adventitiously in response to such factors as posthatching mechanical stresses.
The effect of aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on prostaglandins

Cyclic prostanoids play important physiologic roles in inflammation and maintaining normal function of several organ systems. Prostaglandin production requires the conversion of arachidonate to the intermediate prostaglandin H2, by the 2-step cyclo-oxygenation and peroxidation catalyzed by the enzyme cyclo-oxygenase (also called prostaglandin H synthase). Aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) block the production of cyclic prostanoids by binding in different ways to this enzyme and blocking the active site. This results in decreased inflammation, but it can also produce side effects in the gastrointestinal tract, kidney, and platelets. Recent data demonstrate that there are 2 isoforms of the cyclo-oxygenase enzyme, called COX-1 and COX-2. These isoforms are similar in size, substrate specificity, and kinetics, but vary in their expression and distribution. Normal physiologic functions appear to be maintained by COX-1, while COX-2 appears to mediate the inflammatory response. Nonsteroidal drugs with selective inhibitory activity on the COX-2 isoform should theoretically decrease inflammation while maintaining normal physiologic prostaglandin levels. Current NSAIDs are not selective enough to confirm this, but newer, more selective inhibitors of COX-2 may answer this important question.
Evaluation of Tumor Regression and Other Prognostic Factors for Early and Late Metastasis after Proton Irradiation of UVeal Melanoma

Abstract The authors examined the relationship of change in tumor height after proton beam irradiation with the risk of metastasis in 700 patients treated for uveal melanoma before July 1, 1986. Rates of change in tumor height were computed for each patient using follow-up ultrasonographic measures during the first 2 years after treatment. Risk of metastasis was evaluated separately in the first 2 years after treatment when tumor decline was assessed (concurrent metastasis), and 2 years or later after treatment (subsequent metastasis). Using Cox proportional hazards models to adjust for other known risk factors, tumors regressing rapidly were significantly more likely to metastasize concurrently with their regression ( P P
Desperately seeking simplicity: how young adults with cognitive disabilities and their families adopt assistive technologies

A surprisingly high percentage of assistive technology devices (35% or more) are purchased, but not successfully adopted. Through semi-structured interviews with a dozen families, we have come to understand the role technology plays in the lives of families who have a young adult with cognitive disabilities, and how families find, acquire, and use these technologies. This study addresses gaps in existing research and informs future efforts in assistive technology design. Design implications include the importance of simplicity not only in technology function but in configuration, documentation, maintenance, and upgrade or replacement; as well as the need for designers to use methods that consider the multiple individuals and stages involved in the technology adoption process.
Selective alteration of neurotransmitter release by low oxygen in vitro

The potassium-stimulated release of acetylcholine, norepinephrine, serotonin, glutamate, and 4-aminobutyrate from superfused rat cortical slices was studied during hypoxia. A reduction in oxygen tensions from 603±6 to 22±2 mm Hg selectively altered the calcium-dependent efflux of these neurotransmitters, but did not change their calcium-independent release. The calcium-dependent release of [14C]acetylcholine decreased (39%), while that of glutamate increased (66%) and 4-aminobutyrate, [3H]norepinephrine, and [3H]serotonin were unaffected. Thus, low oxygen reveals variations in the calcium-dependent release mechanisms of several neurotransmitters. These differences may have important implications for pharmacological intervention of neurotransmitter release.
Characterization of the effects of an airborne mixture of chemicals on the respiratory tract and smoothing polynomial spline analysis of the data

We expanded a previously published (Vijayaraghavan et al. 1994) computerized system to analyze the breathing pattern of unanesthetized mice in order better to recognize and quantify the effects of an airborne mixture of chemicals at three different levels of the respiratory tract. The airborne chemical mixture used was a machining fluid. Such fluids are widely used in industry and a large number of workers are exposed to these airborne mixtures. We found this mixture to be capable of inducing three types of effects on the respiratory tract: sensory irritation of the upper respiratory tract (S), airflow limitation along the conducting airways (A) and pulmonary irritation (P). Depending upon the exposure concentration, mainly S or P effects were obtained but an A effect was also identified. The three types of effects occurred at various times during the exposures and, furthermore, within a group of exposed animals some exhibited one type of effect while others exhibited another type. In order to analyze such complex data sets, two statistical methods for smoothing polynomial splines were utilized: the maximum likelihood (ML) method and generalized cross validation (GCV) method. The results indicated that previous methods used to characterize a single effect of airborne chemicals can now be extended to evaluate mixtures likely to induce multiple types of effects. However, statistical analysis methods, either the ML or GCV methods, or other appropriate methods are needed to evaluate the responses obtained due to the complex effects that a mixture can induce in comparison to single chemicals.
The onset of slugging in gas—solid fluidized beds with large particles

Abstract The onset of slugging in gas—solid fluidized beds with relatively large particles was studied by means of pressure transducers coupled with the on-line cross-correlation technique. The rise velocity of bubbles was employed as the criterion for the onset of slugging. Different sizes and types of particles and different column diameters were used to obtain data on the bubble rise velocity. A semiempirical model has been derived to predict the superficial gas velocity at the onset of slugging. The model appears to predict the present and available experimental results reasonably well.
Challenges and Opportunities Presented by NAICS

Abstract North American Industry Classification System (NAICS, pronounced “nakes”) replaces the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes as a way the federal government measures the nature of business, with the release of the 1997 Economic Census. Concerns regarding NA-ICS come from researchers and information providers. This article will address the problems in NAICS inherited from SIC, issues arising from the transitions, structure of NAICS, and effects on companies and researchers.