cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A rapid technique for measuring copolymer composition as a function of molecular weight using gel permeation chromatography and infrared detection

A gel permeation chromatograph using an infrared spectrometer detector is described. Operation in a stop-and-go fashion permits rapid determination of copolymer composition as a function of molecular weight. A broad distribution copolymer, poly(vinyl chloride–co–vinyl stearate), showed marked compositional changes with molecular weight. The changes observed are not in agreement with those predicted from reactivity ratios.
Accuracy in Measurements and the Temperature and Volume Dependence of Thermoelastic Parameters

To obtain the temperature T and volume V (or pressure P) dependence of the Anderson-Gruneisen parameter δ T , measurements with high sensitivity are required. We show two examples: P, V, T measurements of NaCl done with the piston cylinder and elasticity measurements of MgO using a resonance method. In both cases, the sensitivity of the measurements leads to results that provide information about δ T (η, T), where η ≡ V/V 0 and V 0 is the volume at zero pressure. We demonstrate that determination of δ T leads to understanding of the volume and temperature dependence of q = (∂ ln γ/∂ ln V) T over a broad V, T range, where γ is the Gruneisen ratio.
Immune privilege in the gut: the establishment and maintenance of non-responsiveness to dietary antigens and commensal flora

Immune privilege in the gut is the result of a complex interplay between the gut microbiome, gut luminal antigens, and the intestinal epithelial barrier. Composed of both physical and immunochemical components, the intestinal barrier secretes immunoregulatory mediators that promote the generation of tolerogenic antigen-presenting cells, phagocytic innate immune cells characterized by 'inflammatory anergy', and regulatory cells of the adaptive immune system. Innate immune cells mediate controlled transepithelial transport of luminal antigens as far as the mesenteric lymph nodes, where the intestinal and peripheral immune systems intersect. This promotes the generation of adaptive regulatory lymphocytes that actively suppress effector cell responses against gut luminal antigens and flora. The net result is the generation of tolerance to dietary antigens and the maintenance of gut homeostasis. Dysregulation of this complex immunoregulatory network leads to diseases such as food allergy and inflammatory bowel disease. Future therapies for these diseases will likely involve the functional restoration of the barrier and regulatory cell functions at the epithelial/luminal interface.
POSTNATAL MATURATION OF α-ADRENERGIC MECHANISM IN THE NEWBORN RAT LIVER

Epinephrine (Epi) stimulated liver glycogenolysis is mediated by cAMP independent α-mechanism in the adult rat as opposed to cAMP dependent β-mechanism in perinatal rat. However the mechanism and timing of β→α switchover is unclear. Alpha receptor stimulation increases plasma membrane phosphatidylinositol (PI) turnover which subsequently leads to glycogen phosphorylase (GP) stimulation. We examined ontogeny of adrenergic stimulated cAMP, PI phosphorylation and GP in newborn hepatocytes. Epi stimulated cAMP was 7 times higher (P PTU P 5, 15 d P<0.01. We conclude that Epi stimulated glycogenolysis is totally mediated by cAMP-β mechanism before 15 days, 2) ontogeny of α but not β mechanism is regulated by thyroid hormone during postnatal period. We speculate that the low but present PI phosphorylation despite total lack of α-mediated GP before 15 days indicates receptor as well as post-PI site are involved in the maturational process of α-adrenergic mechanism in the rat liver.
Inhibition by drugs of smoking behaviour in monkeys.

THERE have been several analyses of the role of nicotine in smoking. Johnston1 found that heavy smokers reported a pleasurable sensation when given nicotine, whereas non-smokers reported an unpleasant effect. Lucchesi et al.2 showed that intravenous administration of nicotine diminished the number of cigarettes smoked by heavy smokers. Jarvik et al.3 recently obtained a similar result with nicotine taken orally. If, as these studies suggest, nicotine is an incentive in smoking, then drugs which block the action(s) of nicotine should influence smoking.
Inequality orderings and unit consistency

The paper examines the implications of the newly proposed unit consistency axiom for partial inequality orderings. We first show that some intermediate Lorenz dominance conditions violate the axiom. We then characterize a class of intermediate Lorenz orderings and demonstrate that the only unit-consistent member is the one related to Krtscha (Models and measurement of welfare and inequality. Springer, Heidelberg, 1994)’s intermediate notion of inequality which has recently been investigated by Zoli (A surplus sharing approach to the measurement of inequality. Discussion paper no. 98/25, University of York, 1998; Logic, game, theory and social choice. Tilburg University Press, Tilburg, 1999) and Yoshida (Soc Choice Welf 24:557–574, 2005). Finally, we provide a general characterization for unit-consistent Lorenz orderings and the Krtscha-type dominance again turns out to be the only one that is intermediate and unit-consistent.
Visual instruction of the neural map of auditory space in the developing optic tectum

Neural maps of visual and auditory space are aligned in the adult optic tectum. In barn owls, this alignment of sensory maps was found to be controlled during ontogeny by visual instruction of the auditory spatial tuning of neurons. Large adaptive changes in auditory spatial tuning were induced by raising owls with displacing prisms mounted in spectacle frames in front of the eyes; neurons became tuned to sound source locations corresponding to their optically displaced, rather than their normal, visual receptive field locations. The results demonstrate that visual experience during development calibrates the tectal auditory space map in a site-specific manner, dictating its topography and alignment with the visual space map.
Longleaf pine ecosystem restoration: the role of fire.

Summary Longleaf pine (Pinus palustrisMill.) ecosystems once occupied over 36 million hectares in the southeastern United States' lower coastal plain. These fire-dependent ecosystems dominated a wide range of coastal plain sites, including dry uplands and low, wet flatlands. Today, less than 1.3 million hectares remain, but these ecosystems represent significant components of the Region's cultural heritage, ecological diversity, timber resources, and present essential habitat for many animal and plant communities. Fire was an essential component of the original longleaf pine ecosystems. The landscapes were characterized by open stands of mature longleaf pine with a savanna-like understory that were biologically diverse. Recent improvements in the technology to artificially regenerate longleaf pine has stimulated interest in restoring longleaf pine on many sites. Long-term studies show that the frequent use of fire hastens initiation of height growth, reduces undesirable competing vegetation, and stimulate...
Designing and Teaching Business & Society Courses From a Threshold Concept Approach:

This article examines the redesign of an undergraduate course in Business & Society using a threshold concept approach. Business & Society courses may be troublesome for students because they depar...
Amino Acid Suppression of Radiation-Induced Tumorization of Fern Prothalli

The frequency of tumors induced in prothalli of Pteridium aquilinum by x irradiation of dormant spores prior to germination can be irfluenced by the incorporation of certain amino acids into the medium upon which they are grown. Many of the components of casein hydrolysate reduce the frequency to varvirg degrees, nctably methiorine and lysine. The effect of lysine can be nullified by the addition of equimolar concentrations of argirine. Other aznino acids (e.g., glutamic acid) may instead encance the tumor frequency. Some possible implications of these observations are disusssed. (auth)
An experimental evaluation of the impact of data display format on recall performance

Recall, while an important topic in the study of learning and memory, has received relatively little attention as a dependent variable in studies that investigate alternative formats for presenting information. This paper describes two experiments, performed back to back, that examined the relationship between data display format and recall performance across different task categories. The results of Experiment 1 were reaffirmed by Experiment 2 and collectively suggest that a graphical presentation enhances recall when the task possesses a spatial orientation while the recall of specific facts is indifferent to data display format.
R&D Facilities and Professional Labour: Labour Force Dynamics in High Technology

MALECKI E. J. and BRADBURY S. L. (1992) R&D facilities and professional labour: labour force dynamics in high technology, Reg. Studies 26, 123–136. The recent decentralization trend among research and development (R&D) laboratories has been attributed in part to firms following the locational preferences of their professional and technical workers to attractive areas. This paper examines the locational decisions and preferences of both R&D facilities and their professional employees. The findings suggest that the location of R&D facilities is influenced by the labour market dynamics of professional workers. Quality of life and city size are significant locational considerations both to professional workers and to firms that conduct R&D. These results demonstrate and reinforce the benefits of agglomeration economies associated with large urban areas for corporate location. MALECKI E. J. et BRADBURY S. L. (1992), La disponibilite des services en R&D et les employes professionnels: la dynamique du marche de ...
Mean-flow scaling of turbulent pipe flow

Measurements of the mean velocity profile and pressure drop were performed in a fully developed, smooth pipe flow for Reynolds numbers from 31×103 to 35×106. Analysis of the mean velocity profiles indicates two overlap regions: a power law for 60 9×103). Von Karman's constant was shown to be 0.436 which is consistent with the friction factor data and the mean velocity profiles for 600 5%) than those predicted by Prandtl's relation. A new friction factor relation is proposed which is within ±1.2% of the data for Reynolds numbers between 10×103 and 35×106, and includes a term to account for the near-wall velocity profile.
Gas-liquid equilibrium for ethanol-water-carbon dioxide mixtures at elevated pressures

156158. (6) Choudhary. V. R.; Parande, M. G.; Brahme, P. H.; Id. Eng. Chem. LHeratwe CRed Fundam. W82, 21, 472-474. (1) Katayama, T.; N b , T. J . Chem. Eng. Data 1876, 21, 194-196, (2) Stephen, H.; Stephen, T. Solubwles of Iwganlc and Organic Compounds; Pergamon: Oxford, U.K., 1963 Vol. I (Part I); p 539-541. (3) Brahme, P. H.; Vadgaonkar, H. 0.; Ozarde, P. S.; Parande, M. G. J . Chem. Eng. Data 1982, 27, 461-462. Received for review June 8, 1985. Revised manuscript received December 12, 1985. Accepted January 9, 1986.
Carcinomatosis is not a contraindication to enteral stenting in selected patients with malignant gastric outlet obstruction.

Background Endoscopically inserted self-expandable metal stents (SEMSs) are used to palliate malignant gastric outlet obstruction (GOO). Peritoneal disease is considered a relative contraindication to SEMS placement given the risk of multifocal obstruction. Objective To evaluate the success of SEMSs placed in patients with GOO with carcinomatosis. Design Retrospective review of patients who underwent SEMS placement for malignant GOO. Setting Large, urban cancer center. Patients A total of 215 patients who were scheduled for SEMS placement for GOO. Interventions SEMS placement. Main Outcome Measurements Technical success, clinical success, early and late SEMS failure, and complications. Results Technical success was achieved in 192 of 201 patients (95.5%). Of the 9 patients who did not achieve technical success, 6 had carcinomatosis. Among the 116 patients (60%) with carcinomatosis, clinical success was achieved 94 of them (81%). Of these 94 patients, 17 (18%) required reinterventions: 4 for early SEMS failure and 13 for late SEMS failure. Among the 76 patients (40%) without carcinomatosis, clinical success was achieved in 64 of them (84%). Of these 64 patients, 17 (27%) required reinterventions: 4 for early SEMS failure and 13 for late SEMS failure. Complication rates were similar for both groups. Limitations This was a retrospective review with experienced clinicians selecting patients whom they thought would benefit from SEMS placement. Conclusions This is the first study to evaluate the effect of carcinomatosis on the technical and clinical success of SEMSs in the palliation of malignant GOO. We found clinical outcomes comparable to those without peritoneal disease. Carcinomatosis should not be considered a contraindication to SEMS placement in selected patients with malignant GOO.
Creep at low stress levels in the superplastic Zn-22% Al eutectoid

Abstract A sigmoidal relationship between strain rate and stress was observed in a superplastic Zn-22% Al eutectoid alloy with grain sizes in the range of 2.1–7.5 μm. The relationship was independent both of the testing technique employed (whether constant stress or constant strain rate) and of the mode of deformation selected (whether tensile or shear). In the superplastic region (strain rates of ~10 −5 -10 −2 sec −1 ), the stress exponent was ~2.25, the exponent of the inverse grain size was ~2.3, and the activation energy was close to that for grain boundary diffusion. These results are in good agreement with the predictions of a model based on grain boundary sliding accommodated by the climb of dislocations into boundaries. At very low strain rates ≲10 −5 sec −1 ), the stress exponent was ~4.1, the exponent of the inverse grain size was ~2.4, and the activation energy was close to that for volume self-diffusion. These results are not consistent with any of the existing deformation mechanisms, but suggest that the sigmoidal relationship may arise through the sequential operation of two different processes
Variability in airborne and biological measures of exposure to mercury in the chloralkali industry: implications for epidemiologic studies.

Abstract Exposure assessment is a critical component of epidemiologic studies, and more sophisticated approaches require that variation in exposure be considered. We examined the intra- and interindividual sources of variation in exposure to mercury vapor as measured in air, blood, and urine among four groups of workers during 1990-1997 at a Swedish chloralkali plant. Consistent with the underlying kinetics of mercury in the body, the variability of biological measures was dampened considerably relative to the variation in airborne levels. Owing to the effects of intraindividual variation, estimating workers' exposures from a few measurements can attenuate measures of effect. To examine such effects on studies relating long-term exposure to a continuous health outcome, we evaluated the utility of each exposure measure by comparing the necessary sample sizes required for accurate estimation of a slope coefficient obtained from a regression analysis. No single measure outperformed the others for all groups of workers. However, when workers were evaluated together, creatinine-corrected urinary mercury better discriminated workers' exposures than airborne or blood mercury levels. Thus, pilot studies should be conducted to examine variability in both air and biomonitoring data because quantitative information about the relative magnitude of the intra- and interindividual sources of variation feeds directly into our efforts to design an optimal sampling strategy when evaluating health risks associated with occupational or environmental contaminants.
Towards refining the definition of grey zone for late gadolinium enhancement

Methods Phantom studies A collection of phantoms (505-302 ms T1s, in 50 ms increments) with known T1s were imaged using LGE sequences, with scan parameters: 1RR between inversions, TR/TE/θ = 5.7 ms/3.4 ms/20o, 1.5 × 1.5 × 5 mm, 20 viewsper-segment, sequential order. The phantom with T1 = 505 ms represented "normal myocardium" and the phantom with T1 = 302 ms represented "scar". The myocardial signal was nulled, and scar and grey zone thresholds were calculated using 50% of maximal SI (2) in scar and maximal SI in the "normal myocardium" (2). The LGE sequence was acquired at higher SNR, and at optimal TI and optimal TI ± 30 ms.
Low-power low-area network-on-chip architecture using adaptive electronic link buffers

In the deep sub-micron regime, the performance of network-on-chip (NoC) architectures is bound by the limited power and area budget. Proposed is a low-power low-area NoC architecture using a novel power-efficient control circuit that enables repeaters along the inter-router links to function as adaptive link buffers, thereby reducing the number of buffers required in the router. Simulation results in the 90 nm technology show power savings of nearly 45% and area savings of 50% for the proposed technique.
The seasonality of human mortality: the role of influenza

Abstract Background: In economically developed countries, the pattern of mortality attributable to major disease classes appears similar in shape to the excess mortality attributed to pneumonia and influenza. We asked to what extent influenza activity is correlated with seasonality of all mortality. Methods: Monthly mortality, for all-causes and five disease classes plus influenza, was assembled for 50 years for the US, Japan and Australia. A transformation, z-scaling, was performed on the time trace of each mortality class; and the time-local coefficient of variation (moving CV) was calculated. An epidemiological version of the Henle–Koch postulates was defined. Results: All mortality classes z-scaled to a single curve for each country, the most variable feature of which correlated well with influenza activity. The moving CV of all vascular diseases is similar in each country and the variability in pulmonary disease was everywhere two to three times greater. Overall, variability in Japan was 2× the US and 1.5× Australia. A “notch”, in the z-scale and moving CV, for all Japanese mortality classes, coincided with the national program of schoolchildren vaccination. Conclusions: In developed countries, there is a common cause for all seasonal mortality due to disease. Influenza is the dominant element in this set of causes.
Hydrodynamic Pressures on Tanks by Momentum Balance

Application de la methode d'equilibrage de la quantite de mouvement au calcul des pressions hydrodynamiques s'exercant sur un reservoir rectangulaire excite sismiquement
Second-harmonic interferometers II

Abstract Experiments on interferometers based on second harmonic generation of light are described. These make use of the distortions of phase and amplitude produced by the phase mismatch of angle-matched crystals to provide information. The interferometers are directly sensitive to small wavefront tilts and do not require additional reference wavefronts.
Abstract 1196: FZD7 plays a critical role in triple negative breast cancer proliferation

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL Breast cancer is genetically and clinically heterogeneous. Triple negative cancer is a subtype of breast cancer, most of which is associated with poor outcome and the lack of benefit from target therapy. A pathway analysis in a microarray study was performed using triple negative breast tumor cells compared with non-triple negative breast tumor cells. Overexpression among several Wnt pathway genes, such as FZD7, LRP6 and TCF7 has been observed in triple negative breast tumors. To validate their function, inhibition of FZD7 using FZD7-shRNA was carried out. Noticeably decreased cell proliferation, suppressed invasiveness and colony formation in triple negative MDA-MB-231 and BT-20 cells were observed. Mechanism study indicated that these effects occurred through silencing the canonical Wnt signaling pathway, as evidenced by loss of nuclear accumulation of β-catenin and decreased transcriptional activity of TCF7. Our finding suggests that FZD7 involved canonical Wnt signaling pathway is essential for tumorigenesis of triple negative breast tumor. Thus, FZD7 may be a biomarker and a potential therapeutic target for triple negative breast cancer. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1196. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-1196
Dissipative quantum tunneling at finite temperatures

Finite temperatures are incorporated into the calculation of the tunneling rate in the presence of linear dissipation. A theory of finite-temperature tunneling is introduced which is based on the density matrix which provides an approximate description of the metastable state. Semiclassical functional integral methods are used to calculate the density matrix and the Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin approximation is used to derive the tunnel current from the density matrix. Dissipation appropriate to superconducting quantum-interference devices is introduced into the calculation by the use of the existing model of a heat bath consisting of a prescribed distribution of harmonic oscillators linearly coupled to the tunneling variable. The finite-temperature tunnel escape rate obtained is of the form \ensuremath{\Gamma}=A exp(-S/\ensuremath{\Elzxh}). S is determined from the solution of a nonlinear integro-differential equation. An existing numerical technique was modified to achieve this. The quantity A is approximately evaluated.
Critical Skills for Kindergarten: Perceptions From Kindergarten Teachers

The purpose of this study was to examine the views of kindergarten teachers regarding those skills children need to be successful in their classes. One-hundred seventy-six kindergarten teachers ranked 149 skills within 5 domains: gross motor, fine motor, general knowledge and school readiness, language, and social. A factor analysis was employed on these ratings revealing the following 5 factors: Academic Readiness, Language Competence, Social Competence, Motor Competence, and Self-Help Skills. These data suggest that items related to academic readiness were not seen as critical as skills related to independence.
New Dates on Late Pleistocene Dacitic Tephra from the Mount Edgecumbe Volcanic Field, Southeastern Alaska

Abstract New radiocarbon dates on charcoal incorporated in proximal airfall deposits indicate the largest late Pleistocene eruption from the Mt. Edgecumbe volcanic field in Southeast Alaska occurred ca. 11,250 ± 5014C yr B.P. The more precise dating of the principal Edgecumbe tephra layer greatly improves its utility as a tephrochronologic marker horizon in southeastern Alaska.
Nonadiabatic neutrino oscillations in matter

We examine the classical survival probability for neutrino propagation through matter of arbitrary density distributions. It is shown that the level-crossing probability can be calculated approximately for any density distribution by Landau's method. Exact solutions are discussed and new results are presented for a 1/r density distribution. From an examination of the exact solutions, we present an ansatz for generalizing Landau's method to a correct treatment of the extreme nonadiabatic limit. Our two-flavor results easily generalize to three flavors.
From Monocytes to M1/M2 Macrophages: Phenotypical vs. Functional Differentiation

Studies on monocyte and macrophage biology and differentiation have revealed the pleiotropic activities of these cells. Macrophages are tissue sentinels that maintain tissue integrity by eliminating/repairing damaged cells and matrices. In this M2-like mode they can also promote tumor growth. Conversely, M1-like macrophages are key effector cells for the elimination of pathogens, virally infected, and cancer cells. Macrophage differentiation from monocytes occurs in the tissue in concomitance with the acquisition of a functional phenotype that depends on microenvironmental signals, thereby accounting for the many and apparently opposed macrophage functions. Many questions arise. When monocytes differentiate into macrophages in a tissue (concomitantly adopting a specific functional program, M1 or M2), do they all die during the inflammatory reaction, or do some of them survive? Do those that survive become quiescent tissue macrophages, able to react as naive cells to a new challenge? Or, do monocyte-derived tissue macrophages conserve a “memory” of their past inflammatory activation? This review will address some of these important questions under the general framework of the role of monocytes and macrophages in the initiation, development, resolution and chronicization of inflammation.
Arf family GTPases: roles in membrane traffic and microtubule dynamics.

Database mining and phylogenetic analysis of the Arf (ADP-ribosylation factor) superfamily revealed the presence in mammals of at least 22 members, including the six Arfs, two Sars and 14 Arl (Arf-like) proteins. At least six Arf family members were found in very early eukaryotes, including orthologues of Arf, Sar, Arl2, Arl3, Arl6 and Arl8. While roles for Arfs in membrane traffic are well known, those for most of the Arls remain unknown. Depletion in cells of the most closely related human Arf proteins, Arf1–Arf5, reveals specificities among their cellular roles and suggests that they may function in pairs at different steps in endocytic and secretory membrane traffic. In addition, recent results from a number of laboratories suggest that several of the Arl proteins may be involved in different aspects of microtubule-dependent functions. Thus, a second major role for Arf family GTPases, that of regulating microtubules, is emerging. Because membrane traffic is often dependent upon movement of vesicles along microtubules this raises the possibility that these two fundamental functions of Arf family members, regulation of vesicle traffic and microtubule dynamics, diverged from one function of Arfs in the earliest cells that has continued to branch and allow additional levels of regulation.
Exploiting inter-thread temporal locality for chip multithreading

Multi-core organizations increasingly support multiple threads per core. Threads on a core usually share a single first-level data cache, so thread schedulers must try to minimize cache contention among threads. While this has been studied for concurrent threads with disjoint working sets, the problem has not been addressed for multi-threaded data-parallel workloads in which threads can be scheduled or constructed to improve inter-thread cache sharing. This paper proposes the symbiotic affinity scheduling (SAS) algorithm in which work is first partitioned according to the number of cores (i.e., the number of caches), and these partitions are then subdivided and scheduled among each core's available thread contexts so that threads sharing a core operate on neighboring elements to maximize cache locality. We demonstrate this concept with a series of data-parallel benchmarks. Simulations on M5 achieve an average speedup of 1.69× and 36% energy savings over conventional scheduling techniques that are oblivious to whether threads share a cache. Even compared to an approach that extends oblivious scheduling to ensure that the sum of the threads' working sets fits in the cache, symbiotic affinity scheduling is able to exploit greater temporal locality and provide 30% performance gains on average. Symbiosis also outperforms adaptive contention reduction techniques by 17%.
Relation Between Acanthosis Nigricans and Insulin Sensitivity in Overweight Hispanic Children at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE —To investigate in a population of Hispanic children if 1 ) the presence of acanthosis nigricans (AN) is related to insulin sensitivity ( S i ) independent of adiposity and 2 ) scale scoring AN severity adds to the clinical estimation of insulin sensitivity, above and beyond the presence or absence AN alone. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS —The study population, 131 Hispanic overweight children (mean BMI percentile 97.0 ± 3.1, 72 boys, 59 girls, ages 8–13 years, mean Tanner stage 2.4 ± 1.5) with a family history of type 2 diabetes, underwent a physical examination of the neck to determine AN absence or presence (0–1), AN extent score (0–4 scale), AN texture score (0–3 scale), and an AN combined score (extent + texture; 0–7 scale). S i was measured by the frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test and minimal modeling. Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to determine the role of BMI and AN in predicting S i . RESULTS —BMI was the main predictor of S i , explaining ∼41% of the variance. The presence of AN explained an additional 4% of the variability in S i ; scale scoring of AN extent or texture did not significantly improve the prediction. CONCLU S IONS —Although AN is an independent risk factor for insulin resistance in overweight Hispanic children at risk for type 2 diabetes, body adiposity is the primary determinant of insulin sensitivity. In addition, scale scoring AN seems of minimal usefulness in clinically estimating the severity of insulin resistance over and above assessing the presence or absence of AN and calculating BMI.
TNF-α increases entry of macromolecules into luminal endothelial cell glycocalyx

The endothelial luminal glycocalyx has been largely ignored as a target in vascular pathophysiology even though it occupies a key location. As a model of the inflammatory response, we tested the hy...
Vegetable Juice Is an Effective and Acceptable Way to Meet Dash Vegetable Recommendations

Text: Purpose: To evaluate the ability and acceptance of vegetable juice to help meet the Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension (DASH) vegetable recommendations from the 2005 U.S. Dietary Guidelines. Methodology: Ninety healthy women (66) and men (24), 40-65 years old were randomized to 0 (control), 8 or 16 oz of vegetable juice daily for 12 weeks. All groups were counseled on the DASH diet and encouraged to increase their vegetable consumption. At 0, 6, and 12 weeks lifestyle questionnaires were collected, along with body mass index (BMI), blood lipids, blood pressure and 3-day diet records. Results: Average vegetable intake for all groups (without counting vegetable juice) was 2.5 servings/day at 6 weeks, falling short of DASH recommendations (4-5 servings/day). When vegetable juice was included, 52% and 100% in the 8 and 16 oz groups, respectively, met recommendations compared to 23% in the control group. Questionnaires revealed subjects consuming the beverage: (1) felt they were doing something good by drinking the juice, (2) enjoyed the taste, (3) were satisfied with the ease of getting vegetables in their diets and (4) felt their diets provided enough vitamins and minerals; these effects were stronger at week 6 than week 12. There were no significant changes among groups in BMI, blood lipids, or blood pressure (baseline to 12 weeks). Implications/Conclusions: 9 out of 10 adult Americans do not meet vegetable recommendations due to barriers, such as convenience, cost, taste, perishability. Vegetable juice is an easy, acceptable way to help meet DASH vegetable recommendations.
Paranoids may be persecuted: post-totalitarian retroactive justice

Retroactive justice against perpetrators in post-totalitarian, as distinct of post-authoritarian, democracies is constrained by the absence of human resources for the rule of law and the weakness of civil society. The limited application of lustration and other sanctions in postcommunist countries is understood in the context of politics of transition, political actors, motivations, constraints and beliefs. With special attention to the Czech Republic, the ineffectiveness of lustration is exemplified by the damage inflicted on post-communist societies by the nomenklatura and the former secret police.
Surface modifications of polypropylene with nonylphenol ethoxylates melt additives

Nonylphenol ethoxylated (NPE) additives were melt blended in polypropylene (PP) films and characteristics of the modified films were investigated. It was found that melt blending of NPE additives improved hydrophilicity of PP films through additive surface segregation. Surface specific techniques, such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) were used to study surface compositions of samples modified with NPE additives at different aging time after extrusion. We found that surface enrichment of additives lead to hydrophilic surfaces. Hydrophilic chain length in NPE affected surface composition and hydrophilicity of NPE containing PP polymer. The effect of water immersion and aging were also reported. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 52:1920–1927, 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers
Large‐scale eigenvalue calculations for stability analysis of steady flows on massively parallel computers

We present an approach for determining the linear stability of steady states of PDEs on massively parallel computers. Linearizing the transient behavior around a steady state leads to a generalized eigenvalue problem. The eigenvalues with largest real part are calculated using Arnoldi's iteration driven by a novel implementation of the Cayley transformation to recast the problem as an ordinary eigenvalue problem. The Cayley transformation requires the solution of a linear system at each Arnoldi iteration, which must be done iteratively for the algorithm to scale with problem size. A representative model problem of 3D incompressible flow and heat transfer in a rotating disk reactor is used to analyze the effect of algorithmic parameters on the performance of the eigenvalue algorithm. Successful calculations of leading eigenvalues for matrix systems of order up to 4 million were performed, identifying the critical Grashof number for a Hopf bifurcation.
Mobilizing Mothers: The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Catastrophe and Environmental Activism in Japan

The citizens’ and environmental movements of the 1960s and 70s hadgreat political success in Japan, culminating in the Special Session of the Diet in1970 that enacted 14 anti-pollution laws. These activist groups fought denials ofresponsibility on the part of industry and unresponsiveness on the part of localgovernments. Women were at the forefront of this type of activism during the 1960sand 70s, and led many of the citizens’ environmental movements during this time.More recently, during the environmental catastrophe caused by the meltdown of theFukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, women and mothers have been vocal protesters.Environmental movements have particular political salience because of the successwomen have achieved in this area both in policy change and also roles in formalpolitics. Women have consistently achieved these successes at the same time as theyperformed their roles as mothers and home managers; these roles have been usedstrategically to mobilize women with great effect, and also were central to the valueswith which the citizens’ movements defined themselves politically.
Two-phase flow model of the cathode of PEM fuel cells using interdigitated flow fields

When interdigitated gas distributors are used in a PEM fuel cell, fluids entering the fuel cell are forced to flow through the electrodes porous layers. This characteristic increases transport rates of the reactants and products to and from the catalyst layers and reduces the amount of liquid water entrapped in the porous electrodes thereby minimizing electrode flooding. To investigate the effects of the gas and liquid water hydrodynamics on the performance of an air cathode of a PEM fuel cell employing an interdigitated gas distributor, a 2-D, two-phase, multicomponent transport model was developed. Darcy's law was used to describe the transport of the gas phase. The transport of liquid water through the porous electrode is driven by the shear force of gas flow and capillary force. An equation accounting for both forces was derived for the liquid phase transport in the porous gas electrode. Higher differential pressures between inlet and outlet channels yield higher electrode performance, because the oxygen transport rates are higher and liquid water removal is more effective. The electrode thickness needs to be optimized to get optimal performance because thinner electrode may reduce gas-flow rate and thicker electrode may increase the diffusion layer thickness. For a fixed-size electrode, more channels and shorter shoulder widths are preferred.
MIRACULOUS CONSILIENCE? CONSTRAINTS ON FORMULATIONS OF THE NO MIRACLES ARGUMENT

The intuition that the success of science is a mark of sciences power to track the nature of our world, to permit us confidence that the descriptions of our best sciences are true (or approximately true), is not new. Puntam (1975) popularized an argument based on this intuition; this argument is known as the No Miracles Argument. Providing a convincing formulation of this argument has proven difficult, and recently Magnus and Callender (2004) have suggested that any probabilistic formulation (given form by Bayes theorem) is fallacious. Earlier formulations suffer from problems just as deep; best explanation formulations are question-begging, for example. In this article, I propose two constraints for those attempting to formulate the argument: first, we ought to narrow the scope of the argument, focusing on only a special set of successes, and, second, the epistemic principle that connects the intuition to the realist conclusion ought to be one that is defeasible (rather than probabilistic or categorical). These constraints serve to avoid problems already set out in the literature, and make the No Miracles Argument a sort of local inference – one that is licensed by the case at hand, rather than a general rule. That is, you may only sometimes infer to the truth or approximate truth from success.
Effect of Dietary Moisture Level on Response to Diet by Atlantic Salmon

Abstract The addition of moisture (water) to a diet had no positive effect on the weight gain of fingerlings of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Moisture additions up to 30% actually reduced weight gain by up to 10%. Diet moisture level is not the primary factor in the acceptability of some moist and semimoist rations by Atlantic salmon or in the growth of these fish.
Determination of the Instantaneous Fuel Flow Rate out of a Gaseous Fuel Nozzle

Reported is a practical method for determining the instantaneous fuel flow rate out of a gaseous fuel injector. Unsteady fuel flow rates introduced into a combustor can be caused by both self-excited pressure pulsations and fuel modulations. During combustion instability, the air flow rate into a combustor also varies in response to pressure pulsations. Accurate determination of the instantaneous fuel and air flow rates is important for both modeling and control of combustion instability. The developed method is based on acoustic wave theory and pressure measurements at two locations upstream of a fuel injector. This method bypasses the complexities and nonlinearities of fuel actuators and fuel nozzles, and works for systems with slow-time-varying characteristics. Acoustic impedance of a gaseous fuel nozzle is found to be a function of multivariable variables, including the forcing frequency, the acoustic oscillation intensity, and the mean fuel flow rate. Thus, it is not an intrinsic property or characteristics of the fuel injector alone. In the present study, sharp tubing bending with almost zero radii is found to have minimal effects on the distribution of 1D acoustic wave. This is probably because vortex shedding and recirculation at tubing corners do not alter the globally 1D characteristics of acoustic wave distribution. Different from the traditional two-microphone method, which determines the acoustic velocity at the middle locations of the two microphones, the present method allows the acoustic velocity, the acoustic mass flux, and the specific acoustic impedance to be determined along the fuel tubing or an air duct. Nomenclature A = the complex amplitude of the downstream-propagating acoustic wave, Pa B = the complex amplitude of the upstream-propagating acoustic wave, Pa t A = the internal flow area of the fuel tubing, m 2 c = the mean sound speed, m/s F = the acoustic oscillation frequency, Hz
Adaptation without Pressure? European Legislation and British Merger Policy

European legislation exercises an important influence on national policy even in areas where there is no pressure or need to incorporate in national legislation directives or regulations agreed upon in Brussels. In this article, I apply insights from the literature on sociological institutionalism and policy framing to explore statistically the impact of the 1989 European Merger Control Regulation on British merger policy during the period from 1984 to 2000. The findings address two issues in the broader literature of European integration. First, the study undermines the point, which is widely accepted in the Europeanization literature, that pressure emanating from the incompatibility between European and national institutions, norms, or policies is a necessary condition for national adaptation. Second, Euroskeptics and other proponents of British “exceptionalism” have much to fear from European integration. Even in the absence of regulations emanating from Brussels, European ideas and norms seep into national practice by way of policy framing and institutional isomorphism.
A Test of Aposematism in the Dendrobatid Poison Frog Oophaga pumilio: The Importance of Movement in Clay Model Experiments

Abstract Brightly colored frogs of Dendrobatidae contain alkaloid-based chemical defenses which appear to be utilized as a deterrent to predators. The conspicuous coloration of these frogs is generally considered to be an aposematic signal to color-visioned predators. A previous field-based experiment tested this hypothesis in the dendrobatid frog Oophaga pumilio (Strawberry Poison Frog) from the La Selva Biological Station using a stationary clay model experiment to assess natural predation. Avian predation rates on brown frog models were almost twice that of red frog models, supporting the hypothesis that coloration in O. pumilio is aposematic. A criticism of clay model experiments has been that they do not accurately represent natural organisms, especially with regard to movement. Many predators utilize movement in prey selection and, therefore, may not perceive motionless clay models as prey. In an attempt to understand the importance of movement better in assessing natural predation rates using clay ...
Needs assessment for patient education for people with HIV/AIDS

This study examines the need for a comprehensive patient education program that emphasizes self-help for adults living with HIV/AIDS. Data were collected using a self-administered, written questionnaire. Participants were recruited from agencies in northern California. This study revealed that 59 of 70 respondents were relatively satisfied with the services, including patient education, available in their community. Of the 70 respondents, 69 felt there was a need for a comprehensive patient education program. The study's findings illustrate both distinct differences and commonalties between the experiences, perceived needs and priorities of male and female respondents. These findings will help HIV/AIDS service agencies re-structure their health education programs and assist in patient education program development Future research in this area needs to address the perceived needs and priorities of different subgroups living with HTV/AIDS.
The effects of heart/kidney versus double heart transplantation on tolerance induction and prevention of cardiac allograft vasculopathy.

THE MAJOR obstacle to the long-term survival of heart transplant recipients remains the development of cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV). In miniature swine, we have found that hearts transplanted into major histocompatibility complex class I disparate recipients treated with a short course of cyclosporine (CyA) all developed CAV and were rejected within 55 days. However, when both a heart and kidney from the same class I disparate donor were cotransplanted into CyA-treated recipients, a state of tolerance was induced that abrogated the development of CAV and allowed for the indefinite survival of both allografts. To investigate whether the beneficial effects of donor-specific kidney cotransplantation on cardiac allograft survival were due to an increase in donor antigen load or to an effect specific to the kidney transplant, we transplanted two class I disparate heart allografts into the same CyAtreated recipients.
Trapping capacity of faults in the Eocene Yegua Formation, East Sour Lake field, southeast Texas

The properties of a sheared zone in the Eocene Yegua Formation were investigated to evaluate the trapping capacity of faults. An 11-m core of Yegua sandstone at a depth of 3029 m shows highly sheared bedding and increasing dip from 10 to 30 with depth. Porosity and permeability of the sheared zone range from 10 to 12% and 1 to 5 md, respectively (about 10–16% of porosity reduction and 29–60 md of permeability reduction). Most pores in this sandstone are of secondary origin. Pores in the sheared zone were deformed and collapsed because of clay smears and shear. Physical characters of sheared zones were investigated by optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A reduction of porosity and permeability with depth approaching the sheared zones created a capillary barrier that prevents hydrocarbon drainage and compartmentalized the reservoir. Initial oil/water, capillary displacement pressure of the sheared zone is 100 psi (6.89105 Pa), sufficient to trap an average oil column of 210 m and gas column of 70 m.
Retro-modulator links with a mini-rover

An optical sensors web in a star pattern is formed and tested utilizing modulating retro-reflectors, where a multitude of sensors was simulated by a retro-modulator on a mini-rover. A CCD camera provides the multi-mega-bit sensor signal. Two-dimensional acquisition of a retro-modulator located away in the field, by a base-station equipped with a laser and a receiver was demonstrated while reading out data at 10 Mbps data-rate.
Land subsidence in the Nile Delta: inferences from radar interferometry

The Nile Delta formed by progression of a complex system of deltaic fans throughout the Pleistocene, with the Modern delta being formed from sediments supplied by at least ten distinct distributaries throughout the Holocene. With an average elevation of approximately 1 m above sea level within 30 km of the coast and a predicted rise in sea level of 1.8-5.9 mm/yr the subsidence of the northern delta has become a topic of major concern to the Egyptian population and government. The Nile Delta is home to more than 50 million people and the major agricultural production area for Egypt. We evaluated the modern rates of subsidence of sections of the northeastern Nile Delta (a total length of 110 km, up to 50 km from the coastline) using persist- ent scatterer radar interferometry techniques applied to 14 ERS-1 and ERS-2 scenes. The area covered includes the present active depocenter of the Damietta promontory, and the nearby Mendesian depocenter that was active up to recent times (to 2500 years ago). The highest subsidence rates (~8 mm/yr; twice average Holocene rates) do not correlate with the distribution of the thickest Holocene sediments, but rather with the distribution of the youngest depositional centers (major deposition occurred between ~3500 yr BP and present) at the terminus of the Damietta branch. The adjacent, slightly older (8000-2500 yr BP) Mendesian branch depositional center is subsiding at slower rates of 2-6 mm/yr. Results are interpreted to indicate that: (1) modern subsidence in the Delta is heavily influenced by compaction of the most recent sediments, and (2) highly threatened areas are at the terminus of the Damietta and possibly the Rosetta branches, where active deposition is occurring.