cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Indomethacin-mediated Enhancement of Lymphocyte Response to Mitogens in Healthy Subjects and Lung Cancer Patients

Indomethacin (prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor) was found to be capable of enhancing the mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferative responses of healthy subjects and patients with lung cancer. A whole-blood culture technique was used. Indomethacin had no mitogenic activity. We observed a greater enhancement of lymphocyte response by indomethacin in weak responders as compared with strong responders in healthy subjects and lung cancer patients. A greater enhancement was also noted in lung cancer patients with active disease as compared with lung cancer patients in remission. In a separated cell culture system, the indomethacin exerted no effect on purified T cells in the absence of monocytes, while this agent exerted its enhancement effect on T lymphocyte response in the presence of autologous monocytes of lung cancer patients. This suggests that monocytes (suppressor cells) may secrete prostaglandins, which are responsible for the impairment of T lymphocyte response in lung cancer patients.
Effects of short-term exposures to sulfuric acid and ammonium sulfate aerosols upon bronchial airway function in the donkey.

The effects of one-hour inhalation exposures to 0.3-0.6 μm H2SO4 and (N H4)2SO4 aerosols in the donkey were studied in terms of alterations in pulmonary flow resistance and dynamic compliance, and changes in the regional deposition and tracheobronchial mucociliary clearance of an inert test aerosol. Short-term slowing of clearance followed certain single exposures to H2SO4 at 194-1364 μg/m3 in three of four animals, while two of the four demonstrated a more persistent slowing of their clearance. These exposure levels produced no measurable change in resistance, compliance or regional deposition. Exposures to (NH4)SO4 up to ∼ 2000 μg/m3 had no measurable effect upon resistance, compliance, regional deposition or mucociliary clearance.
Nancey Murphy's nonreductive physicalism

This essay examines Nancey Murphy's commitment to downward causation and develops a critique of that notion based upon the distinction between the causal relevance of a higher-level event and its causal efficacy. I suggest the following: (1) nonreductive physicalism lacks adequate resources upon which to base an assertion of real causal power at the emergent, supervenient level; (2) supervenience's nonreductive nature ought not obscure the fact that it affirms an ontological determination of higher-level properties by those at the lower level; and (3) the notion of divine self-renunciation, while consonant with Murphy's claim of supervenient, divine action, is nonetheless problematic. Throughout, I claim that the question of the causal efficacy of a level is logically independent from the assertion of its conceptual or nomological nonreducibility.
Hydrolysis of sodium borohydride in concentrated aqueous solution

Abstract Sodium borohydride is being commercialized to provide hydrogen storage for portable fuel cells. Prior kinetic studies have focused on catalytic hydrolysis of dilute aqueous solutions at room temperature. This work reports on a new NMR method for studying the kinetics of non-catalyzed sodium borohydride hydrolysis in highly concentrated solutions. The effects of initial NaBH4 concentration, temperature and pH on conversion are studied. It is found that higher initial NaBH4 concentration and higher temperature both improve the reaction rate. The reaction rate is slowed down with increasing pH of basic solutions and is accelerated with decreasing pH of acidic solutions. In addition, temperature effect seems to be more important than that of the acidic pH on the reaction rate.
Layer averaged Richard's equation with lateral flow

Abstract In this paper a formulation for layer averaged sub-surface moisture transport, that models the lateral flow, is developed using the Richard's equation. This formulation is consistent with the approach currently adopted in contemporary models used in land–atmosphere interaction studies. Explicit expressions are derived for layer averaged lateral transport contribution from diffusion, gravity, dispersion, and convergence due to land–surface curvature. It is argued that lateral contribution can be a significant component of the total soil-moisture flux. Ignoring these contributions can result in significant model error leading to inaccurate prediction or unrealistic calibration of parameters that compensate for these errors.
Gateway to Western Modernity: The Case of Turkish Women

Abstract The Turkish Republic is accepted as one of the most advanced Muslim countries in regards to the emancipation of women, according to widely produced literature about the region. Turkey’s commitment to modernization is the underlying reason behind this premise. Women played a critical role as the symbols of westernization project at the center. I shed light on the women’s empowerment trajectory and examine the extent to which the republic kept up with its promise of emancipating women. A critique of this project from outside sources helps decipher the codes of failing to fulfill the expectations of the female population. I first discuss how the republic rendered women the symbols of modernization and the measures it took to secure this rendering. I then examine women’s empowerment in political, economic and social realms at various time intervals in history. I conclude with some of the current challenges before full emancipation of women in Turkey.
Exploiting microbial hyperthermophilicity to produce an industrial chemical, using hydrogen and carbon dioxide

Microorganisms can be engineered to produce useful products, including chemicals and fuels from sugars derived from renewable feedstocks, such as plant biomass. An alternative method is to use low potential reducing power from nonbiomass sources, such as hydrogen gas or electricity, to reduce carbon dioxide directly into products. This approach circumvents the overall low efficiency of photosynthesis and the production of sugar intermediates. Although significant advances have been made in manipulating microorganisms to produce useful products from organic substrates, engineering them to use carbon dioxide and hydrogen gas has not been reported. Herein, we describe a unique temperature-dependent approach that confers on a microorganism (the archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus, which grows optimally on carbohydrates at 100°C) the capacity to use carbon dioxide, a reaction that it does not accomplish naturally. This was achieved by the heterologous expression of five genes of the carbon fixation cycle of the archaeon Metallosphaera sedula, which grows autotrophically at 73°C. The engineered P. furiosus strain is able to use hydrogen gas and incorporate carbon dioxide into 3-hydroxypropionic acid, one of the top 12 industrial chemical building blocks. The reaction can be accomplished by cell-free extracts and by whole cells of the recombinant P. furiosus strain. Moreover, it is carried out some 30°C below the optimal growth temperature of the organism in conditions that support only minimal growth but maintain sufficient metabolic activity to sustain the production of 3-hydroxypropionate. The approach described here can be expanded to produce important organic chemicals, all through biological activation of carbon dioxide.
LONG-TERM EXPOSURE TO TRAFFIC RELATED AIR POLLUTION AND ENDOTHELIAL DYSFUNCTION: MULTIETHNIC STUDY OF ATHEROSCLEROSIS AND AIR POLLUTION (MESA AIR)

Traffic related air pollution (TRAP) has been associated with increased atherosclerosis, left ventricular mass, myocardial infarction; endothelial dysfunction may mediate these effects. In the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis and Air Pollution (MESA Air), an interquartile (25th to 75th
A cross-country consumption comparison based on divisia variances and covariances

Abstract A preliminary analysis of price and quantity data of the consumption in 16 countries, based on Divisia variances and covariances, indicates that poor countries are pairwise much more different than affluent countries are.
Attention to Enteral Feeding Practices Can Improve Growth Outcomes in VLBW Infants in New York State

Abstract Through regionalization and collaboration driven by data, neonatal outcomes can be evaluated and improved. In addition to the nationally accepted regionalization recommendations, New York State has an additional level. The additional level referred to as Regional Perinatal Centers (RPCs) provide oversight to birthing hospitals within their regions. The improvement project discussed in this article is related to improving extra-uterine growth in very preterm babies born less than 31 weeks gestation. This improvement was driven by the RPCs in collaboration with the New York State Department of Health's Bureau of Women's Health through the New York State Perinatal Quality Collaborative.
NEUROTOXIC EFFECTS OF EXPOSED CHEMICAL WORKERS

Neurotoxic research may be useful as a means of predicting or anticipating changes in neurologic function and behavior in chemical industry workers due to low level occupational exposures to a wide variety of chemical or physical agents. Neurotoxicology may permit an early diagnosis and prevention of permanent damage, and may describe effects on behavioral performance that can be generalized to improve job and home safety. Emphasis on early detection has generally reduced the number of workers with severe signs and symptoms. (1 diagram, 12 graphs, 8 references)
OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF ANODIC-OXIDE INTERFERENCE FILMS ON URANIUM IMMERSED IN REFRACTIVE MEDIA

The spectrophotometry of anodically formed oxide films on uranium metal immersed in refractive media is discussed in terms of the vector addition of the wave components. Immersion alters the optics by decreasing the amplitude of the wave vector reflected at the medium–film interface. Diminution of the transmitted wave vector through absorption by the film in the near ultraviolet also has a decisive effect upon the wavelength dependence of the optics on immersion. By means of immersion spectrophotometry, (1) the relative magnitudes of the component wave vectors were determined, (2) the refractive index of the film was obtained by extrapolation to zero interference, and (3) the extinction coefficient was determined as a function of wavelength.
Shrinking Violets and Caspar Milquetoasts: Shyness and Heterosexuality From the Roles of the Fifties to The Rules of the Nineties

In this article, I explore the implications for heterosexual power dynamics of changing representations of shyness for white middle-class women and men. Using popular self-help, etiquette and advice books as my source of evidence, I show that as ideas about how to achieve emotional intimacy in heterosexual relationships have changed, so, too, have ideas about white middle-class women's and men's ideal relationship to shyness. What has not changed is the idea that women are primarily responsible for performing the emotional labor deemed necessary to achieve intimacy. In the 1950s, when the arena of courtship was regarded as the last bastion of male privilege, young women were expected to adopt certain shy behaviors to build up young men's self-esteem. In the mid-1970s, when feminists were challenging male privilege, mutual self-disclosure was established as the new standard of intimacy. Yet given that white middle-class men were increasingly afflicted with a shyness labeled "reserve," women were still considered responsible for performing relationship-sustaining emotional labor. In the more conservative 1980s and 1990s, mutual self-disclosure continued to be held up as an ideal, but men were frequently absolved of this responsibility by authors who argued that men were biologically predisposed to be reserved.
Two applications of a consistency theorem for systems of linear inequalities

Abstract A consistency criterion for systems of linear inequalities is applied to prove an existence theorem for non-negative matrices with restricted row sums, column sums and diagonal elements. As another application of the consistency criterion, a surprisingly short proof of a theorem of Hardy, Littlewood and Polya is given.
Conformational Changes Induced in Bombyx mori Silk Fibroin by Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complexation

We have previously demonstrated that the formation of and coalescence from polymer−cyclodextrin (CD) inclusion compounds (ICs) represents a very useful approach to modify the chain conformations and improve the crystallinity of various bulk polymers. The present work deals, for the first time, with the formation of a γ-CD IC with a natural protein as guest, i.e., silk fibroin from Bombyx mori silkworm. Formation of the crystalline inclusion compound was verified by wide-angle X-ray diffraction, solid-state NMR, and infrared spectroscopy to have the host γ-CD molecules arranged in a channel structure, with the isolated silk chains included, at least in large part, in their internal cavities. Removing the γ-CD host lattice by washing with hot water produced a white coalesced silk sample that was collected and characterized. Unlike the original or precipitated silk fibroin, the coalesced sample shows most of its protein residues in a β-sheet conformation with an elevated degree of crystallinity.
Distribution-Free Approximations for Chance Constraints

This paper concerns developing methods for approximating a chance-constrained set when any information concerning the random variables must be derived from actual samples. Such a situation has not been presented in the literature. When existing chance-constrained programming techniques are used, it is not possible to relate the accuracy of sample-based assumptions to actual constraint satisfaction. The methods presented here employ the concept of a distribution-free tolerance region to construct various sets whose elements have the common property of satisfying the chance constraint with a preassigned level of confidence. The sample size required to meet the desired confidence is readily available in tabular or graphical form.
The rotational excitation of carbon monoxide by hydrogen atom impact

A quantal study is carried out of the rotational excitation of carbon monoxide in collision with hydrogen atoms. The interaction potential at short range is constructed semi-empirically and joined to the Buckingham potential at long range. The close-coupling formulation is used to assess the reliability of the fixed-nuclei approximation, which is developed in terms of the adiabatic theory of electron-molecule scattering. The applicability of two simplified close-coupling formulations, introduced by Rabitz and by McGuire & Kouri, is examined. We found that the fixed nuclei method is unpromising at low energies and time-consuming at high energies. The two simplified close-coupling methods are capable of providing results of useful accuracy. The similarity in formulation of the fixed-nuclei and one of the close-coupling methods, both of which are body-frame treatments, and the differences in their results show that the rotational degree of freedom must be treated rigorously. The method of Rabitz is economical, and we adopted it to calculate the energy dependent rotation excitation cross sections for the scattering of H + CO. The results are presented in the form of Maxwellian-averaged rate coefficients in the temperature range of 5-150K. The efficiency with which the rotational levels of molecules are excited by impact with atomic and molecular hydrogen is a significant parameter in the quantitative interpretation of the physical conditions in which molecular absorption and emission occurs in interstellar clouds. The rotational excitation cross-sections are critical to the determination of the thermal balance of the clouds and possibly to their evolution towards the formation of protostars. Because of radiation trapping, collisions in which the rotational quantum number changes by more than unity are particularly important. For a rigid rotator model, there exists a rigorous close-coupling formulation (Arthurs & Dalgarno i960), the application of which is largely restricted to light molecules. In this paper, we use it to assess the reliability of the adiabatic approximation (Chase 1956) that has been successful in describing electron-molecule collisions
The Role of Usability Testing in Healthcare Organizations

This panel will include practical examples of how physicians, nurses, and quality managers have utilized usability testing activities to help their healthcare organization. Some used it to provide crucial information to support procurement decisions. Others used data from usability testing to understand where to focus training and other implementation efforts. Usability testing helped some create teachable moments while imparting the concepts and framework of human factors engineering. Some panelists will talk about the aspects of healthcare organizational culture that stand in the way of implementing usability testing. All panelists will discuss the key decision makers in their health care organization who should be part of this important effort.
Letter by Freeman et Al regarding article, "evidence-based nursing review of craniectomy care".

We read with great interest the article by Livesay et al entitled “Evidence-Based Nursing Review of Craniectomy Care.”1 First, we applaud the authors for this excellent summary of nursing care and for the table of nursing monitoring and discussion of other concerns regarding patients with decompressive craniectomy. The summary they provide is useful, and we hope to educate our nurses in our NeuroICU with this reference. We find the figure especially nice and concise for our nursing education, and we appreciated the Take Home Points and …
State of Private Financing in Development of Highway Projects in the United States

The U.S. Department of Transportation and state DOTs across the nation seek private investments to leverage their shrinking financial resources and fulfill their growing funding shortfalls. The decision to involve the private sector in financing highway projects varies from state to state in several aspects. State DOTs pursue a wide range of objectives when they utilize private financing for highway projects. State DOTs utilize different procurement methods for project financing and use different approaches to evaluate financial qualifications and proposals. State DOTs face different kinds of financial, political, legal, management, and organizational issues affecting their abilities to attract private investments in highway projects. Various strategies have been utilized by state DOTs to facilitate adoption of private financing in their highway projects. Considering variations in current practices of private financing among state DOTs, there is a need for a study to enhance the state of knowledge about current practices of private financing among different state DOTs. The major objective of this study is to capture the underpinnings of private financing as utilized by state DOTs in development of highway projects. A national survey was developed and sent to transportation officials in 50 state DOTs. Results of this survey were examined and analyzed in detail. The results of the survey indicate that only some state DOTs have established mature private financing programs, and private financing will remain a viable alternative for highway project development in these state DOTs. It was found out that state DOTs typically think of private financing more as an instrument to bridge their funding gaps and financing shortfalls and less as an innovative solution to gain life cycle cost efficiencies, encourage competition, and transfer critical project risks to the private sector. Stringent organizational policies and inefficient project development processes were found to be among the major concerns of state DOTs in effective utilization of private financing. Statutory limitations and inefficient frameworks for project financing and procurement method in the public sector were recognized as major barriers for private sector involvement in financing highway projects. Legislative flexibility for engaging private financing and commitment of key project stakeholders and top state officials were identified as critical factors that significantly enhance the adoption of private financing in highway project development.
Effect of colostrum on gravity separation of milk somatic cells in skim milk.

Abstract Our objective was to determine if immunoglobulins play a role in the gravity separation (rising to the top) of somatic cells (SC) in skim milk. Other researchers have shown that gravity separation of milk fat globules is enhanced by IgM. Our recent research found that bacteria and SC gravity separate in both raw whole and skim milk and that heating milk to >76.9°C for 25s stopped gravity separation of milk fat, SC, and bacteria. Bovine colostrum is a good natural source of immunoglobulins. An experiment was designed where skim milk was heated at high temperatures (76°C for 7min) to stop the gravity separation of SC and then colostrum was added back to try to restore the gravity separation of SC in increments to achieve 0, 0.4, 0.8, 2.0, and 4.0g/L of added immunoglobulins. The milk was allowed to gravity separate for 22h at 4°C. The heat treatment of skim milk was sufficient to stop the gravity separation of SC. The treatment of 4.0g/L of added immunoglobulins was successful in restoring the gravity separation of SC as compared with raw skim milk. Preliminary spore data on the third replicate suggested that bacterial spores gravity separate the same way as the SC in heated skim milk and heated skim milk with 4.0g/L of added immunoglobulins. Strong evidence exists that immunoglobulins are at least one of the factors necessary for the gravity separation of SC and bacterial spores. It is uncertain at this time whether SC are a necessary component for gravity separation of fat, bacteria, and spores to occur. Further research is needed to determine separately the role of immunoglobulins and SC in gravity separation of bacteria and spores. Understanding the mechanism of gravity separation may allow the development of a continuous flow technology to remove SC, bacteria, and spores from milk.
Sun exposure, vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms and risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Objective Recent findings suggest that ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure may reduce risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), but the biologic basis for this relationship remains unclear. We analyzed data from our US population-based case–control study of NHL to investigate whether our previously reported inverse association with sun exposure was dependent upon variants in the vitamin D receptor gene (IVS10 + 283G > A (BsmI), Ex11 + 32T > C (TaqI)), and genes linked to UV-induced immune modulation (IL4, IL10, IL12A, IL12B, TNF).
Quantized Vortex Rings in Superfluid Helium, A Phenomenological Theory

Rayfield and Reif (RR) and Careri, Cunsolo, and Mazzoldi (CCM) have done some experiments involving ion complexes moving through liquid helium in a constant uniform electric field. The results of RR give direct and compelling evidence that the ion complexes become attached to quantized vortex rings, the existence of which was conjectured by Feynman and Onsager. Their experiments, however, do not yield details concerning the interactions between ion complex and vortex ring. The results of CCM, on the other hand, exhibit a wealth of gross and fine structures, but they do not seem to be immediately understandable in simple terms. This paper attempts to understand all the results of RR and CCM in terms of a phenomenological theory of quantized vortex rings. Guided by experiments, we hypothesize that an ion complex can create a vortex ring only if its velocity $v$ and effective radius $R$ satisfy the condition $6\ensuremath{\pi}vR=\frac{\mathrm{nh}}{m}$, ($n=1, 2, 3, \dots{}$), where $h$ is Planck's constant and $m$ the helium mass. The number $6\ensuremath{\pi}$ is semiempirical. An experiment is suggested to test this hypothesis directly. After creation, the interaction of the vortex ring and the ion complex is described phenomenologically, with all parameters determined directly by experiments. This leads to a definite model that describes in detail the history of an ion complex in liquid helium. The determination of parameters makes extensive use of experimental data, but only one number from CCM. The model then reproduces quantitatively all the data of CCM.
ALOHA with Collision Resolution: Physical layer description and software defined radio implementation

A cross-layer scheme, namely ALOHA with Collision Resolution (ALOHA-CR), is proposed for high throughput wireless communications in a cellular scenario. Transmissions occur in a time-slotted ALOHA-type fashion but with an important difference: simultaneous transmissions of two users can be successful. The physical layer required to achieve this functionality is described and the statistical properties of the user delays are determined so that the probability of user separation is maximized. An implementation of ALOHA-CR on the Wireless Open Access Research Platform (WARP) testbed containing software defined radio nodes is discussed and experimental results are presented.
Adsorption of Thiourea on Copper Electrodes Monitored by In Situ Infrared Spectroscopy

In situ infrared (IR) spectroscopy was used to monitor the adsorption of thiourea onto copper electrodes in 0.5 M sulfuric acid solutions under cathodic polarization. At potentials negative of the open-circuit potential, p-polarized IR spectra provided evidence for the partial desorption of TU. The desorption had a reversible character as indicated by the recovery of the spectra upon reestablishing open-circuit conditions. Thiourea bands appearing in s-polarized spectra at very negative potentials were attributed to deprotonation of thiourea within the thin-layer gap of the cell resulting from hydrogen ion reduction. Both the bulk, s-polarized, and surface, p-polarized, spectra showed bipolar symmetric N-C-N vibrational bands. The bands were attributed to changes in N-C-N bond order resulting from protonation of the S atom or adsorption of the thiourea via the S atom, respectively.
On digraphs, fault trees, and cut sets

Abstract Digraphs are an attractive tool for analyzing cause-effect relations in complex systems. This paper develops a new method for obtaining all minimal combinations of conditions which can cause a specified deviation at a node in a digraph (in general, these combinations are the minimal cut sets). The digraph structure is represented by a set of conditions and node-state relation pairs. Based on this representation, the method first obtains all possible disturbance propagation paths (‘disturbance situations’). Then, the method identifies control loop malfunction conditions, which can nullify the disturbance situation (‘corrective-related control loops’). The method enumerates lists of conditions and node states and checks their consistency. The combination of conditions which cause a specified deviation is expressed by a logical AND combination of disturbance situation conditions and the related control loop malfunctions. Minimal combinations of conditions are obtained by comparing abnormal conditions. As long as the analysis of the disturbance effect on control loops, and the control loop interactions, are correct, consistency of the minimal conditions is guaranteed. Analysis of control loop interactions, and classification of disturbances to control loops are necessary for a consistent and complete identification of system failure modes. Using examples from the literature, it is shown that fully automated fault tree synthesis methods give questionable and/or incomplete results. Caveat emptor.
Nanoscale Structure and Dynamics of the Liquid Ordered Phase

Nanoscale Structure and Dynamics of the Liquid Ordered PhaseWe report the detailed structure and dynamics of ternary mixtures of lipids and cholesterol on the ten microsecond timescale, obtained by all-atom simulation on the Anton supercomputer.1 Using the CHARMM36 force field and an analysis based on a hidden Markov model, we find excellent agreement between 2H NMR quadrupolar spectra for a mixture of DPPC/DOPC/Chol with regions of liquid-ordered (Lo) and liquid-disordered lipids. The Lo phase is found to be heterogeneous on the nanoscale, comprising regions of hexagonally packed saturated hydrocarbon chains (red) and interstitial regions enriched in cholesterol (yellow) and unsaturated chains (blue). The dynamics are slow and collective, yielding sublinear scaling of lipid mean-squared displacements in Lo. Comparison to Lo phases formed by sphingomyelin reveals much stronger lipid-lipid interactions and consequently even slower dynamics. The hexagonal substructure within Lo is hypothesized to control partitioning of transmembrane segments between Lo and Ld, shedding new light on an old question: What is the difference between the Lo phase in lipid bilayers and raft-like regions in the plasma membrane?[1] Sodt, A. et al, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 136:725-732(2014).
Global Control of Motor Neuron Topography Mediated by the Repressive Actions of a Single Hox Gene

Summary In the developing spinal cord, regional and combinatorial activities of Hox transcription factors are critical in controlling motor neuron fates along the rostrocaudal axis, exemplified by the precise pattern of limb innervation by more than fifty Hox-dependent motor pools. The mechanisms by which motor neuron diversity is constrained to limb levels are, however, not well understood. We show that a single Hox gene, Hoxc9 , has an essential role in organizing the motor system through global repressive activities. Hoxc9 is required for the generation of thoracic motor columns, and in its absence, neurons acquire the fates of limb-innervating populations. Unexpectedly, multiple Hox genes are derepressed in Hoxc9 mutants, leading to motor pool disorganization and alterations in the connections by thoracic and forelimb-level subtypes. Genome-wide analysis of Hoxc9 binding suggests that this mode of repression is mediated by direct interactions with Hox regulatory elements, independent of chromatin marks typically associated with repressed Hox genes. Video Abstract
Protein evolution: Causes of trends in amino-acid gain and loss (Reply)

Hurst .1 and, earlier, McDonald2 confirm the pattern of amino-acid gain and loss that we report3. However, they attribute this pattern to properties of the mutation-selection equilibrium, arguing that gainer amino acids are more common than losers among weakly deleterious, rare polymorphisms, which segregate within one or both compared species but never reach fixation. Indeed, we all1,2,3 concur that gainers are, mostly, under-represented, whereas losers are over-represented with respect to mutations ( Table 3 of ref. 3). Still, we cannot agree that the effect of weak negative selection is a viable alternative to our original explanation.
Bifurcations in a forced softening duffing oscillator

Abstract The response of a damped Duffing oscillator of the softening type to a harmonic excitation is analyzed in a two-parameter space consisting of the frequency and amplitude of the excitation. An approximate procedure is developed for the generation of the bifurcation diagram in the parameter space of interest. It is a combination of second-order perturbation solutions of the system in the neighborhood of its non-linear resonances and Floquet analysis. The results show that the proposed scheme is capable of predicting symmetry-breaking and period-doubling bifurcations as well as Jumps to either bounded or unbounded motions. The results obtained are validated using analogand digital-computer simulations, which show chaos and unbounded motions, among other behaviors.
Adsorption and Photochemistry of CF2Br2 (Halon 1202) on Highly Ordered Pyrolytic Graphite (HOPG)

The adsorption and photochemistry of dibromodifluoromethane (Halon 1202) adsorbed on highly ordered pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) was studied using temperature-programmed desorption (TPD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS). Dibromodifluoromethane adsorbs molecularly at 85 K and the first layer saturates at a fractional coverage of 0.14 ± 0.01 monolayer (ML). Molecular desorption occurs at ∼140 K (monolayer) and ∼110 K (multilayers) with desorption energies of 43.8 ± 4.6 and 22.4 ± 1.9 kJ/mol, respectively. Ultraviolet irradiation of the monolayer by a filtered Hg-arc lamp (225−350 nm) resulted in the formation of CF2Br and Br (major products) and Br2 and C2F4Br2 (minor products). The estimated integrated dissociation cross-section was 1.9 × 10-19 cm2, close to the calculated value for CF2Br2(g) (4.5 × 10-19 cm2). The similarity of these two values implies that photodissociation of CF2Br2(ad)/HOPG is dominated by direct photoabsorption of the adsorbate and not ...
PKA-Dependent Potentiation Mechanisms of Human CFTR Activity

Both curcumin and VX-770 potentiate the channel activity of human CFTR (hCFTR) and two most common cystic fibrosis (CF) mutants G551D and F508delta in an ATP-independent but PKA-dependent manner. The underlying molecular mechanisms are unclear. Herein, HEK-293T cells cultured in a Fe3+-containing medium were transiently transfected with hCFTR constructs and curcumin with well-known chemical nature was employed as a template to explore PKA-dependent potentiation mechanisms of hCFTR activity. The results showed that curcumin potentiation of Fe3+-sensitive hCFTR activity was partially weakened by Fe3+-insensitive mutations at the interface of the R domain and intracellular loop (ICL) 3 and completely suppressed by sufficient Fe3+. Thus, release of the inhibitory Fe3+-bound R domain from ICL3 by curcumin may be critical for curcumin potentiation. Further study indicated that curcumin potentiation was significantly prohibited by a missense alanine mutation of F157, Y161 or K166 from ICL1, or R1066, F1074 or F1078 from ICL4, or S795 or S813 from the R domain with or without the involvement of nucleotide-binding domain 2 (NBD2). More importantly, curcumin potentiation was also suppressed by the R811A/S813D or Y808A/S813D mutation and disulfide crosslinking of K162C to S795C enhanced channel opening. Therefore, the phosphorylated R domain may function as a length- and gating-regulatory cross-linker between two transmembrane domains (TMD1 and TMD2). Curcumin may potentiate hCFTR activity by stabilizing the stimulatory ICL1/ICL4-R interactions that promote channel opening by pulling all ICLs together and thus triggering a gating inward-to-outward reorientation of TMDs. Possible chemical interactions may involve cation-π interactions, π-π interactions and hydrogen bonding. Taken together, both release of the R domain from ICL3 and the stimulatory R-ICL1/ICL4 interactions may be necessary for PKA-dependent hCFTR activation and potentiation. These findings may help optimize the potentiators for treating those CF mutants with an ATP-dependent gating defect.
TRPV1: A Potential Drug Target for Treating Various Diseases

Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) is an ion channel present on sensory neurons which is activated by heat, protons, capsaicin and a variety of endogenous lipids termed endovanilloids. As such, TRPV1 serves as a multimodal sensor of noxious stimuli which could trigger counteractive measures to avoid pain and injury. Activation of TRPV1 has been linked to chronic inflammatory pain conditions and peripheral neuropathy, as observed in diabetes. Expression of TRPV1 is also observed in non-neuronal sites such as the epithelium of bladder and lungs and in hair cells of the cochlea. At these sites, activation of TRPV1 has been implicated in the pathophysiology of diseases such as cystitis, asthma and hearing loss. Therefore, drugs which could modulate TRPV1 channel activity could be useful for the treatment of conditions ranging from chronic pain to hearing loss. This review describes the roles of TRPV1 in the normal physiology and pathophysiology of selected organs of the body and highlights how drugs targeting this channel could be important clinically.
A note on qualitative results for investment proportions

Abstract This note corrects recent results concerning qualitative portfolio composition in Roll's ‘Critique of Asset Pricing Theory Tests’.
Organization of tyrosine hydroxylase- and serotonin-immunoreactive brainstem neurons with axon collaterals to the periaqueductal gray and the spinal cord in the rat.

Abstract Retrograde tracing and immunocytochemistry were used to examine the axon collateralization of brainstem serotonin (5-HT) and norepinephrine (NE) cells to the periaqueductal gray (PAG) and spinal cord. Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-immunofluorescent neurons which collateralize to the PAG and the cervical spinal cord were found in all brainstem catecholamine cell groups previously shown to contain neurons which project to the spinal cord, including the A5 and A7 cell groups, locus coeruleus, subcoeruleus and the C1 cell group. Many TH-immunofluorescent cells which project to the PAG but not to the spinal cord were also found. The region of the nucleus raphe magnus (NRM) also contained many neurons retrogradely labeled from the PAG. These overlapped with the distribution of spinally projecting 5-HT-immunofluorescent cells in the NRM, however, less than 1% of the PAG projecting cells in this region were 5-HT-immunofluorescent. In contrast, many 5-HT-immunofluorescent cells in the more rostal nucleus raphe pontis and nucleus raphe dorsalis were retrogradely labeled from the PAG but not from the spinal cord. Finally, a population of neurons in the NRM and adjacent reticular formation and in the region of several pontomedullary catecholamine cell groups collateralized to the PAG and spinal cord, but were neither 5-HT nor TH-immunofluorescent. Taken together, these findings raise the possibility that the noradrenergic contribution to the spinal antinociceptive effects produced by PAG electrical stimulation results, in part, from antidromic activation of brainstem noradrenergic neurons that have axon collaterals projecting to the PAG and spinal cord. In contrast, the 5-HT contribution to the spinal antinociceptive effects produced by PAG electrical stimulation is more likely to derive, as previously proposed, from orthodromic activation of rpahe-spinal serotonergic axons.
The fractionation of arginine-rich histones from claf thymus.

Die argininreiche Fraktion des Kalbsthymushistons (Fraktion 2a) wurde in zwei Komponenten zerlegt. Zusammensetzung und elektrophoretische Trennung der Komponenten (F2aI und F2aII), ebenso die Eigenschaften eines neuen, lipidgebundenen, serinreichen Histons wurden beschrieben.
Radiation accident dosimetry

Abstract Thermoluminescence dosimeters have been used to determine the dose to victims of two serious external radiation accidents. Although these accidents differed significantly in source activity, geometry, exposure time, dose variation (10 to about 106 rad) to the victim, etc., the properties of the LiF dosimetry system were ideally suited for these studies.
An Accurate and Efficient Radiation Algorithm for Middle Atmosphere Models

Abstract An accurate, efficient, and user-friendly radiation algorithm is developed for calculating net radiative heating rate in middle atmosphere models. The Curtis matrix interpolation scheme originally developed by Zhu is adopted with explicit temperature dependence for the calculation of the CO2 15-μm band atmospheric cooling rate. The O3 9.6-μm band cooling rate is calculated by a Curtis matrix interpolation and includes variations of temperature and ozone mixing ratio. The water vapor cooling rate by the rotational band and the 6.3-μm vibrational band is calculated by interpolation to the H2O mixing ratio variation. All Curtis matrices are referenced to a basic state and calculated by correlated k distributions derived from line-by-line integrations. The solar heating rate by O3 and O2 is based on Strobel's parameterization and updated with solar fluxes and absorption cross-sectional data. A 6-point Gaussian quadrature is used to compute the diurnal average of the solar heating rate for two-dimensi...
Effect of midazolam and diazepam premedication on central nervous system and cardiovascular toxicity of bupivacaine in pigs.

To determine the effect of benzodiazepine premedication on central nervous system and cardiovascular effects of bupivacaine, the authors administered toxic doses of bupivacaine to awake spontaneously breathing pigs after intravenous premedication with midazolam (0.06 mg/kg), diazepam (0.15 mg/kg), or saline. Five minutes after administration of one of these solutions, they began an infusion of bupivacaine at 2 mg.kg-1.min-1. The bupivacaine infusion was continued until cardiovascular collapse. They then attempted to resuscitate the animals via open chest cardiac massage and a standard resuscitation protocol. Premedication with midazolam or diazepam significantly delayed the onset of ventricular dysrhythmias (P less than 0.05), decreased the incidence of seizures (P less than 0.05), and prevented the increase in blood pressure and heart rate following bupivacaine infusion (P less than 0.05). Benzodiazepine premedication did not affect the dose of bupivacaine or the blood concentration required to produce cardiovascular collapse. The ability to resuscitate animals premedicated with midazolam did not differ from control; however, significantly fewer animals premedicated with diazepam were resuscitated (P less than 0.05). A clinically relevant observation was that almost all animals premedicated with a benzodiazepine progressed directly to cardiovascular collapse without first manifesting seizures.
Pool Boiling Heat Transfer Performance of a Dielectric Fluid With Low Global Warming Potential

Due to growing concerns over anthropogenic effects on the climate, there is increasing need to replace engineered fluids of high global warming potentials (GWPs), such as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and perfluorocarbons (PFCs), with more environmentally friendly alternatives in thermal management systems. This article presents experimental data and compares various correlations for predicting the pool boiling heat transfer coefficient of a new low-GWP fluid, FK-649. Using a pressurized boiling facility with a smooth aluminum heater, the critical heat flux (CHF) and heat transfer coefficient were measured for the pool boiling of FK-649 at various saturation conditions. The commonly used refrigerant tetrafluoroethane (R-134a) is tested in the same pressurized facility to act as a benchmark for the new fluid. While R-134a exhibited a higher heat transfer coefficient and CHF, this behavior is expected from the fluid properties. Two-phase heat transfer performance of FK-649 is expected to be similar to that of t...
Acculturation, Social Support, and Family Conflict: Korean–American Adolescents’ Perceptions

Numerous studies have examined the nature of parent–adolescent relationships within mainstream families; but few have focused on conflicts in the Korean immigrant population. In addition, there has been no attempt to develop and test a theory-driven model of social service practices for the immigrant families. Thus, the current study developed and tested a structural equation model based on three latent variables, which are acculturation, social support system, and family conflict. This study offers a first step by investigating the overall nature and outcome of conflict between parents and adolescents. The analysis with data taken from 304 Korean American adolescents, ages 14–18, revealed that a social support system was the most significant means of predicting immigrant family conflicts. A number of practice applications, based on the results, along with implications for future study were discussed, and proved a great need for a support system.
Sequential implantation of two Helex septal occluder devices in a patient with complex atrial septal anatomy.

We report the first implantation of two Helex septal occluder devices in a 10-year-old boy with complex atrial septal anatomy. The unique characteristics of this new device are discussed in the following case report.
Effect of temperature and pH on droplet aggregation and phase separation characteristics of flocs formed in oil–water emulsions after coagulation

Abstract Coagulation process is used for destabilization of emulsions to promote aggregation of oil droplets on flocs which can be subsequently removed by sedimentation or flotation. The objectives of this study were to investigate the effect of temperature and pH on the effectiveness of destabilization of olive oil–water emulsions in relation to floc morphology and aggregation characteristics of oil droplets, and to quantify the ability of flocs to capture and separate oil. A cationic polyelectrolyte was used for the coagulation of oil droplets in edible olive oil–water emulsions using a jar test apparatus. The flocs formed in olive oil–water emulsions after coagulant addition were analyzed using microscopic image analysis techniques. Fractal dimension, radius of captured oil droplets on flocs, number of oil droplets aggregated on flocs, and floc size were used to quantitatively characterize and compared the effectiveness of the coagulation process at different conditions (pH and temperature) and the ability of flocs to remove oil from water. Analysis of microscopic images showed that floc size was not always the best measure of effectiveness of coagulation process in oil–water emulsions. The flocs forming at different pH levels and temperatures had significant morphological differences in their ability to aggregate different sizes and numbers of oil droplets, resulting in significant differences in their ability for separating oil. Fractal dimension did not correlate with the ability of flocs to aggregate oil droplets nor the total amount of oil captured on flocs. Temperature had a significant effect on droplet size and number of droplets captured on flocs. The differences in floc sizes at different temperatures were not significant. However, the flocs forming at 20 °C had fewer but larger droplets aggregating larger amounts of oil than flocs formed at 30 °C and 40 °C. The size of droplets at different pH levels was similar, however, there were significant differences in number of droplets aggregating on flocs and floc sizes. The amount of oil captured on flocs at pH 7 and pH 9 was significantly higher than those at pH 5 and pH 11. The calculated fractal dimensions of the flocs (all less than 1.8) indicated that the coagulation process was diffusion limited implying that there was no repulsion between the colliding particles (i.e., droplets and flocs); hence, each collision between flocs and droplets resulted in attachment.
Extraction and recovery of angiotensin II from plasma

Abstract A comparison of the three methods of extracting 14 C-angiotensin II from plasma demonstrates that Peart's charcoal method extracts angiotensin II from plasma well, but recovery is inconsistent. Boucher's Dowex method extracts the radioactive labeled angiotensin II from plasma less efficiently than the charcoal method. However, the per cent of the extracted angiotensin in the final recovery product was greater in the Dowex method. Boucher's method is more complicated and time consuming, and less practical. Exeraction of angiotensin with fuller's carth is both simple and convenient, and gives the most consistent and reproducible results.
Non-asymptotic inferences based on the chi-square statistic for r by c contingency tables

Abstract A non-asymptotic approach based on the chi-square statistic is described for analyses of r by c contingency tables. This method provides improved analyses for cases where the standard asymptotic approach is questionable, e.g., with small expected cell frequencies due to severely unbalanced and/or very small marginal frequency totals. The non-asymptotic approach is based on an algorithm that obtains the exact mean, variance and skewness under the conditional permutation distribution, which are then utilized for inferences in conjunction with a pearson type III distribution.