cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Renal involvement in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis: report of two cases.

Renal involvement is a rare occurrence in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). We report on two JRA patients with kidney disease. The first was a 14-year-old African-American female with a 12-month history of polyarthritis. On presentation she was found to have an ESR of 127 mm/h and a positive ANA, rheumatoid factor (RF), perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (pANCA), haematuria, proteinuria with normal BUN and creatinine. Renal biopsy showed focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Her renal function deteriorated to end-stage renal failure requiring dialysis within a few months, despite aggressive treatment with steorids and monthly i.v. pulses of cyclophosphamide. The second patient presented with a 6-week history of polyarthritis and intermittent fever, and had a salmon-coloured evanescent rash. On presentation his laboratory evaluation was significant for elevated ESR and negative ANA, RF and ANCA tests. Within 8 months the patient had developed a persistent microscopic haematuria. Renal biopsy showed mild mesangial glomerulonephritis. On low-dose methotrexate therapy his JRA went into remission and his renal function remained normal. The haematuria persisted for 1 year and then resolved spontaneously. This is the first time that focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and mesangial glomerulonephritis have been described in JRA. Although the association may be just coincidental, further studies are needed to define the role of JRA in these renal conditions. In patients with JRA, urinalysis and renal function should be routinely monitored.
The determination of di- and trihydroxycholanic acids in bile

Abstract A differential spectrophotometric method of bile acid determination is described, whereby unhydrolyzed di- and trihydroxycholanic acids may be quantitatively measured simultaneously. Conditions have been established under which the products of reaction with the reagent of Minibeck (9:1 conc. H 2 SO 4 , glacial acetic acid) are stable and show good agreement with the Beer-Lambert law at the two wavelengths concerned (310, 390 mμ). Recoveries of pure bile acids in synthetic mixture, as well as of pure bile acids added to human, canine, and rat bile are satisfactory, and the spectra of the reaction products indicate the absence of interfering substances. Human gall bladder bile was found to have a higher bile acid content and relatively more dihydroxy acid than rat common duct bile.
Social Skills Ratings of Exceptional Students

The differences in teacher-rated social skills among gifted, severe behavior handicap, specific learning disability, developmental handicap, and regular education students were investigated. The Social Behavior Assessment-Teacher Version was used to obtain the ratings. The results indicated that gifted students had the most positive and that severe behavior handicap students had the most negative social skills ratings. Significant differences (p < .05) in social skills ratings were obtained between all exceptional student comparisons with the exception of the specific learning disability students compared to developmental handicap students. Social skills ratings increased the overall agreement with existing school system classifications of exceptional students when used in combination with intelligence and academic achievement contrasted with the degree of agreement when social skills ratings were not used (p < .01). A recommendation was made to include social skills assessment as a component of the multi...
Very-wide-angle optical systems suitable for spaceborne photometric measurements

Spaceborne visible-light images for observing the large angular extent of the solar corona require 0.1% differential broadband photometry over ∼1° sky bins. When we are using a CCD camera, this specification requires spreading unresolved images over many pixels. Large images ease correction for aberration or field curvature. Permitting large images allows simple and lightweight very-wide-angle designs employing spherical and toroidal mirrors and thick lenses that can view almost the entire sky. We present formulas and graphic results relating sky angle to focal-plane position and determining the tangential and sagittal focal surfaces governing image size at the CCD. Laboratory measurements with two prototype configurations confirm the calculations.
Studies on Anaphylaxis in the Mouse.

The present study of anaphylaxis in the mouse was instituted by the senior author several years ago as an outcome of observations made during the course of investigations on typhoid immunization in which anaphylactic reactions occurred in mice following the repeated administration of typhoid vaccine. In reviewing the literature it becomes apparent that although the phenomenon of anaphylaxis has long been a subject of extensive investigation, comparatively little data is available on anaphylaxis in the mouse. Furthermore, a critical analysis shows that much of this data is "questionable" as is reflected in the lack of common acceptance of views regarding this phenomenon in the mouse. For this reason it seems that in addition to whatever contribution to the
The neurotoxic actions of ibotenic acid on cholinergic and opioid peptidergic systems in the central nervous system of the rat.

Abstract The neurotoxic effects produced by ibotenic acid (IA) induced chemical lesions of the central nervous system (CNS) cholinergic system were examined on the opioid peptidergic system in adult rats. Forebrain cholinergic systems were bilaterally lesioned by the infusion of IA (1 or 5 μg/site) into the nucleus basalis magnocellularis (NBM). One week after the injections, the animals were sacrified, and activities of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and concentrations of β-endorphin (β-End) and Met-enkephalin (Met-Enk) were measured in different brain regions. Animals treated with IA showed a decrease in the activity of ChAT (−24%), AChE (−36%) and β-End level (−33%) in the frontoparietal cortex (FC). For the first time we report that these changes were associated with a compensatory increase in the activity of ChAT (+27%), AChE (+25%), β-End level (+66%) in the remaining part of the cortex, i.e. cortex devoid of frontal cortex (C-FC). Met-enkephalin level increased by 59% in the frontoparietal cortex and did not change in the cortex devoid of frontal cortex upon IA treatment. These results suggest that IA treatment results in changes in the activity of cortical ChAT and AChE, and β-End level in the same direction. Injection of IA in the NBM did not cause a change in the activity of ChAT or AChE in other brain regions such as hippocampus, striatum or midbrain. In addition to cortex devoid of frontal cortex, midbrain also showed a significant increase in the β-End level in the IA treated animals. However, pituitary β-End decreased in the neurotoxin treated animals. Midbrain and pituitary were the only tissues where a small decrease in Met-Enk was observed in the treated animals. This study for the first time indicates that chemical lesions produced by IA in the NBM affects the CNS opioid peptidergic system. In the cortex, a remarkable similarity between the cholinergic and β-End systems was observed in terms of the direction and degree of neurotoxic effects produced by IA. In view of the reported negative influence of Met-Enk on cholinergic system, an increase in the Met-Enk level observed in the frontal cortex may be responsible for a decrease in the cholinergic system observed in the IA treated animals.
Some recent computations of rod bundle thermal hydraulics using boundary fitted coordinates

Abstract In this paper, we report the status of development of two computer codes for bench mark rod bundle thermal hydraulic analysis using the boundary-fitted coordinate method. A classification of the flow in rod bundles is made and details of two computer codes are given. The two codes solve essentially identical sets of conservation of mass, momentum and energy, but one of them treats the fully-elliptic set of equations, and the other neglects the axial diffusion of momentum and heat. The neglect of streamwise diffusion mades the flow partially-elliptic, and brings significant reductions in computer storage, and modest savings in required computer time. Results of some validation calculations are presented with applications to reactor geometries.
Schmidt-Boelter Heat Flux Gage Sensitivity Coefficients in Radiative and Convective Environments

Commercial Schmidt-Boelter heat flux gages are always calibrated by using a radiative heat flux source where convection is minimized. This is because one can establish a reliable link to a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) calibration standard. To the authors’ knowledge, no NIST traceable link exists for convective heat flux calibration. When heat flux gages are used in typical applications, convection is often not negligible. It has been common practice to assume that the sensitivity coefficient supplied by the manufacturer also applies for convective environments. This assumption is believed to be incorrect. If incorrect, this would result in uncertainties larger than typically reported (e.g., ±3%). This paper analyzes the heat transfer from an idealized Schmidt-Boelter heat flux gage. The analysis shows that the theoretical sensitivity coefficients in purely radiative and convective environments are not the same and, in fact, differ by the emissivity of the gage surface. The implication of this difference is that the accuracy specification supplied by the manufacturer (typically ± 3%) is not correct for measurement applications where convection is not negligible.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Attribute allocation in large scale sensor networks

Wireless sensor network is an emerging technology that enables remote monitoring of large geographical regions. In this paper, we address the problem of distributing attributes over such a large-scale sensor network so that the cost of data retrieval is minimized. The proposed scheme is a data-centric storage scheme where the attributes are distributed over the network depending on the correlations between them. The problem addressed here is similar to the Allocation Problem of distributed databases. In this paper, we have defined the Allocation Problem in the context of sensor networks and have proposed a scheme for finding a good distribution of attributes to the sensor network. We also propose an architecture for query processing given such a distribution of attributes. Finally, we present simulations results to illustrate the conditions under which our proposed architecture is beneficial. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first attempt to study the attribute allocation problem of distributed databases in the context of sensor networks.
Step-modified phase diagram of chemisorbed oxygen on nickel

Abstract We have studied the effect of an extended array of steps on the two-dimensional phase behavior of chemisorbed oxygen overlayers on a vicinal nickel surface using low energy electron diffraction (LEED), Auger electron spectroscopy, and scanning tunneling microscopy. Phase behavior of oxygen on the vicinal Ni(9 7 7) surface was examined and compared with that for oxygen adsorbed on the flat Ni(1 1 1) surface. There are two significant differences in the phase diagrams for these two surfaces. On Ni(1 1 1) at θ =0.25 ML, oxygen forms a p (2×2) structure that disorders to a lattice gas at 440 K and remains disordered until it is ultimately dissolved into the bulk above 500 K. Surface defects, such as the steps on Ni(9 7 7), substantially modify this phase progression. On Ni(9 7 7), the p (2×2) phase still disorders at 440 K, but a second ordered phase, which can be designated as Ni[ 8(1 1 1)×(1 0 0) ]–2(1d)-O in microfacet notation, exists between room temperature and above 500 K when the oxygen is finally incorporated into the bulk. This adsorbate phase is step-stabilized and can be generated by dosing the surface with a small amount of oxygen or as a result of partial dissolution of oxygen from the higher coverage p (2×2) phase. Moreover, anisotropic disordering effects are evident due to the presence of the steps as indicated by the increasingly oblate shape of diffraction spots as the p (2×2) disorders. The process of oxygen dissolution is also qualitatively altered by the presence of regular steps.
Determination of the Hydrolysis Kinetics of α-Naphthyl Acetate in Micellar Systems and the Effect of HPMC (catalyst present)

The change in the hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) critical aggregation concentration (CAC) was studied in the presence of various concentrations and grades of hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (HPMC) using surface tension measurement (duNouy ring and Wilhelmy plate) and oil red O solubilization. According to the surface tension methods, the CAC was higher than the CTAB critical micelle concentration (CMC). CAC and CMC were not different when the solubilization method was used. Micellar solutions of CTAB have been found to accelerate the hydrolysis of α-naphthyl acetate (α-NA) by o-iodosobenzoic acid (IBA), a strong nucleophile. Pseudo-first-order kinetics were utilized for rate constant determination. The observed rate constants for the degradation of α-NA in the presence of varying CTAB concentrations with and without HPMC were analyzed according to the pseudophase model. The micellar rate constants and the micellar binding constants for the substrates were obtained. The presence of HPMC retarded the reaction rate, and the rate constant decreased as the polymer concentration increased. However, there was no obvious difference in the observed rate constants among the different grades of HPMC (Methocel E5®, Methocel E15®, Methocel E50®). The decrease in the rate constant was likely due to the polymer–micelle interaction interfering with substrate binding to the CTAB micelles. ©2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 96:448–458, 2007
Initial constructs for patient-centered outcome measures to evaluate brain–computer interfaces

AbstractPurpose: The authors describe preliminary work toward the creation of patient-centered outcome (PCO) measures to evaluate brain–computer interface (BCI) as an assistive technology (AT) for individuals with severe speech and physical impairments (SSPI). Method: In Phase 1, 591 items from 15 existing measures were mapped to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). In Phase 2, qualitative interviews were conducted with eight people with SSPI and seven caregivers. Resulting text data were coded in an iterative analysis. Results: Most items (79%) were mapped to the ICF environmental domain; over half (53%) were mapped to more than one domain. The ICF framework was well suited for mapping items related to body functions and structures, but less so for items in other areas, including personal factors. Two constructs emerged from qualitative data: quality of life (QOL) and AT. Component domains and themes were identified for each. Conclusions: Preliminary constructs, d...
Phase equilibria calculations with a modified SAFT equation of state. 1. Pure alkanes, alkanols, and water

The phase equilibria of the n-alkanes and the 1-alkanols have been calculated with the Lennard-Jones−SAFT (statistical association fluid theory) equation of state of Muller and Gubbins. This equation includes contributions from a dipole−dipole term, a modified association term, a chain term, and a Lennard-Jones term to account for monomer dispersion and overlap interactions. The influence of electrostatic forces due to the dipole moment has been investigated, and a simple treatment of the polarizability has been tested. It is shown by comparison with some sample calculations based on the renormalized perturbation theory that this approach is reasonable. The calculated phase equilibria are in good agreement with experimental data. The deviation between calculated and experimental data is significantly lower than for the original SAFT equation of state and a recently published chemical theory.
Development of the dendritic fields of layer 3 pyramidal cells in the kitten's visual cortex

The cat's visual cortex is immature at birth and undergoes extensive postnatal development. For example, cells of layers 2 and 3 do not complete migration until about 3 weeks after birth. Despite the importance of dendritic growth for synaptic and functional development, there have been few studies of dendritic development in the cat's visual cortex to correlate with numerous studies of functional and synaptic development. Accordingly, we used the Golgi method to study the development of the dendrites of layer 3 pyramidal cells in the visual cortex of a series of cats ranging in age from 2 days to 3 years. Blocks of visual cortex were impregnated by the Golgi-Kopsch method and sectioned in the tangential plane. Layer 3 pyramidal cells were drawn with a camera lucida and analyzed by Sholl diagrams and vector addition. In kittens < 1 week old, these cells were very immature, with only an apical dendrite and no basal dendrites. Basal dendrites appeared during the second week. By 2 weeks, all of the basal dendrites had emerged from the soma, but they had few branches and were tipped with growth cones. By 4 weeks, they had finished branching but continued to grow in length until, by 5 weeks, they reached their adult size. Examination of the basal dendritic fields in the tangential plane revealed that the dendritic fields were more elongated at 2 weeks than at later ages, perhaps because of their smaller size. The distribution of dendritic field orientations was uniform at all ages except 3 and 4 weeks, when there was a preponderance of fields oriented in the rostrocaudal direction. Because dendritic growth and branching occurred very rapidly over a period that precedes and overlaps with the peak periods of synaptogenesis and of sensitivity to the effects of early visual experience, they may depend on afferent visual activity. The early emergence of primary dendrites, however, suggests that this process is independent of afferent activity. The coincident timing of dendritic branching with the presence of dendritic growth cones suggests that branching may occur at growth cones. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Measurement of the Charged-Particle Multiplicity in pp Collisions at 102 GeVc

We present preliminary results from a sample of \ensuremath{\sim} 1200 events obtained from an exposure of the 30-in. Argonne National Laboratory---National Accelerator Laboratory liquid-hydrogen bubble chamber to 102-$\frac{\mathrm{GeV}}{c}$ protons. The elastic and total inelastic cross sections are respectively 6.9 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 1.0 and 32.8 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 1.1 mb. The parameters of the multiplicity distribution for negative tracks are $〈{n}_{\ensuremath{-}}〉=2.17\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.07$, $D_{\ensuremath{-}}^{}{}_{}{}^{2}=〈n_{\ensuremath{-}}^{}{}_{}{}^{2}〉\ensuremath{-}{〈{n}_{\ensuremath{-}}〉}^{2}=2.56\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.12$, and $f_{2}^{}{}_{}{}^{\ensuremath{-}}=D_{\ensuremath{-}}^{}{}_{}{}^{2}\ensuremath{-}〈{n}_{\ensuremath{-}}〉=0.39\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.10$.
Sources of Support in a Sample of HIV-Affected1 Older Minority Caregivers:

Since more and more family caregivers of persons with HIV disease are parents and grandparents, older persons may be responsible for the well-being of ill or orphaned family members at a time when ...
The Hemophilus influenzae Hap Autotransporter Is a Chymotrypsin Clan Serine Protease and Undergoes Autoproteolysis via an Intermolecular Mechanism

The Hemophilus influenzae Hap adhesin is an autotransporter protein that undergoes an autoproteolytic cleavage event resulting in extracellular release of the adhesin domain (Haps) from the membrane-associated translocator domain (Hapβ). Hap autoproteolysis is mediated by Ser243 and occurs at LN1036-7 and to a lesser extent at more COOH-terminal alternate sites. In the present study, we sought to further define the mechanism of Hap autoproteolysis. Site-directed mutagenesis of residues His98 and Asp140identified a catalytic triad conserved among a subfamily of autotransporters and reminiscent of the SA (chymotrypsin) clan of serine proteases. Amino-terminal amino acid sequencing of histidine-tagged Hapβ species and site-directed mutagenesis established that autoproteolysis occurs at LT1046-7, FA1077-8, and FS1067-8, revealing a consensus target sequence for cleavage that consists of ((Q/R)(A/S)X(L/F)) at the P4 through P1 positions. Examination of a recombinant strain co-expressing a Hap derivative lacking all cleavage sites (HapΔ1036-99) and a Hap derivative lacking proteolytic activity (HapS243A) demonstrated that autoproteolysis occurs by an intermolecular mechanism. Kinetic analysis of Hap autoproteolysis in bacteria expressing Hap under control of an inducible promoter demonstrated that autoproteolysis increases as the density of Hap precursor in the outer membrane increases, confirming intermolecular cleavage and suggesting a novel mechanism for regulation of bacterial adherence and microcolony formation.
COMPARATIVE TOXICITY OF LEAD SHOT IN BLACK DUCKS (ANAS RUBRIPES) AND MALLARDS (ANAS PLATYRHYNCHOS)

In winter, pen-reared and wild black ducks (Anas rubripes), and game farm and wild mallards (Anas platyrhynchos), maintained on pelleted feed, were sham-dosed or given one number 4 lead shot. After 14 days, dosed birds were redosed with two or four additional lead shot. This dosing regimen also was repeated in summer using pen-reared black ducks and game farm mallards. Based upon mortality, overt intoxication, weight change, delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity and protoporphyrin concentration, black ducks and mallards were found to be equally tolerant to lead shot. However, captive wild ducks were more sensitive than their domesticated counterparts, as evidenced by greater mortality and weight loss following lead shot administration. This difference may be related to stress associated with captivity and unnatural diet.
Fifty-four novel mutations in the NF1 gene and integrated analyses of the mutations that modulate splicing

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a common autosomal dominant genetic disorder caused by mutations in the NF1 gene. One of the hallmarks of NF1 is the high mutation rate in this gene. In this study, we present 127 different NF1 mutations and 54 novel mutations detected at both the genomic DNA and mRNA level using a retrospective case series review. We found that 25.2% of these different mutations induced aberrant splicing. Of note, 40.6% of these splicing errors were caused by exonic variants. In addition, one mutation produced mosaicism in the post-transcriptional profile. However, studies investigating these splicing aberrations are limited. In order to better understand the pathogenicity of NF1 and to provide a more accurate interpretation in molecular diagnostic testing, combined computational analyses were employed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of the variants modulating NF1 gene splicing.
Resolution of cis-trans ambiguities between HLA-DRB1 alleles using single-strand conformation polymorphisms and sequencing.

: DNA-based typing of HLA alleles occasionally results in the inability to assign a specific allele because of ambiguity in associating two or more polymorphisms to the same or to alternate homologs (cis/trans ambiguity). Since most individuals are heterozygous at a given HLA locus, the highest level of confidence in definition is obtained when the alleles are tested in isolation. By using single-strand conformation polymorphisms (SSCP) to separate heterozygous HLA-DRB1 alleles, followed by sequencing of separated conformers, we have achieved resolution of previously ambiguous assignments without the need for additional probes or primers.
Reciprocating Battery Cooling for Hybrid and Fuel Cell Vehicles

Traction batteries for hybrid and fuel cell vehicles must maintain temperatures within operational limits for longer battery lifetime and better performance. The uneven battery temperature due to improper heat transfer during discharging/charging could accumulate battery degradation on hot cells resulting in early failure of the battery pack. Current battery systems use a unidirectional coolant flow for battery thermal management. However, due to the nature of the cooling method, the unidirectional cooling systems are prone to show a largest temperature differential ΔTs between the battery cells at fixed flow boundaries, although sophisticated thermal/fluid designs are implemented to make the battery temperature uniform. Here, an innovative battery cooling method ([1]) using a reciprocating cooling flow is proposed. The reciprocating cooling system switches the coolant flow direction periodically by a valve-fan mechanism. By switching the flow direction periodically and thus the cold and hot boundaries of the battery cooling system, the battery cell temperatures are regulated with a very small fluctuation and the temperature differential ΔTs is drastically reduced. In hybrid electric vehicle and fuel cell vehicle applications, the cooling improvement using the new concept would set battery cooling system free of auxiliary air-conditioning system. Parametric study shows that using the reciprocating cooling system for a Li-Ion battery system, an optimum reciprocating period to minimize temperature differential ΔTs and maximum battery temperature Ts,max exists.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Physical properties of an experimental periodontal dressing material.

Abstract The purpose of this work was to study an experimental non-eugenol periodontal dressing material from zinc oxide and hexyl vanillate-o-ethoxybenzoic acid. Commercial product controls were utilized in order to compare the physical properties of (1) working and setting times, (2) adhesion to enamel, and (3) linear dimensional changes with those of the experimental dressing material. The developed experimental periodontal dressing material (EPD) has physical properties equal to or superior to those of the commercial dressings tested. The ease of mixture and clean handling properties, together with its non-eugenol formulation, indicate that EPD has promise for use as a periodontal dressing material.
A protocol for the management of pediatric type I open fractures

Background The management of pediatric type I open fractures remains controversial. There has been no consistent protocol established in the literature for the non-operative management of these injuries.
Neurobiological Basis of Autism

Autism (autism spectrum disorders) is a complex, strongly genetically influenced, behaviorally defined disorder of the immature brain associated with very uneven intellectual abilities. Among its most salient and potentially treatable neurologic features that this article focuses on are epilepsy, disorganized sleep patterns, and sensory and motor deficits. Its many causes and wide range of severity means that there is no symptom, no pathology, imaging, electroencephalography, or other biologic feature, and no biologic treatment that is universal or diagnostic of this developmental syndrome.
Green function method for calculating properties of static magnetic fields.

Given complete information about the normal component of a magnetic field in a plane, it is possible to directly calculate all aspects of the field at any point in a source-free, homogeneous volume above that plane. The magnetic scalar potential, the magnetic field, and its gradient have direct representations as integrals of the boundary data. This paper provides a Green function method for this problem, as well as examples of such calculations. Bioelectromagnetics 22:511–518, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Hydrogen production by reforming of liquid hydrocarbons in a membrane reactor for portable power generation-Model simulations

Abstract One of the most promising technologies for lightweight, compact, portable power generation is proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. PEM fuel cells, however, require a source of pure hydrogen. Steam reforming of hydrocarbons in an integrated membrane reactor has potential to provide pure hydrogen in a compact system. In a membrane reactor process, the thermal energy needed for the endothermic hydrocarbon reforming may be provided by combustion of the membrane reject gas. The energy efficiency of the overall hydrogen generation is maximized by controlling the hydrogen product yield such that the heat value of the membrane reject gas is sufficient to provide all of the heat necessary for the integrated process. Optimization of the system temperature, pressure and operating parameters such as net hydrogen recovery is necessary to realize an efficient integrated membrane reformer suitable for compact portable hydrogen generation. This paper presents results of theoretical model simulations of the integrated membrane reformer concept elucidating the effect of operating parameters on the extent of fuel conversion to hydrogen and hydrogen product yield. Model simulations indicate that the net possible hydrogen product yield is strongly influenced by the efficiency of heat recovery from the combustion of membrane reject gas and from the hot exhaust gases. When butane is used as a fuel, a net hydrogen recovery of 68% of that stoichiometrically possible may be achieved with membrane reformer operation at 600 °C (873 K) temperature and 100 psig (0.791 MPa) pressure provided 90% of available combustion and exhaust gas heat is recovered. Operation at a greater pressure or temperature provides a marginal improvement in the performance whereas operation at a significantly lower temperature or pressure will not be able to achieve the optimal hydrogen yield. Slightly higher, up to 76%, net hydrogen recovery is possible when methanol is used as a fuel due to the lower heat requirement for methanol reforming reaction, with membrane reformer operation at 600 °C (873 K) temperature and 150 psig (1.136 MPa) pressure provided 90% of available combustion and exhaust gas heat is recovered.
Particle-hole strength excited in the 48Ca(p,n)48Sc reaction at 134 and 160 MeV: Gamow-Teller strength.

Gamow-Teller strength in the $^{48}\mathrm{Ca}$(p,n${)}^{48}$Sc reaction was studied at 134 and 160 MeV. Neutron energy spectra were measured by the time-of-flight technique with resolutions of about 320 and 460 keV, respectively. The cross sections reported at 160 MeV are increased (by a factor of about 1.4) from results reported previously. The ${1}^{+}$ Gamow-Teller strength is observed to be split into a low-lying state at ${E}_{x}$=2.52 MeV, the Gamow-Teller giant resonance in a complex of states between 4.5 and 14.5 MeV, and a single T=4 state at 16.8 MeV. The general distribution of the ${1}^{+}$ strength in $^{48}\mathrm{Sc}$ is in good agreement with a shell-model prediction. The total ${1}^{+}$ strength observed in discrete states amounts to 43% of the simple Gamow-Teller sum rule, relative to the observed ${0}^{+}$, Fermi strength assumed to be concentrated into the isobaric analog state at 6.67 MeV. Consideration of the \ensuremath{\Delta}l=0 contributions to the background under the Gamow-Teller giant resonance and of the non-quasifree scattering contributions to the continuum (up to about 30 MeV) increases this fraction to about 70%. Possible Gamow-Teller strength in the quasifree scattering contributions to the continuum is discussed.
An interdisciplinary care approach for integration of palliative care in lung cancer

Purpose: Quality of Life (QOL) and symptom concerns are common in lung cancer. This article presents findings from 2 separate pilot studies that utilize an educational model to reduce barriers to pain and fatigue management (“barriers study”) and an interdisciplinary palliative care approach to manage QOL concerns for patients with lung cancer (“QOL pilot”). Patients and Methods: In the barriers study, a total of 46 patients with lung cancer with a self-reported pain and/or fatigue rating of q 4 were accrued, with 18 patients in the usual care group and 28 in the experimental group, using a quasi-experimental design. This study involved a 4-part educational intervention delivered by a nurse to address pain and fatigue. In the QOL study, the pilot intervention included 10 patients with lung cancer. This pilot included use of QOL assessment completed by a nurse followed by an interdisciplinary case conference intended to initiate supportive care to address QOL and symptom concerns. Patient-reported outcomes such as barriers to pain and fatigue management, fatigue intensity, other symptoms, and overall QOL were analyzed through tabulation of standard summary statistics and multivariate analysis methods. All eligible patients were recruited from the ambulatory clinic of one National Cancer Institute–designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. Results: For the barriers study, patients with lung cancer in the experimental group had a statistically significant decrease in patient-related barriers for both pain and fatigue. Findings from the QOL pilot revealed that patients with lung cancer have multiple QOL concerns and that an interdisciplinary palliative care approach was feasible to address these complex, multidimensional patient needs. Conclusion: Attention to barriers of symptom management, early referral to supportive care services, and coordination of interdisciplinary care are essential to supporting the QOL of patients with lung cancer. The next phase of this research will test QOL/symptom interventions for patients with lung cancer.
Nitric oxide directly activates calcium-dependent potassium channels in vascular smooth muscle

Nitric oxide is the major endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF), and it is thought to relax smooth muscle cells by stimulation of guanylate cyclase, accumulation of its product cyclic GMP, and cGMP-dependent modification of several intracellular processes, including activation of potassium channels through cGMP-dependent protein kinase. Here we present evidence that both exogenous nitric oxide and native EDRF can directly activate single Ca(2+)-dependent K+ channels (K+Ca) in cell-free membrane patches without requiring cGMP. Under conditions when guanylate cyclase was inhibited by methylene blue, considerable relaxation of rabbit aorta to nitric oxide persisted which was blocked by charybdotoxin, a specific inhibitor of K+Ca channels. These studies demonstrate a novel direct action of nitric oxide on K+Ca channels.
P waves and P loops in coronary sinus and left atrial rhythms

P wave and P loop changes during transvenous pacing of specific locations in coronary sinus and left atrium in dogs and man
Working memory capacity and the scope and control of attention

Complex span and visual arrays are two common measures of working memory capacity that are respectively treated as measures of attention control and storage capacity. A recent analysis of these tasks concluded that (1) complex span performance has a relatively stronger relationship to fluid intelligence and (2) this is due to the requirement that people engage control processes while performing this task. The present study examines the validity of these conclusions by examining two large data sets that include a more diverse set of visual arrays tasks and several measures of attention control. We conclude that complex span and visual arrays account for similar amounts of variance in fluid intelligence. The disparity relative to the earlier analysis is attributed to the present study involving a more complete measure of the latent ability underlying the performance of visual arrays. Moreover, we find that both types of working memory task have strong relationships to attention control. This indicates that the ability to engage attention in a controlled manner is a critical aspect of working memory capacity, regardless of the type of task that is used to measure this construct.
Summary of studies adding systemic chemotherapy to local hyperthermia and radiation

The Joint Center-MIT group sought to maximize the efficacy of hyperthermia plus radiation by adding systemic anticancer drugs chosen in the laboratory. After extensive laboratory investigations utilizing primarily the FSaIIC murine fibrosarcoma, we determined that cisplatin was the best drug with which to begin clinical testing and that the sequence cisplatin-->hyperthermia-->radiation was most efficacious. A clinical experience was then gained which found that: (1) the tolerable doses of cisplatin weekly x 6 used with local hyperthermia and radiation (limited by bone marrow suppression) were 50 mg/m2 weekly in chemotherapy naive patients and 30 mg/m2 weekly in patients having had extensive prior drug treatment, (2) apparent complete response occurred in about 50% of patients, and (3) tumour lysis necessitating surgical repair occurred predominantly in patients with recurrent breast cancer in previously heavily irradiated fields where an incidence of 38% was observed as opposed to only 6% in breast cancer patients having had no prior radiation. In an attempt to further improve the local control potential of the combination we tested the addition of other anticancer drugs in the laboratory. Our findings were that both mitomycin C and etanidazole were far better than other agents and were able to double the tumour growth delay produced by the cisplatin/heat/radiation trimodality treatment. Since etanidazole is not marrow suppressive, clinical testing of etanidazole in the trimodality setting along with cisplatin/heat/radiation has been initiated.
Conformational changes involved in the activation of ras p21: Implications for related proteins

Article synthese sur la conformation des proteines ras; utilisation de la cristallographie aux rayons X; presentation de la structure en vision stereo; interet porte aux changements conformationnels
Nongenetic reactivation of frog virus 3 DNA.

Abstract Fathead minnow cells co-infected with purified frog virus 3 DNA and either ultraviolet light-irradiated virus or a temperature-sensitive mutant at a nonpermissive temperature produced infectious progeny with the genotype of the purified DNA. This is the first reported example of nongenetic reactivation of viral DNA by proteins associated with nonreplicating virions.
Validation of a model for estimating leaf-feeding by insects in soybean

A computer model (AUSIMM) estimate of the total leaf area consumed by soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merrill, leaf-feeding insect larvae was compared with measured leaf area loss after feeding by endemic field infestations in 11 field experiments. Estimates of percentage defoliation and total leaf area, both at the onset of feeding by endemic insect infestations and after the insect feeding period, were also compared with yield. Insect infestations consisted of mixed sizes of green cloverworm, Plathypena scabra (F.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), velvetbean caterpillar, Anticarsia gemmatalis (Hubner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), or soybean looper, Pseudoplusia includens (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Insect infestations occurred over about a 14-day period during the R5 and R6 growth stages (beginning of seed formation to pod fill). Leaf consumption varied from ∼ 1000 to 14 000 cm2 per row-m depending on the species, number and size of larvae. The model accurately predicted leaf area consumption over all experiments. Predicted consumption increased linearly with measured leaf area loss (p = 0.027, r2 = 0.47). Estimated percentage defoliation at the onset of feeding by endemic infestations was ∼ 8%, and was 5% and 20–68% after the insect feeding period in treated and untreated plots, respectively. Yield decreased with an increase in estimated percentage defoliation, but the relationship was not significant. Total leaf area varied from ∼9000 to 27 000 cm2 per row-m among experiments. Yield increased linearly with total leaf area, both at the onset of insect feeding (p = 0.004, r2 = 0.41) and after the insect feeding period. Total leaf area remaining after insect feeding was the best indicator of soybean yield (p = 0.002, r2=0.46). A 30% increase in total leaf area after feeding resulted in a 168.2 kg ha−11 (2.5 bushels acre−1) increase in yield.
A simple characterization of the uniform rule

Abstract We prove, by a simple and direct argument, that the uniform rule is the only allocation rule satisfying Pareto efficiency, Pareto indifference, strategy-proofness, and no-envy on the domain of economies with single-plateaued preferences and a collective endowment. A similar result can be obtained with single-plateaued preferences replaced by single-peaked preferences [Sprumont (1991)].
A dynamic constraint-directed ordered search algorithm for solving constraint satisfaction problems

Many engineering problems such as Job Shop Scheduling can be categorized as constraint satisfaction problems. We propose the Dynamic Constraint-directed Ordered Search (DCOS) to solve such problems. DCOS repeatedly re-arranges the search order of the variables and eliminates its local inconsistencies by using a low order network consistency algorithm. As a result, it reduces the width of the search tree. The reduction of the width of the search tree causes the decrease in the number of backtrackings required to find the solution. We have applied DCOS to the Graph Coloring Problem and the Zebra Problem with a second order network consistency algorithm and obtained almost-backtrack-free searches for both cases.
Uncertain Law in Uncertain Times: Emergency Powers and Lessons from South Asia

[A] legal system, like a human being, may at one stage be unborn, at a second not yet wholly independent of its mother, then enjoy a healthy independent existence, later decay and finally die. These half-way stages between birth and normal, independent existence and, again, between that and death, put out of joint our familiar way of describing legal phenomena. H.L.A. Hart 1 I H.L.A. Hart published The Concept of Law in 1961, when Europe decolonization and postwar Communist revolution provided models of liminal moments in the lives of legal systems. 2 Forty years later, the foot soldiers of liberation wars and their bloody aftermaths in Afghanistan and Egypt have brought a new threat of violent, on occasion catastrophic, harm to airports, chemical plants, power stations, parliamentary offices, and subway trains. The military and law-enforcement responses of American and European states to terrorist threats have involved significant shifts of power to the executive branch. The resulting emergency measures hold a risk that the executive, which benefits from immediate access to securityrelated information and is unencumbered by a legislature’s need for deliberation and consensus, will assume a dominant rule beyond the emergency’s duration. Embedded constitutional and human rights, moreover, have yielded quickly to perceived necessities, especially for outsiders to the political community, such as non-citizens. 3 Emergency powers now risk putting the rule of law “out of joint.” Like Hamlet, American commentators seem bereft of an ethical compass to navigate the constitutional and political shoals of national-security policy-making in a time of prolonged emergency. The US Constitution devotes little attention to delineating emergency powers, although legislative specifications of such powers have proliferated. 4 Historical experience, the first and last redoubt of the American constitutional jurist and scholar, yields only scanty lessons. The United States has experienced few national crises that threatened the practical operation of federal government since the Civil War of the 1860s. Public attention has focused on emergency powers only sporadically and only in times of crisis, when attention is drawn to deficiencies, rather than the overreaching, in emergency powers. With a handful of notable exceptions, few scholars have attended
Pure Play vs. Bricks-and-Clicks: Who Reaps the Benefits of Virtual Retailing?

Pure play and bricks-and-clicks represent todayâ€™s two major retailing models. The current study answers four questions comparing the two models in terms of the e-commerce benefits achieved and information systems management practices used to achieve them. It applies a Web-based survey to compare 69 pure plays to 348 bricks-and-clicks retailers in terms of the market expansion, customer service, back-end efficiency, inventory management, and cost reduction benefits reaped, as well as in terms of the benchmarking, process redesign, and planning practices used. It found market expansion as the top benefit for both types of retailers. Pure plays exceed bricks-and-clicks at achieving back-end efficiency, inventory management, and cost reduction benefits. Pure play retailers apply benchmarking to reap their benefits while bricks-and-clicks retailers use process redesign and planning to reap theirs. Pure play retailers are better able to utilize benchmarking to realize market expansion and customer service benefits. On the other hand, bricks-and-clicks retailers are better able to utilize process redesign to realize inventory management and cost reduction benefits. The findings suggest potential directions for future research as well as electronic retail practice.
R-MHD: an adaptive-grid radiation-magnetohydrodynamics computer code

Abstract A one-dimensional adaptive-grid finite-differencing computer code is presented for radiation-magnetohydrodynamics (R-MHD) simulations of fusion plasmas. The governing equations consist of the continuity, momentum, and energy equations of a non-relativistic, radiative and magnetized fluid plus field-intensity equations of radiation and magnetic fields. The equations are solved on an adaptive grid that dynamically moves the points at every timestep to follow steep gradients in physical quantities, such as temperature, mass density, pressure and momentum. The fluid equations are solved explicitly and the time-step control is based on the CFL condition for fluid flow. The radiation and magnetic field equations are solved implicitly because the timestep set by fluid flow is several orders of magnitude larger than the timescale for radiation and magnetic fields.
Activation of Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Increases Apoptosis in Melanoma Cells Treated with Trail

While the TRAIL pathway represents a promising therapeutic target in melanoma, resistance to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis remains a barrier to its successful adoption. Since the Wnt/β-catenin pathway has been implicated in facilitating melanoma cell apoptosis, we investigated the effect of Wnt/β-catenin signaling on regulating the responses of melanoma cells to TRAIL. Co-treatment of melanoma cell lines with WNT3A-conditioned media and recombinant TRAIL significantly enhanced apoptosis compared to treatment with TRAIL alone. This apoptosis correlates with increased abundance of the pro-apoptotic proteins BCL2L11 and BBC3, and with decreased abundance of the anti-apoptotic regulator Mcl1. We then confirmed the involvement of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway by demonstrating that siRNA-mediated knockdown of an intracellular β-catenin antagonist, AXIN1, or treating cells with an inhibitor of GSK-3 also enhanced melanoma cell sensitivity to TRAIL. These studies describe a novel regulation of TRAIL sensitivity in melanoma by Wnt/β-catenin signaling, and suggest that strategies to enhance Wnt/β-catenin signaling in combination with TRAIL agonists warrant further investigation.