cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Anodic depolarization by aqueous pyrite slurries in the production of hydrogen

Abstract Electrolysis of pyrite slurries in aqueous acidic electrolytes at potentials of 0.6 V versus a saturated calomel electrode resulted in the formation of sulphate and ferric ions in the anolyte, while hydrogen gas was formed in the cathode compartment. Thermodynamic considerations suggest that oxidation of pyrite coupled to hydrogen production can be accomplished at an overall cell potential of 0.48 V. The Faradaic current efficiency for hydrogen production was found to be ≈95%. The rates of reaction were observed to increase with electrolysis time, suggesting that pyrite electro-oxidation reactions are autocatalytic in nature. The rates of reaction were found to increase monotonically with electrolysis temperature. In experiments with pyrite particles of various sizes, high reaction rates were generally found with smaller size particles. Other experiments indicated that higher reaction rates can be achieved by increasing the concentration of pyrite slurries.
Discrete Yttrium(III) Complexes as Lactide Polymerization Catalysts

The development of biodegradable polymers derived from renewable resources offers solutions to problems associated with traditional commodity plastics ranging from waste management to dwindling petrochemical feedstocks. Important targets include polyesters derived from the ring-opening polymerization of cyclic esters. Polylactide (PLA) is a notable example with numerous biomedical and pharmaceutical applications.1 A goal of
Alcohol and Estrogen Replacement Therapy in Postmenopausal Women

The literature remains contentious regarding the separate and combined effects of moderate drinking and estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) on cognition. In the current study, the authors sought to dis
Thrombopoiesis: new ITP paradigm?

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is usually acute and self-limited in children, although bleeding symptoms are occasionally severe and do not respond to conventional therapy. In this issue of Blood , Bussel and colleagues report initial phase 1/2 safety and efficacy data using romiplostim, a novel
Corporate social responsiveness: Choosing between hierarchical and contractual control

Metaphors from strategic management can be applied effectively to business ethics programs. While effective strategies help implement ethical decisions that are formulated in good faith, ostensibly value-neutral control mechanisms can indirectly affect the substantive nature of policies and decisions themselves. This article examines the effectiveness of various corporate social responsibility implementation strategies. It also addresses the effects of implementation choices on the substantive formulation of ethical decisions and policies.
Comment on “Long‐Term Global Heating From Energy Use”

In a prominent article published in Tellus in 1969, Mikhail I. Budyko, with the Main Geophysical Observatory, Leningrad, Soviet Union, wrote that “all the energy used by man is transformed into heat, the main portion of this energy being an additional source of heat as compared to the present radiation gain” [Budyko, 1969, p. 618]. He pointed out that this heating was over and above any climate forcing from anthropogenic greenhouse gases and—since energy use was growing geometrically—it was likely to result in the retreat of the cryosphere, accompanied by excessive and potentially damaging global warming, perhaps in 200 years or less. Eric J. Chaisson, in Eos (“Long-Term Global Heating From Energy Use,” 89(28), 253254, 2008), does not acknowledge Budyko's research. Chaisson cites cosmic history and the history of the human species, but he provides no references to the conceptual history of the idea that human energy use could result in global heating. Budyko first published on the Earth's heat budget in 1948 and in 1998 received the Blue Planet Prize, sponsored by the Asahi Glass Foundation, for his lifetime accomplishments in quantitative climatology.
Cytoplasmic and nuclear protein synthesis during in vitro differentiation of murine ICM and embryonal carcinoma cells.

Abstract Protein syntheses during in vitro differentiation of inner cell masses (ICM) isolated from mouse blastocysts and of pluripotent embryonal carcinoma cells (ECC) were compared by two-dimensional electrophoretic analysis of [ 35 S]methionine-labeled cells. While most of the polypeptides found in ICM, ECC, and embryoid bodies (EB) derived from them were common to all four preparations, some distinct differences were noted. More polypeptides changed in intensity during the differentiation of ICM than during the differentiation of ECC. Analysis of ECC prior to differentiation revealed that only some of the polypeptides abundant in ICM were present, while at the same time, some of the polypeptides abundant in ICM-EB were being synthesized. These data indicate that ECC represent cells further advanced in development than the cells of ICM isolated from 4-day-old blastocysts. The EB derived from ECC also differ from those from ICM. Comparison of EB derived from ICM and ECC with cells of the parietal yolk sac line, PYS, indicates that all three synthesize two polypeptides abundant in EB. These two polypeptides can, therefore, be used as biochemical markers of parietal entoderm differentiation. Pluripotent ECC synthesize small amounts of characteristic EB proteins and the 10-nm filament protein (also found in PYS cells but not in EB). This indicates that small numbers of differentiated or differentiating cells are present in pluripotent ECC cultures.
Computing one-loop amplitudes from the holomorphic anomaly of unitarity cuts

We propose a systematic way to carry out the method introduced in F. Cachazo, hep-th/0410077 for computing certain unitarity cuts of one-loop $\mathcal{N}=4$ amplitudes of gluons. We observe that the class of cuts for which the method works involves all next-to-MHV $n$-gluon one-loop amplitudes of any helicity configurations. As an application of our systematic procedure, we obtain the complete seven-gluon one-loop leading-color amplitude ${A}_{7;1}({1}^{\ensuremath{-}},{2}^{\ensuremath{-}},{3}^{\ensuremath{-}},{4}^{+},{5}^{+},{6}^{+},{7}^{+})$.
FEMTOSECOND DYNAMICS OF SOLVATION : MICROSCOPIC FRICTION AND COHERENT MOTION IN DENSE FLUIDS

In this paper, we present detailed experimental and theoretical studies of the femtosecond dynamics of microscopic friction. The real-time rotational motion of a well-defined system of diatomic solute in monatomic solvent has been studied for two solvents ranging from gas to liquid densities. Both coherent inertial and diffusive limits of the motion and all stages in the transition between these two regimes are observed in detail. The transient anisotropies over the entire range of experimental densities and solvents are well-represented by the J-coherence bimolecular collision model presented here. This stochastic hard-sphere collision model explicitly relates the physical properties of the solvent to the anisotropy and the coefficient of rotational friction, permitting calculation of the transient anisotropy from the Enskog hard-sphere collision frequency. Friction coefficients obtained from J-coherence analysis of experimental anisotropies were compared with those from Gordon J-diffusion, and Langevin−...
NMF based approach for finding recurrent aberrations in DNA copy number data

The current advances in array-based techniques allow the measurement of copy number at very large number of locations in the genome. The copy number data from a single sample is segmented to identify gains and losses which are frequently found in cancer. The availability of large sample-size datasets encourages researchers to identify recurrent aberrations. recurrent aberrations happen within the same chromosomal region across multiple cancer samples. In this paper we propose a new algorithm based on non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) and circular binary segmentation (CBS). The proposed algorithm uses sparse NMF and CBS to detect the recurrent regions candidates. Then we adopt cyclic shift which is used to permute the data to distinguish between recurrent and sporadic copy number aberrations. We applied the proposed algorithm to two real datasets of glioblastoma and ovarian cancer. The results show the ability of the proposed algorithm to identify recurrent regions and to provide useful information to study genesis of cancer.
Hybrids of hybrids: nano-scale combinations of polyphosphazenes with other materials

Although more than 700 different polyphosphazenes are known, with a wide range of physical and chemical properties, a further expansion of materials properties can be accomplished by combining these macromolecules with other materials such as organic polymers, ceramics or semiconductors. These combinations lead to uses in the fields of biomedicine, energy generation and energy storage, and the formation of nano-particles such as micelles. This article is a review of recent developments in the author's laboratory to combine polyphosphazenes with other materials in order to generate new combinations of useful properties. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Probability of Fatigue Failure in Steel Catenary Risers in Deep Water

Deep water developments are being pursued vigorously in various parts of the world (West Coast of Africa, Gulf of Mexico, etc.). The riser system is a critical part of the field architecture. Riser failure results in reduction or cessation of revenue. It may also lead to spillage or pollution and may endanger lives. Hence, riser design must carry a high degree of reliability. Steel catenary risers (SCRs) are considered to be technically feasible and commercially efficient solutions, especially when high temperatures and pressures are involved. However, in terms of fatigue, SCRs are very sensitive to environmental loading. The procedure for fatigue analysis is essentially deterministic. This paper concentrates on the probability of failure associated with the current design practice of fatigue analysis of SCRs. The procedure is illustrated with sample calculations with first-order vessel motion and a flow chart for assessing the probability of fatigue failure is also given. The example is chosen so as to h...
Culturalism: Pluralism, culture, and race in the Harvard encyclopedia of American ethnic groups

Published in 1980, the Harvard Encyclopedia of American Ethnic Groups was part of a U.S. discourse of difference which I call “culturalism” that aimed to replace “race” with “culture” ("ethnic group"). The Encyclopedia contributed to a U.S. nation‐building project by denying that race is a powerful social classifier in the United States, removing historical contexts from social groups, reifying ethnic groups and cultures, moralizing about their differences, reducing and simplifying ethnic myths, and denying that telling stories is a social act. The authoritative yet anxious stance of the Encyclopedia reveals contradictions in the political uses of race and culture that it could not contain. Discourses of difference like the one that produced the Encyclopedia continue today to shape public talk about multiculturalism.
The vertebrate larynx: Adaptations and aberrations

The complex anatomy of the vertebrate larynx shows a steady progression from the simple slit on the floor of the lungfish's pharynx to the fine-tuned mechanism of the human vocal apparatus. The frog's larynx acts as a check valve to prevent collapse of the lungs during a dive, since the animal has no rib cage. The crocodile's laryngeal framework has acquired an epiglottic analogue which fits snugly into the nasopharynx and protects the lower respiratory tract from inundation while the animal drowns its prey. The snake's larynx lies intraorally and can be extended beyond the lower teeth while the reptile leisurely swallows its prey intact. The mammal has acquired a cricothyroid joint, allowing its membranous vocal folds to be stretched during phonation. In Homo sapiens, vocal performance has reached its highest degree of versatility, with a vocal fold capable of adjustment in length, tension and shape. In the course of organic evolution, man appears to have chosen the ability to speak and sing over the security that an intranarial epiglottis would have given him.
The place of the brain in the natural world

Abstract A great deal is known already about the brain, but most of our knowledge of it is still in the form of experimental and observational facts. With the growing interest in the brain's more general properties, however, such as in “artificial intelligence” in its various forms, the time has come for an abstract formulation of the nature of “brain”, a formulation suitable for a direct translation to the computer or hardware. The paper gives such a formulation on the basis of set theory and the concept of the statedetermined system.
T cell receptor/CARMA1/NF-κB signaling controls T-helper (Th) 17 differentiation

IL-17–producing CD4 T cells play a key role in immune responses against extracellular bacteria and autoimmunity. Nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) is required for T-cell activation and selected effector functions, but its role in Th17 differentiation is controversial. Using genetic mouse models that impede T-cell–NF-κB signaling either downstream of the T-cell receptor (TCR) or of IκB kinase β (IKKβ), we demonstrate that NF-κB signaling controls not only survival and proliferation of activated T cells, but, if cell survival and cell-cycle progression are enabled, has an additional role in promoting completion of Th17 differentiation. CARD-containing MAGUK protein 1 (CARMA1), an adapter required for TCR/NF-κB signaling, was necessary for acquisition of IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-21, IL-22, IL-23R, and CCR6 expression in T cells cultured under Th17 conditions. In proliferating cells, lack of CARMA1 selectively prevented Th17, but not Th1 or Th2 differentiation, in a cell-intrinsic manner. Consistent with these data, CARMA1-KO mice were resistant to experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Surprisingly, transcription factors essential for Th17 differentiation such as RORγt, AHR, and IRF4 were normally induced in CARMA1-KO T cells activated under Th17 conditions, suggesting that the Th17 differentiation program was initiated normally. Instead, chromatin loci of Th17 effector molecules failed to acquire an open conformation in CARMA1-KO T cells. Our results demonstrate that TCR/CARMA1/NF-κB controls completion of Th17 differentiation by enabling chromatin accessibility of Th17 effector molecule loci.
Mortuary Practices and Social Differentiation at Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, Mexico

Mortuary Practices and Social Differentiation at Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, Mexico. John C. Ravesloot. Anthropological Papers of the University of Arizona, No. 49. Tucson: University of Arizona Press, 1988. xii+113 pp. $25.00 (paper). ISBN 0-8165-1048-2
The Production of Hindu-Muslim Violence in Contemporary India

Abbreviations Used in This BookMaps, Figures, and TablesPreface and Acknowledgments Part I / Introduction1. Explaining Communal Violence Part II / Communal Riots in India and Aligarh2. Aligarh: Politics, Population, and Social Organization3. Hindu-Muslim Violence in India and Aligarh4. The Great Aligarh Riots of December 1990 and January 19915. The Control of Communal Conflict in Aligarh Part III / Demographic, Social, and Economic Factors in the Production of Riots6. The Geography and Demography of Riots7. The Economics of Riots: Economic Competition and Victimization Part IV / Riots and the Political Process8. Riots and Elections9. The Practice of Communal Politics10. Communalization and Polarization: Selected Constituency-Wise Results for Aligarh Elections11. Communal Solidarity and Division at the Local Level12. The Decline of Communal Violence and the Transformation of Electoral Competition Part V / The Process of Blame Displacement13. Riot Interpretation, Blame Displacement, and the Communal Discourse14. Police Views of Hindu-Muslim Violence15. The Role of the Media Part IV / Conclusion16. The Persistence of Hindu-Muslim Violence: The Dynamics of Riot Production Postscript: Aligarh and GujaratAppendicesNotesIndexIndex of Mohallas
Transient Climate Effects of Large Impacts on Titan

Titan's thick atmosphere and volatile-rich surface cause it to respond to big impacts in a somewhat Earth-like manner. Here we construct a simple globally-averaged model that tracks the flow of energy through the environment in the weeks, years, and millenia after a big comet strikes Titan. The model Titan is endowed with 1.4 bars of N2 and 0.07 bars of CH4, methane lakes, a water ice crust, and enough methane underground to saturate the regolith to the surface. We find that a nominal Menrva impact is big enough to raise the surface temperature by approx. 80 K and to double the amount of methane in the atmosphere. The extra methane drizzles out of the atmosphere over hundreds of years. An upper-limit Menrva is just big enough to raise the surface to water's melting point. The putative Hotei impact (a possible 800-1200 km diameter basin, Soderblom et al., 2009) is big enough to raise the surface temperature to 350-400 K. Water rain must fall and global meltwaters might range between 50 m to more than a kilometer deep, depending on the details. Global meltwater oceans do not last more than a few decades or centuries at most, but are interesting to consider given Titan's organic wealth. Significant near-surface clathrate formation is possible as Titan cools but faces major kinetic barriers.
A double-blind prospective comparison of rofecoxib vs ketorolac in reducing postoperative pain after arthroscopic knee surgery

Abstract Study Objective The aim of this study was to compare the analgesic efficacy of premedication with rofecoxib vs intravenous (IV) ketorolac in reducing postoperative pain after arthroscopic knee surgery. Study Design This is a prospective, randomized, double-blinded study. Setting This study was set at a university hospital. Subjects The subjects include 54 patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical statuses I, II, and III undergoing knee arthroscopy. Interventions Group 1 received 50 mg oral rofecoxib preoperatively with IV placebo injection, which was administered 20 minutes before the end of the operation. Group 2 received a preoperative placebo and 30 mg IV ketorolac 20 minutes before the end of surgery. Measurements The primary outcome measure was the proportion of patients reporting pain in the postoperative anesthesia care unit, 6 hours and 24 hours after discharge. Additional end points included the use of 5:325 mg oxycodone-acetaminophen (O/A) tablets, pain scores, patient's satisfaction survey, and comparison of side effects. Data were analyzed using independent samples t tests for continuous variables or χ 2 tests for categorical variables. P Results The 2 groups were comparable with regard to patient characteristics, intraoperative medication use, and duration of surgery. There was no difference either in pain scores or O/A use in the postoperative anesthesia care unit. At 24 hours after discharge, significantly more patients in the ketorolac group (91%) reported pain than the rofecoxib group (63%) ( P = .02). Sixty-one percent of patients in the ketorolac group used O/A during the first 24 hours vs 38% in the rofecoxib group. The difference, however, was not statistically significant. Conclusion Preoperative rofecoxib is as effective as ketorolac for the treatment of pain after knee arthroscopy. Higher frequency of pain reporting at 24 hours by patients in ketorolac group is explained by the longer analgesic effect of rofecoxib. Future studies should directly compare gastrointestinal injury of these drugs, as well as cost-effectiveness of rofecoxib vs ketorolac.
Microbiological techniques used to diagnose infections in the immunocompromised patient

Abstract The diagnosis of infections in immunocompromised patients is difficult on clinical examination because of the host's lack of a typical immune response, thereby making the clinical microbiology laboratory a crucial element in patient care. Prompt and relevant culture results are dependent on the adequacy of the specimen, appropriateness of collection time, timely specimen transport, and notification to the laboratory of the type and immunological status of the patient. Copyright © 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company
The repolarization-excitability relationship in the human right atrium is unaffected by cycle length, recording site and prior arrhythmias

OBJECTIVES The goal of this study was to determine the relationship between repolarization and excitability in the human atrium under various conditions. BACKGROUND Action potential duration (APD) measurements from monophasic action potential (MAP) recordings provide a surrogate for measuring the effective refractory period (ERP) in human ventricle. The relationship between repolarization and refractoriness in human atrium and the effect of prior atrial fibrillation/flutter on the ERP/APD correlation are unknown. METHODS Seven patients with sinus rhythm and 15 patients after conversion of atrial flutter or fibrillation were evaluated. Monophasic action potentials were recorded at multiple right atrial sites and during different basic cycle lengths from 300 to 700 ms, while ERPs were determined by extrastimulus technique using the MAP recording-pacing combination catheter. RESULTS There was a close correlation between ERP and APD at 70% repolarization (APD70, r = 0.97; p < 0.001) and 90% repolarization (APD90, r = 0.98; p < 0.001), respectively. Refractoriness occurred at a repolarization level of 72 ± 8%. The ERP/APD70and ERP/APD90ratios averaged 1.06 ± 0.10 and 0.86 ± 0.08, respectively. These ratios were nearly constant over the entire range of basic cycle lengths, between different sites in individual patients and between different patients. Patients cardioverted from atrial fibrillation or flutter exhibited no significant differences in the ERP/APD relationship compared with patients with sinus rhythm. CONCLUSIONS Effective refractory period and APD are closely related in the human right atrium. Using the MAP recording technique, atrial ERPs can be assessed by measurement of APDs. Effective refractory period is most closely reflected by APD70. Thus, MAP recordings allow investigation of the local activation and repolarization time course beat by beat, visualizing the excitable gap.
Does brain size variability provide evidence of multiple species in Homo habilis

Endocranial volume (ECV) variability as measured by the coefficient of variation (CV) has been important in supporting the view that more than one species is represented in Homo habilis. Supporters of this view used a CV of 10 as a standard to determine that 1) the H. habilis CV of 12.7 indicates multiple species and 2) there is a low probability of H. habilis specimens KNM-ER 1470 and KNM-ER 1813 being members of the same taxon. This study examines published data for ECVs of fossil and extant hominoids to determine whether CV yields any information regarding species number in H. habilis. Results indicate that there is no empirical basis for using a CV of 10 as a standard to detect multiple species in H. habilis. Also, geography, time, sample choice, sex ratio, and measurement technique are complicating factors that must be considered when interpreting CVs for fossil samples. Additionally, the broad 95% statistical confidence limits (5.1-20.3) indicate that the CV estimate of 12.7 for H. habilis is not sufficiently reliable to allow biologically meaningful interpretation. However, if the CV for H. habilis is actually 12.7, it still falls within the range of variation for single species of modern hominoids. The evidence from ECV variability does not support the argument for multiple species in H. habilis.
The particulate instantiation of homogeneous pink

If one examines the sky at sunset on a clear night, one seems to see a continuum of colors from reds, oranges, and yellows to a deep blue black. Between any two colored points in the sky there seem to be other colored points. Furthermore, the changes in color across the sky appear to be continuous. Although the colors at the zenith and the horizon are obviously distinct, nowhere in the sky can one see any color borders, and every sufficiently small region of the sky is made up of regions that all seem to be of the same color. How can this apparent continuity be explained? One classic answer is simply to admit an infinite number of colors, and an infinite number of sense data, and allow that a glimpse of the sky comprises a completed infinity a continuous series of colors-at-phenomenal places. The question of whether the set of sense data (or sense impressions) is finite or infinite created some interesting divisions among classic theorists.1 More recently the issue has been invoked as an objection to any attempt to identify sensory experiences with brain states. Wilfrid Sellars is a proponent of a subtle variant of this objection. Sellars' celebrated 'grain' argument begins with the example of a solid pink ice cube:
Testing for treeness: lateral gene transfer, phylogenetic inference, and model selection

A phylogeny that allows for lateral gene transfer (LGT) can be thought of as a strictly branching tree (all of whose branches are vertical) to which lateral branches have been added. Given that the goal of phylogenetics is to depict evolutionary history, we should look for the best supported phylogenetic network and not restrict ourselves to considering trees. However, the obvious extensions of popular tree-based methods such as maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood face a serious problem—if we judge networks by fit to data alone, networks that have lateral branches will always fit the data at least as well as any network that restricts itself to vertical branches. This is analogous to the well-studied problem of overfitting data in the curve-fitting problem. Analogous problems often have analogous solutions and we propose to treat network inference as a case of model selection and use the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC). Strictly tree-like networks are more parsimonious than those that postulate lateral as well as vertical branches. This leads to the conclusion that we should not always infer LGT events whenever it would improve our fit-to-data, but should do so only when the improved fit is larger than the penalty for adding extra lateral branches.
Susceptibility of highbush blueberry cultivars to larval infestation by Rhagoletis mendax (Diptera: Tephritidae).

Eighteen highbush blueberry, Vaccinium corymbosum L., cultivars were evaluated for larval infestation by the blueberry maggot fly, Rhagoletis mendax Curran. Most cultivars were evaluated during 3 field seasons. Significantly fewer maggots were found in berries of early-ripening cultivars, ‘Earliblue’ and ‘Bluetta’, than in later maturing cultivars such as ‘Bluehaven’, ‘Coville’, ‘Darrow’, ‘Elizabeth’, and ‘Lateblue’. The oviposition period of R. mendax is synchronized with the ripening dates of mid-season cultivars (late July to early August) in Rhode Island. This results in more oviposition and higher larval infestations in mid- and late-season susceptible cultivars. Among the mid- to late-season cultivars, ‘Northland’ and ‘Herbert’ berries had consistently fewer maggots than other cultivars. These cultivars, along with Bluetta and Earliblue appear to be good candidates for inclusion into integrated pest management programs.
Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration is useful for nodal staging in patients with pleural mesothelioma.

Patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma and negative N2 stage lymph nodes may benefit from extrapleural pneumonectomy with adjuvant therapy. The objective of this study is to describe the use of EUS-FNA to determine N2 stage status in patients with mesothelioma and its impact in the management of such patients. Six patients (mean age, 62 yr; median age, 63 yr; range, 52–70 yr; 5 men; 1 woman) underwent EUS-FNA for staging of N2 lymph nodes from July 2000 to July 2006. Follow-up included operative notes, treatment summaries, and surgical pathology. Eight sites were aspirated: four subcarinal lymph nodes, three aorto-pulmonary window lymph nodes, and one paraesophageal mass. Two of 8 (25%) aspirates were positive for metastatic disease in two different patients. Two false negative EUS-FNAs were observed and were attributed to sampling error not diagnostic error. No complications were observed. EUS-FNA is a safe N2 node staging technique in patients with mesothelioma. A positive N2 lymph node by EUS-FNA may be a contraindication to definitive surgery in patients with malignant mesothelioma. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2008;36:32–37. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
An investigation of the influence of indexing exhaustivity and term distributions on a document space

The authors investigate the influence of index term distributions, and indexing exhaustivity levels on the document space within a visual information retrieval environment called DARE. Using combinations of three levels of term distributions (shallow, observed, steep) and indexing exhaustivity (low, observed, high), hypothetical document sets were generated and projected onto the DARE environment. The results from the simulated document sets demonstrate the importance of term distribution and exhaustivity characteristics on the density of document spaces and their implications for retrieval, particularly when different term weighting schemes are used. The results also demonstrate how different combinations of exhaustivity and term distributions may result in similar document space density characteristics.
Seismic refraction analysis: The path forward

Seismic Refraction Methods: Unleashing the Potential and Understanding the Limitations; Tucson, Arizona, 29 March 2012 A workshop focused on seismic refraction methods took place on 29 May 2012, associated with the 2012 Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to Engineering and Environmental Problems. This workshop was convened to assess the current state of the science and discuss paths forward, with a primary focus on near-surface problems but with an eye on all applications. The agenda included talks on these topics from a number of experts interspersed with discussion and a dedicated discussion period to finish the day. Discussion proved lively at times, and workshop participants delved into many topics central to seismic refraction work.
A numerical experiment on pollutant dispersion in a horizontally-homogeneous atmospheric boundary layer

Abstract A simplified turbulent closure model is proposed and utilized for simulation of the three dimensional dispersion of pollutant concentration. Since the present model is complex to an extent between the Level 2 and 3 models discussed in Mellor and Yamada (1974), it may be tentatively referred to as a “Level 2.5 model”. The Level 2.5 model is much simpler than the Level 3 model because only one transport equation for the turbulent energy is required to be solved, while seven transport equations are required for the Level 3 model when, for example, pollutant, wind, temperature and water vapor quantities are simulated. It is for this simplicity that the Level 2.5 model is proposed despite certain deficiencies in comparison with higher-level models. In the first part of the paper, the ability of the Level 2.5 model to simulate the diurnally varying planetary boundary layer of the “Wangara” experiment where previously the Level 3 model was utilized. The Level 2.5 model reproduced well the Level 3 model results except in the layer near the ground where the difference was greatest. In the second half of the paper a three-dimensional mass-conservation equation for a chemically inert pollutant is integrated numerically, with use of mean and turbulence fields from the numerical results of the first part. As expected, the results indicate large differences in the computed profiles of pollutant concentration between days and nights due to changes in stability. The values of the surface pollutant concentration are significantly reduced, especially during the nights when the effective stack height is 200 m.
The effects of basis set and electron correlation on the structure and stability of Be4 and Be13

Abstract The preferred structures and dissociation energies of Be 4 and Be 13 are determined by ab initio methods, including Moller-Plesset perturbation theory, coupled-cluster theory, and multireference CI. Both species serve as calibration points for basis set extension and electron correlation effects. The results are used to interpret binding energies for larger Be clusters obtained only at the SCF level with smaller basis sets.
Increased production of apolipoprotein A-I associated with elevated plasma levels of high-density lipoproteins, apolipoprotein A-I, and lipoprotein A-I in a patient with familial hyperalphalipoproteinemia

Abstract Familial hyperalphalipoproteinemia (FHA) is a heritable trait associated with elevated plasma concentrations of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and possibly with longevity and protection against coronary heart disease (CHD). The metabolic basis and molecular etiology of FHA have not been established in most kindreds. The proband of a kindred with FHA and possible longevity was found to have elevated plasma levels of HDL cholesterol, apolipoprotein (apo) A-I, and lipoproteins containing apo A-I without apo A-II (Lp A-I), but normal levels of apo A-II and lipoproteins containing apo A-I with apo A-II (Lp A-I:A-II). The in vivo kinetics of apo A-I and apo A-II were studied in the FHA proband and in control subjects using both exogenous radiotracer (125I-apo A-I and 131I-apo A-II) and endogenous stable isotope (primed constant infusion of 13C6-phenylalanine) labeling techniques. The production rate (PR) of apo A-I was markedly increased in the FHA subject (28.9 mg/kg · d) compared with the control subjects (12.0 ± 2.1 mg/kg · d), whereas the apo A-II PR was not substantially increased. The primary sequence of the proband's apo A-I gene, including 1.2 kb of the 5′-flanking sequence, was normal. We conclude that a selective upregulation of apo A-I production is one metabolic cause of FHA, and results in high plasma concentrations of HDL cholesterol, apo A-I, and Lp A-I and possibly in protection from atherosclerotic CHD.
Excitation of higher order modes in optical fibers with parabolic index profile.

A large number of modes can be supported by multimode fibers. There are applications where higher order modes are preferred. Microbend intensity sensors are good examples. The sensitivity of these sensors is greatly increased if higher order modes are excited. In this work, a simple method to excite higher order modes preferentially is suggested. It consists of thin-film gratings deposited directly onto the fiber end. By controlling the film thickness or transparency of the grating structure, a desired transmission coefficient T(r,φ) is synthesized. The desired mode can be excited preferentially by incident Gaussian beams without the aid of additional optical components. Binary intensity and binary phase gratings have been studied. Numerical investigation reveals that the phase gratings are more effective for the preferential excitation of higher order modes than the intensity gratings. In fact, by using binary phase gratings and in optimal excitation conditions as much as 81.1, 76.9, 74.6, 73.3, and 72.3% of the power in the incoming, linearly polarized, fundamental Gaussian beam can be converted to LP02, LP03, LP04, LP05, and LP06 modes, respectively, excluding Fresnel loss.
Methylmercury: bacterial degradation in lake sediments.

During the first 50 days of a long-term period of incubation of lake sediments with inorganic mercury (Hg2+), low concentrations of methylinercury were observed to build up. Upon continued incubation there was a rapid decrease in amount of methylmercury in the system and a concomitant evolution of volatile inorganic mercury (Hg0). Transfer of the mixed culture to growth media containing methylmercury resulted in the degradation of methylmercury and the volatilization of Hg0. Four bacterial isolates were obtained from the mixed culture which, in pure culture, rapidly degraded methylmercury to methane and Hg0. The presence of methane in head space gases was confirmed by flameionization gas chromatography, and the presence of Hg0 in head space gases was confirmed by mass spectrometry.
Involvement of glutathione in the reduction of captan-induced in vivo inhibition of monooxygenases and liver toxicity in the rat.

Abstract If given orally captan is relatively nontoxic, but it can be extremely toxic after parenteral exposure. Therefore, a single i.p. dose of captan (20 mg/kg) was given to male Sprague‐Dawley rats and its effect on liver microsomal mixed function oxidases and certain serum enzymes (SDH, SGPT and SGOT) was studied. The single dose of captan caused marked depression of microsomal cytochrome P‐450 and the activity of benzphetamine N‐demethylase and aniline hydroxylase, and moderate elevation of the serum enzymes indicative of liver damage. However, reduced glutathione (100 mg/kg, i.p.) given prior to captan, appears to decrease the liver toxicity as measured by reduced inhibition of the microsomal enzymes and elevation of serum enzymes activity. The results suggest that glutathione and other compounds containing sulfhydryl groups may protect the subjects from captan‐induced liver toxicity.
Property Rights in Plants: Implications for Biotechnology Research and Extension

The objective of intellectual property rights is to increase the rate of technological change and the dissemination of knowledge by rewarding the output of research investment (Kintner and Lahr). Asexually propagated plants have been patentable in the United States since 1930 under an amendment to the Patent Act. In recent years, such rights have increasingly been extended to plants and microbes. The 1970 Plant Variety Protection Act extended rights to breeders of sexually propagated plants, except F-1 hybrids. The Supreme Court found microorganisms to be patentable in 1980 Diamond v. Chakrabarty 100 S. Ct. 2204, 2210. A decision by the Patent Office Board of Appeals Exparte Hibberd 227 USPQ 447 (1985) found all plants to be patentable.
Classical tragedy in the history of early opera in Rome

The earliest operas are few, and their history is a history of particulars: of the interests of individual Renaissance humanists; of the ways in which certain musicians sang; of the development of Italian poetry for music; and of the theatrical traditions within which the new genre was accepted and propagated. Recent music history has tended to stress the sixteenth-century antecedents for these aspects of opera, without forgetting, however, that the common inspiration for Dafne, Anima e Corpo and Euridice – as well as for some earlier Florentine intermedi – was the desire to emulate the effects of the music of the ancient Greeks and Romans. In Florence this was realised at the granducal court with the help of its satellite circles of educated nobles. In Rome, knowledge of the ancients was the province of professional scholars, the priests and religious who taught in the seminaries and colleges, and for whom Seneca and Terence would have been more familiar fare than Tasso and Guarini. Thus after Cavalieri staged his Rappresentatione di Anima et di Corpo under the auspices of the Oratorians, it is not surprising that the next Roman musical drama is a carnival school play given by boys and composed by their professor. In Rome, furthermore, the princes and prelates of the Church exercised their tastes for fine literature with transformations of Pindar and Horace designed to inspire Christian devotion.
Respiratory, acid-base and ionic status of kemp's ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys kempi) subjected to trawling

Abstract 1. Kemp's ridley sea turtles were placed in a commercial shrimp trawl equipped with a turtle excluder device (TED), resulting in a burst of apneic swimming and a brief bout of forced submergence (⩽7.3 min). 2. Trawl tests induced a significant non-respiratory (metabolic) acidosis; blood pH declined almost 0.4 units and plasma [lactate] increased 6-fold from pre- to post-trawl conditions. 3. Significant changes in blood parameters occurred regardless of the duration of forced submergence (range 2.7–7.3 min), suggesting apneic activity was a significant contributor to the observed acid-base imbalance.
A New Spectroscopic Approach to Examining the Role of Disulfide Bonds in the Structure and Unfolding of Soybean Trypsin Inhibitor

Although it is well-known that disulfide bonds stabilize the secondary structure of many proteins, it is difficult to directly probe both disulfide bond formation/breakage and the resulting secondary structural changes during the course of the protein folding/unfolding process. In this work, we have used a new, real-time spectroscopic approach to examine how the reduction of two disulfide bonds affects the secondary structure of soybean trypsin inhibitor (STI). The disulfide bonds are reduced with tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine (TCEP) at 40 °C, and the reduction process is probed in real-time using sulfur X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Circular dichroism (CD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopies are used concurrently to determine the structural changes caused by reduction of the disulfide bonds. Results demonstrate a noncooperative reduction of the two disulfide bonds within 5 min, likely because they are located on the surface of the protein. The unfolding of STI lags behind; dramatic chan...
High-Dose Weekly Intravenous Immunoglobulin to Prevent Infections in Patients Undergoing Autologous Bone Marrow Transplantation or Severe Myelosuppressive Therapy: A Study of the American Bone Marrow Transplant Group

Objective: To determine whether intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) prevents severe infections during autologous bone marrow transplantation or equivalent high-dose myelosuppressive therapy. Design: ...
Regulating Il9 transcription in T helper cells

T helper (Th) cells are crucial for the development of immunity to infections and inflammatory disease. The acquisition of specific cytokine-secreting profiles, primed by the cytokine microenvironment, is required for effector function of Th cells. The most recent addition to the growing list of effector subsets are Th9 cells that secrete IL-9. In this review, we propose a model for the transcriptional regulation of the Il9 gene in IL-9-expressing T cells and the relatedness of this subset to other Th phenotypes. We suggest that transcription factors restricted to certain Th subsets and common among several subsets might play a role in the plasticity of Th9 cells.
How to Travel the World Without Jet Lag

Several reviews on jet lag by us [1, 2] and others [3, 4] have recently been published. The focus of this article is on describing in detail how melatonin, bright light and sleep schedules can be used in conjunction with currently available flight times to reduce or eliminate jet lag. Our aim is to educate circadian rhythm researchers and sleep clinicians about the principles involved, so that they can make similar jet travel schedules customized for individuals traveling in any direction across multiple time zones.
Changes in uterine secretion of prostaglandin F2 alpha in response to oxytocin during the estrous cycle, early pregnancy, and estrogen-induced pseudopregnancy in swine.

Thirty-one sows were used in an experiment designed to determine whether the ability of the porcine uterus to release prostaglandin (PG) F2 alpha in response to oxytocin was suppressed in pregnancy and pseudopregnancy. Sows were assigned to one of three treatment groups: nonbred (nonpregnant) controls (n = 8), pseudopregnant (5 mg estradiol benzoate, i.m., daily on Days 11-15 postestrus; n = 8), or bred (bred once daily throughout the estrous period; n = 15). Jugular venous blood samples were collected daily for quantification of progesterone. Pregnancy was determined by uterine examination at slaughter 51-72 days postmating. On the basis of progesterone and embryo recovery, bred sows were classified into three subgroups: confirmed pregnant (n = 4), suspected pregnant based on delayed luteal regression (n = 5), or bred/not pregnant (n = 6). All sows received an injection of oxytocin (30 IU, i.v.) on Days 12, 15, and 18 postestrus. Jugular venous blood samples were collected from 60 min prior to through 120 min after injection of oxytocin for quantification of 13, 14-dihydro-15-keto-PGF2 alpha (PGFM). Magnitude of response above baseline and area under the PGFM response curve (AUC) were calculated for each sow on each day and compared among treatment groups by analysis of variance. Responses in pregnant and suspected-pregnant sows were not different on any day examined; therefore the two groups were combined (n = 9) and considered pregnant for all subsequent analyses. Responses in the nonpregnant and bred/not pregnant sows were pooled and compared to the responses in the pregnant and pseudopregnant sows. Magnitudes of response were similar between these pooled groups on Day 12 (p > 0.5), but were less in pregnant and pseudopregnant sows on Days 15 and 18 (p 0.3 on each day). In contrast, when pregnant and pseudopregnant sows were compared, pseudopregnant sows had a lower magnitude of response that was consistent across all 3 days (p < 0.02). Similar relationships were apparent for the AUC. These results demonstrate that uterine secretory responsiveness to oxytocin is suppressed during early pregnancy and that this effect may be mediated through estrogen secreted by conceptuses.
CARDIOVASCULAR ABNORMALITIES IN NOONAN SYNDROME : THE CLINICAL FINDINGS AND TREATMENTS

The clinical findings and treatment of cardiovascular abnormalities in 33 patients with Noonan syndrome are reviewed. Major cardiovascular abnormalities were pulmonary valvular stenosis in 17 patients (51.1%), hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in 11 (33.3%), and atrial septal defect in 9 (27.3%). Dysplastic pulmonary valve was seen in 6 (35.3%). Balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty was performed for 4 patients with dysplastic pulmonary valves. Two patients were successfully treated. Surgical treatment was performed in 13 patients, 11 alive and 2 died. Two patients with HCM and arrhythmia died suddenly. In conclusion, balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty should be the initial palliation for dysplastic pulmonary valve in Noonan syndrome, and HCM is the risk factor for sudden death in Noonan syndrome.
Microwave noise characteristics of AlGaN/GaN HEMTs on SiC substrates for broad-band low-noise amplifiers

This letter reports high-performance passivated AlGaN/GaN high electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs) with 0.25-/spl mu/m gate-length for low noise applications. The devices exhibited a minimum noise figure (NF/sub min/) of 0.98 dB and an associated gain (G/sub a/) of 8.97 dB at 18 GHz. The noise resistance (R/sub n/), the measure of noise sensitivity to source mismatch, is 31/spl Omega/ at 18 GHz, which is relatively low and suitable for broad-band low noise amplifiers. The noise modeling analysis shows that the minimum noise figure of the GaN HEMT can be reduced further by reducing noise contributions from parasitics. These results demonstrate the viability of AlGaN/GaN HEMTs for low-noise as well as high power amplifiers.
Safe placement of central venous catheters: a measured approach.

Introduction. To develop a simple method for safely placing central venous catheters (CVCs) outside the heart from the subclavian or internal jugular vein in compliance with Food and Drug Administr...