cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SIMULTANEOUS QUANTIFICATION OF CAROTENOIDS AND TOCOPHEROLS IN CORN KERNEL EXTRACTS BY HPLC

An isocratic high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method with run times of less than 22 min has been developed for simultaneous analysis of carotenoids and tocopherols in corn. The reverse phase system utilizes a nonaqueous mobile phase in combination with a polymeric C18 column coupled to a monomeric C18 column to separate lutein, zeaxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin, α-carotene, β-carotene, and the α-, δ- and γ- forms of tocopherol. The detector was a multi-channel UV-VIS. One channel was used to monitor carotenoid absorption at 450 nm while another monitored tocopherols at 290 nm. Retention times and spiked tests with known standards validated peak identification. Linear regressions of external standards generated coefficients of determination (R2) that were in the ninety-ninth percentile for all compounds tested. Using the same samples, concentrations generated from our protocol and compared with results from other laboratories suggest that this procedure is relatively accurate.
Filial cannibalism and egg recognition by males of the primitively custodial teleost Cyprinodon macularius californiensis girard (Atherinomorpha: Cyprinodontidae)

Abstract Territorial male Salton Sea pupfish, Cyprinodon macularius californiensis , engage in limited filial cannibalism but can distinguish between their own eggs and those fertilized by other males using olfactory cues. Females lack this ability. This asymmetry is explained as a function of the polyandrous behavior of females and the persistent occupancy of food-poor spawning territories by males. Egg discrimination appears to have evolved as a defense against the activities of nonterritorial peripheral males, who will spawn in a resident's territory whenever the opportunity arises, and may be considered analogous to the defensive behavior shown by avian victims of brood parasites.
Partitioning phosphorus concentrations and loads in tributaries of a recovering urban lake

Abstract The partitioning of phosphorus (P) loading to culturally eutrophic lakes according to sources is fundamental information to guide rehabilitation programs and support mathematical models. Patterns of concentrations and loading rates of forms of P are documented for the major tributaries of Onondaga Lake, New York, United States, an urban lake that has recently demonstrated marked recovery from extreme cultural eutrophy as a result of decreased P loading from a domestic wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). This analysis is based on long-term (19 yr) biweekly monitoring of total, dissolved, and soluble reactive forms of P at the mouths of the three largest tributaries, and shorter-term higher frequency monitoring of one of the streams at two sites to resolve rural versus urban contributions. Signatures of anthropogenic sources were identified, including: (1) combined sewer overflows, (2) leaky sewers or other dry weather discharges, and (3) hydrogeologic sediment sources. On an annual average basis, t...
Complexity issues on designing tridiagonal solvers on 2-dimensional mesh interconnection networks

We consider the problem of designing optimal and efficient algorithms for solving tridiagonal linear systems with multiple right-hand side vectors on two-dimensional mesh interconnection networks. We derive asymptotic upper and lower bounds for these solvers using odd-even cyclic reduction. We present various important lower bounds on execution time for solving these systems including general lower bounds which are independent of initial data assignment, and lower bounds based on classifications of initial data assignments which classify assignments via the proportion of initial data assigned amongst processors. Finally, different algorithms are designed in order to achieve running times that are within a small constant factor of the lower bounds provided.
Pulmonary varix regression after mitral valve replacement.

Abstract Pulmonary varix is a rare finding; only 35 documented cases have been reported. The first case was described in 1843 as an incidental postmortem finding. The first clinical diagnosis was not made until 1951. In more than half of the 35 cases, the varix was present in the absence of congenital and acquired heart disease. Six patients have had concomitant mitral rheumatic heart disease. This communication describes the second patient with rheumatic mitral regurgitation in whom the pulmonary varix became radiographically invisible after prosthetic mitral valve replacement.
Ventricular function and infarct size: The Western Washington Intravenous Streptokinase in Myocardial Infarction Trial☆

Abstract The Western Washington Intravenous Streptokinase in Acute Myocardial Infarction Trial randomized 368 patients with symptoms and signs of acute myocardial infarction of Quantitative, tomographic thallium-201 infarct size and radionuclide ejection fraction were measured at 8.2 ± 7.5 weeks in 207 survivors who lived within a 100 mile radius of a centralized laboratory. Overall, infarct size as a percent of the left ventricle was 19 ± 13% for control subjects and 15 ± 13% for treatment patients (p = 0.03). For anterior infarction in patients entered within 3 h of symptom onset, infarct size was 28 ± 13% in the control group versus 19 ± 15% for the treatment group (p = 0.09). Left ventricular ejection fraction was 47 ± 15% in the control versus 51 ± 15% in the treatment group (p = 0.08). For anterior infarction of 3 h duration. It is concluded that intravenous streptokinase, when given within 3 h of symptom onset to patients with anterior infarction, reduces infarct size and improves ventricular function.
Novel plasma removal of a titanium nitride film

Abstract A process has been developed for the highly selective removal of titanium nitride (TiN), an antireflective coating, used in a 1.0μm titanium/aluminum/copper/silicon (TACS) minimum ground-rule dynamic random access memory wiring technology. This technique also eliminates a post-metal-etch surface residue generated during the etch process. This residual was thought to be organic, but has since been determined to be metallic in nature. We found that both the TiN and the metallic residual can be removed from the TACS surface by reversing the passivation-resist strip sequence. This is contrary to the industry-standard sequence of reactive ion etching metal etch, passivation, and resist strip. The elimination of the residual from the surface of the metal results in both post-metal-etch processing and product quality improvements.
Expression of Kalirin, a neuronal GDP/GTP exchange factor of the Trio family, in the central nervous system of the adult rat

Kalirin is a multifunctional protein identified by its interaction with peptidylglycine alpha-amidating monooxygenase, an enzyme essential for neuropeptide biosynthesis. Several forms of Kalirin exist, all containing spectrin-like repeats, a Dbl homology (DH) domain, and an adjacent pleckstrin homology (PH) domain; several different COOH-termini provide additional DH/PH domains and a putative protein kinase. Kalirin binds Rac1 and affects cytoskeletal organization, neuropeptide secretion, and iNOS activity. By in situ hybridization, the highest levels of Kalirin mRNA were found in the cerebral cortex, hippocampal formation, and Purkinje cells, with high levels also in thalamus, caudate putamen, septal nucleus, nucleus accumbens, amygdala, and anterior olfactory nucleus. Low levels of Kalirin mRNA were detected in the paraventricular, supraoptic, and reticular thalamic nuclei and in the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus. Brain areas with high levels of Kalirin mRNA showed strong Kalirin-like immunoreactivity. Pyramidal neurons with strongly staining soma and long dendrites were observed primarily in layer 5 of the cerebral cortex. In the hippocampus, a uniform distribution of neurons with fine dendritic staining was observed in the pyramidal cell layer, in the granule cell layer, and in the hilar cells of the dentate gyrus as well as in isolated interneurons. Cerebellar Purkinje neurons exhibited intense staining in the soma and in extensive dendritic arbors extending to the surface of the molecular layer. During embryonic development, Trio, the Drosophila orthologue of Kalirin, plays an essential role in axon guidance; localization of Kalirin to the somatodendritic region of adult neurons provides the basis for future studies of regulation and function.
Learning Objectives and Testing: An Analysis of Six Principles of Economics Textbooks, Using Bloom's Taxonomy.

This study applies Bloom's Taxonomy of Educational Objectives to six principles of economics textboks and the accompanying instructor's manuals to determine whether the test banks provided are likely to measure the textbooks' stated objectives. The study finds significant discrepancies between the stated objectives of most textbooks and the instruments included in the instructor's manuals to measure student achievement.
The period derivative of Cygnus X-3

X-rays from Cygnus X-3 have been observed during early 1978 with the detectors of the SAS 3 satellite. These observations, in conjunction with earlier Uhuru and ANS data, indicate that the 4.8 hr period of Cygnus X-3 is increasing at a rate of (5.1 + or - 1.3) times to the -6th per year. The sign and magnitude for this change are incompatible with a rotation model for the period and are in reasonable agreement with model predictions for orbital changes associated with mass loss and transfer in a binary system.
Vladimir I. Keilis-Borok (1921–2013)

Vladimir Isaakovich Keilis-Borok, emeritus Professor in Residence of Geophysics at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), passed away on 19 October 2013, following a long illness. He was born on 31 July 1921 in Moscow.
EXTRACTING LYAPUNOV EXPONENTS FROM SHORT TIME SERIES OF LOW PRECISION

Different methods for computing the Lyapunov-exponent spectrum from a time series are reviewed. All algorithms are based on either Gram-Schmidt orthonormalization or Householder QR decomposition, and they use either the linearized map or a higher-order polynomial approximation. They also differ in implementation details. The ability to use these methods for a short time series of low precision is investigated, with special attention being given to the practicality of these algorithms; i.e., their efficiency and accuracy and the number of adjustable free parameters.
Frequency-dependent magnetic permeability of Fe10Co90 nanocomposites

The frequency- and temperature-dependent magnetic permeability of a compacted Fe10Co90 nanocomposite was measured over a range of temperatures (77?873?K) and frequencies (0.1?100?kHz). The real and imaginary parts of the complex permeability spectrum showed asymmetries consistent with a distribution of energy barriers and high damping. When the complex permeabilities are scaled relative to the peak frequency of the imaginary permeability, all fall on universal curves. The complex permeability was fitted by modifying the Cole?Davidson model to account for higher damping consistent with predictions for eddy current losses. The physical significance of the relaxation time distribution obtained from the fits is discussed.
Magnetic Transfer Contrast Accurately Localizes Substantia Nigra Confirmed by Histology

Background Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has multiple contrast mechanisms. Like various staining techniques in histology, each contrast type reveals different information about the structure of the brain. However, it is not always clear how structures visible in MRI correspond to structures previously identified by histology. The purpose of this study was to determine if magnetic transfer contrast (MTC) or T2 contrast MRI was better at delineating the substantia nigra (SN). Methods MRI scans were acquired in vivo from two nonhuman primates (NHPs). The NHPs were subsequently euthanized, perfused, and their brains sectioned for histologic analyses. Each slice was photographed before sectioning. Each brain was sectioned into approximately 500 sections, 40 μm each, encompassing most of the cortex, midbrain, and dorsal parts of the hindbrain. Levels corresponding to anatomic MRI images were selected. From these, adjacent sections were stained using Kluver-Barrera (myelin and cell bodies) or tyrosine hydroxylase (dopaminergic neurons) immunohistochemistry. The resulting images were coregistered to the block-face images using a moving least squares algorithm with similarity transformations. MR images were similarly coregistered to the block-face images, allowing the structures on MRI to be identified with structures on the histologic images. Results We found that hyperintense (light) areas in MTC images were coextensive with the SN as delineated histologically. The hypointense (dark) areas in T2-weighted images were not coextensive with the SN but extended partially into the SN and partially into the cerebral peduncles. Conclusions MTC is more accurate than T2-weighting for localizing the SN in vivo.
Water oxidation intermediates applied to catalysis: Benzyl alcohol oxidation

Four distinct intermediates, Ru(IV)═O(2+), Ru(IV)(OH)(3+), Ru(V)═O(3+), and Ru(V)(OO)(3+), formed by oxidation of the catalyst [Ru(Mebimpy)(4,4'-((HO)(2)OPCH(2))(2)bpy)(OH(2))](2+) [Mebimpy = 2,6-bis(1-methylbenzimidazol-2-yl) and 4,4'-((HO)(2)OPCH(2))(2)bpy = 4,4'-bismethylenephosphonato-2,2'-bipyridine] on nanoITO (1-PO(3)H(2)) have been identified and utilized for electrocatalytic benzyl alcohol oxidation. Significant catalytic rate enhancements are observed for Ru(V)(OO)(3+) (~3000) and Ru(IV)(OH)(3+) (~2000) compared to Ru(IV)═O(2+). The appearance of an intermediate for Ru(IV)═O(2+) as the oxidant supports an O-atom insertion mechanism, and H/D kinetic isotope effects support net hydride-transfer oxidations for Ru(IV)(OH)(3+) and Ru(V)(OO)(3+). These results illustrate the importance of multiple reactive intermediates under catalytic water oxidation conditions and possible control of electrocatalytic reactivity on modified electrode surfaces.
Parathyroid hormone-stimulated resorption in calvaria cultured in serum-free medium is enhanced by the calcium-mobilizing activity of 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3

Abstract 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 enhances parathyroid hormone (PTH)-induced Ca 2+ signaling in osteoblasts by activating plasma membrane voltage-sensitive Ca 2+ channels (VSCCs). The ability of 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 or the VSCC-activating analog AT (25-hydroxy-16-ene-23-yne-D 3 ) to enhance parathyroid hormone-stimulated 45 Ca 2+ release from cultured new-born rat calvaria was measured. Analog BT (1,24-dihydroxy-22-ene-24-cyclopropyl-D 3 ), that does not mobilize Ca 2+ , also was tested along with PTH. Control experiments were performed with and without PTH and with and without serum. Individual calvaria labeled in utero with 45 Ca 2+ were cultivated in serum-free medium on filters at the medium/air interface of 24-well culture plates and 45 Ca 2+ release followed over 72 h. The results demonstrated that 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 and the Ca 2+ -mobilizing analog, AT, but not the nuclear receptor-binding analog, BT, enhanced PTH-stimulated 45 Ca 2+ release under serum-free conditions. This enhancement effect of the seco-steroids was not evident in the presence of 10% fetal calf serum. The effect of analog AT was faster than that of 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 . Nitrendipine, a specific L-type VSCC blocker, attenuated enhancement by vitamin D compounds, indicating that the high-threshold L-type VSCC is a molecular transducer of costimulation. These results emphasize the synergy between the calcitropic hormones 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 and PTH in cultures containing osteoblasts and osteoclasts, and suggest that the Ca 2+ -mobilizing activity of 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 enhances Ca 2+ release from bone.
Estimates of the Population Prevalence of Injection Drug Users among Hispanic Residents of Large US Metropolitan Areas

Little information exists on the population prevalence or geographic distribution of injection drug users (IDUs) who are Hispanic in the USA. Here, we present yearly estimates of IDU population prevalence among Hispanic residents of the 96 most populated US metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) for 1992–2002. First, yearly estimates of the proportion of IDUs who were Hispanic in each MSA were created by combining data on (1) IDUs receiving drug treatment services in Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)’s Treatment Entry Data System, (2) IDUs being tested in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) HIV-Counseling and Testing System, and (3) incident AIDS diagnoses among IDUs, supplemented by (4) data on IDUs who were living with AIDS. Then, the resulting proportions were multiplied by published yearly estimates of the number of IDUs of all racial/ethnic groups in each MSA to produce Hispanic IDU population estimates. These were divided by Hispanic population data to produce population prevalence rates. Time trends were tested using mixed-effects regression models. Hispanic IDU prevalence declined significantly on average (1992 mean = 192, median = 133; 2002 mean = 144, median = 93; units are per 10,000 Hispanics aged 15–64). The highest prevalence rates across time tended to be in smaller northeastern MSAs. Comparing the last three study years to the first three, prevalence decreased in 82% of MSAs and increased in 18%. Comparisons with data on drug-related mortality and hepatitis C mortality supported the validity of the estimates. Generally, estimates of Hispanic IDU population prevalence were higher than published estimates for non-Hispanic White residents and lower than published estimates for non-Hispanic Black residents. Further analysis indicated that the proportion of IDUs that was Hispanic decreased in 52% and increased in 48% of MSAs between 2002 and 2007. The estimates resulting from this study can be used to investigate MSA-level social and economic factors that may have contributed to variations across MSAs and to help guide prevention program planning for Hispanic IDUs within MSAs. Future research should attempt to determine to what extent these trends are applicable to Hispanic national origin subgroups.
On the Precarious Cusp of Genetic Medicine

This is the story of two brothers at the dawn of genetic medicine, the first severely disabled by cerebral palsy, the other an MD scientist who happens to uncover the genetic cause of his brother’s condition. A test confirms their mother’s carrier status. But what about their only sister—is she a carrier as well? The question would send the author down a path she never dreamed she would take.
Amiprilose in the prevention of restenosis after coronary intervention in a swine model.

BACKGROUND Amiprilose hydrochloride is a synthetic carbohydrate with anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative properties. This study tested the potential benefit of amiprilose in preventing coronary artery restenosis in a swine model. METHODS The swine restenosis model was prepared using Hanford miniature swine made atherosclerotic with coronary abrasion, high-fat and high-cholesterol feeding, and intracoronary stenting. Eighteen animals were randomized to receive amiprilose, 100 mg/kg body weight orally twice per day (n = 9), or no amiprilose (n = 9) beginning 5 days before stenting and continuing through 4 weeks until sacrifice. Presacrifice quantitative coronary angiography and postsacrifice histologic examination revealed the degree of intimal proliferation. RESULTS Coronary angiography revealed no difference in percentage-diameter stenosis between the amiprilose and control groups (left anterior descending artery [LAD], 46% +/- 10% vs 44% +/- 17%; circumflex artery [CFX], 43% +/- 21% vs 42% +/- 15%; right coronary artery [RCA], 37% +/- 11% vs 34% +/- 9%; P = not significant [NS]), respectively, or in change in lumen diameter from poststenting to presacrifice (LAD, -1.0 +/- 0.4 mm vs -1.1 +/- 0.7 mm; CFX, -1.2 +/- 0.8 mm vs -1.0 +/- 0.7 mm; RCA, -1.1 +/- 0.4 mm vs -1.0 +/- 0.4 mm; P = NS). Morphometric histologic analysis likewise showed no difference in percentage-area stenosis (LAD, 55% +/- 14% vs 55% +/- 15%; CFX, 53% +/- 15% vs 54% +/- 12%; RCA, 39% +/- 17% vs 39% +/- 20%; P = NS) or in maximal intimal thickness. CONCLUSION Amiprilose hydrochloride did not prevent coronary intimal proliferation in this swine model of restenosis.
Divided houses : gender and the Civil War

A collection of essays on gender in 19th-century USA, which explores specifically all major aspects of women's roles in the American Civil War.
Women, Gender and Migration Along a Mediterranean Frontier: Pre-Colonial Tunisia, c.1815-1870

This paper investigates gendered mechanisms for regulating migrants and migration in a pre-colonial Muslim state, Tunisia, from the end of the Napoleonic Wars to the eve of colonialism. Trans-Mediterranean migration to, and permanent settlement in, nineteenth-century Tunis, the capital city, constituted a major stimulus for political, cultural and social transformations that endured into the colonial period. Employing diverse documentation, the case study analyses this Mediterranean migratory current of ordinary women and men to test the theoretical literature based primarily on trans-Atlantic movements, which has emphasised the ‘diversity of social positioning’ for women migrants. The paper argues that for pre-colonial Tunisia, a state that was both an Ottoman province and a part of the larger Mediterranean world, the system of diplomatic protection represented a critical form of positioning. Moreover, Mediterranean states, both European and Muslim, had a long tradition of controlling the movements of women in port cities. Two distinct historical moments in the settlement of women from the Mediterranean islands in pre-colonial Tunisia are compared. This approach not only enables an assessment of whether women's movements across international borders can attenuate, if only momentarily, patriarchal authority, but also encourages reflection on how gender explains historical variations in global migratory displacements as well as to what extent colonialism serves as an satisfactory explanatory framework for the gendering of communal boundaries.
US and international policies affecting liquid biofuels' expansion and profitability

US and International Policies Affecting Liquid Biofuels' Expansion and Profitability. Biofuel expansion and profitability is driven by more than just biofuel policy. While direct policies such as subsidies and mandates are analysed, issues such as exchange rates, the blending wall, land use, and indirect greenhouse gas impacts, as well as petroleum prices, greatly affect biofuels' expansion and profitability. The linkage between petroleum prices, ethanol prices and corn prices can be broken when ethanol supplies hit the blending wall. Finally, environmental product performance standards as a condition for renewable standards/subsidies may be an effective mechanism to meet environmental concerns.
Multi-particle FEM modeling on microscopic behavior of 2D particle compaction

In this paper, the discrete random packing and various ordered packings such as tetragonal and hexagonal close packed structures generated by discrete element method and honeycomb, which is manually generated were input as the initial packing structures into the multi-particle finite element model (FEM) to study their densification during compaction, where each particle is discretized as a FEM mesh. The macro-property such as relative density and micro-properties such as local morphology, stress, coordination number and densification mechanism obtained from various initial packings are characterized and analyzed. The results show that the coupling of discrete feature in particle scale with the continuous FEM in macro-scale can effectively conquer the difficulties in traditional FEM modeling, which provides a reasonable way to reproduce the compaction process and identify the densification mechanism more accurately and realistically.
A Heat Shock Protein 90 Binding Domain in Endothelial Nitric-oxide Synthase Influences Enzyme Function *

Previous reports suggest heat shock protein 90 (hsp90) associates with endothelial nitric-oxide synthase (eNOS) to increase nitric oxide (*NO) generation. Ansamycin inhibition of chaperone-dependent activity increases eNOS generation of superoxide anion (O(2)(*)) upon enzyme activation. In the present study we identify where hsp90 binds to eNOS using overlapping decoy peptides based on the amino acid (aa) sequence of eNOS (291-420). B1, B2, and B3 peptides inhibited hsp90 association with eNOS in cell lysates from proliferating bovine aortic endothelial cells. B2 (aa 301-320), common to both B1 and B3, decreased stimulated *NO production and hsp90 association in bovine aortic endothelial cells. The B2/B3 peptide was redesigned to TSB2 that includes a TAT protein transduction domain and shortened to 14 aa. TSB2 impaired vasodilation of isolated facialis arteries in vitro and in vivo and increased eNOS-dependent O(2)(*) generation in native endothelial cells on mouse aortas, whereas a control peptide, TSB(Ctr), which has the four glutamic acids in TSB2 substituted with alanine, showed no such effects. Site-directed mutagenesis of eNOS at 310, 314, 318, and 323 Glu to Ala yields an eNOS mutant that exhibited reduced hsp90 association and generated O(2)(*) rather than *NO upon activation. Together, these data demonstrate that hsp90 associates with eNOS at aa 310-323. Moreover, a decoy peptide based on this sequence is sufficient to displace hsp90 from eNOS and uncouple eNOS activity from *NO generation. Thus, Glu-310, Glu-314, Glu-318, and Glu-323 in eNOS, although each does not do much by itself, synergistically they increase "cooperativity" in the association step that is critical for maintaining hsp90-eNOS interactions and promoting coupled eNOS activity. Such chaperone-dependent signaling may play an important role in modulating the balance of *NO and O(2)(*) generation from eNOS and, therefore, vascular function.
State crises and the crackdown on crime under Reagan

This article explores the United States' crackdown on crime in light of other state agency policy shifts under the Reagan administration, such as those affecting the poor, the unemployed, the rich, and the corporate world. Actions across these realms manifest continuity, as identified through the investigation of the state's duel roles of accumulation and legitimation. The fiscal and legitimation crises that develop corollary to state functioning in advanced capitalistic societies are drawn upon to interpret the creation of a new crime problem and “get tough” response across the United States over the 1980s. Different state policy directions are discussed as they have operated for the accumulation of the few at the expense of exacerbated inequality and injustice for all. Conclusions suggest that such developments hold the potential to call forth new callenges and change.
Ileocecal valve resistance augmentation using glutaraldehyde cross-linked collagen: a canine model for endoscopic salvage of the leaking Indiana reservoir.

ABSTRACTPurpose: Periurethral injection of glutaraldehyde cross-linked collagen is a well-established modality for the treatment of patients with incontinence caused by structural defects at the bladder outlet. Little is known about the potential usefulness of this approach to the nonfunctioning continence mechanism of a leaking continent urinary reservoir. An animal model of an incontinent Indiana reservoir was created using the naturally incompetent canine ileocecal valve. The effectiveness and feasibility of endoscopic submucosal injection of glutaraldehyde cross-linked collagen into the ileocecal valve to increase resistance were examined.Materials and Methods: Seven beagle dogs underwent isolation of the ileocecal segment. The right colon and ileum were brought to the skin as 2 stomas. Baseline leak point pressures of the ileocecal valve were determined while infusing contrast material into the right colon. The leak point was observed fluoroscopically, and the pressure at which contrast material cros...
Altered behavioral sensitivity of Ca2+-modulating drugs after chronic nicotine administration in mice

Abstract Numerous studies have demonstrated that tolerance develops to the physiological and behavioral effects of nicotine in animals after chronic administration of the drug. However, the mechanisms underlying tolerance to nicotine are not well known. There are several lines of evidence which support a role for Ca 2+ in nicotine's acute pharmacological effects. The objective of the study was to determine whether Ca 2+ plays a role in the development of tolerance to nicotine by investigating the behavioral activity of several Ca 2+ modulating drugs after systemic (BAY K 8644: (±)-1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-[2-(trifluromethyl)-phenyl]-3-pyridine carboxylic acid methyl ester) and intrathecal administration (BAY K 8644, Ca 2+ and thapsigargin) in nicotine-tolerant mice. The ability of BAY K 8644 to induce motor impairment and hypomotility after i.p. injection was decreased in nicotine-tolerant mice. In addition, tolerance to Ca 2+ , thapsigargin, and BAY K 8644-induced antinociception after i.t. injection also developed in nicotine-tolerant mice. ED 50 values for BAY K 8644 and thapsigargin increased from 3.7 to 12 μg/mouse and 0.83 to 19.7 μg/mouse, respectively. The greatest tolerance developed to the effects of thapsigargin with an ED 50 value that increased from 0.83 to 20 μg. Furthermore, chronic nicotine injections did not alter [ 3 H]nitrendipine binding in the brain. These results suggest the involvement of Ca 2+ -dependent mechanisms in nicotine tolerance in mice. © 1997 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
A Comparative Perspective on American Teacher Education: Being a Stranger in One's Native Land.

Popkewitz considers some of the cul tural assumptions and political implica tions of teacher education. He also describes the relationship of reform to social and economic transformation, the logic of individualism, and the formation of professional ideologies. Further, he shows how these various dimensions give coherence and direction to contem porary educational practice. The author argues that professional schooling edu cates the individual to take for granted certain social and cultural assumptions of schooling. In order to explore the biases of professional discourse and practice, two dimensions of comparative study are provided: (a) the relationship of consciousness to social conditions, or how social history bears upon school ing; (b) the critical examination of social and educational life, which includes a description of how the interaction of people and institutions alters the mean ing of guiding theories and practices.
Super-resolution Wide-field Imaging: Objective-launched Standing Wave Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence Microscopy

Standing wave total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy is a wide-field super-resolution technique with PSF FWHM better than 1/5 of emission wavelength. An enhanced lateral resolution is demonstrated in objective-launched geometry by imaging cellular actin cytoskeleton.
On-board real-time state and fault identification for rovers

For extended autonomous operation, rovers must identify potential faults to determine whether its execution needs to be halted or not. At the same time, rovers present particular challenges for state estimation techniques: they are subject to environmental influences that affect sensor readings during normal and anomalous operation, and the sensors fluctuate rapidly due to both the noise and the dynamics of rover's interaction with its environment. This paper presents MAKSI, an on-board method for state estimation and fault diagnosis that is particularly appropriate for rovers. The method is based on a combination of continuous state estimation, using Kalman filters, and discrete state estimation using Markov-model representation.
Comparison of neutron conversion layers for GaN‐based scintillators

In this work neutron-sensitive scintillators based on GaN have been produced by MOCVD. The scintillators consist of GaNepilayers grown on 2 inch double side polished sapphire wafers, with neutron conversion layers on top. Two conversion materials were investigated: enriched LiF and Gd. Undoped and silicon-doped epilayers were examined for their scintillation properties. All of the scintillators showed neutron response when exposed to a thermalized AmBesource, however the LiF produced a peak which is more easily discriminated from the gamma response of the photomultiplier tube. Photoluminescence was used to examine the spectral content of the scintillation light, as well as to study self-absorption of the near-bandedge emission in GaN. (© 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
The Racialization of Hinduism, Islam, and Sikhism in the United States

In this article I posit the “racialization” of religion, a process that begins when certain phenotypical features associated with a group and attached to race in popular discourse become associated with a particular religion or religions. By examining the experiences of Indian Americans—a group made up primarily of Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs—I explore the racialization process and show how the racialization of religion exacerbates the “othering” of non-Christian religious groups. The article goes on to examine five major outcomes of the racialization of religion, as illustrated by the experiences of Indian Americans. In particular, I show how the racialization of Hinduism, Islam, and Sikhism renders those faiths theologically, socially, and morally illegitimate in the popular eye.
An Enchanted Modern: Gender and Public Piety in Shi'i Lebanon

An Enchanted Modern: Gender and Public Piety in Shi'i Lebanon. Lara Deeb. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2006. 263 pp.
Atmospheric reactions and ultraviolet and infrared absorptivities of nitrogen trifluoride

Nitrogen trifluoride is found to be stable towards photo-oxidation reactions that limit the atmospheric lifetimes of many gaseous species. Reactions with species such as OH and HO{sub 2} are thermodynamically unfavorable. The reaction with O{sub 3}, while thermodynamically favorable, is found to be too slow to be of atmospheric importance. Measurements of the NF{sub 3} absorption cross-sections from 180 to 250 nm yield values that are smaller than those previously reported, and indicate an atmospheric lifetime against photodissociation in the stratosphere of about seven hundred years. In addition, the infrared band strengths were determined in order to enable estimates of greenhouse warming potentials. A slow reaction with aqueous Fe{sup 2+} was observed at room temperature; it could provide an additional destruction mechanism in the environment. 11 refs., 3 figs., 3 tabs.
Cell-free fetal nucleic acids in amniotic fluid

BACKGROUND: Research into cell-free fetal (cff) nucleic acids has primarily focused on maternal plasma; however, cff DNA and RNA are also detectable in other body fluids such as amniotic fluid (AF). In AF, cff DNA is present in much greater concentrations than in maternal plasma and represents a pure fetal sample uncontaminated by maternal- and trophoblast-derived nucleic acids. The aim of this review was to summarize the current knowledge on cff nucleic acids in AF and to outline future research directions. METHODS: MEDLINE and PREMEDLINE were searched up to August 2010 for original investigations of cell-free RNA or DNA in AF. Sixteen studies were included in the review. RESULTS: AF cff DNA represents a physiologically separate pool from cff DNA in maternal plasma. The placenta is not a major source of nucleic acids in AF. It is feasible to isolate cff nucleic acids from small volumes of discarded AF supernatant in sufficient quality and quantity to perform microarray studies and downstream applications such as pathway analysis. This 'discovery-driven approach' has resulted in new information on the pathogenesis of Down syndrome and polyhydramnios. There is otherwise a paucity of information relating to the basic biology and clinical applications of cff nucleic acids in AF. CONCLUSIONS: AF supernatant is a valuable and widely available but under-utilized biological resource. Further studies of cff nucleic acids in AF may lead to new insights into human fetal development and ultimately new approaches to antenatal treatment of human disease.
Diagnosis of pulmonary complications based on airway pressure-flow waveforms

A method was developed to diagnose the most frequent and lethal intra-operative pulmonary complications - bronchospasm, obstructed endotracheal tube (OETT) and pneumothorax. The method requires airway pressure and flow measured at the mouth. It is based on the slope of expiratory flow and area under the pressure-volume (PV) loop. The method has been successfully tested on a mechanical simulator and animal model. In OETT, the expiratory slope decreases by 77%, whereas in bronchospasm and pneumothorax, the slope increases by 111 and 302%, respectively. In bronchospasm, the area of the expiratory PV loop increases and that of the inspiratory loop decreases. Whereas, in pneumothorax the opposite happens and in OETT both areas increase. The increase in upper airway resistance in OETT, increase in lower airway resistance in bronchospasm and decrease in lung compliance in pneumothorax are believed to cause these differences in pressure and flow behavior. The algorithm is a potential and simplistic approach to partition the upper and lower airway resistance as compared to the already existing complicated lumped and distributed models. Since the analysis is real time and requires minimum noninvasive monitoring, it will aid clinicians to correctly, quickly and easily diagnose the pulmonary abnormalities.
Hospitality Education and the Technological Revolution

New advances in technology pervade nearly every aspect of our society, and hospitality is certainly no exception. Hospitality graduates entering the field find themselves surrounded by computerized...
Human biliary epithelial cells secrete and respond to cytokines and hepatocyte growth factors in vitro: Interleukin-6, hepatocyte growth factor and epidermal growth factor promote DNA synthesis in vitro

Recombinant growth factors and proinflammatory cytokines were added to primary cultures of human intrahepatic biliary duct epithelia to test for their ability to stimulate DNA synthesis and elicit cytokine production. Interleukin-6 and hepatocyte and epidermal growth factors were found to increase the DNA labeling index of biliary duct epithelium from fourfold to sixfold 24 hr after their addition to primary biliary duct epithelium cultures maintained in serum-free medium. The proliferative responses to all three biliary duct epithelium mitogens peaked within 24 hr, and hepatocyte growth factor was effective over a concentration range of 1.0 to 50 ng/ml, whereas interleukin-6 was effective from 1 to 1,000 U/ml. Insulin-like growth factor, phorbol myristate acetate, interleukin-1 beta and platelet-derived growth factor BB showed mild stimulatory effects, whereas interleukin-4, gamma-interferon, phytohemagglutinin and platelet-derived growth factors AA and AB did not increase DNA synthesis in biliary duct epithelium. Interleukin-1 beta and phorbol myristate acetate were also shown to induce in a dose-dependent fashion a threefold to fivefold increase of interleukin-6 production as measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in human primary biliary duct epithelium cultures, when compared with hepatocyte growth factor, epidermal growth factor, insulin-like growth factor, phytohemagglutinin, tumor necrosis factor-alpha or platelet-derived growth factor. These results show that interleukin-6 participates in growth regulation of human biliary duct epithelium. This could be exerted in a paracrine or autocrine manner.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Penetrating Injury in the Elderly

With the increasing average life expectancy, the number of geriatric trauma admission is also increasing. Though most cases are due to blunt trauma, penetrating injuries account for a significant number of admissions. The elderly trauma patient is different from the general population, because of limited physiological reserves and comorbid conditions. This chapter describes the epidemiology and pathophysiology of penetrating trauma in the elderly and emphasizes common pitfalls in the evaluation and management of these patients.
Fiber-optic digital video multiplexing using optical CDMA

The use of laser pulsing in the form of code-division multiple access (CDMA) to multiplex a set of digital video signals over a fiber network is proposed. The laser pulsing is used to generate unique code sequence addresses which identify each source, and the video data are modulated on these sequences. Digital encoding using pulse position modulation (PPM) is proposed, having advantages that permit efficient integration of optical and electronic processing. Data recovery is achieved by optical correlation for sequence recognition, followed by standard electronic PPM decoding. The relation between key system parameters of the encoding, decoding, and optics is derived, and indicates that compressed video rates between 5 and 20 Mb/s/channel, with 25-50 channels, is possible with relatively standard hardware. Experimental breadboard results being carried out at USC on this system indicate the feasibility of the CDMA concept for fiber multiplexing.
Human migration decision making: a formal model

This article represents an attempt to develop a formal theory of decision making in human migration. Other examinations of the decision process have had several shortcomings such as examining residential preferences without reference to other constraints acting on the migration decision which are addressed in this paper. Further the link between migration decision-making and aggregate rates of migration have been left unspecified or it has been assumed that detailed microdata are needed to apply decision-making frameworks to migration data. This paper aims to reexamine these issues within migration decision theory and presents conclusions which suggest that decision theory has a much broader application to migration data than previously specified. (EXCERPT)
PtSi Contact Metallurgy by Different Formation Processes

PtSi films have been formed using sputtered Pt and different annealing sequences and ambients. A clear dependence on the annealing sequence and ambient is observed for both the PtSi films and the passivating oxide layers formed. The single-temperature process at 550°C using forming gas (N2-H2 9:1), nitrogen and oxygen shows incomplete reactions between Pt and Si, with a surface oxide layer of poor resistance against etching in aqua regia. A three-temperature process using forming gas is shown to provide complete reactions between Pt and Si, with a surface oxide layer of excellent resistance against aqua regia. The three-temperature process using nitrogen or oxygen, however, fails to provide films of high quality, and the results are similar to those obtained by the single-temperature process in various gases.
Adsorption of NO on a Rh-10% Pt (111) surface: Non-uniform spatial distribution

Most studies of chemisorption now use single crystals in order to distinguish the effects of crystallite orientation upon absorption and to have a ‘large, uniform’ surface for measurement. Also, many of the analytical techniques require surface areas 1 mm in diameter for measurements. Most investigators implicitly assume that a single crystal will provide a uniform surface over these dimensions. This is not always true as will be shown in this case for NO absorption on Rh-10% Pt (111) crystals. Therefore, the purpose of this communication is to show that high spatial resolution surface analysis can be very useful in studying surface/gas reactions, even on single crystal surfaces.
Interaction of hyperthermia and heart rate on stroke volume during prolonged exercise

People who become hyperthermic during exercise display large increases in heart rate (HR) and reductions in stroke volume (SV). It is not clear if the reduction in SV is due primarily to hypertherm...
Aminosilica Materials as Adsorbents for the Selective Removal of Aldehydes and Ketones from Simulated Bio-Oil

The fast pyrolysis of biomass is a potential route to the production of liquid biorenewable fuel sources. However, degradation of the bio-oil mixtures due to reaction of oxygenates, such as aldehydes and ketones, reduces the stability of the liquids and can impact long-term storage and shipping. Herein, solid aminosilica adsorbents are described for the selective adsorptive removal of reactive aldehyde and ketone species. Three aminosilica adsorbents are prepared through the reaction of amine-containing silanes with pore-expanded mesoporous silica. A fourth aminosilica adsorbent is prepared through the ring-opening polymerization of aziridine from pore-expanded mesoporous silica. Adsorption experiments with a representative mixture of bio-oil model compounds are presented using each adsorbent at room temperature and 45 °C. The adsorbent comprising only primary amines adsorbs the largest amount of aldehydes and ketones. The overall reactivity of this adsorbent increases with increasing temperature. Additional aldehyde screening experiments show that the reactivity of aldehydes with aminosilicas varies depending on their chemical functionality. Initial attempts to regenerate an aminosilica adsorbent by acid hydrolysis show that they can be at least partially regenerated for further use.
Contribution of organic carbon to wood smoke particulate matter absorption of solar radiation

Abstract. A spectroscopic analysis of 115 wintertime particulate matter samples collected in rural California shows that wood smoke absorbs solar radiation with a strong spectral selectivity. This is consistent with prior work that has demonstrated that organic carbon (OC), in addition to black carbon (BC), appreciably absorbs solar radiation in the visible and ultraviolet spectral regions. We apportion light absorption to OC and BC and find that the absorption Angstrom exponent of the light-absorbing OC in these samples ranges from 3.0 to 7.4 and averages 5.0. Further, we calculate that OC would account for 14% and BC would account for 86% of solar radiation absorbed by the wood smoke in the atmosphere (integrated over the solar spectrum from 300 to 2500 nm). OC would contribute 49% of the wood smoke particulate matter absorption of ultraviolet solar radiation at wavelengths below 400 nm and, therefore, may affect tropospheric photochemistry. These results illustrate that BC is the dominant light-absorbing particulate matter species in atmospheres burdened with residential wood smoke and OC absorption is secondary but not insignificant. Further, these results add to the growing body of evidence that light-absorbing OC is ubiquitous in atmospheres influenced by biomass burning and may be important to include when considering particulate matter effects on climate.
Comparison of BMD with NOAEL and LOAEL Values Derived from Subchronic Toxicity Studies

Health-based exposure standards for non-cancer endpoints are currently derived based on a premise that an acceptable level can be determined at which there will be no significant risk of an adverse human health effect. This assumes the existence of a threshold exposure level for the adverse effect in question. The approach most widely used for non-cancer endpoints in the United States is to determine the no-observed-adverse-effect-level (NOAEL) for the critical effect and then to apply uncertainty factors (UFs) to account for scientific uncertainties in the total data base (Barnes and Dourson, 1988). The resulting value is referred to as a reference dose (RfD) for oral exposure, or reference concentration (RfC) for inhalation exposure. This approach is similar to other methods used worldwide, e.g., derivation of Acceptable Daily Intake or the ADI.