cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pore fluid constraints on the temperature and oxygen isotopic composition of the glacial ocean

Pore fluids from the upper 60 meters of sediment 3000 meters below the surface of the tropical Atlantic indicate that the oxygen isotopic composition (δ 18 O) of seawater at this site during the last glacial maximum was 0.8 ± 0.1 per mil higher than it is today. Combined with the δ 18 O change in benthic foraminifera from this region, the elevated ratio indicates that the temperature of deep water in the tropical Atlantic Ocean was 4°C colder during the last glacial maximum. Extrapolation from this site to a global average suggests that the ice volume contribution to the change in δ 18 O of foraminifera is 1.0 per mil, which partially reconciles the foraminiferal oxygen isotope record of tropical sea surface temperatures with estimates from Barbados corals and terrestrial climate proxies.
Precooked Reduced‐Fat Beef Patties Chemical and Sensory Quality as Affected by Sodium Ascorbate, Lactate and Phosphate

Beef-carrageenan (BC ; 10% fat) patties-with sodium ascorbate (0.05%), sodium lactate (3%), sodium tripolyphosphate (0.3%), ascorbate-phosphate, ascorbate-lactate, or none-and 20%-fat all-beef patties were cooked, aerobically or vacuum packaged, and stored at 4°C or -20°C. Fat level had a greater effect on texture than did additives. Lactate and phosphate increased cooking yield of BC patties. Phosphate was antioxidative but not antimicrobial. Ascorbate was antioxidative and reduced aerobic plate counts (APCs) of aerobically packaged refrigerated BC. Lactate reduced APCs of both aerobically and vacuum packaged BC patties. Lactate had a prooxidative effect in aerobically-packaged/frozen patties but showed no such effect in vacuum-packaged/frozen patties or refrigerated patties. Ascorbate-phosphate was most effective in minimizing flavor deterioration in refrigerated BC patties.
Beam emittance growth caused by transverse deflecting fields in a linear accelerator

Abstract The effect of the beam-generated transverse deflecting fields on the emittance of an intense bunch of particles in a high-energy linear accelerator is analyzed in this paper. The equation of motion is solved by a perturbation method for cases of a coasting beam and a uniformly accelerated beam. The results are applied to obtain some design tolerance specifications for the recently proposed SLAC Single Pass Collider.
Comparison of dosing recommendations for antimicrobial drugs based on two methods for assessing kidney function: cockcroft-gault and modification of diet in renal disease.

Study Objectives. To quantify the difference between glomerular filtration rates (GFRs) estimated by using the Cockcroft-Gault and Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equations, and to determine whether dosing recommendations for four commonly prescribed antimicrobial agents are discordant when determined by using these equations. Design. Prospective, observational study. Setting. Tertiary-care medical center. Patients. Two hundred seven consecutive adults without normal renal function but not receiving dialysis who were admitted to a non-intensive-care ward and had two consecutive serum creatinine concentration (Scr) values measured 20–24 hours apart. Measurements and Main Results. The patients' mean ± SD Scr was 1.41 ± 0.95 mg/dl. Kidney function was estimated by using two versions of the four-variable MDRD equation and four versions of the Cockcroft-Gault equation. Mean estimated GFRs ranged from 52.3–73.1 ml/minute. Dosing for cefepime, levofloxacin, meropenem, and piperacillin-tazobactam was determined using the two equations that had the highest level of correlation; these were the MDRD equation unadjusted for body surface area and the Cockcroft-Gault equation adjusted for ideal body weight and Scr. When the total daily doses based on these two equations for the four antimicrobials were compared, the discordance rate was 22.8–36.3%, and statistically significant differences were observed for most of the discordant doses. When discordance was present, the MDRD equation resulted in a higher dose of the drug. Conclusion. Discordance rates for drug dosing ranged from 22.8–36.3% between the MDRD and Cockcroft-Gault methods for estimating GFR. Although use of the MDRD equation is a well-accepted and accurate method of estimating GFR to stage chronic kidney disease, our results demonstrated a significant difference in drug dosing regimens between the MDRD method and the Cockcroft-Gault method.
Repeated Co-options of Exoskeleton Formation during Wing-to-Elytron Evolution in Beetles

Summary Background The vast diversity in morphology of insect wings provides an excellent model to study morphological evolution. The best-described wing modification is the specification of halteres in Drosophila by a Hox-dependent mechanism, in which a Hox gene affects the expression of genes important for wing development to modify the resulting structure. We have previously shown that highly modified beetle elytra are Hox-free structures despite their divergent morphology, suggesting another mode of evolutionary modification. Results To understand how elytra have evolved without Hox input, we have analyzed wing development in a coleopteran, Tribolium castaneum . Based on Drosophila mutant phenotypes, we first hypothesized that changes in the wing gene network might have contributed to elytral evolution. However, we found that the wing gene network defined in Drosophila is largely conserved in Tribolium and is also used to pattern the elytra. Instead, we found evidence that the exoskeleton formation has been co-opted downstream of the conserved wing gene network multiple times. We also show evidence that one of these co-options happened prior to the others, suggesting that repeated co-options may have strengthened an advantageous trait. In addition, we found that the Tribolium apterous genes are not only essential for exoskeletalization of the elytra but also are required for the proper identity of the hindwing—an unexpected role that we find to be conserved in Drosophila . Conclusions Our findings suggest that elytral evolution has been achieved by co-opting a beneficial trait several times while conserving the main framework of wing patterning genes.
Evaluating gene expression dynamics using pairwise RNA FISH data.

Recently, a novel approach has been developed to study gene expression in single cells with high time resolution using RNA Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization (FISH). The technique allows individual mRNAs to be counted with high accuracy in wild-type cells, but requires cells to be fixed; thus, each cell provides only a “snapshot” of gene expression. Here we show how and when RNA FISH data on pairs of genes can be used to reconstruct real-time dynamics from a collection of such snapshots. Using maximum-likelihood parameter estimation on synthetically generated, noisy FISH data, we show that dynamical programs of gene expression, such as cycles (e.g., the cell cycle) or switches between discrete states, can be accurately reconstructed. In the limit that mRNAs are produced in short-lived bursts, binary thresholding of the FISH data provides a robust way of reconstructing dynamics. In this regime, prior knowledge of the type of dynamics – cycle versus switch – is generally required and additional constraints, e.g., from triplet FISH measurements, may also be needed to fully constrain all parameters. As a demonstration, we apply the thresholding method to RNA FISH data obtained from single, unsynchronized cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Our results support the existence of metabolic cycles and provide an estimate of global gene-expression noise. The approach to FISH data presented here can be applied in general to reconstruct dynamics from snapshots of pairs of correlated quantities including, for example, protein concentrations obtained from immunofluorescence assays.
Tissue distribution, excretion, and urinary metabolites of dichloroacetic acid in the male Fischer 344 rat

The disposition of dichloroacetic acid (DCA) was investigated in Fischer 344 rats over the 48 h after oral gavage of 282 mg/kg of 1‐ or 2‐[14C]‐DCA (1‐DCA or 2‐DCA) and 28.2 mg/kg of 2‐DCA. DCA was absorbed quickly, and the major route of disposition was through exhalation of carbon dioxide and elimination in the urine. The dispositions of 1‐ and 2‐DCA at 282 mg/kg were similar. With 2‐DCA, the disposition differed with dose in that the percentage of the dose expired as carbon dioxide decreased from 34.4% (28.2 mg/kg) to 25.0% (282 mg/kg), while the percentage of the radioactivity excreted in the urine increased from 12.7 to 35.2%. This percentage increase in the urinary excretion was mostly attributable to the presence of unmetabolized DCA, which comprised more than 20% at the higher dose and less than 7% at the lower dose. The major urinary metabolites were glycolic acid, glyoxylic acid, and oxalic acid. DCA and its metabolites accumulated in the tissues and were eliminated slowly. After 48 h, 36.4%, 26...
Transcellular migration of lymphocytes through the walls of the smooth-surfaced squamous endothelial venules in the lymph node: evidence for the direct entry of lymphocytes into the blood circulation of the lymph node.

Observations by scanning (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) show that the so-called postcapillary or high endothelial venules of the lymph nodes of the mouse are followed distally by venules of wider caliber, lined with a simple squamous endothelium, free from patent apertures and lacking the characteristic surface relief of the venules of immediate postcapillary location ( Cho and De Bruyn, 1979 ). Lymphocytes are in passage through the walls of these squamous endothelial venules. SEM shows that this transmural passage is transcellular, i.e., through the endothelial cell body and not through their cell junctions. A temporary migration pore is formed in the endothelial cytoplasm, which closes after the transcellular lymphocyte passage is completed. The SEM and TEM images of these sites of transcellular passage support the supposition that lymphocytes enter the blood circulation through the walls of these squamous endothelial venules.
Size ratio for clinical assessment of intracranial aneurysm rupture risk

Abstract Objectives: We previously used three-dimensional (3D) volumetric analysis to identify a novel intracranial aneurysm (IA) morphological metric, aneurysm-to-parent vessel size ratio (SR), which strongly correlated with aneurysm rupture. However, complex 3D analysis is not easily obtained, and ubiquitous IA risk assessment is traditionally performed with two-dimensional (2D) imaging, typically with size being the sole considered morphometric. Because only easily applicable 2D measurements will be of clinical value, we sought to investigate the correlation of SR determined from 2D angiography with IA rupture status. Methods: SR and traditional aspect ratio (AR) and aneurysm size parameters were measured in a retrospective cohort of 38 IA cases (16 ruptured) with 2D rotational angiographic images. These parameters were analysed for correlation with IA rupture status. Student's t-test or Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used for normally or non-normally distributed data respectively. Logistic regression was ...
Hydraulic Analysis of Orlando Easterly Wetland

Hydraulic testing of the Orlando Easterly Wetland, a constructed treatment wetland located near Christmas, Fla., was performed as part of a more comprehensive study of treatment efficacy of the system. The wetland serves to reduce nutrient loading from tertiary treated wastewater to the St. Johns River, the receiving body. Residence time distribution analysis of bromide tracer tests revealed and quantified inefficiencies (short circuiting and dead zones) in the hydraulic performance within individual treatment cells and the wetland system under the operating conditions studied. Hydraulic efficiencies (ratios of experimentally determined residence times to nominal residence times) of the cells ranged from 11 to 88%, while overall, the wetland was operating at near 50% efficiency during the tracer tests. Short circuiting and dead zones within the wetland are largely the results of historic land alterations, such as ditches, that were not removed during the conversion of the site from drained land to managed wetland. Volume- and area-based system-referenced metrics were developed to identify and prioritize opportunities to improve hydraulics on both cell-by-cell and system scales.
POPULATION STRUCTURE OF THE BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN (TURSIOPS TRUNCATUS) AS DETERMINED BY RESTRICTION ENDONUCLEASE ANALYSIS OF MITOCHONDRIAL DNA

: Restriction fragment length polymorphisms of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) were used to test for population subdivision in the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). Atlantic and Pacific dolphin mtDNA samples exhibited distinctly different haplotypes (approximately 2.4% sequence divergence), indicating a lack of gene exchange. Within the Atlantic Ocean, mtDNA samples from the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Coast were also found to be distinct, with a sequence divergence of approximately 0.6%. The Atlantic Coast–Gulf of Mexico dichotomy is consistent with patterns of genetic variation from other marine and coastal organisms from this region, and supports the hypothesized role of bio-geographic events in promoting the divergence of these and other forms. Regional differentiation was identified along the Atlantic Coast, whereas low sequence divergences among haplotypes and consistent haplotype frequencies across populations suggested considerable gene exchange among Gulf of Mexico populations. A highly divergent haplotype found in two individuals from two localities in the Gulf of Mexico is best explained by dispersal from either a distinct offshore Gulf stock or an unsampled Atlantic Coast stock. Additional samples are required to test for the existence of a distinct offshore race and, if it exists, to identify its distribution and contribution to population structure.
Comparison of the inhibitory effects of mercuric chloride on cytosolic and mitochondrial hexokinase activities in rat brain, kidney and spleen.

Abstract 1. Hg2+ (10–20 μM), at concentrations comparable to mercury levels reportedly occurring in mercury neurotoxicity (Minamata disease), effectively inhibited both cytosolic (IC50 for Hg2+ = 4.1 μM) and mitochondrial (IC50 for Hg2+ = 1.4 μM) rat brain hexokinases. 2. Kidney (IC50 for Hg2+ ∼- 3 μM) and spleen hexokinases were less susceptible to inhibition by Hg2+. IC50 values for Hg2+ in inhibiting cytosolic and mitochondrial spleen hexokinases were 8.9 and 3.1 μM, respectively. 3. In both brain and spleen, mitochondrial hexokinases were more susceptible to inhibition by Hg2+ than cytosolic forms, suggesting that the microenvironment of the mitochondrial membranes may exert some modulatory effects on the properties of hexokinases. 4. These results also suggest that inhibition of glucose utilization may be an important mechanism of tissue damage in mercury poisoning.
High resolution Florida IR silicon immersion grating spectrometer and an M dwarf planet survey

We report the system design and predicted performance of the Florida IR Silicon immersion grating spectromeTer (FIRST). This new generation cryogenic IR spectrograph offers broad-band high resolution IR spectroscopy with R=72,000 at 1.4-1.8 μm and R=60,000 at 0.8-1.35 μm in a single exposure with a 2kx2k H2RG IR array. It is enabled by a compact design using an extremely high dispersion silicon immersion grating (SIG) and an R4 echelle with a 50 mm diameter pupil in combination with an Image Slicer. This instrument is operated in vacuum with temperature precisely controlled to reach long term stability for high precision radial velocity (RV) measurements of nearby stars, especially M dwarfs and young stars. The primary technical goal is to reach better than 4 m/s long term RV precision with J<9 M dwarfs within 30 min exposures. This instrument is scheduled to be commissioned at the Tennessee State University (TSU) 2-m Automatic Spectroscopic Telescope (AST) at Fairborn Observatory in spring 2013. FIRST can also be used for observing transiting planets, young stellar objects (YSOs), magnetic fields, binaries, brown dwarfs (BDs), ISM and stars. We plan to launch the FIRST NIR M dwarf planet survey in 2014 after FIRST is commissioned at the AST. This NIR M dwarf survey is the first large-scale NIR high precision Doppler survey dedicated to detecting and characterizing planets around 215 nearby M dwarfs with J< 10. Our primary science goal is to look for habitable Super-Earths around the late M dwarfs and also to identify transiting systems for follow-up observations with JWST to measure the planetary atmospheric compositions and study their habitability. Our secondary science goal is to detect and characterize a large number of planets around M dwarfs to understand the statistics of planet populations around these low mass stars and constrain planet formation and evolution models. Our survey baseline is expected to detect ~30 exoplanets, including 10 Super Earths, within 100 day periods. About half of the Super-Earths are in their habitable zones and one of them may be a transiting planet. The AST, with its robotic control and ease of switching between instruments (in seconds), enables great flexibility and efficiency, and enables an optimal strategy, in terms of schedule and cadence, for this NIR M dwarf planet survey.
Ethanol consumption by C57BL/6 mice: influence of gender and procedural variables.

Both sexes of C57BL/6 (C57) mice consumed substantial quantities of ethanol without food or water deprivation whether access was continuous or limited. Food deprivation increased the amount of ethanol consumed, and the amount consumed depended upon when the animals were tested with reference to their daily food allotment. Ethanol consumption was greater if the mice were tested postprandially, high thirst motivation, rather than preprandially (∼10 vs. ∼4.5 g/kg/30 min). Preference for ethanol over water, however, was greater when mice were under low thirst motivation (i.e., tested preprandially or with water available during the test). Compared to males, female mice consumed more of a high-ethanol concentration solution (10%) when access was continuous or limited to the first hour of the dark (active) phase of the circadian cycle. Also, in contrast to males, female mice exhibited increased ethanol consumption across days of drinking experience. Finally, although ethanol consumption under the food deprivation conditions of this experiment did not differ according to sex, females had higher blood ethanol concentrations than male C57 mice, a finding not previously reported for rodents but common to humans.
Self energy effects in tunneling in n-Ge

Abstract The self energy effect of electron—phonon deformation potential coupling in n -Ge has been observed in the tunneling in ms junctions on vacuum cleaved Ge. The effect has been measured at various impurity concentrations in the semiconductor, and it is found to disappear if the Fermi level is less than 27 mV.
Designing for Turkish Users: Analyzing the Industrial Designer ‐ User Relationship in Turkey

From the perspective of industrial design, user-centered design denotes more than a methodology to understand users. More importantly, it is a medium to create a relationship between designers and users. While user-centered design has much to offer, user research is not a convention in emerging economies. In this context, this paper puts one such emerging market, Turkey, under scrutiny. Six case studies give a snapshot of the current status of product design in general, and user-centered design in particular, in this country. One of the key findings is that, compared to the West, there is a wider gap between designers and users in the Turkish context. Besides economic situations, the eclectic character of Turkish culture plays the biggest role in the expansion of this gap. The application of Western oriented research methods and concentration on global trends also stand as barriers for user-centeredness. In order to ensure products' success through research, Turkey needs to develop its own user-centered design model.
Optimization and Diagnostics of Fast Pulsed High Pressure Air Constituents Plasmas

Summary form only given. A fast-pulsed, UV laser-initiated, RF-sustained high pressure plasma source has been developed and optimized for more efficient large volume (ges1000 cc), high pressure plasma generation. We have shown that during the tast-pulsed plasma formation, the plasma load impedance as seen by the helical antenna varies significantly from 0.5+j125 Omega to 4.0+j130 Omega on short time scales. As a result, it presents a challenge to the RF matching system. In order to ensure efficient RF power coupling to the plasma, a dynamic RF impedance measurement and matching technique has been designed and implemented: a dual directional coupler is used to precisely measure the complex incident RF reflection coefficient at the input end of the matchbox. A pair of high voltage probes is used to monitor the time-dependent plasma impedance so that the matching circuit can be tuned accordingly to match the varying plasma load impedance. As a result of this effort, a large volume (1500 cc), high electron density (1.6times1011 /cc) laser-initiated, RF-sustained high pressure (50 torr) air constituents plasma is created utilizing an initiating UV laser pulse energy of 100 mJ and subsequently maintained by a net RF power level of 3 kW for several seconds. The RF power budget is 2 Watts/cc. Optical emission spectroscopy is used to analyze the plasma, aided by the Specair program developed by Laux et al. The rotational temperature of N2 C-B (second positive) is obtained by matching the experimental spectrum results with the Specair code-simulated results. Time evolution of the plasma's electron density and total electron-neutral collision frequency is diagnosed using a millimeter wave interferometry technique. A new mathematical method is developed to compute the time-dependent electron density and total electron-neutral collision frequency, and subsequently to evaluate electron temperature levels based on the interferometric experimental results.
Exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls enhances lipid peroxidation in human normal peritoneal and adhesion fibroblasts: a potential role for myeloperoxidase

Nitric oxide, superoxide, and lipid peroxidation (LPO) produced under oxidative stress may contribute to the development of postoperative adhesions. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) on LPO, superoxide dismutase, myeloperoxidase (MPO), and nitrite/nitrate in human normal peritoneal and adhesion fibroblasts. PCB treatment reduced inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression as well as levels of nitrite/nitrate in both cell lines. Although there was no difference in iNOS expression between the two cell lines, adhesion fibroblasts manifested lower basal levels of MPO compared to normal peritoneal fibroblasts. There was a reduction in MPO expression and its activity in response to PCB treatment in normal peritoneal fibroblasts; however, this effect was minimal in adhesion fibroblasts. Moreover, adhesion fibroblasts manifested higher levels of LPO compared to normal peritoneal fibroblasts, whereas PCB treatment increased LPO levels in both cell types. We conclude that PCBs promote the development of the adhesion phenotype by generating an oxidative stress environment. This is evident by lower iNOS, MPO, and nitrite/nitrate and a simultaneous increase in LPO. Loss of MPO activity, possibly through a mechanism involving MPO heme depletion and free iron release, is yet another source of oxidative stress.
Quantitative imaging of cerebral blood flow velocity and intracellular motility using dynamic light scattering-optical coherence tomography.

This paper describes a novel optical method for label-free quantitative imaging of cerebral blood flow (CBF) and intracellular motility (IM) in the rodent cerebral cortex. This method is based on a technique that integrates dynamic light scattering (DLS) and optical coherence tomography (OCT), named DLS–OCT. The technique measures both the axial and transverse velocities of CBF, whereas conventional Doppler OCT measures only the axial one. In addition, the technique produces a three-dimensional map of the diffusion coefficient quantifying nontranslational motions. In the DLS–OCT diffusion map, we observed high-diffusion spots, whose locations highly correspond to neuronal cell bodies and whose diffusion coefficient agreed with that of the motion of intracellular organelles reported in vitro in the literature. Therefore, the present method has enabled, for the first time to our knowledge, label-free imaging of the diffusion-like motion of intracellular organelles in vivo. As an example application, we used the method to monitor CBF and IM during a brief ischemic stroke, where we observed an induced persistent reduction in IM despite the recovery of CBF after stroke. This result supports that the IM measured in this study represent the cellular energy metabolism-related active motion of intracellular organelles rather than free diffusion of intracellular macromolecules.
Increased expression of HDJ-2 (hsp40) in carotid artery atherosclerosis: a novel heat shock protein associated with luminal stenosis and plaque ulceration.

Purpose: Evidence suggests that both humoral and cellular autoimmune processes directed toward heat shock proteins (hsp) contribute to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. We characterized a human hsp distinct from those previously characterized in atherosclerotic lesions, termed HDJ-2. Methods: To determine the role of HDJ-2 in atherosclerosis, we compared the level of HDJ-2 mRNA expression with the level of hsp60 and hsp70 mRNA expression in 26 carotid endarterectomy specimens and 17 normal arteries. The level of expression of HDJ-2 mRNA was also correlated to the presence of plaque ulceration and the degree of luminal stenosis associated with the lesion. Results: The expression of HDJ-2 and hsp70 was significantly higher in carotid artery plaques as compared with normal arteries: HDJ-2, 6.7 ± 1.6 vs 0.1 ± 0.04, (P = .001); hsp70, 9.5 ± 0.9 vs 3.7 ± 0.8, (P = .002). There was no significant difference in hsp60 expression between carotid artery plaques and normal arteries (21.0 ± 0.9 vs 20.6 ± 0.8, P = .65). Increased HDJ-2 expression in carotid artery plaques was independent of hsp70 (Pearson correlation, r = 0.11; Bartlett χ2 analysis, P = .71). Within the ulcerated plaque group, there was a correlation between degree of stenosis and high HDJ-2 mRNA expression (r = 0.896, P = .016). However, there was no correlation between degree of stenosis and high HDJ-2 mRNA expression within the nonulcerated plaque group (r = 0.530, P = .076) or within the entire group of patients (r = 0.0085, P = .97). Conclusion: These results demonstrate that expression of HDJ-2 is significantly increased in atherosclerotic carotid artery plaques as compared with hsp60 and hsp70 and correlates with luminal stenosis in ulcerated atherosclerotic carotid artery plaques. (J Vasc Surg 2001;33:1065-71.)
Radical Theory and Theory of Communication: Lewis Gordon's Phenomenological Critique of the New World Consciousness

The work of Lewis R. Gordon is a unique synthesis of Husserlian phenomenology, critical race theory, existential sociology, and the liberatory thought of Karl Marx and Frantz Fanon. But Gordon does not only synthesize; he also contributes a novel and radical philosophy of the human sciences and a philosophical anthropology that advances thought toward a new, postcolonial humanism. My aim in the present essay is to show that Gordon's work poses a challenge to contemporary communications theorists to engage more concretely than they have already done with the ways in which mass media on a world scale transmit or mediate the spread of dehumanizing postures and processes of thought and action. I carry out this project through an immanent critique and in depth analysis of one of Gordon's most important essays, his “Existential Borders of Anonymity and Superfluous Invisibility” (2000), in which he wrote that “we are witnessing a heightened intensity of state implosivity on a global level as information and othe...
Atmospheric ammonium sulphate deposition and its role in the acidification and nitrogen enrichment of poorly buffered aquatic systems

The atmospheric transport of NH3, emitted from breeding farms and strongly manured cropland, causes a severe loading of neighboring non-agricultural environments. Particularly the wet deposition of ammonium sulphate is enhanced, while the pH of rainwater is only slightly acidic. Due to the variation of gaseous air pollutants over the Netherlands large differences are noticed in the relative contribution of each acidifying component in rainwater. In areas with high atmospheric NH3 concentrations, ammonium sulphate contributes the major part to the potential acidifying influence of wet deposition. Preliminary experiments show a causal relation between ammonium sulphate and water acidification, ammonium enrichment and the expansion of ammonium tolerant shore macrophytes. For the Dutch situation it is clear that, particularly in areas with enhanced atmospheric NH3 concentrations, the deposition of NH3 and SO2 derived compounds has provided the major contribution to acidification and N-enrichment of hydrologically isolated, poorly buffered pools. In all countries, particularly in areas with high NH3 emission, it will be useful to pay more attention to the environmental impact of airborne ammonium sulphate deposition.
W.E.B. Du Bois on the Study of Social Problems

This close reading and interpretation of Du Bois's "The Study of the Negro Problems" (Du Bois 1898b) focuses on several matters: the historical and biographical contexts within which Du Bois produced and presented the essay; what the author takes to be Du Bois's convictions regarding the nature and production of scientific, truthful knowledge, and the importance of such knowledge for resolving social problems and thereby contributing to progressive social evolution. These convictions presupposed and were conditioned by a particular conception of social reality in terms of which Du Bois formulated a conception of "social problems," particularly those having to do with "the Negro" in the United States. Finally, the author reviews Du Bois's critique of then-prevailing social science and his proposed "Program for Future Study" of "Negro problems" and concludes with a brief assessment.
Ureteropyeloscopic treatment of ureteral and intrarenal calculi.

It is the nature of endoscopy to begin with diagnostic applications and then to progress with improvements in technology to therapeutic applications. Retrograde upper urinary tract endoscopy has similar origins. In regard to ureteroscopy, it began with Victor Marshall 24 who first described in 1964 the use of a flexible fiberscope placed in the ureter to visualize an obstructing calculus. The therapeutic ureteroscopy of today is based on treating the stone burden by converting it to small passable fragments. 4,23 This progression in technology has continued with the development of new endoscopes and various forms of energy that can be used not only for lithotripsy but also to treat upper tract tumors and ureteral stricture disease. 9,21 Current treatment of upper tract calculi is based on focusing shock waves onto a stone and fragmenting it into more easily passable pieces (i.e., Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy [ESWL]) or on direct endoscopic inspection and conversion of the stone burden into fine dust and small fragments with intracorporeal lithotripsy. Shock wave lithotriptors also have evolved, requiring less anesthesia, in part, because of smaller focal zones and lower delivered energy. With these changes, the indications for treatment have narrowed. Large stones, those associated with high-grade ureteral obstruction, and those for which fluoroscopic localization is difficult, are best treated endoscopically. 6 If there is poor fragmentation noted with shock wave lithotripsy, conversion to endoscopic techniques also has a significantly higher success rate with minimal morbidity. 19 There has been recent debate on whether most upper tract stones would be treated better in a retrograde endoscopic way, in which there is more certainty of proper fragmentation and clearance. The current treatment algorithm used for those patients with moderately sized, uncomplicated upper urinary tract calculi is based on ESWL monotherapy performed under intravenous sedation. All other stones would represent more complex presentations and should be treated endoscopically. 18 If there is a greater anesthetic requirement than intravenous sedation for the shock wave treatment or if placement of a ureteral catheter is required to drain a completely obstructed upper urinary tract, the more definitive endoscopic treatment can be considered rather than pursuing shock wave lithotripsy. The techniques and instrumentation currently used for retrograde ureteroscopic lithotripsy are presented in this article. A large series of ureteroscopic treatments performed with current small-diameter endoscopes also are reviewed. A large, prospectively accrued database of upper urinary calculi treated ureteroscopically with the Holmium laser also is presented to highlight the techniques.
Passive adaptive control of non-linear systems

We develop a new recursive procedure for the design of adaptive controllers for non-linear systems with unknown parameters and unmeasured states. The use of novel nonlinear damping terms endows the closed-loop systems with the remarkable property of boundedness for arbitrary parametric uncertainty even when the adaptation is switched off. The combination of these nonlinear terms with interlacing functions produces ‘damped interlacing’, which results in new passivity and transient performance properties. Damped interlacing allows us to construct a full Lyapunov function that encompasses all the variables of the adaptive system.
Building intellectual infrastructure to expose and understand ever-increasing complexity

This paper comments on the expanded repertoire of techniques, conceptual frameworks, and perspectives developed to study the phenomena of gesture, bodily action and other modalities as related to thinking, learning, acting, and speaking. Certain broad issues are considered, including (1) the distinction between “contextual” generalization of instances across context (of virtually any kind—numeric, situational, etc.) and the generalization of structured actions on symbols, (2) fundamental distinctions between the use of semiotic means to describe specific situations versus semiosis serving the process of generalization, and (3) the challenges of building generalizable research findings at such an early stage in infrastructure building.
The estimated glomerular filtration rate as a test for chronic kidney disease: problems and solutions.

At the American Society of Nephrology Renal Week 2010, one of the authors (A.D.R.) presented the following question at an In-Depth Nephrology Course on Geriatric Nephrology:
ACOMPLIS: a computerised London information service

I hope that some of you may already be familiar with the name ACOMPLIS. This bibliographic database of urban information was established in 1973 by the GLC Research Library, which was at that time part of the Intelligence Unit of the Department of Planning and Transportation in the Greater London Council. Seven years later we are about to move into a new era as the system becomes available as an online information retrieval service.
Spatiotemporal separability in contrast sensitivity

Contrast sensitivity functions were measured in two ways: by counterphase modulation; and by in-phase modulation, in which the luminance of every point of a spatial grating was sinusoidally modulated in phase with one another. Contrast sensitivity functions measured by counterphase modulated gratings show spatiotemporal interactions that represent bandpass filtering. Contrast sensitivity functions measured by in-phase modulation are even more sharply bandpass in the spatial frequency domain, but they are spatiotemporally decoupled, i.e. the effects of spatial and temporal variables are separable. This difference can be explained by the composition of the frequency components of the counterphase and the in-phase modulated gratings and by masking between components. The results suggest that the intrinsic filters are low-pass exponentials, that they are spatiotemporally separable, and that the spatiotemporal interaction of counterphase gratings is best described as masking by the zero spatiotemporal frequency component of the test gratings.
A short-term group therapy model for treatment of adult female survivors of childhood incest

Childhood incest has been experienced by a minimum of one million American women. Because of the dynamic of secrecy in these families and society's discomfort with the issue, disclosure frequently does not take place until adulthood. A treatment modality for adult women following disclosure of a childhood incest experience has been devised. A short-term semi-structured group model has been chosen which creates an atmosphere of rapid cohesion and helps participants broaden their identity beyond that of “victim.” This paper reports participants' demographic and historical data as well as thematic content and group evaluative data from the first nine such groups conducted in a major health maintenance organization in the Boston area. Findings suggest that childhood incest has widespread and long-lasting effects on women's functioning, including ability to trust and form relationships, emotional functioning and self-esteem, and the ability to protect self and children from victimization. The group was felt to be extremely valuable by the majority of participants and was experienced by many as the first place they ever found safety, unconditional nurturance, and a sense of belonging. Other findings include the repetition of incest over generations, the nonresponsiveness of adults in cases where disclosure had taken place in childhood, and the importance of an empathic yet “well-bounded” therapist.
Outpatient Pharmacotherapy and Modes of Administration for Acute Repetitive and Prolonged Seizures

Acute repetitive seizures (ARS) are a serious epilepsy phenomenon, generally described as closely grouped seizures over minutes to 2 days, representing an increase in seizure frequency compared with baseline. In some instances, ARS may not stop without treatment, and evolution into status epilepticus is a significant concern. Additionally, neuronal injury may occur after even brief repeated seizures. Given the substantial risks that may be involved with ARS, it is crucial to develop appropriate protocols for identification and management of this seizure phenomenon. This article focuses on pharmacotherapy and, in particular, different modes of administering medication for ARS in the outpatient setting. Our aim was to present a review of data from non-randomized and randomized, controlled trials to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of out-of-hospital ARS treatments. Several of the studies included patients with ARS, as well as patients with prolonged seizures. Prolonged seizures, or seizures lasting greater than 5 min, have similar risks and treatment options to those of ARS; therefore, this discussion also includes treatment trials and recommendations for prolonged seizures. All trials used benzodiazepines, a class of drugs that are ideal for the ARS and prolonged seizure populations because of their rapid onset of action and minimal adverse effects. Rectal diazepam is currently the only formulation approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for out-of-hospital treatment. Oral benzodiazepines are appropriate only for mild ARS. Intramuscular diazepam autoinjection has shown success against ARS in clinical trials. Intranasal midazolam and diazepam are in testing. Other treatments have also been explored—specifically, buccal midazolam (approved in the European Union), sublingual lorazepam and intranasal lorazepam.
GLUTAMINE SYNTHETASE. V. DEPENDENCE OF ITS SULFHYDRYL REQUIREMENT ON ORGANIC LIGANDS AND METAL IONS.

Abstract A partially purified preparation of glutamine synthetase ( l -glutamate: ammonia ligase (ADP), EC 6.3.1.2) has been obtained from rat liver. The enzyme preparation showed no activity in the absence of Mg 2+ ; Mn 2+ could not replace Mg 2+ . Mn 2+ exhibited a slight activation of the enzyme at low Mg 2+ concentrations, but a pronounced inhibition at high Mg 2+ concentrations. The inhibition by a number of metal ions including Fe 2+ , Fe 3+ , Co 2+ , Cu + , Zn 2+ , Cd 2+ , and Hg 2+ depended on the concentration of a thiol. The enzyme showed a partial requirement for a thiol, which could be abolished by certain organic ligands. Among them the most effective were EDTA, hydroxyethyl-ethylenediaminetriacetate, nitrilotriacetate, and 1,10-phenanthroline. Sodium arsenite inhibited the synthetase only in the presence of an active dithiol such as 2,3-dimercaptopropanol, but the inhibition could be reversed by an excess of the dithiol. p -Chloromercuribenzoate, iodoacetate, o -iodosbenzoate and N -ethylmeleimide exerted different degrees of inhibition on the enzyme. The synthetase was alsi sensitive to formamidine disulfide. Antecedent incubation of the enzyme with the inhibitor greatly enhanced the potency of the inhibitor and consequently required a large excess of 2,3-dimercaptopropanol to restore the enzyme activity. These results have been interpreted to mean that glutamine synthetase may contain a metal ion and a dithiol component.
Spatial Analysis Based on Variance of Moving Window Averages

A new method for analysing spatial patterns was designed based on the variance of moving window averages (VMWA), which can be directly calculated in geographical information systems or a spreadsheet program (e.g. MS Excel). Different types of artificial data were generated to test the method. Regardless of data types, the VMWA method correctly determined the mean cluster sizes. This method was also employed to assess spatial patterns in historical plant disease survey data encompassing both airborne and soilborne diseases. The results obtained using the VMWA method were generally different from those obtained with Lloyd's index of patchiness and beta-binomial distribution methods, were in partial agreement with the results from spatial analysis by distance indices, and were highly consistent with the results from semivariogram and spatial autocorrelation analysis methods. Results demonstrated that the VMWA method can be applied to many types of data, including binomial diseased or healthy plant counts, incidence, severity, and number of diseased plants or pathogen propagules although directional and edge effects may limit its application.
Past, Present, and Future of AP Chemistry: A Brief History of Course and Exam Alignment Efforts

As part of the Advanced Placement (AP) Program’s commitment to continually enhance alignment with current best practices in college-level learning, the AP Program is currently evaluating and redesigning courses and exams, one of which launched during the 2013–2014 academic school year: AP chemistry. The history of the AP chemistry course and exam, the current snapshot of the teachers and students participating in the redesigned course and exam, and the anticipated future changes to the course are described in this article. This contribution is part of a special issue on teaching introductory chemistry in the context of the advanced placement chemistry course redesign.
Risk adjustment of Florida mental health outcomes data: concepts, methods, and results.

This article discusses outcome evaluation systems for mental health programs. It reviews and critically evaluates design and analysis methods for strengthening the validity of such uncontrolled comparisons. The article examines methods for statistically adjusting preexisting groups, now referred to as risk adjustment or case-mix adjustment, and offers guidelines for determining when this procedure is appropriate. Then, analyses on two dependent variables—a global rating of functioning and a consumer satisfaction measure—available from an outcomes evaluation system currently underway in Florida are used to demonstrate the proposed method of risk adjustment. Results for 24 providers of mental health services showed that while risk adjustment only made a small difference in the overall provider rankings, the ranking of some specific providers changed considerably. The article concludes with a discussion of the implications of this research.
AN ANALYTICAL PREDICTION OF PERIODIC FLOWS IN THE CHUA CIRCUIT SYSTEM

In this paper, periodic and chaotic behaviors in the Chua circuit system are investigated, and the analytical prediction of periodic flows in such a system is carried out. The solutions of the system in different regions with different parameters are first obtained. The switching boundaries are introduced for systems switching because of different system parameters in different domains. In the vicinity of the switching boundaries, the normal vector-field product is introduced to measure flow switching on the separation boundary, and the conditions for grazing and passable flows to the discontinuous boundary are presented. The basic mappings are defined and periodic responses of such a system are predicted analytically from mapping structures. The local stability and bifurcation analysis are carried out.
Classroom Technology in Business Schools: A Survey of Installations and Attitudes toward Teaching and Learning.

A survey of administrators and faculty of The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accredited business schools provided insights into current classroom technology infrastructure, attitudes towards technology and learning, and the use of web course tools in business school classrooms. The results of the survey provided four major findings: (a) business schools are using high levels of multimedia technology in their classrooms; (b) levels of technology are currently deemed adequate; (c) business school personnel believe that technology has improved learning and instructor efficiency; and (d) the business schools’ disciplines considered to have the greatest need for classroom technology enhancements are Management and (Business/Management) information Systems.
Effects of monthly practice on nursing students’ CPR psychomotor skill performance ☆

Abstract Aims The study examined the effects of brief monthly practice on nursing students' CPR psychomotor skill performance at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months compared to a control group with no practice, and of repeating the initial BLS course at 12 months. Methods Nursing students ( n =606) completed either HeartCode™ BLS or an instructor-led course and were then randomly assigned to an intervention group practice schedule, consisting of experimental (6min of monthly practice on a voice advisory manikin) or control (no practice) and test out month. Every 3 months, a subset of students was randomly selected from both groups for reassessment of their CPR psychomotor skills. Outcome measures were compression rate and depth, percent of compressions performed with adequate depth, percent performed with correct hand placement, ventilation rate and volume, and percent of ventilations with adequate volume. Results At 3 months, there were no differences between the groups in mean ventilation volume ( p =0.71), but with practice by 6 months students were able to ventilate with an adequate volume; this skill continued to improve with monthly practice. In the control group, the mean ventilation volumes were less than the recommended minimum throughout the 12 months. The control group had a significant loss of ability to compress with adequate depth between 9 and 12 months ( p =0.004). By practicing only 6min a month, students maintained or improved their CPR skills over the 12-month period. Conclusion The findings confirmed the importance of practicing CPR psychomotor skills to retain them and also revealed that short monthly practices could improve skills over baseline.