cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Conservatism of the Accident Sequence Evaluation Program HRA Procedure

This paper presents a limited assessment of the conservatism of the Accident Sequence Evaluation Program (ASEP) human reliability analysis (HRA) procedure described in NUREG/CR-4772. The data for this study are derived from simulator examination reports from the NRC requalification examination cycle for nuclear power plant operators. The ASEP procedure was used to estimate human error probability (HEP) values for critical tasks, and the HEP results were compared with the failure rates observed in the examinations. The ASEP procedure was applied by PNNL operator license examiners who supplemented the limited information in the examination reports with expert judgment based upon their extensive simulator examination experience. Comparison of the average of the ASEP HEP values with the fraction of the population actually failed and demonstrated that the ASEP HEP values are larger (conservative) by a statistically significant average factor of two. Partitioning of tasks into subgroups based on the ASEP HEP values and comparison of the subgroup average ASEP HEP values with observed subgroup failure rates showed little or no conservatism for small ASEP HEP values, but considerable conservatism for larger ASEP HEP values.
Psychological and social self-perceptions of the sociometric isolate

Literature on the sociometric isolate in school suggests the student is left out of things by classmates, lacks motivation for optimal classroom performance, and is not an active participant in the learning process. We conducted the present study to: (1) determine the sociometric group structure of several 6th grade classes; (2) determine the acceptance, rejection, and, in particular, the isolate interaction patterns, and (3) determine psycho-logical and social self-perceptions of the sociometric isolate. Results indicated the socio-metric group structure for each class, the acceptance, rejection, or isolate interaction patterns, and the 6 most frequently selected psychological and social self-percept-ions of the sociometric isolate.
Novel Fluorine-Containing Anionic Aqueous Polyurethanes

Abstract Various amounts of fluorine-containing polyol (F-diol, MW = 3700) were introduced into the soft segment of anionic aqueous polyurethanes (PUs) to examine the effect of the F-diol on the properties of the anionic aqueous PUs. The hard segments in the anionic aqueous PUs consisted of 4,4′-methylene bis(cyclohexylisocyanate), dimethylolpropionic acid, and 1,4-cyclohexanediamine (cis/trans = 80/20). Both the mechanical and water resistance properties of the anionic aqueous PUs were improved after introducing small amounts of the F-diol in the soft segment of the aqueous PUs. This is due to the increased intermolecular forces and crystallinity as well as the hydrophobic characteristic of the F-diol. Thermal analysis of the F-diol modified anionic aqueous PUs by differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic mechanical analysis indicated that both intermolecular forces and crystallinity increased with increasing concentration of the F-diol. However, both the increased intermolecular forces and crystalli...
Contested Ecologies: Gender, Genies, and Agricultural Knowledge in Zanzibar

In the village of Jongowe in the Zanzibar archipelago, women are the guardians of extensive agricultural knowledge. Yet male authority circumscribes this feminine sphere in the form of ritual and scientific “experts.” Annual planting is dependent on the advice and goodwill of genies, spiritual beings who are ritually summoned, celebrated in song and dance (ngoma), and formally consulted by elder male ritual leaders. At the same time, a male government extension agent has introduced agricultural extension programs that bring new planting calendars, farming techniques, and seed varieties to the village. Through these male ritual and scientific authority figures, ecological knowledge in the village is controlled, classified, and contested. However, recent challenges to local land use have cast new light on the ordering of agricultural knowledge. I suggest that although the control of knowledge and resources in Jongowe may be most obviously understood through an idiom of gender, the most important epistemological distinctions in this community may lie elsewhere.
Contingently Existing Propositions

It is fairly common, among those who think propositions exist, to think they exist necessarily. Here, I consider three arguments in support of that conclusion. What I hope to show is not that that claim is false, but, rather, that the arguments used in its defense tend to presuppose a certain kind of approach to modality: a roughly Plantingian view. What the arguments show, then, is that one cannot accept that approach to modality and accept contingently existing propositions. But there are other approaches to modality – I discuss three such approaches – into which contingently existing propositions fit perfectly well. This suggests that disputes over, for example, singular propositions, must be conducted within a broader agreement over modal matters if they are to be at all productive.
A new conservation law for linear filtering processes

A new conservation law relating basic linear filtering theory quantities is derived. The physical interpretation of the law is given and discussion of its possible uses is presented.
Smokeless Tobacco Extracts Activate Complement in Vitro: A Potential Pathogenic Mechanism for Initiating Inflammation of the Oral Mucosa

The use of smokeless tobacco has been linked to an increased incidence of inflammation of the buccal and gingival mucosa. However, the mechanisms by which smokeless tobacco initiates inflammation are not well understood. The complement cascade is a ubiquitous source of proinflammatory molecules and can be activated rapidly by a wide variety of agents. Therefore, the effect of smokeless tobacco on complement was investigated as a potential pathogenic mechanism for triggering inflammation of the oral mucosa. Aqueous extracts of loose leaf chewing tobacco (1S1), dry snuff (1S2), and moist snuff (1S3), added to normal human serum, depleted complement hemolytic activity in a dose-dependent manner. Experiments utilizing sera deficient in one specific complement component indicated that the smokeless tobacco-induced depletion of hemolytic activity was due largely to consumption of C3. Furthermore, assays designed to test the activity of the alternative pathway of complement clearly showed that all three extracts depleted the hemolytic activity of this pathway. Finally, all three smokeless tobacco extracts activated the alternative pathway since significantly elevated levels of the cleavage fragments iC3b and Bb were detected in extract-treated serum. High quantities of the classical pathway cleavage fragment C4d also were detected in serum treated with moist snuff (1S3). The results clearly demonstrate that smokeless tobacco extracts activate the alternative pathway and also suggest some measure of classical pathway activation. Activation of complement by smokeless tobacco may be a mechanism for initiating inflammation of the oral mucosa.
Computer simulation of fungal morphogenesis and the mathematical basis for hyphal (tip) growth

A novel mathematical model is proposed to explain how a tubular shape (e.g., a fungal hypha) is generated by a tip-growing cell. The model derived from a computer simulation of morphogenesis assumes that: i) the cell surface expands from materials discharged by wall-destined vesicles, ii) vesicles are released from a postulated vesicle supply center (VSC), iii) vesicles move from the VSC to the surface in any random direction. The position and movement of the VSC become the critical determinant of morphogenesis: a stationary VSC releases vesicles that reach the cell surface in about equal numbers in all directions, and the cell grows as a sphere. Any displacement of the VSC from its original central position distorts the spherical shape. A sustained linear displacement of the VSC generates the typical cylindroid shape of fungal hyphae. The model yields the equation $$y = x\cot \frac{{V \cdot x}}{N}$$ which defines both the shape and size (diameter) of a hypha by two parameters, to which physiological significance can be ascribed:N, the amount of wall-destined vesicles released from the VSC per unit time;V, the rate of linear displacement of the VSC. There is a remarkable coincidence between the position of the VSC in the model and the position of the Spitzenkorper in real hyphae. The model affords a simple mechanism to generate a tubular shape from a tip-growing cell; it obviates the need to postulate specific targets for vesicles on the apical cell surface or to invoke gradients in the properties of the apical wall. Other common morphogenetic transitions of fungi and other organisms can be simulated with the same basic model.
Room-temperature epitaxy of Cu on Si(111) using partially ionized beam deposition

The epitaxial growth of Cu on Si(111) substrate at room temperature was achieved using the Partially Ionized Beam (PIB) deposition technique in a conventional (10−4 Pa) vacuum without prior in situ cleaning of the substrate or post-annealing of the film. The beam contained ≍2% of Cu self-ions, and a bias of 0 to 4.2 kV was applied to the substrate during deposition. X-ray diffraction studies showed the existence of a twin structure in the epitaxial Cu layer deposited at 1 kV. A mechanism of epitaxial growth of Cu(111) on Si(111) substrate via an η″—Cu3Si intermediate phase is proposed. Based on the crystal structure of η″—Cu3Si, it is demonstrated that the geometrical lattice matching concept provides a simple picture of lattice continuity at the interface in this epitaxial system.
Optimal Management of the Splenic Vein at the Time of Venous Resection for Pancreatic Cancer: Importance of the Inferior Mesenteric Vein

Resection of the superior mesenteric vein (SMV)-portal vein (PV)-splenic vein (SV) confluence during pancreatectomy for pancreatic cancer requires management of the SV. Simple SV ligation can result in sinistral portal hypertension if the inferior mesenteric vein (IMV) enters the confluence and is thereby resected, or if the IMV is insufficient to drain the SV. We describe herein three patients whose clinical course confirms the importance of the IMV decompressing the SV to avoid sinistral hypertension.
Discriminatory source coding for a noiseless broadcast channel

We introduce a new problem of broadcast source coding with a discrimination requirement - there is an eavesdropping user from whom we wish to withhold the true message in an entropic sense. Binning can achieve the Slepian-Wolf rate, but at the cost of full information leakage to the eavesdropper. Our main result is a lower bound that implies that any entropically efficient broadcast scheme must be "like binning" in that it also must leak significant information to eavesdroppers
Pyrolysis of propylene over carbon active sites II. Pyrolysis products

Abstract The pyrolysis of propylene over Graphon, a graphitized carbon black, was studied in the temperature range 873 to 1073 K at a starting pressure of 1.6 Pa. Using this substrate, the effect of the carbon active surface area (ASA) on the type, distribution, and mode of formation of the reaction products was investigated. On a “clean” surface, propylene instantly chemisorbed on some active sites at the beginning of each pyrolysis run and ultimately formed a more unsaturated hydrocarbon complex on the surface. Regardless of the cleanliness of the surface, a carbon deposit was formed on the surface. In the range 873 to 973 K, the major gas phase products consisted of methane, ethylene, and H 2 . At pyrolysis temperatures above 973 K, some trace gas phase products appeared. All the major pyrolysis products originate from reactions occurring on the ASA measured by propylene chemisorption at 573 K or on ASA very closely related to it. Neither the amount of hydrocarbon complex nor its H C ratio was closely related to the ASA. The presence of ASA favors surface carbon over production of gas phase carbon products. A model is proposed to explain the origin of all the pyrolysis products.
Radioimmunoassay of androstenedione: The steroid molecule as a probe for antibody specificity

Abstract Antibodies were obtained against androstenedione‡ linked either through the 1α- or 7α-position to carrier proteins. All the antibodies had high affinity for androstenedione, with greater specificity for this compound than for other steroids tested. In the development of a radioimmunoassay for this steroid it was found that cumulative cross-reactions with plasma steroids made necessary a pre-purification step for accurate quantification. We investigated the determinants of antibody specificity for androstenedione and found that the 3-oxo-4-ene, 17-oxo and 3-oxo functional groups on the steroid were the major sites of antibody-hapten interaction. Heterologous steroids sharing these substituents showed significant cross-reaction with the antibodies, while those lacking these determinants did not. The binding affinities were determined mainly by the individual functional groups of the steroid molecule, and appeared to increase when more than one determinant was present.
Sex and practice distribution effects in children

The present study, involving 40 prepubescent children in a sex by practice distribution paradigm, completed an evidentiary basis for concluding that the reversal of sex dominance in psychomotor reminiscence tendencies across pubescence was paralleled by a reversal of sex dominance in relative gains from practice distribution. These and kindred results, when viewed against those from massed practice controls, supported the inference that sex dominance in reminiscence and related tendencies, whatever the developmental phase of the subjects, occurs because males and females release reaction inhibition (IR) at different rates.
Outcome of patients with acute myocardial infarction who are ineligible for primary angioplasty trials.

We determined acute outcome in 148 consecutive patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing angioplasty including 72 patients (48.7%) considered ineligible for primary angioplasty trials. Overall, in-hospital mortality for acute infarct angioplasty was 12%, with fivefold higher mortality in the trial-ineligible group (21% vs. 4%, P = 0.003). Thus, primary angioplasty trials continue to exclude nearly 50% of acute infarction patients and reported mortality rates of primary angioplasty trials are likely to be significantly lower than the unselected in-hospital mortality rates. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Intervent. 49:237–243, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The effect of triterpenes on the excretion of sodium and potassium by rats

The acetates of ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, glycyrrhetinic acid, lupeol, and lurenol were administered subcutaneously to adrenalectomized rats and their effect on the excretion of sodium and potassium determined. Ursolic acid acetate induced significant sodium retention at 3 mg. per rat. Potassium excretion was not affected.
THE HEART IN TRAUMA SURGERY

Trauma, whether it is blunt trauma due to a motor vehicle accident or drug-related violence resulting in penetrating injuries, continues to pose a serious public health problem. With improvements that have occurred in prehospital care, more trauma patients arrive in the emergency department alive. A thorough knowledge of the physiology related to the primary injury and of the associated secondary effects of therapeutic interventions is paramount to delivering quality trauma care.
Synthesis and antitumor activity of 1-β-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine-5′-diphosphate-prednisolone and -cortisol

Superior antitumor activity and reduced toxicity of 1-β-arabinofuranosylcytosine (ara-C) conjugates of corticosteroids through a phosphodiester linkage have prompted us to synthesize the new ara-C conjugates of corticosteroids through a pyrophosphate diester linkage. Condensation of ara-CMP morpholidate with the steroid-21-monophosphates in pyridine at room temperature for 6 days and the subsequent separation on a DE-52 (formate) column using a linear gradient of 0−0.5 M triethylammonium formate (pH 7.0) gave ara-CDP-prednisolone (I) and ara-CDP-cortisol (II) in 37–55% yield. The conjugates were hydrolyzed to ara-CMP and the corresponding steroid-21-monophosphate by phosphodiesterase I. Conjugates I and II inhibited the in, vitro growth of L1210 lymphoid leukemia by 50% (ED50) at 0.03 and 0.08 μM, respectively, while ara-C and ara-CMP showed the respective ED50 of 0.1 μM and 0.05 μM. Conjugates I and II exhibited ILS values of 116 and 86%, respectively, at 40 mg (53.7 μmole)/kg/day × 5 against L1210 leukemic mice, while that of ara-C at the nearly same dose (49 μmole/kg/day × 5) was 65%.
A Conewise Linear Elasticity mixture model for the analysis of tension-compression nonlinearity in articular cartilage.

A biphasic mixture model is developed which can account for the observed tension-compression nonlinearity of cartilage by employing the continuum-based Conewise Linear Elasticity (CLE) model of Curnier et al. (J Elasticity 37:1–38, 1995) to describe the solid phase of the mixture. In this first investigation, the orthotropic octantwise linear elasticity model was reduced to the more specialized case of cubic symmetry, to reduce the number of elastic constants from twelve to four. Confined and unconfined compression stress-relaxation, and torsional shear testing were performed on each of nine bovine humeral head articular cartilage cylindrical plugs from 6 month old calves. Using the CLE model with cubic symmetry, the aggregate modulus in compression and axial permeability were obtained from confined compression (H−A =0.64±0.22 MPa, kz = 3.62 ± .97 × 10−16 m4/N.s, r2 =0.95±0.03), the tensile modulus, compressive Poisson ratio and radial permeability were obtained from unconfined compression (E+Y = 12.75 ± 1.56 MPa, ν− =0.03±0.01, kr =6.06±2.10×10−16 m4/N.s, r2 =0.99±0.00), and the shear modulus was obtained from torsional shear (µ=0.17±0.06 MPa). The model was also employed to successfully predict the interstitial fluid pressure at the center of the cartilage plug in unconfined compression (r2 =0.98±0.01). The results of this study demonstrate that the integration of the CLE model with the biphasic mixture theory can provide a model of cartilage which can successfully curvefit three distinct testing configurations while producing material parameters consistent with previous reports in the literature.
Mineralogy and Provenance of Pleistocene Lake Clay in an Alpine Region

Ice-dammed lakes of Wurm age occupied pre-existing valleys in the Subalpine ranges of southeastern France. One of these, Lac du Trieves, accumulated over 200 m of predominantly clayey sediments in the form of varved and laminated deposits. The clay mineralogy of these sediments consists of the following suite: mica (65 to 85 percent), iron-rich chlorite (10 to 30 percent), and small amounts of poorly crystallized mixed-layer material. Bedrock lithologies in the vicinity of the lake vary from Jurassic and Cretaceous shale, silty shale, and carbonate rocks to Carboniferous meta-sedimentary rocks and Hercynian basement rocks. Jurassic shale, especially of the “terres noires” facies, consists primarily of an allevardite-type, regularly interstratified mica-montmorillonite and in some places directly underlies lacustrine sediments. The lack of incorporation of this material in lake clay indicates a relatively low surface erosion rate during Wurm maximum glaciation and suggests that mechanical and possibly geochemical alteration of metamorphic mica derived from the cirque areas accounts for the bulk of the lake clay formed.
David Naguib Pellow and Lisa Sun-Hee Park, The Silicon Valley of Dreams: Environmental Justice, Immigrant Workers, and the High-Tech Global Economy, (New York and London: The New York University Press, 2002).

The Information Age, we often have been told, is going to annihilate space and time. One of the more challenging avenues of contemporary urban inquiry has been the representation of cyberspace and ...
A Mixture Model Analysis of Differential Item Functioning

Once a differential item functioning (DIF) item has been identified, little is known about the examinees for whom the item functions differentially. This is because DIF focuses on manifest group characteristics that are associated with it, but do not ex plain why examinees respond differentially to items. We first analyze item response patterns for gender DIF and then illustrate, through the use of a mixture item re sponse theory (IRT) model, how the manifest characteristic associated with DIF of ten has a very weak relationship with the latent groups actually being advantaged or disadvantaged by the item(s). Next, we propose an alternative approach to DIF as sessment that first uses an exploratory mixture model analysis to define the primary dimension(s) that contribute to DIF, and secondly studies examinee characteristics associated with those dimensions in order to understand the cause(s) of DIF. Com parison of academic characteristics of these examinees across classes reveals some clear differences in manifest characteristics between groups. Differential item functioning (DIF) can be attributed to the presence of nuisance dimensions intruding on the ability intended to be measured (Ackerman, 1992). DIF is typically investigated by examining the relationship between some manifest ex aminee characteristic, such as gender or ethnic group membership, with differential performance on the item. Unfortunately, this strategy is not ideal for understanding the root causes of DIF. One problem with this approach is that it focuses on the examinee characteristic of interest, not on the dimension causing the DIF. Conse quently, when differences are found, it is not so readily apparent who is primarily being advantaged or disadvantaged by the DIF items. We illustrate the limitations of this strategy by first using a standard DIF detection approach to identify DIF items on the basis of a manifest characteristic, in this case, gender. Results of the DIF analysis are used to define a two-group mixture IRT model with groups defined by gender, and only gender DIF items are allowed to assume different parameters across groups. We proceed next by assuming that the actual respondents advantaged or disadvan taged by the items may be better regarded as latent classes in the data. Holding the estimates of the multigroup IRT model as fixed, we classify examinees (irrespective of gender) into the group for which their response patterns are most similar. We then demonstrate that membership in these latent classes may be only slightly associated with gender. In the second study, we illustrate an alternative approach. The strategy first identifies the latent groups of examinees for whom DIF is greatest. We begin by fitting a mixture item response theory (IRT) model to the data so as to identify content classes of examinees for which the test performs most differentially. Then
High tolerance for ionizable residues in the hydrophobic interior of proteins

Internal ionizable groups are quite rare in water-soluble globular proteins. Presumably, this reflects the incompatibility between charges and the hydrophobic environment in the protein interior. Here we show that proteins can have an inherently high tolerance for internal ionizable groups. The 25 internal positions in staphylococcal nuclease were substituted one at a time with Lys, Glu, or Asp without abolishing enzymatic activity and without detectable changes in the conformation of the protein. Similar results with substitutions of 6 randomly chosen internal positions in ribonuclease H with Lys and Glu suggest that the ability of proteins to tolerate internal ionizable groups might be a property common to many proteins. Eighty-six of the 87 substitutions made were destabilizing, but in all but one case the proteins remained in the native state at neutral pH. By comparing the stability of each variant protein at two different pH values it was established that the pKa values of most of the internal ionizable groups are shifted; many of the internal ionizable groups are probably neutral at physiological pH values. These studies demonstrate that special structural adaptations are not needed for ionizable groups to exist stably in the hydrophobic interior of proteins. The studies suggest that enzymes and other proteins that use internal ionizable groups for functional purposes could have evolved through the random accumulation of mutations that introduced ionizable groups at internal positions, followed by evolutionary adaptation and optimization to modulate stability, dynamics, and other factors necessary for function.
Indeterminacy in incomplete market economies

It is shown that in a two-period economy with a continuum of states and real assets, the following holds: (1) if the asset structure is complete, then generically the number of equilibria is finite; (2) if there are a finite number of real assets (this can approximate completeness arbitrarily close) then, for a nonempty open set of economies, there are a continuum of distinct equilibria. Asymptotic versions (on the number of states and on the number of assets) of the result are also given. It is argued, therefore, that incompleteness, by itself, may be a leading source of indeterminacy.
A Simulation Study of Control Sampling Methods for Nested Case-Control Studies of Genetic and Molecular Biomarkers and Prostate Cancer Progression

Background: Incidence density sampling is typically the least biased efficient method for control sampling in nested case-control studies. However, in studies of genetic variants and prostate cancer progression, some argue that controls should be sampled from men who did not progress by end of follow-up. Thus, we examined the validity of relative risk (RR) estimates of prostate cancer progression using three methods for control sampling from cohorts of men with prostate cancer generated by Monte Carlo simulation. Methods: Data were simulated for nine scenarios for combinations of genotype frequency (10%, 30%, and 50%) and association (RR, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0) using prostate progression rates from Johns Hopkins Hospital. RRs estimated from conditional logistic regression for the genetic association from case-control studies nested in the nine cohort scenarios using three control sampling methods, ( a ) incidence density sampling, ( b ) incidence density sampling without replacement of selected controls, and ( c ) “pure” control sampling (i.e., men who did not progress by end of long-term follow-up), were compared with the true RRs. Results: Use of controls selected by incidence density sampling produced unbiased RR estimates of progression. In our setting, only a slight bias was produced by use of incidence density sampling without replacement. In contrast, use of controls selected by pure control sampling produced biased RR estimates, except when there was no association; extent of bias increased with increasing size of the association and duration of follow-up. Conclusions: Nested case-control studies designed to estimate the association of genetic variants with risk of prostate cancer progression should use incidence density sampling to provide a valid RR estimate. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2009;18(3):706–11)
Ultrafast soliton-trapping AND gate

An ultrafast, all-optical, soliton-trapping AND gate that consists of a birefringent optical fiber followed by a frequency filter is demonstrated. The gate is sensitive to the timing of the input pulses and provides an output with a large energy contrast. The performance of the gate is characterized by varying the total input energy, the ratio between the energies of the two input pulses, and the arrival-time difference between the input pulses. It is shown that the gate efficiency (characterized by its ON-OFF contrast ratio) increases with increasing pulse energy up to the limit where Raman effects become dominant in the fiber, and the optimal performance of the gate is obtained with two input solitons having equal energies. The gate efficiency degrades with increasing difference of arrival time of the two input pulses, but a contrast ratio of 5:1 can still be obtained for a full pulse width of timing mismatch. The experimental results are in agreement with numerical simulations using the coupled nonlinear Schrodinger equations. >
On the finite element analysis of fatigue crack closure—2. Numerical results

Abstract The opening and closing behavior of fatigue cracks is studied with an elastic-plastic finite element model which has been described and evaluated in Part I. Special attention is given to the effects of maximum stress, strain hardening and yield stress. Normalized crack opening stresses decrease with increasing maximum stress and this dependency is stronger for lower stress ratios and lower hardening moduli. Results are interpreted in terms of an interaction between residual deformations and crack opening displacements. The ratio of yield stress to elastic modulus has little effect on crack opening behavior. Data for forward and reversed plastic zone sizes and shapes are presented, demonstrating some dependence on closure. The effects of different constitutive models are investigated, including the influence of mean stress relaxation. Crack closing levels are shown to be lower than crack opening levels, especially at lower stress ratios and higher maximum stresses. Biaxial stresses may also influence the closure behavior of mode I cracks, especially at higher maximum stresses. Opening levels are generally higher for equibiaxial loading and lower for pure shear loading.
Effects of hyperthyroidism on delayed rectifier K+ currents in left and right murine atria.

Hyperthyroidism has been associated with atrial fibrillation (AF); however, hyperthyroidism-induced ion channel changes that may predispose to AF have not been fully elucidated. To understand the e...
A comparative study of the lesions in cultured fibroblasts of humans and four species of animals with Chediak‐Higashi syndrome

The Chediak-Higashi syndrome (CHS) is an autosomal recessive genetic disease of humans, and clinically similar diseases occur in cats, mink, cattle, mice, killer whales, blue foxes, and silver foxes. It is characterized by incomplete albinism, increased susceptibility to infection, and the most distinctive hallmark, the presence of enlarged cytoplasmic granules in many cell types. The acid phosphatase-positive granules, lysosomes, of fibroblasts from control and CHS humans, cats, mink, cattle, and mice were examined. These studies represent the initial characterization of the lesions in fibroblasts of CHS cats, mink, and cattle. Fibroblasts from each species and genotype were stained histochemically for acid phosphatase, and morphometric analysis of the distribution of acid phosphatase-positive granules was performed. The lysosomes in the CHS fibroblasts tended to be restricted to the perinuclear area of the cytoplasm, whereas the lysosomes in the normal fibroblasts were generally more widely distributed in the cytoplasm. The lysosomes in the CHS fibroblasts of all species examined were also more enlarged and heterogeneous than those in the control fibroblasts.
The role of echocardiographic harmonic imaging and contrast enhancement for improvement of endocardial border delineation.

Abstract Despite advances in imaging technology, many myocardial segments remain poorly visualized with echocardiography; however, both contrast enhancement and harmonic imaging have shown promise for improving endocardial definition. Fifty subjects with technically limited echocardiograms were studied with fundamental and harmonic imaging as well as during echocardiographic contrast injection. Overall endocardial visualization scores improved with both techniques compared with fundamental imaging. Harmonic imaging improved endocardial visualization in 43% of all segments and in 57% of segments nonvisualized with fundamental imaging. The benefit of harmonic imaging was seen in all segments. Contrast echocardiography had similar overall improvements in visualization (42% of all segments, 67% of segments nonvisualized with fundamental imaging) but was not helpful in all regions. Harmonic imaging outperformed contrast in 9 of 22 segments, whereas contrast was superior in 4 of 22. In a subgroup of patients with very poor images, contrast enhancement was superior, with a greater increase in overall score and a higher salvage rate than harmonic (68% vs 40%). (J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2000;13:131-8.)
Vibrio fetus Endotoxin

Vibrio fetus is recognized to-day as an important pathogen affecting reproduction in cattle and sheep. V. fetus hypersensitivity in the bovine has not been previously reported so far as we can determine.
Tuning the acceptors in catalyzed cyclizations initiated by allenes. Silylstannylation/cyclization of allene-aldehydes for synthesis of polyalkylated indolizidines including 223A congeners.

Starting from succinamide and 1,2-heptadiene-4-ol, a racemic allene-aldehyde substrate, 20, suitable for R3SiSnR‘3-mediated cyclization was synthesized in six steps and in 21% yield. Stereoselective cyclization (relative cis configuration at the new stereogenic centers of the homoallyl alcohol generated) proceeded smoothly, giving a mixture of indolizidinols bearing five contiguous stereocenters in a combined yield of 80%. Relative configurations of each of the products were unequivocally established by a combination of 2D NMR experiments and single-crystal X-ray analysis. The major indolizidinol obtained in 32% yield was elaborated into indolizidine 5,8-epi-indolizidine 223A via a five-step reaction sequence in 32% overall yield. The second major component (24%) of the key cyclization yielded, in four steps, indolizidine 6,8-epi-223 in 14% yield. Even though revision of the initially postulated structure foiled our original synthetic plans for the natural product, indolizidine 223A, the new stereoselecti...
Hemodynamic Consequences of Pacing-Induced Changes in Heart Rate in Valvular Aortic Stenosis

Atrial pacing was performed in 10 patients with various degrees of aortic valvular stenosis (AVS) and the hemodynamics were compared to eight normal subjects. Similar maximum heart rates (135 ± 6/min) in each group resulted in no significant complications or symptoms and no changes in cardiac output or transvalvular pressure difference while stroke work (SW) and volume and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) declined. A postpacing overshoot in LVEDP (control, 14 ± 2; postpacing, 25 ± 3 mm Hg; p = 0.01) which occurred in the cases of AVS probably reflects a decrease in myocardial compliance. Pacing ventricular function curves relating induced changes in SW and LVEDP were generally steeper in patients with AVS than in the normal subjects and were definitely abnormal in three of the former. Pulsus alternans induced in two patients was associated with abnormal myocardial function while the control LVEDP level was not a good indication of the functional response of the myocardium. Atrial pacing app...
Macromolecular synthesis in T7 infected F' cells.

Abstract The abortive development of bacteriophage T7 in Escherichia coli cells carrying F′ factors has previously been attributed to lack of virus-directed modification of ribosomes in such cells. However, we find that 6–8 min after T7 infection of male bacteria there is an overall cessation of macromolecular synthesis, resulting in reduced production of DNA, late messenger RNA, and both early and late T7 proteins. Processing of an early viral protein has been detected in F − hosts; this processing is incomplete in F′ infection. The overall paralysis of macromolecular metabolism is correlated in time with a permeability change resulting in loss of the entire acid-soluble pool of phosphorus-containing compounds from the cells ( Britton and Haselkorn, 1975 ). Thus T7 development in F′ cells appears to be arrested at a particular time without regard to the developmental stage reached by T7 at that time.
Early postnatal alcohol exposure in rats: Maternal behavior and estradiol levels

Long Evans male and female rats were exposed to alcohol or control conditions during the early postnatal period, and their maternal behavior was assessed between 25 and 29 days of age. Maternal behavior was induced by exposing experimental animals to pups, and behaviors included retrieval of pups and proximity to pups. After 5 days of continuous exposure to pups, experimental animals were decapitated, and trunk blood was measured for levels of estradiol and progesterone. Alcohol-exposed animals showed a deficit in maternal behavior as measured by a longer latency to retrieve pups than rats that were not treated with alcohol. In addition, alcohol-exposed animals had lower levels of circulating estradiol than controls. These effects may also be explained by undernutrition as a result of artificial rearing. No difference in progesterone levels was found. As estradiol is important for the onset of maternal behavior in adult rats, it may be that the alcohol-induced decrease in estradiol levels underlies the deficit in maternal behavior exhibited by alcohol-exposed rats.
On the molecular weight of human glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase.

Abstract Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase was isolated by a rapid procedure from lactating rat mammary glands, bovine erythrocytes and several human tissues, including erythrocytes. Molecular weights of the subunits and active forms of all these enzymes were found to be approximately the same and not to differ significantly from the molecular weights of other mammalian glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenases. The difference between the earlier reported values for the molecular weight of human erythrocyte glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase and the present results is suggested to arise from possible modification of the enzyme during earlier, lengthy isolation procedures.
Changes in landing mechanics after cold-water immersion.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of cold-water immersion on kinematics and kinetics during a drop-landing task. On four separate occasions, 9 men performed drop-landings from a 0.6-m platform to a force platform following 30-min immersion to the hip-joint in thermoneutral water (control; 34 °C) and in cold water (20 °C) to the ankle (low level), knee (medium level), and hip (high level) joints. Sagittal plane kinematics and kinetics were determined. One-way repeated measures multivariate analysis of variance was used for statistical analysis. Compared to the control, the low-level condition had similar joint mechanics, the medium level showed 26% less ankle mechanical work (p = .003), and the high level showed 9% less vertical ground reaction force (p = .025) and 23% less ankle mechanical work (p = .023) with 18% greater trunk flexion (p = .024). In summary, the low-level cold-water immersion had no effect on landing mechanics. The medium- and high-level cold-water immersion resu...
Building children's nursing for Africa.

Twenty years into democracy, South Africa's nurses are leading the implementation of healthcare reform. Their work is grounded in human rights, notably child rights, including economic and social rights often ignored in Western societies. African values are the building blocks for protection of these rights: consensus building, mutual respect, reconciliation, hospitality and spirituality (Hungwe & Zwart 2014). These values are evident in this Special Issue highlighting nurses' efforts to integrate the evidence on preserving and promoting maternal-child health into nursing education and practice, and so prepare the workforce needed to achieve national health priorities.
Determination of Internal Energy Distributions of Laser Electrospray Mass Spectrometry using Thermometer Ions and Other Biomolecules

The internal energy distributions for dried and liquid samples that were vaporized with femtosecond duration laser pulses centered at 800 nm and postionized by electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (LEMS) were measured and compared with conventional electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The internal energies of the mass spectral techniques were determined by plotting the ratio of the intact parent molecular features to all integrated ion intensities of the fragments as a function of collisional energy using benzylpyridinium salts and peptides. Measurements of dried p-substituted benzylpyridinium salts using LEMS resulted in a greater extent of fragmentation in addition to the benzyl cation. The mean relative internal energies, were determined to be 1.62 ± 0.06, 2.0 ± 0.5, and 1.6 ± 0.3 eV for ESI-MS, dried LEMS, and liquid LEMS studies, respectively. Two-photon resonances with the laser pulses likely caused lower survival yields in LEMS analyses of dried samples but not liquid samples. In studies with larger biomolecules, LEMS analyses of dried samples from glass showed a decrease in survival yield compared with conventional ESI-MS for leucine enkephalin and bradykinin of ~15% and 11%, respectively. The survival yields for liquid LEMS analyses were comparable to or better than ESI-MS for benzylpyridinium salts and large biomolecules.
STEREOLOGICAL METHODS FOR MEASURING INTERNAL LEAF STRUCTURE VARIABLES

A recent increase in research into ecological leaf anatomy is based partly on the effects of leaf structure upon photosynthesis. Hence, it is desirable to have efficient methods for measuring various aspects of internal leaf anatomy, such as percent air space and cell wall area per unit volume of tissue. Stereological methods make use of point counts and of counts of the number of intersections of sampling lines with tissue outlines on planar sections. Their practical use for measuring plant tissues is described, with special reference to highly directional tissue like palisade mesophyll and wood. In particular, the method for estimating cell wall area per unit volume requires the choice of a numerical factor which varies with tissue type. The factor has values of 2 for unoriented tissues, r/2 for cylinders cut in cross section, and (7r!2)2 for cylinders. in longitudinal section. An interpolating function to derive a value of the factor for tissues of intermediate type is also described. Leaves from two species of composites from contrasting habitats are compared, to demonstrate the usefulness of the methods.
A method to measure arbitrary k-space trajectories for rapid MR imaging

A method to measure arbitrary k-space trajectories was developed to compensate for nonideal gradient performance during rapid magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with actively or nonactively shielded gradients at a magnetic field strength of 4.1 T. Accurate MR image reconstruction requires knowledge of the k-trajectory produced by the gradient waveforms during k-space sampling. Even with shielded gradients, residual eddy currents and imperfections in gradient amplifier performance can cause the true k-space trajectory to deviate from the ideal trajectory. The k-space determination was used for spiral gradient-echo imaging fo the human brain. While individual calibrations are needed for new pulse sequences, the method of k-space determination can be used for any sequence of preparation pulses and readout gradient waveforms and should prove useful for other trajectories, including the rastered lines of echo-planar imaging.
Cost analysis model for catalytic conversion of syngas in to light hydrocarbon gases

Abstract Bio-gasification is a new technology and considered as a more efficient way to utilize bio-energy. The economic feasibility becomes one of the greatest issues when we apply this new technology. Evaluation of economic feasibility of a bio-gasification facility needs better understanding of its production unit cost under different capacities and different working shift modes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the unit cost of biofuel products (Liquid HCs, Light HCs and Oxygenates CxHyOz) under different capacities using a modeling method. The cost analysis model was developed using Visual Basic Microsoft 2008, computer programming language and mathematical equations. The modeling results showed that the unit costs of biofuel product from bio-gasification facility were significantly affected by production capacities of facilities. As the facility capacity increased from 65 to 10,000 N m3 h−1, the biofuel production unit cost of gas (Light HCs), oil (Liquid HCs), and aqueous (Oxygenates CxHyOz) decreased from $38.92 per MMBTU, $30.89 per gallon and $25.74 per gallon to $2.01 per MMBTU, $1.59 per gallon, and $1.33 per gallon, respectively. The results of the sensitivity analysis showed that feedstock cost was the most sensitive cost factor on unit costs for all biofuel products at high capacity. The cost analysis model developed in this study could be used to optimize production unit costs of bio-fuel products from bio-gasification facility.
Learning transcriptional regulatory networks from high throughput gene expression data using continuous three-way mutual information.

Probability based statistical learning methods such as mutual information and Bayesian networks have emerged as a major category of tools for reverse engineering mechanistic relationships from quantitative biological data. In this work we introduce a new statistical learning strategy, MI3 that addresses three common issues in previous methods simultaneously: (1) handling of continuous variables, (2) detection of more complex three-way relationships and (3) better differentiation of causal versus confounding relationships. With these improvements, we provide a more realistic representation of the underlying biological system.
THE PARTISAN MODEL OF MACROECONOMIC CYCLES: MORE THEORY AND EVIDENCE FOR THE UNITED STATES*

The “Partisan Theory” of macroeconomic policy is based on the idea that political parties typically weight nominal and real economic performance differently, with left-party governments being more inclined than right-party ones to pursue expansive policies designed to yield lower unemployment and higher growth, but running the risk of extra inflation. Given suitable assumptions about the structure of the macroeconomy, partisan models imply a political signal in demand management, output and inflation movements originating with shifts in party control of the government. In this paper I develop and test with postwar US data a revised Partisan model that allows for (i) uncertainty among policy authorities about the sustainable output growth rate and therefore about how aggregate demand expansions will be partitioned between extra output and extra inflation, and (ii) ex-post and projective learning and preference adjustment under such uncertainty. Dynamic numerical analysis of a small, stylized political-economic model based on these extensions of Partisan Theory generates within-sample forecasts that correspond remarkably well to the observed pattern of price, output and nominal spending fluctuations under the parties.
Smart buildings can help smart grid: Transactive controls

Demand for electricity continues to grow in the U.S. By some estimates, the demand is expected to increase as much as 40% by the year 2030. Traditional approaches to meet the demand would require significant resources. However, part of the growth can be offset by making the grid “smart” through increased availability of energy-information technologies. Making the grid smart is only half the solution. The other half of the solution is to make the buildings “smart” as well. Because buildings consume over 70% of the total electricity in the U.S., they need to be part of the transformation to make the grid smarter. However, many commercial buildings and almost all residential buildings lack proper infrastructure to be part of such a transformation. The evolving smart electric utility grid will further increase demands on building systems to automatically respond to time-varying prices and conditions on the grid as the grid is operated at shrinking reliability margins and relies on demand response to manage loads. Smart building systems will be essential for meeting these needs.