cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Scope of Comparative Analysis

A DECADE HAS ELAPSED since political scientists began in a concerted way the critical re-examination of the field of comparative government, or "comparative politics" as it has come to be more commonly designated. From this period of ferment there has emerged a rather impressive body of literature on the objectives and methods of comparative study, and on a number of suggested approaches. Within this literature, however, as well as within the discipline generally, the term "comparative" has been used in a variety of different senses to convey meanings which are quite distinct. In consequence, the scope of comparative analysis has been left ill defined, and the term itself has become clouded with ambiguity. It is the purpose of this paper to enumerate the various functions which comparative analysis may serve, and also, thereby, to identify and distinguish between usages of the term "comparative" as found in the discipline.
Azumaya-like Properties of Verbally Prime Algebras

is a p.i. for A if and only if .f or g is. He proves over a field F of characteristic zero that a verbally prime algebra must be p.i. equivalent to one of the following: (1) 0, the trivial case, or (2) M,(F), II x n matrices over the field F, or (3) M,(E), II x II matrices over an infinite dimensional Grassmann algebra E, or (4) M,,,> which we will not define, or (5) the free algebra, a case we shall ignore by always taking A to be pi. Since [3], a number of papers have appeared in which pi. properties of n x n matrices have been generalized to verbally prime algebras. One such paper is [4], in which Razmyslov studies the trace identities of Mk,) and the central polynomials of Mk,, and M,(E). The present paper grew out of an attempt to generalize the Artin-Procesi theorem (cf. [a]) to the verbally prime case. We found that all verbally prime p.i. algebras satisfy weaker versions of the basic properties of Azumaya algebras. We will show as straightforward applications of Kemer’s and Razmyslov’s results
The Physics of DNA Bending

The majority of DNA in living cells is strongly bent. However, this strong bending regime is poorly understood. While the weak bending regime can be approximated by Hooke's law, it is not clear if that is still valid for large bending angles. The experimental evidence is controversial. We explore the strong bending regime of the double helix using a model that represents the solvent implicitly, which allows for greater efficiency. First, we are able to reproduce results of Strauss and Maher. Next, we compare the energetics of weakly and strongly bent DNA. We find that Hooke's law is violated for strongly bent DNA and discuss the energetic contribution that may be responsible for the effect.
A novel technique for tuning dielectric resonators

This paper presents a novel technique for the tuning of high dielectric resonators at microwave and millimeter wave frequencies. The resonator is tuned by coupling it to a section of non-resonant microstrip line. An experimental band-reject filter with a Q of 550 was tuned using this technique. The resulting tuning range of the filter was over 18 times its bandwidth. This technique makes it cost effective to tune dielectric resonators over a relatively broad range while maintaining a high Q characteristic. >
RESPONSE OF BROWN SHRIMP TO INFECTION WITH Vibrio sp.1

Adult brown shrimp (Penaeusaztecus) maintained in the aquatic animal medicine laboratory, were challenged with a field isolate of Vibrioanguillarum. One tenth cc of a 24-hr broth culture diluted 100-fold was introduced beneath the dorsal carapace at the terminus of the rostral groove. At daily intervals afterwards, hemolymph was withdrawn, smears prepared and indirect fluorescent antibody and immunoelectrophoretic measurements performed. The shrimp were processed to detect presence of organisms within tissues by the direct fluorescent antibody technique. The studies indicated that an electrophoretic component which migrates similar to vertebrate beta lipoprotein emerges 48 hrs after challenge. Phagocytic activity was apparent, and bacteria tended to concentrate in the hepatopancreas gland. The significance of these preliminary observations lie in the appearance of a unique electrophoretic component in shrimp hemolymph which may be of some value in assessing the shrimps disease status, and the location of a site in which V. anguillarum, and possibly other disease producing bacteria, are concentrated during infection.
A comparison of two model systems of associative learning: heart rate and eyeblink conditioning in the rabbit.

In four classical conditioning experiments heart period and eyeblink responses were assessed concomitantly. The conditioned stimuli (CSs) were tones and the unconditioned stimulus (UCS) was a brief paraorbital electric shock. Using a 0.5-s duration CS, bradycardiac conditioned responses that consisted of a 4–5 ms change from pre-CS baseline occurred within 10–20 CS-UCS presentations. However, eyeblink conditioned responses began to occur only after 100–150 CS–UCS presentations. A 1.0-s CS duration resulted in bradycardiac conditioned responses of 15–30 ms change from pre-CS baseline, which again reached asymptote within 10–20 trials. Using a 4-s CS duration, in a differential classical conditioning paradigm, heart period discrimination between a reinforced CS+ and a nonreinforced CS− occurred within 10 trials; asymptotic performance of the heart period conditioned response occurred within 15 CS-UCS presentations and consisted of a bradycardiac response of 40–50 ms for the 12th interbeat interval following tone onset. These data thus indicate that these two model systems of mammalian learning (based on heart period and eyeblink responses) show quite different acquisition functions. It is also significant that heart rate slowing always accompanied the eyeblink conditioned responses, even though increases in general electromyographic activity as well as eyeblink conditioned responses were simultaneously observed during CS presentation.
The condensation of methyl 2-methlylpropanoate with chiral aldehydes. X-ray crystal structure of (3rs,4sr) 3-hydroxy-4-phenyl-2,2,4-trimethylpentanoic acid

Abstract The lithium enolate derived from methyl 2-methylpropanoate reacts stereoselectively with 2-phenylpropanal and 2-(cyclohexyl)propanal, affording mainly the syn β-hydroxy ester in both cases. With 2-ethylhexanal, no selectivity was observed.
Sputtered WSix for micromechanical structures

Tungsten silicide (WSix) thin films have been investigated for use as integrated circuit interconnect and self-aligned MESFET (metal-semiconductor field-effect transistor) gates because of their low resistivity and thermal and chemical stability. These same characteristics make them interesting materials for prospective use in micromechanical structures. However, little information on residual stresses, elastic moduli, or other micromechanical properties has been available for refractory metal silicide thin films. This paper presents the morphology and stress characteristics of cosputtered WSi x thin films, including crystal structure variations and orientation-dependent stresses, as a function of the deposition pressure. The compositions of WSix thin films were analyzed by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS). The biaxial elastic modulus and thermal coefficient of expansion were found for the sputtered films. Stress-measurement methods and annealing are discussed. Released diaphragms of different sizes and shapes, having controlled residual stress, have been fabricated.
Discovery of high-pressure ZrSiO4 polymorph in naturally occurring shock-metamorphosed zircons

Shock-metamorphosed zircons were recovered from an upper Eocene impact ejecta layer, probably from the Chesapeake Bay impact structure, found at three Deep Sea Drilling Project–Ocean Drilling Program Sites (612, 903, and 904) on the upper continental slope off New Jersey. The shocked zircons exhibit granular textures, and some have planar features. X-ray diffraction patterns show that some of the shocked zircons contain a high- pressure ZrSiO4 polymorph with a scheelite-type structure that was first produced in laboratory experiments in 1969. The presence of the high-pressure ZrSiO4 polymorph in some of the zircons indicates that they have been shock metamorphosed at pressures between 20 and 90 GPa. The discovery of this phase in naturally occurring shocked zircons confirms previous predictions that this phase would be found in shock-metamorphosed rocks from impact structures, and it provides a new tool for calibrating peak shock pressures in impact structures and ejecta. In addition, because the high-pressure ZrSiO4 polymorph has now been found in naturally occurring samples, it can be given a mineral name.
BIOCHEMICAL, IMMUNOLOGICAL AND GENETIC CHARACTERIZATION OF NATURAL GRAMINE-FREE VARIANTS OF HORDEUM VULGARE L.*

Abstract Many barley cultivars (e.g. Arimar) contain the indole alkaloid gramine, but some do not. Among seven gramine-free cultivars tested, two phenotypic classes were found: those with a normal level of the N -methyltransferase (NMT) activity that catalyzes the last two steps of gramine synthesis (e.g. Proctor); and those having neither NMT activity nor protein recognized by polyclonal antibodies raised against purified NMT (e.g. Morex). A 3 × 3 diallel cross with reciprocals was made using cultivars Arimar, Proctor and Morex. The pattern of occurrence of gramine and NMT activity among the F 1 hybrids suggested that Proctor and Morex carried defective alleles of the same nuclear gene governing an early step in the indole alkaloid pathway, and that Morex also carried a recessive allele at a nuclear locus encoding NMT activity. However, no non-parental alkaloid phenotypes were found in the F 2 generation from an Arimar × Morex cross and the ratio of progeny with gramine to those with no alkaloids was 3 : 1. One explanation of these results is tight linkage between genes controlling two of the steps in gramine biosynthesis.
Distribution of inferior olivary projections to the vestibular nuclei of albino rabbits

Abstract This study analyses the course and topography of olivo-vestibular projections originating in the dorsal cap, ventrolateral outgrowth and beta nucleus of albino rabbits. Rabbits were given either single pressure-injections of [3H] l -leucine (20 μCi in 50 nl) or single or multiple injections of 3-acetylpyridine (0.2–0.25 μ1 of 27.5μg/μ1 in saline) into the medial aspect of the inferior olive. Brains from the former animals were processed for autoradiography after 2–3 days survival; brains from the latter animals were stained for degeneration with cupric-silver methods after a 16–24 h survival. In addition, four rabbits with kainic acid lesions of the flocculus were used to document flocculo-vestibular projections. Olivo-vestibular projections from the dorsal cap-ventrolateral outgrowth, beta nucleus and the medial accessory olive diverge from olivo-cerebellar projections at the caudal margin of the flocculus stalk, and course medially in a broad sheet. Fibers (1) ascend in the superior fascicle, with flocculo-vestibular projections, to the superior vestibular nucleus, (2) enter the medial fascicle, with flocculo-vestibular fibers, and course along the dorsolateral border of the 4th ventricle to innervate a distinct rostral subdivision of the medial vestibular nucleus, and (3) enter the lateral fascicle, with flocculo-vestibular fibers, to terminate in pars α and β of the lateral vestibular nucleus and the caudal subdivision of the medial vestibular nucleus. Comparison of different injection cases indicate that the caudal half to two-thirds of the dorsal cap contributes projections to the rostral medial vestibular nucleus, centrolateral and dorsomedial aspects of the superior vestibular nucleus, and a projection to both central and dorsal aspects of the caudal medial vestibular nucleus. By contrast, the rostral third to half of the dorsal cap-ventrolateral outgrowth projects sparsely to the rostral medial vestibular nucleus, contributing dense projections to the central aspect of the superior vestibular nucleus and dorsomedial and lateral regions in the caudal medial vestibular nucleus. Pars β of the lateral vestibular nucleus received densest projections from the intermediate third of the dorsal cap; the projection to pars α did not display a distinct topography. These data and results of previous retrograde tracing experiments [C.D. Balaban (1984) Neuroscience12, 129–149] suggest that distinct groups of dorsal cap-ventrolateral outgrowth neurons project differentially to the vestibular nuclei in rabbits. Comparisons with previous electrophysiologic studies raise the testable hypothesis that they demarcate distinct pools of vestibular nuclear output neurons.
Analyses of genetic change‐over in Drosophila populations

Genetic change-overs in Drosophila populations similar to those frequently observed in microbial ones maintained in chemostats are described. In two cases, the change-overs were revealed by an abrupt and sustained increase in the probability that two independently sampled lethal chromosomes proved to be allelic. These favored lethals (or closely linked non-lethal elements) were estimated to have fitnesses 1.30–1.35 in combination with “ordinary” lethals or 1.05–1.10 in combination with non-lethal chromosomes (fitness 1.00 is assigned to carriers of non-lethal chromosomes only). A decrease in the frequency of lethal chromosomes in a third population was adequately explained by postulating the origin of a non-lethal “favored” element whose relative fitness was 1.25, a value similar to those estimated above. Genetic change-over in populations is discussed in relation to biochemical and morphological conservatism.
Dilution of human mesenchymal stem cells with dermal fibroblasts and the effects on in vitro and in vivo osteochondrogenesis.

The stromal elements of human bone marrow include cells, referred to as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), that have the potential to differentiate into bone, cartilage, fat, and hematopoietic-supportive stromal tissue. MSCs have been isolated and maintained in culture, and in vivo and in vitro assays have been used to show that these cultured cells possess osteochondral potential. Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) were combined in a range of proportions with human dermal fibroblasts (hDFs), shown to be devoid of osteochondral potential, and tested in these assays. Results suggest that hMSCs may be intentionally “contaminated” with 25–50% hDFs and still elicit a positive response in alkaline phosphatase and calcium in vitro osteogenic assays, form cartilage in pellet culture conditions, and produce bone when loaded into porous hydroxyapatite–tricalcium phosphate ceramic cubes and then implanted subcutaneously into immunocompromised mice. Although hMSCs can be purified and culture-expanded as a homogeneous subset of marrow cells, the dilution results reported here are encouraging for the prospective use of these cells in clinical applications, where repair grafts that contain 100% hMSCs almost surely will become infiltrated with host connective tissue and vasculature, which will dilute the initial concentration of hMSCs. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Simulated Internal Defibrillation in Humans Using an Anatomically Realistic Three‐Dimensional Finite Element Model of the Thorax

Finite Element Modeling of Defibrillation. Introduction: Determination of the optima) electrode configuration during implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation remains largely an empirical process. This study investigated the feasibility of using a finite element model of the thorax to predict clinical defibrillation metrics for internal defibrillation in humans. Computed defibrillation metrics from simulations of three common electrode configurations with a monophasic waveform were compared to pooled metrics for similar electrode and waveform configurations reported in humans. Methods and Results: A three-dimensional finite element model was constructed from CT cross-sections of a human thorax. Myocardial current density distributions for three electrode configurations (epicardial patches, right ventricular [RV] coil/superior vena cava [SVC] coil, RV coil/SVC coil/subcutaneous patch) and a truncated monophasic pulse with a 65% tilt were simulated. Assuming an inexcitability threshold of 25 mA/cm2 (10 V/cm) and a 75% critical mass criterion for successful defibrillation, defibrillation metrics (interelectrode impedance, defibrillation threshold current, voltage, and energy) were calculated for each electrode simulation. Values of these metrics were within 1 SD of sample-size weighted means for the corresponding metrics determined for similar electrode configurations and waveforms reported in human clinical studies. Simulated myocardial current density distributions suggest that variations in current distribution and uniformity partially explain differences in defibrillation energy requirements between electrode configurations. Conclusion: Anatomically realistic three-dimensional finite element modeling can closely simulate internal defibrillation in humans. This may prove useful for characterizing patient-specific factors that influence clinically relevant properties of current density distributions and defibrillation energy requirements of various ICD electrode configurations.
From the Office of the General Counsel. Economic considerations in treatment decisions and the standard of care in medical malpractice litigation.

KIE: Writing under the auspices of the American Medical Association's Office of the General Counsel, Hirshfeld discusses the possible ramifications for malpractice litigation of economic pressures on physicians to withhold unnecessary treatment from patients. Liability is determined by comparing an individual physician's actions to the prevailing standard of care, which incorporates both objective evaluations of medical science and normative societal values. Many commentators are debating whether the standard of care will become less patient-oriented in order to accommodate society's need to control costs. Hirshfeld describes the role that physicians can play in the debate by exercising their influence to preserve the tradition of providing high-quality, patient-centered care. They can best do this by clearly defining the benefits of specific medical services and articulating where medical science ends and economic considerations begin in treatment decisions.
Strengths of families having a member with a disability

A nationwide survey of 224 individuals having family members with a physical and/or mental disability was conducted to ascertain perceptions of the strengths of their families and group. Respondents were predominantly from the midwest, female, and 30 to 60 years of age. The majority of the individuals with a disability were under 30 years of age and male. Family strengths were found in: commitment within the family, concern for promoting welfare and happiness, physical and psychological support of the family for the disabled individual, and a closeness of psychological rapport. Females had significantly more positive perceptions in their commitment to the disabled family member and showed a significant difference from males in their coping behaviors.
Knowledge‐Based Representations of Risk Beliefs

Beliefs about risks associated with two risk agents, AIDS and toxic waste, are modeled using knowledge-based methods and elicited from subjects via interactive computer technology. A concept net is developed to organize subject responses concerning the consequences of the risk agents. It is found that death and adverse personal emotional and sociological consequences are most associated with AIDS. Toxic waste is most associated with environmental problems. These consequence profiles are quite dissimilar, although past work in risk perception would have judged the risk agents as being quite similar. Subjects frequently used causal semantics to represent their beliefs and “% of time” instead of “probability” to represent likelihoods. The news media is the most prevalent source of risk information although experiences of acquaintances appear more credible. The results suggest that “broadly based risk” communication may be ineffective because people differ in their conceptual representation of risk beliefs. In general, the knowledge-based approach to risk perception representation has great potential to increase our understanding of important risk topics.
FOEDUS: OLTP Engine for a Thousand Cores and NVRAM

Server hardware is about to drastically change. As typified by emerging hardware such as UC Berkeley's Firebox project and by Intel's Rack-Scale Architecture (RSA), next generation servers will have thousands of cores, large DRAM, and huge NVRAM. We analyze the characteristics of these machines and find that no existing database is appropriate. Hence, we are developing FOEDUS, an open-source, from-scratch database engine whose architecture is drastically different from traditional databases. It extends in-memory database technologies to further scale up and also allows transactions to efficiently manipulate data pages in both DRAM and NVRAM. We evaluate the performance of FOEDUS in a large NUMA machine (16 sockets and 240 physical cores) and find that FOEDUS achieves multiple orders of magnitude higher TPC-C throughput compared to H-Store with anti-caching.
The nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectra of derivatives of cycloserine

Abstract On the basis of NMR spectral data, it is shown that acetylation of the 3-isoxazolidone ring of N-acetylcycloserine occurs on nitrogen whereas sulfonylation occurs on the carbonyl oxygen. The change in conformation (dihedral angles) resulting from introduction of a double bond into the heterocyclic ring is reflected in a consistent displacement of the parameters of the ABX system. Variation in the site of acylation is considered explicable in terms of kinetic vs. thermodynamic control. The mass spectra of various derivatives of cycloserine are shown to be compatible with the assigned structures. Some unusual modes of fragmentation of the 4-amino-3-isoxazolidone system are discussed.
Postoperative analgesia for stifle surgery: A comparison of intra-articular bupivacaine, morphine, or saline

A prospective study was undertaken to compare the analgesic effect of intra-articular bupivacaine, morphine, or saline in the 24-hour period following cranial cruciate ligament repair in dogs. Thirty-six clinical patients with ruptured cranial cruciate ligaments were randomly assigned to one of three groups. After surgical stabilization, and before skin closure, an intra-articular injection was given; group one (n = 12) received 0.5% bupivacaine HCl at 0.5 mL/kg, group two (n = 12) received morphine at 0.1 mg/kg diluted with saline to a volume of 0.5 mL/kg, and group three (n = 12) received saline at 0.5 mL/kg. Heart rate, respiratory rate, mean arterial blood pressure, cumulative pain score, visual analog pain score, and pain threshold test on both stifles were recorded preoperatively and at 0 to 6 and 24 hours postoperatively. Surgeons and pain scoring investigators were unaware of the intra-articular medication given. Supplemental analgesia, if needed, was provided in the postoperative period according to subjective assessment of patient discomfort. Postoperative pain scores were lowest in the bupivacaine group and highest in the saline group. Pain threshold, measured by applying calibrated loads to the knee, was higher postoperatively in the bupivacaine group than in the saline group. Dogs in the morphine and bupivacaine groups required less supplemental analgesia than dogs in the saline group. The local provision of analgesia reduces the need for systemic drugs with potential side effects. Both intra-articular morphine and intra-articular bupivacaine provided better postoperative analgesia than intra-articular saline, with intra-articular bupivacaine showing the greatest effect.
Responses of the Gypsy Moth (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) to Tremulacin, an Aspen Phenolic Glycoside

This research was designed to test the hypotheses that 1) phenolic glycosides can account for differential performance of gypsy moth ( Lymantria dispar L.) on quaking aspen ( Populus tremuloides Michaux) and other Populus species, and 2) midgut esterases are involved in detoxication of phenolic glycosides by gypsy moth larvae. We bioassayed tremulacin, a phenolic glycoside, with and without S,S,S,-tributylphosphorotrithioate (DEF), an esterase inhibitor, against first and fourth instars. We also measured activities of β-glucosidase, esterase, and glutathione transferase enzymes from larval midguts. Tremulacin did not alter first instar survival but greatly prolonged duration of the first larval stadium. Tremulacin at the 2% level did not alter performance of fourth instars, but at the 3% level it reduced growth through effects on approximate digestibility and food conversion efficiency. DEF strongly potentiated the effects of tremulacin, suggesting that esterases are important for detoxication of phenolic glycosides by gypsy moth larvae. Enzyme assays revealed moderately high esterase activities, which were not induced by larval consumption of tremulacin. We suggest that high levels of tremulacin and related compounds in some Populus foliage may overload the detoxication capacity of gypsy moth larvae, leading to impaired performance.
Parabiosis of Chick Embryos Differing in Hemoglobin Type

Abstract Eggs from chickens homozygous for normal (A1 A1) and abnormal (A2 A2) hemoglobin components were parabiosed to determine if mixing of the vascular systems would occur and if the hemoglobin phenotype of the parabionts would be permanently altered. Cellulose acetate electrophoresis was used to determine percentages of hemoglobin components. The hemoglobin concentration of the homozygous normal (A1 A1) controls was 67% for the major component and 31% for the minor1 component; the mutant (A2 A2) controls was 68% for the major component and 25% for the minor2 component; and heterozygous controls were 64%, 21% and 13% for the major, minor1, and minor2 components. The concentration of minor1 component of the genotypically homozygous normal parabiont A1 A1(A2 A2) was 28% and the minor2 hemoglobin component was 12% at one day of age. At 24 days of age the minor2 component had diminished to 2%. The genotypically homozygous mutant parabiont A2 A2(A1 A1) had 15% minor1 and 21% minor2 hemoglobin components at one day of age. The concentration of the minor1 component decreased to 4% at 24 days of age. Although mixing of the vascular systems did occur, this mixture of different hemoglobins did not permanently influence synthesis of the hemoglobins.
Salinity reduces radiation absorption and use efficiency in soybean

Abstract The potential rate of plant development and biomass accumulation under conditions free of environmental stress depends on the amount of radiation absorption and the efficiency of utilizing the absorbed solar energy to drive photosynthetic processes that produce biomass materials. Salinity, as a form of soil and water stress, generally has a detrimental effect on plant growth, and crops such as soybean are usually sensitive to salinity. Field and greenhouse experiments were conducted to determine soybean growth characteristics and the relative impact of salinity on radiation absorption and radiation-use efficiency (RUE) at a whole plant level. Cumulative absorption of photosynthetically active radiation (∑APAR) was estimated using hourly inputs of predicted canopy extinction coefficients and measured leaf area indices (LAI) and global solar radiation. On 110 days after planting, soybean plants grown under non-saline conditions in the field accumulated 583 MJ ∑APAR m−2. A 20% reduction in ∑APAR resulted from growing the plants in soil with a solution electrical conductivity (EC) of about 10 dS m−1. Soybeans grown under non-saline conditions in the field achieved a RUE of 1.89 g MJ−1 ∑APAR for above-ground biomass dry materials. The RUE reached only 1.08 g MJ−1 ∑APAR in the saline soil, about a 40% reduction from the non-saline control. Salinity also significantly reduced ∑APAR and RUE for soybeans in the greenhouse. The observed smaller plant and leaf sizes and darker green leaves under salinity stress were attributed to reductions in LAI and increases in unit leaf chlorophyll, respectively. Reductions in LAI exceeded small gains in leaf chlorophyll, which resulted in less total canopy chlorophyll per unit ground area. Analyzing salinity effect on plant growth and biomass production using the relative importance of ∑APAR and RUE is potentially useful because APAR and total canopy chlorophyll can be estimated with remote sensing techniques.
Feasibility of hydrogen production in thermophilic mixed fermentation by natural anaerobes.

The biological sludge from an animal wastewater treatment plant was treated to enrich hydrogen-producing mixed bacteria, and effects on hydrogen yield were investigated during anaerobic fermentation at 55 °C. Enrichment of hydrogen-producing bacteria was conducted at pH adjustment of inocula to 3 and 5 with and without additional heat treatment (NHT and HT). The enriched mixed bacteria were cultivated at initial pHs of 5, 6, and 7 with synthetic organic wastewater containing different levels of nitrogen (2.0 and 0.8 g/l as total nitrogen) under static batch conditions. The main effects of heat treatment and enrichment pH were significant on hydrogen production. There was no significant effect of different nitrogen concentrations on hydrogen production. The methane-free biogas contained hydrogen levels of up to 64% for a fermentative condition that showed maximum hydrogen evolution (at culture pH 5 after enrichment at pH 5 with HT). The dominating intermediate metabolites were acetate, n-butyrate, and ethanol. Yields of produced hydrogen were significantly dependent upon levels of n-butyrate.
Modern Management of Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML)

AbstractINTRODUCTION In the untreated state, patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) generally are asymptomatic and do not require urgent or intensive therapy. Resolution of the signs and symptoms of the disease using standard therapies is achievable without significant toxicity or risk to the patient. However, unlike acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), where true remissions can be obtained, in CML, despite attaining “hematologic” remission, persistence of the abnormal malignant clone as evidenced by the presence of the Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) cells is characteristic. Eventually all patients with CML, despite control of their disease in the chronic state, will enter a blastic or terminal phase resembling acute leukemia which, for the most part, is resistant to therapy. Patients with CML can expect a median survival of approximately 36-40 months (1) which has not changed appreciably in the last five decades. The recognition of this has led to the pursuit of more aggressive therapy usi...
The Past and Future of the Periodic Table

I t graces the walls of lecture halls and laboratories of all types, from universities to industry. It is one of the most powerful icons of science. It captures the essence of chemistry in one elegant pattern. The periodic table provides a concise way of understanding how all known chemical elements react with one another and enter into chemical bonding, and it helps to explain the properties of each element that make it react in such a fashion.
Spiritual Needs in Health Care Settings: A Qualitative Meta-Synthesis of Clients' Perspectives

Spiritual needs often emerge in the context of receiving health or behavioral health services. Yet, despite the prevalence and salience of spiritual needs in service provision, clients often report their spiritual needs are inadequately addressed. In light of research suggesting that most social workers have received minimal training in identifying spiritual needs, this study uses a qualitative meta-synthesis (N=11 studies) to identify and describe clients'perceptions of their spiritual needs in health care settings. The results revealed six interrelated themes: (1) meaning, purpose, and hope; (2) relationship with God; (3) spiritual practices; (4) religious obligations; (5) interpersonal connection; and (6) professional staff interactions. The implications of the findings are discussed as they intersect social work practice and education.
How to turn marketing students into millionaires: Decision making for personal wealth management

Marketing promotes exchange, consumption, selling, and retailing in a society bent on spending and living beyond its means. In the meantime, students’ debts continue to spiral. Marketing professors should teach students how to resist salespeople, retailers, and advertising pitches, and strive to save and invest rather waste financial resources. Frugality is the cornerstone of wealth accumulation. It is not one's income that serves as the primary indicator of one's wealth; the primary indicator is how much goes into savings and investments. A paltry one-time $2,000 investment in a Roth IRA during a student's undergraduate years may balloon to $194,000 by the time the student retires from the workforce. Savings, investments, compound interest, marriage, education, and voluntary simplicity compound into a financially rewarding lifelong journey for the frugal student who resists a consumption-oriented culture.
Stratospheric Influences on MSU-Derived Tropospheric Temperature Trends: A Direct Error Analysis.

Abstract Retrievals of tropospheric temperature trends from data of the Microwave Sounding Unit (MSU) are subject to biases related to the strong cooling of the stratosphere during the past few decades. The magnitude of this stratospheric contamination in various retrievals is estimated using stratospheric temperature trend profiles based on observations. It is found that from 1979 to 2001 the stratospheric contribution to the trend of MSU channel-2 brightness temperature is about −0.08 K decade−1, which is consistent with the findings of Fu et al. In the retrieval method developed by Fu et al. based on a linear combination of MSU channels 2 and 4, the stratospheric influence is largely removed, leaving a residual influence of less than ±0.01 K decade−1. This method is also found to be more accurate than the angular scanning retrieval technique of Spencer and Christy to remove the stratospheric contamination.
Stratospheric variability and tropospheric ozone

Changes in the stratosphere-troposphere exchange (STE) of ozone over the last few decades have altered the tropospheric ozone abundance and are likely to continue doing so in the coming century as climate changes. Combining an updated linearized stratospheric ozone chemistry (Linoz v2) with parameterized polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) chemistry, a 5-year (2001–2005) sequence of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) meteorology data, and the University of California, Irvine (UCI) chemistry transport model (CTM), we examined variations in STE O3 flux and how it perturbs tropospheric O3. Our estimate for the current STE ozone flux is 290 Tg/a in the Northern Hemisphere (NH) and 225 Tg/a in the Southern Hemisphere (SH). The 2001–2005 interannual root-mean-square (RMS) variability is 25 Tg/a for the NH and 30 Tg/a for the SH. STE drives a seasonal peak-to-peak NH variability in tropospheric ozone of about 7–8 Dobson unit (DU). Of the interannual STE variance, 20% and 45% can be explained by the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) in the NH and SH, respectively. The CTM matches the observed QBO variations in total column ozone, and the STE O3 flux shows negative anomalies over the midlatitudes during the easterly phases of the QBO. When the observed column ozone depletion from 1979 to 2004 is modeled with Linoz v2, we predicted STE reductions of at most 10% in the NH, corresponding to a mean decrease of 1 ppb in tropospheric O3.
Electrographic seizures after subarachnoid hemorrhage lead to derangement of brain homeostasis in humans

This study intends to develop a physiologic thumbprint for nonconvulsive seizures (NCSz) after acute brain injury. Abnormal electrographic brain activity including NCSz is common after acute brain injury and is associated with poor outcome. Mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are poorly understood but in animals periods of inadequate perfusion during seizures have been documented. In the present study we hope to gain better understanding of the relationship between abnormal electrographic patterns and brain homeostasis in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).
Comment on “Selgin, Lastrapes, and White’s ‘Has the Fed Been a Failure?’”

Abstract In “Has the Fed Been a Failure?,” Selgin, Lastrapes, and White (SLW) argue that U.S. aggregate economic performance has not obviously improved since the founding of the Fed in 1914. They also suggest that alternatives to the Fed, such as a gold standard, might have generated better performance. I present additional data that challenge these conclusions.
Lexical knowledge in word recognition: Word length and word frequency in naming and lexical decision tasks ☆

K. I. Forster and S. M. Chambers (1973, Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 12, 627–635) proposed that making lexical decisions to words and naming words access the same representations of those words in the mental lexicon. It is shown that the correlation between stimuli over tasks is due to word length in letters rather than word frequency. Further experiments with orthographically illegal nonwords and orthographically legal but unwordlike nonwords show that lexical decisions need not be influenced by word length but are influenced by word frequency. This suggests that the letter length effect is due to a postaccess spelling check. Finally, blocked naming, of words only, produces results similar to lexical decision, without length effects but with frequency effects indicative of lexical access. These results suggest two separate and independent routes to word naming, both of which are mediated by lexical knowledge.
Fear, Apathy, and Discrimination: A Test of Three Explanations of Political Participation*

Students of political participation have generally taken as given that nonparticipation in politics is a result of apathy, and that apathy is a function of low income, low education, and low status. This article suggests that there are two additional potential explanations of political participation rates besides that offered by the conventional wisdom. One of these acknowledges that political participation for some people in some circumstances involves considerable risk, so that nonparticipation can be explained more accurately in terms of fear than in terms of apathy. The other views political participation as a response to a sense of “relative deprivation” or discrimination. After each of these three “models” of political participation is translated into operational terms, it is tested by determining how well it accounts for the variations in black political participation rates in Mississippi during the first half-decade following the 1965 Voting Rights Act. The conclusion that emerges from these tests is that political scientists have erred seriously by overlooking the role of fear in political life. In situations like those faced by blacks in Mississippi, situations that are probably similar to those in parts of the “developing world,” apathy compares poorly with fear as an explanation of political participation.
Critical behavior of disease spread on dynamic small-world networks

Dynamic small-world networks combine fixed short-range links within a node's local neighborhood with time-varying stochastic long-range links outside of that neighborhood. The probability of a long-range link occurring, p, is a measure of the mobility, or equivalently, the randomness of the population and is analogous to the standard static small-world rewiring parameter. In this study, we investigate the non-epidemic to epidemic phase transition that occurs in a susceptible-infected-recovered (SIR) propagation model within this type of dynamic network. We first derive the finite-valued critical randomness pc and find excellent agreement with numerical simulations. Close to pc, the order parameter, which is given by the fraction of the population infected during the outbreak, scales as (p?pc)? since it is a continuous transition; we find that ? is near 2, but varies as a function of pc. At the critical point, our study shows that the distribution of outbreak sizes follows a power law characterized by an exponent of ??1.5 in agreement with the value found in related small-world models, leading us to conjecture that it may be a universal feature of these models.
A predictive model for relativistic electrons at geostationary orbit

[1] We developed a predictive model for forecasting relativistic electrons at geostationary orbit that provides very high correlation between the predicted and actual electron fluxes. We integrated numerically the two linked continuity equations for preliminary accelerated electrons and relativistic electrons. The model includes sources and losses, and it uses solar wind data as only input parameters. We used the solar wind coupling function as the source, while the loss term we assumed to be proportional to the solar wind density which plays an important role in the decay of relativistic electrons. Relativistic electron fluxes, predicted from this model, show very high correlation with the actual electron fluxes at geostationary orbit. We tested the model for four-year period (2004–2007). The correlation coefficients between predicted and actual values of the electron fluxes for one day ahead for each year are about 0.93.
T-state active site of aspartate transcarbamylase : Crystal structure of the carbamyl phosphate and L-alanosine ligated enzyme

An X-ray diffraction study to 2.0 A resolution shows that this enzyme, ATCase, is in the T-state (the c 3 to c 3 distance is 45.2 A) when ATCase is bound to carbamyl phosphate (CP) and to L-alanosine (an analogue of aspartate). This result strongly supports the kinetic results that alanosine did not inhibit the carbamylation of aspartate in the normal reaction of native ATCase plus CP and aspartate [Baillon, J., Tauc, P., and Herve, G. (1985) Biochemistry 24, 7182-7187]. The structure further reveals that the phosphate of CP is 4 A away from its known position in the R-state and is in the T-state position of P i in a recent study of ATCase complexed with products, phosphate (P i ) and N-carbamyl-L-aspartate [Huang, J., and Lipscomb, W. N. (2004) Biochemistry 43, 6422-6426]. Moreover, the alanosine position in this T-state is somewhat displaced from that expected for its analogue, aspartate, from the R-state position. The relations of these structural aspects to the kinetics are presented.
Interfacial instabilities for horizontal gas-liquid flows in pipelines

Abstract Experiments were conducted with air and liquid flowing in horizontal pipelines, 2.52 and 9.53 cm dia, to determine the interfacial instabilities that exist in a stratified flow. The liquid viscosity was varied from 1 to 80 cP. Three types of instabilities are defined: regular 2-D waves are associated with pressure variations in phase with the wave slope, irregular large-amplitude waves and atomization of the liquid are associated with pressure variations in phase with the wave height. Linear stability theory is used to provide a physical interpretation and to predict conditions for the initiation of these instabilities.
Seizure characteristics in Pallister–Killian syndrome

Pallister-Killian syndrome (PKS) is a congenital disorder attributed to supernumerary isochromosome 12p mosaicism. Craniofacial dysmorphism, learning impairment and seizures are considered cardinal features. However, little is known regarding the seizure and epilepsy patterns in PKS. To better define the prevalence and spectrum of seizures in PKS, we studied 51 patients (39 male, 12 female; median age 4 years and 9 months; age range 7 months to 31 years) with confirmed 12p tetrasomy. Using a parent-based structured questionnaire, we collected data regarding seizure onset, frequency, timing, semiology, and medication therapy. Patients were recruited through our practice, at PKS Kids family events, and via the PKS Kids website. Epilepsy occurred in 27 (53%) with 23 (85%) of those with seizures having seizure onset prior to 3.5 years of age. Mean age at seizure onset was 2 years and 4 months. The most common seizure types were myoclonic (15/27, 56%), generalized convulsions (13/27, 48%), and clustered tonic spasms (similar to infantile spasms; 8/27, 30%). Thirteen of 27 patients with seizures (48%) had more than one seizure type with 26 out of 27 (96%) ever having taken antiepileptic medications. Nineteen of 27 (70%) continued to have seizures and 17/27 (63%) remained on antiepileptic medication. The most commonly used medications were: levetiracetam (10/27, 37%), valproic acid (10/27, 37%), and topiramate (9/27, 33%) with levetiracetam felt to be "most helpful" by parents (6/27, 22%). Further exploration of seizure timing, in-depth analysis of EEG recordings, and collection of MRI data to rule out confounding factors is warranted.
Enrichment of super-sized resequencing targets from the human genome.

Methods relying on dense arrays of synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides to target specific subsets of the human genome may enable routine resequencing of all human exons or multi-megabase-pair chromosomal regions.
Constant substructure creep of aluminum following stress reductions

Abstract A series of stress reduction experiments was conducted on high purity polycrystalline aluminum. Initial stresses of 8.27, 10.3 and 12.4 MPa at 573 K and 3.44 MPa at 673 K were used, and stress reductions were made during steady state creep at approximately 22% true strain. For each initial stress, the constant substructure strain rates are characterized by an exponential dependence of rate on the reduced stress. These data are consistent with an exponential form of the kinetic law for flow within subgrain interiors, which is based on the theory of obstacle-controlled dislocation glide. In addition, the experimentally determined slopes for each set of constant substructure strain rate-vs-reduced stress data vary approximately as the inverse of the initial stress. This finding suggests that the strength of the microstructure scales with the initial applied stress. Finally, it is proposed that the activation energy for dislocation glide can be determined from a combination of constant structure and steady state creep data. The results of this analysis suggest that the thermal activation process may be controlled by lattice self-diffusion.
Israel, the “peace process,” and nuclear terrorism: Recognizing the linkages

Assessments of the Oslo accords on Israel's security normally focus on the risks of war and conventional terrorism. Yet there are compelling reasons to believe that the so‐called Peace Process might also enlarge the risk of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) terrorism, including nuclear weapons. With this in mind, this article, cast in the form of a Memorandum to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, explores a number of pertinent variables and hypotheses. Exploring both the strategic and the jurisprudential aspects of the Oslo accords, the article examines underlying Palestinian orientations to the Peace Process, the Palestinian concept of sacrifice, and the various forms that nuclear terrorism might take. The concluding section, based on comprehensive consideration of Palestine Liberation Organization and Palestine Authority documents and speeches, identifies the Peace Process as part of a strategy of jihad that could enlarge the risk of nuclear terror against Israel.