cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization of poly(ethyl methacrylate) by inverse gas chromatography

Abstract The inverse gas chromatography (i.g.c.) method was applied to poly(ethyl methacrylate) (PEMA) as a method for polymer characterization. We have shown that the method was useful in obtaining meaningful thermodynamic data on PEMA-solvent systems, and information on the depolymerization of PEMA at a temperature close to its decomposition temperature. Three chemically different families were used to obtain some insights about PEMA-solvent interactions. PEMA was found to decompose above 245°C. However, above this temperature, the i.g.c. method can be utilized to detect the decomposition temperature. The PEMA-solvent interaction parameters and the free energy of mixing were found to be independent of the number of carbons in the series and temperature. The thermodynamic sorption functions for the sorption process of the three families of probes into PEMA solution were obtained and discussed in terms of their interactions with PEMA backbone. Furthermore, the contributions of CH 2 , CO and OH functional groups in the three series to the sorption process were also obtained. We found that the formation of hydrogen bonds between the CO group of PEMA and the OH group of the alcohols is stronger than the dipole-dipole interactions between PEMA and the carbonyl groups of the acetates and the dispersive forces between PEMA and the alkanes. The latter was shown to be the weakest among the three series, and alkanes were found to be non-solvents of PEMA.
Immunohistochemical evaluations of ultrashort-segment Hirschsprung's disease : Report of three cases

PURPOSE: Unlike classic Hirschsprung's disease, short-segment and ultrashort-segment varieties are usually found to be latent and milder. Ultrashort-segment Hirschsprung's disease may present as intractable chronic constipation in children over one year of age, adolescents, and adults. Anorectal myectomy has been shown in many instances to provide effective long-term treatment for certain patients with ultrashort-segment Hirschsprung's disease. Histologically, the affected segment in Hirschsprung's disease has been shown to have increased cholinergic nerves, lack of nitric oxide synthase-containing neuronal elements, and show moderate to severe loss of myenteric neurons. METHODS: Here, we report three cases that showed clinical and manometric evidence of ultrashort-segment Hirschsprung's disease. Two of the three patients responded well to myectomy. RESULTS: Detailed histologic and immunohistochemical evaluation of the internal anal sphincter and a comparison with three normal controls revealed absence of nitric oxide synthase-containing neurons in both cases that responded well to surgery and continued presence of these neurons in the patient who did not respond. A review of the current literature on various treatment modalities is included. CONCLUSIONS: Anorectal myectomy provides long-term relief of this chronic problem in a subgroup of patients with ultrashort-segment Hirschsprung's disease who lack nitrinergic neurons at the internal anal sphincter.
The moral economy of water: Equity and antiquity in the Andean commons

This article focuses on irrigation and water use in a community in the Peruvian Andes, one of numerous villages in the region where these activities are carried out in an unusual way. The practices and principles that make up this tradition, defining the rights and duties of community members in making use of the resource most vital for life, are identified and evaluated based on comparative ethnographic research. It is argued that they provide a highly effective way of managing a scarce and fluctuating resource that is held in common, an older Andean tradition that may have been adopted by the Incas and endorsed as an official policy—all of which might help to account for its wide distribution in the region today. In this particular case, the principles help to create an extraordinary kind of community, a transparent and equitable one in which a basic material symmetry or proportionality is expressed at many levels. This symmetry is closely related to other basic commonalities among community members, but of particular interest are its effects on social solidarity and cooperation and its association with a strong sense of ethnic identity. The implications of this tradition for solving contemporary problems in water management are also briefly discussed, [sociocultural anthropology, irrigation, Andes, common-property]
Specular and Diffuse Scattering Studies of Multilayer Interfaces

The results of specular and diffuse x-ray scattering studies of multilayers are discussed. We show here that such studies can yield detailed statistical information about the interfacial roughness and morphology. Results on a GaAs/AlAs multilayer are presented and the data is analyzed within the Born approximation.
Desmoplastic melanoma: a 12-year experience with sentinel lymph node biopsy.

Abstract Aims Given the paucity of data regarding nodal involvement in desmoplastic melanoma (DM), we decided to review the incidence of nodal metastasis in our patients with DM to better define guidelines regarding the performance of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in this specific melanoma subtype. Methods Using a prospectively maintained database, we reviewed all patients who underwent treatment for melanoma at the Yale Melanoma Unit in a twelve-year period (1998–2010), during which 3531 cases were treated. We identified 24 patients (0.7%) diagnosed with DM. These patients' records were studied for clinical and histologic parameters and clinical outcomes. Results Twenty-two patients from the DM group had SLNB, of which four (18%) were diagnosed with micro-metastasis. These four patients were all treated with completion lymphadenectomy and none had additional positive nodes in the remainder of the nodes. Patients were followed after surgery for a median of 25 months (range 2–60 months). Two patients (9%) developed local recurrence, two (9%) in-transit recurrence, and six (27%) showed distant metastases (three patients were pure DM and three patients showed mixed morphology). Patients with mixed DM had a higher rate of nodal metastasis (25%) vs those with pure DM (14%). Conclusions Other authors have reported that patients diagnosed with pure DM were less likely to have a positive SLN (0–2%) than those patients with the mixed DM subtype (12–16%). Our findings of higher incidence rates of regional lymph node metastases in both the pure and mixed DM subtypes (14% and 25%) compel us to continue to still recommend that SLNB be considered in patients with both subcategories, pure and mixed DM. Level of evidence Level IV.
The link between perceptual congruence and couple relationship satisfaction in dyadic coping

The current study extends prior research on perceptual congruence within couples by examining some variables of perceptual congruence in the context of dyadic coping. We examined each partner’s perceived similarity in dyadic coping, actual similarity in providing and receiving support in times of stress, and what we call the couple bond, that is, the recognition of each partner’s coping efforts as measured at a couple level. In a sample of 281 married and unmarried couples, we tested the predictive power of perceptual congruence variables on relationship satisfaction. Congruence variables were computed through an idiographic or dyad-centered approach. In order to measure congruence pertaining to each dyad and separate two equally important components of dyadic congruence (i.e., unique similarity and stereotypical similarity), stereotype adjusted and not-adjusted scores were computed. The results indicated that, with adjusted scores, the effect of the perceptual congruence of dyadic coping was weakened but...
Persistent or Recurrent Anemia Is Associated With Severe and Disabling Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Background & Aims Anemia is a common manifestation of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that can greatly affect patients' quality of life. We performed a prospective study of a large cohort of patients with IBD to determine if patterns of anemia over time are associated with aggressive or disabling disease. Methods We performed a longitudinal analysis of demographic, clinical, laboratory, and treatment data from a registry of patients with IBD at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center from 2009 through 2013. Patients with a complete follow-up evaluation (at least 1 annual visit with laboratory results) were included. Anemia was defined by World Health Organization criteria. Disease activity scores (the Harvey–Bradshaw Index or the ulcerative colitis activity index) and quality-of-life scores (based on the short IBD questionnaire) were determined at each visit; laboratory data, including levels of C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rates, as well as patterns of IBD-related health care use, were analyzed. Results A total of 410 IBD patients (245 with Crohn's disease, 165 with ulcerative colitis; 50.5% female) were included. The prevalence of anemia in patients with IBD was 37.1% in 2009 and 33.2% in 2013. Patients with IBD and anemia required significantly more health care and had higher indices of disease activity, as well as a lower average quality of life, than patients without anemia ( P P P P P = .01), higher levels of C-reactive protein (in patients with ulcerative colitis, P = .001), and a higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate ( P P Conclusions Based on a longitudinal analysis of 410 patients, persistent or recurrent anemia correlates with more aggressive or disabling disease in patients with IBD.
Testing Different Overtime Policies with Different Price and Due Date Negotiation Strategies

Today, organizations use of e-commerce tools for purchasing and sales have developed from e-catalogs and e-mail to e-auctions. This research simulated such a fully automated negotiation system for business transactions to test the best overtime policies to use with different decision rules for price and due date. Software within e-commerce systems negotiates prices and due dates using pre-thought out negotiation strategies. This research tests tested the effect of several overtime policies with different price and due date negotiation strategies. It used a simulation of a job shop and an imaginary market to demonstrate how one can compare different combinations of overtime policies and negotiation strategies in different markets. It extends previous research by including the option of using flexible overtime both at the quotation stage and during shop operation. The research suggested that simulation testing of negotiation and overtime strategies for firms and their markets is a practical way of choosing overtime policies.
Array Processing Using Time Reversal: Experiments and Performance

In this paper we derive the generalized likelihood ratio test (GLRT) for time reversal detection. We consider a multi-static array configuration with two antenna arrays, one for transmitting and one for receiving. We examine the time reversal GLRT performance with experimental measurements in the electromagnetic domain in a highly cluttered laboratory environment. The experiments show that time reversal provides significant performance gain over the conventional energy detector
Pointwise Green's Function Estimates Toward Stability for Degenerate Viscous Shock Waves

ABSTRACT We consider degenerate viscous shock waves arising in systems of two conservation laws, where degeneracy describes viscous shock waves for which the asymptotic endstates are sonic to the hyperbolic system (the shock speed is equal to one of the characteristic speeds). In particular, we develop detailed pointwise estimates on the Green's function associated with the linearized perturbation equation, sufficient for establishing that spectral stability implies nonlinear stability. The analysis of degenerate viscous shock waves involves several new features, such as algebraic (nonintegrable) convection coefficients, loss of analyticity of the Evans function at the leading eigenvalue, and asymptotic time decay of perturbations intermediate between that of the Lax case and that of the undercompressive case.
Physiology declines prior to death in Drosophila melanogaster.

For a period of 6–15 days prior to death, the fecundity and virility of Drosophila melanogaster fall significantly below those of same-aged flies that are not near death. It is likely that other aspects of physiology may decline during this period. This study attempts to document changes in two physiological characteristics prior to death: desiccation resistance and time-in-motion. Using individual fecundity estimates and previously described models, it is possible to accurately predict which flies in a population are near death at any given age; these flies are said to be in the “death spiral”. In this study of approximately 7,600 females, we used cohort mortality data and individual fecundity estimates to dichotomize each of five replicate populations of same-aged D. melanogaster into “death spiral” and “non-spiral” groups. We then compared these groups for two physiological characteristics that decline during aging. We describe the statistical properties of a new multivariate test statistic that allows us to compare the desiccation resistance and time-in-motion for two populations chosen on the basis of their fecundity. This multivariate representation of the desiccation resistance and time-in-motion of spiral and non-spiral females was shown to be significantly different with the spiral females characterized by lower desiccation resistance and time spent in motion. Our results suggest that D. melanogaster may be used as a model organism to study physiological changes that occur when death is imminent.
Ohio Study Shows That Insurance Coverage Is Critical For Children With Special Health Care Needs As They Transition To Adulthood

Nearly 30 percent of young adults with special health care needs in Ohio lack health insurance, compared to 5 percent of the state’s children with special health care needs. As children with such needs become too old for Medicaid or insurance through their parents’ employer, they face great challenges in obtaining insurance. Lack of insurance is highly predictive of unmet needs, which in turn are predictive of costly hospital-based encounters. Young adults with special health care needs who are uninsured are more than twice as likely as their peers with insurance to forgo filling prescriptions and getting care and to have problems getting care. Even after insurance status is accounted for, young adults with special health care needs are more likely than children with such needs to not fill prescriptions because of cost and to delay or forgo needed care. This study demonstrates that continuous and adequate health insurance is vital to the continued well-being of children with special health care needs as t...
Road-following with continuous learning

A neural network-based road-following system is proposed to take vision sensor input (road boundary images) and generate steering control output while maintaining the vehicle moving within road boundaries. Unlike many existing neural network-based systems that only use the supervised mode of neural learning, the proposed system also uses a reinforcement learning mode to eliminate the need for external supervision and at the same time provides the system with continuous learning ability similar to human driving practice. The simulation results demonstrate the system's good road-following and continuous learning capability. The future plans include a full scale simulation and the construction of a real system.
Organization Stress as a Moderator of the Relationship Between Influence and Role Response

Some aspects of the role-taking model proposed by Kahn, et al., (1964) are examined; role conflict is significantly related to job satisfaction and job threat and anxiety, but not to an effectivene...
Dynamical difference in patients encounters involving uncontrolled diabetes: an orbital decomposition analysis.

Rationale Poor glucose control is common in patients with type 2 diabetes. Little is known about the dynamics within the doctor–patient encounter that might explain this phenomenon. The purpose of this study was to compare dynamics of encounters with and without a hypoglycaemic medication change for patients with poorly controlled diabetes. Methods The doctor–patient encounters of 182 patients with type 2 diabetes from 20 primary care clinics were audio-recorded and transcribed. Encounters were coded using the Davis Observation Codes (DOCs), classifying content into 20 different categories, for example, chatting or history taking, at 15 second intervals. Of the 60 encounters in which the A1C > 8.0, 25 involved a medication change. Fifteen patients were randomly selected from those with a change in medication as well as fifteen patients from those without a change in medication for analysis using orbital decomposition. ‘Orbital decomposition’ is an analytic technique based on symbolic dynamics in which categorical time series data, such as a string of DOCs, are used to identify amount of complexity present and recurrent patterns of strings. Results Encounters with a change were longer (mean 20 versus 15.5 minutes) and included more time planning treatment (29% versus 23%). Encounters with and without a change displayed similar degrees of non-linearity, but change encounters were slightly more non-linear (DLyapunov = 1.94 versus 1.75). Encounters with a change had more structure to them: they had many more DOC strings (60 versus 33 strings occurring at least three times), and those DOC strings more often linked treatment planning to history taking, chatting, health education, physical examination and compliance assessment. Encounters without a change linked treatment planning to history taking, compliance assessment and nutrition counselling but had no strings with chatting or evaluation and feedback. Conclusion In conclusion, the doctor’s decision to change medication may be made before the encounter, thus the different strings of DOC codes observed. Chatting and evaluation and feedback may be strategies to increase trust before recommending a medication change.
Atomic charges derived from electrostatic potentials: A detailed study

A new algorithm for fitting atomic charges to molecular electrostatic potentials is presented. This method is non-iterative and rapid compared to previous work. Results from a variety of gaussian basis sets, including STO-3G, 3-21G and 6-31G*, are presented. Charges for a representative collection of molecules, comprising both first and second row atoms and anions are tabulated. The effects of using experimental and optimized geometries are explored. Charges derived from these fits are found to adequately reproduce SCF dipole moments. A small split valence representation, 3-21G, appears to yield consistently good results in a reasonable amount of time.
Two Kinds of Reasoning

According to one view of reasoning, people can evaluate arguments in at least two qualitatively different ways: in terms of their deductive correctness and in terms of their inductive strength. According to a second view, assessments of both correctness and strength are a function of an argument's position on a single psychological continuum (e.g., subjective conditional probability). A deductively correct argument is one with the maximum value on this continuum; a strong argument is one with a high value. The present experiment tested these theories by asking participants to evaluate the same set of arguments for correctness and strength. The results produced an interaction between type of argument and instructions: In some conditions, participants judged one argument deductively correct more often than a second, but judged the second argument inductively strong more often than the first. This finding supports the view that people have distinct ways to evaluate arguments.
Career Group Therapy

In this article. the career group literature is examined in terms of the group process variables of therapeutic factors, client composition, and leadership variables in order to determine the use of group properties in the conduct of career group treatment. Two dimensions, "used" and "examined, " denote the function of the process variables within the group studies. A conceptual group career counseling model and research recommendations articulating and demonstrating group properties are given.
Activation of branched and other long-chain fatty acids by rat liver microsomes

Acyl coenzyme A synthetase (EC 6.2.1.3) of rat liver microsomes activates zso- and anteiso-branched long-chain fatty acids containing 12 to 20 carbon atoms. Fatty acid chain length appears to be the major determinant of the maximum rate of acyl CoA biosynthesis of branched, or saturated, or cis monounsaturated long-chain fatty acids. Based on activa- tion studies conducted at 22-45OC, it is concluded that the rate of activation is a function of long-chain fatty acid solu- bility. The shape of the in vitro activation curve with respect to fatty acid concentration appears to be determined by fatty acid melting point as well as by the presence and position of double bonds. Differently shaped activation curves were ob- served for cis or trans A6 to AlZ central positional isomers of octadecenoic acid and for Aa, A4, Ala to A16 terminal isomers of octadecenoic acid. The relationships between fatty acid struc- ture, melting point, solubility, and shape of the activation curve observed during in vitro measurement of acyl CoA formation are discussed.
A method to obtain a Ragone plot for evaluation of carbon nanotube supercapacitor electrodes

Electrochemical double layer capacitors, also referred to as supercapacitors, are a promising technology in the field of energy storage. Carbon nanotube (CNT)-based supercapacitors are particularly interesting because of CNTs' high surface area and conductivity. CNT supercapacitors can potentially be used in hybrid electric vehicles due to their higher power density. Comparing energy storage systems that store energy in different ways, such as batteries, fuel cells, supercapacitors, and flywheels, requires that an appropriate set of performance data be collected. A Ragone plot is a log-log plot of a device's energy density versus power density, giving insight into its operational range. A method to obtain Ragone plots for CNT-based supercapacitors in a three-terminal electrochemical cell was adapted from a technique to test commercial capacitors for electric vehicles. Ragone plots for different types of as-grown CNT electrodes in different electrolytes are presented, along with the procedural details of this new method to obtain electrode-specific energy and power densities. Additionally, a theoretical weight calculation for a carbon nanotube film was derived and validated with a direct weight measurement of a CNT film. This weight was used in the specific energy and power densities for the Ragone plot.
Sputter deposition of magnetic thin films onto plastic: the effect of undercoat and spacer layer composition on the magnetic properties of multilayer permalloy thin films

The coercive force, anisotropy field, and permeability spectra of magnetically soft, multilayer thin films sputtered onto plastic for use as identification markers or EMI shields is reported. Substrate effects including use of undercoat layers, layers separating the substrate from the magnetic stack, are reported. It is found that undercoat layers act to increase the soft magnetic properties. Effects of stack design, including spacer layer material and stack geometry, on the magnetic properties are also reported.
Human Presence Detection Using Millimeter-Wave Radiometry

A novel method of human presence detection using passive millimeter-wave (MMW) sensors is presented. The method focuses on detecting a standing human from a moving platform in a cluttered outdoor environment using MMW radiometry, which has not been attempted before. Ka-band radiometers are used in the total power mode, as well as correlation mode, which ideally responds well to self-luminous objects such as humans. The intrinsic radiative power from a human is derived, as well as the responses of the total power and correlation modes. A summary of the system hardware design is presented, as well as experimental results. Lastly, a simple Bayesian classification formulation is introduced and shown to produce promising results in classification of humans and nonhumans.
The Growing Importance Of Operating Employees And Keys To Developing Effective Training Options

This study provides a description of the changing role of transportation operating employees, their competencies, job requirements, and training needs. Four key findings for developing effective training options are discussed. The data come from 43 logistics organizations in 20 states using the Common Metric Questionnaire, formal and informal interviews, and a descriptive newsletter.
Some theorems on multiplicative orders modulo p on average

Abstract Let p be a prime, a ≥ 1 , and l a ( p ) be the multiplicative order of a modulo p. We prove various theorems concerning the averages of l a ( p ) over p ≤ x and a ≤ y . We prove that these theorems hold for y > exp ⁡ ( ( α + ϵ ) log ⁡ x ) where α ≈ 3.42 . This is an improvement over y > exp ⁡ ( c 1 log ⁡ x ) with c 1 ≥ 12 e 9 given in [S2] . We also provide the average of τ ( l a ( p ) ) over p ≤ x , a ≤ y , and y > exp ⁡ ( ( α + ϵ ) log ⁡ x ) , where τ ( n ) is the divisor function ∑ d | n 1 .
Enantioselective Ru-mediated synthesis of (-)-indolizidine 223AB

Triphenylphosphine/CCl 4 -mediated cyclization of amino alcohol 17 proceeded smoothly, with single inversion to provide (-)-indolizidine 223AB 4. Amino alcohol 17 was prepared by thermolysis of azide 16, followed by DIBAL reduction of the intermediate imine. Symchiral aldehyde 12 and phosphonium salt 15, precursors to 16, were prepared by BINAP-Ru * -mediated hydrogenation of the corresponding β-keto esters. A simplified procedure allows this hydrogenation to be carried out in a Parr shaker, at 80 o C and psig of H 2
Female Gender of the Recipient Is Independently Associated With Prolonged Ventilation Time and Hospital Stay After Liver Transplantation

Abstract Background Although female patients are associated with several complications after liver transplantation (OLT), its role in short-term postoperative outcomes is not known. The aims of this study were to investigate the relationship between female gender and ventilation time and hospital stay after OLT. Methods After receiving institutional review board approval, we studied adult patients who underwent OLT at our center between 2004 and 2013. Female and male recipients were compared by using Student t and χ2 tests. Risk factors were confirmed in multivariate logistic models. Results Of 1476 patients, 490 were female. Compared with male counterparts, female recipients had more severe disease and comorbidities. Intraoperatively, the 2 groups were similar except for blood transfusion. Postoperatively, female recipients required significantly longer ventilation time (median, 3 days [interquartile range (IQR), 2–5], vs median, 2 [IQR, 1–5]; P = .009) and duration of hospital stay (median, 23 [IQR, 15–46] vs median, 18 [IQR, 12–34]; P Conclusions Female gender of the recipient is associated with significantly longer ventilation time and hospital stay after OLT and the management should be tailored to the unique characteristics and susceptibility to postoperative complications in female patients.
Disulfonated Poly(arylene ether sulfone) Random Copolymer Blends Tuned for Rapid Water Permeation via Cation Complexation with Poly(ethylene glycol) Oligomers

Here we present fundamental studies of a new blending strategy for enhancing water permeability in ionomeric reverse osmosis membrane materials. A random disulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) copolymer containing 20 mol percent hydrophilic units (BPS-20) in the potassium salt (−SO3K) form was blended with hydroxyl-terminated poly(ethylene glycol) oligomers (PEG, Mn= 600−2 000) to increase the water permeability of BPS-20. Blending PEG with the copolymer resulted in pseudoimmobilization of the BPS-20 polymer chains because PEG complexes with cations in the sulfonated polymer matrix. Strong ion−dipole interactions between the potassium ions of the BPS-20 sulfonate groups (−SO3K) and the PEG oxyethylene (−CH2CH2O−) groups were observed via NMR spectroscopy. These interactions are similar to those reported between crown ethers and free alkali metal systems. The PEG oligomers were compatible with the copolymer at 30 °C in an aqueous environment. Transparent and ductile BPS-20_PEG blend films exhibited a Fox...
Quasisecular scattering in the φ 4 model

The first-order renormalized Hamiltonian, calculated by the quasisecular perturbation method applied to the weakly nonlinear ${\ensuremath{\varphi}}^{4}$ model of quantum field theory, is used to discuss the scattering of two particles. The scattering amplitude is found by an approximation which is accurate for weak coupling. For one space dimension a resonance in the $s$-wave scattering occurs at threshold for both signs of the ${\ensuremath{\varphi}}^{4}$ coupling. For two space dimensions a resonance occurs only for the sign of coupling which also gives a bound state as found in previous work, and the resonance lies above threshold by the bound-state energy. For three dimensions the scattering amplitude shows very little structure. Comparison of the scattering amplitudes is made with the Bethe-Salpeter equation.
On the Convolution of Distribution Functions

(1970). On the Convolution of Distribution Functions. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 77, No. 7, pp. 745-746.
Bidirectional saturable transport of LHRH across the blood-brain barrier

Systemic administration of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) in rats has been found to influence behavior independently of pituitary or ovarian function. A previous study has shown that LHRH can cross the blood-brain barrier in one direction, but it was not known whether this was due to a saturable transport system. The rate of entry of 125I-labeled LHRH from blood to brain was determined by two different single-pass methods of carotid perfusion. The first, a multiple time point method, measures Ki from the slope of the linear regression when brain-to-blood ratios of radioiodinated LHRH are plotted against time. Saturable transport was determined by the difference between the Ki of rats perfused with 125I-LHRH (12.51 X 10(-3) mg.g-1.min-1) vs. rats perfused with 125I-LHRH and unlabeled LHRH (10 nmol/ml; 2.20 X 10(-3) ml.g-1.min-1). The inhibition by the unlabeled peptide was statistically significant (P less than 0.001). The second method, a single time point technique, measures the cerebrovascular permeability-surface area coefficient (PA). Saturable transport was determined in rats by the competition of unlabeled LHRH with 125I-LHRH. The PA value for 125I-LHRH (20.00 X 10(-3) ml.g-1.min-1) was significantly greater (P less than 0.05) than for 125I-LHRH with the addition of 10 nmol/ml unlabeled LHRH (4.14 X 10(-3) ml.g-1.min-1). Saturable transport of LHRH from brain to blood in mice was also determined.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Highly Conductive Anion Exchange Membrane for High Power Density Fuel-Cell Performance

Anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs) are regarded as a new generation of fuel cell technology that has the potential to overcome many obstacles of the mainstream proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) in cost, catalyst stability, efficiency, and system size. However, the low ionic conductivity and poor thermal stability of current anion exchange membranes (AEMs) have been the key factors limiting the performance of AEMFCs. In this study, an AEM made of styrenic diblock copolymer with a quaternary ammonium-functionalized hydrophilic block and a cross-linkable hydrophobic block and possessing bicontinuous phases of a hydrophobic network and hydrophilic conduction paths was found to have high ionic conductivity at 98 mS cm(-1) and controlled membrane swelling with water uptake at 117 wt % at 22 °C. Membrane characterizations and fuel cell tests of the new AEM were carried out together with a commercial AEM, Tokuyama A201, for comparison. The high ionic conductivity and water permeability of the new membrane reported in this study is attributed to the reduced torturosity of the ionic conduction paths, while the hydrophobic network maintains the membrane mechanical integrity, preventing excessive water uptake.
Ischemic contracture begins when anaerobic glycolysis stops: a 31P-NMR study of isolated rat hearts

The relationships among myocardial ATP, intracellular pH, and ischemic contracture in Langendorff-perfused rat hearts were investigated by 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy during total global normothermic ischemia while the left ventricular pressure was recorded continuously via an intraventricular balloon. Glucose-perfused hearts (n = 63) were divided into five groups based on the time of onset of contracture (TOC), and three other groups of hearts were treated to vary the ischemic glycogen availability. ATP levels, which showed no evidence of accelerated ATP depletion during contracture, were significant and variable at TOC. Intracellular pH initially declined and then leveled off at TOC, with lower final pH in hearts with later TOC. We conclude that contracture began when anaerobic glycolysis (and thus glycolytic ATP synthesis) stopped. These results, though consistent with the concept that ischemic contracture in normal hearts results from rigor bond formation due to low ATP levels at the myofibrils, suggest that TOC is more closely related to glycolytic ATP production than to total cellular ATP content, thus providing evidence of some degree of subcellular compartmentation or metabolite channeling. In glycolytically inhibited hearts, the quite early contracture may have a Ca2+ component.
“Smallball” evaluation: a prescription for studying community-based information interventions

Objectives: This paper argues that focused evaluation studies of community-based informational interventions conducted over the life-cycle of the project (“smallball” studies) are more informative and useful than randomized experiments conducted only at the project's conclusion (“powerball” studies). Method: Based on two contrasting strategies in baseball, smallball and powerball studies are compared and contrasted, emphasizing how the distinctive features of community-based interventions lend advantage to smallball approaches. Results: Smallball evaluations have several important advantages over powerball evaluations: before system development, they ensure that information resources address real community needs; during deployment, they ensure that the systems are suited to the capabilities of the users and to community constraints; and, after deployment, they enable as much as possible to be learned about the effects of the intervention in environments where randomized studies are usually impossible. Implications: Many in informatics see powerball studies as the only legitimate form of evaluation and so expect powerball studies to be done. These expectations should be revised in favor of smallball studies.
Interleukin-4 inhibits the expression of Kit and tryptase during stem cell factor-dependent development of human mast cells from fetal liver cells

Although interleukin-4 (IL-4) in mice is known to augment the proliferation of mast cells and to modulate the expression of certain mast cell protease transcripts, its effect on human mast cells is less well understood. The current study examined the effects of recombinant human IL-4 (rhuIL-4) on stem cell factor (SCF)-dependent fetal liver-derived human mast cells in liquid culture. In no case did rhuIL-4 augment proliferation of mast cells. rhuIL-4 selectively inhibited certain aspects of the development of mast cells in cultures of fetal liver cells with rhuSCF. These include lower numbers and percentages of cells expressing tryptase and surface Kit, smaller cells, and lower contents of cells for tryptase, histamine, and Kit. Development of metachromasia was not attenuated. The downregulation of Kit, the surface receptor for SCF, is probably a critical factor, because cells lacking this molecule would not be able to respond to SCF. In contrast to mast cell progenitors, mast cells already developed in vitro from fetal liver cells are relatively resistant to rhuIL-4, but are still dependent for survival on the presence of rhuSCF.
Information diffusion in social networks: observing and influencing societal interests

Social networks provide great opportunities for social connection, learning, political and social change, as well as individual entertainment and enhancement in a wide variety of forms. Because many social interactions currently take place in online networks, social scientists have access to unprecedented amounts of information about social interaction. This wealth of data can allow scientists to study social interactions on a scale and at a level of detail that has never been possible before.
Ontogeny and phylogeny of the dorsal cup in calceocrinid crinoids

The dorsal cups of 17 calceocrinid species illustrate the relations between ontogeny and phylogeny for this unique family. Paedomorphosis in conjunction with increasing adult body size comprises the dominant pattern. During evolution, the plate structure of the dorsal cup was rearranged so that the hinge of advanced crinoids resembles the juvenile configuration of more primitive species. Consideration of allometric equations dealing with the size and shape of the dorsal cup and hinge suggests that most changes were caused by displacements of the initial intercepts and offsets of timing in development. The growth of the hinge moment of typical taxa produces hinges that are functionally equivalent in adult crinoids of different body sizes.
Osmoadaptation by Staphylococcus aureus : Analysis of Several Strains Linked to Food Poisoning Outbreaks.

The authors examined the intracellular solute composition of five strains of Staphylococcus aureus after growth in a medium of low water activity. Organic solutes within cell extracts were analyzed using an amino acid analyzer and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Intracellular potassium content was assayed using a potassium-specific electrode. The results showed that the five S. aureus strains accumulated proline and glycine betaine intracellularly under these growth conditions. The levels of accumulated proline and glycine betaine were strikingly similar among the strains, despite differences in salt tolerance. During the course of these experiments it was also found that S. aureus strain RN4220 (a strain commonly used in genetic studies) was selectively impaired in its ability to utilize proline during osmoadaptation at 41°C.
Repeated 7-Day Treatment with the 5-HT 2C Agonist Lorcaserin or the 5-HT 2A Antagonist Pimavanserin Alone or in Combination Fails to Reduce Cocaine vs Food Choice in Male Rhesus Monkeys

Repeated 7-Day Treatment with the 5-HT 2C Agonist Lorcaserin or the 5-HT 2A Antagonist Pimavanserin Alone or in Combination Fails to Reduce Cocaine vs Food Choice in Male Rhesus Monkeys
Economic Freedom of the Worlds in the 1950s and 1960s

This paper uses newly gathered and available data and autoregressive methods to create an economic freedom index for the 1950s and 1960s for up to 95 countries. This index is designed to be as compatible as possible with the Economic Freedom of the World (EFW) index published annually by the Fraser Institute. Finally, the new index is used to investigate recent a claim attributed to Jeffrey Sachs by Tyler Cowen that institutions are poor predictors of long term economic growth.
Dielectric Properties of Electrostatic Self-Assembled (ESA) Films

Capacitance measurements were conducted to determine the dielectric constant of electrostatic self assembly (ESA) films over various temperature and frequency ranges at 1 mV and 15% relative humidity. Measurement electrodes were fabricated on the ESA films using silver grease and a brass bar. In these tests, polymeric nanofilms were fabricated on gold-coated glass slides using the ESA process. Thicknesses of the films were between 100 nm and 600 nm obtained by depositing different number bilayers of negatively charged Poly s-119 (PS-119) or heparin and positively charged poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA). The test results showed that dielectric constant values were around 2. Based on the test results, we concluded that this is a technique that might prove useful to estimate the capacitance and dielectric constant values of nanostructured ESA films, which can be largely used in the near future.
Airborne Methane Emission Measurements for Selected Oil and Gas Facilities Across California.

We report 65 individual measurements of methane emissions from 24 oil and gas facilities across California. Methane emission rates were estimated using in situ methane and wind velocity measurements from a small aircraft by a novel Gauss’ Theorem flux integral approach. The estimates are compared with annual mean emissions reported to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) through their respective greenhouse gas reporting programs. The average emissions from 36 measurements of 10 gas storage facilities were within a factor of 2 of emissions reported to USEPA or CARB, though large variance was observed and the reporting database did not contain all of the facilities. In contrast, average emissions from 15 measurements of the three refineries were roughly an order of magnitude more than reported to the USEPA or CARB. The remaining measurements suggest compressor emissions are variable and perhaps slightly larger than reported, and emissions from one oi...
Superbanana transport in the collisional heating of a plasma column forced across a squeeze potential

When weakly collisional plasmas have locally trapped particle populations, perturbations to the plasma equilibrium (such as waves or static field-errors) can induce phase-space discontinuities in the particle distribution function that strongly enhance entropy production, plasma loss, and wave damping via superbanana transport. This paper presents a simple version of this superbanana transport process, wherein a plasma is heated as it is slowly forced back and forth across a squeeze potential (at a frequency ω that is small compared with the particle bounce frequency). The squeeze potential traps low-energy particles on either side of the squeeze, but particles with higher energy can pass through it. Trapped and passing particles have different responses to the forcing, causing a collisionless discontinuity in the distribution function at the separatrix between the trapped and passing particles. Expressions for both the adiabatic and non-adiabatic distribution functions are presented, and the heating rate...
Enrichment and Recovery of Mammalian Cells from Contaminated Cultures Using Aqueous Two-Phase Systems.

This Article describes a density-based method for removing contaminants, including microorganisms and nonviable cells, from mammalian cell cultures using an aqueous two-phase system (ATPS). The properties of a 7% w/w polyethylene glycol (PEG)–11% w/w Ficoll ATPS can be tuned to prepare a biocompatible system that removes contaminants with little to no adverse effects on the viability or growth of the cultured cells after treatment. This system can be used to enrich cell culture populations for viable cells and to reduce the number of microorganism contaminants in a culture, which increases the chances of subsequent antibiotic treatments being successful. We test the effectiveness of our method in model contaminated cultures of both adherent (HeLa) and suspension (HL-60 II) mammalian cells contaminated with bacteria (E. coli) and yeast (S. cerevisiae). An average of 70.2 ± 4.6% of HeLa cells added to the system are subsequently recovered, and 55.9 ± 2.1% of HL-60 II cells are recovered. After sedimenting t...
A Pilot Feasibility Study to Improve Food Parenting Practices.

Objectives We examined the feasibility and acceptability of a novel home-based intervention to improve the food parenting practices of low-income mothers with preschool-aged children. Methods Mother-child dyads (N = 15) were recruited from WIC in southern Rhode Island. A non-experimental, pretest-posttest design was used to assess changes in maternal food parenting practices. Dyads participated in 3 home-based sessions that included baseline measures and an evening meal video recording at session 1, a motivational interviewing (MI) intervention that included feedback on the evening meal video recording at session 2, and a satisfaction ques- tionnaire at session 3. Pretest-posttest measures included 5 subscales of the Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire. Results Fifteen mother-child dyads (mothers: 32.3, SD = 4.6 years, 86.7% white; children: 3.2, SD = 0.9 years, male = 73.3%, 66.7% white) completed the study. Mothers reported improvements in food parenting practices following the home-based MI intervention. Overall, 93% of mothers 'strongly agreed' that it was worth their effort to participate in the study. Conclusions A home-based MI intervention may be an effective strategy for improving maternal food parenting practices in low-income populations. Most mothers found that watching themselves was informative and applicable to their own lives.
A HEADACHE FROM OUR PAST? INTRACRANIAL ABSCESS DISEASE, VIRULENCE FACTORS OF TRUEPERELLA PYOGENES, AND A LEGACY OF TRANSLOCATING WHITE-TAILED DEER ( ODOCOILEUS VIRGINIANUS)

Abstract Trueperella pyogenes, a bacterial opportunistic pathogen residing along the skin layer of apparently healthy animals, is the etiologic agent of intracranial abscessation-suppurative meningoencephalitis, a cause of mortality for male white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Occurrence of this disease has been speculated to be influenced by virulence of T. pyogenes residing on white-tailed deer in geographically distinct metapopulations. To determine if differences in virulence potential of T. pyogenes could affect occurrence of disease across populations, we examined if frequency of seven virulence genes of T. pyogenes from forehead swabs of 186 apparently healthy white-tailed deer differed between sites in the state of Georgia, US, where ≥1 male tested positive for a cranial abscess and sites where no individuals tested positive for a cranial abscess. We detected six of seven virulence genes more frequently at sites where we detected ≥1 male with a cranial abscess compared to sites where we di...
BINDING OF COENZYME TO NATIVE AND ZINC-FREE HORSE-LIVER ALCOHOL DEHYDROGENASE

SUMMARY Evidence has been presented to show that horse-liver alcohol dehydrogenase, a two subunit enzyme, binds a total of eight coenzymes or coenzyme analogs. A regulatory role of these sites has not yet been discovered. If one removes the bound zinc from the enzyme the resulting catalytically inactive, apoalcohol dehydrogenase loses its ability to bind the additional coenzymes.
Stanford Spins Out a Higher Education Tsunami

“Develop the product that nobody thought of”—that sounds like a clarion call for radical innovation. Is it also an appropriate mission for a non-profit school that was founded in the nineteenth century? When that school is Stanford University, John Hennessy’s emphasis on the business of innovation makes perfect sense. Stanford shares an elite academic ranking with its east coast Ivy League peers, but its geographic location next to Silicon Valley has imbued the campus—professors, students, and the top administration—with an entrepreneurial and innovative zeal that is as pronounced as it is unusual in higher education. In keeping with founder Leland Stanford’s exhortation to prepare students for personal success and direct usefulness in life, Stanford describes itself as a wellspring of innovation. Its web site proudly notes that in the last 70 years over 39,000 businesses owe their start to the inventions and entrepreneurial aspirations of its faculty, administrators and students.