cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of Distribution of Functionalized Magnetic Nanoparticles on Ferrogel Actuation

The ferrogels elongate, contract, and deflect in response to an applied magnetic field. In order to study its response to magnetic fields, ferrogels were prepared using meghamite (Fe304) nanoparticles (size ∼ 10–25 nm) using the hydrogel based on N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAm). The particle distribution is determined for different cross-linking density of the gel in the range of 2% to 8%. The ferrogels were analyzed using ultra small angle x-ray scattering (USAXS) and the particle distribution were compared with direct imaging of the samples using transmission electron microscopy. The uniformity of the distribution of the particles for different samples prepared was determined using USAXS. Magnetic characteristics of the ferrogel were determined using a direct current superconducting quantum interference device (DC-Squid). The magnetic moments of the polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) coated Fe3 O4 nanoparticles based ferrogel are reduced from 2.5 – 0.4 emu/g, as the particle concentration is decreased from 8.75 to 1.25%. Subsequently, the deflection and strain also reduced under static magnetic field. These studies showed that a maximum deflection of 20% and strain of 10% to its original value could be achieved by varying the particle size and/or distribution. The crosslinking ratio of the polymer was varied from 1.2 – 8%. The deflection and elongation characteristics were studied using a custom-built electromagnetic set-up with a pole gap of 10 mm with magnetic field strength up to 2500 Gauss. However, the maximum strain reduces as the crosslinking density increases. This study clearly shows the dependence of the deflection and strain on the functionalization material coated on the particle. Details of the results of our experiments are presented in this paper.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Supercritical fluid extraction of chlorpyrifos and 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol from garden compost

A method was developed for the simultaneous supercritical carbon dioxide extraction of chlorpyrifos and its primary degradate, 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCP), from garden compost. In situ derivatization with N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoracetamide was necessary for extraction of TCP. Recoveries for TCP and chlorpyrifos were quantitative for spiked compost samples. Sodium chloride was used as the packing material in extractions with in situ derivatization. Optimum results were obtained for air-dried samples containing 4-7% moisture. No sample cleanup was required prior to analysis by GC-flame ionization detection. The effects of compost moisture content and ageing were investigated for chlorpyrifos recovery. No significantly negative effect on recovery for up to 20% (w/w) moisture for chlorpyrifos was observed. Effects of ageing showed a decrease in extraction efficiency over time with 52% recovery after 10 days.
17q21 locus and ORMDL3: an increased risk for childhood asthma

Genetic variations in the 17q21 locus are strongly associated with childhood nonallergic asthma. Expression of the 17q21 genes, orosomucoid like 3 (ORMDL3) and gasdermin B (GSMDB), is affected by these disease-associated variants. However, until recently, no functional connection of the protein products coded by these genes with asthma was known. Lately, it has been identified that ORMDL3 function has been related to various cellular processes that could be relevant for the pathogenesis of asthma. This includes dysregulation of the unfolded protein response (UPR) associated with airway remodeling and also an effect of ORMDL3-dysregulated sphingolipid synthesis on bronchial hyperreactivity. These findings are crucial for a better understanding of the mechanism of childhood asthma and may lead to asthma therapeutics that target pathways previously not thought to be related to this common pediatric respiratory disease. Furthermore, this may validate the unbiased genome-wide association study (GWAS) approach for complex diseases such as asthma, to better define pathomechanisms and drug targets.
Modifications and implementation of the ellipsoid algorithm for linear programming

We give some modifications of the ellipsoid algorithm for linear programming and describe a numerically stable implementation. We are concerned with practical problems where user-supplied bounds can usually be provided. Our implementation allows constraint dropping and updates bounds on the optimal value, and should be able to terminate with an indication of infeasibility or with a provably good feasible solution in a moderate number of iterations.
Nonbolometric optical response of Tl-Ba-Ca-Cu-O thin films

Abstract The optical response of Tl-Ba-Cu-O thin film microbridge was studied. Clearly identifiable and nonbolometric components were observed in a sample biased at above the critical current. Both quasiparticle and photothermally-assisted flux creep can be used to describe qualitatively the observed behavior.
Advanced deposition phase diagrams for guiding Si:H-based multijunction solar cells

Phase diagrams have been established to describe very high frequency (vhf) plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) of intrinsic hydrogenated silicon (Si:H) and silicon-germanium alloy (Si 1-x Ge x :H) thin films on crystalline Si substrates that have been over-deposited with n-type amorphous Si:H (a-Si:H). The Si:H and Si 1-x Ge x :H films are prepared under conditions used for the top and middle i-layers of high efficiency triple-junction a-Si:H-based n-i-p solar cells. Identical n/i cell structures were co-deposited in this study on textured (stainless steel)/Ag/ZnO which serve as substrate/back-reflectors in order to relate the phase diagrams to the performance parameters of single-junction solar cells. This study has reaffirmed that the highest efficiencies for a-Si:H and a-Si 1-x Ge x :H solar cells are obtained when the i-layers are prepared under previously-described maximal H 2 dilution conditions.
Displacement chromatography with on-column isomerization

Displacement chromatography was simulated for the separation of two feed components interconverting by a reversible first order reaction and with Langmuirian adsorption behavior. The study was prompted by recent interest in the isolation of cis and trans forms of peptides containing one or more peptidyl-proline residues when the isomerization reaction interferes with the separation. The parameter values used in the simulations are similar to those found experimentally by reversed-phase chromatography and capillary electrophoresis of phenylalanine-proline dipeptide. From the concentration profiles computed by the finite difference scheme, the dependence of both the yield and production rate on the temperature, column length, flow velocity and displacer concentration was evaluated. The most important operational variable of the system is the temperature as it affects both the kinetic and adsorption parameters. The yield and production rate of the component of interest were evaluated as a function of the column length and displacer concentration under conditions that facilitate its efficient separation and the plots show an optimum. Nonetheless, optimal conditions for yield and production rate were considerably different. In the temperature range from 2 to 42°C, the yield always decreases with increasing temperatures and for all the cases, optimum yield by displacement mandates the use of conditions such as pH, solvent and temperature under which the rate of interconversion is reduced to a level where it does not palpably interfere with the separation. On the other hand, under certain conditions optimal production rate can be obtained at higher temperatures.
Review: Gries (2009) Quantitative Corpus Linguistics with R. London and New York: Routledge

There are many teachers and scholars who value corpus analysis, but do not yet do their own programming for teaching and research. Many have been considering making the leap from using only pre-packaged concordancing software to writing our own programs, and Gries’s Quantitative Corpus Linguistics with R may be the resource that helps many of us to make the transition. It may be difficult, however, to see the advantages of doing one’s own programming until one has conducted corpus research using only concordancers and developed a sense of their limitations. First, I will allow that concordancers are very useful when the focus of the research is on very specific, pre-determined words or phrases, or other top-down sorts of research questions. Concordancers are a good way to introduce students to the concept of corpus-informed language learning and they demonstrate the way that near-synonymous lexical items vary in their functions. These uses have been garnering increasing attention in the wider fields of Applied Linguistics and even Theoretical Linguistics, and we can thank concordancing software for making corpora more accessible and opening up the tool of corpus analysis to an increasing number of students, teachers and researchers. However, when one starts to ask deeper questions about patterns of language use, and we desire a more bottom-up approach to linguistic analysis that is not dependent on pre-determined lexical or grammatical items, the limitations of concordancers quickly become apparent. To limit our linguistic inquiry only to questions that can be investigated through pre-packaged software is akin to limiting our study of syntax to items that can be identified by the green squiggly line of the grammar checker in our word processor. We are at the mercy of the software developers in terms of the analytical features included and the price to purchase or upgrade these tools.
SSITKA Investigation of Palladium Precursor and Support Effects on CO Hydrogenation over Supported Pd Catalysts

Abstract CO hydrogenation on supported Pd catalysts was investigated using steady-state isotopic transient kinetic analysis (SSITKA) in order to explore the differences in catalytic behavior which have been previously reported by others to result from using different supports and Pd precursors. In this study, two different precursors [PdCl 2 and Pd(NO 3 ) 2 ] and three supports [SiO 2 , Al 2 O 3 , and SiO 2 –Al 2 O 3 ] were investigated. The dispersion of the Pd particles on the prepared catalysts, as evaluated by CO chemisorption, was not affected by either the Pd precursor or the support used. In addition, for a given support the catalysts exhibited almost the same selectivities during CO hydrogenation toward methane, methanol [MeOH], and dimethyl ether [DME]. However, catalysts prepared using PdCl 2 showed higher overall activities than those prepared using Pd(NO 3 ) 2 for a given support. The nature of the support altered significantly the activity and the selectivity of the Pd. The order of activities at steady-state for a given precursor was Al 2 O 3 > SiO 2 –Al 2 O 3 > SiO 2 . The activity of the Pd/SiO 2 –Al 2 O 3 was lower than expected probably due to the relatively high level of S (500 ppm) present in the support as an impurity. It was found that Pd/SiO 2 produced essentially only MeOH. The use of acidic supports [Al 2 O 3 and SiO 2 –Al 2 O 3 ] resulted in the formation of DME due to the secondary reaction of MeOH on acid sites of the supports. DME production was found to be limited by the amount of MeOH formed. Pd on the acidic supports also produced significant amounts of methane. SSITKA results showed [after considering readsorption effects] that the Pd precursor used, or more specifically its anion [Cl − and NO 3 − ], had a slight effect on the intrinsic activity of the sites producing methane (1/τ methane ) [Cl − > NO 3 − ] and a significant effect on the surface coverage of the intermediates leading to methane ( N methane ) [Cl − > NO 3 − ]. On the other hand, the precursor used had little or no effect on the intrinsic activity of the sites producing MeOH (1/τ MeOH ) or the surface coverage of MeOH intermediates ( N MeOH ). The nature of the support altered only slightly the intrinsic activities of the sites producing methane and MeOH. However, the number of surface intermediates leading to methane and MeOH were significantly affected by the support used and were in the order Al 2 O 3 > SiO 2 –Al 2 O 3 and Al 2 O 3 > SiO 2 –Al 2 O 3 > SiO 2 , respectively. It is, thus, the effect of the support on the concentration of active sites/intermediates on Pd that determines the impact of the support on the reaction rate.
Use of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation to improve the quality of conventional CT and CTPA

Summary Pulmonary specialists are frequently asked to evaluate patients with equivocal findings on CT and CTPA. Inspiratory and expiratory images are invaluable, but some patients are unable to perform the required respiratory maneuvers adequately. Our cases demonstrate how the application of CPAP during imaging can clarify imaging for airway, parenchymal and vascular findings. The improved images were critical to management decisions in these cases. While this technique is not necessary for most patients, it can be very helpful in selected cases.
MHC class I, MHC class II and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression in inflammatory myopathies

We investigated the relationship between the MHC-I, MHC-II and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression on myofibres and the presence of inflammatory cells in muscle specimens of 18 patients with inflammatory myopathies (nine polymyositis, seven dermatomyositis, two inclusion body myositis). We observed MHC-I expression in muscle fibres, infiltrating mononuclear cells and endothelial cells in every specimen. In seven patients, some muscle fibres were MHC-II-positive for the DR antigen, while the DP and DQ antigens were absent. ICAM-1 expression, detected in seven patients, was found in clusters of myofibres, associated with a marked MHC-I positivity and a widespread mononuclear infiltration. Most of the ICAM-1-positive fibres were regenerating fibres. Furthermore, some fibres expressed both ICAM-1 and DR antigens near infiltrating cells. This finding could support the hypothesis that myofibres may themselves be the site of autosensitization.
Design criteria for the yuma desalting plant

Under the authorization of Public Law 93-320, the Bureau of Reclamation is building a membrane desalting plant of approximately 4.2 m3/s capacity to permit an annual return of some 1.44× 108 m3 of desalted irrigation drainage from the Wellton-Mohawk Irrigation and Drainage District into the Colorado River. Because of the size of the plant, a number of design studies and extensive equipment testing are being performed. The water is to be pretreated by cold-lime softening to lower turbidity and plugging factor and to reduce concentrations of bicarbonate, calcium, iron, and manganese. The desalting equipment is to be obtained by negotiated procurement; the type of equipment and manufacturers will be based on the evaluation of proposals received by the Bureau in August 1976. The present plant design is described. Operation of the desalting plant is scheduled to commence in 1981.
Climate change: an emergency management perspective

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to suggest the utility of an emergency management perspective as a guide for policy makers as they respond to the challenges of global climate change.Design/methodology/approach – This analytical paper begins with a review of scientific literature in an effort to highlight the consensus about risks and vulnerabilities associated with climate change or global warming. Applying the terminology and techniques of natural disaster planning, preparedness, response, and mitigation to climate change, an emergency management perspective is articulated as a viable framework for policy development.Findings – Based on the evidence of a growing consensus in the scientific assessment of climate change, and the need for policy interventions to address the risks and vulnerabilities associated with it, the need for a unifying perspective for policymakers at all levels is apparent. An emergency management perspective is offered herein and holds the potential to provide a foundation fo...
An ab initio study on the structure of cyanuric fluoride

Abstract The equilibrium structure of cyanuric fluoride was optimized at both the self-consistent field (SCF) and second-order Moller-Plesset (MP2) levels of theory. The MP2 geometrical parameters are in good agreement with the electron diffraction results and therefore the electron diffraction structure of cyanuric fluoride is theoretically confirmed. The calculated rotational constant of the MP2/6-311G∗ structure is only about 0.16% smaller than those from the high resolution spectroscopic studies. The good agreement between the calculated rotational constant and those from the spectroscopic studies resolves the controversy concerning the molecular structure of cyanuric fluoride noted previously.
Stable Manifolds for Stochastic Flows Induced by Lévy Processes on Lie Groups

We determine explicitly all the stable manifolds for the stochastic flows on certain homogeneous spaces of a semisimple Lie group of non-compact type induced by Levy processes on the Lie group.2000 Mathematical Subject Classification: 58J65.
Improved Drop Generators for Calibration of Drop Spectrometers and Use in Laboratory Cloud Physics Experiments.

Abstract Drop generators have been developed at NCAR based on the “wire egression” principle. They are outstanding in their flexibility and simplicity. Drops ranging in diameter from 6 μm to 1 mm have been generated with one model. Application of the generators to calibration of NCAR particle cameras and the PMS Forward Scattering Spectrometer Probe (FSSP) as well as applications to cloud physics laboratory research are described.
Characterizing the Interactions between Softballs and Softball Bats for Design of Batted-Ball Performance

Abstract Batted-ball speed (BBS) is a function of the interaction between the respective bat and ball constructions. The overall objective of the research is to study and identify bat characteristics that influence performance as quantified by BBS for a given ball construction while complying with the standards sanctioned by the respective softball associations. This objective is being achieved through a combined experimental and finite element modeling approach, and this paper will present some of those results at the current status of the overall research program. In the current work, four softballs are initially modeled in LS-DYNA as a viscoelastic material using the expression for the shear modulus G as a function of time: G(t) = G∞ + (G0+G∞)e-βt, where G∞ and G0 represent the long-term and instantaneous shear moduli respectively, β is the decay constant and t is time. The ball model is tuned using experimental COR, dynamic stiffness and quasi-static compression test data. This viscoelastic model is found to be inadequate for capturing G(t) as it varies over the speed range of interest. The Prony series G(t) = G0 [1-∑gi (1-e-t/τi)] is pursued as an alternative method to model the ball. Various DMA test methodologies are used in an effort to characterize the viscoelastic material behavior of the foam core of the softball.
Vaccination with protein-conjugated and native type 3 capsular polysaccharide in an ethanol-fed rat model of pneumococcal pneumonia.

A chronic ethanol-fed rat model was used to determine the effect of alcohol ingestion on production of antibody to type 3 pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide. Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a liquid diet containing 36% of calories as ethanol (ethanol-fed), an isocaloric diet containing dextrin-maltose (pair-fed) or standard rat chow (chow-fed). After 7 days of feeding, the rats were vaccinated subcutaneously with placebo or with either 25 μg of type 3 pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide (SpnCP) or 5 μg of SpnCP linked to the protein carrier CRM 197 (SpnCP/CRM 197 ). Rats given the conjugated vaccine received a booster injection 14 days later. Maximum antibody titers were observed six days postvaccination for rats given SpnCP alone and 21 days postvaccination for rats given SpnCP/ CRM 197 . All rats were infected transtracheally with 2-3 times the expected lethal dose 50 for each feeding group of type 3 Streptococcus pneumoniae on the day of peak antibody titers. Mortality was recorded for a 10-day period. Vaccination with SpnCP increased survival of ethanol- and chow-fed, but not pair-fed rats. This protection was only statistically significant in the chow-fed group (p < 0.01). Vaccination with SpnCP/CRM 197 moderately increased survival of rats in all three feeding groups, but this was not statistically significant in any of them.
A non-linear filter for one- and two-dimensional open channel flows with shocks

Modeling flows with shocks creates numerical challenges due to the oscillations in the vicinity of the discontinuity. This paper presents the advantage of using a non-linear filter for obtaining oscillatory free solution for one- and two-dimensional open channel flows. Numerical results are compared with those of other conventional high-resolution schemes to demonstrate the accuracy of the solution. As discussed in the course of this document, the present formulation is computationally faster, and simpler to code while maintaining consistent results with the standard schemes.
Time to Nursing Home Admission for Persons with Alzheimer's Disease: The Effect of Health Care System Characteristics

Objective To study the influence of state health care system characteristics on time to nursing home admission (NHA) for persons with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Method Up to nine years of Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD) data on 639 non-Latino White individuals were merged with longitudinal data from the 28 states in which the CERAD participants resided. The state variables reflected characteristics of each state's long-term care (LTC) system, including Medicaid LTC spending practices and the supply of LTC providers. Cox Proportional Hazards Models with time-varying covariates were used to evaluate the risk factors associated with time to NHA. Results There was differential influence of state variables by marital status. For unmarried non-Latino White persons with AD, a higher percentage of Medicaid LTC spending on home and community-based services (HCBS) was significantly associated with a longer time to NHA. For married persons, a greater number of home health agencies was associated with a longer time to NHA. Other associations also varied by marital status. Conclusion Study findings support the utility of targeted continued expanded provision of HCBS by states and provide a basis for future research regarding the impact of changing state health care systems on LTC utilization for persons with AD.
Trade-off between PHEV fuel efficiency and estimated battery cycle life with cost analysis

The battery life and cost of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are two key factors that impede the introduction of PHEVs in the current market. For a given drive pattern, battery cycle life has an inverse relationship with battery utilization, and gasoline savings (petroleum displacement) has a direct correlation with battery utilization. This paper attempts to determine the trade-off between battery cycle life and gasoline fuel savings by varying the battery utilization for a fixed distance and drive pattern. By varying the vehicle energy management, different battery utilization scenarios are created. Battery hardware-in-the-loop (a real battery tested in a virtual vehicle) is used to evaluate battery utilization under different vehicle energy management scenarios. The virtual vehicle is a real-time simulation of a power-split midsize vehicle, developed by using Argonne's Powertrain Simulation Analysis Toolkit (PSAT). The real battery is the JCS VL41M 10-kWH lithium-ion PHEV battery. Cost analysis provides insights into the economic impact of the above trade-off.
A national survey of the use of couples therapy in substance abuse treatment.

Although results from multiple studies conducted over the last two decades indicate that Behavioral Couples Therapy (BCT) is an effective treatment for married or cohabiting alcohol- and drug-abusing patients, both in terms of reduced substance use and improved relationship satisfaction, it is unclear whether BCT or other types of couples-based interventions are used in community-based substance abuse treatment programs. In the present study, program administrators (e.g., executive directors, clinical directors, staff physicians) from 398 randomly selected community-based outpatient substance abuse treatment programs in the U.S. were interviewed regarding use of different family- and couples-based therapies in their programs. According to the program administrators, 27% of the programs provided some type of couples-based treatment. However, less than 5% of the agencies used behaviorally oriented couples therapy and none used BCT specifically. Recommendations for researchers and clinicians to increase the use of BCT in community-based treatment programs are provided.
Thermogravimetric pyrolysis of some 1:2:3-benzotriazole compounds of osmium

Abstract This paper arises from a general study of the interaction of the platinum metals with 1:2:3-benzotriazole. The thermogravimetric pyrolysis of several 1:2:3-benzotriazole co-ordination compounds of certain metals and of certain halides of osmium have been determined using a thermobalance. It was found that all of the compounds were stable up to at least 110°C and that decomposition of the compounds occurred between 380° and 560°C. The co-ordination compounds that were hydrated lost their water of hydration in the temperature range 130°–150°C. Thermogravimetric analyses of the co-ordination compounds gave support to the proposed formulas of the 1:2:3-benzotriazole compounds of osmium.
Simulation of the Dynamically Coupled KC-135 Tanker and Refueling Boom

Future Air Force mission requirements for unmanned aircraft will require Automated Aerial Refueling (AAR). Current AAR research requires a precision model that is capable of simulating refueling operations between a KC-135 tanker and an unmanned aircraft. High-fidelity simulations of the tanker aircraft, refueling boom, and proposed receiver aircraft currently exist independently, but none are dynamically coupled to the others. Since boom orientation and motion are known to change the trim of the tanker aircraft, which in turn influences other aspects of refueling operations, a new model was created by integrating an existing KC-135 tanker model and a recently developed refueling boom model. Validation of the new, coupled model examined boom and tanker motion in comparison with other established models; and, ultimately, by comparisons with flight test data. Although the KC-135 has been flying for nearly 50 years, this model is the first to capture the dynamic interactions of the aircraft and its aerial refueling boom.
A COMPARISON OF THE BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES OF FOUR PROSTAGLANDINS

The biological activities of prostaglandins E(1), E(2), E(3) and F(1alpha) have been compared. Prostaglandins E(1), E(2), E(3) were qualitatively similar; E(1) and E(2) were about equiactive, but E(3) was less active on all preparations. Prostaglandin F(1alpha) was a less potent vasodilator than E(1) on the cat gastrocnemius muscle blood flow and skin blood flow and a less potent depressor drug on rabbit blood pressure. On the rabbit isolated jejunum F(1alpha) was twice as active as E(1) but on the guinea-pig isolated ileum E(1) was about forty times more active than F(1alpha). One qualitative difference between these prostaglandins was observed; on the rabbit fallopian tube in vivo prostaglandins of the E series decreased both the tone and the peristalsis of the tube whereas prostaglandin F(1alpha) increased tubal tone.
Groomers and Consumers The Meaning of Male Body Depilation to a Modern Masculinity Body Project

With the understanding that gender is a complex construct and that masculinity is a process—something that is accomplished or achieved—this research explores the present-day popular discourses around male body hair in two popular men’s lifestyle magazines, examining their significance to a modern-day construction of what it means to be masculine. These findings suggest that male body hair is overwhelmingly represented negatively, with its depilation largely constructed in relation to heterosexual concerns, as important for health and hygiene, and a form of exerting (self) control in a time of masculinity crisis. Additionally, this analysis indicates that heterosexual men are increasingly encouraged to be groomers and consumers in the beauty market. Ultimately, these findings highlight the fluidity of gender, illuminating how the appropriation of marginalized gender practices may actually perpetuate, rather than challenge, class- and race-based power inequalities among men. With the hegemony of affluent he...
The Status of Women, Marital Equality, and Violence Against Wives A Contextual Analysis

In the last decade, important progress has been made toward understanding the social causes of wife-beating. However, the research has remained almost entirely on the individual or interpersonal level of analysis. This article focuses on women's status at the societal level and marital inequality and violence, which are interpersonal-level variables. Based on data from a number of national surveys, the contextual analysis suggests that the degree to which marital inequality is associated with wife-beating is affected by the context of sexual inequality. Violence against wives is most severe in families that reside in states where the general status of women is fairly high relative to men, but in which the husband still dominates within the home.
Are genetically modified (GM) crops a commercial risk for Africa

What risks might Africa face if it decided to plant genetically modified (GM) agricultural crops? A rough calculation based on current export profiles for one sampling of eastern and southern African countries suggests that the commercial export risks incurred outside of Africa would be quite small. Most of Africa's exports of goods that might be considered GM currently go to other African countries, rather than to Europe, Asia, or some other GM-sensitive destination. This raises a trade policy coordination challenge for Africa, but only a small commercial export risk beyond Africa.
TCF7L2 Variants Associate with CKD Progression and Renal Function in Population-Based Cohorts

Genetic variants may increase susceptibility to both diabetes and kidney disease. Whether known diabetes-associated variants in the transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) gene are associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression and markers of kidney function is unknown. Participants of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study (ARIC; n = 11,061 self-identified white and n = 4014 black), Framingham Heart Offspring Cohort (FHS; n = 2468), and Heredity and Phenotype Intervention Heart Study (HAPI; n = 861) were genotyped at five (ARIC) and two (FHS) common TCF7L2 variants. The diabetes-conferring risk alleles at rs7903146 and rs7901695 were significantly associated with CKD progression among ARIC participants overall and among those without baseline diabetes. The overall adjusted hazard ratios per rs7903146 T allele were 1.17 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04 to 1.32) for white individuals and 1.20 (95% CI 1.03 to 1.41) for black individuals. Similarly, the overall hazard ratios per rs7901695 C allele were 1.19 (95% CI 1.06 to 1.34) for white individuals and 1.27 (95% CI 1.09 to 1.48) for black individuals. The FHS cohort supported these results: The rs7903146 T allele was significantly associated with lower estimated GFR (P = 0.01) and higher cystatin C (P = 0.004) in adjusted analyses overall and among those without diabetes. In the HAPI cohort, the rs7901695 C allele was significantly associated with lower estimated GFR in adjusted analyses (P = 0.049), as were several variants upstream and downstream of TCF7L2 (P < 0.003). No identified variant in the ARIC or FHS cohorts was associated with albuminuria. In conclusion, several population-based samples suggest that variants in the TCF7L2 gene are associated with reduced kidney function or CKD progression, overall and specifically among participants without diabetes.
c-Abl tyrosine kinase regulates the human Rad9 checkpoint protein in response to DNA damage.

The ubiquitously expressed c-Abl tyrosine kinase is activated in the apoptotic response of cells to DNA damage. The mechanisms by which c-Abl signals the induction of apoptosis are not understood. Here we show that c-Abl binds constitutively to the mammalian homolog of the Schizosaccharomyces pombe Rad9 cell cycle checkpoint protein. The SH3 domain of c-Abl interacts directly with the C-terminal region of Rad9. c-Abl phosphorylates the Rad9 Bcl-2 homology 3 domain (Tyr-28) in vitro and in cells exposed to DNA-damaging agents. The results also demonstrate that c-Abl-mediated phosphorylation of Rad9 induces binding of Rad9 to the antiapototic Bcl-xL protein. The regulation of Rad9 by c-Abl in the DNA damage response is further supported by the demonstration that the interaction between c-Abl and Rad9 contributes to DNA damageinduced apoptosis. These findings indicate that Rad9 is regulated by a c-Abl-dependent mechanism in the apoptotic response to genotoxic stress.
Differential Susceptibility Effects: The Interaction of Negative Emotionality and Sibling Relationship Quality on Childhood Internalizing Problems and Social Skills

Whereas socialization influences in early childhood have been linked to children’s emerging internalizing problems and prosocial behavior, relatively few studies have examined how NE might moderate such associations in both advantageous and maladaptive ways. Furthermore, more research is needed to evaluate the impact of sibling relationships as an influential socialization influence on these child outcomes. In the current study we examined how NE might differentially moderate the associations between quality of relationships with siblings and both internalizing problems and social skills at school entry. NE moderated the effects of positive and destructive sibling relationship quality on child internalizing problems. Specifically, for boys high on NE, more positive sibling relationship quality predicted fewer internalizing problems, but more destructive sibling conflict predicted more internalizing problems. NE also moderated the effects of destructive sibling conflict on child social skills. For boys high on NE, destructive sibling conflict predicted fewer social skills. Boys high on NE appear to show greater susceptibility to the effects of sibling socialization on child outcomes, relative to boys low on NE. The implications of these interactions are discussed with respect to differential susceptibility theory.
Global health outreach during anesthesiology residency in the United States: a survey of interest, barriers to participation, and proposed solutions ☆

Abstract Study Objective To assess the interest in and barriers to pursuing global health outreach (GHO) experiences for anesthesiology residents in the United States. Design Survey instrument. Setting Academic department of anesthesiology. Subjects Anesthesiology residents who were members of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). Measurements An online survey was administered to residents in anesthesiology via the ASA membership database. Descriptive statistics, including means, frequencies, and percentages were calculated. Main Results 91% of participants indicated an interest in GHO, of whom fewer than half (44%) had done a GHO medical mission. Seventy-nine percent reported that GHO affected their current practice or education; 33% commented they were now less wasteful with supplies and resources. Permission from work or obtaining work coverage were the primary barriers for both those with and without previous GHO participation. Of all respondents, 78% agreed that the availability of a GHO residency track would influence their ranking of that program for training, and 71% would pursue a GHO fellowship if available. Conclusions Anesthesiology residents have an interest in residency and fellowship GHO programs. Formalization of GHO programs during training may reduce work-related barriers associated with GHO participation and broaden academic program recruitment.
The unfolding of therapeutic radiology.

In September 1926, I registered for basic medical studies at the University of Havana (Cuba). In exchange for serving as a scribe in the admission office, I was given room and board in the interns' quarters of the 2000-bed university hospital. Within 3 weeks, a hurricane hit Havana dead center; thousands were killed and many more injured. The flow of casualties was overwhelming and all hands were needed. I learned to place tourniquets and to give ether anesthesia. Blood transfusions required the presence of a qualified donor and were done arm to arm with large syringes. In the aftermath of the hurricane, I was assigned as a male nurse's aide to apply dressings and give injections in the dermatology pavilion. Professor Pardo-Castello came early to do his rounds and, in the absence of his interns, I followed him with the order book. In the process, he taught me a lot.
Single- Versus Dual-Process Models of Lexical Decision Performance: Insights From Response Time Distributional Analysis

This article evaluates 2 competing models that address the decision-making processes mediating word recognition and lexical decision performance: a hybrid 2-stage model of lexical decision performance and a random-walk model. In 2 experiments, nonword type and word frequency were manipulated across 2 contrasts (pseudohomophone–legal nonword and legal–illegal nonword). When nonwords became more wordlike (i.e., BRNTA vs. BRANT vs. BRANE), response latencies to nonwords were slowed and the word frequency effect increased. More important, distributional analyses revealed that the Nonword Type Word Frequency interaction was modulated by different components of the response time distribution, depending on the specific nonword contrast. A single-process random-walk model was able to account for this particular set of findings more successfully than the hybrid 2-stage model.
A SOLUBLE ANTIGEN OF LYMPHOCYTIC CHORIOMENINGITIS : II. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ANTIGEN AND ITS USE IN PRECIPITIN REACTIONS

The soluble antigen of lymphocytic choriomeningitis which is readily separable from the virus is a relatively stable substance and appears to be of a protein nature. A specific precipitin reaction can be demonstrated when immune serum is added to solutions of antigen which have been freed of certain serologically inactive substances. The complement-fixation and precipitation reactions which occur in the presence of immune serum and non-infectious extracts of splenic tissue obtained from guinea pigs moribund with lymphocytic choriomeningitis seem to be manifestations of union of the same soluble antigen and its antibody. On the other hand, the antisoluble substance antibodies and neutralizing substances appear to be different entities.
Contrast enhancement by multi-pass phase-conjugation microscopy

We demonstrate a non-invasive bright field imaging technique that optically enhances contrast for any weakly absorbing object. Results are shown on microscopic biomaterial. All-optical image processing and other filtering capabilities are discussed.
AN EXPLOSION OF DAZZLING FLASHES: TEILHARD'S UNITY OF FAITH AND SCIENCE

L'A. etudie l'attitude scientifique que Teilhard de Chardin adopte face a la Revelation chretienne consideree comme une hypothese scientifique que l'experience doit verifier ou non. Decouvrant une explosion d'eclairs eblouissants, le philosophe parle de cette hypothese comme de l'acte spirituel supreme par lequel l'experience prend forme et s'embrase a la lumiere de la connaissance
Subject-Specific Computational Modeling of Evoked Rabbit Phonation

When developing high-fidelity computational model of vocal fold vibration for voice production of individuals, one would run into typical issues of unknown model parameters and model validation of individual-specific characteristics of phonation. In the current study, the evoked rabbit phonation is adopted to explore some of these issues. In particular, the mechanical properties of the rabbit's vocal fold tissue are unknown for individual subjects. In the model, we couple a 3D vocal fold model that is based on the magnetic resonance (MR) scan of the rabbit larynx and a simple one-dimensional (1D) model for the glottal airflow to perform fast simulations of the vocal fold dynamics. This hybrid three-dimensional (3D)/1D model is then used along with the experimental measurement of each individual subject for determination of the vocal fold properties. The vibration frequency and deformation amplitude from the final model are matched reasonably well for individual subjects. The modeling and validation approaches adopted here could be useful for future development of subject-specific computational models of vocal fold vibration.
Social Distance, Bargaining Power, and Compliance with Rules on a Hospital Ward †.

(1966). Social Distance, Bargaining Power, and Compliance with Rules on a Hospital Ward. Psychiatry: Vol. 29, No. 1, pp. 42-55.
Abiotic Stress and Control of Yield in Cereals

Abiotic stress is one of the most destructive factors affecting grain yield in cereals. Abiotic stress takes many forms, the common ones being extreme temperatures, drought, flood, salinity, and other natural disasters. The lesser-known stressors occurring infrequently are less noticeable, but they include poor edaphic conditions like pH and rock content of soil, higher than normal radiation, soil compaction, soil contamination, and some specific conditions like rapid rehydration during seed germination. In cereal crops, grain (kernel) number is the main yield component directly associated with grain yield and thus exemplifies as a global problem warranting newer approaches in cereal breeding. This chapter will examine the physiological processes impacted by abiotic stress leading to reduced grain yield. Approaches and challenges in this research area will be discussed as the world population is expected to be ~10 billion by 2050. To feed this staggering population, according to the FAO, the average world cereal yield will need to reach 5 tons/ha from its present 3 tons/ha, while crop yield is trending lower. Though numerous genes related to stress tolerance have been identified, translating them efficiently to function in the field is a challenge, plus generating a yield stability conferred by these genes and keeping it economically viable for grower is difficult. This chapter is themed around the challenge of finding ways to improve cereal grain yield as we offer perspectives on abiotic stress research.
The effect of ultrasound and mechanical stirring on the ion-exchange kinetics

The ultrasound increases the ion exchange rate in comparison with the undisturbed. Contrary to a previous report in the literature, however, its effect on ion-exchange equilibria is less than that of mechanical stirring. The effects of resin weight and the intensity of ultrasound and mechanical stirring are reported. The ultrasound effect is discussed in terms of its cavitation action on the film diffusion.
Comparison of the Metabolic Fate of Carbaryl-Naphthy1-1-14C in Two Beetle Species (Coleoptera: Scolytidae)

Adult southern pine beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmermann, and spruce beetle, Dendroctonus rufipennis (Kirby), were treated topically with carbaryl-1-naphthyl- 14 C , after which metabolism of the labeled chemical was studied. Methylolcarbaryl was the major metabolite in both beetle species ; its concentration reached 5.18% in internal extracts from southern pine beetle at 8 h and 1.21 and 3.58% in internal extracts from spruce beetle at 12 and 24 h, respectively. The southern pine beetle metabolized 14 C-carbaryl and excreted its metabolites more quickly than the spruce beetle. Other methanolic extractable metabolites were tentatively identified from both species as 4-hydroxy-1-naphthyl methylcarbamate, 5-hydroxy-1-naphthyl methylcarbamate, 1-naphthyl methylcarbamate, 1-naphthol, 1,4-naphthalenediol, and 1,5-naphthalenediol. Several unidentified metabolites were also present.
Abstract 4978: FOXP3 up-regulates p21 expression in breast cancer: Evidence for tumor suppressor

FOXP3 is the first X-linked breast cancer suppressor gene that works at least in part by repression of oncogenes, including HER-2 and SKP2. Since FOXP3 is also known as a transcription activator, we investigated the possibility that FOXP3 may induce expression of tumor suppressor genes. p21 loss has been implicated in conferring oncogenic activity to known tumor suppressor gene KLF4 and cancer drug tamoxifen. Regulators of p21, therefore, play critical roles in tumorigenesis. Here, we report that X-linked tumor suppressor FOXP3 is essential for p21 expression in normal epithelia and that lack of FOXP3 is associated with p21 down-regulation in breast cancer samples. Among 62 primary breast cancer samples tested, a strong association between FOXP3 down-regulation and lack of p21 was observed. Moreover, siRNA silencing of FOXP3 in primary human mammary epithelial cells leads to a dramatic reduction in expression of p21, which demonstrates an important role of FOXP3 in maintaining expression of p21 in normal breast epithelial cells. In breast cancer cell line MCF-7, an inducible expression of FOXP3 is associated with induction of p21. Since silencing p21 reduced the efficacy of FOXP3-mediated growth inhibition, the induced expression of p21 contributes to growth inhibition by FOXP3. A specific FOXP3 binding site in the intron 1, which is associated with acetylated histone H3, is essential for p21 induction by FOXP3. FOXP3 specifically inhibited binding of histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) and HDAC4 to the site and increased local histone H3 acetylation. Short hairpin RNA silencing of either HDAC2 or HDAC4 is sufficient to induce p21 expression. Our data provides a novel mechanism for transcription activation by FOXP3 and a genetic mechanism for lack of p21 in a large proportion of breast cancer. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4978.
Analysis of Quality Control at Laboratories of IDD in Xinjiang in 2004

ObjectiveTo investigate the measuring capacity of urinary iodine and salt iodine at laboratories at locality(town) and at county level in Xinjiang and to intensify the quality of laboratories.MethodsUrinary iodine was determined by chloric acid-digestion thermostatic assay.Quality control of salt iodine samples was measured with the method of direct titration(GB/T 13025.7-1999).ResultsThere were total 15 laboratories participated in the quality evaluation.Out of the 15 laboratories,12 laboratories was qualified for testing ability(at locality).There were 15 laboratories providing feedback among 30 salt iodine laboratories at county level and 11 labortatories qualified for testing ability.ConclusionsTesting results from the most laboratories are comparable with good accuracy.In order to improve the testing ability and quality of all level laboratories,the routine work is to enforce inner quality control at laboratories.