cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
INVESTIGATING TRAVEL AND USER CHARACTERISTICS OF TOLL ROADS: TRAVEL SURVEY OF THE CENTRAL FLORIDA EXPRESSWAY SYSTEM

The differences between E-Pass (an electronic toll collection device) users and non-E-Pass users are examined based on an extensive travel survey of users of central Florida's expressway system. The survey was designed to capture travel patterns of expressway users. A statistical comparison was conducted between the E-Pass and non-E-Pass users by age, occupation, household income, vehicle occupancy, trip distance, trip purpose, and trip time. Results of the comparison indicated significant differences between the two groups. A log-linear model was developed to understand the effect of trip-maker characteristics on E-Pass use. Results indicated that the odds of using E-Pass are small for young users (16 to 25 years old). The odds of choosing the E-Pass system increase with income; professionals have higher odds of being E-Pass users. Also, a bivariate probit model was developed to understand the interdependence between the use of E-Pass and vehicle occupancy. Results indicated that time of day, day of week...
Psychological response to disaster in children and families

Abstract Studies of children experiencing disasters date back to the 1950s. Early studies were flawed by reliance on parent report alone and collection of data long after the disaster. Multiple factors influence response to disasters. These include features of the disaster, such as scope, duration, timing and causation, and features of the victims, such as age, intelligence, prior exposure to traumas, and pre-existing psychiatric disorders. Expected responses to disasters are outlined for each developmental stage. Identification of risk factors and intervention strategies, such as parental education, debriefing, trauma narratives, and medication, are discussed. Outcomes of disaster exposure, including acute stress disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and the development of other psychiatric disorders are reviewed.
Medroxyprogesterone acetate, a progestin and partial glucocorticoid agonist/antagonist with anti-inflammatory activity in IBD, does not suppress the level of circulating lymphocytes

Medroxyprogesterone acetate, a progestin and partial glucocorticoid agonist/antagonist with anti-inflammatory activity in IBD, does not suppress the level of circulating lymphocytes
Histochemical distribution of acetylcholinesterase in the nervous system of the snail, Biomphalaria glabrata.

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was demonstrated histochemically in the nervous system of the snail, Biomphalaria glabrata.AChE activity is localized in two distinct regions in each buccal ganglion.AChE activity is high in the neuropiles of cerebral and pedal ganglia; in a few instances, AChE activity is associated with axons in the neuropiles. In the pleural, visceral and parietal ganglia, AChE activity seems to be highly localized structurally.AChE activity of each ganglion is in communication with one another via connectives and commissures.AChE activity is distributed throughout the motor nerves of the snail foot, and is not exclusively associated with membranes, but can be observed also in the entire cross sections of the axons.
THE DISTRIBUTION AND KINETICS OF VISUAL PIGMENTS IN THE OWL MONKEY RETINA

An imaging fundus reflectometer has been used to study the distribution and regeneration of visual pigments in the retina of the owl monkey, Aotes trivirgatus. Measurements were made over an area of retina from 10 degrees nasal to 30 degrees temporal on the horizontal meridian, and from 5 degrees inferior to 30 degrees superior on the vertical meridian. The measured density differences vary with retinal location, with values in the central retina higher than those in more peripheral regions. The area of high density differences is roughly circular, with the highest values (approximately 0.3 log units) centred on or near the area centralis. Spectral measurements are consistent with a rod visual pigment absorbing maximally at about 518 nm, and indicate that the contribution of cone pigments to the imaging fundus reflectometer (IFR) data is negligible everywhere within the retinal area studied. The distribution of density differences is shown to correlate well with anatomical data for receptor and ganglion cell populations. Bleaching the visual pigment with brief intense lights leads to the extensive formation of the long-lived photoproduct metarhodopsin 3. Complete regeneration of rhodopsin following a full bleaching exposure (whether of brief or extended duration) takes more than 60 min and the time course of its recovery cannot be described accurately by first order kinetics.
An Inquiry into Motivation Using the Case of Phaedrus' Demonstrator.

The primary vehicle of this inquiry into the nature of motivation is the case of Phaedrus' Demonstrator. Its setting is a class where grades are withheld from students, and their reactions are noted and analyzed from the instructor's perspective. Effective use of the case is delineated, and options are suggested for carrying its lessons to the workplace. Students tend to be highly engaged, because the inquiry begins with a subject that is of intense interest to many.
Intellectual differences among Mexican Americans, Papagos and Whites, independent of g

Abstract Patterns of intellectual abilities for Mexican American and Native American Papago children were contrasted with those of White children, independent of overall differences in ability. Large differences in highly verbal skills remained, with Whites consistently outscoring the other two groups. Native Americans showed higher performance than Whites on spatial-visualization tasks but Mexican Americans exceeded Whites on no tasks. These race-related patterns of ability are nearly opposite those found in Black–White comparisons.
Changes in coronary arteries of mice fed a high-fat, low-protein diet followed by a normal diet.

Female mice of a Swiss albino stock were fed a high-fat, low-protein, hypolipotropic diet which produces rapid cardiovascular lesions in this stock of mice. Half of the animals were killed after 45 days and the others were placed back on a diet of normal laboratory chow and killed after one, two and three weeks of refeeding. In animals killed after receiving the experimental diet for 45 days small, focal deposits of hyalin in media of large coronary arteries of the right ventricle was the major change. During the first week of recovery (fed a normal diet) the incidence and severity of arterial lesions increased and within individual hearts arteries of all sizes and in both atria and both ventricles were involved. Following hyalinization an acute arteritis developed that involved all layers of the arterial wall and extended into the perivascular space. After two and three weeks recovery the coronary arteries were characterized by a periarterial fibrosis and by a decrease or absence of the leucocytic reaction. A subendothelial hyperplasia of smooth muscle, arranged longitudinally, was accompanied by an increase in reticular and collagenous fibers. Circular smooth muscle in the media was also hyperplastic.
Diffusion path analysis of dynamic behavior of oil-water-surfactant systems

The diffusional processes that occur when oil contacts an aqueous surfactant solution have been investigated. These are pertinent to enhanced oil recovery by surfactant flooding and to detergency in certain systems. The theory of diffusion paths was used to solve the diffusion equations for a model pseudoternary system. Although detailed comparison with experimental results was not possible due to a lack of necessary data, calculated diffusion paths and interface velocities were found to be useful for explaining various phenomena observed experimentally in an oil recovery system. Because the surfactant “solutions” studied commonly exist as dispersions of liquid crystal, extension of the theory to allow for initial compositions in two-phase regions was carried out. Also novel was investigation of the effect of the three-phase regions that occur in these systems on the position and shape of calculated diffusion paths.
Plate vibration modes identification by using piezoelectric sensors

In this paper, the authors present vibration mode identification of rectangular plates by using discrete piezoelectric materials. The novelty in this study stems from the fact that only spatial information is used. The analytical development and numerical simulation results of the method are also included. For the structural vibration control community, identification of the dominant vibration has been an important issue. If the dominant vibration modes are successfully identified, the control engineers can choose a proper control gain set which has been pre-tuned for the identified vibration mode. As the development of piezoelectric materials progressed, vibration mode identification techniques step into a new stage. Several papers reported vibration mode identification by using distributed piezoelectric modal sensors. Unfortunately, the spatially filtering methods need specially designed configuration corresponding to the geometry of the structures. These difficulties hinder the application and development of modal sensing and vibration control technology. In this paper, the authors develop a new method of the mode identification, and present analytical simulations for rectangular plates and circular plates. Finally, experimental verification of the method is also presented.
RELIGION IN THE PUBLIC SQUARE A Reconsideration

SOME years AGO I wrote a response to Stephen Carter's book, The Culture of Disbelief (1994). Carter had argued that it was unfair to religious believers to try to keep religious convictions out of the public square. I replied that such exclusion was part of a reasonable compromise between secular democratic governments and ecclesiastical organizations. Various forms of this traditional compromise are familiar: In the U.S. the government offers toleration, and various special privileges, for almost anything that chooses to call itself a religion. In exchange, the churches are supposed not to use the pulpit, or church funds, to support political candidates and proposals - or at least not to do so in so blatant a way as to lose their tax exemptions. The terms of this compromise are open to continual renegotiation. In my reply to Carter I urged that democratic societies should, in the manner of Jefferson, think of themselves as having exchanged toleration for an assurance that believers would leave their religion at home when discussing political questions in public. However, reading Nicholas Wolterstorff s writings on this subject, notably an essay called "Why We Should Reject What Liberalism Tells Us about Speaking and Acting for Religious Reasons" (1997a), has convinced me that my response to Carter was hasty and insufficiently thoughtful. I have been impressed by Wolterstorff s arguments, and also by some of Jeffrey Stout's criticisms (in a forthcoming book) of my response to Carter. So I shall offer a chastened, and more cautious, restatement of my anti-clerical views. I want to start back-pedaling by making a distinction between congregations of religious believers ministered to by pastors and what I shall be calling "ecclesiastical organizations" - organizations that accredit pastors and claim to offer authoritative guidance to believers. Only the latter are the target of secularists like myself. Our anti-clericalism is aimed at the Catholic bishops, the Mormon General Authorities, the televangelists, and all the other religious professionals who devote themselves not to pastoral care but to promulgating orthodoxy and acquiring economic and political clout. We think that it is mostly religion above the parish level that does the damage. For ecclesiastical organizations
Nitric oxide synthase inhibitors decrease coronary sinus-free radical concentration and ameliorate myocardial stunning in an ischemia-reperfusion model.

Abstract OBJECTIVES Our objective was to determine the effect of a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, NG-nitro-l-arginine (l-NNA) on free radical generation and myocardial contractility after ischemia-reperfusion. BACKGROUND Cardiotoxic free radicals are generated by ischemia-reperfusion sequences. Nitric oxide reacts with superoxide radical to form peroxynitrite, which generates additional free radicals. Our hypothesis was that by inhibiting NO production, free radical formation will be diminished, which should be cardioprotective. METHODS We studied 32 dogs. Coronary occlusion-reperfusion (20 min each) sequences were created by intracoronary balloon angioplasty inflation-deflation. Using electron paramagnetic resonance, we monitored the coronary sinus concentration of ascorbate free radical (Asc·−), a measure of total oxidative flux. The l-NNA (4.8 mg/kg total) was infused intravenously during occlusion-reperfusion; control dogs received saline. Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated the peroxynitration product nitrotyrosine. RESULTS In the control dogs Asc·−rose from 3.2 ± SD 0.5 nmol/l to 4.8 ± 1.1 nmol/l with reperfusion, a 50% rise. With l-NNA the Asc·−rose from 3.2 ± 0.9 nmol/l to 4.0 ± 1.2 nmol/l, a 25% rise (p CONCLUSIONS The NO synthase inhibitors decrease coronary sinus free radical concentration and ameliorate myocardial stunning after ischemia-reperfusion.
A multisubstrate kinetic mechanism of dopamine transport in the nucleus accumbens and its inhibition by cocaine

Kinetic studies of dopamine transport into suspensions of nucleus accumbens (NAcc) and effects of Na+ and Cl- as cosubstrates were performed using rotating disk electrode voltammetry. To mimic chemical neurotransmission, dopamine was added as a rapid pulse, and transporter-mediated clearance of dopamine was evaluated kinetically. This paradigm was shown to approximate a zero trans entry transport experiment. Dopamine was taken up with apparent Km and Vmax values of 1.3 microM and 375 pmol/s/g wet weight, respectively. Transport exhibited apparent trans acceleration. Substitution of Na+ with choline or Cl- with isethionate reduced dopamine transport with reaction orders of two and unity, respectively, accompanied by reductions in Vmax with no changes in Km. Apparent K(Na) and K(Cl) values were 70.0 and 92.1 mM, respectively. Dopamine transport in NAcc was found to follow a partially random, sequential mechanism in which dopamine and Na+ bind randomly to the transporter followed by binding of Cl- before transport. Cocaine inhibited dopamine transport and the influences of the other substrates allosterically with an overall Ki of 0.30 microM. Thus, the general kinetic mechanism of the transport of dopamine in the NAcc is identical to that previously reported by this laboratory for dopamine transport in the striatum. However, the dopamine transporter in the NAcc is more tightly regulated by Na+, possesses a higher kinetic turnover rate, is four times more sensitive to cocaine than the striatal transporter, and exhibits cocaine inhibition independent of [substrate]. These findings suggest that cocaine modulates chemical signaling in NAcc differently than in striatum, providing down-regulation of function irrespective of [substrate], thereby enhancing dopaminergic signaling more robustly in the NAcc than in the striatum.
Growth and aflatoxin production of Aspergillus flavus in wheat and barley

Growth rates and aflatoxin production of eight strains of Aspergillus flavus grown in wheat and barley were studied over temperature and water activity (aw) ranges of 10–42.5 °C and 0.80–0.975 respectively. Growth and aflatoxin production were restricted by low temperature, low (aw) and high temperature but not by high (aw). At 15° the lowest temperature at which growth occurred, an (aw) of 0.95 was needed for growth. At 42.5° growth was severely restricted and aflatoxin production altogether inhibited. The optimum temperature for growth was 35°; at lower temperatures (15°, 20°) the optimum (aw) was > 0.975, but at temperatures above these, it was 0.95. No single optimum temperature for aflatoxin production was determined but at (aw) s over 0.90 it lay between 25° and 35°. Strains showed marked differences in ability to produce aflatoxins but no equivalent differences in their growth rates. Only at the most favourable condition was a significant difference in growth demonstrated between two isolates at the extreme ends of the scale. There were not significant differences in growth or aflatoxin production between wheat and barley as substrates.
Prognostic factors and evaluation of mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome

Abstract Background: Staging evaluations of patients with mycosis fungoides (MF) and Sezary syndrome (SS) are performed to individualize therapy and to predict survival. Objective: Our purpose was to determine the prognostic factors in patients with MF and SS. Methods: A retrospective study of 101 patients was performed. For inclusion in the study, patients had to have been evaluated for MF or SS within 6 months of the initial definitive histologic diagnosis. The evaluation included physical examination, chest radiograph, peripheral blood smear, lymph node biopsy, bone marrow biopsy, gallium 67 scan, liver-spleen scan and computed tomography (CT) of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis. Results: The type of skin disease present at initial diagnosis was a good prognostic indicator of survival and clinical outcome. Univariate adverse prognostic features included hepatosplenomegaly or adenopathy by CT scan, abnormal liver-spleen scan, abnormal gallium scan, adenopathy, and peripheral blood, bone marrow, and lymph node involvement. Independent prognostic factors in multivariate analysis were the type of skin involvement as well as peripheral blood and visceral involvement. Conclusion: Our study confirms previous reports that type of skin and peripheral blood and visceral involvement are important prognostic factors in patients with MF or SS. Our results support the finding that patients with T1 stage disease have an excellent survival outlook and clinical outcome. (J Am Acad Dermatol 1997; 37:58–67.)
Laser Radar Echoes from a Stratified Clear Atmosphere

As reported by two of us1, we have made numerous observations here of echoes from the ‘clear’ atmosphere, using experimental pulsed ruby laser radar. The earlier communication described returns (which we believe are due to particulate matter back-scattering) from low-level air in motion. We remarked that strong signals are commonly noted at heights corresponding to low-level inversions, revealing haze layers which are not discernible by eye. This communication describes a series of observations made in clear conditions, in which sharp discontinuities in the back-scattered signal occurring within the first 1,000 m are strongly correlated with the thermal structure.
Effect of rotatory inertia and shear deformation on vibration of an inclined bar with an end constraint

A set of equations for the free vibration of an inclined bar with an end constraint including the effect of rotatory inertia and shear deformation is derived by the variational method. The equations for the axial and transverse vibrations are coupled by the end constraint. Exact solutions for the linearized equations are obtained. The effect of rotatory inertia without and with shear deformation is examined. It is shown by the characteristic equation that when the shear deformation is included, the characteristic values may change from real values for low frequencies to imaginary values for high frequencies. Frequency spectra of the first six (some seven) modes for various end conditions are presented.
NVIS Communications During the Solar Minimum

A popular technique for providing non line-of-sight coverage in mountainous or urban terrain is high frequency (HF) radio near-vertical incidence skywave (NVIS) mode. In NVIS operation, HF energy is directed vertically, and is refracted from the ionosphere to return nearly vertically to the area surrounding the transmitter; this nicely avoids nearly all obstacles. Direction finding versus a NVIS transmitter is also made difficult to the extent that the energy is directed vertically and groundwave is suppressed. However, NVIS operation requires the presence of substantial ionization in the ionosphere directly overhead the transmitter, so some concern is warranted about the effectiveness of NVIS operation during a solar minimum. In this paper, we present measurements and analysis of a multi-year NVIS experiment conducted during the current minimum of the sunspot cycle, including the effectiveness of the NVIS mode of operation, and evaluation of the accuracy of standard HF propagation programs in predicting usable operating frequencies.
Cathodoluminescent bimineralic ooids from the Pleistocene of the Florida continental shelf

A bored and encrusted late Pleistocene ooid grainstone was recovered from the seafloor at a depth of approximately 40 m on the outer continental shelf of eastern Florida. Ooid cortices are dominantly bimineralic, generally consisting of inner layers of radial magnesian calcite and outer layers of tangential aragonite. Ooid nuclei are dominantly rounded cryptocrystalline grains, although quartz grains and a variety of skeletal grains also occur as nuclei. Ooids are partially cemented by blocky calcite, and interparticle porosity is partially filled by micrite. Radial cortex layers are composed of brightly cathodoluminescent magnesian calcite having a composition of approximately 12 mol% MgCO3 and 1000 ppm strontium. The iron and manganese concentrations in radial cortex layers are generally in the range of 500–1000 ppm and 100–250 ppm, respectively. Tangential cortex layers are composed of noncathodoluminescent aragonite containing approximately 11 500 ppm strontium and less than 0.5 mol% MgCO3. Iron concentrations in tangential cortex layers are generally in the range of 150–400 ppm, and manganese concentrations are generally below the detection limit of 100 ppm. Echinoderm skeletal fragments, which are present as accessory grains, are composed of brightly cathodoluminescent magnesian calcite. Some ooid nuclei and the thin outer edges of some blocky calcite cement are cathodoluminescent; micrite matrix and the bulk of blocky calcite cement are noncathodoluminescent. Ooids do not exhibit textural evidence of recrystallization. The ooid grainstone underwent an episode of meteoric diagenesis. but ooid cortices were not affected by the event. We propose a previously unrecognized process by which the magnesian calcite cortex layers underwent diagenetic alteration in oxygen-depleted seawater. During this diagenesis, magnesium was lost and manganese was incorporated without apparent textural alteration and without mineralogical stabilization. Thus, we Suggest that cathodoluminescence may result from diagenetic alteration on the sea-floor.
The use of self-management procedures by people with developmental disabilities: a brief review

Self-management procedures, such as self-monitoring, self-administering consequences, and self-instructing, are frequently taught to people with developmental disabilities. In this paper, research examining the use of self-management procedures is reviewed and critiqued. Areas for future investigation are discussed.
Block Copolymers for Responsive, Energetic Nanocomposite Membrane Assemblies

Block copolymers can be used as materials for generating mimics of biological membrane assemblies. Polymer membranes have the advantages of being robust, tunable by functionality and possess a larger degree of dynamic responsive behavior relative to their lipid counterparts. We report on the development of 2D- and 3D-membrane nanocomposites based upon block copolymer strategies, particularly toward the generation of responsive energetic materials. For example, block copolymers can be used as surfactants for the solubilization of nanomaterials such as carbon fullerenes and nanotubes. In such a manner, block copolymers can act as surfactants that allow for solubilization of hydrophobic materials and serve as a dynamic architecture for housing photonic cofactors that can perform processes such as energy and electron transfer in a responsive manner dependent upon environmentally-stimulated polymer organization. Further, amphiphilic polymers have the potential of serving as surfactants for biological, amphiphilic protein complexes, many of which are energetic in nature. We have studied the biophysical properties of such nanocomposite architectures such as environmentally controlled energy and electron transfer processes and worked toward developing three-dimensional mesocomposite materials consisting of long-range organization and induced functional properties.
A Virtual FASTBUS Master Module

The "Virtual Fastbus Master" is a behavioral model of a general purpose Fastbus master module. In this paper, we describe the functions of the model, the behavioral modeling technique and the application of the model. Finally, we discuss some conclusions from this application of behavioral modeling.
Increased Radiative Lifetime of Rare Earth-doped Zinc Oxyhalide Tellurite Glasses

We have investigated the structural and optical properties of rare earth-doped zinc tellurite glasses modified by the substitution of ZnF2. Raman and phonon sideband spectroscopies were employed to characterize changes in the glass structure as well as to probe vibrational behavior in the immediate vicinity of the rare earth ion. These measurements are combined with photoluminescence and optical absorption to monitor the effect of halide substitution upon the optical behavior of the rare earth dopant. A substantial increase in the intrinsic radiative lifetime of Nd3+ is observed with increasing halide concentration.
Comparison of a radio interferometric differential baseline measurement with conventional geodesy

(Accepted for publication March 24, 1978) ABSTRACT: Niell, A.E., Ong, K.M., MacDoran, P.F., Resch, G.M., Morabito, D.D., Claflin, E.S. and Dracup, J.F., 1979. Comparison of a radio interferometric differential baseline measurement with conventional geodesy. In: C.A. Whitten, R. Green and B.K. Meade (Editors), Recent Crustal Movements, 1977. Tectonophysics, 52: 49-58. The ARIES (Astronomical Radio Interferometric Earth Surveying) 9-m transportable station has been deployed at two sites selected to be intervisible. By observing on approximately 380-km baselines from ARIES to the 40-m telescope of the Owens Valley Radio Observatory, we derived the three-dimensional position of each site relative to the OVRO telescope. By differencing the components of the positions of the two sites, we obtained the vector from Malibu to Palos Verdes — a 42-km path across Santa Monica Bay in southern California — with an estimated accuracy of better than 10 cm. The National Geodetic Survey has directly measured both the intersite distance and azimuth by conventional first-order horizontal geodetic control methods. The two techniques differ by 6 + 10 cm in baseline length, and 0.5 + 1.2 arc sec in azimuth (corresponding to 10 + 20 cm).
Safety and technical success of methylene blue dye for lymphatic mapping in breast cancer.

Abstract Background We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of methylene blue dye (MBD) for sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping in breast cancer. Methods A total of 398 patients undergoing 401 SLN biopsy procedures with MBD were retrospectively reviewed and divided into 3 groups based on dye concentration and location of dye injection. Technical success and complication rates were compared. Results Overall technical success of SLN biopsy was 99.7%. Technical success of SLN mapping with MBD was lowest in the group receiving full strength dye in a peritumoral location (74%) and highest in the group that received very dilute MBD (1.25 mg/mL) in the subareolar location (92%, P = .004). The complication rate was highest in the first group (21%) and lowest in the latter (2%, P = .0003). Conclusions Dilute MBD (1.25 mg/mL) successfully maps SLNs with very few complications.
Production of kavapyrones by Kava (Piper methysticum) tissue cultures

Kava (Piper methysticum) is extensively used for the generation of a ceremonial intoxicating beverage in South Pacific Island cultures and for the production of a sedating phytomedicine worldwide. Callus cultures were successfully initiated from shoot explants of Kava cvs. Makea and Awke and from leaf explants of cv. Awke. Bacterial and fungal contamination were decreased by multiple steps of tissue sterilization and the inclusion of a biocide in the medium. The production of kavapyrones by the Kava callus cultures was measured relative to the levels of these chemicals generated by intact plant tissues. The results showed that total kavapyrone production in callus cultures was less than 1% of that observed for root tissue from which the phytomedicine and intoxicating beverage is typically produced. Although callus cultures were initiated from stem and leaf explant materials, the corresponding callus cultures yielded a relative pattern of kavapyrone production similar to that of root extracts, with kavain and methysticin present as the predominate kavapyrones. This differed from stem tissues and the reported values for leaf tissues, where dihydrokavain and dihydromethsticin represent the predominant kavapyrones.
Temperature sensitivity: One subjective continuum or two?

The full range of nonpainful temperatures (approximately odeg C to 52 deg C) was scaled by magnitude estimation with the standard at physiological zero (32 deg C). Apparent magnitude bore an exponential relationship to temperature over this range, although the same Os gave power functions when judging warmth or cold alone. A transformation is presented, which, when applied to the appropriate sections of the exponential relationship for the full range, produced functions indistinguishable from the power law for warm and cold ranges. The conclusion Stevens and Stevens (1960) drew from the results of scaling warmth and cold alone, namely that a ϕo threshold correction should be applied to the physical scale of all continua to derive power law functions from magnitude estimations, is shown to be an invalid generalization from temperature scaling.
The effect of sewage sludge on ion activity in soils

Abstract Leaching experiments with a Cecil sandy loam profile were conducted during 11 weeks with and without sewage sludge application to determine mobilization of Ca, Mg and K and their activity in the soil solution in relation to plant growth. The results indicated that Mg and Ca concentrations were increased in the soil solution by sewage sludge application, without altering appreciably the K/√ (Ca+Mg) activity ratio. However, this ratio was observed to decrease by growing Coastal bermudagrass during the initial period of the leaching process, but balanced up again at the end of the 11th week. The Q/l relationship exhibited a regression line, which was less curved in the lower part, when soil was treated with sludge. The deeper curvature of the Q/l relation in the non‐treated soil was attributed to K‐fixation by wedge‐effect of weathered mica present in the Cecil soil. The chelating ligands produced by microbial decomposition of sewage sludge were assumed to have a competing action for K against fixat...
Admission physiology criteria after injury on the battlefield predict medical resource utilization and patient mortality.

Background: Medical resources and resource allocation including operating room and blood utilization are of prime importance in the modern combat environment. We hypothesized that easily measurable admission physiologic criteria and injury site as well as injury severity calculated after diagnostic evaluation or surgical intervention, would be strongly correlated with resource utilization and in theater mortality outcomes. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the Joint Theater Trauma Registry for all battlefield casualties presenting to surgical component facilities during Operation Iraqi Freedom from January to July 2004. Data were collected from the composite population of 1,127 battlefield casualty patients with respect to demographics, mechanism, presentation physiology (blood pressure, heart rate, temperature), base deficit, admission hematocrit, Glasgow Coma Score (GCS), Injury Severity Score (ISS), operating room utilization, blood transfusion, and mortality. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to determine the degree to which admission physiology and injury severity correlated with blood utilization, necessity for operation, and acute mortality. Results: Univariate analysis demonstrated a significant (p < 0.05) association between hypothermia (T <34°C) and the subsequent requirement for operation and mortality. In addition, the outcome variable total blood product utilization was significantly correlated with base deficit (r 0.61), admission hematocrit (r 0.51), temperature (r 0.47), and ISS (r 0.54). Using multiple logistic regression techniques, blood pressure, GCS, and ISS together demonstrated a significant association (p < 0.05) with mortality (area under ROC curve 95%). Multiple linear regression established that blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, hematocrit, and ISS had a collective significant effect (p < 0.05) on total blood product utilization explaining 67% of the variance in this outcome variable. Conclusion: Admission physiology and injury characteristics demonstrate a strong capacity to predict resource utilization in the contemporary battlefield environment. In the future, such predictive yield could potentially have significant implications for triage and medical logistics in the resource constrained environment of war and potentially in mass casualty and disaster incidents in the civilian trauma setting which will likely have mechanistic similarity with war related injury.
Effectiveness of Memory Notebooks upon Problematic Behavior of Residents with Alzheimer's Disease

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a memory notebook in decreasing problematic behavior of four persons with Alzheimer's Disease living in a personal care facility. After data analysis, the findings revealed that the memory notebook provided: (1) residents with a sense of security regarding their present surroundings and reassurance that important facts about their lives and families had been recorded; and (2) a line of communication between staff, families, and residents, that might not otherwise have been possible. In addition, use of a memory notebook appeared to be effective in: reducing anger, agitation, and confusion during sundowning; engaging residents who had withdrawn from all activities to participate in activities again; and, in conjunction with instructions and demonstrations by a familial caregiver, reducing physical aggressiveness during bathtime.
Intracellular sterol dynamics

We review the cellular mechanisms implicated in cholesterol trafficking and distribution. Recent studies have provided new information about the distribution of sterols within cells, including analysis of its transbilayer distribution. The cholesterol interaction with other lipids and its engagement in various trafficking processes will determine its proper level in a specific membrane; making the cholesterol distribution uneven among the various intracellular organelles. The cholesterol content is important since cholesterol plays an essential role in membranes by controlling their physicochemical properties as well as key cellular events such as signal transduction and protein trafficking. Cholesterol movement between cellular organelles is highly dynamic, and can be achieved by vesicular and non-vesicular processes. Various studies have analyzed the proteins that play a significant role in these processes, giving us new information about the relative importance of these two trafficking pathways in cholesterol transport. Although still poorly characterized in many trafficking routes, several potential sterol transport proteins have been described in detail; as a result, molecular mechanisms for sterol transport among membranes start to be appreciated.
An Approach to Seizure Onset Detection Using Fuzzy Logic Based on Seizure Evolution in Intracranial EEG

5.7 million Americans are clinically diagnosed each year with refractory gastresophageal reflux disease GERD, characterized by chronic stomach acid reflux that is insensitive to both lifestyle modifications and pharmaceutical treatments. The most widely available treatments for these patients are endoluminal antireflux procedures, including EndoCinch plication and EsophyX transoral incisionless fundoplication, and the more drastic Nissen Fundoplication. These endoluminal treatments involve stitching the gastresophageal tissue in order to restore the natural antireflux barrier of the lower esophageal sphincter LES, a ring of muscle regulating entry to the stomach, although their efficacy in terms of decreasing long-term acid exposure has not been established. As such, patients often must rely on Nissen Fundoplication for relief. However, because Nissen Fundoplication is invasive, irreversible, and can lead to complications such as dysphagia and bloating, new methods to effectively treat refractory GERD are necessary. We propose a novel, long-term solution to treat refractory GERD by using an esophageal prosthesis to prevent retrograde acid flow while maintaining normal physiological function. Our device, a silicone band molded over a nitinol wire, strengthens the antireflux barrier by adding a compressive pressure on the LES. The prosthesis deforms to allow food to pass uninhibited during swallowing and opens to release air and vomit during belching and regurgitation, respectively. In the absence of these events, however, the band compresses the LES to prevent acid reflux from damaging esophageal tissue. As the prosthesis will be inserted laparoscopically around the distal esophagus and can be adjusted or removed at a later time if necessary, it is both minimally invasive and reversible. The device successfully established a 14 mm Hg pressure differential in an ex vivo porcine esophagus and passed a representative food bolus test. Further development of this design concept is warranted to achieve the goal of long-term acid reflux prevention in refractory GERD patients.
Determination of quinidine and metabolites in urine by reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography.

A new reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography assay allowing simultaneous but separate quantitation of urinary levels of quinidine and its major metabolites, 2'-quinidinone, 3-OH-quinidine and a newly detected N-oxide, is described. The compounds were separated on a alkyl phenyl column using 0.05 M phosphate buffer pH 4.5/acetonitrile/tetrahydrofuran (80 : 15 : 5, v/v) as mobile phase and were detected by UV at lambda = 230 nm. The assay procedure includes extraction of the compounds from urine samples into a mixture of dichloromethane/isopropanol (4 : 1, v/v), evaporation of the organic extracts to dryness and reconstitution of the residue in acetonitrile. The new assay was compared to a modification of the Cramer and Isaksson fluorescence assay which has recently been recommended for analysis of quinidine in urine. The consistently higher quinidine levels observed in the fluorescence assay could be accounted for by the quinidine levels and metabolite carry-over as determined by HPLC.
Synthesis of high temperature superconducting ceramics by oxalate coprecipitation from non-aqueous solvents

Abstract This paper describes a variation of the oxalate procedure that has significant advantages. The oxalate approach is often used to produce rare earth 123 superconductors and related ceramics. A moderately high concentration of acetone changes the dielectric character of the solution significantly and in the process greatly modifies the solubility of the oxalate compounds. When oxalic acid or oxalate ions are added to a yttrium-barium-copper aqueous solution, significant amounts of the metal (typically 10–40% of either Cu or Ba depending upon the pH) are left in solution. Such losses result in poor quality material. The acetone makes the precipitation more than 99 + % complete. The oxalate precursor thus produced by this route fires to high quality superconductors in amazingly short periods of time.
Whence atheists: outliers or outlaws?

At face value, the paucity of scientific accounts of atheism does not seem surprising: why should rejecting belief in invisible entities for which most cognitive scientists and biologists think no ...
The influence of life stress, personality, and learning history on illness behavior

Previous research has suggested that prior learning experiences and current reinforcement contingencies account for a substantial portion of the variance in illness behaviors. The present study examined the role of other variables (e.g., stimulus and organismic variables). Two hundred and sixty four college students completed questionnaires that included the Life Events Survey, Hassles Scale, Hypochondriasis Scale (MMPI), Illness Attitude Scale, and a Medical Problems Survey. It emerged that social learning variables accounted for significant portions of variance in symptom reporting behavior even after other demographic, current stressor, and personality variables were accounted for. The advantages of using behavioral assessment models for conceptualizing influential variables is highlighted and directions for future research discussed.
Analyzing the effects of gap junction blockade on neural synchrony via a motoneuron network computational model

In specific regions of the central nervous system (CNS), gap junctions have been shown to participate in neuronal synchrony. Amongst the CNS regions identified, some populations of brainstem motoneurons are known to be coupled by gap junctions. The application of various gap junction blockers to these motoneuron populations, however, has led to mixed results regarding their synchronous firing behavior, with some studies reporting a decrease in synchrony while others surprisingly find an increase in synchrony. To address this discrepancy, we employ a neuronal network model of Hodgkin-Huxley-style motoneurons connected by gap junctions. Using this model, we implement a series of simulations and rigorously analyze their outcome, including the calculation of a measure of neuronal synchrony. Our simulations demonstrate that under specific conditions, uncoupling of gap junctions is capable of producing either a decrease or an increase in neuronal synchrony. Subsequently, these simulations provide mechanistic insight into these different outcomes.
Cell-surface antigens expressed on L-cells transfected with whole DNA from non-expressing and expressing cells.

We have shown previously1 that transfection of mouse L-cells with DNA from JM, a human T-cell line expressing certain T-cell differentiation antigens, yields stable transfectants expressing one or another of these antigens. The identities of the antigens were confirmed by immunoprecipitation and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. We now report that our procedure—co-transfection2 with the chicken thymidine kinase gene (tk) and whole cellular DNA, selection with hypoxanthine–aminopterin–thymidine (HAT)3, and staining of the cells with fluorochrome-conjugated monoclonal antibodies and fluorescence-activated cell-sorter (FACS) selection—yields transfectants expressing a variety of cell-surface molecules (19 of 21 investigated), most at a frequency of about one per 103 Tk+ transformants. Of these, 9 of 12 were transferred and expressed as readily using DNA from cells which did not express the cell-surface antigens as from tissues or cells that did express them.
Plastic shearing of materials exhibiting strain hardening or strain softening

We consider the plastic shearing of a strain-rate dependent material exhibiting strain hardening or strain softening, subjected to steady shearing. We establish the existence of classical solutions and study the stability of uniform shearing. For materials exhibiting strain hardening or a moderate degree of strain softening we show that, as t → ∞, every solution approaches, at specific rates of convergence, uniform shearing; thus shear bands do not form.
Host restriction factors in retroviral infection: promises in virus-host interaction

Retroviruses have an intricate life cycle. There is much to be learned from studying retrovirus-host interactions. Among retroviruses, the primate lentiviruses have one of the more complex genome structures with three categories of viral genes: structural, regulatory, and accessory genes. Over time, we have gained increasing understanding of the lentivirus life cycle from studying host factors that support virus replication. Similarly, studies on host restriction factors that inhibit viral replication have also made significant contributions to our knowledge. Here, we review recent progress on the rapidly growing field of restriction factors, focusing on the antiretroviral activities of APOBEC3G, TRIM5, tetherin, SAMHD1, MOV10, and cellular microRNAs (miRNAs), and the counter-activities of Vif, Vpu, Vpr, Vpx, and Nef.
The Web of Magnesium

Magnesium is a common and abundant element in many Earth environments, especially in serpentine minerals and the rocks associated with serpentinites. The element is also a major constituent in life forms, from bacteria to man. It is important to plants where it is uniquely situated in the chlorophyll molecules that impart the green color, and plays the dominant role in photon reception and transfer of energy essential for metabolism. The multiple roles of magnesium in biology are briefly examined to phrase questions regarding the low productivity of plants typical of serpentinite environments.
Thermal storage capacity to enhance network flexibility in Dual Demand Side Management

the global concern for the environment and greater increase in the demand for electricity justifies integration of electrical and thermal units in the future smart grids to improve the system efficiency and reduce costs and emissions. In the distribution networks, micro-Combined Heat and Power unit equipped with a thermal storage system is an excellent candidate to meet the electrical and thermal demands. The aim of this paper is to present agent-based optimal control methodology to obtain higher flexibility for supplier to match the generations and demands. The market-based stochastic model for reducing the overall cost of generation and increasing the financial gain as long as supplying sufficient power to consumers in distribution level is described. The proposed algorithm is able to reach the optimum cost dispatching values according to different user behaviors and statistical data for switching micro-Combined Heat and Power units which are equipped with a thermal storage.
Coupled geomechanics and flow simulation for time-lapse seismic modeling

To accurately predict production in compactible reservoirs, we must use coupled models of fluid flow and mechanical deformation. Staggered‐in‐time loose coupling of flow and deformation via a high‐level numerical interface that repeatedly calls first flow and then mechanics allows us to leverage the decades of work put into individual flow and mechanics simulators while still capturing realistic coupled physics. These two processes are often naturally modeled using different time stepping schemes and different spatial grids—flow should only model the reservoir, whereas mechanics requires a grid that extends to the earth's surface for overburden loading and may extend further than the reservoir in the lateral directions. Although spatial and temporal variability between flow and mechanics can be difficult to accommodate with full coupling, it is easily handled via loose coupling. We calculate the total stress by adding pore pressures to the effective rock stress. In turn, changes in volume strain induce up...
Reflections on American foreign policy since 1945

Auguries of innocence - the past as the key to US foreign policy not the end of the world news - the united States and the origins of the Cold War rite of passage - containment and the legacy of George Kennan sqaring the error - the lessons of the Vietnam war living with Caliban - the United states and the Third world intimatios of mortality - is the United States in decline? present at the Fall - the death of history.