cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Steroid celiac plexus block for chronic pancreatitis: Results in 16 cases

Abstract Sixteen cases in which celiac plexus block with depot steroid was used to treat chronic pancreatitis pain were reviewed. Only 4 of 16 patients reported pain relief with the procedure. Of the 12 patients who did not obtain relief, narcotic dependence was present in 11 of 12. No patients in the "relief" group were narcotic dependent. Prior pancreatic surgery was present in 9 of the 12 patients without relief and in 1 of 4 patients with relief. It is postulated that refractory chronic pancreatitis pain may be an extreme form of what has been termed "abnormal illness behavior." Furthermore, these results underscore the poor results experienced using neural blockade for the relief of chronic pain when narcotic dependence is present.
GXL: a new graph transformation language

GXL - the graph transformation language presented in this abstract is a programmable graph rewriting language that combines ideas from current tree rewriting technology, exemplified by the TXL language, and general graph rewriting systems. From TXL it inherits the idea of scoping (limitation of a transformation rule to a particular sub tree or sub graph) and parameterization (working with multiple independent copies of a subtree or subgraph). From graph rewriting it inherits the generalization to graphs from trees. The resulting language adresses both problems in tree rewriting imposed by the limitation to trees, and problems in graph rewriting imposed by the lack of scoping and parameterization.
Directly dating geologic events: U‐Pb dating of carbonates

[1] Carbonates are ubiquitous, forming in a variety of settings including caves, soils, the oceans, during burial from hydrothermal fluids, and along faults. U-Pb dating of carbonates is applicable to almost the entire geologic time scale, with results from Pleistocene speleothems showing great promise for dating records <1 Ma old. Here we review studies of U-Pb dating of carbonates from a range of depositional and diagenetic environments and consider published results with regard to stratigraphic associations and the behavior of U and Pb in various fluids. We detail the steps required to select suitable samples, summarize current laboratory techniques, and provide directions for improvement of analytical protocols. The U-Pb dating of carbonates has tremendous potential for dating events of geologic interest and is virtually untapped.
Evaluating Creel Survey Efficiency for Estimating Walleye Fishery Metrics in Northern Wisconsin Lakes

Abstract To determine whether creel survey efficiency can be improved in northern Wisconsin lakes, we compared estimates of effort, harvest rate, harvest, recapture rate for previously marked fish (R/C ratio), and recaptures of walleyes Sander vitreus from four reduced-sampling-effort schemes (eliminating 1 week per month, 2 weeks per month, odd-numbered weeks, and even-numbered weeks) in each month of the angling season with estimates from creel surveys during 1991–2002. Estimates of angler-hours from each reduced-sampling-effort scheme differed significantly from those from the full sampling effort in several months, and variances differed significantly in nearly all months. Estimates of walleyes harvested per hour from each reduced-sampling-effort scheme differed significantly from those from the full sampling effort only in May or June, and variances differed significantly in several months for all sampling effort schemes except that of 1 week per month. Estimates of walleye harvest from all reduced-s...
The Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Converting Enzyme (TACE): A Unique Metalloproteinase with Highly Defined Substrate Selectivity

TNFα converting enzyme (TACE) processes precursor TNFα between Ala76 and Val77, yielding a correctly processed bioactive 17 kDa protein. Genetic evidence indicates that TACE may also be involved in the shedding of other ectodomains. Here we show that native and recombinant forms of TACE efficiently processed a synthetic substrate corresponding to the TNFα cleavage site only. For all other substrates, conversion occurred only at high enzyme concentrations and prolonged reaction times. Often, cleavage under those conditions was accompanied by nonspecific reactions. We also compared TNFα cleavage by TACE to cleavage by those members of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family previously implied in TNFα release. The specificity constants for TNFα cleavage by the MMPs were approximately 100−1000-fold slower relative to TACE. MMP 7 also processed precursor TNFα at the correct cleavage site but did so with a 30-fold lower specificity constant relative to TACE. In contrast, MMP 1 processed precursor TNFα between...
Eve: a measurement-centric emulation environment for adaptive internet servers

Emulation plays a central role in the performance evaluation, capacity planning, and workload characterization of servers and data centers. Emulation tools usually require developers to focus on mimicking application behavior as well as to deal with system-level details of managing the emulation. With the continuing increase in computing capacity and complexity, capturing the interactions between different parts of an emulation (e.g., clients' reactions to server reconfiguration) increases the complexity and overhead of emulation design. Furthermore, since the amount of measurement data can easily be huge, efficient data management is becoming a key requirement to the proper scalability of any emulation tool. In this paper, we propose Eve, an efficient emulation environment that provides rapid development of distributed and adaptive emulators. By incorporating in-path data processing and custom triggers into a distributed shared variable (DSV) core, Eve provides full and customizable control of how and when measurement data is moved from the source to the DSV, where the data is stored. Both functions simplify data management and minimize the overhead of frequent updates, thus enhancing the created emulator's scalability. They also simplify feedback monitoring and control when creating adaptive emulators. The capabilities of Eve are shown to allow emulation designers to focus on application behavior rather than on system-level details.
Controls on Boundary-Layer Thermodynamics and Dynamics in Coastal West Africa During the Rainy Season of 2006

We investigate dominant processes modulating the coastal West African atmospheric boundary layer during August and September 2006. We evaluated boundary-layer attributes using upper air soundings, tower-based observations, and information from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts reanalyses. Boundary-layer thermodynamics exhibited continental and maritime attributes in response to influences from regional onshore (sea to land) flows and local land–atmosphere exchanges of energy and moisture. Onshore flows transported maritime air inland and gave rise to deep (>1 km) nighttime mixed layers whose heat and moisture content resulted in maximum virtual potential temperatures of 306 K and specific humidities up to 20 g kg−1. The presence of the Saharan Air Layer corresponded with capping inversions greater than 4 K and lapse rates exceeding 7 K km−1 above the mixed layer. Mixed layers at these times became deeper than expected (≈1 km) because dust layer events were often concurrent with strong onshore flows. Despite diurnally variable land–atmosphere fluxes of sensible and latent heat that reached maximum values of 200 and 400 W m−2, respectively, the mixed-layer depth exhibited little diurnal variation due to the influences of onshore flows. Daytime heating of the land, the upward transport of moisture, and onshore flows produced boundary layers with high convective available potential energy that often exceeded 3,000 J kg−1. These results demonstrate that the atmospheric boundary-layer thermodynamics in western Senegal can be favorable for storm development during both day and night. Mesoscale and regional models applied in this region should include several processes controlling the boundary-layer attributes to realistically estimate the energy available for storm development.
Parallel crawling for online social networks

Given a huge online social network, how do we retrieve information from it through crawling? Even better, how do we improve the crawling performance by using parallel crawlers that work independently? In this paper, we present the framework of parallel crawlers for online social networks, utilizing a centralized queue. To show how this works in practice, we describe our implementation of the crawlers for an online auction website. The crawlers work independently, therefore the failing of one crawler does not affect the others at all. The framework ensures that no redundant crawling would occur. Using the crawlers that we built, we visited a total of approximately 11 million auction users, about 66,000 of which were completely crawled.
When Do Normative Standards Matter Most? Understanding the Role of Norm Strength at Multiple National Park Settings

Research has demonstrated variation in the prevalence, importance, and stability of normative standards across different settings and activities. None of these studies, however, has directly used the concept of norm strength to help explain this variation. This study used norm strength to explore variation in normative standards at 52 locations in 13 U.S. national parks. The analysis measured and supported five dimensions of norm strength: intensity, consensus, certainty, preference consistency, and management consistency. No significant correlations were found between the five indicators indicating conceptually distinct dimensions of the norm strength concept. The findings support the notion that normative standards matter more at some places and the norm strength concept can help managers better understand these differences.
Nucleophilic Substitution of η5-Pyrrolyl Ligands in Ruthenium(II) Complexes

The reaction of RuCl2(PPh3)3 with pyrrolyllithium results in the formation of the pyrrolyl complex (NC4H4)RuCl(PPh3)2, 1, which has been characterized by an X-ray diffraction study. The structure confirms the η5-bonding mode for the pyrrolyl ligand. Ligand substitution reactions with 1 have led to the facile synthesis of related η5-pyrrolyl ruthenium complexes with other suppporting ligands. Reactions of the PEt3 derivatives (NC4H4)RuX(PEt3)2, X = Cl and I, with aryl- and alkyllithium reagents resulted in nucleophilic substitution of the pyrrolyl ligand accompanied by hydrogen transfer to the metal ion, forming (2-RNC4H3)RuH(PEt3)2. The hydride products could be converted to the corresponding chloride derivatives in chlorinated solvents, and the complex (2-PhNC4H3)RuCl(PEt3)2 has been structurally characterized. A second nucleophilic substitution reaction on the coordinated pyrrolyl ligand has been characterized in some cases, and protonation of the substituted pyrrole complex led to isolation of the free...
Optogalvanic wavelength calibration for laser monitoring of reactive atmospheric species

Laser-based techniques have been successfully employed for monitoring atmospheric species of importance to stratospheric ozone chemistry or tropospheric air quality control. When spectroscopic methods using tunable lasers are used, a simultaneously recorded reference spectrum is required for wavelength calibration. For stable species this is readily achieved by incorporating into the sensing instrument a reference cell containing the species to be monitored. However, when the species of interest is short-lived, this approach is unsuitable. It is proposed that wavelength calibration for short-lived species may be achieved by generating the species of interest in an electrical or RF discharge and using optogalvanic detection as a simple, sensitive, and reliable means of recording calibration spectra. The wide applicability of this method is emphasized. Ultraviolet, visible, or infrared lasers, either CW or pulsed, may be used in aircraft, balloon, or shuttle experiments for sensing atoms, molecules, radicals, or ions.
Appeals from Discrimination in Federal Employment: A Case Study

Increased use by Federal employees of ani appeals procedure in matters of suspected racial discrimination has given rise to controversy and conicerni. The writer, in the summiier of 1962, examined the appeals records in 27 cases filed in the last 10 years in a Northeastern Federal manufacturing and repair center of 10,000 employees. Special attention was paid to the fact that 25 of 27 appellants were Negroes, most appeals involved failure to secure promotions, and only one appeal was decided in the appellants' favor. Analysis suggested that despite the official record of losses the procedure served the appellants in four ways: It provided a "day in court." It was a source of answers. It was a locus of hope. And it was aln instrumelnt of pressure. Similarly, the center found several uses for the procedure: It was a "safety valve." It was a spotlight on sources of friction. It was a device for correcting mis-impressions. And it was an effective check on the conduct of supervisory personnel. Overall, however, the writer concludes tihat the procedure is a limited tool with an essentially negative character. It must 1)-. supl):clnented by mnore positive measures if it is not to undo its own slim contribution to inidustrial race relations. F or nearly 20 years now, a unique form of appeals procedure has been available to any federal employee wlho believed his status threatened or his status aspirations thwarted l)y racial or religious discrimination.1 WVhile Friedland and others have discussed the formal -details in journal articles, t'ie appeals procedure has seldom, if ever, beeii analyzed in terms of actutal cases and their outcomes. Little dacta, if any, has been available to answer tlte questions: Is the status of appellants really protected? Wlho seeks status protection? And what is the futll usefulness of the appeals procedure? Today, in part as a result of ignorance concerning answers to these questions, and as a result of the Negro's new militance in race relations, the appeals procedure in federal employment is the subject of miiucli controversy and concern. Somiie high-level government officials think tlle procedure is an adequate index of industrial race relations. OCthers disagree, and question whether it serves any good purpose at all. Some representative line supervisors consider it just another tool; others, in contrast, think it the only tool necessary to protect the status of minority group members. F;inally, some representative employee spokesmen, usually wlhite employees, believe appellants always win their way. Other spokesmen, often minority group members, believe appel-
Kinetics of replacement of bridging ligands in a diruthenium(II,III) cation

Abstract Tetrakis-μ-propionatodiruthenium(II,III) cation reacts with oxalate, in acidic aqueous solution (0.10 M LiCF 3 SO 3 , [H + ] 0.01 M at 29.4°C) in a two-phase process. An initial rapid change results in a small decrease in absorbance. This is ascribed to replacement of one propionate ligand by oxalate. A subsequent slower reaction, of which the rate is proportional to added oxalate concentration ( k bi 1.3 M −1 s −1 ), corresponds to a relatively large increase of absorbance at 475 nm, the absorbance maximum of the product. The data indicate formation of a bis(μ-oxalato)bis(μ-propionato)diruthenium(II,III) anion with a formation constant K f > 2 x 10 4 M −1 and an extinction coefficient of 1.3 x 10 3 M −1 cm −1 at 475 nm. A third, much slower, change results in decomposition of that product. The occurrence of replacement of bridging ligands under mild conditions indicates that tris-μ-carboxylatodiruthenium(II,Ill) species (otherwise unknown) function as kinetic intermediates.
Laser velocimetry measurements in a laboratory vaned diffuser

Laser velocimetry measurements were made within a laboratory radial vaned diffuser with three different blade configurations. Measurements were made through passages with four, six and eight blades installed at off design conditions. Also, in the eight blade diffuser measurements were made between the blade passage exit and diffuser exit so that the complete secondary flow could be defined. The flow was found to separate from the blades and form large separation zones. The separation zones consisted primarily of two vortices rotating in opposite directions. At the passage exit the separation region encompassed 23% of the circumferential area for the four blade diffuser, 45% for the six blade and 40% in the eight blade diffuser. Separation occurred at 23%, 27% and 50% from the leading edge of the blades for the 4, 6 and 8 bladed diffusers, indicating that more blades better controlled the separation. Turbulence intensities ranged from approximately 5% to 15% in the primary flow and reached a few hundred percent in the secondary flow within the separation regions.
Strategies to Accelerate the Applicability of Gene Amplification Protocols for Pathogen Detection in Meat and Meat Products

AbstractTraditionally, microbiological testing of meat products has involved isolating microorganisms and performing specific biochemical, and in some cases serological, tests to confirm the presence or absence of suspected food-borne pathogens. Given the public attention meat products have received as sources of food-borne disease, there has been considerable interest in the application of rapid detection techniques that require hours rather than days for completion. Theoretically, rapid detection methods could reduce the time from the initial sampling to confirmation so that conclusive results would be available by the time required to process the meat product. Both direct gene probe hybridizations as well as gene amplification methods show promise as rapid detection techniques. At present, direct gene probe hybridizations are being commercially utilized to confirm the presence of a suspected pathogen. A number of gene amplification protocols for detecting food-bome bacterial pathogens have been publish...
The equal correlation baseline model for comparative fit assessment in structural equation modeling

In this article I describe and evaluate an alternative baseline model for comparative fit assessment of structural equation models and compare it to the standard “null” baseline model. The new “equal correlation” baseline model constrains all variables to have equal, rather than zero, correlations, whereas all variances are free. The new baseline model reflects the reality of atheoretical background correlation in nonex‐perimental data sets, and it improves the ability of comparative fit indices to distinguish between better and worse target models. It also helps to preserve the statistical link between these indices and the noncentral χ2 distribution. Also, computing the same comparative fit indices using different baseline models will provide more information about model fit than computing multiple comparative fit indices using the same baseline. I also point out some limitations of the proposed baseline model.
Histone Acetylation in Drug Addiction

Regulation of chromatin structure through post-translational modifications of histones (e.g., acetylation) has emerged as an important mechanism to translate a variety of environmental stimuli, including drugs of abuse, into specific changes in gene expression. Since alterations in gene expression are thought to contribute to the development and maintenance of the addicted state, recent efforts are aimed at identifying how drugs of abuse alter chromatin structure and the enzymes which regulate it. This review discusses how drugs of abuse alter histone acetylation in brain reward regions, through which enzymes this occurs, and ultimately what role histone acetylation plays in addiction-related behaviors.
Right-left discrimination skills of hemiplegic persons of limited intelligence.

Summary Past research has indicated a relationship between degree of unilateral usage of body parts and right-left discrimination skills. Further evidence for such an association was sought by comparing the scores of hemiplegic persons of limited intelligence on a test of rather advanced right-left discrimination skills devised by the authors to those earned by a control group of non-hemiplegic persons matched on the variables of age, sex, race, and IQ. Mean scores of the hemiplegic group were significantly higher than those of the control group. Seventeen out of 21 hemiplegic persons scored higher than their matched controls. Results are discussed in terms of a possible causal relationship between perceived visual and kinesthetic differences between the right and left sides of one's own body and right-left discrimination in external space. Lesser degrees of inter-hemispheric communication among hemiplegic persons also are mentioned as a possible causal factor.
Successive pregnancies complicated by idiopathic sideroblastic anemia

Summary Sideroblastic anemias are a diverse group of hypoproliferative anemias characterized by defective iron usewithin erythropoietic cells and a defect in heme biosynthesis. This report describes the first case of successive pregnancies in a patient with idiopathic sideroblastic anemia. Periodic transfusions with washed erythrocytes and oral pyridoxine resulted in normal maternal and perinatal outcome
CO2 solvation free energy using quasi-chemical theory.

Accumulation of greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide, is believed to be the key factor in global climate change. To develop effective ways to remove CO2 from the atmosphere, it is helpful to understand the mechanism of CO2 solvation first. Here we investigate the thermodynamics of CO2 hydration using quasi-chemical theory. Two approaches for estimating hydration free energy are carried out. Both agree reasonably well with experimental measurements. Analysis of the free energy components reveals that the weak hydration free energy results from a balance of unfavorable molecular packing and favorable chemical association.
Simultaneous Estimation of Independent Normal Mean Vectors with Unknown Covariance Matrices

Based on independent samples from several multivariate normal populations, possibly of different dimensions, the problem of simultaneous estimation of the mean vectors is considered assuming that the covariance matrices are unknown. Two loss functions, the sum of usual quadratic losses and the sum of arbitrary quadratic losses, are used. A class of minimax estimators generalizing the James-Stein estimator is obtained. It is shown that these estimators improve the usual set of sample mean vectors uniformly under the sum of quadratic losses. This result is extended to the sum of arbitrary quadratic losses under some restrictions on the covariance matrices.
Aortobronchial Fistula 13 Years Following Repair of Aortic Transection

We describe a 56-year-old man with the new onset of hemoptysis, increasing in frequency and magnitude, initially diagnosed and treated as pulmonary embolism. Bronchoscopy, computed tomography, and thoracic aortography were performed twice before the diagnosis was made. Thirteen years previously, the patient underwent thoracic aortic interposition graft placement for aortic laceration as a result of a motor vehicle accident. The second aortogram demonstrated a small pseudoaneurysm at the expected proximal graft suture line. Aortobronchial fistula, a rare cause of hemoptysis, was diagnosed. The patient underwent successful resection of the graft and placement of a new dacron interposition graft. All cultures, including blood, sputum, and operative specimen cultures, were negative. The patient is alive and well 1 year following surgery.
New Interpretation of the Soft-X-Ray Absorption Spectra of Several Alkali Halides

New pseudopotential calculations of the densities of states of trigonal Se and Te (in excellent agreement with recent photoemission measurements) are used to show that two easily resolved peaks in the photoemission data are directly related to interchain and intrachain bonding. This identification is accomplished by calculating electronic charge densities as a function of energy for different energy regions. Finally we introduce a new method for determining bonding charges by extracting short-wavelength components of the electronic charge density.
Golden Shiner Egg Production during a Spawning Season

Abstract This study determined the number of eggs produced daily by golden shiners Notemigonus crysoleucas during a 111-d spawning season and the relationship of egg production to water temperature. On March 15, 2000, four 5.9-m2, plastic-lined pools were each stocked with fifty 1-year-old golden shiners. Mean (±SD) individual weight of fish at stocking was 9.2 ± 3.7 g. During March 16 through July 4, the spawning substrate in each pool was collected daily and replaced with clean substrate. Eggs were removed from mats in a 1.5% sodium sulfite bath, and the total volume of eggs from each pool was recorded. The mean number of eggs per unit volume (based on twenty-seven 2-mL samples) was 704 ± 109 eggs/mL. Approximately 2.75 million eggs were produced by no more than 200 brooders (∼2.4-kg total mass) over 111 d. Egg production was greatest during the month of May (average = 14,339 eggs·kg−1·d−1). The number of eggs collected daily showed a significant positive correlation with water temperature (P < 0.05) up...
Can one not communicate? A conflict of models

During this past quarter century, the statement that it is impossible not to communicate has become an established tenet of interpersonal communication. The Andersen and Motley papers are the latest contributions to a debate whose current round began with Motley's earlier challenge to the axiom. The present papers will not end the debate since the resulting issues reach beyond the scope of a single inquiry. This article considers how the debate thus far has advanced our understanding of human communication. It first notes what can be learned about the present dispute by examining the axiom in its original context. Second, it compares two contrasting models of communication that underlie the debate. Third, it examines the debate in terms of those models. Finally, it explores a possible bridge between models that might reduce the conflict. The analysis makes the following points: First, writers about communication have generalized the axiom beyond its original context in relational communication. Second, th...
Targeted Neutralization of Calcineurin, by Expression of an Inhibitor Peptide Under the Control of a Cholinergic Specific Promoter in PC12 Cells, Promotes Neurite Outgrowth in the Presence of NGF

We have characterized a region of the mouse vesicular acetylcholine transporter(VAChT)/choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) gene locus that serves as a cholinergic-specific promoter for the expression of both VAChT and ChAT genes, as well as a reporter gene (LacZ) in vivo. We have used this promoter to direct the expression of an inhibitor peptide, derived from the calcineurin (CalN) autoregulatory domain, to directly neutralize the function of CalN to define the role of this Ca2+/Calmodulin regulated phosphatase in neurite outgrowth. Targeted inhibition of CalN promotes neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells in the presence of NGF, as early as 24 h after transfection. Inhibition of CalN-mediated enhancement of neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells reaches a maximum effect within the first 4 to 6 days after transfection, and does not cause adverse effects when highly expressed for up to 12 days. Cyclosporin A, a nontargeted CalN inhibitor, increases the number of neurites in mock transfected cells by 1.5 fold, while in transfected PC12 cells, the expression of the CalN inhibitor peptide increases the neurite number by 1.8 fold. These data demonstrate that CalN is an important regulator of the neurotrophic response in cholinergic cells and may prove valuable in developing treatment strategies to promote recovery from neurological Injury.
Epigenetic alterations and anti-epigenetic therapy in myelofibrosis.

It is generally believed that DNA sequence changes underlie the pathogenesis of cancer but disease phenotype is in addition determined by the abnormal transcription, in cancer cells, of structurall...
Hyper-Rayleigh and Hyper-Raman Scattering Background of Liquid Water in Two-Photon Excited Fluorescence Detection

The detection of two-photon excited fluorescence is practically free from background caused by linear scattering because two-photon excited fluorescence occurs at a much shorter wavelength region than the excitation light. This property can be used to achieve ultrasensitive fluorescence detection. However, similar to linear scattering in the detection of one-photon excited fluorescence, the question arises whether background caused by nonlinear scattering may limit the detection sensitivity of two-photon excited fluorescence. In this work, quantitative comparisons between two-photon induced scattering of liquid water and two-photon excited dye fluorescence in a standard epifluorescence geometry show that the relative scattering background is typically reduced by orders of magnitude in two-photon excitation as compared to single-photon excitation with confocal detection. Hyper-Rayleigh and hyper-Raman (3400 cm-1) cross sections of liquid water have been measured to be 8 × 10-62 and 7 × 10-63 cm4·s/photon, ...
Effect of management history and temperature on the mineralization of methylene urea in soil

A soil incubation and a greenhouse study on processing tomato were used to test the effects of soil temperature and the size and activity of the soil microbial biomass (SMB) on the degradation (mineralization) rate of a slow-release N fertilizer, methylene urea (MU), a condensation product of urea and formaldehyde. The mineralization rates of three MUs: Short (S), Medium (M), and Long (L) with different water solubilities were measured at two temperatures in a soil with low (fallow, F) and high (cover crop, CC) microbial activity. In the greenhouse study, the fate of fertilizer N was followed using 15N-urea and 15N-MU. The fertilizer N efficiency calculated for urea using the 15N mass balance approach was 93 and 85% compared with 65 and 67% for MU-S in F and CC soils, respectively. During six months of incubation, 52 and 63% of MU-S N was mineralized at 20 and 30 °C, respectively. The accumulated N data suggested that the degradation of all three MU types followed first-order reaction kinetics. The reaction rates were similar for all three MUs and increased with increasing temperature. However, fitting discrete, non-accumulated data revealed that MU mineralization is more complex and cannot be modeled with simple exponential decay equations. The size and activity of SMB did not affect the mineralization rate of MU-N under laboratory or greenhouse conditions. Interestingly, Activity Index (AI), defined as the slowly available pool of MU-N, was not a reliable indicator for the mineralization rate and plant availability of MU-N.
Back in their proper place

Abstract During this decade the United States Supreme Court has made significant rulings on constitutional challenges to representative districts purposefully drawn to empower minorities as district majorities. Arguments have set the Voting Rights Act against the Fourteenth Amendment's goal of a colorblind society. The court has generally struck down the aggressive drawing of majority–minority districts, finding them racial classifications not narrowly tailored to achieve compelling state interests. This study analyzes and evaluates these legal developments, principally through a focus upon the most recent litigation in Georgia. My thesis — that the Court has muddled the jurisprudence of representation, voting rights and racial equality because of its inability to treat politics and geography with consistency, depth, rigor and judgment — will be explored in connection with five questions. First, can compact and regular shape provide the courts with a concept to properly assess the legal issues without involving the courts in intractable and injudicious political questions? Second, does a bizarrely shaped district “broadcast” such an invidious racial message as to constitute a “stigmatic harm” which provides plaintiffs with standing to challenge the district? Third, is a district's bizarre shape critical evidence of the districters' intent to discriminate? Fourth, is “community of interest” a significantly richer criterion than shape for evaluating racial gerrymandering claims and defenses? Fifth, what is the proper legal role of traditional criteria of territorial representation as the benchmarks for distinguishing permissible from impermissible race-conscious districting?
Effectiveness of a primary care practice intervention for increasing colorectal cancer screening in Appalachian Kentucky

Objective This report describes findings from a randomized controlled trial of an intervention to increase colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in primary care practices in Appalachian Kentucky.
A canonical form for generalized linear constraints

Abstract The integration of the constraint solving paradigm in programming languages raises a number of new issues. Foremost is the need for a useful canonical form for the representation of constraints. In the context of an extended class of linear arithmetic constraints we develop a natural canonical representation and we design polynomial time algorithms for deciding solvability and generating the canonical form. Important issues encountered include negative constraints, the elimination of redundancy and parallelism. The canonical form allows us to decide by means of a simple syntactic check the equivalence of two sets of constraints and provides the starting point for a symbolic computation system. It has, moreover, other applications and we show in particular that it yields a completeness theorem for constraint propagation and is an appropriate tool to be used in connection with constraint based programming languages.
Determination of Benzalkonium Chloride Partition in Micelle Solutions Using Ultrafiltration Method

The objectives of this study were to determine the concentrations of free benzalkonium chloride (BAC) and apparent partitions coefficients (K m) in micelle solutions and to explore its application in formulation development. Ultrafiltration (UF) was carried out using 10K Nanosep® devices and centrifugation at 5,000 rpm for 5 min. The separation of free BAC from micellar solutions was also conducted using ultracentrifugation (UC) method for the comparison with UF method. Capillary electrophoresis method was used for the identification of micelles. Results showed that a UF method was applicable for quantitatively evaluating BAC–micelle interaction in micellar solutions. Unlike UF, UC could not completely separate free BAC from the micelles. The free BAC concentrations in the micelle solutions decreased with increasing surfactant concentrations. Among polysorbate 80, cremophor EL, and tyloxapol, BAC had the highest K m in polysorbate 80 solutions. The K m was significantly lower in non-buffered aqueous solutions than that in citric buffers. Moreover, increasing surfactant concentrations led to reducing antimicrobial activity. The UF is a rapid and accurate method that minimally alters the micellar equilibrium for the determination of free BAC and K m in micellar solutions. In conclusion, free BAC concentration, which is a function of surfactant type, surfactant concentration, and ion strength of solution, is likely associated with the antimicrobial activity.
EPR Studies of Photochromic CaF2

The stable photochromic center Ca${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$ was found to be a trivalent rare-earth ion (either La, Ce, Gd, Tb, Lu, or Y) with a fluorine-vacancy immediately next to it, plus two electrons making a neutral complex. This stable state can be ionized by irradiation with blue light ($\ensuremath{\lambda}\ensuremath{\le}4000$ \AA{}), leaving the trivalent rare-earth ion next to a perturbed $F$ center. The electron can be trapped by a rare-earth ion which occupies a cubic site forming a divalent rare-earth ion. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) studies of all three types of centers are discussed.
Stenberg’s sufficiency criteria for the LBB condition for axisymmetric Stokes flow

Abstract In this article we investigate the LBB condition for axisymmetric flow problems. Specifically, the sufficiency condition for approximating pairs to satisfy the LBB condition established by Stenberg in the Cartesian coordinate setting is presented for the cylindrical coordinate setting. For the cylindrical coordinate setting, the Taylor–Hood ( k = 2 ) and conforming Crouzeix–Raviart elements are shown to be LBB stable. A priori error bounds for approximations to the axisymmetric Stokes flow problem using Taylor–Hood and Crouzeix–Raviart elements are given. The computed numerical convergence rates for the error for an axisymmetric Stokes flow problem support the theoretical results.
Retired academics and professional activity: A British-American comparison

This study investigated the professional activities of retired academics from two “old civic” universities in Great Britain, and compared the findings to those of recent studies of retired academics from a major state university in the United States (Dorfman, 1980, 1981). A high degree of similarity was found between the two groups of academics: (1) a large majority continued to perform professional roles and participate in professional activities in retirement; (2) there was a striking degree of consistency between pre- and postretirement professional activity levels; (3) the most consistent predictors of both total level and rate of professional activity in retirement were level of professional activity during the preretirement career and ties to professional organizations outside the University.
Work place design recommendations for the pregnant worker

Abstract In many workplaces and nations, changing economic conditions and social perceptions have resulted in more pregnant women staying in the work force, often to full term. The failure to recognize the special ergonomic needs of the pregnant worker results in less than efficient work performance and possibly, a health threat to the baby. A number of ergonomic risk factors in the workplace need to be addressed to ensure the health of the pregnant worker and to ensure her greatest productivity. This paper describes the most commonly identified ergonomic risk factors for pregnancy and where possible makes design recommendations for these factors that should allow the normal, healthy pregnant worker to continue to work with a minimum of risk and greatest work efficiency. Relevance to industry The pregnant worker is increasingly common in today's workplaces. This paper presents general design recommendations to help ensure that the pregnant worker can still perform her job safely and efficiently.
Recognition of the Importance of Embolization in Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease

It is uncommon in medicine for emerging data to completely transform a field, particularly in such a common disease state as atherosclerotic vascular disease. New evidence from multiple fronts has underscored the frequency and prognostic importance of atherosclerotic embolization in the microvasculature. Until recently, we have had limited access to diagnose microvascular obstruction in living patients. With the availability of imaging technology that includes magnetic resonance, myocardial contrast echocardiography, and transcerebral or transcranial Doppler (TCD), microvascular obstruction has been documented in a far greater proportion of patients than ever conceived. The linkage between microvascular obstruction and unfavorable long-term clinical prognosis has been established in many series. Furthermore, therapeutics shown to reduce microvascular obstruction have improved clinical outcomes. The purpose of this article is to present the case for a disturbingly and unexpectedly high rate of arterial embolization in certain atherosclerotic conditions and to review the promise of newer therapeutics or devices to reduce the risk or ameliorate the sequelae of embolization. Acute myocardial infarction (MI) has been accepted to be related primarily to a fissured, eroded, or ruptured plaque.1 2 3 4 5 This event leads to exposure of subendothelial matrix, with attendant platelet aggregation, thrombus, and occlusion of a major epicardial vessel. In a continuum, unstable angina and non–ST-segment-elevation MI also are indexed to a breech of the arterial wall, but the resultant thrombus is usually mural, not occlusive. Embolization of plaque contents of platelet-thrombus into the microvasculature has been reported in some patients with these acute coronary syndromes, but it has been generally believed to be uncommon.1 2 6 7 In some cases of sudden death, the process of embolization has been speculated to play an important role. It is nevertheless surprising that systematic pathological studies of the microvasculature of the postmortem heart infarct territory have …
Optimum scheduling procedure for cogenerating small power producing facilities

A comprehensive model of a small power-producing facility (SPPF) is discussed to determine its optimum operational schedule under utility energy-spot-pricing policies. The model is particularly well suited for SPPFs with both topping and bottoming cogeneration cycles in that the various thermal energy flows are explicitly modeled along with the electrical energy flows. The optimum scheduling algorithm is based on a linear programming method that provides for the explicit inclusion of the various thermal and electrical operating constraints. A realistic performance index, based on the true SPPF revenues and costs, is used in the linear programming procedure. >
Preparation and Characterization of 17O‐Enriched Alumina for Nuclear Fusion Damage Experiments

Alumina enriched in 17O was successfully fabricated from aluminum isopropoxide and water containing the 17O isotope. This material was necessary for an experiment to study the radiation damage expected in alumina exposed to a nuclear fusion reactor environment. The enrichment levels of specimens subjected to different preparation schedules were measured using a nuclear reaction analysis technique. Replacement of the 17O isotope in the ceramic by atmospheric oxygen occurred readily. Therefore, successful fabrication of suitably enriched alumina specimens required that all processing steps be performed under vacuum or inertgas environments. The optimum fabrication procedure produced enriched alumina specimens of >99.5% of theoretical density, ∽10-μm grain size, and a flexural strength of 280 MPa.
Magnetic maps in animals: nature's GPS.

Diverse animals detect the Earth's magnetic field and use it as a cue in orientation and navigation. Most research on magnetoreception has focused on the directional or \`compass' information that can be extracted from the Earth's field. Because the field varies predictably across the surface of the globe, however, it also provides a potential source of positional or \`map' information, which some animals use to steer themselves along migratory pathways or to navigate toward specific target areas. The use of magnetic positional information has been demonstrated in several diverse animals including sea turtles, spiny lobsters, newts and birds, suggesting that such systems are phylogenetically widespread and can function over a wide range of spatial scales. These `magnetic maps' have not yet been fully characterized. They may be organized in several fundamentally different ways, some of which bear little resemblance to human maps, and they may also be used in conjunction with unconventional navigational strategies.
Alternate therapy for traumatic pneumothorax in “Pocket Shooters”

Traumatic pneumothorax is a common complication of the IV drug abusers in Detroit who utilize the "pocket shot" (the central approach to the internal jugular vein). Fourteen patients who sustained a total of 16 pneumothoraces (two with bilateral collapse) and who underwent catheter aspiration of a simple pneumothorax (CASP) were studied prospectively. The sizes ranged from less than 10% to 100%. In addition, there was one tension pneumothorax and one pneumomediastinum. The 16 CASP procedures produced 13 successful lung expansions (82%). The remaining three were treated with tube thoracostomy and admission. Twelve of the 13 patients in whom the procedure was successful returned for followup, and all of these had 100% continued full expansion. CASP appears to be a safe, efficacious, and cost-effective treatment for the drug abuser with simple traumatic pneumothorax. With the current pressures of cost containment, this less-invasive approach with outpatient management should be studied as initial potential treatment for any simple pneumothorax.
Low Temperature Energy Phase Diagram for Adsorption on Fcc(112) Stepped Surfaces with Attractive First Neighbor Interactions

The transfer matrix method developed for the study of monomer adsorption on terraces and nanotubes is applied to on top adsorption on fcc(112) stepped surfaces. The effect due to the step is taken into account by considering adsorbate-substrate interaction on step sites to be different from that on the other bulk sites. We also consider first- and second- neighbor adsorbate-adsorbate interactions, with attractive first-neighbors, thus completing the work published three years ago on repulsive first-neighbors. In the three-dimensional, low temperature energy phase diagram, other than empty and full coverage, there are eight phases: three cluster formations consisting of 4, 5, and 6 adatoms, and five stripe patterns parallel to the steps. Of the thirty-seven phases reported in the repulsive case, none exhibits clusters, and only four of them have stripes that match the ones found in the attractive case. These and other selection rules allow one to predict whether first-neighbors are attractive or repulsive, while the energy phase diagram can be used as a guide to obtain additional information on the remaining interaction energies.
Linear separation of orthogonal merging component and viscous interactions in solar wind‐geospace coupling

The general view is that the response of the magnetosphere-ionosphere system to a complex, variable solar wind input will be a complicated and nonlinear function of that input. We investigate this question using a global MHD code to simulate the interaction and determine the responses of the system to isolated aspects of the solar wind input. We present evidence from the simulations that the solar wind-geospace interaction can be linearly decomposed into component merging interactions for interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) By separate from Bz and a separate viscous interaction. One can run the global simulation (in our case, the Lyon-Fedder-Mobarry code) using just the solar wind plasma and Bz time series, do a second simulation using just the solar wind plasma and By time series, add the results of the two simulation outputs, then subtract the output from a simulation done with only the plasma input and no magnetic field, since the sum of the By and Bz runs has two viscous interactions (one for each run), and get an output that is very close to the result of a single run using the entire IMF merging field (By and Bz) along with the plasma time series. This demonstrates that the components of merging and viscous interactions between the solar wind and geospace are linearly separable to a very large degree.
A national survey on hospital formulary management processes.

Purpose: In light of formulary management guidelines from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), and discussion of pharmacies' noncompliance with recent Joint Commission accredit...