cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Structure of Semifinished Alpha + Beta Titanium Alloy Products

Development of semi-finished products manufactured from alpha +beta titanium alloys has necessitated a thorough study of the interrelation between the structure and phase composition of these alloys, and their mechanical properties. For the necessary combination of mechanical properties to be assured, semi-finished products manufactured from titanium alloys must have a homogeneous macrostructure and a fine-grained microstructure. The structure of semiproducts from alpha+beta alloys is determined by their thermomechanical deformation behaviour.
A qualitative study for understanding family and peer influences on obesity-related health behaviors in low-income African-American adolescents.

Background: Given the cultural and developmental relevance of family members and peers in the lives of African-American adolescents, the present study used a bioecological framework to qualitatively explore the parenting context as well as specific family factors (support, rules, monitoring) and peer factors (support) related to weight status, physical activity (PA), and healthy eating in low-income African-American boys versus girls. Methods: Qualitative data were obtained from African-American adolescents through focus groups. Adolescents (n=45, 100% African American, 51% girls, 12.6±1.2 years, 51% overweight/obese) were from two underserved communities in South Carolina (median income ≈$17,000–$22,000, high crime levels). Sessions were audiotaped, transcribed, and coded by independent pairs of raters (r=0.75). QSR NVivo 8 was used to analyze data, and themes were categorized separately for boys and girls. Results: Adolescents reported themes of family warmth and control practices consistent with an aut...
Compartmental Organization of the Mammalian Striatum

Publisher Summary By far the most striking architectural characteristic of the mammalian cerebral hemisphere is its division into tissue of cortical and subcortical types. This distinction has dominated views about the level of sophistication and neural processing in different parts of the telencephalon, and has also influenced ideas about the evolution of the cerebral hemispheres from an apparently more primitive striatal type to the exquisitely differentiated neocortical type found in higher mammals, especially man (Herrick, 1926, 1956; Romer, 1962). Because the cerebral cortex is the largest subdivision of the human brain, and disproportionately so by comparison with other species, the view naturally arose that the specialized structure of cortex somehow forms a necessary prerequisite for the complex mental capacities unique to the human. The fact that there is very little cortical tissue in the telencephalon of non-mammalian vertebrates, but instead a large noncortical “striatal” mass, led to the parallel assumption that the striatum is the highest integrative subdivision in these forms. Thus for years it was thought that the great development of the striatum in birds was related to their highly evolved instinctive patterns of behavior. This chapter focuses on compartmental organization of the mammalian striatum.
Referrals to psychiatric liaison nurses: Changes in characteristics over a limited time period

This article reviews the literature on the consultant/consultee relationship within psychiatric liaison nursing. Data on 284 referrals from staff nurses to psychiatric liaison nurses (PLNs) in a teaching hospital are examined to discover whether the nature of the referrals changes with the evolving consultation relationship. Referrals are found to change over time in their specificity, focus, level of sophistication, and kind of PLN involvement requested. Possible explanations for these changes are discussed.
Analysis of crack propagation using ΔK and Kmax

Abstract In this investigation a general relationship between fatigue crack growth rate, d a /d N , and a two-parameter Δ K and K max driving force is derived using fundamental fatigue ( e – N curve) properties. A power-law relationship between Δ K and K max is obtained by relating the crack growth rate to the fatigue life of the ‘process zone’. Theoretically, there are four different regions on a log–log plot depending on the particular combinations of Δ K and K max . The actual analysis of experimental data indicates only two different regions namely, Δ K and K max dominated, corresponding to high and low load ratios, respectively. A new way of representing the d a /d N data in terms of Δ K and K max by means of the crack propagation (CP) table is proposed. Finally, the application of the CP table for predicting crack growth rate under constant amplitude loading is explained and discussed.
Physiological regulation of cyclooxygenase-2 in the kidney

In adult mammalian kidney, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression is found in a restricted subpopulation of cells. The two sites of renal COX-2 localization detected in all species to date are the mac...
Interactions with hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors

Drug-drug, drug-food, and drug-disease interactions involving hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors are reviewed. The four available HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors-lovastatin, simvastatin, pravastatin, and fluvastatin-have different potentials for drug interactions, probably because of their different pharmacokinetic characteristics. Interactions of some of these cholesterol-lowering agents with cyclosporine, erythromycin, high-dose niacin, or gemfibrozil may produce myopathy with or without rhabdomyolysis. Interactions with other commonly prescribed agents, such as bile acid sequestrants, coumarin anticoagulants, and cardiovascular drugs, may alter the pharmacokinetics of either drug, but the clinical significance is generally minor. Food may affect plasma lovastatin concentrations, systemic pravastatin bioavailability, and the maximum serum concentration (Cmax) and time to achieve Cmax for fluvastatin. Hepatic dysfunction may influence the pharmacokinetics of pravastatin; all HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors are contraindicated in patients with liver disease or unexplained elevations in serum aminotransferases. Severe renal insufficiency may necessitate dosage modification in lovastatin recipients. Renal dysfunction seems to affect the pharmacokinetics of pravastatin, simvastatin, and fluvastatin only minimally, but caution is still warranted. Although the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors rarely have severe adverse effects, they may interact, in some cases dangerously, with other drugs, with food, and with disease states.
Optimizing the touch tablet: the effects of control display gain and method of cursor control

The purpose of this research was to assess the effects of control-display gain, method of cursor control, and target size on target selection performance with a touch tablet. In addition, an attempt was made to determine a definition of control-display gain that would generalize across different control-display combinations. The results indicated that a relatively low gain (approximately 0.8 to 1.0) resulted in more efficient target selection performance than did higher or lower gains. An absolute mode of cursor control, in which the cursor appears on the display in a position corresponding to the location of the finger on the touch tablet, resulted in faster selection rates and fewer target entries prior to confirmation than did a relative mode of cursor control. Selection of large targets was faster and more accurate than selection of small targets. Alternative explanations for performance differences are discussed.
A Progress Report on the eMMRTG

A multimission radioisotope thermoelectric generator (MMRTG), developed by the US Department of Energy for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, powers the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover on Mars. New thermoelectric couples (TECs) have been developed in recent years that offer significant improvements over the TECs used in the MMRTG. The maturity of the new TECs and the design flexibility of the MMRTG enable a low-risk system upgrade that is predicted to substantially enhance the MMRTG’s performance. System design trades are looking at changing the TECs and increasing the hot-side temperature to find the best combination of performance and program cost in this enhanced MMRTG (eMMRTG). Initial studies indicated that a low-risk enhancement would be to use skutterudite (SKD) materials developed at JPL to form TECs for the eMMRTG. Simply replacing the PbTe/TAGS TECs with SKD TECs and making a few low-risk modifications to the MMRTG design could potentially provide a 25% increase in power output at beginning of life (BOL). More important than the BOL power output increase is the end of design life (EODL) power output increase. With the anticipated lower degradation rate of the SKD materials, it is anticipated that the EODL power output will be more than 50% higher than for the MMRTG (with EODL defined as 17 years from fueling). This paper presents an overview of the results of the initial trades leading to the pursuit of the eMMRTG and the progress made since those were concluded.
Disposition of 1,2,3,7,8-pentachlorodibenzofuran in the rat.

Abstract 1,2,3,7,8-Pentachlorodibenzofuran (1 PeCDF) is one of several toxic polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) which are ubiquitous environmental contaminants. Related in structure and toxicity to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), PCDFs have been detected in municipal and industrial effluents, PCB mixtures, and in a variety of antiseptics and preservative solutions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the distribution and elimination of 1PeCDF in the rat and to compare these parameters with that of 2,3,4,7,8-pentachlorodibenzofuran (4PeCDF) and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran (TCDF). After iv administration of 0.1 μmol [3H] 1PeCDF/kg, 1PeCDF was rapidly cleared from the blood and distributed to the liver, muscle, skin, and adipose tissue in a manner similar to that for other dibenzofurans. The initial pool sizes of 1PeCDF-derived radioactivity in the liver, muscle, skin, and adipose tissue were 43, 35, 10, and 7% of the administered dose, respectively. In all cases, loss of radioactivity from these tissues could be described by exponential decay and the initial half-lives for these tissues were 1.36, 0.03, 13, and 1 day, respectively. After redistribution from the muscle, skin, and adipose tissues to the liver, 1PeCDF was metabolized to a polar metabolite(s) and excreted from the body via the bile into the feces. No parent compound was detected in the bile and fecal excretion was the major route of elimination. Most of the radioactivity in the urine was excreted within the first day, after which less than 0.5% of the dose/day was detected. More than half of the administered dose was excreted in the urine and feces within 2 days. The whole-body half-life of related compounds is 4PeCDF ⪢ 1PeCDF ≥ TCDF. Therefore, persistence appears to be inversely related to the metabolism of these compounds and metabolism is inhibited by chlorine-substituted carbon atoms adjacent to the oxygen atom in the dibenzofuran ring.
The effect of positive endexpiratory pressure, peak inspiratory pressure, and inspiratory time on functional residual capacity in mechanically ventilated preterm infants

In mechanical ventilation of preterm infants, positive endexpiratory pressure (PEEP) is widely used to prevent alveolar collapse, maintain functional residual capacity (FRC) and improve oxygenation. Prolongation of inspiratory time (ti) and increase of peak inspiratory pressure (PIP) are also used for this purpose. We investigated the effect of variations of PEEP, PIP and ti on FRC in ten infants with hyaline membrane disease and onset of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD, n= 7), pulmonary hypertension (n= 1), pulmonary hypoplasia (n= 1) or severe BPD (n= 1) (gestational age 24–39 weeks, median 26 weeks; birth weight 590–2960 g, 785 g; chronological age 7–84 days, 19 days; weight 689–4650 g, 1185 g). FRC, measured using the sulphur hexafluoride washout technique, was between 6.2 and 48.3 ml/kg (median 21.5 ml/kg). PEEP was changed stepwise 2–5 times in each patient (median 3) and mean airway pressure (MAP) was modified independently of PEEP by changing PIP 0–2 times (median 1) and ti 0–2 times (median 2). Changes of FRC correlated well with modifications of PEEP in each patient (r= 0.90, range 0.71–0.99). The slope factors of linear correlations had a median value of 2.94 ml/cm H2O per kg, which was significantly different from zero (P < 0.01) and significantly higher than the slope factors of linear correlations between FRC and MAP after modifications of PIP or ti (P < 0.01). The latter two were statistically not different from zero. The quotients ΔFRC/ΔMAP were significantly higher after adjustments of PEEP than after adjustments of PIP or ti (P < 0.01). The time lag between the change of PEEP and the stabilization of FRC on a new level ranged from 2 to 14 min (median 5). Conclusion FRC is mainly determined by PEEP but not by PIP or ti. Stabilization of FRC after a change of PEEP can last up to 14 min. Its duration is unpredictable and has to be waited for when testing pulmonary function in ventilated preterm infants.
Publication Opportunity in the Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment

This issue marks the beginning of the third year and volume of Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment. The journal remains committed to the presentation of key developments in the science and practice of psychopathology and assessment, broadly conceived. As the journal has progressed, there has been new knowledge put forth on the general psychometric properties of existing measures. Moreover, new measures have been developed and introduced to the broader community of psychologists and mental health professionals via the journal. A great deal of knowledge has been acquired on psychopathology, assessment and its treatment. All of these studies have provided rich journal content. The journal remains dedicated to promoting the dissemination of knowledge of diverse facets of the profession of psychopathology and assessment. The journal is also committed to research on the treatment of psychopathology and especially articles that pertain to the measurement of change (i. e., reductions in psychopathology). It remains a goal of the journal to reflect the mastery of the assessment, psychopathology, and treatment areas for which authors are studying. In order to continue the flow of high quality manuscripts that have been submitted to the journal, I highlight several issues that I am hopeful will remain an important focus of the journal.
Training Global Psychologists: An Introduction

Abstract The growing concern with ethnocentrism in applied psychology, combined with international global communications, business liaisons, and economic forces has increased an awareness of the need to expand psychology's focus. This article outlines some of the philosophical and practical concerns regarding the maintenance of an ethnocentric perspective. Western theoretical approaches to treatment and training espouse values which may not be applicable to non-Western students and clients. Training designs are summarized, and multicultural counseling competencies are discussed.
Fine Structure of Sticky Sets in Mushroom Billiards

We consider sticky sets in the phase space of circular mushroom billiards, which are referred to in physics literature as MUPOs (marginally unstable periodic orbits). An exact description of the set of parameters (widths of the mushrooms’ stems) without or with a finite set of MUPOs is given. It is shown that there exist a continuum of MUPOless parameters. We also estimate from above a number of MUPOs which exist for widths of the mushroom’s stem which correspond to rational numbers and present a simple approach for finding mushroom billiards without MUPOs.
Analysis of Classical Statistical Mechanics by Means of Collective Coordinates

The three-dimensional classical many-body system is approximated by the use of collective coordinates, through the assumed knowledge of two-body correlation functions. The resulting approximate statistical state is used to obtain the two-body correlation function. Thus, a self-consistent formulation is available for determining the correlation function. Then, the self-consistent integral equation is solved in virial expansion, and the thermodynamic quantities of the system thereby ascertained. The first three virial coefficients are exactly reproduced, while the fourth is nearly correct, as evidenced by numerical results for the case of hard spheres.
Responses of leaf spectral reflectance to plant stress.

Leaf spectral reflectances were measured to determine whether leaf reflectance responses to plant stress may differ according to the agent of stress and species. As a result of decreased absorption by pigments, reflectance at visible wavelengths increased consistently in stressed leaves for eight stress agents and among six vascular plant species. Visible reflectance was most sensitive to stress in the 535-640-nm and 685-700-nm wavelength ranges. A sensitivity minimum occurred consistently near 670 nm. Infrared reflectance was comparatively unresponsive to stress, but increased at 1,400-2,500 nm with severe leaf dehydration and the accompanying decreased absorption by water. Thus, visible rather than infrared reflectance was the most reliable indicator of plant stress. Visible reflectance responses to stress were spectrally similar among agents of stress and species.
Both/And Instead of Either/Or

On both questions about the political makeup of academia and conservative activism on educational issues, Gross makes definitive causal claims. He postulates a variation of self-selection that relies on political typing of occupations. On conservative activism he argues that moral entrepreneurs utilize animosity towards progressives in higher education to express a populist ideology uniting distinct elements within the conservative movement. As it concerns potential political bias, I argue that self-selection and barriers of discrimination and bias both play important roles in producing progressive academic institutions. On issues of conservative activists’ attention to educational issues, I contend that concern about progressive academics is both a unifying populist message and a realistic assessment of a political threat. I largely agree with the content of Gross’s finding but disagree with the degree the processes he outlines answers these two research questions. I have a both/and approach whereby other factors must be taken into consideration. Ideally future research will assess not only the different factors within these answers, but also which factors have the most explanatory power relative to other factors.
Calcium-induced Transitions between the Spontaneous Miniature Outward and the Transient Outward Currents in Retinal Amacrine Cells

Spontaneous miniature outward currents (SMOCs) occur in a subset of retinal amacrine cells at membrane potentials between −60 and −40 mV. At more depolarized potentials, a transient outward current (Ito) appears and SMOCs disappear. Both SMOCs and the Ito are K+ currents carried by BK channels. They both arise from Ca2+ influx through high voltage–activated (HVA) Ca2+ channels, which stimulates release of internal Ca2+ from caffeine- and ryanodine-sensitive stores. An increase in Ca2+ influx resulted in an increase in SMOC frequency, but also led to a decline in SMOC mean amplitude. This reduction showed a temporal dependence: the effect being greater in the latter part of a voltage step. Thus, Ca2+ influx, although required to generate SMOCs, also produced a negative modulation of their amplitudes. Increasing Ca2+ influx also led to a decline in the first latency to SMOC occurrence. A combination of these effects resulted in the disappearance of SMOCs, along with the concomitant appearance of the Ito at high levels of Ca2+ influx. Therefore, low levels of Ca2+ influx, arising from low levels of activation of the HVA Ca2+ channels, produce randomly occurring SMOCs within the range of −60 to −40 mV. Further depolarization leads to greater activation of the HVA Ca2+ channels, larger Ca2+ influx, and the disappearance of discontinuous SMOCs, along with the appearance of the Ito. Based on their characteristics, SMOCs in retinal neurons may function as synaptic noise suppressors at quiescent glutamatergic synapses.
Efficacy and potency of class I antiarrhythmic drugs for suppression of Ca2+ waves in permeabilized myocytes lacking calsequestrin.

Ca(2+) waves can trigger ventricular arrhythmias such as catecholaminergic-polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT). Drugs that prevent Ca(2+) waves may have antiarrhythmic properties. Here, we use permeabilized ventricular myocytes from a CPVT mouse model lacking calsequestrin (casq2) to screen all clinically available class I antiarrhythmic drugs and selected other antiarrhythmic agents for activity against Ca(2+) waves. Casq2-/- myocytes were imaged in line-scan mode and the following Ca(2+) wave parameters analyzed: wave incidence, amplitude, frequency, and propagation speed. IC(50) (potency) and maximum inhibition (efficacy) were calculated for each drug. Drugs fell into 3 distinct categories. Category 1 drugs (flecainide and R-propafenone) suppressed wave parameters with the highest potency (IC(50) 50% maximum wave inhibition). Category 2 drugs (encainide, quinidine, lidocaine, and verapamil) had intermediate potency (IC(50) 20-40 μM) and efficacy (20-40% maximum wave inhibition). Category 3 drugs (procainamide, disopyramide, mexiletine, cibenzoline, and ranolazine) had no significant effects on Ca(2+) waves at the highest concentration tested (100 μM). Propafenone was stereoselective, with R-propafenone suppressing waves more potently than S-propafenone (IC(50): R-propafenone 2 ± 0.2 μM vs. S-propafenone 54 ± 18 μM). Both flecainide and R-propafenone decreased Ca(2+) spark mass and converted propagated Ca(2+) waves into non-propagated wavelets and frequent sparks, suggesting that reduction in spark mass, not spark frequency, was responsible for wave suppression. Among all class I antiarrhythmic drugs, flecainide and R-propafenone inhibit Ca(2+) waves with the highest potency and efficacy. Permeabilized casq2-/- myocytes are a simple in-vitro assay for finding drugs with activity against Ca(2+) waves. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled 'Possible Editorial'.
Neuroprotective effects of creatine

There is a substantial body of literature, which has demonstrated that creatine has neuroprotective effects both in vitro and in vivo. Creatine can protect against excitotoxicity as well as against β-amyloid toxicity in vitro. We carried out studies examining the efficacy of creatine as a neuroprotective agent in vivo. We demonstrated that creatine can protect against excitotoxic lesions produced by N-methyl-d-aspartate. We also showed that creatine is neuroprotective against lesions produced by the toxins malonate and 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP) which are reversible and irreversible inhibitors of succinate dehydrogenase, respectively. Creatine produced dose-dependent neuroprotective effects against MPTP toxicity reducing the loss of dopamine within the striatum and the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. We carried out a number of studies of the neuroprotective effects of creatine in transgenic mouse models of neurodegenerative diseases. We demonstrated that creatine produced an extension of survival, improved motor performance, and a reduction in loss of motor neurons in a transgenic mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Creatine produced an extension of survival, as well as improved motor function, and a reduction in striatal atrophy in the R6/2 and the N-171-82Q transgenic mouse models of Huntington’s disease (HD), even when its administration was delayed until the onset of disease symptoms. We recently examined the neuroprotective effects of a combination of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) with creatine against both MPTP and 3-NP toxicity. We found that the combination of CoQ and creatine together produced additive neuroprotective effects in a chronic MPTP model, and it blocked the development of alpha-synuclein aggregates. In the 3-NP model of HD, CoQ and creatine produced additive neuroprotective effects against the size of the striatal lesions. In the R6/2 transgenic mouse model of HD, the combination of CoQ and creatine produced additive effects on improving survival. Creatine may stabilize mitochondrial creatine kinase, and prevent activation of the mitochondrial permeability transition. Creatine, however, was still neuroprotective in mice, which were deficient in mitochondrial creatine kinase. Administration of creatine increases the brain levels of creatine and phosphocreatine. Due to its neuroprotective effects, creatine is now in clinical trials for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and HD. A phase 2 futility trial in PD showed approximately a 50% improvement in Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale at one year, and the compound was judged to be non futile. Creatine is now in a phase III clinical trial being carried out by the NET PD consortium. Creatine reduced plasma levels of 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine in HD patients phase II trial and was well-tolerated. Creatine is now being studied in a phase III clinical trial in HD, the CREST trial. Creatine, therefore, shows great promise in the treatment of a variety of neurodegenerative diseases.
The Unfortunate Human Factor: A Selective History of Human Factors for Technical Communicators.

Human factors Is an important discipline for technical communicators to explore, but an examination of its historical bias toward the technological system and away from the user should be part of this exploration if we are to effectively use human factors methods in print and on‐line document development. Beginning with the advent of formal human factors in the early twentieth century, this essay reviews moments in the history of human factors that are especially relevant to technical communicators. The essay concludes with a discussion of human factors research that is most applicable to technical communications, specifically qualitative usability research, minimalism, and human activity interface design.
Rationale and structure of a curriculum in vocology

Summary A proposal is presented for formal academic training in vocology, the science of vocal habilitation and voice disorders. Rationale is given for expanding current methods of intervention offered in speech-language pathology classes to include more of the techniques offered in theatre arts and music. Formally, this can be accomplished by establishing a specialty track (vocology) in an M.A. program. The primary focus of vocal habilitation should be to meet the vocational and recreational needs of a particular individual, not simply to achieve a normal voice
Algorithms and proofs: mathematics in the computing curriculum

Computing has supplied mathematics with a new vocabulary of algorithms and is holding out the promise that mathematics can be implemented. Algorithms and proofs can now be seen as the same type of object. This new vision of mathematics as a very high level programming language suggests that mathematics may be transformed so that it is more in harmony with the spirit of computing, and has profound implications for the way in which mathematics is taught. Such harmony would be particularly beneficial for students of computing, who often find little of relevance in their mathematics courses.
Physostigmine-induced amnesia for an escape response 12 to 72 hours after training

Intraperitoneal injections of physostigmine 24 hr after training produced amnesia for a brightness discrimination habit in rats. Similar drug administrations 12 and 72 hr after training had no effect on the recall of the habit. These results support the hypothesis that memory recall 24 hr after training depends upon a transient retrieval process that requires functional cholinergic neurotransmission.
Custom mouth protectors: A review of their applications

Abstract The greatest use of mouth protectors is the reduction of injuries in sports-related activities. 85 However, mouth protectors are used with increasing frequency in other areas of therapeutic and preventive dentistry and medicine. Although the full scope of the use of custom mouth protectors has not yet been realized, this article reviewed the most common current uses. Health professionals should familiarize themselves with this treatment modality because the simplicity and cost of the custom mouth protector makes its use applicable to a wide range of patients for the potential preservation of oral structures.
Non-linear resonance of an unbalanced rotating shaft with internal damping

Abstract The dynamic response of an unbalanced rotating shaft with internal damping is considered. Special attention is paid to the interaction between the primary resonance and the destabilizing influence of internal damping. Global behavior in terms of the existence and stability of synchronous steady state solutions is examined. This is followed by an investigation of local behavior near instabilities by an application of the center manifold theorem. It is shown that the non-linear resonance for a rotating shaft is much more complicated than a simple Duffing-type resonance when any amount of internal damping is present. In fact, the resonance is an example of a periodically perturbed Hopf bifurcation which results in saddle-node, Hopf and saddle-connection bifurcations which, in turn, give rise to a variety of interesting shaft responses. Specificaly, it is shown that the shaft may exhibit a whirling type motion in which the whirl amplitude undergoes a low frequency modulation, resulting in quasi-periodic motion. the interplay between these motions and the constant amplitude whirl are described in terms of a series of frequency response diagrams for a range of unbalance magnitudes.
Air breakdown in a radial-mode focusing element.

A new radial focusing device is described that condenses an incident laser beam to an extremely intense and uniformly illuminated focal spot. The focal region is useful for many applications. When used with a 10.6-μm CO2 TEA laser source, a disk-shaped air-breakdown spark results, and the properties of this spark have been investigated.
Density functional theory study of NO adsorbed in A-zeolite.

Density functional theory was employed to investigate the adsorption site and hyperfine interactions of nitric oxide adsorbed in Na-LTA (previous name NaA) zeolite. Three different cluster models of increasing complexity were used to represent the zeolite network: (1) a six-membered ring terminated by hydrogen atoms with one sodium ion above the ring, (2) as model 1 with the addition of three sodium ions located at the centers of three imagined four-membered rings adjacent to the six-membered ring, and (3) as model 2 with the addition of the three four-membered rings adjacent to the six-membered ring. Calculations on the largest system (model 3) showed very good agreement with measured electronic Zeeman interaction couplings, ^(14)N hyperfine coupling tensors, and ^(23)Na hyperfine and nuclear quadruple coupling tensors of the S = 1/2 Na+···N−O adsorption complex when the position of the sodium ion was relaxed. The optimized geometry of the complex agreed nicely with that estimated experimentally, except for the Na−N distance, where the present results indicate that the distance deduced from previous ENDOR experiments may be underestimated by as much as 0.5 A.
Toxicodendron hyposensitization programs.

Abstract The first use of poisonous plant parts for hyposensitization to Toxicodendron (formerly Rhus ) dermatitis was attributed to the California Indians and Mexicans 1 who, around the turn of the century, reportedly ate the leaves of poison oak to develop immunity to subsequent bouts of dermatitis. Two Philadelphia physicians, Schamberg in 1919 2 and Strickler in 1923, 3 were the first to introduce into medical practice the specific (antigen) method for the treatment and prevention of poison ivy/oak dermatitis. Alcoholic extracts were prepared from the leaves and mixed with water to form tinctures for oral or intramuscular administration. Improvement—reduction or cessation of itching—in active cases was reported as early as 3, but usually within 24 to 48 hours after injection of tincture. 3 The subsequent course of dermatitis was reported to be shortened or modified in severity. Only 5% of 356 cases reported by Strickler failed to respond to phylactic antigen therapy. Hyposensitization required more accelerated therapy and maintenance doses. Typically, the patient was administered four intramuscular injections of tincture, one injection every 3 to 4 days, followed by 1 month of daily ingestion of the tincture. 2,3 Hyposensitization reportedly lasted 1 month if no maintenance doses were given. 2
From internet freedom to oppression

As well as promoting democracy, in the hands of dictators the net can be a tool of repression
Pesticides in dust from homes in an agricultural area.

We collected indoor dust samples from homes in the Salinas Valley of California. Of 22 pesticides measured in 504 samples, permethrins and the organophosphate chlorpyrifos were present in highest amounts. In multivariate Tobit regression models among samples from 197 separate residences, reported agricultural uses of chlorpyrifos, a herbicide (2,3,5,6-tetrachloroterephthalate (DCPA)), and a fungicide (iprodione) on agricultural fields were significantly (p < 0.01) associated, with 83%, 19%, and 49% increases, respectively, in dust concentrations for each kg applied per day, near participant homes, in the month or season prior to sample collection. However, agricultural use of diazinon, which was 2.2 times that of chlorpyrifos, and of permethrin were not significantly associated with dust levels. Other variables independently associated with dust levels included temperature and rainfall, farmworkers storing work shoes in the home, storing a diazinon product in the home, housing density, having a home less ...
P−C and C−C Bond Formation by Michael Addition in Platinum-Catalyzed Hydrophosphination and in the Stoichiometric Reactions of Platinum Phosphido Complexes with Activated Alkenes

We recently proposed a new mechanism for platinum-catalyzed hydrophosphination of activated alkenes, in which nucleophilic attack of a phosphido ligand in the intermediate hydride complex Pt(diphos)(PR2)(H) (1) on the alkene H2CCH(X) (X = CN or CO2R) gave the zwitterion Pt(diphos)(H)(PR2CH2CHX) (2), containing a cationic Pt center and a phosphine ligand with a pendent stabilized carbanion. Subsequent C−H bond formation involving the Pt−H and the carbanion would yield the product R2PCH2CH2X (3) and regenerate the catalyst, while attack of the carbanion on another alkene would yield byproducts derived from more than one alkene, such as R2P(CH2CH(X))nCH2CH2X (7). Several tests of this mechanism and related pathways for product and byproduct formation were investigated. Attempts to trap the proposed carbanion with another electrophile led to the development of a Pt-catalyzed three-component coupling of secondary phosphines, tert-butyl acrylate, and benzaldehyde, yielding the functionalized phosphines R2PCH2CH...
Photon detectors with gaseous amplification

Gaseous photon detectors, including very large 4{pi}-devices such as those incorporated in SLD and DELPHI, are finally delivering physics after many years of hard work. Photon detectors are among the most difficult devices used in physics experiments, because they must achieve high efficiency for photon transport and for the detection of single photoelectrons. Among detector builders, there is hardly anybody who did not make mistakes in this area, and who does not have a healthy respect for the problems involved. This point is stressed in this paper, and it is suggested that only a very small operating phase space is available for running gaseous photon detectors in a very large system with good efficiency and few problems. In this paper the authors discuss what was done correctly or incorrectly in first generation photon detectors, and what would be their recommendations for second generation detectors. 56 refs., 11 figs.
Identification of Biologically Relevant Enhancers in Human Erythroid Cells

Identification of cell type-specific enhancers is important for understanding the regulation of programs controlling cellular development and differentiation. Enhancers are typically marked by the co-transcriptional activator protein p300 or by groups of cell-expressed transcription factors. We hypothesized that a unique set of enhancers regulates gene expression in human erythroid cells, a highly specialized cell type evolved to provide adequate amounts of oxygen throughout the body. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by massively parallel sequencing, genome-wide maps of candidate enhancers were constructed for p300 and four transcription factors, GATA1, NF-E2, KLF1, and SCL, using primary human erythroid cells. These data were combined with gene expression analyses, and candidate enhancers were identified. Consistent with their predicted function as candidate enhancers, there was statistically significant enrichment of p300 and combinations of co-localizing erythroid transcription factors within 1–50 kb of the transcriptional start site (TSS) of genes highly expressed in erythroid cells. Candidate enhancers were also enriched near genes with known erythroid cell function or phenotype. Candidate enhancers exhibited moderate conservation with mouse and minimal conservation with nonplacental vertebrates. Candidate enhancers were mapped to a set of erythroid-associated, biologically relevant, SNPs from the genome-wide association studies (GWAS) catalogue of NHGRI, National Institutes of Health. Fourteen candidate enhancers, representing 10 genetic loci, mapped to sites associated with biologically relevant erythroid traits. Fragments from these loci directed statistically significant expression in reporter gene assays. Identification of enhancers in human erythroid cells will allow a better understanding of erythroid cell development, differentiation, structure, and function and provide insights into inherited and acquired hematologic disease.
Environmental, health and safety issues related to the production and use of CdTe photovoltaic modules

This paper examines environmental, health and safety issues associated with the production and use of CdTe photovoltaic modules. Handling of Cd and Te in photovoltaic production can present hazards to health, safety and the environment. Prior recognition of these hazards can allow device manufacturers time to implement appropriate hazard management strategies. The most important health hazards are probably related to chronic low-level exposures to Cd, especially to workers in manufacturing facilities. Because of the long latency period associated with the development of health effects arising from such exposures, and the availability of environmental and biomonitoring protocols, such hazards can be monitored and controlled. The true hazard presented by CdTe is very uncertain because characterizations of its inherent biological toxicity are based on extrapolation of data from other Cd compounds. Technical and institutional mechanisms for the recycling of spent CdTe modules may be needed to ensure public ac...
Exposure to war crimes and implications for peace building in northern Uganda

ContextSince the late 1980s, the Lord's Resistance Army has waged war against the Ugandan People's Democratic Army and the people of northern Uganda. Ending the conflict and achieving peace have proven to be challenges. In this context, it is important to examine population-based data on exposure to war crimes to understand how survivors perceive mechanisms aimed at achieving a lasting peace.ObjectivesTo assess the level of exposure to war-related violence and the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression symptoms in northern Uganda and to determine how these variables are associated with respondents' views about peace.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsMultistage, stratified, random cluster survey of 2585 adults aged 18 years or older conducted in villages and camps for internally displaced persons in 4 districts of northern Uganda in April and May 2005.Main Outcome MeasuresRates and patterns of exposure to trauma; symptom criteria for PTSD, assessed via the PTSD Checklist–Civilian Version with a total severity score of 44; symptoms of depression, assessed via the Johns Hopkins Depression Symptom Checklist with a cutoff of 42; and opinions and attitudes about peace.ResultsAmong the respondents, 1774 of 2389 (74.3%) met PTSD symptom criteria and 1151 of 2585 (44.5%) met depression symptom criteria. Four patterns of exposure to trauma were distinguished: those with low exposure (group 1; 21.4%), witnesses to war-related violence (group 2; 17.8%), those threatened with death and/or physically injured (group 3; 16.4%), and those abducted (group 4; 44.3%). Respondents in groups 3 and 4, who experienced the most traumatic exposures, were more likely to have PTSD symptoms compared with group 1 (group 3 vs group 1: odds ratio [OR], 7.04 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 5.02-9.87]; group 4 vs group 1: OR, 6.07 [95% CI, 4.77-7.71]). Groups 3 and 4 were also more likely to meet depression symptom criteria (group 3 vs group 1: OR, 5.76 [95% CI, 4.34-7.65]; group 4 vs group 1: OR, 4.00 [95% CI, 3.16-5.06]). Respondents who met the PTSD symptom criteria were more likely to identify violence as a means to achieve peace (OR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.05-1.65). Respondents who met the depression symptom criteria were less likely to identify nonviolence as a means to achieve peace (OR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.65-0.93).ConclusionsOur study found high prevalence rates for symptoms of PTSD and depression in a conflict zone. Respondents reporting symptoms of PTSD and depression were more likely to favor violent over nonviolent means to end the conflict.
Changes in the nucleotides of stored or incubated human blood.

Human blood was stored in ACD solution (add citrate dextrose) for up to eight weeks at 4 C. or up to 72 hours at 37 C. The changes in the blood nucleotides were followed serially by fractionation on Dowex-1-formate resin. The breakdown of ATP in aging blood followed the pattern, ATP ADP AMP IMP hypoxanthine, causing a steady decrease in ATP concentration and a continuing rise in hypoxanthine concentration with a transient rise and fall in the intermediate nucleotides. The reactions were roughly similar at both temperatures but required eight weeks at 4C. as against only three days at 37 C. The changes in the nucleotide pattern of stored blood are so characteristic that they may be used to date stored blood or to compare different methods of storage. The exact correlation between the nucleotide pattern of stored blood and red cell survival is not known, but it generally is accepted that both are related to the length of time and storage conditions of blood.
Affect is a form of cognition: A neurobiological analysis

In this paper, we suggest that affect meets the traditional definition of “cognition” such that the affect–cognition distinction is phenomenological, rather than ontological. We review how the affect–cognition distinction is not respected in the human brain, and discuss the neural mechanisms by which affect influences sensory processing. As a result of this sensory modulation, affect performs several basic “cognitive” functions. Affect appears to be necessary for normal conscious experience, language fluency, and memory. Finally, we suggest that understanding the differences between affect and cognition will require systematic study of how the phenomenological distinction characterising the two comes about, and why such a distinction is functional.
Sorcery and penicillin: treating illness on a Papua New Guinea island.

Research on a remote and culturally conservative Papua New Guinea island before and after the introduction of biomedical primary health care in the form of government aid posts shows that beliefs in the supernatural causation of serious illness ans death by sorcery, witchcraft or taboo violation remain largely unchanged after a decade. Most islanders first seek treatment from traditional healers who can identify and combat the underlying supernatural causes of illness. A healer, traditional or modern, must be greatly trusted by patient and kin due to fears of sorcery and witchcraft attack, and aid post orderlies, from a different cultural and linguistic group, find it difficult to gain the confidence of the community. Orderlies and other health care providers should not present themselves as being in competition with traditional healers but concentrate on earning the trust of community members. Individuals from the local community should be offered training as aid post orderlies and primary health care workers. The islanders' hierarchy of resort to medical treatment is variable, and biomedicine and traditional healing have not assumed complementary functions. Traditional theories of disease causation and treatment are part of indigenous religious beliefs and thus highly resistant to change. Acceptance of biomedical treatment can occur without rejection of supernatural theories of disease causation. The rate of acceptance may vary among ethnic groups within the same country or region due to underlying cultural or religious differences. The constraints of inter-ethnic differences and of traditional beliefs concerning health and illness within which the health system must function in this case are found in many multi-ethnic developing countries.
Outcome of severe acute pancreatitis.

Abstract Background The treatment of severe acute pancreatitis has been evolving from routine operative management to nonoperative care for patients without evidence of pancreatic infection. Methods Retrospective chart review of patients with severe acute pancreatitis at a single institution during a 9-year period. Results Sixty consecutive patients had severe pancreatitis. Forty-two had pancreatic necrosis on computed axial tomography (13 infected and 29 sterile). Patients with infected necrosis and 8 with sterile necrosis had operative debridement; the remaining patients were managed without operation (n = 39). The overall mortality was 15%. Mortality was directly related to the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Examination II and Marshall organ failure scores ( P Conclusions Patients with infected pancreatic necrosis require early operative debridement, whereas those with sterile necrosis or severe pancreatitis without necrosis can usually be managed safely without surgery.
Testing in the schools: A help or a hindrance?

In an article in our regular feature ‘Viewpoints and Controversies’ entitled ‘Ability Tests? A Shot in the Dark’,1 the Soviet Academician Arthur V. Petrovsky defined the limits of a certain conception of mental development which he, for his part, saw as being directly governed by children's social and cultural environment and the education they receive and not as a spontaneous process of revelation of intelligence. Based on unscientific presuppositions, tests, in his view, cannot measure the mysterious quantity labelled intelligence. Although thus expressing the strongest reservations concerning this scientifically unfounded method, he said at the end of his article that the argument, though it had gone on for a long time, was still unsettled. The American educator whose outspoken views we publish below returns to the charge from a different angle; far from invalidating Petrovsky's arguments, he too denounces the obstacles to the renewal of educational methods, democratization and the universalization of genuinely scientific thought which tests multiply and institutionalize. And so the debate on tests continues. Our readers are invited to join in.