cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Accelerated weathering and biodegradation of E-glass polyester composites

Abstract Successful material performance of composites depends on the environmental conditions to which they are exposed. Biological factors in aquatic environments may accelerate material deterioration. Simultaneously, leached constituents can adversely affect the surrounding ecosystem. An accelerated weathering was used to demonstrate the ease of coupon biodeterioration. In 3 months, 21 mg l −1 of organics were leached, aquatic bacteria numbers increased by 43%, and biofilm growth was accelerated. Degradability of leached compounds was tested in experiments with water collected from the accelerated weathered coupons and a synthetic leachate. The first experiment verified isophthalaldehyde as a polyester biodegradation byproduct. Although the rate of biodegradation was twice that of the abiotic system, microbial numbers had reduced from 5.0×107 to 5.4×10 4 CFU l −1 . Synthetic resin experiments showed that the bacteria were able to use the resin as a carbon source. However, compound toxicity prevented exponential growth of the bacteria.
Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 molecular evolution and the measure of selection.

ABSTRACT Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) envelope genes are highly variable between and often within individuals. Part of this variability is thought to be the result of immune-mediated positive...
An ultrastructural evaluation of acute 1-nitronaphthalene induced hepatic and pulmonary toxicity in the rat

Abstract 1-Nitronaphthalene is a mutagenic particulate of diesel exhaust which causes acute liver and lung toxicity in rodents. The studies presented here describe morphological changes in the lung and liver at several time intervals following a single injection of 1-nitronaphthalene (100 mg/kg i.p.) in male Sprague-Dawley rats using transmission and scanning electron microscopy. Although both the lungs and liver are injured by 1-nitronaphthalene, the lungs appear to be the primary target organ. Within 4 h of treatment, all 1-nitronaphthalene treated animals exhibited respiratory distress characterized by labored breathing, severe gasping and chromodacryorrhea. The primary ultrastructural alteration were hydropic changes in the non-ciliated bronchiolar (Clara) cells of the distal-most bronchioles of the lung. These were apparent as early as 1 h after 1-nitronaphthalene injection, while adjacent ciliated cells showed no alterations. Over a 24 h period, the bronchioles showed progressive ultrastructural changes leading to necrosis and exfoliation of both ciliated and Clara cells. Interstitial pneumonitis and edema were observed in all animals treated with 1-nitronaphthalene, and was usually associated with bronchioles containing necrotic epithelium. In the liver, ultrastructural changes were observed in the centrilobular hepatocytes at 8 h and consisted of cytomegaly, loss of continuous inner membrane and reduced matrix density of the mitochondria. At 48 h, cellular damage to centrilobular hepatocytes was severe and nearly all mitochondria were damaged. Elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and bilirubin were detected in the serum of animals treated with 1-nitronaphthalene at 8–48 h. In conclusion, 1-nitronaphthalene is a pulmonary toxicant with a unique progression of injury, which primarily damages Clara cells followed by ciliated cells. This disparity is likely due to a difference in the bioactivation of 1-nitronaphthalene. Furthermore, this systemic toxicant also has injurious effects on the centrilobular region of the liver which precedes lung injury.
Seasonal evolution of the albedo of multiyear Arctic sea ice

[1] As part of ice albedo feedback studies during the Surface Heat Budget of the Arctic Ocean (SHEBA) field experiment, we measured spectral and wavelength-integrated albedo on multiyear sea ice. Measurements were made every 2.5 m along a 200-m survey line from April through October. Initially, this line was completely snow covered, but as the melt season progressed, it became a mixture of bare ice and melt ponds. Observed changes in albedo were a combination of a gradual evolution due to seasonal transitions and abrupt shifts resulting from synoptic weather events. There were five distinct phases in the evolution of albedo: dry snow, melting snow, pond formation, pond evolution, and fall freeze-up. In April the surface albedo was high (0.8–0.9) and spatially uniform. By the end of July the average albedo along the line was 0.4, and there was significant spatial variability, with values ranging from 0.1 for deep, dark ponds to 0.65 for bare, white ice. There was good agreement between surface-based albedos and measurements made from the University of Washington's Convair-580 research aircraft. A comparison between net solar irradiance computed using observed albedos and a simplified model of seasonal evolution shows good agreement as long as the timing of the transitions is accurately determined.
The Rapid Retreat of Jakobshavns Isbræ, West Greenland: Field Observations of 2005 and Structural Analysis of its Evolution

Jakobshavns Isbrae in West Greenland (terminus at ≈69° 10′ N/50° W), a major outlet glacier of the Greenland Ice Sheet and a continuously fast-moving ice stream, has long been the fastest moving and one of the most productive glaciers on Earth. It had been moving continuously at speeds of over 20 m/day with a stable front position throughout most of the latter half of the twentieth century, except for relatively small seasonal changes. In 2002, the ice stream apparently suddenly entered a phase of rapid retreat. The ice front started to break up, the floating tongue disintegrated, and the production of icebergs increased. In July 2005, we conducted an extensive aerial survey of Jakobshavns Isbrae to measure and document the present state of retreat compared to our previous field observations since 1996. We use an approach that combines structural analysis of deformation features with continuum mechanics to assess the kinematics and dynamics of glaciers, based on aerial imagery, satellite data and GPS measurements. Results from interpretation of ERS-SAR and ASTER data from 1995 to 2005 in combination with aerial imagery from 1996 to 2005 shed light on the question of changes versus stability and their causes in the Jakobshavns Isbrae dynamical system. The recently observed retreat of Jakobshavns Isbrae is attributed to climatic warming, rather than to an inherent change in the glaciodynamic system. Close to the retreating front, deformation structures are characteristic of extension and disintegration. Deformation provinces that do not border the retreating front have had the same deformation characteristics throughout the past decade (1996–2005).
Protection from late life depression

The frequency of late life depression is estimated to be low relative to the frequency in young adulthood and middle age, as documented in many community-based epidemiological studies from Western populations. We first reported such a low-frequency in 1980 (though we did not compare the frequency of late life depression with that earlier in life) (Blazer and Williams, 1980). Since that time, many community-based studies have documented this lower frequency (Blazer et al., 1994; Kessler et al., 2003; Hasin et al., 2005). Yet a review of the origins of late life depression at first glance may suggest that older persons are at significant increased risk compared to adults in young adulthood and mid-life (Blazer, 2003; Blazer and Hybels, 2005).
Probe diffusion of single-walled carbon nanotubes in semidilute solutions of polyacrylonitrile homo- and copolymers: Effects of topological constraints and polymer/Nanorod interactions

Abstract With varying the molecular weight, copolymer chemical structure and concentration, the probe diffusion behavior of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) in N, N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) solutions of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) was studied by dynamic light scattering (DLS) technique. In combination with the systematic viscosity property investigation for PAN/DMAc system, the probe diffusion results provided insight to understand the interactions between PAN and SWCNTs. It was found that, due to depletion interaction, the SWCNT diffusion positively deviates from the Stokes–Einstein (SE) relation in PAN homopolymer solutions. However, in PAN copolymer solution, the SWCNT diffusion mostly obeys the SE relation, which was speculated as a result of hydrogen-bonding formation between the carboxylic acid functional groups in PAN copolymers and on purified SWCNTs. Moreover, due to the unique features of SWCNT probes – very long, extremely rigid, and adjustable bundle diameter, the SWCNT probe diffusion unambiguously revealed the topological constraints of polymer network responsible for the retardation of thin rod diffusion. Quantitative analysis indicated that the correlation length rather than the “tube” diameter of polymer liquid is the critical length scale to dictate the diffusion retardation of SWCNTs in polymer solutions.
Status and conservation of shrubland birds in the northeastern US

Abstract The suite of birds associated with naturally occurring shrublands and early successional forests in the northeastern US accounts for about 15% of the total species diversity of the breeding avifauna of the region. Most of the species in this habitat suite are common to abundant in occurrence with moderate to high relative abundance in the region. The shrubland suite of birds contributes a relatively large number of individuals but a relatively small proportion (15%) of the total bird species to the avian diversity of the region. The primary risks to long-term persistence of this suite of birds in the northeastern US include long-term population declines associated with long-term declines in amounts of early successional forest and naturally occurring shrubland habitats in the region (currently
A new approach to bridging content gaps in the clinical curriculum.

Background: In 2004–05 Tulane University School of Medicine implemented a longitudinal Interdisciplinary Seminar Series composed of small-group interactive exercises to address topics that are often overlooked during the clinical education of medical students. The series utilizes five adult learning principles.Methods: Each of 13 seminars is offered at a fixed time slot, repeated two to six times per year. Students are required to attend a minimum of five seminars, of their choice, during years three and four. Students access an online pre-enrollment system that maximizes learning opportunities by limiting the number of participants. Seminars emphasize active learning with small-group problem-solving exercises and multiple interactive techniques. Clinical vignettes, standardized patients, journal articles, and case-based learning are among the learning methods.Results: Seminar evaluations showed strong support in program content and effectiveness (mean = 4.47 on a five-point scale), facilitators (4.63), a...
Numerical simulation of natural convection of gallium in a narrow gap

Abstract Natural convection in a low Prandtl number, liquid metal gallium was numerically simulated in a 2 mm narrow gap test cell to benchmark experiments. One two-dimensional model and three different three-dimensional models were tested using a commercial finite element code and compared to an X-ray visualization experiment. Significant differences were found between the results obtained in the two-dimensional and individual three-dimensional models. The inclusion of the bounding solid walls of the test cell in the three-dimensional model resulted in temperature contour profiles which are comparable to the experimental visualization in liquid gallium.
Monthly climatology of the continental shelf waters of the South Atlantic Bight

[1] Monthly circulation of the South Atlantic Bight is diagnosed using a 3-D, shallow water, finite element model forced with monthly wind stress and hydrographic climatology. Temperature and salinity observations from the period 1950–1999 are objectively interpolated onto the model domain, and Comprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Data Set (COADS) wind velocities from 1975–1999 are used to prescribe the model surface wind stress. The resulting monthly temperature and salinity fields compare favorably to existing shelf climatology. River discharge maxima are evident in the spring temperature and salinity fields, and the rapid heating and cooling of the shelf are captured. The diagnostic circulation is largely wind-driven in the inner and mid-shelf, and the Gulf Stream is apparent in the solutions on the outer shelf. We present the monthly fields, including the temporal and spatial distribution of available hydrographic data, the regional COADS data that provide surface wind stress forcing, the objective analysis, and the model response to these forcings. The hydrographic and velocity fields provide best-prior-estimates of the circulation for data assimilation studies in the region, as well as initial conditions for process-oriented prognostic model studies in the Georgia coastal region.
The effect of substitutional boron on the kinetics of the carbon-carbon dioxide reaction

Abstract Natural graphite flakes have been doped substitutionally with boron at atomic levels of 0.2 and 1.0 per cent. The reactivity of compacted samples of these graphites and the undoped material in a dry CO CO 2 atmosphere (ratio of 0.15) has been studied as a function of temperature (925–1050°C), carbon burn-off, CO2 pressure, and pre-treatment in O2. Boronation lowers the rate of carbon gasification, but does not change the activation energy for the overall reaction. Unlike the reaction in O2, there is no evidence that retardation is caused by formation of liquid B2O3, which would block active sites on the graphite surface. With continuing burn-off above 10 per cent, the graphite surface area and gasification rate remain constant. Boronation does increase the order of reaction with respect to CO2 and decrease the rate constant, k1, in the Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetic scheme.
Does Infliximab Influence Surgical Morbidity of Ileal Pouch-Anal Anastomosis in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis?

Purpose Since infliximab has been approved for treatment of patients with refractory ulcerative colitis, surgeons will be increasingly faced with operating on patients who have failed therapy with this potent immunosuppressant. This study was designed to compare short-term complications in patients with ulcerative colitis who were treated with and without infliximab before colectomy.
Is there an ideal way to discontinue the ketogenic diet

It is unclear what the ideal weaning speed of the ketogenic diet should be and the resultant risk of seizure worsening. A retrospective chart review was performed of children who discontinued the ketogenic diet at Johns Hopkins Hospital from January 2000 to June 2010. Speed of discontinuation was categorized into immediate ( 6 weeks) rates. One hundred and eighty-three children were identified. Children with both a longer diet duration (p=0.004) and lower seizure frequency (p<0.001) were weaned more slowly by our group. There was no significant difference in the incidence of seizures worsening between discontinuation rates. However, there was an increased risk of seizures worsening in those specifically with a 50-99% seizure reduction (30% vs. 8%, p<0.0001) and for that level of seizure improvement, in those who were receiving more anticonvulsants (1.4 vs. 0.8, p=0.01). In summary, there does not appear to be an increased risk of seizure exacerbation with rapid ketogenic diet discontinuations. Those who improved 50-99% and were receiving more anticonvulsants were at the highest risk overall. Discontinuing the ketogenic diet over weeks rather than months appears safe.
RELATION BETWEEN LIGHT AND THE ELECTRIC POLARITY OF CHARA.

An electrical polarity corresponding to the morphological polarity in the axis has been established and studied in detail in Obelia and other hydroids (2, 9), the Douglas fir (14), the onion root, (11, 19), frog skin (3, 15), Avena coleoptile (5, Wilks, in press), Phaseolus vulgaris (27) and other polar structures. These continuously maintained E. M. F.'s have been shown to be quantitatively linked with the oxidation mechanisms of the living cell (12, 25, 26). The E. M. F. appears to depend upon the flux equilibrium in an electrochemical system made up of substances necessary for cell oxidation, and in the presence of atmospheric oxygen (10). The polarities of these living systems have been shown to be affected by changes in temperature, anaesthetics, oxygen, mechanical stimulation, light, externally applied E. M. F. 's, and other factors, which, directly or indirectly, affect cell oxidation. From the numerous facts obtained from this work Lund (12) has formulated a theory of cell correlation which attempts to explain the method by which a group of electrically dominant cells may control the rate and orientation of physicochemical processes in adjacent cells. Some of the new facts presented in this paper appear to have a bearing on this problem. Previous investigations on the electrophysiology of Chara are those by Jost (8), who determined the effect of various electrolytes on the potential, and by Auger (1), who reported that stimulation resulted in a negative wave of excitation which moved along the axis at the rate of 6 cm. per second. Osterhout and his co-workers (22, 23, 26) have made extensive investigations on the conditions of stimulation and the transmission of the excitatory wave in Nitella, a close relative of Chara. As far as the writer is aware, the effect of light on the electrical potential of neither Chara nor Nitella has ever been investigated.
Cortical activity patterns predict speech discrimination ability

Neural activity in the cerebral cortex can explain many aspects of sensory perception. Extensive psychophysical and neurophysiological studies of visual motion and vibrotactile processing show that the firing rate of cortical neurons averaged across 50–500 ms is well correlated with discrimination ability. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that primary auditory cortex (A1) neurons use temporal precision on the order of 1–10 ms to represent speech sounds shifted into the rat hearing range. Neural discrimination was highly correlated with behavioral performance on 11 consonant-discrimination tasks when spike timing was preserved and was not correlated when spike timing was eliminated. This result suggests that spike timing contributes to the auditory cortex representation of consonant sounds.
The relationship of vertical and horizontal individualism and collectivism to intrapreneurship and organizational commitment

Presents a study which derives relationships between the personality/cultural variables of vertical and horizontal individualism and collectivism, on the one hand, and the organizational criteria of intrapreneurship and organizational commitment on the other. Suggests that horizontal individualism may explain intrapreneurship jointly with a supportive organizational climate. Vertical collectivism demonstrates a direct positive relationship with organizational commitment. Horizontal collectivism varies jointly with work‐group and supervisor commitments in a negative relationship with organizational commitment, indicating a perception of conflict between work‐group and supervisor goals on the one hand and organizational goals on the other. Concludes that, while the basis of the vertical collectivist’s commitment seems unclear, horizontal collectivists base their commitment on compliance or rewards. Discusses theoretical and a few practical implications.
Thermally induced hygroscopic mass transfer in a fibrous medium

Abstract A fiberglass sample was used to study the hygroscopic mass transfer produced by a temperature difference across a moist, fibrous medium. Humidity probes and thermocouples were implanted in the sample and used to continuously monitor changes in the relative humidity and temperature as a result of the moisture migration. The effects of average temperature, thermal gradient magnitude and average moisture content were some of the parameters studied. The data was analyzed using a mechanistic analogy to the irreversible thermodynamic model. Vapor and liquid fluxes were evaluated along with vapor and liquid conductivities. The phenomenological coefficients associated with the liquid and vapor fluxes were calculated, and the flux contributions due to the thermal and concentration gradients were determined for steady-state conditions. Transient data for the humidity, temperature and moisture content were also either measured or calculated.
Differentiating between modified gravity and dark energy

The nature of the fuel that drives today's cosmic acceleration is an open and tantalizing mystery. We entertain the suggestion that the acceleration is not the manifestation of yet another new ingredient in the cosmic gas tank, but rather a signal of our first real lack of understanding of gravitational physics. By requiring that the underlying gravity theory respect Birkhoff's law, we derive the modified gravitational force law necessary to generate any given cosmology, without reference to the fundamental theory, revealing modifications of gravity at scales typically much smaller than today's horizon. We discuss how, through these modifications, the growth of density perturbations, the late-time integrated Sachs-Wolfe effect, and even solar-system measurements may be sensitive to whether today's cosmic acceleration is generated by dark energy or modified gravitational dynamics, and are subject to imminent observational discrimination. We argue how these conclusions can be more generic, and probably not dependent on the validity of Birkhoff's law.
The ombudsman: A serendipitous mental health intervention

It is proposed that the ombudsman program, originally conceived of as a protection of the political rights of individual citizens, can be profitably viewed as a primary prevention of psychological disorders. The ombudsman attempts to alleviate reality problems prior to the onset of psychological disruption by engaging in active change agentry in public and private bureaucracies. Two hundred randomly selected written complaints were analyzed to ascertain the types of problems brought to this program. The role of the mental health professional and training issues are briefly discussed.
Highlights from the Society of Urologic Oncology 4th annual meeting.

ABSTRACT Purpose: The 4th annual meeting of the Society of Urologic Oncology (SUO) was held December 5–6, 2003 in Bethesda, Maryland. The meeting was attended by urologists, medical and radiation oncologists, and researchers whose focus is genitourinary (GU) malignancies. More than 500 participants registered for the meeting. Materials and Methods: The agenda for the SUO meeting included more than 50 speakers and discussion panels, and addressed a broad range of topics in GU oncology. Transcripts of the proceedings and submitted slide presentations were reviewed for content following the meeting, and the highlights were summarized. These written materials can be accessed through the SUO web site at http://societyofurologiconcology.org . Results: Reviewed session topics included epidemiology of GU malignancies, biomarkers for GU malignancies, cancer genomics, bladder cancer, testis cancer, minimally invasive treatments for GU malignancies, molecular therapeutics and advanced prostate cancer. Significant advances in these fields have directly impacted clinical care and improved patient outcomes across the many disciplines associated with treatment of GU cancers. Conclusions: The SUO meeting is unique in its multidisciplinary forum and focus on urological oncology. The 2003 meeting highlighted recent advances in epidemiology, clinical management and emerging molecular approaches in the diagnosis and treatment of urological malignancies with several state-of-the-art presentations.
Differential network analyses of Alzheimer's disease identify early events in Alzheimer's disease pathology.

In late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (AD), multiple brain regions are not affected simultaneously. Comparing the gene expression of the affected regions to identify the differences in the biological processes perturbed can lead to greater insight into AD pathogenesis and early characteristics. We identified differentially expressed (DE) genes from single cell microarray data of four AD affected brain regions: entorhinal cortex (EC), hippocampus (HIP), posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), and middle temporal gyrus (MTG). We organized the DE genes in the four brain regions into region-specific gene coexpression networks. Differential neighborhood analyses in the coexpression networks were performed to identify genes with low topological overlap (TO) of their direct neighbors. The low TO genes were used to characterize the biological differences between two regions. Our analyses show that increased oxidative stress, along with alterations in lipid metabolism in neurons, may be some of the very early events occurring in AD pathology. Cellular defense mechanisms try to intervene but fail, finally resulting in AD pathology as the disease progresses. Furthermore, disease annotation of the low TO genes in two independent protein interaction networks has resulted in association between cancer, diabetes, renal diseases, and cardiovascular diseases.
Inflammatory processes may predispose children to high-altitude pulmonary edema

We investigated retrospectively whether the preexistence of inflammation-producing illnesses such as viral respiratory tract infections contributed to the development of high-altitude pulmonary edema in children. We found that the large majority of native low-altitude children, but not adults, who had this form of edema after traveling to high altitude also had evidence of a preexisting illness. We speculate that the release of inflammatory mediators associated with these illnesses may be tolerated at sea level but may predispose children to increased capillary permeability when superimposed on hypoxia and, possibly, cold and exercise.
Engineering upconversion emission spectra using plasmonic nanocavities

We show that the upconversion emission spectra of Tm³⁺ and Yb³⁺ codoped β-NaYF₄-NaYF₄ core-shell nanoparticles can be judiciously modified by means of plasmonic nanocavities. Our analysis indicates that more than a 30-fold increase in conversion efficiency to the UV spectral band can be expected by engineering the NIR absorption and the local density of states. The effect of the nanocavity on the resulting radiation patterns is discussed. Our results are exemplified in cylindrical cavity geometries.
Lack of objective improvement in ventricular systolic function in patients with myocarditis treated with azathioprine and prednisone

Six patients with myocarditis documented by biopsy, after a baseline right heart catheterization and echocardiogram, underwent treatment with azathioprine and prednisone. After 3 months of treatment, biopsy, right heart catheterization and echocardiogram were repeated. In addition to the immunosuppressive therapy, most patients received additional conventional medications for heart failure between evaluation periods (mean number of cardiac drugs increased from 1.7 ± 1.0 to 2.7 ± 0.05, p = 0.041). Mean heart rate decreased (105 ± 14 to 84 ± 13 beats/min, p = 0.016), as did pulmonary wedge pressure (23 ± 8 to 12 ± 4 mm Hg, p = 0.012). There were no significant changes in cardiac index (3.1 ± 0.8 to 2.9 ± 1.0 liters/min), end-diastolic dimension (62 ± 13 to 62 ± 12 mm) or fractional shortening (11 ± 6 to 12 ± 3%) with treatment. Complications from immunosuppressive therapy included severe soft tissue infection, acute psychosis and adrenal insufficiency in one patient each. The benefits from prednisone and azathioprine in this group of patients have not been demonstrated. Although heart rate and pulmonary wedge pressure decreased, these changes could be ascribed to increases in the conventional therapy for heart failure. Finally, there is a high incidence of side effects from prednisone and azathioprine therapy. These findings suggest that this unproven therapy for myocarditis should he limited to experimental protocols.
Thermodynamic modelling of the Zn–Zr system

Abstract The Zn–Zr system has been thermodynamically modelled by combining existing experimental data and first-principles calculations through the CALPHAD approach. In general, the agreement between the thermodynamic model and the experimental/first-principles results is satisfactory. The Zn 2 Zr 3 and ZnZr 2 intermetallic compounds do not belong to the accepted Zn–Zr phase diagram but their existence has been reported extensively in the literature, especially in experimental work on cast Mg–Zn–Zr alloys. The present work confirms their likely stability at high temperatures. A modified Zn–Zr phase diagram that includes these two compounds has been calculated. Additionally, three different models describing the excess Gibbs energy for the liquid and two for the solid solutions are used and their predictions are compared. The thermodynamic model with the best fit to the experimental data described the liquid phase as a solution of Zn, Zr and a ‘ Zn 2 Zr’ associate. The resulting thermodynamic description for this binary is considered to be robust enough to be incorporated into the ternary description of the Mg–Zn–Zr system which will be used in the future for the analysis of the grain refinement of these alloys.
Internal markets in the public sector: the case of the British National Health Service

This article discusses the application of internal markets to the publicly financed British National Health Service (NHS). The objective of internal markets is to obtain, through the stimulus of competition, greater efficiency, effectiveness, and responsiveness to consumer needs than would be obtained through continued direct government provision. There have been real advances in the NHS attributable to the internal market, not the least of which is a growth of debate, dynamism, experimentation, and entrepreneurial attitudes that contrasts sharply with the glacial pace of change prior to 1990. However, there is also a sense in which the reforms have, thus far, failed to achieve all their promoters hoped for. It is far from clear that efficiency gains exceed the high transaction costs associated with the reform. Competition remains restricted, information is inadequate, and the regulatory and legal framework is flawed. Lack of transparency and a clear publicly stated ‘end vision’ of the reform process, together with a refusal to evaluate it systematically, have heightened already intense controversy. This has blurred the fact that the internal market is not a panacea and cannot alone be expected to solve the problems of a health service where demand is accelerating faster than the resources available through taxation. (© 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)
Recall of order information by deaf signers: Phonetic coding in temporal order recall

To examine the claim that phonetic coding plays a special role in temporal order recall, deaf and hearing college students were tested on their recall of temporal and spatial order information at two delay intervals. The deaf subjects were all native signers of American Sign Language. The results indicated that both the deaf and hearing subjects used phonetic coding in short-term temporal recall, and visual coding in spatial recall. There was no evidence of manual or visual coding among either the hearing or the deaf subjects in the temporal order recall task. The use of phonetic coding for temporal recall is consistent with the hypothesis that recall of temporal order information is facilitated by a phonetic code.
A micro-method for the detection of butyrylcholinesterase secreted by hepatocytes in vitro.

A new assay has been developed for detection of butyrylcholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.8) activity based upon the change in absorbance of phenol red, caused by the release of butyric acid from the substrate. Using commercially available enzyme prepared from horse serum, linear, dose-related decreases in absorbance were obtained, generally with correlation values of 0.965 or greater. The assay was modified and used to detect enzyme activity in the supernatants from primary cultures of mouse hepatocytes. The enzyme-mediated response was inhibited by NN′-diisopropylphosphorodiamidic anhydride, a specific inhibitor of butyrylcholinesterase.
Reconstruction of the hypopharynx: current trends.

Purpose of review Reconstruction of the hypopharynx continues to present a clinical challenge for the reconstructive surgeon. Trends continue to evolve as many viable options exist, depending on individual patient characteristics and institutional preferences. The article reviews the most current literature available on the subject. Recent findings Surgical resections resulting in pharyngoesophageal defects require timely reconstruction to minimize patient morbidity while optimizing quality of life, specifically in regards to speech and swallowing. Contemporary reconstructive options include various gastrointestinal flaps, pedicled myocutaneous flaps, and fasciocutaneous free flaps. Institutional trends often depend on the availability, training, and expertise of the reconstructive surgeon. The current options available differ in their complication rate and overall morbidity, and must take into account each patient's general medical health. Increased availability of surgeons trained in microvascular reconstruction and the continued high published success rates have made free flaps an attractive option for hypopharyngeal reconstruction. Functional outcome regarding swallowing and speech rehabilitation after free flap reconstruction is promising. Summary With continued publication of overall high success rates coupled with superior functional outcome and increased availability of surgeons trained in microvascular reconstruction, fasciocutaneous free flap reconstruction of the hypopharynx will probably surpass intestinal flaps in reliability and popularity.
Adhesion Mediated by Bonds in Series

Cell adhesion in physiological situations and biotechnological applications is often mediated through serial protein/protein linkages. The adhesion strength of cell/substrate contacts through receptor/ligand bonds in series is explored with a simple mathematical model and quantified with an experimental adhesion assay. A deterministic, mass-action model is developed to describe the attachment and detachment of cell/substrate contacts through single and serial bonds. The experimental system is comprised of protein-coated beads, soluble antibody linkers, and an antibody-coated glass surface. Using the Radial-Flow Detachment Assay, the adhesion strengths of bead/substrate contacts through single and serial linkages are measured. Taken together, this work shows that the specific adhesion strength of the cell/substrate contacts comprised of two receptor/ligand bonds in series is less than the specific adhesion strength of the cell/substrate contacts comprised of either of the bonds separately. In addition, the force to rupture contacts comprised of bonds in series varies with the concentration of the solution linker. The model predicts that the locus of linkage fracture location has only a mild dependence on the ratio of relative bond affinities.
Sustainable Forestry: The Role of Eucalypts and Lessons from Natural and Artificial Monoculture Systems

SYNOPSIS Throughout much of the world's subtropics, eucalypts have become favoured plantation trees for commercial forestry. The reasons for their popularity are similar to those that made Norway spruce the favoured plantation tree in Central Europe. As is well known, however, many Norway spruce stands all over Europe are now in a state of decline, suffering from mineral deficiencies. Such a fate can be predicted also for repeated eucalypt plantations. Moreover, eucalypts are in a state of decline in East Australia from Canberra to Brisbane. Here the decline is related to insects that devour eucalypts because of intensified agricultural development. High-yielding eucalypts are, of course, attainable in the short run. For long-term sustainability, however, a number of ecological parameters need to be observed. Among these is an important biological component, which will be the central theme of this paper.
Towards a better understanding of heterophile (and the like) antibody interference with modern immunoassays.

Background: Heterophile antibodies interfere with immunoassays. Understanding the nature and characteristics of these antibodies provides a format for better identifying and removing them. Growing evidence suggests many of these antibodies are natural antibodies. Very large number of tests are being performed with automated analyzers and there has been a problem with misdiagnosis due to interference. New commercial agents for blocking heterophile antibodies have been developed. Methods: Review of the immunology and methodological literature with critical interpretation of the findings. Conclusions: Heterophile antibodies consist of natural antibodies and autoantibodies. Both types are usually weak antibodies that interfere by noncompetitive mechanisms. Based on very strong circumstantial evidence, we propose that natural antibodies account for most interference with automated immunoassays. In terms of false positive results, the interference rate is very low, about 99.95% accuracy. Specific blocking agents have some theoretical advantage over nonspecific blocking agents, but in actual practice, the very low false positive frequency makes it difficult if not impossible to statistically compare blocking agents or other assay modifications with adequate statistical power. In the absence of a technique that lends itself to automation for removing all immunoglobulins, it appears that infrequent heterophile interference cannot be avoided.
Towards a cooperative distributed manufacturing management framework

Advanced manufacturing systems need to be developed for enterprises to cooperate with each other in order to survive in the increasingly competitive global market. In this paper, manufacturing management issues are addressed at three levels: virtual enterprise (inter-enterprise), enterprise (intra-enterprise) and shop floor levels. An Internet enabled framework based on Web Services and agents for cooperative manufacturing management is proposed. An integration environment consisting of an agent based scheduling system, a Web based remote monitoring and control system, and corresponding services is designed and developed for the management, monitoring and control of the shop floor. Implementation details of the shop floor management environment are presented and some future work is prospected.
An MHC class I immune evasion gene of Marek׳s disease virus.

Marek’s Disease Virus (MDV) is a widespread α-herpesvirus of chickens that causes T cell tumors. Acute, but not latent, MDV infection has previously been shown to lead to downregulation of cell-surface MHC class I (Virology 282:198–205 (2001)), but the gene(s) involved have not been identified. Here we demonstrate that an MDV gene, MDV012, is capable of reducing surface expression of MHC class I on chicken cells. Co-expression of an MHC class I-binding peptide targeted to the endoplasmic reticulum (bypassing the requirement for the TAP peptide transporter) partially rescued MHC class I expression in the presence of MDV012, suggesting that MDV012 is a TAP-blocking MHC class I immune evasion protein. This is the first unique non-mammalian MHC class I immune evasion gene identified, and suggests that α-herpesviruses have conserved this function for at least 100 million years.
Environment analysis via ΔCFA

We describe a new program-analysis framework, based on CPS and procedure-string abstractions, that can handle critical analyses which the k-CFA framework cannot. We present the main theorems concerning correctness, show an application analysis, and describe a running implementation.
Inflammatory pain alters blood-brain barrier permeability and tight junctional protein expression

Effects of inflammatory pain states on functional and molecular properties of the rat blood-brain barrier (BBB) were investigated. Inflammation was produced by subcutaneous injection of formalin, λ-carrageenan, or complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) into the right hind paw. In situ perfusion and Western blot analyses were performed to assess BBB integrity after inflammatory insult. In situ brain perfusion determined that peripheral inflammation significantly increased the uptake of sucrose into the cerebral hemispheres. Capillary depletion and cerebral blood flow analyses indicated the perturbations were due to increased paracellular permeability rather than vascular volume changes. Western blot analyses showed altered tight junctional protein expression during peripheral inflammation. Occludin significantly decreased in the λ-carrageenan- and CFA-treated groups. Zonula occluden-1 expression was significantly increased in all pain models. Claudin-1 protein expression was present at the BBB and remained uncha...
Technology, remote sensing and policy makers

The ability to rapidly collect detailed information about the natural environment and human activity from overhead has already had an enormous impact. Scientists, policy makers, the media and individuals are daily users of remotely sensed data. For the most part, remote sensing capabilities have been provided, the data distributed and its quality verified by government entities fostering 'top-down' use in shaping public policy. Remote sensing technology is now becoming inexpensive and easily available. As a result, a larger proportion of remote sensing data will become commercially available. The public, non-governmental organizations and private entities will have access to similar views breaking the monopoly of government and government-sponsored entities in policy use. This paper will explore two areas: the evolution toward 'bottom-up' policy decisions, and the impact of commercial competition with government providers of information upon environmental policy.
Exploiting a Rare Shift in Communication Flows to Document News Media Persuasion: The 1997 United Kingdom General Election

Using panel data and matching techniques, we exploit a rare change in communication flows - the endorsement switch to the Labour Party by several prominent British newspapers before the 1997 United Kingdom general election - to study the persuasive power of the news media. These unusual events provide an opportunity to test for news media persuasion while avoiding methodological pitfalls that have plagued previous studies. By comparing readers of newspapers that switched endorsements to similar individuals who did not read these newspapers, we estimate that these papers persuaded a considerable share of their readers to vote for Labour. Depending on the statistical approach, the point estimates vary from about 10 percent to as high as 25 percent of readers. These findings provide rare, compelling evidence that the news media exert a powerful influence on mass political behavior.
Purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction of a disulfide cross-linked complex between bovine poly(A) polymerase and a chemically modified 15-mer oligo(A) RNA.

Poly(A) polymerase (PAP) synthesizes the polyadenine tail at the 3′-end of messenger RNA. A disulfide cross-linking strategy was implemented to obtain a complex between bovine PAP (bPAP) and a 15-mer oligo(A). All seven endogenous cysteines were mutated to eliminate nonspecific cross-linked complexes. A cysteine residue was introduced at several different positions and A152C was found to achieve maximum specific cross-linking efficiency. The resulting bPAP construct was active and, when mixed with a chemically modified RNA, yielded crystals of a bPAP–RNA complex. The crystals, which belonged to space group P2 and harbored two protein–RNA complexes per asymmetric unit, diffracted X-rays to 2.25 A resolution.
Small time approximations of Green's functions for one-dimensional heat conduction problems with convective boundaries

Small time approximations are obtained for Green's functions in one-dimensional heat conduction problems with convective boundaries. The method of images similar to those for cases with Dirichlet or Neumann boundaries is used. Multiple reflections in this method generate infinite series representations for the Green's functions whose general terms involve convolution integrals with integrable singularities. We truncate the series after single and double reflections (n = 1, 2) and transform the convolution integrals to known closed-form expressions. Numerical results are presented for n = 1, 2 and compared with exact results obtained using the classical separation of variables. It is seen that results with n = 1, 2 provide accurate approximations for dimensionless time α t / L2 up to 0.3 and complementary to those obtained by separation of variables.
Spatial awareness: Comparing judgment-based and subjective measures

Spatial awareness is important in domains where safety hinges on human operators keeping track of the relative locations of objects in their environments. While a variety of subjective and judgment-based measures have been used to evaluate spatial awareness, none have probed all three of its levels: 1) identification of environmental objects, 2) their current locations relative to the operator, and 3) their relative positions over time. This work compares new judgment based measures of spatial awareness that probe all three levels of spatial awareness to conventional subjective measures. In the evaluation of 14 configurations of Synthetic Vision Systems head down displays (7 terrain textures and 2 Fields of View (FOVs)), 18 pilots made 4 types of judgments (relative angle, distance, height, and a beam time) regarding the location of terrain points displayed in 112 5-second, non-interactive simulations. They also provided subjective awareness and SA-SWORD measures. ANOVA analyses revealed that comparable results were found between display configurations that produced the minimum error in judgments and those that received the highest subjective ratings. However, none of the subjective measures were correlated with judgment error. Thus, given that the judgment based measures were explicitly designed to measure all three levels of spatial awareness, the subjective measures may not be measuring spatial awareness.
LifeBoat: An Autonomic Backup and Restore Solution

We present an innovative backup and restore solution, called LifeBoat, for Windows machines. Our solution provides for local and remote backups and "bare metal" restores. Classic backup systems do a file system backup and require the machine to be installed before the system can be restored or they do a block for block backup of the system image which allows for a "bare metal" restore, but makes it hard to access individual files in the backup. Our solution does a file system backup while still allowing the system to be completely restored onto a new hard drive.Windows presents some particularly difficult problems during both backup and restore. We describe the information we store during backup to enable the "bare metal" restore. We also describe some of the problems we ran into and how we overcame them. Not only do we provide a way to restore a machine, but we also describe the rescue environment which allows machine diagnostics and recovery of files that were not backed up. This paper presents an autonomic workgroup backup solution called LifeBoat that increases the "Built-In Value" of the PC without adding hardware, administrative cost, or complexity. LifeBoat applies autonomic principles to the age old problem of data backup and recovery.