cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Colloidal Changes during Rubber Vulcanization

Abstract RUBBER is colloidal in nature and colloidal phenomena should be expected to play a part in the decrease of plasticity which is recognized as vulcanization. The elasticity of vulcanized and unvulcanized rubber is substantially the same (23), and it is probable that elasticity is a function of the molecule while plasticity is a function of the state of aggregation. Many authors have suggested that either disaggregation or depolymerization is one step in vulcanization (1, 8, 15, 16, 19). Other authors believe that aggregation or polymerization is a factor (2, 4, 6, 9, 10, 13, 14, 18, 19, 21, 22). In many cases it is probable that the term “polymerization” or “depolymerization” is used loosely and is not intended to involve a change in unsaturation. Ostromislensky (12), Stevens (17), and Twiss (20) have suggested that vulcanized rubber contains the reaction product of rubber and sulfur dispersed through the rubber as fine particles or threads. Feuchter (5) suggests a similar although somewhat more co...
Solidarity, Media, and the Limits of Postcapitalist Theory:

This essay critically examines the postcapitalist characteristics of civil sphere theory (CST) and their implications for locating media in large-scale processes of social change. Providing a case ...
Scott, Baillie, and the Bewitching of Social Relations

In this essay, I examine Joanna Baillie’s Witchcraft as a sequel to Walter Scott’s The Bride of Lammermoor. Situating the works in the context of Poor Law reform in Scotland and England, I argue that Baillie’s play and Scott’s novel both criticize social relations bewitched by selfish and greedy attitudes and that both call for renewed charity. Scott, however, is equally critical of elite and non‐elite characters who fail to constitute a mutually supportive community in idealized traditional ways; Baillie offers a more sympathetic portrayal of the plight of the poor, making their resentment of elite privilege more pitiable than menacing. The differences in their representations of the poor, I conclude, reflect Scott’s relatively greater fear of social unrest and Baillie’s relatively greater fear of oppression.
Changes in circulating somatomedin-C levels in bromocriptine-treated acromegaly.

SUMMARY To determine whether the improvement in clinical status of patients with active acromegaly correlates with a reduction of circulating somatomedin-C, serum immunoreactive somatomedin-C was measured in twenty-seven patients before and during bromocriptine therapy. The patients were assessed using a clinical and metabolic score which included both subjective criteria of improved sweating and facial features, and objective criteria of a reduction in ring circumference and the area under the glucose tolerance curve. Using this, together with the change in GH levels before and during bromocriptine therapy, the patients could be divided into three groups. In one group, there was no clinical improvement, a less than 30% decline in somatomedin-C, and in four of six patients no significant decline in GH. In both the other groups there was clinical improvement and a greater than 30% decrease in somatomedin-C. In one of these two groups, however GH did not decline, while in the other it was reduced significantly. The results suggest that during bromocriptine treatment of acromegaly, serum somatomedin-C concentrations correlate better with clinical status than does serum GH. Since some patients have no significant fall in GH but show both clinical improvement and a reduction in somatomedin-C, it seems likely that in some patients bromocriptine may improve acromegaly by a mechanism other than a simple decrease in total immunoreactive GH secretion.
Comparison of CT and MRI in the evaluation of therapeutic response in thoracic Hodgkin disease

Current imaging modalities are accurate in establishing the diagnosis and extent of thoracic Hodgkin disease. After treatment, however, it is extremely difficult to differentiate potential residual active neoplastic disease from scar tissue, or identify early recurrence. We evaluated the contribution of MRI in the assessment of the response to treatment of thoracic Hodgkin disease in the assumption that scar formation would be characterized by low signal intensity in all pulse sequences, whereas active tumor should maintain a degree of high signal intensity on T2-weighted images. In 47 occasions (23 patients) both CT and MRI were able to identify correctly active disease, but had low specificity in confirming remission because of residual tissues masses. High signal intensity on T2-weighted MR images often persisted despite remission, probably because of edema, necrosis, granulation or other factors. MRI was somewhat more specific than CT and may be quite valuable to confirm remission in patients with residual masses that no longer appear hyperintense on T2 after treatment.
Design of microstrip-based surface coils for low-field small-bore MR applications

Microstrip transmission line concept, which has been used to construct microwave integrated circuits or high frequency (≥300 MHz) antennas, is introduced to surface receive coils for use in a small volume coil at 1T and the feasibility of the microstrip-based coils is investigated. Both single-turn and two-turn microstrip receive coils are fabricated. The size of the square shaped coil loop is 2.5 × 2.5 cm2. A lengthening inductor (toroid) is used to replace a long coaxial cable (=217 cm) needed for low-field small-bore MR applications. The lengthening inductor, matching, and tuning capacitors are located outside the magnet. One pulse and a gradient reversed form of FISP sequences are used to acquire NMR signals and MR images of gel phantoms, respectively. MR images acquired by the two-turn coil have higher SNR and more uniform signal intensity than those obtained by the single-turn coil and the volume coil. A novel, easy, and efficient method to design small microstrip-based RF surface receive coils is developed and tested for low-field small-bore MR applications. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Concepts Magn Reson Part B (Magn Reson Engineering) 41B: 111–119, 2012
Human anti-HIV-1 tat sFv intrabodies for gene therapy of advanced HIV-1-infection and AIDS.

Abstract The early successes of highly active anti-retroviral therapies (HAART) for the treatment of HIV-1-infection and AIDS have raised the question as to whether there is a legitimate role for gene therapy in the treatment of this chronic infectious disease. However, in many patients the profound suppression of viral replication is short lived, particularly if patients have been treated with sequential monotherapies in the past, have been infected with a highly drug resistant isolate of HIV-1, or have temporarily discontinued therapy as a “holiday” or because of drug intolerance. In addition, life-long adherence to maintenance HAART will probably be required even in responding patients with undetectable viremia because of the reservoirs of latently infected cells that can persist for years. Gene therapy through the introduction of anti-retroviral “resistance” genes into CD4 + T cells is one approach that could give long term protection to these HIV-1 susceptible cells in vivo. We have explored this approach by developing intrabodies to the critical HIV-1 transactivator protein, Tat that is absolutely required for HIV-1 replication. This provocative treatment approach, that will be tested in a clinical gene therapy trial, sets the groundwork for determining if anti-Tat intrabody gene therapy together with HAART can provide a treatment strategy for the immune reconstitution of HIV-1-infected patients with advanced disease.
Hydrolysis of tabtoxins by plant and bacterial enzymes

Tabtoxins, dipeptides that induce chlorosis in plants, are produced by several closely related phytopathogenicPseudomonas spp. Culture filtrates from these bacteria and extracts prepared from leaves of their hosts contain multiple enzymes that hydrolyze the peptide bond of the toxins.
Independent de novo 22q11.2 deletions in first cousins with DiGeorge/velocardiofacial syndrome.

Deletions of chromosome 22q11.2 are found in the vast majority of patients with DiGeorge/velocardiofacial syndrome (DGS/VCFS). This most frequent microdeletion syndrome is estimated to occur in 1 in 4,000 live births. The majority of deletions are de novo, with 10% or less inherited from an affected parent. Here, we report two separate families with recurrence of a 22q11.2 deletion in first cousins. In each family, unaffected siblings (brother and sister) had an affected child. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) studies of the parents of each affected child were normal and hence, relatives were not considered at an increased risk for recurrence in another pregnancy. We used highly polymorphic microsatellite repeat markers from within 22q11.2 to determine the parental origin of each cousin’s deletion and to assess whether parental germline mosaicism for the 22q11.2 deletion might be a factor in these cases. This analysis confirmed that in each case, the deletion occurred on a chromosome 22 derived from unrelated parents, consistent with independent de novo deletion events. Thus, we concluded that germline mosaicism as the underlying mechanism for affected cousins in these families was unlikely. Our findings underscore the high frequency with which the 22q11.2 deletion occurs in the general population and demonstrate the important role that PCR-based parental origin determination can have in recurrence risk counselling. Furthermore, relatives of affected individuals may benefit from genetic counselling and consider prenatal testing for the 22q11.2 deletion in future pregnancies, despite a low recurrence risk.
Temporal Binding Affinity of Immunotargeted Nanoparticles for Potential Point of Care Diagnostic Applications

We demonstrate the potential of using nanoparticles for point of care cancer diagnostic imaging applications by achieving optical contrast between normal and cancerous epithelial cells at minimal incubation times through optimization of nanoshell-cell conjugations.
Effects of prolonged space flight on human skeletal muscle enzyme and substrate profiles

Our primary goal was to determine the effects of 6-mo flight on the International Space Station (ISS) on selected anaerobic and aerobic enzymes, and the content of glycogen and lipids in slow and f...
Inwardly rectifying potassium channels in lens epithelium are from the IRK1 (Kir 2.1) family.

Abstract Lens epithelial cells from many species contain inwardly rectifying K + channels. The channels are highly selective for K + over Na + . They have a conductance of 27–30 pS in symmetrical 150 m m K + solutions. The conductance to inwardly flowing current depends on the external [K + ], being 1/2 maximal at about 50 m M and maximal by 110–150 m M. The amino acid sequences from lens epithelium (eight different species) show at least 98% sequence homology to each other and to the potassium channel known as IRK1 (Kir 2.1). Cloned channels from chick, rabbit, and human lens epithelium all make functional channels when their cDNA is transfected into HEK-293 or tsA-201 cells. Human lens inward rectifiers when engineered as fusion proteins with green fluorescent protein (GFP) also make functional channels. In addition, their localization in the membrane and in intracellular organelles can be demonstrated by fluorescence microscopy.
Acorn viability following prescribed fire in upland hardwood forests

Abstract Restoration of structure and function of mixed-oak (Quercus spp.) forests is a focal issue of forest land managers in the eastern United States due to widespread regeneration failure and poor overstory recruitment of oaks, particularly on productive sites. Prescribed fire is increasingly used as a tool in oak ecosystem restoration, with the goal of reducing competition, and creating light and seedbed conditions conducive to germination and growth of oak seedlings. Yet, oak seedling establishment is dependent on the presence of viable acorns, which may be vulnerable to prescribed fire. We assessed the effect of prescribed burning and fire temperature on the viability of white oak and northern red oak acorns placed on the leaf litter surface, in the duff, or in the mineral soil during five winter prescribed burns in southern Appalachian upland hardwood forests. Fire temperatures varied among acorn plots, ranging from
Synthesis of a quantum nanocrystal–gold nanoshell complex for near-infrared generated fluorescence and photothermal decay of luminescence

Multifunction nanoparticle complexes have previously been developed to aid physicians in both diagnosis and treatment of cancerous tissue. Here, we designed a nanoparticle complex structure that consists of a plasmonically active hollow gold nanoshell core surrounded by photoluminescent quantum nanocrystals (QNs) in the form of PbS encapsulated by a silica layer. There are three main design variables including HGN synthesis and optical tuning, formation of the silica layer on the hollow gold nanoshell surface, and fabrication and photoluminescence tuning of PbS quantum nanocrystals. The hollow gold nanoshells were deliberately designed to function in the optical regimes that maximize tissue transmissivity (800 nm) and minimize tissue absorption (1100 nm). Secondly, several chemical ligands were tested such as (3-mercaptopropyl)trimethoxysilane and mercaptoundecanoic acid for controlled growth of the silica layer. Last, PbS QNs were synthesized and optimized with various capping agents, where the nanocrystals excited at the same wavelength were used to activate the photothermal properties of the hollow gold nanoshells. Upon irradiation of the complex with a lower power 800 nm laser, the nanocrystals luminesce at 1100 nm. At ablative temperatures the intrinsic luminescent properties of the QNs are altered and the luminescent output is significantly reduced (>70%). While this paper focuses on synthesis and optimization of the QN–HGN complex, in the future we believe that this novel particle complex design may have the potential to serve as a triple theranostic agent, which will aid satellite tumor localization, photothermal treatment, and ablative confirmation.
Monitoring and processing the acoustic emission signals from the friction-stir-welding process:

AbstractThis paper discusses the detection and analysis of the acoustic emission (AE) signals to investigate the possibility of applying the AE technique for the in-process monitoring of the friction-stir-welding process. Tests are carried out for joining similar and dissimilar metals using a high-speed rotating tool under various rotational speeds and traverse speeds and for different tool penetration depths. The results of fast Fourier transform show that the amplitude of the AE signal in the frequency domain is sensitive to the change in the depth of penetration of the tool. Signals in certain frequency ranges disappear when the tool loses contact with the workpiece during the process. Discrete wavelet transform indicates significant sudden changes in the decomposed signal in the lower frequency ranges (higher levels) when the shoulder makes contact with or detaches itself from the workpieces. By identifying the frequencies during the process and analysing the wavelet decomposed signals in various leve...
Mechanisms of tissue fusion during development

Tissue fusion events during embryonic development are crucial for the correct formation and function of many organs and tissues, including the heart, neural tube, eyes, face and body wall. During tissue fusion, two opposing tissue components approach one another and integrate to form a continuous tissue; disruption of this process leads to a variety of human birth defects. Genetic studies, together with recent advances in the ability to culture developing tissues, have greatly enriched our knowledge of the mechanisms involved in tissue fusion. This review aims to bring together what is currently known about tissue fusion in several developing mammalian organs and highlights some of the questions that remain to be addressed.
Structure and strain measurements on SiC formed by carbon ion implantation

Abstract Thin buried silicon carbide layers have been formed by high-dose carbon ion implantation into silicon and subsequent annealing. The formation of SiC during implantation and the structure of carbide layers after annealing are investigated by X-ray diffraction measurements using a four-circle goniometer. A detailed stress analysis of the epitaxially aligned 3CSiC precipitates formed during implantation is presented. The three-dimensional strain and stress tensors are calculated for different doses. With increasing dose, stress relaxation accompanied by a transition from isotropic to anisotropic strain/stress states is observed. The dose dependence of the peak intensities of 3CSiC present in the as-implanted state is studied. Stress tensors show a further relaxation in the annealed state.
Warming reduces tall fescue abundance but stimulates toxic alkaloid concentrations in transition zone pastures of the U.S.

Tall fescue pastures cover extensive acreage in the eastern half of the United States and contribute to important ecosystem services, including the provisioning of forage for grazing livestock. Yet little is known concerning how these pastures will respond to climate change. Tall fescue’s ability to persist and provide forage under a warmer and wetter environment, as is predicted for much of this region as a result of climate change, will likely depend on a symbiotic relationship the plant can form with the fungal endophyte, Epichloe coenophiala. While this symbiosis can confer environmental stress tolerance to the plant, the endophyte also produces alkaloids toxic to insects (e.g., lolines) and mammals (ergots; which can cause ‘fescue toxicosis’ in grazing animals). The negative animal health and economic consequences of fescue toxicosis make understanding the response of the tall fescue symbiosis to climate change critical for the region. We experimentally increased temperature (+3oC) and growing season precipitation (+30% of the long-term mean) from 2009 – 2013 in a mixed species pasture, that included a tall fescue population that was 40% endophyte-infected. Warming reduced the relative abundance of tall fescue within the plant community, and additional precipitation did not ameliorate this effect. Warming did not alter the incidence of endophyte infection within the tall fescue population; however, warming significantly increased concentrations of ergot alkaloids (by 30-40%) in fall-harvested endophyte-infected individuals. Warming alone did not affect loline alkaloid concentrations, but when combined with additional precipitation, levels increased in fall-harvested material. Although future warming may reduce the dominance of tall fescue in eastern U.S. pastures and have limited effect on the incidence of endophyte infection, persisting endophyte-infected tall fescue will have higher concentrations of toxic alkaloids which may exacerbate fescue toxicosis.
Sigma bond cleavage in coordinated dioxygen: the case of the μ-peroxo complex, [(THF)3Cl2VIII(O22−)VIIICl2(THF)3] and vanadyl formation in solution

Abstract The results of orbital interaction calculations of a comparative nature, using the extended Huckel approach, are presented for several low-valence vanadium complexes with side-on bonded dioxygen; these are believed to be produced upon reaction of low valence vanadium species with molecular oxygen. In the mononuclear complex [Cl 5 V IV (gh 2 -O 2 2− )] 3− and the trans -bent μ-peroxo dinuclear complex, [Cl 5 V III (O 2 2− )V III Cl 5 ] 6− , cleavage of the OO bond is not indicated. However, in the dihapto μ-peroxo dinuclear complexes [Cl 5 V III -(gh 2 -O 2 2− )V III Cl 5 ] 6− and [(H 2 O) 3 Cl 2 V III (η 2 -O 2 2− )V III Cl 2 (H 2 O) 3 ], with the latter being used as an approximation for [(THF) 3 Cl 2 V III (η 2 -O 2 2− )V III Cl 2 (THF) 3 ], effective metal d → ligand σ* backdonation results in OO bond cleavage. The results of the calculations indicate that an intermediate for whihc the last-named complex could serve as a model could possibly be responsible for OO bond cleavage in coordinated dioxygen and subsequent generation of vanadyl species in solution. Potential implications for processes of O 2 -activation and O-atom insertion by transition metal centers are discussed.
Static frame challenge problem : Summary

This paper summarizes five solutions to the static frame validation challenge problem. The main goal is to highlight the different approaches present at each stage of the solution process. These include, among others, the description of the elastic properties of the frame's material and their calibration, the use of the validation and accreditation experiments for eventual model rejection and the final statement on the desired regulatory compliance, together with its reliability depending on the amount of available experimental data. It is shown that different methodologies lead to significantly different results. Finally, the conclusions highlight the main findings.
Chlorido(η5‐cyclopentadienyl)bis(dimethylamido)titanium, [TiCl(η5‐C5H5)(NMe2)2]

The title complex, [Ti(C5H5)(C2H6N)2Cl], exhibits two nearly planar dimethylamide groups oriented approximately perpendicular to each other. The Ti→cyclopentadienyl centroid vector lies nearly in the plane of one of the dimethylamide groups. Long-range contacts between Ti—Cl and cyclopentadienyl H—C groups give rise to geometric ordering in the extended solid.
Estimation of HIV infection and incubation via state space models.

Abstract By using the state space model (Kalman filter model) of the HIV epidemic, in this paper we have developed a general Bayesian procedure to estimate simultaneously the HIV infection distribution, the HIV incubation distribution, the numbers of susceptible people, infective people and AIDS cases. The basic approach is to use the Gibbs sampling method combined with the weighted bootstrap method. We have applied this method to the San Francisco AIDS incidence data from January 1981 to December 1992. The results show clearly that both the probability density function of the HIV infection and the probability density function of the HIV incubation are curves with two peaks. The results of the HIV infection distribution are clearly consistent with the finding by Tan et al. [W.Y. Tan, S.C. Tang, S.R. Lee, Estimation of HIV seroconversion and effects of age in San Francisco homosexual populations, J. Appl. Stat. 25 (1998) 85]. The results of HIV incubation distribution seem to confirm the staged model used by Satten and Longini [G. Satten, I. Longini, Markov chain with measurement error: estimating the `true' course of marker of the progression of human immunodeficiency virus disease, Appl. Stat. 45 (1996) 275].
Contrasting responses to intruders and to involuntary separation by monogamous and polygynous New World monkeys.

Abstract The strength and quality of the relationship between heterosexual pairmates were compared in two species of New World monkeys, the polygynous squirrel monkey (Saimiri) and the monogamous titi monkey (Callicebus). This was accomplished by measuring behavioral and adrenocortical responses to intruders and to involuntary separation from the pairmate. The species diverged sharply in their responses to these conditions. For titi monkeys, the presence of an intruder resulted in a marked increase in behavioral signs of agitation, which were more prominent in the subject of the same sex as the intruder. Most male titi monkeys showed an increase in plasma cortisol in the presence of a male intruder; this pattern was not seen in their response to a female intruder. Female titi monkeys showed no consistent pattern of adrenocortical response to intruders of either sex. For squirrel monkeys, the presence of an intruder resulted in increased frequency of displays in male subjects, but not in female subjects. Both sexes showed a reliable reduction in plasma cortisol, below basal levels, in the presence of a female intruder, whereas no effect on cortisol was produced by a male intruder. Titi monkeys, but not squirrel monkeys, responded to separation with a significant increase in plasma corticol and in behavioral indices of agitation or distress.
Cryogenic preservation of isolated rat Islets of Langerhans: effect of cooling and warming rates.

Isolated rat Islets of Langerhans have been frozen to and stored at −196°. After thawing, these islets were capable of secreting near normal levels of insulin in response to graded glucose challenge. Maximal retention of functional viability as measured by the ability of the islets to secrete insulin in response to a glucose challenge was obtained after freezing islets at a cooling rate of approximately 75° per minute in the presence of 1.0 mol/l dimethyl sulfoxol followed by warming at rates of > 3.5° /minute. The critical freezing parameters include the time and temperature of exposure to dimethyl sulfoxide, the rate of cooling, the temperature of the post-thaw dilution from the freezing medium and the presence of serum in the dilution medium.
On the role of semantics in automated requirements tracing

In this paper, we investigate the potential benefits of utilizing natural language semantics in automated traceability link retrieval. In particular, we evaluate the performance of a wide spectrum of semantically enabled information retrieval methods in capturing and presenting requirements traceability links in software systems. Our objectives are to gain more operational insights into these methods and to provide practical guidelines for the design and development of effective requirements tracing and management tools. To achieve our research objectives, we conduct an experimental analysis using three datasets from various application domains. Results show that considering more semantic relations in traceability link retrieval does not necessarily lead to higher quality results. Instead, a more focused semantic support, that targets specific semantic relations, is expected to have a greater impact on the overall performance of tracing tools. In addition, our analysis shows that explicit semantic methods, that exploit local or domain-specific sources of knowledge, often achieve a more satisfactory performance than latent methods, or methods that derive semantics from external or general-purpose knowledge sources.
Noninvasive assessment of tissue distribution and tumor pharmacokinetics of Pc 181, a silicon phthalocyanine analogue, in mice

Objective: In in vitro photodynamic therapy, the LD50 of Pc 181 has been reported to be 7 to 8 times less than that of silicon phthalocyanine 4 (Pc 4). The Optical Pharmacokinetic System (OPS) can measure photosensitizer concentrations in accessible tissues non-invasively. We used OPS to evaluate the tumor pharmacokinetics of Pc 181 and Pc 4 and the tissue drug distribution in SCID mice bearing either human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 or human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma SCC-15 xenografts. Methods: Following iv administration of 2.5 mg/kg Pc 181 or 2 mg/kg Pc 4 to SCID mice, OPS measurements were taken on tumor and normal tissues between 5 and 4320 min in vivo or in situ. Results: Large variations in tumor Pc 181 concentrations were observed among mice. In MDA-MB-231 tumors, the Pc 181 concentration peaked at 240 min, and was retained in the tumor. Tumor Pc 181 concentrations were much less than the tumor Pc 4 concentrations at an equimolar dose. Pc 181 concentrations were the highest in liver, followed by spleen, and kidney. In mice bearing SCC-15 xenografts, skin and underlying tissue Pc 181 concentrations were higher than tumor concentrations at all time points examined. Conclusions: This first Pc 181 pharmacokinetics study described a tissue Pc 181 distribution similar to that of Pc 4. However, tumor Pc 181 concentrations were lower than those of Pc 4 at equimolar doses.
The Discriminative Stimulus Properties of EGb 761, an Extract of Ginkgo biloba

Stimulus control was established in a group of nine rats using a dose of EGb 761 of 10 mg/kg, administered i.p., 15 min before training. A two-lever operant task using a fixed-ratio 10 schedule of sweetened milk reinforcement was used. Based upon a criterion for the presence of stimulus control of five consecutive sessions during which 83% or more of all responses were on the appropriate lever, a mean of 24 sessions was required to reach criterion performance. Subsequently, it was observed that EGb 761-induced stimulus control is significantly antagonized by the selective 5-HT1A antagonist WAY-100635, but is unaffected by the 5-HT2 antagonist pirenperone. Furthermore, EGb 761 generalized to the selective 5-HT1A agonist, 8-hydroxy-dipropylaminotetralin [8-OH-DPAT], and this generalization was blocked by WAY-100635. The present results indicate that EGb 761 is able to induce stimulus control when administered via the intraperitoneal route, and that its stimulus effects are mediated in part by activity at the 5-HT1A receptor.
Algorithm for TOA-based indoor geolocation

A new indoor geolocation algorithm based on time-of-arrival (TOA) range measurements in a wireless network is presented. The algorithm, referred to as closest neighbour with TOA grid (CN-TOAG), is described and its performance compared with traditional least-squares (LS) methods.
An investigation into the practice of cranial deformation among the Pre‐Columbian peoples of northern Chile

An investigation was carried out into the practice of artificial cranial deformation (ACD) among the Pre-Columbian inhabitants of northern Chile. Four hundred and fifteen skulls, representing a period of 7000 years, were examined of which 88.9 per cent were deformed. The practice was carried out equally between men and women. The techniques used in head deforming varied over time among the different cultural groups that inhabited the region. By analysis of the methods used in ACD, it can be demonstrated that head deforming may yield information significant to the study of the political and cultural changes that occurred throughout the prehistory of the region. As a form of stylistic behaviour, which may be viewed as a strategy of information exchange, ACD was found to be a significant cultural artifact that may serve to mark territory or social boundaries, reaffirm ethnicity, and maintain and strengthen exchange networks. Certain pathological consequences were found to be the result of ACD, including an increase in the prevalence of wormian bones, occipital bone necrosis, and an abnormal closing pattern of the cranial sutures. No evidence was found that ACD is associated with a deviated nasal septum or osteomas of the external auditory canal.
HU-211, a Novel Noncompetitive N-Methyl-d-Aspartate Antagonist, Improves Neurological Deficit and Reduces Infarct Volume After Reversible Focal Cerebral Ischemia in the Rat

Background and Purpose HU-211 is a nonpsychotropic cannabinoid analogue that has been shown to act as a functional N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor blocker. We investigated the neuroprotective efficacy of HU-211 in a model of reversible middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) in rats. Methods Male Wistar rats were anesthetized with halothane and subjected to 90 minutes of temporary MCAo by retrograde insertion of an intraluminal nylon suture, coated with poly-l-lysine, through the external carotid artery into the internal carotid artery and MCA. The drug (HU-211 in cosolvent, 4 mg/kg IV) or vehicle was administered in a blinded fashion 70 minutes after onset of MCAo. Behavioral tests were evaluated during occlusion (60 minutes) and for a 3-day period after MCAo. Three days after MCAo, brains were perfusion-fixed, and infarct volumes were determined. Results HU-211 significantly improved the neurological score compared with vehicle during the 3 days after MCAo. Treatment with HU-211 also significantly reduced...
Rapid flip-flop in polyunsaturated (docosahexaenoate) phospholipid membranes

Abstract The transbilayer movement (flip-flop) of 7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl phosphatidylethanolamine (NBD-PE) in phosphatidylcholine (PC) membranes containing various acyl chains was measured by dithionite quenching of NBD fluorescence. Of specific interest was docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), the longest and most unsaturated acyl chain commonly found in membranes. This molecule represents the extreme example of a family of important fatty acids known as omega-3s and has been clearly demonstrated to alter membrane structure and function. One important property that has yet to be reported is the effect of DHA on membrane phospholipid flip-flop. This study demonstrates that as the number of double bonds in the fatty acyl chains comprising the membrane increases, so does the rate of flip-flop of the NBD-PE probe. The increase is particularly marked in the presence of DHA. Half-lives t1/2 of 0.29 and 0.086 h describe the process in 1-stearoyl-2-docosahexaenoylphosphatidylcholine and 1,2-didocosahexaenoylphosphatidylcholine, respectively, whereas in 1-stearoyl-2-oleoylphosphatidylcholine t 1/2 =11.5 h . Enhanced permeability to dithionite with increasing unsaturation was also indicated by our results. We conclude that PC membranes containing DHA support faster flip-flop and permeability rates than those measured for other less-unsaturated PCs.
Ion Channel Selectivity Using an Electric Stew

Having the crystal structure of its pore solved, the K+ channel has been the target of most recent efforts to understand how ion channels decide which ions to pass. Nevertheless, the Ca2+ channel is essential for a complete picture of selectivity because, at first glance, its job and its mechanism appear so different from those of K+ channels. K+ channels choose a larger ion over a smaller (K+ over Na+) and do so with a pore structure that appears constrained from shrinking to fit Na+ (Doyle et al., 1998).
Long-Term Behaviors of Oxide Layer in Liquid Lead–Bismuth Eutectic (LBE), Part II: Model Applications

This article is Part II of the systematic study on the long-term behaviors of the protective oxide layer in liquid lead–bismuth eutectic (LBE) systems. The model developed in Part I is applied to analyze the kinetics of the growth of the oxide layer formed on cladding materials (HT-9 and T-91 steel) of an LBE-cooled small modular reactor. It is found that the outer magnetite layer of initially formed duplex-layer oxide structure on cladding steels can be completely removed in a long-term operation through chemical reaction with the liquid metal and mass transfer by the liquid metal flow, which causes the inner compact spinel layer to contact with LBE directly. The present calculations indicate that the corrosion rate of the steels considered is reduced by approximately three orders of magnitude after the magnetite layer is removed. Increasing the velocity of the LBE flow can reduce the time needed for removal of the magnetite layer, which benefits the steel corrosion resistance for a long-term operation. The oxide layer properties and growth kinetics are also analyzed. The operation ranges of the flow velocity and the oxygen concentration are developed based on the modeling results, which indicates both T-91 and HT-9 have appropriate corrosion resistance and can be applied as cladding materials for a 10-year operation if the oxygen concentration is well controlled.
Increased risk of graft loss from hepatic artery thrombosis after liver transplantation with older donors

Hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) is the most common vascular complication after liver transplantation; it has been reported to occur in 2% to 5% of liver transplant recipients. Most reports of HAT in the literature describe single-center series with small numbers of patients and lack the power to definitively identify nontechnical risk factors. We used the United Network for Organ Sharing database of adult deceased donor liver transplants from 1987 to 2006 to identify 1246 patients with graft loss from HAT. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed to identify donor and graft risk factors for HAT-induced graft loss. Although most donor predictors of HAT-induced graft loss were surrogates for vessel size, donor age > 50 years was also a significant predictor of graft loss from HAT (relative risk = 1.45, P 50 years, such that a 61% increased risk of HAT-related graft loss (relative risk = 1.61, P 70 years. A separate analysis of risk factors for early HAT graft loss ( 90 days) found that older donor age was associated with increased late HAT graft loss. These findings are of interest in an era of ongoing organ shortages requiring maximum utilization of potential allografts and increasing allocation of older allografts.
Infrared relfectance spectroscopy of very thin films of a-SiH

Abstract We demonstrate the ability of infrared reflectance spectroscopy to monitor the nature of SiH bonding in a-SiH films only ∼10A thick. Measurements on reactive dc magnetron sputtered samples clearly show a SiH stretching mode at 2100cm −1 in the thinnest films. The results also show systematic variations with film thickness and the hydrogen partial pressure during deposition. A simple model is presented to explain the observed results.
Analgesic efficacy of rectal versus oral acetaminophen in children after major craniofacial surgery

Background Analgesic acetaminophen (INN, paracetamol) plasma concentrations after major surgery in neonates and infants have not yet been established in the literature. We therefore conducted a study in our intensive care unit. Methods Forty children, mean (standard deviation) age, 10.3 (2.3) months, received 20 mg/kg acetaminophen either orally (n = 20) or rectally (n = 20) every 6 hours after a rectal loading dose (40 mg/kg) during elective craniofacial correction. Blood samples were taken 1 hour before and 2 hours after administration of acetaminophen maintenance doses; pain scores were obtained every 3 hours. Results Acetaminophen plasma concentrations were higher in patients receiving rectal acetaminophen (mean area under the concentration-time curve [AUC], 171.2 mg · h/L) than in patients receiving oral acetaminophen (mean AUC, 111.9 mg · h/L). Pain scores were higher in patients receiving oral acetaminophen. However, after exclusion of the patients who vomited from the group receiving oral acetaminophen, acetaminophen plasma concentrations and pain scores did not differ between the groups. There was no relation between acetaminophen plasma concentrations and pain scores. Although 9 of all 40 patients (22.5%) did not reach the expected analgesic acetaminophen plasma concentrations of 10- to 20 mg/L, <7.5% of the visual analog scale pain scores exceeded 4 cm, which was considered as a cutoff point. Conclusion These are the first data showing that the analgesic acetaminophen plasma concentration after major surgery in this age group does not always reach the 10 to 20 mg/L level. These data also show that, after a rectal loading dose of 40 mg/kg has been given during surgery, the best way of administering acetaminophen after craniofacial surgery is the rectal route. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2001) 70, 82–90; doi: 10.1067/mcp.2001.116794
On the use of convergent-beam electron diffraction for identification of antiphase boundaries in GaAs grown on Si

Abstract Dynamical coupling effects between the (200) reflection and weak odd-index reflections in the Bragg position in convergent-beam diffraction patterns has been used to detect antiphase boundaries (APBs) in GaAs grown on (001) Si. It was shown that APBs lie in most cases on energetically favorable {110} planes and effectively stop the propagation of dislocations, twins and stacking faults. The formation of APBs is promoted by Si surface contamination and irregularities.
Apprehension, self‐perceived competency, and teacher immediacy in the laboratory‐supported public speaking course: Trends and relationships

This study examines trends and relationships among public speaking anxiety, self‐perceived public speaking competency, and teacher immediacy for students with high, moderate, and low communication apprehension in the laboratory‐supported public speaking course. Public speaking anxiety and self‐perceived competency were measured at three points during the semester. Trends of anxiety and self‐perceived competency for high, moderate, and low apprehensives were examined using two 3 × 3 mixed‐model factorial ANOVAs (one‐between and one‐within factors). All three apprehension groups perceived significant gains in competency and significant decreases in anxiety. Analyses failed to find differences among high, moderate, and low apprehensives in the amount of perceived improvement and anxiety decrease. Correlations revealed a significant negative relationship between anxiety and self‐perceived competency at each of the three test times. Correlations also revealed that there is a significant positive relationship b...
Dust divertor for a tokamak fusion reactor

Micron-size tungsten particulates find their equilibrium position in the magnetized plasma sheath in the normal direction of the divertor surface, but are convected poloidally and toroidally by the sonic ion flow drag parallel to the divertor surface. The natural circulation of the dust particles in the magnetized plasma sheath can be used to set up a flowing dust shield that absorbs and exhausts most of the tokamak heat flux to the divertor. The size of the particulates and the choice of materials offer substantial room for optimization.
Suppression of premixed flames with inert particles

Abstract Dispersal of inert particles on a flame front is one of the techniques employed to suppress explosions. The current study investigates the influence of micron-sized (75–90 μm) inert (sand) particles on the laminar burning velocity of methane-air premixtures of different equivalence ratios (0.9–1.2) and reactant temperatures (297, 350, 400 K) using a Bunsen-burner type experimental apparatus. When an inert particle interacts with the flame zone, it extracts energy from the flame, thereby acting like a heat sink and hence reducing the flame temperature. Results show that for sand particle size in the range of 75–90 μm, a concentration of 380–520 g/m 3 is necessary for extinction of a methane-air flame at ambient temperature. An increase in reactant temperature reduces the heat-sink effect necessitating a higher concentration of sand to extinguish the flame. A mathematical model is developed to generalize the results and make them applicable to a wide range of parameters.
Is navigation in virtual reality with fmri really navigation

Identifying the neural mechanisms underlying spatial orientation and navigation has long posed a challenge for researchers. Multiple approaches incorporating a variety of techniques and animal models have been used to address this issue. More recently, virtual navigation has become a popular tool for understanding navigational processes. Although combining this technique with functional imaging can provide important information on many aspects of spatial navigation, it is important to recognize some of the limitations these techniques have for gaining a complete understanding of the neural mechanisms of navigation. Foremost among these is that, when participants perform a virtual navigation task in a scanner, they are lying motionless in a supine position while viewing a video monitor. Here, we provide evidence that spatial orientation and navigation rely to a large extent on locomotion and its accompanying activation of motor, vestibular, and proprioceptive systems. Researchers should therefore consider the impact on the absence of these motion-based systems when interpreting virtual navigation/functional imaging experiments to achieve a more accurate understanding of the mechanisms underlying navigation.
Numerical simulation of turbulent drag reduction using rigid fibres

We present a study of the drag reduction induced by rigid fibres in a turbulent channel flow using direct numerical simulation. The extra stresses due to the fibres are calculated with the well-known constitutive equation involving the moments of the orientation vector. Drag reductions of up to 26% are calculated, with the largest drag reductions observed using non-Brownian fibres and semi-dilute concentrations. These findings suggest that elasticity is not necessary to achieve turbulent drag reduction. Flow statistics show trends similar to those observed in simulation of polymeric drag reduction: Reynolds stresses are reduced, velocity fluctuations in the wall-normal and spanwise directions are reduced while streamwise fluctuations are increased, and streamwise vorticity is reduced. We observe strong correlations between the fibre stresses and inter-vortex extensional flow regions. Based on these correlations and instantaneous visualizations of the flow field, we propose a mechanism for turbulent drag reduction by rigid fibre additives.
Mixed gas separation technology using inorganic membranes

Abstract This article highlights the design and development of inorganic membranes for separating gas pairs, such as helium and carbon dioxide. It focuses mainly on work that is being carried out at the Inorganic Membrane Technology Laboratory, which will lead to these membranes being commercially applied to hydrogen and hydrocarbons.
Optimal policies for income redistribution

The past year or two has seen a resurgence in the economist’s interest in the problem of income distribution. On the public economics front, this has resulted in a series of articles on the problem of income redistribution. The most general treatment is by Diamond and Mirrlees (1971) who discuss the optimal public output and taxation policies which will maximize a Bergsonian Social Welfare Function.’ Prior to this burst of activity, literature on redistribution is scarce. One definite tradition does however exist. This is perhaps best represented by Friedman’s Capitalism andfreedom (1961), where it is held that the efficient’ strategy for redistributing income would consist of a Negative Income Tax (NIT) only. All other decisions should be made on pure Paretian grounds. Although this view has a powerful hold on applied economics,3 it is not sustained by the recent literature. In fact it should be held suspect because it relies on partial, not general equilibrium, reasoning.
Autoradiographic analyses of the effects of estradiol benzoate on [3H]paroxetine binding in the cerebral cortex and dorsal hippocampus of gonadectomized male and female rats

Effects of estradiol benzoate (EB) on [3H]paroxetine binding in dorsal hippocampus and cerebral cortex of gonadectomized male and female rats were evaluated by quantitative autoradiography. EB significantly decreased [3H]paroxetine binding in male and female rats in the oriens layers of CA1-CA4, and in the radiata/lacunosum moleculare layers of CA2 and CA3. Sex differences were also noted, with binding of [3H]paroxetine being significantly lower in female rats in the radiata/lacunosum moleculare layers of CA2 and CA4, and in the suprapyramidal dentate. No significant effects of either EB or sex were noted in the cortex.