cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Complementary, Holistic, and Integrative Medicine: St. John’s Wort

1. Theresa L. Charrois, BScPharm, MSc* 2. Candace Sadler* 3. Sunita Vohra, MD, MSc* 1. *Complementary and Alternative Research and Education (CARE) Program, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Canada, on behalf of the American Academy of Pediatrics Provisional Section on Complementary, Holistic, and Integrative Medicine St. John’s wort, derived from the Hypericaceae family, has played a medicinal role for thousands of years. (1) Although it has been used empirically for a wide range of ailments in the past, including skin conditions, nerve problems, and muscle pain, the primary uses currently are for depression and nervous conditions, (2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7) due to its ability to inhibit the reuptake of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine within the brain. (2) Although promising evidence is emerging for the clinical use of St. John’s wort, data specific to pediatrics are still limited, warranting additional research. Surveys in the United States and Britain of herbal use for the treatment of pediatric depression (8)(9) demonstrate that St. John’s wort is used commonly by children (22% and 9% in the two surveys, respectively). Formal evaluation of efficacy in pediatric populations is preliminary but shows some promise. Presently, no systematic reviews or randomized, controlled trials have been published regarding the use of St. John’s wort in children. An open-label pilot study conducted by Findling and associates (10) analyzed the use of St. John’s wort in children between the ages of 6 and 16 years for treatment of major depressive disorder. The starting dose was 150 mg 3 times daily for 4 weeks. Exclusion criteria included failure to respond to 4 weeks of antidepressant therapy. Patients considered clinically nonresponsive to St. John’s wort (as per a priori criteria) after 4 weeks had their dosage increased to 300 mg 3 times daily. A total of 33 patients were enrolled in the study, with a mean age of 10.5 years (SD, 2.9 y). At the end of the 8-week trial, 25 patients met the criteria of clinical response (76%). Also, 93% of the study population decided to …
Classical Electromagnetic Deflections and Lag Effects Associated with Quantum Interference Pattern Shifts: Considerations Related to the Aharonov-Bohm Effect

Classical electromagnetic lag effects can give rise to quantum interference pattern shifts such as that observed experimentally in the Aharonov-Bohm effect involving electrons passing a solenoid. This paper presents an extensive comparison between interference pattern shifts based upon classical electromagnetic fields, and based upon classical electromagnetic potentials as suggested by Aharonov and Bohm. Stress is placed upon the difference between two types of interference pattern shifts: those involving deflection of the entire interference pattern and those involving a deflection of only the double-slit pattern while leaving the single-slit envelope undisplaced. The first type of shift is produced by a classical deflecting force. The second type of shift can be produced by classical electromagnetic lag effects, and is also the type of shift associated with the Aharonov-Bohm effect. The two types are confused in the literature. A new experiment is proposed which shows the relationship between a classical lag effect, due to electrostatic fields on electrons passing along different paths, and the associated quantum interference pattern shifts. The experiment is analyzed in detail using the WKB approximation in the Schr\"odinger equation and also semiclassical ideas. The classical limit for the situation illustrates the Bohr correspondence principle, showing the relative lag between the electron wave packets becoming a measurable classical lag with a disappearance of the interference pattern as the lag becomes large compared to the wave-packet dimensions. For small shifts, the phase change predicted for the new experiment is identical with the scalar potential effect proposed by Aharonov and Bohm for a slightly different, time-varying experimental arrangement. The theoretical and experimental differences for large phase shifts are noted. The possibility is raised that a new classical electromagnetic lag effect may occur for electrons passing a small solenoid. Using a particular model for energy conservation, the predicted lag effect can be calculated and is associated with a quantum interference pattern shift of the same magnitude as predicted by Aharonov and Bohm based upon the electromagnetic vector potential. Thus the possibility exists that the experiments of Chambers and of M\"ollenstedt and Bayh may not confirm the ideas of Aharonov and Bohm on the vector potential in quantum theory. Several experiments are suggested which allow confirmation that the Aharonov-Bohm effect indeed involves local effects of the classical electromagnetic potential, rather than local electromagnetic fields leading to a new classical lag effect and hence to the observed quantum interference pattern shift.
A rapidly convergent modified Green' function for Laplace' equation in a rectangular region

A computationally useful expression for the modified Green' function in a rectangular region is derived. This can be used to obtain solutions of Laplace' equation or Poisson' equation for the electrical potential associated with any configuration of current sources that satisfies the condition of charge balance, and represents a generalization of a well–known result due to Newman applicable to an infinite channel. The starting point for the analysis is the very slowly converging Fourier–series expansion of the modified Green' function. This Fourier series can be separated into a Fourier series in one variable that can be summed in closed form, and a double Fourier series that can be partly summed with respect to one index and transformed by application of the Poisson summation formula and integration by residues. The result of applying the Poisson formula can be expressed either as a rapidly converging series of logarithmic functions, or as a rapidly converging Fourier series which can be integrated analytically with respect to the coordinates of the source point. The use of the modified Green' function is demonstrated first by determining potential distributions that arise from specification of uniform current density on two or more of the boundary surfaces. The potential in a cell with two electrodes embedded in opposite sides of the rectangle is then calculated, and circumstances in which this potential approaches the potential in an infinite channel are determined.
Characterization of nonlinear shear properties for composite materials using digital image correlation and finite element analysis

Abstract A method for accurate assessment of nonlinear shear stress–strain relations of composite materials is developed in this work using short-beam shear (SBS) tests. The method is based on a combination of a finite element model (FEM) for stress calculation and a digital image correlation (DIC) technique for full-field measurement of deformation. An inverse problem of generating shear stress–strain curves is solved using an iterative procedure which starts with a beam theory-based closed-form approximation of shear stresses, and updates the stresses through a number of finite element simulations. The method is demonstrated on unidirectional carbon/epoxy SBS specimens. Experimentally-generated strain fields are compared with FEM-computed strain fields to verify accuracy of the developed method. Shear stress–strain data are compared with V-notched beam test results for further verification.
Evidence for depolarization of the internal membrane system in activation of frog semitendinosus muscle.

Evidence for Depolarization of the Internal Membrane System in Activation of Frog Semitendinosus Muscle
Near optimal boundary control of distributed parameter systems modeled as parabolic pdes by using finite difference neural network approximation

This paper develops a novel neural network (NN) based near optimal boundary control scheme for distributed parameter systems (DPS) governed by semilinear parabolic partial differential equations (PDE) in the presence of control constraints and unknown system dynamics. First, finite difference method (FDM) is utilized to develop a reduced order system which represents the discretized dynamics of PDE system. Subsequently, a near optimal control scheme is proposed for the discretized system by using NN based approximate dynamic programming(ADP). To relax the requirement of system dynamics, a NN identifier is utilized. Moreover, a second NN is proposed to estimate a non-quadratic value function online. Subsequently, by using the identifier and the value function estimator, the optimal control input that inherently falls within actuator limits is obtained. A local uniformly ultimately boundedness(UUB) of the closed-loop system is verified by using standard Lyapunov theory. The performance of the proposed control scheme is successfully verified by simulation on a diffusion reaction process.
The Transformation Period of the Initial Positive Air Ion

Time constant of transformation from initial to final positive ion. Erikson has shown that when first formed in air at atmospheric pressure the positive ion has a mobility of 1.87 cm/sec. per volt/cm, but that it quickly changes over into an ion having a mobility of 1.36. By a method essentially the same as that used by Erikson, a quantitative study was made of the rate of transformation. It was found to be dependent on the humidity of the air. At a relative humidity of 32 percent, the half-value period was found to be 0.0132 sec.; at a relative humidity of 80 percent, it is 0.0354 sec.
Cosmological self-similarity and the principle of scale covariance

The conceptual foundations of the Self-Similar Cosmology and recent successful tests of its scale transformation equations are briefly reviewed. The fact that even physical ‘constants’ must partake in proper scale transformations suggests a particularly simple, though necessarily speculative, rationale for the observed cosmological self-similarity. This explanation involves the introduction of a Strong Principle of Self-Similarity and a Principle of Scale Covariance.
Paramagnetic Resonance of Divalent Holmium in the Cubic Hosts: Ca F 2 , Sr F 2 , Ba F 2 , and Sr Cl 2

The paramagnetic-resonance spectra of the ground state of ${\mathrm{Ho}}^{2+}$ in the four lattices Ca${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$, Sr${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$, Ba${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$, and Sr${\mathrm{Cl}}_{2}$ have been measured at helium temperatures at frequencies of 9 and 27 Gc/sec. The spectrum is isotropic and was fitted to a spin Hamiltonian which was modified to include a pseudonuclear $g$ factor which arises because of matrix elements with the nearest quartet state. The pseudonuclear $g$ factor permitted a determination of the energy separation to the quartet state. The $g$ value identified the ground state as ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{6}$ for the fluorite lattices and ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{7}$ for Sr${\mathrm{Cl}}_{2}$. It was found that the ratio of the crystal-field constants, $\frac{{B}_{4}}{{B}_{6}}$, decreases as the lattice spacing increases, which is contrary to what is expected from the point-charge model. The experimental $g$ values differ from the theoretical values by about 1.5%, and the discrepancy is attributed to orbit-lattice interaction and/or covalency. The magnetic hyperfine constant for the ${\mathrm{Ho}}^{2+}$ ion was found to be reasonably close to that reported for the Ho atom. However, the hyperfine constant for the Sr${\mathrm{Cl}}_{2}$ lattice differs from that in the fluorite lattices by about 1.5% and is not satisfactorily accounted for.
Effect of the tie‐layer thickness on the delamination and tensile properties of polypropylene/tie‐layer/nylon 6 multilayers

This study examined the effect of the tie-layer thickness on the delamination behavior of polypropylene/tie-layer/nylon 6 multilayers. Various maleated polypropylene resins were compared for their effectiveness as tie-layers. Delamination failure occurred cohesively in all the multilayer systems. Two adhesion regimes were defined according to the change in the slope of the linear relationship between the delamination toughness and the tie-layer thickness. The measured delamination toughness of the various tie-layers was quantitatively correlated to the length of the damage zone that formed at the crack tip. In addition, the effect of the tie-layer thickness on the multilayer tensile properties was correlated with the delamination behavior. The fracture strain of the multilayers decreased with decreasing tie-layer thickness. An examination of the prefracture damage mechanism of the stretched multilayers revealed a good correlation with the delamination toughness of the tie-layers. In thick tie-layers (>2 μm), the delamination toughness was great enough to prevent the delamination of the multilayers when they were stretched. In thin tie-layers (<2 μm), the delamination toughness of all the tie-layers was low; consequently, delamination led to premature fracture in the stretched multilayers. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011
CD154 inhibits tumor-induced apoptosis in dendritic cells and tumor growth

+(N418) and CD8 + but not NLDC-145 + cells in CD154-transfected tumors in wild-type mice. This increase was less pronounced in IL-12-deficient mice. In vitro, overexpression of CD154 on tumor cells significantly decreased the level of tumor-induced DC apoptosis. Surprisingly, the CD154-induced protection of DC from tumor-induced apoptosis was IL-12 independent in vitro, suggesting an IL-12-dependent and an IL-12-independent mechanism of CD154induced anti-tumor immunity. Thus, our data suggest a new strategy to improve immunotherapy of cancer by protecting DC from tumor-induced apoptosis.
Comparability of Verbal and Nonverbal Measures of Affective Meaning in Bilinguals' Two Languages

Sun'inary.-The Graphic Differential and Japanese and English versions of the Semantic Differential were administered to 22 Japanese-English bilinguals to assess their comparability. As predicted, the ratings of translation-equivalent concepts were more similar when rated on the Graphic Differential than on Semantic Differential in the two languages. However, the relation of the two scales is approximately the same for the Evaluation factor only. Their comparability varied for Potency and Activity factors between the languages tested. This variability suggests that the meaning of these nonverbal scales is probably not exactly the same across languages.
Micromorphology of FL cells infected with polio and Coxsackie viruses

Abstract The ultrastructural changes in polio and Coxsackie virus-infected FL amnion cells, with specific reference to the membranes and the nucleolus, are described. These changes included an extensive proliferation of the ergastoplasm and numerous accumulations of particles with the formation of regular arrays of virus in the cytoplasm. Ergastoplasm could be oriented parallel to the outer layer of the virus pattern, indicating growth of the virus aggregate by accretion. Smooth membranes and absence of ribonucleoprotein granules were characteristic of the cytoplasmic areas in which the closely packed aggregates occurred. Granular and filamentous nucleolar forms were observed both in the nuclei and in the cytoplasm.
Homocysteine: The New Risk Factor for Cardiovascular Disease in the Elderly

Higher levels of plasma homocysteine are associated with a variety of atherosclerotic conditions that are particularly pertinent to elderly persons. Cross sectional data have suggested that the lower deciles of plasma and dietary folate are highly associated with the presence of carotid stenosis in the elderly. Recent prospective studies have demonstrated strong associations between elevated concentrations of homocysteine and the incidence of cardiovascular mortality, total mortality, and stroke in elderly men and women. The impact of folate fortification on homocysteine levels has been assessed in middle-aged adults, but the clinical impact of fortification or supplementation of the diet with folate on clinical end points of cardiovascular disease is presently unknown, although clinical trials with folate supplementation are underway. (c) 2000 by CVRR, Inc.
Potentiodynamic polarization study of the in vitro corrosion behavior of 3 high-palladium alloys and a gold-palladium alloy in 5 media.

Abstract Statement of Problem. Corrosion of cast alloy restorations may lead to their failure or adversely affect their biocompatibility. Although some documentation of the corrosion behavior of the high-palladium dental alloys exists, questions remain about their corrosion resistance and mechanisms. Purpose. This study compared the in vitro corrosion characteristics of 3 high-palladium alloys and 1 gold-palladium alloy in simulated body fluid and oral environments. Material and Methods. Two Pd-Cu-Ga alloys and 1 Pd-Ga alloy were selected; an Au-Pd alloy served as the control. The corrosion behavior for the as-cast and simulated porcelain-firing (heat-treated) conditions of each alloy (N = 5) was evaluated in 0.9% NaCl, 0.09% NaCl, and Fusayama solutions. Heat-treated specimens of each alloy (N = 5) were also tested in N 2 -deaerated 0.09% NaCl and Fusayama solutions (pH 4). After immersion in the electrolyte for 24 hours, the open-circuit potential (OCP) was measured, and linear polarization was performed from −20 mV to +20 mV (vs. OCP) at a scanning rate of 0.125 mV/s. Cyclic polarization was performed from −300 mV to +1000 mV and back to −300 mV (vs. OCP) at a scanning rate of 1 mV/s. Data were evaluated with analysis of variance and the Ryan-Einot-Gabriel-Welsch multiple-range test (α=.05). Results. The OCP of each alloy varied with the condition (as-cast or heat-treated) and electrolyte used. Corrosion resistance was similar for the 4 alloys tested. For cyclic polarization, all alloys showed active-passive or spontaneous passive behavior in nearly all electrolytes. During some reverse scans, the 3 high-palladium alloys displayed 3 or 5 anodic peaks. No positive hysteresis was observed for any of the alloy/electrolyte combinations evaluated. Conclusion. The corrosion resistances of the 3 high-palladium alloys in simulated body fluid and oral environments were comparable to that of the gold-palladium alloy. The similar corrosion resistance for the 3 high-palladium alloys was attributed to their high noble metal content and theorized stable structure at the submicron level. Selective corrosion of different phases and elements, surface enrichment of palladium, and adsorption of species are possible corrosion mechanisms. The cyclic polarization results suggest that none of the 4 alloys would be prone to pitting or crevice corrosion under in vivo conditions, but crevice conditions should nonetheless be avoided for these alloys in the oral environment. (J Prosthet Dent 2002;87:86-93.)
Calculational procedure for electron-atom scattering at arbitrary energies

The close coupling method for electron-atom scattering is generalized and extended with the aid of the Nesbet variational method to provide a general procedure for the calculation of any transition. These features are introduced: (a) An arbitrary set of basis states for the atom (pseudostates), containing components in the continuum, which becomes complete if extended indefinitely. (b) The pseudo channels introduced in (a) are allowed to be open. (c) The T matrix (rather than the R matrix) is calculated directly.
The current ICE age: biology and evolution of SXT-related integrating conjugative elements.

Abstract SXT is an integrating conjugative element (ICE) that was initially isolated from a 1992 Vibrio cholerae O139 clinical isolate from India. This ∼100-kb ICE encodes resistance to multiple antibiotics. SXT or closely related ICEs are now present in most clinical and some environmental V. cholerae isolates from Asia and Africa. SXT-related ICEs are not limited to V. cholerae . It is now clear that so-called IncJ elements such as R391 are closely related to SXT. More than 25 members of the SXT/R391 family of ICEs have now been identified in environmental and clinical isolates of diverse species of γ-proteobacteria worldwide. In this review, we discuss the diversity, evolution and biology of this family of ICEs.
Adverse Selection and the Financial Accelerator

Many economists believe that credit market distortions create a financial accelerator which destabilizes the economy. This paper shows that when credit market distortions arise from adverse selection they sometimes stabilize the economy rather than destabilize it. The stabilizing forces are closely related to forces that cause overinvestment in static models. When investment projects are equity financed, or when contracts are written optimally, the distortions always stabilize the economy. Thus, stabilizing equilibria are a robust feature of the model. The empirical distinction between accelerator and stabilizer equilibria is subtle. Many empirical tests are unable to distinguish between accelerator and stabilizer equilibria.
Negative Inversion as Nonmovement

. In a substantial body of work, negative inversion (NT) is argued to be movement of a verb toward a negative expression and out of IP/AgrP. NI constructions are claimed to work in parallel with w/h-questions. This paper offers an AgrP-internal account of NI constructions, which is consistent with positing a simpler CP layer. I argue here that there is no attraction of the verb to the negative expression (i.e., no Negative Criterion) and that the apparent inversion is impeded movement where the elements involved (verb and subject) fail to arrive at the normal declarative surface positions. It is demonstrated that such an analysis accounts straightforwardly for a variety of phenomena that require complexity or dual analysis in IP/AgrP-external approaches to NI.
Soluble camptothecin derivatives prepared by click cycloaddition chemistry on functional aliphatic polyesters

Aliphatic polyesters are of interest as biomaterials and drug-delivery vehicles, as their ability to degrade under physiological conditions provides a mechanism for both drug release and clearance of the polymer from the body. Presented here is the synthesis of a polyester-drug graft copolymer conjugate, enabled by click cycloaddition of azide-functionalized camptothecin derivatives with alkyne-functionalized aliphatic polyesters. Further grafting of residual alkyne groups with azide-terminated poly(ethylene oxide) gave a water-soluble polyester-camptothecin conjugate. Control over PEGylation and drug loading, inherent to the graft copolymer design, opens versatile routes to new materials with potential utility in polymer therapeutics.
On equalizing school expenditures

Abstract A conflict between efficiency and equity exists in the provision of public education. We examine this conflict and consider a compromise approach to school finance, “district power equalization” (DPE). DPE has never been implemented in its “pure” form, which would require raising tax prices in wealthy districts as well as lowering them in poorer districts. We present simulations of districts' expenditure per pupil under two DPE plans in three states. We find that a “pure” DPE plan would reduce variance in expenditure among districts and have sometimes dramatic consequences for the rank ordering of districts within a state by expenditure per pupil.
Quantitative proteomics of tomato defense against Pseudomonas syringae infection

Genetic and microarray analyses have provided useful information in the area of plant and pathogen interactions. Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 (Pst) causes bacterial speck disease in tomato. Previous studies have shown that changes in response to pathogen infection at transcript level are variable at different time points. This study provides information not only on proteomic changes between a resistant and a susceptible genotype, but also information on changes between an early and a late time point. Using the iTRAQ quantitative proteomics approach, we have identified 2369 proteins in tomato leaves, and 477 of them were determined to be responsive to Pst inoculation. Unique and differential proteins after each comparison were further analyzed to provide information about protein changes and the potential functions they play in the pathogen response. This information is applicable not only to tomato proteomics, but also adds to the repertoire of proteins now available for crop proteomic analysis and how they change in response to pathogen infection.
Piecewise exponential models to assess the influence of job-specific experience on the hazard of acute injury for hourly factory workers

An inverse relationship between experience and risk of injury has been observed in many occupations. Due to statistical challenges, however, it has been difficult to characterize the role of experience on the hazard of injury. In particular, because the time observed up to injury is equivalent to the amount of experience accumulated, the baseline hazard of injury becomes the main parameter of interest, excluding Cox proportional hazards models as applicable methods for consideration. Using a data set of 81,301 hourly production workers of a global aluminum company at 207 US facilities, we compared competing parametric models for the baseline hazard to assess whether experience affected the hazard of injury at hire and after later job changes. Specific models considered included the exponential, Weibull, and two (a hypothesis-driven and a data-driven) two-piece exponential models to formally test the null hypothesis that experience does not impact the hazard of injury. We highlighted the advantages of our comparative approach and the interpretability of our selected model: a two-piece exponential model that allowed the baseline hazard of injury to change with experience. Our findings suggested a 30% increase in the hazard in the first year after job initiation and/or change. Piecewise exponential models may be particularly useful in modeling risk of injury as a function of experience and have the additional benefit of interpretability over other similarly flexible models.
Preparation, Properties, and Some Applications of Super-Refined Mineral Oils

Super-refined mineral oils are high quality hydrocarbon fluids prepared, in good yield, from the conventional lubricant fractions of petroleum. Processes involved in the preparation of these materials include distillation, solvent extraction, deep dewaxing, exhaustive hydrogenation, and acid extraction. The processing is designed to optimize viscosity-temperature and viscosity-volatility relationships, additive susceptibility, and low temperature fluidity. Resultant hydrocarbon fluids exhibit a liquid range of — 75 F to above 700 F, good thermal stability to 700 F, excellent lubricity properties, and additive response (for foaming, oxidation, corrosion, wear, and lubrication) of the same order of magnitude as the high quality organic esters. The super-refined mineral oils show unusual low, temperature viscosity properties and blending characteristics. Measured — 65 F viscosities are, in some cases, less than half the value predicted from the ASTM viscosity-temperature chart. Blends of these fluids with se...
Protecting clinical data in PACS, teleradiology systems and research environments

As clinical data is more widely stored in electronic patient record management systems and transmitted over the Internet and telephone lines, it becomes more accessible and therefore more useful, but also more vulnerable. Computer systems such as PACS, telemedicine applications, and medical research networks must protect against accidental or deliberate modification, disclosure, and violation of patient confidentiality in order to be viable. Conventional wisdom in the medical field and among lawmakers legislating the use of electronic medical records suggests that, although it may improve access to information, an electronic medical record cannot be as secure as a traditional paper record. This is not the case. Information security is a well-developed field in the computer and communications industry. If medical information systems, such as PACS, telemedicine applications, and research networks, properly apply information security techniques, they can ensure the accuracy and confidentiality of their patient information and even improve the security of their data over a traditional paper record. This paper will elaborate on some of these techniques and discuss how they can be applied to medical information systems. The following systems will be used as examples for the analysis: a research laboratory at Georgetown University Medical Center, the Deployable Radiology system installed to support the US Army's peace- keeping operation in Bosnia, a kidney dialysis telemedicine system in Washington, D.C., and various experiences with implementing and integrating PACS.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Pollen Dispersal and Deposition on the Ice Cap of Volćan Parinacota, Southwestern Bolivia

Abstract Pollen, a regular component of tropical ice cores, has been shown to have great potential as a sensitive paleoenvironmental proxy in ice-core research. However, questions remain as to the modern dispersal and depositional patterns of pollen on high-alpine tropical ice caps. This information is vital to the accurate interpretation of the environmental reconstructions being derived from fossil pollen. In this study, 11 surface snow samples were collected around the caldera rim at the summit of Mt. Parinacota along the Bolivian-Chilean border. Results show that pollen concentration and assemblage are uniform in samples taken from the southwestern quadrant and the entire eastern half of the mountain. However, the pollen signatures are significantly different in the northwestern quadrant, probably due to long-distance transport of xerophytic Compositae shrub pollen from the prevailing winds. The sections of the mountain not directly impacted by the prevailing northwesterlies reflect a more locally inf...
Nerve Agent Destruction by Recyclable Catalytic Magnetic Nanoparticles

Organophosphorus pesticides and warfare agents are not readily hydrolyzed in aqueous media without applying extremes of pH, heat, or bleach. We show that suspensions of magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles modified with a common antidote, 2-pralidoxime (PAM) or its polymeric analogue, poly(4-vinylpyridine-N-phenacyloxime-co-acrylic acid), catalyze the hydrolysis of an organophosphate (OP) compound serving as a model of the warfare nerve agents, at neutral pH. The oxime-modified magnetite particle serves as a nanosized particulate carrier with a powerful α-nucleophile, the oximate group, immobilized on its surface. The rates of OP hydrolysis by the PAM-modified magnetite are comparable to those of the most potent copper-based catalysts. The oxime-modified magnetite nanoparticles are colloidally stable at neutral pH and are readily recovered for reuse from the aqueous milieu by high-gradient magnetic separation methods with no loss of catalytic activity.
The Effect of Various Methods for Drying up Cows on the Bacterial and Cell Content of Milk

Summary (1)Studies of the effect of various methods of drying up cows on the bacterial and cell content of the milk are reported. (2)Incomplete, intermittent, incomplete intermittent milking and complete cessation of milking did not appear to have any marked effect on the bacterial or cell counts of the milk in subsequent lactation periods. (3)Intermittent and incomplete milking usually resulted in somewhat higher bacterial and cell counts during such periods but apparently did not produce permanent effects. (4)Complete cessation of milking appeared to give the most satisfactory results. (5)Bacterial counts were usually somewhat lower during the first few milkings following parturition than they were during periods ten days following calving. (6)Bacterial counts were slightly higher immediately following periods of suspended milking, while the cell counts were decidedly higher. (7)The cell counts were generally higher during the "colostral" period and then became lower as the period of lactation advanced. (8)The average bacterial count of 284 samples of normal, aseptically drawn milk was 658 while the average cell count was 1,252,000 per cubic centimeter.
Determination of Potential Adjuvant Systemic Therapy Benefits for Patients With Resected Cutaneous Melanomas

Objective To facilitate both better physician understanding of prognostic information (baseline and with adjuvant interferon) for individual patients who present with resectable melanomas and more informed patient decisions about whether they should receive adjuvant high-dose interferon therapy after resection of primary melanomas. Patients and Methods Baseline survival estimates were derived from a surgical database composed of 17,600 patients with complete clinical, pathologic, and follow-up data. Potential survival benefits ascribed to adjuvant interferon were obtained from results of a meta-analysis of Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group studies, which provided evidence for a uniform relative benefit of high-dose interferon across different baseline risk groups. A mathematical formula was then applied to these data to allow for individual prognostic information. Results The 5-year survival benefits in patients who received high-dose interferon after surgery, using the assumptions of the provided prognoses and interferon survival improvements, ranged up to 13%. Conclusions These data should allow for a better understanding of baseline prognosis in individual patients and a better understanding of the potential benefits of adjuvant interferon. They should also help patients make more informed decisions regarding their treatment options.
Time variations of phosphorus and sources of sediments beneath the Chang Jiang (Yangtze River)

Abstract Depth-dependent changes of different forms of sediment phosphorus in a 98-m drill core from near the mouth of the Chang Jiang (Yangtze River) have been determined using a modified chemical extraction method. Results indicate that the dominant portion of the phosphorus is in inorganic form, and that there is an upward increase in detrital apatite. The concentration of phosphorus associated with hydrous ferric oxides (Fe-P) exhibits an excellent positive correlation with the fine size fraction of the sediments, indicating the close association between ferric oxides and high-surface-area mineral grains. Most notable is a yellow clayey-silt layer of low sand content at 39.5-m depth which is very rich in Fe-P. Four possibilities are presented to explain the possible source of the yellow layer. One possibility is that the yellow layer may represent loess-rich Huang He (Yellow River) sediment transported far to the south due to a large former shift of the Huang He mouth. The visual characteristics and chemical observations for the above core, combined with some geological clues are in agreement with this hypothesis. Besides these geological observations, Chinese historical documents provide additional evidence for large former shifts of the mouth of the Huang He.
Long-term photosynthetic response in single leaves of A C3 and C4 salt marsh species grown at elevated atmospheric CO2 in situ

Mono-specific communities of the C3 sedge, Scirpus olneyi and the C4 grass, Spartina patens, were exposed to normal ambient or elevated CO2, (ca. 680 μl l-1) throughout the 1987 and 1988 growing seasons in open-top field chambers located on a tidal marsh. Single stems of C3 plants grown in ambient or elevated CO2 showed an increased photosynthetic rate when tested at elevated CO2 for both seasons. This increase in photosynthetic response in the C3 species was maintained throughout the 1987 and 1988 growing season. The stimulation of photosynthesis with elevated CO2 appeared to increase as temperature increased and decreased as photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) increased. Analysis of the photosynthetic response of the C3 species during the 1988 season indicated that significant differences in light-saturated photosynthetic rate between ambient and elevated CO2 conditions continued until October. In contrast to the C3 sedge, the C4 grass showed no significant photosynthetic increase to elevated CO2 except at the beginning of the 1988 season.
Cytoplasmic phospholipase A2 translocates to membrane fraction in human neutrophils activated by stimuli that phosphorylate mitogen-activated protein kinase.

Abstract The addition of the chemotactic peptide formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine (fMet-Leu-Phe) to human neutrophils pretreated with the cytokine granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) results in a 10-fold enhanced activity of phospholipase A2, measured as the release of arachidonic acid. It is found that GM-CSF increases the tyrosine phosphorylation, enhances the activity of a mitogen-activated protein kinase, and greatly potentiates the fMet-Leu-Phe-induced tyrosine phosphorylation and enhanced activity of this kinase. Stimuli that increase the tyrosine phosphorylation, enhance the activity of the mitogen-activated protein kinase, and cause a rise in the intracellular concentration of free calcium increase the amount of phospholipase A2 associated with the plasma membrane. This increase corresponds to a decrease in the amount found in the cytosol. Whereas GM-CSF alone produces only a small increase in the amount of phospholipase A2 associated with the membrane, it potentiates greatly the fMet-Leu-Phe-induced increase. The total amount (whole cell) of phospholipase A2, as measured by immunoblotting using anti-phospholipase A2 antibody, does not change upon stimulation of human neutrophils with GM-CSF, fMet-Leu-Phe, or both. In addition, the band that corresponds to phospholipase A2 is shifted upward in membrane isolated from neutrophils stimulated with fMet-Leu-Phe, suggesting that the enzyme has been altered, possibly phosphorylated, though not on tyrosine residues. A working hypothesis is presented. Briefly, stimulation of human neutrophils with GM-CSF, in the absence of an additional stimulus, increases the tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of a mitogen-activated protein kinase, which in turn phosphorylates and activates cytoplasmic phospholipase A2. In the presence of an increased intracellular concentration of free calcium the phospholipase A2 is translocated to the plasma membrane where its substrate is located. GM-CSF also potentiates greatly the fMet-Leu-Phe-induced tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of a mitogen-activated protein kinase and, since fMet-Leu-Phe causes an intracellular calcium rise, the amount of the phospholipase A2 that is associated with the membrane fraction.
Kinetics and Mechanism of Microemulsion Polymerization of Hexyl Methacrylate

A kinetic analysis of the microemulsion polymerization of hexyl methacrylate in mixed dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide/didodecyldimethylammonium bromide cationic microemulsions is developed and used to test mechanistic assumptions. In the limit of no bimolecular termination and fast radical capture, analytical expressions are derived for the conversion and reaction rate as a function of time and for the dependence upon the initiator concentration of the maximum reaction rate and the time at which it occurs. The conversion at which the rate maximum occurs is predicted to be constant at 39%. The theoretical results are in excellent agreement with experimental data through to 100% conversion for reactions initiated by azobis(amidinopropane) hydrochloride (V-50) and by buffered potassium persulfate, but not for unbuffered persulfate reactions. The discrepancy is argued to be a consequence of initiator hydrolysis in the unbuffered systems, and the importance of buffering persulfate reactions in mechanistic stu...
Multitelescope telescope: a cost-effective approach to fiber-fed spectroscopy

We describe a new spectroscopic facility based upon a novel Multi- Telescope Telescope (MTT) and a fiber optic fed spectrograph. The MTT is an inexpensive one meter light collecting telescope, whose "primary" mirror consists of nine commercially made amateur-size (33.3 cm) telescope mirrors. Each mirror of the MTT will focus light into a separate optical fiber, thus avoiding the light loss associated with the dead space in conventional fiber bundles. Throughput is further enhanced by low mirror obscuration and having only one reflection from the high reflectivity coatings available for smaller mirrors. The telescope is thus equivalent to about a 1.3-m conventional telescope for spectroscopy. The optical fibers will feed an off-plane Ebert-Fastie spectrograph with a COD detector. We conservatively estimate an overall optical efficiency of about 2.7% (4.4% without a slit at somewhat lower resolution), which corresponds to a limitirg magnitude of 9.4 for 1000 sec exposure, SNR=100, and a resolution of 0.2 A/pixel. By using a combination of an innovative structure, a control system, some existing materials, and donated shop time we can reduce the material cost of the telescope, spectrograph, and detector to about *35K to $55K, depending on the detector. The MTT and spectrograph will be installed at the newly commissioned Georgia State University Hard Labor Creek Observatory and will be used for spectroscopic observations of binaries and nonradial pulsations in Be stars.
335 Ergonomic interventions in nursing facilities: Long-term effectiveness of a comprehensive program

Objective Determine long-term efficacy of a comprehensive, multi-facility ergonomic intervention, utilising patient handling devices and participatory approach, on patient handling injuries to nursing personnel and comfort and safety of patients. Background Musculoskeletal injuries (MSDs), in particular back and shoulder injuries, are a major problem for nursing personnel in patient care. In USA, nursing aides (NAs) have the highest incidence rate of days-away from-work injuries and illnesses (465/10,000 workers) from MSDs, a rate more than seven times the national MSD average for all occupations. The majority of injuries and illnesses (56%) among NAs involved contact with patients, with 86% of those injuries due to overexertion. Methods A pre-post design (pre: 38.9 months, post: 51.2 months) was used to evaluate the efficacy of an ergonomic intervention using patient handling devices in six long-term care facilities and one chronic care hospital. Each facility formed teams consisting of: worker representatives, management, and an ergonomic specialist. These teams developed comprehensive ergonomics programs using participatory approach to reduce patient handling injuries, primarily through implementation of “no-manual-lifting-policies”. Results Compared to pre-intervention, post-intervention data showed significant reductions in: injuries (59.8% reduction), lost workdays (86.7%), modified duty days (78.8%) and worker’s compensation costs (WCC) (90.6%) associated with patient handling activities (p Patient handling devices were rated to be less stressful on the low back (p Conclusions This study demonstrates that comprehensive ergonomics programs, properly utilising patient handling devices, are effective in reducing patient handling injuries, lost workdays, modified duty days, and WCC as well as improving patient comfort and safety during patient transfers.
Mapping agricultural fields with GPR and EMI to identify offsite movement of agrochemicals

Offsite movement of waterborne agrochemicals is increasingly targeted as a non-point source of water quality degradation. Our research has indicated that subsurface water movement is variable and site-specific, and that a small soil volume frequently conducts a large volume of flow. This concentrated flow is usually caused by soil morphology, and it often results in water moving rapidly offsite from certain areas of fields; little or no lateral subsurface flow may occur in other areas. Identifying these subsurface regions is difficult using conventional soil survey and vadose zone sampling techniques. In this study, traditional surveying is combined with electromagnetic induction (EMI) and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) mapping to identify areas with high potential for subsurface offsite movement of agrochemicals, optimizing these identification techniques, and expanding the mapping procedures to make them useful at the field-scale for agricultural production practices. Conclusions from this research are: (1) EMI mapping provides rapid identification of areas of soil with a high electrical conductivity and presumably high potential for offsite movement of subsurface water, (2) GPR mapping of areas identified by EMI mapping provides a means to identify features that are known to conduct concentrated lateral flow of water, and (3) combining the capabilities of EMI and GPR instrumentation makes possible the surveys of large areas that would otherwise be impossible or unfeasible to characterize.
Progesterone can enhance consolidation and/or performance in spatial, object and working memory tasks in Long–Evans rats

Progesterone has a ubiquitous role in reproduction and fitness and may influence cognitive performance. We examined the effects of administration of progesterone (a regimen that facilitates sexual behaviour) on consolidation of complex information in Long-Evans rats, Rattus norvegicus, that may be relevant for social engagement. We also examined the effects of subcutaneous progesterone administration (4 mg/kg versus oil vehicle placebo) on memory of ovariectomized rats during various cognitive tasks. Ovariectomized rats that received progesterone, versus the vehicle, immediately post-training were better able to find a hidden platform in the water maze. In a recognition task, rats that received progesterone spent more time in the novel arm of the Y-maze task than rats that received the vehicle. Ovariectomized rats that received progesterone immediately after training spent significantly more time exploring a novel object (compared to a familiar object) than did vehicle-administered rats. When socially relevant stimuli (i.e. objects with the scent of familiar or novel conspecifics) were used in the social cognition task, ovariectomized rats that received progesterone spent more time exploring the object with the novel conspecifics' scent than did vehicle-administered rats. Pairing of progesterone, but not the vehicle, conditioned a place preference to the originally nonpreferred side of the conditioning chamber. We found no significant differences in motor activity measures in these tasks due to progesterone treatment. These results suggest that progesterone's effects to improve cognitive processes with nonsocial and socially relevant stimuli, as well as have reinforcing effects, may underlie some of its salient effects on reproduction-related behaviours.
Serial sectioning and electron microscopy of large tissue volumes for 3D analysis and reconstruction: a case study of the calyx of Held.

Serial section electron microscopy is typically applied to investigation of small tissue volumes encompassing subcellular structures. However, in neurobiology, the need to relate subcellular structure to organization of neural circuits can require investigation of large tissue volumes at ultrastructural resolution. Analysis of ultrastructure and three-dimensional reconstruction of even one to a few cells is time consuming, and still does not generate the necessary numbers of observations to form well-grounded insights into biological principles. We describe an assemblage of existing computer-based methods and strategies for graphical analysis of large photographic montages to accomplish the study of multiple neurons through large tissue volumes. Sample preparation, data collection and subsequent analyses can be completed within 3–4 months. These methods generate extremely large data sets that can be mined in future studies of nervous system organization.