cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fischer-Tropsch synthesis : Temperature programmed EXAFS/XANES investigation of the influence of support type, cobalt loading, and noble metal promoter addition to the reduction behavior of cobalt oxide particles

Abstract TPR-XANES/EXAFS carried out using a novel multi-sample holder provided key information for verifying the nature of the chemical transformations occurring during cobalt Fischer–Tropsch synthesis catalyst activation in hydrogen. In the past, assumptions had to be made regarding the nature of the cobalt species present along the trajectory of a standard TPR experiment. The new technique directly provided insight into (a) the nature of the reduction process of cobalt oxide species and (b) the resulting cobalt crystallite size, as a function of the strength of the catalyst support interaction with the cobalt oxide species. A two-step reduction process involving Co 3 O 4 to CoO and CoO to Co 0 transformations over standard calcined catalysts was observed and quantified over all catalysts exhibiting both weak interactions (e.g., Co/SiO 2 ) and strong interactions (e.g., Co/Al 2 O 3 ) with the support. Noble metal promoter (e.g., Pt) addition strongly improved the reducibility of cobalt oxide species, most likely via a H 2 dissociation and spillover mechanism. Increasing cobalt loading, on the other hand, led to a measurable, but lesser, improvement on reducibility, due to the larger resulting particle size that resulted in less surface contact with the support. Higher reduction temperatures were needed to effectively reduce cobalt oxide particles deposited on strongly interacting surfaces in comparison with unsupported Co 3 O 4 or only weakly interacting supported cobalt catalyst. Nevertheless, despite lower extents of reduction, the smaller resulting Co particles on the more strongly interacting catalysts generally led to higher Co 0 active site densities. The addition of the noble metal promoter to strongly interacting supported catalyst significantly decreased the temperature required to reduce the cobalt oxides to Co 0 particles; this allows one to take advantage of the higher Co 0 surface areas arising from the combination of a smaller average Co 0 particle size and a higher extent of reduction.
kappa-Bungarotoxin: binding of a neuronal nicotinic receptor antagonist to chick optic lobe and skeletal muscle.

kappa-Bungarotoxin, a snake venom kappa-neurotoxin, is a potent neuronal nicotinic receptor antagonist. kappa-Neurotoxins are structurally related to the long-type alpha-neurotoxins (including alpha-bungarotoxin), which often fail to block neuronal nicotinic transmission, but which are potent antagonists of nicotinic receptors found on vertebrate skeletal muscle. The binding of kappa-bungarotoxin has now been examined in homogenates of chick skeletal muscle and optic lobe. In muscle, kappa-bungarotoxin binds to nicotinic receptors with 200-fold lower affinity than does alpha-bungarotoxin. The weakest known alpha-neurotoxin, L.s. III, is found to be 6.5-fold more potent than kappa-bungarotoxin. These findings support the conclusion that kappa-neurotoxins are selective for neuronal nicotinic receptors. In the optic lobe, 125I-alpha-bungarotoxin and 125I-L.s. III. A second nicotinic site, detected with high affinity by both alpha-neurotoxins, is only weakly bound by kappa-bungarotoxin. No evidence for a unique 125I-kappa-neurotoxin site is observed. Furthermore, kappa-bungarotoxin does not recognize the high affinity L-[3H]nicotine binding site in chick optic lobe which is distinct from the alpha-neurotoxin binding sites. Three subtypes of nicotinic sites can thus be defined in chick optic lobe, although which of these subtypes is involved in nicotinic transmission in the lobe remains to be conclusively determined.
Top Down Mass Spectrometry of <60-kDa Proteins from Methanosarcina acetivorans Using Quadrupole FTMS with Automated Octopole Collisionally Activated Dissociation

A fragmentation geometry based upon axial acceleration of m/z-selected protein ions into a linear octopole ion trap allowed simultaneous production and external accumulation of fragment ions prior to m/z measurement in a FT mass spectrometer. Improved dynamic range resulting from this octopole collisionally activated dissociation resulted in a 2.5× increase in experimental throughput and a 2× increase in fragment ion matches to gene products identified and characterized in the top down fashion. The acceleration voltage for optimal fragmentation has a m/z and mass dependence, knowledge of which facilitated an automated platform for top down MS/MS on a quadrupole FT hybrid mass spectrometer. Controlled by improved software for data acquisition (e.g. using dynamic exclusion of previously identified species), automated octopole collisionally activated dissociation of samples fractionated using chromatofocusing and reversed-phase liquid chromatography achieved a significant increase in protein identification rate versus previous benchmarks. Also a batch analysis version of ProSight PTM facilitated probability-based identification of intact proteins obtained in a higher throughput fashion. In total, 101 unique proteins (5–59 kDa) were identified from whole cell lysates of Methanosarcina acetivorans grown anaerobically, including the characterization of several mispredicted start sites and biologically relevant mass discrepancies.
Inmate Prerelease Assessment (IPASS) Aftercare Placement Recommendation as a Predictor of Rural Inmate's 12-step Attendance and Treatment Entry Postrelease

The purpose of this study is to use the Criminal Justice Drug Abuse Treatment Studies' (CJ-DATS) Inmate Prerelease Assessment (IPASS), which recommends either intensive or nonintensive treatment after release, to predict rural offenders' 12-step attendance and treatment entry within six months of release from prison. IPASS scores indicated that 52% of rural offenders needed intensive treatment upon community re-entry. In bivariate analyses, rural offenders with an intensive aftercare placement recommendation were significantly younger, more likely to have been employed more months in the year prior to incarceration, to have ever injected drugs, and to have ever received outpatient substance abuse treatment. The variables which were significant at the bivariate level were entered into two logistic multivariate models predicting 12-step attendance and treatment entry within six months of being released from prison. Age and having ever injected drugs were positive predictors of having attended a 12-step meet...
Bifurcation Analysis of a One DOF Rotor on Electromagnetic Bearings

This paper considers a one degree of freedom rotor supported on an electromagnetic bearing in a feedback control loop. A nonlinear model of an electromagnetic bearing is developed and a nondimensional model is derived for the system with two distinct parameters corresponding to the controller gain and the static load. Nonlinear analysis is carried out as a function of these two parameters and bifurcation diagrams are derived. The results reveal a very interesting panoply of fixed points with varying stability conditions. Numerical simulations are carried out to confirm the results of nonlinear analysis. Practical implications of the nonlinear analysis results are discussed.© 2007 ASME
Direct aperture optimization-based intensity-modulated radiotherapy for whole breast irradiation.

Purpose: To investigate the technical and dosimetric advantages and the efficacy of direct aperture optimized intensity-modulated radiation therapy (DAO-IMRT) over standard ( e.g ., beamlet optimized) IMRT and conventional three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) for whole breast irradiation in supine and prone positions. Methods and Materials: We retrospectively designed DAO-IMRT plans for 15 breast cancer patients in supine (10 patients) and prone (5 patients) positions with a goal of uniform dose coverage of the whole breast. These DAO-IMRT plans were compared with standard IMRT using beamlet optimization and conventional 3D-CRT plans using wedges. All plans used opposed tangential beam arrangements. Results: In all cases, the DAO-IMRT plans were equal to or better than those generated with 3D-CRT and standard beamlet-IMRT. For supine cases, DAO-IMRT provided higher uniformity index (UI, defined as the ratio of the dose to 95% of breast volume to the maximum dose) than either 3D-CRT (0.88 vs. 0.82; p = 0.026) or beamlet-IMRT (0.89 vs. 0.85; p = 0.003). Direct aperture optimized IMRT also gave lower lung doses than either 3D-CRT (V20 = 7.9% vs. 8.6%; p = 0.024) or beamlet-IMRT (V20 = 8.4% vs. 9.7%; p = 0.0008) for supine patients. For prone patients, DAO-IMRT provided higher UI than either 3D-CRT (0.89 vs. 0.83; p = 0.027) or beamlet-IMRT (0.89 vs. 0.85; p = 0.003). The planning time for DAO-IMRT was approximately 75% less than that of 3D-CRT. The monitor units for DAO-IMRT were approximately 60% less than those of beamlet-IMRT. Conclusion: Direct aperture optimized IMRT improved the overall quality of dose distributions as well as the planning and delivery efficiency for treating whole breast in both supine and prone positions.
Microcarrier cultures of endothelial cells

Cultures of endothelial cells can be scaled up using microcarriers. Endothelial cells are seeded onto microcarriers and grown in roller bottles. The cells grow to confluency on each microcarrier bead. The microcarrier cultures provide a means for large-scale, long-term culture of endothelial cells.
The prevalence of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection

Cirrhosis is a leading cause of death among patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). We sought to determine risk factors for and time trends in the prevalence of cirrhosis, decompensated cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) among patients diagnosed with HIV who received care in the Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system nationally between 1996 and 2009 (n = 24,040 in 2009). Among patients coinfected with HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV), there was a dramatic increase in the prevalence of cirrhosis (3.5%-13.2%), decompensated cirrhosis (1.9%-5.8%), and HCC (0.07%-1.6%). Little increase was observed among patients without HCV coinfection in the prevalence of cirrhosis (1.7%-2.2%), decompensated cirrhosis (1.1%-1.2%), and HCC (0.03%-0.13%). In 2009, HCV infection was present in the majority of patients with HIV who had cirrhosis (66%), decompensated cirrhosis (62%), and HCC (80%). Independent risk factors for cirrhosis included HCV infection (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 5.82; 95% confidence interval [CI], 5.0-6.7), hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (AOR, 2.40; 95% CI, 2.0-2.9), age (AOR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.02-1.04), Hispanic ethnicity (AOR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.4-2.2), diabetes (AOR, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.6-2.1), and alcohol abuse (AOR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.5-2.1), whereas black race (AOR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.48-0.64) and successful eradication of HCV (AOR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.4-0.9) were protective. Independent risk factors for HCC included HCV infection (AOR, 10.0; 95% CI, 6.1-16.4), HBV infection (AOR, 2.82; 95% CI, 1.7-4.7), age (AOR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.03-1.08), and low CD4+ cell count (AOR, 2.36; 95% CI, 1.3-4.2). Among 5999 HIV/HCV-coinfected patients, 994 (18%) had ever received HCV antiviral treatment, of whom 165 (17%) achieved sustained virologic response. Conclusion: The prevalence of cirrhosis and HCC has increased dramatically among HIV-infected patients driven primarily by the HCV epidemic. Potentially modifiable risk factors include HCV infection, HBV infection, diabetes, alcohol abuse, and low CD4+ cell count. (HEPATOLOGY 2013)
Experimental techniques for analyzing distributive laminar mixing in continuous flows

This paper addresses experimental techniques for evaluating distributive laminar mixing in continuous flows. Analysis of mixing performance for arbitrary mixers and fluids is too complex to be solved from first principles for all but the simplest systems. Procedures for the acquisition and interpretation of mixing data from modelled mixers under laboratory analysis are reviewed, and guidelines for future mixing experimentation are presented.
Combined Fluency and Cognitive Strategies Instruction Improves Mathematics Achievement in Early Elementary School.

Abstract One hundred and seventy-eight second grade students from two states (Georgia and Massachusetts) participated in an experiment in which they were randomly assigned to either (1) a computer program designed to increase fluency in addition and subtraction, (2) a program designed to improve cognitive strategy use for addition and subtraction, (3) a program that combined the fluency and cognitive strategy instruction programs or (4) a control condition. The intervention consisted of 40 half-hour sessions (2 sessions per week for 20 weeks). Prior to the intervention, and immediately following the intervention, the participants were tested on fluency, cognitive strategy use, and mathematics achievement. ANCOVAs indicated that children in the combined fluency and cognitive strategy use condition significantly improved their mathematics achievement in comparison to the control group. When we examined the impact of the intervention as a function of gender, boys appeared to benefit from the intervention, but girls did not.
K-12th grade students as active contributors to research investigations

TheEarth Day: Forest Watch Program at the University of New Hampshire utilizes morphological and anatomical measurements made on branch and needle samples from eastern white pine (Pinus strobus), collected by K-12 students throughout New Hampshire and Maine. White pine is considered to be a bio-indicator species for ozone exposure. A University research project which monitors the response of white pine to elevated levels of tropospheric ozone has been developed by the authors, who incorporate student-made measurements such as needle length, occurrence of diagnostic foliar symptoms, needle retention, and cellular levels of damage, into an on-going project which characterizes conifer response to a variety of air pollutants. The research team compares classroom measurements with laboratory spectral reflectance measurements made on student-collected branch samples, and infers state-of-health conditions in white pine from the two-state area. These state-of-health data are, in turn, compared with State-monitored tropospheric ozone measurements on a yearly basis, resulting in change-over-time analysis of both regional ozone levels and relative levels of tree health. Based on the work to data (1991–1996), student-derived data have been found to correlate well with spectral parameters and with spatial patterns of summer ozone levels, suggesting that student measurements represent an accurate and reliable source of data for research scientists. Specific examples of student datasets and comparisons with reflectance data and how these can be used for Landsat data verification are presented, along with a discussion of the importance of being able to assess the accuracy of student data. Research scientists need to recognize the tremendous potential for access to reliable data represented by student data-collection programs such asEarth Day:Forest Watch.
Fracture prevalence among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected versus non-HIV-infected patients in a large U.S. healthcare system.

Context: Reduced bone mineral density has been demonstrated among HIV-infected patients, but fracture prevalence is unknown. Objective: The objective of the study was to compare fracture prevalence in HIV-infected and non-HIV-infected patients. Design: This was a population-based study. Setting: The study was conducted at a large U.S. health care system. Patients: A total of 8525 HIV-infected and 2,208,792 non-HIV-infected patients with at least one inpatient or outpatient encounter between October 1, 1996, and March 21, 2008, was compared. Main Outcome Measure: Fracture prevalence using specific International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification fracture codes was measured. Results: The overall fracture prevalence was 2.87 vs. 1.77 patients with fractures per 100 persons in HIV-infected, compared with non-HIV-infected patients (P < 0.0001). Among females, the overall fracture prevalence was 2.49 vs. 1.72 per 100 persons in HIV-infected vs. non-HIV-infected patients (P = 0.002). HIV-infected females had a higher prevalence of vertebral (0.81 vs. 0.45; P = 0.01) and wrist (1.31 vs. 0.83; P = 0.01) fractures per 100 persons, compared with non-HIV-infected females but had a similar prevalence of hip fractures (0.47 vs. 0.56; P = 0.53). Among males, the fracture prevalence per 100 persons was higher in HIV-infected vs. non-HIV-infected patients for any fracture (3.08 vs. 1.83; P < 0.0001), vertebral fractures (1.03 vs. 0.49; P < 0.0001), hip fractures (0.79 vs. 0.45; P = 0.001), and wrist fractures (1.46 vs. 0.99; P = 0.001). Fracture prevalence was higher relative to non-HIV-infected patients among African-American and Caucasian females and Caucasian males. Conclusions: Fracture prevalence is increased in HIV-infected compared with non-HIV-infected patients.
A new u-statistic with superior design sensitivity in matched observational studies.

Summary In an observational or nonrandomized study of treatment effects, a sensitivity analysis indicates the magnitude of bias from unmeasured covariates that would need to be present to alter the conclusions of a naive analysis that presumes adjustments for observed covariates suffice to remove all bias. The power of sensitivity analysis is the probability that it will reject a false hypothesis about treatment effects allowing for a departure from random assignment of a specified magnitude; in particular, if this specified magnitude is “no departure” then this is the same as the power of a randomization test in a randomized experiment. A new family of u-statistics is proposed that includes Wilcoxon's signed rank statistic but also includes other statistics with substantially higher power when a sensitivity analysis is performed in an observational study. Wilcoxon's statistic has high power to detect small effects in large randomized experiments—that is, it often has good Pitman efficiency—but small effects are invariably sensitive to small unobserved biases. Members of this family of u-statistics that emphasize medium to large effects can have substantially higher power in a sensitivity analysis. For example, in one situation with 250 pair differences that are Normal with expectation 1/2 and variance 1, the power of a sensitivity analysis that uses Wilcoxon's statistic is 0.08 while the power of another member of the family of u-statistics is 0.66. The topic is examined by performing a sensitivity analysis in three observational studies, using an asymptotic measure called the design sensitivity, and by simulating power in finite samples. The three examples are drawn from epidemiology, clinical medicine, and genetic toxicology.
Spermiogenesis in a hermit-crab, Coenobita clypeatus. II. Sertoli cells

The testes of the land hermit crab, Coenobita clypeatus, contains germinal cells and non-germinative cells. The latter function in the manner of the vertebrate Sertoli cells in apparently providing nourishment, support and possibly hormones during spermiogenesis. Each Sertoli cell surrounds several germinal cells. The mitochondria, rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus show changes in structure when in contact with germinal cells in different stages of spermiogenesis. These changes are suggestive of active synthesis and metabolism of cellular products(s).
Utilizing user models to handle ambiguity and misconceptions in robust plan recognition

User models play a critical role in robust plan recognition by controlling ambiguity. They allow an observer to prefer one plan explanation over another, and they provide a means of measuring the believability of misconceptions when the user's plan is flawed. This paper discusses the motivation for including a user model in robust plan recognition, and shows how a probabilistic interpretation offers a practical means of incorporating a user model into the plan recognition process.
Assessment of a Biomass Gasification Co-Generation Plant Based on the UCS’s “Principles for Bioenergy Development”

An assessment of the University of South Carolina’s (USC) biomass gasification plant, which produces steam and electricity, is made using the five “Guiding Principles” found in the April 2007 update of the Union of Concerned Scientists’ (UCS) Principles for Bioenergy Development document [1]. The UCS’s guiding principles are to... “help guide bioenergy development in a manner that maximizes opportunities and helps address the challenges associated with this renewable resource.” The USC biomass plant is the first commercial biomass gasification plant producing steam and electricity in the USA. It uses bark chips from the pulp wood industry as its fuel source. Gasification of the bark produces syngas which is then oxidized and used as the heat source to generate 60,000 lb/hour (maximum) of steam at 600 psig and 740 F. The steam first passes through a turbine-generator producing 1.5 MW (maximum) of electricity and then is circulated via the campus system at 115 psig and 325 F for heating and hot water use. The plant’s construction, operational conditions, and environmental and economic impacts are examined versus the five UCS guiding principles.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Cognitive–behavioral guided self-help for eating disorders: Effectiveness and scalability

Given the well-documented shortage of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for eating disorders, there is a compelling need for advances in dissemination. Guided self-help based on cognitive-behavioral principles (CBTgsh) provides a robust means of improving implementation and scalability of evidence-based treatment for eating disorders. It is a brief, cost-effective treatment that can be implemented by a wide range of mental health providers, including non-specialists, via face-to-face contact and internet-based technology. Controlled studies have shown that CBTgsh can be an effective treatment for binge eating disorder and bulimia nervosa, although it is contraindicated for anorexia nervosa. Several studies have shown that CBTgsh can be as effective as more complex specialty therapies and that it is not necessarily contraindicated for patients with comorbid conditions. Mental health providers with relatively minimal professional credentials have in some studies obtained results comparable to specialized clinicians. Establishing the nature of optimal "guidance" in CBTgsh and the level of expertise and training required for effective implementation is a research priority. Existing manuals used in CBTgsh are outdated and can be improved by incorporating the principles of enhanced transdiagnostic CBT. Obstacles to wider adoption of CBTgsh are identified.
Focused laser beam effects in optical particle sizing by dynamic light scattering

The effect of a focused laser beam on optical particle sizing by dynamic light scattering is analyzed. The first-order electric-field autocorrelation, as determined by numerical integration and by asymptotic expansion, is distorted compared with the plane wave autocorrelation. The distortion is strongest at forward-scattering angles. Although the focused beam autocorrelation may be modeled, considerations of accuracy and resolution of a particle-size distribution obtained by inverting correlation data suggest that, when a focused beam is used, backscatter, which most closely resembles the plane wave result, is preferred.
Transnasal endoscopic closure of cerebrospinal fluid leaks.

Objectives/Hypothesis To demonstrate an effective method for transnasal endoscopic closure of anterior skull base fistulas that does not involve lumbar drains or fat packing. Study Design Retrospective. Methods We reviewed the charts of 36 patients who had 37 anterior skull base defects that were repaired endoscopically between 1993 and 2001. Results Thirty-three defects were successfully closed on the first attempt. Three were successfully closed on the second attempt. One large defect was repaired by neurosurgery after a failed endoscopic attempt. Our results are similar to those of other published series. Conclusion Our method is effective and does not require adjuvant procedures or prolonged hospital stays.
Glucocorticoid potentiation of δ-aminolevulinic acid synthetase in chick embryo liver cells: A “permissive” effect

Abstract Glucocorticoids at physiologic concentrations do not induce δ-aminolevulinic acid synthetase, the rate-limiting enzyme in the heme biosynthetic pathway, in cultured chick embryo hepatocytes. Etiocholanolone-mediated induction of this enzyme is however markedly potentiated by cortisol (2.6-fold vs. 4.4-fold). The order of effectiveness in this “permissive” effect is dexamethasone ≥ cortisol > corticosterone > progesterone. The addition of 17α-methyltestosterone, an “anti-glucocorticoid”, substantially decreased the action of cortisol. This “permissive” action is specific for steroid hormones possessing glucocorticoid activity and may play an important role in heme biosynthesis.
A block Chebyshev-Davidson method with inner-outer restart for large eigenvalue problems

We propose a block Davidson-type subspace iteration using Chebyshev polynomial filters for large symmetric/hermitian eigenvalue problem. The method consists of three essential components. The first is an adaptive procedure for constructing efficient block Chebyshev polynomial filters; the second is an inner-outer restart technique inside a Chebyshev-Davidson iteration that reduces the computational costs related to using a large dimension subspace; and the third is a progressive filtering technique, which can fully employ a large number of good initial vectors if they are available, without using a large block size. Numerical experiments on several Hamiltonian matrices from density functional theory calculations show the efficiency and robustness of the proposed method.
Interaction of Ships and Ocean Structures With Ice Loads and Stochastic Ocean Waves

The influence of floating ice on the dynamic behavior of ships and offshore structures depends on many factors such as ice thickness and its relative speed with respect to the floating structure. The ice resistance to ship motion forms an essential problem in ship design and navigation. Furthermore, local or global ice loads acting on ocean systems are random and nonsmooth when impact interaction takes place. Impact loads on the bow of a ship navigating in solid ice may be modeled by a Poisson law. The measured stress amplitudes on the ship frame at the bow follow an exponential distribution. The nonhomogeneity and difference in ice microstructure, as well as the influence of salt and temperature, result in a great uncertainty in the ice strength. Therefore, the current review article aims at assessing the ice related problems encountered by offshore structures as well as by ships during their navigation. It also discusses the impacts of local and global ice loads on floating structures and reviews their existing probabilistic models. Moreover, this article covers the dynamic interaction of ice with flexible and rigid structures, and ships. In view of ice loads on marine systems, new design regulations have been introduced by international organizations that are involved in the design and building of ships as well as offshore structures. The ship stochastic stability and the first-passage roll stabilization problem associated with random ocean waves will also be described in an attempt to stimulate future research work dealing with ice impact loads. Moreover, due to the lack of research activities addressing the control problem of ships operating in icy waters, the current article will briefly discuss passive and active control schemes developed for controlling the ship roll motion. There are 529 references cited in this review article.
Insecticidal Baits for Control of the Imported Fire Ant, Solenopsis saevissima richteri

Baits containing tankage, fish meal, ground insect bodies, processed vegetable (cooking) oils, digested corn and soybean protein plus fat (Staley SPIB FA-19C & 39), peanut butter, and certain other mixtures high in protein and/or fat were the most attractive of more than 400 formulations offered the imported fire ant ( Solenopsis saevissima v. richteri Forel), in laboratory and field experiments. The insecticides heptachlor and Kepone® (1,2,3,5,6,7,8,9,10, 10-decachlorotetracyclo [5.2.1.02.6.03.9.05.8] decan 4-one) were acceptable to the ant and effective in control to a greater degree than any of the other 27 materials studied. Peanut butter containing 0.125% Kepone was the most effective bait used in small- and large-plot field experiments. When this bait was applied at the rate of 4 or 6 pounds per acre, 100% of the fire ant colonies were eliminated. The peanut butter bait was injected into soda straws with a grease gun to facilitate application in the field. Other promising Kepone baits were prepared as pellets from equal parts of peanut butter and peanut meal and as polymerized granules of peanut butter.
PAC addition as a means of regenerating GAC in a GAC fluidized-bed reactor.

Abstract When the adsorption capacity of a biological, GAC fluidized-bed reactor is exhausted, a portion of the exhausted GAC may have to be replaced with fresh GAC. As an alternative, the addition of powdered activated carbon to the fluidized-bed reactor in which the GAC was already exhausted was examined. The effectiveness of this scheme was evaluated using p -nitrophenol as a model compound to study the adsorption-desorption behavior of the system. The p -nitrophenol, adsorbed on granular activated carbon, was desorbed with deionized water in the presence and in the absence of powdered activated carbon in the reactor to determine whether powdered activated carbon expedites the desorption process. Desorption of p -nitrophenol was accelerated in the presence of powdered activated carbon, indicating that partial regeneration of exhausted granular activated carbon could be achieved by periodically adding powdered activated carbon to the fluidized-bed reactor. During the experiments with powdered activated carbon, the majority of the added powdered activated carbon was not flushed out of the reactor even at a relatively high recirculation flow rate because the flow regime near the effluent port was dominated by the feed flow rate, not by the recirculation flow rate. This prolongs the usefulness of the added powdered activated carbon.
Improved Control of Open-Center Systems for Haptic Applications

The use of haptic interfaces to control mobile hydraulic machinery has several enhancing features over traditional human-machine-interfaces compromising of joysticks/levers. A prohibitive attribute of these systems is cost due to added complexity. One way to limit this cost is to use lower cost hydraulic components such as a constant displacement pumps and proportional directional control valves. In this type of system, a main pressure regulator is needed to supply the other closed-center valves with pressure and dump the additional flow from the pump to tank. An energy-saving solution has a load-sensing pressure regulator that maintains the system pressure a preset margin above the highest active load pressure. With the addition of pressure compensators on each proportional valve, these valves can provide steady-state flow proportional to an input voltage generated from a joystick. Using these valves for haptic applications requires closed-loop control. Applying closed-loop control to these valves can excite instabilities in the valve assembly due to complex interactions and nonlinearities in the load-sensing pressure regulator. This paper describes and analyzes these interactions. It also shows through experimental examples of how these characteristics limit closed-loop performance and destabilize the system. A possible valve modification is presented and closed-loop performance is compared using the original and modified system.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Challenges in assessment of clean energy supply-chains based on byproduct minerals: A case study of tellurium use in thin film photovoltaics

Abstract Transitioning to a sustainable energy supply will be critical to meeting future economic and environmental goals. This transition will require optimizing and commercializing a portfolio of new clean energy technologies. However, many promising clean energy technologies are based on materials with inherent risks in their supply; these risks include scarcity, price volatility, criticality, and other potential supply-chain disruptions. Using tellurium use in CdTe photovoltaics as a case study, this paper presents analysis of some of the key challenges associated with modeling byproduct systems (a supply-chain where a key material is actually a byproduct of extraction of another material, copper in the case of tellurium). This work presents a novel modeling approach; the results of the case study are used to identify potential supply risks facing this clean technology, with a unique focus on sensitivity to changes in the preliminary lifecycle stages. Supply-chain sensitivities are connected with direct environmental impacts to frame the implications in a broader sustainability context and to emphasize the future role of recycling. Ultimately, it was shown that if historical supply and demand trends continue, supply gap conditions will emerge before the end of the current decade. However, improvements in byproduct yield, end-use recycling rate, and end-use material intensity exhibit significant leverage to minimize risk in the energy-critical tellurium supply-chain.
Evidence for oxidative phosphorylation in Streptococcusfaecalis

Abstract There exists little or no evidence for oxidative phosphorylation in non-cytochrome-containing microorganisms. Theoretically, however, an organism such as the lactic acid bacterium, Streptococcus faecalis , while lacking the hematin carriers (Dolin, 1953) , could catalyze the formation of ATP on oxidation of DPNH. Potential sites of oxidative phosphorylation would be at the DPNH/flavin level and during the oxidation of reduced naphthoquinone since this species possesses both flavins and naphthoquinones (Baum and Dolin, 1963) . Dolin (1955) in a previous study using the sensitive firefly luminescent assay system failed to detect oxidative phosphorylation on DPNH oxidation by anaerobically-grown Streptococcus faecalis strain 10Cl. The present communication presents evidence for ATP formation during the oxidation of DPNH by cell-free extracts of this organism grown under aerobic conditions.
The effects of X-ray irradiation on the self-friction of potassium chloride

Abstract The effects of X-ray irradiation on the sliding and static friction of polished KC1 were studied. The sliding friction obeyed a law with both adhesive and plowing terms, and the static friction obeyed the classical law, F = μN . It was found that X-ray irradiation for 12 hours from a 40 KV, 10 mA silver target source doubled the values of the adhesive and plowing terms for sliding friction of non-annealed KCI with powdered KCI surface debris, and static friction was increased by 65%. Pre-irradiation annealing of the crystals with surface debris lowered the irradiation-induced increase in friction to 14%. Removal of surface debris prior to irradiation of annealed crystals resulted in a 20% decrease in static friction with X-ray irradiation. Explanations for the static friction results were devised by combining the ideas of Bowden and Tabor 1 with those of Archard 2 . The behaviour of sliding friction with irradiation could be explained successfully by Archard's theory. The explanations are tentative only, and primarily serve to indicate the directions for further experimentation.
Caspase inhibition selectively reduces the apoptotic component of oxygen-glucose deprivation-induced cortical neuronal cell death.

Abstract Cultured mouse cortical neurons undergo apoptosis when exposed to staurosporine. The cell-permeable caspase inhibitor Z-Val-Ala-Asp fluoromethylketone (Z-VAD.FMK) attenuated this death, without altering overall protein synthesis. Z-VAD.FMK also attenuated cortical neuronal apoptosis induced by removal of serum. However, Z-VAD.FMK did not attenuate the excitotoxic necrosis induced by 5-min exposure to 100 μ M NMDA, 24-h exposure to 100 μ M kainate, or 90-min exposure to oxygen-glucose deprivation. We have previously shown that blockade of the excitotoxic component of oxygen-glucose deprivation-induced neuronal death with glutamate antagonists unmasks an apoptotic death. Treatment with Z-VAD.FMK, but not the cathepsin-B protease inhibitor Z-Phe-Ala fluoromethylketone (Z-FA.FMK), also attenuated this oxygen-glucose deprivation-induced neuronal apoptosis. These data support the idea that brain caspases mediate the apoptotic component of oxygen-glucose deprivation-induced neuronal death and raise the possibility that combining caspase inhibitors with glutamate antagonists might attenuate brain damage induced by hypoxic-ischemic insults in vivo.
Stoichiometry of the photolysis of water by illuminated chloroplast fragments.

Summary o 1. Simultaneous determinations of the rate of oxygen evolution, the rate of reduction of added oxidant, and the rate of hydrogen-ion production during the photolysis of water by illuminated chloroplast fragments were made continuously on the same system during the course of illumination. 2. The stoichiometry indicated in the following equation was found to hold within the experimental error throughout the course of the reaction: 3. None of the component reactions of the photolysis of water could be dissociated under the conditions employed in order to permit separate study. 4K3Fe(CN)6+4K++2H2O→4K4Fe(CN)6+4H++O2.
Dimensions of Multiskilling: Considerations for Educational Audiology.

Educational audiologists often must delegate certain tasks to other educational personnel who function as support personnel and need training in order to perform assigned tasks. Support personnel are people who, after appropriate training, perform tasks that are prescribed, directed, and supervised by a professional such as a certified and licensed audiologist. The training of support personnel to perform tasks that are typically performed by those in other disciplines is calledmultiskilling. This article discusses multiskilling and the use of support personnel in educational audiology in reference to the following principles: guidelines, models of multiskilling, components of successful multiskilling, and "dos and don’ts" for multiskilling. These principles are illustrated through the use of multiskilling in the establishment of a hearing aid monitoring program. Successful multiskilling and the use of support personnel by educational audiologists can improve service delivery to school-age children with h...
What is Dry Skin? (Abstract)

AbstractThere are many causes of dry skin and there are many xerotic syndromes, but the structural and physiolgical aberrations underlying the condition remain mysteries. All efforts to understand are properly directed to the horny layer: the dead tissue where the disorder is expressed. Methods for evaluating the abnormalities of the horny layer were reviewed in presentations made during the Symposium. The findings from biochemical, bioengineering, and microscopic studies at least allow some unifying concepts to be developed now. In the opinion of the presenter, moisturizers are not cosmetics but medicaments, regardless of the legal classification by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Dry skin is not a single phenomenon but a family of reactions ranging in severity from dryness to scaling to cutaneous damage and infection. The causes of dry skin include winter xerosis, asteatosis, and old age. Water, in fact, is not a solution to dry skin. The change in cutaneous water content is secondary to the prim...
Transverse Phase Space Time Dependence of LAMPF's High Intensity H+ Beam

The LAMPF H+ injector is pulsed 120 times a second with pulse lengths from 500 to 750 ?sec long. Large transients in transverse phase space, lasting 100 to 200 ?sec after turn-on, are regularly observed. The magnitude of these transients appears to increase with increasing currents and source brightness. Because high-current accelerators require great precision in phase-space tailoring to avoid excessive emittance growth during acceleration, these transients cause severe operational problems and can no longer be neglected in the beam tuning procedure. Measurements of transverse phase space as a function of time for the 750-keV, 30-mA peak current H+ beam are presented.
SNMPv3: A security enhancement for SNMP

Simple network management protocol (SNMP) is the most widely-used network management protocol on TCP/IP-based networks. The functionality of SNMP was enhanced with the publication of SNMPv2. However, both these versions of SNMP lack security features, notably authentication and privacy, that are required to fully exploit SNMP. A recent set of RFCs, known collectively as SNMPv3, correct this deficiency. This article outlines the overall network management framework defined in SNMPv3, and then looks at the principal security facilities defined in SNMPv3: authentication, privacy, and access control.
Bisulfite inhibition of enzymatic blackening caused by tyrosine oxidation

The mechanism of bisulfite inhibition of the enzymatic oxidation of tyrosine was studied. Oxygen uptake experiments with crude potato polyphenol oxidase were performed to determine whether the bisulfite inhibited enzymatic blackening in the initial stages of tyrosine oxidation or by reaction with the quinones. Bisulfite initially inhibits blackening mainly by inhibiting the oxidation of tyrosine to 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (dopa). Equivalent concentrations of bisulfite (1.9×10−3M) which would inhibit the tyrosine oxidation will not inhibit the oxidation of dopa. However, higher bisulfite concentrations will progressively inhibit dopa oxidation.
964-9 Prospective Assessment of Quinidine-induced QT Prolongation and Proarrhythmia in Hospitalized Patients

In retrospective studies, quinidine-induced proarrhythmia and excessive lengthening of the OT interval have been described to occur in 5–10% of patients (pts). There are, however. no prospective studies. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to prospectively assess the acute effects of quinidine on the QT interval and on the incidence of proarrhythmic events in hospitalized pts. using daily 12-lead ECG's and continuous telemetric monitoring. Clinical data included gender, age, body surface area, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), etiology of heart disease, congestive heart failure class, Q-wave infarction pattern, indication for quinidine, quinidine and potassium serum levels, and use of a diuretic, digoxin or an antiarrhythmic agent. Pts were followed until time of discharge. Quinidine was initiated in 35 pts (18 M; 17 F) for supraventricular (n = 22) or ventricular (n = 13) arrhythmias 19 pts had an ischemic, 6 had a nonischemic, and 3 had a valvular cardiomyopathy; 5 had hypertensive and 2 had no heart disease. The mean age was 63 ± 13 years. the mean LVEF was 0.38 ± 0.15 and the mean functional class was 2.0 ± 1.1. The mean quinidine level was 2.7 ± 1.2 μ g/ml. The QT interval increased from 388 ± 61 to 499 ± 70 msec (p l 0.01) and the QTc increased from 445 ± 61 to 543 ± 60 msec (p l 0.005). 11 pts (31%) developed a QTc g 550 msec. Torsade de pointes (n = 3) or other ventricular proarrhythmic events (n = 3) occurred in 6 pts (17%). The pts experiencing torsade de pointes were female pts with a mean LVEF of 0.24 and a QTc of 610 to 650 msec. Female gender (p = 005), younger age (p = 0.04), lower LVEF (p = 0.01). and an increased baseline QTc interval (p l 0.005) were statistically associated with proarrhythmia. Proarrhythmic events occurred on day 2.3 ± 1 of quinidine therapy (range: 1–4). In conclusion in this prospective study of hospitalized pts, quinidine resulted in lengthening of the QTc inteNal beyond 550 msec in 31% of the pts and in a 17% incidence of clinically significant ventricular proarrhythmia. Proarrhythmia was statistically associated with female gender, decreased LVEF and increased baseline QTc interval. The results of this prospective study indicate that the incidence of quinidine-induced proarrhythmia and excessive QT prolongation may be higher than the 5–10% incidence previously reported in retrospective studies.
Ovulatory response to treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome is associated with a polymorphism in the STK11 gene.

Context: Clomiphene and insulin sensitizers such as metformin are used to induce ovulation in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), but the ovulatory response is variable, and the causes of this variation are poorly understood. Objective: Our objective was to identify predictive genetic polymorphisms and other determinants of ovulatory response. Design: This was a substudy of a multicenter randomized clinical trial. Setting: This study was performed at academic medical centers and their affiliates. Participants: A total of 312 women with PCOS were included in the study. Main Outcome Measures: Historical, biometric, biochemical, and genetic parameters were performed. Results: We found that the C allele of a single nucleotide polymorphism in the STK11 gene (expressed in liver; also known as LKB1) was associated with a significantly decreased chance of ovulation in PCOS women treated with metformin. In an analysis of ovulation per cycle, the adjusted odds ratio (OR) comparing the C/C genotype to the G/G genotype was 0.30 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.14, 0.66], and the OR for the C/G genotype vs. the G/G genotype was also 0.30 (95% CI 0.14, 0.66). In an analysis of metformin-treated subjects, we found that the percentage of women who ovulated increased with the number of G alleles present: 48% (10 of 21) of C/C women, 67% (32 of 48) of C/G women, and 79% (15 of 19) of G/G women ovulated. We also found that increased frequency of ovulation was associated with lower body mass index (BMI) [adjusted OR of 2.36 (95% CI 1.65, 3.36) and 2.05 (95% CI 1.46, 2.88), respectively, for comparisons of BMI less than 30 vs. BMI equal to or more than 35, BMI 30–34 vs. BMI equal to or more than 35, in the analysis of ovulation per cycle], a lower free androgen index (FAI) [adjusted OR of 1.59 (95% CI 1.17, 2.18) for FAI < 10 vs. FAI ≥ 10], and a shorter duration of attempting conception [adjusted OR of 1.63 (95% CI 1.20, 2.21) for < 1.5 vs. ≥ 1.5 yr]. Conclusions: We have demonstrated that a polymorphism in STK11, a kinase gene expressed in liver and implicated in metformin action, is associated with ovulatory response to treatment with metformin alone in a prospective randomized trial. The interaction with the effects of changes in modifiable factors (e.g. BMI or FAI) requires further study.
Evalation of renal masses by ultrasound and computed tomography: A preliminary study

Abstract Computed tomography (CT) and ultrasound were performed on fifty-two patients with renal masses. Both modalides were able to correctly demonstrate the renal mass with an equal degree of accuracy. Since renal ultrasound is a well established, economical and noninvasive technique, it should be the diagnostic procedure of choice to determine whether or not a mass demonstrated by intravenous urography is cystic or solid. However, if faster scanning times as well as lower patient cost could be accomplished, more widespread use of CT as a diagnostic modality for differentiation of renal masses could result.
Immunolocalization of cytokeratin 19 in bovine and human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells in situ.

Abstract 1. 1. Immunocytochemical analysis of bovine and human lung sections revealed the presence of the 41 kD intermediate filament protein cytokeratin 19 in microvessel and subpleural lymphatic endothelial cells as well as the mesothelial cell layer of the lung visceral pleura. 2. 2. Cytokeratin 19 was expressed by human and bovine pulmonary microvessels with diameters ranging from 5 to 50 μm. 3. 3. Cytokeratin 19 was also found in microvessels of the rete mirabile, an oxygen exchange organ of the eel. 4. 4. Immunoperoxidase electron microscopy demonstrated cytokeratin 19 associated with the lateral membranes of adjacent bovine alveolar capillary endothelial cells.