cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Infants' discrimination of internal and external pattern elements

Abstract Human infants' discrimination of changes in internal and external elements of compound visual patterns was investigated in four experiments employing a familiarization-novelty paradigm in which visual reinforcing patterns were presented contingent upon rate of high-amplitude nonnutritive sucking. In Experiment 1, 4-month infants discriminated changes in the shape of internal, external and both internal and external figures. One-month infants discriminated external changes in both internal and external figures, but failed to show reliable response recovery when only internal figures were changed. Experiments 2 and 3 failed to explain the 1-month results on the basis of poor resolution of internal figures by showing comparable discrimination of small and large singly-presented figures and by failing to find improved internal discrimination with large separation between internal and external figures. In Experiment 4, 1-month infants showed response recovery to figure additions made adjacent to the initial figure, but not to internal additions. The results are interpreted in terms of attentiveness by young infants to external pattern elements and may indicate early processing of figure-ground information. The developmental differences observed suggest an increased breadth of attention to pattern elements.
From description to explanation: Using the Livelihoods as Intimate Government (LIG) approach

Abstract Two decades after their rapid rise to prominence, the place of livelihoods approaches in contemporary development conversations and programming is unclear. This status is in many ways deserved, as such approaches have often failed to deliver rigorous explanations of observed livelihoods decisions and outcomes. However, as development, humanitarian assistance, and climate change organizations refocus their efforts around the concepts of resilience and vulnerability, there is increasing demand for methods with the holism of livelihoods approaches. If livelihoods approaches are to fill this need, they must evolve to embrace explicit theories of livelihoods decision-making, and means of applying this theory to specific research and implementation challenges. This paper presents the Livelihoods as Intimate Government (LIG) approach as one such linking of theory and application. LIG captures a wider range of motivations for observed decisions and behaviors than possible under the more instrumental livelihoods approaches that currently dominate the scene, a critical need if we are to productively address complex questions of vulnerability and resilience. This article lays out the theory behind LIG and connects this theory to practice through a step-by-step manner with reference to livelihoods decisions in Ghana's Central Region, closing with a brief discussion of what LIG, and indeed revitalized livelihoods approaches more generally, can contribute to contemporary development and climate change research, policy, and implementation.
Efficient utilization of dissolved free amino acids by suspended marine bacteria

Incorporation of a mixture of 14C-labeled amino acids by bacteria averaged 79% of assimilation (incorporation plus respiration) but varied with time and location in the salinity gradient of the Newport River estuary, North Carolina, over a 9-month period. The incorporation ranged from an average of 86% at a high (34.2%0) to 74% at a low (4.1%0) average salinity location. Incorporation at the high salinity location generally was greater than values previously reported in the literature because we accounted for amino acids lost from the particulate fraction as a result of the acidification required to liberate 14CO2 from the water. Loss of label due to acidification for estuarine water and for neritic water collected from Florida to Massachusetts was up to 79% of the incorporated amino acids and varied inversely with the amount of incorporated label. The data affirm that suspended marine bacteria efficiently utilize dissolved free amino acids and that acidification should not be used to stop the incubation of samples to be filtered for measurement of substrate incorporation.
Pointing knowledge accuracy of the star tracker based ATP system

The pointing knowledge for the deep space optical communications should be accurate and the estimate update rate needs to be sufficiently higher to compensate the spacecraft vibration. Our objective is to meet these two requirements, high accuracy and update rate, using the combinations of star trackers and inertial sensors. Star trackers are very accurate and provide absolute pointing knowledge with low update rate depending on the star magnitude. On the other hand, inertial sensors provide relative pointing knowledge with high update rates. In this paper, we describe how the star tracker and inertial sensor measurements are combined to reduce the pointing knowledge jitter. This method is based on the 'iterative averaging' of the star tracker and gyro measurements. Angle sensor measurements are to fill in between the two gyro measurements for higher update rate and the total RMS error (or jitter) increases in RSS (Root-Sum-Squared) sense. The estimated pointing jitter is on the order of 150 nrad which is well below the typical requirements of the deep space optical communications. This 150 nrad jitter can be achieved with 8 cm diameter of telescope aperture. Additional expectations include 1/25 pixel accuracy per star, SIRTF class gyros (ARW = 0.0001 deg/root-hr), 5 Hz star trackers with ~5.0 degree FOV, detector of 1000 by 1000 pixels, and stars of roughly 9 to 9.5 magnitudes.
A dynamical systems approach to mixing and segregation of granular materials in tumblers

The physics of granular matter is one of the big questions in science. Granular matter serves as a prototype of collective systems far from equilibrium and fundamental questions remain. At the same time, an understanding of granular matter has tremendous practical importance. Among practical problems, granular mixing and its interplay with segregation is arguably at the top of the list in terms of impact. Granular mixing in three-dimensional systems is complicated, as flow induces segregation by particle size or density. Several approaches and points of view for analysis are possible in principle, ranging from continuum to discrete. Flow and segregation in three-dimensional systems is seemingly complicated; however, to a reasonable approximation, all of the dynamics takes place in a thin flowing surface layer. This observation, coupled with key experimental results, leads to a simple, compact and extensible continuum-based dynamical systems framework applicable to time-periodic flow in quasi-two-dimension...
Sugar beet for bioethanol production: An approach based on environmental agricultural outputs

Abstract The EU imports both bioethanol and the raw material needed to produce it. Thirty percent of bioethanol is produced from sugar beets in the EU. However, sugar beet cultivated area and yields have fallen due to the 2006 sugar regime reform. Given the potential uncertainty about the future for sugar beet farmers, biofuels may represent an alternative market. This paper analyses potential contribution to the efficiency, in terms of environmental output, of the sugar beet crop both when production is oriented toward bioethanol and regarding the use of input. An empirical application is performed in Spain by Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). The results show that 4% of farms have full technical efficiency, while the rest have an average efficiency of 55.9%. The figures show that inputs can be reduced over 40%, and also show the low average level of input-use efficiency. In addition, it cannot be said that there is a relationship between efficiency and farm scale. The consideration of aspects such as the environmental advantages of using sugar beet production for bioethanol can open new lines of action to support this crop in the EU. In addition, boosting sugar beet production may reduce potential dependency on importation.
Progressively Censored Sampling in the Three-Parameter Gamma Distribution

This paper is a continuation of previous work concerning progressively censored sampling in the normal and the exponential distribution [1], in the Weibull distribution [4], and in the log-normal distribution [5]. Here maximum likelihood estimators and estimators which utilize the first order statistic are derived for the three-parameter gamma distribution (Pearson's Type III Distribution) when samples are progressively censored. Various special cases are also considered. Illustrative examples involving life test data are included. Some of the sampling properties of the proposed estimators are investigated.
Transient response of forests to CO2-induced climate change: simulation modeling experiments in eastern North America.

The temporal response of forests to CO2-induced climate changes was examined for eastern North America. A forest stand simulation model was used with the assumption that climate will change at a constant rate as atmospheric CO2 doubles, and then as CO2 doubles again. Before being used to project future vegetation trends, the simulation model FORENA was verified by its ability to reproduce long, temporal sequences of plant community change recorded by fossil pollen and by its ability to reproduce today's vegetation. The simulated effects of changing monthly temperature and precipitation included a distinctive dieback of extant trees at most locations, with only partial recovery of biomass in areas of today's temperate deciduous forest. In the southern portion of today's deciduous-coniferous transition forests the simulated dieback was indistinct and recovery by deciduous tree species was rapid. In more northerly transition areas, the dieback not only was clearly expressed, but occurred twice, when new dominant species replaced extant conifers, then were themselves replaced, as climate change continued. Boreal conifers also underwent diebacks and were replaced by deciduous hardwoods more slowly in the north than in the south. Transient responses in species composition and carbon storage continued as much as 300 years after simulated climate changes ceased.
Hypoxic-Ischemic Injury: Utility of Susceptibility-Weighted Imaging

Magnetic resonance imaging is increasingly used to assess neonatal hypoxic-ischemic injury, and several scoring systems were developed to predict neurologic outcomes in these patients. We examined the magnetic resonance imaging studies of 33 neonates/infants who manifested acute perinatal hypoxic-ischemic injuries. Using a seven-point susceptibility-weighted imaging categorical grading scale, each patient received a "prominence of vein" score, which was dichotomized into a "normal" or "abnormal" group. Six-month outcomes were assessed using the Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category Scale. We then determined whether "prominence of vein" scores correlated with neurologic outcomes in patients with hypoxic-ischemic injuries, and compared these results with the Barkovich magnetic resonance imaging scoring system. Patients with "normal" "prominence of vein" scores demonstrated better outcomes (mean Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category Scale value = 2) than patients with "abnormal" "prominence of vein" scores (mean Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category Scale value = 4). The dichotomized "prominence of vein" groups demonstrated correlations with the Barkovich magnetic resonance imaging scores of the proton density-weighted basal ganglia, watershed, and combined basal ganglia/watershed regions. The susceptibility-weighted imaging categorical grading scale may aid in predicting neurologic outcomes after hypoxic-ischemic injuries.
Listener sensitivity to variations in the relative amplitude of vowel formants

Listener sensitivity to formant amplitude variations in the perception of both within- and between-vowel-category differences was examined for two isolated synthetic vowels, /i/ and /ɪ/. The relative amplitudes of F2 and F4 were varied in steps along acoustic continua which were created in accord with formant amplitude patterns found in natural speech. The results showed that vowel-specific patterns of formant amplitude variation affected listeners’ judgments of “naturalness” of each vowel token, as well as its phonetic quality.
The effect of polycations on the interaction of viral RNA with mammalian cells: studies on the infectivity of single- and double-stranded poliovirus RNA.

Abstract A wide variety of polycations augment the infectivity of single- and double-stranded poliovirus RNA. Several mechanisms of action may be involved, depending upon the polycation and the form of RNA in question, but it is clear that the stimulation of infectivity is not solely a consequence of improved adsorption and penetration. In the range of 50–50,000 RNA molecules per host cell, there is a linear relationship between quantity of RNA and number of infectious centers. However, larger excesses of RNA result in a sharply reduced yield of infectious centers and a concomitant reduction in the cloning efficiency of the host cells. The maximum proportion of a cell population that could be infected in the experiments reported was 2–4% in the case of single-stranded RNA, 0.5% in the case of double-stranded RNA. The adsorption and penetration of double-stranded RNA is complete within 2–3 minutes, whereas that of single-stranded RNA occurs more slowly. The present data, and those from previously reported experiments, indicate differences between the initial events of the growth cycles of single- and double-stranded RNA.
T cell tolerance and immunity to commensal bacteria

The commensal bacteria normally resident in the gastrointestinal tract represent an enormous pool of foreign antigen within the body. Although mechanical barriers limit entry of bacteria into the host, recent data suggest that T cells routinely interact with commensal bacteria using both antigen-specific and non-specific receptors. Depending on the bacterial species, either regulatory or effector T cell responses can be generated. For example, segmented filamentous bacteria (SFB) favor effector Th17 responses whereas Bacteroides fragilis and certain Clostridium species favor Foxp3+ regulatory T (Treg) cell responses. Thus, in contrast with the notion that only tolerogenic responses are required to self, gut homeostasis may require both tolerance and immunity to various constituents of the commensal microbiota.
Epileptogenesis induces long-term alterations in intracellular calcium release and sequestration mechanisms in the hippocampal neuronal culture model of epilepsy.

Calcium and calcium-dependent processes have been hypothesized to be involved in the induction of epilepsy. It has been shown that epileptic neurons have altered calcium homeostatic mechanisms following epileptogenesis in the hippocampal neuronal culture (HNC) and pilocarpine models of epilepsy. To investigate the mechanisms causing these alterations in [Ca2+]i homeostatic processes following epileptogenesis, we utilized the HNC model of in vitro 'epilepsy' which produces spontaneous recurrent epileptiform discharges (SREDs). Using [Ca2+]i imaging, studies were initiated to evaluate the mechanisms mediating these changes in [Ca2+]i homeostasis. 'Epileptic' neurons required much longer to restore a glutamate induced [Ca2+]i load to baseline levels than control neurons. Inhibition of Ca2+ entry through voltage and receptor gated Ca2+ channels and stretch activated Ca2+ channels had no effect on the prolonged glutamate induced increase in [Ca2+]i in epileptic neurons. Employing thapsigargin, an inhibitor of the sarco/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase (SERCA), it was shown that thapsigargin inhibited sequestration of [Ca2+]i by SERCA was significantly decreased in 'epileptic' neurons. Using Ca2+ induced Ca2+ release (CICR) cell permeable inhibitors for the ryanodine receptor (dantrolene) and the IP3 receptor (2-amino-ethoxydiphenylborate, 2APB) mediated CICR, we demonstrated that CICR was significantly augmented in the 'epileptic' neurons, and determined that the IP3 receptor mediated CICR was the major release mechanism altered in epileptogenesis. These data indicate that both inhibition of SERCA and augmentation of CICR activity contribute to the alterations accounting for the impaired calcium homeostatic processes observed in 'epileptic' neurons. The results suggest that persistent changes in [Ca2+]i levels following epileptogenesis may contribute to the long-term plasticity changes manifested in epilepsy and that understanding the basic mechanisms mediating these changes may provide an insight into the development of novel therapeutic approaches to treat epilepsy and prevent or reverse epileptogenesis.
Dark surfaces of asteroids and comets - Evidence for macromolecular carbon compounds

The presence of very low-albedo material on the surfaces of some classes of asteroids (C,P,D) and most comets appears to be related to macromolecular carbon compounds on these bodies. Preliminary detections of an organic spectral signature have been reported for some asteroids. The complex refractory organics that occur in some meteorites are probably the material that makes low-albedo asteroids dark. Comet surfaces and ejected dust particles are also very low albedo, apparently resulting from the radiation processing of organic ices.
Attitudes toward the criminal legal system: Scale development and predictors

The purpose of this study was to assess attitudes toward the criminal legal system and determine how they are related to rule-violating behaviors and experiences with the criminal legal system. To this end, the Attitudes Toward the Criminal Legal System Scale (ATCLS) was developed and five studies were conducted with participants from New England, including college students, high school students, and the community. Studies 1 and 2 found support for the reliability and validity of the ATCLS, and a relation between the ATCLS and authoritarianism and belief in a just world. Study 3 examined the test–retest reliability of the ATCLS. Studies 4 and 5 were conducted primarily to uncover the relation between the ATCLS and law- or rule-related behaviors with a community and high school sample, respectively. Generally, results suggested that there were no sex differences on the ATCLS, but attitudes toward the criminal legal system might function differently for men and women with regards to authoritarianism and beh...
The relative merits of 6π9C bishomoaromatic and 10π13C longicyclic stabilization

The behaviour of tricyclo[4.4.3.01,6] tridecapentaenyl and tricyclo[4.4.3.01,6]trideca- 2,4,11-trienyl cations under short- and long- life conditions is described.
Therapy Insight: treatment of gastroesophageal reflux in adults with chronic cough

This Review discusses the most common causes of chronic cough, the clinical features of GER-related cough and the usefulness of an empiric therapy trial to identify and treat these patients. The authors also consider how to proceed when patients do not improve with an empiric therapy trial. Clinical outcomes, long-term GER therapy and potential pitfalls of the treatment of GER-related cough are also covered. Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is the second most common cause of chronic cough in immunocompetent patients who are nonsmokers, not on angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors and have normal chest radiographs. Identification of GER in chronic cough patients can be difficult; most patients with GER-related cough have no esophageal symptoms and no esophageal test is adequate to make this diagnosis. Post-hoc analysis of four prospective intervention trials has identified a clinical patient profile that can predict the presence of GER-related cough 91% of the time. Clinical practice guidelines from the American College of Chest Physicians and the British Thoracic Society recommend initiating an initial empiric GER therapy trial, with esophageal testing being reserved for nonresponders. The empiric trial should include conservative measures and PPIs twice daily for 3 months. Selected patients who have dysphagia might benefit from the addition of a prokinetic agent. Esophageal manometry and pH testing with impedance monitoring (if available) should be performed in nonresponders while they are on therapy. It can take more than 50 days for cough to respond to medical GER therapy. Surgical fundoplication might be helpful in very carefully selected patients. Careful evaluation and treatment resolves cough in ∼80% of patients with GER-related cough.
Joining of YBa2Cu3O7−x superconductors

Abstract The weldability of Y-Ba-Cu-O ceramic superconductors is reported in this paper. Bars of superconductors were fusion welded by using the calcined powder as a filler. The welded bars showed good mechanical integrity. After a post heat treatment, the samples showed sharp drop in resistance around 90 K though it did not reach the zero value. This is believed to be due to the presence of an impurity phase and pores in the welded region.
g-Factor of electron centered in symmetric cavity

Abstract The cyclotron frequency of an electron localized in the center of a cylindrical microwave cavity differs slightly from that in free space. To see this, the system is modeled by a series resonant lc circuit for the cyclotron motion connected across the center of a section of two-wire transmission line (the cavity). When the transmission line is infinitely long, its input impedance at terminals in its center is strictly ohmic and equal to half its characteristic impedance. This ohmic impedance completes the lc circuit, essentially without changing its resonant frequency but damping it. This is the analog of the cyclotron motion in free space that is damped by spontaneous emission. Free space may be mimicked by a short section of transmission line that is terminated at both ends by resistors equal in value to its characteristic impedance. A slightly lossy cavity is modeled by a section of line terminated by resistors much smaller than the characteristic impedance. When the frequency of the lc circuit/cyclotron motion is chosen thus that the line/cavity contains exactly an even number of half-waves, its input impedance will be ohmic and much smaller than its characteristic impedance. Therefore, the frequency of the lc circuit/cyclotron motion will be the same as in vacuum but spontaneous emission and associated line broadening will be much reduced. The g-factor of the electron measured under these conditions practically equals the free space value. This follows because g is determined by the ratio of spin and cyclotron frequencies and the spin practically does not couple to the radiation field.
Out-of-season gamete production in Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis: Photoperiod and temperature manipulation

Abstract The natural spawning of Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis is limited to late winter into early spring. In order to reduce the cost of urchin production, out-of-season gamete production is necessary. This study attempted to condition broodstock for out-of-season gamete production through the use of two different photoperiod and temperature regimes: a Constant Spring and an Advanced year; hypothesized to induce maturation through suspension or advancement of the gametogenic cycle, respectively. Viable gametes were successfully produced out-of-season with fertilization and hatch rates equal to or surpassing the levels recorded for wild urchin's in-season. In addition, specific fecundity was significantly higher in out-of-season conditioned urchins compared to the in-season wild urchins. Histological techniques proved that gametogenesis was both suspended and advanced through manipulation of the photoperiod and temperature. In addition, several important observations were made regarding reproductive physiology in the green sea urchin, the implications of which are important to the economic development of the green sea urchin aquaculture industry and management of wild stocks.
Three-Dimensional Energy Band in Graphite and Lithium-Intercalated Graphite

Angle-resolved inverse photoemission with tunable photon energies has been used to map out the unoccupied bands of graphite and lithium-intercalated graphite. At the Brillouin zone center the bottom of the lowest band is found at 4.0\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.5 eV above the Fermi level in graphite. This band shows strong dispersion normal to the basal plane in excellent agreement with recent self-consistent band-structure calculations. A similar three-dimensional band is found in lithium-intercalated graphite shifted 3 eV to lower energy.
A reexamination of the role of LYT-2-positive T cells in murine skin graft rejection.

We have investigated which T cell subclass defined by cytolysis with monoclonal anti-Lyt-1.2 and anti-Lyt-2.2 antibodies is required to adoptively transfer the ability to reject skin grafts. B6.Thy-1.1 spleen cells immune to graft antigens were fractionated with antibody plus C' and transferred to adult thymectomized, irradiated, bone marrow-reconstituted (ATXBM) B6.Thy-1.2 hosts that were simultaneously grafted with BALB.B skin. We found that when the ATXBM hosts were used 6 wk after irradiation and marrow reconstitution, both Lyt-1-depleted and Lyt-2-depleted immune spleen cells could transfer the ability to promptly reject skin grafts. However, such ATXBM recipients of Lyt-2-depleted cells that had rejected skin grafts were found to contain graft-specific CTL that were largely of host (B6.Thy-1.2) origin. When ATXBM hosts were used for the experiment 1 wk after irradiation and marrow reconstitution, no host-derived graft-specific CTL could be detected. However, graft rejection occurred in recipients of anti-Lyt-1- or anti-Lyt-2 plus C'-treated immune cells and specific CTL were generated from spleen cells of both groups. Thus, in the absence of a host-derived response, adoptively transferred immune Lyt-2+ cells, either resistant to, or that escaped from, antibody plus C' treatment, are able to expand in response to the antigenic stimulus provided by the graft. A more complete elimination of specific T cell subclasses is therefore needed to assess the relative contribution of a particular subset to the graft rejection process.
Terminator-specific recycling of a B1-Alu transcription complex by RNA polymerase III is mediated by the RNA terminus-binding protein La

Efficient synthesis of many small abundant RNAs is achieved by the proficient recycling of RNA polymerase (pol) III and stable transcription complexes. Cellular Alu and related retroposons represent unusual pol III genes that are normally repressed but are activated by viral infection and other conditions. The core sequences of these elements contain pol III promoters but must rely on fortuitous downstream oligo(dT) tracts for terminator function. We show that a B1-Alu gene differs markedly from a classical pol III gene (tRNAiMet) in terminator sequence requirements. B1-Alu genes that differ only in terminator sequence context direct differential RNA 3' end formation. These genes are assembled into stable transcription complexes but differ in their ability to be recycled in the presence of the La transcription termination factor. La binds to the nascent RNA 3' UUUOH end motif that is generated by transcriptional termination within the pol III termination signal, oligo(dT). We found that the recycling efficiency of the B1-Alu genes is correlated with the ability of La to access the 3' end of the nascent transcript and protect it from 3'-5' exonucleolytic processing. These results illuminate a relationship between RNA 3' end formation and transcription termination, and La-mediated reinitiation by pol III.
Micromotion-induced dynamic effects from a neural probe and brain tissue interface

Neural probes contain the potential to cause injury to surrounding neural cells due to a discrepancy in stiffness values between them and the surrounding brain tissue when subjected to mechanical micromotion of the brain. To evaluate the effects of the mechanical mismatch, a series of dynamic simulations are conducted to better understand the design enhancements required to improve the feasibility of the neuron probe. The simulations use a nonlinear transient explicit finite element code, LS-DYNA. A three-dimensional quarter-symmetry finite element model is utilized for the transient analysis to capture the time-dependent dynamic deformations on the brain tissue from the implant as a function of different frequency shapes and stiffness values. When micromotion-induced pulses are applied, reducing the neuron probe stiffness by three orders of magnitude leads up to a 41.6% reduction in stress and 39.1% reduction in strain. The simulation conditions assume a case where sheath bonding has begun to take place around the probe implantation site, but no full bond to the probe has occurred. The analyses can provide guidance on the materials necessary to design a probe for injury reduction.
Surfactants and self-assembly in carbon dioxide

Abstract Amphiphilic compounds have played a vital role in the emergence of carbon dioxide in both its liquid and supercritical states as a versatile, environmentally benign solvent. This review serves to describe recent efforts in three major areas of the field: (1) polymeric amphiphile self-assembly in carbon dioxide solutions, (2) use of surfactants as stabilizing agents for polymerizations, and (3) studies involving ‘small molecule’ surfactant assemblies in carbon dioxide.
Unique dynamic appearance of a Ge-Si ad-dimer on Si(001).

We carry out a comparative study of the energetics and dynamics of Si-Si, Ge-Ge, and Ge-Si ad-dimers on top of a dimer row in the Si(001) surface, using first-principles calculations. The dynamic appearance of a Ge-Si dimer is distinctively different from that of a Si-Si or Ge-Ge dimer, providing a unique way for its identification by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Its ``rocking'' motion, observed in STM, actually reflects a $180\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$ rotation of the dimer, involving a piecewise-rotation mechanism. The calculated energy barrier of 0.74 eV is in good agreement with the experimental value of 0.82 eV.
Comparison of full-loop and riser-only simulations for a pilot-scale circulating fluidized bed riser

Abstract In this paper, both full-loop and riser-only simulations of a pilot-scale circulating fluidized bed (CFB) system carried out by the open-source code MFIX (Multiphase Flow with Interphase eXchanges) are presented. Detailed comparison between full-loop and riser-only numerical simulations has been conducted with respect to the flow hydrodynamics inside the riser. The mean solids circulation rate is found to be the most critical parameter for both riser-only and full-loop simulations. On one hand, the mean solids circulation rate is needed for specifying the solids inlet boundary condition for the riser-only simulation. On the other hand, a reasonable prediction of the solids circulation rate is a prerequisite for the full-loop simulation to properly predict the flow hydrodynamics inside the riser. To better account for the full-loop dynamics in the riser-only simulation, the transient solids circulation rate measured from an experimental facility is imposed in the simulation in addition to the mean solids circulation rate. Consistent numerical predictions of the flow hydrodynamics inside the riser are obtained by different types of simulations. In-depth discussion on the advantage and disadvantages of each approach is presented and the riser-only simulation with appropriate boundary conditions is shown to be sufficient for investigating the steady CFB riser flow. The full-loop simulation is promising but more challenging as all major components and associated complicated physics have to be included and correctly modeled which require both advanced model capability and high computer power.
Mechanisms of chain diffusion in lamellar block copolymers.

We report measurements of chain diffusion in macroscopically oriented, well-entangled lamellar block copolymers. Diffusion in the lamellar plane is proposed to occur by an ``activated reptation'' mechanism when the composition profile is roughly sinusoidal. At higher degrees of segregation a crossover to an entropically limited ``block retraction'' mechanism is apparent. Diffusion through the layers reflects a thermodynamic barrier determined by the combination of temperature and molecular weight.
Fatty acid oxidation and myocardial phospholipase A2 activity.

Cis-unsaturated fatty acids, but not saturated fatty acids, inhibited phospholipase A2 activity (PLA2) in vitro, and may function as endogenous suppressors of lipolysis. To probe the possible role of lipid peroxidation in the regulation of myocardial lipid catabolism, a neutral-active and Ca2+-dependent PLA2 was extracted from rat heart and was partially purified by sulfopropyl cation exchange chromatography. Myocardial PLA2 activity was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by oleic, linoleic, linolenic, and arachidonic acids; the IC50 for arachidonic acid was approx 65 µM. Palmitic acid was not inhibitory. When arachidonic acid was incubated at 37° C, exposed to air, there was a time- and pH-dependent peroxidation of the arachidonic acid as monitored by turbidity, thiobarbituric acid reactivity, and thin layer chromatography. Peroxidation was increased as the pH was lowered from 7.5 to 4.5, and was accompanied by a decrease in PLA2 inhibitory potency. Thus, arachidonate incubated for 24 hours at pH’s 4.5, 6.0 and 7.5 lost 84%, 32%, and 20% respectively, of its inhibitory potency. Therefore, in vitro acidosis promotes the oxidation of cis-unsaturated fatty acids and relieves their inhibitory or suppressive activity toward PLA2s. Increased lipid peroxidation of unesterified unsaturated fatty acids during acidosis may therefore promote lipolysis observed during myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury.
Iron chelation and neuroprotection in neurodegenerative diseases

Iron is an essential element for multiple functions of the brain. Maintenance of iron homeostasis involves regulation of iron influx, iron efflux and iron storage. Mismanagement of brain iron has been implicated in neuronal injury and death in several neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease (PD), Alzheimer’s disease (PD) and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Multiple iron chelators have been shown neuroprotective and neurorestorative in these diseases, suggesting that iron chelation might be a promising therapeutics. In this paper, we briefly review the new findings of biological function of several molecules that regulate iron homeostasis in the brain, the possible role of iron mismanagement in the pathogenesis of PD, AD and ALS, and then discuss the putative mechanisms for current available iron chelators as potential therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases.
Valuation of technology development using a novel workflow approach to compound real options

A concept study was undertaken to demonstrate how strategic valuation of a micro-sun sensor development could impact decision-making and planning during maturation of technology from proof-of-concept through validation and demonstration. A workflow of activities that retire risk and ensure technology infusion into a targeted system also prescribes a pseudo-decision tree from which comparison of discounted cash flow (DCF) with compound real options valuation is performed to evaluate the strategic value of the maturation phase. The intent is to identify areas where financial modeling may improve decision-making for integration with technology risk assessment, infusion planning, probabilistic cost estimation, schedule uncertainties and program-level decision tree analysis. DCF and option values expectedly are dominated by assumptions and uncertainty. Nonetheless, the latter preliminarily yields a project value distribution that can exceed DCF by up to $40,000 though typically is below $10,000 for this relatively small $800,000 technology development effort over two years.
Vitamin E diffused, highly crosslinked UHMWPE: a review

Highly crosslinked UHMWPE has become the bearing surface of choice in total hip arthroplasty. First generation crosslinked UHMWPEs, clinically introduced in the 1990s, show significant improvements compared to gamma sterilised, conventional UHMWPE in decreasing wear and osteolysis. These crosslinked UHMWPEs were thermally treated (annealed or melted) after irradiation to improve their oxidation resistance. While annealing resulted in the retention of some oxidation potential, post-irradiation melted UHMWPEs had reduced fatigue strength due to the crystallinity loss during melting. Thus, the stabilisation of radiation crosslinked UHMWPEs by the diffusion of the antioxidant vitamin E was developed to obtain oxidation resistance with improved fatigue strength by avoiding post-irradiation melting. A two-step process was developed to incorporate vitamin E into irradiated UHMWPE by diffusion to obtain a uniform concentration profile. Against accelerated and real-time aging in vitro, this material showed superior oxidation resistance to UHMWPEs with residual free radicals. The fatigue strength was improved compared to irradiated and melted UHMWPEs crosslinked using the same irradiation dose. Several adverse testing schemes simulating impingement showed satisfactory behaviour. Peri-prosthetic tissue reaction to vitamin E was evaluated in rabbits and any effects of vitamin E on device fixation were evaluated in a canine model, both of which showed no detrimental effects of the inclusion of vitamin E in crosslinked UHMWPE. Irradiated, vitamin E-diffused, and gamma sterilised UHMWPEs have been in clinical use in hips since 2007 and in knees since 2008. The clinical outcome of this material will be apparent from the results of prospective, randomised clinical studies.
The Implications of Demographic Change for Nationalism and Internationalism

O NE OF THE MOST significant and least studied aspects of the population "explosion" is its impact on the formation of national communities. Is there a connection between demographic changes and nationalism, between patterns of loyalty to a national group and changes in the size, geographic distribution and group composition of its population? How great is this connection? The continuing importance of both nationalism and the population explosion in world politics today begs exploration of the relationship between these dynamic quantitative and qualitative areas of social change. Diverse changes in the structure of world population do in fact help to forge the structure of social organization, just as do the shifts in military technology and defensibility which John H. Herz shows to have shaped the size and nature of organized social units. While the unprecedented changes in world population which became evident about 1650 paralleled Herz's gunpowder revolution in influencing the rise of national groups, the societal effects of present population changes may someday match the effects of new thermonuclear weaponry. As population trends continue to mold loyalty to national groups, they are even now affecting loyalty to the "international" group composed of all world inhabitants. Although population is at best only one factor shaping patterns of group loyalty, it may prove worthwhile to trace out the implications of demographic change not only because they are regularly overlooked but also because they in turn influence other factors which shape loyalty such as education and geographic isolation.
Improved Outcome of Allogeneic Transplantation in High-Risk Multiple Myeloma Patients After Nonmyeloablative Conditioning

PURPOSE: We present our experience with relapsed and recently diagnosed patients with high-risk multiple myeloma (MM) receiving immunosuppressive, nonmyeloablative melphalan (MEL)-based conditioning regimens (mini-allograft). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-one MM patients received allografts from HLA-matched siblings (n = 25) or unrelated donors (n = 6) using a mini-allograft. Seventeen had progressive disease (PD) and 14 had responsive disease (RD) (six with primary RD and eight with responsive relapse). Thirty patients had received one (n = 13) or two or more (n = 17) prior autologous transplantations (ATs). Median age was 56 years (range, 38 to 69 years). Twenty-one patients had chromosome 13 abnormality. Two patients were hemodialysis dependent. Blood and bone marrow grafts were administered to 28 and three patients, respectively. Donor lymphocyte infusions were given to 18 patients either to attain full donor chimerism (n = 6) or to eradicate residual disease (n = 12). RESULTS: By day 100, 25 (89%) of ...
Bimetallic nickel–iron nanoparticles for groundwater decontamination: Effect of groundwater constituents on surface deactivation

Abstract The incorporation of catalytic metals on iron nanoparticles to form bimetallic nanoparticles (BNPs) generates a class of highly reactive materials for degrading chlorinated hydrocarbons (e.g., trichloroethylene, TCE) in groundwater. Successful implementation of BNPs to groundwater decontamination relies critically on the stability of surface reactive sites of BNPs in groundwater matrices. This study investigated the effect of common groundwater solutes on TCE reduction with Ni–Fe (with Ni at 2 wt.%) bimetallic nanoparticles (herein denoted as Ni–Fe BNPs). Batch experiments involving pre-exposing the nanoparticles to various groundwater solutions for 24 h followed by reactions with TCE solutions were conducted. The results suggest that the deactivation behavior of Ni–Fe BNPs differs significantly from that of the well-studied Pd–Fe BNPs. Specifically, Ni–Fe BNPs were chemically stable in pure water. Mild reduction in TCE reaction rates were observed for Ni–Fe BNPs pre-exposed to chloride (Cl−), bicarbonate ( HCO 3 − ), sulfite ( SO 3 2 − ) and humic acid solutions. Nitrate ( NO 3 − ), sulfate ( SO 4 2 − ) and phosphate ( HPO 4 2 − ) may cause moderate to severe deactivation at elevated concentrations (>1 mM). Product analysis and surface chemistry investigations using high-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HR-XPS) reveal that NO 3 − decreased particle reactivity mainly due to progressive formation of passivating oxides, whereas SO 4 2 − and phosphate elicited rapid deactivation as a result of specific poisoning of the surface nickel sites. At similar levels, phosphate is the most potent deactivation agent among the solutes examined in this study. While our findings point out the desirable quality of Ni–Fe nanoparticles, particularly their greater electrochemical stability compared to Pd–Fe BNPs, its susceptibility to chemical poisoning at high levels of complexing ligands is also noted. Groundwater chemistry is therefore an important factor to consider when choosing appropriate material(s) for decontaminating the complex environmental media.
Standard tolerances for pharmaceutical compounding. A basis for their establishment. II. Liquid preparations

The validity of the method described in this report for the determination of reasonable and equitable standards of tolerance for extemporaneously compounded Pharmaceuticals rests primarily in the samples utilized. These samples were purchased from many practicing pharmacists who are possessed of many degrees of natural skill, and who work under the many different conditions existing in all types of licensed pharmacies. The indicated tolerances are obtained by statistical studies of different series of preparations utilizing the system of least squares and 1.73 standard deviations. The acceptable proportion of samples in each series as determined by this procedure is compared with the acceptable proportion of samples as determined by the points of flexure on probability curves plotted for each series. This comparison indicates that, at least in this type of work, the adopted method yields functionally true tolerances.
B cell antigen receptor signal strength and peripheral B cell development are regulated by a 9-O-acetyl sialic acid esterase

We show that the enzymatic acetylation and deacetylation of a cell surface carbohydrate controls B cell development, signaling, and immunological tolerance. Mice with a mutation in sialate: O -acetyl esterase, an enzyme that specifically removes acetyl moieties from the 9-OH position of α2–6-linked sialic acid, exhibit enhanced B cell receptor (BCR) activation, defects in peripheral B cell development, and spontaneously develop antichromatin autoantibodies and glomerular immune complex deposits. The 9- O -acetylation state of sialic acid regulates the function of CD22, a Siglec that functions in vivo as an inhibitor of BCR signaling. These results describe a novel catalytic regulator of B cell signaling and underscore the crucial role of inhibitory signaling in the maintenance of immunological tolerance in the B lineage.
Parsimony in landscape metrics: Strength, universality, and consistency

Ecologists can be overwhelmed by the number of metrics available to quantify landscape structure. Clarification of interrelationships and redundancy is needed to guide metric selection and interpretation for the purpose of landscape monitoring. In this study we identified independent components of class- and landscape-level structure in multiple landscapes in each of three large and geographically disjunct study areas. We used FRAGSTATS and principal components analysis (PCA) to identify independent components of landscape structure, and cluster analysis to group the components. We then calculated the universality, strength, and consistency of the identified landscape structure components. At the class-level we identified 24 independent configuration components. Seven of these components were nearly universal and consistent in interpreted meaning. At the landscape-level there were 17 independent structure components. Eight of these components were universal and consistent. These results indicate that there are consistent combinations of metrics that universally describe the major attributes of landscape structure at the class- and landscape-levels.
Assessing postdisaster psychological stress in hazardous waste operations and emergency response (HAZWOPER) workers.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of traumatic stress experienced by secondary responders to disaster events to determine if mental health education should be included in HAZWOPER training. METHODS: Preexisting survey tools for assessing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), resiliency, and mental distress were combined to form a web-based survey tool that was distributed to individuals functioning in secondary response roles. Data were analyzed using the Fisher exact test, 1-way ANOVA, and 1-sample t tests. RESULTS: Respondents reported elevated PTSD levels (32.9%) as compared to the general population. HAZWOPER-trained responders with disaster work experience were more likely to be classified as PTSD positive as compared to untrained, inexperienced responders and those possessing only training or experience. A majority (68.75%) scored below the mean resiliency level of 80.4 on the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale. Respondents with only training or both training and experience were more likely to exhibit lower resiliency scores than those with no training or experience. PTSD positivity correlated with disaster experience. Among respondents, 91% indicated support for mental health education. CONCLUSIONS: Given the results of the survey, consideration should be given to the inclusion of pre- and postdeployment mental health education in the HAZWOPER training regimen. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2013;0:1-9). Language: en