cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On‐line measurement of surface tension and density with applications to emulsion polymerization

Three process sensors are discussed, one for the determination of surface tension and two for the determination of liquid density. All three methods are on-line, compatible with digital data acquisition systems, and capable of monitoring flowing process streams. The instruments are described and calibration data are given. Two mathematical models of the bubble tensiometer are developed. Data showing the application of these instruments to the monitoring of batch and continuous emulsion polymerization are given.
Activity attenuates skeletal muscle fiber damage after ischemia and reperfusion

Introduction: In this investigation we aimed to deter- mine whether: (1) physical activity protects rat skeletal muscle from ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury; and (2) continued activity after I/R improves the rate of healing. Methods: Rats were divided into sedentary or active (voluntary wheel running) groups. Active rats ran for 4 weeks before I/R or 4 weeks before plus 4 weeks after I/R. Results: Activity before I/R resulted in 73.2% less mus- cle damage (Evans blue dye inclusion). Sedentary and active rats had a similar decline in neural-evoked (� 99%) and directly stimulated (� 70%) in vivo muscle torque, and a similar reduction in junctophilin 1. Active rats produced 19% and 15% greater neural-evoked torque compared with sedentary rats at 14 and 28 days postinjury, respectively, although the rate of recovery appeared similar. Conclusions: Activity protects against long- term muscle damage, but not short-term neural injury or excita- tion-contraction uncoupling. Continued activity neither acceler- ates nor hinders the rate of functional recovery. Muscle Nerve 52: 640-648, 2015 Extremity injuries are highly prevalent in both mili- tary 1 and civilian 2 trauma, and they often involve skeletal muscle. 3 In many cases, prolonged blood flow disruption due to concomitant vascular dam- age and/or acute compartment syndrome induces tissue ischemia, and subsequent surgical repair pro- motes reperfusion of the tissue. 4 Tissue reperfusion is necessary for limb salvage, although free radicals generated during this process further injure vascu- lar, neural, and muscular structures (i.e., ischemia/ reperfusion (I/R) injury 5-7 ). The underlying molec- ular mechanisms of I/R injury are fairly well under- stood, and a number of protective agents 8-10 and
Tissue microarrays without cores.

A carefully thought out method of harvesting and arraying tissue samples into blocks provides a simple but powerful way of reliably producing extremely large tissue microarrays using commonly available laboratory equipment.
Correlation of time dependent recovery from film boiling heat transfer in He II

Abstract A correlation is presented that describes the behaviour of time dependent recovery from film boiling in He II. In a one dimensional heat transfer experiment, the recovery time from the film boiling once heat generation stops is observed to be a function of the energy applied to the heater during film boiling. This correlation has a power law dependence which can be physically understood in terms of heat capacity of the heat transfer sample and the film boiling heat transfer coefficient. A direct comparison of experimental data with the analysis is achieved by adjusting the value of the transient film boiling heat transfer coefficient. Data can be predicted to within 20% for recovery under SVP conditions. The results are somewhat less certain for data taken in subcooled He II.
Political support for minimum wage legislation

Even if minimum wage laws reduce employment opportunities for some workers, other individuals may benefit from their enactment. In particular, union members and residents of states with high wage levels would be expected to encourage their senators to vote in favor of minimum wage legislation. Examination of senators’ votes on the 1966 and 1974 minimum wage bills indicates that senators favoring passage of these bills are likely to come from states with high union membership and, to a lesser extent, high wage levels.
Preoperative chlorhexidine baths/showers: for or against?

Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a major health care-related problem in Brazil. SSIs are considered the third most prevalent sort of infection in our country. A national study carried out by the Ministry of Health of Brazil in 1999 found SSI in 11% of all surgical procedures analyzed. The recent review article by Chlebicki et al, whose metaanalysis suggested no benefit of using chlorhexidine to prevent SSI, sparked a debate in our service regarding our practice of chlorhexidine use. Chlorhexidine is a broad-spectrum topical antiseptic agent capable of decreasing colonization by bacteria from the skin with effectiveness againstmultidrug-resistant organisms (eg, methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus). This antiseptic agent has the potential to prevent other types of health-related infections besides SSIs. A recent randomized clinical trial published by Climo et al studied the effect of daily bathing/showering with chlorhexidine in preventing nosocomial bloodstream infections in patients admitted to intensive care units. This multicenter study assessed 7,727 patients and observed a significant decrease in bloodstream infection rates in patients at risk for infection. Considering that the effect of chlorhexidine is a topical one, we believe that the inclusion of contaminated surgeries in the meta-analysis was inappropriate, although a subgroup analysis excluding these surgeries did not change the results. Furthermore, preoperative prophylaxis differed among the studies, possibly contributing to the differences in outcome. Analyzing the types of surgeries covered in the studies reveals a remarkable diversity of surgical sites, which could affect infection risk based on timing and complexity of surgical procedures and disease severity. Interestingly, the meta-analysis and randomized clinical trial had a similar number of patients. Despite the different methodologies and outcomes of previous studies, we conclude that the protective effect of chlorhexidine is real. Considering the lack of well-designed studies to allow a metaanalysis with little bias, we remain in favor of continuing preoperative chlorhexidine baths/showers for the prevention of SSIs, especially in orthopedic and cardiac implant surgeries.
Tackling Copyright in the Digital Age: An Initiative of the University of Connecticut Libraries.

SUMMARY From 2005 to 2007, the University of Connecticut Libraries Copyright Project Team engaged in a wide range of activities to fulfill its charge and to raise awareness of copyright issues in the library and across the university. This article highlights some of the primary activities and tools used by the team to involve stakeholders, to provide educational opportunities, and to stay current on copyright issues in higher education. Among other activities, the team developed a new copyright web site for use by library staff and the broader university community.
A corrosion study of nickel―copper and nickel―copper― palladium welding filler metals

In an effort to reduce the release of fumes containing carcinogenic Cr 6+ during arc welding of stainless steel, Cr-free filler metals for welding of SS304 have been developed. Corrosion studies were carried out on 304L stainless steel samples welded with these Cr-free consumables.The corrosion properties of gas tungsten arc (GTA) and shielded metal arc (SMA) welds fabricated with Ni-Cu and Ni-Cu-Pd consumables were found to be comparable to those of welds fabricated with SS308L, the standard filler metal used with SS304. Although the breakdown potentials of the welds made using both welding processes were lower than that of the SS308L GTA weld, the repassivation potentials of these welds were much higher. Generally, the repassivation potential is a more conservative measure of susceptibility to localized corrosion. Accordingly, the Ni-Cu and Ni-Cu-Pd welds were more resistant to crevice corrosion than SS308L welds. The addition of a small amount of Pd improved the corrosion resistance relative to Ni-Cu welds, which is consistent with previous studies from specially-prepared button samples and bead-on-plate samples. Other corrosion studies such as creviced and uncreviced long time immersion, atmospheric exposure, and slow strain rate testing suggest that Ni-Cu-Pd filler metal can be a potential replacement for the conventional SS308L filler metal for joining SS304.
Dark matter and ββ decay searches with ionization and cryogenic detectors

Abstract The leading results in the search for neutrinoless double beta decay have come from the Ge detectors of the UCSB/LBL experiment. Some of these specially designed, extremely low background semiconductor ionization detectors have been modified to provide the most extensive limits on the masses and cross sections of candidates for the dark matter particles which constitute perhaps 90% of the mass of the universe. Silicon detectors have been used to limit severely possible Cosmions, dark matter particles which could also solve the solar neutrino problem. While some improvements in both searches can be made with ionization detectors, significant additional progress will require cryogenic detectors. Especially promising for the direct detection of dark matter are detectors which measure both ionization and phonons. For double beta decay, a particularly interesting development is the use of superconductors with quasiparticle trapping.
Lipid lowering drugs and hyperlipidaemia.

The clinician must go beyond measurement of the plasma cholesterol and think in terms of lipoproteins for the proper management of the patient with hyperlipidaemia.
Streak-camera analysis of XeCl- and N(2)-pumped dye-laser outputs.

The temporal and spectral content of modified Hansch-type organic dye lasers pumped by either XeCl or N2 lasers has been studied. Two extreme cases of amplitude-squared detector mode beating and mode-locked laser output are examined. Experimental consequences are briefly discussed
Window design for signal-dependent spectrogram using optimal kernel techniques

Time-frequency distributions (TFDs) have proven useful in a wide variety of nonstationary signal processing applications. While sophisticated optimal bilinear TFDs have been developed to extract the maximum possible time- frequency information from signals, certain applications dictate simpler linear, running-FFT processing techniques. In this paper, we propose a signal-dependent short-time Fourier transform/spectrogram that enjoys many of the advantages of optimal bilinear TFDs yet retains the simplicity and efficiency of running-FFT processing. In addition, we extend the optimal kernel design problem to linear spaces of signals.
Colorectal cancer screening of high-risk populations: A national survey of physicians

The incidence of colorectal cancer can be decreased by appropriate use of screening modalities. Patients with a family history of colon cancer and of African-American ethnicity are known to be at higher risk of developing colorectal cancer. We aimed to determine if there is a lack of physician knowledge for colorectal cancer screening guidelines based on family history and ethnicity. Between February and April 2009 an anonymous web-based survey was administered to a random sample selected from a national list of 25,000 internists, family physicians and gastroenterologists. A stratified sampling strategy was used to include practitioners from states with high as well as low CRC incidence. All data analyses were performed following data collection in 2009. The average knowledge score was 37 ± 18% among the 512 respondents. Gastroenterologists averaged higher scores compared to internists, and family physicians, p = 0.001. Only 28% of physicians correctly identified the screening initiation point for African-Americans while only 12% of physicians correctly identified the screening initiation point and interval for a patient with a family history of CRC. The most commonly cited barriers to referring high-risk patients for CRC screening were "patient refusal" and "lack of insurance reimbursement." There is a lack of knowledge amongst physicians of the screening guidelines for high-risk populations, based on family history and ethnicity. Educational programs to improve physician knowledge and to reduce perceived barriers to CRC screening are warranted to address health disparities in colorectal cancer.
ROLE OF ENVIRONMENTAL ALLERGENS IN RHINITIS

Allergic rhinitis affects 15% to 20% of the general population with environmental allergens commonly implicated. 55 In 1880, Charles Blackley was the first person to implicate pollens in hay fever by performing skin tests and measuring pollen counts. 11 Since his pioneer work, many other allergens have been discovered and further insight has been gained into the role of allergens in rhinitis. Allergens are proteins or glycoproteins that are capable of eliciting IgE-mediated reactions. Although there are many potential allergenic proteins in the environment, few are clinically important, and even fewer have been isolated and characterized. A given allergen is considered major when there is IgE binding by radioimmunoelectrophoresis in 50% or more individuals sensitive to that allergen and minor if the IgE binding is present in less than 50% of allergic individuals. 39 Most aeroallergens have molecular weights between 10 and 40 kD and are carried on particles (e.g., pollen grain and house dust) between 2 and 60 μm in size. The particle size largely determines the location of deposition of the allergen once it reaches the human respiratory tract. Studies have shown that particles of greater than 10 μm will generally only be deposited in the upper airways; those of 5 μm in size, will reach the lower airways 20% of the time, and those less than 2 μm in size will reach the lower airways 100% of the time. 21,76 It is convenient to divide the various allergens into those that exist in the outdoor environment, and those that exist in the indoor environment. In the outdoors, pollens of trees, grasses, weeds, and certain fungi (e.g., Alternaria and Cladosporium ) represent the most common allergens that provoke rhinitis symptoms. Pollen-sensitive individuals typically experience seasonal rhinitis symptoms in predictable time intervals from one season to the next. Although fungi are more ubiquitous in nature and do not have distinct seasons like pollens, outdoor and indoor fungi thrive in a moist environment. Therefore, in temperate climates, fungi counts start to rise in spring with a peak in mid to late summer. Indoor allergens include fungi, animals, cockroaches, and dust mites. Unlike the outdoor allergens, which typically produce seasonal symptoms, indoor allergens often produce symptoms perennially; however, the symptoms are less drastic in nature, often making diagnosis more difficult.
Intermediate-term results of repair for aortic, neoaortic, and truncal valve insufficiency in children.

Objective Repair of aortic valve insufficiency is difficult, and durability is relatively unknown in children. This study evaluates the intermediate-term results of repair of the systemic semilunar valve, including the native aortic valve, neoaortic valve (anatomic pulmonary), and truncal valve. Methods We reviewed the records of 54 children (aged 2 days to 18 years) who underwent repair of the functional aortic valve for moderate or greater insufficiency from 1991 to 2005. Valve anatomy was tricuspid aortic in 26 patients, bicuspid aortic in 11 patients, tricuspid neoaortic in 9 patients, bicuspid neoaortic in 1 patient, and truncal valve in 7 patients. Multiple surgical techniques were used in most of the 54 patients, including leaflet plication in 17, leaflet repair in 15, commissuroplasty in 32, pericardial cusp augmentation in 8, and sinus of Valsalva reduction in 3. Results There was 1 early death and no late deaths. Actuarial freedom from reoperation was 68% at 5 years and 58% at 10 years. Freedom from aortic valve replacement was 82% at 5 years and 73% at 10 years. Duration of cardiopulmonary bypass was the most significant risk factor for reoperation with multivariate analysis. Of the 40 patients who have not undergone reoperation, 37 have had follow-up echocardiograms with the latest study (4.5 ± 4.2 years) demonstrating trace to 1+ insufficiency in 23 patients, 1 to 2+ in 12 patients, 2 to 3+ in 1 patient, and 3 to 4+ in 1 patient. Conclusion Repair of the insufficient systemic semilunar valve offers acceptable 10-year freedom from reoperation and functional results, and should be considered for most children.
Does family always matter? Public genomes and their effect on relatives.

Coinciding with the publication of the genome sequence of the HeLa cancer cell line last summer [1], US National Institutes of Health (NIH) administrators announced that they had been working closely with the family of Henrietta Lacks [2], the woman from whom the HeLa immortal cell line was derived, to address the family’s concerns regarding privacy and informed consent. NIH officials noted that ‘the full [HeLa] sequence data could potentially uncover unwanted information about people whose identity is widely known’ - namely the family of Ms Lacks [2]. Such unwanted information could include disease risks, response to drugs, ancestral roots, and in some cases an individual’s actual identity [3]. This article followed on the heels of another study published in March of this year that likewise presented a detailed account of the HeLa genome and included public posting of the data [4]. Days after publication of that article, a firestorm of commentary erupted on social media [5,6] and formal news outlets, questioning the ethics of the study and public deposition of the data. The posting of the data also reportedly upset the Lacks family, with one family member quoted as saying, ‘That is private family information…It shouldn’t have been published without our consent’ [7]. The NIH responded by entering into a much needed dialogue with the Lacks family to address these concerns. These events call attention to the issue of the impact of public release of an individual’s identified data on biological family members, and the need for empirical research in this area to inform policy-making with regard to data sharing.
Assay of prostacyclin synthesis in intact aorta by aqueous sampling.

Abstract Conversion of 1-14C-arachidonic acid (AA) to 6-keto-PGF1α, the stable metabolite of prostacyclin (PGI2) was assayed kinetically by employing an aqueous sampling technique. In this way, one can arrive at a kinetic view of PGI2 synthesis from AA in intact tissue. The assay appears to be particularly suitable to tissues such as the aorta where PGI2 constitutes the major metabolite of AA. The assay avoids the need for organic solvent extraction and relies on the essential absence of tissue binding of 6-keto-PGF1α. The disappearance of AA can also be followed in this system but quantitation is complicated by avid tissue binding of the fatty acid. The assay, as described should be applicable to other vascular tissues and should greatly simplify kinetic analyses of prostacyclin synthesis.
Toxicity estimation by chemical structure analysis: the TOX II program

The objectives of our work are to develop methodologies capable of identifying the potential environmental health hazards of chemicals. These techniques are particularly useful when it is necessary to evaluate molecules that have not been synthesized as yet, or for which there is little or no toxicological information known. With the help of MULTICASE, an artificial intelligence program capable of uncovering the relationship between the presence of specific substructures in a molecule and its toxicity, and TOX II, a program capable of identifying the existence of such substructures in a new molecule, it is now possible to predict with a reasonable degree of certainty whether a new molecule will be toxic. TOX II will uncover any functionality previously found to be related to toxicity in any organic molecule. The evaluation is extensive and may include its automatically generated metabolites. The scope of TOX II is vast as more than 70 toxicological endpoints can be evaluated.
Minimized extracorporeal circulation for the robotic totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass grafting hybrid procedure

Robotically assisted totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass grafting (TECAB) can be performed on the beating heart with cardiopulmonary bypass support in high-risk patients or patients for whom technical difficulties are expected with a complete off-pump approach. To minimize the inflammatory response and reduce the requirement for transfusion, minimized extracorporeal circulation is an attractive option for robotic TECAB procedures. The present report describes a case for which minimized extracorporeal circulation was used for the first time in TECAB performed using the da Vinci telemanipulation system.
The prevalence of thromboembolic events among women with extended bed rest prescribed as part of the treatment for premature labor or preterm premature rupture of membranes.

Abstract Objective: This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of thromboembolic events among women with extended bed rest prescribed as part of the treatment of premature labor or preterm premature rupture of membranes. Study Design: A retrospective chart review was undertaken of all women who had bed rest of ≥3 days' duration prescribed as part of the treatment of premature labor or preterm premature rupture of membranes in the Akron General Medical Center Perinatal Unit during the period January 1, 1997–December 31, 1998. The prevalence of thromboembolic events in this population was determined. The charts of all additional gravid women with antepartum or postpartum deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism diagnosed during the study period were also reviewed. The prevalence of these disorders among the pregnant population for whom extended bed rest was not prescribed as part of the treatment of premature labor or preterm premature rupture of membranes was also calculated. Statistical comparison of the prevalences in the 2 populations was undertaken by means of the χ 2 analysis with the Fisher exact test. Results: There were 192 patients admitted during the study period who had extended bed rest prescribed as part of the treatment of premature labor or preterm premature rupture of membranes. Three of these women had thromboembolic events, for a prevalence of 15.6 cases per 1000 women. Five additional gravid women were admitted for the treatment of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism. There were 6164 deliveries among women not treated with extended bed rest for premature labor or preterm premature rupture of membranes during this period. Thus the prevalence of these phenomena among the remaining pregnant women was 0.8 cases per 1000 women. The prevalences of these disorders in the 2 populations were highly significantly different. Conclusion: The prevalence of thromboembolic events among women for whom extended bed rest is prescribed as part of the treatment of premature labor or preterm premature rupture of membranes is significantly increased with respect to that among gravid women who do not receive this therapy and is substantially higher than previously reported. If this finding is confirmed in other populations, it may be prudent to undertake further studies to determine whether this prevalence can be reduced. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2000;182:1089-92.)
Solvothermal synthesis and characterization of two inorganic-organic hybrid materials based on barium.

Two metal–organic frameworks containing barium were synthesized hydrothermally and investigated for their catalytic properties. Ba2F2[O3SC2H4SO3] has barium fluoride layers linked by organic 1,2-ethanedisulfonate molecules. Ba[O3SC2H4SO3] has discrete barium centers arranged in layers and connected covalently by ethanedisulfonate bridges. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that Ba2F2[O3SC2H4SO3] is stable to ca. 325 °C and Ba[O3SC2H4SO3] to ca. 375 °C. These materials expand the metal–organic frameworks available for group II metals bound to organodisulfonate linkers and are potentially useful for a range of heterogeneous acid catalysis reactions.
Evaluating the principles of cloud remote sensing with AVHRR and MAS imagery over SHEBA

[1] A rigorous discrete ordinates radiative transfer formulation has been applied to two Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) images extracted from telemetry collected by the CCGS Des Groseilliers satellite tracking system during SHEBA to estimate cloud optical depth and effective radius of the cloud droplet size distribution. The two cases, from 2 and 3 June 1998, were chosen for analysis because (1) the images contained mostly liquid water clouds and (2) contemporaneous MODIS Airborne Simulator (MAS) overflight imagery was available for these AVHRR overpasses. The objective is to apply the same detailed radiative transfer formulation to both the MAS and AVHRR data so that the quality of the retrievals from the latter can be evaluated. Retrievals of cloud optical properties from MAS are assumed to be more reliable, because (1) all MAS channels have direct radiometric calibration, (2) the higher spatial resolution of MAS (50 m nadir versus 1.1 km nadir with AVHRR) should yield smaller uncertainties related to partially cloudy pixels in a given study area, and (3) effective droplet radius can be retrieved directly from the MAS 1.62-μm channel without additional uncertainties involved with subtracting a thermal radiance component. Examination of the retrievals from both sensors in these two cases reveals considerable spatial variability (more than a factor of 2) in cloud optical depth, on a variety of scales ranging from tens of meters to tens of kilometers, even for relatively uniform liquid water clouds. Retrievals of cloud effective droplet radius from AVHRR are generally consistent with those from MAS, suggesting that AVHRR can be reliably used to estimate this quantity. However, AVHRR-based retrievals of cloud optical depth are subject to large errors that result from small uncertainties in the absolute radiometric calibration of AVHRR channel 2. Using recalibration coefficients from one of the more robust AVHRR postlaunch calibration efforts, the cloud optical depths that we retrieved from NOAA 14 AVHRR channel 2 are consistently 30–50% larger than those obtained from MAS. The intercomparison of MAS and AVHRR retrievals of cloud optical depth also revealed errors with AVHRR due to partial cloud cover, and these errors are not immediately apparent when examining the AVHRR retrievals alone. If the AVHRR retrievals are averaged to spatial resolutions of order 10–30 km, they appear to become more stable for use in applications such as atmospheric energy budget calculations.
The 4s ← 3p Electronic Transition in Aluminum Atom−Molecule Complexes: Bound and Repulsive Excited States

Author Institution: The Johns Hopkins University; Department of Chemistry, The Johns Hopkins University
Some comments on the solution of linear equations

Computational methods of homogeneous ill- conditioned and singular simultaneous linear equations
Effect of pretreatments on carrot texture after thermal and pressure-assisted thermal processing

Abstract The effect of various physical and chemical pretreatments such as pressure (100–400 MPa), temperature (50–70 °C), calcium chloride (0.5–1.5% w/v), and their combinations on carrot texture was studied after pressure-assisted thermal processing (PATP) and thermal processing. Untreated PATP and thermally processed samples without any pretreatment served as controls. Individual pretreatments were effective to a limited extent in improving the product quality. Pressure (200 MPa), heat (60 °C) and calcium chloride (1.0%) pretreatments increased product hardness by 1.2, 2.0 and 2.4 times after PATP and 2.7, 3.6 and 2.4 times, respectively, after thermal processing. Combined pretreatments increased the hardness of the samples by 9.16 times (from 14.08 to 129.07 N) and 13.22 times (from 4.36 to 57.63 N), respectively, in comparison to untreated PATP or thermally processed samples. The calcium content of the samples was found to have a positive influence in preserving hardness. The microstructure analysis of PATP carrots indicated that the combined high pressure, heat, and calcium pretreatments better preserved cell structure. This combined pretreatment process could serve as an effective tool in preserving the quality of PATP as well as thermally processed carrot.
The current state of the concept of a psychosomatic disorder.

In general usage, the concept “psychosomatic disorder” is taken to refer to a category of somatic illness that has certain proposed characteristics. The viability of this category is examined by evaluating the supportability of its proposed characteristics. The conclusion is reached that the category is a very tenuous one at best. It is suggested, however, that it is possible and useful to distinguish between the core concept “psychosomatic,” which represents an approach to explanation, and the elaborated concept “psychosomatic disorder,” which is a nosological concept. Finally, two systems are described that attempt to systematize the relationship between psychological and somatic variables in the context of somatic illness.
Information Technology Measurement and Testing Activities at NIST

Our high technology society continues to rely more and more upon sophisticated measurements, technical standards, and associated testing activities. This was true for the industrial society of the 20th century and remains true for the information society of the 21st century. Over the last half of the 20th century, information technology (IT) has been a powerful agent of change in almost every sector of the economy. The complexity and rapidly changing nature of IT have presented unique technical challenges to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and to the scientific measurement community in developing a sound measurement and testing infrastructure for IT. This measurement and testing infrastructure for the important non-physical and non-chemical properties associated with complex IT systems is still in an early stage of development. This paper explains key terms and concepts of IT metrology, briefly reviews the history of the National Bureau of Standards/National Institute of Standards and Technology (NBS/NIST) in the field of IT, and reviews NIST's current capabilities and work in measurement and testing for IT. It concludes with a look at what is likely to occur in the field of IT over the next ten years and what metrology roles NIST is likely to play.
Organophosphorus and Carbamate Insecticides

Organophosphorus and carbamate insecticides produce acute toxicosis via a common mechanism--the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase--and, therefore, these categories of insecticides are considered together. This article discusses the mechanisms, toxicity, clinical signs, lesions, and diagnosis of, as well as treatment for, toxicoses produced by these compounds.
Automated Sediment Erosion Testing System Using Digital Imaging

Measurement of vertical profiles of the critical shear stress, c, and the erosion rate, E, from the same undisturbed sediment core is crucial for modeling the resuspension of fine-grained natural sediments. The automated sediment erosion testing system (ASETS) was developed to determine profiles of c and E with centimeter spatial (vertical) resolution in an undisturbed (Shelby tube) sediment core, whose surface was eroded by steady turbulent flow through a flume. The unique feature of ASETS is that it is a real-time imaging method that accurately determines the position of the core surface during erosion for both calculating the vertical profile of E and controlling a motor-driver system that automatically pushes up the core to maintain its surface flush with the flume bottom. Undisturbed, field cores were tested over a range of flow (average bed shear stress, b) conditions. The amount of eroded sediment from both optical backscattering measurements and the imaging method were in good agreement, which validated ASETS. Measured vertical profiles of c and E were similar to those reported in literature. E correlated well with (b.c)2, which agrees with previous results in literature.
Complex halides of the transition metals. XXII. Cleavage of the rhenium—rhenium quadruple bond of Re2X4(PR3)4 by carbon monoxide: The isolation and characterization of rhenium(II) carbonyl derivatives of the type ReX2(CO)2(PR3)2

Abstract Reaction of the metal—metal bonded dimers Re 2 X 4 (PR 3 ) 4 , where X = Cl or Br and R = Et or Pr n , with carbon monoxide provides a route to previously unknown paramagnetic rhenium(II) carbonyl derivatives of the type ReX 2 (CO) 2 (PR 3 ) 2 .
Radiative transfer in absorbing, emitting and linearly anistropically scattering spherical media

Abstract Radiative transfer in absorbing, emitting, linearly anistropically scattering spherical media occupying the region 0 ⩽ r ⩽ R is analyzed. Our analysis utilizes a recently developed integral form of the equation of transfer. To obtain a solution to the quantities of physical interest, power series expansions are employed. A linear system of coupled algebraic equations for the unknown expansion coefficients is generated by the application of Galerkin's method, and the resulting system is then readily solved by standard methods. Examination of the convergence of the solution, as represented by the results of the emissivity, indicate that highly accurate solutions are obtainable. Comparisons of results and a discussion of the accuracy of the P 1 approximation are also presented.
Ceiling heat transfer during fire plume and fire impingement

The impingement of turbulent fires and fire plumes on a horizontal ceiling was considered. Free flame heights, impinging flame lengths along the ceiling and ceiling heat fluxes were measured for both unconfined and confined ceilings. The study was limited to the initial stage of ceiling heating by fire under conditions where convection dominates the flow. Fire sources were simulated by burning liquid methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol or n-pentane from the top surface of a cylindrical wick. Test variables include fire heat release rate of 50–7890 W, ceiling diameters of 610 and 660 mm, ceiling heights of 58–940 mm, wick diameters of 10–107 mm and curtain wall lengths (for confined ceilings) as large as the ceiling height. Simplified models were employed to suggest expressions for data correlation. Flame lengths increased up to 40% when the ceiling was confined. Ceiling heat fluxes were relatively independent of position in the stagnation region (radius along ceiling <20% of the ceiling height). Heat fluxes in the stagnation region for plumes were 25–40% of those measured for impinging jets at comparable conditions. In the ceiling jet region, at larger distances from the point of impingement, the heat flux decreased with increasing radius, in agreement with other studies. Confinement tended to increase ceiling heat fluxes in both regions. Ceiling heat fluxes for impinging flames and plumes were approximately the same, for flame lengths along the ceiling up to 25% of the ceiling height; however, stagnation point heat fluxes decreased for longer flame lengths.
Specific Heat of Various Graphites between 0.4 and 2.0°K

Below 1.2\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K, the specific heat of natural Madagascar graphite is: $C=13.8T+27.7{T}^{3}$ \ensuremath{\mu}J/mole deg. The coefficient of the linear term agrees well with theoretical calculations of the electronic specific heat of a pure single crystal of graphite. The ${T}^{3}$ term yields a Debye parameter, ${\ensuremath{\Theta}}_{0}$, of 413\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. For pile graphite, lamp-black, and pyrographite it is found that the specific heat is directly dependent on the degree of stacking faults. This is in agreement with the theory which proposes that stacking faults will decrease the value of ${c}_{44}$, the elastic constant of shear between neighboring layers, which leads to additional modes at low temperatures and thus adds to the specific heat.
2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) inhibition of coronary vasculogenesis is mediated, in part, by reduced responsiveness to endogenous angiogenic stimuli, including vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A).

BACKGROUND 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) exposure prior to chick embryo incubation (GD 0) induces dilated cardiomyopathy, and reduces myocardial hypoxia, vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) expression, and coronary vascularization. We investigated whether reduced coronary vascularization 1) occurs in the absence of changes in cardiac morphology and 2) is associated with altered secretion of VEGF-A and/or an antivasculogenic factor. METHODS Chicken eggs were treated with control (corn oil) or TCDD (0.075–0.3 pmol of TCDD/gm) on GD 5. In vivo cardiac morphology and artery number were determined on GD 10, while in vitro vascular outgrowth and VEGF-A secretion were determined from cardiac explants on GD 6. Effects of recombinant VEGF-A (rcVEGF-A), soluble flt-1 (sFlt-1) receptor plus rcVEGF-A, and control conditioned media were assessed in TCDD explants, while effects of TCDD-conditioned media was assessed in control explants. RESULTS TCDD reduced coronary artery number in vivo by 53 ± 8% and induced a dose-related reduction in tube outgrowth in vitro, but had no effect on cardiac morphology. All TCDD doses reduced explant VEGF-A secretion equally (43 ± 3%), compared to control. sFlt-1 blocked outgrowth in control cultures and blocked rcVEGF-A–mediated rescue of outgrowth in TCDD explants. Control conditioned media partially rescued outgrowth from TCDD explants, while conditioned media from TCDD explants had no effect on controls. CONCLUSIONS TCDD inhibition of coronary vascularization can occur in the absence of changes in cardiac morphology and is associated with reduced VEGF-A secretion but not an antivasculogenic factor. Since control media only partly rescues TCDD's inhibitory effect, we suggest that TCDD-exposed endothelial cells are less responsive to vasculogenic stimuli. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The effect of sonication on the hydrocarbon chain conformation in model membrane systems: a Raman spectroscopic study.

Raman spectra are presented for egg lecithin above and below the gel-liquid crystal phase transition, and several regions of the Raman spectrum are shown to be sensitive to conformational changes in the hydrocarbon chains. These regions are used to investigate the effect of sonication on the structure of egg lecithin and dipalmitoyl lecithin vesicles. Sonication of both egg lecithin above Tm, and dipalmitoyl lecithin above and below Tm produces no change in the relative population of trans and gauche isomers in any of the systems studied. Sonication does however appear to effect interchain interactions, a possible consequence of imperfect packing towards the center of the bilayers in vesicle systems.
Difference in intestinal absorption between vitamin A alcohol and ester.

SummaryThe plasma vitamin A level of hospital controls and patients with liver diseases was, as a rule, slightly more elevated after the intake of equal doses of vitamin A esters than of the alcohol. This difference was noted if the preparations were given in oily as well as in aqueous menstruum. Equal amounts of vitamin A in aqueous medium produced regularly a higher plasma level than in oil. The rise of the plasma level was mainly due to elevation of vitamin A esters whether vitamin A was administered as alcohol or as ester. Lipolytic processes, therefore, do not retard the absorption of vitamin A and it is suggested that part of vitamin A may be absorbed as ester. The greater stability of the esters may be an alternative explanation.
Accounting for speed-accuracy tradeoff in perceptual learning.

In the perceptual learning (PL) literature, researchers typically focus on improvements in accuracy, such as d’. In contrast, researchers who investigate the practice of cognitive skills focus on improvements in response times (RT). Here, we argue for the importance of accounting for both accuracy and RT in PL experiments, due to the phenomenon of speed-accuracy tradeoff (SAT): at a given level of discriminability, faster responses tend to produce more errors. A formal model of the decision process, such as the diffusion model, can explain the SAT. In this model, a parameter known as the drift rate represents the perceptual strength of the stimulus, where higher drift rates lead to more accurate and faster responses. We applied the diffusion model to analyze responses from a yes-no coherent motion detection task. The results indicate that observers do not use a fixed threshold for evidence accumulation, so changes in the observed accuracy may not provide the most appropriate estimate of learning. Instead, our results suggest that SAT can be accounted for by a modeling approach, and that drift rates offer a promising index of PL.
Neuropsychiatric Lupus, the Blood Brain Barrier, and the TWEAK/Fn14 Pathway.

Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can experience acute neurological events such as seizures, cerebrovascular accidents, and delirium, psychiatric conditions including depression, anxiety and psychosis, as well as memory loss and general cognitive decline. Neuropsychiatric SLE (NPSLE) occurs in up to 70% of SLE patients, can constitute the initial patient presentation, and may occur outside the greater context of an SLE flare. Current efforts to elucidate the mechanistic underpinnings of NPSLE are focused on several different and potentially complementary pathways, including thrombosis, brain autoreactive antibodies, and complement deposition. Furthermore, significant effort is dedicated to understanding the contribution of neuroinflammation induced by TNF, IL-1, IL-6 and IFN-γ. More recent studies have pointed to a possible role for the TNF family ligand TWEAK in the pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric disease in human lupus patients, and in a murine model of this disease. The blood brain barrier (BBB) consists of tight junctions between endothelial cells and astrocytic projections which regulate paracellular and transcellular flow into the central nervous system (CNS), respectively. Given the privileged environment of the CNS, an important question is whether and how the integrity of the BBB is compromised in NPSLE, and its potential pathogenic role. Evidence of BBB violation in NPSLE includes changes in the albumin quotient (Q¬alb) between plasma and CSF, activation of brain endothelial cells, and magnetic resonance imaging. This review summarizes the evidence implicating BBB damage as an important component in NPSLE development, occurring via damage to barrier integrity by environmental triggers such as infection and stress; cerebrovascular ischemia as result of a generally prothrombotic state; and immune mediated endothelial cell activation, mediated by antibodies and/or inflammatory cytokines. Additionally, new evidence supporting the role of TWEAK
Poly(β-amino ester) nanoparticle delivery of TP53 has activity against small cell lung cancer in vitro and in vivo.

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive disease with one of the highest case-fatality rates among cancer. The recommended therapy for SCLCs has not changed significantly over the past 30 years; new therapeutic approaches are a critical need. TP53 is mutated in the majority of SCLC cases and its loss is required in transgenic mouse models of the disease. We synthesized an array of biodegradable poly(β-amino ester) (PBAE) polymers that self-assemble with DNA and assayed for transfection efficiency in the p53-mutant H446 SCLC cell line using high-throughput methodologies. Two of the top candidates were selected for further characterization and TP53 delivery in vitro and in vivo . Nanoparticle delivery of TP53 resulted in expression of exogenous p53, induction of p21, induction of apoptosis, and accumulation of cells in sub-G1 consistent with functional p53 activity. Intratumoral injection of subcutaneous H446 xenografts with polymers carrying TP53 caused marked tumor growth inhibition. This is the first demonstration of TP53 gene therapy in SCLC using nonviral polymeric nanoparticles. This technology may have general applicability as a novel anticancer strategy based on restoration of tumor suppressor gene function. Mol Cancer Ther; 12(4); 405–15. ©2013 AACR .
Apoptotic cell death “Nixed” by an ER–mitochondrial necrotic pathway

Cells commit suicide in a highly regulated manner to sculpt an organism during development, to maintain homeostasis in postnatal tissues, and in response to noxious cues. It was thought until recently that cells in this situation were eliminated solely by apoptosis, a process whereby they shrink, fragment, and undergo phagocytosis—all while maintaining plasma membrane integrity and thereby avoiding inflammation. Necrosis, a nonapoptotic form of cell death characterized by depletion of cellular ATP, plasma membrane rupture, cell swelling, and marked inflammation, has been recognized for centuries but until recently was considered a passive and unregulated process. Work in worms and mammals over the past decade, however, has led to the unexpected discovery that, at least in some instances, necrosis can be deliberate and regulated (1–5). Although intensive work over the past 20 years has produced a mature blueprint for the molecular regulation of apoptosis (6), delineation of programmed necrosis signaling remains a work in progress. Nevertheless, an obvious next step is to begin to elucidate the interface between molecular events that mediate apoptosis and necrosis. As reported in PNAS, Chen et al. (7) manipulated a protein that can induce cell death with either apoptotic or necrotic features to probe the relationship between apoptosis and necrosis mechanisms in the mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum (ER).
Pharmacogenomics of antiretroviral therapy

Effective therapy for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection requires long-term administration of multiple antiretroviral drugs. This has markedly reduced morbidity and mortality due to AIDS, but drug toxicities often limit the success of treatment. Using candidate gene approaches, pharmacogenomic studies have begun to identify associations between host allelic variants and increased risk of adverse reactions to antiretroviral medications. Of note are associations between abacavir hypersensitivity reactions and specific HLA and hsp70-hom genotypes, and between CYP2B6 polymorphisms, efavirenz pharmacokinetics, and central nervous system side effects. Pharmacogenomics also has the long-term potential to reveal new drug targets. The observation that a naturally occurring, nonfunctional deletion mutant of the HIV receptor gene CCR5 protected against HIV infection and slowed disease progression encouraged the development of drugs that target CCR5. Pharmacogenomics promises to improve the lives of persons living with HIV by identifying new therapeutic targets and by fostering rational drug prescribing that optimizes efficacy while minimizing toxicity. Drug Dev. Res. 62:213–220, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.