cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The nucleation kinetics of strontium sulfate in NaCl solutions up to 6 m and 90°C with or without inhibitors

Abstract The nucleation kinetics of strontium sulfate in NaCl solutions from 0 to 6 m at temperatures from 25 to 90°C was studied by measuring the induction period in the absence and presence of scale inhibitors. Employing the classical nucleation theory, the interfacial tension between strontium sulfate and supersaturated solutions with NaCl was estimated to be about 67 mJ m-2 (1 m NaCl) at 25°C. It decreases slightly with increasing temperature (to 56 mJ m-2 in 1 m NaCl solutions at 90°C). It was observed that the length of the induction period generally decreases with increasing concentrations of electrolytes up to 3 m and then starts to increase slightly to 6 m at a given temperature and saturation index. In the case of NaCl electrolyte solutions, the induction period only decreases to 1 m and then starts to increase to 6 m, probably because of substitution of small ions (Na+) into SrSO4 nuclei and the crystal lattice. The accelerated nucleation rate of SrSO4 in electrolyte solutions was a result of enhanced solubility of SrSO4 and resultant lowered interfacial tension. Threshold inhibitors 1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid (HEDP), bishexamethylenetriaminetetra (methylene) phosphonic acid (BHTP), and phosphinopolycarboxylic acid (PPPC) are effective in inhibiting SrSO4 nucleation in NaCl solutions. Prolonged induction periods in the presence of inhibitors can be interpreted in terms of an elevation in the interfacial tension (up to 90 mJ m-2 with 10 mg liter-1 HEDP).
Impact of nutrition on pharmacokinetics of anti‐neoplastic agents

It has been estimated that approximately 80% of the world's pediatric population lives in countries with limited resources, and that 43% of these children are malnourished. In children with cancer, malnutrition may antedate the diagnosis or be a result of aggressive chemotherapeutic regimens. Studies have shown that children with cancer and malnutrition have a less favorable prognosis, a higher risk of early relapse, and tolerate chemotherapy poorly when compared with children with normal nutritional status. Improvements in nutritional status may improve tolerance to chemotherapy. An understanding of the mechanisms responsible for the effects of malnutrition on drug disposition and pharmacodynamic response is important, especially for anti-neoplastic agents, which have a narrow therapeutic index and may be associated with potentially severe or life-threatening side-effects. Several factors related to malnutrition have been suggested to alter drug disposition. Diminished protein "status" in malnourished children results in lower amounts of plasma proteins, increasing the concentration of free drug available to exert its cytotoxic effect. Severely malnourished individuals also exhibit decreased oxidative metabolism and reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR), potentially increasing concentrations of parent drug or active metabolites. Malnourished children receiving chemotherapy for the treatment of an underlying malignancy may need specifically "tailored" protocols to achieve therapeutic response while minimizing adverse acute and long-term side effects. The role of specific interventions, such as correction of nutritional status or pharmacokinetic drug monitoring, should be evaluated in this context.
What is the learning curve associated with double-balloon enteroscopy? Technical details and early experience in 6 U.S. tertiary care centers

Background Performance parameters for double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) have not been described. Objective To determine the learning curve for DBE. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting Six U.S. tertiary centers. Patients A total of 188 subjects undergoing 237 DBE procedures; 130 (69%) with obscure GI bleeding. Interventions Performance parameters from each center's initial 10 cases were compared to the subsequent examinations. Main Outcome Measurements Exam duration, depth of insertion, and findings on DBE examination. Results DBE was introduced by mouth in 149 (63%) cases, by rectum in 77 (33%) cases, and through a stoma in 6 (2.5%) patients. The mean (±SD) duration was 109.1 ± 44.6 minutes for the first 10 cases and 92.4 ± 37.6 minutes for subsequent cases ( P = .005) but did not change for rectal DBE procedures. There was no change in mean depth of insertion, but the mean fluoroscopy time declined significantly ( P = .025). Diagnostic or therapeutic maneuvers were performed in 64% of cases; DBE led to a diagnosis in 81 (43%) patients. A total of 78% of patients had prior capsule endoscopy (CE) with significant agreement between DBE and CE (κ = 0.74). One perforation occurred (0.4%). Per-rectal cases failed to reach the small bowel in 24 (31%) cases. Limitations All patients did not undergo initial CE. The therapeutic DBE scope was not available for the initial 8 months of the study. Conclusions There was a significant decline in overall procedural time and fluoroscopy time after the initial 10 DBE cases. There was no improvement in performance parameters when DBE was performed via the rectal approach despite increased, but limited, operator experience.
Interindividual variability in acetaminophen sulfation by human fetal liver: Implications for pharmacogenetic investigations of drug‐induced birth defects

BACKGROUND: Acetaminophen (APAP) use in early pregnancy has been associated with the risk of gastroschisis, a rare but serious congenital defect of the abdominal wall. The purpose of this study was to characterize the variability of APAP sulfation in a panel of human fetal livers and to identify the sulfotransferases (SULT) isoform(s) responsible for catalyzing that activity. METHODS: APAP sulfation was determined in a panel of human fetal (n = 73) and postnatal (n = 18) liver cytosol preparations and correlated with the catalytic activity of various SULT isoforms as determined using prototypic substrates and specific antibodies. RESULTS: Of 10 heterologously expressed SULT isoforms examined, SULT1A1, SULT1A3/4, SULT1E1, and SULT2A1 all catalyzed the formation of APAP sulfate with Km values of 2.4, 1.5, 1.9, and 3.7 mM, respectively. Catalytic activities for these four isoforms were expressed at varying levels in human fetal liver, and APAP sulfation was positively correlated with each of the four prototypic activities. Several regression and clustering approaches revealed that SULT1A3/4 was the primary determinant of prenatal APAP sulfation but that SULT1A1 or SULT1E1 were also major contributors in subsets of samples. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study lead to the hypothesis that genetic variation in SULT1A3/4 represents a risk factor for the development of gastroschisis in the offspring of mothers exposed to APAP early in pregnancy. Interpretation of genetic association studies conducted to test this hypothesis will be complicated by the variable contributions of other SULTs toward APAP-sulfate formation in individual subjects. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The rabbit pulmonary monooxygenase system: Characteristics and activities of two forms of pulmonary cytochrome P-450

Two forms of rabbit pulmonary cytochrome P-450 have been characterized spectrally and their activities in reconstituted monooxygenase systems investigated. The presence of both microsomal phospholipids and sodium cholate was required to obtain optimum activity. Only one of the cytochromes (I) was active in the N-demethylation of benzphetamine and the O-deethylation of 7-ethoxycoumarin. However, cytochrome II was 20% more active than cytochrome I in the metabolism of benzo[a]pyrene. The profile of the metabolites formed from benzo[a]pyrene indicated that metabolism at the 9 and 10 positions was insignificant in the case of cytochrome I but represented about 40% of the metabolites produced by cytochrome II. The two forms of the cytochrome are present in pulmonary microsomes in approximately equal amounts.
Topology of pulmonary arterioles, capillaries, and venules in the cat.

Abstract It is shown in this paper that each alveolus is not a unit of microcirculation: It is not supplied by one arteriole and one venule; each arteriole supplies several alveoli, which are connected to other alveoli before draining into venules. The spatial relationship among the arterioles, venules, and capillaries in the lung is not clear in the literature. To clarify the topology, we developed a special method of particulate polymer casting of the vascular tree, and four criteria to decide whether a noncapillary vessel is arterial or venous. Then on each histological cross section of the lung parenchyma, we marked all arteries with white dots, and all veins with red dots, and covered the area of white dots with one color, and the area of red dots with another. A two-colored map emerged. A two-colored cartographic map can only show islands in an ocean. Our histological maps of the cat lung show that the arterial zones are islands, and the venous zone is the ocean. From these maps quantitative information about the arterial and venous zones in the lung is obtained by stereological methods, and the data for the cat are presented. A morphological definition of the average length of capillary blood vessels connecting arterioles and venules is proposed. The average morphological length of capillary blood vessels in cat lung was found to be 556 ± 286 (SD) μm when the transpulmonary pressure was 10 cm H2O. The average length of capillaries (L) is an important determinant of pulmonary blood flow: for given arterial and venous pressures, the flow rate is inversely proportional to L2, the square of the average length; the transit time (time available for diffusion and oxygenation) varies directly with L2; the regional difference of blood flow also depends on L.
Evolution of protein-coding genes in Drosophila

Several contributing factors have been implicated in evolutionary rate heterogeneity among proteins, but their evolutionary mechanisms remain poorly characterized. The recently sequenced 12 Drosophila genomes provide a unique opportunity to shed light on these unresolved issues. Here, we focus on the role of natural selection in shaping evolutionary rates. We use the Drosophila genomic data to distinguish between factors that increase the strength of purifying selection on proteins and factors that affect the amount of positive selection experienced by proteins. We confirm the importance of translational selection in shaping protein evolution in Drosophila and show that factors such as tissue bias in expression, gene essentiality, intron number, and recombination rate also contribute to evolutionary rate variation among proteins.
Carcinogens and Oxidized Fatty Acids in the Skin

Rusch and Kline1 showed that carcinogenic hydrocarbons inhibit the autoxidation of unsaturated fatty acids. Thiobarbituric acid is a reagent for the estimation of fatty acid peroxides2,3 and has been used for confirming the inhibition of the autoxidation of fatty acids, in particular linolenic acid, by these compounds. Pieces of excised skin placed in thiobarbituric acid give the characteristic red colour produced by the reaction of this acid with oxidized fatty acids3. Various carcinogens were painted on the skin of white mice to determine their effect on the peroxide concentration in vivo. Previous experiments have shown that the carcinogens inhibited the peroxide formation in homogenates of brain and skin. The compounds themselves do not interfere with the thiobarbituric acid reaction.
CD1d expression on and regulation of murine hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells

In the present study, surface CD1d, which is involved in immune cell interactions, was assessed for effects on hematopoiesis. Mouse BM hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) express CD1d. The numbers and cycling status of HPCs in the BM and spleen of different strains of cd1d(-/-) mice were enhanced significantly, suggesting that CD1d is a negative regulator of HPCs. In support of this, CD1d was required for the SCF and Flt3 ligand synergistic enhancement of CSF induction of HPC colony formation and for HPC response to myelosuppressive chemokines. Colony formation by immature subsets of HPCs was greatly enhanced when normal, but not cd1d(-/-), BM cells were pretreated with CD1d Abs in vitro. These effects required the full CD1d cytoplasmic tail. In contrast, long-term, but not short-term, repopulating HSC engraftment was impaired significantly, an effect that was minimally influenced by the presence of a truncated CD1d cytoplasmic tail. Pretreatment of normal BM cells with CD1d Abs greatly enhanced their engraftment of HSCs. The results of the present study implicate CD1d in a previously unrecognized regulatory role of normal and stressed hematopoiesis.
Life Cycle and Biology of Neochetina bruchi, a Weevil Attacking Waterhyacinth in Argentina, with Notes on N. eichhorniae

Neochetina bruchi Hustache oviposited in the petioles of waterhyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms, and the eggs hatched in 7.6 days. The larvae tunneled inside the petioles and crown of the plant, and completed their growth in ca. 32 days; they pupated underwater attached to a living root of the floating plant, from which they probably obtained oxygen. Prepuae required 7 days and pupae ca. 23 days for development. Female N. bruchi preferred the older bulbous leaves and N. eichhorniae Warner preferred the young central leaves for oviposition. Maximum feeding and oviposition of both species occurred at 30Â°C. Adult N. bruchi ate a maximum of 75 mm2 of waterhyacinth leaves/day, and N. eichhorniae ate 86 mm2/day; females ate 2.8 times as much as males. N. bruchi laid a maximum of 8.5 eggs/♀/day, and N. eichhorniae laid 7.3 eggs/♀/day. At cooler temperatures, N. bruchi fed and oviposited slightly more than N. eichhorniae . The intrinsic rate of increase of N. bruchi held at optimum laboratory conditions was calculated to be 0.05675, and generation time was 96 days; the population would double in 12.2 days. Because N. bruchi laid more eggs and its larvae developed faster, it killed waterhyacinth plants in the laboratory sooner than did N. eichorniae .
Study of the Flow Turning Loss in a Simulated Solid Rocket Motor

The flow turning loss, one of the processes that damp instabilities in solid rockets, is caused by the interaction of the axial acoustic field in an unstable motor with the flow of combustion products from the propellant surface. While state-of-the-art stability models generally account for the flow turning loss, its characteristics have never been fully investigated. In order to study the contribution of the flow turning loss to acoustic stability, a onedimensional acoustic stability equation that includes the flow turning loss term was derived, providing the theoretical background and expressions needed to guide an experimental study. Experiments were performed to determine the dependence of the flow turning loss upon the injection and mean-flow Mach numbers and the location of the flow turning region relative to the standing acoustic wave. These studies showed that the flow turning loss strongly depends upon the magnitude of the gas velocity at the propellant surface and the location of the flow turning region relative to the standing pressure wave. A simple numerical simulation of the experimental setup was developed and its predictions were found to agree well with the measured data. Nomenclature a = speed of sound E~ = quantity representative of the total acoustic energy in the cavity H = height of two-dimension al duct used in analysis hT = total specific enthalpy i = unit vector in the axial x direction j = unit vector in the transverse y direction L = length of duct m = mass flux rate u = axial, x direction, component of velocity V = velocity vector v = transverse, y direction, component of velocity Subscripts b = value at side wall t = average over time y = average over the y direction 0,1,2 = acoustic order
Effect of the plasma pencil on different bacteria genera

Summary form only given. As low-temperature nonequilibrium plasmas come to play an increasing role in biomedical applications, reliable and user friendly sources need to be developed. These plasma sources have to meet stringent requirements such as low temperature (at or near room temperature), operation at atmospheric pressure, portability, etc. We have recently developed a plasma pencil that is portable and capable of launching a stable cold plasma plume. In addition to briefly describing the device, this poster reports mainly on its bactericidal properties. The combination of charged particles, free radicals, and UV light generated by the plasma plume can result in damage and destruction of bacterial cells. In this study we determine the effect of the plasma pencil on different bacterial genera. Bacteria were subjected to various plasma plumes (helium plusmn oxygen) both on plates and in liquid culture. The effect of plasma treatment on plates was measured as a zone of no growth from a central point of exposure; colony forming units were used to determine any effect in liquid culture. Exposure of different bacteria (gram positive and gram negative) to the plasma plume resulted in differences in the killing effect of the plasma on agar surfaces depending on the organism, whereas little effect was seen in liquid culture. These results suggest that cold plasma maybe useful as a sterilizing agent for surfaces, but not necessarily for liquid samples. Potential applications of the plasma pencil are in various biomedical applications including surface decontamination and dental hygiene
Electrolyte composition of cerebrospinal fluid in acute acid-base disorders

Electrolyte composition of cisternal CSF was measured during 4 hours of respiratory and metabolic acid-base disturbance in anesthetized dogs. Three groups of dogs were studied: (1), isocapnic metabolic alkalosis; (2), acute respiratory acidosis; and (3), combined respiratory acidosis and metabolic alkalosis. Cisternal CSF [K+] remained unchanged despite significant changes in plasma [K+], PCO2 and [HCO3-]; suggesting that mechanisms involved in regulation of CSF [K+] continue to operate normally under such conditions. Cisternal [Na+] and osmolality remained unchanged with almost identical reciprocal equimolar changes in CSF concentration of Cl- and HCO3- during the acid-base disorders studied. The regulatory mechanisms involved in this Cl- -HCO3- exchange may be different in different acid-base disorders, but since CSF [Na+] is kept constant, CSF [HCO3-] in any acid-base disorder equals the difference between CSF [Na+] and CSF [Cl-].
The presence of antithyroid antibodies in patients with affective and nonaffective psychiatric disorders

We determined the frequency of antithyroglobulin and antimicrosomal antibodies in 173 consecutively admitted psychiatric inpatients. (We found antithyroid antibodies in 8% (5/65) of patients with DSM-III major depression, 13% (4/31) with biploar disorder, and in 0% (0/4) of those with schizoaffective disorder.) The rate of antibody occurrence was unrelated to lithium exposure either within individual diagnostic categories or for the sample as a whole. The overall frequency of positive antithyroid antibody titers in patients with DSM-III affective disorder, 9% (9/99), did not differ from that in patients with nonaffective disorders, 10% (7/68). However, patients with bipolar affective disorder-mixed or bipolar affective disorder-depressed had a higher rate of positive antithyroid antibody titers than other patients. Our findings confirm earlier reports that thyroid disorders may be particularly common in patients with bipolar affective disorder, even in the absence of lithium exposure. However, as antithyroid antibodies also occurred at a relatively high rate in nonaffective disorders, the possible psychiatric effects of autoimmune thyroiditis do not appear to be limited to affective dysregulation.
Temporary placement of fully covered self-expandable metal stents in benign biliary strictures: midterm evaluation (with video).

Background Benign biliary strictures (BBS) have been endoscopically managed with placement of multiple plastic stents. Uncovered metal stents have been associated with mucosal hyperplasia and partially covered self-expandable metal stents with migration. Recently, fully covered self-expandable metal stents (CSEMSs) with anchoring fins have become available. Objective Our purpose was to analyze the efficacy and complication rates of CSEMSs in the treatment of BBS. Design CSEMSs (10-mm diameter) were placed in 44 patients with BBS. CSEMSs were left in place until adequate biliary drainage was achieved, confirmed by resolution of symptoms, normalization of liver function tests, and imaging. Setting Tertiary care center with long-standing experience with metal stents. Patients A total of 44 patients with BBS (28 men, median age 53.5 years) were included. The preprocedure diagnoses included chronic pancreatitis (n = 19), gallstone-related strictures (n = 14), post liver transplant (n = 9), autoimmune pancreatitis (n = 1), and primary sclerosing cholangitis (n = 1). Intervention ERCP with temporary CSEMS placement. Removal of CSEMSs was performed with a snare or rat tooth. Main Outcome Measurements Stricture resolution and morbidity. Results The median time of CSEMS placement was 3.3 months (interquartile range 3.0-4.8). Resolution of the BBS was confirmed in 34 of 41 patients (83%) after a median postremoval follow-up time of 3.8 months (interquartile range 1.2-7.7). Complications were observed in 6 (14%) patients after CSEMS placement and in 4 (9%) after CSEMS removal. Limitation Pilot study from a single center. Conclusion Temporary placement of CSEMSs for BBS may offer an alternative to plastic stenting. Further investigation is required to further assess safety and long-term efficacy.
Integrating QoS and security functions in an IP-VPN gateway

IP-based Virtual Private Network becomes more and more popular. It can not only reduce the enterprise communication cost but also increase the revenue of the service provider. The common IP-VPN application types include Intranet VPN, Extranet VPN, and remote access VPN. For the large IP-VPN market, some vendors develop dedicated IP-VPN devices; while some vendors add the VPN functions into their existing network equipment such as router, access gateway, etc. The functions in the IP-VPN device include security, QoS, and management. The common security functions supported are IPSec (IP Security), IKE (Internet Key Exchange), and Firewall. The QoS functions include bandwidth control and packet scheduling. In the management component, policy-based network management is under standardization in IETF. In this paper, we discuss issues on how to integrate the QoS and security functions in an IP-VPN Gateway. We propose three approaches to do this. They are (1) perform Qos first (2) perform IPSec first and (3) reserve fixed bandwidth for IPSec. We also compare the advantages and disadvantages of the three proposed approaches.
Territoriality in the Laughing Gull (L. Atricilla)

Laughing Gulls (Larus atricilla) were studied in a tidal salt marsh located in Brigantine, New Jersey and on an island in the Gulf of Mexico to determine how nesting gulls respond to conspecific intruders. Gulls were observed in Texas and at Brigantine during the pre-egg stage. In Texas, Laughing Gulls set up pairing territories in the sand beach area next to the colony, and defended these areas against conspecifics. In New Jersey, pairing territories were often located on Spartina mats within the colony area. Twelve pairs of gulls were marked, sexed, and observed for eight to fourteen hours per day during the incubation period. An intruder was defined as any gull other than the nesting pair which landed within three meters of the nest. The interactions between the nesting pair and intruders were recorded for 1145 sequences. Eighty-five percent of all intruders were responded to with the following patterns: Long Calls (18%), Intruder Displays (45%), and Chases (22%). Long Calls and Intruder Displays were given by an incubating bird, while Chasing was performed by the mate standing nearby. Gulls flying over the nest were usually reacted to with a Long Call although Intruder Displays were sometimes given. Intruders landing within one meter of the nest were always given an Intruder Display by the incubating bird and were frequently chased by its mate. Intruders landing from one to two meters from the nest were usually given the Intruder Display: those landing two to three meters from the nest were usually chased. Gulls landing over three meters from the nest were usually ignored. The probability that an intruder was responded to decreased as the distance from the nest increased. The behavior of intruders was as follows. Fifty-three percent of the intruders landing within a meter of the nests were rapists or potential rapists. These intruders remained on the nest longer than did other intruder, and sometimes evoked pecking and attack from the incubating bird. Nest-material stealers (18%) remained on the nest for less time. Neighbors (7%) infrequently landed on the wrong nest but quickly flew to their own nest. In 22 percent of the cases the activities of the intruders could not be determined, since they were quickly repelled.
Photoconductive Materials for THz Generation at 1550 nm: ErAs:GaAs vs InGaAs Based Materials

Since the 1990s the photoconductive material of choice for THz generation has been low-temperature grown GaAs (LTG-GaAs) thanks to its useful mobility (~200 cm2/V.s), high dark resistivity (~107 Ω.cm), and fast carrier lifetime (~0.2 ps). However, due to the band gap energy of GaAs, the usual optical drive wavelength is around 800 nm where suitable lasers, both cw and pulsed, tend to be marginal in output power and rather expensive. Consequently, research has pushed towards the development of InGaAs-on-InP-based ultra-fast photoconductive materials operating at 1550-nm where cw and pulsed lasers are superior in all respects. Recently, we discovered ultrafast extrinsic photoconductivity in ErAs:GaAs at 1550 nm, allowing the generation of both cw and pulsed THz waves. GaAs-based materials have major electrical advantages over InGaAs-based because of their superior dark resistivity and breakdown field. In this paper, we show that 1550-nm-driven ErAs:GaAs is now a promising alternative to InGaAs-based photoconductive material. We focus on the ultrafast photoconductive behavior, and compare the performance of ErAs:GaAs photoconductive switches to those from state-of-the-art ultrafast InGaAs devices.
Characterization of a Polytropic Murine Leukemia Virus Proviral Sequence Associated with the Virus Resistance Gene Rmcf of DBA/2 Mice

The DBA/2 mouse Rmcf gene is responsible for in vivo and in vitro resistance to infection by the polytropic mink cell focus-forming (MCF) virus subgroup of murine leukemia viruses (MLVs). Previous studies suggested that Rmcf resistance is mediated by expression of an interfering MCF MLV envelope (Env) gene. To characterize this env gene, we examined resistance in crosses between Rmcfr DBA/2 mice and Mus castaneus, a species that lacks endogenous MCF env sequences. In backcross progeny, inheritance of Rmcf resistance correlated with inheritance of a specific endogenous MCF virus env-containing 4.6-kb EcoRI fragment. This fragment was present in the DBA/2N substrain with Rmcf-mediated resistance but not in virus-susceptible DBA/2J substrain mice. This fragment contains a provirus with a 5′ long terminal repeat and the 5′ half of env; the gag and pol genes have been partially deleted. The Env sequence is identical to that of a highly immunogenic viral glycoprotein expressed in the DBA/2 cell line L5178Y and closely resembles the env genes of modified polytropic proviruses. The coding sequence for the full-length Rmcf Env surface subunit was amplified from DNAs from virus-resistant backcross mice and was cloned into an expression vector. NIH 3T3 and BALB 3T3 cells stably transfected with this construct showed significant resistance to infection by MCF MLV but not by amphotropic MLV. This study identifies an Rmcf-linked MCF provirus and indicates that, like the ecotropic virus resistance gene Fv4, Rmcf may mediate resistance through an interference mechanism.
Community/Agency Trust and Public Involvement in Resource Planning

We hypothesize and test a positive relationship between the extent to which local community members trust a management agency and their willingness to engage in resource-related public discourse and involvement. We employ a multilevel generalized mixed model to analyze data collected from five different samples of residents living near managed resource areas. Counter to our proposed hypotheses, results suggest individuals’ level of dispositional trust, their belief that management shares similar values as them, and their trust in the moral competency of the management agency were all found to be significantly and negatively related to public involvement in resource-related activities. These findings suggest that the central role of building trust among local constituents within many planning frameworks needs to be reconsidered with consideration given to both the needs of individuals who trust an agency and the desires of distrusting individuals who are more likely to become involved in public involvement...
Saving money with home care.

Home care for children dependent on ventilators or other equipment is increasingly common. Until recently, such children remained in acute-care hospitals, using vast amounts of resources, even when they required less-than-acute care. Less than a decade ago, only a few demonstration projects in this country routinely attempted to return ventilator-dependent children to their homes and back into the community. 1 Today, an expanding home-care industry assists many established centers, pediatricians, and specialists in this transfer. The trend toward home care has been stimulated by rising societal expectations, awareness of the needs of the disabled, the increasing number of children rescued from formerly lethal conditions but sustaining disability in the process, and the high cost of inpatient care in acute-care facilities. Clearly, the foremost pressure is financial. Third-party payers, both public and private, do not believe they can sustain the high costs of maintaining such children in
Marine diatoms grown in chemostats under silicate or ammonium limitation. III. Cellular chemical composition and morphology of Chaetoceros debilis, Skeletonema costatum , and Thalassiosira gravida

Three marine diatoms, Skeletonema costatum, Chaetoceros debilis, and Thalassiosira gravida were grown under no limitation and ammonium or silicate limitation or starvation. Changes in cell morphology were documented with photomicrographs of ammonium and silicate-limited and non-limited cells, and correlated with observed changes in chemical composition. Cultures grown under silicate starvation or limitation showed an increase in particulate carbon, nitrogen and phosporus and chlorophyll a per unit cell volume compared to non-limited cells; particulate silica per cell volume decreased. Si-starved cells were different from Si-limited cells in that the former contained more particulate carbon and silica per cell volume. The most sensitive indicator of silicate limitation or starvation was the ratio C:Si, being 3 to 5 times higher than the values for non-limited cells. The ratios Si:chlorophyll a and S:P were lower and N:Si was higher than non-limited cells by a factor of 2 to 3. The other ratios, C:N, C:P, C:chlorophyll a, N:chlorophyll a, P:chlorophyll a and N:P were considered not to be sensitive indicators of silicate limitation or starvation. Chlorophyll a, and particulate nitrogen per unit cell volume decreased under ammonium limitation and starvation. NH4-starved cells contained more chlorophyll a, carbon, nitrogen, silica, and phosphorus per cell volume than NH4-limited cells. N:Si was the most sensitive ratio to ammonium limitation or starvation, being 2 to 3 times lower than non-limited cells. Si:chlorophyll a, P:chlorophyll a and N:P were less sensitive, while the ratios C:N, C:chlorophyll a, N:chlorophyll a, C:Si, C:P and Si:P were the least sensitive. Limited cells had less of the limiting nutrient per unit cell volume than starved cells and more of the non-limiting nutrients (i.e., silica and phosphorus for NH4-limited cells). This suggests that nutrient-limited cells rather than nutrient-starved cells should be used along with non-limited cells to measure the full range of potential change in cellular chemical composition for one species under nutrient limitation.
Simulated Inhalation Levels of Fragrance Materials in a Surrogate Air Freshener Formulation

This study measured postapplication exposure levels of fragrance materials in a surrogate air freshener formulation in an environmentally-controlled exposure room (ECER). A five-s spray was released to simulate normal consumer use conditions. Time-course airborne fragrance material levels were sampled with Tenax tubes, and aerosol size distributions were monitored with a TSI 3320 aerodynamic particle sizer. Triplicate experiments were performed for each of the control/test substances. The control substance (unfragranced formulation) experiments indicated that the airborne fragrance materials were not detected, suggesting that the base propellant formulation did not interfere with the sampling procedure or analytical results. The test substance experiments found that the higher the volatility of the fragrance material, the higher the airborne fragrance concentration within the ECER. In the adult breathing zone height, the maximum concentrations of the nine fragrance materials ranged from 108 to 347 μg/m3 d...
High speed VCSEL-BASED optical interconnects

Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers (VCSEL) have made significant inroads into commercial realization especially in the area of data communications. Single VCSEL devices are key components in Gb Ethernet Transceivers. A multi-element VCSEL array is the key enabling technology for high-speed multi Gb/s parallel optical interconnect modules. In 1996, several companies introduced a new generation of fiber optic products based VCSEL technology such as multimode fiber transceivers for the ANSI Fiber Channel and Gigabit Ethernet IEEE 802.3 standards. VCSELs offer unique advantages over its edge-emitting counterparts in several areas. These include low-cost (LED-like) manufacturability, low current operation and array integrability. As data rates continue to increase, VCSELs offer the advantage of being able to provide the highest modulation bandwidth per milliamp of modulation current. Currently, most of the VCSEL-based products use short (780 - 980 nm) wavelength lasers. However, significant research efforts are taking place at universities and industrial research labs around the world to develop reliable, manufacturable and high-power long (1300 - 1550 nm) wavelength VCSELs. These lasers will allow longer (several km) transmission distances and will help alleviate some of the eye-safety issues. Perhaps, the most important advantage of VCSELs is the ability to form two-dimensional arrays much easier than in the case of edge-emitting lasers. These arrays (single and two-dimensional) will allow a whole new family of applications, specifically in very high-speed computer and switch interconnects.
Acoustic startle, prepulse inhibition, locomotion, and latent inhibition in the neuroleptic-responsive (NR) and neuroleptic-nonresponsive (NNR) lines of mice

The acoustic startle reflex (ASR) is inhibited by low intensity acoustic stimuli (prepulse inhibition; PPI) delivered prior to the startle stimulus. PPI may reflect underlying sensorimotor processes involved in the filtering of exteroceptive stimuli for their cognitive or physiological relevance. Latent inhibition (LI) is a cognitive process in which pre-exposure to the conditioned stimulus (CS) produces pro-active interference with the acquisition of an associative learning task. LI is thought to reflect a selective attention mechanism that contributes to an organism’s ability to adjust its behavior to changing contingencies of reinforcement. In the present series of experiments, the ASR, PPI at three prepulse intensities (56, 68, and 80 dB), locomotor activity, and LI using an active avoidance paradigm were assessed in mice bidirectionally selected from a heterogeneous stock for response (NR line) or non-response (NNR line) to neuroleptic-induced catalepsy. A randomly selected line was used as the control. Mice from the NNR line displayed weak startle responses and a complete absence of PPI. In contrast, the NR line displayed the largest ASR and the greatest PPI. The control line displayed ASRs and PPI values intermediate to the selected lines. Locomotor activity which is known to affect LI was lowest in the NR line but was similar in the NNR and control lines. In the LI paradigm, acquisition of the avoidance response was impaired in mice from the NR and control lines that were pre-exposed to the auditory CS (normal response). In contrast, the acquisition of the avoidance response in the NNR line was similar in CS pre-exposed and CS non-pre-exposed animals. Overall, the results demonstrate that some of the same genetic factors which regulate neuroleptic response also play a significant role in PPI and LI.
Saturation of Hydrogen Sorption in Zn Benzenedicarboxylate and Zn Naphthalenedicarboxylate

We report excess hydrogen saturation values from high-pressure isotherms of metal organic framework structures taken at 77 K. Zn benzendicarboxylate (IRMOF-1) and Zn naphthalendicarboxylate (IRMOF-8) linker structures show identical saturation values of 137 hydrogen molecules on a per unit cell basis, despite the higher sorption potential of IRMOF-8 of 6.1 kJ/mol over that of IRMOF-1 of 4.1kJ/mol. Charge transfer between linker and vertex, as well as surface area, appear to dominate the sorption behavior, over that of linker length in these two systems.
3-D visualization of flow in microscale jet impingement systems

Abstract Microjet impingement cooling devices promise high heat removal rates for the development of advanced thermal management solutions. However, understanding of microjet hydrodynamics is needed to optimize cooling performance. In this paper, we combined experiments and modeling to obtain three-dimensional (3-D) microjet flows. We fabricated single-jet and multi-jet arrays with 50 μm diameter orifices and used micron-resolution particle image velocimetry ( μ PIV) to capture two-dimensional (2-D) images of the flow field at different imaging planes. The data was subsequently used to obtain the out-of-plane (z-component) velocities, which play an important role in enhancing heat transfer at the impingement surface. The results from the reconstruction of the 3-D flow field offers new insights into the impact region of a single jet and optimized design of microjet cooling devices.
The Childhood Solid Tumor Network: A new resource for the developmental biology and oncology research communities

Significant advances have been made over the past 25 years in our understanding of the most common adult solid tumors such as breast, colon, lung and prostate cancer. Much less is known about childhood solid tumors because they are rare and because they originate in developing organs during fetal development, childhood and adolescence. It can be very difficult to study the cellular origins of pediatric solid tumors in developing organs characterized by rapid proliferative expansion, growth factor signaling, developmental angiogenesis, programmed cell death, tissue reorganization and cell migration. Not only has the etiology of pediatric cancer remained elusive because of their developmental origins, but it also makes it more difficult to treat. Molecular targeted therapeutics that alter developmental pathway signaling may have devastating effects on normal organ development. Therefore, basic research focused on the mechanisms of development provides an essential foundation for pediatric solid tumor translational research. In this article, we describe new resources available for the developmental biology and oncology research communities. In a companion paper, we present the detailed characterization of an orthotopic xenograft of a pediatric solid tumor derived from sympathoadrenal lineage during development.
Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptor α Activation Modulates Cellular Redox Status, Represses Nuclear Factor-κB Signaling, and Reduces Inflammatory Cytokine Production in Aging

In aged mice, the redox-regulated transcription factor nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) becomes constitutively active in many tissues, as well as in cells of the hematopoietic system. This oxidative stress-induced activity promotes the production of a number of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which can contribute to the pathology of many disease states associated with aging. The administration to aged mice of agents capable of activating the α isoform of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPARα) was found to restore the cellular redox balance, evidenced by a lowering of tissue lipid peroxidation, an elimination of constitutively active NF-κB, and a loss in spontaneous inflammatory cytokine production. Aged animals bearing a null mutation in PPARα failed to elicit these changes following treatment with PPARα activators, but remained responsive to vitamin E supplementation. Aged C57BL/6 mice were found to express reduced transcript levels of PPARα and the peroxisome-associated genes acyl-CoA oxidase and catalase. Supplementation of these aged mice with PPARα activators or with vitamin E caused elevations in these transcripts to levels seen in young animals. Our results suggest that PPARα and the genes under its control play a role in the evolution of oxidative stress excesses observed in aging.
Design concepts for a mechanically refrigerated 13 K superconducting magnet system

The construction of small superconducting magnets operating in the 12 to 14 K temperature range without use of supplemental cryogenic fluids is of interest for a number of applications. This requirement can be satisfied for peak fields of up to 3.3 T using Nb 3 Sn superconductor and cooling by means of a close-coupled two stage refrigerator. In order to reduce lead losses, the current must be minimized. Conduction-cooled leads, heat stationed at 14, 70 and 300 K have been designed. Operating at 40 A, they impose 5 and 1 W heat loads (respectively) on the first and second stages of the CTI- 1020 refrigerator capable of absorbing 30 and 2.5 W (respectively) at the 70 and 13 K heat stations. The refrigerator is a relatively inexpensive "off-the-shelf" item.
PAB3D Simulations of a Nozzle with Fluidic Injection for Yaw Thrust-Vector Control

An experimental and computational study was conducted on an exhaust nozzle with fluidic injection for yaw thrust-vector control. The nozzle concept was tested experimentally in the NASA Langley Jet Exit Test Facility (JETF) at nozzle pressure ratios up to 4 and secondary fluidic injection flow rates up to 15 percent of the primary flow rate. Although many injection-port geometries and two nozzle planforms (symmetric and asymmetric) were tested experimentally, this paper focuses on the computational results of the more successful asymmetric planform with a slot injection port. This nozzle concept was simulated with the Navier-Stokes flow solver, PAB3D, invoking the Shih, Zhu, and Lumley algebraic Reynolds stress turbulence model (ASM) at nozzle pressure ratios (NPRs) of 2,3, and 4 with secondary to primary injection flow rates (w(sub s)/w(sub p)) of 0, 2, 7 and 10 percent.
Anomalous diffraction model for inversion of multispectral extinction data including absorption effects.

An analytical solution to the problem of inverting multispectral extinction measurements including absorption effects is constructed, via Laplace transform theory, under the assumption that the particulate extinction efficiency is given by the anomalous diffraction model of van de Hulst. A solution representation in terms of a finite series of generalized Laquerre polynomials is carried out to provide a framework for coping with the problem of limited extinction information. The solution is stabilized by means of the technique of constrained linear inversion.
Human dopa decarboxylase: Localization to human chromosome 7p11 and characterization of hepatic cDNAs

We have cloned full-length DDC cDNAs from a human hepatoma cDNA library [DDC; dopa decarboxylase; aromatic-L-amino acid decarboxylase, EC 4.1.1.28]. The protein encoded by hepatoma cells is the same as that encoded by adrenal chromaffin derived pheochromocytoma cells, despite reported differences in biochemical properties. We have confirmed the location of the DDC gene to chromosome 7 using a new panel of somatic cell hybrids, and we have localized the gene to band p11 on chromosome 7 by fluorescent in situ hybridization. The human gene retains 65% amino acid identity with Drosophila DDC (Accession No. X04426) and considerable structural similarity with other enzymes (F.R. Jackson, 1990, J. Mol. Evol. 31:325-329, and references therein).
Dynamic Snap-Through of Imperfect Viscoelastic Shallow Arches

Abstract : Dynamic snap-through or dynamic buckling of imperfect viscoelastic shallow arches with hinged ends is considered under step loads of infinite duration. Attention is principally devoted to the influence both of small imperfections and of small amounts of damping, acting together, on the critical loads. For the problem considered, the Voigt model is used for viscoelasticity, the deflection is represented by the first two harmonic modes, and imperfections have the shape of the second (antisymmetric) mode. Results obtained by numerical integration of the differential equations show that the critical load exhibits a jump discontinuity in the limit both for vanishing imperfection and for vanishing viscosity. Critical loads for slight imperfect and elastic (inviscid) arches are slightly higher than those from the saddle point formula of Hoff and Bruce (J. Math. Physics, 32, 1954, 276), confirming that the formula gives a lower bound on the critical load. However, critical loads for arches with slight imperfection and slight viscosity are considerably higher than for the elastic arches. Another closed-form expression is shown to be in good agreement with these results. For finite amounts of viscosity, the critical loads tend rapidly to the values obtained for infinite viscosity, which are the same as the critical loads for quasi-static buckling. Apart from the jump discontinuity at zero, the critical load for any viscosity decreases continuously and monotonically with imperfection.