cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The chemical basis of kernicterus.

Publisher Summary The entire chemical basis of kernicterus has not yet been fully elucidated, although several major advances have been made in this direction. This chapter consists of a review of these advances and of the methods used in the study of bilirubin conjugation. In this discussion, the term “kernicterus” is used to describe a disease state featuring jaundice of the patient and of the nuclear masses of the brain, accompanied during life by signs of central nervous system dysfunction. The chapter presents clinical states associated with kernicterus. In each of the clinical situations listed, kernicterus has never been seen at birth and, with rare exceptions, is manifested within the first 10 days of life. The clinical manifestations of kernicterus are independent of the clinical state in which kernicterus develops. There are striking similarities between the pathological changes seen in human kernicterus because of various causes and those seen in either homozygous Gunn rats or experimental kernicterus produced by the injection of bilirubin into various species of animals. Various factors have been held responsible for the localized yellow pigmentation in the brain and for the subsequent brain damage. In this chapter, brief comments are made regarding these factors and their apparent importance in the development of kernicterus. The chapter discusses the relationship of the blood-brain barrier to kernicterus and chemical effects of bilirubin on brain metabolism. Mechanisms resulting in unconjugated bilirubinemia in disease states associated with kernicterus are elaborated. Factors affecting distribution of bilirubin in newborn humans and Gunn rats are given. Methods used in the study of Glucuronide formation in vitro are discussed.
Dramatic differences in lipoprotein composition among gray short-tailed opossums (Monodelphis domestica) fed a high cholesterol/saturated fat diet

Lipoproteins of gray short-tailed opossums ( Monodelphis domestica ) were characterized to determine the basis of differences among individuals in response to a challenge diet enriched in saturated fat and cholesterol. Animals were selected from two phenotypic groups (high and low plasma cholesterol response to the challenge diet). Half of the animals in each group were fed basal diet (8.1% fat and 0.04% cholesterol by weight), and the remainder were fed challenge diet (17.7% fat and 0.61% cholesterol). The plasma cholesterol values of both groups fed the basal diet and of low responders fed the challenge diet were similar. In addition, both very-low-density and low-density lipoproteins (VLDL + LDLs) and high-density lipoproteins (HDLs) were similar among these groups in density and in lipid and apolipoprotein compositions. In contrast, the high responders fed the challenge diet showed a 7-fold increase in total plasma cholesterol, which was primarily a consequence of increases in the VLDL + LDL cholesterol component defined by heparin-Mn precipitation. Moreover, the VLDL + LDLs were more heterogeneous and were characterized by decreased densities. The VLDL + LDLs of the high-responding group had higher levels of apolipoprotein (apo) B and apoE than the other groups. Plasma apoB concentrations estimated by dot blotting techniques increased by 3-fold, and apoE by 44-fold in the high responding group. Understanding the factor(s) mediating responder phenotype in this new model species will expand our knowledge of the regulation of lipemic response to diet.
The chemistry of the carbon-transition metal double and triple bond: Annual survey covering the year 2008

This is a review of papers published in the year 2008 that focus on the synthesis, reactivity, or properties of compounds containing a carbon-transition metal double or triple bond.
Direct Calculations of Two- and Three- Dimensional Detonations by an Extended CE/SE Method

The present paper reports the two- and threedimensional calculations of propagating detonation waves by the modified space-time CE/SE method, which is based on quads and hexes for two and three dimensional meshes. The Euler equations in conjunction with a species equation are solved in a time-accurate manner. The chemical reaction is modeled by a one-step Arrhenius kinetics. The stiff source term is treated by a volumetric integration over a space-time region. As in the original spacetime CE/SE method, the present approach does not use the Riemann solver and the associated directional splitting. Therefore, the logic and operation count is significantly simpler. The present method is successfully applied to solve three-dimensional propagating detonations. All salient flow features of detonations are crisply resolved. The modified CE/SE method is indeed a viable approach for unsteady detonation waves.
Benthic metabolism and nutrient regeneration in hydrographically different regions on the inner continental shelf of Southern New England

Abstract We examined the effect of hydrography on benthic-pelagic coupling in a transitional inner continental shelf area. From Oct 2009 to Jul 2012, we measured sediment oxygen demand (SOD), benthic inorganic nutrient fluxes, and sediment characteristics (e.g. chl a and phaeopigment content, grain size, etc.) in two regions of the Southern New England continental shelf: a relatively well mixed ecosystem (Block Island Sound, BIS), and an adjacent, seasonally stratified ecosystem (Rhode Island Sound, RIS). Despite a higher rate of euphotic zone primary production in BIS, benthic metabolism (measured as SOD) was not significantly different between the two areas (BIS = 953.8 ± 88.2 μmol m−2 h−1; RIS = 912.2 ± 69.1 μmol m−2 h−1). We speculate that the similarity of SOD at these two sites was due to differences in water column hydrography between the Sounds, where the energetic water column mixing in BIS could potentially resuspend organic matter back to the water column to be decomposed before reaching the benthos. Additionally, we think that the seasonal presence of a strong pycnocline in RIS prevented mixing of regenerated DIN and DIP to surface waters for use by phytoplankton. Apparent differences in benthic macrofaunal abundance between Block Island Sound and Rhode Island Sound translated to differences in dissolved inorganic nutrient fluxes between the two areas. Excretion and irrigation activities by the dense amphipod communities in BIS likely caused higher effluxes of DIN ( NH 4 + = 36.9 ± 7.7 μmol m−2 h−1; NOX = 23.5 ± 3.4 μmol m−2 h−1) and DIP (7.2 ± 1.4 μmol m−2 h−1) compared to fluxes in RIS ( NH 4 + = 22.8 ± 4.5 μmol m−2 h−1; NOX = 11.1 ± 5.5 μmol m−2 h−1; DIP = 3.2 ± 0.8 μmol m−2 h−1). These findings indicate that the hydrographic regime of the water column may exert a strong influence on benthic-pelagic coupling dynamics on the Southern New England shelf and in other inner continental shelf ecosystems.
Style in the Diaspora of Composition Studies

Abstract I make the claim that even though style appears to be invisible in composition studies today, paradoxically, it is ubiquitous, and I examine areas where the study of style has diffused in the field, such as genre theory, rhetorical analysis, and personal writing. I both adopt and complicate Janice Lauer's notion of the “diaspora” as the site of style's migration in composition and argue that it is important to draw explicitly upon the field's rich stylistic resources for practical and pedagogical purposes.
Association and correlation of self-reported home environmental factors and health symptoms.

The authors used community-based participatory research to survey 238 residents in public housing. They developed 9 exposure and 2 health symptom indexes through exploratory factor analyses. The univariate analysis showed that most environmental risk factors were associated with the symptom indexes. The authors found a statistically significant intercorrelation between 29 of 36 risk factor pairs. Because of this, most of the univariate associations lost statistical significance in multivariate models. The authors found a normal distribution of risk factors across household; however, risk factors per apartment were associated with symptoms. Environmental risk factors accounted for 2% to 26% of the variation in symptoms. The analysis suggests that correlation between factors could affect surveys in which researchers assess a small number of housing risk factors or assess larger numbers of factors without testing intercorrelation. The analysis is consistent with the possibility that building quality or house...
Spectrophotometry and Spectrofluorometry with the Self-Scanned Photodiode Array:

A state-of-the-art self-scanned photodiode array, utilized as a spectrometric multichannel detector, was studied for its applicability to molecular absorption and molecular fluorescence spectrometry. Molecular absorption spectrophotometry requires detectors with high UV to near IR response, high dynamic range, linear response, low noise, and temporal as well as thermal stability. Molecular fluorescence spectrometry requires, in addition, sensitivity to low-light level signals. These requirements were satisfied by the systems under study. Other parameters that govern the overall performance of diode array-based spectrophotometers and spectrofluorometers include: photometric range, stray energy radiation and its effect on photometric accuracy, photometric precision, spectral resolution sensitivity, and signal-to-noise considerations. Various readout methods for the array detectors were examined including: real time, in-memory signal integration, on-target signal integration, variable integration time (VIT), diode grouping, and diode fast access (a pseudorandom access readout). Performance demonstrations of these multichannel spectrometers were made with a few typical chemical systems. The spectrophotometric performance of the diode array system was excellent, practically equal to that of conventional single-channel systems. Exceptions were higher amenability to the adverse effects of stray radiation energy and a dependency of the geometric (wavelength) accuracy on spatial fluctuations (wander) in the light source. Potential long-term UV degradation of diode arrays may present an inherent problem, but was not discussed here because data accumulated up-to-date was considered inconsequential. As a spectrofluorometer multichannel detector, the diode array showed an "unexpected" signal-to-noise (detectability) performance, closely matching that of conventional high gain detectors. However, this performance was achieved only if sufficiently long signal integration times (20 to 160 s) were feasible. Overall performance of the diode array has demonstrated that theoretical multiplex advantages are achievable, resulting in either a considerable improvement in signal-to-noise or a corresponding shortening in observation time.
Magnetic Imagery: War‐Related Ribbons as Collective Display*

The collective display of particular symbols represents an emergent form of social movement participation. This study documents the patterns of the collective display of one such symbol; the magnetic war-related ribbon (WRR). Using bivariate and multivariate analyses of a sample of 8,100 vehicles, we studied the relationships between WRR display and measures of political affiliation, patriotism, and war support. The results find that that WRR display is positively associated with affiliation with George W. Bush and the Republican Party, and various displays of patriotism and war support. This study demonstrates how advents in communication technologies, shifts in the social, economic, and political structures have converged and given rise to a new form of symbolic participation marked by the collective display of cause-related symbols.
Magnetic Nanorods/Superconductor Hybrids

We discuss properties of hybrid systems which consist of an array of magnetic nanorods (nanowires) embedded in/or covered by a superconductor film. Such hybrid nanostructures are expected to exhibit fascinating characteristics, which are important from both fundamental and applications point of view.
Lectin-resistant CHO cells: Selection of new mutant phenotypes

Cytotoxic plant lectins select for mutants which exhibit unique structural changes in surface carbohydrates reflecting specific defects in glycosylation reactions. However, lectins are not highly specific selective agents and, as a result, only the most frequently occurring mutants are obtained from single lectin selections. We have previously shown that the specificity of lectin selections may be improved by utilizing a combination of lectins added together or sequentially. This strategy has now been further exploited in the search for novel lectin-resistant mutants of Chinese hamster ovary cells. Five new LeeR phenotypes have been uncovered. One belongs to a new, recessive complementation group, two behave dominantly in somatic cell hybrids, and the remaining two appear to represent new phenotypes which fall into previously described complementation groups.
Toward a Model ILL and Document Delivery Automated System: A Case Study

(1996). Toward a Model ILL and Document Delivery Automated System: A Case Study. Journal of Interlibrary Loan, Document Delivery & Information Supply: Vol. 6, No. 4, pp. 61-71.
Design of a full degree‐of‐freedom baseball pitching machine

The design, implementation, and experimental validation of a new kind of baseball pitching machine is discussed. This machine provides accurate and repeatable release conditions with full degree-of-freedom control over the linear and angular velocity vectors, by using separate mechanisms to impart each. It provides a research tool for use in understanding the aerodynamic effects of linear and angular velocity variations on the ball’s trajectory as well as providing a potentially more robust training tool to athletes who play the game. Design of the pneumatic propulsion system is based on a thermodynamic model of the gas flow in the plenum and barrel. Release speeds up to 45 m · s–1 and spin rates up to 40 revolutions per second are achieved. The direction of the angular velocity vector is fully adjustable relative to the translational velocity vector, which itself may be controlled in pitch and yaw. High-speed video experiments used to validate the machine’s performance show that speed and spin rate are controllable to ≈2% and 5%, respectively.
Coping behaviour and the moratorium following spinal cord injury

Coping with severe traumatic injury involves three interwoven processes--denial, depression and restitution. Denial and depression are seen as adaptive processes in the appropriate context. A moratorium during the coping process is described; its duration and implications for patient care are discussed.
Definitive Radiation for Stage I Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: A Population-based Study of Survival

Michael T. Milano, MD PhD, Hong Zhang, PhD MD, Kenneth Y. Usuki, Deepinder P. Singh, MD, Yuhchyau Chen, PhD MD Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642 Abstract * Purpose: To characterize overall survival (OS) and cause-specific survival (CSS) of patients with Stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with radiation alone, and analyzes potential prognostic variables. * Methods and Materials: A total of 8,524 Stage I NSCLC (6th edition of AJCC) patients, diagnosed from 1988-2008, were retrospectively analyzed using the population-based Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Patients were grouped into four eras: 1988-1995, 1996-2000, 2001-2004 and 2005-2008. Cox regression was used to calculate hazard ratios (HR) from multivariate analyses. * Results: The median age at the time of NSCLC diagnosis was 74 years. While age at diagnosis significantly increased with more recent calendar year of NSCLC diagnosis, this change was modest. Other significant changes observed with more recent year of diagnosis include relatively more females (38% prior to 1996, and 48% from 1996-2008, p 1.1) were significantly (p<0.0001) adverse prognostic factors for both OS and lung cancer CSS. A more recent calendar year of diagnosis was associated with significantly (p<0.0001) improved OS and lung cancer CSS (HR 0.84 and 0.82 per decade respectively). This trend was also significant (p<0.0001) when restricting analyses to those patients with tumor size ≤5 cm (n=5,402 patients, representing Stage I NSCLC in the AJCC 7th edition). T1 stage (versus T2 or T unknown) and smaller tumor size were also significantly (p<0.0001) favorable factors. * Conclusions: From a hypothesis generating, retrospective, population-based registry analysis of patients Stage I NSCLC, more recent calendar year of diagnosis, female gender, non-squamous cell carcinoma histology, earlier T stage, and smaller size were associated with more favorable OS and lung cancer CSS outcomes. Improvements in survival in more recent years, even when correcting for other prognostic factors in Cox regression analyses, likely reflects technologic improvements in lung cancer diagnosis, staging and radiotherapy delivery.
Family of the forest: Fatal enmeshment and other systems issues in the animal world

While the observation of non-human animal behavior has been a major means of developing psychological theories, it has been rarely used by marriage and family therapists to devise or explain systemic ideas. Jane Goodall's multigenerational research on the “Flo” family of wild chimpanzees in Gombe, Tanzania, as presented in her own and other's writing, and especially in Hugo van Lawick's documentary film,People of the Forest, offers a clear example of how systems concepts' application to animal families may have theoretical, pedagogical, and clinical utility.
Operational support considerations in Space Shuttle prelaunch processing

This paper presents an overview of operational support for Space Shuttle payload processing at the John F. Kennedy Space Center. The paper begins with a discussion of the Shuttle payload processing operation itself. It discusses the major organizational roles and describes the two major classes of payload operations: Spacelab mission payload and vertically-installed payload operations. The paper continues by describing the Launch Site Support Team and the Payload Processing Test Team. Specific areas of operational support are then identified including security and access, training, transport and handling, documentation and scheduling. Specific references for further investigatgion are included.
Steiner tunnel index as a measure of flame spread rate

The procedure by which a flame spread index is calculated in the Steiner Tunnel Test has recently been revised by ASTM. The new index is shown to measure average flame speed, weighted so as to emphasize the flame behavior in the earlier part of the test.
The role of spatial interactions in creating the dispersion of transmembrane potential by premature electric shocks

Strong electric shocks applied during the refractory period can initiate or terminate cardiac arrhythmias. To elucidate the underlying mechanism, Knisleyet al. used rabbit papillary musclein vitro to scan the refractory period of an action potential with shocks of different strengths. The resulting map of the shock-induced changes in the transmembrane potential (Vm) illustrates the substrate for the creation of rotors. Our study uses computer simulations to reproduce this experimental map. Three models (a space-clamped membrane, a single cell, and a onedimensional fiber) were used to determine whether the observed map was caused by (i) the intrinsic dynamics of the membrane, (ii) the simultaneous depolarization and hyperpolarization of the opposite ends of each cell, or (iii) spatial interactions involving the whole muscle strand. The results show that the membrane and single cell models cannot reproduce the experimental map. The fiber model reproduces the shock-induced changes inVm and demonstrates that they are caused by a propagating disturbance, which, depending on the coupling interval and the shock strength, can be a new action potential or an electrotonus and can arrive from the depolarized end or from both depolarized and hyperpolarized ends of the fiber. These results indicate that the induction of rotors in the heart may not be a direct effect of the electric field.
Small-signal amplification in bifurcating dynamical systems

Near the onset of a dynamical instability, any time-periodic system can act to amplify small periodic perturbations. The details of this small-signal sensitivity depend solely on the type of bifurcation involved: Explicit expressions are derived for the power spectra in the vicinity of the simplest classes of codimension-1 bifurcations. Results obtained from analog simulations of a period-doubling system are in good agreement with the theory. We propose that the superconducting Josephson-junction parametric amplifier is an example of this amplification process.
Tailoring consistency in group membership for mobile networks

Mobility and intermittent connectivity inject inaccuracy in determining group membership and exacerbate the time required to agree on the current group membership. In this paper, we present a group membership service based on partial member connectivity that allows members to agree on a shared approximation of the group membership based on local neighborhood connectivity. In particular, the consistency needs provided by the application determine the degree of consistency of the membership service and allow the membership service to tailor the neighborhood service in terms of fidelity ratio and time detection period.
A DSC and IR study of the phase transition in anhydrous sodium acetate

Abstract Differential scanning calorimetry and infrared spectroscopy have been used to study the irreversible phase transition which occurs at 512.6 K in anhydrous sodium acetate. This transition was found to be of the order13-disorder type. Both the transition temperature and the enthalpy of transition were found to be highly dependent on heating rate. IR spectra, which were taken of both the low temperature and high temperature forms of anhydrous sodium acetate, showed several changes in the vibrations for the low and high temperature forms which indicate a change in the acetate anion environment.
Survival after first esophageal variceal hemorrhage in patients with biliary atresia

Abstract Objective: To determine the influence of the new onset of esophageal variceal hemorrhage (EVH) on transplant-free survival in children with biliary atresia and to examine variables that predicted survival after the onset of EVH. Methods: Retrospective chart review of 134 patients with biliary atresia who underwent portoenterostomy between 1973 and 1992 at a single institution; 29% had EVH. Results: The risk of death or need for liver transplantation was 50% at 6 years after the initial episode of EVH. Patients with a serum bilirubin concentration ≤4 mg/dL at the first episode of EVH had transplant-free survival of >80% for 4 years after this episode, those with bilirubin levels >4 to 10 mg/dL had 50% survival at 1 year, and those with bilirubin levels >10 mg/dL had 50% survival at 4 months. The risk of death or transplant for a child with EVH and total serum bilirubin levels >10 mg/dL was 12.0 (95% CI: 6.0, 24.1), 4 to 10 mg/dL was 7.2 (3.1, 16.7), and ≤4 mg/dL was 0.6 (0.1, 3.1) times the risk of a same-aged child who did not have EVH. Conclusions: Children with biliary atresia and first EVH episode have a variable prognosis related to total serum bilirubin concentration at the time of the episode. (J Pediatr 2001;139:291-6)
Export of mirex from Lake Ontario to the St. Lawrence Estuary.

Abstract The relative importance of migrating eels and suspended particulate material (biotic and abiotic) as transporters of mirex from Lake Ontario to the St. Lawrence River Estuary is evaluated in the context of a possible adverse impact on the St. Lawrence beluga population. Our estimates suggest that transport of mirex out of Lake Ontario by eels (2270 g annually) is almost twice that due to suspended particulate flux (1370 g annually). Mass balance calculations for mirex in Lake Ontario indicate that transport by migrating eels and particulate matter, combined with coverage of surficial sediments by continuing deposition of new material, could effectively “cleanse” Lake Ontario of mirex inputs in 100 years or less. Using mirex as a prototype to simulate the fate of hydrophobic organic chemicals in Lake Ontario led to a revised sediment budget for this final lake in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence system. According to this budget, 94% of the suspended particulate material entering Lake Ontario is retained in the depositional basins and, by inference, most hydrophobic organic contaminants and metal forms having a dominant association with the particulate phase, would be expected to behave in a similar fashion.
An RNA Polymerase II Elongation Factor Encoded by the Human ELL Gene

The human ELL gene on chromosome 19 undergoes frequent translocations with the trithorax-like MLL gene on chromosome 11 in acute myeloid leukemias. Here, ELL was shown to encode a previously uncharacterized elongation factor that can increase the catalytic rate of RNA polymerase II transcription by suppressing transient pausing by polymerase at multiple sites along the DNA. Functionally, ELL resembles Elongin (SIII), a transcription elongation factor regulated by the product of the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor gene. The discovery of a second elongation factor implicated in oncogenesis provides further support for a close connection between the regulation of transcription elongation and cell growth.
Matching for several sparse nominal variables in a case-control study of readmission following surgery

Matching for several nominal covariates with many levels has usually been thought to be difficult because these covariates combine to form an enormous number of interaction categories with few if any people in most such categories. Moreover, because nominal variables are not ordered, there is often no notion of a “close substitute” when an exact match is unavailable. In a case-control study of the risk factors for readmission within 30 days of surgery in the Medicare population, we wished to match for 47 hospitals, 15 surgical procedures grouped or nested within 5 procedure groups, two genders, or 47 × 15 × 2 = 1410 categories. In addition, we wished to match as closely as possible for the continuous variable age (65–80 years). There were 1380 readmitted patients or cases. A fractional factorial experiment may balance main effects and low-order interactions without achieving balance for high-order interactions. In an analogous fashion, we balance certain main effects and low-order interactions among the c...
Role of periodical cicadas (Homoptera: Cicadidae: Magicicada) in forest nutrient cycles

Abstract The relative contribution of an emergence of 13-year periodical cicadas to forest nutrient cycles was investigated in an upland forest in northwestern Arkansas during a mass emergence of Brood XIX in 1985. Nymphs were collected from below ground at two sites prior to emergence and adults of both sexes were collected at one site as they emerged from the ground and after emergence at a chorus center. Nymphs had higher levels of iron, aluminum, and manganese and lower levels of sodium and nitrogen than adults. Adult females had higher levels of potassium and phosphorus than adult males. Compared with annual litter fall, cicadas in the relatively low-density population studied represented less than 1% of any nutrient flux sampled in the litter fall. The most important ecosystem function of the cicadas in the forest of this study may be the increase in energy and nutrients available to predators.
Lack of progress in early diagnosis of bladder cancer.

Objectives The stage of presentation of prostate cancer has changed dramatically in the past two decades, largely because of prostate-specific antigen screening and increased public awareness regarding the disease. Recently, strides have been made in the validation, development, and approval of bladder cancer (BC) markers. We sought to evaluate whether any stage migration has occurred for patients with BC during the same period. Methods A total of 351 and 1262 patients underwent radical cystectomy and radical retropubic prostatectomy, respectively, between 1992 and 2005 by one surgeon. The patients were divided into two consecutive groups: group 1 (1992 to 1998) and group 2 (1999 to 2005). The baseline and pathologic characteristics of the patients were compared. Results No differences were found in the clinical or pathologic staging between the two groups of patients undergoing radical cystectomy. The 5-year overall and disease-specific survival also was not different between the two groups. For patients with prostate cancer, those in group 2 presented at a younger age, with a lower prostate-specific antigen level, and had a lower clinical stage. Group 2 patients had a decrease in the incidence of extracapsular extension, a decreased tumor volume, and a decrease in the incidence of Gleason 8 to 10 tumors. Conclusions During two consecutive periods, our patients with prostate cancer presented with the cancer at an earlier stage and had more favorable pathologic features after radical retropubic prostatectomy. However, our patients with BC did not demonstrate any stage migration. Physicians need to be more aggressive in diagnosing BC, especially in patients at high risk of the disease. Risk factors must be emphasized, urine markers should be used in a screening strategy, and the indications for radical cystectomy should be liberalized.
Using simulation to predict multi-robot performance on coverage tasks

Simulations are typically used to model a problem and find a solution before real world testing. They speed up the validation process and allow researchers to modify their code accordingly. However, a problem occurs when simulation results are not consistent with real world results. Researchers have found inconsistencies due to odometry error and team size. However, no research has studied the effects specific to robot teams that affect the realism of multi-robot experiments. This paper shows how simulation results vary from experimental results when conducting multi-robot experiments. Simulation and real experiments are performed using different environments and cooperation paradigms. Results show that specific environmental features and cooperation paradigms significantly affect the usefulness of simulated results when predicting performance of real robot teams.
HOW A TRANSITION STATE TIGHTENS: THE SINGLET PHOTODISSOCIATION OF KETENE AS A TEST CASE

The tightening of the transition state as energy increases above the dissociation threshold is studied for the dissociation of singlet ketene. Rate constants and quantum yields have been determined...
Improved field methods to quantify methane oxidation in landfill cover materials using stable carbon isotopes.

Stable carbon isotopes provide a robust approach toward quantification of methanotrophic activity in landfill covers. The field method often applied to date has compared the δ13C of emitted to anaerobic zone CH4. Recent laboratory mass balance studies have indicated that this approach tends to underestimate CH4 oxidation. Therefore, we examined the CH4−δ13C at various soil depths in field settings and compared these values to emitted CH4. At 5–10 cm depth, we observed the most enrichment in CH4−δ13C (−46.0 to −32.1‰). Emitted CH4−δ13C was more negative, ranging from −56.5 to −43.0 ‰. The decrease in CH4−δ13C values from the shallow subsurface to the surface is the result of processes that result in selective emission of 12CH4 and selective retention of 13CH4 within the soil. Seasonal percent oxidation was calculated at seven sites representing four cover materials. Probe samples averaged greater (21 ± 2%, p < 0.001, n = 7) oxidation than emitted CH4 data. We argue that calculations of fraction oxidized ba...
Immunization against SIVmne in macaques using multigenic DNA vaccines.

: All structural and regulatory genes of SIVmne were cloned into mammalian expression vectors to optimize expression in vitro and immunogenicity in mice. Macaca fascicularis were immunized four times with plasmid DNA (n = 4), or two DNA priming inoculations followed by two boosts of recombinant gp160 plus Gag-Pol particles (n = 4). Following intrarectal challenge with SIVmne, all macaques became infected. Three monkeys immunized with DNA alone maintained low plasma virus loads by 1 year post-challenge; the fourth exhibited high virus loads and significant CD4 + cell decline. Two of the DNA plus boost and three control macaques had high virus loads and associated CD4 + cell decline. Both vaccine protocols elicited antibodies and comparable helper T-cell proliferative responses to gp160. Cytokine mRNA levels in activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) taken at time of challenge suggested a dominant T helper (Th) 1 state in three DNA-immunized and one protein-boosted macaque, which correlated with low virus loads and high CD4 + cell counts post-challenge.
Duality of fibroblast-like synoviocytes in RA: passive responders and imprinted aggressors

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by hyperplastic synovial pannus tissue, which mediates destruction of cartilage and bone. Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) are a key component of this invasive synovium and have a major role in the initiation and perpetuation of destructive joint inflammation. The pathogenic potential of FLS in RA stems from their ability to express immunomodulating cytokines and mediators as well as a wide array of adhesion molecule and matrix-modelling enzymes. FLS can be viewed as 'passive responders' to the immunoreactive process in RA, their activated phenotype reflecting the proinflammatory milieu. However, FLS from patients with RA also display unique aggressive features that are autonomous and vertically transmitted, and these cells can behave as primary promoters of inflammation. The molecular bases of this 'imprinted aggressor' phenotype are being clarified through genetic and epigenetic studies. The dual behaviour of FLS in RA suggests that FLS-directed therapies could become a complementary approach to immune-directed therapies in this disease. Pathophysiological characteristics of FLS in RA, as well as progress in targeting these cells, are reviewed in this manuscript.
Microscopic analysis of the superconducting quantum critical point: Finite-temperature crossovers in transport near a pair-breaking quantum phase transition

A microscopic analysis of the superconducting quantum critical point realized via a pair-breaking quantum phase transition is presented. Finite temperature crossovers are derived for the electrical conductivity, which is a key probe of superconducting fluctuations. By using the diagrammatic formalism for disordered systems, we are able to incorporate the interplay between fluctuating Cooper pairs and electrons, that is outside the scope of a time-dependent Ginzburg Landau or effective bosonic action formalism. It is essential to go beyond the standard approximation in order to capture the zero temperature correction which results purely from the (dynamic) quantum fluctuations and dictates the behavior of the conductivity in an entire low temperature quantum regime. All dynamic contributions are of the same order and conspire to add up to a negative total, thereby inhibiting the conductivity as a result of superconducting fluctuations. On the contrary, the classical and the intermediate regimes are dominated by the positive bosonic channel. Our theory is applicable in one, two and three dimensions and is relevant for experiments on superconducting nanowires, doubly-connected cylinders, thin films and bulk in the presence of magnetic impurities, magnetic field or other pair-breakers. A window of non-monotonic behavior is predicted to exist as either the temperature or the pair-breaking parameter is swept.
Space Density of Dust in the Stratosphere

THE Smithsonian meteoritic dust programme has included a number of aerosol collections made by various aircraft in different altitude ranges. These include collections in the range 40,000–48,000 ft. by a B-52; roughly 60,000 ft. by a U-2; and 51,000–87,000 ft. by an F-104A. The purpose of these collections was to obtain samples of meteoritic material, both so that we could estimate the rate of accretion by the Earth of extraterrestrial matter and analyse it chemically.
Estimating net changes in life-cycle emissions from adoption of emerging civil infrastructure technologies.

Abstract There is a net emissions change when adopting new materials for use in civil infrastructure design. To evaluate the total net emissions change, one must consider changes in manufacture and associated life-cycle emissions, as well as changes in the quantity of material required. In addition, in principle one should also consider any differences in costs of the two designs because cost savings can be applied to other economic activities with associated environmental impacts. In this paper, a method is presented that combines these considerations to permit an evaluation of the net change in emissions when considering the adoption of emerging technologies/materials for civil infrastructure. The method factors in data on differences between a standard and new material for civil infrastructure, material requirements as specified in designs using both materials, and price information. The life-cycle assessment approach known as economic input-output life-cycle assessment (EIO-LCA) is utilized. A brief b...
Priority Scheduling and Inventory Control in Job Lot Manufacturing Systems

Abstract This paper examines the relationship between the problems of priority scheduling and inventory control and describes several priority scheduling rules that use inventory information in making machine scheduling decisions. These rules include: Minimum Slack Time Per Remaining Operation? Critical Ratio, and a modification of the Shortest Processing Time Rule. Simulation experiments evaluate the gain in shop and inventory performance resulting from the inclusion of inventory data in scheduling rules. The results indicate that an increase in the timeliness of inventory information for scheduling purposes may not lead to improved performance.
Development and testing of four instruments to assess prior conditions that influence nurses' adoption of evidence-based pain management practices

Aim. This paper is a report of the development and testing of the psychometric properties of a set of four instruments measuring prior conditions influencing nurses’ decisions to adopt evidence-based pain management practices. Background. Nurses do not use evidence-based pain management practices consistently. Their adoption of pain management practices depends on several prior conditions. Prior conditions are factors that influence the need to learn more about an innovation and begin the adoption process. Method. Four instruments were developed, collectively known as Carlson’s Prior Conditions Instruments, to assess the four theoretically-derived prior conditions of previous practice, felt needs/problems, innovativeness and norms of the social system that influence nurses’ decisions to adopt evidence-based pain management practices. Item-to-total correlations and Cronbach’s alpha were used to determine internal consistency reliability. Construct validity was examined through principal components factor analysis with varimax rotation. Data were collected as part of a larger study in 2005. Results. Content validity of the four instruments was supported through review by experts. The instruments were distributed to nurses (n = 187). Each instrument demonstrated internal consistency (alpha range = 0·731–0·825). Factor analysis demonstrated that the Felt Needs/Problems and Norms of the Social System Instruments were unidimensional, with six and seven items respectively. The Previous Practice Instrument (11 items, three factors) and Innovativeness Instrument (six items, two factors) were multidimensional. Conclusion. Initial psychometric testing revealed adequate estimates of reliability and validity for Carlson’s Prior Conditions Instruments. Further research is needed using the tools with nurses in different countries and cultures to test and confirm the constructs.
Determination of heat transfer coefficient for forging applications

A setup for measuring the contact heat transfer coefficient between a tool steel die and a specimen was designed, developed, and fabricated. A microcomputer was programmed to collect and process the temperature data. Tests were conducted under dry and lubricated conditions at different temperatures and pressures on four aluminum alloys, namely, 2024-T4, 2024-O, 6061-O, and 1100-O. MoS2 was used as the lubricant. Results indicate that the heat transfer coefficient increases with pressure and decreases with specimen yield strength. Variation in heat transfer coefficient with temperature is due to chemical changes which occur in the lubricant at the test temperature. The heat transfer coefficient was an order of magnitude greater at high pressures than at nominally zero pressure.
Teachers' Philosophical Orientation and Practices: A Study of Novice Preschool Teachers in South Korea:

The purpose of this study was to explore the philosophical basis of novice preschool teachers in South Korea and how this pedagogical orientation was reflected in their classrooms. Through interviews and observations, this research gave Korean preschool teachers the opportunity to voice their beliefs about child-centered pedagogy, and illuminated how their beliefs were reflected in their teaching. Interestingly, Korean preschool teachers strongly believed in the importance of child-centered learning, no matter what type of institution they had graduated from. However, their teaching styles were significantly different. Several external factors restricted the teachers and prevented them from implementing their own beliefs in practice. These factors included whether the teachers were in public or private settings, whether they had graduated from two-year or four-year teacher education programs, and the presence of the Korean culture. In conclusion, reform plans for South Korean kindergartens are suggested in order to improve the quality of early childhood education, as well as to provide more support for teachers.
Shock layer thickness in the case of wide bands of single components and binary mixtures in non-linear liquid chromatography

Abstract The ideal model predicts the formation of a concentration shock on one side of an elution band, depending on the curvature of the isotherm. However, when a real column is used, a true concentration shock cannot form and a very steep boundary occurs instead, which is called a shock layer. It propagates at the same velocity as the ideal shock. The thickness of the shock layer has been defined and calculated by Rhee and co-workers in the case when the injection profile is a rectangular band wide enough for the elution profile to contain a constant state, i.e. , a plateau at the injection composition. This result is used to investigate the properties of binary frontal analysis in chromatography. Experimental results are in good agreement with the theory.
A Bayesian model of intraday specialist pricing

Abstract This paper develops and tests a model of intraday security price movements which incorporates the effects of both trading volume and unanticipated information. We estimate our model using transaction data from a NYSE specialist and find strong evidence of information asymmetry, although the inventory effect appears weak. The parameter estimates are used to compute the costs of trading, and we find that implicit bid-ask spreads were significantly higher in October 1987 than in the rest of that year. We also examine large-block versus smaller trades and buyer-initiated versus seller-initiated trades.
The use of stilbestrol in the menopause and other conditions

Abstract 1.1. Stilbestrol was used in a series of 122 women mainly with menopausal complaints. 2.2. Vaginal smears generally showed a good estrogenic effect. 3.3. Vaginal PH determinations frequently did not coincide with the cytologic changes. 4.4. Successful results were obtained in 64 per cent of cases. 5.5. Toxic manifestations occurred in a considerable number of patients, the most frequent being nausea, which took place in thirty-seven cases, or 30 per cent. 6.6. Toxic manifestations did not seem to depend on total dosage. 7.7. Stilbestrol should be used only on direction of a physician and the patient followed carefully. We wish to thank the Winthrop Chemical Company and the Endo Products Company for their co-operation in supplying the stilbestrol used in this series.
When invasion increases population genetic structure: a study with Centaurea diffusa.

Biological invasions offer excellent systems to study the evolutionary processes involved in introductions of species to new ranges. Molecular markers can reveal invasion histories and the effects of introductions on amounts and structuring of genetic variation. We used five polymorphic microsatellite loci to elucidate genetic diversity and population structure between native range and introduced range populations of a prominent North American rangeland weed, Centaurea diffusa (Asteraceae). We found that the total number of alleles and the number of private alleles was slightly higher in the native Eurasian range, and that allelic richness did not differ between the ranges, indicating overall levels of diversity were similar in Eurasia and North America. It therefore seems unlikely that this invasion has been affected by genetic bottlenecks or founder effects. Indeed, results of assignment tests suggest that multiple introductions have contributed to North America’s C. diffusa invasion. Additionally, assignment tests show that both Eurasian and North American sites had a strong pattern of mixed genetic ancestry. This mixed assignment corresponded to a lack of geographic population structure among Eurasian samples. The lack of population structure in the native range conflicts with general expectations and findings to date for invasion genetics, and cautions that even species’ native ranges may show signs of recent ecological upheaval. Despite the mixed assignments, North American samples showed strong population structure, suggesting that the invasion has been characterized by long-range dispersal of genetically distinct propagules across the introduced range.