cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Geospatial distribution of fall-related hospitalization incidence in Texas

INTRODUCTION: With the rapid growth of the aging U.S. population, the incidence of falls and fall-related injuries is expected to rise. We examined incidence and characteristics of fall-related hospitalizations (falls) among Texans aged 50 and older, by geography and across time. METHOD: We calculated fall-related hospitalization incidence rates (65 and older), identified fall 'hot spots,' and examined availability of fall-prevention programming. RESULTS: The incidence of fall-related hospitalizations for older adults increased by nearly 20% from 2007 to 2011. There were clusters of 'hot spot' counties throughout the state, many of which lack fall prevention programs. CONCLUSIONS: Increased efforts are needed to identify older adults at elevated risk for falling and develop referral systems for promoting evidence-based fall prevention programs at multiple levels accounting for geographic settings. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Geospatial investigations can inform strategic planning efforts to develop clinical-community partnerships to offer fall prevention programming in high risk areas. Language: en
A field test of inducible resistance to specialist and generalist herbivores using the water lily Nuphar luteum

We tested whether grazing by the specialist beetle Galerucella nymphaeae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) induced resistance to herbivory in the water lily Nuphar luteum macrophyllum (Nymphaeaceae) using both the specialist beetle and the generalist crayfish Procambarus clarkii (Decapoda: Cambaridae). For 2 months, we allowed natural densities of beetles to develop on control plants of Nuphar, while removing beetles every 2–3 days from adjacent plants that were paired by location within our field site. By the end of the 2-month manipulation, beetle grazing had damaged twice as much leaf surface on control plants as on removal plants (30.6% vs. 14.2%, respectively). We then offered tissues from control and removal plants to adult and larval beetles and to crayfish in laboratory assays. Increased levels of previous attack by the specialist beetle either did not affect or increased water lily attractiveness to beetles, but significantly decreased attractiveness to the generalist crayfish. Beetle larvae did not feed preferentially on control vs. removal Nuphar in assays using either immature, undamaged leaves that had not yet reached the pond surface or intermediate aged leaves that had reached the surface and experienced some beetle grazing. Adult beetles consumed significantly more immature leaf tissue from the heavily grazed controls than from the less grazed removal plants but did not discriminate between control and removal leaves of intermediate age in either feeding or oviposition preference. In contrast, generalist crayfish consumed significantly more plant tissue from the less grazed treatment than from the more heavily grazed controls. Crude chemical extracts from Nuphar strongly deterred crayfish feeding, but neither phenolic content, protein content, nor differential effects of crude extracts from control vs. removal plants explained crayfish feeding on control versus removal leaves. Our assays suggest that induced resistance to crayfish may be chemically mediated, but the particular mechanisms producing this response remain unclear. Responses may be due to defensive metabolites that degrade rapidly following extraction.
Mechanistic comparison of artificial-chaperone-assisted and unassisted refolding of urea-denatured carbonic anhydrase B

Background: We have previously described a method for the refolding of chemically denatured proteins in which small molecules (‘artificial chaperones', a detergent and cyclodextrin) assist renaturation. In a previous analysis of lysozyme refolding from the GdmCl-denatured, DTT-reduced state, we found that enzymatic activity is regained at indistinguishable rates for unassisted (absence of additives) and artificial-chaperone-assisted refolding. While unassisted and artificial-chaperone-assisted refolding rates could also be directly compared for GdmCl-denatured bovine carbonic anhydrase B (CAB), only cationic detergents could be used as assistants. We therefore set out to determine whether artificial chaperones could assist the refolding of urea-denatured CAB, whether the charge and structure of the detergent used affects refolding assistance, and, if so, whether the assistance is mechanistically similar to that observed for GdmCl-denatured CAB. Results: Our results indicate that CAB can be refolded from the urea-denatured state via the artificial chaperone process, using both anionic and cationic detergents. There is a distinctive product-determining step early in the artificial-chaperone-assisted refolding mechanism, but the rate-determining steps of the unassisted and artificial-chaperone-assisted processes are indistinguishable. Conclusions: Because the rate-determining steps of unassisted and artificial-chaperone-assisted refolding are indistinguishable, we conclude that the rate-determining step of CAB refolding is unaffected by the use of artificial chaperones. Our observations also suggest that denatured CAB undergoes a slow partial folding in concentrated urea solution.
Heterogeneous propellant internal ballistics: criticism and regeneration

Although heterogeneous propellant and its innately nondeterministic, chemically discrete morphology dominates applications, ballisticcharacterization deterministic time-mean burning rate and acoustic admittance measures' absence of explicit, nondeterministic information requires homogeneous propellant with a smooth, uniformly regressing burning surface: inadequate boundary conditions for heterogeneous propellant grained applications. The past age overcame this dichotomy with one-dimensional (1D) models and empirical knowledge from numerous, adequately supported motor developments and supplementary experiments. However, current cost and risk constraints inhibit this approach. Moreover, its fundamental science approach is more sensitive to incomplete boundary condition information (garbage-in still equals garbage-out) and more is expected. This work critiques this situation and sketches a path forward based on enhanced ballistic and motor characterizations in the workplace and approximate model and apparatus developments mentored by CSAR DNS capabilities (or equivalent).
The association between benzo[a]pyrene-DNA adducts and body mass index, calorie intake and physical activity

AbstractPrior work suggests that body size and fat content may influence carcinogen-DNA adduct levels measured in white blood cells. Here we consider energy balance more broadly by assessing the impact of body mass index (BMI), physical activity and calorie intake on the presence of benzo[a]pyrene-DNA (BP-DNA) adducts in white blood cell DNA. Our cross-sectional study employed subjects from a separately conducted intervention trial. Physical activity and food intake data were collected at 12 and 15 months of follow-up, respectively. BP-DNA adducts were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in white blood cell samples collected at 12 months of follow-up. Complete data on all variables were available from 143 subjects. Logistic regression showed that BMI was inversely associated with the presence of detectable adducts (OR = 0.90, p=0.02), and that hours of moderate-intensity physical activity were positively associated with the presence of detectable adducts (OR = 1.04, p=0.04). These re...
The prediction of the burning constants of suspended hydrocarbon fuel droplets

Abstract An improved method of predicting the burning constants of suspended hydrocarbon drops based on a modified theoretical equation is presented. The burning constants calculated with this method show an average deviation of 5·6 per cent from the experimental values for 19 hydrocarbon fuels. This deviation is comparable to the error involved in the experimental determination of the burning constants. At the 95 per cent confidence level the calculated results are accurate to ± 0 · 0013 cm 2 sec. To develop this method, burning constants were calculated from a theoretical equation in eight different ways based on the combinations of two assumed flame temperatures and four average thermal conductivities. The eight sets of burning constants so calculated were compared with the experimental values and found to show average deviations from the experimental of from 9·8 to 34 per cent. In order to obtain closer agreement with experiment the theoretical equation was modified. The constants in the modified equation were determined by a least squares analysis constants calculated from the modified equation and experiment l ranged from 5·6 to 94 per cent. The method which yields the closest agreement between the experimental and calculated burning constants is presented in detail.
DEMONSTRATION OF A HYBRID INTELLIGENT CONTROL STRATEGY FOR CRITICAL BUILDING HVAC SYSTEMS

Many industrial facilities utilize pressure control gradients to prevent migration of hazardous species from containment areas to occupied zones, often using Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) control. Within these facilities, PID control is often inadequate to maintain desired performance due to changing operating conditions. As the goal of the Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) control system is to optimize the pressure gradients and associated flows for the plant, Linear Quadratic Tracking (LQT) provides a time-based approach to guiding plant interactions. However, LQT methods are susceptible to modeling and measurement errors, and therefore a hybrid design using the integration of soft control methods with hard control methods is developed and demonstrated to account for these errors and nonlinearities.
Drug Involvement among Potential Dropouts and “Typical” Youth:

Drug involvement, conceptualized as drug use frequency, drug access, drug use control, and adverse use consequences, is described and compared among two randomly selected groups of students aged fourteen to nineteen years: 203 low-risk typical high-school students and 160 youths at high-risk of school problems and dropout. High-risk youth, compared to low-risk youth and national statistics, endorsed a much greater breadth and depth of drug use, greater access to drugs, less drug use control, and greater adverse consequences due to use. A secondary analysis showed low-risk users (experimenters) were similar to high-risk youth in their access to drugs and eroding drug use control, but showed low frequencies of drug use and negligible adverse use consequences. Measuring and exploring these four facets of drug involvement provided a robust picture of the adolescents' drug milieu and revealed differences in patterns of drug involvement that would not have been evident by looking purely at drug use frequency. Implications for prevention programming are suggested.
First ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) monitored with GPS telemetry

We report the first study to monitor ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) spatial patterns with Global Positioning System (GPS) telemetry. The study area was in southern Texas in areas of dense thornshrub (closed habitat) and open grasslands interspersed with small patches of dense thornshrub cover (open habitat). We used a 200-g GPS-Posrec collar (Televilt, TVP Positioning AB, Lindesberg, Sweden). We obtained 61% of GPS fixes from the ocelot GPS collar. The ocelot preferred closed habitat, even with GPS bias against closed habitat, and used small patches and corridors of dense thornshrub. Due to the success of this pilot study, we recommend that GPS telemetry be used to monitor ocelots.
Cognitive Engineering in Radiation Screening for Homeland Security

Cognitive engineering methods in a large-scale homeland security program are described. Screening cargo containers at seaports for illicit radioactive material involves substantial staff, technology, and human operator decision making. The systems engineering model used by the radiation portal monitor (RPM) program entails elements similar to the incremental commitment model, which provides a risk-based focus for applications of cognitive engineering. This model includes methods for defining opportunities and context of use, methods for requirements and design solutions, and methods for evaluation. The application examples illustrate each of these general areas through work domain analysis, signal detection modeling, design of displays for radiation threat likelihood, and evaluation of the design concepts with field test data. The signal detection analysis shows how system detection sensitivity requirements for design can be established for low-probability, high-consequence events such as threats. The thr...
Diazoxide urine and plasma levels in humans by stable-isotope dilution-mass fragmentography

A specific, sensitive, and accurate assay for diazoxide in human plasma and urine samples was developed utilizing stable-isotope dilution-GC-mass fragmentography. 3-Trideuterodiazoxide (d3-diazoxide) served as internal standard, and diazoxide was N-methylated with diazomethane prior to GC. Plasma elimination half-lives of diazoxide ranged within 20–53 hr in four severely hypertensive patients, which did not correlate with endogenous plasma creatinine levels. A rapid infusion over 10–15 sec of an antihypertensive dose presumably resulted in a very transient precipitation of diazoxide due to its limited solubility of approximately 380 Μg/ml plasma. Urinary excretion accounted for 4–6% of the dose within 24 hr after administration in the four patients studied and totalled 19% and 22% in two patients. Renal clearance of diazoxide was below 1 ml/min on the first day following administration and increased to 2–3 ml/min on consecutive days. It was concluded that renal excretion of diazoxide is self-limited by antihypertensive doses in severely hypertensive patients. The major route of elimination in these patients may be due to metabolism.
Short, stereocontrolled syntheses of irreversible eicosanoid biosynthesis inhibitors. 5,6- , 8,9- , and 11,12-dehydroarachidonic acid

Abstract 5,6- and 11,12-dehydroarachidonic acids ( 1 and 3 ), which irreversibly inhibit leukotriene and prostaglandin biosynthesis, respectively, have been synthesized, along with the 8,9-isomer ( 2 ), by novel and direct routes.
Feeding pure docosahexaenoate or arachidonate decreases plasma triacylglycerol secretion in rats

Essential fatty acid (EFA)-deficient rats were fed highly purified methyl esters of docosahexaenoate (22∶6n−3), arachidonate (20∶4n−6), alpha-linolenate (18∶3n−3) or oleate (18∶1n−9) (100 mg/day, tube fed for 3–10 days), and their plasma triacylglycerol (TG) secretion rates were measured. Secretion rates of TG into plasma were reduced by tube-feeding 22∶6n−3, 20∶4n−6, 18∶3n−3, but not 18∶1n−9, to EFA-deficient rats. A significant reduction occurred after feeding 22∶6n−3 for only three days. Feeding 22∶6n−3 or 18∶3n−3 to EFA-deficient rats for three days also reduced the activities of liver lipogenic enzymes and sharply increased the proportions of 22∶6n−3 and 20∶5n−3 in liver phospholipid fractions. Mechanisms by which these EFA may reduce lipogenesis are discussed.
Structure of the Human Telomere in K+ Solution: An Intramolecular (3 + 1) G-Quadruplex Scaffold

We present the intramolecular G-quadruplex structure of human telomeric DNA in physiologically relevant K(+) solution. This G-quadruplex, whose (3 + 1) topology differs from folds reported previously in Na(+) solution and in a K(+)-containing crystal, involves the following: one anti.syn.syn.syn and two syn.anti.anti.anti G-tetrads; one double-chain reversal and two edgewise loops; three G-tracts oriented in one direction and the fourth in the opposite direction. The topological characteristics of this (3 + 1) G-quadruplex scaffold should provide a unique platform for structure-based anticancer drug design targeted to human telomeric DNA.
Polymatroidal flows with lower bounds

Abstract The polymatroidal network flow model is generalized to allow for supermodular lower bounds on flow in addition to submodular capacities. For arbitrary supermodular lower bounds and submodular capacities it is shown to be NP-hard simply to determine if a feasible integral flow exists. However, the situation is much more tractable if lower bound functions and capacity functions are in a relation of ‘compliance’. In this case, the Augmenting Path Theorem, the Integrality Theorem, the Max-Flow Min-Cut Theorem and the maximal flow algorithm of polymatroidal flows all have natural generalizations. A procedure for finding a feasible flow closely parallels one which is used for ordinary flow networks with lower bounds on arc flow.
Increase in cytoplasmic free calcium in murine splenocytes following stimulation with anti-CD3 antibody in the presence of Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol

Abstract It has been previously shown that when mitogens such as concanavalin A (Con A) or phytohemagglutinin (PHA), are used to stimulate lymphoid cells which are treated with varying doses of Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the proliferation of splenocytes from mice of different ages is suppressed. In contrast, when these cells were stimulated with anti-CD3 antibody in combination with THC, lower doses of THC stimulated proliferation of the splenocytes. This stimulation occurred only if the spleens were obtained from adult (2 month) mice as opposed to cells from young (2 week) or aged (24 month) mice. In order to more completely understand this age related differential effect, mobilization of cytosolic free Ca2+ wasstudied in this system, using fluorescent Ca2+ probes and spectrofluorometry. It was found that adult splenocytes pretreated with anti-CD3 antibody responded to cross-linking by anti-IgG antibody with a further rise in intracellular free Ca2+. Such an increase in Ca2+ was not seen with cells derived from either young or old mice. A similar phenomenon occurred when 5 μg/ml THC was used in place of the anti-IgG antibody. Thus, adult spleen cells exposed to both Δ-9-THC and anti-CD3 antibody displayed an increase in intracellular free calcium whereas spleen cells from very young mice failed to respond in this manner. Interestingly, when 11-hyroxy-THC, another metabolite of marijuana, was used instead of the Δ-9-THC, no rise in intracellular Ca2+ influx was seen in any age group of mice tested. These results emphasize the differential effect of THC on splenocytes from individuals of different ages. Further, these findings demonstrate a constrasting effect of two metabolites of marijuana, Δ-9-THC and 11-OH-THC, on calcium mobilization in murine splenocytes.
Increased serum activity of lactate dehydrogenase in infants with necrotising enterocolitis: a potential marker of advanced disease

Abstract Asphyxiated neonates have an increased serum activity of selected enzymes. Since hypoxia/ischaemia is a pathogenetic factor for necrotising enterocolitis (NEC), the serum activity of these enzymes may also be increased in infants with NEC. Our aim was to evaluate whether the serum activity of selected enzymes was increased in patients with NEC, particularly those with advanced disease. A retrospective review of all infants treated for NEC between 1998 and 2006 was undertaken. Patients with suspected NEC or focal intestinal perforation were excluded. Patients with definite (group A) and advanced (group B) NEC and a determination of serum activity of alkaline phosphatase, creatinine kinase, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and lactate dehydrogenase were included in the study. Maximum serum activity during the course of the disease was determined and compared in the two groups by the Mann–Whitney test. Thirty-seven infants with definite (24) or advanced (13) NEC had a determination of serum enzymes activity at some stage of their disease. Group B patients had significantly higher activity of lactate dehydrogenase ( p
Ion-beam induced defects and nanoscale amorphous clusters in silicon carbide

Atomic-level simulations have been employed to study the defects and nanoscale disordering induced in 3C-SiC by C, Si and Au ions with energies up to 50 keV. Energetic C and Si ions primarily produce interstitials, vacancies, antisite defects and small defect clusters directly in collision cascades. The overlap of Si cascades produces nanoscale defect clusters. In the case of energetic Au ions, nanoscale amorphous domains are produced directly within the Au cascades along with point defects and smaller clusters. In about 25% of the Au cascades, one or more subcascades contain nanoscale clusters that exhibit a structure that is consistent with an amorphous state. Structural image simulations of the subcascade structures produced by energetic Si and Au recoils are consistent with experimental high-resolution transmission electron microscopy images. Simulations of close-pair production and recombination in SiC indicate that the activation energies for recombination of most close pairs range from 0.24 to 0.38 eV.
Children's Coping Styles and Report of Depressive Symptoms Following a Natural Disaster

The present study examined the relationship between children's coping styles (Spirito, Stark, & Williams, 1988) and self-reported levels of depressive symptoms (Kovacs, 1983) following a major stressor. 257 third- to fifth-grade children consented to participate in the study, 5 months following a hurricane. The number of coping strategies employed was positively related to depression scores, whereas coping efficacy was negatively related to depression scores. Social withdrawal, self-blaming, and emotional regulation were associated with more severe depressive symptoms. Lower levels of symptomatology were found among children who sought social support and engaged in cognitive restructuring. The overall symptom level in the sample did not exceed that of normative samples. Results are discussed in terms of competing theories of childhood depression.
Salvaging value from project failure

PERFORMANCE CONSULTANTS SHOULD expect many of their improvement projects to fail. No one knows how many performance improvement projects fail, but Chakravorty (2010) suggests that the failure of improvement projects in general might exceed 60%. In a study conducted by Vitalsmarts and Concours Group (2006), researchers reported project failure rates as high as 80% in some instances. Although project failure rates vary among performance consultants, it seems reasonable to assume that most, if not all, performance consultants will experience project failure at some point in their careers.
Nickel, argon and cobalt in the infrared spectrum of SN1987A: the core becomes visible

Infrared spectra of supernova 1987A taken in April and November 1987 are presented, showing two distinctly different stages in the evolution of the expanding gas shell. The optical and infrared spectrum in April originated from the hydrogen envelope and show weak hydrogen lines rising above a 5,000-K photospheric continuum. The November spectrum was dominated by strong emission lines from heavy elements as well as many lines from highly excited levels of hydrogen, with peak flux levels in the lines at or slightly above the level of the continuum in April. It is concluded that the inner regions of the supernova were just becoming visible in early 1988. It is expected that these regions contain heavy elements produced by advanced nuclear burning stages in the progenitor star and in the shock wave that ejected all material external to the iron core.
Potential for Milk Containing Penicillin G or Amoxicillin to Cause Residues in Calves

Abstract The potential for antibiotic residues in calves from consuming milk containing penicillin G or amoxicillin was investigated. Six calves were fed milk replacer, 6% body weight twice daily, containing 0.293, 2.92, or 5.85 μ g of penicillin/ml (ppm) G or 0.25, 1.0, or 2.0 μ g of amoxicillin/ml for three consecutive feedings. Urine and blood samples were collected after each feeding. Serum and urine samples were tested with a microbial receptor assay and a microbial growth inhibition assay to indicate potential drug residues. Penicillin G and amoxicillin were detected in the serum and urine of several calves 3h after drinking spiked milk replacer. Possible violative drug residues in the calves were detected by the microbial growth inhibition assay up to 15h after drinking spiked milk replacer. Penicillin G, but not amoxicillin, could be detected in urine 24h after the final feeding of spiked milk replacer. Subsequently, six calves were fed milk replacer containing 11.7 μ g of penicillin G/ml (ppm) twice daily, 6% body weight per feeding. Calves were slaughtered 3h after the final feeding. Mean (±SD) concentrations of penicillin G measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography in liver, kidney, muscle, and serum were 0.409 (±0.167) μ g/g, 0.031 (±0.012) μ g/g 0.008 (±0.002) μ g/g, and 0.013 (±0.006) mg/ml, respectively. This study indicates that calves fed milk with amoxicillin or penicillin G could possibly have violative residues if slaughtered within 24h after feeding. Violative drug residues in liver tissue were found in calves slaughtered 3h after consuming milk replacer containing 11.7 μ g of penicillin G/ml (ppm).
Wireless CROS Versus Transcranial CROS for Unilateral Hearing Loss

Eight subjects with unilateral hearing loss were fitted with wireless CROS and transcranial BTE CROS hearing aids. Results revealed that two subjects preferred the BTE transcranial CROS; four subje...
Computer applications in glass processes

Abstract The rapid increase in computer capability, increased miniaturization and decreased costs/storage element has opened up completely new opportunities for improved monitoring and control of the glass production processes. A concerted effort is under way to utilize this technology to develop an integrated process control system for glass container manufacture. Such a system is still some years in the future because of the need to develop specific new sensors and the need to formulate a number of complicated algorithms. However, parts of the process are already under control and providing measurable benefits. In addition, computer modeling and simulation of various component unit-processes are being used to greatly enhance the technical understanding, to improve process reliability, to improve product quality, and to lower capital and operating costs.
The Regulation of Indecent but Nonobscene Computer-Mediated Expression and the First Amendment

The regulation of indecent but nonobscene expression on the Internet raises traditional First Amendment concerns about restrictions on content, but also adds new wrinkles to debates about community standards, jurisdiction, media convergence, and public vs. private mediated communication. These issues remain immensely important as boundaries on expression in this global medium are being worked out.
The Morality of Killing Human Embryos

Embryonic stem cell research is morally and politically controversial because the process of deriving the embryonic stem (ES) cells kills embryos. If embryos are, as some would claim, human beings like you and me, then ES cell research is clearly impermissible. If, on the other hand, the blastocysts from which embryonic stem cells are derived are not yet human beings, but rather microscopic balls of undifferentiated cells, as others maintain, then ES cell research is probably morally permissible. Whether the research can be justified depends on such issues as its cost, chance of success, and numbers likely to benefit. But this is an issue for any research project, not just ES cell research. What makes the debate over ES cell research controversial is that it, like the debate over abortion, raises “questions that politicians cannot settle: when does human life begin, and what is the moral status of the human embryo?” This paper looks at several theories of moral status and their implications for embryo research.
Feasibility of an Audio Computer-Assisted Self-Interview Method to Self-Assess Sexual Maturation

Abstract Purpose Sexual maturation assessment using physical examination may no longer be feasible in some large epidemiologic surveys, such as National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, because of the sensitivity of the examination and privacy concerns. This study tested the feasibility of a new automated audio computer-assisted self-interview (ACASI) module for children and adolescents for self-assessment of sexual maturation. Methods A cross-sectional feasibility study was conducted at a large urban children/adolescent clinic in Washington D.C. Self-assessed sexual maturation (Tanner stages) was reported by 234 youths (119 boys and 115 girls) aged 8–18 years by using the ACASI module. Girls assessed their breast and pubic hair development, and boys assessed their genital and pubic hair development. Self-assessments were compared with Tanner stages recorded by clinical examiners during routine well-child physical examinations conducted on the same day. Results There was good/excellent agreement between boy's self-assessment and the examiner's assessment of their genital stage (weighted κ: .65, 95% confidence interval [CI]: .55–.75) and pubic hair stage (weighted κ: .78, CI: .70–.86). There was excellent agreement between girl's self-assessment and the examiner's assessment of their breast stage (weighted κ: .81, CI: .74–.87) and pubic hair stage (weighted κ: .78, CI: .71–.86). Conclusion The ACASI method is a feasible method of pubertal self-assessment for participants as young as 8 years in large epidemiologic surveys. However, additional testing is needed to determine the validity of this ACASI module.
Kinetics of Ascorbic Acid Autoxidation as a Function of Dissolved Oxygen Concentration and Temperature

The kinetics of ascorbic acid autoxidation was studied at pH 6.1 (μ= 0.08) using a buffered model system. Oxygen replenishment in the solution was accomplished by shaking the reaction vessel in a shaker water bath or by bubbling oxygen-nitrogen gas mixtures through the solution. Using the former system, a second order rate constant of 58.19 ± 11.92 min−1 M−1 was calculated (45°C), Since the shaker bath did not assure oxygen replenishment and dissolved oxygen levels could not be varied, the latter system was developed. The second order rate constants in the gas mixture experiments ranged from 20.80 ± 2.28 min−1 M−1 (30°C) to 176 ± 6.93 min−1 M−1 (55°C). Activation energies measured under different conditions ranged from 9.47 to 16.43 kcal mole−1.
The Emerging Suburban Service Economy Changing Patterns of Employment

The growing service economy has been documented at the national level and for central cities. We examine the expansion of service jobs among suburban municipalities. We compare absolute growth in jobs in the consumer service sector with the stagnation of the manufacturing sector. We then define four types of suburbs-booming, declining, transformation, and production-based- and using probit analyses, we identify the factors associated with the distribution of communities across these. Regional patterns of economic change dominate local factors in determining membership in each category. We conclude that suburban communities are influenced by economic change generated in national and international markets.
Metropolitan Evolution, Sectoral Economic Change, and the City Size Distribution

Metropolitan evolution is conceptualised from a broad, long term perspective that focuses on demographic and sectoral economic variables. Emphasis is placed on understanding these changes from a process-oriented approach that considers its general relevance rather than its outcomes or microanalytic details. A selective review of the literature provides a significant perspective and background on the stages model that is applied to the study of metropolitan change. This is then related to the Pareto city size distribution by considering the interurban population distribution coefficient and its expected performance over the various phases of metropolitan evolution. A hypothetical interurban manufacturing employment distribution coefficient, analogous to the Pareto population coefficient, is also considered and is related to the process of metropolitan and interurban sectoral economic change. The relationship between metropolitan change and national urban size distribution is viewed as a significant compone...
Frayed Nerves in Myocardial Infarction: The Importance of Rewiring

See related article, pages 76–83 Although the concept of remodeling is well established with respect to heart muscle, the importance of a restructuring of cardiac innervation, or “rewiring,” after myocardial infarction (MI) has only recently received due attention. Pioneering contributions in this regard have emerged from the laboratories of Zipes1 and Chen.2–6 Recently, Cao, Chen, and coworkers2–5 provided evidence implicating nerve sprouting in ventricular arrhythmogenesis and potentially sudden cardiac death (SCD). These investigators reported a significant correlation between increased sympathetic nerve density as reflected in immunocytochemical markers with history of arrhythmias including ventricular tachycardia and SCD in native hearts of human transplant recipients with severe heart failure.3 Their observations suggested an association between postinjury sympathetic nerve density and susceptibility to life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias in these patients. In a canine post-MI model, they demonstrated that induction of nerve sprouting by infusion of nerve growth factor (NGF) into the left stellate ganglion (LSG) resulted in increased incidence of ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation.4 Significantly, the predisposition to arrhythmias was again linked to immunocytochemical evidence of a heterogeneous pattern of sympathetic reinnervation. In a similar conscious canine model, the …
Fine-tuning of ceramic-based chemical sensors via novel microstructural modification: Part II: Low level CO sensing by molybdenum oxide, MoO3

Employing a buffer gas mixture of CO and CO2, the equilibrium oxygen partial pressure was varied across the Mo/MoO3 proximity line by varying the ratio of concentration of the two gases, as described in an earlier communication. This led to the reduction of MoO3 in one case and oxidation of the reduced phase (Mo or MoO2) in the other with a concomitant variation in the microstructural features of the resulting species. The formation and growth of the new oxide surface under conditions of oxygen potential modulation has been found to impart enhanced sensing characteristics to the MoO3-based chemical sensors for low levels of carbon monoxide (14–100 ppm CO) in the ambient. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
An algorithmic approach to the trajectory planning for multiple robots

A discrete trajectory planning algorithm that generates locally minimum time trajectories for coordinately operating multiple robots is proposed. Each robot has 6 degrees of freedom. The robots operate coordinately in a three-dimensional workspace. The task of the robots is to move a rigid object along a specified path. The control sampling period of the robots is assumed to be constant. The robot trajectories generated satisfy the joint velocity and acceleration constraints, as well as the path constraints. >
Hypersensitivity to Total Parenteral Nutrition Fat-Emulsion Component in an Egg-Allergic Child

Immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated food allergies affect 6% to 8% of children in the United States with symptoms ranging from localized hives to life-threatening anaphylaxis. Intravenous fat emulsions (IFEs) are a vital component of total parental nutrition, because they provide essential fatty acids. IFE is a sterile fat emulsion that contains egg-yolk phospholipids. Although egg allergy is listed as a contraindication, adverse reactions are uncommon. We report here the case of a hypersensitivity to IFE in a 2-year-old patient with previously undocumented egg allergy. Our patient was placed on total parental nutrition and a 20% IFE postoperatively and developed diffuse pruritus 14 days after initiation of therapy. She showed transient improvement with intravenous antihistamine, but her symptoms did not resolve until the IFE was stopped. On the basis of clinical history, including aversion to egg, we performed skin-prick testing, the results of which were positive for egg white allergy. Serum testing confirmed allergy to both egg yolk and egg white. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a pediatric patient with a history suggestive of egg allergy, positive skin-prick and serum testing to egg, and reaction to IFE infusion. Although ingestion of egg lecithin in cooked food is generally tolerated by egg-allergic people, administration of intravenous egg-containing lipid emulsions may cause significant adverse reactions.
Internal hernia after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass

Background Internal hernia (IH) is a technical complication of laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGBP) that can have severe consequences. Little has been written on characterizing this complication. Antecolic Roux limb passage has been suggested to be safe without defect closure. Methods The records of 785 patients who underwent LRYGBP (136 antecolic, 649 retrocolic) between 1998 and 2003 were reviewed. In our early experience (n = 107), we used a retrocolic technique without defect closure. Results Twenty patients underwent surgical intervention for IH. The median interval between LRYGBP and symptom onset was 303 days (range, 25 to 1642 days). Abdominal pain was uniformly present, and 63% of patients developed nausea and/or vomiting. Exploratory laparoscopy was attempted in 94% of patients; conversion was necessary in 33%. A total of 21 IHs were identified (13 Petersen's, 5 mesocolic, 2 jejunojejunal, and 1 adhesion-related hernia). No nonviable bowel was identified, and no deaths occurred. A retrocolic technique involving closure of all defects resulted in the lowest rate of hernias (3/542; 0.55%) compared with the antecolic (12/136; 8.81%; P P Conclusion IH can occur long after gastric bypass surgery, and a low threshold for reoperation is crucial to avoid gut infarction. A retrocolic technique with defect closure appears to afford the lowest risk of IH. The lower incidence of IH in other series after antecolic technique likely results from a less aggressive detection and management approach, because our nonclosure technique could not differ from that of other authors. All defects must be closed to minimize the risk of hernia, whether antecolic or retrocolic.
Selenium elimination in pigs after an outbreak of selenium toxicosis.

In May 1996, 150 grower pigs in 5 California counties were exposed to selenium-contaminated feed distributed by a single feed company. Feed samples from 20 herds had a mean selenium concentration of 121.7 ppm dry weight (range, 22.1-531 ppm). In San Luis Obispo County, 52 pigs in 24 herds were exposed to the feed, and 8 pigs died with signs of paralysis. Bilateral symmetrical poliomyelomalacia involving the ventral horns of the cervical and lumbar intumescence was evident on histologic examination of spinal cord from affected pigs. Of 44 surviving exposed pigs, 33 (75%) exhibited signs of selenosis, including anorexia, alopecia, and hoof lesions. Thirty-nine of 44 pigs (88.6%) had elevated (.1 ppm) blood selenium concentrations. Surviving exposed pigs were changed to a standard commercial ration containing approximately 0.5 ppm (dry weight) selenium. Blood selenium concentrations were determined weekly for 46 days following removal of the contaminated feed and were compared with values of 20 control pigs fed a standard commercial ration. Mean (6SD) blood selenium concentrations of exposed pigs were 3.2 6 2.6 ppm at the initial sampling and 0.4 6 0.1 ppm after 46 days. Mean blood selenium concentrations of # 0.3 ppm for control pigs at all samplings were significantly lower (P , 0.001) than concentrations for exposed pigs. Muscle and liver samples of 22 of the 44 exposed pigs were collected at slaughter approximately 72 days after withdrawal of the selenium-contaminated feed. Muscle samples had a mean selenium concentration of 0.36 ppm (wet weight). Liver samples had a mean selenium concentration of 1.26 ppm (wet weight). One liver sample had a selenium value in the toxic range for pigs (3.3 ppm wet weight; reference range, 0.4-1.2 ppm). A 1-compartment pharmacokinetic model of selenium elimination in exposed pigs was generated, and the geometric mean blood selenium elimination half-life was estimated to be 12 days. The 60-day withdrawal time recommended by the Food Animal Residue Avoidance Database was considered sufficient to allow safe human consumption of tissues from exposed pigs.
Computation for the analysis of designed experiments

Part 1 Comparative studies and designed experiments: simple designed experiments. Part 2 Programming systems: user-level considerations design of individual programs construction of program systems. Part 3 Least squares and analysis of variance: projection and the least squares method geometry of hypothesis testing algorithm description: Wilkinson's SWEEP algorithm description - Beaton's SWP Yates' algorithm for factorial designs matrix decompostions. Part 4 Intrepretation of design specifications: algebra of design specification statements grammar for design specification statements programs for compilation of design specification statements. Part 5 Analysis of designed experiments: specification of hypothesis tests for designed experiments blocking and confounding analysis of covariance generally balanced designs. Appendix: description of floppy disk.
Viral Macrophage-Inflammatory Protein-II: A Viral Chemokine That Differentially Affects Adaptive Mucosal Immunity Compared with Its Mammalian Counterparts

Chemokines play a profound role in leukocyte trafficking and the development of adaptive immune responses. Perhaps due to their importance in host defense, viruses have adopted many of the hallmarks displayed by chemokines. In particular, viral MIP-II (vMIP-II) is a human chemokine homologue that is encoded by human herpes virus 8. vMIP-II is angiogenic, selectively chemotactic for Th2 lymphocytes, and a homologue of human I-309 and mouse TCA-3, which also differentially attracts Th2 cells. To better understand the effect of viral chemokines on mucosal immunity, we compared the affects of vMIP-II, I-309, and TCA-3 on cellular and humoral immune responses after nasal immunization with OVA. These CCR8 ligands significantly enhanced Ag-specific serum and mucosal Abs through increasing Th2 cytokine secretion by CD4+ T cells. These alterations in adaptive humoral and cellular responses were preceded (12 h after immunization) by an increase in CD4+ T and B cells in nasal tracts with decreases of these leukocyte populations in the lung. Interestingly, vMIP-II increased neutrophil infiltration in the lung and Ag-specific IL-10-secreting CD4+ T cells after immunization. Although I-309 increased the number of CD28-, CD40L-, and CD30-positive, Ag-stimulated naive CD4+ T cells, vMIP-II and TCA-3 decreased the number of CD28-, CD40L-, and CD30-positive, resting naive CD4+ T cells. Taken together, these studies suggest that CCR8 ligands direct host Th2 responses, and vMIP-II up-regulates IL-10 responses and limits costimulatory molecule expression to mitigate host immunity.
Thirst For Power

The plans on building more large dams on different points of Africa is still on hold because it is obviously too expensive and has to many concerns with its government. Large dams carry great risks especially in drought prone areas, and require capable management by the government. However, microhydro systems cost much lesser, reaches places far outside the national grid and gives local communities a direct stake in their power systems. This paper discusses how microdams could be more efficient in electrifying rural Africa.
SEROLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS OF TRICHOMONADS. I. COMPARISONS OF "NATURAL" AND IMMUNE ANTIBODIES.

SYNOPSIS. Active, normal sera or other body fluids from many vertebrate species were found to cytolyze Tritrichomonas augusta; heat inactivated sera agglutinated the organisms. Techniques were devised for quantitative determination of “natural” agglutinating and lytic activity against a number of trichomonads. Amphibian, avian, mammalian, and reptilian sera all possessed activity, as did chicken egg yolk, or yolk sac contents, human ascitic fluid, and cow's milk. For individuals of a given species, levels of “natural” agglutinin did not vary significantly. Among donor species, there were wide and consistent differences. The serum of any one individual, tested against 6 strains of T. augusta, showed constant activity. Agglutinating activity was relatively unaffected by changes of physical factors in the reaction milieu. Lytic activity was restored to heat-inactivated serum by addition of guinea pig serum as a source of complement. When serum was fractionated, agglutinating activity was found primarily in the γ globulins and on into the β. On the basis of these reactions and the activity of specific serum fractions, an antibody mechanism has been postulated. By means of reciprocal agglutination tests with absorbed sera, both “natural” and immune agglutinins have been shown to be specific for Tritrichomonas augusta, T. foetus, and T. suis (?), as well as for Trickomonas gallinarum and Trichomonas vaginalis. Absorption with one species does not remove activity against others. Among strains of T. augusta, absorption with any one removes some antibody against others, but not necessarily all. On the basis of reciprocal absorption and test of 6 strains, 3 antigenic groups have been established: 2 groups are well-separated; the 3rd intermediate between the others and cross-reacting with both. Lack of agglutinin absorption by 2 common enterobacteria, a yeast, and Forssman antigen (sheep erythrocytes) showed that these, at least, were not involved as sources of heterophil stimulation for “natural” antibody. Whether “natural” antibody results from heterophil stimulation, however, or is genetically determined, has not been answered. Direct stimulation of “natural” antibody production by occult infection with trichomonads could not have occurred in the case of trichomonad-free, laboratory reared chicks, or mammalian sera active against T. augusta.
Scalable simulation models for construction operations

Construction operations are often repetitive not only in terms of time (the same tasks are performed over and over) but also in terms of space (the same tasks are repeated at several places, such as different floors in a high-rise building). Thus, construction simulation models in general must be cyclic to represent temporal repetitions, but also scaleable to represent spatial repetitions. This paper presents the mechanisms for preprocessor replacement and automatic code generation that have been designed and implemented to facilitate the development of scaleable simulation models in STROBOSCOPE, a general-purpose discrete-event simulation system developed by the authors. A relatively complex simulation model for the vertical transportation of people serves as an example to illustrate how to develop a completely scaleable model for the operation of an elevator in a building with any number of floors.
Learning support vector machines from distributed data sources

In this paper we address the problem of learning Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifiers from distributed data sources. We identify sufficient statistics for learning SVMs and present an algorithm that learns SVMs from distributed data by iteratively computing the set of sufficient statistics. We prove that our algorithm is exact with respect to its centralized counterpart and efficient in terms of time complexity.