cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
New techniques for mixing viscous reacting liquids. Part II. Electrical‐mechanical hybrid mixer

Based on an understanding of the basic mechanisms and governing laws for liquid mixing, a new concept for increasing the efficiency of laminar mixing is advanced. The new concept is motivated in part by the observation that in laminar flows, the interface between two fluid components tends to line up parallel to the streamlines, leading to decreased mixing efficiency. This decrease in effectiveness can be overcome by simultaneously applying mechanically induced shear forces and electrically induced destabilizing forces (which act on the interfaces) to mix the liquids. Results show a dramatic increase in mixing efficiency with the electrical-mechanical hybrid system. Descriptions of the analytical and experimental work done to characterize the concept and prove its efficacy are presented in detail. Scale-up factors are discussed in terms of dimensionless groups.
GLYCOGEN CHANGES IN X-IRRADIATED RAT BRAIN.

X-irradiation of the head of rats resulted in the accumulation of histochemically demonstrable PAS-positive granules in the brain, which were identified as glucogen. The glycogen granules were confined predominantly to the neuroglial cells; they did not appear in neurons. The amount of glycogen granules was approximately proportional to the dose administered. Although such changes are known to occur under conditions of ionizing particle radiation, this is the first demonstration that they appear following X-irradiation. Quantitative chemical analysis of the brains by the glucose oxydase method demonstrated an increase of glycogen of approximately 40%, 24 hours after exposure to 3.000 r. The biochemical change responsible for the glycogen accumulation may consist in an impairment of the enzymes mediating the incorporation and release of glucose from glycogen.
Low ΔK faceted crack growth in titanium alloys

Abstract This communication describes the results of spectrum fatigue loading experiments conducted on cast and hot isostatically pressed Ti–6Al–4V. The purpose of the experiments is to elucidate the nature of faceted crack growth that occurs at low values of Δ K in titanium alloys during cyclic loading. The results clearly show that multiple load cycles are required for the crack to traverse one grain and produce a single facet. The confusing terminology related to low Δ K fatigue fracture topography is reviewed and the term “low Δ K faceted growth” is proposed as a preferred descriptor.
Molecular Analysis of Signals Controlling Dormancy and Growth in Underground Adventitious Buds of Leafy Spurge

Dormancy and subsequent regrowth of adventitious buds is a critical physiological process for many perennial plants. We have used the expression of hormone and cell cycle-responsive genes as markers to follow this process in leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula). In conjunction with earlier studies, we show that loss of mature leaves results in decreased sugar levels and increased gibberellin perception in underground adventitious buds. Gibberellin is sufficient for induction of S phase-specific but not M phase-specific gene expression. Loss of both apical and axillary buds or inhibition of polar auxin transport did not result in induction of S phase- or M phase-specific gene expression. Loss of polar auxin transport was necessary for continuation of the cell cycle and further bud development if the S phase was previously initiated.
Classification Consistency and Accuracy for Complex Assessments under the Compound Multinomial Model.

For a test that consists of dichotomously scored items, several approaches have been reported in the literature for estimating classification consistency and accuracy indices based on a single administration of a test. Classification consistency and accuracy have not been studied much, however, for ``complex'' assessments—for example, those that involve polytomously scored items or mixtures of different types of items. This article describes procedures for estimating various types of single-administration classification consistency and accuracy indices using the multinomial and compound multinomial models for individuals and groups who take a single administration of a complex assessment. An alternative procedure using the bootstrap is also proposed. These procedures are illustrated using real data sets obtained from tests consisting of both polytomous and dichotomous items.
Basidiobolomycosis: An unusual fungal infection mimicking inflammatory bowel disease

Basidiobolus ranarum is a fungus belonging to the Entomophthoraceae family and is mainly associated with subcutaneous soft tissue infection. The disease is usually characterized by an insidious onset of massive induration of the subcutaneous tissue involving the limbs, trunk, or buttocks. Most cases of basidiobolomycosis have been reported from Africa, South America, and tropical Asia. Visceral involvement is extremely rare. Only 4 cases with involvement of the gastrointestinal tract, including 1 fatal case originating in the United States, have been well documented in the English-language literature. This case report describes the first successfully treated patient residing in the United States who had B. ranarum infection involving the gastrointestinal tract.
Defining a mathematical research school: the case of algebra at the University of Chicago, 1892¿1945

Abstract Historians of science have long considered the concept of the “research school” as a potent analytical construct for understanding the development of the laboratory sciences. Unfortunately, their definitions fall short in the case of mathematics. Here, a definition of “ mathematical research school” is proposed in the context of a case study of algebraic work associated with the University of Chicago's Department of Mathematics from the University's founding in 1892 through 1945.
Bortezomib and its role in the management of patients with multiple myeloma.

The multicatalytic proteinase complex, or proteasome, is responsible for the majority of regulated eukaryotic protein turnover through the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway. Bortezomib (Velcade®, Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.), the first drug specifically designed to target the proteasome, has recently entered the clinical arena. Previous preclinical studies showed that bortezomib had a unique cytotoxicity profile and that proteasome inhibition in vivo could be achieved safely with concomitant antitumor efficacy. In clinical studies, bortezomib has shown remarkable single-agent activity against relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma in both Phase I and II trials. Based on the latter, bortezomib has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for patients who have received two prior regimens and progressed on the second of these. Early results with bortezomib as a front-line therapy for multiple myeloma have shown a high response rate and further studies are ongoing. Preclinical studies support th...
Short-Term Responses of Birds to Prescribed Fire in Fire-Suppressed Forests of California

ABSTRACT Prescribed fire is one tool for restoring fire-suppressed forests, but application of fire during spring coincides with breeding and arrival of migrant birds. We examined effects of low-severity prescribed fires on counts of birds in a managed forest in the Sierra Nevada of California immediately, 1 year, and 3–6 years after fire was applied in spring. Of 26 species analyzed, counts of 3 species increased after fire (Pacificslope flycatcher [Empidonax difficilis], brown creeper [Certhia americana], and American robin [Turdus migratorius]), and 6 species decreased after fire (Anna's hummingbird [Calypte anna], Hutton's vireo [Vireo huttoni], warbling vireo [Vireo gilvus], golden-crowned kinglet [Regulus satrapa], Nashville warbler [Vermivora ruficapilla], hermit warbler [Dendroica occidentalis]). Black-throated gray warbler (Dendroica nigrescens) increased in the first year following fire but decreased 3–6 years after fire. When grouped into guilds, habitat association and foraging guild best expl...
Deleted in Colorectal Carcinoma and Differentially Expressed Integrins Mediate the Directional Migration of Neural Precursors in the Rostral Migratory Stream

Precursors of the olfactory interneurons migrate from the subventricular zone via the rostral migratory stream (RMS). To investigate the molecular mechanisms by which RMS cells migrate, we used a slice preparation, which allows the migrating cells to be imaged at very high temporal and spatial resolution in the presence of added inhibitors. Using immunohistochemistry, we first determined that the α1-, β8-, and β1-integrin subunits and the α5- and γ1-laminin subunits are expressed during embryonic day 16 to the early postnatal stage. During early postnatal days, αv- and β6-integrins appeared, and their expression persisted throughout adulthood. The migrating cells also expressed the netrin receptors neogenin and Deleted in Colorectal Carcinoma (DCC). Netrin-1 is expressed in olfactory mitral cells. Anti-integrin antibodies inhibited the production of protrusions as well as cellular translocation. In contrast, anti-DCC antibodies primarily altered the direction of the protrusions; consequently, the migration was no longer unidirectional, and the speed was reduced. Thus, the interaction of DCC, possibly through an interaction with netrin-1, contributes to the direction of migration by regulating the formation of directed protrusions. In contrast, the integrins function in production of protrusions and cellular translocation, with different integrins participating at different developmental stages.
Fast p-Multigrid Discontinuous Galerkin Method for Compressible Flows at All Speeds

Ap-multigrid (wherep is the polynomial degree) discontinuous Galerkin method is presented for the solution of the compressible Euler equations on unstructured grids. The method operates on a sequence of solution approximations of different polynomial orders. A distinct feature ofthisp-multigrid method is the application of an explicit smoother on the higher-level approximations (p > 0) and an implicit smoother on the lowest-level approximation (p = 0), resulting in a fast (and low) storage method that can be efficiently used to accelerate the convergence to a steady-state solution. Furthermore, this p-multigrid method can be naturally applied to compute the flows with discontinuities, in which a monotonic limiting procedure is usually required for discontinuous Galerkin methods. An accurate representation of the boundary normals based on the definition of the geometries is used for imposing slip boundary conditions for curved geometries [Krivodonova, L., and Berger, M., "High-Order Implementation of Solid Wall Boundary Conditions in Curved Geometries," Journal of Computational Physics, Vol. 211, No.2,2006, pp. 492-512; and Luo, H., Baum, J. D., and Lohner, R., "On the Computation of Steady-State Compressible Flows Using a Discontinuous Galerkin Method," International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering, Vol. 73, No.5,2008, pp. 597-623]. A variety of compressible flow problems for a wide range of flow conditions from low Mach number to supersonic in both two-dimensional and three-dimensional configurations are computed to demonstrate the performance ofthisp-multigrid method. The numerical results obtained strongly indicate the order-independent property of this p-multigrid method and demonstrate that this method is orders-of-magnitude faster than its explicit counterpart The performance comparison with a finite volume method shows that using this p-multigrid method, the discontinuous Galerkin method, provides a viable, attractive, competitive, and probably even superior alternative to the finite volume method for computing compressible flows at all speeds.
Effect of Macrophage-Derived Apolipoprotein E on Established Atherosclerosis in Apolipoprotein E–Deficient Mice

Apolipoprotein E-deficient (apoE(-/-)) mice have hyperlipidemia and develop spontaneous atherosclerosis in a time-dependent manner. Although macrophage-derived apoE has been shown to prevent the development of atherosclerosis in apoE(-/-) mice, whether it would induce regression of established atherosclerosis is unknown. To determine this, 8-week-old apoE(-/-) mice were transplanted with apoE(+/+) bone marrow. Four weeks after transplantation, when plasma cholesterol levels had reached normal levels, a group of mice (n=12) were killed and their aortic lesions were measured and used as a baseline to judge regression. Twelve and 20 weeks after transplantation, aortic lesion areas of the mice were 9340+/-2184 micrometer(2) (mean+/-SEM, n=8) and 12 211+/-1433 micrometer(2) (n=9), respectively, values not significantly different from the lesion areas of the baseline mice (12 347+/-2487 micrometer(2); n=12, P>0.05). In contrast, apoE(-/-) mice reconstituted with apoE(-/-) bone marrow developed severe atherosclerotic lesions (453 036+/-29 767 micrometer(2), n=7) 20 weeks after transplantation. These data suggest that macrophage-derived apoE was insufficient to induce significant regression of established atherosclerotic lesions in apoE(-/-) mice, although it was sufficient to eliminate hypercholesterolemia and prevent progression of aortic lesions.
GABA depolarization is required for experience-dependent synapse unsilencing in adult-born neurons.

Neural activity enhances adult neurogenesis, enabling experience to influence the construction of new circuits. GABAA receptor-mediated depolarization of newborn neurons in the adult and developing brain promotes glutamatergic synaptic integration since chronic reduction of GABA depolarization impairs morphological maturation and formation of glutamatergic synapses. Here we demonstrate an acute role of GABA depolarization in glutamatergic synaptic integration. Using proopiomelanocortin enhanced–green fluorescent protein reporter mice, we identify a developmental stage when adult-generated neurons have glutamatergic synaptic transmission mediated solely by NMDA receptors (NMDARs), representing the initial silent synapses before AMPA receptor (AMPAR)-mediated functional transmission. We show that pairing synaptic stimulation with postsynaptic depolarization results in synapse unsilencing that requires NMDAR activation. GABA synaptic depolarization enables activation of NMDARs in the absence of AMPAR-mediated transmission and is required for synapse unsilencing induced by synaptic activity in vitro as well as a brief exposure to an enriched environment in vivo. The rapid appearance of AMPAR-mediated EPSCs and the lack of maturational changes show that GABA depolarization acutely allows NMDAR activation required for initial synapse unsilencing. Together, these results also reveal that adult-generated neurons in a critical period for survival use GABA signaling to rapidly initiate functional glutamate-mediated transmission in response to experience.
Teaching very large instruction word architectures

The VLIW model describes a philosophy whereby the compiler organizes several nondependent machine operations into the same instruction word. Some features of this form of architecture are illustrated and certain strategies on presenting this topic to students are shown.
Surface charge density measurements with a controlled growth mercury electrode

The surface charge density of the mercury-electrolyte interface is estimated using chronocoulometry at a controlled growth mercury electrode. After initial formation and equilibration the mercury drop is expanded by further addition of mercury. Direct measurement of the charge required as new area is formed is used to estimate the surface charge density. The mercury drop is modeled as a step-wise expanding sphere. The capillary noise continuously produced by stationary drops under potential control was investigated and characterized. Spectral analysis of the noise reveals that the electrode is particularly sensitive to vibrations near the resonant frequency of the suspended drop. Ambient vibrations in the laboratory environment produce alternating currents at the electrode which vanish at the point of zero charge and so mark its position.
Electrooptical remote sensing methods as nondestructive testing and measuring techniques in agriculture.

Characteristics of plants that influence reflectance and emission of electromagnetic energy are discussed. Four main spectral regions are influenced by plants. These wavelength bands include the visible region of chlorophyll absorption, very near ir wavelengths, where plant structure is of major importance, the near and middle ir wavelengths, where water and CO2 absorption predominate, and the far ir region of thermal ir emission. Soil characteristics that influence reflectance and emission of energy are discussed. Nondestructive testing techniques described include laboratory spectrophotometry, field spectrometry, color photography, radiometry, and generation of line scan imagery. Spectrophotometer and spectrometer reflectance data obtained in the laboratory and field are related to interpretation of remote sensing imagery. Model studies that permit predictions of reflectance from plant canopies are described. The principle of multispectral sensing which permits utilization of multiple wavelength channels for establishing unique plant and soil signature is reviewed.
A reuse program in a maintenance environment

The author describes a program of reuse that began in January 1984 with a new product and has evolved to include three other existing products and all new enhancements to these products over the last eight years. The topics covered include: how the program was initiated and how the definition of reuse has changed over time; how the program evolved to include other products; development of the fix process for reuse components; coordination issues between products and the formation of the Shared Components Council; results of reuse metrics; what lessons were learned; and suggested areas for improvement. The emphasis is on what was learned along the way and how the reuse program has evolved to include other products. >
Interaction of plasma fibronectin (pFN) with membranous constituents of peritoneal exudate cells and pulmonary macrophages.

The prominent role of plasma fibronectin (pFN) in the host defense system as an opsonin for gelatin (collagen)-coated colloids has been established. In the present study the authors investigated the interaction of pFN and membrane isolates from cells devoid of collagen, as well as several tissues. In a liver slice assay system it was shown that subcellular membrane fractions from lung macrophages, peritoneal exudate cells, spleen, testis, and liver were able to competitively inhibit the pFN-mediated uptake of /sup 125/I-gelatin coated latex beads (gLtx) at low concentrations. Endocytosis of /sup 125/I-labeled membrane isolates by macrophage monolayers was also promoted by addition of pFN. In an attempt to characterize the membrane component(s) interacting with pFN, it was found that mild extraction procedure with 1 M KBr could release a significant amount of this inhibitory activity. Further studies demonstrated that the agent(s) responsible for inhibition of gLtx uptake was heat sensitive, not altered by trypsin treatment, and did not contain actin, a protein known to interact with pFN. This work indicates that pFN interacts specifically with an as yet unknown membrane component(s) and that such interaction will promote clearance of cellular debris by macrophages. This suggests that pFN may be an importantmore » opsonin for the reticuloendothelial system in clearance of collagenous and noncollagenous cellular debris once they are exposed to interact with it.« less
Raptorx: Exploiting structure information for protein alignment by statistical inference

This paper presents RaptorX, a statistical method for template-based protein modeling that improves alignment accuracy by exploiting structural information in a single or multiple templates. RaptorX consists of three major components: single-template threading, alignment quality prediction and multiple-template threading. This paper summarizes the methods employed by RaptorX and presents its CASP9 result analysis, aiming to identify major bottlenecks with RaptorX and template-based modeling and hopefully directions for further study. Our results show that template structural information helps a lot with both single-template and multiple-template protein threading especially when closely-related templates are unavailable and there is still large room for improvement in both alignment and template selection. The RaptorX web server is available at http://raptorx.uchicago.edu.
Motivation for Healthy Behavior: A Review of Health Promotion Research.

Abstract Authors reviewed the theoretical history of the “motivation” construct, and its utilization within past/current health behavior research. Textbooks and review articles functioned as sources for the theoretical history review. Research published within a 10-year period (1993-2002) in four health promotion journals (all with impact factors ≥1.0) comprised the systematically reviewed data. Only empirical studies containing the term “motivation” in the title/abstract were included. Studies were excluded if they did not examine motivation as a focal variable and/or assessed non-health behaviors. Data abstracted included the definition of motivation; theoretical framework; measurement tool(s) used; type of behavior being studied; and indicators measured. Abstracted data were coded and organized into a matrix. Data matrixes were qualitatively assessed. Among reviewed studies, only four (9%) provided a definition of motivation. Only eleven studies specifically measured motivation despite all included stu...
The impact of depressive symptoms and chronic diseases on active life expectancy in older Americans.

Objectives The authors prospectively examined whether depressive symptoms (DS) in older adults negatively affected active live expectancy (ALE), or remaining years free of disability, and mortality, independently and in the presence of chronic diseases, and after stratification by gender. Design Prospective cohort study, first three waves (1993–1998) of the Asset and Health Dynamics Among the Oldest Old. Setting Data collection: University of Michigan; analysis: University of South Florida. Participants Nationally representative sample of community-dwelling adults age 70 and older (N = 7,381). Measurements DS (Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression, 8-item version), self-reported cancer, diabetes, heart disease, or stroke, difficulty with activities of daily living, death, and estimates of total, active, and disabled life expectancy. Results DS reduced ALE by 6.5 years for young–old men (age 70), 3.2 years for old–old men (age 85), 4.2 years for young–old women, and 2.2 years for old–old women, and these effects remained significant at all ages and across gender even after controlling for chronic disease, the one exception being DS and cancer in old–old women. DS also reduced total life expectancy significantly, although controlling for some chronic diseases (particularly cancer and stroke) eliminated the effect of DS across age and gender groups. Conclusion Depressive symptoms represent a serious and distinct threat to independent functioning in older adults. Whether experienced alone, or in combination with chronic diseases, depressive symptoms shorten ALE substantially. Timely diagnosis and treatment of depressive symptoms in older adults may delay the onset of disability and improve the quality of life.
Metatranscriptomic Analyses of Plankton Communities Inhabiting Surface and Subpycnocline Waters of the Chesapeake Bay during Oxic-Anoxic-Oxic Transitions

We used metatranscriptomics to study the gene transcription patterns of microbial plankton (0.2 to 64 μm) at a mesohaline station in the Chesapeake Bay under transitions from oxic to anoxic waters in spring and from anoxic to oxic waters in autumn. Samples were collected from surface (i.e., above pycnocline) waters (3 m) and from waters beneath the pycnocline (16 to 22 m) in both 2010 and 2011. Metatranscriptome profiles based on function and potential phylogeny were different between 2010 and 2011 and strongly variable in 2011. This difference in variability corresponded with a highly variable ratio of eukaryotic to bacterial sequences (0.3 to 5.5), reflecting transient algal blooms in 2011 that were absent in 2010. The similarity between metatranscriptomes changed at a lower rate during the transition from oxic to anoxic waters than after the return to oxic conditions. Transcripts related to photosynthesis and low-affinity cytochrome oxidases were significantly higher in shallow than in deep waters, while in deep water genes involved in anaerobic metabolism, particularly sulfate reduction, succinyl coenzyme A (succinyl-CoA)-to-propionyl-CoA conversion, and menaquinone synthesis, were enriched relative to in shallow waters. Expected transitions in metabolism between oxic and anoxic deep waters were reflected in elevated levels of anaerobic respiratory reductases and utilization of propenediol and acetoin. The percentage of archaeal transcripts increased in both years in late summer (from 0.1 to 4.4% of all transcripts in 2010 and from 0.1 to 6.2% in 2011). Denitrification-related genes were expressed in a predicted pattern during the oxic-anoxic transition. Overall, our data suggest that Chesapeake Bay microbial assemblages express gene suites differently in shallow and deep waters and that differences in deep waters reflect variable redox states.
VARIATIONAL FORMULATION FOR FRICTIONAL INTERFACE DYNAMICS

The dynamic response of component bolted joints often plays a significant role in the overall behavior of a structural system. Accurate finite element simulation of these problems requires proper treatment of the interface conditions. We present a formulation carefully suited to these problems that incorporates discontinuous Galerkin (DG) treatment locally at the interface. The present work is an extension of our previous investigations of friction models within a finite element method for quasi-static problems. The current emphasis is on the treatment of the inertial term and ensuring that artificial resonance is not induced by the discrete interface. The weak imposition of continuity constraints allows the stick-slip behavior at the jointed surface to proceed smoothly, reducing the numerical instability compared to node-to-node contact techniques. As a model problem, we simulate the dynamic response of a lap joint subjected to an impulse axial force assuming Coulomb friction at the interface.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Selective and Sensitive Method for PCR Amplification of Escherichia coli 16S rRNA Genes in Soil

A set of PCR primers targeting 16S rRNA gene sequences was designed, and PCR parameters were optimized to develop a robust and reliable protocol for selective amplification of Escherichia coli 16S rRNA genes. The method was capable of discriminating E. coli from other enteric bacteria, including its closest relative, Shigella. Selective amplification of E. coli occurred only when the annealing temperature in the PCR was elevated to 72 degrees C, which is 10 degrees C higher than the optimum for the primers. Sensitivity was retained by modifying the length of steps in the PCR, by increasing the number of cycles, and most importantly by optimizing the MgCl(2) concentration. The PCR protocol developed can be completed in less then 2 h and, by using Southern hybridization, has a detection limit of ca. 10 genomic equivalents per reaction. The method was demonstrated to be effective for detecting E. coli DNA in heterogeneous DNA samples, such as those extracted from soil.
Planetary-Scale Atmospheric Phenomena Associated with the Southern Oscillation

Abstract Atmospheric phenomena associated with the Southern Oscillation are examined, with emphasis on vertical structure and teleconnections to middle latitudes. This paper is specifically concerned with the interannual variability of seasonal means for the Northern Hemisphere winter during the period 1951–78. Among the variables considered are sea surface temperature in the equatorial Pacific, precipitation at selected equatorial Pacific stations, a “Southern Oscillation Index” of sea level pressure, 200 mb height and tropospheric mean temperature at stations throughout the tropics, and Northern Hemisphere geopotential height fields. Selected statistics derived from surface data also are examined for the period 1910–45. Results are presented in the form of time series and correlation statistics for the variables listed above. Results concerning the relationships between sea surface temperature, sea level pressure and rainfall are consistent with the major conclusions of previous studies by J. Bjerknes a...
Two-Dimensional Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis of Proteins

Since O'Farrell (1) introduced the improved technique for high resolution two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-D PAGE), it has become one of the most powerful tools for the separation and quantification of proteins from complex mixtures. The principal reason for this is that the method employs separation of denatured proteins according to two different parameters, molecular weight and isoelectric point. Consequently, it has sufficient resolution to separate individual proteins as discrete spots on the gel. Each parameter may also be varied and therefore, with the modification of non-equilibrium pH-gradient electrophoresis (NEPHGE) to analyze basic proteins (2), almost any polypeptide may be investigated. Thus to date, the O'Farrell 2-D gel system has no serious rivals, with the possible exception of the Kaltschmidt and Wittmann (3) gel system for analyzing ribosomal proteins. Ribosomal proteins, however, may be adequately separated with NEPHGE.
On Belling the Cat: Rawls & Tort as Corrective Justice

Recent scholarship has argued that post-institutional theories of distributive justice, specifically Rawlsianism, are compatible with a principled commitment to corrective justice. We argue that however attractive on independent or pre-institutional moral grounds a principled commitment to corrective justice and its corresponding model of tort law may be, it is misleading to think that the Rawlsian post-institutional conception of distributive justice is, at the level of principle, consistent with such an independent commitment. We argue that holding the truth of a maximizing theory of distributive justice in conjunction with a principled commitment to corrective justice is inconsistent. The attempt to hold both positions as true may flow, we suggest, from an unjustified presumption about the compatibility of post-institutional - particularly, maximizing - theories of distributive justice and other non-maximizing moral commitments which one might hold or view as appealing on grounds independent of one's commitment to distributive justice. In our view, the values enshrined in Rawls's two principles of justice (taken in lexical order) reflect the deontological features of Rawls's original position. The principles of justice themselves, however, once adopted, function as consequentialist maximizing principles, taken in lexical priority, in selecting between competing complete schemes of legal and political institutions. While the tension between the corrective justice and the utilitarian or wealth maximization conceptions of tort law has long been discussed and is well understood, the relationship between the corrective justice conception of torts and post-institutional theories of distributive justice (in particular, Rawlsianism) has only recently received sustained attention. Recent articles by Stephen Perry and Arthur Ripstein emphasize the compatibility - or even the necessity - of corrective justice (i.e., as an "independent" component of justice) within the Rawlsian distributive scheme. We argue, contra this emerging view, that distributive justice, in particular Rawlsianism, conflicts at the level of principle with corrective justice, and that it is inconsistent to remain (as a matter of principle) independently committed to both, given the Rawlsian view of property. In short, our central claim is that Rawlsian ideal theory is best understood as adopting the consequentialist (outcome-oriented) theory of tort law.
Water in Sacred Places: Rebuilding New Orleans Black Churches as Sites of Community Empowerment

In the city that had transformed "watching hurricanes" into a cultural art form, by Fri day night, August 26, 2005, most New Orleanians had placed the eleventh named storm of the hurricane season on their personal watch list. Over the next forty-eight hours, approximately 350,000 residents evacuated the city. Most of them believed they would return within two or three days, just as they had done after recent storms threatened the city but then veered either to the east or west. The evacuees and the residents who remained in the city watched with some relief as Hurricane Katrina made landfall east of New Orleans, sparing the city the full force of its 140 mph winds. The first news reports were encouraging, but the optimistic assessments that the city had suffered only moder ate damage were short-lived. The nation and the world watched with concern, disbelief, and horror as the tragedy in New Orleans and along the Gulf Coast unfolded. For many residents, that marked the beginning of a long and still-evolving process to return to the city and rebuild their lives.1 Unfortunately for the more than 250,000 residents that have not been able to return to the city to live, the recovery and rebuilding effort has been slow and, in some areas of the city, nonexistent. A household population survey completed in September 2006 showed New Orleans with a population of 187,525 as compared to 454,863 in July 2005. Many displaced residents have been frustrated in their efforts to return by several factors, in cluding disputes with insurance companies, inadequate employment opportunities, high housing costs, housing shortages, concerns about flood protection, escalating insurance rates, and reduced city services. Another major obstacle has been the commitment to "a market-driven approach to the recovery effort" championed by, among others, New Or leans mayor C. Ray Nagin. Many individuals believe that a market-driven plan is unten able given the scale of the problem and the many disparate groups involved, each with differing needs and interests. Critics of the market-driven approach favor a comprehen
The Relationship between Life Crises and Mental Deterioration in Old Age

This study relates mental deterioration in old age to recent life history. A family member or close friend completed the Geriatric Schedule of Recent Experience (GSRE) for each of 25 mentally deteriorated and 25 normal elderly women. The results showed a positive relationship between magnitude and number of life crises and mental deterioration.
Thermally Induced Nanoimprinting of Biodegradable Polycarbonates Using Dynamic Covalent Cross-Links

The introduction of reversible covalent bonds into polymeric systems afford robust, yet dynamic, materials that can respond to external stimuli. A series of aliphatic polycarbonate polymers were sy...
Muscular dystrophy in a dish: engineered human skeletal muscle mimetics for disease modeling and drug discovery

Engineered in vitro models using human cells, particularly patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), offer a potential solution to issues associated with the use of animals for studying disease pathology and drug efficacy. Given the prevalence of muscle diseases in human populations, an engineered tissue model of human skeletal muscle could provide a biologically accurate platform to study basic muscle physiology, disease progression, and drug efficacy and/or toxicity. Such platforms could be used as phenotypic drug screens to identify compounds capable of alleviating or reversing congenital myopathies, such as Duchene muscular dystrophy (DMD). Here, we review current skeletal muscle modeling technologies with a specific focus on efforts to generate biomimetic systems for investigating the pathophysiology of dystrophic muscle.
2μm OPO laser based on KTA

In order to generate 2μm laser,a novel method was presented with kalium titanyl arsenate(KTA) as a nonlinear crystal in optical parametric oscillators.It was proved feasible by comparing the nonlinear parameters between KTA and KTP crystal.The graph of the relationship between the wavelength and the tunable-angle was drawn based on Sellmeier equation and refractive index ellipsoid of KTA.After compareson it was found that the crystal has better nonlinear characteristic at cut angles of =0°,θ=48.37°.Then the walk-off angle,acceptance angle and bandwidth were calculated.The basic problems on the design of KTA-OPO were solved and the study foundation was built up for the future experiments.
Diagnostic Imaging of the Brain Stem

The small size of the brain stem, its location between the petrous pyramids, and the density of neuroanatomic structures in its substance make imaging of the brain stem one of the most challenging aspects of diagnostic neuroradiology. The relative value of CT, MRI, and angiography in the diagnosis of various brain stem lesions is reviewed. The contributions that can be made by more advanced diagnostic and functional imaging techniques are presented.
Sodium and calcium share the electrogenic 2 Na(+)-1 H+ antiporter in crustacean antennal glands.

Na uptake by short-circuited epithelial brush-border membrane vesicles of Atlantic lobster (Homarus americanus) antennal gland labyrinth was Cl independent, amiloride sensitive, and stimulated by a transmembrane H+ gradient [( H]i greater than [H]o; i is internal, o is external). Na influx (2.5-s uptake) was a sigmoidal function of [Na]o (25-400 mM) when pHi = 5.0 and pHo = 8.0 and followed the Hill equation for binding cooperatively [apparent maximal influx (Jmax) = 271 nmol.mg protein-1.s-1, apparent affinity constant for Na (KNa) = 310 mM Na, and Hill coefficient (n) = 2.41]. Amiloride acted as a competitive inhibitor of Na binding to two external sites with markedly dissimilar apparent amiloride affinities (Ki1 = 14 microM; Ki2 = 1,340 mM). Electrogenic Na-H antiport by these vesicles was demonstrated by equilibrium-shift experiments in which an imposed transmembrane electrical potential difference was the only driving force for exchange. A transport stoichiometry of 2 Na to 1 H was demonstrated with the static-head technique in which a balance of driving forces was attained with 10:1 Na gradient and 100:1 H gradient. External Ca, like amiloride, was a strong competitive inhibitor of Na-H exchange, acting at two sites on the outer vesicular face with markedly different apparent divalent cation affinities (Ki1 = 20 microM; Ki2 = 500 microM). Ca-H exchange by electrogenic Na-H antiporter was demonstrated in complete absence of Na by use of an outward H gradient in presence and absence of amiloride. Both external amiloride (Ki1 = 70 microM; Ki2 = 500 microM) and Na (Ki1 = 12 mM; Ki2 = 380 mM) were competitive inhibitors of Ca-H exchange. These results suggest that the electrogenic 2 Na-1 H exchanger characterized for this crustacean epithelium may also have a role in organismic Ca balance.
Complete atrioventricular canal associated with tetralogy of Fallot. Morphologic and surgical considerations.

Between 1962 and 1979, 14 patients with complete atrioventricular canal and tetralogy of Fallot underwent repair of both anomalies. The ages of the patients ranged from 1 to 12 years. Six patients had Down’s syndrome. Five of the 14 had one or more previous systemic-pulmonary artery shunts. The correct diagnosis was established preoperatively in 11 of the patients. The ventricular septal defect, with its large anterior subaortic extension, was repaired by a combined atrial and right ventricular approach in five patients and by an atrial approach alone in nine. Outflow tract reconstruction (transannular patch) was performed in seven patients, without affecting the surgical mortality. Mortality was higher with associated Down’s syndrome, but not significantly so (p = 0.1), and was related to age less than 4 years (p = 0.04). The presence of complete atrioventricular canal should be considered in patients with tetralogy of Fallot, especially those having Down’s syndrome, electrocardiographic superior-axis deviation, and vectorcardiographic counterclockwise frontal QRS loop. This diagnosis can be confirmed preoperatively by right and left ventricular angiocardiography and two-dimensional echocardiography. The overall risk of repair has been high (29% early, 14% late mortality), but the mortality has been reduced to 17% during the last 10 years. No deaths have occurred in five recent patients who underwent closure of the ventricular septal defect by a combined atrial and ventricular approach.
The Tapered and Reimplanted Small Bowel as a Variation of the Mitrofanoff Procedure: Preliminary Results

AbstractTen patients with a urethra that could not be catheterized and with absent appendixes underwent neobladder construction using an ileal segment fashioned to serve as the anti-incontinence mechanism. The latter was tapered and reimplanted following the guidelines of the Mitrofanoff procedure. Urinary reservoirs were constructed from detubularized segments of right colon, sigmoid colon and composite gastro-ileal combinations. Followup ranged from 9 to 21 months (mean 14.5). All patients presently catheterize the reservoir satisfactorily and are free of urinary leakage. Three patients (30%) experienced initial catheterization difficulties: 2 required endoscopic procedures and insertion of a stent, and 1 with stomal stenosis was successfully treated with a Y-V stoma plasty. One patient (10%) required a repeat ileal segment reimplantation due to urinary incontinence. The higher reoperation rate and the increased surgical complexity of this procedure compared with reconstructions using the ileocecal valv...
Electrical Discharge Machining

The machining processes introduced in the previous chapters center around the generation of relative motion between the workpiece and the wedge-shaped cutting tool. In these traditional processes, the fundamental mechanism responsible for the removal of materials is the plastic shearing action along the shear plane. By and large these processes are effective only when the tool material is harder than the work material, which exhibits reasonable amount of plasticity prior to the occurrence of gross fracture. It is also a prerequisite to the success of these processes that workpiece materials have lower shear strength or wear resistance than that of the tool materials.
Reversed-phase liquid chromatographic determination of vitamin D in milk.

Vitamin D in milk is determined by a slight modification of the method of Sliva et al. [J. AOAC Int. (1992) 75, 566-571] for infant formula and enteral nutritional products. The sample is saponified for 30 min at 60 degrees C and extracted overnight into 60 mL of hexane. The hexane layer is washed, neutralized, and taken to dryness with a rotary evaporator. The sample is reconstituted in hexane and applied to 500 mg of Florisil in a solid-phase extraction column. Vitamin D is eluted with isopropyl alcohol. The eluate is evaporated to dryness under N2, and the sample is reconstituted in 1.0 mL of acetonitrile. The extract is analyzed on a C18 liquid chromatographic column (250 x 4.6 mm, 5 microns particle size) with UV detection at 265 nm. Milk samples of various fat content (i.e., skim, low fat, and whole milk) were analyzed. Spiked recoveries gave means of 81-96%; recoveries were inversely related to fat content. Assay precision ranged from 3.2 to 8.6%. The method can measure vitamins D2 and D3 individually, and no difference in the recoveries of the 2 vitamins was observed. Thus, vitamin D2 can be used as an internal standard for quantitating vitamin D3, and vice versa. The method is satisfactory for use in screening of milk for vitamin D content.
Republication: International medical graduate perceptions of health policy: A pilot study

Introduction: International Medical Graduates (IMGs) have been a significant proportion of the American physician workforce since the 1960s. Nearly, one-fourth of practicing physicians today are IMGs, and the total number of IMGs in graduate medical education is increasing. The purpose of this pilot project was to assess IMG perceptions in three major policy areas: (a) IMG impact on the United States (US) healthcare, (b) IMG impact on countries of origin, (c) bias/discrimination faced by IMGs. Methods: A survey was conducted of IMGs in an internal medicine residency program based at a Queens, New York Hospital. Results: Surveyed population (n = 27) was 41% PGY1, 30% PGY2, 22% PGY3, 7% PGY4. 55% were men, 78% were between 25 and 35 years old, and 70% had emigrated to the US within the last 10 years. Impact on US healthcare: 54% supported US policies favoring immigration of IMGs willing to practice in underserved areas. 70% believed that IMGs would provide care in these areas for a longer period than the US graduates, due to satisfaction in serving that patient population (57%) and lack of better opportunities (22%). Justifiable reasons to reduce IMG immigration were to avoid a physician surplus (58%), to reduce harms to countries of origin (21%), and to avoid overcrowding residency programs (13%). Impact on countries of origin: Eighty percent of the surveyed IMGs do not plan to return to their country of origin. Fifty-six percent reported that physician emigration is a detriment to their countries of origin; 84% felt no personal obligation to help reduce the negative effects. Two-thirds received loans or subsidies for education from countries of origin. Thirty-one percent supported policies for required subsidies repayment, 27% for required service after medical school graduation, 25% for more restrictive emigration policies, 19% for required return to the country of origin after residency training, and 12% for monetary compensation beyond subsidies repayment. Bias or Discrimination: Over one-third of respondents felt bias or discrimination in their work environment. Eighty-five percent felt that medical professional organizations do not adequately address issues specific to IMGs, and 77% reported a desire for greater involvement in such organizations. Conclusions: There is a growing debate in public policy over the status of IMG migration to the US. This pilot study was designed to explore IMG attitudes toward three major policy areas. A larger, multi-institutional study should be considered. The following core competencies are addressed in this article: Interpersonal skills and communication, Professionalism, Systems based practice. Republished with permission from: Agrawal S. International medical graduate perceptions of health policy: A pilot study. OPUS 12 Scientist 2008;2(1):9-12.