cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Reconfigurable Integrated Dispersive Delay Line (RI-DDL) in 0.13- $\mu$ m CMOS Process

This paper provides the theoretical analysis and physical implementation of a reconfigurable integrated dispersive delay line (RI-DDL) in the IBM 8RF 0.13-μm CMOS process. The RI-DDL employs a transversal filter structure, which is realized with the reverse gain port of a distributed amplifier. We successfully demonstrate that an RI-DDL is capable of achieving multiple nonuniform transmission line DDL transfer functions by altering the tap coefficients and polarities. The RI-DDL operates up to 4.5 GHz with 1.2-ns dispersion. We provide the experimental demonstration of the real time spectrum analysis (0.4-4 GHz) with the RI-DDL. Finally, we discuss the practical limitation of the proposed RI-DDL using the 0.13-μm CMOS process as well as the error bounds of the RI-DDL response due to discrete tap coefficient levels.
Rapid prototyping of sheet metal components by plasma-jet forming

Abstract Conventional precision forming of sheet metal components requires the use of mechanical tools. However, during product development, different tools may be required to form various shapes, thus necessitating significant tool cost and lead time. If a rapid prototyping process were available such that the required shapes can be formed without the need for hard tools, the potential reduction in product development cost and lead time could be quite significant. Moreover, such a process could be used for very short run production where it would be uneconomical to amortize tooling cost over a small number of manufactured pieces. To explore the potential for flexible forming without tools, various researchers have used a laser beam as a heat source to induce deformation in sheet metals by means of thermal stresses. Some success has been demonstrated with such an approach. However, laser systems have several disadvantages, which can be circumvented by the use of a plasma-jet as a heat source. This paper describes the use of a robotic system to manipulate a non-transferred arc plasma torch as a controllable heat source to generate internal stress in sheet metals, thus causing plastic deformation without the necessity of hard tooling. Simple linear bends have been produced in several sheet materials of 0.8 mm thickness to evaluate the effect of various process and material parameters. Some evaluation of material properties resulting from the bending operation has been conducted. The key process parameters affecting the rate of bending have been identified as those governing the amount and rate of heat input to the sheet surface, and the temperature gradient developed between the front and back sheet surfaces. It has been demonstrated that the principal sheet metal physical property affecting bending behavior is the thermal conductivity. Results are presented to illustrate these various effects.
A Coiled-Coil Enabled Split-Luciferase Three-Hybrid System: Applied Toward Profiling Inhibitors of Protein Kinases

The 518 protein kinases encoded in the human genome are exquisitely regulated and their aberrant function(s) are often associated with human disease. Thus, in order to advance therapeutics and to probe signal transduction cascades, there is considerable interest in the development of inhibitors that can selectively target protein kinases. However, identifying specific compounds against such a large array of protein kinases is difficult to routinely achieve utilizing traditional activity assays, where purified protein kinases are necessary. Toward a simple, rapid, and practical method for identifying specific inhibitors, we describe the development and application of a split-protein methodology utilizing a coiled-coil-assisted three-hybrid system. In this approach, a protein kinase of interest is attached to the C-terminal fragment of split-firefly luciferase and the coiled-coil Fos, which is specific for the coiled-coil Jun, is attached to the N-terminal fragment. Upon addition of Jun conjugated to a pan-kinase inhibitor such as staurosporine, a three-hybrid complex is established with concomitant reassembly of the split-luciferase enzyme. An inhibitor can be potentially identified by the commensurate loss in split-luciferase activity by displacement of the modified staurosporine. We demonstrate that this new three-hybrid approach is potentially general by testing protein kinases from the different kinase families. To interrogate whether this method allows for screening inhibitors, we tested six different protein kinases against a library of 80 known protein kinase inhibitors. Finally, we demonstrate that this three-hybrid system can potentially provide a rapid method for structure/function analysis as well as aid in the identification of allosteric inhibitors.
Principles of energy extension in electron-emission holography.

We have derived the principles of energy extension in image reconstruction of electron-emission holography. We illustrate these principles with examples based on multiple-scattering simulations. The physical origins of small-window characteristics in forward-scattering and backscattering geometries are explained. We show that images reconstructed from backscattering holograms in the energy range 150--300 eV are split for the Ni(001) (1\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}1)-Cu system, and a method is introduced to remove this splitting. We provide a direct view of a system in which the adsorbate atom occupies an off-centered site. We discuss the energy range and optimal energy grid used in the small-window energy-extension process in the forward-scattering and backscattering geometries.
Getting to “How Do You Know?” Rather Than “So What?” From “What's New?”

A few years ago, Carolyn Rude (2009) mapped out the field of technical communication by formulating an overarching research question and four subtopics. Rude's central question is “How do texts (pr...
Toward the Healthy City: People, Places, and the Politics of Urban Planning by Jason Corburn

Jason Corburn, Toward the Healthy City: People, Places, and the Politics of Urban Planning (Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press, 2009).In many parts of the world, we are witnessing an increasing number of...
Debate: Justification and Liability in War*

MORAL responsibility for an unjust threat, or a threat of wrongful harm, is, I have argued, a basis of liability to attack in war. Uwe Steinhoff correctly observes that many acts of war by those who fight in a just war (“just combatants”) threaten innocent people with wrongful harm. This, he claims, makes them morally liable to attack according to the criterion of liability I have defended. But if both just combatants and unjust combatants (those who fight without just cause) are morally liable to attack, so that each is permitted to attack the other, the doctrine of the moral equality of combatants, against which I argued in my earlier essay, is not only true but, embarrassingly, true on the basis of my own claims. This is a perceptive and important challenge that raises a number of issues that are important to understanding the morality of war. I am grateful to Steinhoff for raising them, and for providing me with an occasion to contribute to the discussion, and to defend and refine my position. The criterion of liability to attack in war that I have defended invokes the notion of a “wrongful harm.” There are different ways in which harms inflicted by just combatants on innocent people may be wrongful. First, a wrongful harm may be one that is wrongfully inflicted, or inflicted by wrongful action. Just combatants might, for example, attack innocent people intentionally—for example, as a means of coercing their government to surrender—and to attack innocent people intentionally is generally conceded to be wrong, except perhaps in extreme conditions in which such an attack is necessary to avert a greater harm to the same people, or a much greater harm to other innocent people. Or just combatants might harm innocent people unintentionally, but recklessly or negligently—for example, by attacking a military target when this foreseeably causes harm to innocent bystanders that is unnecessary or disproportionate in relation to the importance of destroying the target. Second, a wrongful harm may be inflicted by action that is permissible, or morally justified. In such a case, the action that inflicts the harm is not itself
Through the Prism of Critical Race Theory: "Niceness" and Latina/o Leadership in the Politics of Education.

Utilizing a critical race theory (CRT) framework, I conduct a rhetorical and discursive analysis of data from a study of Utah Latino/a educational and political leaders. In analyzing how participants advocate closing the achievement gaps that affect Latina/o and Chicana/o students, I find that participants' political discourse is shaped by concepts such as “niceness,” “respect,” and “decorum,” which ultimately limits their critique and silences the experiences of students in their communities. I argue that CRT scholarship and practice frameworks play a vital role in enacting socially just policies and preparing educational leaders to engage critically in the politics of education.
Limitations and justifications for analogical reasoning.

Hofmann, Solbakk, and Holm's (2006) analysis of the use of analogies is an important contribution to the methods of bioethics scholarship. This type of analogical reasoning is certainly common in b...
Electrostatic aggregation and formation of core-shell suprastructures in binary mixtures of charged metal nanoparticles.

Electrostatic aggregation of oppositely charged silver and gold nanoparticles leads to the formation of core−shell clusters in which the shell is formed by the nanoparticles, which are in excess. Arguments based on Debye screening of interactions between like-charged particles help explain why these clusters are stable despite possessing net electric charge. The core−shell aggregates exhibit unusual optical properties with the resonance absorption of the shell particles enhanced by the particles in the core and that of the core suppressed by the shell. Experimental UV−vis absorption spectra are faithfully reproduced by Mie theory. The modeling allows for estimation of the numbers of particles forming the shell and of the shell's effective thickness. These theoretical predictions are substantiated by experiments using nanoparticles covered with different combinations of charged groups and performed at different values of pH.
Advanced Modular Power Approach to Affordable, Supportable Space Systems.

Recent studies of missions to the Moon, Mars and Near Earth Asteroids (NEA) indicate that these missions often involve several distinct separately launched vehicles that must ultimately be integrated together in-flight and operate as one unit. Therefore, it is important to see these vehicles as elements of a larger segmented spacecraft rather than separate spacecraft flying in formation. The evolution of large multi-vehicle exploration architecture creates the need (and opportunity) to establish a global power architecture that is common across all vehicles. The Advanced Exploration Systems (AES) Modular Power System (AMPS) project managed by NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) is aimed at establishing the modular power system architecture that will enable power systems to be built from a common set of modular building blocks. The project is developing, demonstrating and evaluating key modular power technologies that are expected to minimize non-recurring development costs, reduce recurring integration costs, as well as, mission operational and support costs. Further, modular power is expected to enhance mission flexibility, vehicle reliability, scalability and overall mission supportability. The AMPS project not only supports multi-vehicle architectures but should enable multi-mission capability as well. The AMPS technology development involves near term demonstrations involving developmental prototype vehicles and field demonstrations. These operational demonstrations not only serve as a means of evaluating modular technology but also provide feedback to developers that assure that they progress toward truly flexible and operationally supportable modular power architecture.
Abstract 1134: ADAM17 promotes glioma cell progression through EGFR-PI3K-AKT activation

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL Background & Objective: A disintegrin and metalloproteinase-17 (ADAM17) is involved in proteolytic ectodomain shedding of several membrane-bound growth factors and cytokines. The expression and activity of ADAM17 increase under some pathological conditions such as stroke and cancer. ADAM17 promotes neural progenitor cell migration and contributes to stroke-induced neurogenesis after stroke and breast cancer growth and invasion. In the present study, we sought to elucidate whether ADAM17 contributes to glioma progression and its mechanisms. Experimental Approaches: We examined the role of ADAM17 in the proliferation, invasion, and tube formation of human glioma cells (U87) in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. Stable transfection of the U87 cell line with either a plasmid for over-expression of human ADAM17, or a siRNA to ADAM17 was employed in this study to establish high or low ADAM17 expression in glioma cells, respectively. For study of mechanism, the ADAM17 inhibitor TAPI-2 and the PI3K-AKT inhibitor LY294002 were used to counteract high ADAM17 expression or the activated PI3K-AKT pathway. Proliferation of glioma cells were tested by MTT Cell Proliferation Assay, Bromodeoxyuridine incorporation assay, growth curve, and sulforhodamine B assay. Matrigel invasion assays were used to assess the ability of U87 cells to penetrate the Extra Cellular Matrix. A Matrigel tube formation assay was performed to test capillary tube formation ability. EGFR-PI3K-Akt pathway activation in U87 cells under different ADAM17 expression levels were tested by Western blot Results: Our data show that ADAM17 promotes the U87 malignant phenotype by increased proliferation, invasion, angiogenesis and in vivo tumor growth. TGF-α, VEGF secretion and VEGF expression was increasing by ADAM17 and counteracted by ADAM17 siRNA, TAPI-2, and [LY294002][1] in U87 cells. ADAM17 activated, whereas ADAM17 siRNA, TAPI-2, and [LY294002][1] deactivated the EGFR-PI3K-AKT signal pathway, which correlated with U87 cell malignant phenotype changes. Conclusion: This study suggests ADAM17 contributes to glioma progression through activation of the EGFR-PI3K-AKT signal pathway. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1134. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-1134 [1]: /lookup/external-ref?link_type=GEN&access_num=LY294002&atom=%2Fcanres%2F71%2F8_Supplement%2F1134.atom
Increases in mRNA for cytoskeletal proteins in the denervated neuropil of the dentate gyrus: an in situ hybridization study using riboprobes for β-actin and β-tubulin

Abstract Following destruction of entorhinal cortical (EC) input to the dentate gyrus there is an increase in protein synthesis within the denervated dendritic laminae. The present study utilized in situ hybridization to determine whether there were increases in the messenger RNAs (mRNAs) for β-actin and β-tubulin within the denervated neuropil of the dentate gyrus during the time of increased protein synthesis. Animals were prepared for in situ hybridization 2–21 days after a unilateral lesion of the EC. Brain sections were hybridized with either 3H or 35S-labeled riboprobes prepared from chick β-actin and chick β-tubulin mRNA. Analysis of light microscopic autoradiograms revealed increases in the mRNAs for β-actin and β-tubulin within the denervated neuropil between 6 and 8 days postlesion when compared to the intact dentate gyrus of the contralateral side. Labeling over the granule cell body layer was comparable on the two sides for both probes. Increases in both mRNAs were also observed in the scar tissue at the lesion site. These results suggest that local protein synthesis within the denervated neuropil of the dentate gyrus involves, in part, an increase in the production of actin and tubulin.
Fabricating optical lenses by inkjet printing and heat-assisted in situ curing of polydimethylsiloxane for smartphone microscopy

We present a highly repeatable, lithography-free and mold-free method for fabricating flexible optical lenses by in situ curing liquid polydimethylsiloxane droplets on a preheated smooth surface with an inkjet printing process. This method enables us to fabricate lenses with a focal length as short as 5.6 mm, which can be controlled by varying the droplet volume and the temperature of the preheated surface. Furthermore, the lens can be attached to a smartphone camera without any accessories and can produce high-resolution (1 μm) images for microscopy applications.
Partitioning of potassium between silicates and sulphide melts: Experiments relevant to the earth's core

The partitioning of potassium between roedderite, K2Mg5Si12O30 and an Fe-FeS melt was investigaged at temperatures about 40 C above the Fe-FeS eutectic. Roedderite was considered a prime candidate for one of the potassium-bearing phases in the primitive earth because roedderite and merrihueite are the only two silicates containing essential potassium which have been identified in stony meteorites. A mean K2S/FeS weight ratio of (3.340 + or - 0.015) x 0.001 was determined in these experiments; a K2S/FeS weight ratio of about 0.01 would be sufficient to extract all potassium in a chondritic earth into the core. Application of these results to a primitive chondritic earth is discussed and it is concluded that extraction of most of the earth's potassium into the Fe-FeS core would occur under the conditions in the early earth.
A pairing algorithm for landing aircraft to closely spaced parallel runways

To facilitate pairing of aircraft while meeting a schedule, the pair-scheduling problem for landing aircraft in Very Closely Spaced Parallel Approaches was studied. An earlier prototype was adopted and the scheduling algorithm was extended in several ways to improve the solution quality and expand the range of constraints it could handle. This paper presents the scheduling problem formulation, as well as enhancements made to an earlier prototype that made it suitable for application in a human-in-the-loop simulation carried out recently at NASA Ames Research Center. Experimental data from the simulations as well as an extensive set of stress tests are analyzed and discussed. Results suggest the algorithm succeeded in suggesting aircraft pairs acceptable to the air traffic controllers in over 97% of the cases. Evaluating the performance and scalability characteristics of the algorithm demonstrates its effectiveness in discovering feasible aircraft pairs that meet all the sequencing, separation, pair-group, and runway assignment constraints. Overall, the high solution quality and short runtime makes the proposed algorithm a suitable and attractive candidate for use in a real-time aircraft-pairing application.
CT and MRI-based Diagnosis of Craniocervical Dislocations: The Role of the Occipitoatlantal Ligament

Background Craniocervical dislocations are rare, potentially devastating injuries. A diagnosis of craniocervical dislocations may be delayed as a result of their low incidence and paucity of diagnostic criteria based on CT and MRI. Delay in diagnosis may contribute to neurological injury from secondary displacement resulting from instability. The purpose of this study was to define CT and MRI-based diagnostic criteria for craniocervical dislocations to facilitate early injury recognition and stabilization.
Tree Basal Growth Response to Flooding in a Bottomland Hardwood Forest in Central Ohio1

Abstract: Tree basal growth in response to flooding regime was evaluated at a 5.2-ha bottomland forest along the Olentangy River in central Ohio. Tree-ring analysis was used to develop a 14-year basal area increment (BAI) (cm2/year) series for 42 canopy trees (representing 10 species) throughout the bottomland. Mean annual BAI was evaluated relative to the frequency and duration of bankfull (>70 m3/s) and high-flood (>154 m3/s) river discharge for a given water year (October 1-September 30) and growing season (April 1-September 30). A significant polynomial relationship was detected between the number of days of high-flood river discharge over a combined two-year period (Year i + Year i − 1) and mean annual BAI. No significant relationships were detected when only the concurrent-year or previous-year flood regimes were considered or when growing season was considered. A similar relationship was detected when duration of high-flood discharge days and BAI were both evaluated in two-year increments (Year i + Year i − 1). Mean annual BAI was most influenced by boxelder (Acer negundo) which was the dominant species and exhibited strong agreement with the overall BAI series. In each case, the resulting parabolic curve of tree basal growth in response to flooding suggests an optimal number of flooding days, a response to perturbation consistent with the subsidy-stress model. Dendrochronology may be a useful tool for managers looking to restore environmental flows to regulated rivers.
Transport far from equilibrium: Uniform shear flow

The Bhatnager-Gross-Krook model kinetic equation is applied to spatially inhomogeneous states near steady uniform shear flow. The shear rate of the reference steady state can be large, so the states considered include those very far from equilibrium. The single-particle distribution function is calculated exactly to first order in the deviations of the hydrodynamic field gradients from their values in the reference state. Corresponding nonlinear hydrodynamic equations are obtained, and the set of transport coefficients are identified as explicit functions of the shear rate. The spectrum of the linear hydrodynamic equations is studied in detail, and qualitative differences from the spectrum for equilibrium fluctuations are discussed. Conditions for instabilities at long wavelengths are identified and discussed.
Size judgment: The presence of a standard increases the exponent of the power law

Ss judged the size of circles by the methods of magnitude estimation and magnitude production, with or without a standard figure present. The presence of the standard raised the exponent of the power law. The effect was largely independent of the position of the standard in the range of stimuli. It is argued that the standard’s effect was not mediated by a difference in apparent size between perceived and remembered standards, a change in Ss’ response strategies, a decrease in sequential dependencies, or other previously identified bias effects.
Absolute transition probabilities for the 2p 5 3s–2p 5 3p transition array in Ne i

A continuation of a previous study of the 1s–2p transition array in Ne i is reported. Phenomenological intermediate-coupling wave functions that predict relative line strengths in good agreement with those measured here, as well as predicting energy levels and g values that agree with available data, are obtained and are compared with those generated by the ab initio calculations of Cowan. Absolute transition probabilities for the (1s2–2p3) and (1s4–2p3) transitions of 0.0040±0.0002 and 0.053±0.002 ns−1, respectively, corresponding to a mean life for the 2p3 level of 17.5±0.7 ns, were measured by pulsed electron excitation of low-pressure Ne gas with cascade-repopulation effects explicitly accounted for by direct measurement.
The role of prefrontal catecholamines in attention and working memory

While much progress has been made in identifying the brain regions and neurochemical systems involved in the cognitive processes disrupted in mental illnesses, to date, the level of detail at which neurobiologists can describe the chain of events giving rise to cognitive functions is very rudimentary. Much of the intense interest in understanding cognitive functions is motivated by the hope that it might be possible to understand these complex functions at the level of neurons and neural circuits. Here, we review the current state of the literature regarding how modulations in catecholamine levels within the prefrontal cortex (PFC) alter the neuronal and behavioral correlates of cognitive functions, particularly attention and working memory.
An examination of inter-district public school transfers in Wisconsin

Abstract Using data for all Wisconsin school districts over the 2003/04 through 2006/07 school years, we evaluate the state of Wisconsin's Open Enrollment (inter-district transfer) program to determine which school district characteristics influence parental transfer decisions. To our knowledge, this is the first study of school choice in a public school setting that evaluates transfer decisions controlling for district characteristics from which the students are transferring. The main result of our research indicates that parents of transfer students reside in districts with high property values but low taxes, and they choose to send their children to higher spending school districts. Other key findings are that parents send their children to districts with lower percentages of minorities, and are more likely to transfer from districts with fewer extracurricular opportunities.
Entropic forces—making the connection between mechanics and thermodynamics in an exactly soluble model

Upper-level undergraduate texts in thermodynamics and statistical mechanics frequently describe a force as being of entropic origin if it represents the tendency of a system to evolve into a more probable state, rather than simply into one of lower potential energy. This concept is not easy to understand, as it arises in the context of systems in which no apparent force exists at zero temperature. It is only when thermal motion is introduced that an apparent driving force appears. This difficulty is compounded by the absence of any non-trivial soluble model. Here we provide insight into the nature of entropic forces by presenting an exactly soluble model in which the entropic force can be derived from both mechanical and thermodynamic analyses, with results that are shown to be identical.
Effect of Onsite Dietitian Counseling on Weight Loss and Lipid Levels in an Outpatient Physician Office

We examined the effect of an outpatient office-based diet and exercise counseling program on weight loss and lipid levels with an onsite dietitian who sees patients at the same visit with the physician and is fully reimbursable. Eighty overweight or obese patients (average age 55 ± 12 years, baseline body mass index 30.1 ± 6.4 kg/m 2 ) with ≥1 cardiovascular risk factor (86%) or coronary heart disease (14%) were counseled to exercise 30 minutes/day and eat a modified Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet (saturated fat
Public Values in Governance Networks Management Approaches and Social Policy Tools in Local Community and Economic Development

The contextual nature of management approaches is important for understanding administrative centrality in governance networks in the public values process. This is of particular concern in a policy domain such as community development, which is characterized by the extensive involvement of nongovernmental actors in determining what ought to be done as well as carrying out those objectives. Using qualitative data, I explore the management approaches and policy tools used to fulfill Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) objectives in two different management contexts to analyze administrative centrality in governance networks in the public values process. Two different approaches emerge, suggesting different administrative trajectories to public values authorization and creation. Furthermore, the findings suggest that administrative centrality in the public values process may be influenced by the management context in which local agencies are embedded.
Response of ideal radio noise meter to continuous sine wave, recurrent impulses, and random noise

The responses of an ideal radio noise meter to continuous sine wave, recurrent impulses, and random noise are evaluated and tabulated. The ideal meter consists of a narrow-band linear low noise super-heterodyne network followed by a detector which responds to the envelope of the intermediate frequency and a dc voltmeter which indicates the detector output. Four detector circuits — peak, quasi-peak, average, and rms — are considered. Their “ideal” characteristics are defined in the text.
Electron resonance reflections from perfect crystal surfaces and surfaces with steps

Abstract Dynamical calculations are carried out to investigate the creation processes of reflection waves under the (660) specular reflection case of GaAs (110) in the geometry of reflection high energy electron diffraction (RHEED). It is shown that the resonance waves are localized at the top two to three atomic surface layers. The monolayer resonance characteristic happens only at some specified low angle incidence cases but not in general. Most of the reflection intensity in the RHEED pattern is created while the electrons are propagating along the surface. The probability of immediate reflections of electrons from a surface is small. This is the reason that the resonance excitation of a surface can greatly enhance the total reflectance of a surface. The propagation of a electron beam at a crystal surface can be characterized by a mean travelling distance, which is 500 to 700 A for GaAs (110). It is pointed out that a column approximation may not be a good treatment for RHEED calculations. Dynamical calculations for surfaces with steps show that the one-atom-high down-step can critically interrupt the resonance propagation of the resonance wave along the surface. The interrupted wave goes out of the surface and forms some “extra” spots in the RHEED pattern, which are observed in RHEED experiments in a scanning transmission electron microscope. This confirms the existence of surface resonance waves and their oscillating propagations along crystal surfaces.
Standardized Solutions Using LISREL on Multiple Populations

This article argues that the procedure used to calculate standardized coefficients in LISREL 6.1 is inappropriate. An alternative approach is proposed. The two approaches are compared empirically.
THE RATIONALLY SHRINKING UNION

We analyze a voting model in which a democratic monopoly labor union rationally shrinks towards zero over time. In our model, preferences are not single-peaked so that this shrinkage may occur in spite of objections by the median voter. We characterize the wage-employment path as a function of the time horizon and the discount rate. We show that the employment path is independent both of the labor demand curve and of the workers’utility functions.
Ion-Pair High-Performance Liquid Chromatographic Determination of Chlorpheniramine Maleate in Cough-Cold Mixtures

AbstractA high-performance liquid chromatographic method in the ion-pair mode was developed for the assay of chlorpheniramine maleate in commercial cough-cold mixtures. The method uses a µ Bondapak phenyl column and a mixture of acetonitrile-acetic acid-water (26.5:1.0:72.5, by volume, pH 2.4) containing 0.005M pentanesul-fonic acid sodium salt as the mobile phase. Chlorpheniramine maleate was well resolved from ten other active ingredients. A linear relationship was obtained between detector response at 254 nm and amounts of chlorpheniramine maleate injected ranging from 0.8 to 2.5 µg(r=0.996). A reproducibility study using a standard preparation gave a CV of 1.43% (n = 10). The average recovery values of chlorpheniramine maleate added in various amounts to a single-component tablet composite sample and to a multiple-component tablet composite sample were 99.1 and 100.9%, respectively. The assay of commercial tablets by the proposed method gave results which differed by 0.7 to 3.2% of declared from those...
Diabetes as a stigmatized condition: the case of low-income clinic patients in the United States.

Abstract While the concept of stigma has been used to discuss chronically-ill individuals, it has not been incorporated into a more holistic framework that considers cultural, social and economic variables. This paper analyzes aspects of stigma as expressed within a lower-income clinic diabetic population in the United States. Specifically, the effect of diabetes on changes in the individual's physical abilities, social interaction, employment, and perceptions of self-care are discussed as they interact with social isolation and stigma. Stigma as a social consequence of diabetes for this particular group, is examined as it relates to issues of self-care, non-compliance with medical regime, and conflicts with practitioners.
Looking for vector symmetry in τ decays

Abstract The τ decays into pions and ϱ mesons are reexamined in the light of the recently proposed vector symmetry which defines a chiral relationship between the pions and the ϱ mesons.
A novel method to recycle mixed cathode materials for lithium ion batteries

The rechargeable lithium ion (Li-ion) battery market was $11.8 billion in 2011 and is expected to increase to $50 billion by 2020. With developments in consumer electronics as well as hybrid and electric vehicles, Li-ion batteries demand will continue to increase. However, Li-ion batteries are not widely recycled because currently it is not economically justifiable (in contrast, at present more than 97% lead-acid batteries are recycled). So far, no commercial methods are available to recycle Li-ion batteries with different cathode chemistries economically and efficiently. Considering our limited resources, environmental impact, and national security, Li-ion batteries must be recycled. A new low temperature methodology with high efficiency is proposed in order to recycle Li-ion batteries economically and thus commercially feasible regardless of cathode chemistry. The separation and synthesis of cathode materials (the most valuable material in Li-ion batteries) from the recycled components are the main focus of this study. The results show that the developed recycling process is practical with high recovery efficiencies, and that it is viable for commercial adoption.
Dietary docosahexaenoic acid alters pregnant rat reproductive tissue prostaglandin and matrix metalloproteinase production

Shortened gestation is a major cause of infant mortality and morbidity. Evidence from both human and animal studies suggests that essential fatty acids of the n-6 and n-3 series play important and modifiable roles in gestational duration. We examined the influence of linolenic acid (LnA) vs. docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on rat reproductive tissue prostaglandin (PG) and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) indices of gestational duration. By varying the oil source of the diet, AIN-93G diets were constructed to provide either 0.7 energy % (en%) LnA, the current US intake of n-3 fatty acids, or 0.7 en% DHA. In addition, enhanced levels of 2.0 en% LnA or 2.0 e% DHA diets were also constructed. All diets contained approximately 6.0 en% linoleic acid (LA), the current US intake of LA. Four groups of 10 female rats were time-mated and fed the respective diets from conception through Day 20 of gestation. Day 20 uterus and placenta DHA were significantly increased by 160-180% by the 0.7 en% DHA diet, and by 250-350% by the 2.0 en% DHA diets in comparison to 0.7 en% LnA diet. DHA diets also significantly reduced uterus and placenta arachidonic acid content. Day 20 placenta and uterus PGE(2) and placenta PGF(2alpha) production rates were significantly reduced by 27-47% in the 0.7 en% DHA group in comparison to 0.7 en% LnA. Increasing LnA to 2.0 en% was without effect. Providing DHA at the enhanced 2.0 en% did not significantly enhance the suppression of PG production. Placenta active MMP-2 and active MMP-9 (gelatinase) production was suppressed significantly by 30-43% in the 0.7 en% DHA group in comparison to the 0.7 en% LnA group, and 2.0 en% DHA did not enhance this suppression. Placenta collagenase activity comprising the sum of MMP-1, MMP-8 and MMP-13 was also suppressed by 60% in the 0.7 en% DHA diet group with no additional effect with 2.0 en% DHA provision. These results suggest that substituting DHA for LnA even at the current US n-3 fatty acid intake of 0.7 en% is effective in suppressing indices of premature delivery and shortened gestation. Increasing LnA intake by 3-fold to 2.0 en% is not effective. The form of dietary n-3 fatty acid, DHA vs. LnA, appears to be more important than the amount.
The effects of exopolymers on cell morphology and culturability of Leuconostoc mesenteroides during starvation.

Biofilm formation by bacterial cells can be used to modify the subsurface permeability for the purpose of microbial enhanced oil recovery, bio-barrier formation, and in situ bioremediation. Once injected into the subsurface, the bacteria undergo starvation due to a decrease in nutrient supply and diffusion limitations in biofilms. To help understand the starvation response of bacteria in biofilms, the relationship between exopolymer formation and cell culturability was examined in a batch culture. The average cell diameter was observed to decrease from 0.8 μm to 0.35 μm 3 days after starvation began. Cell chain fragmentation was also observed during starvation. Cells that underwent starvation in the presence of insoluble exopolymers showed a slower rate of decrease in cell diameter and in cell chain length than cells without insoluble exopolymers. The rate of decrease in the average cell diameter and cell chain length were determined using a first order decay model. Cells starved in the presence of exopolymers showed greater culturability than cells starved without exopolymers. After 200 days starvation, 2.5 × 10−3% cells were culturable, but no increase in cell number was observed. During starvation, the exopolymer concentration remained constant, an indication that the exopolymer was not consumed by the starving bacteria as an alternative carbon or energy source.
Recent clinical-pathologic research on the causes of dementia in late life: update from the Honolulu-Asia Aging Study.

In this study, we compare neuropathological findings at autopsy with clinical dementia diagnoses, such as Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. Participants consisted of 363 aged Japanese-American men from the Honolulu-Asia Aging Study. Results indicated that the correspondence between clinical and neuropathologic diagnosis was not great, with 56% of patients diagnosed with probable or possible Alzheimer’s disease during life but with only 19% having neuritic plaques and/or neurofibrillary tangles as the sole or dominant dementia-related lesions in the brain at autopsy. Although 16% of cases were attributed to mixed causes during life, almost 40% were found to have significant mixtures of dementia-related lesions at autopsy. Finally, both Alzheimer’s disease and non-Alzheimer’s disease neuropathologic lesions contributed independently to the explanation of variance on a test of overall cognitive performance. The results suggest that clinical diagnosis of dementia made during life may fail to reflect ...
The Domains Of Underwater Visibility

Several domains of underwater visibility are illustrated using a computer program to simu-late underwater image formation. The basic limitations of conventional underwater optical imaging are described. In addition, several image processing techniques have been applied to underwater video images. The results of applying grey level enhancement and spatial filtering are illustrated.
Quantifying Annual Nitrogen Loads to Virginia’s Coastal Lagoons: Sources and Water Quality Response

Coastal lagoons of the Delmarva Peninsula receive varying annual nitrogen loads because of differing land uses. Extensive development and agriculture contribute to elevated nutrient loads in Maryland and Delaware. Agriculture and forests dominate Virginia’s landscape, suggesting these systems receive lower loads. We used a watershed model to achieve three objectives: (1) quantify loads to Virginia lagoons; (2) determine the sources of the loads; and (3) project changes in annual loads under different development scenarios. Model simulations indicated that some Virginia lagoons receive relatively high annual nutrient loads (kg N year−1) due to intensive agriculture and a high watershed/lagoon areal ratio. Model projections also suggested that increased agricultural and residential development in Virginia could lead to annual loads (kg N year−1) typical of impacted Maryland systems. A comparison of Maryland and Virginia water quality responses to nutrient loading suggested that Virginia’s lagoons exhibit a different response to nutrient loading, though the exact mechanism for this difference is unclear.
Metoclopramide does not decrease the incidence of nausea and vomiting after alfentanil for outpatient anaesthesia.

Sixty patients were studied in a randomized, double-blind manner to determine whether metoclopramide added to droperidol decreased further the incidence of emetic symptoms (nausea, retching, vomiting) in outpatients receiving alfentanil anaesthesia for nasal surgery. Group 1 (n = 30) received metoclopramide 0.15 mg · kg− 1 and Group 2 (n = 30) received placebo. In addition, both groups received droperidol 0.02 mg · kg− 1 immediately before anaesthesia which was supplemented by alfentanil 20 μg · kg− 1 at induction followed by an infusion of 0.25–1 μg · kg− 1 · min− 1. Emetic symptoms were assessed 0–3 hr, 3–6 hr and 6–24 hr after surgery. Both groups received similar doses of alfentanil (mean ± SD; Group 1 4641 ± 1894 μg, Group 2 4714 ± 1640 μg). The percentage of patients who had eigher nausea or vomiting at 0–3, 3–6 or 6–24 hr was23%, 14% and 13% in Group 1; and 20%, 17% and 10% in Group 2. The overall incidence for each group was 8/30 (27%). There was no difference in the incidence of emetic symptoms between the groups at any time interval or throughout the study. Metoclopramide did not improve upon the antiemesis of droperidol during alfentanil anaesthesia for outpatient nasal surgery.
Modified Konno-Rastan Procedure for Subaortic Stenosis: Indications, Operative Techniques, and Results

Abstract Background . Diffuse or unresectable subaortic stenosis (SAS) necessitates an aggressive surgical approach for the elimination of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. In this article we report our experience with the modified Konno-Rastan procedure, with inherent preservation of the native aortic valve and annulus, in the treatment of diffuse or unresectable SAS. Methods . Sixteen children (age range, 21 months to 18 years) underwent the modified Konno-Rastan procedure through either a transventricular (n = 12) or a transatrial approach (n = 4) to the conal septum. Indications for operation were recurrent SAS (n = 3), hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (n = 3), tunnel stenosis (n = 2), SAS related to a canal (n = 3), and SAS after ventricular septal defect closure (n = 5). Eleven patients had undergone previous procedures and 5 underwent the modified Konno-Rastan procedure as their primary operation. Results . The mean preoperative left ventricular outflow tract gradient of 50 ± 17 mm Hg was reduced to 3 ± 7 mm Hg ( p n = 1), heart block ( n = 2), mediastinal bleeding ( n = 1), and renal and cerebral ischemia ( n = 1). There was 1 late postoperative death caused by pneumonia 2 years after operation (6.2% mortality rate). The mean follow-up period was 62 ± 39 months and all patients had complete relief of preoperative symptoms and were in New York Heart Association class I. One patient underwent a successful redo modified Konno-Rastan procedure 7 years after the first operation for residual left ventricular outflow tract obstruction immediately below the aortic valve. One patient is awaiting reoperation for aortic incompetence unrelated to conal enlargement 1.5 years after the first procedure. Conclusions . The modified Konno-Rastan procedure represents an excellent therapy for diffuse or unresectable SAS in patients with a normal aortic valve. In addition, it produces excellent results in a limited number of patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, in whom the Morrow procedure traditionally has been performed. Although it usually is performed through a transventricular approach, the modified Konno-Rastan procedure also can be performed through a transatrial approach; this is particularly useful in patients who have had previous ventricular septal defect closure associated with SAS occurring proximal to the prosthetic patch.
Disaggregation of seismic hazard

Probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA) integrates over all potential earthquake occurrences and ground motions to estimate the mean frequency of exceedance of any given spectral acceleration at the site. For improved communication and insights, it is becoming common practice to display the relative contributions to that hazard from the range of values of magnitude, M , distance, R , and epsilon, ɛ , the number of standard deviations from the median ground motion as predicted by an attenuation equation. The proposed disaggregation procedures, while conceptually similar, differ in several important points that are often not reported by the researchers and not appreciated by the users. We discuss here such issues, for example, definition of the probability distribution to be disaggregated, different disaggregation techniques, disaggregation of R versus ln R , and the effects of different binning strategies on the results. Misconception of these details may lead to unintended interpretations of the relative contributions to hazard. Finally, we propose to improve the disaggregation process by displaying hazard contributions in terms of not R , but latitude, longitude, as well as M and ɛ . This permits a display directly on a typical map of the faults of the surrounding area and hence enables one to identify hazard-dominating scenario events and to associate them with one or more specific faults, rather than a given distance. This information makes it possible to account for other seismic source characteristics, such as rupture mechanism and near-source effects, during selection of scenario-based ground-motion time histories for structural analysis.
Bovine veterinarians’ knowledge, beliefs, and practices regarding antibiotic resistance on Ohio dairy farms

The perceptions, knowledge, and gaps in the knowledge of Ohio bovine veterinarians about antibiotic resistance (ABR) issues were systematically determined. In-depth interviews of 10 bovine practitioners in Ohio were completed to inform the development of a survey that was subsequently distributed to all Ohio members of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners and the bovine-specialized members of the Ohio Veterinary Medical Association (n = 174). The 43 respondents (26% response rate) included practitioners with a cross-section of clinical experience and sizes of dairy herds served. Respondents' knowledge regarding selection pressures that cause bacteria to acquire resistance was positively correlated with their knowledge of transmission routes of ABR organisms to dairy cows (r = 0.60) and potential consequences of ABR with respect to animal health (r = 0.52). Veterinarians believed that antibiotics are used by producers to treat a variety of illnesses and that specific antibiotics (e.g., gentamicin) are used without veterinary consultation. More than 75% of the veterinarians thought that one-on-one meetings and handouts containing good management practices, diagnosis descriptions, and appropriate dosages for antibiotics would be effective ways to educate their clients about ABR. However, only 23% of veterinarians reported that they consistently provide treatment protocols for antibiotic use. By first assessing the information needs of the audience, these results indicated that, rather than expending resources to develop educational materials directed at improving bovine practitioner knowledge of the subject, communication and outreach efforts that encourage and facilitate information flow from veterinarians to dairy producers may be more effective tools to affect prudent antibiotic use on dairy farms.