cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Neutralization of IL-33 modifies the type 2 and type 3 inflammatory signature of viral induced asthma exacerbation.

Respiratory viral infections are one of the leading causes of need for emergency care and hospitalizations in asthmatic individuals, and airway-secreted cytokines are released within hours of viral infection to initiate these exacerbations. IL-33, specifically, contributes to these allergic exacerbations by amplifying type 2 inflammation. We hypothesized that blocking IL-33 in RSV-induced exacerbation would significantly reduce allergic inflammation. Sensitized BALB/c mice were challenged with aerosolized ovalbumin (OVA) to establish allergic inflammation, followed by RSV-A2 infection to yield four treatment groups: saline only (Saline), RSV-infected alone (RSV), OVA alone (OVA), and OVA-treated with RSV infection (OVA-RSV). Lung outcomes included lung mRNA and protein markers of allergic inflammation, histology for mucus cell metaplasia and lung immune cell influx by cytospin and flow cytometry. While thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) and IL-33 were detected 6 h after RSV infection in the OVA-RSV mice, IL-23 protein was uniquely upregulated in RSV-infected mice alone. OVA-RSV animals varied from RSV- or OVA-treated mice as they had increased lung eosinophils, neutrophils, group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2) and group 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3) detectable as early as 6 h after RSV infection. Neutralized IL-33 significantly reduced ILC2 and eosinophils, and the prototypical allergic proteins, IL-5, IL-13, CCL17 and CCL22 in OVA-RSV mice. Numbers of neutrophils and ILC3 were also reduced with anti-IL-33 treatment in both RSV and OVA-RSV treated animals as well. Taken together, our findings indicate a broad reduction in allergic-proinflammatory events mediated by IL-33 neutralization in RSV-induced asthma exacerbation.
International socialization, international politics, and the spread of state bureaucracies for women’s advancement

Since 1975, almost every country in the world has formed a bureaucracy on gender equality. By 2018, more than 160 states had established offices for women’s advancement either at low (office within...
Characterization of residual stress as a function of friction stir welding parameters in oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) steel MA956

Abstract Friction stir welding (FSW) can generate large residual stresses during solid state joining of oxide dispersion strengthened steels. In this work, a plate of MA956 steel was friction stir welded at three conditions: 500 rpm/25 mm per minute (mmpm), 400 rpm/50 mmpm and 400 rpm/100 mmpm. The residual stresses across these welds were measured using both x-ray and neutron diffraction techniques. The distribution and magnitude of the residual stresses agreed well between the two techniques. Longitudinal residual stresses up to eighty percent of the yield strength were observed for the 400 rpm/100 mmpm condition. The surface residual stresses were somewhat larger on the root side of the weld than on the crown side. Increases in the relative heat input during FSW decreased the measured residual stresses in the stir zone and the thermomechanically affected zone (TMAZ). Increasing the traverse rate while holding the rotational speed fixed increased the residual stress levels. The fatigue strength of the material is predicted to decrease by at least twenty percent with cracking most likely in the TMAZ.
Pain Medication Use after Spine Surgery

Dear Editor: Spine surgery is one of the most difficult areas in which to achieve a good clinical outcome after surgery. When compared with the other orthopedic subspecialties, such as joint replacement surgery, a higher percentage of postoperative patients continue to have symptoms that require pain medication utilization and some require further surgeries. Failure rates associated with lumbar fusion surgeries range from 10% to 40% [1]. This high rate of unsuccessful spine surgery has generated the term “failed back surgery syndrome.” Strong indications for spine surgery are instability of the spine and neurological deficits including motor deficit and bladder and bowel dysfunction, while pain remains strictly a relative indication. However, an increasing number of spine surgeries are recently being performed based mainly on pain symptoms. The use of postoperative pain medication following spine surgery is nearly universal. However, despite the prevalence of use, there is no standardized protocol detailing the type, strength, or duration of pain medication use following specific procedures. Optimally, surgery should relieve the symptoms that brought the patient to …
Virtuous Responses to Organizational Crisis: Aaron Feuerstein and Milt Colt

This study examines two recent cases of ethical responses to crisis management; the 1995 fire at Malden Mills and Aaron Feuerstein's response, and a 1998 fire at Cole Hardwoods, followed by the response of CEO Milt Cole. The authors describe these crises, the responses of Feuerstein and Cole, their motivations and the impact on crisis stakeholders using the principles of virtue ethics and effective crisis management. What emerges is set of post-crisis virtues grounded in values of corporate social responsibility and entrepreneurial ethics. These include virtues of immediacy of response, supportiveness of victims, and rebuilding and renewal.
Species variation in the effect of temperature on the incorporation of L-lysine-U-C14 into protein of testis slices.

Abstract 1. 1. The incorporation of l -lysine -U- C 14 into protein of slices of testes of the adult rat, mouse, hamster, rabbit, guinea pig and dog has been studied following a 1 hr incubation period at temperatures of 26, 32, 37·5 and 44°C. 2. 2. In the rat, mouse and hamster, maximal incorporation of radioactive lysine into testicular protein occurred at 32°C. 3. 3. In the rabbit, guinea pig and dog, maximal incorporation of isotope into testicular protein occurred at 37·5°C. 4. 4. Measurements of the testicular temperatures of the rat, mouse and hamster were found to be lower than the corresponding testicular temperatures of the rabbit, guinea pig and dog. 5. 5. The data obtained indicate that optimal activity for testicular protein labeling from radioactive lysine in each species occurs at a temperature which is closest to that normally found in the scrotal sac of each animal.
Effect of Fluoride on the Mobilization of Skeletal Magnesium and Soft-Tissue Calcinosis During Acute Magnesium Deficiency in the Rat

To investigate the effect of fluoride on the mobilization of skeletal magnesium and on kidney calcification during magnesium depletion, male Holtzman rats were fed a magnesium-sufficient diet (400 ppm of magnesium) and drinking water containing either 0, 50 or 100 ppm of fluoride for a 20-day period prior to the initiation of magnesium deficiency. The high fluoride regimen resulted in a 100-fold increase in the fluoride content of the skeleton. On day 20 magnesium depletion was initiated by feeding the animals a diet containing 12 ppm of magnesium. Over a 4-week period of magnesium deprivation, a 26% decrease of the total magnesium in the humeri was observed. Fluoride exerted a significant effect in retarding the mobilization of skeletal magnesium. Four weeks of magnesium deficiency was associated with a decreased rate of skeletal mineral accretion and with an increase in the kidney calcium content. The decreased rate of mineral accretion was accentuated by the administration of fluoride during the deficiency state. While fluoride exerted an initial protective effect on calcinosis of the kidneys, the overall effect of the administration of fluoride during magnesium deficiency was to promote calcification of the kidneys rather than to prevent it.
The regulation of platelet-activating factor production in endothelial cells. The role of calcium and protein kinase C.

Abstract Endothelial cells (EC) synthesize platelet-activating factor (PAF) when stimulated with agonists that bind to cell-surface receptors. We examined events that link receptor binding to synthesis of PAF by EC. Bovine EC stimulated with agonists that interact with specific cell-surface receptors accumulated PAF only in the presence of extracellular calcium. Hormonal stimulation of EC resulted in Ca2+ entry characteristic of that seen with receptor-operated calcium channels; Indo-1 measurements demonstrated that this inward flux of Ca2+ caused prolonged elevated levels of intracellular Ca2+. EC were exposed to melittin or theta toxin from Clostridium perfringens (pore-forming peptides that increase the permeability of the plasma membrane for small molecules) resulting in an inward flux of Ca2+ and accumulation of PAF. Ca2+ appears to be regulatory for PAF production at the level of phospholipase A2-mediated production of the PAF precursor 1-O-alkyl-2-lyso-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, as Ca2+ was required for the stimulated hydrolysis of 1-O-alkyl-2-acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine. PAF accumulation in EC is also regulated by protein kinase C. Pretreatment of EC with phorbol esters that activate protein kinase C or with dioctanoylglycerol, followed by stimulation, resulted in a 2-fold increase in stimulated PAF production. The regulatory effect of protein kinase C also appears to be at a phospholipase A2-mediated hydrolysis of 1-O-alkyl-2-acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine.
Bubble Mixing Device for Blood Sampling by Automatic Analysis

A mixing device is described for resuspending sedimented blood cells in specimens being processed by automatic chemical analysis. Method, which requires use of anticoagulant, may be used with any unstable suspension or emulsion processed automatically.
Buddhist Structures and Secular Themes in Zeami’s Narrative Style

AbstractThis study is a contribution to the question of the Buddhist character of medieval Nō drama. Previous studies have analyzed references to Buddhism or expressions of Buddhist practices in Nō plays. This study, however, focuses on the discourse through which plays tell their stories. It asks how the stereotypical structure for plays established by Zeami enabled the expression of voices conceived of within a Buddhist world-view. First, techniques used in some early plays to describe Buddhist ideas are considered. Next, the structural conventions developed by Zeami to portray similar subjects are investigated. It is shown how, in plays in which ghosts appear to Buddhist priests (mugen nō), Zeami’s system was well suited to expressing the contrast between the minds of beings on the Buddhist path and those trapped in delusion. Finally, three plays are explored which used these same conventions to represent more complex characters. These can be understood as exhibiting the adequacy of the Buddhist world-view to the expression of wider themes. The last play considered, which describes an elderly poetess, is the most successful. In it, Zeami’s conventions produce both a recognizable portrait of an old woman, whilst at the same time exposing analogies between her predicament and that of deluded ghosts.
Understanding diffractive optic design in the scalar domain

A general procedure is presented for the design of diffractive optical elements, and scalar diffraction theory is used to apply it to the design of three common diffractive elements: a diffractive lens, an array generator, and a correlation filter. The procedure reveals that most common design techniques can be classified as either direct or indirect optimizations. The key feature of the design procedure is the specification of a suitable performance measure based on the designer’s understanding of the optical system and the fabrication technology used to realize the diffractive element. The use of complex-wave amplitude, scale, and phase freedoms in design is also emphasized.
The determination of arsenic and selenium by HPLC combined with alternating current plasma detection and post‐column hydride formation

A helium alternating current plasma detector in combination with HPLC has been evaluated for the determination of arsenic and selenium-containing compounds after post-column hydride generation. The construction, operation, and optimization of the system is presented. Detection limits for the compounds under study ranged from 45–60 pg/s. Determination of arsenic and selenium in spiked river water samples has been used to demonstrate the applicability of the technique.
Monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies to human progesterone receptor peptide -(533-547) recognize a specific site in unactivated (8S) and activated (4S) progesterone receptor and distinguish between intact and proteolyzed receptors

We have synthesized three peptides with amino acid sequences corresponding to amino acids 533-547, 597-611, and 765-779 of the human progesterone receptor (hPR). These peptides were conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin and injected into mice and rabbits to develop antibodies to hPR. Antibodies to the undenatured form of PR were elicited only by the peptide with amino acid sequence 533-547. Fusion of SP2/0 myeloma cells with spleen cells from mice immunized with this peptide produced several active clones. Rabbit sera from immunized animals produced one antiserum that reacted with the undenatured form of PR. One monoclonal antibody (PR-AT 4.14) and one antiserum (PR-AT533) raised against peptide-(533-547) were characterized. Binding of these antibodies to the undenatured form of PR was demonstrated by analysis of the antibody-receptor complexes on sucrose density gradients and by immunoprecipitation techniques. Binding of PR to the antibodies was inhibited by excess peptide. The antibodies did not react with estrogen, glucocorticoid, or androgen receptors, but recognized PR from human breast cancer as well as calf, rabbit, mouse, and rat uteri, indicating that this epitope was conserved among these species. Based on sucrose density gradient analysis of PR prepared and labeled in the presence of proteolysis inhibitors and sodium molybdate, the antibodies bound to a site on the intact undenatured PR, but failed to bind to partially degraded steroid-binding form of the receptor, suggesting that the antibody-binding domain is at or near a site sensitive to proteolysis.
High-frequency near-bottom acoustic reflection signatures of hydrocarbon seeps on the Northern Gulf of Mexico continental slope

Acoustic reflection signatures of four hydro-carbon seeps were classified using near-bottom 25-kHz echosounder profiles. Echo patterns were compared with ground-truth data obtained by submersible observations and shallow coring. Six echo types were distinguished: strong reflections from (1) exposed or (2) buried hard substrates, such as authigenic carbonate or gas hydrate; acoustic scattering in (3) unlayered or (4) layered sediments owing to gas, shells, or disseminated carbonates; (5) attenuation caused by gas; and (6) undisturbed sediments. Echo type distributions suggest that high spatial variability indicates a younger, vigorous seep, whereas extensive hard substrate implies an older, encrusted seep.
Atomic Force Microscopy of Electrochemical Nanoelectrodes

Nanometer-sized electrodes have recently been used to investigate important chemical and biological systems on the nanoscale. Although nanoelectrodes offer a number of advantages over macroscopic electrochemical probes, visualization of their surfaces remains challenging. Thus, the interpretation of the electrochemical response relies on assumptions about the electrode shape and size prior to the experiment and the changes induced by surface reactions (e.g., electrodeposition). In this paper, we present first AFM images of nanoelectrodes, which provide detailed and unambiguous information about the electrode geometry. The effects of polishing and cleaning nanoelectrodes are investigated, and AFM results are compared to those obtained by voltammetry and SEM. In situ AFM is potentially useful for monitoring surface reactions at nanoelectrodes.
Forbidden mixtures in Deuteronomy XXII 9-11 and Leviticus XIX 19

L'A. aborde d'un point de vue exegetique la question des melanges interdits en Deuteronome 22:9-11 et Levitique 19:19 (semer deux especes vegetales differentes ensemble, accoupler deux especes animales differentes). Apres avoir autrefois argumente que cette regle deuteronomique n'etait pas a lire litteralement, l'A. explique dans le present article que le Document Sacerdotal (Source P) a compris les regles deuteronomiques en profondeur : il montre en quel sens. Pour ce faire, il recourt aussi au Livre de la Genese pour y retrouver d'autres melanges interdit
An Alligator Bite

A previously healthy 12-year-old boy was rushed by ambulance to the emergency department with a traumatic left shoulder disarticulation. Several hours prior to arrival the boy had been swimming with friends in a brackish bayou stream in rural southeastern Louisiana. On exiting the water, an alligator 10 ft in length came ashore, grabbed the boy’s left arm, and pulled him back into the water. The boy’s friend was successful in freeing him from the alligator, but unfortunately his left extremity was traumatically avulsed at the shoulder. The alligator was sacrificed and the boy’s arm recovered from the reptile’s stomach. The boy was transported from an outside hospital to a tertiary care center by careflight, where arm reimplantation was attempted. Unfortunately, the avulsion-type amputation at the level of the brachial plexus and the location of the amputation through the epiphysis at the growth plate prevented reimplantation. Additionally, the recovered arm had sustained multiple bites, contained muscle contaminated with the stomach contents of the alligator, and had already been infested with worms. Unfortunately, alligator bites occur somewhat regularly, especially in parts of the southern United States where alligators are endemic, such as Louisiana and Florida. The sheer size and power of alligators can lead to extensive tissue damage and injury as the result of an attack. Additionally, these injuries can become infected with a wide array of pathogens—those that inhabit the oral cavity of the reptiles and those that contaminate the bayous and brackish ponds in which they live.
Declining mortality rates for cancer of the rectum in the United States: 1940‐1985

BACKGROUND AND METHODS Age-standardized and age-specific mortality rates for cancer of the rectum and cancer of the colon were calculated according to race and gender for 1940-1985; age-standardized rates were calculated according to geographic region for 1950-1980. RESULTS Mortality rates for cancer of the rectum decreased among white and black people of each gender, in most age categories and all regions of the country. Concurrent with this decline, mortality rates for cancer of the colon increased among all race-gender groups except white females, among whom it decreased. CONCLUSIONS The decline in mortality rates for cancer of the rectum has been largely unappreciated. When deaths occurring from 1940 to 1985 from cancer of the rectum are combined with those from cancer of the colon, mortality rates are increased. However, this combination of sites obscures the divergent trends, which suggest that these cancers have causes that are at least somewhat different.
An unbiased estimator of peculiar velocity with Gaussian distributed errors for precision cosmology

We introduce a new estimator of the peculiar velocity of a galaxy or group of galaxies from redshift and distance estimates. This estimator results in peculiar velocity estimates which are statistically unbiased and that have errors that are Gaussian distributed, thus meeting the assumptions of analyses that rely on individual peculiar velocities. We apply this estimator to the SFI++ and the Cosmicflows-2 catalogs of galaxy distances and, using the fact that peculiar velocity estimates of distant galaxies are error dominated, examine their error distributions, The adoption of the new estimator significantly improves the accuracy and validity of studies of the large-scale peculiar velocity field and eliminates potential systematic biases, thus helping to bring peculiar velocity analysis into the era of precision cosmology. In addition, our method of examining the distribution of velocity errors should provide a useful check of the statistics of large peculiar velocity catalogs, particularly those that are compiled out of data from multiple sources.
Discriminant analysis of acoustic emission data to determine failure modes of lead frame bonds in film integrated circuits

Abstract An automatic pull tester and an acoustic emission system have been combined to analyse the failure modes for thermocompression bonded lead frames on film integrated circuits. Five parameters related to AE response were monitored during testing and analyzed by a microcomputer, using discriminant functions to provide a real time determination of failure mode for each thermocompression bond. The results indicate that with a high degree of confidence, correct classifications can be obtained for lead failure, gold-to-gold failure, and ceramic pullout failure modes. The process provides a more consistent and accurate method for determining the failure modes than normal visual inspection.
Complement C5a in the sepsis syndrome: Too much of a good thing?

In sepsis, activation of the complement system introduces large amounts of C5a into the circulation. The excess of this peptide paralyzes neutrophils and increases susceptibility to infection. In t...
Measurement of Edge Coincidence in Image Thresholdings

Abstract In many image processing applications, multilevel thresholding is a useful method to obtain a simplified version of a grayscale image. For images consisting of solid objects in a solid background, a thresholded image is a good representation of the original image if the edges of the thresholded image coincide well with the original edges. This paper presents a metric that has been developed to give a quantitative measure of how well these edges coincide. Given two different thresholdings of the same grayscale image, this metric will quickly determine which thresholded image better preserves the geometric properties of the original image. This metric, which directly measures the correspondence between the thresholded and original images, is shown to be superior to other measures for determining the "quality" of a thresholded image.
Crystal growth and properties of potassium tantalate niobate, KTa1–xNbxO3, ferroelectric

Abstract Bulk single crystals of potassium tantalate niobate, KTa1–xNbxO3, ferroelectric with different values of Ta/Nb ratios have been grown by temperature gradient transport technique (TGTT). The samples with different values of × were characterized by measuring their spontaneous polarization, dielectric constant and losses, pyroelectric coefficients, Curie temperatures and lattice constants. This paper presents the results of the crystal growth experiments, ferroelectric characterization techniques and properties of potassium tantalate niobate crystals.
G.P.5

Background: There have been several reports in the literature of exercise-related muscle cramps and myoglobinuria, or asymptomatic myoglobinuria leading to a diagnosis of Becker Muscular Dystrophy (BMD). Objective: To present the complete clinical profile of a child with BMD with asymptomatic rhabdomyolysis, and to contribute to natural history data. Case report: MG is a 6 year old male referred with a dystrophinopathy. He had exercise-induced cramps in his legs and a tendency to toe-walk at age 4. CPK was 8100. He had an Xp21.1 gain-of-function mutation on chromosomal microarray, and an in-frame duplication of exons 17–25 of the dystrophin gene. His initial exam was normal with the exception of mild hypotonia and pronated feet. Muscle MRI of his pelvic and thigh muscles showed minimal fatty changes. Muscle biopsy showed mild dystrophic changes (some increased centrally located nuclei, perimysial fibrosis, minimal necrotic fibers, and minimal fibrofatty changes) with significantly decreased staining for dys3 antibody. Western blot analysis indicated between 20% and 100% of muscle dystrophin confirming BMD. At follow-up, he reported a single episode of dark urine the prior evening which spontaneously resolved, without cramps, pain, or fatigue. Examination was normal. Post-visit labs were notable for rhabdomyolysis (CPK 56 100, AST 930, ALT 675, myoglobin 555). Labs 1 week later showed a persistently elevated myoglobin (537), baseline CPK (6182), AST (163), and ALT (332), and normal urinalysis. The patient remained asymptomatic, and was advised to continue aggressive hydration. Conclusion: Our case describes the complete clinical profile (including pathology, dystrophin status, and muscle MR) of a patient with BMD with an episode of asymptomatic rhabdomyolysis. This case highlights the need to appropriately screen children, to provide anticipatory guidance on monitoring and management of rhabdomyolysis to families, and provides natural history data on the disease.
SUDA: a scenario-based UML design analysis approach

Identifying design errors at the early stage of software development can help ensure software quality. Resolving design errors after a design has been implemented can be expensive, and thus it is important that design models be rigorously analyzed to uncover errors in the early software development phases.
Electrical and infrared study of Bi2Sr2Ca1Cu2O8 in semiconducting, superconducting ceramic and superconducting glass ceramic state

We have studied the electrical and infrared properties of Bi2Sr2Ca1Cu2O8 compound in three states. Electrical and IR measurements show that the pure powder state sample is a semiconductor, the ceramic Bi2Sr2Ca1Cu2O8 sample prepared after annealing at 820°C for 240 hours shows a Tc of 85 K, whereas Bi2Sr2Ca1Cu2O8 sample prepared through glassy route, i.e. melting at 1250°C and annealing at 820°C for 240 hours shows a drop of Tc by 5 K. The infrared spectra of superconducting ceramic and glass ceramic states in the available frequency range of measurement reveals the presence of three phonons. Since the vibrational mode around 595 cm−1 is due to CuO2 layers and as the CuO2 layers are responsible for Tc in the ceramic superconductors, any change in these layers will affect the Tc. The shifting of the 595 cm−1 mode towards lower frequencies in the glass ceramic due to different preparation process, indicates that there is a change in CuO2 layers resulting in a change of Tc, which is confirmed by Four probe dc measurements.
Finite element implementation of a non-local particle method for elasticity and fracture analysis

Abstract A finite element formulation for a non-local particle method is proposed in this paper for elasticity and fracture analysis of 2D solids. The model is based on a new particle method which incorporates a non-local multi-body particle interaction into the conventional pair-wise particle interactions. The non-local particle method is capable of modeling solids with arbitrary Poisson׳s ratio. Finite element formulation is proposed for the implicit solution of elasticity and fracture problems under static/quasi-static conditions, which is very efficient compared to the direct explicit solution in particle dynamics. Energy minimization principle is used to develop a new finite element with both local pair-wise and non-local multi-body particle interactions. The developed finite element formulation is verified with classical finite element simulation of some benchmark problems. Fracture simulation using the proposed particle-based finite element formulation is demonstrated. Some conclusions and future work is drawn based on the current investigation.
Evaluation of dairy wastewater solids as a feed ingredient.

Abstract Samples of dairy wastewater solids from a milk processing plant were analyzed to determine variability in composition. Feed value of diets containing solids was evaluated by feeding sheep and swine the following: control diet (common feeds), control plus 5% dairy waste solids, control plus 10% solids, control plus 20% solids, or control supplemented with Ca and P. Dairy waste solids contained (on a dry basis) enough protein (35%), Ca (14%), P (2%), and Mg (.4%) to be useful as a feed ingredient, but concentrations varied. Feed intake, water intake, and weight gains of sheep and swine fed the 5% diet were similar to controls. Gains were lower and water intake higher for animals receiving the 10% and 20% diets than controls. Lower gains were not due to high mineral content per se, because gains for animals fed the mineral supplemented diet were similar to controls. Decreased gains may have been due to lower palatability or lower feed value of the 10 and 20% diets. Blood parameters were unaffected by diets, and there were no apparent health problems. Feeding diets containing 5% dairy waste solids to sheep and swine (and presumably cattle) is an alternative means of disposal.
Signatures of reactive resonance: three case studies

Recent advances in the study of short-lived reactive resonances are reviewed. Special emphasis is given to addressing the question of how reactive resonances might be observed in molecular beam scattering experiments. Three case studies are presented for simple triatomic systems that are believed to exhibit resonance phenomena: F + HD → D + HF, F + H2 → H + HF, and H + HD → D + H2. It is seen that reactive resonances do strongly influence collision observables, but in a different way for each case. At this stage, there does not appear to be a unique resonance signature that can be applied to all reactions.
Effect of pH on degradation of acetaminophen and production of 1,4-benzoquinone in water chlorination

The concern over pharmaceuticals and their toxicity in wastewater and drinking water has grown over the past decade. In this study, the common analgesic, acetaminophen, was chlorinated with sodium hypochlorite to determine the effects of pH and chlorine-to-pharmaceutical molar ratios on the degradation of acetaminophen and the formation of the toxic byproduct 1,4-benzoquinone. Reactions were studied for pH 6.0, 7.5 and 9.0 at average molar ratios of 106±6, 1,417±285, and 9,789±1,430 over a period of 100 minutes. The degradation of acetaminophen and the formation of 1,4-benzoquinone were monitored using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). Results indicate that acetaminophen is most reactive with free chlorine at pH 9.0 and least reactive at pH 6.0. As pH increased, degradation of acetaminophen also increased. The formation of 1,4-benzoquinone was also affected by pH and its concentration reached a maximum of 68.7% of the initial acetaminophen concentration when the pH was at 6.0, the molar ratio at 1,275, and after a contact time of 30 minutes. At all pH values the rate of degradation of acetaminophen was slowest at a molar ratio of about 100, and highest at a molar ratio of about 10,000.
Forced dispersion of LNG vapor with water curtain

Installation of effective safety measures to prevent and mitigate an accidental LNG release is critical. Water curtains are usually inexpensive, simple and reliable and currently have been recognized as an efficient technique to control and mitigate various hazards in the process industries including LNG industry. Actions of a water spray consist of a combination of several physical mechanisms. Detailed analysis of the complex mechanisms and the effects of water spray features to control and mitigate potential LNG vapor cloud are still unclear. This paper discusses the experimental research conducted by MKOPSC to study the physical phenomena involved and the effect of different types of water curtains parameters when applied for LNG vapor. The data from medium scale out-door experiments at the Brayton Fire Training School (BFTF), Texas, are summarized here to understand the relative importance of induced mechanical mixing effects, dilution with air, and heat transfer between water droplets and the LNG vapor. Field test results have determined that water curtains can reduce the concentration of the LNG vapor cloud. Due to the water curtain mechanisms of entrainment of air, dilution of vapor with entrained air, transfer of momentum and heat to the gas cloud, water curtain can disperse LNG vapor cloud to some extent.
Rice hypersensitivity associated with serum complement depression.

Summary We have studied an infant who had flushing, vomiting and diarrhoea after the first and seven subsequent feedings of rice, from 2 to 25 months of age. Serum histamine was elevated 1 and 8 hr after challenge. Anti-rice IgE antibodies were demonstrated by radioallergosorbent and Prausnitz-Kustner testing, but not to soy. Rice fluorescent antibody spot tests for anti-rice antibody were positive for IgE, but negative for IgG, IgA and IgM. Precipitation and passive haemagglutination antibody studies were negative for rice and soy. Early in the course serum complement (C) was depressed, increasing to normal only after soy and rice were eliminated. Incubation of patient's serum with rice extract resulted in depressions of haemolytic CH50, C4 and C3 (23, 39 and 28%, respectively). Incubation with soy extract resulted in depression of CH50 and C3 only (22 and 27%). Sera from two non-allergic controls produced comparable results. C activation may have occurred in vivo following absorption of insufficiently digested foods across an immature gastrointestinal tract. Lethargy and unresponsiveness also occurred early in the course, following ingestion of rice as well as soy.
Multiplicity of atomic structure for Σ = 17/[001] symmetrical tilt boundaries in gold

Abstract The first direct observations of structural multiplicity in a metal at atomic resolutions are reported upon. Here two different metastable structures of Σ = 17/[001] 28.1° (410) symmetrical tilt boundaries in gold have been observed by high resolution transmission electron microscopy. These boundaries can be described in terms of structural units that are consistent with earlier atomistic computer modelling studies which have found that similar minimum energy states exists in boundaries near the Σ = 17 misorientation.
An electron microscopic study of the Golgi apparatus of amphibian oocytes.

An electron microscope study of the Golgi complex was carried out using amphibian oocytes both prior to and after vitellogenesis. In the former case it was noted that the Golgi complex consists of small vesicles and cisternae. After yolk formation, each Golgi mass was found to consist only of (a smaller number of) cisternae. The distribution, function, and multiplication of the Golgi material were also discussed.
Close Pairs of QSOs

IT has recently been argued1,2 that the observation of close pairs of QSOs with very different redshifts provides support for non-cosmological explanations of the redshifts. We show in this note that the pairs observed so far may be comfortably explained as random coincidences and that the small probabilities that are often quoted depend on the use of a posteriori statistics.
The Distribution of F st for the Island Model in the Large Population, Weak Mutation Limit

Populations are often divided into subpopulations. Biologists use the statistic F st to perform hypothesis tests for the existence of population subdivision and to estimate migration rates between different subpopulations. The distribution of F st is not known. In this article, we use coalescent theory methods to find the limiting distribution of F st in the large population, weak mutation limit under the island model of migration. Our analysis uses the scattering-collection decomposition of the island model coalescent introduced by Wakeley.
Total lipid and sterol components of Rhizopus arrhizus - Identification and metabolism.

Abstract The total lipid levels and the incorporation of [14C]acetate during the life cycle of the fungus Rhizopus arrhizus were investigated. The total lipid abundances ranged between 2.2 and 15.3% of the tissue, reaching the maximum midway through the 6-day growth period. The sporangiospores contained 2.65% total lipids. The sterols were also investigated and ranged in concentration from 1.88 to 9.1% of the total lipids during the growth period. 4,4-Dimethyl, 4α-methyl, and 4-des-methyl sterols were tentatively identified by tlc and the latter group separated and identified by combined glc-ms. The predominant 4-desmethyl sterols were ergosta-Δ5,7,22-trienol (ergosterol), ergosta-Δ7,22-dienol (5-dihydroergosterol), ergost-Δ7-enol (fungisterol), and the tentatively identified ergosta-Δ5,7,14-trienol in relative concentrations of 24.6, 58.8, 9.9, and 6.7%, respectively. The sterol components of the spores were qualitatively identical to those of the mycelial tissues, but several minor components remain to be identified.
Six patient-reported outcome measurement information system short form measures have negligible age- or diagnosis-related differential item functioning in individuals with disabilities.

Abstract Cook KF, Bamer AM, Amtmann D, Molton IR, Jensen MP. Six Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System short form measures have negligible age- or diagnosis-related differential item functioning in individuals with disabilities. Objective To evaluate the measurement invariance of 6 self-report measures selected for an ongoing longitudinal study of individuals with spinal cord injury, muscular dystrophy, postpolio syndrome, and multiple sclerosis. Design Participants completed and returned by mail surveys that included the targeted self-report measures. Ordinal logistic regressions methods were applied to evaluate items for differential item functioning (DIF) by diagnosis and age range. Setting Community. Participants Participants (N=2479) who had 1 of the 4 target diagnoses. Interventions None. Main Outcome Measures Six short-form measures from the Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) were administered to participants to measure fatigue, pain interference, satisfaction with social roles, sleep disturbance, sleep-related impairment, and depression. Results One item of 1 measure (fatigue) exhibited DIF by diagnosis based on a published standard for meaningful DIF. However, scores corrected for this DIF were highly correlated with uncorrected scores ( r >.999). No DIF by age range was found for any of the measures. Conclusions Study findings support the use of the selected PROMIS short forms for comparing symptoms and quality of life indicators across different diagnoses and age ranges.
Investigation of CO and CO2 Adsorption on Tetragonal and Monoclinic Zirconia

The adsorption of CO and CO2 on tetragonal and monoclinic ZrO2 was investigated using infrared spectroscopy and temperature-programmed desorption spectroscopy. For this study, samples were prepared of tetragonal ZrO2 (t-ZrO2) with surface areas of 20 and 187 m2/g and of monoclinic ZrO2 (m-ZrO2) with surface areas of 19 and 110 m2/g. The CO2 adsorption capacity of m-ZrO2 is more than an order of magnitude higher than that of t-ZrO2. The principal species observed on m-ZrO2 are HCO3- and m- and b-CO32-, whereas the principal species observed on t-ZrO2 are p- and b-CO3-. The higher CO2 adsorption capacity of m-ZrO2 is attributed to the higher concentration and basicity of the hydroxyl groups on this polymorph, as well as the stronger Lewis acidity of Zr4+ cations and the stronger Lewis basicity of O2- anions. Depending on the adsorption temperature, the CO adsorption capacity of m-ZrO2 is 5- to 10-fold higher than that of t-ZrO2. Below 450 K, CO is adsorbed as HCO3- and CO32- species on both polymorphs of Zr...
Magnetochemistry at low temperatures: crystal structure and magnetic susceptibility of [CoCl2(3,5-lutidine)2]

Abstract The crystal structure of [CoCl2(3,5-lutidine)2] along with magnetic susceptibility measurements over the temperature interval 50 mK-4.2 K are reported. The space group is P21/c, with a = 13.075(2), b = 15.903(4), and c = 8.035(1) A; the angle β = 101.00(2)°. There are four molecules in the unit cell. The molecules are distorted tetrahedra (the Cl-Co-Cl angle is 120.29°) and well-isolated from each other. The magnetic anisotropy of single crystals is large and due to the zero-field splitting. The data may be fit by the spin-Hamiltonian parameters g‖ = 2.1±0.1, g⊥ = 2.1±0.1 and 2D/kB = (10.5± 1) K. Measurements of the susceptibility of a polycrystalline powder sample show that magnetic ordering does not occur down to 50 mK. This is consistent with the crystal structure.
Hybrid intelligent path planning for articulated rovers in rough terrain

The paper develops a hybrid intelligent approach to path planning for high mobility robots operating in rough environments. Path planning consists of characterization of the environment using a fuzzy logic framework, and a two-stage genetic algorithm planner. A global planner determines the path that optimizes a combination of terrain roughness and path curvature. A local planner uses sensory information, and in case of detection of previously unknown and unaccounted for obstacles, performs an on-line replanning to get around the newly discovered obstacle. Fuzzy adaptation of the genetic operators is achieved by adjusting the probabilities of the operators based on a diversity measure of the paths population and traversability measure of the paths. Path planning for an articulated rover in a rugged Mars terrain is presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed path planner.
Fluorescent labeling of proteins in sodium dodecyl sulfate complexes with fluorescamine

Abstract The effects of sodium dodecyl sulfate on the fluorescent labeling of proteins were studied. Of 57 primary amine groups in bovine serum albumin, no more than 7 are titrable by fluorescamine. Fluorescamine labeling does not cause appreciable conformational changes of proteins. The extent of labeling of proteins decreases as the concentrations of sodium dodecyl sulfate increases. The fluorescence properties of labeled primary amine are only slightly affected by the polarities of the solvents. The inhibitory effects of sodium dodecyl sulfate upon labelings are interpreted as the low permeability of fluorescamine toward the highly charged envelopes of sodium dodecyl sulfate-protein micelles.
The Determination of Parts per Million Levels of Thorium in Optical Components by X-ray Fluorescence

A nondestructive technique for the determination of thorium in optical glass has been devised using tube-excited x-ray fluorescence with an energy-dispersive detector. Capability for full calibration and sample analysis has been incorporated into a computer-coupled system. Bulk thorium concentrations as low as 87 ppm have been detected with a coefficient of variation of 27.2% at 95% confidence using NBS-certified standards. At 466 ppm the coefficient of variation was 5.6% at the 95% confidence level. Qualitative determination of thorium in optical coatings has been demonstrated also.
Automated prone positioning and axial rotation in critically ill, nontrauma patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)

The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of kinetic therapy beds for automated prone positioning and axial rotation in critically ill nontrauma patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). There were 17 patients with ARDS who underwent automated prone positioning using a kinetic therapy bed. The mean age was 51 + 14 years; 12 were females and 12 were Caucasian. The most common admission diagnosis was sepsis (n = 5). The mean Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) 2 score was 30 + 9 with mean predicted mortality of 65% + 25%. At the time of prone positioning, all patients met the criteria for ARDS. The mean ratio of PaO2 to FIO2 (P/F ratio) before initiation of prone positioning was 89 + 33 and rose to 224 + 92 after at least 30 minutes of prone positioning (P < .0001). There was no significant change in PaCO2 or mean airway pressure. There were no instances of accidental endotracheal tube and central or peripheral venous or arterial catheter dislodgement. Eleven (65%) patients developed new pressure ulcers, 10 (59%) patients developed new skin tears, and all had conjunctival edema during the course of prone positioning. The median duration of automated prone positioning was 6 (interquartile range [IQR] 3.5-8.5) days. Eleven (65%) patients died during hospitalization and 7 required percutaneous tracheostomy for long-term ventilator support. Automated prone positioning using a kinetic therapy bed is a safe and effective means of improving oxygenation in critically ill patients with ARDS. Larger randomized studies are needed to compare it to conventional ventilation strategies, conventional prone positioning, and to assess the impact on mortality.
T CELLS IN MURINE LUPUS : PROPAGATION AND REGULATION OF DISEASE

MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr mice develop a spontaneous lupus syndrome, including hypergammaglobulinemia, autoantibodies, glomerulonephritis, and lymphadenopathy. To investigate the role of lymphocyte subsets in the pathogenesis of disease, lupus-prone MRL mice deficient in αβ T cells, γδ T cells, or both were generated. Mice deficient in αβ T cells developed a partially penetrant lupus syndrome, characterized by lymphadenopathy, elevated levels of class-switched immunoglobulins, an increased incidence of antinuclear antibodies, and immune deposits in kidneys which progressed to renal insufficiency over time. In comparison to wild type animals, γδ T cell-deficient animals developed an accelerated and exacerbated disease phenotype, characterized by accelerated hypergammaglobulinemia and enhanced autoantibody production and mortality. Repertoire analysis of these latter animals identified polyclonal expansion (Vβ) of αβ CD4+B220-cells. Mice lacking both αβ and γδ T cells failed to generate class-switched autoantibodies and immune complex renal disease. First, these findings demonstrate that murine lupus in the setting of Fas-deficiency does not absolutely require the presence of αβ T cells, and they also suggest that a significant basis for MRL/lpr disease, including renal disease, involves αβ T cell-independent, γδ T cell dependent, polyreactive B cell autoimmunity, upon which αβ T cell-dependent mechanisms aggravate specific autoimmune responses. Second, these data indicate that γδ T cells partake in the regulation of systemic autoimmunity, presumably via their effects on αβ CD4+B220-T cells that provide B cell help. Finally, these results demonstrate that MRL/lpr B cells, despite their intrinsic abnormalities, cannot per se cause tissue injury without T cell help.
Kinetic study of a ceria-promoted Mo2C/γ-Al2O3 catalyst in dry-methane reforming

Abstract The kinetics of dry-methane reforming has been studied over a ceria-promoted Mo 2 C / γ - Al 2 O 3 (3 wt% Ce, 30 wt% Mo) catalyst at temperatures between 800 and 900 ∘ C , and at CH 4 and CO 2 partial pressures up to 0.31 bar. Oxidation of the Mo 2 C catalyst, which has plagued earlier kinetic studies, was avoided by co-feeding CO to produce a CO : CO 2 ratio of 3. The activation energy obtained from the data fit to a power law rate expression of 45.5 kcal/mol was found to be similar to that of bulk Mo 2 C . However, the activity of the ceria-promoted catalyst, on a per unit mass of Mo 2 C , was significantly higher than that of the bulk and is attributed to the higher metal dispersion of the former. A reaction mechanism, involving CH 4 activation on Mo 2 C particles and CO 2 activation on both ceria and Mo 2 C particles, with carbidic carbon extraction by oxygen on ceria as the rate-determining step, is consistent with the derived kinetic model and the high activation energy.
Treating Depressive Disorders The Efficacy of Behavior and Cognitive Therapies

The present overview evaluates the evidence in favor of the efficacy of (traditional) behavior therapy, cognitive-behavior therapy, and cognitive therapy in the treatment of clinically significant depressions. The results of single-case and comparison group studies are used to highlight clinical issues that require more systematic attention and to suggest future research directions.