cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Compositional Analysis of Lignocellulosic Feedstocks. 1. Review and Description of Methods

As interest in lignocellulosic biomass feedstocks for conversion into transportation fuels grows, the summative compositional analysis of biomass, or plant-derived material, becomes ever more important. The sulfuric acid hydrolysis of biomass has been used to measure lignin and structural carbohydrate content for more than 100 years. Researchers have applied these methods to measure the lignin and structural carbohydrate contents of woody materials, estimate the nutritional value of animal feed, analyze the dietary fiber content of human food, compare potential biofuels feedstocks, and measure the efficiency of biomass-to-biofuels processes. The purpose of this paper is to review the history and lineage of biomass compositional analysis methods based on a sulfuric acid hydrolysis. These methods have become the de facto procedure for biomass compositional analysis. The paper traces changes to the biomass compositional analysis methods through time to the biomass methods currently used at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The current suite of laboratory analytical procedures (LAPs) offered by NREL is described, including an overview of the procedures and methodologies and some common pitfalls. Suggestions are made for continuing improvement to the suite of analyses.
Carrier Phase GPS-Aided INS-Based Vehicle Lateral Control

This paper describes the design, analysis, and implementation of a vehicle control system using control state information obtained from a carrier phase (CP) differential global positioning system (DGPS) aided inertial navigation system (INS). Experimental data from CP DGPS/INS control experiments onboard a PATH 1 vehicle is included. This testing was completed with a magnetometer sensing system onboard and running to provide a ground truth reference for comparison with the CP DGPS/INS. Navigation accuracy has previously been demonstrated at the cm level with the full navigation state updated at 150 Hz. In this article, lateral position control performance is demonstrated during challenging high-speed maneuvers with trajectory tracking accuracy at the decimeter level. During these initial experiments, the control state updated at 30 Hz. Increased trajectory following accuracy is possible, but there is an inherent tradeoff between the tracking accuracy and the ride comfort. This level of performance demonstrates that CP DGPS/ INS technology has the potential to serve as one component of the reliable multisensor centimeter-level position reference system that is necessary for vehicle position control applications, including automated highway systems (AHS).
Incidence of Penile Pain After Injection of a New Formulation of Prostaglandin E1

AbstractPurpose: We determined the incidence of pain with injection of a new formulation of prostaglandin E1.Materials and Methods: A total of 63 subjects with erectile dysfunction underwent treatment with the new formulation of prostaglandin E1. Evidence of pain associated with injection was obtained by questionnaire and through questioning.Results: A total of 451 injections was given to 63 subjects in the office, with 16 episodes (3.5 percent) of pain in 10 (15.9 percent). Then, 680 injections were performed by 38 subjects at home, with 15 episodes (2.2 percent) of pain in 8 (21 percent). Pain was not dose related.Conclusions: The new formulation of prostaglandin E1 is less likely to be associated with pain compared with alcohol based formulations.
Housekeeping, Development, and Culture in Porfirian Chihuahua and Sonora

This article examines two groups of “in-home” housekeeping workers-women doing “non market work” for their own families as well as men and women paid to work as servants-and a third group in a commercialized housekeeping sector over the course of the Porfiriato, and asks whether development brought greater opportunity to women in the labor market in either state. The article explores gendered and class contours of paid sectors of housekeeping labor in Chihuahua and Sonora, as well as the relative numbers of servants and foreign residents, and the degree to which a neocolonial border culture obtained alongside economic development.
A compact multistage (cascade) impactor for the characterization of atmospheric aerosols

Abstract This paper presents the development, laboratory characterization, and field evaluation of a compact multistage cascade impactor (CCI). The CCI operates at a flow rate of 30 LPM and consists of eight impaction stages equipped with rectangular slit-shaped acceleration nozzles. A 47 mm backup Teflon membrane filter is used downstream of the eighth stage to collect particles smaller than 0.16 μm . In each stage, particles are retained by impaction onto the inert polyurethane foam (PUF) substrate. The major feature of this novel sampler is its ability to both fractionate by size and collect relatively large amounts of particles (mg quantities) onto an inert polyurethane foam impaction substrates. Even though the impaction substrates are not coated with adhesives such as grease or mineral oil, particle bounce and re-entrainment losses were found to be insignificant. Impaction characteristics (cutpoint and sharpness of collection efficiency curve) of the PUF substrates are maintained for mass loadings of at least 25 mg , which is much higher than for other commonly used rigid, flat impaction substrates. The system was calibrated in laboratory experiments using polydisperse aerosols. The 50% cutpoints of the eight stages were 9.9, 5.3, 3.3, 2.5, 1.7, 1.0, 0.47 and 0.16 μm (aerodynamic diameter), with pressure drops of 0.02, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08, 0.27, 1.57 and 5.73 kPa . These pressure drops are considerably lower than those obtained using flat rigid impaction substrates with comparable cutpoints. Particle losses for each stage were less than 10% for particles smaller than 7 μm and less than 20% for particles larger than 7 μm . The CCI was also compared with the collocated micro-orifice impactor (MOI) in laboratory-controlled experiments using artificially generated polydisperse aerosol. These laboratory tests showed that the mass concentrations measured by the MOI are considerably lower than those measured by the CCI (the average ratio of total mass concentration of MOI to CCI was 0.86), with the size distribution measured by the CCI closer to that measured using the real time particle sizing instruments (SMPS, APS). A field comparison of CCI, the Harvard impactor (HI) and the federal reference method (FRM) for fine particles showed a good agreement between the CCI and the reference samplers for particles smaller than 2.5 μm .
Organoditelluride-tethered polymers that spontaneously generate nitric oxide when in contact with fresh blood

An organoditelluride (RTeTeR) species (5,5′-ditelluro-2,2′-dithiophenecarboxylic acid, DTDTCA) that catalytically decomposes endogenous S-nitrosothiols (RSNOs) to nitric oxide (NO) in the presence of free thiols (RSHs) is used to prepare new types of NO generating polymers (NOGPs). In this work, DTDTCA is covalently linked to poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) to form a water soluble NOGP (polymer 2). This polymer is further crosslinked within a cellulose membrane to yield an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) (polymer 3). The catalytic NO generation ability of these NOPGs is clearly observed viachemiluminescence detection of liberated NO. The observed NO fluxes of the IPNs in the presence of given concentrations of RSNOs and reducing thiols can be tuned by adjusting the DTDTCA loading of polymer 2 crosslinked within the cellulose support. Polymer 3 is shown to spontaneously generate NO when in contact with fresh blood via amperometric sensor measurements. Hence, these new types of NOGPs are potentially useful as catalytic layers to create new amperometric RSNO sensors and possibly blood contacting medical devices that exhibit improved hemocompatiblity.
LATITUDINAL VARIATION IN SPECIATION MECHANISMS IN FROGS

Speciation often has a strong geographical and environmental component, but the ecological factors that potentially underlie allopatric and parapatric speciation remain understudied. Two ecological mechanisms by which speciation may occur on geographic scales are allopatric speciation through niche conservatism and parapatric or allopatric speciation through niche divergence. A previous study on salamanders found a strong latitudinal pattern in the prevalence of these mechanisms, with niche conservatism dominating in temperate regions and niche divergence dominating in the tropics, and related this pattern to Janzen's hypothesis of greater climatic zonation between different elevations in the tropics. Here, we test for latitudinal patterns in speciation in a related but more diverse group of amphibians, the anurans. Using data from up to 79 sister-species pairs, we test for latitudinal variation in elevational and climatic overlap between sister species, and evaluate the frequency of speciation via niche conservatism versus niche divergence in relation to latitude. In contrast to salamanders, we find no tendency for greater niche divergence in the tropics or for greater niche conservatism in temperate regions. Although our results support the idea of greater climatic zonation in tropical regions, they show that this climatic pattern does not lead to straightforward relationships between speciation, latitude, and niche evolution.
Studies in Lithium Oxide Systems: X, Lithium Phosphate Compounds

As a preliminary to the investigation of the ternary systems Li/sub 2/O- B/sub 2/O/sub 3/-P/sub 2/O/sub 5/ and Li/sub 2/O-SiC/sub 2/-P/sub 2/O/sub 5/, the existence of the previously reported lithium ortho-, pyro-, and metaphosphate compounds was confirmed. A rapid, reversible inversion takes place in Li/sub 4/P/ sub 2/O/sub 7/ at 630 deg C. New data on the melting points, optical properties, and x-ray diffraction patterns of each of the compounds were obtained. (auth)
Frailty and hormones.

“To the three agencies of frugality, fresh air and no worries we would like to add. . . the great importance of the functions of the glands with internal secretion as a means of freeing our body from poisonous products, and thus preventing premature old age. . . on the reinforcement of their functions, if changed by age or disease, by means of extracts obtained from similar organs of healthy animals.”
Herbicidal disruption of proton gradient development and maintenance by plasmalemma and tonoplast vesicles from oat root

Abstract Quinacrine fluorescence quenching was used to evaluate the effects of 23 herbicides (100 μ M ) on ATP-dependent proton gradient development and maintenance by low-density (tonoplast-enriched) and high-density (plasmalemma-enriched) vesicles from oat ( Avena sativa L.) roots. Naptalam stimulated the rate of proton gradient formation but did not stimulate total ATPase activity of high-density vesicles. Naptalam action was specific for this vesicle type. (2-Methyl-4-chlorophenoxy)acetic acid, dinitramine, chlorpropham, and S -ethyl dipropylthiocarbamate inhibited the initial rate of proton gradient formation and decreased the magnitude of the equilibrium proton gradient formed by low-density vesicles. Dinitramine and chlorpropham were also effective disruptors of proton gradient formation by high-density vesicles. Diclofop-methyl, fluazifop-butyl, and flamprop-isopropyl altered proton gradient generation and/or maintenance across both vesicle types. The free acid forms of these compounds were less effective disruptors than the ester forms. ATPase activity of both high- and low-density vesicles was either unaffected or slightly stimulated by these compounds. Both acifluorfen and alachlor accelerated the rate of decay of proton gradients formed across low-density but not high-density vesicles and stimulated the KCl, Mg 2+ -ATPase activity of low-density but not high-density vesicles. Atrazine, metribuzin, dalapon, glyphosate, amitrole, pyrazon, picloram, and bentazon did not affect proton-gradient formation or maintenance by either vesicle type. These results support the hypothesis that some herbicides can have rapid, direct effects on proton gradient maintenance by the plasmalemma and the tonoplast in plant cells.
3D finite element method for the simulation of the filling stage in injection molding

During the molding of industrial parts using injection molding, the molten polymer flows through converging and diverging sections as well as in areas presenting thickness and flow direction changes. A good understanding of the flow behavior and thermal history is important in order to optimize the part design and molding conditions. This is particularly true in the case of automotive and electronic applications where the coupled phenomena of fluid flow and heat transfer determine to a large extent the final properties of the part. This paper presents a 3D finite element model capable of predicting the velocity, pressure, and temperature fields, as well as the position of the flow fronts. The velocity and pressure fields are governed by the generalized Stokes equations. The fluid behavior is predicted through the Carreau Law and Arrhenius constitutive models. These equations are solved using a Galerkin formulation. A mixed formulation is used to satisfy the continuity equation. The tracking of the flow front is modeled by using a pseudo-concentration method and the model equations are solved using a Petrov-Galerkin formulation. The validity of the method has been tested through the analysis of the flow in simple geometries. Its practical relevance has been proven through the analysis of an industrial part.
Therapists' judgments of mentally healthy beliefs for women and men

Clinical and counseling literature indicates that practicing psychologists often observe different mental health standards for women and men. Most of this research has examined mental health in terms of personality attributes, and as such there is a noticeable lack of research concerned with mentally healthybeliefs. The present research was concerned with the investigation of a possible gender bias in therapists' mental health standards, defined in terms of personal beliefs. For this purpose, the Irrational Beliefs Test (IBT; Jones, 1969) was completed three different times by a group of licensed psychologists in private practice, measuring their beliefs of how (1) a mentally healthy sex-unspecified adult, (2) a mentally healthy male adult, and (3) a mentally healthy female adult would respond to the IBT. The results indicated that both women and men therapists associated unique beliefs with women's and men's mental health.
Temperature dependence of Raman cross section and no phonon line in a defect crystal

Abstract The temperature dependence of the first order Raman cross section is shown to be related to the temperature dependence of the phonon line in a defect crystal.
Seniors and information technology: lessons from the field

The worldwide elderly population continues to grow, in terms of raw numbers as well as their use of computers and the internet. These facts notwithstanding, it appears that vendors of information technology products, both hardware and software, have largely ignored seniors. Research has shown that these 'silver surfers' are one of that fastest-growing user groups online and, furthermore, have more disposable income than any other segment of modern society. This paper investigates elderly computer and internet usage by incorporating the results of three separate research streams that have reported on this topic. Implications for both practice and research are presented.
Predictive validity of four nicotine dependence measures in a college sample

Background: The present study compared the predictive and incremental validity of four commonly used dependence measures (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-IV [DSM-IV] nicotine dependence criteria, Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence [FTND], Hooked On Nicotine Checklist [HONC], Nicotine Dependence Syndrome Scale [NDSS]) in a first year college sample reporting light smoking patterns. Methods: Nicotine dependence measures were administered at the end of the first semester and follow-up smoking behavior (i.e. continued smoking, quantity, frequency, and length of abstinence) was assessed at the end of the first and second academic years. Results: Higher levels of dependence as measured by the HONC and DSM-IV predicted smoking behavior at both follow-up assessments. While higher scores on some of the NDSS factors predicted heavier smoking behavior during follow-up assessments, higher scores on other NDSS factors predicted lighter smoking behavior. The DSM-IV, NDSS-priority, and HONC measures provided some evidence for incremental validity. Higher dependence scores on all four measures were related to shorter lengths of smoking abstinence. Conclusions: The four dependence measures were differentially related to smoking behavior outcomes in a light smoking sample. These findings suggest that nicotine dependence can predict a variety of smoking behaviors in light smokers. © 2006 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
The Computer in German and American Constitutional Law: Towards an American Right of Informational Self-Determination

In 1890 Warren and Brandeis announced a "right to privacy" in an article in the Harvard Law Review.' Since this article drew its famous phrase, "the right to be let alone," from a tort treatise published a few years earlier,2 the festivities celebrating the centennial of the right to privacy need not wait until 1990. Before the festivities can begin, however, we must decide if they are merited. The privacy article of Warren and Brandeis protests against the yellow press and attempts to provide a legal basis for protecting the individual from abusive journalistic practices.3 Another privacy issue of that era was the attempt by the government to compel production of private books and papers. This activity led to the first great Fourth Amendment case of the Supreme Court, Boyd v. United States.4 Over the next decades, a new tort, a privacy tort, was created in most states and some constitutional protection was given to letters, personal papers and other personal effects. In their article, Warren and Brandeis declared that "[t]he intensity and complexity of life, attendant upon advanced civilization"
On the Statistical Theory of Isotropic Turbulence

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the statistical theory of isotropic turbulence. Much work has been done in the study of isotropic turbulence, particularly from the point of view of its spectrum. However, the underlying concept is still the assumption of the similarity of the spectrum during the process of decay, which is equivalent to the idea of self-preservation of the correlation functions. As some of these discussions are presented in terms of the correlation functions and others in terms of the spectrum, the chapter begins by giving a simple systematic demonstration of the relation between the correlation theory and the spectral theory in Section I. This serves as a background for the later developments. Section II discusses various considerations of similarity, their mutual relations, and a general comparison of their consequences with experiments. Section III proposes a simple analysis of the spectrum, which gives a unified point of view regarding the types of similarity that should prevail at various stages of the decay process. A detailed study of the early period of decay is given in Section IV of the chapter.
The Future of Behavioral Health and Primary Care: Drowning in the Mainstream or Left on the Bank?

Received Feb. 26, 2002; revision received July 3, 2002; accepted July 24, 2002. From the Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine; and the RAND—University of Pittsburgh Health Institute. Address reprint requests to Dr. Pincus, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 3811 O’Hara St., Pittsburgh, PA 15213; pincusha@msx.upmc.edu (e-mail). Copyright 2003 The Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine. It is impossible to practice effective primary medical care without attention to the range of psychological and social issues embedded in the lives of all human beings. While most thinkers, practitioners, patients, and others involved in health care would tend to agree with this axiom, the separation between the mental and the physical has persisted at least since the time of Rene Descartes in the 17th century and, by means of current organizational and financing strategies, is actually increasing. Moreover, the failure to effectively integrate mind and body persists in the face of
The control of retinogeniculate transmission in the mammalian lateral geniculate nucleus.

In the mammalian visual system, the lateral geniculate nucleus is commonly thought to act merely as a relay for the transmission of visual information from the retina to the visual cortex, a relay without significant elaboration in receptive field properties or signal strength. However, many morphological and electrophysiological observations are at odds with this view. Only 10–20% of the synapses found on geniculate relay neurons are retinal in origin. Roughly half of all synapses derive from cells in layer VI of visual cortex; roughly one third are inhibitory and GABAergic, derived either from interneurons or from cells of the nearby perigeniculate nucleus. Most of the remaining synapses probably derive from cholinergic, noradrenergic, and serotonergic sites within the brainstem reticular formation. Moreover, recent biophysical studies have revealed several ionic currents present in virtually all thalamic neurons. One is a Ca2+-dependent K+ current underlying the afterhyperpolarization (or the IAHP), which may last up to 100–200 ms following an action potential. Activation of the IAHP leads to spike frequency adaptation in response to a sustained, suprathreshold input. Intracellular recordings from other neuronal preparations have shown that the IAHP can be blocked by noradrenalin or acetylcholine, leading to an increased cellular excitability. Another ionic current results from a voltage- and time-dependent Ca2+ conductance that produces a low threshold spike. Activation of this conductance transforms a geniculate neuron from a state of faithful relay of information to one of bursting behavior that bears little relationship to the activity of its retinal afferents. We propose that state-dependent gating of geniculate relay cells, which may represent part of the neuronal substrate involved in certain forms of selective visual attention, can be effected through at least three different mechanisms: (1) conventional GABAergic inhibition, which is largely controlled via brainstem and cortical afferents through interneurons and perigeniculate cells; (2) the IAHP, which is controlled via noradrenergic and cholinergic afferents from the brainstem reticular formation; and (3) the low threshold spike, which may be controlled by GABAergic inputs, cholinergic inputs, and/or the corticogeniculate input, although other possibilities also exist. Furthermore, it seems likely that gating functions involving the corticogeniculate pathway are suited to attentional processes within the visual domain (e.g., saccadic suppression), whereas brain-stem inputs seem more likely to have more global effects that switch attention between sensory systems. In any case, it is now abundantly clear that geniculate circuitry and the intrinsic electrophysiological properties of geniculate neurons are no longer compatible with the notion that the lateral geniculate nucleus serves as a simple relay.
Modular design of data vortex switch network

The Data Vortex switch architecture provides promising routing performance with scalability but requires complicated connections as its size increases. The modular design is proposed that allows a larger network to be formed from smaller Data Vortex units for flexible implementations. Routing performance is shown to be similar or improved.
Effect of degree of cure and fiber content on the mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties of carbon fiber reinforced PMR‐15 polyimide composites

A unidirectional continuous carbon fiber reinforced polyimide composite is fabricated using the PMR-15 polyimide as a matrix. Mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties of the composite are studied. The effect of variation of the fiber content ranging from 55% to 70% by volume on the properties of the composite is determined. The effects of the laminate thickness and degree of curing of the matrix on the Izod impact strength are examined. The effect of the degree of curing of the matrix on the dynamic mechanical spectrum is studied. Finally, variables such as humidity, environment temperature, vacuum, and pressure during laminate processing, and variation of monomer composition are discussed in terms of change in matrix structure, which is reflected in a variation of Tg between batches.
The outer plate in vertebrate kinetochores is a flexible network with multiple microtubule interactions

Intricate interactions between kinetochores and microtubules are essential for the proper distribution of chromosomes during mitosis. A crucial long-standing question is how vertebrate kinetochores generate chromosome motion while maintaining attachments to the dynamic plus ends of the multiple kinetochore MTs (kMTs) in a kinetochore fibre. Here, we demonstrate that individual kMTs in PtK1 cells are attached to the kinetochore outer plate by several fibres that either embed the microtubule plus-end tips in a radial mesh, or extend out from the outer plate to bind microtubule walls. The extended fibres also interact with the walls of nearby microtubules that are not part of the kinetochore fibre. These structural data, in combination with other recent reports, support a network model of kMT attachment wherein the fibrous network in the unbound outer plate, including the Hec1–Ndc80 complex, dissociates and rearranges to form kMT attachments.
Relation of Plasma Renin to Sodium Balance and Arterial Pressure in Experimental Renal Hypertension

Measurements of plasma renin were made in unilaterally nephrectomized dogs with renal artery stenosis and hypertension. Plasma renin was elevated throughout the course of the malignant renal hypertensive disease, and during the first three days only in chronic hypertension. Hypertension was produced by renal artery constriction in unilaterally nephrectomized dogs with prior thoracic caval constriction and in sodium-depleted, left nephrectomized animals. Plasma renin was high in both dogs with caval constriction and sodium depletion before hypertension was added. When the renal artery was constricted, two of the dogs with thoracic caval constriction developed malignant hypertension and a further striking increase in plasma renin occurred. In two other dogs with caval constriction, chronic hypertension developed but plasma renin increased further in only one of the two animals; this occurred during the first four days of hypertension after which plasma renin returned to the high control level. The sodium-depleted dogs developed chronic hypertension following renal artery constriction but no further elevation in plasma renin occurred. Sodium repletion and sodium depletion of chronic hypertensive dogs produced marked changes in plasma renin without alterations in arterial pressure. The present findings revealed a striking correlation between plasma renin and sodium balance but neither bore any relation to the level of arterial pressure.
Ultrasound estimate of amniotic fluid volume: color Doppler overdiagnosis of oligohydramnios.

Objective: To determine if concurrent use of color Doppler affects ultrasound estimates of amniotic fluid (AF) volume. Methods: Study gravidas underwent ultrasound estimations of AF volume subjectively (visualization without measurements) and objectively (using amniotic fluid index [AFI]) and single-deepest pocket techniques, without and with concurrent color Doppler. Amniocentesis with the dye-dilution technique to measure actual AF volume was utilized for comparison. Results: Sixty-seven women at a mean gestational age of 37.1 ± 2.5 weeks were entered into this investigation between June 1999 and March 2000. Dye-determined AF volume was classified as low in 18 patients and as high in seven, with the remaining 42 within normal range. Using either ultrasound technique with color Doppler produced significantly lower estimates of AF volume (9.3 ± 4.9) compared to those without color ([11.6 ± 5], P < .001) for the AFI and (3.7 ± 1.5) with color compared to those without color ([4.5 ± 1.5], P < .003) for the single-deepest pocket. Using AFI without color identified two of 67 (3%) of the pregnancies as having low fluid compared to 14 of 67 ([21%] P =.002) using color. The increased classification of oligohydramnios with color did not accurately identify a greater number of dye-determined low volumes; instead, the AFI with color mislabeled nine pregnancies with normal fluid as low. The diagnosis of dye-determined low and high fluid volumes was not significantly different with or without color. Conclusion: Concurrent use of color Doppler with AFI measurements leads to the overdiagnosis of oligohydramnios.
A small-scale flow-through column system to determine the rates of mineral dissolution at high temperature and pressure

Abstract Mineral dissolution is a critical phenomenon in many geochemical systems, including those of geologic CO2 storage. It affects the mobilization, fate and transport of toxic metals in subsurface waters. A small-scale plug-flow system was designed and demonstrated for use in determining dissolution rates and simulating mineral–water interactions under a wide range of conditions, including high pressure (P, up to 300 bar) and temperature (T, up to 120 °C). The system enables rapid achievement of steady-state rates, and minimizes the experimental time to study such mineral–water systems. The performance of the system was evaluated through study of the oxidative dissolution of arsenopyrite (FeAsS (s)). Rates of arsenic release induced by dissolved Fe3 + (10− 4 M) in anoxic systems at 25 °C and pressures of 1 bar and 100 bar were measured. The performance testing confirmed the ability to obtain reproducible results under the wide range of conditions tested, and to obtain similar results to certain benchmark cases, e.g., the FeAsS (s) dissolution rate of 10− 8.09 mol As/m2 s at 25 °C and 1 bar was comparable to previously reported values. Potential mass-transfer limitations associated with the system were studied and results indicate such limitations can be avoided at flow-rates higher than 0.8 mL/min.
Optical differentiation and multimillijoule ~150 ps pulse generation in a regenerative amplifier with a temperature-tuned intracavity volume Bragg grating

An optical differentiation in a regenerative amplifier with a temperature-tuned volume Bragg grating (VBG) as an intracavity spectral filter is demonstrated for the first time, to the author's knowledge. 12 mJ~150 ps pulses with a TEM00 beam profile have been generated at the 5 Hz repetition rate in the nanosecond-pulse-seeded regenerative amplifier with a VBG that is temperature detuned from the central wavelength.
D-cycloserine enhancement of fear extinction is specific to successful exposure sessions: evidence from the treatment of height phobia.

Background Whereas some studies have shown clear evidence for an augmentation effect of D-cycloserine (DCS) on exposure therapy for anxiety disorders, other studies have shown weak effects or no effect at all. Some preclinical data suggest that the DCS augmentation effect is moderated by the success of extinction learning. Therefore, we conducted a reanalysis of existing data to examine whether the effects of DCS on clinical outcome would vary as a function of response to the exposure session (i.e., exposure success). Methods In a clinical trial, patients with height phobia received two sessions involving 30 minutes of virtual reality exposure therapy and were randomly assigned to a pill placebo ( n = 14) or 50 mg of DCS ( n = 15) immediately after each session. Results Mixed-effects regression analysis showed that the effects of DCS administration on clinical improvement was moderated by the level of fear experienced just before concluding exposure sessions. Patients receiving DCS exhibited significantly greater improvement in symptoms relative to patients who received placebo when fear was low at the end of the exposure. In contrast, when end fear was still elevated, patients receiving DCS improved less compared with those receiving placebo. Conclusions D-cycloserine appears to enhance the benefits of exposure treatment when applied after a successful session, but it seems to have detrimental effects when administered after inadequate/unsuccessful exposure sessions.
Myocardial blood flow and oxygen uptake in clinical and experimental cardiomegaly

Abstract Postmortem studies of physiologic and pathologic cardiomegaly have shown that there is an increase in the capacity of the coronary arterial tree as a result of lengthening and widening of these vessels. In adults, the coronary capillaries and arterioles do not seem to multiply and the ratio of capillaries to muscle fibers remains normal. From postmortem morphologic data it is impossible to gauge the adequacy of coronary flow with respect to the metabolic needs of the increased heart muscle mass. Based on the N 2 O method, coronary blood flow and oxygen uptake per unit mass of hypertrophied myocardium in the resting dog and man are normal except in some cases of thyrotoxicosis, severe anemia, and aortic insufficiency in which the values were above normal. In no case was the coronary flow or oxygen consumption below normal, thereby challenging the classical concept of ischemia or hypoxia as the primary cause of failure of the hypertrophied myocardium. The lack of precision of the N 2 O method was pointed out and the possibility of minor degrees of ischemia that may be critical was considered. Possible limitation in the diffusion of nutrients and metabolites (other than O 2 and CO 2 ) as the basis for metabolic derangements of the thickened myocardial fiber was emphasized. The concept of relative ischemia or hypoxia due to increased metabolic demand of the hypertrophied myocardium under resting conditions was not supported by available evidence. The importance of considering the adequacy of coronary flow during physical and mental activity of subjects with cardiomegaly was pointed out.
Infrared processes in the Jovian auroral zone

In the present theoretical model of the Jovian auroral zone's CH4 and H2 vibrational excitation and deexitation processes, the calculation of the emission intensities of nu3 and nu4 bands of CH3 assume that electrons are the bombarding particles. The most uncertain part of the model calculation involves the energy flux spectrum of incident electrons on the auroral zone. Comparisons with Voyager 1 IRIS observations indicate a domination of the nonthermal, directly or indirectly particle bombardment-derived emission by the thermal emission of the CH4 band.
Terahertz Pioneer: Fritz Keilmann - "RF Biophysics: From strong field to near field"

Recounts the life and professional achievements of Fritz Keilmann. Dr. Keilmann has explored many areas and applications in infrared physics and spectroscopy. His interests were always focused in the infrared, but he was often drawn into biochemistry and biophysics, where he initially worked on molecular spectroscopy of biomolecules and later on microwave effects on cell systems. Today, he is focusing on understanding the basic structure, evolution and impact of mineralization in osteoporosis. Dr. Keilmann also worked extensively on high power laser sources, especially optically pumped IR lasers and their applications for plasma science and nonlinear solid-state spectroscopy. He is credited with inventing the scattering-type scanning near-field optical microscope, the nano-FTIR, and the dual-frequency-comb spectrometer. These instruments have had a broad impact on nanoscience and have reached into areas as diverse as molecular biology, space science, and quantum chemistry. He has published more than 150 peer reviewed papers, holds 14 patents, and has contributed to five textbooks. He is an internationally recognized speaker and has given more than a hundred invited presentations at workshops, conferences and seminars. He is a recipient of the 2009 Kenneth J Button Prize. He resides south of Munich, Germany and is looking forward to continued development and applications of his nanoscopy techniques.
The place of radiotherapy in the treatment of lung cancer.

Few patients with bronchogenic non-oat cell carcinoma are treated when the disease is at a relatively early stage. Surgery is presently the most effective treatment for this group of patients. The majority of the patients are treated when the disease is relatively advanced and when there is a high tendency for lymphatic and hematogenous spread. A large proportion of these patients are currently treated by irradiation. Radiotherapy, like surgery, is expected to contribute to locoregional control. The radiotherapeutic management of lung cancer at Memorial Hospital differs from that in other institutions by the extensive utilization of both internal and external beam radiotherapy. Interstitial brachytherapy adds, on the average, 45 minutes to 1 hour to the operating time, does not increase the hospital stay, and converts an exploratory thoracotomy into a therapeutic procedure. The morbidity and mortality in our experience has not been excessive. This combined approach enables us to improve the local tumor control and nodal sterilization and to spare the normal lung tissue. Interstitial brachytherapy alone has been shown to be a satisfactory alternative to surgery for patients with limited lung cancer (stage I) who cannot have resection because of limited cardiopulmonary reserve. The number of patients in this category is small, but even so, 6/12 patients (50%) have survived for 5 years or more. This combined approach, however, has failed to prolong survival in the more advanced stages, especially when the mediastinal nodes were involved.
Ionospheric conductances derived from DE-1 auroral images

Abstract The multispectral auroral images from the Dynamics Explorer satellite are used to construct maps of auroral electron energy deposition, mean energy, and ionospheric conductances. An auroral model is used to infer conductances from brightness ratios of different spectral emissions. We briefly describe this method and its limitations, and apply the analysis to eight pairs of auroral images obtained sequentially over a period of 1 h 30 min during an intense substorm on 22 November 1981. The derived conductance patterns exhibit large variability in time and considerable structure within the auroral oval.
Cross-delay-line microchannel plate detectors for the Spectrographic Imager on the IMAGE satellite

We have developed compact microchannel plate detectors utilizing a cross delay line readout system for the IMAGE- FUV Spectrographic Imager. We present a description of the detector head assembly and performance data typical for both detectors. Both detectors are nearly identical, the only different being the position of the input window on the front cover. Each detector, optimized for operation in the far UV with a KBr photocathode, provides high spatial resolution and good linearity over a 20 mm square format.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The Critically Ill Asthmatic—from ICU to Discharge

Status asthmaticus (SA) is defined as an acute, severe asthma exacerbation that does not respond readily to initial intensive therapy, while near-fatal asthma (NFA) refers loosely to a status asthmaticus attack that progresses to respiratory failure. The in-hospital mortality rate for all asthmatics is between 1% to 5%, but for critically ill asthmatics that require intubation the mortality rate is between 10% to 25% primarily from anoxia and cardiopulmonary arrest. Timely evaluation and treatment in the clinic, emergency room, or ultimately the intensive care unit (ICU) can prevent the morbidity and mortality associated with respiratory failure. Fatal asthma occurs from cardiopulmonary arrest, cerebral anoxia, or a complication of treatments, e.g., barotraumas, and ventilator-associated pneumonia. Mortality is highest in African-Americans, Puerto Rican-Americans, Cuban-Americans, women, and persons aged ≥ 65 years. Critical care physicians or intensivists must be skilled in managing the critically ill asthmatics with respiratory failure and knowledgeable about the few but potentially serious complications associated with mechanical ventilation. Bronchodilator and anti-inflammatory medications remain the standard therapies for managing SA and NFA patients in the ICU. NFA patients on mechanical ventilation require modes that allow for prolonged expiratory time and reverse the dynamic hyperinflation associated with the attack. Several adjuncts to mechanical ventilation, including heliox, general anesthesia, and extra-corporeal carbon dioxide removal, can be used as life-saving measures in extreme cases. Coordination of discharge and follow-up care can safely reduce the length of hospital stay and prevent future attacks of status asthmaticus.
Neuromuscular objectives of the human masticatory apparatus during static biting

Abstract Objective : The central nervous system controls the muscles of mastication and may dictate muscle outputs according to a biologically important objective. This study tested the hypotheses that (a) the effective sagittal TMJ eminence morphology, and (b) the outputs of the masticatory muscles during static biting, are consistent with minimisation of joint loads or minimisation of muscle effort. Design : Numerical modelling predicted effective eminence morphology (from sagittal plane directions of TMJ force for centred loading over a range from molar to incisor biting) and TMJ and muscle forces during static unilateral biting in seven subjects. In vivo effective eminence morphology was measured from jaw tracking recorded from each subject. Muscle activities during biting tasks on first molar and incisor teeth were measured by electromyography using surface or indwelling electrodes. Results : Subject-specific predicted effective eminence morphology correlated with in vivo data (0.85≤ R 2 ≤0.99). Mixed and random coefficient analysis of covariance indicated good agreement between predicted and measured muscle outputs for all muscles of mastication investigated. Individual linear regression analysis showed that modelled muscle outputs accurately predicted EMG data, with average errors of 8% for molar and 15% for incisor biting. Conclusions : Effective sagittal eminence morphology was consistent with minimisation of joint loads for all subjects. Masticatory muscle outputs during unilateral biting were consistent with minimisation of joint loads or minimisation of muscle effort, or both, depending on the subject. These results are believed to be the first to test model predictions of muscle output during biting for all muscles of mastication.
Accumulation of iron in lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria

Lactobacillus acidophilus, L. delbrueckii var. bulgaricus, L. plantarum and Streptococcus thermophilum, all used extensively in the food industry, were tested for their ability to internalize and/or oxidize ferrous iron (Fe 2+ ). For comparison some experiments were performed with bifidobacteria, B. thermophilum and B. breve. All organisms except L. bulgaricus could transport Fe 2+ into the cell, where it was partially oxidized to the ferric form (Fe(III)). In addition, L. acidophilus and L. bulgaricus could oxidize Fe 2+ to Fe(III) extracellularly through the elaboration of H 2 O 2 into the medium when the experiments were carried out in air. L. bulgaricus elaborated H 2 O 2 only in the presence of glucose, whereas L. acidophilus released H 2 O 2 in absence of glucose. We concluded that lactic acid bacteria, like bifidobacteria, can exert some beneficial effects in animal organisms, or in food processing and storage, by making Fe 2+ unavailable to harmful microorganisms.
Heat shock protein-peptide interaction as the basis for a new generation of vaccines against cancers and infectious diseases

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are associatedin vivo with the entire repertoire of peptides (antigenic and otherwise) generated within that cell. Immunization with such HSP-peptide complexes is unusually efficient in eliciting cellular immune responses against the antigenic peptides associated with the HSPs. This broad and general principle is the basis for a new generation of vaccines against cancers and infectious diseases and circumvents the need for identification of the T cell epitopes for any given cancer or infectious agent.
Apoptosis in chicken embryos induced by the infectious bursal disease virus.

Summary Fifteen-day-old fertile eggs (specific pathogen-free) were inoculated with the infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) by the allantoic route and were opened and examined 2, 4 or 6 days later. The bursas of Fabricius (BFs) were collected and processed for DNA extraction, flow cytometry, and light and electron microscopy. Cellular DNA was subjected to electrophoresis on 1·5% agarose gel and stained with ethidium bromide. Intense internucleosomal DNA fragmentation was detected in IBDV-infected bursas. Cytograms from cell suspensions derived from infected BFs displayed an increased population of cells with either high density and small size (apoptotic cells) or small size and high uptake of ethidium bromide (necrotic cells). Light and electron microscopical examination of the IBDV-infected BFs revealed death of lymphoid cells without surrounding inflammatory reaction, but with condensation of nuclear chromatin, crescent formation, and nuclear and cellular fragmentation. These data indicated that infection of chicken embryos with IBDV induced apoptosis in bursal lymphoid cells.
Mutagenicity of malonaldehyde, a decomposition product of peroxidized polyunsaturated fatty acids

Incubation of histidine requiring auxotrophs of the bacterium Salmonella typhimurium with malonaldehyde, a three-carbon dialdehyde, produced an increased number of revertants in specific strains. Mutagenesis was only observed in frameshift mutants with normal excision repair and did not occur in those base-pair substitution mutants tested. The results are consistent with the cross-linking of bacterial DNA by malonaldehyde leading to mutagenesis expressed through the error-prone repair system.
Error estimation in multicanonical Monte Carlo Simulations with applications to polarization-mode-dispersion emulators

This paper shows how to estimate errors in multicanonical Monte Carlo (MMC) simulations using a transition-matrix method. MMC is a biasing Monte Carlo technique that allows one to compute the probability of rare events, such as the outage probability in optical-fiber communication systems. Since MMC is a Monte Carlo technique, it is subject to statistical errors, and it is essential to determine their magnitude. Since MMC is a highly nonlinear iterative method, linearized error-propagation techniques and standard error analyses do not work, and a more sophisticated method is needed. The proposed method is based on bootstrap techniques. This method was applied to efficiently estimate the error in the probability density function (pdf) of the differential group delay (DGD) of polarization-mode-dispersion (PMD) emulators that has been calculated using MMC. The method was validated by comparison to the results obtained using a large ensemble of MMC simulations.