cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Microbiological water quality of reservoirs

Reservoir microbiological water quality is a complex subject, affected by numerous environmental variables and management decisions. Indicator and pathogenic microorganisms vary in their occurrence, distribution, and density relaionships to each other. Traditional indicators, criteria, and monitoring practices have been shown through numerous studies to be inadequate in regard to detection of pathogen occurrence and waterborne disease outbreaks in recreational waters. Based on watershed and reservoir characteristics, optimal indicators and the likelihood of certain pathogen types occurring can be predicted. Key environmental factors which must be considered include: spatial and temporal varition; survival rates of indicators and pathogens; survival in water versus sediments; and stormwater and feeder stream inputs. Microorganism enumeration factors of importance include: choice of proper indicators and proper enumeration methods; awareness of methodological pitfalls; stressed organism recovery; and sampling of appropriate sites at appropriate times with adequate replicates. Relating monitoring data on bacterial indicator levels to potential for waterborne disease outbreaks requires decisions on acceptable risk and disease potential. Considering the above environmental and enumeration factors and exposure likelihood allows for adequate evaluations of reservoir water quality.
Patient characteristics and comorbidities associated with cerebrovascular accident following acute myocardial infarction in the United States

Abstract Background Although cerebrovascular accident (CVA) is a relatively infrequent complication of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), the occurrence of CVA in patients with AMI is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. We wanted to assess post-AMI CVA rate in the United States and identify the associated patient characteristics, comorbidities, type of AMI, and utilization of invasive procedures. Methods This is an observational study from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, 2006–2008. Using multivariate regression models, we assessed predictive risk factors for post-AMI CVA among patients admitted for AMI. Results Among the 1,924,413 patients admitted for AMI, the overall rate of CVA was 2% (ischemic stroke: 1.47%, transient ischemic attack [TIA]: 0.35% and hemorrhagic stroke: 0.21%). In this sample of AMI patient, higher incidence of CVA was associated with: CHF (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.71; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.58–1.84,), age over 65 AOR, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.60–1.70, alcohol abuse AOR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.49–1.73, cocaine use AOR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.29–1.70, atrial fibrillation AOR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.39–1.46, Black race AOR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.30–1.40, female gender AOR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.29–1.35, peripheral vascular disease [PVD] AOR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.22–1.30, coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) AOR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.17–1.27, P Conclusion Female gender, older age (age≥65), black ethnicity, comorbidities including CHF, PVD, atrial fibrillation as well as STEMI and undergoing CABG were associated with the highest risk of CVA post-AMI.
Expression of the δ1-crystallin gene: salt-dependent alteration in the cell-free synthesis of δ-crystallin polypeptides

We have investigated the origins of the two major size classes of delta-crystallin polypeptides (48 kDa and 50 kDa on sodium dodecyl sulfate-urea-polyacrylamide gels) in the chicken lens. Both the 48-kDa and 50-kDa polypeptides were produced by cell-free translation in a salt-dependent (Na+, K+, acetate and Cl-) pattern from mRNA derived from a cloned delta 1-crystallin cDNA. The salt-dependent alteration in the ratio of cell-free synthesis of the 48-kDa to 50-kDa delta-crystallin polypeptides was greatly enhanced by capping of the delta 1 mRNA. Translation of the delta 1 mRNA containing a premature termination codon suggested that the larger delta-crystallin band contains two polypeptides which differ in their N-terminal one-third. In vitro transcription/translation analysis of several mutant delta 1 cDNA clones and immunoblot analysis of authentic delta-crystallin with antisera raised to peptides contained in delta-crystallin showed that neither alternative initiation at two in-phase AUG codons nor alternative termination at sites on the delta 1 mRNA are responsible for generating the two sizes of the delta-crystallin polypeptides. Taken together our data suggest (but do not prove) that delta-crystallin heterogeneity is generated by co-translational modification of the primary polypeptide encoded in the delta 1-crystallin gene.
Algorithm 899: The Matlab postprocessing toolkit

Global polynomial approximation methods applied to piecewise continuous functions exhibit the well-known Gibbs phenomenon. We summarize known methods to remove the Gibbs oscillations and present a collection of Matlab programs that implement the methods. The software features a Graphical User Interface that allows easy access to the postprocessing algorithms for benchmarking and educational purposes.
A low-noise phase-locked loop with programmable gain VCO

In this paper, a phase-locked loop (PLL) with programmable gain VCO is proposed and analyzed. The proposed design adjusts the gain of the VCO based on the input frequency and the charge pump and loop filter settings in order to achieve lower phase noise. The proposed design is implemented using TSMC 45nm CMOS with a 0.9-V supply voltage. The pre-layout simulation shows that the random jitter of the system is improved when the VCO gain is reduced.
Somatomedin-C mediates growth hormone negative feedback by effects on both the hypothalamus and the pituitary

Somatomedin-C stimulates somatostatin release to a maximum of 390 percent of basal release during short-term (20-minute) incubation of rat hypothalamus. It has no effect on basal or stimulated growth hormone release from primary cultures of rat adenohypophyseal cells during a 4-hour incubation, but inhibits stimulated release by more that 90 percent after 24 hours. These findings suggest that somatomedin-C participates in the growth hormone negative feedback loop with an immediate effect on hypothalamic somatostatin and a delayed effect on the anterior pituitary.
Influence of pH, sodium and calcium ions on the d.c. resistance of black egg lecithin-cholesterol films.

PH effect with sodium and calcium ions on DC resistance of black egg lecithin-cholesterol films
The Effects of the Macroeconomy and Welfare Reform on Food Stamp Caseloads

Since 1994 there has been an unprecedented decline in the number of people receiving food stamp benefits. From a record high of 27.5 million in 1994, the number of food stamp recipients fell over 30% to 18.0 million by mid 1999. During this period, the United States has experienced the third longest economic expansion of the twentieth century. This has resulted in a dramatic growth of new jobs and the lowest unemployment rate in a generation. Simultaneously, the welfare system has undergone a major transformation, beginning in the early 1990s when many states made changes to their welfare programs through federal waivers from Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) requirements. The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA) furthered these changes by replacing AFDC, where states' contributions were matched by the federal government, with a block-grant program called Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). PRWORA introduced new rules on TANF recipients such as terminal time limits, work requirements, and personal responsibility measures. It also directly changed the Food Stamp Program by ending the eligibility of some recipients and reducing average benefit levels. At the same time, innovative changes in the delivery of food stamp benefits have been taking place with the introduction of Electronic Benefit Trans-
A comparison of the wet and dry season DNA-based soil invertebrate community characteristics in large patches of the bromeliad Bromelia pinguin in a primary forest in Costa Rica

Abstract In Costa Rica, the Maquenque National Wildlife Refuge (MNWLR) contains a unique habitat gradient ranging from primary old growth forests, grasslands, pastures, to various ages of secondary forests. Within these primary old growth forests are extremely dense naturally occurring Bromelia pinguin (Bromeliaceae) patches that often grow with densities up to 2 plants per square meter. A previous study found that anti-fungal activity of this particular plant appears to be altering the fungal community in soils adjacent to these plants. No work has been previously conducted on the possible effects of this plant community on soil faunal communities and if seasonality contributes to changes in soil invertebrate populations along a moisture gradient. Thus, a study was conducted to assess the effects of this specialized plant community on soil invertebrates with respect to season, and if these changes in soil fauna guild structure could prove to be valid candidates as indicators of ecosystem condition with changes in precipitation. In addition, a meta-analysis was done to determine how the bromeliad-associated soil invertebrate communities differ from those in adjacent primary forest soils. Therefore, comparisons were determined from previous primary forest soil invertebrate environmental DNA (eDNA) to the current wet season bromeliad soil invertebrate eDNA. Roche 454 pyro-sequencing was conducted on the 650 bp fragment of the cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene of invertebrates to obtain and characterize soil invertebrate sequence composition. To determine relationships among soil fauna guilds across seasons, relative abundance of the sequences were calculated, and used in conjunction with EcoSim niche overlap and co-occurrence values. From the bromeliad seasonal soil fauna eDNA study, it appears certain invertebrate guilds are driven by moisture as indicated by fluctuations in relative abundance of each invertebrate guild across seasons in bromeliad patch soils, as well as indicated by EcoSim niche overlap values. In particular, Guilds 1, 4, and 5, should warrant further investigation as indicators of habitat condition. The meta-analysis showed that a naturally occurring modified environment (the bromeliad patches), can result in differences in relative abundance and partitioning of a limited resource between invertebrate guild structure. Those guilds associated with microbivorous and complex decomposition activities (i.e. Guilds 3 and 4), are more abundant in primary forest soils than bromeliad patch soils and could potentially used for bioindicators of habitat perturbations.
Sequential Reactions of Surface- Tethered Glycolytic Enzymes

The development of complex hybrid organic-inorganic devices faces several challenges, including how they can generate energy. Cells face similar challenges regarding local energy production. Mammalian sperm solve this problem by generating ATP down the flagellar principal piece by means of glycolytic enzymes, several of which are tethered to a cytoskeletal support via germ-cell-specific targeting domains. Inspired by this design, we have produced recombinant hexokinase type 1 and glucose-6-phosphate isomerase capable of oriented immobilization on a nickel-nitrilotriacetic acid modified surface. Specific activities of enzymes tethered via this strategy were substantially higher than when randomly adsorbed. Furthermore, these enzymes showed sequential activities when tethered onto the same surface. This is the first demonstration of surface-tethered pathway components showing sequential enzymatic activities, and it provides a first step toward reconstitution of glycolysis on engineered hybrid devices.
Erosion by catastrophic floods on Mars and Earth

The morphologic features of the large Martian channels are shown to be strikingly similar to those of the Channeled Scabland of eastern Washington, produced by the catastrophic breakout floods of Pleistocene Lake Missoula. If the analogy is correct, floods involving water discharges of millions of cubic meters per second and peak flow velocities of tens of meters per second, but perhaps lasting no more than a few days, may have occurred on Mars.
A relation between wear volume and sliding time for composite materials

Abstract Friction and wear experiments on two graphite fiber-aluminum matrix composites and two commercially pure metals (aluminum and copper) were conducted on a brake-type friction machine. The counterface material was graphitic cast iron. The composite samples were tested with the graphite fibers perpendicular to the counterface; the load varied from 5 to 100 N. The initial sliding velocity varied from 2.0 to 11.4 m s−1. The wear resistance of the HM-Al 1100 graphite fiber-aluminum matrix composite was found to be more than one order of magnitude better than that of the unreinforced matrix material. With aluminum and copper, the wear volume per braking cycle is proportional to the product of load and sliding distance in accord with both the adhesion and delamination theories of wear. For the two composite materials studied, the wear volume per braking cycle is proportional to the product of load and sliding time which cannot be explained by either of the two wear models. Thus the wear mechanism of composites might be fundamentally different from that of pure metals.
Adult Pancreatic Hemangioma: Case Report and Literature Review

We report an adult pancreatic hemangioma diagnosed on pathological specimen review following pylorus preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy for a symptomatic cystic mass in the head of the pancreas. Eight cases of adult pancreatic hemangioma have been reported in literature since 1939. Presenting symptoms, radiographic diagnosis, pathologic characteristics, and treatment of adult pancreatic hemagiomas are discussed following review of all published cases.
Diffusion of Co2+ and Ni2+ in Magnesium Oxide

Rates of diffusion of Co2+ and Ni2+ ions in the MgO lattice were determined by a micrographic method. The energies of activation for the transport process were 65 and 36 kcal per mole, respectively. The penetration curve in these systems exhibited a plateau followed by a sudden decrease in concentratior.
Effects of reserpine on nervous control of heart-rate in chickens (Gallus domesticus).

Abstract 1. 1. One dose of reserpine (Serpasil) injected intramuscularly (0·4–0·6 mg. per kg.) into White Leghorn male chickens decreases heart-rate significantly within 3 hours after injection and the effect is less after 24 hours. 2. 2. Injection of atropine and propranolol in combination with reserpine reveals the extent to which reserpine influences vagal and sympathetic tone. 3. 3. Thus the decrease in heart-rate caused by reserpine results from a decrease in symoathetic tone and an increase in vagal tone. 4. 4. The decrease in sympathetic tone from 3 to 10 hours after injection was approximately 50 per cent and continued to decrease to 29 per cent at 24 hours after treatment. 5. 5. Reserpine increases parasympathetic tone approximately 50 per cent 3–5 hours after treatment, and then the effect decreases so that in 24 hours it is not significantly different from the control level.
Sheaf Cohomology is #P-hard

We prove that computing the dimensions of the cohomology groups of a coherent sheaf on projective space, specified by the kernel, image, or cokernel of a graded matrix, is hard for Valiant's complexity class #P. The same is true of the Euler characteristic, defined as the alternating sum of dimensions.
Look at data to evaluate uncertainty: a comment on “Uranium assay determination …” by Mathew et al.

In a recent paper, Mathew et al. detailed, for a specific titration-based assay of uranium, a “step-by-step approach to calculate the GUM uncertainty of the measurand”, in which their uncertainty assessment was based solely on prior knowledge, ignoring the manifest variability in their replication data. A simple analysis of the variance from their data reveals that the uncertainty in the average of the replicated quantity (TEF) was at least 3.5 times their estimate. Since the observables that contribute most to the final uncertainty in their method were not replicated, it is unknown whether the estimates for the uncertainties of those quantities, and thus of the output quantity, were also underestimated. This comment demonstrates how a better uncertainty evaluation is possible by extracting as much knowledge as possible from the extant data.
A lowP T parton fragmentation model with diffractive resonance production: Thepp→(π±,K±)+X inclusive reactions

It is shown that carefully measured momemtum distributions in the inclusive reactionspp→C+X,C=π+, π−,K+,K− can be quantitatively understood in a parton fragmentation approach provided both diquark fragmentation as well as diffractive resonance production and decay are taken into a account.
Application of Raman lidar to air quality measurements

Raman lidar techniques have been demonstrated which provide most valuable descriptions of the evolution of air pollution events. The vibrational and rotational Raman lidar signals provide simultaneous profiles of meteorological data, ozone and measurements of airborne particulate matter. An operational prototype Raman lidar instrument was prepared and demonstrated for the US Navy and is now used for scientific investigations. It makes use of second and fourth harmonic generated laser beams of a Nd:YAG laser to provide both daytime and nighttime measurements. The Raman scatter signals from vibrational states of water vapor and nitrogen provide robust profiles of the specific humidity in the lower atmosphere. The temperature profiles are measured using the ratio of rotational Raman signals at 530 and 528 nm from the 532 nm (second harmonic) beam of the Nd:YAG laser. In addition, the optical extinction profiles are determined from the measured gradients in each of several molecular profiles compared to the molecular scale height. We currently use the wavelengths at 284 nm (nitrogen vibrational Raman), 530 nm (rotational Raman) and 607 nm (nitrogen vibrational Raman) to determine profiles of optical extinction. The ozone profiles in the lower troposphere are measured using a DIAL analysis of the ratio of the vibrational Raman signals for nitrogen (284 nm) and oxygen (278 nm), which are on the steep side of the Hartley band of ozone. Several data sets have been obtained during air pollution events and the results from these events have been the subject of recent studies. The examples presented in this paper have been selected to show the new level of understanding of air pollution events that is being gained from applications of lidar techniques.
Turner syndrome: advances in understanding altered cognition, brain structure and function.

Purpose of review Turner syndrome, which results from the complete or partial loss of a sex chromosome, is associated with a particular pattern of cognitive impairments and strengths and an increased risk for specific neurodevelopmental disorders. This review highlights recent progress in understanding brain structure and function in Turner syndrome and identifies several critical research needs. Recent findings Recent work on social cognition in Turner syndrome has identified a range of difficulties despite a maintained social appetite, a disconnect which could result in distress for affected individuals. Progress has been made in identifying foundational deficits in attention and executive function that could explain visual-spatial and arithmetical impairments. Neuroimaging studies have advanced our understanding of brain development and function through the application of cutting edge analysis techniques. Haploinsufficiency of genes, failure to express parentally imprinted genes, uncovering of X chromosome mutations, and gonadal steroid deficiency may all contribute to altered brain development, but additional work is required to link specific mechanisms to specific phenotypes. Also needed are studies of interventions to assist individuals with Turner syndrome in visual-spatial, mathematical, and social skills. Summary Ultimately a better understanding of brain structure and function in Turner syndrome will generate new therapeutic approaches for this population.
Clinical and biochemical characteristic features of metastatic cancer to the sella turcica: an analytical review.

Sellar metastasis is uncommon and poorly characterized as published data include small series of subjects. This study’s goal is to identify unique features that differentiate this entity from other sellar masses such as pituitary macroadenomas. Published cases of pathologically-confirmed sellar metastasis along with our experience in such patients over a 6-years period were reviewed (total = 129). As a control group, we reviewed similar data on 55 patients with pituitary macroadenomas managed over the same time-period. Presenting symptoms, pituitary dysfunction were analyzed using univariate, multivariate and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses. Sellar metastasis has equal gender distribution with a median patient-age of 56 years. The most common primary malignancy was breast cancer (29 %) in women and lung cancer (30 %) in men. Sellar metastasis was the first manifestation of cancer in over 40 % of patients. Common presenting symptoms included headaches, visual field deficits, abnormal eye motility and diabetes insipidus. These symptoms were less frequent among patients with pituitary macroadenomas. Univariate regression analyses showed that headaches, abnormal eye motility, visual field deficits and diabetes insipidus were each predictive of metastatic disease. ROC analysis combining all 4 features revealed an AUC of 0.953 with a sensitivity of 0.818 and a specificity of 0.935. Using the multivariate regression, abnormal eye motility and/or diabetes insipidus independently predicted metastatic disease. Sellar metastasis should be suspected in patients presenting with sellar masses, abnormal eye motility and/or diabetes insipidus even those without known malignancy since pituitary metastasis can often be the first manifestation of cancer.
Specific reactivity of leukemia cells to polyclonal anti-PCB antibodies

Bivalve molluscs such as the soft shell clam (Mya arenaria) develop leukemias in the hemolymph which are fatal. The prevalence of leukemia in Mya was evaluated using a murine monoclonal antibody which recognizes a leukemia-specific protein expressed by tumor cells. The reactivity with a polyclonal antibody to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) of both normal circulating cells and tumor cells was also determined. Both leukemia prevalence and PCB reactivity were ascertained by flow cytometry. Analytical chemistry was used to quantitate the amount of Aroclor per tumor cell population and compared directly to flow cytometric results. Our results show that the prevalence of leukemia consistently exceeds 60% when clams are retrieved from New Bedford Harbor, a site heavily contaminated with PCBs. Both normal circulating cells and tumor cells are extremely reactive with the PCB antibody. When clams from two other sites were compared with clams from New Bedford Harbor, both disease prevalence and cell reactivity to the PCB antibody were reduced. Our experiments are the first which use the flow cytometer to demonstrate PCBs in cell populations of marine invertebrates. Our results further demonstrate that the presence of polychlorinated biphenyls in vivo is directly correlated with environmentally linked leukemia.
Fluctuations in North Atlantic hurricane frequency

The annual record of hurricane activity in the North Atlantic basin for the period 1886‐1996 is examined from the perspective of time series analysis. Singular spectrum analysis combined with the maximum entropy method is used on the time series of annual hurricane occurrences over the entire basin to extract the dominant modes of oscillation. The annual frequency of hurricanes is modulated on the biennial, semidecadal, and neardecadal timescales. The biennial and semidecadal oscillations correspond to two well-known physical forcings in the local and global climate. These include a shift in tropical stratospheric winds between an east and west phase [quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO)] and a shift in equatorial Pacific Ocean temperatures between a warm .
Carbon dioxide assist for non-aqueous sodium-oxygen batteries

This work was supported in part by Energy Materials Center at Cornell (award no. DE-SC0001086), and by award no. KUS-C1-018-02 made through King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST).
Direction-of-motion detection and motion VEP asymmetries in normal children and children with infantile esotropia.

PURPOSE. To investigate nasal-temporal asymmetries in the detection of horizontal motion and in cortical motion visual evoked potential (mVEP) responses in normal infants and children and in patients with infantile esotropia. METHODS. Monocular motion-detection thresholds were obtained separately for nasalward- and temporalward-moving random-dot patterns in a forced-choice, preferential-looking paradigm. Monocular mVEP responses were obtained while subjects viewed a 6-Hz oscillating, 1 cyc/deg vertical sine-wave grating. Nasal-temporal mVEP asymmetry was investigated with two measures from each subject: asymmetric indices (AIs) and interocular phase differences. Performance was compared in 33 visits of 28 normal subjects and 73 visits of 54 patients with infantile esotropia, ranging in age from 2 months to 5 years. RESULTS. At 3 to 5 months of age, both normal infants and patients with infantile esotropia had robust nasal-temporal asymmetries in motion-detection and mVEP measures. By 2 years of age, measures in all normal subjects were symmetric, as they were in patients successfully treated with glasses or alignment surgery, whereas patients who had not yet undergone alignment surgery, regardless of surgery status, had highly asymmetric mVEP responses and motion-detection thresholds. CONCLUSIONS. Young normal and esotropic infants exhibited nasal-temporal asymmetries in both motion detection and mVEP. These asymmetries similarly disappeared over time in normal infants and in patients with esotropia who had received successful, timely correction of misalignment. Although the initial capacity for motion processing is normal in the youngest patients with untreated esotropia at 5 months, cumulative abnormal binocular experience in these patients may disrupt motion mechanisms. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2007;48: 5523–5531) DOI:10.1167/iovs.07-0666 I nfantile esotropia (ET) is a nasalward misalignment of the visual axes, with an onset before 6 months of age and may be treated with surgical alignment or, in some cases with an accommodative component, with glasses. Causes of strabismus originating in the extraocular muscle, innervation of the extraocular muscles, and the sensorimotor function of the visual cortex have been suggested. In patients with strabismus, defi
Study of debris-generated core blockage scenarios during loss of coolant accidents using RELAP5-3D

Abstract Two RELAP5-3D models of a typical four-loop pressurized water reactor were prepared to simulate the reactor system response during loss of coolant accident (LOCA) scenarios of different break sizes and locations, under hypothesized debris-generated core blockage conditions. Three break sizes consisting of 2-in., 6-in., and double-ended guillotine (DEG) were selected as representative cases for small, medium and large break sizes, respectively. Simulations were performed to analyze the behavior of the system during a cold leg break and a hot leg break, assuming that all safety systems were available during the phases of the accident. A simpler model was used to perform the simulations up to the long-term cooling phase of the accident, under a full core and core bypass blockage condition. The simulation results help in identifying critical scenarios which, under such circumstances, may lead to core damage. One critical scenario was selected and analyzed with a more detailed core nodalization using RELAP5-3D multi-dimensional components, under different core blockage schemes, including partial core blockage, showing the ability of the cooling water to remove the decay heat from the core under such conditions.
The aging olfactory epithelium: Neurogenesis, response to damage, and odorant-induced activity

Olfactory epithelium retains the capacity to recover anatomically after damage well into adult life and perhaps throughout its duration. None the less, olfactory dysfunctions have been reported widely for elderly humans. The present study investigates the effects of aging on the neurophysiological and anatomical status of the olfactory epithelium in barrier-raised Fischer 344X Brown Norway F1 hybrid rats at 7, 10, 25 and 32/35 months old. The posterior part of the olfactory epithelium in 32/35-month-old rats is well preserved. Globose basal cells are dividing, and new neurons are being born even at this advanced age. None the less, the numbers of proliferating basal cells and immature, GAP-43 (+) neurons are significantly decreased. Neurophysiological status was evaluated using voltage-sensitive dye techniques to assess inherent patterns of odorant-induced activity in the epithelium lining the septum and the medial surface of the turbinates. In middle and posterior zones of the epithelium, there were neither age-related changes in overall responsivity of this part of the olfactory epithelium to any of five odorants, nor shifts in the location of the odorant-induced hotspots. The inherent activity patterns elicited by the different odorants do become more distinct as a function of age, which probably reflects the decline in immature neurons and a slight, but not statistically significant, increase in mature neurons as a function of age. In contrast with the excellent preservation of posterior epithelium, the epithelium lining the anterodorsal septum and the corresponding face of the turbinates is damaged in the 32/35-month-old animals: in this part, horizontal basal cells are reactive, more basal cells and sustentacular cells are proliferating than in younger animals or in posterior epithelium of the same animals, and the neuronal population is less mature on average. Our findings indicate that degeneration of the olfactory epithelium is not an inevitable or pre-programmed consequence of the aging process, since the posterior zone of the epithelium is very well preserved in these barrier-protected animals. However, the deterioration in the anterior epithelium suggests that environmental insults can accumulate or become more severe with age and overwhelm the regenerative capacity of the epithelium. Alternatively, the regenerative capacity of the epithelium may wane somewhat with age. Either of these mechanisms or some combination of them can account for the functional and anatomical deterioration of the sense of smell associated with senescence in humans.
Temporal risk and the nature of induced preferences

Abstract It has been known since the work of H. Markowitz (“Portfolio Selection: Efficient Diversification of Investments,” Yale Univ. Press, 1959) and J. Mossin (Amer. Econ. Rev. 59 (1969) , 172–174) that even an individual whose underlying preferences satisfy the von Neumann-Morgenstern axioms will not choose over delayed (i.e., “temporal”) risky prospects in a manner which can be modelled as expected utility maximizing. Since most economically important instances of risk taking (insurance, real investment, agriculture, career training) involve delayed as opposed to immediately resolved risk, the standard use of expected utility theory to model such decisions must be questioned. In this paper the technique of “generalized expected utility analysis” ( M. J. Machina, Econometrica 50 (1982) , 277–323) and the theory of support functions ( R. T. Rockafellar, “Convex Analysis,” Princeton Univ. Press, 1970 ) are applied to exactly model and hence determine the nature of preferences over temporal risky prospects.
DoubleChecker: efficient sound and precise atomicity checking

Atomicity is a key correctness property that allows programmers to reason about code regions in isolation. However, programs often fail to enforce atomicity correctly, leading to atomicity violations that are difficult to detect. Dynamic program analysis can detect atomicity violations based on an atomicity specification, but existing approaches slow programs substantially. This paper presents DoubleChecker, a novel sound and precise atomicity checker whose key insight lies in its use of two new cooperating dynamic analyses. Its imprecise analysis tracks cross-thread dependences soundly but imprecisely with significantly better performance than a fully precise analysis. Its precise analysis is more expensive but only needs to process a subset of the execution identified as potentially involved in atomicity violations by the imprecise analysis. If DoubleChecker operates in single-run mode, the two analyses execute in the same program run, which guarantees soundness and precision but requires logging program accesses to pass from the imprecise to the precise analysis. In multi-run mode, the first program run executes only the imprecise analysis, and a second run executes both analyses. Multi-run mode trades accuracy for performance; each run of multi-run mode outperforms single-run mode, but can potentially miss violations. We have implemented DoubleChecker and an existing state-of-the-art atomicity checker called Velodrome in a high-performance Java virtual machine. DoubleChecker's single-run mode significantly outperforms Velodrome, while still providing full soundness and precision. DoubleChecker's multi-run mode improves performance further, without significantly impacting soundness in practice. These results suggest that DoubleChecker's approach is a promising direction for improving the performance of dynamic atomicity checking over prior work.
Is there a dose response of dexamethasone as adjuvant for supraclavicular brachial plexus nerve block? A prospective randomized double-blinded clinical study

Abstract Study objective The study objective is to examine the analgesic effect of 3 doses of dexamethasone in combination with low concentration local anesthetics to determine the lowest effective dose of dexamethasone for use as an adjuvant in supraclavicular brachial plexus nerve block. Design The design is a prospective randomized double-blinded clinical study. Setting The setting is an academic medical center. Patients The patients are 89 adult patients scheduled for shoulder arthroscopy. Interventions All patients were randomly assigned into 1 of 4 treatment groups: (i) bupivacaine, 0.25% 30 mL; (ii) bupivacaine, 0.25% 30 mL with 1-mg preservative-free dexamethasone; (iii) bupivacaine, 0.25% 30 mL with 2-mg preservative-free dexamethasone; and (iv) bupivacaine, 0.25% 30 mL with 4-mg preservative-free dexamethasone. All patients received ultrasound-guided supraclavicular brachial plexus nerve blocks and general anesthesia. Measurements The measurements are the duration of analgesia and motor block. Main results The median analgesia duration of supraclavicular brachial plexus nerve block with 0.25% bupivacaine was 12.1 hours; and 1-, 2-, or 4-mg dexamethasone significantly prolonged the analgesia duration to 22.3, 23.3, and 21.2 hours, respectively ( P = .0105). Dexamethasone also significantly extended the duration of motor nerve block in a similar trend ( P = .0247). Conclusion Low-dose dexamethasone (1-2 mg) prolongs analgesia duration and motor blockade to the similar extent as 4-mg dexamethasone when added to 0.25% bupivacaine for supraclavicular brachial plexus nerve block.
Environmentally induced changes in ribosomal RNA cistron number: purported lack of correlation with phenotype—A reply

Environmentally induced changes in ribosomal RNA cistron number: purported lack of correlation with phenotype—A reply
Latino youth's internalising behaviours: links to immigrant status and neighbourhood characteristics

Objectives. Latinos are the fastest-growing immigrant group in the USA. Yet, little is known about the emotional well-being of this population, such as the links among family, neighbourhood context and Latino immigrant youth mental health. Understanding this link will help determine which contexts negatively impact Latino immigrant youth mental health. Design. Drawing data from the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighbourhoods collected in 1994–1995 and 1997–1999, this study examined links between Latino youth's internalising behaviours, based on the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), and neighbourhood characteristics as a function of immigrant status. The sample included 1040 (aged 9–17) Latino immigrant youth seen twice over three years and identified as first, second or third generation. In this study, neighbourhoods are made up of two to three census tracts that reflect similar racial/ethnic and socioeconomic composition. Using hierarchical linear regression models, the study also explored link...
Course of Diabetes Insipidus Following Hypophysectomy in the Rat

SummaryThe polydipsia, polyuria and hypochloruria which follow hypophysectomy in the rat have been described as primary acute, secondary acute, and tertiary or chronic. The mild, chronic diabetes persisted in these experiments for 80 days and terminated only shortly before death.
DIFFUSION AND MASS TRANSFER IN MICELLAR SYSTEMS

Research on diffusion and mass transfer in micellar systems is reviewed. Models for interfacial transport at liquid/liquid interfaces, solubilization at solid/liquid and at liquid/liquid interfaces, and for detergency are discussed and similarities between these phenomena are elucidated. The literature on diffusion in micellar systems is discussed, especially in the region of the critical micelle concentration where previous investigators have presented results in disagreement with each other. Finally, the mechanism of micellar transport through membranes is also reviewed.
A new thermodynamic approach for high-pressure physics

Abstract In the last decade, advances in theoretical first principles calculations and experiments in high-pressure physics have been remarkable, and we are on the threshold of determining many physical properties at extreme pressure, P, and temperature, T, conditions. Another method of finding physical properties at extreme conditions is properly called a thermodynamic route. Many thermodynamic identities are related to appropriate derivatives of the Helmholtz energy, F. These identities are recast into differential equations, the solution of which is the variation of a physical property vs. volume along isotherms. The integrating constants of the differential equation are found from the boundary conditions, e.g. the value of the physical property along the P = 0 axis as a function of T. This method emphasizes experiments done at high T and P = 0 rather than high P. We show the source of differential equations for α, αKT, CV, γ, and the cross derivative, ∂ 2 K T ∂P∂T , and find the solutions at extreme conditions of V and T. For example, we find α, the thermal expansivity, from the appropriate differential equation, and we compare the predicted α at high P and T for MgO and perovskite with shock wave measurements of α. In the past, the authors have applied the general principles described above to various problems in which the focus was on producing results on physical properties to compare with experiments. In this paper, the focus is on the method of producing the differential equations themselves, and we have found some new and interesting results. For example, we show that the differential equation for α(V) arises from the fundamental theorem of calculus regarding second partial derivatives. We also show that the bulk modulus measured at P = 0 can be used to determine the variation of αKT with V within a small zone of pressure around the T-axis. In general, we demonstrate that good estimates of physical properties for conditions at high pressure and high temperature can be made even when the pressure data are sparse, provided only that there is good high-temperature data at P = 0.
Cosmic top secret Europe? The legacy of North Atlantic Treaty Organization and cold war US policy on European Union information policy

As the EU has expanded its authority into areas of high politics such as monetary, defense, and foreign policy, it has simultaneously developed procedures for handling more sensitive and classified information. These critical policy domains require standards regulating secure information and personnel, but the concept of official secrets is in tension with the treaty norms of the EU. Observers allege that the classified information policy of the EU was imposed through the coercion of external actors such as North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the USA in a significant historical departure from the information security policies of European member states. This article evaluates the content of EU-classified information policies and compares them to the content of European member states, NATO, and the USA, in an effort to clarify the mechanisms of policy diffusion in the area of information security.
Molecular simulations of intermediate and long alkanes adsorbed on graphite: tuning of non-bond interactions

The interplay between the torsional potential energy and the scaling of the 1-4 van der Waals and Coulomb interactions determines the stiffness of flexible molecules. In this paper we demonstrate for the first time that the precise value of the nonbond scaling factor (SF)--often a value assumed without justification--has a significant effect on the critical properties and mechanisms of systems undergoing a phase transition, and that, for accurate simulations, this scaling factor is highly dependent on the system under consideration. In particular, by analyzing the melting of n-alkanes (hexane C6, dodecane C12, tetracosane C24) on graphite, we show that the SF is not constant over varying alkane chain lengths when the structural correlated transformations are concerned. Instead, monotonic decrease of SF with the molecular length drives a cross-over between two distinct mechanisms for melting in such systems. In a broad sense we show that the choice for SF in any simulation containing adsorbed or correlated long molecules needs to be carefully considered.
Comparison of FTIR and capillary gas chromatographic methods for quantitation oftrans unsaturation in fatty acid methyl esters

A computer-assisted method has been developed for estimation of isolatedtrans unsaturation using the peak area of thetrans absorbance band at 966 cm-1from FTIR spectra of fatty acid methyl esters. Peak areas were used to determine thetrans content of weighed standards containing from 0 to 100% methyl elaidate and of hydrogenated soybean oil samples containing up to 36%trans unsaturation. These data for percenttrans by FTIR were compared to corresponding data obtained by capillary gas chromatography and the AOCS Official Method 14-61. Determination of isolatedtrans composition in oils using peak areas gave values with the smallest standard deviation for weighed standards and values within 4% of those obtained by capillary gas chromatography and the AOCS Official Method for hydrogenated samples.
Phospholipids of the cone-rich chicken retina and its photoreceptor outer segment membranes

Abstract The lipid compositions of the cone-rich chicken retina and its outer segment membranes have been determined. The whole retina contained 25.1% lipid by weight, 26.0% of which were neutral lipids. Isolated outer segments contained 31.5% lipid by weight, 24.1% of which were neutral lipids. Total cholesterol represented 37.3 and 91.6% of the neutral lipid fractions from whole retina and isolated outer segments, respectively. The major phospholipids of the whole retina and outer segment membranes were phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine which represent, respectively, 41.8 and 33.5% of the total phospholipid of the whole retina and 44.9 and 34.9% of the phospholipids of the outer segment membranes. Phosphatidylserine was present as only 3.9 and 1.7% of the total phospholipids of whole retina and outer segment membranes, respectively. Sphingomyelin was present in relatively high concentration (9.1%) in whole retinal phospholipids and was enriched (11.0%) in the isolated outer segment membrane phospholipids. Palmitic (16:0), stearic (18:0), oleic (18:1), arachidonic (20:4) and docosahexanoic (22:6) acids account for most (80%) of the fatty acid of whole retinal phospholipids. Concentrations of arachidonic and docosahexanoic acid were highest in the serine and ethanolamine phosphatides from whole retina. There was little enrichment of these acids in any of the phospholipids of the outer segment membranes; instead, they were very high in linoleic acid.
Fracture resistance of posterior teeth restored with glass ionomer-composite resin systems

This study compared the fracture resistance of posterior teeth restored with one of four composite resin systems or amalgam. Mesio-occlusodistal cavity preparations were placed in 50 maxillary premolars. Dimensions of the preparation were such that remaining tooth structure was weakened. Five groups of 10 specimens each were designated as follows: I, amalgam; II, Ketac-Bond glass-ionomer base; III, Ketac-Silver glass-ionomer base; IV, GC lining cement glass-ionomer base; and V, Tenure dentinal bonding agent. Specimens in groups II through V were restored with P-30 posterior composite resin. Testing was accomplished by applying an occlusal load to the point of failure for each specimen. Results indicated no significant difference among restorative systems in resistance to cuspal fracture. These findings suggest that neither Tenure nor glass-ionomer cement used in conjunction with posterior composite resin strengthen weakened cusps to any greater extent than does amalgam.
Finding the likely behaviors of static continuous nonlinear systems

This paper describes two methods for predicting the likely behaviors of static continuous nonlinear systems with varying input values. The methods use a parameterized equation model and upper or lower bounds on the joint input density to bound the likelihood of a behavior, such as a state variable being inside a numeric range. Using a bound on the density instead of the density itself is desirable because the density's parameters and shape are not exactly known. The first method is limited to using lower density bounds. It finds rough bounds at first, and then refines them as more iterations of the method are allowed. The second method is a hit-or-miss version of sample-mean Monte Carlo. Unlike the first method, the second method can also handle upper density bounds, which are more useful than lower density bounds, but the generated probability bounds are only approximate. However, standard deviations on the bounds are given and become small as the sample size increases. In contrast to other researchers' methods, the two methods described here (1) find all the possible system behaviors, and tell how likely they are, (2) do not just approximate the distribution of possible outcomes without some measure of the error magnitude, (3) do not use discretized variable values, which limit the events one can find probability bounds for, (4) can handle density bounds, and (5) can handle such criteria as two state variables both being inside a numeric range.
CK2 Phosphorylation of Bdp1 Executes Cell Cycle-Specific RNA Polymerase III Transcription Repression

RNA polymerase III (pol III) transcription from the human U6 snRNA promoter can be reconstituted with the recombinant factors SNAPc and Brf2-TFIIIB combined with purified pol III. In this system, CK2 treatment of the pol III complex is required for transcription, whereas treatment of Brf2-TFIIIB is inhibitory. Here we show that CK2 inhibits Brf2-TFIIIB by specifically phosphorylating its Bdp1 component. Bdp1 is phosphorylated by CK2 during mitosis, and this is accompanied by Bdp1 dissociation from the U6 promoter and from chromatin in general and by transcription repression. Remarkably, whereas inhibition of CK2 in mitotic extracts restores pol III transcription, inhibition of CK2 in active S phase extracts debilitates transcription. Thus, CK2 is directed to phosphorylate different targets within the basal pol III transcription machinery at different times during the cell cycle, with opposite transcriptional effects.