cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Diagnosis, management, and outcomes of 115 patients with hepatic hemangioma

Abstract Background Hepatic hemangiomas are congenital vascular malformations and are the most common benign hepatic tumors. Because the use of cross-sectional imaging has increased, benign hepatic tumors, especially hemangiomas, are encountered more frequently, so clinicians should be familiar with the most appropriate diagnostic tests, management, and outcomes of patients with hepatic hemangioma. Study design All patients with a primary diagnosis of hepatic hemangioma referred for surgical evaluation at our institution between January 1992 and December 2000 were identified from a prospective database. Demographics, presentation, tumor characteristics, diagnostic studies, surgical procedures, and outcomes were analyzed. Results Of 115 patients in the study, nearly half were asymptomatic. In symptomatic patients, abdominal pain or discomfort was the most common presenting symptom. At our institution, the diagnosis of hemangioma was established by ultrasonographic studies in 57% of patients tested, by CT scan in 73%, and by MRI in 84%. In patients with large tumors considered for resection, direct angiography or, more recently, CT angiography, confirmed the diagnosis in 27 of 29 patients (93%). Enucleation was performed in 31 (60%) of the 52 patients who underwent surgical resection; 63 patients were observed. Postoperative complications occurred in 13 patients (25%), and there were no perioperative deaths. Of the patients with symptoms before resection, 96% had resolution of symptoms after operation. Conclusions Hepatic hemangioma can be diagnosed in most patients using noninvasive studies, particularly MRI. Hepatic hemangiomas can be removed safely if patients become symptomatic or when malignancy cannot be excluded. CT angiography can be a valuable preoperative study in patients with large tumors, and enucleation is the procedure of choice. In asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic patients, hepatic hemangiomas usually have a benign course and can be observed.
Systems approach toward nationwide air-pollution control II. The technical requirements

The general configuration for air-pollution control systems that was outlined in Part I will impose certain requirements upon system components?including hardware (sensors, data processors, communications), software (air quality laws, emission regulations, data processing, simulation programs), and of course the organization and the people who staff it. Most important of all, and surely the most costly, will be the gas-cleaning equipment, process controls, and operating changes that are required of industry, institutions, and private individuals. The means of implementing the systems functions described in Part I (Oct. IEEE Spectrum) will be considered here.
An analysis of attitudinal and normative variables as predictors of intentions and behavior

A questionnaire was developed to test the hypothesis that an individual's intention to perform a given behavior is a function of (a) his attitude toward performing that behavior and/or (b) his normative beliefs about what others think he should do, weighted by his motivation to comply with those others. It was also hypothesized that an individual's beliefs about the consequences of performing the behavior, weighted by his evaluation of those consequences, should be highly related to his attitude toward performing that behavior. Both hypotheses were supported. In addition, it was found that specificity of the attitude measure was a crucial mediator of the attitude‐intention relationship.
Heme oxygenase attenuated angiotensin II-mediated increase in cyclooxygenase activity and decreased isoprostane F2α in endothelial cells

Heme oxygenase (HO) regulates cellular heme levels and catalyzes the formation of bilirubin and carbon monoxide (CO). We hypothesized that the status of the endothelial HO system influences the angiotensin (Ang) II-induced increase in the endothelial cell (EC) production of PGE2, eicosanoids which modulate the vascular actions of Ang II. In this study, we investigated the effect of interventions that suppress HO activity or induce HO-1 gene expression on Ang II-mediated increase in PGE2 in cultures of human microvessel endothelial cells (EC). Incubation of EC with Ang II (100 ng/ml) for 24 h increased the levels of PGE2 in the culture media. This effect of Ang II on prostaglandin production by EC was attenuated in cells treated with heme, but was magnified in cells treated with the HO inhibitor, Stannis mesoporphyrin (SnMP). Upregulation of HO-1 gene expression by retrovirus-mediated delivery of the human HO-1 gene attenuated heme and Ang II-induced prostaglandin synthesis. We also investigated the physiological significance of human HO-1 overexpression on attenuation of Ang II-mediated oxidative stress. Decreases in COMET levels were found in EC transduced with the HO-1 gene. These results indicate that overexpression of the HO system in EC exerts an inhibitory influence on Ang II-induced synthesis of prostaglandins and attenuates DNA damage caused by exposure to Ang II.
Machiavellianism and sexuality: on the moderating role of biological sex

We examined via self-report relations between Machiavellianism (MACH), sexual attitudes and a variety of sexual behaviors, including a willingness to force sexual acts on another in the absence of culpability. As predicted, MACH is associated with an open, promiscuous and hostile set of sexual attitudes. In addition, MACH is associated with a variety of self-serving and deceptive sexual tactics such as cheating, divulging intimate sexual secrets to third parties, and both feigning love and inducing intoxication to secure sex. MACH is also positively associated with an expressed willingness to force others into sexual acts in the absence of culpability. However, many of these relationships are moderated by participant sex. As would be predicted by either biological or socialization based accounts of sexuality, these relationships are attenuated or absent for the female participants. The discussion focuses on the nature of MACH sexuality, and how this differs in men and women.
Gas phase ionic reactions are generally stepwise processes

Abstract An attempt is made to summarize the extent to which mass spectral decompositions are stepwise or concerted. The principle of least motion and recent theoretical studies imply that more than one bond should not be made and broken simultaneously unless the transition state involving simultaneous processes is exceptionally low in energy. From this and available experimental evidence, it is concluded that, except for some unusually favored cases, mass spectral isomerizations and fragmentations are stepwise processes.
The mechanical lung ventilator as another "black box".

Twelve mechanical lung ventilators were evaluated from the standpoint of their ability to perform against a twofold increase in load. An analysis of the changes occurring in VT, P, V, Po, W, “VA,” f, and i/e ratio revealed that only five of the volume-preset units could continue adequate ventilation under the increased load condition.
Attention to Faces: A Change-Blindness Study:

What strategies does human vision use to attend to faces and their features? How are such strategies altered by 2-D inversion or photographic negation? We report two experiments in which these questions were studied with the flicker task of the change-blindness literature. In experiment 1 we studied detection of configural changes to the eyes or mouth, and found that upright faces receive more efficient attention than inverted faces, and that faces shown with normal contrast receive more efficient attention than faces shown in photographic negative. Moreover, eyes receive greater attention than the mouth. In experiment 2 we studied detection of local changes to the eyes or mouth, and found the same results. It is well known that inversion and negation impair the perception and recognition of faces. The experiments presented here extend previous findings by showing that inversion and negation also impair attention to faces.
The role of xenoestrogenic compounds in the development of breast cancer

Lifetime exposure to endogenous steroidal estrogens is an established risk factor for breast cancer, and exposures to other estrogenic and antiestrogenic compounds might also modify the risk of breast cancer. It has been hypothesized that synthetic estrogenic industrial pollutants such as organochlorine compounds and plant-derived estrogenic compounds also modify breast cancer risks; however, recent studies show that levels of organochlorine pollutants are similar in breast cancer patients and controls. There is evidence that synthetic and plant-derived estrogens are selective estrogen receptor modulators, which implies that these compounds can induce tissue-specific, time- and dose-dependent estrogenic or antiestrogenic responses. Therefore, the effects of synthetic or plant-derived estrogens on the incidence of breast cancer depend on both the levels and the timing of exposure to these compounds, particularly during stages of mammary gland development that are extremely sensitive to hormone levels.
Optimizing Tc in the (Mn,Cr,Ga)As and (Mn,Ga)(As,P) ternary alloys

Abstract We explore two possible ways to enhance the critical temperature T c in the dilute magnetic semiconductor Mn 0.08 Ga 0.92 As . Within the context of the double-exchange and RKKY pictures, the ternary alloys Mn x Cr 0.08 - x Ga 0.92 As and Mn 0.08 Ga 0.92 As y P 1 - y might be expected to have T c higher than the pseudobinary Mn 0.08 Ga 0.92 As . To test whether the expectations from model pictures are confirmed, we employ linear response theory within the local-density approximation to search for theoretically higher critical temperatures in these ternary alloys. Our results show that neither co-doping Mn with Cr, nor alloying As with P improves T c . Alloying with Cr is found to be deleterious to the T c . Mn 0.08 Ga 0.92 As y P 1 - y shows almost linear dependence of T c on y .
Stability analysis of transmission lines loaded with non-Foster circuits

Superluminal waveguides periodically loaded with non-Foster circuits are investigated. Such systems are shown to have right half plane poles for the equivalent two-port scattering parameters for practical values of waveguide lengths consisting of many unit cells, and hence, they are unstable.
The Flexible and the Pliant: Disturbed Organisms of Soviet Modernity

In the texts of prominent Soviet figures such as writer Maxim Gorky, the agrobiologist Trofim Lysenko, and the educator Anton Makarenko, the uncertainty of social norms in early Soviet society became equated with an instability of environment in general and nature in particular. A powerful and vivid rhetoric of a “second nature,” to use Gorky's phrase, overcame the absence of clearly articulated models for subjectivity. A series of disciplining routines and activities capable of producing the new Soviet subject compensated in the 1930s for the dissolution of the daily order of things and all the structuring effects, social networks, and reciprocal obligations that were associated with it.
Building integrated models of plant growth and development.

Systems biology aims to decipher the structure and dynamics of signaling networks ([Kitano, 2002][1]). An important unanswered question at the heart of such approaches is: Can simple mathematical models adequately describe signal integration in complex processes? Ideally, such models exist in a
Mobile, X-band, Polarimetric Doppler Radar Observations of the 4 May 2007 Greensburg, Kansas, Tornadic Supercell

AbstractOn 4 May 2007, a supercell produced an EF-5 tornado that severely damaged the town of Greensburg, Kansas. Volumetric data were collected in the “Greensburg storm” by the University of Massachusetts X-band, mobile, polarimetric Doppler radar (UMass X-Pol) for 70 min; 10 tornadoes were detected. This mobile Doppler radar dataset is one of only a few documenting an EF-5 tornado and the supercell’s transition from short-track, cyclic tornado production (mode 1) to long-track tornado production (mode 2). Using bootstrap confidence intervals, it is determined that the mode-2 tornadoes moved in the same direction as the supercell vault. In contrast, the mode-1 tornadoes moved to the left with respect to the vault.From polarimetric data collected in this storm, the authors infer the presence of large, oblate drops (high ZDR, high ρhv) in the forward flank and surrounding some of the tornadoes. The authors speculate that the weak-echo column (WEC) in the Greensburg tornado, which extended above 10 km AGL, ...
Complex interactions between native and invasive fish: the simultaneous effects of multiple negative interactions

We suggest that the ultimate outcome of interactions between native species and invasive species (extinction or coexistence) depends on the number of simultaneous negative interactions (competition and predation), which depends on relative body sizes of the species. Multiple simultaneous interactions may constrain the ability of native species to trade fitness components (i.e., reduced growth for reduced risk of predation) causing a spiral to extinction. We found evidence for five types of interactions between the adults and juveniles of introduced western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) and the juveniles of native least chub (Iotichthys phlegethontis). We added ten large (23–28 mm) and seven small (9–13 mm) young-of-the-year (YOY) least chub to replicate enclosures with zero, low, and high densities of mosquitofish in a desert spring ecosystem. Treatments with mosquitofish reduced the average survival of least chub by one-third. No small YOY least chub survived in enclosures with high mosquitofish densities. We also performed two laboratory experiments to determine mortality to predation, aggressiveness, and habitat selection of least chub in the presence of mosquitofish. Mean mortality of least chub due to predation by large mosquitofish was 69.7% over a 3-h trial. Least chub were less aggressive, selected protected habitats (Potamogeton spp.), and were more stationary in the presence of mosquitofish where the dominance hierarchy was large mosquitofish>>large least chub≈small mosquitofish>>small least chub. Least chub juveniles appear to be figuratively caught in a vice. Rapid growth to a size refuge could reduce the risk of predation, but the simultaneous effects of competition decreased least chub growth and prolonged the period when juveniles were vulnerable to mosquitofish predation.
The KB-29A Stabilized Strike Camera System

The development of the KA-60 camera by Fairchild in 1964 has led to a family of 70mm panoramic cameras for low altitude reconnaissance and strike applications. In the strike photography branch of the family, the KA-60 led to the KA-71, the KB-18A and the KB-29A, which is a roll stabilized version of the KB-18A. When a fighter aircraft performs evasive maneuvers prior to and particu-larly following weapons release, as if often necessary under combat or combat training conditions, the collection of sufficient strike coverage and particularly impact photography is very uncertain. In a flight test in August 1974 the KB-29A stabilized strike camera demonstrated that it provides photographic coverage of weapons impact during evasive maneuvering of the delivery aircraft after weapons release. The roll stabilized scanning prism design principle allows evasive maneuvering (jinking) after weapon release and still permits target photographic coverage of weapon impact. The KB-29A provides an angular coverage capability of 150 degrees in the cross-track and 180 degrees in the in-track direction respectively. This permits large rotations of the vehicle up to a maximum of 75 degrees roll angle without loss of acquisition of the target. The KB-29A system utilizes the KB-18A magazine and control unit without modification and 50% of the parts in the camera body are identical with KB-18A parts. The existing KB-18A test equipment can be used to test the KB-29A with the addition of a few simple adapters.© (1975) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Soil nitrate analysis by cadmium reduction 1

Abstract The purpose of this research was to determine the feasibility of cadmium reduction analysis of soil nitrate as a teaching method and also as a general soil nitrate analysis method. Sixteen soil samples were analyzed for nitrate using cadmium reduction, phenoldisulfonic acid and steam distillation methods. The soil pH levels ranged from 6.3 to 8.4. The nitrate levels ranged from 1 ppm to 62 ppm while the soil nitrite levels fell between 0.3 ppm to 2.6 ppm. Correlation coefficients between the three methods were found to be highly significant. The analysis means were found to be statistically the same between the cadmium reduction method and steam distillation methods. The analysis of soil nitrate by cadmium reduction was found to be acceptable for the determination of soil nitrate levels.
What Observation Studies Can Tell Us About Single Child Play Patterns, Gender, and Changes in Chinese Society

Our study focused on Chinese children’s play patterns in two different Chinese capitals: Chengdu—the capital of Sichuan in southwest China and Hohhot—the capital of the autonomous Inner Mongolia region in northern China. Unlike child psychologists working in China, who prefer survey instruments organized around parent and teacher interviews, the authors relied primarily upon behavioral observations. Their study is based on naturalistic observations of children in different age cohorts interacting in a variety of social contexts. It draws on a social ecology approach to examine the role of social setting, social class, and regional variation on children’s interaction style. The authors wanted to link their findings to both Four Cultures and Six Cultures studies. To that end they adopted a behaviorist approach that used similar methodology to code children’s interactions. They sought to identify the frequency of particular types of children’s interactions that ranged from types of aggressive and dominance d...
Developmental changes in sensitivity to the content, formal, and affective dimensions of paintings

The ability of children, adolescents, and adults to analyze the content, formal, and affective dimensions of paintings was determined by asking subjects to describe similarities and differences between paintings. Content or subject matter was an important criterion of similarity for all subjects but was most salient for the preoperational aged children. Content can be regarded as the surface structure of the painting because its perception involves a direct correspondence between physical objects and events and their pictorial representations. Older children, adolescents, and adults operating at higher levels of cognitive development mentioned similarities in formal qualities such as line, shape, style, etc., and in affective or emotional qualities more often than did the younger children. Formal and affective dimensions can be regarded as the deep structure of the painting, since the perception of these elements requires the understanding that paintings also represent ideas, feelings, and experiences about reality.
What's in a Name? The Evolving Library Commons Concept

Since the late 1990s, many academic libraries in North America have adapted old buildings or built new library spaces to accommodate technological change. Some have gone further and created active learning spaces that incorporate information technology with services and staff to help users both find information and use it in their research. These spaces have names that include the word “commons,” have entirely different titles with “commons” ignored altogether, and some have no titles at all. While the concept of commons has been embraced by many libraries, how that concept has been applied varies as much as the names. Both, however, tell much about libraries and librarians in the twenty-first century.
Enhancing the Interface in Silk–Polypyrrole Composites through Chemical Modification of Silk Fibroin

To produce conductive, biocompatible, and mechanically robust materials for use in bioelectrical applications, we have developed a new strategy to selectively incorporate poly(pyrrole) (Ppy) into constructs made from silk fibroin. Here, we demonstrate that covalent attachment of negatively charged, hydrophilic sulfonic acid groups to the silk protein can selectively promote pyrrole absorption and polymerization within the modified films to form a conductive, interpenetrating network of Ppy and silk that is incapable of delamination. To further increase the conductivity and long-term stability of the Ppy network, a variety of small molecule sulfonic acid dopants were utilized and the properties of these silk-conducting polymer composites were monitored over time. The composites were evaluated using attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), optical microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, a 4-point resistivity probe and mechanical testing. In addition, the performance was evaluated following exposure to several biologically relevant enzymes. Using this strategy, we were able to produce mechanically robust polymer electrodes with stable electrochemical performance and sheet resistivities on the order of 1 × 10(2) Ω/sq (conductivity ∼1 S/cm).
Ministers or panderers: Issues raised by the public relations society code of standards

A review of the PRSA Code of Professional Standards reveals that despite the messianic strains of its originators, the code has become in part a public relations device to allow claims of adherence to virtue and in part a matter of constraining free competition. The author maintains that to date the code has not even helped the public relations of public relations. “Responsibility to the public”; remains undefinable, but trust in individual ethical judgment becomes problematic when there is no common sense of what such responsibility entails. An effective public relations code must include not only pious sentiments, but painful penalties. What is needed are more ‘'public relations watchers,”; monitoring the publicity and communication channels and blowing whistles when necessary. News media and trade journals should expose and bring shame to bear on unscrupulous PR practitioners, the essay concludes. In addition, two deeper types of changes are suggested. First, clear distinctions must be made between wha...
Validation of two clinically useful assays for evaluation of JAK2 V617F mutation in chronic myeloproliferative disorders

Recently, a point mutation in the Janus kinase 2 gene (JAK2) was identified in several chronic myeloid disorders, most frequently in polycythemia vera (PV) (65–97%), essential thrombocythemia (ET) (23–57%) and chronic idiopathic myelofibrosis (CIM) (35–57%) (see Table 1). The mutation is 1849G>T, resulting in substitution of phenylalanine for valine (V617F) in the protein. To our knowledge, this mutation has not been reported in normal patients, those with reactive myeloid cell cytoses or those with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), but has been found in a small proportion of patients with chronic neutrophilic leukemia, hypereosinophilic syndrome, systemic mast cell disease, mixed chronic myeloproliferative disorder/myelodysplastic syndrome (CMPD/MDS), MDS and AML.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 The mutation has also not been found in precursor B or T acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) or B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.6, 7
Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy for Solitary Metachronous Contralateral Adrenal Metastasis from Renal Cell Carcinoma

ABSTRACTPurpose: We report our experience with laparoscopic adrenalectomy for malignant adrenal disease.Materials and Methods: Between June 1995 and January 1996, 2 patients with a solitary metachronous contralateral adrenal metastasis from renal cell cancer were evaluated. Both patients had undergone radical nephrectomy for localized renal cancer 5 years previously. Laparoscopic transperitoneal adrenalectomy was performed.Results: The laparoscopic procedures required 2.5 and 4.3 hours. Hospital stay was 3 and 4 days. The specimens weighed 98 and 81 gm. All surgical margins were free of metastatic clear cell cancer. Both patients were begun on prednisone and fludrocortisone replacement therapy. One patient experienced an increase in creatinine, which has since stabilized at 3.0 mg./dl. Neither patient had recurrent cancer at 11 and 16 months of followup.Conclusions: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy for metastatic renal cell cancer was performed successfully in 2 patients. However, the short-term benefits to the...
Lack of a role for bradykinin in inhaled sodium metabisulphite-induced airway microvascular leakage in guinea pigs

We have investigated the role of bradykinin in airway microvascular leakage and bronchoconstriction induced by inhaled sodium metabisulphite (MBS) in guinea pigs. A selective bradykinin B2 receptor antagonist, HOE 140 (D-Arg[Hyp3, Thi5, D-Tic7, Oic8]-bradykinin), was used because this drug has been shown to abolish the airway responses induced by bradykinin. Lung resistance (RL) was measured for 6 min after challenge with MBS, followed by measurement of extravasation of Evans Blue dye into airway tissues, used as an index of plasma exudation. Aerosolized MBS (40 and 80 mmol/L, 30 breaths) induced a significant increase in RL and leakage of dye in the trachea, main bronchi and intrapulmonary airways, whereas 20 mmol/L MBS caused these responses except for the dye leakage in the trachea and main bronchi. HOE 140 (100 nmol/kg iv) had no effect against these airway responses. We conclude that bradykinin-mediated mechanisms do not play a significant role in the acute airway effects induced by inhaled MBS.
The typical construction mode research of intelligent distribution network

This paper introduced the conception and features of smart grid as well as analyzed research progress at home and abroad. The intelligent application in the field of power distribution was still in research and exploration phase. From information collecting, intelligent distribution transformer and distribution automation, intelligent distribution network construction idea and construction mode were proposed in this paper. Accordance with the State Grid Corporation of the “three sets five” management requirement, a real-time comprehensive data collection monitoring system was built which formatted a integrated distribution network data center in county power supply company, in order to provide technical support for great marketing system. With “SG186” engineering, a integrated enterprise information management system was built, which formatted a non-real-time systems integration data center, in order to achieve the application system data integration for enterprise production and management. From the research and application of infrastructure project and key technology, the county's automated distribution network and information level were gradually increased, which provided the basis of the county intelligent distribution network construction in the future.
Biomass and compositional changes in the periphytic community of an artificial stream in response to lowered pH

Two artificial streams simulating low-order, softwater streams of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan were employed to examine the effects of lowered pH on periphytic algae. The control stream contained water with a circumneutral pH whereas the pH of the water in the acidified stream was decreased to pH 4 with H2SO4. Chlorophyll a concentrations and cell densities in the periphytic algal communities were used to measure differences in biomass accumulations between the 2 streams over a 42-d, spring colonization period. Relative abundances of algal genera and Stander's similarity index (SIMI) were used to examine compositional differences between the control and acidified periphytic algal communities. These algal communities exhibited pronounced differences in their total biomasses and compositions indicating periphytic algal communities inhabiting low-order, softwater streams, such as those of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, are vulnerable to acidic deposition. Decreased biomass accumulation under acidified conditions was believed to result primarily from decreased nutrient availability, and possibly secondarily from elevated aluminum and/or iron concentrations. The shift in community compositions was interpreted to be a more direct response to the lowered pH as acidophils and acid tolerant genera became favored, and thus more abundant.
Benthic Exchange of C, N, and P Along the Estuarine Ecotone of Lower Taylor Slough, Florida (USA): Effect of Seasonal Flows and Phosphorus Availability

The southern Everglades and Florida Bay have experienced a nearly 50 % reduction in freshwater flow resulting in increased salinity and landward expansion of mangrove forest. Given the marine end-member is a natural source of P to this region, it is necessary to understand the interactions between inflows and P availability in controlling the exchange of materials across the mangrove ecotone. From 2007 to 2008, we used sediment core incubations to quantify fluxes of dissolved inorganic N and P and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in three ecotone areas (dwarf mangrove, pond, and bay). Experiments were repeated seasonally over 2 years involving P-enriched surface water as a factor. We saw consistent uptake of soluble reactive P (SRP), DOC, and nitrate + nitrite (N+N) by the soils/sediments and release of ammonium (NH4 +) from soils/sediments to the water column across all sites and seasons. P enrichment had no discernible effect on DIN or DOC flux, suggesting that rapid P uptake may have been more geochemically mediated. However, uptake of added P occurred across all sites and seasons, reflecting high uptake capacity in this carbonate system and the potential of the mangrove ecotone to sequester P as it becomes more available.
Simulations and optimization of combined Fe- and Cu-zeolite SCR monolith catalysts

Cu-based SCR catalysts exhibit higher activity at lower temperatures (<350 °C) while Fe-based catalysts are more active at higher temperatures under “standard” SCR condition (NH3 + NO + O2). The combination of Fe- and Cu-based SCR catalysts provides a viable solution to expand the temperature window of high NOx conversion. A simulation study of combined Fe/Cu SCR catalyst is carried to: (i) compare the performance of the dual-layer and dual-brick catalysts for different proportions of Fe- and Cu-zeolite catalysts, (ii) identify the optimal catalyst (washcoat) loadings of individual components in each configuration, and (iii) identify the superior design. The simulations show that there is an optimal fraction of Fe and Cu loadings in the combined systems. The optimal fraction of the Fe-zeolite washcoat in the dual-layer catalyst is lower than that in the dual-brick design. It is shown that the dual-brick configuration gives a higher overall NO conversion performance for most conditions. The main cause for the inferior performance of the dual-layer catalyst is the diffusional limitation that lowers the NO conversion at intermediate temperatures. In this temperature range the Cu-SCR catalyst is more active than the Fe-SCR catalyst, so diffusional limitations are more severe for the Cu catalyst. As a result, the Fe-SCR top layer in the dual-layer architecture creates an additional barrier, lowering the apparent activity of the Cu-SCR. Because the activity of the combined system is largely contributed by Cu-SCR at intermediate temperatures, the NO conversion of the combined system is lowered. This performance decrease due to the addition of the Fe-SCR layer overshadows its benefits at higher temperatures. In the dual-brick configuration, this adverse effect due to diffusional resistance is not as detrimental.
Light and electron microscopic studies on the gastrointestinal tract of the suckling echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus).

The stomach of the suckling echidna is lined by a tall columnar epithelium that is bounded basally by a delicate basement membrane. Adjacent cells are held in close apposition by tight junctions near the apex and by extensive implications of the remaining lateral surfaces. The basal cell surface is smooth and without apparent specialization. The lining epithelium is characterized by an abundance of mitochondria and a relative paucity of other organelles. Scattered argentaffin cells extend between the bases of the gastric lining cells and rest upon the luminal side of the basement membrane. Absorptive cells lining the small intestine of the suckling echidna exhibit in-vaginations of the apical plasma membrane which branch and anastomose, forming a dense network of tubules in the apical cytoplasm. Adjacent to this network is a series of small vacuoles of varying diameters which come into direct relation with a single, large, supranuclear vacuole. The vacuolar system contains both a fine granular substance and clusters of a flocculent amorphous material thought to be of a proteinaceous nature. The surrounding cytoplasm contains numerous profiles of smooth endoplasmic reticulum, several Golgi systems, and a relative abundance of mitochondria. Clusters of homogeneous droplets are found in the cytoplasm and in the intercellular space.
54 TWO-YEAR FOLLOW-UP OF BRONCHOPULMONARY DYSPLASIA AND INTRACRANIAL HEMORRHAGE IN ≤ 1,200 GM INFANTS

Long-term neurodevelopmental sequelae of chronic disorders such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) have not been well-documented in relation to acute perinatal insults such as intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). To study this relationship in ≤1,200 gm infants, the present study used repeated ultrasonographic scans at bedside to detect ICH prior to hospital discharge, and defined BPD as more than 3 wks of ventilation. 68 ≤1,200 gm infants born between 4/14/80 and 4/14/83 were followed through at least 12 mo. of age, with 48 infants tested thus far at 24 mo. (corrected for prematurity). Mean Bayley mental and motor scores at 12-24 mo. were: Both ICH groups included 4 grade III–IV survivors. A repeatedmeasures ANOVA revealed significantly poorer mental and motor performance by BPD infants through 18 mo. of age (ps<.02). ICH resulted in poor motor performance, but just in nonBPD infants (p<.05). Only BPD substantially depressed mental scores (p<. 05).
The bacteriorhodopsin model membrane system as a prototype molecular computing element.

Abstract The quest for more sophisticated integrated circuits to overcome the limitation of currently available silicon integrated circuits has led to the proposal of using biological molecules as computational elements by computer scientists and engineers. While the theoretical aspect of this possibility has been pursued by computer scientists, the research and development of experimental prototypes have not been pursued with an equal intensity. In this survey, we make an attempt to examine model membrane systems that incorporate the protein pigment bacterior-hodopsin which is found in Halobacterium halobium. This system was chosen for several reasons. The pigment/membrane system is sufficiently simple and stable for rigorous quantitative study, yet at the same time sufficiently complex in molecular structure to permit alteration of this structure in an attempt to manipulate the photosignal. Several methods of forming the pigment/membrane assembly are described and the potential application to biochip design is discussed. Experimental data using these membranes and measured by a tunable voltage clamp method are presented along with a theoretical analysis based on the Gouy-Chapman diffuse double layer theory to illustrate the usefulness of this approach. It is shown that detailed layouts of the pigment/membrane assembly as well as external loading conditions can modify the time course of the photosignal in a predictable manner. Some problems that may arise in the actual implementation and manufacturing, as well as the use of existing technology in protein chemistry, immunology, and recombinant DNA technology are discussed.
Impact of Process Variations on Carbon Nanotube Bundle Interconnect for Future FPGA Architectures

As CMOS technology continues to scale, copper interconnect (CuI) will hinder the performance and reliability of field programmable gate arrays (FPGA) motivating the need for alternative interconnect solutions for future process technologies. In this paper, we investigate the impact of statistical variations in interconnect properties on FPGA timing yield (TY) when bundles of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) are used as interconnect in the FPGA routing fabric. The results indicate that SWCNT bundle-based interconnect (SWCNTBI) can provide a superior performance-yield trade-off over FPGAs implemented using traditional CuI in future process technologies.
African American Gay Youth and Their Families: Redefining Masculinity, Coping with Racism and Homophobia

The findings of this small, exploratory qualitative study of young African American gay men and their parents, combined with the extant theoretical literature, describes the unique challenges facing black gay male youths and their families. Parents and youths alike worry that gay men cannot meet the rigid expectations of exaggerated masculinity maintained by their families and communities, and they also struggle to cope with the intersecting oppressions that challenge black gay youths. These unique difficulties warrant the development of targeted interventions that can assist such families with the burdens of homophobia and racism. It is vital that clinicians engage fathers as they assist young black gay men and their families to resolve the clash between homosexuality and the male gender role expectations in their communities. In addition, clinicians are advised to help these families recognize, harness, and build upon their existing coping skills, and it is also recommended that they facilitate family d...
The Optimal Growth of Tropical Sea Surface Temperature Anomalies

Abstract It is argued from SST observations for the period 1950–90 that the tropical Indo-Pacific ocean-atmosphere system may be described as a stable linear dynamical system driven by spatially coherent Gaussian white noise. Evidence is presented that the predictable component of SST anomaly growth is associated with the constructive interference of several damped normal modes after an optimal initial structure is set up by the white noise forcing. In particular, El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) growth is associated with an interplay of at least three damped normal modes, with periods longer than two years and decay times of 4 to 8 months, rather than the manifestation of a single unstable mode whose growth is arrested by nonlinearities. Interestingly, the relevant modes are not the three least damped modes of the system. Rather, mode selection, and the establishment of the optimal initial structure from which growth occurs, are controlled by the stochastic forcing. Experiments conducted with an empir...
Investigation of Impact Response of Composites with Projection Moiré Enhancement

As a method for measuring full-field out-of-plane displacement, projection moire provides high measuring quality with simple experimental setup. Based on an image processing program developed by Heredia and Patterson, this article presents the implementation of projection moire in low-velocity impact testing. Results from projection moire agree reasonably well with those obtained from the commonly used load cell method. In an attempt to better document composite response to impact loading, the possibility of correlating the external out-of-plane displacement measurement with the internal delamination is discussed. The technique is further applied to composites with various microstructures, including laminated, two-dimensional woven and quasi-three-dimensional (Q3D) woven composites. Projection moire is able to provide some insights of the delamination propagation of the composites under impact loading.
Mouthwash Use and Dentures in Relation to Oral Epithelial Dysplasia

Abstract This case-control study investigated the potential association between oral epithelial dysplasia (OED) and both mouthwash and denture use. Incident OED cases aged 20–79 years were identified through two oral pathology laboratories. Controls were pair-matched (1:1) to cases on age (±5 years), gender, appointment date and surgeon. A telephone interview was used to obtain exposure information. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were generated using conditional logistic regression. Based upon 127 case-control pairs and after adjusting for smoking, drinking, education and either denture or mouthwash use, the OR for OED and regular mouthwash use (1+ uses/week for 6+ months) was 0.8 (95% CI, 0.4-1.5) while the OR for OED and wearing a denture was 0.7 (95% CI, 0.4-1.3). There were no clear trends of increased OED risk with increased mouthwash use or years of denture wearing. Our findings suggest that neither mouthwash nor denture use are associated positively with OED risk.
The effects of salicylic acid on metabolism and potassium ion content in yeast.

Under anaerobic conditions, at low pH and 30 degrees, commercial baker's yeast loses K+ ion in the presence of salicylic acid. Glucose utilization is inhibited. In suspensions containing no glucose, carbohydrate stores of the cell are dissimilated to carbon dioxide and alcohol. The ion loss and inhibitory effects of salicylic acid on glucose utilization are reversed by washing the cells free of salicylate. The loss of K+ appears to be due at least partly to a K+-H+ exchange process. An unexplained maximum is seen in the curves of either net K+ loss or K+ efflux versus salicylic acid concentration. At 6 degrees the effects of salicylic acid on both endogenous metabolism and net K+ loss are minimal. Furthermore, no maximum is seen in the K+ loss-salicyclic concentration curve at this temperature. It is generalized that salicylic acid or salicylate may elicit K+ leakage from many types of cells, i.e., a fundamental action of this compound may be its ability to affect (reduce) K+ content of the cell; furthermore, it appears that the salicylate effects on K+ loss may be associated in an as-yet-unknown manner with the metabolic effects of this compound. The effects of salicylate on K+ loss in yeast may not be unique for this compound, since no experiments of this nature have been done with other penetrating undissociated acids.
Between a bad peace and a good war: insights and lessons from the almost-war in Macedonia

I argue that Macedonia's internal conditions set the stage for interethnic tension but did not preordain war. Ethnic inequality, cultural differences, economic troubles and political underdevelopment are examined and ruled insufficient to produce war conditions. The spark that set Macedonia alight was the proliferation of Albanian paramilitaries from Kosovo. NATO's failure to disarm and disband the Kosovo Liberation Army allowed a major security threat to develop at MacedoniaOs doorstep. Hence, this case teaches us that porous borders, diasporic networks, and the availability of young men and weapons are the key ingredients of ethnic war-making. The concerted attention of the EU saved Macedonia from a descent into chaos, although it did so by extracting concessions not from the insurgents but from the Macedonian regime. The EU' mix of financial incentives and diplomatic pressure worked primarily because Macedonia was too weak and too poor to offer resistance.
Immuno- and Hepato-Toxicity of Dichloroacetic Acid in MRL+/+ and B6C3F1 Mice

Dichloroacetic acid (DCA) is a by-product of chlorination that occurs in drinking water disinfected with chlorine. Metabolism of trichloroethene (TCE) also generates DCA. TCE exposure is associated with the development of autoimmune diseases, which may be induced by TCE metabolites, such as DCA. Thus, it is important to understand immunotoxic responses to DCA. We chose 2 murine models, autoimmune-prone MRL(+/+) and normal B(6)C(3)F(1) mice. Both strains of mice were exposed to DCA for 12 weeks. Following DCA treatment, liver weights and liver-to-body weight ratios were significantly increased in both strains of mice when compared to their respective controls. The serum activity of alanine and aspartate aminotransferases was not significantly altered in either strain. In MRL(+/+) mice, the serum concentrations of IgG and IgM were significantly increased, whereas in B(6)C(3)F(1) mice, only serum IgG(3) was increased. DCA treatment did not change the levels of inflammatory cytokines in the serum. However, independent of treatment, the concentrations of G-CSF in the serum were lower in MRL(+/+) mice than in B(6)C(3)F(1) mice, whereas IL-12 serum levels were higher in MRL(+/+) mice. DCA treatment decreased IL-10 and KC chemokine concentrations in the livers of MRL(+/+) mice, whereas T-helper cell cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IFNgamma, and GM-CSF), pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-12, and G-CSF), and KC chemokine were increased in the livers of DCA-treated B(6)C(3)F(1) mice. Stimulation of splenic T-lymphocytes with antibodies against CD3 and CD28 resulted in a marked difference in the secreted cytokines between the two strains of mice. T-lymphocytes from MRL(+/+) mice secreted more IL-2, IL-4 and IL-10, but less IFNgamma and GM-CSF, than did T-lymphocytes from B(6)C(3)F(1) mice. Thus, the cytokine levels in serum and liver, and the cytokine secretion patterns from stimulated splenic T-lymphocytes suggested a higher propensity of inflammatory responses in B(6)C(3)F(1) than in MRL(+/+) mice. Treatment with DCA also affected lipid accumulation in the liver more severely in B(6)C(3)F(1) than in MRL(+/+) mice. Thus, these results indicate that DCA induced stronger inflammatory responses leading to more severe hepatotoxicity in B(6)C(3)F(1) mice than in MRL(+/+) mice, and more pronounced immune responses in the latter.
Acetaldehyde inhibits serum aminopeptidases

Aminopeptidase A (APA)- and aminopeptidase M (APM)-like activity were assayed in Moni-Trol ES with L-alpha-aspartyl-beta-naphthylamide and L-alanyl-beta-naphthylamide, respectively. Upon preincubation of the serum with 89.4, 223.5, and 447 mM acetaldehyde at room temperature for 30 min, a reduction in 26.8%, 55.3%, and 75.8% aminopeptidase A activity was observed. Similarly, aminopeptidase M activity was reduced by 26.5% and 53.1% upon preincubation with 223.5 and 447 mM acetaldehyde. Ethanol at 84.9, 212.3, and 427.9 mM did not significantly affect the enzymic activity. Because aminopeptidase A and aminopeptidase M also degrade the pressor substance, angiotensin II, it is suggested that inhibition of aminopeptidase A- and aminopeptidase M-like activity by acetaldehyde, the product of ethanol metabolism, may lead to higher levels of circulating angiotensin II and, consequently, hypertension, in alcoholics. The hydrolysis of lysine-p-nitroanilide, an aminopeptidase B substrate, was also inhibited upon addition of acetaldehyde to Moni-Trol ES serum.