cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effects of intraocular injection of kainic acid on the synaptic organization of the goldfish retina

Abstract Kainic acid (KA), an extended analog of L -glutamate, was injected into the eyes of living goldfish. After survival times ranging from 15 min to 6 days, retinae were inspected for KA-induced degeneration at both the LM and EM levels. KA had little effect on photoreceptors, mixed rod-cone bipolar cells, Mu¨ller cells, at least two types of amacrine cells and the optic nerve. Reversible edema was seen in both rod and cone horizontal cells. Pure cone bipolar cells and the majority of amacrine cells appeared to be destroyed by KA. The effect of KA is selective not only on the cell types involved, but also in the location of KA-induced edema on the affected cells, i.e., soma and proximal portions of dendrites of cone horizontal cells as opposed to the distal ends of dendrites of rod horizontal cells. Implications of these data are discussed in regard to the use of KA as a probe for glutamatergic pathways in the retina. One hypothesis suggested by our results is that rods use glutamate whereas cones use aspartate as their neurotransmitter.
Rethinking Reading for Age From Paper and Computers

The human–computer interaction research community has long been interested in the role of age in the use of computing devices. The current availability of large high-resolution displays and a growing community of older adults who use computers on a regular basis are examples of a changing landscape of users and devices that calls for a reevaluation of what we know about age and computers. This article presents two studies comparing the performance of young and older adults in reading tasks. In our studies, older adults outperformed young adults in terms of reading times and reading comprehension regardless of medium (paper or computer display). In addition, the overlap of confidence intervals for reading times and comprehension by medium suggests participants performed equally well regardless of medium. Both findings are in contrast to results from similar studies from the 1980s and 1990s.
Separation and identification of two phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase activities in bovine uterus

Abstract Growth factor-activated second messenger pathways are mediated in part via breakdown products of phosphoinositides. We have separated two phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) 4-Kinases from bovine uteri which appear to be regulated independently. The predominant type II enzyme previously was purified to apparent homogeneity; the type I enzyme has been purified ∼ 1000 fold (specific activity, ∼ 30 nmoles/mg/min). The type I and type II enzymes differ sharply in apparent Km for ATP and response to divalent cations. In contrast to type II enzyme, type I PtdIns kinase was resistant to inhibition by adenosine, inhibited by increasing concentrations of Triton X-100, and less stable to storage than type II enzyme at pH values below 6.5 and above 8.5. Type I PtdIns 4-kinase has an apparent molecular mass of ∼ 200 kD and type II enzyme of ∼ 80 kD. Using both enzymatic and chemical criteria, both enzymes specifically phosphorylated the fourth hydroxyl group of PtdIns. The results thus establish the presence of two distinct and separate enzymes catalyzing PtdIns 4-kinase activity with different physical, kinetic, and regulatory properties, suggesting an important site for the regulation of second messenger signals transducing the responsiveness of cells to growth factors.
Maximal information analysis: I—various Wayne State plots and the most common likelihood principle

Abstract Statistical analysis using all moments of the likelihood L ( y | α ) (y being the data and α being the fit parameters) is presented. The relevant plots for various data fitting situations are presented. The goodness of fit (GOF) parameter (currently the χ 2 ) is redefined as the isoprobability level in a multidimensional space. Many useful properties of statistical analysis are summarized in a new statistical principle which states that the most common likelihood, and not the tallest, is the best possible likelihood, when comparing experiments or hypotheses.
Late Precambrian rifting and crustal evolution in the Northeastern Desert of Egypt

Basement exposures along the northwestern flanks of the Gulf of Suez record the rapid formation of continental crust during the interval 670–550 Ma. A variety of field, petrographic, petrologic, and isotopic considerations indicate that this episode of crust formation took place in an extensional tectonic setting analogous to that of the late Paleozoic Oslo Rift of Norway. Crustal evolution in this region thus contrasts with other regions of the Afro-Arabian Shield where the crust appears to have been formed by convergent margin accretionary processes and collisional tectonics. This imposes new constraints on our understanding of late Precambrian crustal evolution.
A Multiple-Objective Policy Model: Results of an Application to a Developing Country

In this paper the results and implications of an application of dynamic simulation modeling to the study of control of social unrest in a developing country are presented. The model demonstrates the use of a multiple-objective, multiple-group objective function designed to monitor the “pressure level” of social unrest in the modeled system. An outline of the model structure is presented and sample relationships are explained in detail to demonstrate the dynamic and feedback nature of the model. The paper then presents some of the recommendations and their managerial and public policy implications derived from a policy analysis of the model. The analysis, for instance, reveals that a program designed to achieve the highest possible economic growth rate could adversely affect the society's stability in the long run. The study, in addition, finds that an extensive income redistribution program, designed to tax the rich more heavily and to substantially increase the minimum income of the poor, proves to be myopic while an extensive wealth redistribution program is shown to bring about a significant and sustained improvement in the system's stability. These results raise serious questions on much of the attitudes that underlie economic development and income redistribution programs in countries like India, Brazil, the Philippines and, to some extent, the United States.
Modulation of 1,2-Dichlorobenzene Hepatotoxicity in the Fischer-344 Rat by a Scavenger of Superoxide Anions and an Inhibitor of Kupffer Cells

The hepatotoxicity of 1,2-dichlorobenzene (1,2-DCB) was studied in Fischer-344 (F344) rats administered methyl palmitate (MP) to inhibit Kupffer cell function or superoxide dismutase (conjugated to polyethylene glycol, i.e., PEG-SOD) to scavenge superoxide anions. In rats not pretreated with phenobarbital (PB), administration of either MP or PEG-SOD dramatically reduced the severity of 1,2-DCB-induced liver injury. Both agents reduced the elevations in plasma ALT activities by 80%. PEG-SOD conferred protection when administered 2 hr before or 2 hr after 1,2-DCB. Light microscopic examination of H & E-stained liver sections confirmed that the reductions in plasma ALT activities reflected protection from hepatocellular injury. Interestingly, MP did not protect against 1,2-DCB-induced hepatotoxicity in PB-pretreated rats. The degree of inhibition of 1,2-DCB hepatotoxicity by PEG-SOD in PB-pretreated animals was also less than that in normal rats and was not significantly different. The lack of a significant inhibition of the PB-potentiated hepatotoxicity by both PEG-SOD and MP suggests that reactive oxygen species released from a nonparenchymal source were not as crucial to the 1,2-DCB hepatotoxicity in the PB-pretreated rats as in the normal rats. Our results using both MP and PEG-SOD support the hypothesis that reactive oxygen species released from Kupffer cells play a major role in the progression of 1,2-DCB hepatotoxicity in the F344 rat.
Maturation of Rat Megakaryocytes Studied by Microspectrophotometric Measurement of DNA.

SummaryThe amount of DNA in the nuclei of individual megakaryocytes of male Sprague-Dawley rats was measured micro-spectrophotometrically in marrow smears stained by the Feulgen reaction. When the DNA values were arranged in a frequency distribution, the megakaryocytes fell into groups with the modal DNA content of successive groups increasing approximately by a factor of 2. Ploidy of the megakaryocyte groups was determined by comparison with DNA values of diploid cells. Frequencies of 4N, 8N, 16N, and 32N megakaryocytes were, respectively, 1.6%, 10.5%, 71.2%, and 17.1%. The results indicate synchronous division of the nucleus of polyploid megakaryocytes. The relative numbers of cells in ploidy stages may indicate the relative length of time spent in the stages. An hypothesis of megakaryocyte maturation is proposed. The method may prove useful in studies of megakaryocyte maturation and regulation.ADDENDUM: In a recent microspectrophotometric study, de Leval observed a frequency distribution pattern of DNA...
Cognitive and Emotional Factors Predicting Decisional Conflict Among High-Risk Breast Cancer Survivors Who Receive Uninformative BRCA1/2 Results

Objective To investigate high-risk breast cancer survivors’ risk reduction decision making and decisional conflict after an uninformative BRCA1/2 test.
Correlation of the hardness and vacancy concentration in FeAl

Abstract Microhardness measurements of FeAl containing 40–51 at.% Al were carried out at ambient temperature on specimens which had been subjected to different heat treatments. The hardness values for specimens heat-treated at 500°C and water-quenched to ambient temperature increase slowly with composition until at about 48 at.% Al. At higher Al concentrations the hardness values increase more rapidly. For specimens heat-treated at temperatures higher than 700°C and water quenched to ambient temperature, the hardness values increase with Al concentration with little change in slope through the entire composition range of 40–51 at.% Al. The compositional dependences of the hardness values are similar to those of the vacancy concentrations in FeAl. The vacancy concentrations as a function of Al composition were obtained from a thermodynamic model and experimental data at the stoichiometric composition. The close resemblance of the shapes of the hardness curve and the vacancy concentration curve suggests that the hardness and thus the yield strength may be related to the presence of vacancies in the lattice. This conclusion is further supported by the evidence that the hardness of FeAl increases with the square root of the vacancy concentration. This type of relationship agrees well with established point-defect strengthening models, based on the interaction of a moving dislocation with a point defect.
The relationship between visual acuity and functioning and well-being among diabetics

Given the enormous recent interest in functional capabilities related to vision, the goal of this study was to examine the relationship of standard clinicial measures of vision (e.g. Snellen acuity) to functioning and well-being. The association between Snellen visual acuity, Amsler grid distortion and presence of diabetic retinopathy with self-reported functioning and well-being (SF-36) were examined in a sample of 327 diabetics from the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS). There was little or no correlation between Snellen visual acuity, Amsler grid distortion or diabetic retinopathy and functioning and well-being (i.e. SF-36 scales). Maximum product-moment correlation was 0.15 with worst eye visual aculty, 0.13 with best eye visual acuity, 0.08 with presence of retinopathy, and 0.10 with Amsler grid distortion. Analysis of variance revealed that visual acuity (both best and worst eye) was statistically related only to the physical function scale; no other exam measure was related to any other SF-36 scale score. Snellen visual acuity, Amsler distortion and diabetic retinopathy correlate weakly with patient self-reported functioning and well-being. Thus, the information provided by functioning and well-being measures is complementary to that of standard clinical measures of visual ability.
Adversarial interference models for multiantenna cooperative systems

According to the cognitive radio paradigm, a terminal or subsystem will opportunistically select a frequency band for data transmission. Because the spectrum is shared, a cognitive system may face interference that cannot be given a statistical description. An adversarial interference model may be appropriate for finding achievable rates under these conditions. In this work we investigate the benefit offered by using many antennas. In addition to adding spatial diversity and multiplexing gains, multiple antennas can allow a cognitive system to mitigate the effects of adversarial interference that is known to come from a system with fewer antennas.
Transepithelial antigen delivery in the small intestine: different paths, different outcomes.

Purpose of reviewThe intestinal epithelium is a dynamic barrier protecting the body from the multitudes of luminal micro-organisms present in the gut. However, this barrier is not impermeable and mechanisms exist that allow small amounts of antigen to traverse the epithelium in controlled manner to
Self-Assembled Nanometer Lamellae of Thermoelectric PbTe and Sb2Te3 with Epitaxy-like Interfaces

Utilizing the decomposition of metastable Pb2Sb6Te11 into PbTe and Sb2Te3, we produced a layered (lamellar) microstructure of PbTe and Sb2Te3 in which the interlamellar spacing can be controlled by the temperature and time of the decomposition process. Adjacent PbTe and Sb2Te3 lamellae are crystallographically oriented, indicating high-quality epitaxy-like interfaces. Average lamellar spacings as small as 180 nm are observed, corresponding to a PbTe layer thickness of 40 nm. These nanoscale multilayers, formed by bulk processing, resemble thin-film superlattice thermoelectric materials, which have shown exceptionally high thermoelectric efficiency.
First Prize (tie): Hemorrhage following percutaneous renal surgery: characterization of angiographic findings.

Purpose: Percutaneous surgery is an established approach to a spectrum of renal pathology, and hemorrhage is the most concerning complication of this technique. We determined the frequency of postoperative hemorrhage requiring selective angioembolization (SAE), the efficacy of this approach, and characterized the angiographic findings. Methods: We reviewed our database of 4695 patients who underwent percutaneous renal surgery and identified patients requiring SAE for postoperative hemorrhage. Angiographic findings were recorded and efficacy of SAE documented. Results: Patients undergoing percutaneous stone extraction (PSE; 3685), percutaneous antegrade endopyelotomy (PAE; 850), and upper-tract transitional cell carcinoma (UTTCC) resection (160) were reviewed. We identified 57 patients requiring SAE (1.2%) who underwent 44 PSEs (77.2%), 7 PAEs (12.3%), and 6 UTTCC resections (10.5%). This represented 1.2%, 0.8%, and 3.2% of all PSE, PAE, and UTTCC resections, respectively. Angiography revealed treatable le...
Polarization optics for high-brightness synchrotron x rays

High-brightness synchrotron radiation sources provide highly polarized x-rays for a broad range of studies in materials science, biology, chemistry, and physics. Special insertion devices and x-ray optics such as phase plates can further enhance the purity and the tunability of the polarization of a synchrotron x-ray beam. There are therefore growing interests and activities in making better polarized x-ray sources, and analyzing complete polarization states (Stokes polarimetry) of an x-ray beam. In this paper we review the present status of x-ray optics development in this field. We will focus on the principles and the practicalities of the various methods for producing and analyzing polarized x- rays, especially circularly polarized x-rays.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Magnetically labeled insulin-secreting cells

Iron oxide nanoparticles have been shown to magnetically label cells in order to visualize them in vivo via MR imaging. This technology has yet to be implemented in insulin secreting cells, thus it is not known whether the presence of these nanoparticles in the cytoplasm of the cells affects insulin secretion. This study investigates the effectiveness and consequence of labeling mouse insulinoma betaTC3 and betaTC-tet cells with monocrystalline iron oxide nanoparticles (MION). Our data show that MION can be internalized in both betaTC3 and betaTC-tet cells following a 24h exposure to 0.02mg/ml MION solution. The metabolic and secretory activities of both MION-labeled cell lines were statistically indistinguishable from sham treatment. Furthermore, cell viability and apoptosis remained constant throughout the cell's exposure to MION. Finally, MR images demonstrated significant contrast between labeled and sham-treated cells. Thus, labeling murine insulinoma cell lines with magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles does not hinder their insulin secretion, while it provides MR imaging contrast.
Surgeon-Performed Ultrasound can Predict Differentiated Thyroid Cancer in Patients with Solitary Thyroid Nodules

Certain surgeon-performed ultrasound (SUS) features may predict differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). The purpose of this study was to determine the SUS characteristics that are strongly associated with DTC in patients with solitary thyroid nodules. A retrospective review of 115 patients with solitary thyroid nodules who had SUS before thyroid surgery was performed. Patients were subdivided into two groups based on final pathology results: patients with DTC(n = 61) and those with benign disease (BD) (n = 54). SUS characteristics of thyroid nodules were studied, including size, type, calcifications, borders, shape, and echogenicity. For SUS features, odds ratio (OR), confidence interval (CI), and P values are presented. Of 115 operated patients with solitary thyroid nodules, 53% (61/115) had DTC [papillary, 59%; follicular variant/papillary, 34%; Hurthle cell, 5%; and follicular, 2%] and 47% (54/115) had BD [hyperplastic, 56%; follicular adenoma, 31%; lymphocytic thyroiditis, 7%; and Hurthle cell adenoma, 6%]. Univariate analysis showed that hypoechogenicity, irregular borders, and microcalcifications were associated with an increased risk for DTC compared to hyper/isoechogenicity, regular borders, and coarse/no calcifications. Association strength was confirmed using a multivariate model, including the five SUS characteristics. Hypoechogenicity (OR = 4.27; 95% CI, 1.74–10.47; P < 0.002), irregular borders (OR = 3.10; 95% CI, 1.25–7.7; P < 0.015), and microcalcifications (OR = 2.65; 95%CI, 1.04–6.76; P < 0.05) had a greater association with DTC after adjustment for the other four SUS features. Additionally, the combination of hypoechogenicity, irregular borders, and microcalcifications had the strongest association with DTC (OR = 30.1; 95% CI, 7.76–119.2; P < 0.0001). Hypoechogenicity, irregular borders, and microcalcifications were most strongly associated with an increased risk for DTC. These SUS characteristics may have additional clinical value in predicting DTC in patients with solitary thyroid nodules.
Capsule Commentary on Duru, et al., Potential Savings Associated with Drug Substitution in Medicare Part D: the Translating Research into Action for Diabetes (TRIAD) Study

The last several decades have seen advances in pharmaceutical technology. Diseases once untreated or only treated by surgery are now managed by medications. This advanced technology brings both increased numbers and costs of prescriptions. From 1999 to 2011, the number of prescriptions increased from 2.8 billion to 4 billion.1 In 2010, the U.S. spent 259 billion dollars on prescription medications, and this is projected to double by the end of this decade.2 What if there was a means of reducing the skyrocketing costs of prescription medications without limiting services or compromising care? In this study, Duru et al. examine therapeutic substitution as a means of doing just this.3 Common in many hospitals, therapeutic substitution is the use of an alternative medication that is not biologically equivalent, but has a similar effect as the original medication. Using a subset of 2007 Medicare part D data from a large national insurer, the authors identified the 50 highest costs drugs for the payor. The research team identified potential therapeutic substitutions for 27 to 30 of the 50 high cost drugs and calculated the potential cost savings to the patient, health plan and government. Their findings indicate a potential savings of 452 dollars per beneficiary—two to three times greater than that of generic substitution programs. There is general agreement that health care costs are too high and that the government needs to trim its expenditures. As the Affordable Care Act nears complete implementation and the number of insured increases, containment of prescription drug expenses will play an increasingly important role in controlling overall health care costs. This paper demonstrates a potential means of lowering pharmacy costs to patients, health plans and the government while still providing quality care. It is consistent with other ongoing efforts, including the National Physicians Alliance “Good Stewardship” program,4 that gave rise to the ABIM Foundation’s “Choosing Wisely” campaign.5 While further study to test multiple insurers and also the acceptability of therapeutic substitution to both patients and providers is needed, payers should take notice of this study as a potential method of cost savings.
Numerical solutions of the incompressible miscible displacement equations in heterogeneous media

Abstract This paper presents a numerical method based on mixed finite element, discontinuous Galerkin methods in space and high order Runge–Kutta method in time for solving the miscible displacement problem. No slope limiters are needed. The proposed method exhibits high order of convergence in space and time when comparing with analytical solutions. The simulation shows robustness of the method for heterogeneous media with highly varying permeabilities.
Characterization of the lac repressor species produced by limited tryptic cleavage.

Abstract Tryptic cleavage of native lac repressor under very mild conditions has been found to yield preparations suitable for detailed physical and chemical analysis. Sephadex G-200 chromatography of the digest produces one main protein peak followed by small peptides. The protein from the main peak was analyzed by automated Edman degradation and revealed two unique cleavage sites, one at residue 51 and the other at 59. The tryptic core protein under native conditions is tetrameric and exhibits a circular dichroism spectrum similar to that of native lac repressor.
Risk Sharing and Transactions Costs: Evidence from Kenya's Mobile Money Revolution

We explore the impact of reduced transaction costs on risk sharing by estimating the effects of a mobile money innovation on consumption. In our panel sample, adoption of the innovation increased from 43 to 70 percent. We find that, while shocks reduce consumption by 7 percent for nonusers, the consumption of user households is unaffected. The mechanisms underlying these consumption effects are increases in remittances received and the diversity of senders. We report robustness checks supporting these results and use the four-fold expansion of the mobile money agent network as a source of exogenous variation in access to the innovation. (JEL E42, G22, O16, O17, Z13) In developing countries, informal networks provide an important means by which individuals and households share risk, though the insurance they provide is often incomplete. Economists have proposed a number of reasons for this incompleteness, including information asymmetries, which manifest in problems of moral hazard, and limited commitment, both of which induce positive correlations between realized income and consumption. In this article we emphasize a complementary source of incompleteness: transaction costs—literally, the costs of transferring resources between individuals. We test the impact of transaction costs on risk sharing by analyzing data from a large panel household survey that we designed and administered in Kenya over a three-year period to capture the expansion of “mobile money.” This financial innovation has allowed individuals to transfer purchasing power by simple short messaging service ( SMS) technology and has dramatically reduced the cost of sending money across large distances. Mobile money is a recent innovation in developing economies—one of the first and most successful examples to date is Kenya’s “M-PESA.” 1 In just four years after its
The Transition State of Thermal Organic Reactions: Direct Observation in Real Time†

A classic in physical organic chemistry, the inversion of cyclooctatetraene (COT), was studied with femtosecond resolution by negative-ion-beam techniques. The transition state for the thermal inversion was accessed directly by detachment of the electron from the planar COT− ion.
Interpretation of pseudoparticles in physical gauges

The effects of pseudoparticle solutions to Yang-Mills field theories are discussed for gauges where the F/sub ..mu..//sub ..nu../ uniquely determine the potentials. Even though a unique vacuum is found, the physical consequences obtained by previous authors are shown to occur. It is then shown how the A/sub 0/ = 0 gauge may be reformulated to give a unique vacuum. The many vacuums found by previous authors are seen to be artifacts of a particular parametrization of function space.
Implications of comparative effectiveness research for radiation oncology.

Abstract Purpose The essence of comparative effectiveness research (CER) is to understand what health interventions work, for which patients, and under what conditions. The objective of this article is to introduce the relative strengths and weaknesses of several forms of evidence to illustrate the potential for CER evidence generation within radiation oncology. Methods We introduce the underlying concepts of effectiveness and efficacy. We describe the design of traditional explanatory randomized trials (RCTs). We introduce the rationale, strengths, and weaknesses of several alternative study designs for comparative effectiveness, including pragmatic clinical trials, adaptive trials, and observational (nonrandomized) studies. Results Explanatory RCTs are designed to assess the efficacy of an intervention while achieving a high degree of internal validity. Pragmatic clinical trials (PCTs) are prospective studies performed in typical, real-world clinical practice settings. The emphasis of PCTs is to maintain a degree of internal validity while also maximizing external validity. Adaptive trials can be modified at interim stages using existing or evolving evidence in the course of a trial, which may allow trials to maintain clinical relevance by studying current treatments. Observational data are becoming increasingly important, given substantial funding for clinical registries and greater availability of electronic medical records and claims databases, but need to address well-known limitations such as selection bias. Conclusion With the rapid proliferation of new and evolving radiotherapy technologies, it is incumbent upon our field to invest in building the evidence base for radiotherapy CER and to actively participate in current initiatives for generating comparative evidence.
Effect of Grain Boundary Misorientation on Electromigration in Lead-Free Solder Joints

Reduction in microelectronic interconnect size gives rise to solder bumps consisting of few grains, approaching a single- or bicrystal grain morphology in C4 bumps. Single grain anisotropy, individual grain orientation, presence of easy diffusion paths along grain boundaries, and the increased current density in these small solder bumps aggravate electromigration. This reduces the reliability of the entire microelectronic system. This paper focuses on electromigration behavior in Pb-free solder, specifically the Sn-0.7 wt.%Cu alloy. We discuss the effects of texture, grain orientation, and grain boundary misorientation angle on electromigration (EM) and intermetallic compound formation in EM-tested C4 bumps. The detailed electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analysis used in this study reveals the greater influence of grain boundary misorientation on solder bump electromigration compared with the effect associated with individual grain orientation.
Scattering from dipole mode resonance of loaded circular loop.

When excited as a scatterer, a circular conducting loop loaded with an impedance having a circumference of about one electrical wavelength long may resonate in either of two orthogonal electric dipole modes with different frequencies.
The System Bi2O3–R2O3 (R=Y, Gd)

A new face centered cubic phase of composition Bi3RO6 (RY, Gd) is reported, and details of the Bi2O3–R2O3 (RY, Gd) phase diagrams are discussed. Similar compositions with RTb, Dy, Hc, Er are examined. Es wird uber eine neue kubisch-flachenzentrierte Phase der Zusammensetzung Bi3RO6 (RY, Gd) berichtet. Weiterhin werden Einzelheiten des Phasendiagramms Bi2O3–R2O3 (RY, Gd) diskutiert. Ahnliche Verbindungen mit RTb, Dy, Ho, Er werden untersucht.
Reduction of Immunogenicity of Anthrax Vaccines Subjected to Thermal Stress, as Measured by a Toxin Neutralization Assay

We report that a toxin neutralization assay (TNA) can detect a decrease in the immunogenicity of anthrax vaccines as a consequence of brief exposure to elevated temperature. This attribute of TNA may help in adopting immunogenicity as a replacement of the current potency test, which involves protection from lethal challenge.
Process for CO2 Capture Using Ionic Liquid That Exhibits Phase Change

A novel process for capturing carbon dioxide from the flue gas of a coal-fired power plant has been shown to reduce parasitic power consumption substantially. The process employs an ionic liquid created at the University of Notre Dame that has a high capacity for absorbing CO2 by chemical reaction. A distinguishing property of this ionic liquid is that it changes phase from solid to liquid upon reaction with CO2. The process uses heat generated by this phase transition to lower parasitic power consumption. The driving force for CO2 separation is a combination of temperature and pressure differences; the process could even work without the addition of heat. A realistic process was created to capture CO2 efficiently. Computer simulation of the process enabled calculation of viable process conditions and power usage. The main concepts of the process were shown to work using a lab-scale apparatus. Parasitic power consumes 23% of net power generation, 55% lower than that of the monoethanolamine (MEA) process. ...
Introduction to medical electronics.

Summary In this paper emphasis has been given to applications of engineering to medicine and biology. There have been several hints of the inverse situation: applications of biology to engineering. In the long run this latter approach should prove just as fruitful. Certainly man with all his technological ingenuity has not yet been able to rival nature. The most exquisite systems from the standpoint of size, energy consumption, efficiency, reliability, bandwidth, and control are to be found in living organisms. The sensitivities and dynamic ranges of organic sensory systems are far beyond what can be engineered today; the systems which have been developed are many orders of magnitude larger in size than those found in animals and plants. Even unicellular organisms have control systems far superior to those constructed with huge computers, data processing systems, and feedback control systems.
The genus phymatolithon in the Gulf of Maine

New information on anatomy, cytology and the development of reproductive structures is presented to show that Phymatolithon is a genus distinct from both Clathromorphum and the branching members of Lithothamnium. Also, a new species of Phymatolithon, Ph. rugulosum, is described. The reproductive cycles and geographic and bathymetric distributions of Ph. laevigatum and Ph. rugulosum in the Gulf of Maine are presented and discussed. There is strong indication that the geographic distribution of crustose corallines in the region is controlled primarily by maximum summer temperatures. The depth distributions are apparently controlled primarily by decrease of light with depth, though temperatures and substrate are also factors.
On the mechanism of hydrocarbon formation from methanol over zeolite catalysts: Evidence for carbene intermediacy

Evidence has been obtained from 13C isotope-labeling experiments showing the existence of carbenoid C1 species during methanol reactions over HZSM-5 zeolites.
Soil–Plant Nutrient Interactions on Manure-Enriched Calcareous Soils

Growers working with manured soils o? en rely on soil test information when developing nutrient management for their crop, especially when manure application information is unavailable. Nutrient-enriched soils, like manured soils, can trigger nutrient de? ciencies and toxicities due to plant–soil nutrient interactions. ? e goal of the study was to determine correlations between soil test and plant tissue nutrient concentrations for irrigated corn silage crops (Zea mays L. subsp. mays) with varying nutrient concentrations unique to dairy manure-enriched calcareous soils. Whole plant and soil samples were collected from 39 cooperator corn silage ? elds at harvest over a 2-yr period throughout the Snake River Plain region of southern Idaho. Soils were sampled to a depth of 30.5 cm and analyzed for plant available forms of P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, S, Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu, and B; whole plant tops were analyzed for total N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, S, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu. Signi? cant positive correlations were detected between soil test K and tissue K (Spearman’s rho correlation coe? cient = 0.63), soil test K and tissue N (rho = 0.59), and soil test B and tissue N (rho = 0.53). A significant negative correlation was detected between soil test Fe and tissue Mn (rho = –0.59). Controlled studies are needed to corroborate the relationships observed in this survey study.
Technology strategy, governance structure and interdivisional coordination

Abstract This paper studies how various organizational forms compare in their capacities to solve coordination problems created by technological interdependence between firms' divisions. I contrast the organizational mechanisms used by two firms, IBM and General Motors, to address these problems. While it is widely recognized that centralization distorts incentives facing division managers, this paper highlights its benefits when there are large potential gains from agreement on technological standards. The examples show how a centralized governance structure supported by lower-powered incentives facilitates interdivisional coordination. This suggests a refinement of the theory of organizational form based on how firms resolve the tensions between strategic planning and the measurement of organizational units' performances.
Bounded price variation models with rational expectations and price risk

Abstract The bounded price variation model under rational expectations is extended to include higher moments of price in the supply equation. The resulting framework is then used to estimate a disequilibrium model of the U.S. corn market that includes price risk.
Message-ordered multicast by common building blocks

A message-ordered multicast service delivers messages from multiple senders to multiple receivers preserving some ordering properties among the messages such as their sending sequence or possible causality relationship. Different applications require different ordering properties. Existing message-ordered multicast protocols support only a specific ordering property.We describe a method to realize different message order multicast services using a network composed of switches and communication links with simple properties. Given these elements and their properties, we derived common building blocks which have different ordering capabilities (strong ordering or strong causal ordering). These building blocks are a very powerful and flexible tool to build more complex structures which are able to order the messages of multiple overlapping multicast groups.
Subsurface multiphase flow of organic contaminants: Model development and validation

Abstract A numerical model has been developed to predict the migration of organic contaminants in the subsurface. The formulations take a multiphase approach in describing the flow of organic contaminants in saturated and unsaturated porous media. In a three-phase fluid system of contaminant, gas, and water, simultaneous flow of the water and the contaminant phases is formulated by applying mass conservation principles to each of the phases under the condition of no interphase mass exchange. For each phase, the formulations incorporate the spatial variability of the relative permeability and its direction dependency. The complex formulations are solved numerically using an implicit finite difference scheme. The accuracy of the numerical model is determined against experimental data from the literature. The predicted migration pattern in both homogeneous and stratified media agrees well with the experimental data. Numerical simulations illustrate the strong effects of the medium permeability and the water distribution profiles on the flow pattern and the pressure distribution of the contaminant.
FURTHER OBSERVATIONS ON DEPOLARIZING NEUROMUSCULAR BLOCK: THE SO-CALLED PHASE II BLOCK

The biphasic depression of muscle contractions induced by succinylcholine (Sch) and decamethonium (C 10 ) in rat diaphragms at 32 °C was investigated. The type of depression induced by these muscle relaxants was dependent on their speed of administration and the experimental conditions. Contrary to present belief, endplate depolarization had a minor role in the mode of action of Sch and C 10 during the initial neuromuscular block (phase I); this initial phase was caused by a prejunctional failure similar for both drugs. The late depression of muscle contractions (phase II) had different causes depending on the drug used and could be present without the preceding phase I. Postjunctional desensitization may contribute to phase II block under C 10 but its role is insignificant, if any, under Sch. These results may be more relevant to the action of C 10 and Sch in man than observations made from muscles of frogs maintained at room temperature. However, until these observations are tested in human muscles in situ we cannot be sure of their applicability to the clinical situation.
Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma to the Thyroid 23 Years After Nephrectomy

Thyroid carcinoma is an uncommon form of human cancer, with an outstanding overall cure rate. This excellent prognosis is based on the fact that well over 99% of thyroid cancers are primary tumors. Metastatic cancer to the thyroid remains very rare. We report a case of clear cell renal carcinoma metastatic to the thyroid gland 23 years after nephrectomy.
Lethal mutagenesis in a structured environment.

Abstract We analyze how lethal mutagenesis operates in a compartmentalized host. We assume that different compartments receive different amounts of mutagen and that virions can migrate among compartments. We address two main questions: (1) To what extent can refugia, i.e., compartments that receive little mutagen, prevent extinction? (2) Does migration among compartments limit the effectiveness of refugia? We find that if there is little migration, extinction has to be achieved separately in all compartments. In this case, the total dose of mutagen administered to the host needs to be so high that the mutagen is effective even in the refugia. By contrast, if migration is extensive, then lethal mutagenesis is effective as long as the average growth in all compartments is reduced to below replacement levels. The effectiveness of migration is governed by the ratio of virion replication and death rates, R 0 . The smaller R 0 , the less migration is necessary to neutralize refugia and the less mutagen is necessary to achieve extinction at high migration rates.
WRN, the protein deficient in Werner syndrome, plays a critical structural role in optimizing DNA repair.

Summary Werner syndrome (WS) predisposes patients to cancer and premature aging, owing to mutations in WRN . The WRN protein is a RECQ-like helicase and is thought to participate in DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair by non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) or homologous recombination (HR). It has been previously shown that non-homologous DNA ends develop extensive deletions during repair in WS cells, and that this WS phenotype was complemented by wild-type (wt) WRN. WRN possesses both 3′′ → 5′′′ ′ exonuclease and 3′′ → 5′′ helicase activities. To determine the relative contributions of each of these distinct enzymatic activities to DSB repair, we examined NHEJ and HR in WS cells (WRN–/–) complemented with either wtWRN, exonucleasedefective WRN (E–), helicase-defective WRN (H–) or exonuclease/helicase-defective WRN (E–H–). The single E– and H– mutants each partially complemented the NHEJ abnormality of WRN–/– cells. Strikingly, the E–H– double mutant complemented the WS deficiency nearly as efficiently as did wtWRN. Similarly, the double mutant complemented the moderate HR deficiency of WS cells nearly as well as did wtWRN, whereas the E– and H– single mutants increased HR to levels higher than those restored by either E–H– or wtWRN. These results suggest that balanced exonuclease and helicase activities of WRN are required for optimal HR. Moreover, WRN appears to play a structural role, independent of its enzymatic activities, in optimizing HR and efficient NHEJ repair. Another human RECQ helicase, BLM, suppressed HR but had little or no effect on NHEJ, suggesting that mammalian RECQ helicases have distinct functions that can finely regulate recombination events.
A summary of the 2010 Dunning Symposium: the practice of dentistry for the 21st century

The 15th Dunning Symposium was held on November 29 and 30, 2010 in conjunction with the Greater New York Dental meeting in New York City. Since the first symposium in 1981, the symposia have addressed major issues in the field of dentistry that impact on the oral health of the public. The theme for this symposium dealt with how the practice of dentistry would emerge given healthcare reform legislation, opportunities for dentists to become more engaged in the primary care of patients, trends in dental education, and the addition of a mid-level practitioner. The audience, consisting of dental school deans and leaders in state and national dental associations, completed a pre-symposium questionnaire to gauge their opinions on key issues and then, after the presentations, participated in breakout sessions that discussed the implications of the presentations. This paper is a summary of the Dunning Symposium.
Results from the July 1981 Workshop on Passive Remote Sensing of the Troposphere

Potential roles of passive remote sensors in the study of the chemistry and related dynamics of the lower atmosphere were defined by a Tropospheric Passive Remote Sensing Workshop, and technology advances required to implement these roles were identified. A promising role is in making global-scale, multilayer measurements of the more abundant trace tropospheric gaseous species (e.g., O3, CO, CH4, HNO3) and of aerosol thickness and size distribution. It includes both nadirand limb-viewing measurements. Technology advances focus on both scanning- and fixed-spectra, nadir-viewing techniques with resolutions of 0.1 kaysers or better. Balloon- and Shuttle-borne experiments should be performed to study the effects of instrument noise and background fluctuations on data inversion and to determine the utility of simultaneously obtained nadir- and limb-viewing data.
Decreased cellular IL-23 but not IL-17 production in children with autism spectrum disorders

A potential role for T(H)17 cells has been suggested in a number of conditions including neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorders (ASD). In the current study, we investigated cellular release of IL-17 and IL-23 following an in-vitro immunological challenge of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from children with ASD compared to age-matched typically developing controls. Following stimulation, the concentration of IL-23, but not IL-17, was significantly reduced (p=0.021) in ASD compared to controls. Decreased cellular IL-23 production in ASD warrants further research to determine its role on the generation and survival of T(H)17 cells, a cell subset important in neuroinflammatory conditions that may include ASD.
Angular momentum transfer in 12C-, 20Ne- and 40Ar-induced fission

Abstract Angular momentum transfer in a variety of 12C-, 20Ne- and 40Ar-induced fission reactions has been investigated using γ-ray multiplicity techniques. Fission fragments were detected in coincidence using a pair of solid-state detectors. The fragment masses were deduced from the kinetic energies and emission angles using two-body kinematics. The γ-ray multiplicities (Mγ) of the fission fragments were measured utilizing an array of eight NaI detectors. For most of the systems studied, Mγ is nearly independent of the exit-channel mass asymmetry. The strongest dependence on mass is observed in the systems 154sm + 240 MeV 40Ar, where a minimum exists at symmetry, and 197Au + 164 MeV 20Ne, where nuclear structure effects are suggested by the data. For all the reactions the quantity Mγ tends to decrease gradually with increasing fragment kinetic energy. The magnitude of Mγ generally appears to be larger than expected on the basis of rigid rotation, suggesting a spin enhancement effect. The data are compared with a simple model which assumes the statistical excitation of a variety of angular momentum bearing collective modes. Reasonable agreement is obtained with the experimental results. The roles of other collective effects, such as shape fluctuations and angular momentum fractionation, are also considered.
A new transition count method for testing of logic circuits

The authors propose a transition count method for detecting faults in single- and multiple-output logic circuits. It can be extended to sequential circuits in which scan design is incorporated. This method is called double transition count (DTC) testing for single-output circuits and multiple transition count (MTC) testing for multiple-output circuits. It is shown that the detectability of faults obtained by DTC and MTC testing is the same as that obtained by conventional testing. Hence, this method does not result in any information loss even though the set of output vectors is considerably compressed. The size of a DTC or MTC test is equal to the size of the equivalent conventional test since no test vectors need to be repeated. The basic test circuitry required is very simple, consisting of only one flip flop, one OR gate, one inverter, and one switch per output. >