cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Determination of atrazine levels in whole saliva and plasma in rats: potential of salivary monitoring for occupational exposure.

Current biological monitoring techniques are often unable to provide accurate estimates of pesticide dose in exposed worker populations. This study was conducted to investigate the feasibility of pesticide biomonitoring using saliva. Atrazine [2-chloro-4-ethylamino-6-(isopropylamino)-s-triazine], a member of the triazine herbicides, was selected to investigate salivary excretion following direct gastric administration in rats. Concentrations of atrazine in whole saliva and arterial plasma samples were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Atrazine reached its highest level in both arterial plasma (238 g/L) and whole saliva (157 g/L) 35 min after administration of 105 mg/kg of atrazine, and then decreased with time in a parallel fashion. Although saliva atrazine levels were lower than levels in arterial plasma, there was a very high correlation between whole saliva and 2 arterial plasma atrazine concentrations (r = .95). In addition, pharmacokinetic analysis suggested that salivary level...
"I Have Seen the Future, and His Name Is Shamu": Moby Dick in San Diego

Susan G. Davis. Spectacular Nature: Corporate Culture and the Sea World Experience. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1997. xii. 313 pp.
Employee silence motives: Investigation of dimensionality and development of measures

Summary In four studies, I examine the motives for employee silence. In Study 1, I examine open-ended survey responses to determine the nature and scope of silence motives. Study 2 develops measures of these motives and explores their factor structure. Study 3 refines the measures and provides confirmatory evidence of factor structure. Study 4 examines relationships between the new measures and related factors (employee voice, psychological safety, neuroticism, extraversion). Results indicate that six dimensions of silence motives (ineffectual, relational, defensive, diffident, disengaged, and deviant) emerged from the data, which can be reliably measured and provide incremental value for understanding and assessing employee silence. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Endovascular Repair of a Right-Sided Descending Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm Associated with a Right Aortic Arch and a Left Subclavian Artery Arising from a Kommerell’s Diverticulum

This case report describes the endovascular repair of a right-sided descending thoracic aortic aneurysm associated with a right aortic arch and an aberrant left subclavian artery. A 76-year-old male with multiple comorbidities was incidentally found to have a right-sided descending thoracic aortic aneurysm with a maximum diameter of 6.2 cm. Additionally, there was a right aortic arch with a retroesophageal segment and separate arch branches arising in the following order: left common carotid artery, right common carotid artery, right subclavian artery, and left subclavian artery that was aberrant, arising from a Kommerrell’s diverticulum. The aneurysm was successfully excluded by deployment of a Zenith TX1 36 × 32 × 20-mm stent-graft using wire traction technique via the left femoral and right brachial arteries in order to deal with two severe aortic angulations. At 18-month follow-up the patient was doing well, with aneurysm sac shrinkage to 5.9 cm and no signs of endoleak or migration. Endovascular repair of right-sided descending thoracic aortic aneurysms with a right arch and aberrant left subclavian artery is feasible, safe, and effective. In such rare configurations, which demand considerably increased technical dexterity and center experience, endovascular repair emerges as an attractive therapeutic option.
Modeling grain size variations of aeolian gypsum deposits at White Sands, New Mexico, using AVIRIS imagery

Abstract Visible and Near-Infrared (VNIR) through Short Wavelength Infrared (SWIR) (0.4–2.5 μm) AVIRIS data, along with laboratory spectral measurements and analyses of field samples, were used to characterize grain size variations in aeolian gypsum deposits across barchan-transverse, parabolic, and barchan dunes at White Sands, New Mexico, USA. All field samples contained a mineralogy of ∼ 100% gypsum. In order to document grain size variations at White Sands, surficial gypsum samples were collected along three Transects parallel to the prevailing downwind direction. Grain size analyses were carried out on the samples by sieving them into seven size fractions ranging from 45 to 621 μm, which were subjected to spectral measurements. Absorption band depths of the size fractions were determined after applying an automated continuum-removal procedure to each spectrum. Then, the relationship between absorption band depth and gypsum size fraction was established using a linear regression. Three software processing steps were carried out to measure the grain size variations of gypsum in the Dune Area using AVIRIS data. AVIRIS mapping results, field work and laboratory analysis all show that the interdune areas have lower absorption band depth values and consist of finer grained gypsum deposits. In contrast, the dune crest areas have higher absorption band depth values and consist of coarser grained gypsum deposits. Based on laboratory estimates, a representative barchan-transverse dune (Transect 1) has a mean grain size of 1.16 ϕ (449 μm). The error bar results show that the error ranges from − 50 to + 50 μm. Mean grain size for a representative parabolic dune (Transect 2) is 1.51 ϕ (352 μm), and 1.52 ϕ (347 μm) for a representative barchan dune (Transect 3). T-test results confirm that there are differences in the grain size distributions between barchan and parabolic dunes and between interdune and dune crest areas. The t-test results also show that there are no significant differences between modeled and laboratory-measured grain size values. Hyperspectral grain size modeling can help to determine dynamic processes shaping the formation of the dunes such as wind directions, and the relative strengths of winds through time. This has implications for studying such processes on other planetary landforms that have mineralogy with unique absorption bands in VNIR-SWIR hyperspectral data.
Functional shifts in unvegetated, perhumid, recently-deglaciated soils do not correlate with shifts in soil bacterial community composition.

Past work in recently deglaciated soils demonstrates that microbial communities undergo shifts prior to plant colonization. To date, most studies have focused on relatively ‘long’ chronosequences with the ability to sample plant-free sites over at least 50 years of development. However, some recently deglaciated soils feature rapid plant colonization and questions remain about the relative rate of change in the microbial community in the unvegetated soils of these chronosequences. Thus, we investigated the forelands of the Mendenhall Glacier near Juneau, AK, USA, where plants rapidly establish. We collected unvegetated samples representing soils that had been ice-free for 0, 1, 4, and 8 years. Total nitrogen (N) ranged from 0.00∼0.14 mg/g soil, soil organic carbon pools ranged from 0.6∼2.3 mg/g soil, and both decreased in concentration between the 0 and 4 yr soils. Biologically available phosphorus (P) and pH underwent similar dynamics. However, both pH and available P increased in the 8 yr soils. Nitrogen fixation was nearly undetectable in the most recently exposed soils, and increased in the 8 yr soils to ∼5 ng N fixed/cm2/h, a trend that was matched by the activity of the soil N-cycling enzymes urease and β-l,4-N-acetyl-glucosa-minidase. 16S rRNA gene clone libraries revealed no significant differences between the 0 and 8 yr soils; however, 8 yr soils featured the presence of cyanobacteria, a division wholly absent from the 0 yr soils. Taken together, our results suggest that microbes are consuming allochtonous organic matter sources in the most recently exposed soils. Once this carbon source is depleted, a competitive advantage may be ceded to microbes not reliant on in situ nutrient sources.
Ion bombardment, ultrasonic, and pulsed laser beam effects on small metallic clusters of potassium in MgO

Abstract Small metallic precipitates of potassium were produced in ion-implanted layers (5 × 10 16 K + ions cm -2 , 150 keV, 300 K) on {100} faces of single crystals of MgO by thermal annealing in air at 1000 K. The resulting potassium aggregates had a mean size of 7 nm as characterized by optical absorption measurements and analytical electron microscopy. The effects of three distinct treatments on these precipitates and the implanted layer as a whole were investigated. Ion bombardment with Ar 2+ (1 × 10 16 ions cm -2 , 300 keV, 300 K) results in a dissolution of the metallic clusters and the production of F + and V - centers, as evidenced by the relative changes in the corresponding absorption bands. Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy indicates that this dissolution of precipitates does not result in any long-range redistribution of the potassium. Laser irradiation at a frequency near the absorption resonance of the potassium metal (1 μm wavelength) produces an exfoliation of the implanted layer. A similar effect occurs in ultrasonically treated samples where the entire implanted layer is removed after a 12 min exposure to an energy flux of 120 W cm -2 . The similarities and differences among these treatments are discussed along with suggestions for further study.
Effect of interitem similarity on free learning by children

Free learning of word lists was tested in children from grades 2 to 6. Two different methods of measuring interitem associative strength were shown to improve immediate free recall more than comparable word lists distinguished by orthographic similarity; in turn, recall of each of these latter lists was better than comparable lists of unrelated words. Furthermore, it was determined that free learning is influenced by intralist similarity in much the same way at each grade (age) level. Apparently, the usefulness and impact of associative and orthographic relationships extend down to typical second grade students whose language habits have already largely taken shape.
The construction of solutions to pseudoparabolic equations in noncylindrical domains

Abstract We consider the first initial boundary value problem for pseudoparabolic equations in a domain with time dependent boundaries. Sufficient conditions on the coefficients of the equation and the boundary of the region are given in order that this initial boundary value problem has a unique solution.
The CD3δ gene encodes multiple transcripts regulated by transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms

CD3 is a multi-subunit complex of proteins noncovalently associated with the T cell receptor (TcR) for antigen. Considerable evidence indicates a role for CD3 molecules in the transduction of activation signals in T cells. The murine CD3δ gene encodes a 0.7-kb transcript present in mature T cells. Here we report the characterization of several additional CD3δ transcripts; two nuclear transcripts, 4–4.5 kb in size, and two predominately cytoplasmic transcripts of 1.5 kb and 2.5 kb. Both T lymphoma cell lines and normal thymocytes express the 1.5-kb and 2.5-kb CD3δ transcripts. These cytoplasmic transcripts have long 3'-untranslated sequences which extend beyond the polyadenylation site of the predominant 0.7-kb transcript. The protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide (CHX) increases the expression of all three cytoplasmic CD3δ transcripts, indicating that their level of expression may be regulated by a labile inhibitor protein(s). The CHX elicited increase in CD3δ mRNA appears to result from post-transcriptional events since the rate of CD3δ gene transcription remains constant. In contrast to CHX, the calcium ionophore A23187 increases the rate of CD3δ gene transcription and, like CHX, also increases the level of cellular CD3δ mRNA. The immunosuppressive agent cyclosporin A inhibits A23187-mediated stimulation of transcription, but has no effect on the CHX-mediated induction of CD3δ mRNA. We conclude that both transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms can regulate the amount of all three cytoplasmic CD3δ transcripts.
Structural elements and limited proteolysis of CD39 influence ATP diphosphohydrolase activity.

CD39, the mammalian ATP diphosphohydrolase (ATPDase), is thought to contain two transmembrane domains and five “apyrase conserved regions” (ACR) within a large extracellular region. To study the st...
A cost-reducing question-selection algorithm for propositional knowledge-based systems

In many applications of knowledge-based systems, initially given data are often not sufficient to reach a conclusion and more data are needed. A question-selection algorithm is to identify missing information and select proper questions to ask. We present a question-selection algorithm for propositional knowledge-based systems, which aims at asking more relevant and less expensive questions. Comparing to those algorithms currently used in many expert systems, the new algorithm is capable of reaching a conclusion more economically in our computational experiments.
Amino acid spacing in isotachophoresis on polyacrylamide gel: A critical evaluation

Abstract Isotachophoresis of colored model proteins was carried out on polyacrylamide gel, using the stack of a multiphasic buffer system computed on the basis of the Jovin theory and operative at pH 10.4. The stack was elongated by milligram loads of various amino acids per analytical gel. The extent of the stack was determined by chemical localization of the leading and trailing constituents. The isotachophoretic nature of the stack was ascertained by determining the positions of all protein specles under study as intermediate between the leading and trailing constituents. The shallow pH gradient across the extended stack was measured. Spacing of proteins in isotachophoresis is restricted, with regard to constituent multiplicity and constituent load, by the practical limitations of electrophoresis time and gel length. Therefore, spacing by a small number of constituents at relatively low loads was attempted. Amino acids were chosen as spacers because they can be selected conveniently, in radioactively labeled form, for the specific separation between pairs of proteins with particular mobilities. In the particular buffer system used, lysine, histidine, serine, and threonine were found to be effective spacers between bovine serum albumin (BSA) and hemoglobins, while no amino acids effectively spaced between hemoglobins A and S. It is concluded that specific spacing in isotachophoresis on polyacrylamide gel (ITPPA) can be useful in improving resolution. However, in practice, few spacers exist in the mobility range of proteins, the positions of which relative to specific proteins could be convenlently located on the basis of isotope analysis or other assays. Mixtures of multiple spacers with undefined mobilities appear applicable as “blind spacers” only at concentrations so low that their effectiveness is annulled.
Incremental and Parallel Analytics on Astrophysical Data Streams

Stream processing methods and online algorithms are increasingly appealing in the scientific and large-scale data management communities due to increasing ingestion rates of scientific instruments, the ability to produce and inspect results interactively, and the simplicity and efficiency of sequential storage access over enormous datasets. This article will showcase our experiences in using off-the-shelf streaming technology to implement incremental and parallel spectral analysis of galaxies from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) to detect a wide variety of galaxy features. The technical focus of the article is on a robust, highly scalable principal components analysis (PCA) algorithm and its use of coordination primitives to realize consistency as part of parallel execution. Our algorithm and framework can be readily used in other domains.
METHODS FOR COMBINATION OF EVIDENCE IN FUNCTION-BASED 3-D OBJECT RECOGNITION

Representation schemes traditionally used in model-based vision are contrasted with the “function-based” representation scheme. A system which utilizes function-based representation has been implemented and tested, using the object category “chair” for case study. Function-based description is used to recognize classes and identify subclasses of known categories of objects, even if the specific object has never been encountered previously. Interpretation of the functionality of an object is accomplished through qualitative reasoning about its 3-D shape. During the recognition process, evidence is gathered as to how well the functional requirements are satisfied by the input shape. An investigation of different types of operators used in the combination of the functional evidence has been made. Three pairs of conjunctive and disjunctive operators have been used in the recognition process of more than 100 object shapes. The results are compared and differences are discussed.
Language Functioning and Deficits Following Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury

The purpose of this article is to provide a current review of language functioning and deficits following traumatic brain injury (TBI), specifically among the pediatric population. This paper will: (a) outline the manner in which these deficits may impede functioning across environments; (b) review methods of assessing language functioning within this population; and (c) discuss empirically supported interventions to address noted language deficits as they present in pediatric TBI.
Long-term Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibition With Fosinopril Improves Depressed Responsiveness to Ca2+ in Myocytes From Aortic-Banded Rats

Background We have previously shown that long-term ACE inhibition with fosinopril prolongs survival and improves ventricular function despite persistent severe left ventricular pressure overload in ascending aortic–banded rats with left ventricular hypertrophy during the transition from compensation to failure. Methods and Results To study the cellular mechanism of the effects of long-term ACE inhibition on the modification of the transition to failure in pressure-overload hypertrophy, we measured simultaneous intracellular Ca2+ transients and myocyte shortening in isolated left ventricular myocytes from fosinopril-treated aortic-banded rats (n=9), untreated aortic-banded rats (n=9), and normal age-matched control rats (n=10). Fosinopril therapy was begun 6 weeks after banding and was continued until week 21 after banding, when the animals were killed. Collagenase-dissociated myocytes loaded with indo 1-AM were paced at 3 Hz at 36°C and superfused at [Ca2+]o of 0.6, 1.2, and 3.0 mmol/L. In myocytes from u...
Sociality and sickness: Have cytokines evolved to serve social functions beyond times of pathogen exposure?

During pathogen exposure or some forms of stress, proinflammatory processes induce an array of motivated and behavioral adjustments termed “sickness behaviors”. Although withdrawal from social interactions is a commonly observed sickness behavior, the relation between social behavior and sickness is much more complex. Sickness can suppress or stimulate social behavior. Sickness can serve as a social cue. Stressors that are social in nature can induce sickness behaviors, and sickness behavior can be readily suppressed by meaningful social stimuli. The nature, context, and timing of these effects together suggest that cytokine-induced behavior may play a role in mediating social interactions in various non-pathological conditions.
Measuring Grain Junction Angles in Discretized Microstructures

Grain junction angles control microstructural morphology and evolution, but because they are difficult to measure, they are reported rarely. We have developed a method, based on the optimization of the Pearson’s correlation coefficient, to measure grain junction angles in planar discretized microstructures without converting or remeshing the original data. We find that the grain junction angle distribution of equiaxed, relatively isotropic, three-dimensional (3D) microstructures is a Gaussian distribution centered about 120 deg, with a larger width than predicted primarily because of boundary energy anisotropy. Short boundary segments, which occur primarily in sections of 3D microstructures, cause anomalous peaks in the grain junction angle distribution that provide a marker for sample dimensionality. The grain junction angle distribution is a characterization metric for digitized microstructures, revealing the effects of grain boundary energy anisotropy, simulation parameters, and dimensionality.
The Shared Emotional Themes of Illness

Abstract Illness is both an individual and a relational issue. This paper describes the emotional impact of physical illness on families. We describe 10 themes that represent common affective responses to the challenge of a biological problem. They are: denial vs. acceptance, despair vs. hope, secrecy vs. sharing, guilt vs. forgiveness, burden vs. relief, isolation vs. connection, passivity vs. taking charge, fear vs. courage, loss vs. renewal, and senselessness vs. meaning. Treatment can be targeted to one or more of these themes as they emerge in medical family therapy. Therapists' own experience with illness also may play a role in facilitating, or impeding, interventions with patients and families.
In vitro and in vivo evaluation of a sulfobutyl ether β-cyclodextrin enabled etomidate formulation

In this study, we report the formulation and in vivo evaluation of etomidate in an aqueous solution using sulfobutyl ether-7 beta-cyclodextrin (SBE-CD, Captisol) as a solubilizing agent. The phase-solubility behavior of etomidate as a function of SBE-CD concentration was evaluated, and accelerated solution stability studies of 2 mg/mL etomidate in a 5% w/v SBE-CD solution were conducted. The intravenous administration of the SBE-CD etomidate formulation in dogs was compared with Amidate, the commercial etomidate drug product formulated with propylene glycol as a cosolvent. The etomidate plasma concentration-time data were fit to a three-compartment mamillary model and the derived standard pharmacokinetic parameters were not statistically different between the two formulations (n = 4, p > 0.050). Concurrent pharmacodynamic analysis provided statistically equivalent maximum effects and median inhibitory concentrations for the two formulations. In vivo hemolysis after intravenous administration of Amidate was 10-fold higher than the SBE-CD formulation. Whereas Amidate cannot be given subcutaneously because of the cosolvent in the formulation, a 12 mg/mL aqueous solution of etomidate in 20% (w/v) SBE-CD was well tolerated by this route. The results suggest that the SBE-CD formulation is a viable clinical drug product with a reduced side-effect profile.
Interpolymer radical coupling reactions during sonication of polymer solutions

Abstract Interpolymer radical coupling was investigated in polymer solutions exposed to high-intensity ultrasound. Fluorescence-detection gel permeation chromatography was used to characterize the sonication product from solutions of blends of high-molecular weight polystyrene (PS)/pyrene-labeled PS and poly( n -butyl methacrylate)/pyrene-labeled PS, showing that, along with chain scission leading to macroradical formation, sonochemically induced reactions can lead to interpolymer radical coupling and measurable block copolymer on timescales of 2–4 min. This investigation provides evidence of rapid in situ block copolymer formation that has previously been inferred without proof in sonication studies of polymer blends and their solutions. It is also consistent with recent studies of melt and solid-state processing of blends indicating that in situ interpolymer radical coupling is useful in reactive compatibilization.
Construction of Structurable Superalgebras of Cartan Type

The classification of simple structurable superalgebras of Cartan type over an algebraically closed field of characteristic 0 has been done recently by Pozhidaev and Shestakov [8]. Here we present an easy construction and quick classification of the algebras using a superalgebra version of results due to Elduque and Okubo [5] relating Lie algebras with S 4-actions and structurable algebras.
Individualism and conformity in the 1950s vs. the 1980s

If the 1950s are remembered for conformity, the 1960s for rebellious individualism, and the 1970s for narcissistic individualism, images of the 1980s contain an ambiguous mixture of individualism and conformity, with similarities to the 1950s. But if the 1980s resemble the 1950s in some respects, are portraits of individualism and conformity in the later decade nevertheless different from their earlier incarnations? A comparative analysis of best-selling self-help books in the 1950s and the 1980s reveals the following changes: from “maturity” as a desirable end to an ever-changing self; from determinism about the self to antideterminism and constructionism; from institutional constraints and joys to interpersonal ones. These changes reflect the incorporation of ideas from the counterculture of the late 1960s and early 1970s, and may also stem from perceptions of a simultaneous increase in structural determinism and individual empowerment.
NF-κB Induction of the SUMO Protease SENP2: A Negative Feedback Loop to Attenuate Cell Survival Response to Genotoxic Stress

Activation of NF-κB, pivotal for immunity and oncogenesis, is tightly controlled by multiple feedback mechanisms. In response to DNA damage, SUMOylation of NEMO (NF-κB essential modulator) is critical for NF-κB activation; however, the SUMO proteases and feedback mechanisms involved remain unknown. Here we show that among the six known Sentrin/SUMO-specific proteases (SENPs), only SENP2 can efficiently associate with NEMO, deSUMOylate NEMO, and inhibit NF-κB activation induced by DNA damage. We further show that NF-κB induces SENP2 (and SENP1) transcription selectively in response to genotoxic stimuli, which involves ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM)-dependent histone methylation of SENP2 promoter κB regions and NF-κB recruitment. SENP2 null cells display biphasic NEMO SUMOylation and activation of IKK and NF-κB, and higher resistance to DNA damage-induced cell death. Our study establishes a self-attenuating feedback mechanism selective to DNA damage-induced signaling to limit NF-κB-dependent cell survival responses.
Iron Deficiency in Athletes: An Update

Adequate body stores of iron are necessary for optimal endurance exercise performance. Severe iron depletion resulting in overt iron-deficiency anemia clearly depresses endurance fitness, but it is not clear if milder degrees of iron deficiency (low serum ferritin with normal hemoglobin levels) impair physical capacity. The question is an important one for athletes, particularly females, who are particularly prone to iron deficiency without anemia. This review examines research data, in both animals and humans, which have addressed this issue. Constructing guidelines based on this often-conflicting body of information is difficult. Routine screening is advocated for at-risk athletes, particularly elite-level female competitors in distance sports, and, although controversial, many authorities recommend iron treatment for athletes with hypoferritemia (ferritin <12-20 ng/mL), even without overt anemia. However, “blind” supplementation with oral iron by athletes is not recommended.
Changes in the pharmacologic treatment of hypertension in the department of veterans affairs 1997–1999: decreased use of calcium antagonists and increased use of β-blockers and thiazide diuretics

Older studies of antihypertensive treatment have shown that prescribing patterns are not consistent with recommendations from expert national panels. We determined whether prescribing patterns for antihypertensive drugs changed recently in the largest integrated health care system in the United States. Specifically, we determine 1) patterns of antihypertensive medication use at all Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities for fiscal years 1997 to 1999, 2) the cost of this care, and 3) savings associated with changes in treatment patterns. Data were aggregated by individual medication as well as by antihypertensive drug class. Estimates of VA national antihypertensive drug costs are based on the median cost and the number of units for each dosage form of each medication dispensed at all facilities. At VA medical facilities, calcium antagonist use went from 33% to 29.3% of antihypertensive treatment days between 1997 and 1999, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) use from 36.4% to 36.8%, beta-blockers from 19.1% to 21.1%, and thiazide diuretic use from at 11.5% to 12.8%. If treatment patterns had remained the same between 1997 and 1999 in terms of the proportion of medications from each drug class, an additional six million dollars would have been spent on antihypertensive medications in 1999. Although calcium antagonists and ACE inhibitors/ARB remained the most commonly dispensed antihypertensives at VA facilities from 1997 to 1999, there was a proportional decrease in calcium antagonist use and an increase in the use of thiazide diuretics and beta-blockers. These changes were consistent with improved compliance with VA national guidelines. The cost implications of these changes in practice patterns were considerable.
Monitoring seagrass beds around a sewage sludge outfall in South Australia

Abstract Digested sludge from the Port Adelaide Sewage Treatment Works has been discharged to Gulf St. Vincent, a marine embayment in South Australia, since 1978. The outfall is sited in seagrass meadows dominated by Posidonia spp. and Amphibolis spp. By 1982 the discharge had affected an area of approximately 1900 ha, 365 ha of which were completely denuded of these seagrasses. A monitoring programme conducted over summers 1983–1985, inclusive, was based on the above-ground biomass (standing crop) of Posidonia at fourteen sites around the outfall. All sites were surveyed in the first two summers and eight sites were surveyed in the third. The results indicate that there was no ongoing reduction in the standing crop of Posidonia at any of the sites. These data also suggested that excessive growth of epiphytes on the leaves of Posidonia was a likely cause of the observed impact on the seagrass beds.
Stress-Cracking of high density polyethylene in detergents

Correlations of the stress intensity factor, KI, with crack speed, ċ, have been obtained in a number of detergent solutions each having different detergent concentration. A constant crack speed region was observed in high density polyethylene. The KI independent constant crack speed was found to vary linearly with detergent concentration. The viscosity of the detergent solution increases with concentration and hence this region is not controlled by the hydrodynamic properties of the environment in contrast with Williams' model. The KI-ċ data were compared with existing models of crack propagation.
Measurement of the microwave properties of micron-sized coplanar transmission lines

A method of measuring the properties of micron-sized slow-wave coplanar transmission lines is presented. The transmission line's propagation constant γ and characteristic impedance Zo are determined directly from the measured S-parameters of a section of transmission line. Measurements are made with microwave "on-wafer" probes. Test data from 0.5 to 40 GHz is presented on a relatively low-loss slow-wave coplanar transmission line fabricated on silicon. The measured quality factor of the transmission line is seen to approach 10 at 11 GHz with a wavelength-compression factor of approximately 5.6.
Stability of homogeneous-solid deflagration with two-phase flow in the reaction zone

Abstract An asymptotic model is derived for the nonsteady, nonplanar deflagration of energetic solids, such as nitramines, that experience exothermic reactions in liquid layers at their surfaces. The analysis takes into account the role of interphase heat transfer and the relative motion of gas and liquid in the resulting two-phase region at the surface. A basic solution corresponding to steady, planar burning is obtained, and a linear stability yields a neutral stability boundary beyond which the basic solution is unstable to pulsating disturbances. In particular, it is found that stability of the basic solution is lost for sufficiently large values of the activation energy and/or sufficiently small values of the interphase heat transfer parameter. In the combined limit that the latter approaches infinity and a velocity-perturbation parameter, which accounts for two-phase viscous and Marangoni effects, approaches zero, the neutral stability boundary is the same as that encountered for separate-phase solid propellants with an intrusive gas flame.
Discontinuation of Antipsychotics in Nursing Home Patients With Dementia

The authors assessed the consequences of stopping antipsychotic medication in nursing home patients with dementia, as mandated by federal regulations (OBRA 87). They studied three patient groups: 1) a group ("clinical judgment") whose antipsychotics were discontinued at the discretion of their physicians; 2) a group ("empirical") with mandated cessation of antipsychotics in the facility; and 3) a comparison group of patients not receiving medication. The primary outcome measure was the necessity to resume antipsychotic or other psychotropic medication ("failure"). Also, assessments of behavior, function, neurologic status, and cognition were performed by blind raters. The failure rate in the empirical withdrawal group was 50%, 10 times that of the clinical judgment group. Among failures, the most striking result was increased verbal and physical aggression. No failures occurred in the comparison group. There were no benefits of antipsychotic withdrawal in terms of neurological performance, functional status, or cognition.
The development of a fluid/structure interaction model for flawed fluid containment boundaries with applications to gas transmission and distribution piping

Abstract In most instances, dynamic fracture mechanics analyses of structural components can safely assume that the external loads are independent of the crack propagation and arrest event. However, for pressure vessels and pipelines this will not always be the case. Here the flow of the contained medium through the crack opening can play a significant role in dictating the crack driving forces. Typical of this important class of problems is rapid crack propagation along the axial direction of a gas pipeline. Accordingly, a computational model has recently been developed to effect a detailed analysis of this problem that accounts for the high degree of interaction between the escaping gas and the pipe wall movement during the propagation event. For this purpose, a three-dimensional finite difference fluid dynamics code has been linked with a shell finite element code. In this paper comparisons are made between the model predictions in steady state conditions with available full scale burst data for steel transmission pipelines to assess the veracity of the coupled analysis model. Applications to polyethylene gas distribution piping systems are then made with the validated model.
Postnatal development of synaptic structure proteins in pyramidal neuron axon initial segments in monkey prefrontal cortex.

In the primate prefrontal cortex (PFC), the functional maturation of the synaptic connections of certain classes of GABA neurons is very complex. For example, the levels of both pre- and post-synaptic proteins that regulate GABA neurotransmission from the chandelier class of cortical interneurons to the axon initial segment (AIS) of pyramidal neurons undergo marked changes during both the perinatal period and adolescence in the monkey PFC. In order to understand the potential molecular mechanisms associated with these developmental refinements, we quantified the relative densities, laminar distributions, and lengths of pyramidal neuron AIS immunoreactive for ankyrin-G, sIV spectrin, or gephyrin, three proteins involved in regulating synapse structure and receptor localization, in the PFC of rhesus monkeys ranging in age from birth through adulthood. Ankyrin-G- and sIV spectrin-labeled AIS declined in density and length during the first six months postnatal, but then remained stable through adolescence and into adulthood. In contrast, the density of gephyrin-labeled AIS was stable until approximately 15 months of age and then markedly declined during adolescence. Thus, molecular determinants of the structural features that define GABA inputs to pyramidal neuron AIS in monkey PFC undergo distinct developmental trajectories with different types of changes occurring during the perinatal period and adolescence. In concert with previous data, these findings reveal a two-phase developmental process of GABAergic synaptic stability and GABA neurotransmission at chandelier cell inputs to pyramidal neurons that likely contributes to the protracted maturation of behaviors mediated by primate PFC circuitry.
Distinct Biogenesis Pathways for Human Telomerase RNA and H/ACA Small Nucleolar RNAs

Functional RNAs are processed according to cues from precursor expression context. The presence of an H/ACA motif within the human telomerase RNA (hTR) suggested that telomerase might utilize the biogenesis pathway of an H/ACA small nucleolar RNA. Here, we have investigated the requirements for processing, stability, and function of hTR. Instead of a biogenesis pathway dependent on transcription context or precursor sequence, we find that maturation of hTR requires cooperation of the H/ACA motif and an additional motif unique to the hTR H/ACA domain. This telomerase-specific hTR element is mutated in dyskeratosis congenita, and the disease-associated hTR substitution impairs RNA accumulation. Disease-associated hTR variants with sequence changes outside the H/ACA domain do not affect RNA processing or stability; they instead impose a catalytic defect. Our results reveal differences between the biogenesis of hTR and other H/ACA-motif RNAs and demonstrate distinct mechanisms of telomerase inhibition in human disease.
The application of Lean Six Sigma to the configuration control in Intel’s manufacturing R&D environment

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide an example of Lean Six Sigma (LSS) application in research and development (R&D) organizations to eliminate waste and improve systems based on available data that in turn improves the innovative environment. Manufacturing R&D involves designing and testing innovative concepts and taking them into high-volume manufacturing. The infrastructure associated with such organizations involves experimental manufacturing lines with the ability to evaluate the result under statistical process control and configuration control. The integration of LSS process improvement methodology into the R&D organization infrastructure and operations can have a dramatic effect on reducing cost and time related to the development and delivery of new technologies and products. Design/methodology/approach – The LSS methodology was systematically implemented to eliminate waste and improve the existing process of Intel’s configuration control during the development and ramp phases. The ...
A project selection, prioritisation and classification approach for organisations managing continuous improvement (CI)

Industries are continuously facing fierce competition and the challenge of meeting increasing quality demands at economic costs. The rate of quality improvement and the effectiveness of project management are important factors that determine the survival of any organisation. Project management includes the selection, prioritisation, classification and execution of continuous improvement (CI) projects. There are several cases of failure in implementing improvements resulting in tremendous waste of energy, resources, and, in some cases, the closure of facilities. As such, studies on proper selection, prioritisation and classification of improvement projects are worth investigating. The objective of this paper is to investigate the issue of project selection, prioritisation and classification. It presents a model that summarises sources of projects and the guidelines that describe the way ideas can be filtered, to select the proper projects of highest priority at a certain time. Also, it presents a high-level integrated framework for CI, project selection, prioritisation and other business blocks.
Mechanism of the deoxyribonucleic acid helping effect during transformation.

Abstract Bacteria of the Challis strain of group H hemolytic streptococci differ from pneumococci in their response to concentrations of transforming DNA at which infection by more than one molecule of DNA is probable. At such concentrations the probability, per DNA molecule, of transforming a pneumococcus diminishes, while the probability of transforming a streptococcus increases. The simultaneous presence of non-transforming (genetically unmarked) DNA is inhibitory to the transformation of pneumococci exposed to transforming (genetically marked) DNA. The simultaneous presence of non-transforming DNA enhances transformation of cells of the Challis strain. The help given by non-transforming DNA in the transformation of Challis recipients is not due to improved binding of the transforming DNA. On the contrary, the presence of helping DNA inhibits uptake and binding of transforming DNA, but enhances the likelihood of transformation by those transforming molecules that are bound. Help may be extended by DNA from a variety of sources, bacterial and mammalian, but the greatest help appears to be given by homospecific DNA. Evidence is presented that the help does not result from protection of transforming DNA prior to its entry into the recipient bacteria; nor is the help due to a shortening of the time necessary for phenotypic expression of transformants. During the period of time in which Challis recipients are undiminished in transformability, any delay in the addition of helping DNA to recipients already exposed to transforming DNA results in a marked reduction in transformation. On the other hand, a delay in the addition of transforming DNA to recipients already exposed to helping DNA can result in a marked increase in transformation; the greater this delay, however, the less the increase. The simultaneous presence of helping DNA protects bound transforming DNA from the inactivating action of exogenous DNase. These results support the hypothesis that help is due to the saturation of a cell-bound inactivator of unintegrated fragments of donor DNA. About 15% of the 32P label that is bound by Challis recipients immediately after exposure to labeled transforming DNA is lost upon continued incubation and growth for two hours. The simultaneous presence of unlabeled, non-transforming DNA suppresses this loss. The presence of helping DNA does not alter the genetic linkage of the str and ery loci.
Some cautionary notes on the use of principal components regression

Abstract Many textbooks on regression analysis include the methodology of principal components regression (PCR) as a way of treating multicollinearity problems. Although we have not encountered any strong justification of the methodology, we have encountered, through carrying out the methodology in well-known data sets with severe multicollinearity, serious actual and potential pitfalls in the methodology. We address these pitfalls as cautionary notes, numerical examples that use well-known data sets. We also illustrate by theory and example that it is possible for the PCR to fail miserably in the sense that when the response variable is regressed on all of the p principal components (PCs), the first (p − 1) PCs contribute nothing toward the reduction of the residual sum of squares, yet the last PC alone (the one that is always discarded according to PCR methodology) contributes everything. We then give conditions under which the PCR totally fails in the above sense.
Photonic emitters and circuits based on colloidal quantum dot composites

We discuss our work on light emitters and photonic circuits realized using colloidal quantum dot composites. Specifically we will report our recent work on flexible microcavity laser, microdisk emitters and integrated active - passive waveguides. The entire microcavity laser structure was realized using spin coating and consisted of an all-polymer distributed Bragg reflector with a poly-vinyl carbazole cavity layer embedded with InGaP/ZnS colloidal quantum dots. These microcavities can be peeled off the substrate yielding a flexible structure that can conform to any shape and whose emission spectra can be mechanically tuned. The microdisk emitters and the integrated waveguide structures were realized using soft lithography and photo-lithography, respectively and were fabricated using a composite consisting of quantum dots embedded in SU8 matrix. Finally, we will discuss the effect of the host matrix on the optical properties of the quantum dots using results of steady-state and time-resolved luminescence measurements. In addition to their specific functionalities, these novel device demonstrations and their development present a low cost alternative to the traditional photonic device fabrication techniques.
Electromyographical Comparison of Plank Variations Performed With and Without Instability Devices

Although there are multiple studies involving abdominal musculature activation and instability devices (e.g., Swiss balls), there is minimal research comparing them with a suspension device (e.g., TRX). The purpose of this investigation was to measure the electromyographical (EMG) activity of the rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique (EO), and erector spinae while performing planks with and without multiple instability devices. Twelve apparently healthy men (n = 6; age = 23.92 ± 3.64 years) and women (n = 6; age = 22.57 ± 1.87 years) volunteered to participate in this study. All participants performed 2 isometric contractions of 5 different plank variations, with or without an instability device, where the order of the exercises was randomized. Mean peak and normalized EMG of the RA, EO, and erector spinae musculature were compared across the 5 exercises. Results indicated that planks performed with the instability devices increased EMG activity in the superficial musculature when compared with traditional stable planks. Therefore, a traditional plank performed on a labile device may be considered an advanced variation and appropriate for use when a greater challenge is warranted. However, caution should be taken for those individuals with a history or weakness in the lumbar region due to the increases in erector spinae activation during instability planks.
Steroid receptors in sarcomatous lesions.

Clinical observations showed that the natural history of sarcomatous lesions may be different among males and females, and it may be influenced by hormonal factors. Estrogen receptors (ER) were measured on biopsy specimens of melanoma (two patients), soft-tissue sarcoma (four patients), cystosarcoma phylloides (five patients), benign breast tissues (27 patients), and breast carcinoma (109 patients). Thirty-four specimens also had progesterone receptors (PR) analyzed. One of the five cystosarcoma phylloides and five of the six nonmammary sarcoma tissues contained ER (mainly of the 4 Svedburg (S) variety) of more than 7 femtomoles (fmoles)/mg cytosol proteins (6/11 = 54%). For comparison, three of the 14 fibroadenoma specimens and two of the 13 patients with other benign lesions had positive ERs (5/27 = 19%), whereas 56% of the breast carcinomas were ER positive. Since the amount of 8S ER found in sarcomatous tissues is relatively low, hormonal treatment would not be effective.