cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modification of olfactory bulb synaptic inhibition by early unilateral olfactory deprivation.

Abstract Early unilateral olfactory deprivation produces large structural and neurochemical changes in the olfactory bulb, the first central relay for olfactory information. The functioning of deprived bulbs was examined in the present report by using paired-pulse stimulation of the lateral olfactory tract. Paired-pulse stimulation reflects interactions between mitral/tufted cells and granule cells, as well as the modulatory effects of centrifugal and intra-bulbar association fibers. Paired-pulse stimulation produced inhibition of mitral/tufted cells in control animals at PN20–PN22. This inhibition was significantly enhanced in littermates deprived of olfactory input from PN1 to PN20–PN22. Suppression of mitral/tufted cell single-unit spontaneous activity following single-pulse stimulation of the lateral olfactory tract (LOT) was similarly enhanced in deprived bulbs. These results suggest that early olfactory deprivation significantly modifies subsequent olfactory system function.
An Accurate Expression for Gas-Pressure Drop in High-Speed Subsonic Flow With Friction and Heating

An approximate solution is derived for the pressure ratio in high-speed subsonic flow through constant-crosssection circular tubes with friction and heating. The results are compared with those obtained from an accurate numerical calculation. The gas used is air. A wide range of variables such as temperature ratio, exit Mach number (up to 0.90), tube length-to-diameter ratio, and shape of the power distribution function is examined. The derived expression is found to be quite accurate in all cases. ( auth)
Tiaprofenic acid inhibits the renal reabsorption of sulfate in rats

The objectives of the current investigation were: (1) to examine the effects of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, tiaprofenic acid (TA), on sulfate renal reabsorption, and (2) to determine if concomitant prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) could reverse these effects. In crossover studies, female Lewis rats (n = 9) received either TA (as an intravenous (i.v.) bolus injection of 15 mg/kg and constant infusion of 0.02 mg/min) or its vehicle for 6 h. A blood sample was obtained at 5 h and urine was collected between 4 and 6 h. At a steady-state TA serum concentration of approximately 190 micrograms/ml, the PGE2 urinary excretion rate was inhibited by > 90% with no change in glomerular filtration rate (GFR), as measured by creatinine clearance. TA administration resulted in a significant decrease in serum sulfate concentrations (0.65 +/- 0.22 vs 1.1 +/- 0.15 mM, mean +/- SD, p < 0.01) and increase in sulfate clearance ratio (0.32 +/- 0.14 vs 0.13 +/- 0.06, p < 0.01) when compared to the vehicle-treated period. There was also a significant decrease in the fraction of sulfate reabsorbed by the kidneys (0.68 +/- 0.14 vs 0.87 +/- 0.06 in the vehicle-treated period, p < 0.01). In a second crossover study, rats received either TA or TA plus PGE2. PGE2 was administered as an infusion (0.1 micrograms/min) beginning 210 min after the start of the TA infusion. An additional group of rats served as controls and received both vehicles.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Scalable, low-cost, high performance IPM Motor for Hybrid Vehicles

Electric drive systems, which include electric machines and power electronics, are a key enabling technology for advanced vehicle propulsion systems that reduce the petroleum dependence of the ground transportation sector. To have significant effect, electric drive technologies must be economical in terms of cost, weight, and size while meeting performance and reliability expectations. This paper will provide an overview of the DoE/GE project to develop scalable, low-cost, high-performance next generation IPM traction motors for hybrid applications. The goal is to leap frog the state of the art and meet the FredomCar 2020 specifications. The paper will include the analytical and test results of the first proof-of-principle machine, analytical and preliminary test results for the second proof-of-principle machine as well as next steps.
Double-Blind 18-Month Trial of Lithium Versus Divalproex Maintenance Treatment in Pediatric Bipolar Disorder.

ABSTRACT Objective To determine whether divalproex sodium (DVPX) was superior to lithium carbonate (Li + ) in the maintenance monotherapy treatment of youths diagnosed with bipolar disorder who had been previously stabilized on combination Li + and DVPX (Li + /DVPX) pharmacotherapy. Method Youths ages 5-17 years with bipolar I or II disorder were initially treated with Li + /DVPX. Patients meeting remission criteria for four consecutive weeks were then randomized in a double-blind fashion to treatment with either Li + or DVPX for up to 76 weeks. Study participation ended if the subject required additional clinical intervention or if the subject did not adhere to study procedures. Results Patients were recruited between July 1998 and May 2002. One hundred thirty-nine youths with a mean (SD) age of 10.8 (3.5) years were initially treated with Li + /DVPX for a mean (SD) duration of 10.7 (5.4) weeks. Sixty youths were then randomized to receive monotherapy with Li + ( n = 30) or DVPX ( n = 30). The Li + and DVPX treatment groups did not differ in survival time until emerging symptoms of relapse ( p = .55) or survival time until discontinuation for any reason ( p = .72). Conclusions DVPX was not found to be superior to Li + as maintenance treatment in youths who stabilized on combination Li + /DVPX pharmacotherapy.
Early high urinary diversion.

In many cases of long-standing upper urinary tract obstruction, indications for high urinary diversion become evident at an early age. However, because of existing continuity of urinary tract and stable (although usually abnormal) renal function, there is a tendency to avoid surgical intervention. Frequently, it is only when renal function markedly deteriorates that high urinary diversion is considered, and many times it is too late to prevent complete renal failure. Since most patients are in the pediatric age group, we are becoming aware that early high urinary diversion in the face of poorly draining upper tracts may not only increase renal function, but also ultimately save the patient's life.
The anticonvulsant activities of N-benzyl 3-methoxypropionamides

We recently reported that the ED50 value for (R,S)-2,3-dimethoxypropionamide (1) in the maximal electroshock (MES)-induced seizure test in mice was 30 mg/kg (Choi, D.; Stables, J.P., Kohn, H. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 1996, 4, 2105). This value is comparable to that observed for phenobarbital (ED50 = 22 mg/kg). Compound 1 is structurally similar to a class of MES-selective anticonvulsant agents, termed functionalized amino acids (2), that were developed in our laboratory. The distinguishing feature of 2 is the differential activities observed for enantiomers. In this study, we asked whether comparable differences in activities were observed in the MES-induced seizure test for (R)- and (S)-1. We developed stereospecific syntheses for these enantiomers and showed that both compounds exhibit nearly equal anticonvulsant activity in mice (i.p.) (MES ED50 = 79-111 mg/kg). The surprisingly high ED50 values for (R)- and (S)-1 required our redetermining the ED50 value for (R,S)-1. We revised this value to 79 mg/kg. A limited structure-activity relationship study for 1 was conducted. Special attention was given to the C(2) methoxy unit in 1. We found that replacement of this moiety led to only modest differences in the MES activities upon ip administration to mice. Significantly, we observed an enhancement in the anticonvulsant activity for (R,S)-N-benzyl 2-hydroxy-3-methoxypropionamide ((R,S)-6) upon oral administration to rats ((R,S)-6: mice (i.p.) ED50 > 100, < 300 mg/kg; rat (oral) ED50 = 62 mg/kg). The activities of 3-methoxypropionamides, functionalized amino acids, and related compounds are discussed.
Addition in a class of nonlinear Stieltjes integrators

A product integral formula is established for the generation of an evolution system by the sum of two Stieltjes integrators. The class of Stieltjes integrators considered is the class recently introduced and studied by J.V. Herod.
A 112–134 GHz SiGe amplifier with peak output power of 120 mW

A fully-integrated 8-way power combining amplifier for 120 GHz application in an advanced 90 nm SiGe HBT technology is presented. The single-ended PA breakout has a small-signal gain of 20 dB and P sat of 12.5-13.8 dBm at 114 to 130 GHz. The 8-way power combining PA achieves a small-signal gain of 15 dB and peak P sat of 20-20.8 dBm at 114-126 GHz with a PAE of 7.6-6.3 %. To our knowledge, this is the highest power silicon-based D-band amplifier to-date.
Lumbar Spine Bone Measurements in Infants: Whole-Body vs Lumbar Spine Dual X-ray Absorptiometry Scans

Abstract Availability of software delineation of the lumbar spine region from infant whole body (IWB) dual energy X-ray absorptiometry scan offers an opportunity to gain additional information at the lumbar spine without a separate scan, although the validity of this technique has never been tested. Lumbar spine measurements derived from IWB scans using software-delineated first to fourth lumbar vertebrae, and from specific infant spine (IS) scans were determined in 111 infants using two pencil-beam densitometers. Intraoperator repeatability determined by reanalysis of 10 pairs of IWB and IS scans from each densitometer. Lumbar spine area, bone mineral content, and bone mineral density from IWB and IS scans were significantly correlated ( r = 0.68 to 0.95, p
On free oscillations of elastic incompressible bodies in finite shear

Abstract Large amplitude free oscillations of thick-walled elastic, incompressible bodies are studied resulting from three types of shearing deformations. The material strain-energy function is expressed in a general form of finite series expansion so that the governing equations of motion in each case reduce to a system of non-linear second order partial differential equations. The degree of non-linearity is shown to be dependent on the number of terms retained in the power series. Approximate results for the non-linear systems are gained by a regular perturbation scheme. Illustrative problems using a strain-energy function for some rubber-like materials are also included.
Exploring the applications of invertebrate host-pathogen models for in vivo biofilm infections.

In the natural environment, microorganisms exist together in self-produced polymeric matrix biofilms. Often, several species, which can belong to both bacterial and fungal kingdoms, coexist and interact in ways which are not completely understood. Biofilm infections have become prevalent largely in medical settings because of the increasing use of indwelling medical devices such as catheters or prosthetics. These infections are resistant to common antimicrobial therapies because of the inherent nature of their structure. In terms of infectious biofilms, it is important to understand the microbe–microbe interactions and how the host immune system reacts in order to discover therapeutic targets. Currently, single infection immune response studies are thriving with the use of invertebrate models. This review highlights the advances in single microbial–host immune response as well as the promising aspects of polymicrobial biofilm study in five invertebrate models: Lemna minor (duckweed), Arabidopsis thaliana (thale cress), Dictyostelium discoideum (slime mold), Drosophila melanogaster (common fruit fly), and Caenorhabditis elegans (roundworm).
Artinian Rings Characterized by Direct Sums of CS Modules

Abstract In this note, we show that the following are equivalent for a ring R for which the socle or the injective hull of R R is finitely generated: (i) The direct sum of any two CS right R-modules is again CS; (ii) R is right Artinian and every uniform right R-module has composition length at most two. Next we give partial answers to a question of Huynh whether a right countably Σ-CS ring which either is semilocal or has finite Goldie dimension is right Σ-CS. We give characterizations, in terms of radicals, of when such rings are right Σ-CS. In particular, for the semilocal case, Huynh's question is reduced to whether rad(Z 2(R R )) is Σ-CS or Noetherian, where Z 2(R R ) is the second singular right ideal of R. Our results yield new characterizations of QF-rings.
Infrared-active combination bands in ArHCl

Abstract Ultra-sensitive infrared absorption spectroscopy in a slit supersonic expansion is used to obtain the spectrum of each of the three low-frequency van der Waals vibrations in ArHCl in combination with the ν 1 HCl stretch. The (11 1 0) perpendicular bend is observed to be heavily perturbed by Coriolis interactions both with the nearby (10 0 1) van der Waals stretch and with the (12 0 0) parallel bend. The ArHCl complexes formed from ground-state HCl and from vibrationally excited HCl are quite similar, as evidenced by the nearly identical vibrational frequencies and rotational constants for the three corresponding pairs of low-frequency vibrational modes.
A phase II study of cisplatin, doxorubicin, and ifosfamide with peripheral blood stem cell support in patients with skeletal osteosarcoma and variant bone tumors with a poor prognosis

BACKGROUND The authors evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of cisplatin, ifosfamide, and doxorubicin with peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) support in adult patients with osteosarcomas and variants with a poor prognosis. METHODS Between December 1994 and January 2001, 37 patients (20 males and 17 females) with a median age of 38 years (range, 18–63 years) entered the study. Ten patients had pelvic osteosarcomas (OS), 6 had malignant fibrous histiocytomas, 5 had metastatic OS, and 16 had miscellaneous histologies. The authors used doxorubicin (60–75 mg/m2) and ifosfamide (10 g/m2) followed by granulocyte–colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) (5 μg/kg twice per day) for mobilization of PBSC, collected at a median of 12 days (range, 10–14 days). Three cycles with cisplatin (120 mg/m2), ifosfamide (10 g/m2), and doxorubicin (75 mg/m2), given 28 days apart, were planned followed by PBSC (2–4 × 106 CD34-positive cells/kg) infusion plus G-CSF. RESULTS Patients received a median of three cycles (range, one to three cycles) in addition to the mobilizing cycle. The median PBSC collection was 17.5 × 106/kg (range, 13.2–90.8 × 106/kg) with a median of 1 apheresis (range, 1–2 aphereses). Twenty-eight patients underwent surgery, 10 achieved 95–100% necrosis, and 4 achieved 90–94% necrosis. Six patients required early discontinuation of therapy due to toxicities, two patients developed progressive disease, and one patient was deemed unresectable. The median time to progression (TTP) and overall survival by Kaplan–Meier estimates for all 37 patients was 19 months and 49 months, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The authors accomplished the objective of improving the rate of necrosis with intensification of preoperative therapy. However, TTP and survival rates remained poor. The toxicity profile of this regimen is prohibitive and alternative strategies need to be investigated. Cancer 2004. © 2004 American Cancer Society.
Deoxycholate releases RNA from Rauscher murine leukemia virus.

SummaryWhen purified Rauscher murine leukemia virus (RLV) was treated with sodium deoxycholate (DOC), an RNA-containing structure was released. This structure sedimented at the same rate as free viral RNA, displayed the same sedimentation heterogeneity, had little, if any, protein associated with it, and was solubilized by ribonuclease. It is, therefore, improbable that RLV RNA resides in a subviral structure which resembles nucleocapsids isolated from nononcogenic enveloped RNA viruses.
Fruit and soil quality of organic and conventional strawberry agroecosystems.

Background Sale of organic foods is one of the fastest growing market segments within the global food industry. People often buy organic food because they believe organic farms produce more nutritious and better tasting food from healthier soils. Here we tested if there are significant differences in fruit and soil quality from 13 pairs of commercial organic and conventional strawberry agroecosystems in California. Methodology/Principal Findings At multiple sampling times for two years, we evaluated three varieties of strawberries for mineral elements, shelf life, phytochemical composition, and organoleptic properties. We also analyzed traditional soil properties and soil DNA using microarray technology. We found that the organic farms had strawberries with longer shelf life, greater dry matter, and higher antioxidant activity and concentrations of ascorbic acid and phenolic compounds, but lower concentrations of phosphorus and potassium. In one variety, sensory panels judged organic strawberries to be sweeter and have better flavor, overall acceptance, and appearance than their conventional counterparts. We also found the organically farmed soils to have more total carbon and nitrogen, greater microbial biomass and activity, and higher concentrations of micronutrients. Organically farmed soils also exhibited greater numbers of endemic genes and greater functional gene abundance and diversity for several biogeochemical processes, such as nitrogen fixation and pesticide degradation. Conclusions/Significance Our findings show that the organic strawberry farms produced higher quality fruit and that their higher quality soils may have greater microbial functional capability and resilience to stress. These findings justify additional investigations aimed at detecting and quantifying such effects and their interactions.
Fermi Surface of Magnesium. IV. Magnetoresistance Study of Open Trajectories

Measurements of the magnetoresistance of high-purity single crystals of magnesium were made in order to determine the magnetic field directions for which open trajectories exist on the magnesium Fermi surface. Nine distinct series of open trajectories with net directions parallel to the basal plane of reciprocal space were observed. These trajectories have basic periodicities extending up to nine Brillouin zones and result from magnetic breakdown between the monster and cigar. The magnetic field directions for which these trajectories exist are shown to be in excellent agreement with the predictions of the Fermi-surface model proposed by Kimball, Stark, and Mueller. Measurements for the open trajectory parallel to the hexagonal axis in reciprocal space are also reported; these show a clear indication of the onset of magnetic breakdown across the spin-orbit gap separating the monster and the cap.
Liberty and justice for all : racial reform and the social gospel (1877-1925)

In the century between the "Emancipation Proclamation" of Abraham Lincoln and the "I Have a Dream" speech of Martin Luther King Jr., America sought both to rebuff and to redeem the promise of "liberty and justice for all." The story of slavery and the bloody civil war that abolished it has been told, but the story of the struggle for liberty and justice by and for African Americans in the half-century following the end of Reconstruction has been largely overlooked. In this highly readable narrative, distinguished historian Ronald C. White Jr. portrays the people, their ideas, and their ongoing struggle for racial reform in the United States from 1877-1925--a vital prelude to the modern civil rights movement and Martin Luther King, Jr.
Sub-grid representation of emission source clusters in regional air quality modeling

Abstract A key aspect in modeling the fate of pollutants released into the atmosphere is the parameterization of sub-grid scale processes so as to quantify their effect on resolvable scale features. Averaging emissions of species over grid squares characteristic of present-day regional and global models generally results in underpredicting concentrations of these species. This also causes inaccurate predictions for secondary pollutant species derived through complex chemical mechanisms. An algorithm is developed to provide improved sub-grid representation of emissions. A two-dimensional finite element technique is used to discretize the horizontal domain. The three-dimensional transport equation is time-split into this two-dimensional component and a one-dimensional vertical component to represent the transport processes. Compared to the locally one-dimensional finite element method (LOD-FEM), this technique allows use of variable grid sizes in the discretization of the horizontal domain, thus providing for local mesh refinement and consequently improved sub-grid representation in the numerical solution. The advantages of the scheme are inherent: the computational burden in terms of storage requirements is not increased, and the need for developing the troublesome interface boundary condition of a nested-grid procedure is avoided. A simplified first-order chemistry module has been incorporated to test the scheme for both primary and secondary pollutant species. Several test cases are presented to verify the efficacy of the proposed algorithm. Results from test cases for a simplified scenario indicate that the procedure enables one to simulate a more realistic range of concentrations for both the reactant and product species. Furthermore, comparison with the analytical solutions indicates that the numerical scheme is capable of reproducing the analytical solution, both qualitatively as well as quantitatively, in a superior manner compared to a uniform mesh.
Moving past: probing the agency and affect of recordkeeping in individual and community lives in post-conflict Croatia

Reporting on ongoing research, this paper reviews stories, drawn from recent literature as well as gathered through ethnographic research, that people tell about records and recordkeeping during and since the Yugoslav Wars. It focuses on what these stories reveal of the agency and affect of recordkeeping in individual and community lives, particularly in Croatia. The paper concludes with a contemplation of what might be learned from such an approach for the development of recordkeeping infrastructures that can anticipate, avert or alleviate some of the ways in which records and recordkeeping continue to traumatize or target the vulnerable, and frustrate and prevent the human and societal need to “move forward,” if not “move past.”
The molecular basis of ethylene signalling in Arabidopsis

The simple gas ethylene profoundly influences plants at nearly every stage of growth and development. In the past ten years, the use of a genetic approach, based on the triple response phenotype, has been a powerful tool for investigating the molecular events that underlie these effects. Several fundamental elements of the pathway have been described: a receptor with homology to bacterial two-component histidine kinases (ETR1), elements of a MAP kinase cascade (CTR1) and a putative transcription factor (EIN3). Taken together, these elements can be assembled into a simple, linear model for ethylene signalling that accounts for most of the well-characterized ethylene mediated responses.
Probing minimal independent folding units in dihydrofolate reductase by molecular dissection

Molecular dissection was employed to identify minimal independent folding units in dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) from Escherichia coli. Eight overlapping fragments of DHFR, spanning the entire sequence and ranging in size from 36 to 123 amino acids, were constructed by chemical cleavage. These fragments were designed to examine the effect of tethering multiple elements of secondary structure on folding and to test if the secondary structural domains represent autonomous folding units. CD and fluorescence spectroscopy demonstrated that six fragments containing up to a total of seven alpha-helices or beta-strands and, in three cases, the adenine binding domain (residues 37-86), are largely disordered. A stoichiometric mixture of the two fragments comprising the large discontinuous domain, 1-36 and 87-159, also showed no evidence for folding beyond that observed for the isolated fragments. A fragment containing residues 1-107 appears to have secondary and tertiary structure; however, spontaneous self-association made it impossible to determine if this structure solely reflects the behavior of the monomeric form. In contrast, a monomeric fragment spanning residues 37-159 possesses significant secondary and tertiary structure. The urea-induced unfolding of fragment 37-159 in the presence of 0.5 M ammonium sulfate was found to be a well-defined, two-state process. The observation that fragment 37-159 can adopt a stable native fold with unique, aromatic side-chain packing is quite striking because residues 1-36 form an integral part of the structural core of the full-length protein.
Symptomatic Exposures Among California Inmates 2011–2013

Prisoners have a high prevalence of substance misuse and abuse, but few studies have examined symptomatic exposures among incarcerated populations. We sought to further characterize the nature of these exposures among this population using the California Poison Control System data. Keyword searches identified inmate cases in 2011–2013 for patients 20+ years old exposed to a single substance and taken to hospital from jail, prison, or police custody. Comparisons were made with non-inmate cases during the same period, using similar limitations. Body stuffers and body packers were analyzed as a subgroup. Seven hundred four inmate cases were compared to 106,260 non-inmate cases. Inmates were more likely to be younger, male, and to have engaged in drug misuse or abuse. They most commonly ingested methamphetamine, heroin, acetaminophen, and anticonvulsants. Inmates were more likely to receive activated charcoal (OR 9.87, 8.20–11.88), whole bowel irrigation (OR 44.50, 33.83–58.54), undergo endotracheal intubation (OR 4.09, 2.91–5.73), and to experience a major clinical outcome or death (OR 1.41, 1.05–1.89). When body stuffers and packers were removed, clinical findings were similar, though the odds of a major outcome or death became statistically non-significant. Body stuffers and body packers primarily used methamphetamine and heroin, and compared with other inmates had significantly higher odds of both adverse clinical effects and poor outcome. This large series provides a profile of symptomatic exposures among inmates, a little-studied population. The potential for high morbidity among body stuffers and packers suggests that a high index of suspicion of such ingestions be maintained when evaluating patients prior to incarceration.
Stoichiometry of Coagulation Revisited

The roles of particles and natural organic matter (NOM) in determining coagulant (alum) doses in potable water treatment were investigated at two pH conditions (6 and 7). The concentrations of NOM and colloidal silica particles in raw water were systematically varied separately and in combination, and the impacts of these two classes of contaminants on the minimum effective alum doses were investigated using observations of turbidity and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in laboratory jar tests. At both pHs, coagulant requirements for the removal of these contaminants by sedimentation and filtration were dominated by the DOC concentration in the raw water. The presence of low NOM concentrations (0.75-1.5 mg of C/L) decreased the minimum effective alum dose dramatically for waters low in silica particles, possibly by promoting the precipitation of aluminum hydroxide and/or Al-NOM solids, whose removal would otherwise be limited by low collision opportunities. Strong stoichiometric relationships were observed between DOC and coagulant demand at both pHs regardless of silica particle concentration. Silica contributed to coagulant demand only at very high particle concentrations.
Ocean margin drilling: Preliminary program

The National Science Foundation has revised engineering planning and budgeting for the Ocean Margin Drilling Program (OMD). The figure shows the schedules. Right now, the request for proposals, which is an extensive and thorough list of specifications, restrictions, etc., is being prepared, to be followed by contract award and the ensuing design and modifications for the Glomar Explorer (see EOS, 67(11), March 11, 1980). What are now deleted from this schedule are two features of great importance to the ocean science community. One is continuation of Glomar Explorer operations; the other being riserless drilling operations for Glomar Explorer prior to completion of construction of the marine riser.
FORMATION OF PCDD/F FROM THE PYROLYSIS OF 2-CHLOROPHENOL ON THE SURFACE OF DISPERSED COPPER OXIDE PARTICLES

The formation of polychlorinated dibenzo- p -dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) from2-chlorophenol on supported copper oxide catalyst was studied over the temperature range 200–500°C and a contact time of 0.17–0.5 s under pyrolytic conditions. It was found that despite the pyrolytic conditions, the majority of 2-chlorophenol undergoes oxidation to CO and CO 2 . Approximately 0.5% of 2-chlorophenol was converted to PCDD/F. The results are consistent with a Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism for PCDF formation and an Eley-Rideal mechanism of formation of PCDD. Only one PCDF isomer was observed, 4,6-dichlorodibenzofuran, while substantial concentrations of highly chlorinated PCDD were detected. This observation can be explained by a mechanism of formation involving a surface-bound PCDD intermediate that can be further chlorinated. PCDFs are desorbed upon formation and are consequently not chlorinated.
Mechanical deformation of polymer matrix controlled release devices modulates drug release.

When magnetic fields were applied to polymer matrices of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer embedded with drug and a small magnet, drug release was increased up to 30-fold above baseline levels. It has been hypothesized that the effect of magnetic stimulation on the release of drugs from these matrices is the transduction of the applied magnetic field into a mechanical deformation of the matrix through motion of the magnet within the matrix. This current study provides support for this hypothesis by demonstrating that repeated pulsatile mechanical deformation of matrices can enhance the release of macromolecules from ethylenevinyl acetate copolymer matrices. Furthermore, similar modulated release kinetics were obtained with mechanically compressed and magnetically stimulated matrices. We also established that modulation was dependent on the ratio of compression area to matrix volume and that modulation was maximized when this ratio was optimized. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Drosophila melanogaster larvae detect low doses of UVC radiation as manifested by a writhing response

Exposure of insects and higher orders of animals to UVC radiation has been shown to result in toxicity with a delayed expression. We have observed an immediate writhing response in slowly wandering third instar larvae of Drosophila melanogaster exposed to UVC radiation at doses that were not lethal. UVB and UVA radiation had no effect. Mutants for the visual and sensory systems appeared to respond normally, but CO2 anesthesia resulted in reversible inhibition, ebony and silver mutants, which affect different pathways in catecholamine metabolism, showed an absent to reduced response. Using UVC lasers, we were able to demonstrate a response in different regions of the larval body. Furthermore, a 193 nm laser that penetrates only 2–5 μm was able to induce a response but unable to kill the larvae. These results suggest a photochemical reaction occurs in the cuticle which produces free radicals that stimulate the nerves and muscle which are present immediately below the epidermis. Possible targets for the UVC radiation are catecholic compounds secreted and processed into the cuticle of third instar larvae just prior to pupariation whose primary function is to crosslink the protein and carbohydrate components. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Innovative Simulation of Unsteady Low-Pressure Flows in Water Mains

This work presents a new numerical-model approach to simulate abnormal operational conditions in water mains, including the transition between free-surface and pressurized flow-regimes and subatmospheric unsteady flows leading to cavitation. The method is based on the two-component pressure approach (TPA), which is modified to incorporate a variable acoustic wave-speed calculation that depends on the pipe elasticity properties and on estimated free-gas content. This modification represents an improvement over the original TPA method for water-main applications in that the celerity, originally treated as a simulation parameter, now varies with space and time as would be anticipated in actual conditions. The proposed method was tested in three different conditions that involved unsteady flows and vaporous cavitation, and its results were compared with the original TPA model, the method of characteristics discrete free-gas cavity model, and experimental data. The comparative analysis indicates that the modified TPA model be an interesting and useful alternative to simulate unsteady flows in water mains in cases in which flow-regime transition is anticipated.
Methemoglobinemia revisited: An important complication after transesophageal echocardiography

Methemoglobinemia induced by the use of benzocaine-containing topical anesthetics is a rare, but potentially lethal complication after transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). We report a patient who developed methemoglobinemia after TEE. A review of the literature was performed and the majority of cases of benzocaine-induced methemoglobinemia reported thus far have occurred in patients undergoing TEE, endotracheal intubation, esophagogastroduodenoscopy, and bronchoscopy. All of these procedures have become more frequent than before, and there is a need to reemphasize the potential problem and to reconsider the need for further use of topical anesthetics.
Macrosegregation and Sedimentation in Liquid-Phase Sintering

Macrosegregation has been observed in a series of Pb-Sn alloys isothermally treated in an α + L (or β + L) two-phase region. Depending on the alloy composition, the Pb-rich α (or the Sn-rich β) solid phase quickly settles (or floats) to the bottom (or top) of the crucible as the alloy is heated into the solid-plus-liquid two-phase region. This settling or floating persists until such time as a skeletal solid structure is formed at the crucible bottom or top. The skeleton (the “mushy” zone) resembles liquid-phase-sintered structures; that is, it consists of interconnected solid and liquid phases. The initial settling can give rise to macrosegregation. Elimination of macrosegregation requires substantial time and is accompanied by a reduction in length of the mushy zone, giving rise to apparent sedimentation of this zone. We argue that this sedimentation results from the compositional readjustments accompanying macrosegregation elimination. On this basis, it appears that many observations of sedimentation in liquid-phase-sintered structures are due to these readjustments.
A Presumptive Subunit of Elastic Fiber Microfibrils Secreted by Arterial Smooth‐muscle Cells in Culture

Monkey smooth muscle cells, maintained for five weeks in confluent cultures, accumulated a substantial extracellular matrix. Elastic fibers possessing the characteristic amorphous elastin component and 11 rim diameter microfibrils could be isolated from this matrix by extraction with 5 M guanidine. Further extraction under reducing conditions selectively removed the microfibrillar component. Get electrophoresis of this extract in the presence of sodium dodecylsulfate revealed a single protein band with an apparent molecular weight of 270000. The amino acid composition of this presumptive subunit of the microfibrillar protein was rich in acidic and hydrophilic amino acids and distinctly different from that of collagen or elastin. When smooth muscle cell cultures were incubated with labeled cystine, the predominant labeled protein in the culture medium also had a molecular weight of 270000. This labeled protein comigrated with a major protein band and could be partially purified by DEAE-cellulose ion-exchange chromatography and gel filtration on agarose. It shared many of the properties of the presumptive microfibrillar protein.
A Secreted Bacterial Protease Tailors the Staphylococcus aureus Virulence Repertoire to Modulate Bone Remodeling during Osteomyelitis

Osteomyelitis is a common manifestation of invasive Staphylococcus aureus infection. Pathogen-induced bone destruction limits antimicrobial penetration to the infectious focus and compromises treatment of osteomyelitis. To investigate mechanisms of S. aureus-induced bone destruction, we developed a murine model of osteomyelitis. Microcomputed tomography of infected femurs revealed that S. aureus triggers profound alterations in bone turnover. The bacterial regulatory locus sae was found to be critical for osteomyelitis pathogenesis, as Sae-regulated factors promote pathologic bone remodeling and intraosseous bacterial survival. Exoproteome analyses revealed the Sae-regulated protease aureolysin as a major determinant of the S. aureus secretome and identified the phenol-soluble modulins as aureolysin-degraded, osteolytic peptides that trigger osteoblast cell death and bone destruction. These studies establish a murine model for pathogen-induced bone remodeling, define Sae as critical for osteomyelitis pathogenesis, and identify protease-dependent exoproteome remodeling as a major determinant of the staphylococcal virulence repertoire.
Rapid identification of markers linked to a Pseudomonas resistance gene in tomato by using random primers and near-isogenic lines.

Abstract An approach to isolating DNA sequences that are linked to important plant genes is described. The strategy is based upon a recent modification of the polymerase chain reaction in which synthetic primers are used to amplify random sequences from genomic DNA. This technique, used in conjunction with near-isogenic lines (which differ only by the presence or absence of the target gene and a small region of surrounding DNA), leads to the rapid identification of sequences linked to the gene of interest. The feasibility of this method has been demonstrated by analyzing a pair of tomato near-isogenic lines that differ for a region on chromosome 5 that contains a gene (Pto) conferring resistance to Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato. One hundred forty-four random primers were screened on these lines, and seven amplified products were identified that were present in one but not the other line. Of four products that were further investigated, three were confirmed by segregation analysis to be tightly linked to the Pto gene. Linked sequences identified by this method are useful for detecting the presence of the target gene in plant populations (e.g., in plant breeding) and, if very tightly linked, as starting points for a chromosome walk to isolate the gene. Since near-isogenic lines are a typical product of plant breeding and classical genetic studies, this method is applicable to a wide variety of species.
Classical model for electronic degrees of freedom: charge transfer in Na + I collisions

Abstract Charge transfer in Na + I collisions is treated with the classical analog hamiltonian developed previously by Miller, McCurdy and Meyer. Purely classical trajectories are shown to describe the energy dependence of the ionization cross section reasonably well. A semiclassical perturbation theory analysis, valid at high energies, is also given.
Servers Powered by a 10kW In-Rack Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell System

Author(s): Zhao, L; Brouwer, J; James, S; Siegler, J; Peterson, E; Kansal, A; Liu, J | Abstract: To improve the reliability and the energy efficiency of datacenters, as well as to reduce infrastructure costs and environmental impacts, we demonstrated and evaluated the use of a 10 kW Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) stack and system for powering the servers in a data center. In this study, we designed, tested and demonstrated a PEMFC system as a Distributed Generation (DG) prime mover that has high reliability and efficiency for both steady state and dynamic operations. The 10kW PEMFC stack and system was designed to power a server rack and eliminate the power distribution system in the datacenter. The steady state electrical properties such as efficiency and polarization curves were evaluated. The ramp rate and dynamic response of the PEMFC system to server and system dynamics was also characterized and can be used to determine energy storage requirements and develop optimal control strategies to enable the dynamic load following capability.
Three New Costa Rican Species of Calathea (Marantaceae) from Montane Wet Forests

Abstract. Three species of Calathea G. Mey. in Calathea sect. Calathea (Marantaceae) are described as new from montane wet forest habitats in Costa Rica: C. recurvata H. Kenn., C. tarrazuensis H. Kenn., and C. verruculosa H. Kenn. These are found in montane wet, montane rainforest, or cloud forest habitats at mid to higher elevations from 800 to 1500 m. All three taxa are endemic to Costa Rica. Calathea recurvata differs from related distichous-bracted species by the close vein spacing (30 to 35 lateral veins per 3 cm) of the leaf, pale whitish green to yellowish green bracts with recurved apical margins, claviculate bracteoles, yellow or pink corolla lobes, and yellow or pink-purple staminodes. Calathea verruculosa is distinguished by the shiny dark green ovate leaf, verruculose petioles and peduncles, stiff lime-green bracts with apically recurved margins, claviculate bracteoles, and yellow corolla and staminodes. Calathea tarrazuensis is distinguished by the narrowly ovate-elliptic leaf with length:wi...
Secondary Grain Growth During Rapid Thermal Annealing of Doped Polysilicon Films

Recently there has been a great deal of interest in the use of thin (≤0.1µm) heavily doped polysilicon films as diffusion sources for shallow junctions in silicon substrates. It has been reported that grain growth and solid phase epitaxy occur during annealing of such films and that the apparent rates of both are much greater during rapid thermal annealing. We report similar grain growth behavior for rapid thermal annealed thin polysilicon films deposited onto amorphous SiO2. Based on these experimental results we propose that solid phase homoepitaxy in polysilicon films occurs via secondary grain growth. This process proceeds rapidly at first but slows down due to grain boundary drag. Rapid thermal annealing of polysilicon films provides a method for selectively utilizing the kinetic process that dominates for short times.
Reduced representation of matrices generated by the method of moments

In this paper, an algorithm is presented that accelerates the iterative solution of boundary integral equations. The matrices generated in the MoM discretization of boundary integral equations exhibit special properties, which are exploited in the proposed algorithm. In fact, the algorithm does not require the computation of the entire MoM matrix, but, rather, only calls for the computation of a judiciously selected, small set of elements of the original matrix. As a consequence, the algorithm can easily be incorporated into existing MoM codes. We show that knowledge of the set of elements suffices to compute the product of the dense MoM matrix and a trial solution vector. A single-stage version of the algorithm reduces the computational cost of a matrix-vector multiplication from O(N/sup 2/) to at least O(N/sup 1.5/), and a multi-stage version further reduces the cost, in principle, to O(NlogN). The proposed algorithm is motivated by the fact that the fields in an observation domain due to sources in a 'well separated' source domain can be represented in terms of the fields radiated by a reduced set of equivalent sources. The number of sources in the reduced set is directly related to the number of degrees of freedom (DOF) of the field radiated by the original set in the direction of the observation domain. The algorithm exhibits similarities with the multilevel algorithm proposed by Brandt (1991). >
Birth History Is Forever: Implications for Family Medicine

The rapidly growing number of adult survivors of preterm birth has necessitated and made possible for the first time large-scale investigations of long-term outcomes of preterm birth. Large epidemiologic studies have shown that the long-term sequelae are wide-ranging, including metabolic disorders, cardiovascular and respiratory disease, psychiatric disorders, and increased mortality risk. Clinicians should now recognize preterm birth as a long-term, multidisease risk factor in adults. These research findings contribute to a growing body of evidence of early life programming for chronic disease, which in turn supports a “life course” paradigm for patient care. Family medicine is an ideally conceived discipline for this paradigm because of its unique role in caring for patients across the entire life span. As our understanding of early life influences on long-term health continues to advance, family physicians are ideally positioned to incorporate this knowledge into clinical practice.
A systems model for power technology assessment

A computer model is under continuing development at NASA Glenn Research Center that enables first-order assessments of space power technology. The model, an evolution of NASA Glenn's Array Design Assessment Model (ADAM), is an excel workbook that consists of numerous spreadsheets containing power technology performance data and sizing algorithms. Underlying the model is a number of databases that contain default values for various power generation, energy storage and power management and distribution component parameters. These databases are actively maintained by a team of systems analysts so that they contain state-of-art data as well as the most recent technology performance projections. Sizing of the power subsystems can be accomplished either by using an assumed mass specific power (W/kg) or energy (Wh/kg) or by a bottoms-up calculation that accounts for individual component performance and masses. The power generation, energy storage and power management and distribution subsystems are sized for given mission requirements for a baseline case and up to three alternatives. This allows four different power systems to be sized and compared using consistent assumptions and sizing algorithms. The component sizing models contained in the workbook are modular so that they can be easily maintained and updated. All significant input values have default values loaded from the databases that can be over-written by the user. The default data and sizing algorithms for each of the power subsystems are described in some detail. The user interface and workbook navigational features are also discussed. Finally, an example study case that illustrates the model's capability is presented.
Usage patterns in an urban WiFi network

While WiFi was initially designed as a local-area access network, mesh networking technologies have led to increasingly expansive deployments of WiFi networks. In urban environments, the WiFi mesh frequently supplements a number of existing access technologies, including wired broadband networks, 3G cellular, and commercial WiFi hotspots. It is an open question what role citywide WiFi deployments play in the increasingly diverse access network spectrum. We study the usage of the Google WiFi network deployed in Mountain View, CA, and find that usage naturally falls into three classes based almost entirely on client device type, which we divide into traditional laptop users, fixed-location access devices, and PDA-like smartphone devices. Moreover, each of these classes of use has significant geographic locality, following the distribution of residential, commercial, and transportation areas of the city. When comparing the network usage of each device class, we find a diverse set of mobility patterns that map well to the archetypal use cases for traditional access technologies. To help place our results in context, we also provide key performance measurements of the mesh backbone and, where possible, compare them to those of previously studied urban mesh networks.