cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modeling the Potential Productivity of Urban Agriculture and Its Impacts on Soil Quality Through Experimental Research on Scale-Appropriate Systems

Urban agriculture could play a central role in local and regional food sovereignty in developed countries, but in many cities, a lack of space and competition with other land uses limit production. Options for meaningfully advancing food sovereignty goals include sustainable intensification of existing urban farms and gardens; 2) expansion of production into interstitial and other underutilized spaces undevelopable for other purposes; and 3) expansion of production in protected environments. Observational studies suggest that--like smallholder agriculture in the Global South--urban home, community, and market gardens in the developed world can be highly productive--but often are not. Scale-appropriate, agroecosystems-based research and outreach to urban agriculturalists are needed to help them grow more food, more sustainably. This replicated, long-term trial is addressing this need—and a dearth of experimental, normative research on urban agriculture—by evaluating the yield performance and impact on soil quality of four different systems of small-scale food production in Rhode Island, the second most densely populated state in the United States and a potential model for the development of sustainable urban food systems. Systems are modeled on vernacular systems in Providence, RI and Chicago, IL and on the scholarly and grey literature on sustainable intensification. They differ in soil management practices and nutrient sources. Results from the first three years of data collection indicate all four systems can be highly productive, with varying tradeoffs in terms of their sustainability and impacts on soil quality. While total marketable food yields were relatively modest compared to those reported in the grey literature for biointensive agriculture—2.22 to 2.96 kg m-2 averaged over three summer growing seasons compared to 4.64 kg m-2 for the “low end” of biointensive production—yields for individual crops exceeded—and often far exceeded—regional averages and, for most crops and systems, national averages, without a loss in soil quality. In addition to demonstrating the high productivity of small-scale systems compared to commercial farms, the study establishes a framework for conducting normative, experimental research that can help to guide practice. It also offers more reliable yield estimates for modeling the production potential of cities than do observational studies and agronomic experiments on monocultures.
Isolated and Combined Respiratory Training for Muscle Tension Dysphonia: Preliminary Findings.

Summary Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of altering speech breathing patterns and dysphonia severity through training increased levels of lung volume use during speech. It was hypothesized that respiratory-based training would increase lung volume levels during speech as well as improve acoustic voice measures, and that the addition of laryngeal-based treatment would further improve voice acoustics by treatment completion. Method A multiple baseline, single subject design was replicated over six participants with primary muscle tension dysphonia as a preliminary investigation of novel respiratory treatment methods. Following four baseline probes (1-4), two phases of treatment were implemented over 6 weeks. Respiratory lung volume-based training (RLVT) and subsequent performance was probed at sessions 5 to 7 and laryngeal-based training was added to the RLVT and probed at sessions 8 to 10. Visual biofeedback was used during RLVT to assist the motor learning process. Respiratory outcome measures of lung volume initiation, termination and excursion were objectively measured using respiratory plethysmography (InductoTrace), and cepstral and spectral-based acoustic measures were also determined at each time point. Results All participants showed improvement in one or more respiratory measures as well as reduced acoustic dysphonia severity following phase 1 of RLVT alone. Two participants achieved further marked improvement in acoustic voice measures after laryngeal-based training was added in phase 2 of treatment, but this was generally also accompanied by further improvement or stabilization of respiratory measures. Conclusion Results from this preliminary study support the feasibility of RLVT for improving speech breathing behavior, and suggest that RLVT alone can improve objectively measured dysphonia severity.
Expression of Rhizobium tropici phytochelatin synthase in Escherichia coli resulted in increased bacterial selenium nanoparticle synthesis

Phytochelatins are the main heavy metal detoxifying peptides found in plants. In the present study, Escherichia coli DH5α cells were transformed with the phytochelatin synthase gene from Rhizobium tropici. The tolerance of these recombinant bacterial cells to heavy metals as well as their capacity to synthesize selenium nanoparticles were explored. The functional studies showed the recombinant E. coli grew faster and achieved a higher cell density after overnight cultivation in comparison with the control cells. In addition, the recombinant E. coli had a higher tolerance to copper, nickel, zinc, and cadmium ions. Importantly, the cells had increased capacity to synthesize selenium nanoparticles. Our results suggested that the phytochelatin synthase gene transformed E. coli DH5α cells can be used to produce selenium nanoparticles in large scale for various applications in nanotechnology and biomedicine.
National health disparities in incisional hernia repair outcomes: An analysis of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project National Inpatient Sample (HCUP-NIS) 2012-2014.

Abstract Background Incisional hernias represent an acquired defect from failed healing of an abdominal facial incision and are therefore distinct from primary hernias. While literature regarding incisional hernia incidence, risk factors, and treatment are abundant, no study has examined national health disparities specific to incisional hernia repair. The objective of this study was to analyze national health disparities unique to surgical incisional hernia repair procedures. Methods Patient data queried from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project National Inpatient Sample from 2012 to 2014 using International Classification of Diseases 9th revision procedure codes for incisional hernia repair were used to generate univariate and multivariate models including demographics, socioeconomic factors, admission status, and hospital characteristics. Primary outcomes were nonelective admission status, in-hospital mortality, surgical complications, and extended duration of stay. Results We estimated that 89,258 incisional hernia repair procedures occurred annually from 2012 to 2014, incurring $6.3 billion in hospital charges. By multivariate analysis, multiple risk factors contribute to significantly increased odds of nonelective repair. These include age over 65, female sex, non-White race, nonprivate insurance, obesity, and increased Charlson comorbidity index. Nonelective incisional hernia repair was strongly correlated with worse outcomes including in-hospital mortality (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] 3.01 [2.51, 3.61]), postoperative complications (odds ratio 1.2 [1.14, 1.25]), and extended duration of stay (odds ratio 2.96 [2.81, 3.12]). After controlling for admission status, other disparities persisted including extended duration of stay for Black individuals (odds ratio 1.21 (1.12, 1.31]). Conclusion Providers should be aware of these significant health disparities in incisional hernia repair status and outcomes especially for elderly, non-White, nonprivate insurance, and obese/comorbid patients. Management strategies that increase access to elective repair and that prevent incisional hernia should be expanded to address these disparities.
Linking Modes of E-Business Innovation and Structural Disruptions in Firm Knowledge

This paper explores the linkages between knowledge integration strategy and the modes of innovation in architecturally destructive e-business settings. Knowledge management (KM) is linked to the concepts of component and architectural knowledge in complex, global e-business networks. Understanding the structural impact of incremental, radical, architectural, and modular innovations at the business model- and systems-level on knowledge configurations can better guide KM strategy formulation. By delineating these linkages, this paper concludes with implications for managers of globalized teams and highlights open areas for future research.
A Test of Interaction Effects Between Cannabis Protective Behavioral Strategies and Antecedents of Cannabis-Related Consequences.

The purpose of the present study was to examine tests of interaction effects between cannabis protective behavioral strategies use and a range of risk/protective factors for negative cannabis-related consequences. We recruited 2,226 college students (Mage = 20.28, SD = 3.37; 68.8% female; 75.4% White) from 10 universities throughout the U.S. who reported using cannabis in the past month to complete an online survey. Measures assessed cannabis use, negative cannabis-related consequences, cannabis protective behavioral strategies use, and 35 risk/protective factors (including socio-demographic characteristics). Cannabis protective behavioral strategies use was negatively correlated with negative cannabis-related consequences while including the risk/protective factors as covariates. Most importantly, 33% and 54% of the interaction effects tested were statistically significant, depending on the covariates entered into the model. The interaction effects had a consistent pattern such that the positive association between greater risk and negative cannabis-related consequences was weaker as cannabis protective behavioral strategies use increased. Findings suggest that the nature of these interaction effects is not specific for any given risk/protective factor. We draw parallels to research on alcohol protective behavioral strategies and offer suggestions for moving the cannabis protective behavioral strategies field forward.
Rapid screening of nanopore candidates in nanoporous single-layer graphene for selective separations using molecular visualization and interatomic potentials.

Nanoporous single-layer graphene is promising as an ideal membrane because of its extreme thinness, chemical resistance, and mechanical strength, provided that selective nanopores are successfully incorporated. However, screening and understanding the transport characteristics of the large number of possible pores in graphene are limited by the high computational requirements of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and the difficulty in experimentally characterizing pores of known structures. MD simulations cannot readily simulate the large number of pores that are encountered in actual membranes to predict transport, and given the huge variety of possible pores, it is hard to narrow down which pores to simulate. Here, we report alternative routes to rapidly screen molecules and nanopores with negligible computational requirement to shortlist selective nanopore candidates. Through the 3D representation and visualization of the pores’ and molecules’ atoms with their van der Waals radii using open-source software, we could identify suitable C-passivated nanopores for both gas- and liquid-phase separation while accounting for the pore and molecule shapes. The method was validated by simulations reported in the literature and was applied to study the mass transport behavior across a given distribution of nanopores. We also designed a second method that accounts for Lennard-Jones and electrostatic interactions between atoms to screen selective non-C-passivated nanopores for gas separations. Overall, these visualization methods can reduce the computational requirements for pore screening and speed up selective pore identification for subsequent detailed MD simulations and guide the experimental design and interpretation of transport measurements in nanoporous atomically thin membranes.
New Data Sources and Presidential Campaigns

Social media has an undeniable role in presidential campaigns. Starting with Barack Obama’s first presidential campaign in 2008, on one hand, scholars and practitioners have embraced the potential ...
Case Studies and Problem Formulations

In this chapter we shall consider applications of mathematical programming arising in various contexts. We shall examine the problem faced by the client, the model built, and the use to which it would be put. Problems will be ones that require financial modeling, modeling of the closing and opening of facilities, modeling across time periods, discounting over time, using opening and closing balances, and using hard and soft constraints in model development. Each case will demonstrate the need for a model of a particular type. A formulation of each model is provided in MCOL, so that the reader may solve the problem and investigate the results. In some cases it will be possible to formulate the problem in several contrasting ways. Some of the benefits of the alternative formulations will be discussed. In the second half of the chapter the focus will be on difficulties that commonly arise when we try to run models and solve problems. We discuss how to get around infeasibilities and illuminate certain aspects of sensitivity analysis.
Chapter 5 Pharmacology of Antitumor Bisindole Alkaloids from Catharanthus

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the biochemical pharmacology, cellular pharmacology, preclinical pharmacology, preclinical toxicology, clinical pharmacology, and clinical toxicology of antitumor bisindole alkaloids from Catharanthus . Despite the close structural resemblance of vinblastine, vincristine, and vindesine, the profiles of biological activities of the compounds are not identical. Vinblastine treatment is much less likely to result in neurotoxicity than the treatment with vincristine; on the other hand, vinblastine produces much more perturbation of bone marrow function than vinblastine. Vincristine is more effective than vinblastine in the treatment of acute leukemia in children. Vincristine and vinblastine interfere with the mitotic process by producing arrest of cell division in metaphase. These drugs interact with tubulins, dimeric cellular proteins that play several critical roles in cell structure and function, including the organization of chromosomes on a matrix (spindle), which is an essential feature of normal cell division. The toxicological profile for vindesine includes effects observed with both vinblastine and vincristine. Among the effects observed with vindesine are bone marrow depression, alopecia, and peripheral neurotoxicity.
A Woman's World: What if Care Work Were Socialized and Police & Fire Protection Left to Individual Families?

This essay presents a thought experiment: What if care work (child care, elder care, etc.) were socialized and police and fire protection left to individuals and families? What if men had to take time off to put out fires and combat villains, while women were freed of many of the care work responsibilities they have traditionally shouldered? The essay provides a mythical account of what such a world might look like, with the device of role-reversal operating to reveal the imagined impact that unpaid work responsibilities might have on men and by inference the very real impact that caring responsibilities already have on women (and many men as well). The principal point is to explore the structural/social as opposed to individual/volitional dimension of current practices with regard to the provision of care work, and thus to render those practices more vulnerable to re-examination and political critique. In particular, it highlights the substantial economic subsidy currently provided by unpaid care work and the hidden distributional consequences of seemingly natural institutional practices and arrangements.
Chemistry of hydrogen sulphide under coal liquefaction conditions: 2. Synergistic effects of H2S and the mixed solvent system tetralin and tetrahydroquinoline on liquefaction of a moderately reactive coal

A preliminary study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of mixed solvents and added H2S on the overall conversions of a moderately reactive coal (Wyodak-2) as defined by tetrahydrofuran solubility. Conversion efficiencies were measured as a function of time and of H2S concentration in the H2S-tetrahydroquinoline (THQ) solvent system. The specific solvent systems studied included tetralin and mixtures of tetralin and THQ, with and without H2S. In all cases, coal conversion was enhanced by the presence of H2S, THQ or both, relative to the use of tetralin alone. Conversion as a function of THQ concentration was also determined. The relative abilities of the various combinations to effect conversion were found to be as follows: tetralin < 5 wt% THQ-tetralin < 3 wt% H2S-tetralin < 10 wt% THQ-tetralin = 20 wt% THQ-tetralin < 3 wt% H2S-20 wt% THQ-tetralin. From these results, it is concluded that both H2S and THQ operate synergistically to provide enhanced yields of high-quality coal liquids. The relations between conversion, H2S concentration and nitrogen incorporation are discussed.
Purification and Properties of a New Coupling Factor Required for Oxidative Phosphorylation in Silicotungstate-treated Submitochondrial Particles

Abstract A heat-stable, trypsin-labile coupling factor (F6) has been purified from bovine heart mitochondria. F6 activity has been found in several isoproteins of similar size, but differing in net charge. F6 is required for oxidative phosphorylation and 32Pi—ATP exchange, as well as for DPN reduction by succinate and transhydrogenation with ATP as an energy source.
Abstract 13352: Work Absenteeism, Short Term Disability and Related Indirect Costs Associated with Cardiovascular Events and Related Clinical Procedures

Objectives: To examine work absenteeism (WA) and short-term disability (STD) hours and related indirect costs associated with cardiovascular events and related procedures (CVERP): myocardial infarction (MI), ischemic stroke (IS), unstable angina (UA), heart failure (HF), transient ischemic attack (TIA), coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: Full-time employees aged 18-64, with WA or STD benefits, hyperlipidemia or lipid-lowering therapy, and ≥1 CVERP in 2003-2011 were extracted from a large claims and productivity database. Index date was the date of the first CVERP. All patients had data for ≥1 year pre-index and ≥1 month post-index. Per patient per month (PPPM) WA and STD hours were measured during the acute 1 month and 1 year post-index periods. Indirect costs associated with these hours were calculated using the Bureau of Labor Statistics wage rates (in 2013 $). Results: A total of 5,803 patients were included in the WA analysis (mean age 53, 86% male, mean Charlson comorbidity index [CCI] 0.6) and 21,074 in the STD analysis (mean age 53, 82% male, mean CCI 0.7). Patients with CABG as the first CVERP type had the highest mean PPPM costs and hours during the acute 1 month and the 1 year post-index periods (Fig. 1), followed by MI (for WA acute 1 month and 1 year, for STD acute 1 month) and HF (for STD 1 year). Mean PPPM WA hours ranged between 31 - 61 (indirect cost: $998 - $1842) and STD hours between 31- 121 (indirect cost: $532 - $2154) during the acute 1 month post-index period. Compared with the mean PPPM hours lost from work in the pre-index period, mean PPPM WA hours went up by 22.5 hours (indirect cost by $647) in the acute 1 month post-index period, and STD went up by 53 hours ($916). Conclusions: CVERP were associated with substantial work loss and related indirect costs, especially in the acute first month period following CVERP. Prevention of CVERP could result in potential WA and STD related cost savings for employers.
Site-specific reversible conjugation: A novel concept in peptide-DNA interactions

Publisher Summary This chapter presents an experimental system that is based on a novel concept of intramolecular DNA-peptide interactions. Sequence-specific binding of polypeptides to DNA results in a large reduction in the translational entropy of the system. Transcription factors must compensate for this unfavorable energetic cost to bind DNA. The entropic cost of peptide-DNA association is reduced by covalent conjugation, thus allowing short peptides to bind DNA sequence-specifically. The specificity of peptide-DNA interaction is preserved even though three-dimensional diffusion is eliminated from the system. The tethered peptides interact with DNA in a sequence-specific manner. The reduction potential of the disulfide bond linking a peptide to DNA is dependent on the non-covalent peptide-DNA interaction. The disulfide linkage also provides a novel method to measure the strength of the peptide-DNA interaction through the reduction assay. The exquisite selectivity of this assay holds promise for the development of new strategies for the isolation of novel sequence-specific DNA-binding molecules from various kinds of peptidic or nonpeptidic combinatorial libraries.
Agreeing on social outcomes using individual CP-nets

This work applies the CP-net preference representation to the problem of negotiating optimal joint outcomes, hoping to exploit the CP-net benefit of efficient preferential optimization in multiagent settings. A fundamental challenge in doing so is that acyclic CP-nets only capture an agent's preferences over outcomes qualitatively, as a partial order, making comparisons between agents' strengths of preferences over outcomes problematic. This article presents a plausible (though not the only) strategy to assess outcomes based on their relative positions in the agents' partial orders. Given the ability to compare strength of preference over outcomes, a brute-force search in the space of outcomes can provably yield an optimal (maximin) joint outcome. More importantly, it is shown that the optimal joint outcome can, in principle, be found more efficiently by using a multiagent variation of the CP-net preferential optimization algorithm, provided that the right decisions are made about which agent assigns each variable. Finally, heuristics are developed that find an approximately optimal variable assignment strategy. Empirical evaluation indicates that, relative to the outcome graph search, the new heuristic algorithm based on direct variable assignment achieves exponential speedup, while costing only a small constant factor in solution quality.
Analysis of signal-to-noise ratio of δ13C-CO2 measurements at carbon capture, utilization and storage injection sites

Abstract As new regulations from the United States Environmental Protection Agency require monitoring and accounting for Class VI injection wells, determining the efficacy of monitoring techniques is a crucial barrier to wide scale carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) deployment. The monitoring of CO2 injection sites to ensure safety and operational success requires high temporal resolution CO2 concentration and carbon isotopic (δ13C) measurements. As rapid measurement of δ13C is not possible with standard isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS), we have developed a methodology using cavity ringdown spectroscopy (CRDS) with a manifold system in order to obtain accurate rapid measurements from a large sample area over an extended study period. A modified Picarro G1101-i CRDS with updated software and an auxiliary laser allows for rapid and continuous field measurement of concentrations and δ13C of carbon dioxide as well as concentrations of water and methane. A manifold system actuated by a 16 position valve allows for an increased sampling region and internet connectivity and software developments permit immediate access to data from a remote location. At a field site in Texas where preparations have been underway for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) operations, we have been able to observe biogenic effects on a diurnal scale, as well as variation due to precipitation and seasonality. Our system has proven field readiness for the monitoring of sites with modest CO2 flux. These data have been used to improve leak detection thresholds by an order of magnitude over published models.
The use of interlayers in modeling interface crack propagation

Abstract Delaminations are a common mode of failure at interfaces between two material layers which have dissimilar elastic constants. There is a well-known oscillatory nature to the singularity in the stress fields at the crack tips in these bimaterial delaminations, which creates a lack of convergence in the modewise energy release rates. This makes constructing fracture criteria somewhat difficult. An approach used to overcome this is to artificially insert a thin, homogeneous, isotropic layer (the interlayer) at the interface. The crack is positioned in the middle of this homogeneous interlayer, thus modifying the original ‘bare’ interface crack problem into a companion ‘interlayer’ crack problem. Individual modes I and II energy release rates are convergent and calculable for the companion problem and can be used in the construction of a fracture criterion or locus. However, the choices of interlayer elastic and geometric properties are not obvious. Moreover, a sound, consistent, and comprehensive methodology does not exist for utilizing interlayers in the construction and application of mixed-mode fracture criteria in interface fracture mechanics. These issues are addressed here. The role of interlayer elastic modulus and thickness is examined in the context of a standard interface fracture test specimen. With the help of a previously published analytical relation that relates the bare interface crack stress intensity factor to the corresponding interlayer crack stress intensity factor, a suitable thickness and elastic modulus are identified for the interlayer in a bimaterial four-point bend test specimen geometry. Interlayer properties are chosen to make the interlayer fracture problem equivalent to the bare interface fracture problem. A suitable mixed-mode phase angle and a form for the fracture criterion for interlayer-based interface fracture are defined. A scheme is outlined for the use of interlayers for predicting interface fracture in bimaterial systems such as laminated composites. Finally, a simple procedure is presented for converting existing bare interface crack fracture loci/criteria into corresponding interlayer crack fracture loci.
Quench dynamics in Bose-Einstein condensates in the presence of a bath: Theory and experiment

In this Rapid Communication we study the transient dynamics of a Bose superfluid subsequent to an interaction quench. Essential for equilibration is a source of dissipation which we include following the approach of Caldeira and Leggett. Here we solve the equations of motion exactly by integrating out an environmental bath. We thereby derive precisely the time dependent density correlation functions with the appropriate analytic and asymptotic properties. The resulting structure factor exhibits the expected damping and thereby differs from that of strict Bogoliubov theory. These damped sound modes, which reflect the physics beyond mean-field approaches, are characterized and the structure factors are found to compare favorably with experiment.
Synthesis and absolute configuration of optically pure enantiomers of a ϰ‐opioid receptor selective agonist

Abstract The enantiomers of U50,488 ( 1 , in fig. 1), ligands highly selective for ϰ-opioid receptors, have been prepared by a refined procedure and their optical purity demonstrated. The absolute configuration of (+)- trans -2-pyrrolidinyl- N -methylcyclohexylamine, a chemically versatile intermediate for synthesis of analogs of ϰ-opioid receptor ligands with defined chirality, has been determined to be 1 S ,2 S by X-ray crystallographic analysis. This intermediate has been used to synthesize the optically pure U50,488 enantiomers with known absolute configuration.
An economically constructed and durable intracerebral cannula system for small rodents

An easily constructed cannula system is described for applying experimental substances to the brain of freely moving mice. Stainless steel tubing surrounded by a nylon insulator cap glued to the skull provides an economical and durable system which requires little preparation.
Differential acute effects of oxovanadiums and insulin on glucose and lactate metabolism under in vivo and in vitro conditions

Oxovanadium compounds such as vanadate and peroxovanadiums have been shown to have insulin-mimetic effects on various metabolic pathways, including glucose metabolism. A differential effect of various oxovanadium species on glucose metabolism in different tissues has been reported. The results from our present in vivo studies using rats show that peroxovanadiums and insulin have similar acute effects on decreasing blood glucose levels, but dissimilar effects on blood lactate levels. Furthermore, when bisperoxovanadate (BPV) was administered acutely to intact animals immediately before a bolus insulin challenge, it blunted the effectiveness of insulin in decreasing the blood lactate level, but at the same time demonstrated a synergistic effect on the hypoglycemic action of insulin. It was also observed in in vitro studies using normal 3T3-L1 adipocytes (not serum-deprived) that 1,10-phenanthroline bisperoxovanadate (PHEN-BPV) attenuates the incorporation of carbon from lactate but not from glucose, into lipid in both the absence and presence of insulin. Additionally, it was observed that PHEN-BPV had no effect on lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity. Thus, one may speculate that PHEN-BPV interferes with carrier-mediated lactate transport. These observations demonstrate that insulin and oxovanadiums differ in the handling of different metabolic substrates. Thus, even though oxovanadiums mimic many of the metabolic actions of insulin, their metabolic effects are by no means identical. Moreover, since vanadate had no acute effect on glucose metabolism under in vivo conditions, this may suggest that to be effective as a hypoglycemic agent vanadate needs to be converted to some other biologically active oxovanadium species. Finally, the observed interference by PHEN-BPV in the metabolism of lactate may predispose subjects using oral vanadate, as a part of the therapeutic regimen for management of diabetic hyperglycemia, to lactic acidosis.
Electrochemical micromachining of Hastelloy B-2 with ultrashort voltage pulses

Abstract Electrochemical micromachining (ECMM) with ultrashort voltage pulses, a maskless all-electrochemical micro and nanofabrication technique, was used to fabricate microstructures on a corrosion resistant nickel-based superalloy, Hastelloy B-2, 1 whose work hardening behavior makes it difficult to machine on the macroscale. This work presents a viable, strain-free micromachining strategy for this technologically important material. ECMM was used to machine microstructures to depths of 3 μm and 10 μm, and the resolution of the machining was found to be dependent on the duration of the nanoscale pulses. Microstructures were also machined to 100 μm depths, demonstrating the potential for the fabrication of high aspect ratio features using this technique. The ECMM was performed utilizing an apparatus consisting of standard electrochemical equipment combined with a custom electrical circuit that was constructed easily and at low cost.
Hypereosinophilia and Seroconversion of Rheumatoid Arthritis

At the intersection of atopy and autoimmunity, we present a patient with seronegative rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who developed hypereosinophilia, without evidence of other etiologies, as she became rheumatoid factor (RF) positive. Although the magnitude of eosinophilia in patients with RA has been thought to reflect the severity or activity of the RA, in our patient, eosinophilia developed at a time when the patient’s synovitis was well controlled. Although eosinophilia may reflect associated drug hypersensitivity, discontinuation of the medications utilized to control our patient’s disease, adalimumab and methotrexate, did not promote clinical improvement. Probably the most curious aspect of our patient was the concomitant development of rheumatoid factor seropositivity in the setting of previously seronegative RA. The temporal relationship between the development of peripheral eosinophilia and seroconversion suggests a possible connection between these events. We speculate that the T cell cytokine production that can induce eosinophilia may simultaneously activate RF production.
Structure and Spectroscopic Properties of Iron Oxides with the High Content of Oxygen: FeOn and FeOn− (n = 5−12)

The electronic and geometrical structures of oxygen-rich neutral and negatively charged FeO5, FeO6, FeO7, FeO8, FeO9, FeO10, FeO11, and FeO12 clusters were obtained using density functional theory with generalized gradient approximation. With the exception of FeO11 and FeO12, all clusters are found to possess a large number of isomers composed of oxo, peroxo, superoxo, and ozonide fragments that are closely spaced in total energy, especially for n = 7 and 8. The preferable structures of FeO12 are composed of superoxo groups with different orientations. All the neutral species possess rather large electron affinities, which range from 3.24 eV (FeO8) to 3.95 eV (FeO5). Although all of the lowest energy states were found to possess positive vibrational frequencies and thus are geometrically stable, the states are thermodynamically unstable against dissociation to FeO4 + (n − 4)/2 O2 for n = 6, 8, 10, and 12 and FeO5 + (n − 5)/2 O2 for n = 7, 9, and 11. In particular, the decay of FeO12 is exothermic by 34 kc...
Demonstration of specific glucocorticoid binding sites in bovine cornea.

Abstract Specific [ 3 H]-dexamethasone binding sites were demonstrated in bovine corneal cytosol using titration analyses. Specific glucocorticoid binding to corneal cytosol exhibited a single class of sites with apparent dissociation constants of 4–6 n m and 68–72 fmol binding sites mg −1 cytosolic protein. Association of steroid with these binding sites was temperature- and time-dependent. Specific binding was maximal at 4°C after 6 hr and was somewhat lower at 25°C and lowest at 37°C. Presence of increasing amounts of certain unlabeled steroids with glucocorticoid activity inhibited [ 3 H]-dexamethasone binding in a dose-dependent manner. The order, beginning with the most potent inhibitor of binding, was triamcinolone acetonide > fluorometholone > dexamethasone > medroxy progesterone acetate > 11β-OH-progesterone > prednisolone acetate > prednisolone > cortisol > corticosterone. Other steroids exhibiting less inhibition of [ 3 H]-dexamethasone binding were cortexolone > prednisone > dexamethasone phosphate > progesterone > prednisolone phosphate > cortisone > 17α-OH progesterone > estradiol-17β > testosterone > 11α, 17α,21-OH-progesterone. These data suggest that the influence of glucocorticoids and drugs with this type of normal activity on corneal cells is mediated by an intracellular receptor protein.
Controlled release of biocides in solid wood. II. Efficacy against Trametes versicolor and Gloeophyllum trabeum wood decay fungi

Biocide-containing nanoparticles were suspended in water to prepare wood treating suspensions able to deliver up to 0.8 kg biocide/m3 of wood. The nanoparticle preparation method was versatile, and three fungicides (tebuconazole, chlorothalonil, and KATHON 930) and one insecticide (chlorpyrifos) were incorporated into the nanoparticles with little customization of the preparative method. Greater customization was required when the polymer matrix was changed, but the method was generally robust; nanoparticles could be prepared from several different polymers, copolymers, and polymer blends. The median nanoparticle size increased as the matrix hydrophobicity increased. Nanoparticles were quantitatively delivered into birch and southern yellow pine (SYP) at low suspension loadings, but the delivery efficiency decreased with increased suspension loading and with increased matrix hydrophobicity. The delivery efficiency was also less for birch than for SYP. Undelivered nanoparticles were found to have undergone aggregation. Greater aggregation occurred in the more hydrophobic formulations than in the hydrophilic formulations. High biological efficacy was found for all the biocides tested. Nanoparticle-treated birch was exposed to Trametes versicolor for 55 days and some protection was afforded, even at biocide loading levels of only 0.1 kg/m3. At the highest loadings (∼0.6 kg/m3) the weight loss after exposure to T. versicolor was generally ∼10% for most formulations. The SYP was treated with KATHON 930 in polyvinylpyridine. At levels of 0.1 kg of biocide/m3 of wood less than 5% of the SYP mass was lost after 50 days of exposure to Gloeophyllum trabeum. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 86: 608–614, 2002
Effects of Slugger Drill Bits in Drilling of Composites

One of the problems in machining of composites is related with the fibers as reinforcement, due to their abrasiveness, causing fast tool wear and deterioration of machined surface. Among all the damages that can occur in the drilling of a composite plate, delamination is the most serious, as it can cause loss of mechanical strength of laminate plates. The main mechanism responsible for delamination is the axial thrust force exerted by the stationary center of the drill – chisel-edge – whose action is more similar to an extrusion that to a drilling. It can be shown that 40% to 50% of the thrust force is because of the chisel edge. Therefore, in this paper a new set of hollow drill bits is introduced and tested on the composite materials with different properties and drilled hole quality mainly, surface roughness, roundness, hole oversize and delamination investigated. With these hollow drill bits we were able to achieve lower thrust forces. Also drill bit geometry changed to be optimized for the best hole quality.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Concordant expression of KChIP2 mRNA, protein and transient outward current throughout the canine ventricle.

Expression of the transient outward K+ current (Ito) was analysed in nine different regions of the canine ventricle. In addition to the previously described transmural gradients in the right and left ventricular free walls, an inverted U-shaped pattern of Ito expression was observed in the interventricular septum. The mRNA and protein expression for the K+ channel β subunit KChIP2 were examined in the same tissues. The KChIP2 protein levels closely matched mRNA expression in all regions of the ventricle and paralleled the density of Ito. The global pattern of gene expression in human epicardial and endocardial tissue was examined using microarrays. Only 0.1 % of the genes expressed in the human ventricle displayed the same expression pattern as the KChIP2 gene in left ventricle. It is unlikely, therefore, that the reported distribution of KChIP2 protein within the ventricle can be explained by a cross-reaction of the anti-KChIP2 antibody with a different protein. It is concluded that transcriptional regulation of the KChIP2 gene is a primary determinant of Ito expression in heart.
Capillary Hydrodynamic Fractionation (CHDF) as a Tool for Monitoring the Evolution of the Particle Size Distribution during Miniemulsion Polymerization

Abstract Styrene miniemulsions were polymerized at 70°C in an automated reaction calorimeter with samples being periodically removed and analyzed for their particle size distributions by both transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and capillary hydrodynamic fractionation (CHDF). It was shown that the average diameters obtained using CHDF and TEM agreed to within 5%, while the standard deviations obtained agreed to within 14%. Using CHDF, the evolution of the particle size distribution during miniemulsion polymerizations was monitored. This technique showed the increase in the average particle size with increasing conversion, as expected, and also an increase in the standard deviation with increasing conversion. These results are consistent with those obtained using TEM.
Robust active control of combustion stability and emissions performance in a fuel-staged natural-gas-fired industrial burner

Urban air pollution regulations, climate change concerns, and energy conservation efforts are placing strict constraints in the design and operation of advanced, stationary combustion systems for heat and power generation. To ensure minimal pollutant emissions and maximal efficiency at every instant of operation while preventing reaction blowout, combustion systems need to react and adapt in real time to external changes. This study describes the development, demonstration, and evaluation of an active combustion control system, designed to maximize the performance of natural-gas-fired, industrial boiler burners. A feedback sensor array is developed, consisting of (1) a dynamic combustion stability sensor based on CH* and CO2* UV chemiluminescence and (2) bulk emission sensors for NOx, CO, and O2 using solidstate electrochemical cells, a conventional continuous emissions monitoring system, and a chemiluminescence-based NOx predictor. Next, a dual time-scale controller is designed to atively optimize operating conditions by maximizing a multivariable performance function J using a linear direction set search algorithm. procedures for defining combustion performance, specifying input control variables, and determining optimization parameters are established. The system is successfully demonstrated on a scaled model (120 kW) commercial boiler burner and evaluated for flexibility, repeatability, and robustness by optimizing (1) for different J function, (2) with different emission and stability sensors, (3) over a load cycle between 100 and 50%, and (4) after a core fuel injector misalignment. The controller locates a global performance peak that simultaneously minimizes emissions and maximizes system efficiency, while preventing reaction blowout.
Incidence and treatments of postpartum reproductive problems in a dairy herd.

Abstract Incidence of assisted births, retained fetal membranes (RFM), and metritis were recorded in one hundred dairy cows from parturition through 14 days post-calving. Manual removal of RFM was not attempted. All RFM were excised inside the vulva and observations of natural RFM expulsion were recorded. Fifteen of 100 cows (15%) had assisted births, 27 (27%) had RFM, 8 (8%) had primary metritis not associated with other postpartum reproductive problems, and 26 (26%) had secondary metritis. Uterine swabs for culture were collected during the study from cows with postpartum reproductive problems. E . coli was the most common organism isolated (69.4%). Sensitivities of all isolates to penicillin, tetracycline, and triple sulfa were 44.0%, 59.5%, and 36.9% respectively. One of two antibiotic treatments were administered to cows with these postpartum reproductive problems. Treated animals received either 5 g. tetracycline powder IU on day 1 of treatment plus 10.5 million units procaine penicillin G IM on days 1, 2, and 3; or 4 Sulfaurea boluses IU on day 1. Despite the antibiotic treatments, 26 of 34 cows having either assisted birth and/or RFM developed metritis (76%). Neither treatment regimen was superior to the other. The poor results of antimicrobial therapy suggested the futility of routine administration of therapeutic agents for postpartum reproductive problems. Treatment failure was attributed to ineffective drugs or inadequate dosage regimens.
Male Reproductive Tactics in the Libellulid Dragonfly Paltothemis Lineatipes: Temporal Partitioning of Territories

Males of Paltothemis lineatipes defend stream-edge territories several meters in length. Receptive females fly to the stream to oviposit in very small patches of barely submerged fine gravel; each territory contains at least one but rarely more than two patches. Territorial males intercept incoming gravid females, copulate very briefly with them while hovering over a potential oviposition site, and then release their partners, which usually oviposit for less than 2 min before leaving the stream. Because mated females do not oviposit while in tandem with a male, neighboring territory owners sometimes succeed in stealing females before they have completed oviposition in their first mate's territory. Interrupted females sometimes are receptive, and may copulate with an intruder and oviposit in his territory. Gravid females arrive at the stream primarily in a 3 h mid-morning period during which time the density of territorial males is greatest. Fights for territories are most frequent early in the daily activity cycle, just prior to the time when receptive females are most likely to appear. There are many more males than sites with suitable oviposition substrate. Consequently competition for territories is intense, particularly at locations that attract relatively many females. From 2-4 males may claim favored territories in sequence on a given day, with the same males returning to partition ownership of the location temporally in the same order over several days. Temporal partitioning of certain territories in P. lineatipes appears to be a consequence of the males' ability to identify superior locations and superior times for territoriality, with the result that no one individual can monopolize a productive site for an entire daily flight period.
Factors Associated With Severe Acute Esophagitis From Hyperfractionated Radiotherapy With Concurrent Chemotherapy for Limited-Stage Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Purpose To describe incidence and identify factors associated with development of severe acute esophagitis during hyperfractionated radiotherapy with concurrent chemotherapy (BID-CRT) in patients with limited-stage small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). Methods and Materials Retrospective cohort analysis of patient-, tumor-, and treatment-related variables was performed to identify factors associated with Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) Grade 3 acute esophagitis. Twice-daily chemoradiotherapy (BID-CRT) involved 45 Gy at 1.5 Gy per fraction, treated twice daily with concurrent platinum-based chemotherapy. Logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with esophagitis. Results Between June 1999 and June 2007, 48 patients underwent curative intent BID-CRT for SCLC and were included in the analysis. Median radiotherapy dose was 45 Gy (range, 42–51 Gy) delivered with a median 4 cycles of chemotherapy (range, 2–6). RTOG Grade 3 acute esophagitis developed in 11 patients. No patient developed Grade 4 or 5 esophagitis. Simple logistic regression analyses demonstrated a highly significant association between Grade 3 acute esophagitis and mean esophageal dose ( p = 0.002) as well as relative volume dosimetric area under curve (RV-AUC; p = 0.004). Using multiple regression analysis, RV-AUC was identified as the only factor associated with Grade 3 esophagitis ( p = 0.004). The most strongly associated dosimetric volume was the V15 (Grade 3 esophagitis rates of 15% vs. 64% for V15 Conclusions RV-AUC is the factor most associated with development of Grade 3 acute esophagitis in limited stage SCLC patients receiving BID-CRT.