cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Biomaterials: Factors Favoring Colonization and Infection

For more than a decade, various aspects of medical device and biomaterial infections have been studied in an effort to develop a fundamental and applied basis for infection-resistant biomaterials. This chapter presents an approach and perspectives on factors favoring biomaterial colonization and infection. Infection is a potentially serious complication with implants and devices and a major impediment to the long-term clinical success of devices like vascular grafts, artificial heart valves, and ventricular assist devices. The microorganisms most frequently identified on infected polymer implants either are present in the host flora or are nosocomial in origin, most notably the coagulasenegative staphylococci, particularly Staphylococcus epidermidis. The virulence of the commensal S. epidermidis is a result of the foreign-body implant, which acts to inhibit the normal host defense. Focal thrombosis is a common finding with cardiovascular devices such as prosthetic heart valves, vascular grafts, arteriovenous fistulas, and artificial hearts. Catastrophic failure with significant morbidity and possibly death may occur when infectious foci initiate thrombosis with subsequent septic embolization. Adhesion of bacteria to an implant surface through specific and nonspecific mechanisms is a critical initial step in the development of biomaterial-centered infection. The adhesion of S. epidermidis directly on biomaterials appears to be governed by nonspecific interactions. The GRGDS pentapeptide sequence was selected as the inhibitor, since it binds to several platelet integrin receptors, including GPIIb/IIIa. The complement system and phagocytic leukocytes, which are the primary defense mechanisms against infection, are obvious targets for the down regulation of host defenses by the biomaterial.
An Escherichia coli Endonuclease Which Acts on X-Irradiated DNA

An endonuclease activity which acts on X-irradiated DNA has been found in extracts of Escherichia coli. For every single-strand break induced directly in the DNA by X rays, there exists approximately one additional X-ray damage sensitive to this endonuclease. Similar activities have been demonstrated in E. coli B/r and Bs–1, which differ in their repair capabilities.
Biogeochemistry of Volatile Organic Compounds in Marine Experimental Ecosystems and the Estuarine Environment-Initial Results

Volatile organic compounds comprise an important group of organic components in the aquatic environment. Compounds in this class are generally too volatile to be handled by conventional solvent extraction, though not volatile enough for procedures used to analyze gaseous hydrocarbons (Brooks and Sackett 1973). A complex mixture of volatile compounds having diverse functional groups has been found in seawater (Gschwend 1979, Schwarzenbach et al. 1979a, Sauer 1980). Most volatiles are derived from anthropogenic activities (petroleum usage and exhausts, industrial solvents, etc.). Therefore, the highest concentrations of volatiles have generally been found in areas near urban and industrial sources (Stieglitz et al. 1976, Zurcher and Giger 1976, Giger et al. 1978, Sauer 1980). Coastal seawater contains less volatiles (Gschwend 1979, Schwarzenbach et ale 1979a, Helz and Hsu 1978, Sauer et al. 1978, Sauer 1980), while concentrations found in the open ocean are near the limits of detection (Giger 1977, Sauer 1980). Although detailed data on spatial and temporal distributions of many volatile compounds are limited, concentrations of volatiles clearly decrease during transport away from the source areas,through estuaries and the coastal zone, and into the open ocean. What the removal processes are (e.g., evaporation, adsorption onto particulates and subsequent sedimentation, degradation) and the extent to which each is important for a given volatile compound are the subjects of current research.
Creating polymer-based microstructures with various aspect ratios from a single template for cellular force measurements

This paper presents a novel method to fabricate polymer microstructures with various aspect ratios from a single rigid template. The fabricated polymer structures have a representative application in cellular force measurements because a set of probing ranges can be easily obtained without using multiple master templates. Two of complicated structures were also fabricated for this application using the same technique, in the view to enhance focal adhesion and to align the cells. This method reported here differs from the existing ones in that it enables the "1-to-n" replication, thereby lowering the fabrication cost and complexity.
Delamination analysis of tapered laminated composites under tensile loading

A study was conducted to analyze tapered composite laminates under tensile loading. A tapered construction made of S2/SP250 glass/epoxy laminate was used to achieve a thickness reduction using three consecutive dropped plies over a distance of 60 ply thicknesses. The principle of minimum complementary potential energy was used to determine interlaminar stresses. The interlaminar peel stress distribution shows a higher tensile intensity at the taper/thin portion juncture. The total strain energy release rate is determined using a simplified membrane model. Results are compared with a finite element simulation.
Variations in serum calcium and phosphorus during pregnancy

Abstract During pregnancy there is a distinct seasonal difference in the serum calcium, since blood specimens drawn during the months January to May, inclusive, average less at every stage of the pregnancy than those drawn during the remaining seven months. Following delivery the difference tends to disappear. There is also a significant decline in the calcium, approximately 5 per cent, due to the pregnancy itself up to six or seven weeks before delivery; then a slight rise until delivery, followed by a sharp increase. The postpartum values remained high, approaching the early prenatal, even with nursing, until the end of the study, from eight to eleven weeks postpartum. Close successive pregnancies tend further to lower the serum calcium level of the individual during subsequent periods of gestation. Phosphorus showed no seasonal variation, but due to the pregnancy itself there was a significant fall in the average values, about 6 per cent, until the eleventh to the thirteenth week before delivery, followed by an equal rise until term. Immediately following delivery there was a sharp rise, 19 per cent, to higher values than those observed at the beginning of the study, from twenty-six to twenty-eight weeks before delivery. These high values were maintained until the dismissal from eight to eleven weeks postpartum. There was no evidence of a lowered phosphorus level as a result of previous pregnancies.
Bacteremia With Otitis Media

To investigate the occurrence and outcome of bacteremia associated with otitis media, charts were reviewed from patients who were 3 to 36 months of age, had temperatures greater than or equal to 39 degrees C, and were diagnosed with isolated clinical otitis media. A total of 2982 patients were identified. Blood cultures were obtained from 1666 (56%). Of the 1666 patients, who had blood drawn for cultures, 50 (3.0%) had bacteremia. These included 39 with Streptococcus pneumoniae, 4 with Haemophilus influenzae, 2 with Neisseria meningitidis, 3 with Salmonella species, and 2 with Staphylococcus aureus. The incidence of bacteremia increased at higher temperatures, being 1.9% at temperatures less than or equal to 40 degrees C and 5.0% at temperatures greater than 40 degrees C. Younger children were more likely to have bacteremia; 3.7% less than or equal to 12 months of age, 2.4% 13 to 24 months of age, and 1.9% 25 to 36 months of age had blood culture results that were positive (not significant). Reevaluation of the 50 bacteremic patients showed that 9 patients had continued fever, 3 patients had persistent bacteremia, pneumonia developed in 1 patient, and meningitis developed in 1 patient. It was concluded that (1) 3% of young febrile children with otitis media have bacteremia at the time of evaluation, a rate comparable to that previously reported in children with no focus of infection; (2) the incidence of bacteremia increases at higher temperatures; and (3) most febrile children with otitis media do well. The clinician must therefore weigh the potential benefit of drawing a blood culture to identify children at risk for complications against the inherent cost, inconvenience, and discomfort.
IgG Fc Receptors

Since the description of the first mouse knockout for an IgG Fc receptor seven years ago, considerable progress has been made in defining the in vivo functions of these receptors in diverse biological systems. The role of activating Fc gamma Rs in providing a critical link between ligands and effector cells in type II and type III inflammation is now well established and has led to a fundamental revision of the significance of these receptors in initiating cellular responses in host defense, in determining the efficacy of therapeutic antibodies, and in pathological autoimmune conditions. Considerable progress has been made in the last two years on the in vivo regulation of these responses, through the appreciation of the importance of balancing activation responses with inhibitory signaling. The inhibitory FcR functions in the maintenance of peripheral tolerance, in regulating the threshold of activation responses, and ultimately in terminating IgG mediated effector stimulation. The consequences of deleting the inhibitory arm of this system are thus manifested in both the afferent and efferent immune responses. The hyperresponsive state that results leads to greatly magnified effector responses by cytotoxic antibodies and immune complexes and can culminate in autoimmunity and autoimmune disease when modified by environmental or genetic factors. Fc gamma Rs offer a paradigm for the biological significance of balancing activation and inhibitory signaling in the expanding family of activation/inhibitory receptor pairs found in the immune system.
Three-dimensional echocardiographic measurement of left ventricular volume in vitro: Comparison with two-dimensional echocardiography and cineventriculography

Objetives. This study was designed to compare three-dimensional echocardiography, two-dimensional echocardiography and cineventriculography for the purpose of measuring left ventricular volume in vitro. Background. Three-dimensional echocardiographic systems have been shown to be highly accurate in measuring the volumes of balloon phantoms, However, three-dimensional techniques have not been compared with standard two-dimensional echocardiography in vitro or with cineventriculography, the clinical standard for left ventricular volume measurement. Methods. Excised porcine hearts were prepared with an internal latex sheath that could be filled and maintained with a known (“true”) volume of liquid. Each heart was then imaged by cineventriculography, standard two-dimensional echocardiography and three-dimensional echocardiography. Left ventricular volumes were calculated from 15 hearts at 25 volumes ranging from 50 to 280 ml by the following methods: 1) biplane cineventriculography using the area-length method; 2) two-dimensional echocardiography by the apical biplane method using a summation of discs algorithm in 15 cases and the single-plane, four-chamber method using a summation of discs algorithm in 10 cases; and 3) three-dimensional echocardiography using a polyhedral surface reconstruction volume computation algorithm based on multiple nonparallel, nonevenly spaced short-axis cross sections. Results. Results were compared with true volume, and a nonparametric analysis of variance was performed. Both measurement bias (systematic error) and imprecision (random error) were assessed. All methods tended to underestimate the true volume (two-dimensional echocardiography −6.1 ± 17.6%, three-dimensional echocardiography −4.7 ± 5.0% and biplane cineventriculography −3.9 ± 8.2%), although differences were not significant. Although there was a significant correlation between the magnitude of measurement bias and the size of the volume being measured for two-dimensional echocardiography and cineventriculography, the bias of three-dimensional echocardiography was fairly constant over the range of volumes. When bias was accounted for, two-dimensional echocardiography was significantly less precise than cineventriculography and three-dimensional echocardiography in terms of percent error (15.3 ± 11.9%, 5.6 ± 5.7% and 3.9 ± 3.4%, respectively). Conclusions. Three-dimensional echocardiography using a polyhedral surface reconstruction algorithm for volume computation provides accuracy comparable to that of biplane cineventri-culography in this in vitro model. Standard two-dimensional echocardiographic volume computation is significantly less accurate than the other two methods.
Near dry electrical discharge machining

Abstract This study investigates the near dry electrical discharge machining (EDM) process. Near dry EDM uses liquid–gas mixture as the two phase dielectric fluid and has the benefit to tailor the concentration of liquid and properties of dielectric medium to meet desired performance targets. A dispenser for minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) is utilized to supply a minute amount of liquid droplets at a controlled rate to the gap between the workpiece and electrode. Wire EDM cutting and EDM drilling are investigated under the wet, dry, and near dry conditions. The mixture of water and air is the dielectric fluid used for near dry EDM in this study. Near dry EDM shows advantages over the dry EDM in higher material removal rate (MRR), sharper cutting edge, and less debris deposition. Compared to wet EDM, near dry EDM has higher material removal rate at low discharge energy and generates a smaller gap distance. However, near dry EDM places a higher thermal load on the electrode, which leads to wire breakage in wire EDM and increases electrode wear in EDM drilling. A mathematical model, assuming that the gap distance consists of the discharge distance and material removal depth, was developed to quantitatively correlate the water–air mixture's dielectric strength and viscosity to the gap distance.
A Review of Gay Men’s Health: Challenges, Strengths, and Interventions

This article focuses on how health practitioners can better understand and intervene with gay men. Gay men’s health is situated within 3 prominent theoretical models (ie, minority stress, gender socialization, and identity development) and associated with 3 constructs (ie, internalized homonegativity, internalized homophobia, and internalized heterosexism) to contextualize gay men’s health concerns. Throughout the article, the authors draw particular attention to research that emphasizes the strengths of gay men, as this is a notable gap in the extant literature. Furthermore, HIV/AIDS is a central concern of gay men, and this article focuses on how cultural identities and factors may intersect with HIV/AIDS status among gay men and have implications for health decision making. Affirmative clinical interventions based on theory and research are presented throughout the article, which can be applied by health professionals in various settings. Given the confusion around terminology, lack of knowledge of ava...
Holographic in situ stress measurements

A new instrument for measuring the in situ level of stress in boreholes has been developed. The instrument operates on the principle of locally relieving the stresses acting on a rock mass by drilling a small hole into the borehole surface and recording the resultant displacement field by holographic interferometry. Because the recording technique is optical, the entire displacement field due to stress relief is obtained. A description of the stressmeter, theory of the interferometric technique, data reduction methodology, and results of laboratory stress relief calibration tests are presented. In addition, we present results from a field deployment of the instrument in an underground shale mine in Garfield County, Colorado using a test borehole within a support pillar. Sufficient data were obtained to constrain five of six stress components at a shallow level of the test borehole, thereby demonstrating the viability of the holographic technique. The holographic stress-relief data yield an approximate EW maximum horizontal stress direction. By comparison with previous hydrofracture measurements of Bredehoeft et al., our results indicate substantial stress-relief near the pillar face, thus masking any relicts of the far-field tectonic stress.
Bridging the Gap: Individual Growth and Development Indicators--The Which One Doesn't Belong Task.

The Individual Growth and Development Indicator (IGDI): Which One Doesn’t Belong (WODB) task is an early comprehension screening assessment designed for use in pre-Kindergarten multi-tiered systems of support. This article summarizes the purpose, procedures, and evidence base currently available in the literature to support the WODB task. Example items and validity claims are reviewed.
Nuclear substate populations near the coulomb barrier in 12C(16O, α)24Mg(21+)

Abstract Nuclear substate parameters have been determined for the 2 1 + state of 24 Mg following the 12 C( 16 O, α) reaction in the vicinity of the Coulomb barrier. Hauser-Feshbach fits describe the data rather poorly and suggest the need for including exit-channel partial-wave interference, particularly around the “quasimolecular” resonant anomaly at 9.3 MeV c.m. Fits employing a Breit-Wigner resonance amplitude plus an incoherent compound nucleus background are most consistent with the resonance being 3 − or 5 − .
Ultrasound-directed percutaneous endoscopic cyst-gastrostomy for the treatment of a pancreatic pseudocyst

The incidence of pseudocysts in patients with chronic pancreatitis ranges from 20–40%. Unlike pseudocysts associated with acute pancreatitis, these do not usually resolve spontaneously. Traditionally, these cysts were drained surgically. More recently, however, they have been successfully managed with endoscopic drainage. This report reviews the history and results of nonsurgical pseudocyst management and describes a case of drainage obtained using an alternative method of ultrasound-directed percutaneous endoscopic cyst-gastrostomy.
Intracellular localization and degradation of diphtheria toxin

The internalization of surface-bound diphtheria toxin (DT) in BS-C-1 cells correlated with its appearance in intracellular endosomal vesicles; essentially no toxin appeared within secondary lysosomal vesicles. In contrast, internalized epidermal growth factor (EGF) was localized within both endosomal and lysosomal vesicles. Upon prein-cubation of cells with leupeptin, a lysosomal protease inhibitor, a threefold increase in the accumulation of EGF into lysosomes was observed. Under identical conditions, essentially all of the diphtheria toxin remained within endosomes (less than 2% of the intracellular diphtheria toxin accumulated in the lysosomaJ fraction), indicating that the inability to detect diphtheria toxin in lysosomes was not due to its rapid turnover within this vesicle. Following internalization of EGF or DT, up to 40% of the lgand appeared in the medium as TCA-soluble radioactivity. EGF degradation was partially leupeptin-sensitive and markedly NH4Cl-sensitive, indicating lysosomal degradation. In contrast, DT A-fragment degradation was resistant to these inhibitors, while B-fragment showed only partial sensitivity. These data suggest that the bulk of endocytosed diphtheria toxin is localized within endosomes and degraded by a pathway essentially independent of lysosomes.
Aging dependence of the Bauschinger effect in aluminum alloy 2024

Abstract Aluminum alloy 2024 initially in the T4 (naturally aged) condition and subjected to additional aging at an elevated temperature may exhibit inflected stress-strain hysteresis loops when it is subsequently fatigue cycled at room temperature. We have characterized the development of inflected loops in this material as a function of aging time at 190°C. Inflections are absent in the T4 condition, appear during the first fatigue cycle in underaged material and are strongly developed after aging to peak strength or somewhat beyond. In all cases, the inflections disappear rapidly with continued cycling. Coincident with the appearance of inflected loops there is a dramatic increase in the Bauschinger back stress σb and the Bauschinger strain β as a function of aging time, and the fatigue response shifts rapidly from pronounced cyclic hardening to moderate cyclic softening. The surface appearance of the material over the final strain cycle changes from sharply defined relatively coarse planar slip at zero stress in the T4 condition to diffuse slip with very little surface offset in material exhibiting a strongly inflected hysteresis loop. These observations are consistent with the development of non-shearable precipitate particles during aging at 190 °C. Glide dislocations stored as Orowan shear loops around such particles during forward deformation may assist reverse deformation at a low stress during the second part of the cycle, giving rise to the inflected hysteresis loops. The hysteresis behavior is shown to be quantitatively in agreement with stress-strain curves derived on the basis of a model of kinematic (memory-dependent) hardening.
Spectra of the Temperature and Humidity Fluctuations and of the Fluxes of Moisture and Sensible Heat in the Marine Boundary Layer

Abstract Temperature and humidity fluctuation data were collected on the R/V Flip during BOMEK (Barbados Oceanographic and Meteorological Experiment) in May 1969 and during a pre-BOMEX trial cruise near San Diego in February 1969. The program was a cooperative one with a number of groups on board. In a companion paper with the personnel from the University of British Columbia, the equipment and data analysis are described in more detail and the results of measurements of the fluxes of momentum, moisture and sensible heat are given. The emphasis of this paper is on the similarities and differences between temperature and humidity and on their cospectra and correlations with the velocity fluctuations. During the San Diego experiment it was found that humidity and temperature fluctuations were very similar with only minor differences. During BOMEX the humidity fluctuations were similar to those obtained during the San Diego experiment and to measurements over land, but the low-frequency ends of the temperatu...
Vibrational characteristics of the embalmed human femur

Abstract The resonant frequencies and mode shapes of contralateral femurs have been identified by experimental and analytical procedures. Also, the cross-sectional area, centroid, and principal moments of inertia were computed throughout the femur length for both compact and cancellous bone. The resonant frequencies of freely vibrating specimens were identified from transfer function measurements by using a Fourier analyzer. Twenty frequencies were noted in a frequency range of 20 Hz–8 kHz. A mathematical model of the femur consisting of 59 joined uniform segments, with each composed of compact and/or cancellous bone, was analyzed by using a transfer matrix technique. Results of the model enabled classification of the experimental resonances into deformations corresponding to flexure (about principal planes of inertia), torsion, and longitudinal extension with fundamental frequencies at 250, 308, 557, and 2138 Hz, respectively. Generalized non-dimensional resonant frequencies were computed based on femur geometry averaged over its length and compared with those predicted by simple beam models. This analysis provided further understanding of the vibrational behavior of the femur.
Regulation of CA II and H+,K(+)-ATPase gene expression in canine gastric parietal cells

Acid secretagogue-specific receptor activation in parietal cells triggers rapid and coordinate gene expression of gastric H+,K(+)-ATPase and of CA II. The rapid rise in steady-state levels of CA II mRNA is due to new transcription of the CA II gene in stimulated cells. Although the presumed function of CA II in activated parietal cells is to catalyze the generation of HCO3- from OH-, regulation of CA II gene expression appears to be independent of the generation of H+ (and OH-) through the action of H+,K(+)-ATPase.
Characterizing the financial burden of pulmonary arterial hypertension within an integrated healthcare delivery system.

AbstractPurpose:Financial burden associated with providing healthcare to patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is poorly characterized. This study sought to quantify 3-year healthcare expenditures and determine whether expenditures differed between incident and prevalent PAH cases.Methods:This was a retrospective cohort study of Kaiser Permanente Colorado (KPCO) patients with confirmed diagnosis of PAH. Included patients were followed from study entry until 3 years, death, or termination of KPCO membership, whichever came first. All expenditures were reported in 2011 US dollars from the KPCO perspective.Results:In total, 157 patients were included: 44 (28%) prevalent and 113 (72%) incident cases. Mean age (prevalent vs incident cases) was 61 years vs 67 years and 13.6% vs 27.4% were males. The majority of patients (55%) were classified as WHO Group 1 PAH. Prevalent cases had less follow-up (843 vs 975 days; p = 0.033). Overall, median total per patient per day (PPPD) and 3-year total expendi...
Ozone: Is it due to corpuscular or ultraviolet‐emission from the Sun, or both?

Considerable evidence is accumulating leading to the supposition of two electrically conducting-layers in the upper atmosphere. The writer wishes to indicate that the observations treated in this paper are not inconsistent with such a supposition.
Recent progress in the genomics of soft tissue sarcomas

Purpose of review Soft tissue sarcomas represent a diverse group of tumors with unique clinical features and genetic aberrations; because of their biological characteristics and rarity, advances in diagnostic measures and therapeutic interventions have been slow. Genomic analysis provides a means to elucidate new gene signatures or pathways for possible therapeutic manipulation, predictors of prognosis, and improved diagnostic classification. Recent findings Genomic profiling of soft tissue sarcomas subtypes reveals a propensity for tumors of less karyotypic diversity to segregate from the more pleomorphic subtypes. Certain statistical methods such as support vector machine analysis can distinguish pleomorphic subgroups such as malignant fibrous histiocytomas from other sarcomas. Genomic approaches have led to the identification of several pathways of interest, including the retinoic acid pathway, as well as multiple receptor tyrosine kinases such as platelet-derived growth factor receptor, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, and epidermal growth factor receptor. Genomic analysis of Ewing's sarcoma identified a limited set of genes that can detect subclinical disease with prognostic implications. Finally, a novel paired gene analysis was shown to distinguish gastrointestinal stromal tumor from leiomyosarcoma with high sensitivity and specificity. Summary A functional genomic approach to sarcoma can elucidate new diagnostic techniques, highly sensitive biomarkers for detection of minimal residual disease, and prognostic tools. Ultimately, these genomic approaches may improve upon the current standards of care for patients afflicted with sarcoma.
PKCβII ACTS DOWNSTREAM OF CHEMOATTRACTANT RECEPTORS AND mTORC2 TO REGULATE cAMP PRODUCTION AND MYOSIN II ACTIVITY IN NEUTROPHILS

Chemotaxis is a process by which cells polarize and move up a chemical gradient through the spatiotemporal regulation of actin assembly and actomyosin contractility, which ultimately control front protrusions and back retractions. We previously demonstrated that in neutrophils, mammalian target of rapamycin complex 2 (mTORC2) is required for chemoattractant-mediated activation of adenylyl cyclase 9 (AC9), which converts ATP into cAMP and regulates back contraction through MyoII phosphorylation. Here we study the mechanism by which mTORC2 regulates neutrophil chemotaxis and AC9 activity. We show that inhibition of protein kinase CβII (PKCβII) by CPG53353 or short hairpin RNA knockdown severely inhibits chemoattractant-induced cAMP synthesis and chemotaxis in neutrophils. Remarkably, PKCβII-inhibited cells exhibit specific and severe tail retraction defects. In response to chemoattractant stimulation, phosphorylated PKCβII, but not PKCα, is transiently translocated to the plasma membrane, where it phosphorylates and activates AC9. mTORC2-mediated PKCβII phosphorylation on its turn motif, but not its hydrophobic motif, is required for membrane translocation of PKCβII. Inhibition of mTORC2 activity by Rictor knockdown not only dramatically decreases PKCβII activity, but it also strongly inhibits membrane translocation of PKCβII. Together our findings show that PKCβII is specifically required for mTORC2-dependent AC9 activation and back retraction during neutrophil chemotaxis.
Dark focus and dark vergence: an experimental verification of the configuration of the dual-interactive feedback model

Based on the dual-interactive feedback model, dark focus and dark vergence designate a point on a line describing the response AC/A ratio. In order to verify the relationship between dark focus and dark vergence, we predicted the dark vergence from the measured dark focus when the measurements were based on the response-based calculated and gradient AC/A ratios. For 10 subjects, the correlations between predicted and measured dark vergence values were high. The prediction was better when using the gradient AC/A ratio.
An Assessment of British Science over the Twentieth Century

The twentieth century saw dramatic international shifts in scientific leadership. Despite these dramatic shifts Britain's position has been remarkably stable and strong. I study these changes using data on Nobel laureates in Chemistry, Medicine, and Physics. Raw data show a slight decline in British science, mainly in physics but once one accounts for the tremendous increase in the US, British science actually shows strong growth. I show that raw data and data that adjust for population and gross domestic product (per capita or total), consistently rank Britain as one of the top scientific performers.
Triton, Pluto, Centaurs, and Trans-Neptunian Bodies

The diverse populations of icy bodies of the outer Solar System (OSS) give critical information on the composition and structure of the solar nebula and the early phases of planet formation. The two principal repositories of icy bodies are the Kuiper belt or disk, and the Oort Cloud, both of which are the source regions of the comets. Nearly 1000 individual Kuiper belt objects have been discovered; their dynamical distribution is a clue to the early outward migration and gravitational scattering power of Neptune. Pluto is perhaps the largest Kuiper belt object. Pluto is distinguished by its large satellite, a variable atmosphere, and a surface composed of several ices and probable organic solid materials that give it color. Triton is probably a former member of the Kuiper belt population, suggested by its retrograde orbit as a satellite of Neptune. Like Pluto, Triton has a variable atmosphere, compositionally diverse icy surface, and an organic atmospheric haze. Centaur objects appear to come from the Kuiper belt and occupy temporary orbits in the planetary zone; the compositional similarity of one well studied Centaur (5145 Pholus) to comets is notable. New discoveries continue apace, as observational surveys reveal new objects and refined observing techniques yield more physical information about specific bodies.
Compatibilism & desert: critical comments on four views on free will

In this paper I offer from a source compatibilist’s perspective a critical discussion of Four Views on Free Will by John Martin Fischer, Robert Kane, Derk Pereboom, and Manuel Vargas. Sharing Fischer’s semi-compatibilist view, I propose modifications to his arguments while resisting his coauthors’ objections. I argue against Kane that he should give up the requirement that a free and morally responsible agent be able to do otherwise (in relevant cases). I argue against Pereboom that his famed manipulation argument be resisted by contending that the agents in it are free and responsible. And I also argue against Vargas by challenging the sense in which his revisionist thesis differs from a position like Fischer’s and mine. I close by reflecting on the nature of desert. All seem to assume it is central to the debate, but what is it?
Folic acid deficiency from anticonvulsant therapy.

SUMMARY Folic acid deficiency may result from treatment with various antiepileptic drugs. This seems more likely to be due to an interference with folic acid metabolism than to defective absorption. Seventy-two patients on such treatment were studied. Eleven had serum folate levels below 2 mμg. per ml., 13 between 2 and 3 mμg., 25 between 3 and 5 mμg. and 23 above 5 mμg. per ml. The possible results of this deficiency are discussed, with particular reference to the role of folic acid in protein synthesis. Low folate levels over a long period in a growing child may well have a deleterious effect. Folate levels must also be watched when pregnant women are taking anticonvulsants. RESUME La carence en acide folique peut etre le resultat d'un traitement par certains medicaments anti-comitiaux. Ceci parait plus vraisemblablement dua une interference avec le meta-bolisme de l'acide folique plutot qu'a une absorption defectueuse. On a etudie 72 malades qui suivaient ces traitements. Onze malades avaient des taux seriques d'acide folique inferieurs a 2 μg./ml., 13 avaient des taux compris entre 2 et 3 μg./ml., 25 avaient des taux compris entre 3 et 5 μg. et 23 avaient des taux superieurs a 5 μg./ml. On discute des resultats possibles de cette deficience avec reference particuliere au role de l'acide folique dans la synthese des proteines. Une reduction des taux d'acide folique pendant une longue periode chez un enfant en pleine croissance pourrait bien avoir un effet nocif. Il apparait egalement necessaire de surveiller les taux d'acide folique chez les femmes enceintes prenant des anticonvulsifs. RESUMEN Una deficiencia de acido folico puede resultar de tratamiento con una variedad de drogas antiepilepticas. Parece que esto resulta mas probablemente de interferencia con el metabolis model acido folico que de absorcion defectiva. Se estudiaron setenta y dos enfermos que recibian este tratamiento. Once tenian una cantidad de acido folico en suero de debajo de 2 mμg./ml, 13 tenian una cantidad de entre 3 y 5 mμg./ml, y 23 tenian una cantidad de encima de 5 mμg./ml. Se discuten los resultados posibles de esta diferencia, con referencia especial al papel del acido folico en la sintesis de proteinas. Valores bajos de acido folico durante un periodo prolongado en un nino creciente podrian tener un efecto deletereo. Es necesario tambien observar valores de acido folico cuando mujeres embarazadas toman anticonvulsivantes.
Fracture behavior of a neutron-irradiated stainless steel submerged arc weld cladding overlay

Abstract Stainless steel weld overlay cladding was irradiated at temperatures and fluences relevant to power reactor operation. The cladding was applied to a pressure vessel steel plate by the submerged arc, single-wire, oscillating-electrode method. Three layers of cladding were applied. The first layer was type 309, and the upper two layers were type 308 stainless steel. The type 309 was diluted considerably by excessive melting of the base plate. Charpy V-notch and tensile specimens were irradiated at 288°C to a fluence of 2 × 10 23 neutrons/m 2 (> 1 MeV). When irradiated, both types 308 and 309 cladding increased 5 to 40% in yield strength and slightly increased in ductility in the temperature range from 25 to 288°C. All cladding exhibited ductile-to-brittle transition behavior during impact testing caused by temperature dependent failure of the δ-ferrite phase. The type 308 cladding, microstructurally typical of that in reactor pressure vessels, showed very little degradation in either upper-shelf energy or transition temperature due to irradiation. Conversely, the impact properties of the specimens containing the highly diluted type 309 cladding, microstructurally similar to that produced during some off-normal welding conditions in existing reactors, experienced significant increases in transition temperature and drops of up to 50% in upper-shelf energy.
A Systematic Review of Nutritional Supplementation in HIV-Infected Children in Resource-Limited Settings:

Background:In resource-limited settings, malnutrition is the major cause of death in young children, but the precise benefits of nutritional supplementation for HIV-infected children are not well understood.Methods:Two researchers reviewed studies conducted in low- or middle-income countries that involved macro- and micronutrient supplementation in HIV-infected individuals ≤18 years.Results:Fifteen studies focused on micronutrients, including vitamin A, zinc, multivitamins, and multiple-micronutrient supplementation. The 8 macronutrient studies focused on ready-to-use foods (4 studies), spirulina, whey protein, general food rations, and F75 and F100 starter formulas. Vitamin A was associated with improved mortality rates, ranging from 28% to 63%. Multiple-micronutrient supplementations were not associated with improvement of measured health outcomes. Ready-to-use foods were associated with improvement in certain anthropometrics.Conclusion:Periodic vitamin A supplementation is associated with reduced morta...
Atomic structure of quasicrystals

Abstract Progress in the determination of the atomic structure of quasicrystalline solids via pair distribution function analysis obtained by X-ray and neutron diffraction is reviewed. Common features of the local structure in these solids are described, followed by the discussion on the mechanism of stabilization of quasi-crystals by long-range internal stress fields.
Ionization and distribution between aqueous and non-aqueous solvents of dyes in relation to gastric secretion.

SummaryIn a study of the relation of physical chemical properties of dyes to the extent of their secretion by the. stomach, new determinations of the pKB values and absorption maxima were made. A somewhat better correlation of pKB and stomach: blood ratios was obtained by using commercial instead of pure samples of dyes. The distribution of the dyes between benzene and aqueous buffers of pH 2 and pH 6.73 was measured but no satisfactory correlation found. The method is limited by the tendency of compounds to dissolve 100% in either the buffer or the benzene.
Distributed cooperative Apache web server

Given explosive data traAEc in the world-wide web (WWW), it is crucial to achieve the scalable performance of web servers. The overall performance and resource utilization can be improved by spreading document requests among a group of web servers. This leads to the design and implementation of Distributed Cooperative Apache (DC-Apache) web server. In this paper, we describe the unique features of the DC-Apache system (1) to migrate and replicate documents among cooperating servers, (2) using dynamic hyperlink generation to distribute requests for documents to balance the load, and (3) to maintain replicated copies in a consistent state. We also address the issue of storage management for more e ective document replication under limited capacity. In the experiments, the DC-Apache system demonstrated its ability to achieve high performance and scalability by e ectively distributing load among a group of cooperating Apache servers and by eliminating hot spots and performance bottleneck with replicated documents. The DC-Apache system is an e ective and practical solution to provide high performance and scalability to cope with ever increasing demands from clients all over the web. keywords: WWW, Scalable Web server, Apache, DCApache, Distributed Web server, Replication, Load balancing
Numerical Simulation of Solute Dispersion in Laminar Tube Flow

Abstract The dispersion of a solute slug in laminar tube flow has been simulated by a numerical method (the Flux Corrected Transport Algorithm) for a set of tube lengths embracing the pure convection through Taylor dispersion regimes. The results reveal unexpected double peak breakthrough curves for tubes of intermediate length. Experimental evidence of double peaks which qualitatively confirms the simulations is discussed.
A two-dimensional electrophoresis database of human breast epithelial cell proteins.

As sequencing of the human genome progresses, attention is turning to when and where specific genes are being expressed and how that expression is regulated. The human breast, with the highly specific, but transient, function of milk production (lactation), exemplifies human gene regulation. The molecular mechanisms for the dramatic structural and functional changes involved in shifting from lactation-capable to lactation-incapable tissue are poorly understood, as are the mechanisms that result in deviation from normal breast cell growth into different types of breast neoplasms. We are using quantitative two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) to determine which proteins are present in different types of human breast cells (milk-producing and -nonproducing, estrogen-receptor-positive and -negative, normal and malignant) and which proteins change in abundance in response to stimuli that trigger cell differentiation, growth, or death. A composite map of proteins found in human breast cells is being generated and used as an index of human genes that are differentially expressed, both qualitatively and quantitatively. Proteins found in 15 different types of human breast cells, two from healthy tissue (from milk and reduction mammoplasty tissue) and 13 from tumor tissue, are now included in the composite map. Copies of the human breast epithelial cell protein map are available on the World Wide Web (URL: http:(/)/www.anl.gov/CMB/PMG/ projects/index_hbreast.html) with links to quantitative data and identifications for proteins found to be differentially expressed in these epithelial cells. Links to the Swiss-Prot and enzyme metabolic pathway databases are also provided. The World Wide Web presentation is designed to allow public access to the available 2-DE data together with logical connections to databases providing genome-related information.
Echocardiographic Indices of Left Ventricular Function: A Comparison

Multiple M-mode echocardiographic indices of left ventricular function are currently in use, but their reliability is disputed. Therefore, we correlated echo ejection fraction (EF) using quadratic (Q) and cubic (C) formulae, percentage of minor axis shortening (%S), mean velocity of circumferential fiber shortening (mVCF), and peak VCF with angiographic EF in 37 subjects, including 10 normal subjects. None had echocardiographic segmentai wall motion abnormalities. Significant linear correlations were found between angiographic EF and EF C ( r = 0.78), % S ( r = 0.77), EF Q ( r = 0.68), peak VCF ( r = 0.68), and mVCF ( r = 0.58). However, for all indices, the scatter was too great to permit reliable quantitative estimations of angiographic EF based on echo date. Peak VCF was qualitatively the most reliable predictor of ventricular function, being ≥2.00 circumference per second in 23 of 25 patients with angio EF ≥55 percent and % S (sens 50 percent, spec 96 percent), EF C (sens 58 percent, spec 96 percent), and EF Q (sens 58 percent, spec 92 percent) were less satisfactory. We conclude that echo indices are reliable only as qualitative parameters of ventricular function. Peak VCF appears to be the most sensitive and specific qualitative index now available.
Phylogeny of Bacterial and Archaeal Genomes Using Conserved Genes: Supertrees and Supermatrices

Over 3000 microbial (bacterial and archaeal) genomes have been made publically available to date, providing an unprecedented opportunity to examine evolutionary genomic trends and offering valuable reference data for a variety of other studies such as metagenomics. The utility of these genome sequences is greatly enhanced when we have an understanding of how they are phylogenetically related to each other. Therefore, we here describe our efforts to reconstruct the phylogeny of all available bacterial and archaeal genomes. We identified 24, single-copy, ubiquitous genes suitable for this phylogenetic analysis. We used two approaches to combine the data for the 24 genes. First, we concatenated alignments of all genes into a single alignment from which a Maximum Likelihood (ML) tree was inferred using RAxML. Second, we used a relatively new approach to combining gene data, Bayesian Concordance Analysis (BCA), as implemented in the BUCKy software, in which the results of 24 single-gene phylogenetic analyses are used to generate a “primary concordance” tree. A comparison of the concatenated ML tree and the primary concordance (BUCKy) tree reveals that the two approaches give similar results, relative to a phylogenetic tree inferred from the 16S rRNA gene. After comparing the results and the methods used, we conclude that the current best approach for generating a single phylogenetic tree, suitable for use as a reference phylogeny for comparative analyses, is to perform a maximum likelihood analysis of a concatenated alignment of conserved, single-copy genes.
Anabolic effects of parathyroid hormone on bone

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is classically considered to be a bone catabolic agent; however, when delivered intermittently at low doses, PTH potently stimulates cortical and/or trabecular bone growth in animal and clinical studies. Understanding the mechanism of PTH's osteopenic actions has led to the making of small, novel, and possibly noninjectable PTH analogues that can build biomechanically normal bone in osteopenic rats and are promising candidates for treating osteoporosis in humans.
Time-dependent density functional theory employing optimized effective potentials

Exchange-only ab initio (parameter-free) time-dependent density functional calculations for the vertical excitation energies of atoms and polyatomic molecules are performed by employing optimized effective potentials (OEP’s) and their corresponding adiabatic exchange kernels for the first time. Accurate OEP’s are obtained by a novel linear-combination-of-atomic-orbital (LCAO) algorithm [R. Colle and R. K. Nesbet, J. Phys. B 34, 2475 (2001)] in which a potential is represented as a sum of a seed potential having the correct −1/r asymptotic behavior and a small and rapidly decaying correction, the latter being approximated accurately by a linear combination of Gaussian functions. The time-dependent OEP (TDOEP) methods with and without the Tamm–Dancoff approximation are implemented by using a trial-vector algorithm, which allows us to avoid the storage or manipulation of transformed two-electron integrals or the diagonalization of large matrices. No approximation is made to TDOEP, besides the adiabatic appro...
Nodular pulmonary sarcoidosis presenting as acute chest pain

A 20-year-old African-American woman presented to the emergency room for the evaluation of a 1-day history of chest pain radiating to the left shoulder. She reported having similar symptoms 6 months prior that had resolved spontaneously. A chest radiograph performed at that time was within normal limits. She denied any flu-like illness, trauma or any associated shortness of breath. She also denied any fever, chills, weight loss or haemoptysis. She is a non-smoker and denied any illicit drug use. Physical examination did not reveal any chest wall tenderness. A …