cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Nd-, Sr- and Pb-isotopic character of lavas from Taal, Laguna de Bay and Arayat volcanoes, southwestern Luzon, Philippines: Implications for arc magma petrogenesis

Abstract Following the amalgamation of a collage of pre-Neogene terranes largely by strike-slip and convergence mechanisms to form the Philippine islands, volcanic chains, related to oppositely dipping subduction zones, developed along the eastern and western margins of the archipelago. There is ample field evidence that this volcanic activity, predominantly calc-alkaline in chemical character, had commenced by the Oligocene. Volcanoes resulting from subduction along the Manila-Negros trench in the west (e.g. Taal, Laguna de Bay and Arayat) form a high-angle linear array, trending away from the MORE field on Pb-isotopic covariation diagrams; have the highest Sr- and lowest Nd-isotopic compositions, of the two chains (but nevertheless plotting above bulk earth on the 87 Sr/ 86 Sr versus 143 Nd/ 144 Nd covariation diagram); and exhibit Sm/Nd and Rb/Sr values that are lower and higher, respectively, than the estimated values for bulk earth. While the Sm/Nd and Rb/Sr characteristics are common to both chains, volcanoes associated with the Philippine-East Luzon trench have Pb-isotopic compositions that fall in the Indian Ocean MORB field and that require time-integrated evolution in a high Th/U environment. They also have higher Nd- and lower Sr-isotopic ratios. The source materials of Philippine volcanoes, therefore, have undergone varied recent enrichments in LILE, as indicated by the decoupling of isotopic and elemental ratios. These enrichments, particularly for the western volcanoes, cannot be entirely due to small degrees of partial melting in the mantle wedge, considering that they were accompanied by elevations in radiogenic Pb. Elevated Pb ratios are best explained by the introduction of subducted, continentally derived sediments. The sedimentary component in the western volcanoes is probably the South China Sea sediments derived largely from Eurasia. That this component is not available in the Philippine-East Luzon trench is reflected by the fact that the eastern volcanoes have higher Nd- and lower Sr-isotopic ratios as well as less radiogenic common Pb.
Gender, culture, and power: barriers to HIV-prevention strategies for women

The rapid increase of HIV infection among women in the U.S. has been attributed primarily to sexual contact with HIV‐infected men. Strong cultural gender norms regarding sexual behaviors among Latinos exacerbates this risk for Latino women. In this study we assessed contraceptive use patterns and predictors of condom use with steady male partners among a random sample of 513 Latino and 184 non‐Latino White women (N = 697). The women were assessed for ethnic differences in sexual behaviors and psychosocial variables using t‐tests. We used multiple regression analysis to assess predictors of condom use with steady male partners for all women. Although Latino and non‐Latino White women differed significantly on most psychosocial factors, predictors of condom use were the same for the two groups: positive attitude about condom use, not using other forms of contraception, belief that friends use condoms, self‐efficacy to use condoms, more sexual power (i.e., less concern that the male partner would become angr...
Changes in the mechanisms of hormone and neurotransmitter action during aging: Current status of the role of receptor and post-receptor alterations. A review

Alterations in responsiveness to hormones and neurotransmitters during aging appear to be due to changes at both the receptor and post-receptor levels. Although many such observations have now been independently confirmed, disagreement over the extent and/or importance of receptor alterations exists in a number of cases. Receptors do not appear to change with age in certain systems, but only a few reports have actually been able to localize particular post-receptor alterations responsible for changes in response. This review attempts to catalogue studies in these areas which have been carried out to date, and discusses possible reasons for discrepancies as well as future research directions.
An Efficient Numerical Procedure For the Solution Of Laminar Flow and heat Transfer in Coiled Tubes

Effects of curvature on the fluid flow and heat transfer with axially uniform wall heat flux and peripherally uniform wall temperature in a tube are analyzed numerically. Solutions are available over a wide range of Prandtl numbers and Dean numbers up to 1305. It is found that the secondary flow circulations become more complex as the Dean number increases. Nusselt number increases are most evident at high Prandtl and Dean numbers. The introduction of a convergence parameter into the alternating direction implicit solution method results in substantially reduced computation time. A method of finding the optimum convergence parameter is described.
Inositol phosphates and intracellular calcium after bradykinin stimulation in fibroblasts from young, normal aged and Alzheimer donors

Several studies suggest that alterations in the receptor-mediated phosphoinositide cascade and cytosolic free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) are involved in the pathophysiology of aging and Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, the phosphoinositide cascade and [Ca2+]i were determined under resting conditions and after stimulation with bradykinin (100 nM) in cultured human skin fibroblasts from young (21 +/- 3 years), normal aged (59 +/- 6 years) and Alzheimer subjects (58 +/- 6 years). The inositol polyphosphates (IP3, IP2 and IP) were monitored after prelabeling the cells with [3H]inositol in serum free medium. [Ca2+]i was determined with the fluorescent probe, fura-2AM, under exactly analogous conditions. The bradykinin-induced formation of IP3 and IP2 increased significantly in fibroblasts from normal aged and Alzheimer donors compared to young subjects, but did not differ from each other. Bradykinin-induced IP3 formation was 63-117% above the young group at time points between 10-60 s in normal aged or Alzheimer donors. Bradykinin-induced IP2 formation was 49-59% above the young group at time points between 10-60 s in normal aged or Alzheimer subjects. Neither the basal [Ca2+]i, nor the bradykinin-stimulated [Ca2+]i, differed among fibroblasts from young, normal aged and Alzheimer donors. The precise molecular basis and pathophysiological significance of the enhanced bradykinin-induced phosphoinositide cascade in fibroblasts from aged donors remains to be determined.
Node of Ranvier disruption as a cause of neurological diseases.

Dysfunction and/or disruption of nodes of Ranvier are now recognized as key contributors to the pathophysiology of various neurological diseases. One reason is that the excitable nodal axolemma contains a high density of Nav (voltage-gated Na+ channels) that are required for the rapid and efficient saltatory conduction of action potentials. Nodal physiology is disturbed by altered function, localization, and expression of voltage-gated ion channels clustered at nodes and juxtaparanodes, and by disrupted axon–glial interactions at paranodes. This paper reviews recent discoveries in molecular/cellular neuroscience, genetics, immunology, and neurology that highlight the critical roles of nodes of Ranvier in health and disease.
Experience with faculty supervision of an electronic resident sign-out system.

The Association of Professors of Medicine (APM) is the national organization of departments of internal medicine at the US medicalschools and numerous afﬁliated teaching hospitals as represented by chairs and appointed leaders. As the ofﬁcial sponsor of TheAmerican Journal of Medicine, the association invites authors to publish commentaries on issues concerning academic internalmedicine.For the latest information about departments of internal medicine, please visit APM’s website at www.im.org/APM.
Expression of human hepatic genes in somatic cell hybrids.

Four diploid human cell types (lymphocytes, fibroblasts, amniotic fluid cells, and hepatocytes) were fused to mouse hepatoma cells, HH. HH synthesized and secreted several liver-specific gene products including albumin, transferrin, and alpha-fetoprotein. The resulting interspecific hybrids were compared to determine whether or not the pattern of human hepatic gene expression was similar when these various cells were fused with the mouse hepatoma line. The expression of six human hepatic genes was examined, including albumin, alpha-fetoprotein, ceruloplasmin, transferrin, alpha-l-antitrypsin, and haptoglobin. Albumin was most frequently expressed while alpha-fetoprotein was not detected in any of the hybrids studied. The patterns of expression of human serum proteins differed between the hybrid series. Hybrids derived from human fibroblasts produced primarily albumin, while those derived from lymphoblastoid cells and amniocytes had a higher frequency of clones secreting alpha-l-antitrypsin. The findings reported here suggest that the frequency of hybrid clones expressing human hepatic gene products and the array of proteins produced are influenced by the histogenetic state of the human parental cell type.
More Than Reproductive Care: What Adolescent Females are Asking of Their Obstetrician-Gynecologist

potentially-due to STDs or PID are frequently not asked about sexual activity or contraception, especially in the ER. Patients who report condom use are frequently not asked about regularity of use. Physicians are not significantly-more-likely to perform pelvic exam and order gonorrhea/chlamydia tests on older adolescents than on younger ones in the ER or outpatient settings, although they are significantlymore-likely to order pregnancy test for the older patients. Physicians frequently do not empirically-treat patients that have symptoms suspicious of STDs and PID.
Accuracy of the HCM 2000 queue clearance model: Case of multiple approach lanes with shared left turns and multiple opposing lanes

Appendix C of Chapter 16 in the Highway Capacity Manual 2000 (HCM 2000) discusses the method for calculating the left turn factor for permitted left turns. This method uses the queue clearance model, represented by equation C16-6 of the HCM 2000 to calculate the left-turn factor. This paper reports on a study of the accuracy of this queue clearance model to predict observed clearance times. For this study, queue clearance times were observed for multiple-lane approaches with shared left turns and opposing multiple-lane approaches for five study intersections located throughout Missouri. Data collected at each intersection were used as inputs to the HCM 2000 queue clearance model to predict queue clearance times. A comparison of the predicted queue clearance time and the observed queue clearance time found that the HCM 2000 queue clearance model underestimates observed clearance times on average by 5.8 seconds. Further research is needed to identify the source of this bias and to recommend improvements to the HCM 2000 model.
Assessment of Indoor Air Quality in Interior Alaskan Homes

Interior Alaska has indoor air quality issues similar to those of other far northern communities associated with long cold winters and reduced ventilation rates. Moreover, geological features in th...
The Use of Motivational Interviewing in Conjunction With Adapted Dialectical Behavior: Therapy to Treat Synthetic Cannabis Use Disorder

Little empirical information is established about synthetic marijuana, including the treatment of related disorders. Similar to organic marijuana, chronic synthetic use can lead to a variety of fun...
Techniques for the quantification of composite mesostructure

Abstract Fiber-reinforced composite materials contain a variety of reinforcement and flaw geometries on a scale ranging from meso to micro which are pertinent to their properties. This paper gives an overview of several techniques that have been developed for quantification of four of these morphologies: fiber spatial distribution, small-angle fiber misalignment, yarn shape and nesting, and microcrack structure. Quantification requires two basic steps: (i) invention of an appropriate metric for the structure of interest; and (ii) development of accurate and efficient measurement procedures. The present work identifies twelve metrics. Specialized computer-aided image analysis techniques are described which make measurements possible with reasonable effort. Example data from several materials are given.
Simultaneous detection of multiple environmental contaminants through advanced signal processing of electrochemical sensor signals

The possibility of large-scale attacks using chemical warfare agents (CWAs) has exposed the critical need for fundamental research enabling the reliable, unambiguous, and early detection of trace CWAs and toxic industrial chemicals. This paper presents a unique approach for identification and classification of environmental contaminants by perturbing an electrochemical (EC) sensor with an oscillating potential rather than static voltage levels. The dynamic response, being a function of the degree and mechanism of contamination, is then processed with a symbolic dynamic filter for extraction of representative patterns, which are then classified using a trained neural network. Extraction of statistically rich information from the current response enables identification of characteristics species even when they are mixed with other confounding gases. The approach presented in this paper promises to extend sensing power and sensitivity of these EC sensors by augmenting and complementing the sensor technology with state-of-the-art embedded real time signal processing capabilities.
Evaluating Open-Ended Parent Reports and Direct Preference Assessments to Identify Reinforcers for Young Children With Autism

Little research has evaluated open-ended parent reports to identify reinforcers for children with autism. This study evaluated open-ended parent reports and direct preference assessments for six young children with autism in home-based therapy. Results indicated little correspondence between parent reports and direct assessment assessments for all but one child. However, a follow-up reinforcer assessment with two children showed that the top ranked stimulus from both assessments functioned as reinforcers, with one child demonstrating higher levels of responding for the top ranked stimulus from the parent report. Results tentatively support open-ended parent reports to identify reinforcers for young children with autism.
Shallow arch model. An asymptotic approach

We examine an asymptotic expansion of the time dependent displacement field of a solid, three-dimensional elastic arch. We show that it is possible to derive from the principles of virtual work four different models of arches. We also show that the approximate equations of motion are universal within a class of homogeneous, hyperelastic materials provided that the deformations of the solid arch are not too large.
Isolation and purification of multiple forms of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase from rat brain.

Four different forms of the enzyme γ-glutamyl transpeptidase were isolated from rat brain by chromatography on concanavalin A. An approximate 1500-fold purification was achieved. The four forms were characterized with respect to molecular weight,Km for γ-glutamyl-p-nitroanilide, mobility on polyacrylamide gels, and inhibitory effects of borate-serine. The multiple forms of the enzyme were found to have molecular weights ranging from 74,000 to 234,000 andKms of 0.07 to 8.6 mM. It was determined that in brain, the major portion of the enzyme activity is associated with plasma membrane fragments and endoplasmic reticulum.
The differences between ICL repair during and outside of S phase

DNA interstrand crosslinks (ICLs) are complex lesions that block essential DNA transactions including DNA replication, recombination, and RNA transcription. Naturally occurring ICLs are rare, yet these lesions are the major cause of toxicity following treatment with several classes of crosslinking cancer chemotherapeutic drugs. ICLs are repaired during and outside of S phase by pathways with overlapping as well as distinct features. Here, we discuss some recent insights into the mechanisms of replication-dependent and replication-independent repair of ICLs with special emphasis on the differences between these repair pathways.
The concept of species age in photochemical modeling

This paper introduces the concept of species age, which allows one to separate transport and chemistry in a photochemical model. This separation is an approximation that can lead to substantial decreases in the computational burden of photochemical modeling. Thus, the method can be used to simulate a large number of cases to select a few for more detailed study with a comprehensive photochemical model. The concept of species age can also be used to probe observations directly to draw inferences on the impact of precursor emission changes at specific sources on observed ozone levels. Species age is computed using a conservation equation derived in this paper. The pollutants are initially transported within the airshed as inert species for the required simulation time. These inert concentrations are then allowed to react over the appropriate species ages to yield ozone concentrations. Computational efficiency is obtained by performing chemistry as a post-processing step only at the receptors of interest. The usefulness of the species age concept has been evaluated by comparing results from a model that uncouples transport and chemistry to those from a comprehensive photochemical model applied to an ozone episode observed during the Lake Michigan Oxidant study in 1991. The initial results are very encouraging.
Multiphoton dissociation of iron carbonyls: Emission from atomic iron

Abstract The third harmonic of the Nd:YAG laser is used to photodissociate Fe(CO)3L, where L = C4H6 or Q6H8. The resulting emission is analyzed and observed to originate from high lying states of atomic iron. Iron ions are concurrently produced at laser energies as low as 20 μJ pulse‐1. The nature of the emission spectrum is dependent upon the total pressure and the nature of any added background gas. The photochemistry is analyzed using an RRKM treatment, which indicates that the absorption of two photons by Fe(CO)3L leads to production of FeL with a small excess energy. Ground state Fe production occurs upon absorption of an additional photon. In competition with this process would be the absorption of additional photons leading to the observed Fe atomic levels with “intermediate”; energy. High energy states observed in the emission spectrum could be accessed by absorption of three photons by FeL. In all three reaction channels, the atomic states could be populated by multiple curve crossings. Such high...
Development of a mobile user interface for image-based dietary assessment

In this paper, we present a mobile user interface for image-based dietary assessment. The mobile user interface provides a front end to a client-server image recognition and portion estimation software. In the client-server configuration, the user interactively records a series of food images using a built-in camera on the mobile device. Images are sent from the mobile device to the server, and the calorie content of the meal is estimated. In this paper, we describe and discuss the design and development of our mobile user interface features. We discuss the design concepts, through initial ideas and implementations. For each concept, we discuss qualitative user feedback from participants using the mobile client application. We then discuss future designs, including work on design considerations for the mobile application to allow the user to interactively correct errors in the automatic processing while reducing the user burden associated with classical pen-and-paper dietary records.
Assimilation of ammonia by nitrogen-starved cells of Chlorella vulgaris.

In an investigation of the utilization of inorganic nitrogen by Chlorella, Reisner et al (17) measured the changes in the quantities of uncombined amino acids which occurred after adding nitrate or ammonia to nitrogen-starved cells. Adding ammonia produced more rapid and more striking changes in amounts of amino acids than adding nitrate. In the shortest period of ammonia treatment (15 min) marked increases in glutamine and alanine and a small increase in serine were observed. To learn more about the short-term assimilation of ammonia by Chlorella, the following investigations w-ere carried out: A: The concentration of several uncombined amino acids in Chlorella was measured 2 to 15 minutes after adding ammonium chloride; B: The effects of inhibitors on the concentration of anmino acids, after adding ammonia, were determined; C: Enzymes that might be involved in ammonia utilization were studied; D: The amount of N15 in non-protein alanine, glutamiiine, and glutamate was measured after administering N15H4NO3 for 1 and 5 minute intervals; E: The concentration of pyruvate and a-ketoglutarate was determined before and after adding ammonia to Chlorella; F: The effect of pyruvate and ammonia plus pyruvate on the quantity of amino acids was examined.
Agricultural reforms in the USSR: Intensification programmes of the 1980s

Gorbachev's public statements since he became General Secretary in 1985 indicate a strong commitment to achieve greater growth and stability in Soviet agricultural production in the near future, despite tremendous problems in the agricultural sector and the often difficult climatic conditions over large parts of the USSR. The new Soviet leadership has consistently advocated shifting from an extensive to an intensive path of development, because resources for extensive growth have been practically exhausted. The main challenge facing Soviet agricultural policy, as Soviet planners see it, is the need to get more output per unit of input. They continue to advocate bringing new technologies and innovation into Soviet agricultural production. The current situation of Soviet agriculture, however, is still very far from this ideal. New technologies and systems—such as 'soil protective', 'zonal', 'industrial', 'intensive' and even the new 'landscape-ecological'—overlap or replace one another on large tracts of arable lands. Returns from intensive technologies are still low, and considerably below Soviet norms.1
Physiological role for vanadate-inhibitable active H+ transport: a new model for distal urinary acidification.

Summary We have shown elsewhere that membranes isolated from the turtle bladder epithelium have both vanadate-resistant (VR) and vanadate-sensitive (VS) components of ATP-dependent H + transport. VR appears to be due to a vacuolar-type H + uniport while VS has properties of an H/K exchanger. In the present study we used bladders from chronically alkalotic turtles, which do not acidify urine, and found them to yield membranes which retain VR but lack VS transport. Thus VS occurs only in membranes from bladders secreting acid, implying that VS H + transport (1) plays a physiological role in the secretion and (2) is a functional marker for the apical membrane of the acid-secreting cells. These results suggest a new model for distal urinary acidification.
Panning for the gold in health research: Incorporating studies’ methodological quality in meta-analysis

Background: Systematic reviews now routinely assess methodological quality to gauge the validity of the included studies and of the synthesis as a whole. Although trends from higher quality studies...
dx2-y2 pairing and spin fluctuations in the cuprate superconductors: Experiment meets theory

Abstract I review theoretical calculations and experimental measurements which demonstrate that the superconducting pairing state is dx2-y2, and that it is the coupling of planar quasiparticles to the experimentally measured planar electronic spin fluctuation excitations which determines the normal state properties, and makes possible high temperature superconductivity.
Magnetic damping of g-jitter induced double-diffusive convection

This paper describes a numerical study of the g-jitter driven double diffusive convective flows, thermal and concentration distributions in binary alloy melt systems subject to an external magnetic field. The study is based on the finite element solution of transient magnetohydrodynamic equations governing the momentum, thermal and solutal transport in the melt pool. Numerical simulations are conducted using the synthesized single- and multi- frequency g-jitter as well as the real g-jitter data taken during space flights with or without an applied magnetic field. It is found that for the conditions studied, the main melt flow follows approximately a lineal- superposition of velocity components induced by individual g-jitter components, regardless of whether a magnetic field exists or not. The flow field is characterized by a recirculating double diffusive convection loop oscillating in time with a defined frequency equal to that of the driving g-jitter force. An applied magnetic field has little effect on the oscillating recirculating pattern, except around the moment in time when the flow reverses its direction. The field has no effect on the oscillation period, but it changes the phase angle. It is very effective in suppressing the flow intensity and produces a notable reduction of the solutal striation and time fluctuations in the melt. For a given magnetic field strength, the magnetic damping effect is more pronounced on the velocity associated with the largest g-jitter component present and/or the g-jitter spiking peaks. A stronger magnetic field is more effective in suppressing the melt convection and also is more helpful in bringing the convection in phase with the g-jitter driving force. The applied field is particularly useful in suppressing the effect of real g-jitter spikes on both flow and solutal distributions. With appropriately selected magnetic fields, the convective flows caused by g-jitter can be reduced sufficiently and diffusion dominant. solutal transport in the melt is possible.
Some Hosts Fed Upon by Ceratopogonids and Simuliids

During a study of the vertebrate host associations of Wisconsin mosquitoes, a few Ceratopogonidae and Simuliidae were captured that had fed on the exposed animals. Most of these had fed on animals exposed in screen cages. Techniques for exposing the hosts and collecting the Diptera were described by Wright & DeFoliart (Ann. Ent. Soc. Amer., 1970, 63(3): 777–86).
Signal analysis applications of nonlinear dynamics and higher-order statistics

The use of higher-order statistics (HOS) in acoustic, and financial signal analysis applications is outlined in theory and followed with specific data examples. HOS analysis is used to identify data regions of interest, and nonlinear dynamics (ND) analysis is used in a 4D embedded space to show structural density changes resulting from the HOS regions. A second-order statistical comparison is made with the same data processed to have random Fourier phase, since the HOS information is contained in this nonrandom phase. These empirical results indicate that HOS data regions are structural distortions to a second-order planar disk in the 4D ND analysis space.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Characterization of the particles produced by exposure of ribosomal subunits to urea

Abstract When Escherichia coli 50-S ribosomal subunits are treated with increasing concentrations of urea partial deproteination occurs. Furthermore, we observed that the number of sulfhydryl groups which react with Ellman's reagent is a sigmoidal function of the urea concentration. These results are similar to those previously reported for the 30-S subunit (Acharya, A.S. and Moore, P.B. (1973) J. Mol. Biol. 76, 207–221). For both subunits we identify the proteins which dissociate (split proteins) or are recoverable in a ribonucleoprotein particle (core proteins) under the action of 6 M urea in a buffer of moderate ionic strength.
Source apportionment using positive matrix factorization on daily measurements of inorganic and organic speciated PM2.5

Abstract Particulate matter less than 2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5) has been linked with a wide range of adverse health effects. Determination of the sources of PM2.5 most responsible for these health effects could lead to improved understanding of the mechanisms of such effects and more targeted regulation. This has provided the impetus for the Denver Aerosol Sources and Health (DASH) study, a multi-year source apportionment and health effects study relying on detailed inorganic and organic PM2.5 speciation measurements. In this study, PM2.5 source apportionment is performed by coupling positive matrix factorization (PMF) with daily speciated PM2.5 measurements including inorganic ions, elemental carbon (EC) and organic carbon (OC), and organic molecular markers. A qualitative comparison is made between two models, PMF2 and ME2, commonly used for solving the PMF problem. Many previous studies have incorporated chemical mass balance (CMB) for organic molecular marker source apportionment on limited data sets, but the DASH data set is large enough to use multivariate factor analysis techniques such as PMF. Sensitivity of the PMF2 and ME2 models to the selection of speciated PM2.5 components and model input parameters was investigated in depth. A combination of diagnostics was used to select an optimum, 7-factor model using one complete year of daily data with pointwise measurement uncertainties. The factors included 1) a wintertime/methoxyphenol factor, 2) an EC/sterane factor, 3) a nitrate/polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) factor, 4) a summertime/selective aliphatic factor, 5) an n-alkane factor, 6) a middle-oxygenated PAH/alkanoic acid factor and 7) an inorganic ion factor. These seven factors were qualitatively linked with known PM2.5 emission sources with varying degrees of confidence. Mass apportionment using the 7-factor model revealed the contribution of each factor to the mass of OC, EC, nitrate and sulfate. On an annual basis, the majority of OC and EC mass was associated with the summertime/selective aliphatic factor and the EC/sterane factor, respectively, while nitrate and sulfate mass were both dominated by the inorganic ion factor. This apportionment was found to vary substantially by season. Several of the factors identified in this study agree well with similar assessments conducted in St. Louis, MO and Pittsburgh, PA using PMF and organic molecular markers.
Rh(III)‐Catalyzed C—H Activation and Double Directing Group Strategy for the Synthesis of Naphthyridinones.

The approach uses a double activation and directing properties of nicotinamide N-oxides as substrates.
Refining the question about judges' moral capacity

The question about whether judges are better than legislatures at identifying and addressing the moral issues associated with rights needs to be posed in a more refi ned way that takes account of the suggestions made by Professors Beaud, Dyzenhaus, and Sadurski. As Professor Sadurski points out, it is not clear that issues about rights differ in their moral salience from other decisions that need to be faced in politics. Professor Dyzenhaus insists, quite rightly, that the question be posed as a question about institutional competence and institutional procedures. In this response, however, I argue that that reformulation does not make the question go away; it just poses it in a more complex setting. Professor Beaud rightly emphasizes that the question is usually raised in this form only in common law systems. Here, however, I argue that the fact that moral reasoning is concealed beneath the esoteric structures of adjudication in civil law systems does not mean that my question has no application there. All it means is that, in order to answer it, we must persuade judges to be a little more candid about what they are doing.
EFFECT OF EDTA ON THE GERMINATION OF AND OUTGROWTH FROM SPORES OF Clostridium botulinum 62-A

SUMMARY –EDTA, in concentrations above 2.5 mM, was found inhibitory to germination of and outgrowth from spores of C. botulinum Type A and to toxin production in a fish homogenate. Inhibitory action was influenced by pH of the medium in the range pH 6.5–8.1, the action increasing with pH. It was influenced by Mg and Ca concentrations in the medium, equimolar concentrations of added CaCl2 or MgCl2, completely erasing the growth inhibitory action. Initial spore concentration also influenced inhibitory efficacy–the higher the spore concentration, the higher the EDTA concentration required for inhibition. There was no evidence that EDTA, in any concentration used, promoted spore germination. Release of Ca, Mg and DPA from incubating spores was suppressed to varying extents by 5.0 and 10 mM EDTA.
Artificial microvascular network: a new tool for measuring rheologic properties of stored red blood cells

BACKGROUND: The progressive deterioration of red blood cell (RBC) rheologic properties during refrigerated storage may reduce the clinical efficacy of transfusion of older units. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This article describes the development of a microfluidic device designed to test the rheologic properties of stored RBCs by measuring their ability to perfuse an artificial microvascular network (AMVN) comprised of capillary-size microchannels arranged in a pattern inspired by the real microvasculature. In the AMVN device, the properties of RBCs are evaluated by passing a 40% hematocrit suspension of RBCs through the network and measuring the overall perfusion rate. RESULTS: The sensitivity of the AMVN device to the storage-induced change in rheologic properties of RBCs was tested using five prestorage leukoreduced RBC units stored in AS-1 for 41 days. The AMVN perfusion rate for stored RBCs was 26 ± 4% (19%-30%) lower than for fresh RBCs. Washing these stored RBCs in saline improved their performance by 41 ± 6% (the AMVN perfusion rate for washed stored RBCs was still 15 ± 2% lower than for fresh RBCs). CONCLUSIONS: The measurements performed using the AMVN device confirm a significant decline in the rheologic properties of RBCs in units nearing expiration and demonstrate the sensitivity of the device to these storage-induced changes. The AMVN device may be useful for testing the effect of new storage conditions, additive solutions, and rejuvenation strategies on the rheologic properties of stored RBCs in vitro.
Symbolic heuristic search for factored Markov decision processes

We describe a plnning algorithm that integrates two approaches to solving Markov decision processes with large state spaces. State abstraction is used to avoid evaluating states individually. Forward search from a start state, guided by an admissible heuristic, is used to avoid evaluating all states. We combine these two approaches in a novel way that exploits symbolic model-checking techniques and demonstrates their usefulness for decision-theoretic planning.
Myocardial mechanical responses and ionic exchange in high-sodium perfusate

The effects of an extracellular sodium (Na) concentration of 200 mM on function, ionic exchange, and water movements were examined in the vascularly perfused rabbit intraventricular septum. When the perfusate was switched from 1.42 mM Na to 200 mM Na, dP/dt fell 20.4% over 2 minutes; dP/dt then recovered to the control level. The time course of the functional recovery correlated with the uptake of Na into the slowly exchangeable fraction of the tissue, and the rate of recovery in 200 mM Na depended on the frequency of contraction of the preparation. During perfusion with 200 mM Na, a 41% increase in slow-phase Na content compared with the content during perfusion with 142 mM Na was observed. The hyperosmolar perfusate induced a 21% cellular dehydration within 10 minutes as estimated from measurement of 10-minute 35SO4 space and total tissue water. The time course of dehydration was much more rapid than the time course of functional recovery. Calcium (Ca) influx during the period when dP/dt had returned to...
The Power of Limits and the Pleasure of Games An Easy and Fun Piano Duo Improvisation

This column presents an improvisation game designed to be played by any two musicians from beginner through professional skill level. The author argues that two aspects are critical for success: on...
Transient postictal MRI changes in patients with brain tumors may mimic disease progression.

Abstract Background Transient postictal imaging abnormalities in patients with non–tumor-related seizures are well documented and include fluid-attenuated inversion recovery/T2 hyperintensity and parenchymal and meningeal contrast enhancement. In contrast, transient postictal imaging abnormalities in patients with tumor-related seizures have been poorly described. Fifty percent of patients with brain tumors have a seizure during the course of their illness and are often imaged after a seizure or after a change in seizure character or frequency. Interval changes on repeat imaging can mimic disease progression or other pathologic processes. Methods We describe 3 patients with brain tumors and transient postictal MRI changes that mimicked disease progression and infection. Results Our patients demonstrated fluid-attenuated inversion recovery/T2 hyperintensity and gadolinium enhancement on MRI studies performed shortly after ictal events. These changes were suspicious for tumor progression in 2 cases and for recurrent infection in the third. Control of seizure activity resulted in resolution of these changes on scans obtained 10 to 21 days later. Conclusions Imaging shortly after an ictal event can potentially mislead the clinician to interpret changes as tumor or pathologic progression. Unnecessary intervention in these patients with new and suspicious imaging findings should be avoided. We recommend repeat imaging be performed in patients with brain tumors and seizures several weeks after seizure control if clinically feasible. Further research is needed to delineate the time course of seizure-induced MRI changes.
30Tb/s C- and L-bands bidirectional transmission over 10,181km with 121km span length

We demonstrated the first 30Tb/s (350 × 85.74Gb/s) optical transmission over 10,181km using bidirectional C/L-bands, 121.2km hybrid fiber spans, DP-QPSK modulation and EDFAs. Achieved 306Petabit/s•km capacity × distance product is the highest reported to date for WDM transmission.
Studies on the relative advantages of quantum-dot and quantum-well gain media in lasers and amplifiers

The merit of quantum-dot versus quantum-well lasers is much debated. This paper describes an attempt at an answer by examining intrinsic behavior and underlying physics, using a microscopic theory with a rigorous treatment of scattering.
Public health impact of strain specific immunity to Borrelia burgdorferi

Lyme disease, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, is the most common tick-borne infection in the United States. Although humans can be infected by at least 16 different strains of B. burgdorferi, the overwhelming majority of infections are due to only four strains. It was recently demonstrated that patients who are treated for early Lyme disease develop immunity to the specific strain of B. burgdorferi that caused their infection. The aim of this study is to estimate the reduction in cases of Lyme disease in the United States that may occur as a result of type specific immunity. The analysis was performed based on three analytical models that assessed the effects of type specific immunity. Observational data on the frequency with which different B. burgdorferi strains cause human infection in culture-confirmed patients with an initial episode of erythema migrans diagnosed between 1991 and 2005 in the Northeastern United States were used in the analyses. Assuming a reinfection rate of 3 % and a total incidence of Lyme disease per year of 300,000, the estimated number of averted cases of Lyme disease per year ranges from 319 to 2378 depending on the duration of type specific immunity and the model used. Given the assumptions of the analyses, this analysis suggests that type specific immunity is likely to have public health significance in the United States.
Spectral Reflectance and Emittance of Apollo 11 and 12 Lunar Material

The thermal radiation properties of Apollo 11 and 12 fines (soils) are reviewed and presented as a function of wavelength, angle of illumination, and bulk density. The spectral directional reflectance is presented for wavelengths from 0.6 to 2 microns and for angles of illumination of 10, 20, 30, 45, and 60 deg. The normal emittance is presented for wavelengths from 2.5 to 14.5 microns. The solar albedo and total normal emittance as a function of temperature were calculated from the spectral values. The solar albedo for Apollo 11 fines is 0.099 whereas for Apollo 12 fines is approximately 0.119 for angles of illumination of 10 deg and a density of 1600 kg cu m.
The Gibbard-Satterthwaite theorem: a simple proof

A simple proof of the Gibbard-Satterthwaite theorem is provided. © 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.
Real-World Robustness for Hybrid Vehicle Optimal Energy Management Strategies Incorporating Drivability Metrics

Hybrid vehicle fuel economy and drive quality are coupled through the “Energy Management” controller that regulates power flow among the various energy sources and sinks. This paper studies energy management controllers designed using Shortest Path Stochastic Dynamic Programming (SP-SDP), a stochastic optimal control design method which can respect constraints on drivetrain activity while minimizing fuel consumption for an assumed distribution of driver power demand. The performance of SP-SDP controllers is evaluated through simulation on large numbers of real-world drive cycles and compared to a baseline industrial controller provided by a major auto manufacturer. On real-world driving data, the SP-SDP-based controllers yield 10% better fuel economy than the baseline industrial controller, for the same engine and gear activity. The SP-SDP controllers are further evaluated for robustness to the drive cycle statistics used in their design. Simplified drivability metrics introduced in previous work are validated on large real-world data sets.
A techno-economic review of hydroprocessed renewable esters and fatty acids for jet fuel production

Jet fuels produced from sources other than petroleum are receiving considerable attention because they offer the potential to diversify energy supplies while mitigating the net environmental impacts of aviation. The hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA) process is a commercially deployed technology that converts vegetable oils and animal fats from triglycerides into hydrocarbons suitable for use in diesel and jet fuels. The technical means of producing alternative fuels from renewable oils, and the resulting carbon intensity has been documented in previous work. However, the cost of production is not available in the literature. This work reviews HEFA fuel production, and estimates the gate price of fuel for several plant sizes and operating conditions. Aspen Plus was used to model biorefinery material and energy balances for unit operations and supporting utilities. A discounted-cash-flow-rate-of-return (DCFROR) economic model was used for sensitivity analysis. The gate price was found to range between $1.00 L–1 for a 378 MML yr–1 HEFA facility, and $1.16 L–1 for a 116 MML yr–1 facility. Maximizing jet fuel production ranged between $0.07 and $0.08 L–1 due to increased hydrogen use and decreased diesel and jet fuel yield. While feedstock cost is the most significant portion of fuel cost, facility size, financing, and capacity utilization also influence production costs. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Software specification and design for imaging systems

Although it would seem obvious that object-oriented techniques are well suited to modeling image processing systems, there is almost no research to substantiate this position. We review the unique challenges faced when modeling, that is, specifying and designing, imaging systems. First, the argument is presented that specification and design of imaging systems should be studied as a special case. Next, a subset of techniques that have been used to model practical imaging systems is surveyed. Then the use of object-oriented techniques in the specification of imaging systems is investigated more fully and compared to a widely used alternative— structured analysis and design—by way of a case study. We con- clude with some recommendations for best practices and future re- search. © 2003 SPIE and IS&T. (DOI: 10.1117/1.1557154)
Effect of Ultraviolet-B (280 to 320 nm) Radiation on Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria), Possible Biological Indicators of Stratospheric Ozone Depletion

The effect of ultraviolet-B (280 to 320 nm) irradiation on physiological activities of Anabaena flos-aquae and the water fern Azolla caroliniana has been studied under conditions where lethal effects of irradiation are absent. Nitrogenase activity, measured as acetylene reduction, specifically declined during irradiation with low levels of ultraviolet-B, whereas other physiological activities were unaffected. These findings indicate that measurement of acetylene reduction by cyanobacteria may serve as a specific, sensitive biochemical assay to assess environmental ultraviolet-B effects due to depletion of stratospheric ozone.
A faster optimal register allocator

Recently researchers have proposed modeling register allocation as an integer linear programming (IP) problem and solving it optimally for general purpose processors [17, 20] and for dedicated embedded systems [23]. Compared with traditional graph-coloring approaches, the IP-based allocators can improve a program's performance. However, the solution times are much slower.This paper presents an lP-based optimal register allocator which is much faster than previous work. We present several local and global reduction techniques to identify locations in a program's control-flow graph where spill decisions and register deallocation decisions are unnecessary for optimal register allocation. We propose a hierarchical reduction approach to efficiently remove the corresponding redundant decisions and constraints from the IP model. This allocator is built into the Gnu C Compiler and is evaluated experimentally using the SPEC921NT benchmarks. The results show that the improved IP model is much simpler. The number of constraints produced is almost linear with the function size. The optimal allocation time is much faster, with a speedup factor of about 150 for hard allocation problems.
Fast least squares estimation of amplitudes and phases for damped sinusoidal modes

In this paper, we introduce a fast algorithm for comput- ing the QR factors of the rectangular real matrix V,, that represents a Vandermonde matrix "in its real form". This matrix arises when solving the overdetermined systems of ,linear equations for estimating the amplitudes and phases of damped and phased cosines. The frequencies and damping factors are assumed known or estimated. Our algorithm is an order of magnitude faster than standard QR algorithms.
Strength of Slip‐Cast, Sintered Silicon Nltrlde

The flexural strength of slip-cast, sintered silicon nitride was evaluated as a function of temperature (20° to 1300°C in air), applied stress, and time. The flexural strength was independent of temperatures from 20° to 800°C, and the mode of crack propagation was primarily transgranular. Above 800°C, the flexural strength decreased because of viscous flow of the glassy phase present in the material resulting in subcritical crack growth (SCG). The mode of crack propagation during SCG was essentially intergranular. Flexural stress-rupture evaluation in the temperature range 800° to 1000°C was used to identify the stress levels for time-dependent and time-independent failures.