cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Engagement or Entrapment? Scholarship and Policymaking on Asian Regionalism

While an interactive relationship between scholars and policymakers is generally regarded as mutually beneficial, there is also the risk of ‘entrapment.’ The latter occurs when scholars, once having proven their usefulness to policymakers and thereby earned their trust, become unwilling to offer dissenting opinions for the fear of risking their access and privileges. Using Asian regionalism as an example, this article argues that the development of regional institutions in Asia has benefitted from the ideas and input of the two main channels of such scholar-official interaction: epistemic communities and track two dialogues, especially during the formative stages of Asian regionalism (both economic and security). But after gaining access, scholars engaged with officialdom in developing regional institutions have found it difficult to dissent from the official line, and in challenging the shortcomings and failures of Asian regional institutions. In Asia, the danger of entrapment has been strong in authoritarian countries. In general, participation by Asian scholars in the policymaking process has suffered from the inability of scholars and think-tankers (especially the latter) to rise above the national interest and question the official position of their own governments, the ubiquitous presence and dominance of government-linked scholars or retired government officials in track two dialogues, the exclusion of social movements form many such dialogues, the presence and influence of non-specialists (in issue areas) in setting their agenda and outcome, and generational gatekeeping (failure to bring in new faces). As a result, the development of a genuine transnational regionalism has been stunted.
Lexical and discourse factors in the second language acquisition of Spanish word order

This study investigates the acquisition of Spanish word order by native speakers of English. Specifically, it considers the development of sensitivity to the distinct interpretations of subject-verb (SV) vs. verb-subject (VS) order, as determined by lexical verb class (unaccusative and unergative verbs) and discourse structure.Participants included a native speaker control group and learners at four proficiency levels. Results from a contextualized production task indicate that beginning learners transferred the SV order of English for all structures. Intermediate learners showed a gradual increase in the production of lexically and discourse-determined inversion, although their data was also characterized by indeterminacy and variability. The advanced learners demonstrated a sensitivity to the word order effects of unaccusativity and discourse factors, but also tended to overgeneralize inversion to unergative verbs in a neutral discourse context.
Merits of fine-needle aspiration biopsy in children: head and neck.

(Editor's Note: Recently, I a fine-needle aspiration biopsy specimen taken from an 18 month-old baby. The interpretation was relatively easy because the patient had a previous diagnosis of neuroblastoma. However, I found very little information regarding the value of FNA in the pediatric age group. Can you shed light on this subject?).
Ethnicity, peer harassment, and adjustment in middle school: An exploratory study.

In an urban middle school, African American (n = 116), Latino (n = 118), and students from four other ethnic groups (labeled multiethnic, n = 172) completed nomination procedures that identified classmates who were perceived as aggressive or as victims of peer harassment. Peer acceptance and rejection also were measured by nomination procedures, and participants reported their self-perceived loneliness, social anxiety, and global self-esteem. Compared to Latino and multiethnic respondents, more African American students were nominated as aggressive, and fewer were nominated as victims of harassment. However, African American harassment victims reported more loneliness and lower self-esteem than did harassment victims in the other ethnic groups, and they were more rejected by peers. The data were interpreted as evidence that deviations from normative perceptions of a person’s group (i.e., being a victim of harassment when the perceived group norm is aggressiveness) are particularly detrimental to psycholog...
The real estate risk of hospitality firms: Examining stock-return sensitivity to property values

Abstract The value of a hospitality firm is often believed to be dependent on the market price of the properties they own. However, the core business of a hospitality firm is the production of products and services. Since the real estate assets are depreciated throughout their useful life, short-term covariance of firm value with real estate prices seems implausible. Using a two-factor model, the current study examined the real estate exposure of US hospitality firms through daily stock return data from 2005 to 2009. Results indicate that the majority (88%) of the hospitality firms were exposed to real estate risk at some point during the sample period, while the second-stage analysis of real estate betas suggests that exposure is conditional on the financial status of the hospitality firm. Implications and suggestions for future research are presented with the findings of the study.
Calculation of exclusive decay modes of the tau

We update the calculation of the decays of the \ensuremath{\tau} lepton into various modes using recent data on electron-positron annihilation into hadrons plus bounds that follow from isotopic-spin conservation. Comparison is made with exclusive branching-ratio data and inclusive charged-prong-distribution measurements in \ensuremath{\tau} decays, and the difficulty in accounting for all the one-charged-prong decays as a sum of exclusive decay modes is discussed.
Collisions of Small Cloud Droplets: Gas Kinetic Effects.

Abstract Gas kinetic effects in the region between two small approaching cloud droplets were investigated by means of slip flow theory. The resulting correction to the force coefficients derived for creeping flow eliminates the “collision barrier” noted in previous work and thus the need for assuming an abitrary collision criterion. It was found that inclusion of the gas kinetic correction leads to collision efficiencies for droplets 30 μ in radius.
A metadata encoding for memory-constrained devices

With the broad applicability of wireless sensor networks across fields, it is desirable to develop self-describing sensor nodes that can operate in a plug-n-play manner. In this paper, we present MoteML, a metadata encoding suitable for storage on memory-constrained devices, designed in support of this goal. MoteML is consistent with Sensor Web Enablement's [23] Sensor Model Language (SensorML). More specifically, while MoteML does not conform to the SensorML schema, it can be translated into SensorML and vice-versa. This paper explores the available solutions for storing self-describing information on memory-constrained sensor nodes and presents the design of MoteML. MoteML is a text-based encoding that captures a subset of SensorML in a template-based structure. This text data is then compressed using available text compression techniques. The resulting file is small enough to be stored on a memory-constrained embedded device.
Topological and chemical ordering induced by Ni and Nd in Al 87 Ni 7 Nd 6 metallic glass

The local atomic structure of ${\mathrm{Al}}_{87}{\mathrm{Ni}}_{7}{\mathrm{Nd}}_{6}$ amorphous metallic glass was determined by neutron diffraction and the pair density function (PDF) analysis. The local environments of the transition metal and rare earth ions were separately determined using $\mathrm{Ni}$ ($^{58}\mathrm{Ni}$ and $^{60}\mathrm{Ni}$) and $\mathrm{Nd}$ ($^{142}\mathrm{Nd}$ and $^{144}\mathrm{Nd}$) isotopes with very different neutron scattering lengths to separate their contributions. A distinct pre-peak was observed in reciprocal space indicative of clustering, a feature commonly present in good glass forming systems. The intensity of the pre-peak changes significantly with the substitution of $\mathrm{Ni}$ isotope but not so with $\mathrm{Nd}$, suggesting that the transition metal is a major component to this peak. Such clustering might be a manifestation of chemical short-range ordering that is enhanced with $\mathrm{Ni}$. The local environments for the $\mathrm{Ni}$ and $\mathrm{Nd}$ ions determined by the isotope difference PDF analysis are fundamentally distinct because $\mathrm{Ni}$ and $\mathrm{Nd}$ interact differently with $\mathrm{Al}$ giving rise to unique topologies. In particular for $\mathrm{Ni}$, $\mathrm{Ni}\text{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{Al}$ bond lengths are anomalously short due to stronger $\mathrm{Ni}\text{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{Al}$ interactions and the local environment consists of distinct pair correlations. In contrast, the local $\mathrm{Nd}$ environment is more disordered with two separate $\mathrm{Nd}\text{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{Al}$ environments and possibly relatively weaker interactions.
On Lei, Miranda, and Thompson's result on singular values and diagonal elements

Abstract Thomspon and Sing's result on the singular values and the diagonal elements of a complex n × n matrix has been recently extended to arbitrary m matrices, by Lei and by Miranda and Thompson independently. The real case in which the determinant of the product of the m real matrices is nonnegative (or nonpositive) was raised by Miranda and Thompson. In this note, we provide an answer to the question, and we also extend some other results of Lei.
The Tensile Deformation, Cyclic Fatigue and Final Fracture Behavior of Dispersion Strengthened Copper

Abstract The tensile deformation, cyclic stress response characteristics, cyclic stress–strain response, cyclic strain resistance and fatigue properties of an oxide dispersion strengthened copper alloy were studied over a range of cyclic plastic strain–amplitudes. The specimens were cycled using tension-compression loading under total strain–amplitude control. In the as-drawn condition, the dispersion strengthened copper alloy displayed continuous softening to failure at all cyclic plastic strain amplitudes. The rolled plus heat-treated microstructure displayed initial hardening followed by rapid softening to failure. The strain–fatigue life relationship is predicted using the parameters obtained from the fatigue test. Potential mechanisms controlling the stress response and concomitant cyclic strain resistance and cyclic fatigue life are also evaluated, and rationale for observed behavior is discussed in light of concurrent and interactive influences of initial state of the matrix dislocation arrangement, magnitude of cyclic strain amplitude, response stress and intrinsic microstructural effects.
Adaptations for scavenging by three diverse bathyla species, Eptatretus stouti, Neptunea amianta and Orchomene obtusus

Many deep-sea animals derive part of their nutrition from rare and unpredictable food falls. However, traits that allow organisms inhabiting the sea floor to exploit carrion are poorly understood. We found in laboratory experiments that hagfish (Eptatretus stouti), gastropods (Neptunea amianta) and amphipods (Orchomene obtusus) survived extended periods of starvation, in some cases for more than a year. When exposed to odors emitted from carrion, most individuals of E. stouti and O. obtusus began searching for food within seconds, whereas none responded to the scent of the live prey. In contrast, the slow crawling N. amianta readily consumed carrion but showed no apparent response to any odor solutions tested. Because more motile animals exhibited lower thresholds for response to signal molecules, sensitivity to chemical cues appears related to species mobility. Hagfish were also found to defend carrion from some competitors by releasing slime when feeding. Though varying dramatically in size, morphology, locomotive ability, and phylogeny, these three species all possess traits well suited for a scavenging lifestyle.
Dynamics of fMRI signals during human brain activations to a stimulus

In fMRI memory study, the temporal behavior of BOLD fMRI signals were consistently observed from various brain processing areas at 1.5 Tesla and consistent with the expected functions. Also, all the activations generally exhibit three types of temporal characteristics: short, sustained and delayed responses in relation to the primary stimuli. To address these cerebral multiphasic responses, a suitable functional data analysis scheme has been used, in which the neural response of a specific brain area to a pre-determined stimulation input of some sort was assumed to be linear. The visual memory study was performed on 6 normal subjects on a clinical MR scanner using a 5 min long rapid dynamical whole brain imaging using EPI acquisition during a single memory task, which involved a 45 sec visual presentation of three simple abstract geometric figures to the subject via LCD projector. The results showed that the activations in visual cortex were tightly correlated with the visual stimulus, while the activations detected in interior temporal, entorhinal cortex and inferior temporal area were delayed. Using the new technique, the brian activations were further characterized quantitatively in terms of delay and prolonged response. The resulting effective impulse response functions corresponding to these brain activations revealed much clearly all the temporal components.
Gas phase chemical equilibrium in dinitrogen trioxide and dinitrogen tetroxide

Abstract The ideal gas chemical thermodynamic properties for NO, NO 2 , N 2 O 3 , and N 2 O 4 for the temperature range 50 to 5000 K were evaluated by the statistical thermodynamic method using the most recent molecular parameters. In the calculations for NO and NO 2 , the effects of anharmonicity and vibration—rotation interaction were included. The contributions due to centrifugal distortion were also included for NO 2 . For evaluation of the thermodynamic properties for N 2 O 3 and N 2 O 4 molecules, the rigid-rotor and harmonic-oscillator model were adopted. A free internal rotation was assumed for N 2 O 3 and an internal rotation barrier height ( V 2 ) of 1.58 kcal mol −1 was derived for N 2 O 4 . The thermodynamic properties due to hindered internal rotation were clculated using a partition function formed by summation of internal rotation energy levels. The thermodynamic properties for two equilibrium mixtures: NO 2 N 2 O 4 and N 2 O 3 NONO 2 N 2 O 4 were also calculated. The effects of temperature and pressure on heat capacities and compositions of these two mixtures are illustrated graphically and the calculated heat capacities and equilibrim constants are in good agreement with available experimental values.
Multi-fluid CFD modeling of biomass gasification in polydisperse fluidized-bed gasifiers

Abstract This work presents an Eulerian computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model of biomass gasification for use in fluidized-bed gasifier (FBG) simulations. The physical and chemical processes of particle gasification and their interaction with the reactive gas flow are modeled within a multi-fluid framework derived from kinetic theory of granular flows. The transport equations of continuous solid phases and species mass fraction of CO, CO2, CH4, H2, H2O, O2, N2, tar, char, and ash are coupled with chemical kinetic models, which describe moisture vaporization, particle devolatilization, homogeneous volatile reaction, heterogeneous char oxidation and char gasification. Continuously variable particle density due to volatilization of lighter components and chemical reactions is implemented to account for the evolution of reacting particles' physical properties. A time-splitting method is employed for decoupling the chemical source from convection. A time-step adaption and restart procedure is implemented to provide the solution stability for strong chemical reaction and to achieve numerical solution efficiency for energy reactor simulations in the time-splitting approach. The chemical source terms based on chemical kinetics are implemented with first-order accuracy in the finite-volume framework. The CFD model is used to simulate wood gasification using air as a fluidization agent in a lab-scale FBG. The simulation results provide detailed information on the dynamic particle processes, char elutriation, and gas composition at the reactor outlet. Operating conditions of different air/biomass mass flow ratio, reactor temperature, and biomass moisture content are simulated and analyzed as to their influence on gas composition and product yields at the gasifier outlet.
Fracture toughness and load relaxation of dentin bonding resin systems

Abstract Objectives. The fracture toughness (KIC) and load relaxation of four dentin bonding resins were determined to characterize some of the mechanical properties of these materials after polymerization. Methods. A total of 40 single-edge bar specimens were fabricated, 10 each of four commercially available brands, and subjected to three-point bending until fracture, as described in ASTM Standard E399-83 (1991a). The critical stress intensification factor, KIC, was derived for each specimen and compared by analysis of variance and Scheffe's multiple comparisons test (p Results. The fracture toughness (KIC) values of the four adhesive resins studied in this investigation ranged from 0.37 – 0.94 MPa.m0.5 and were statistically different from each other (p Significance. Bonding agents can be implicated as one of the factors that weaken the interface between the dentin and the composite restorative material. These materials are capable of a rapid short-term response, demonstrating significant load relaxation in the first 0.5 min after loading.
TU-A-211A-01: Margins in Radiation Therapy

Conformal radiation therapy has historically used margins to account for geometrical uncertainties in the position of a target volume. The margins, in their simplest form, are simply expansions to the diameter of a treatment beam, to ensure that dosimetric planning criteria are met in the presence of inter‐ and intra‐fraction setup variations. Historically, the size of the margin in a given treatment site was difficult to determine due to the available technology and the time and effort required to obtaining accurate data. Consequently, margins were estimated to accommodate a population of patients. As new technologies have emerged, target volume position errors have become easier to measure, their accuracy has increased, and the measurements can be made much more frequently. As the quantity and quality of data has increased for patient populations, and even for individual patients, the conceptual basis of employing margins has evolved. Strategies for ensuring dosimetric coverage may now be individualized to a specific patient's geometric uncertainty characteristics with customized margins, or they may incorporate geometric correction based on predefined action levels. Other strategies may incorporate continuous monitoring to gate or modify the beam. And finally, other strategies seek to eliminate margins by including the estimated geometrical uncertainty into the development of the dose distribution. Learning Objectives: 1. To provide an educational review of the technologies and methods of measuring target volume positioning errors. 2. To review methods of determining population margins from measured data. 3. To review corrective and intervention strategies for patients with individualized margins. 4. To review planning strategies which seek to eliminate margins.
Steroids as potential modulators of angiotensin receptors in bovine adrenal glomerulosa and kidney

To test the hypothesis that there is feedback inhibition of adrenal angiotensin receptors by substances released in response to the peptides, we measured binding of labeled angiotensins in the presence of various steroids. Approximately half of the 70 steroids tested inhibited binding of labeled angiotensin II and III to intact and broken cells from bovine adrenal glomerulosa and kidney, but the concentrations required for inhibition were relatively high. The most potent inhibitors were 3α, 5β tetrahydroaldosterone and tetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone (ID50 = 8 × 10−5 M). Kinetic analysis showed that inhibition was mostly competitive. Among steroids whose reduced congeners were tested, potency increased in the sequence: parent steroid < 5α dihydroderivative < 5β dihydro derivative < 3α, 5β tetrahydro-derivative. Tetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone inhibited aldosteronogenesis by intact cells at concentrations that inhibited angiotensin binding. Steroids differentially inhibited binding of labeled angiotensin II and III, and discriminated between receptors in adrenal glomerulosa and kidney. The results provide additional evidence for heterogeneity of angiotensin receptors, and lead to the prediction that any normal or pathological inhibition of angiotensin receptors by steroids will be mediated by reduced derivatives.
Determining optimum inspiratory time during intermittent positive pressure ventilation in surfactant-depleted cats.

This study compares two methods of selecting inspiratory time (Ti) during mechanical ventilation. One selects a standard Ti producing a brief inspiratory pressure plateau (P). The other uses simultaneous pressure, flow and tidal volume (VT) waveforms, generated by a computer-assisted lung mechanics analyzer, to reduce Ti to the point where Vt ceases to accumulate and flow returns to zero. This method does not produce a pressure plateau (NP). Following saline lung washout, ten intubated, paralyzed surfactant-depleted cats were ventilated with pressure-preset infant ventilators at constant measured VT and rates. Five animals were initially ventilated with P (Ti = 0.98±0.02 s) and five with NP (Ti = 0.77±0.10 s). Ti was then varied to produce P or NP by using a four-period crossover design. All other ventilator variables remained constant. Intravascular pressures, thermodilution cardiac outputs, arterial and mixed venous blood gases and oxygen saturations, airway pressures, Ti, VT, and gas flows were measured; respiratory system mechanics, alveolar-arterial oxygen gradients, and intrapulmonary shunts were determined for each study period. When P and NP states were compared, only mean airway pressures differed (10.1 vs. 8.9 cmH2O; P<0.001). Blood gas values, intravascular pressures, cardiac output, and respiratory system mechanics were all similar. Under the conditions of this study, there was no advantage to prolonging Ti beyond the point where VT ceased to accumulate. Pediatr Pulmonol 1989; 7:223–229.
The age and extent of tropical alpine glaciation in the Cordillera Blanca, Peru

Based on new 10 Be data for moraines in the Cordillera Blanca of central Peru, we have calculated model ages of three sets of Pleistocene glacial moraines. In order of decreasing age, these are the Cojup, Rurec and Laguna Baja moraines. The oldest moraines occur at the lowest elevations and yield dates of >400 ka pre-dating the last interglacial and demonstrating that maximum ice volumes occurred during previous glacial periods, and not at the end of the last glacial. Our new data from the younger moraines indicate that the end of the last glacial cycle comprised two separate advances at ca. 29 ka and ca. 16.5 ka, each reflecting significant (>4 � C) tropical of cooling at 10 � S. These data combined with published records from the Laurentide ice sheet, indicate that climate instabilities associated with the close of the last glacial were likely global and synchronous in nature. Copyright 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Disinfection capacity of PuriLens contact lens cleaning unit against Acanthamoeba.

Purpose. The PuriLens contact lens system is indicated for cleaning and disinfection of soft (hydrophilic) contact lenses by means of subsonic agitation to remove lens deposits and microorganisms, and ultraviolet irradiation of the storage solution for disinfection. The capacity of the PuriLens system to disinfect storage solutions contaminated with known concentrations of Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acanthamoeba species was evaluated. Methods. An in vitro assessment of the antibacterial and antiparasitic efficacy of the PuriLens system was performed. Separated batches of the storage solution for the cleansing system were contaminated with stock strains of S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. A comparison of the microbiologic content was made between the solution before and after the cycle. Results. The PuriLens system effectively eradicated S. aureus and P. aeruginosa organisms after a 15-minute cycle. However, viable cysts of acanthamoeba were recovered in the solution after the 15-minute cycle. Conclusions. The PuriLens system is highly efficient in protecting against contamination with common bacterial ocular pathogens. Acanthamoeba cysts, however, can survive in the solution or contact lens bath undergoing integrated subsonic debridement and indirect ultraviolet light disinfection. Use of chemical disinfecting solutions that contain agents such as chlorhexidine or other cationic antiseptics may be advisable in conjunction with use of the PuriLens device, especially in high-risk settings.
Rubidium isotope measurements in solid samples by laser ablation-laser atomic absorption spectroscopy

Abstract Laser atomic absorption was used to measure the rubidium isotopes in a laser-induced plasma. An 85 Rb/ 87 Rb isotope ratio of 2.7±0.2 was determined in solid calcium carbonate samples. A Nd:YAG laser was used to produce the plasma on the surface of solid samples placed inside a low pressure chamber with a controlled atmosphere of 150 mtorr to 10 torr. The plasma conditions were optimized in order to provide the best sensitivity and resolution. A narrowband Ti:Sapphire laser was scanned across the 780.02-nm transition of the rubidium isotopes. The resolved isotope spectrum is shown, as well as the isotope selective calibration plots. A detection limit of 25 ppm for the individual isotopes was obtained. The optimization studies and the likely mechanisms of line broadening are discussed.
A Pickpocket's Tale: The Criminal World of Nineteenth-Century New York – By Timothy Gilfoyle

It is easy to find fault with this book. It is repetitive, wordy, and sometimes makes exaggerated claims, beginning with the dust jacket puff that its smalltime subject was once “Mayor of Underworl...
Considerations for Studying Father Involvement in Early Childhood Among Latino Families

Over the last three decades there has been a notable increase in interest about fathers and their role in the socioemotional, academic, and cognitive development of young children. Concurrently, there has been a shift in this nation's ethnic minority demography, where Latinos are now the nation's largest minority group. The father-involvement literature in early childhood is scarce, particularly the scholarship focused on Latino fathers. Furthermore, several conceptual and methodological shortcomings in the exploration of Latino fathers exist. This review explores the following questions: To what extent has the literature explored father involvement in early childhood among Latino fathers? What is the quality of the conceptual and methodological rigor of these studies? What are the salient themes of the literature? Finally, the review will present considerations for studying fathers of young children within Latino communities.
Formulations and computational strategies for novel problems of plasticity and creep

Abstract This paper comprises results which have been obtained in the course of studies on a unified approach to a variety of current static and dynamic problems of inelastic solids and structures. The objective of the first part of the paper is to review some concepts of constitutive and finite element modelling for novel plasticity applications. The specific topics covered here are: large elastic-plastic strains with infinitesimal or finite elastic strain contribution, non-associated viscous and non-viscous plasticity as applied to void-containing metals, and temperature and creep effects. The discussion to follow is aimed at showing the great potential of finite-element time stepping schemes in solving problems of structural and mechanical engineering. The numerical illustrations encompass a diversity of large scale computations such as geometrically and materially nonlinear analysis of frames and shells and bifurcation analysis in void-containing metals.
From command to demand economies : Bulgarian organizational value orientations

This article provides a case study of a Bulgarian oriental-carpet manufacturer (Rhodopski Kilim) located in the city of Assenovgrad in central Bulgaria. This case is time based (1993-97). The 1989 political changes that forced the Communist party from power in Bulgaria caused Rhodopski's director, Nikolai Nachkov, to shift from operating in a centrally controlled market to a diversified global one. His son, Dimiter, American university educated with some U.S. work experience, assisted and consulted on the project.
Reactive and non-reactive counterion surfactants in water and aqueous acetonitrile

Rates of hydrolysis of hydroxamic acids with perfluorooctanoic acid as a reactive counterion surfactant and also with sodium sulfonate surfactants plus HCl have been determined in both water and aqueous acetonitrile solvents. The pseudophase ion exchange model satisfactorily explains the micellar effects for both the reactive and non-reactive counterion surfactants in both solvent systems.
A separable nucleon-nucleon potential

Abstract A separable potential for the nucleon-nucleon interaction is presented, assuming form factors of the type g ( k ) = ak L e− bk 2 , where a and b are parameters adjusted to fit the experimental phase shifts. With this formulation, it is possible to reproduce the singlet and triplet scattering lengths and effective ranges as well as the elastic-scattering phase shifts up to 320 MeV for states containing L = 0 components.
Bortezomib administered pre-auto-SCT and as maintenance therapy post transplant for multiple myeloma: a single institution phase II study.

Bortezomib administered pre-auto-SCT and as maintenance therapy post transplant for multiple myeloma: a single institution phase II study
Interactions of norepinephrine with subcellular fractions of rat brain I. Characteristics of norepinephrine uptake

Summary The uptake of exogenous norepinephrine by subcellular fractions of rat brain has been investigated in a sucrose NaCl Tris buffer medium. Although the uptake of norepinephrine has been shown to be a temperature-dependent process, these studies were run at 0–4°C so that the results would be compatible with subsequent binding experiments. The uptake of this catecholamine which occurs at 0–4°C is inhibited by pyrogallol, bufotenin, and ergotamine, and is activated by serotonin and psilocybin. Plots of norepinephrine uptake as a function of the equilibrium norepinephrine concentration have indicated that the uptake of norepinephrine is a multicomponent phenomenon, and this is supported by inhibition data. One component appears to be associated with the microsomal fraction and is inhibited by serotonin, pyrogallol, and ergotamine, and activated by psilocybin. A second component appears to be associated with nerve-ending particles and exhibits a very similar drug profile. A third component also appears to be associated with nerve-ending particles and is inhibited by ergotamine but activated by bufotenin, serotonin, and psilocybin.
Acute renal vein hypertension: oliguria, hormone infusion, and volume expansion.

Abstract Since the patient with cirrhosis of the liver has a correlation of an elevated abdominal inferior vena caval pressure with decreased glomerular filtration rate and urinary sodium excretion, we have studied in the dog the effects of acute unilateral renal vein hypertension on the renal hemodynamic, excretory and concentrating functions during antidiuresis, hormone infusions with renin, angiotensin, aldosterone, and ADH, and volume loading with saline and water. During antidiuresis and volume loading, the glomerular filtration rate and renal plasma flow were depressed by renal vein hypertension. However, decreased sodium excretion occurred only during a saline load. Renal vein hypertension was associated with an increased sodium excretion during antidiuresis despite a reduced filtered load of sodium. The increased fractional sodium excretion could not be accounted for by the hormones infused. Renal vein hypertension decreased the solute content of the renal papilla and the ability of the kidney to excrete solute during antidiuresis and volume loading. The results of the present study suggest that an elevated renal vein pressure could account, in part, for an impaired renal concentrating mechanism, renal plasma flow, and glomerular filtration rate in the patient with cirrhosis of the liver and an increased abdominal inferior vena caval pressure. Unless there is a species difference, it is unlikely that renal vein hypertension primarily produces sodium retention in the patient with cirrhosis of the liver.
Correlation between Catalytic Efficiency and the Transcription Read-Out in Chemical Complementation: A General Assay for Enzyme Catalysis†

High-throughput assays for enzyme catalysis that can be applied to a broad range of chemical reactions are key to advances in directed evolution and proteomics. Recently, we reported such a general assay, chemical complementation, which links enzyme catalysis to reporter gene transcription in vivo using the yeast three-hybrid assay. In this proof-of-principle experiment, it was shown that a wild-type β-lactamase enzyme could be isolated from a pool of inactive mutants using a lacZ screen. Ideally, however, such an assay should be able to distinguish enzymes based on their catalytic activity. Thus, here, we set out to determine if the catalytic efficiency of an enzyme variant does in fact correlate with its level of transcription activation in the chemical complementation assay. First, the reaction mechanism for the cleavage of the β-lactam substrate used in the chemical complementation proof-of-principle experiment was determined. Then a series of β-lactamase variants was designed to span several orders o...
Single-Molecule Imaging of Von Willebrand Factor Activation by Flow

Von Willebrand Factor (VWF) is a long multimeric blood protein that plays a central role in platelet adhesion at sites of elevated hydrodynamic stresses, such as in injured or stenotic vessels. The function of VWF is closely related to thrombogenesis in cardiovascular diseases and the most common hereditary bleeding disorder von Willebrand disease. The effectiveness of the current therapies is limited partly due to the poor understanding of the activation mechanism of VWF, which is regulated by the hydrodynamic stresses in the blood stream. VWF only binds platelets under high shear or elongational flow. Moreover, the length of VWF is regulated by the ADAMTS13 protease cleavage under high shear flow. Studies suggest a hypothesis that the elevated hydrodynamic stresses exert tensile forces on VWF to unfold the tertiary and secondary structures and expose the binding sites for the platelet membrane receptor GP1b and the protease ADAMTS13.This study elucidates the mechanism of VWF function regulation at single-molecule level under tethered shear flow and elongational flow, which are more effective at activating VWF than pure shear flow according to molecular dynamics simulation. We infuse a FRET tension sensing module in each VWF monomer to report the shape and the tensile force of the multimers, and image them under flow with a microscope system that simultaneously records the length and the fluorescence spectrum of a single VWF multimer. For elongational flow, real-time feedback is applied to trap the fast moving single VWF molecules within the high hydrodynamic stress region and the field of view. By adding fluorescently labeled GP1b and ADAMTS13, the rates of binding and cleavage activities in VWF is also measured. These results provide experimental basis for quantitative modeling of the intra-molecular interactions that are responsible for VWF function regulation.
Alanine-substituted peptide ligands differ greatly in their ability to activate autoreactive T-cell subsets specific for the wild-type peptide.

Abstract Alanine-substituted peptide ligands (APLs) have the potential to reduce or block autoreactive T-cell activation. Most previous investigations aimed at either identification of the amino acid residue within a peptide ligand that is critical for T-cell activation or characterization of inhibitory APLs have analyzed the effects of APLs on one, or a limited number, of T-cell lines. In this study, we compared the effects of a panel of peptides on the proliferative and activation responses of one T-cell line as well as the effects of one peptide on the responses of a panel of T-cell lines. This study reveals that the T cells that comprise the T-cell population that responds to a specific peptide are heterogeneous in that an APL may fail to induce a response in some of these T cells although it is capable of inducing a response in the others. Moreover, APLs can induce T-cell activation, in terms of production of IL-2 and/or TNF-α, in the absence of appreciable cell proliferation. Indeed, despite being poor stimulators in proliferation assays, most APLs readily induce production of TNF-α. Our results demonstrate that the net outcome of APL treatment in vivo represents the sum of diverse effects, which may not be revealed completely by limited and randomly chosen in vitro assays.
Dragon on the Horizon: China's Defense Industrial Renaissance

Abstract China's grand ambition is to become a world-class military industrial power by 2020, but can it succeed? A concerted restructuring of the defense industry is taking place to tackle deep-seated obstacles constraining its ability to absorb, create and diffuse technological innovation. This includes promoting competition and creativity by reducing the reach of the state and encouraging enterprises to play a leading role, developing a robust regulatory and standards regime to provide benchmarks and rules, and forging integration between the civilian and military portions of the economy through spin-ons.
Purification of Difluoromethylornithine by Global Process Optimization: Coupling of Chemistry and Chromatography with Enantioselective Crystallization

An industrial process for the purification of metric tons of enantiomerically pure difluoromethylornithine (DFMO HCl) is described. The amino acid DFMO HCl is cyclized to form the lactam, which is acylated with pivaloyl chloride to form rac-N-pivaloyl-DFMO lactam (4). The lactam 4 provides enhanced separation compared to a direct resolution of racemic DFMO HCl (1). A hybrid chiral resolution process is proposed to separate the enantiomers of 4. This process involves a multicolumn continuous enantioselective chromatographic process (VariCol) coupled with enantioselective crystallization of (d)-N-pivaloyl-DFMO lactam 5. The interest of this hybrid process is based on a favorable eutectic point providing a higher productivity of the VariCol process and lower purification costs than the chromatographic process alone. A final chemical modification (hydrolysis) is used to form the single enantiomers of both (d)-DFMO (6) and (l)-DFMO in high chemical purity and enantiomeric excess. A global optimization approach...
DIMENSIONS AND CORRELATES OF THE PERSONNEL AUDIT AS AN ORGANIZATIONAL ASSESSMENT TOOL

This study analyzes the measurement properties of the personnel audit as an organizational assessment tool and the extent to which audit results relate to important organizational criteria. The findings reported here indicate that nine dimensions can effectively summarize 37 audit measures. The composite factor scores for these dimensions predict executive perceptions of “overall organizational performance” and “overall contribution of Personnel Function,” employee “overall satisfaction with personnel services,” and to a lesser extent, “profitability per capita.” The personnel budget allotted per capita is in turn related to executive perceptions of Personnel's contributions.
Maximizing the concentrations of hydrogen, carbon monoxide and methane produced from the pyrolysis of a MixAlco process derived sludge

Abstract The MixAlco process converts heterogeneous biomass feedstocks into gasoline, JP-8 and diesel via biochemical and chemical pathways, generating sludge in the effluent stream. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate how the generated sludge can be further converted into useful products such as hydrogen, methane and carbon monoxide, all produced in their maximum possible concentrations. Experiments were performed in a non-catalytic environment at atmospheric pressure conditions, studying synthesis gas and methane concentrations for temperatures in the range of 630/903–770/1043 °C/K and pretreated sludge feed rates in the range of 290–374 g/min. With an auger driven reactor system and the statistical response surface method, the highest possible synthesis gas composition was 43.9 ± 3.36 vol% H 2 /33.3 ± 3.29 vol% CO at 740/1013 °C/K. The methane concentration was 20.3 ± 2.99 vol%. The generated empirical models for both hydrogen and methane concentrations were significant but that for the carbon monoxide concentration behavior was not. As an input factor, temperature was significant but sludge feed rate was not. Mass and energy balances revealed process efficiency decreased with increase in temperature although the process could be self-sustaining even at the lowest process efficiency.
Disclosure of Surgeon Experience

It is uncertain whether there is an ethical obligation to disclose surgical experience. This article explores the impact of principles including respect for patient autonomy, nonmaleficence, and justice, as well as professional duties including truth-telling on the decision-making relevant to the process of informed consent, taking into account surgeon experience, training, and the expected risk and uncertainty surrounding the disease process and operation. Issues such as the integrity of the doctor–patient relationship, difficulties with access to complex surgical services, and limitations in applying statistics to the future outcomes of individual surgeons are explored.
Dinuclear Rh(II) pyrazolates as CVD precursors for rhodium thin films

New dinuclear rhodium(II) pyrazolate (Pz) complexes of formula Rh2(3-R,5-R′Pz)4·2L (R = R′ = CF3, L = H2O (1), CH3CN (2)) and Rh2(3-R,5-R′Pz)4 (R = R′ = tBu (3); R = CF3, R′ = tBu (4)) have been synthesized from the interaction of the lithium salt of the corresponding pyrazole with Rh2(OAc)4 in diethyl ether. The complexes were characterized by X-ray crystallography and spectroscopic methods. They were further evaluated as precursors for the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of Rh thin films using H2 as the carrier gas. The resulting films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).
Design Guidance for Chemical Processes Using Environmental and Economic Assessments

Traditionally, process design is focused on the selection of process technologies and optimization of chemical processes based on economic considerations. Increasingly, there is a need to broaden the scope of process design by including environmental impacts. To successfully optimize a process, multiple objective functions must be chosen to consider a variety of economic and environmental process attributes. The objective of this paper is to provide design procedures and guidance for optimizing chemical processes simultaneously based on economic and environmental aspects. Two chemical processes are studied, including a process to recover/recycle VOCs (volatile organic chemicals) from a gaseous waste stream and optimum heat-exchanger network design.
Involvement in abusive violence among Vietnam veterans: Direct and indirect associations with substance use problems and suicidality

Circumstances of modern wars have placed service members at risk for harming noncombatants and engaging in other possible morally injurious acts. Studying a sample of 1,203 combat veterans from the National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study (NVVRS), this investigation used structural equation modeling (SEM) to test (1) whether experiences of abusive violence are positively directly linked with drug or alcohol problems and suicidality when accounting for traditional combat stressors, and (2) to what extent experiences of abusive violence have positive indirect effects on these postdeployment outcomes via posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and war-related guilt. Overall, 40% of the sample had witnessed or were directly involved in acts of abusive violence while deployed in Vietnam. When controlling for the effects of traditional combat stressors, SEM results revealed that exposure to acts of abusive violence in Vietnam was linked indirectly with substance abuse via PTSD symptoms and both directly and indirectly with suicidality via PTSD symptoms. There was also a significant link between atrocity exposure and war-related guilt in the model, but veterans' remorse about behavior in Vietnam failed to uniquely predict study outcomes beyond the symptomatology of PTSD. These findings highlight the effects of disproportionate warzone violence on postdeployment mental health, while also suggesting the need for broader conceptual models of combat trauma.
Diffusional dynamics of an active rhodamine-labeled 1,4-dihydropyridine in sarcolemmal lipid multibilayers

A "membrane bilayer pathway" model, involving ligand partition into the bilayer, lateral diffusion, and receptor binding has been invoked to describe the 1,4-dihydropyridine (DHP) calcium channel antagonist receptor binding mechanism. In an earlier study (Chester et al. 1987. Biophys. J. 52:1021–1030), the diffusional component of this model was examined using an active fluorescence labeled DHP calcium channel antagonist, nisoldipine-lissamine rhodamine B (Ns-R), in purified cardiac sarcolemmal (CSL) lipid multibilayers. Diffusion coefficient measurements on membrane-bound drug and phospholipid at maximum bilayer hydration yielded similar values (3.8 x 10(-8) cm2/s). However, decreases in bilayer hydration resulted in dramatically reduced diffusion coefficient values for both probes with substantially greater impact on Ns-R diffusion. These data suggested that hydration dependent diffusional differences could be a function of relative probe location along the bilayer normal. In this communication, we have addressed the relative effect of the rhodamine substituent on Ns-R diffusion complex by examining the diffusional dynamics of free rhodamine B under the same conditions used to evaluate Ns-R complex and phospholipid diffusion. X-ray diffraction studies were performed to determine the Ns-R location in the membrane and model the CSL lipid bilayer profile structure to give a rationale for the differences in probe diffusional dynamics as a function of interbilayer water space.