cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Kinetics of Hydrogen Abstraction Reactions from Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons by H Atoms

An application of the Reaction Class Transition State Theory/Linear Energy Relationship (RC-TST/LER) is presented for the evaluation of the thermal rate constants of hydrogen abstraction reactions by H atoms from Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH). Two classes of reactions have been considered, namely hydrogen bonded to six- and five-membered rings, respectively, and twenty-two reactions have been used to develop the RC-TST/LER parameters. B3LYP and BH&HLYP density functional theory methods were used to calculate necessary potential energy surface information. Detailed analyses of RC-TST/LER reaction factors lead to the conclusion that rate constants for any reaction in these two classes can be approximated by those of its corresponding principal reaction corrected by the reaction symmetry factor. Specifically, for hydrogen abstraction from six-membered rings such as naphthalene and pyrene, k(T) = (σ/σH+C6H6) kH+C6H6 = (σ/6){1.42 × 108T1.77 exp(−6570/T)}(cm3/mol·s), and for hydrogen abstraction from f...
Third sound on patterned substrates. I. Periodic and quasiperiodic arrays

An experimental arrangement is described which allows the study of the propagation of classical waves on substrates which can be patterned so as to present the waves with scattering sites. Helium films adsorbed on silicon substrates allow the propagation of third-sound waves whose velocity depends on both the film thickness and the local surface structure of the substrate. Detailed studies are presented for substrates which have been patterned in one dimension with periodic arrays. Band structure and perturbing effects due to imperfections in the structure and position of the scattering sites are seen on the periodic substrate. Quasiperiodic arrays are seen to have a more complicated propagation structure.
Effects of Deindividuation, Removal of Responsibility, and Coaction on Impulsive and Cyclical Aggression

The influence of two deindividuating variables, altered responsibility and coaction in groups, on one's tendency to deliver noxious or helpful stimulation impulsively and in a cyclical pattern to a target person was investigated in a laboratory experiment with use of 96 male and female junior college students. Analysis of variance revealed that, as hypothesized, Ss who coacted in groups of three and who had the responsibility for their behavior removed delivered noxious (but not helpful) stimuli more impulsively than Ss who worked alone and were made to feel responsible (p less than .01). Ss responded in a more cyclical pattern which delivering aversive tones than when delivering facilitating tones (p less than .005). A marginally significant finding was that Ss in groups responded in a more cyclical pattern than Ss alone only when the response was seen as aversive. It was concluded that the probability of impulsive and cyclical aggression may be increased by altered responsibility and coaction.
Determining Damage Development in Hot-Mix Asphalt with Use of Continuum Damage Mechanics and Small-Scale Accelerated Pavement Test

The modeling of asphalt concrete based on continuum damage mechanics (CDM) is an attractive and useful method of determining damage development in hot-mix asphalt (HMA). However, the CDM approach requires the calculation of the convolution integral over the loading duration and creates problems when large amounts of fatigue test data generated from accelerated pavement tests are handled. This study presents an approach to facilitating the calculation of the convolution integral for large amounts of data. Therefore, the approach can be used for pavement performance monitoring. Several asphalt concrete slabs were constructed in a laboratory with a vibratory roller compactor and instrumented with strain gauges and thermocouples. These slabs were tested under the small-scale accelerated loading device called the Model Mobile Load Simulator3. A frequency domain approach was used to analyze the continuous strain data. The constitutive equation in time domain was transformed to a frequency domain with the use of...
Disclosure of HIV Status and Psychological Well-Being Among Latino Gay and Bisexual Men

This study examined disclosure of HIV-positive serostatus by 301 Latino gay and bisexual men to members of their social networks and the mental health consequences of such disclosure. The sample was recruited from clinics, hospitals, and community agencies in New York City, Washington, DC, and Boston. Proportions disclosing differed depending on the target, with 85% having disclosed to closest friend, 78% to male main partner, 37% to mother, and 23% to father. Although there were differences depending on the target, disclosure was related to greater quality of social support, greater self-esteem, and lower levels of depression. Moreover, findings indicated that social support mediated the relationship between disclosure of serostatus and both self-esteem and depression. Thus, disclosure resulted in greater social support, which in turn had positive effects on psychological well-being. Findings demonstrate that generally Latino gay men are selective in choosing people to whom they disclose their serostatus and that disclosure tends to be associated with positive outcomes.
Multifaceted investigation of metabolites during nitrogen fixation in Medicago via high resolution MALDI-MS imaging and ESI-MS.

Legumes have developed the unique ability to establish a symbiotic relationship with soil bacteria known as rhizobia. This interaction results in the formation of root nodules in which rhizobia thrive and reduce atmospheric dinitrogen into plant-usable ammonium through biological nitrogen fixation (BNF). Owing to the availability of genetic information for both of the symbiotic partners, the Medicago truncatula–Sinorhizobium meliloti association is an excellent model for examining the BNF process. Although metabolites are important in this symbiotic association, few studies have investigated the array of metabolites that influence this process. Of these studies, most target only a few specific metabolites, the roles of which are either well known or are part of a well-characterized metabolic pathway. Here, we used a multifaceted mass spectrometric (MS) approach to detect and identify the key metabolites that are present during BNF using the Medicago truncatula–Sinorhizobium meliloti association as the model system. High mass accuracy and high resolution matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) and electrospray ionization (ESI) Orbitrap instruments were used in this study and provide complementary results for more in-depth characterization of the nitrogen-fixation process. We used well-characterized plant and bacterial mutants to highlight differences between the metabolites that are present in functional versus nonfunctional nodules. Our study highlights the benefits of using a combination of mass spectrometric techniques to detect differences in metabolite composition and the distributions of these metabolites in plant biology.
Genetic differentiation in Littorina saxatilis (Gastropoda)

Littorina saxatilis, an ovoviviparous gastropod, displays considerable morphological variability, perhaps due to limited dispersal abilities. Gene and genotype frequencies of 2 polymorphic enzymatic loci were determined electrophoretically for 7 populations of L. saxatilis, to estimate degree of population differentiation. Results show that significant population differentiation may occur over distances of as little as 2 km, while widely separated populations may be nearly identical. An index of probability of genotypic identity calculated for populations of L. saxatilis shows variable and heterogeneous values. Comparison of this index for L. saxatilis with an index for 12 populations of Nassarius obsoletus —which possesses strong dispersal abilities due to long-term veliger larva and high, homogeneous indices of probability of genotypic identity between populations — indicates a strong correlation between population differentiation and dispersal ability of the organism. Possible factors influencing population differentiation in L. saxatilis are discussed.
The CMS pixel detector and challenges (prospectives) for its upgrade

Abstract The CMS pixel detector was installed in July 2008 in the innermost region of CMS. It consists of 66 million pixels of 100 μ m by 150 μ m size over 3 barrel layers and 2 forward disks. The pixel system has been successfully commissioned. Over 80 K muon tracks were taken during the CMS cosmic runs and the detector is ready for the first physics run. The pixel detector, so close to the interaction point, will be exposed to a very high radiation dose. The estimation is that the first barrel layer, located at 4.3 cm from the beam pipe, after 3 years of LHC running at full luminosity will become inefficient for position reconstruction. For this reason, a susbstitution of a new pixel detector in 2014 has been already scheduled. At the same time an LHC luminosity upgrade is also planned. While a simple rebuild of the current detector could be done, the expectation is to design a new one, optimized for higher luminosity. This paper describes the present system and its performance as well as possible solutions for the upgrade.
High order matched interface and boundary methods for the Helmholtz equation in media with arbitrarily curved interfaces

This work overcomes the difficulty of the previous matched interface and boundary (MIB) method in dealing with interfaces with non-constant curvatures for optical waveguide analysis. This difficulty is essentially bypassed by avoiding the use of local cylindrical coordinates in the improved MIB method. Instead, novel jump conditions are derived along global Cartesian directions for the transverse magnetic field components. Effective interface treatments are proposed to rigorously impose jump conditions across arbitrarily curved interfaces based on a simple Cartesian grid. Even though each field component satisfies the scalar Helmholtz equation, the enforcement of jump conditions couples two transverse magnetic field components, so that the resulting MIB method is a full-vectorial approach for the modal analysis of optical waveguides. The numerical performance of the proposed MIB method is investigated by considering interface problems with both constant and general curvatures. The MIB method is shown to be able to deliver a fourth order of accuracy in all cases, even when a high frequency solution is involved.
Multimodal Children’s E-Books Help Young Learners in Reading

Many children struggle with reading and are seldom engaged in this process when teachers assign them to read. Young learners may lack motivation to read an dislike this activity because they have had frequently have unpleasant experiences with reading. If educators fail to provide support for struggling readers, these pupils will likely experience academic problems in later years. One strategy that instructors can implement to provide help for students who perform poorly in reading is to teach reading with multimodal e-books. Multimodal e-books are interactive electronic resources that combine text with sound, animation, and images and often include text that is read aloud and highlighted. The purpose of this article is to discuss how teachers can use multimodal e-books to help children make academic gains in reading and to provide guidelines for selecting good interactive e-books. Also included in this article is an annotated bibliography of CD-ROMs and e-book apps for children.
Effects of combined administration of FK 506 and the purine biosynthesis inhibitors mizoribine or mycophenolic acid on lymphocyte DNA synthesis and T cell activation molecule expression in human mixed lymphocyte cultures

Abstract Our objective was to obtain new information on the in vitro antilymphocytic action of the cytokine synthesis inhibitor FK 506 and the purine biosynthesis inhibitors mycophenolic acid (MPA; the active moiety of RS61443) and mizoribine (MZB) when used alone or in combination. When added at the initiation of six-day human mixed lymphocyte cultures (MLC), FK 506, MPA or MZB exhibited dose-dependent inhibition of T-lymphocyte DNA synthesis. FK 506, however, was 100-fold more potent than MPA, and 10000-fold more potent than MZB. Combination of FK 506 with either MPA or MZB, each at suboptional concentrations, produced no more than additive inhibitory effects on 3 H thymidine incorporation. Two-colour flow cytometric analysis of lymphocytes revealed that none of the drugs affected cell surface activation molecule expression (CD25 = IL-2R 55 kD α-chain, HLA-DR or CD71 = transferrin receptor [TR]) on allostimulated CD4 + or CD8 + cells harvested at three days of culture. By day six, however, all three agents, at levels which markedly inhibited proliferation, suppressed the expression of activation markers on both CD4 + and CD8 + cells. Also at day six, inhibition of activation molecule expression on CD4 + cells was achieved with the combination of FK 506 and either MPA or MZB at concentrations which, on their own, were ineffective. These data provide new, additional information on the in vitro antilymphocytic action of FK 506, MPA and MZB when used alone and in combination.
Polysaccharides: Energy Storage

Storage polysaccharides such as glycogen in animals and starch in plants represent a major energy reserve in living organisms. Keywords: starch; glycogen; inulin; laevan; laminaran; energy storage; reserve polysaccharides
Parametric Amplification of Coupled Atomic and Optical Fields

One of the earliest and still most important spin-offs of the invention of the laser is without a doubt nonlinear optics. Following the pioneering experiments carried out by P. A. Franken and his students [1], N. Bloembergen, Y. R. Shen and their collaborators made a series of crucial advances that led to the rapid development of the field [2]. In the early days, it was generally understood that what made nonlinear optics possible was the high optical powers provided by lasers. For such fields, a classical description of the light fields was clearly sufficient. Yet, a few visionaries insisted on a fully quantum mechanical description of radiation in the analysis of nonlinear optical phenomena such as parametric amplification. A central character in these developments was R. J. Glauber, who, together with his students, developed many of the tools, and much of the early quantum theory of nonlinear optics [3],[4]. One of his students was DanWalls, who upon his return to New Zealand after spending a short time in Germany developed one of the leading schools of quantum optics in the world.
Point-of-Care Testing Quality: Some Positives but Also Some Negatives

Point-of-care testing (POCT)2 represents one of the fastest growing segments of the diagnostics market. Although major advances have been made in the instrumentation and methods used for POCT, further development and enhancements appear to be necessary to meet the challenges presented by the difficult testing environments in which these devices are used. In addition, the varied experience and training of users and their use of samples that may not be optimal for testing continue to present challenges in the implementation of POCT (1). One of the major advantages of POCT is that it provides much faster access to test results, allowing for more rapid clinical decision making and more-appropriate treatments and interventions. In addition, POCT can help minimize time-dependent changes in labile analytes such as lactate and glucose, which can be caused by delays in sample transport to the clinical laboratory. Finally, many POCT methods require much smaller sample volumes than those needed for testing in the central clinical laboratory. Preventing medical errors has become a major focus of quality improvement in healthcare. Most errors that occur in the clinical laboratory setting take place during the pre- and postanalytical phases of the testing process, and several studies have documented the types and frequencies of the errors that can occur (2). In addition to the benefits mentioned above, the use of POCT may help reduce the frequencies of some of these errors, such as the preanalytical errors associated with inappropriate sampling, inappropriate preparation or packaging of samples, and misidentification of patients (3). In addition, the …
Hooking up during the college years: is there a pattern?

Hook ups are sexual encounters that can include a variety of behaviours (e.g., kissing to intercourse) with no expectation of future contact or a committed relationship. Although hooking up is reported to be common on college campuses across the USA, little is known about whether the frequency of hooking up changes over the course of the college experience. Using cross-sectional data and the covariates alcohol use, gender and relationship status, we examined a synthetic cohort of undergraduate students (n = 1003) on rates of hooking up using (1) logistic regression and (2) an applied form of survival analysis. Whereas both analytic techniques produced similar results, survival analysis provided a more complete picture by showing an increase in the rate of hooking up that peaked between spring semester of the first year of college and autumn semester of the second year of college, followed by a gradual decline in hook up rates over subsequent semesters. Findings indicate that gender is significantly relate...
Photonics in dermatology and aesthetic applications

This paper provides an overview of the recent developments of photonics in dermatology and aesthetic applications. The range of products covers lasers, continuous Xenon lamps, Intense Pulsed Light systems, and LEDs. We will mention several applications and how different photonics systems are used. We will also discuss methods combining photonics with other technologies. For example, in Photo Dynamic Therapy (PDT) this includes a drugs, or equally the combination of intense light pulses with Radio Frequency (RF) for applications like hair removal. We will also describe some new developments in photonics technology that affect the development of new products, showing the direction of market development. Additionally, some examples of new technology are shown.
Patients admitted to the coronary care unit for chest pain: High risk subgroup for subsequent cardiovascular death

Approximately 300 persons a year who are admitted to the Stanford University Hospital coronary care unit because of prolonged ischemic chest pain and transient S-T changes do not manifest evidence of a myocardial infarction during their hospital stay. In a retrospective study carried out in 170 such patients, follow-up data obtained during a mean of 17.9 months revealed rates of mortality from cardiovascular causes of 4.2 percent for 1 month, 10.1 percent for 1 year and 19.7 percent for the entire follow-up period. Ten (40 percent) of the 23 deaths that occurred were sudden and 13 were due to acute myocardial infarction or its complications. Another 21 patients had a nonfatal myocardial infarction during this follow-up period. The data confirm the impression that patients with suspected myocardial infarction who do not have an infarction in the coronary care unit are at high risk for cardiovascular deaths after hospital discharge. Efforts are under way to define further a high risk subgroup on the basis of clinical indications before discharge.
Drosophila Minichromosome Maintenance 6 Is Required for Chorion Gene Amplification and Genomic Replication

Duplication of the eukaryotic genome initiates from multiple origins of DNA replication whose activity is coordinated with the cell cycle. We have been studying the origins of DNA replication that control amplification of eggshell (chorion) genes during Drosophila oogenesis. Mutation of genes required for amplification results in a thin eggshell phenotype, allowing a genetic dissection of origin regulation. Herein, we show that one mutation corresponds to a subunit of the minichromosome maintenance (MCM) complex of proteins, MCM6. The binding of the MCM complex to origins in G1 as part of a prereplicative complex is critical for the cell cycle regulation of origin licensing. We find that MCM6 associates with other MCM subunits during amplification. These results suggest that chorion origins are bound by an amplification complex that contains MCM proteins and therefore resembles the prereplicative complex. Lethal alleles of MCM6 reveal it is essential for mitotic cycles and endocycles, and suggest that its function is mediated by ATP. We discuss the implications of these findings for the role of MCMs in the coordination of DNA replication during the cell cycle.
Computational Analysis of BMP Gradients in Dorsal-ventral Patterning of the Zebrafish Embryo

The genetic network controlling early dorsal-ventral (DV) patterning has been extensively studied and modeled in the fruit fly Drosophila. This patterning is driven by signals coming from bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), and regulated by interactions of BMPs with secreted factors such as the antagonist short gastrulation (Sog). Experimental studies suggest that the DV patterning of vertebrates is controlled by a similar network of BMPs and antagonists (such as Chordin, a homologue of Sog), but differences exist in how the two systems are organized, and a quantitative comparison of pattern formation in them has not been made. Here, we develop a computational model in three dimensions of the zebrafish embryo and use it to study molecular interactions in the formation of BMP morphogen gradients in early DV patterning. Simulation results are presented on the dynamics BMP gradient formation, the cooperative action of two feedback loops from BMP signaling to BMP and Chordin synthesis, and pattern sensitivity with respect to BMP and Chordin dosage. Computational analysis shows that, unlike the case in Drosophila, synergy of the two feedback loops in the zygotic control of BMP and Chordin expression, along with early initiation of localized Chordin expression, is critical for establishment and maintenance of a stable and appropriate BMP gradient in the zebrafish embryo.
Carnival Cruise Lines: Burnishing the Brand

The case of Carnival Cruise Lines chronicles the company’s birth and development as it redefined the leisure cruise industry. With a theme of “Fun Ships” and low pricing, Carnival appealed to a diverse market. Under the pressure of increasing competition, Carnival was challenged to refine its Fun Ships brand without damaging the considerable equity contained in that brand. In particular, as cruise lines became less differentiated in the customers’ view, Carnival sought to set itself apart with upgraded product features, service, and other guest amenities, as well as a more sophisticated brand message.
Is the Felsenstein Zone a Fly Trap

Although long-branch attraction, the incorrect grouping of long lineages in a phylogeny because of systematic error, has been identified as a potential source of error in phylogenetic analysis for almost two decades, no empirical examples of the phenomenon exist. Here, I outline several criteria for identifying long-branch attraction and apply these criteria to 18S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequence data for 13 insects. Parsimony and minimum evolution with p distances group the two longest branches together (those leading to Strepsiptera and Diptera). Simulation studies show that the long branches are long enough to attract. When a tree is assumed in which Strepsiptera and Diptera are separated and many data sets are simulated for that tree (using the parameter estimates for that tree for the original data), parsimony analysis of the simulated data consistently groups Strepsiptera and Diptera. Analyses of the 18S rDNA sequences using methods that are less sensitive to the problem of long-branch attraction estimate trees in which the long branches are separate.
Planning Correction of the Varus Ankle Deformity with Ankle Replacement

Ankle replacement in the presence of a varus deformity is an evolving field. Although the initial results were disappointing, numerous advances in the understanding of the condition and operative techniques have been made. More recent reports show good short-term results, especially when adjunctive procedures are combined, not only to achieve a neutral alignment but also the restore lateral ligamentous stability. As a result, it is possible to correct varus deformities of 20° or more with ankle replacement. It is likely that, with a reliable correction of alignment and balance, that the long-term results of ankle replacement in significant varus deformity will be promising.
Principals as Supervisors: A Balancing Act

How can administrators balance the demands placed on them as supervisors to enact both managerial and professional values? To answer that question, this article explores the ways in which practicing school administrators uphold both managerial and professional values in their roles as instructional supervisors. The experiences of the administrators in this study offer valuable examples of the ways administrators practice supervision, and the ways in which that practice reflects both managerial and professional values.
Testing the effects of wave exposure, site, and behavior on intertidal mussel body temperatures: applications and limits of temperature logger design

The rocky intertidal mussel Mytilus californianus is exposed to potentially damaging thermal conditions during low tide. However, because the temperatures of ectothermic organisms are driven by multiple climatic factors, we do not fully understand what the body temperatures of intertidal invertebrates are under field conditions, or how thermal stress varies between intertidal sites. We designed a temperature logger that thermally matches (similar size, color, morphology and thermal inertia) living mussels of the species M. californianus, and tested its ability to provide realistic measurements of body temperature in the field. As part of these tests, we examined the propensity of M. californianus to “gape,” a behavior in which the mussel opens its shell valves, and which may permit evaporative cooling. Because our instruments were unable to mimic this behavior, we tested the degree to which gaping contributes to animal cooling by exposing M. californianus to a range of climatic conditions while recording body temperatures, gaping behavior and water loss. Results indicated no significant influence of gaping on body temperature. Tests comparing temperatures of loggers to those of real mussels under laboratory and field conditions showed that thermally matched loggers recorded temperatures within a few degrees of living animals and that unmodified loggers regularly incurred errors of up to 14°C. We then deployed a series of thermally matched loggers at two sites in central Oregon (Boiler Bay and Strawberry Hill) previously hypothesized to display site-specific differences in aerial temperature, and at various wave-exposure regimes within each site. Significant differences were demonstrated between sites using a subset of temperature metrics in a multivariate analysis. Yearly peaks in maximum temperature, average daily maximum temperature, and degree hours were useful in discriminating between sites. In 2001, wave-exposed sites at Strawberry Hill displayed fewer degree–hours than wave-protected sites, but an equivalent or greater maximum temperature. In 2002 both of these metrics were significantly lower in wave-exposed sites. Boiler Bay and Strawberry Hill differed in thermal regime, but not in a way that would indicate one was “hotter” than the other.
Barriers to Conflict Resolution

Drawing on such diverse but related disciplines as economics, cognitive psychology, statistics, and game and decision-making theory, the book considers the barriers to successful negotiation in such areas as civil litigation, family law, arms control, labor management disputes, environmental treaty making, and politics. When does it pay for parties to a dispute to cooperate, and when to compete? How can third-party negotiators further resolutions and avoid the pitfalls that deepen the division between antagonists? Offering answers to these and related questions, this book is a comprehensive guide to the latest understanding of ways to resolve human conflict.
Low-overhead channel-aware rate adaptation

Current rate selection algorithms are dominated by probe-based approaches that search for the best transmission rate using trial-and-error. When operating over a dynamic channel, probe-based techniques can perform poorly since they inefficiently search for the moving target presented by the constantly changing channel. We have developed a channel-aware rate adaptation algorithm - CHARM - that responds quickly to dynamic channel changes, and significantly outperforms probe-based algorithms in many instances. Unlike previous approaches, CHARM leverages channel reciprocity to obtain channel information without incurring RTS/CTS overhead. Our work shows that channel-aware rate selection is viable, and can significantly outperform probe-based rate adaptation over both static and dynamic channels.
Low power (51 mW per flip-flop) CML static divider implemented in scaled 0.25 /spl mu/m emitter-width InP DHBTs

We report the fabrication and performance of a static CML frequency divider implemented in 0.25/spl mu/m emitter-width InP DHBT technology. This circuit consumed an average of 51 mW per flip-flop in a divide by 8 configuration while dividing a 120 GHz input. To our knowledge this is the highest toggle rate reported for circuits with power consumption as low as this.
Prediction of Dynamic Ground Effect Through Modified Lifting Line Theory

We propose a systematic procedure for predicting ground effect forces and moments for fixed wing aircraft in subsonic flight, the first that explicitly accounts for non-zero rise/sink rates. The method extends Prandtl’s lifting line theory by using an image vortex system with lifting line and trailing vortex sheet under the ground to satisfy zero normal velocity at the ground. A modified lifting line equation is obtained for the distribution on the lifting line. This is used to calculate the distribution of lift and induced drag on the wing in ground effect. Pitching moment and control surface effectiveness in ground effect are estimated using the available lift slope and pitching moment slope with the modified angles of attack in ground effect. A further extension is also made to use an image lifting surface under the ground to give more precise estimates of pitching moment and of the effects of control surface deflections in ground effect. An example calculation with an elliptical wing is used to illustrate the results and compare with available experimental results in the literature.
Prioritizing Vegetative Buffer Strip Placement in an Agricultural Watershed

In this study, the Agricultural Nonpoint Source Pollution Model (AGNPS) was used to determine locations of vegetative buffer strip effectiveness on reducing sediment load within the East Bad Creek (EBC) watershed, a 690 ha agricultural watershed located mid Michigan. Modeling scenarios consisted of simulating the hydrology and sediment transport throughout the EBC watershed on a baseline scenario (no buffer) and with a 30-meter vegetative buffer strip placed around each stream segment (buffer strip scenario). The model’s results showed a 17% decrease in sediment load at the watershed’s outlet for a 10yr-24hr storm. As a result, the placement of buffer strips within the watershed was prioritized on three different scales. The reduction of sediment due to buffer strips was analyzed on a stream segment level, a field boundary level, and on a cell-by cell basis. The stream segment buffers and field buffers were ranked on their overall ability to reduce sediment load into the stream. The reduction in sediment yield from the stream segments and the fields varied from 3.49 to 58.54 tons and 0 to 19.31 tons respectively. The cell results were evaluated by highlighting 0.5 tons – 3.63 tons of sediment throughout the watershed, deeming those buffered cells efficient. The cell-by-cell evaluations highlighted specific critical areas of buffer efficiency on a 30-meter resolution where the stream segment and field evaluations identified specific stream segments and fields to target for buffer placement. The AGNPS model along with the Arcview Non-Point Source Model (AVNPSM) GIS interface demonstrates that agricultural watersheds can be quickly and efficiently evaluated to target locations of buffer placement. Therefore, helping watershed managers implement vegetative buffer strips in site-specific areas within the watershed to employ efficient implementation of conservation management programs.
Multifiber renal SNA recordings predict mean arterial blood pressure in unanesthetized rat

The goal of this analysis was to quantify the relationship between renal sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP). We previously recorded renal SNA and MAP in conscious rats during a stressful behavioral stimulus and during a nonstressful stimulus. We then formulated a set of two linear, first-order differential equations that uses our SNA recordings after a time delay (the input) to predict fluctuations in MAP (the output). Our model has four parameters: 1) the cardiovascular time constant T that characterizes the frequency response function between the effector elements controlled by the sympathetic nerves and the cardiovascular system (1-5 s); 2) the effector time constant Te determined by the coupling between the sympathetic nervous system and the effectors (0.0-0.6 s); 3) the efferent time delay tau e between a change in SNA and a change in MAP (0.4-0.6 s); and 4) a proportionality constant C between fluctuations in SNA and fluctuations in MAP (0.3-3.4 mmHg/nV). The parameters of the model were determined that minimize the residual error between the simulated time series and the actual data time series for a stressful stimulus. Then we tested the ability of the transfer function to predict the MAP response to a nonstressful stimulus. In five of seven rats tested, the model's predictions were good, with mean cross-correlation coefficients for the predicted trials between 0.62 and 0.83. We show that multifiber renal SNA recordings can reliably predict changes in MAP in the unanesthetized rat. Thus the overall sympathetic drive to the cardiovascular system is indexed by renal SNA, although the vasomotor effectors driven by renal SNA control only approximately 20% of the blood cow.
A Health Threat to Bystanders Living in the Homes of Smokers: How Smoke Toxins Deposited on Surfaces Can Cause Insulin Resistance

Thirdhand smoke (THS) is the accumulation of secondhand smoke on environmental surfaces. THS is found on the clothing and hair of smokers as well as on surfaces in homes and cars of smokers. Exposure occurs by ingestion, inhalation and dermal absorption. Children living in homes of smokers are at highest risk because they crawl on the floor, touch parents' clothing/hair and household objects. Using mice exposed to THS under conditions that mimic exposure of humans, we show that THS increases cellular oxidative stress by increasing superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels while reducing the activity of antioxidant enzymes catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) that break down H2O2 into H2O and O2. This results in lipid peroxidation, protein nitrosylation and DNA damage. Consequences of these cell and molecular changes are hyperglycemia and insulinemia. Indeed, we found reduced levels of insulin receptor, PI3K, AKT, all important molecules in insulin signaling and glucose uptake by cells. To determine whether these effects on THS-induced insulin resistance are due to increase in oxidative stress, we treated mice exposed to THS with the antioxidants N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) and alpha-tocopherol (alpha-toc) and showed that the oxidative stress, the molecular damage, and the insulin resistance, were significantly reversed. Conversely, feeding the mice with chow that mimics "western diet", which is known to increase oxidative stress, while exposing the mice to THS, further increased the oxidative stress and aggravated hyperglycemia and insulinemia. In conclusion, THS exposure results in insulin resistance in the form of non-obese type II diabetes (NODII) through oxidative stress. If confirmed in humans, these studies could have a major impact on how people view exposure to environmental tobacco toxins, in particular to children, elderly and workers in environments where tobacco smoke has taken place.
Experimental production of intra-ocular hypertension.

It is commonly believed that the intra-ocular tension is sustained by the blood pressure in the intra-ocular blood vessels, especially by those in the iris; and that it may be lowered either by fall of the general blood pressure, or by constriction of the vessels locally. Results achieved following administration of drugs have not been uniform; for instance, after cocaine, the intraocular tension may remain unchanged or may be raised or lowered.We measured the intra-ocular tension with the Souter-tonometer and later with the mercury manometer, by insertion of a needle subconjunctivally into the anterior chamber. All drugs were injected into the common carotid artery. The experiments were made on dogs under ether anesthesia.After injection into the carotid artery of 5 minims or more of chloroform, we several times noticed forced position of the eyes, (a) enophthalmos, (b) exophthalmos, (c) deviation of the globe. At the same time there was an hemolysis, edema of the retina, retinal and iridic hemorrhages, ...
Neutrophil- and myeloperoxidase-mediated metabolism of reduced nimesulide: evidence for bioactivation.

Nimesulide, a widely used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), has been associated with rare idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity. The chemical mechanisms underlying the liver injury remain unknown. We have undertaken the detailed study of the metabolic pathways of nimesulide in an effort to identify potential reactive metabolites. A previous report from this laboratory has demonstrated that one of the known nimesulide metabolites, termed reduced nimesulide (M1), is further bioactivated by human liver microsomes (HLMs) to form a reactive diiminoquinone species M2. The formation of M2 was confirmed indirectly by trapping with N-acetylcysteine (NAC). The aim of this study was to explore the fate of M1 in an inflammatory environment created by the recruitment of leukocytes. Leukocytes upon activation produce hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and other myeloperoxidase (MPO) products, such as hypochlorous acid (HOCl), that are capable of metabolite oxidation. We demonstrate here that the reduced nimesulide, M1, undergo...
Two enzyme classes active in green peach aphid (Homoptera: Aphididae) bioassays

Discovery of novel insecticidal gene products is essential for pest-control strategies using genetically modified plants. We used an empirical procedure to test filtrates from > 10,000 microbial fermentations to identify proteins active in bioassays on several target insects. Two proteins active in bioassays with green peach aphids, Myzus persicae (Sulzer), were discovered in microbial filtrates. These proteins were active in the bioassay because they modified the dietary sucrose. Consequently, the aphids were either unable to survive on or unwilling to feed on the sucrose-depleted diets. One of these proteins catalyzes the synthesis of tri- and tetra-saccharides from sucrose, indicating that this protein is in the hexosyl-transferase class of enzymes. The other microbial filtrate has invertase like activity. These two types of proteins are not viable candidates for insect control strategies because the modification of sucrose in the phloem of plants would have deleterious effects on the plant.
Maximal Work Capacity of Human Intact Muscle under Hyperaemic Conditions

Abstract Fatigue curves for the forearm muscles, doing maximal static and dynamic work, were obtained under control conditions and under conditions of hyperaemia. The hyperaemia was evoked by subjecting the muscles of the forearm for a specific length of time to circulatory occlusion with a blood pressure cuff and then suddenly releasing the cuff pressure. The maximal increase in forearm volume, resulting from the postocclusion hyperaemia, followed a mathematical curve when it was expressed as a function of the occlusion time. A significant decrement in work capacity was found immediately after ten minutes of occlusion. This short-time negative influence did not affect the total output.
Surgical approach to deafness in children.

Any surgical approach to deafness must limit its scope to conduction deafness. The established otologic surgical procedures were designed mainly to treat uncomplicated or complicated ear infections or to prevent acquired deafness that is due to infection.The newer procedures are designed to reconstruct or restore middle ear structures and to improve hearing in children with conduction deafness.
Effect of arseniasis in intracellular free Ca2+ concentration in isolated mouse brain cell

Objective: To study mechanism of arsenic poisoning induce injury in mouse brain cell.Methods: animal model of arsenic poisoning was establishment by caudal vein inject sodium arsenite.The changes of [Ca~(2+)]i in mouse brain cells was measured by laser scanning confocal microscope using Fluo-3/AM as the calcium fluorescent indicator.and contents of As in brain tissues was measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometer,and level of superoxide dismutase(SOD) and malonaldehyde(MDA)in brain tissues was determined by biochemistry kit Results: Fluorescent intensity in mouse brain cells in arseniasis groups showed significantly higher than control group.The mean Fluorescent intensity in mouse brain cells in arseniasis groups was 116.10±33.75,while the control group was 42.78±22.66(P0.001).and the contents of As and MDA in brain tissue in arseniasis groups were obviously higher than that of the control group,and the levels of SOD in arseniasis groups were markedly decreased than control group,there was significant difference between arseniasis groups and control groups(P0.05).conclusions: the results indicates that arsenic could induce the intracellular free Ca~(2+) concentration in isolated mouse brain cell,and Ca~(2+) overload might be one of the molecular mechanism of brain cell injury by arsenic poisoning.
Earthquakes and rock creep(Part I: Creep characteristics of rocks and the origin of aftershocks)

Many seismic phenomena are adequately explained on the basis of a simple elastic theory of rock characteristics in which strain is proportional to stress and is independent of time. It is known, however, that the elastic characteristics of solids in general and rocks in particular depart greatly from these simple assumptions. It is the purpose of this paper to investigate the possible relationship of this departure to the origin of aftershocks and to the characteristics of earthquake sequences. Part I is concerned with the creep characteristics of rocks and the origin of aftershocks. Part II, which will appear at a later date, discusses earthquake sequences.
A micro-level analysis of firearm arrests’ effects on gun violence in Houston, Texas

This study aims to explore the effects of firearm arrests in reducing gun violence within a micro-environment in Houston, Texas. The Knox test is extended to a bivariate spatiotemporal clustering test, and it is utilized to analyze the citywide space–time interaction between shootings and firearm arrests. Also, an event-level analysis examines specific arrests generating deterrence or escalation effect, and describes their spatial distributions. A deterrence tendency is observed several days after, and at a considerable distance from, a prior arrest. About one-third of all arrests generate possible deterrence or escalation effect, and they are most densely clustered in a unique geographical area in Southwestern Houston.
‘Men Make their own History, but...’ ‘the Chain is Absolutely Continuous and Unbroken’: Continuity and Change in the Transition to Mass Politics

Men make their own history, but they do not make it just as they please; they do not make it under circumstances chosen by themselves, but under circumstances directly encountered, given, and transmitted from the past. The tradition of dead generations weighs like a nightmare on the brain of the living. And just when they seem engaged in revolutionising themselves and things, in creating something that has never existed, precisely in such periods of revolutionary crisis they anxiously conjure up the spirits of the past to their service and borrow from them names, battle cries, and costumes in order to present the new scene of the world in this time-honoured disguise and this borrowed language.
Sorting and Fast Algorithms

Introduction The theme of this chapter is a simple one: there may be better, faster ways of computing something than you may ever have thought of. One of the maxims of computer science is that just a few programs use most of the resources. Early in the history of computing, people recognized that much of the computing resources went into the common task of sorting a list of numbers. If this task could be done faster, then everything could be done better. A concentrated effort on improving sorting algorithms led to several breakthroughs, all following the principle known as “divide and conquer.” In simple terms, to solve a large task, break it into smaller tasks of the same kind. Cleverly done, the resulting algorithm can be more efficient than anyone would have expected, earning the jargon adjective “fast.” The principle of divide and conquer will be discussed in the next section, followed by a discussion of fast algorithms for sorting. Section 14.4 comprises statistical applications of divide and conquer. Another great breakthrough, the fast Fourier transform (FFT), will be discussed in Section 14.5. Using the FFT to compute convolutions will be discussed in Section 14.6, followed by some interesting applications of the FFT to statistics in Section 14.7. This chapter will close with some topics that are important but don't really fit elsewhere: algorithms for constructing permutations and combinations. Divide and Conquer The general principle of divide and conquer is to break a difficult task into subtasks, solve the subtasks, and then put the solutions together to solve the original task.
Surgical Treatment of Childhood Moyamoya Disease

Neurosurgeons at the Hospital for Sick Children and Western Hospitals, Toronto, Canada, review their experiences during a 6 month to 15 year follow up of 25 children with moyamoya disease 15 or whom underwent revascularization procedures.
17 – Assisted Reproductive Technologies

The use of ART (assisted reproductive technology) has expanded dramatically over the 1990s. This increase in utilization has brought medical and ethical concerns regarding multiple gestations and cryopreservation of embryos. Risks of the therapies appear low; the long-term risks of ovulation-inducing medications are not yet completely clear. Aging of the female partner presents special concerns and challenges when using ART. Novel techniques to circumvent the oocyte abnormality are under investigation. It appears that the increase in embryonic aneuploidy with increasing maternal age may relate to cytoskeletal abnormalities within the oocyte. Thus, transfer of younger oocyte cytoplasm to the older oocyte via micromanipulation has been attempted, as has transfer of the germinal vesicle containing the maternal genetic material to a younger oocyte recipient. The transfer of blastocysts instead of 4–8 cell embryos is gaining popularity. This technique involves five days of laboratory culture using special growth culture media. The process naturally selects embryos that are more likely to implant. A prospective randomized comparison revealed increased implantation rates with the transfer of blastocysts. This technology allows for a reduction in the number of embryos transferred. Ideally, a single embryo could be transferred. The use of preimplantation genetic diagnosis may also expand in the coming years. This technique may allow for the pretransfer identification of aneuploid embryos in older patients.