cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Probabilistic Approach to Life-Cycle Cost Analysis of Preventive Maintenance Strategies on Flexible Pavements

Preventive maintenance (PM) is recognized as a potentially useful tool to reduce pavement network operation costs. To identify the lowest-cost maintenance and rehabilitation strategies to keep pavement conditions at their desired levels, agencies need to predict conditions on the network accurately. This need presents a challenge because pavement deterioration is a complex mechanism that involves not only structural damage but also the effects of interactions between traffic, material, environment, and time. Earlier studies have based cost analyses on deterministic pavement deterioration prediction models, even though these models lack the capability to capture the random part of true pavement field behavior. An alternative approach is to use probabilistic models, which are built on the basis of observations of in-service facilities and allow a more realistic representation of pavement performance. In this research study, pavement crack initiation models were developed on the basis of stochastic hazard ra...
Prepositioning of supplies in preparation for a hurricane under potential destruction of prepositioned supplies

Abstract Hurricanes are a type of natural disaster for which it is possible to plan for prepositioning of supplies to improve the efficiency of the post-disaster relief effort. This paper develops a model for prepositioning supplies in such a setting. Our model has a distinguishing feature the possible destruction of supply points during the disaster event. To gain insight into our model, we develop a series of theoretical properties. To test the applicability of our model a series of computational tests are performed. From such tests we conclude that it is possible to solve relatively large instances of the problem utilizing standard optimization software. A methodology based on creation of clusters of demand points is proposed for solving even larger problems. Finally we study sensitivity of the results with respect to key parameters. These investigations provide important policy implications.
Naturally weathered feldspar surfaces in the Navajo Sandstone aquifer, Black Mesa, Arizona : Electron microscopic characterization

Abstract Naturally weathered feldspar surfaces in the Jurassic Navajo Sandstone at Black Mesa, Arizona, was characterized with high-resolution transmission and analytical electron microscope (HRTEM-AEM) and field emission gun scanning electron microscope (FEG-SEM). Here, we report the first HRTEM observation of a 10-nm thick amorphous layer on naturally weathered K-feldspar in currently slightly alkaline groundwater. The amorphous layer is probably deficient in K and enriched in Si. In addition to the amorphous layer, the feldspar surfaces are also partially coated with tightly adhered kaolin platelets. Outside of the kaolin coatings, feldspar grains are covered with a continuous 3–5 μm thick layer of authigenic smectite, which also coats quartz and other sediment grains. Authigenic K-feldspar overgrowth and etch pits were also found on feldspar grains. These characteristics of the aged feldspar surfaces accentuate the differences in reactivity between the freshly ground feldspar powders used in laboratory experiments and feldspar grains in natural systems, and may partially contribute to the commonly observed apparent laboratory-field dissolution rate discrepancy. At Black Mesa, feldspars in the Navajo Sandstone are dissolving at ∼10 5 times slower than laboratory rate at comparable temperature and pH under far from equilibrium condition. The tightly adhered kaolin platelets reduce the feldspar reactive surface area, and the authigenic K-feldspar overgrowth reduces the feldspar reactivity. However, the continuous smectite coating layer does not appear to constitute a diffusion barrier. The exact role of the amorphous layer on feldspar dissolution kinetics depends on the origin of the layer (leached layer versus re-precipitated silica), which is uncertain at present. However, the nanometer thin layer can be detected only with HRTEM, and thus our study raises the possibility of its wide occurrence in geological systems. Rate laws and proposed mechanisms should consider the possibility of this amorphous layer on feldspar surface.
Adolescent Suicide Risk Screening in the Emergency Department

Objectives: Many adolescents who die by suicide have never obtained mental health services. In response to this, the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention recommends screening for elevated suicide risk in emergency departments (EDs). This cross-sectional study was designed to examine 1) the concurrent validity and utility of an adolescent suicide risk screen for use in general medical EDs and 2) the prevalence of positive screens for adolescent males and females using two different sets of screening criteria. Methods: Participants were 298 adolescents seeking pediatric or psychiatric emergency services (50% male; 83% white, 16% black or African American, 5.4% Hispanic). The inclusion criterion was age 13 to 17 years. Exclusion criteria were severe cognitive impairment, no parent or legal guardian present to provide consent, or abnormal vital signs. Parent or guardian consent and adolescent assent were obtained for 61% of consecutively eligible adolescents. Elevated risk was defined as 1) Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire-Junior [SIQ-JR] score of ‡31 or suicide attempt in the past 3 months or 2) alcohol abuse plus depression (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-3 [AUDIT-3] score of ‡3, Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale-2 [RADS-2] score of ‡76). The Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS) and Problem Oriented Screening Instrument for Teenagers (POSIT) were used to ascertain concurrent validity. Results: Sixteen percent ( n= 48) of adolescents screened positive for elevated suicide risk. Within this group, 98% reported severe suicide ideation or a recent suicide attempt (46% attempt and ideation, 10% attempt only, 42% ideation only) and 27% reported alcohol abuse and depression. Nineteen percent of adolescents who screened positive presented for nonpsychiatric reasons. One-third of adolescents with positive screens were not receiving any mental health or substance use treatment. Demonstrating concurrent validity, the BHS scores of adolescents with positive screens and the POSIT scores of those with positive screens due to alcohol abuse and depression indicated substantial impairment. The addition of alcohol abuse with co-occurring depression as a positive screen criterion did not result in improved case identification. Among the subgroup screening positive due to depression plus alcohol abuse, all but one (>90%) also reported severe suicide ideation and ⁄ or a recent suicide attempt. This subgroup (approximately 17% of adolescents who screened positive) also reported significantly more impulsivity than other adolescents who screened positive. Conclusions: The suicide risk screen showed evidence of concurrent validity. It also demonstrated utility in identifying 1) adolescents at elevated risk for suicide who presented to the ED with unrelated medical concerns and 2) a subgroup of adolescents who may be at highly elevated risk for suicide due to the combination of depression, alcohol abuse, suicidality, and impulsivity. ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2009; 16:1234–1241 a 2009 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
Advanced Active Thin Films for the Next Generation of Meso-Micro Scale Army Applications

The US Army Workshop on “Advanced Active Thin Films for the Next Generation of Meso-Micro Scale Army Applications” was held at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort in Destin FL May 10–12 2005. This workshop was dedicated to the memory of Dr. Bruce Fink of the U.S. Army Research Laboratory. Dr. Fink was a strong leader, a visionary, and a proponent of novel research that supported the survivability of the soldier in the field. Dr. Fink's selfless attitude, encouragement, and unconditional support for the solider provided the motivation for organizing this topical workshop on “Advanced Active Thin Films for the Next Generation of Meso-Micro Scale Army Applications”. This workshop consisted of 35 invited oral presentations, spread over a three day duration. Each presentation was focused on a particular aspect, issue, or research facet associated with the current state-of-the-art and/or future thrust areas for active thin films technology. Approximately 120 scientists, engineers and technology applications ...
Sounding Presidential: Frame Creation in the Obama Administration

Among the often-cited powers of the presidency is the power of the pulpit. Presidents attempt to influence Congress directly and indirectly through their rhetoric and its influence on national policy debates. This includes the power to shape debates through the use of frames. While much is known about framing, no past study has attempted to document all frames utilized by a policy entrepreneur in his attempt to shape the policy debate. Comprehensive understanding of frame creation is necessary to understand what frames persist and how frames are used in policymaking. This study identifies how one president, Barack Obama, framed domestic policy issues in speeches early in his administration. Identifying frames the president uses provides insights into this president's attempts to set the public agenda. The findings of this study suggest that Obama's use of specific frames is highly idiosyncratic, but that these idiosyncratic frames coalesce around identifiable policy areas, particularly macroeconomic polic...
Upregulation of phagocytosis and candidicidal activity of macrophages exposed to the immunostimulant, acemannan

Previous studies by these investigators have shown that mannosylated bovine serum albumin (m-BSA) enhances the respiratory burst (RB), phagocytosis, and killing of Candida albicans by resident murine peritoneal macrophages (MO). Upregulation of the above MO functions was associated with binding of m-BSA to the MO-mannose receptor. The present study was done to determine if the immunostimulant, acemannan prepared from aloe vera, could stimulate MO in a similar manner. Resident peritoneal MO collected from C57BL/6 mice were exposed to acemannan for 10 min. The RB was measured using chemiluminescence and demonstrated approximately a two-fold increase above the media controls. In studies involving phagocytosis, MO were exposed to acemannan, washed and exposed to Candida at a ratio of 1:5. The percent phagocytosis and Candida killing were determined using fluorescence microscopy. There was a marked increase in phagocytosis in the treated cultures (45%) compared to controls (25%). Macrophages exposed to acemannan for 10 min resulted in ca 38% killing of Candida albicans compared with 0-5% killing in controls. If MO were incubated with acemannan for 60 min, 98% of the yeast were killed compared to 0-5% in the controls. The results of the present study indicate that short term exposure of MO to acemannan upregulates the RB, phagocytosis and candidicidal activity. Further studies are needed to clarify the potential use of this immunostimulant as an anti-fungal agent.
Relativistic hidden variable theories

I show that for any quantum dynamics and any choice of observables as hidden variables an adequate hidden variable theory always exists. I argue that hidden variable theories have no more problems in reconciling non-locality with relativity than no-hidden-variable theories.
Chronic psychological stress alters body weight and blood chemistry in European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris).

One hallmark of chronic stress is a decrease in body weight that rebounds once chronic stress is alleviated. We applied chronic psychological stress by exposing European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) to a previously validated chronic stress protocol (CSP) consisting of 4 different randomly applied stressors per day. Experimental design consisted of a 21 day CSP (CSP1), a 60 day recovery (R1), a second 14 day CSP (CSP2), and a second 30 day recovery (R2). Body weight decreased by approximately 5% during CSP1, but overshot to 5–10% above initial body weight during R1. To investigate underlying mechanisms, we periodically measured 12 biochemical analytes, including aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatine kinase (CK), bile acids, total protein, albumin, globulin, glucose, uric acid, calcium (Ca++), phosphorus (PHOS), potassium (K+), and sodium (Na+). AST and CK increased at the beginning of CSP1, suggesting muscle breakdown. Additionally, decreases in albumin and total protein paired with stable uric acid, but no associated change in glucose, suggested protein breakdown as a secondary energy source. Changes in blood parameters that occurred during CSP1 did not reverse during R1. During CSP2 and R2, weight loss and gain occurred in different proportions. CSP2 produced an approximate 15% decrease in body weight, but R2 resulted in only re-gaining 5% of this weight, although this was equivalent to the pre-CSP1 weight. In summary, protein metabolism appeared to mediate weight loss during chronic stress, but over-gaining weight was not a good indicator of recovery.
Synthesis of Template-Free Zeolite Nanocrystals by Reverse Microemulsion−Microwave Method

Many new applications for zeolite materials such as low dielectric constant films for chips and polymer−zeolite nanocomposite membranes for fuel cells require small, uniform, dispersible, and template-free zeolite nanocrystals, whose synthesis has so far proved difficult. Here we report an effective strategy to produce such zeolite nanocrystals by using microwave heating in reverse microemulsion (water in oil). The reverse microemulsion possibly acts as a space-confining nanoreactor, and microwave provides fast, homogeneous, and preferential heating of the aqueous phase (not the oil phase) where zeolite crystals are produced. As an example, the synthesis of template-free zeolite A nanocrystals (40−80 nm) is presented. The method demonstrated can potentially provide a general route to synthesize small, uniform, dispersible, and template-free zeolite nanocrystals.
Structure of cyclo -Octatetraene

A COMMUNICATION1 on the above topic has just come to our attention, in which the authors have reasoned from some frequency calculations to the conclusion that cyclo-octatetraene probably has the D4d structure, with the D4 structure a less likely possibility. It is the purpose of the present note to point out that the vibrational spectra2 of the deuterium derivative of cyclo-octatetraene, published some time ago, enable the method of reasoning as well as the D4d conclusion to be refuted.
Geospatial interpolation of MODIS-derived salinity and temperature in the Chesapeake Bay

Abstract In dynamic coastal systems such as the Chesapeake Bay, limited coverage and frequency of in situ measurements often makes generalizability of regional forecasting systems difficult. Satellite-derived environmental variables have the potential to address this problem, but satellite datasets suffer from incomplete coverage as well: atmospheric conditions—most notably cloud cover—lead to data gaps that significantly hinder the broad application of satellite-informed predictions. In this study, the Chesapeake Bay estuary was used as a model “test bed” to which we applied the power of near real-time satellite-derived observations to the issue of water quality monitoring. To use remote sensing in support of spatially complete estimates of salinity and temperature in the Bay, we tested geospatial interpolation techniques as a method for filling gaps and minimizing errors in the satellite record. These interpolated values were then compared to the output of a regional hydrodynamic model in order to assess the relative value of each method for generating inputs into various modeling applications. Results show that MODIS-derived salinity and temperature can be interpolated with acceptable accuracy in the Bay, with a mean absolute error of 1.88 psu and 0.60 °C. These errors differed systematically from ChesROMS errors both spatially and seasonally, with higher errors for salinity and lower errors for temperature at most sampling stations throughout the year. This suggests that the two techniques offer complementary information that can be applied to ecological monitoring systems in complex estuaries like Chesapeake Bay.
Water scarcity in the desert metropolis: how environmental values, knowledge and concern affect Las Vegas residents’ support for water conservation policy

This paper examines important associations between environmental values, knowledge, concern and attitudes about water conservation policies in a desert metropolis. Specifically, we consider: (a) the combined influence of environmental value orientation, knowledge of drought conditions and concern about water use on support for water conservation policies; (b) the relative association of each individual variable on policy support; (c) factors explaining support to increase water prices and restrict water use; and (d) associations between socio-demographic factors and water policy support. Based on data from the 2009 Las Vegas Metropolitan Area Social Survey, we find that environmental value orientation, knowledge and concern are all significant predictors of water conservation, but concern stands out as the primary predictor for water policy support. Knowledge of drought conditions is the strongest predictor of support for water price increases, while concern predicts support for water use restrictions. We...
Random walks on finite lattices with multiple traps: Application to particle-cluster aggregation

For random walks on finite lattices with multiple (completely adsorbing) traps, one is interested in the mean walk length until trapping and in the probability of capture for the various traps (either for a walk with a specific starting site, or for an average over all nontrap sites). We develop the formulation of Montroll to enable determination of the large-lattice-size asymptotic behavior of these quantities. (Only the case of a single trap has been analyzed in detail previously.) Explicit results are given for the case of symmetric nearest-neighbor random walks on two-dimensional (2D) square and triangular lattices. Procedures for exact calculation of walk lengths on a finite lattice with a single trap are extended to the multiple-trap case to determine all the above quantities. We examine convergence to asymptotic behavior as the lattice size increases. Connection with Witten-Sander irreversible particle-cluster aggregation is made by noting that this process corresponds to designating all sites adjacent to the cluster as traps. Thus capture probabilities for different traps determine the proportions of the various shaped clusters formed. (Reciprocals of) associated average walk lengths relate to rates for various irreversible aggregation processes involving a gas of walkers and clusters. Results are also presented for some of these quantities.
Queue Position in the Endoscopic Schedule Impacts Effectiveness of Colonoscopy

OBJECTIVES:Endoscopist fatigue potentially impacts colonoscopy. Fatigue is difficult to quantitate, but polyp detection rates between non-fatigued and fatigued time periods could represent a surrogate marker. We assessed whether timing variables impacted polyp detection rates at a busy tertiary care
The physics of cancer therapy with negative pions

The introduction of negative pions into cancer therapy has required the construction of large new proton accelerators together with special magnetic systems to form and direct the pion beam to a patient. A summary is presented of the fundamental properties of pions and of the methods used to study the therapeutic beams. The dosimetry of these beams requires the use of the older techniques as well as new methods for determining the different LET components. The data for a number of beams is given and the utilization of this data in treatment planning is reviewed. An important problem for therapy is the behavior of inhomogeneities in the pion beam, and experimental methods are described which illuminate this problem. The studies of the effects of inhomogeneities in a beam point the way toward fruitful comparisons with the computerized treatment planning codes known as PION-1 and PIPLAN. A useful step in treatment is the verification of doses in patients during therapy. For this purpose the new methods for measuring the high LET doses in patients are described as well as a timing measurement for checking the stopping effect of the tissues as obtained from the CT scans.
Mutations in the COL1A2 gene of type I collagen that result in nonlethal forms of osteogenesis imperfecta.

Although virtually all mutations that result in osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) affect the genes that encode the chains of type I procollagen, the effects of mutations in the COL1A2 gene have received less attention than those in the COL1A1 gene. We have characterized mutations in 4 families that give rise to different 01 phenotypes. In three families substitutions of glycine residues by cysteine in the triple helical domain (a single example at position 259 and 2 families in which substitution of glycine at 646 by cysteine) have been identified, and in the fourth a G for A transition at position +4 in intron 33 led to use of an alternative splice site and inclusion of 6 amino acids (val-gly-arg-ile-leu-phe) between residues 585 and 586 of the normal triple helix
Origin of the milk fat globule.

Milk fat globules originate as fat droplets within the lactating mammary cell. These droplets are composed largely (>98%) of glycerides. Their constituent fatty acids are derived by lipolysis of very low density lipoproteins and chylomicrons of the blood and by the novo synthesis within the cell. Evidence of two principal routes for the synthesis of milk fat triglycerides has been presented: the so-called glycerolphosphate and monoglyceride pathways. Recent findings on these pathways are discussed. The nature of the milk triglycerides with their unique compliment and distribution of short chain fatty acids appears to depend upon a closely regulated relation between the soluble multienzyme complex that synthesizes the fatty acids and the glyceride synthetase that is bound to the endoplasmic reticulum. The resulting triglycerides appear to self-assemble into droplets from the surface of the endoplasmic reticulum. No special ultrastructures (transport particles, vesicles, etc.) have been detected in relation to this process. Milk fat droplets at the time of secretion average several microns in diameter, there being species variations. The basic secretion mechanism involves envelopment of the droplet in plasma membrane and expulsion of it from the cell. As a consequence there are at least two pools of polar lipids (cholesterol and phospholipids) associated with secreted milk fat globules, i.e., one from the plasma membrane and one entrained earlier from the endoplasmic reticulum at the time of triglyceride synthesis and accumulation. In all, the polar lipids do not make up more than 1–2% of the total lipids in milk and a substantial fraction of them has been identified recently with plasma membrane fragments occurring in the skim milk phase. Radiotracer and ultrastructural studies show that this membrane material does not result simply by shedding of surface from milk fat globules. This dispersed material and the lining around milk fat globules constitute valuable sources for the study of cell membranes.
Recovery of proteins and other biological compounds using fibrous materials: II. Flocculation by polyelectrolyte addition

Polyelectrolytes have been used in wastewater treatment processes to destabilize colloidal suspensions of proteins, cells and other biological compounds, resulting in flocculation. When a solution containing a single model protein, bovine serum albumin (BSA), is treated with a polyelectrolyte, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), large and strong flocs are formed, which are easily retained by a 20 µm pore size filter. However, when a mixture of proteins, cells, and fats from an actual wastewater sample is treated in the same manner, smaller and weaker flocs are observed. An adsorption and filtration process for the recovery of valuable biological compounds using cellulose-based fibrous materials has been developed. When used simultaneously with CMC, cellulose acetate and triacetate fibrets (CAF and CTF) resulted in high recovery of biomolecules from solution at very low dosages of both polyelectrolyte and fibrets. CMC interacts with biomolecules by electrostatic interactions and polymer bridging, while CTF/CAF facilitate floc growth by adsorption and bridging of primary particles and by entrapment of small aggregates within their highly fibrillated microstructure. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry
Evidence for a Major Merger Origin of High-Redshift Submillimeter Galaxies

Submillimeter-detected galaxies located at redshifts z > 1 host a major fraction of the bolometric luminosity at high redshifts due to thermal emission from heated dust grains, yet the nature of these objects remains a mystery. The major problem in understanding their origin is whether the dust-heating mechanism is predominantly caused by star formation or active galactic nuclei and what triggered this activity. We address this issue by examining the structures of 11 submillimeter galaxies imaged with STIS on the Hubble Space Telescope. We argue that ~61% ± 21% of these submillimeter sources are undergoing an active major merger using the CAS (concentration, asymmetry, clumpiness) quantitative morphological system. We rule out at ~5 σ confidence that these submillimeter galaxies are normal Hubble types at high redshift. This merger fraction appears to be higher than for Lyman break galaxies undergoing mergers at similar redshifts. Using reasonable constraints on the stellar masses of Lyman break galaxies and these submillimeter sources, we further argue that at redshifts z ~ 2-3, systems with high stellar masses are more likely than lower mass galaxies to be involved in major mergers.
Transcription of orthopoxvirus telomeres at late times during infection.

Abstract The telomeres of orthopoxvirus DNAs consist largely of short repeated sequences organized into at least two separate sets. Although the sequence composition of the orthopoxvirus telomeres is highly conserved, these regions do not appear to encode any proteins. At late times during infection, the telomeres of vaccinia virus are transcribed. A promoter in the region between the two sets of repeats directs transcription towards the hairpin-loop end of the viral DNA. This promoter resembles the promoters of other poxvirus late genes, and directs the synthesis of RNAs whose structure is consistent with the presence of 5′ poly(A) sequences typical of late RNAs. The lengths of these late transcripts suggest that some transcription extends through the hairpin-loop region. This might occur either when the genome is in a monomeric form or when the genome is in the concatemeric form of the DNA replication intermediate. The function of late transcription of the telomeres is unclear, but similar transcription of the telomeres of vaccinia virus, cowpox virus, and raccoonpox virus suggests that such transcription may have a role in viral replication.
Microreactor for efficient catalyst evaluation

This paper describes ongoing work in the development of microreactor-based systems for applications in the chemical process industry. The microreactors discussed here are formed from silicon using robust micromachining processes to produce devices with micrometer-scale fluidic structures including passageways for the introduction and removal of gases, and a reaction zone with a thin-film catalyst. We describe experiments done to characterize these reactors for use as development tools for industrial catalytic processes in terms of catalyst screening, acquisition of rate laws, and determination of optimal process conditions. The system studied here, the reaction of a cyclic olefin (cyclohexene) with hydrogen in the presence of platinum catalyst, is a model for industrially important catalytic hydrogenation and dehydrogenation reactions.
Disposition of rubratoxin B in the rat.

Abstract Excretion, tissue concentrations in the kidney and liver, and pharmacokinetic parameters estimated from plasma blood concentrations were determined for rats given a single ip dose of [ 14 C]rubratoxin B (0.05 mg dissolved in propylene glycol). By 7 days, 80% of the administered radioactivity had been excreted into the urine (41.7%) and feces (38.7%). Urinary excretion was primarily as the parent compound, accounting for 75% of the radioactivity excreted by 7 days. Elimination of radio-activity from the kidneys was monophasic with a half-life of 97.35 hr. Elimination of radioactivity from the liver was biphasic, with a half-life of 13.66 hr for the slow phase. Elimination of rubratoxin B and [ 14 C]rubratoxin B-derived radioactivity (radioactivity derived from both the parent compound and metabolites) from the plasma was biphasic. The rapid phases of elimination had half-lives of 2.57 and 1.08 hr, and the slow phases had half-lives of 60.80 and 100.46 hr for rubratoxin B and [ 14 C]rubratoxin B-derived radio-activity respectively. The long plasma half-life of rubratoxin B is suggestive of enterohepatic circulation. The concentration of radioactivity was greatest at 1 hr in the liver and 2 hr in the plasma. Except for the first few hours following injection, the concentration of radioactivity in the liver never exceeded significantly that in the plasma, suggesting a passive absorption process. No glucuronide or sulfate conjugates were detected in the plasma or urine.
In-line estimation of optical BER and SNR

DWDM optical communication systems that transport bandwidth exceeding Tbps per fiber require fast and cost-effective methods to measure the transmission performance parameters of the optical link and the receiver at each system port. The reason is that fiber non-linearity and component degradation affect the quality of signal and the overall channel performance. However, in many applications, it suffices to verify whether the receiving channel meets the minimum performance criteria. In such case, simple and conclusive methods should be used to measure quickly and in-situ the channel performance parameters. Such parameters in optical communication are the bit error rate (BER), signal to noise ration (SNR), Q-factor, noise factor (NF), received optical power level, and more. In this paper, we describe a statistical sampling methodology that estimates these channel performance parameters in a very short interval and for all-practical purposes in real-time, which also is protocol independent; that is, performance is not estimated according to error detecting codes embedded on the signal of asynchronous data payloads such as in GbE, synchronous such as SDH/SONET.
Food consumption, income distribution and quality effects☆

Abstract Food consumption patterns in Pakistan are analysed for different income classes. Some empirical results confirm the well-known relationship between income and food expenditure. Examination of food expenditure indicates that as income rises, people spend a portion of the increase on larger quantities, but much of the increase goes on higher priced varieties. This has implications for future income generation and redistribution of income.
Molecular analysis of the t(2;14) translocation of childhood chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Two rare cases of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in children have been studied; both are associated with a previously undescribed chromosomal translocation [t(2;14) (p13;q32)]. In one patient the translocation was reciprocal and the breakpoint on chromosome 14 occurred just 5' of the C gamma 2 region on the productive immunoglobulin heavy-chain allele. The breakpoint on chromosome 2 does not involve the K locus but lies within an uncharacterized region that coincides with the position of a constitutive fragile site that occurs within normal lymphocytes. Data on the second patient are consistent with these findings and suggest that these cases represent a rare but distinct subgroup of CLL's with a specific cytogenetic change.
Experimental test of the normal form for period doubling bifurcations

Abstract An experimental investigation of the effects of near-resonant periodic perturbation on subcritical and supercritical bifurcation is carried out. It is observed unambiguosly that a periodic perturbation produce a destabilizing shift of a subcritical period doubling bifurcation and a stabilizing shift of supercritical bifurcation. In other words, near resonant perturbations induce subcritical bifurcations and suppress supercritical bifurcations. The experiments also establish the appropriate normal form for periodically perturbed period doubling systems.
The effects of hydrogen absorption on the electrical conduction in discontinuous palladium films

Abstract The effects of hydrogen absorption on the electrical conduction in discontinuous palladium films on glass substrates were investigated. A qualitative model is proposed to explain the experimental results, based on work function changes due to surface adsorption and chemisorption and on island expansion due to bulk hydrogen absorption.
Media Influence on the Enhancement of the Fluorescence of Berberine Hydrochloride

Berberine hydrochloride is an alkaloid with little or no fluorescence in water. In sodium dodecylsulfate solutions, the fluorescence intensity of this compound is enhanced several folds by ion-pairing with the anion of the surfactant. The enhanced fluorescence intensity reaches a maximum at a surfactant concentration of 4·10−3 M and then decreases to a constant value at the critical micelle concentration and beyond. At concentrations near the maximum, a calibration sensitivity of 3.23·106/M was obtained. In addition, a good linear dynamic range and a low limit of detection (4·10−5 and 1.5·10−7 M, respectively) were determined. This observation indicates that this surfactant medium could be effectively used in fluorometric trace analysis of berberine hydrochloride. It was also observed in this work that solvents of low dielectric constant tend to stabilize this compound and thereby enhance its fluorescence.
Short- and long-term responses to diltiazem in patients with variant angina

Short- and long-term effects of diltiazem on angina frequency were studied in 12 patients with variant angina (pain at rest with S-T elevation). Each patient first entered a double-blind short-term trial. Either diltiazem, in two dosage schedules (120 and 240 mg/day), or placebo was administered in a randomized double-blind program over 10 weeks. Significant decreases in frequency of angina were observed when diltiazem treatment periods were compared with placebo periods. Six patients were asymptomatic, one had 50 percent or greater decrease, and two had a smaller decrease in angina frequency. Two patients showed no important improvement during short-term diltiazem therapy. One patient experienced ventricular fibrillation in the placebo period and was advanced to treatment with open label diltiazem before responses could be ascertained in the double-blind trial. All other patients were then advanced to open label diltiazem therapy and followed up for an average of 16 months (range 8 to 23). Responses during the short-term trial accurately predicted responses during long-term therapy. Of the six patients who were asymptomatic during short-term therapy, five remained asymptomatic and one had rare episodes of angina. One other patient continued to have a good response (50 percent or greater decrease in angina frequency) and two other patients had a partial response. The two patients who did not respond during short-term therapy did not respond during long-term therapy.
Leukocyte Responses to Injury

Injury elicits a response from all cells of the immune system in which cytokines and other metabolic products of activated leukocytes can act either beneficially to provide for enhanced host resistance or deleteriously to depress the function of remote organs and cause what has been termed systemic inflammation . These at times antithecal responses of leukocytes that appear to integrate postinjury changes in the neuroendocrine, immune, and coagulation systems have been implicated as principal causative factors in multiple systems organ failure. Numerous investigators have evaluated a variety of therapeutic agents to prevent and control infection by restoring leukocyte function, while others have evaluated antagonists and monoclonal antibodies as a means of controlling the exaggerated and persistent actions of leukocytes and cytokines caused by systemic inflammation. The redundancies of the cell populations and the cytokines and other metabolites produced by the cells predictably limit the effectiveness of any single agent and make clinical evaluation of such agents difficult. (Arch Surg. 1993;128:1260-1267)
COMPETITOR-INDUCED PLASTICITY IN TADPOLES: CONSEQUENCES, CUES, AND CONNECTIONS TO PREDATOR-INDUCED PLASTICITY

Phenotypically plastic responses to environmental change are typically com- partmentalized by the type of environmental cues that cause the induction (e.g., temperature, light), but different types of environmentally induced responses might very well be related to each other. I used a number of experiments to document competitor-induced behavior and morphology in wood frog tadpoles (Rana sylvatica), to quantify how competitor-induced changes affected subsequent competitive ability, and to investigate the cues responsible for the competitor-induced response. Competitors induced wood frogs to increase their activity and generally develop larger bodies and smaller tails. Further, wood frogs were able to discriminate between intraspecific and interspecific competitors. Whereas behavioral re- sponses to competitors are well documented, the widespread morphological responses are a new discovery; these responses are particularly intriguing because they are in the opposite direction of predator-induced responses in tadpoles. The competitor-induced phenotypes are not simply an allometric effect, but appear to be adaptive responses to competitors; competitor-induced wood frogs experienced higher relative growth rates than noninduced wood frogs in subsequent performance trials, but past studies suggest that the competitor- induced phenotype should experience higher predation risk. When responding to compe- tition, wood frogs were not responding only to reduced food. They were able to sense changes in both the per capita food levels and changes in density (per unit volume) that were independent of per capita food level. Thus, these animals have an amazing ability to sense changes in their environments and respond in very precise ways. When one considers competitor-induced responses in light of past studies on predator- induced phenotypes in larval anurans, one sees that predator-induced traits provide indi- viduals with increased predator resistance but decreased competitive ability, whereas com- petitor-induced traits provide individuals with. increased competitive ability but decreased predator resistance. This suggests that predator- and competitor-induced plasticity have evolved an intricate link that presents a trade-off between competitive ability and predator resistance ability. This trade-off is common across species and makes sense in light of the environments in which wood frogs live, ranging from ponds with high densities of predators and few tadpoles competing to ponds with few predators and extremely high densities of tadpoles competing. Further, there is evidence that this type of plasticity trade-off might be quite common in other phenotypically plastic taxa.
Distribution of nerve growth factor following direct delivery to brain interstitium.

Several studies suggest the potential of nerve growth factor (NGF) in the treatment of patients with Alzheimer's disease. To characterize NGF transport within the brain interstitium, we implanted controlled release polymers containing NGF and [125I]NGF into the brains of adult male rats and measured spatial distributions of NGF for up to one week. NGF concentration in the brain was quantified using ELISA, radiation counting, and autoradiography. At 2 days post-implantation, quantities of NGF in excess of 50 pg per section were detected within thick (1 mm) coronal slices of the hemisphere ipsilateral to the site of implantation up to 3 mm rostral and caudal to the edge of the polymer. Lower levels of radioactivity (> 5 pg but < 50 pg NGF per section) could be detected throughout the rest of the brain. Levels were highest in the tissue sections containing the polymer, reaching 9.5 ng per section. Autoradiography of thin (20 μm) coronal sections indicated that local NGF concentrations immediately adjacent to the polymer approached 40 μg/ml. Analysis of sequential sections on the autoradiograph confirmed that NGF was transported only 2–3 mm from the polymer in any direction. At one week post-implantation, the pattern of NGF distribution was similar to that seen at 2 days, and concentrations remained high near the site of the implant. Comparison of local NGF concentration profiles to simple models of diffusion with first-order elimination suggests that the NGF moved through the tissue by diffusion through the interstitial space with a half-life on the order of 0.5 h. The limited range of NGF transport in brain tissue indicates that: (i) protein drug agents such as NGF will probably need to be delivered almost directly to the site of action for efficacy; and (ii) toxicities associated with delivery of NGF and other protein agents to non-target cells, as often occurs with systemic delivery of drugs, may be reduced by local, interstitial delivery since therapy can be restricted to a small volume of the brain.
The structure of rosmariquinone — A new antioxidant isolated from Rosmarinus officinalis L.

A new diterpene, named rosmariquinone, was isolated from the leaves ofRosmarinus officinalis L. The leaves were first extracted using methanol and, upon further purification, this extract yielded rosmariquinone. Structure elucidation of the antioxidant was done using IR, MS,1H-NMR and13C-NMR.
Universality and Particularity: Reflections on Glicksman's Critique of the Study of Religion and Spirituality Among Older Persons

This article responds to Glicksman's critique that researchers studying older adults' religiousness and spirituality employ measuring instruments that fail to recognize the theological, cultural, and historical factors affecting scale development. Reflections on the ways psychologists of religion have conceptualized and measured intrinsic and extrinsic religiosity offers additional insight into the unacknowledged tacit assumptions underlying many research tools used to study religion, spirituality, and aging. Especially problematic are efforts to measure so-called universal aspects of religiousness and spirituality without reference to the particularities of religious traditions and spiritual practices.
Bromine Diffusion Through Nafion® Perfluorinated Ion Exchange Membranes

The diffusion coefficient of bromine through Nafion® perfluorinated ion exchange membranes has been determined as a function of the equivalent weight of the membrane, the membrane pretreatment, and the solute concentration. The measured voltage decay of bromine concentration cells is interpreted in terms of a simple mathematical model that takes into account the solution equilibrium between bromine, bromide, and tribromide ions followed by diffusion of bromine or tribromide ions through the membrane. Diffusion coefficients fall in the range of corresponding to bromine fluxes from or current densities from 0.3 to 10 mA/cm2. Bromine fluxes as a function of solute concentration are determined directly by quantitative cathodic reduction of bromine or tribromide after diffusion through the membrane.
Interstitial Waters of Recent Marine Muds Off Cape Cod.

Interstitial waters of Recent muds off Cape Cod have salinities higher than the present ocean water in the same location and p H values lower than normal sea water in equilibrium with the atmosphere. The salinities may be either "paleosalinities" or an effect produced by behavior of the clay-water system as a semipermeable membrane. The low p H values are due to higher pressures of CO2 in the sediment, probably coming from bacterial decomposition of organic matter.
Crystallite size effect in the selective oxidation of butene to butadiene on iron oxide. 2. Reaction studies

The selective oxidation of 1-butene to butadiene was studied over a series of silica-supported and unsupported iron oxide catalysts of average crystallize sizes ranging from 2.5 to 61 nm. The reaction was studied at 300, 350, and 375/sup 0/C under conditions that resulted in low conversions. The selectivity for butadiene ranged from about 80% to below 50%. In general, it was higher for catalysts of smaller crystallite sizes and lower for larger crystallite sizes. The areal rate appeared to have a small dependence on the crystallite size. However, this trend could be due to the fact that the iron oxide surface areas were calculated by using the average crystallite sizes, which did not properly account for the different crystallite size distributions. Possible explanations for the variation of selectivity with crystallize sizes were discussed.
The pros and cons of computing the h-index using Scopus

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to discuss the pros and cons of computing the h‐index using Scopus.Design/methodology/approach – The paper looks at the content features and the software capabilities of Scopus from the perspective of computing a reasonable h‐index for scholars.Findings – Although there are limitations in the content, and even in the mostly excellent, swift, powerful and innovative software of Scopus, it can produce a much more reliable and reproducible h‐index – at least for relatively junior researchers – than Google Scholar.Originality/value – The paper adds insight into computing the h‐index using Scopus.
Ethanol-induced alterations in EEG alpha activity and apparent source of the auditory P300 evoked response potential

The relationship among topographic brain electrical activity mapping, auditory-evoked response potentials (ERPs), plasma ethanol levels and subjective reports of intoxication was examined in 4 male volunteers. The source of the auditory P300 ERP (a measure of selective attention and memory encoding) was estimated using a recently developed computer program. The effect of ethanol on the P300 wave was studied using a standard oddball paradigm both with and without a concomitant divided attention task. Ethanol (0.7 g/kg) administration produced marked increases in EEG alpha activity during the ascending limb of the blood ethanol curve. Acute ethanol administration caused a delay in the latency and a reduction in the amplitude of the auditory P300 ERP. A similar effect on P300 topography was noted in waves that were affected by the tones while the subjects also listened to a story (divided attention). After ethanol, the source of the P300 wave appeared to have shifted to a position posterior and inferior to its original location. P300 ERP's generated during the divided attention task were also disrupted and shifted to positions inferior to their original. However, the variability of the dipole vector was much greater during the divided attention task than after ethanol administration. These data demonstrate that ethanol's effects on cognitive processing skills may be similar to those produced when individuals experience distractions while concentrating on a task.