cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reactions of Diazo Compounds and Chiral Rhenium Alkylidene Complexes of the Formula [(η5-C5H5)Re(NO)(PPh3)(CHR)]+ PF A Versatile and Highly Stereoselective Route to Alkene Complexes

The methylidene complex [(η5-C5H5)Re(NO)(PPh3)(CH2)]+ PF or the ReCD2 analog react with diazo compounds N2CHR [R H, Si(CH3)3, COPh, CO2C2H5] in CH2Cl2 at −80°C to give alkene complexes [(η5-C5H5)Re(NO)(PPh3)(η2-H2CCHR)]+ PF or D2CCHR analogs. The two ReC geometric isomers of benzylidene complex [(η5-C5H5)Re-(NO)(PPh3)(CHPh)]+ PF and CH2N2 react to give opposite configurational diastereomers of styrene complex [(η5-C5H5)Re(NO)(PPh3)(η2-H2CCHPh)]+ PF. Stereochemical features of these reactions are analyzed in detail, and are interpreted in terms of models involving (a) attack of the diazo compound upon the ReC face opposite to the bulky PPh3 ligand, (b) an antiperiplanar disposition of the ReC and CN2 bonds in the transition state, utilizing the diazo carbon face that minimizes interactions of the substitutent (R) and cyclopentadienyl ligand, and (c) N2 loss from the resulting intermediate [(η5-C5H5)Re(NO)(PPh3)(CHR′CHRN2)]+ PF via a conformer with antiperiplanar PReCHR′C and ReCHR′CHRN linkages, with anchimeric assistance of the rhenium fragment d orbital HOMO from the backside.
Surgical mystery: Where is the missing pituitary rongeur tip?

Study design Case report. Objective We report the unusual case of a patient who was referred to our institution after she sustained an intraoperative injury to the common iliac vein during posterior lumbar discectomy at L5-S1 with a pituitary rongeur. There was only minimal bleeding with spontaneous hemostasis and no hemodynamic instability. Subsequently, the referring surgeon noted that the pituitary rongeur tip was missing. Summary of background data Vascular injury during lumbar discectomy is a rare, but potentially devastating complication. Rapid diagnosis and treatment is traditionally targeted toward hemodynamic stabilization and repair of compromised structures. Methods Intraoperative fluoroscopy confirmed the presence of the tip anterior to the L3 vertebral body, indicating a possible intravascular migration of the foreign body. After completion of the surgical procedure, an abdominal computed tomography scan failed to confirm the metallic object within the abdominal cavity. Subsequent imaging studies demonstrated the presence of the rongeur tip in the left ventricle. Transthoracic echocardiogram and cardiac catheterization confirmed the presence of a patent foramen ovale and localized the rongeur tip within the papillary cords of the left ventricle, in close proximity of the mitral valve leaflets. Results After failure to retrieve the foreign object during cardiac catheterization, the patient underwent sternotomy, removal of foreign metallic object, and closure of patent foramen ovale. Conclusion Close multidisciplinary collaboration allowed for proper diagnosis and the safe retrieval of the missing rongeur tip from the left ventricle.
Asbestos-induced Pleural Fibrosis and Impaired Exercise Physiology

To further assess the clinical significance of asbestos-induced pleural fibrosis, we performed cardiopulmonary exercise testing in 90 subjects who were exposed to asbestos. Of the 82 subjects without an abnormal resperate exercise, 35 had normal pleura, 33 had circumscribed pleural plaques, and 14 had diffuse pleural thickening. Interstitial fibrosis (International Labor Organization [ILO].≥1/0) was present in 14 of 35 subjects with normal pleura, 13 of 33 subjects with circumscribed pleural plaques, and 2 of 14 subjects with diffuse pleural thickening. Although pleural fibrosis did not appear to be related to impaired respiratory function with exercise in our entire cohort, this finding was confounded by a higher proportion of interstitial fibrosis in subjects with normal pleura. In fact, among study subjects without asbestosis, significant decreases in gas exchange (higher VD/VT and increased alveolar-arterial oxygen pressure difference) were observed at maximal exercise among subjects with pleural fibrosis. Interestingly, neither a higher respiratory rate nor a lower VT/FVC ratio was observed among those with pleural fibrosis, suggesting that the mechanical effects of pleural fibrosis on the chest wall do not explain the increased VD/VT. Using multivariate analyses to control for potential confounders, regression models showed that pleural plaques (p=0.04) and diffuse pleural thickening (p=0.03) were independently associated with significant increases in dead space ventilation (VD/VT) with maximal exercise. These findings indicate that asbestos-induced pleural fibrosis is independently associated with decrements in gas exchange with maximal exercise and suggest that interstitial lung disease, not detected on the routine chest x-ray film, may be responsible for this abnormal response to exercise.
Cerebral preconditioning using cortical application of hypertonic salt solutions: Upregulation of mRNAs encoding inhibitors of inflammation

Previous studies have demonstrated that local application of hypertonic KCl or NaCl to the cerebral cortex induces tolerance to a subsequent episode of ischemia. The objective of the present study was to determine whether application of these salts increases the levels of mRNAs encoding inhibitors of inflammation. Hypertonic KCl or NaCl was applied for 2 h to the frontal cortex of Sprague-Dawley rats. After recovery periods up to 24 h, levels of selected mRNAs were measured in samples from frontal and parietal cortex using Northern blots. Application of hypertonic KCl caused a rapid and widespread increase in the levels of mRNA coding for tumor necrosis factor (TNF), tristetraprolin (TTP), suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 (SOCS3), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and a 24-h delayed induction of ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) mRNA. Application of hypertonic NaCl caused alterations in mRNA levels that were restricted to the frontal cortex. In this region, application of NaCl rapidly increased levels of mRNA encoding TNF, TTP, and SOCS3, but not BDNF, and caused a delayed induction of CNTF mRNA. These results raise the possibility that upregulation of inhibitors of inflammation after preconditioning may contribute to the induction of tolerance to ischemia.
Deformations and momentum-energy complexes

Let ℛ be a simply connected region of an Einstein-Riemann space that is filled by the trajectories of a time-oriented normal congruence K. The most general form of the momentum-energy tensor is determined under the assumption that we know the deformation of the metric tensor under transport along K. The time-like eigenvector and associated eigenvalue of this momentum-energy tensor are examined.
Culture wars in state education policy: a look at the relative treatment of evolutionary theory in state science standards

Objectives. Students of public policy have recognized that not all policies are completely or mostly shaped by socioeconomic factors. Some policies, known as morality policies, derive from the deeply held values and beliefs of effective participants in the policy-making process. To better understand this distinct policy category and where it exists, policy analysts must test for the impact of both socioeconomic forces and explanatory factors developed in morality politics theory (particularly religious contexts). This study attempts to explain differences in state science education standards with regard to stipulated instruction in evolutionary theory as morality policy. Methods. A cross-sectional study of the American states employing ordinary least squares and logistic regression analysis assesses the impact of popular evangelical adherence over the presence of evolution-friendly state science standards, ceteris paribus. Results. Socioeconomic factors inadequately explain the variation in state science standards. Furthermore, these standards are morality policies with clearly defined religious implications and are better explained by state religious divisions than by other cultural forces such as state ideological context. Conclusion. This study demonstrates that some policies have clear implications for religious beliefs and may represent a subcategory of morality policy. These kinds of policies are better explained by religious contexts than other political and cultural determinants of morality policies.
Primary ovarian pregnancy.

The objectives of this study were to determine how primary ovarian pregnancy was diagnosed and treated at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Taipei Taiwan Republic of China between 1980 and 2005 and whether pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) or intrauterine devices (IUDs) played a role in the occurrence of the reviewed ovarian pregnancies. Medical records were reviewed and 54 cases identified. The state of the data base as well as clinical course operative reports treatment results transvaginal ultrasonographic features for early diagnosis and possible relationship between primary ovarian pregnancy and the presence of PID or the use of an IUD were examined. The mean age of the 54 women identified as having been treated for an ovarian pregnancy was 30.4 years (range 21- 46 years). Of these 52 (96%) were suspected of having an ectopic pregnancy preoperatively. The preoperative diagnosis of ovarian pregnancy based on the observation of specific features on transvaginal ultrasonographic scanning was correctly made in 14 cases (26%). The specific sonographic features for preoperative diagnosis were the following: an empty uterus which was seen in all cases (100%); the presence of an ovarian cystic mass with internal echo seen in 8 cases (15%); a characteristic double hyperechogenic ring surrounding a small hypoechogenic field on sonographic evaluation of the ovary seen in 2 cases (4%); a visible gestational sac and fetal heart beat within the ovary seen in 4 cases (7%); and detection of fetal heart beat by transvaginal color Doppler sonography which occurred in 2 cases (4%). Only 13% of the patients were using an IUD and only 8 patients (15%) were found to have PID or pelvic adhesions on surgery. (excerpt)
Nodular fasciitis of the forehead.

Background. Nodular fasciitis is a benign, fibrohistiocytic tumor most commonly arising on the trunk. Histopathologically it can be misdiagnosed as a sarcoma. Objective. To describe a case of nodular fasciitis on the forehead and to review the clinical and histologic characteristics of the tumor. Methods. Case report and review of the literature. Results. Local excision to completely remove tumor has proven curative at 1 year of follow-up. Conclusion. Nodular fasciitis can be encountered on the head and neck and should be regarded as a benign tumor. Either minimal excision or even a “watch and wait” plan can be successful in treating this tumor.
Progression of eIF4e gene amplification and overexpression in benign and malignant tumors of the head and neck.

BACKGROUND The overexpression of eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) results in the up-regulation of gene products of mRNAs with long 5′ untranslated regions (5′ UTRs). The degree of gene amplification increases from the tumor free zone to the tumor core. This led the authors to hypothesize that the degree of eIF4E gene amplification and oncoprotein overexpression is progressive in the cells from normal head and neck tissue, to benign tumors, and eventually to invasive carcinomas (HNCA). METHODS Using competitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blot analysis, benign specimens from similar sites of 10 noncancer patients, 8 pleomorphic adenoma specimens, and 18 HNCA specimens were studied. DNA and protein extracts from each specimen were quantified for eIF4E gene copy number and level of eIF4E protein expression. RESULTS There was no detectable eIF4E gene amplification and oncoprotein overexpression in benign tissue from noncancer patients (1.1 ± 0.5 gene copy number [mean ± standard deviation] and 0.9 ± 0.5-fold protein elevation, respectively). Four of the eight pleomorphic adenomas analyzed showed eIF4E gene amplification of at least twofold, but none demonstrated protein elevation of any significance. In contrast, all HNCA specimens had detectable eIF4E gene amplification and protein overexpression. Furthermore, the mean degree of eIF4E gene amplification and overexpression was found to increase as cells from benign head and neck tissues (1.1 ± 0.5 and 0.9 ± 0.5), benign tumors (2.2 ± 1.3 and 1.02 ± 0.19), and HNCA (4.3 ± 1.2 and 15.5 ± 9.3) were compared. CONCLUSIONS Progressive eIF4E gene amplification and overexpression were detected when normal tissues, benign tumors, and HNCA were compared. The degree of gene amplification and overexpression is variable within each tissue category. However, progression to malignant phenotype appears to be associated with an increasing degree of eIF4E gene amplification and overexpression. Cancer 2000;88:2803–10. © 2000 American Cancer Society.
Propose but verify: fast mapping meets cross-situational word learning.

We report three eyetracking experiments that examine the learning procedure used by adults as they pair novel words and visually presented referents over a sequence of referentially ambiguous trials. Successful learning under such conditions has been argued to be the product of a learning procedure in which participants provisionally pair each novel word with several possible referents and use a statistical-associative learning mechanism to gradually converge on a single mapping across learning instances [e.g., Yu, C., & Smith, L. B. (2007). Rapid word learning under uncertainty via crosssituational statistics. Psychological Science, 18(5), 414–420]. We argue here that successful learning in this setting is instead the product of a one-trial procedure in which a single hypothesized word-referent pairing is retained across learning instances, abandoned only if the subsequent instance fails to confirm the pairing – more a ‘fast mapping’ procedure than a gradual statistical one. We provide experimental evidence for this propose-but-verify learning procedure via three experiments in which adult participants attempted to learn the meanings of nonce words cross-situationally under varying degrees of referential uncertainty. The findings, using both explicit (referent selection) and implicit (eye movement) measures, show that even in these artificial learning contexts, which are far simpler than those encountered by a language learner in a natural environment, participants do not retain multiple meaning hypotheses across learning instances. As we discuss, these findings challenge ‘gradualist’ accounts of word learning and are consistent with the known rapid course of vocabulary learning in a first language.
Pretargeting with amplification using polymeric peptide nucleic acid.

One goal of this investigation was to develop a polymer conjugated with multiple copies of peptide nucleic acid (PNA) and with pharmacokinetic properties suitable for applications in vivo. The second goal was to establish whether the multiple copies of PNA on the polymer could be targeted by hybridization in vitro and in vivo with 99mTc-labeled complementary PNA (cPNA). If successful, this approach could then be considered in further investigations as an alternative to existing pretargeting approaches because of the potential for signal amplification in the target. A 80 KDa poly(methyl vinyl ether-alt-maleic acid) (PA) polymer was conjugated with multiple copies of PNA and with multiple copies of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) by reacting the NHS derivative of PA with the amine derivatives of PNA and PEG. Using 99mTc-MAG3-cPNA, targeting of PNA-PA-PEG was studied in vitro and in vivo in inflammation and tumor mouse models, in both cases relying upon nonspecific diffusion for localization. In addition, cPNA-a...
Subcellular compartmentalization of cAMP-dependent protein kinase regulatory subunits during palate ontogeny

Mammalian palatal ontogeny involves epithelial-mesenchymal interactions, cell differentiation, and cell movements. These events occur on days 12, 13, and 14 of gestation in the C57BL/6J mouse embryo. During this period intracellular cAMP levels and cAMP-dependent protein kinase (cAMP-dPK) levels in the palate transiently elevate. Cyclic AMP activates cAMP-dPK by binding primarily to two types of regulatory subunits of this enzyme, designated as RI and RII. To assess whether differential compartmentalization of the regulatory subunits occurs during palatal ontogeny, cytosolic, nuclear, and particulate fractions were prepared from day 12, 13, and 14 embryonic maxillary and palatal tissue. After photo-affinity labeling of each fraction with 8-azido [32P] cAMP, SDS-PAGE, and autoradiography, autoradiograms were analyzed densitometrically. The RI isoform predominated in the nuclear and particulate fractions on all three developmental days; whereas RII predominated in the cytosolic fractions. Thus, differential compartmentalization of cAMP-dPK may be a means by which cAMP dependent responses are regulated during palatogenesis.
Vitamin B12 unsaturated binding capacity of sera from various animals.

SummaryThe vitamin. B12 unsaturated binding capacity (UBBC) of sera from various animals ranged from 0.29 mμg/ml for king crab serum to 6956 mμg/ml for chinook salmon serum. Although exceptions occur, the UBBC of sera from animals with nucleated erythrocytes is higher than that of mammalian sera. The binding capacity for Co60 - dimethylbenzimidazolyl cobamide cyanide (cyanocobalamin) and Co60 dimethylbenzimidazolyl cobamide coenzyme (DMBC) was the same, suggesting that cobalt ligands may not be involved in binding.
Quantile function models for quantal response analysis

The usual analysis of quantal response data occurring in diverse fields such as economics, medicine, psychology and toxicology use probit and logit models or their extensions with generalized least squares or the principle of likelihood as the method of statistical inference. The symmetric alternative models lead to practically comparable results and the choice of model or method is determined by considerations of familiarity and computational convenience. Recent attempts at improvement involve larger parametric families of tolerance distributions and employ the method of maximum likelihood in analysis. In this paper we consider models with the tolerance distributions based upon the Tukey-lambda distributions which are described in terms of their quantile functions. The likelihood methods for fitting the models and testing their adequacies are developed and illustrated using classical data due to BLISS (1935) and ASHFORD and SMITH (1964).
Self-Made Predictions of Academic Success : A Further Study

AbstractA standard self-prediction measure was examined for its ability to predict college performance. The College Opinion Survey (COS) was found to have high factorial validity and reliability, and was also highly related to high school GPA and ACT composite scores. However, regression analysis demonstrated the COS to contribute less than eight-hundredths of a percent to the total variance accounted for by other measures (r = .22, p <.01). In addition, COS was unrelated to either expected or actual college performance. Specific recommendations were made for the use of self-prediction measures in programs not related to admissions.
A pharmacogenetic model of naltrexone-induced attenuation of alcohol consumption in rhesus monkeys.

Abstract Background Variation at the human μ-opioid receptor has been associated with alcohol abuse. The A118G (N40D) polymorphism in humans is functionally mimicked by the C77G (P26R) polymorphism in rhesus monkeys; both show similar in vitro influences on ligand binding and in vivo correlations with physiological measures as well as behavioral measures including predilection towards alcohol consumption. Naltrexone, an antagonist at the receptor, has been used to treat alcoholism in humans and has been reported to show differences in effectiveness depending on genotype. Methods Here we describe a study in which we a priori selected rhesus monkeys based on genotype at the OPRM1 C77G single nucleotide polymorphism, trained them to self-administer alcohol, and assessed naltrexone responsiveness. Results Alcohol intake in rhesus monkeys varied with genotype across a range of alcohol concentrations (0.5–4%, w/v) such that animals with the G/G genotype drank consistently more alcohol than those animals with the C/C genotype. Additionally, naltrexone attenuated alcohol drinking in a dose- and genotype-dependent manner. Animals harboring the G/G genotype were more sensitive to the effects of naltrexone and showed greater reductions in alcohol consumption at lower naltrexone doses compared to animals with a C/G or C/C genotype. Conclusions This preliminary study demonstrates a pharmacogenomic response to naltrexone in rhesus monkeys that parallels that seen in humans. This finding provides a basis for developing a pharmacogenetic animal model for naltrexone effect that can expand further our understanding of the causes and treatments of alcohol use disorders.
IONIZATION STATE DISTRIBUTION AND RADIATIVE COOLING RATE FOR ARGON IN A LOW-DENSITY PLASMA*

Abstract This paper presents the coronal ionization state distribution for argon. The calculations include ab initio rate coefficients for collisional excitation followed by autoionization (EA), and rates for direct ionization and dielectronic and radiative recombination. The EA rate coefficients have been fitted to analytical expressions, and the fitting coefficients are tabulated. The paper then presents the calculated radiative cooling coefficient for argon ions in a low-density plasma as a function of temperature. The channels for power loss from argon ions include collisional-radiative (CR) line emission, dielectronic and radiative recombination, and bremsstrahlung emission. The power emitted via CR line emission for each ion is tabulated on a grid of temperatures and densities. The total power loss coefficient is fitted to an analytical expression in powers of the temperature.
Antenatal sexually transmitted infection screening in private and indigent clinics in a community hospital system

Objective To determine whether clinics that serve indigent patients demonstrate equal compliance with sexually transmitted infection testing guidelines when compared with private clinics. Study Design One hundred eighty-three women were divided into cohorts based on whether they received prenatal care at a private or indigent clinic. Timing of required antenatal sexually transmitted infection screening was collected for 8 tests and compliance scores were calculated. Primary outcome was average compliance score compared between clinic types. Secondary outcomes included disease-specific compliance and percent of perfect compliance at different office types. Results Compliance was found to be different between clinic types ( P = .023). Indigent clinics had the same median with slightly higher inner-quartile range than private clinics (7 [7–8], 7 [7–7]). Indigent clinics had higher mean compliance scores (7.1 vs 6.9) and a greater percentage of patients demonstrating perfect compliance (42% vs 14%, P Conclusion Clinics serving indigent patient populations had a higher compliance with required testing compared to private clinics. HIV testing in the third trimester remains the greatest need for improvement for all practice types.
Dynamic deformation of aluminium and copper at elevated temperatures

Abstract T he mechanical behaviour of two annealed face-centred cubic metals, aluminium and copper, at elevated temperatures has been investigated experimentally to determine their rate sensitivity. The results indicate that hot compression is a thermally-activated process. The experimental value of the activation energy for aluminium obtained from the present work is almost similar to that for creep and self-diffusion. This indicates that hot dynamic compression may be a diffusion-controlled thermally-activated process. However, the experimental activation energy of 74 kcal/mole obtained from the present work for copper is higher than that observed both for creep and self-diffusion. Experimental evidence (D. Hardwick and W.J. McG. Tegart in 1961) suggests that recrystallization is the rate-controlling process in dynamic deformation, while in creep it is usually recovery in the form of sub-grain formation. For aluminium specimens the dislocation density decreases with increasing temperature; for increasing strain rate the dislocation density remains almost constant, while the size of dislocation cells diminishes. If the dislocation density did not change substantially, one should conclude (as did L. Taborský in 1969) that the rise in flow stress caused by high strain rate is due to the reduction of the size of dislocation cell structure and by the increased rate of movement of the moving individual dislocations.
Scaling of Fe‐26Cr Alloys at 870°–1200°C

The oxide layers formed on Fe‐26Cr alloy are wrinkled, porous, and blistered, and the metal/oxide interface markedly roughened. This is interpreted as evidence that compressive stresses are generated continuously in the growing oxide, hence that anion diffusion participates in the growth process. Smooth oxidation curves are observed if the wrinkled scale is adherent, even though non‐uniform. However, when blistering and cracking occurs, as with electropolished specimens, the weight‐gain/time curves are irregular. Similar irregularities occur wih Fe‐26Cr‐0.5 Si, Fe‐26Cr‐1Mn, type 446 and pure Cr. Manganese decreases oxidation resistance.
Geologic controls on movement of produced-water releases at US geological survey research Site A, Skiatook lake, Osage county, Oklahoma

Abstract Highly saline produced water was released from multiple sources during oil field operations from 1913 to 1973 at the USGS research Site A on Skiatook Lake in northeastern Oklahoma. Two pits, designed to hold produced water and oil, were major sources for release of these fluids at the site. Produced water spills from these and other features moved downslope following topography and downdip by percolating through permeable eolian sand and colluvium, underlying permeable sandstone, and, to a lesser extent, through shales and mudstones. Saline water penetrated progressively deeper units as it moved through the gently dipping bedrock to the north and NW. A large eroded salt scar north of the pits coincides with underlying fine-grained rocks that have retained substantial concentrations of salt, causing slow revegetation. Where not eroded, thick eolian sand or permeable sandstone bedrock is near the surface, and vegetation has been little affected or has reestablished itself after the introduced salt was flushed by precipitation. The extent of salt-contaminated bedrock extends well beyond existing surface salt scars. These results indicate that one of the legacies of surface salt spills can be a volume of subsurface salinization larger than the visible surface disturbance.
A case for while-until

A new control structure construct, the while-until, is introduced as a syntactic combination of the while and the until. Examples are shown indicating that use of the while-until can lead to structured programs that are conceptually more manageable than those attainable without it. The while-until statement is then extended to a valuereturning expression which is shown to be more powerful than either the while or the until.
''Bouncing'' of simple cosmological models with torsion

Abstract The known cosmological solutions of the Einstein-Cartan-Sciama-Kibble (ECSK) field equations are reviewed. The prevention of singularities is explained by means of the extension of the Hawking-Penrose singularity theorems to the ECSK theory. Singularity prevention in semiclassical “spinning dust” models derives from the postulated form of the canonical energy-momentum and spin angular momentum tensors for the matter distribution. The effects of shear, vorticity, and pressure are examined. The singularity behavior of cosmological models incorporating the Dirac field as the source of the metric and torsion is discussed. In these models one finds an enhancement, rather than a prevention of singularity formation. Finally, the consequences of spin and torsion for observational cosmology and for particle creation in the early universe are noted.
Fertility sparing therapy for ovarian cancer has inherent risks and benefits.

Introduction: Fertility sparing therapy for epithelial ovarian cancer has been suggested for well-selected patients with early stage disease. The overall recurrence rate of 10% and 5-year disease free survival greater than 90% is similar in conservative and traditional surgical management of epithelial ovarian cancer. Thus, conservative approaches may be considered in young women diagnosed with FIGO stage I cancer who wish to preserve reproductive function. Subsequent use of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) may facilitate production of biologic offspring in these cancer survivors. However, each candidate requires unique consideration by subspecialists to avoid potentially fatal management errors. Case report: We present two cases in which fertility sparing therapy for early stage epithelial ovarian cancer was considered. The first case delineates the comprehensive work-up required to identify candidates for this therapy, while the second case illustrates the successful application of a fertility sparing approach. Discussion: The conservative management of early epithelial ovarian cancer and use of ART to obtain offspring are reviewed.
Noise Correction and Length Scale Estimation for Scalar Dissipation Rate Measurements in Turbulent Partially Premixed Flames

A recently developed conditional sampling-based method for correcting noise effects in scalar dissipation rate measurements and for estimating the extent of resolution of the dissipation rate is employed to analyze the data obtained in turbulent partially premixed (Sandia) flames. The method uses conditional sampling to select instantaneous fully resolved local scalar fields, which are analyzed to determine the measurement noise and to correct the Favre mean, conditional, and conditionally filtered dissipation rates. The potentially under-resolved local scalar fields, also selected using conditional sampling, are corrected for noise and are analyzed to examine the extent of resolution. The error function is used as a model for the potentially under-resolved local scalar to evaluate the scalar dissipation length scales and the percentage of the dissipation resolved. The results show that the Favre mean dissipation rate, the mean dissipation rate conditional on the mixture fraction, and dissipation rate filtered conditionally on the mixture fraction generally are well resolved in the flames. Analyses of the dissipation rates filtered conditionally on the mixture fraction and temperature show that the length scale increases with temperature, due to lower dissipation rate and higher diffusivity. The dissipation rate is well resolved for temperatures above 1,300 K but is less resolved at lower temperatures, although the probability of very low temperature events is low. To fully resolve these rare events the sample spacing needs to be reduced by approximately one half. The present study further demonstrates the effectiveness of the new noise correction and length scale estimation method.
Increased Levels of Retinol Binding Protein 4 in Patients With Advanced Heart Failure Correct After Hemodynamic Improvement Through Ventricular Assist Device Placement

BACKGROUND Chronic heart failure is associated with higher risk for developing diabetes mellitus. Secretory products from adipocytes may contribute to the deterioration in glycemic control and increased insulin resistance (IR). Retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4) is an adipose tissue-derived protein with pro-diabetogenic effects. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship of RBP4 in patients with heart failure. METHODS AND RESULTS Serum levels of RBP4, insulin, and fasting glucose were assessed in 58 patients with severe heart failure at the time of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation and in 44 patients at the time of explantation, as well as in 10 normal control subjects. Serum RBP4 levels were measured by specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and IR was assessed using the homeostatic model of IR (HOMA-IR). Fasting glucose, insulin and HOMA-IR were significantly higher in patients at the time of LVAD implantation compared to controls (all P<0.01). RBP-4 and HOMA-IR significantly decreased after LVAD implantation (21.7 ± 8.8 mg/dl to 16.0 ± 3.8 mg/dl, P<0.05; 4.2 ± 2.7 to 2.5 ± 2.0, P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS Patients with advanced heart failure have increased levels of RBP4, and LVAD implantation reduces RBP4. These findings implicate RBP4 in the cascade of reversible metabolic derangements in advanced heart failure.
Demand Revelation, Hypothetical Bias, and Threshold Public Goods Provision

We examine the issues of hypothetical bias, demand revelation, and gender differences in a threshold public goods experiment with heterogeneous induced-values. First, we find no evidence of hypothetical bias in our threshold provision public goods experiments, despite the fact this is an open-ended type mechanism. Our results support recent experimental findings that use induced-values to investigate hypothetical bias. Second, we investigate the demand revealing performance of real and hypothetical payments and find no evidence that real payment performs better than hypothetical payment in our experiments. Third, we examine whether payments, real and hypothetical, are positively related to induced-values. Our results suggest there is statistical evidence that payments are positively related to true values. Finally, we examine the effect of gender on real and hypothetical payments in our experiment. The results show that gender matters for contributions through both real and hypothetical payments, after controlling for true values as well as socio-economic variables. Results also indicate that females are more likely to truthfully reveal their value than males through hypothetical payments, but gender is not significant for truthfully revealing their value through real payments.
Series Introduction: Stimulation and inhibition of immune responses: an intricate balancing act

Development of the adaptive immune system and activation of mature effector lymphocytes require an intricate balance of stimulatory and inhibitory forces. Indeed, as the articles in this Perspective series make clear, the immune system’s balancing act must take place simultaneously and in a dynamic manner at multiple levels.
Acetylcholine induces vasoconstriction in the microcirculation of cardiomyopathic hamsters: Reversal by L-arginine

The goal of this study was to determine whether endothelium-dependent responses of the microcirculation are altered during cardiomyopathy. We examined in vivo responses of cheek pouch arterioles to an endothelium-dependent agonist (acetylcholine) and an endothelium-independent agonist (nitroglycerin) in normal and in cardiomyopathic hamsters. In normal hamsters, acetylcholine produced dose-related dilatation of arterioles. In contrast, acetylcholine produced constriction of arterioles in cardiomyopathic hamsters. Nitroglycerin produced similar dose-related dilatation in normal and cardiomyopathic hamsters. We also examined whether impaired responses to acetylcholine in cardiomyopathic hamsters were related to an alteration in the L-arginine/nitric oxide pathway. We found that L-arginine (100 μM) restored endotheliumdependent vasodilatation to acetylcholine in cardiomyopathic hamsters. Thus, cardiomyopathy impairs endothelium-dependent responses of the microcirculation which is reversed by L-arginine.
Permeability to water and sodium of the crocodilian, Caiman sclerops

In freshwater the caiman gains water at the rate of 3.5 ml/kg hr or 1.1 μl/cm2 hr. Of this 70% is the result of uptake through the skin, the rest being due to drinking. This gain in water is excreted by the kidneys as a hypotonic urine. Urine sodium losses are reduced by active sodium uptake from the urine during storage for 3 to 4 hours in the cloaca. In vitro and in vivo experiments indicate that the skin is somewhat permeable to sodium, which moves along concentration gradients. In air the caiman loses water by evaporation (1.2 μl/cm2 hr). About 75% of this takes place from the skin. In 3.3% NaCl solution caimans show elevated serum sodium concentrations and 20% of them die within 24 hours. The sodium accumulation is mostly due to drinking (4.4% of the body weight/day), and only to a minor extent to osmotic water loss through the skin (2.5% of the body weight/day or 0.6 μl/cm2 hr). The permeability of the caiman is compared to that of fishes, Amphibia and other reptiles.
What makes community reinvestment act agreements work? A study of lender responses

Abstract One response to the incentives provided by the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 (CRA) has been for lenders and community groups to enter into CRA agreements, which involve pledges to provide prescribed levels of service to targeted neighborhoods. This article examines whether lenders actually change their behavior after entering into these agreements. Using data on CRA agreements and on mortgage lending, we find that institutions increase their lending activity with each year an agreement is in force and that increased lending persists after an agreement expires. Additional analysis shows that agreements that include provisions for mortgage counseling and technical assistance are associated with increased targeted lending. By contrast, agreements with provisions requiring small business counseling and technical assistance and periodic meetings by review committees are associated with somewhat depressed lending levels. Further research is needed to draw definitive implications from this second s...
Introduction to the Special Issue: Innovative Approaches to the Study of Identity

With the appearance of the current issue, I am beginning my fourth year of screening submissions, conducting the peer review process, and editing accepted manuscripts for Identity: An International...
On some implications of a bifurcation phenomenon of friction

Abstract The present experiments show that adhesion can occur without shear strains, which Anderson 4 has found necessary for adhesion of gold ball on flat surfaces under most circumstances. Moreover, adhesion may or may not be the predominant factor in friction while Anderson's experiment indicated the all-importance of adhesion in friction.
The concept and measure of agricultural intensity

Analyses of agricultural growth in subsistence economies may be facilitated if agricultural intensity is viewed in terms of the concentration of production or yield per unit area and time. This view of agricultural intensity is implicit in many growth arguments and is consistent with their purpose. Limited production data from various subsistence economies necessitate the use of a surrogate measure of intensity that is based on a variety of input factors.
Heat transfer and population characteristics of dispersed evaporating droplets

The direct-contact heat transfer to a dispersed population of immiscible evaporating droplets is analyzed. Also studied is a population balance formulation for the distribution of two-phase bubbles, which is similar to that utilized in particle and droplet dispersion analysis and is capable of including bubble coalescence and break-up. It is shown that the method of classes is useful particularly in solving such problems when the growth functions are size- and time-dependent and nonquadratic. The method is applied to a liquid cool-down, representing the initial chilling stage of a direct-contact batch crystallizer or cold-storage unit wherein a vessel containing a liquid is chilled by injecting a dispersion of refrigerant droplets. Transient bubble population characteristics, volumetric heat transfer coefficient, total heat transfer, and liquid temperature are predicted, along with the liquid refrigerant holdup.
Assessing the temporal stability of the population/environment relationship in comparative perspective: a cross-national panel study of carbon dioxide emissions, 1960–2005

This study examines the temporal stability of the population/environment relationship. We analyze panel data from 1960 to 2005 to determine whether the national-level association between population and carbon dioxide emissions has remained stable, declined, or intensified in recent decades. Results indicate that population size has a large and stable positive association with anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions. The findings of temporal stability generally hold for both developed countries and less-developed countries. The authors conclude that population, in tandem with other social drivers, remains an important consideration for research that addresses the human dimensions of global environmental change.
Static analysis: an aid to program maintenance and development

The application of a static code analysis tool to program development and maintenance in the Common Lisp Framework (CLF) environment is considered. CLF is described briefly, with the bulk of the discussion being devoted to the structure of the code analyzer, the activities it supports, and its integration into programming activities. Applications being investigated are discussed. >
Selection of diquat resistance photosynthesis mutants from maize.

Resistance of a seedling to the herbicide 1,1′-ethylene-2,2′-dipyridylium bromide (diquat) can be used as a selective technique for photosynthesis mutants in Zea mays L. Diquat requires reduction by the light reaction in order to kill leaf cells and, therefore, nonphotosynthetic mutants survive. This technique was tested using known mutants and is applicable to larger samples of plants than previous techniques. Resistance to diquat should allow selection of mutants on the oxidizing side of photosystem II which are not previously available in higher plants.
Market Segmentation, Self-Selection, and Product Line Design

The purpose of this paper is to develop a theory of market segmentation based on consumer self-selection. The extant theory is based on the third-degree price discrimination model of Pigou, central assumptions of which are that the firm can directly address individual segments and isolate them. By using consumer self-selection, I am relaxing these assumptions. In the context of a monopolist designing a product line, I show that this relaxation has significant implications for how the products and prices are chosen and what they look like. In particular, segments may be aggregated even though there are no economies of scale. Furthermore, consumer self-selection enables us to model “cannibalization” and competition among firms.
Effects of Hand-Tool Coupling Conditions on the Isolation Effectiveness of Air Bladder Anti-Vibration Gloves

The goals of this study were to determine the vibration isolation effectiveness of a typical (air bladder) anti-vibration glove as a function of vibration frequency, and to investigate the effects of hand-tool coupling action and applied force level on the effectiveness. Six male volunteers were used in the study. A palm adapter method similar to that recommended in the current ISO standard for anti-vibration glove testing (ISO-10819, 1996) was used to measure the transmissibility of the glove. Three different handgrip actions (grip-only, push-only and combined grip and push), three force levels (50, 75 and 100 N), and a broad-band random spectrum were used in the experiment. This study found that the effectiveness of the glove generally increased with an increase in vibration frequency, while the glove did not provide any effective vibration isolation at frequencies less than or equal to 25 Hz. Under the same force level, the push-only action produced the greatest vibration attenuation while the grip-onl...
THE ROLE OF ECTOMYCORRHIZAS IN DROUGHT TOLERANCE OF DOUGLAS‐FIR SEEDLINGS *

SUMMARY Experiments were conducted to test the relative ability of mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal Douglas-fir [Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco] seedlings to tolerate and recover from drought conditions, using reduction in CO2 fixation as an overall indicator of plant moisture stress. Seedlings were watered daily or conditioned to cyclic drying and re-wetting of the soil. Net photosynthetic rates of mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal seedlings watered daily did not differ significantly; however, drought-stressed mycorrhizal seedlings fixed CO2 at a rate ten times that of non-mycorrhizal seedlings. Total leaf water potentials of mycorrhizal plants were lower (more negative) than those of non-mycorrhizal plants but they recovered more rapidly. Non-mycorrhizal seedlings and seedlings inoculated with four ectomycorrhizal fungus species were allowed to become desiccated, then were rewatered and compared for their ability to tolerate and recover from drought. Seedlings inoculated with Rhizopogon vinicolor were less affected by drought than any of the other mycorrhizal or non-mycorrhizal treatments. Net photosynthetic rate of Rhizopogon-inoculated seedlings 24 h following re-watering was seven times that of non-mycorrhizal seedlings. The transpiration rate of Rhizopogon-inoculated seedlings was low before desiccation, declined rapidly during the drought period and, after re-watering, quickly resumed a rate higher than that for other treatments.
An analysis of the natural history of Peyronie's disease.

Purpose: Little information exists on the natural history of PD. We defined the course of PD in a group of men with this condition who received no treatment.Materials and Methods: The study population comprised patients with PD who presented within 6 months of disease onset, had no medical treatment and were followed until at least 12 months after disease onset. At baseline and followup penile abnormality was determined following intracavernous injection and by measurement at maximum penile rigidity.Results: A total of 246 patients met inclusion criteria. At presentation mean age ± SD was 52 ± 22 years and the duration of PD was 3.5 ± 1.5 months. At baseline in men with documented curvature 72% had dorsal, 17% had ventral and 11% had lateral curvature. Mean curvature at baseline was 42 ± 22 degrees. Mean stretched flaccid penile length was 12.2 cm. The mean duration of PD at the followup assessment was 18 ± 7 months. At followup stretched flaccid length had decreased to 11.4 cm (p = 0.035). Of the patient...
Polymerase Chain Reaction in the Diagnosis of Respiratory Tract Infections

For many years, the cornerstone of the diagnostic armamentarium for respiratory infections has been culture, whether for bacteria, mycobacteria, fungi, or viruses. Relatively more recently, adjunctive tests, such as antibody-based detection of microbial antigens in sptum, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and other biological specimens, have also been applied [1]. The limitations of these techniques for sensitive and specific diagnosis of upper and lower respiratory tract infections are well known. For example, many series have demonstrated that, despite extensive laboratory investigation, only about 50% of cases of community-acquired pneumonia can be ascribed to a specific pathogen [2, 3]. For this reason, the evolution of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as a potential diagnostic tool in clinical medicine has been followed with great interest by those in pulmonary medicine [4]. Potentially, PCR offers unmatched diagnostic sensitivity and specificity: this technique can create millions of identical copies of unique DNA sequences from a single template (a single bacteria or virus, for example) in only a few hours.