cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ampacity calculations for mixed underground cable systems in the same ductbank

The steady state ampacity is calculated for mixed electric power underground cable circuits in a single trench or ductbank. The methodology presented in this paper can be applied to any practical number of balanced, three phase circuits (each in trefoil, pipe or conduit) of different voltage classes, cable sizes, load currents and cable systems located anywhere within a single trench or ductbank. The different thermal resistivities of the backfill or ductbank and the surrounding soil are taken into consideration. A practical example for 10 circuits in a trench is provided. >
Broad new OS research: challenges and opportunities

Contemporary software systems are beset by problems that create challenges and opportunities for broad new OS research. To illustrate, we describe five areas where broad OS research could significantly improve the current user experience. These areas are dependability, security, system configuration, system extension, and multi-processor programming. In each area we explore how contemporary systems fall short. Where we have thought of possible solutions, we offer directions for future research. To prove our point that opportunities for new OS research exist, we describe Singularity, a research project at Microsoft Research. Singularity is a new operating system designed to explore solutions to four of the challenges we have identified. Singularity incorporates three specific design decisions in order to increase system dependability and improve system security, configuration, and extension. These design decisions include the adoption of an abstract instruction set as part of the system binary interface, a unified extension architecture for both the OS and applications, and a first-class application abstraction.
The National Ignition Facility: The World's Largest Laser

The National Ignition Facility (NIF) is a 192-beam laser facility presently under construction at LLNL. When completed, NIF will be a 1.8-MJ, 500-TW ultraviolet laser system. Its missions are to obtain fusion ignition and to perform high energy density experiments in support of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile. Four of the NIF beams have been commissioned to demonstrate laser performance including target and beam alignment. During this time, NIF demonstrated on a single-beam basis that it will meet its performance goals and demonstrated its precision and flexibility for pulse shaping, pointing, timing and beam conditioning. It also performed four important experiments for inertial confinement fusion and high energy density science. Presently, the project is installing production hardware to complete the project in 2009 with the goal to begin ignition experiments in 2010. An integrated plan has been developed including the NIF operations, user equipment such as diagnostics and cryogenic target capability, and experiments and calculations to meet this goal
Use of Angular-Momentum Tensors

The properties of tensor representations are developed for application to angular-momentum problems in elementary-particle reactions.
7S Domain Constitutes the Amino-Terminal End of Type IV Collagen: an Immunochemical Study

Abstract The collagenous material from bovine kidney cortex was prepared by pepsin digestion of cortex homogenates. The 7S collagen was isolated after bacterial collagenase digestion of collagenous basement membrane material and was further purified by molecular sieve and ion exchange chromatography. The antibodies were raised in rabbits against a purified 7S collagen preparation. The pepsinderived collagenous fragments α1(IV)130K, 95K and α2(IV)120K prepared from bovine cortex were tested for their cross-reactivity with the antiserum. The fragment α1(IV)130K was found to be significantly cross-reactive. The results show the presence of common structural antigenic determinants between 7S collagen and α1(IV)130K fragment, thus indicating that 7S collagen is located at the aminoterminal end of type IV collagen.
Testing Group Differences in Brain Functional Connectivity: Using Correlations or Partial Correlations?

Abstract Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging allows one to study brain functional connectivity, partly motivated by evidence that patients with complex disorders, such as Alzheimer'...
Characterization of SiC epilayers using high-resolution X-ray diffraction and synchrotron topography imaging

High-resolution X-ray diffraction is one of the most powerful and widely used techniques for accurate characterization of the lattice parameters, mismatch, alloy composition, dopant concentrations, and thickness of epitaxial materials. In this presentation, we use a series of advanced X-ray diffraction techniques, including double-axis diffraction, triple-axis diffraction, reciprocal space mapping (RSM), and synchrotron white beam X-ray topography, to characterize highly nitrogen-doped homoepitaxial 4H-SiC epilayers. Measurements reported in this work have determined that in single crystal 4H-SiC, increasing the nitrogen doping level above 4 × 1017 cm#x2212;3 results in corresponding increase in lattice contraction. The increase in epilayer/mismatch mismatch with doping, and the corresponding strain energy, is attributed to the substitutional nitrogen incorporated preferentially in the host carbon sites of the 4H-SiC epilayer. Also, significant lattice tilts, generally along the [1120] offcut direction (8°), exist, which are believed to be induced by the Nagai epitaxial tilt.
Perturbation theory in large order

For many quantum mechanical models, the behavior of perturbation theory in large order is strikingly simple. For example, in the quantum anharmonic oscillator, which is defined by -y'' + (x/sup 2//4 + ex/sup 4//4 - E) y = 0, y ( +- infinity) = 0, the perturbation coefficients, A/sub n/, in the expansion for the ground-state energy, E(ground state) approx. EPSILON/sub n = 0//sup infinity/ A/sub n/epsilon/sup n/, simplify dramatically as n ..-->.. infinity: A/sub n/ approx. (6/..pi../sup 3/)/sup 1/2/(-3)/sup n/GAMMA(n + 1/2). Methods of applied mathematics are used to investigate the nature of perturbation theory in quantum mechanics and show that its large-order behavior is determined by the semiclassical content of the theory. In quantum field theory the perturbation coefficients are computed by summing Feynman graphs. A statistical procedure in a simple lambda phi/sup 4/ model for summing the set of all graphs as the number of vertices ..-->.. infinity is presented. Finally, the connection between the large-order behavior of perturbation theory in quantum electrodynamics and the value of ..cap alpha.., the charge on the electron, is discussed. 7 figures.
Bifurcation asymmetry of the porcine coronary vasculature and its implications on coronary flow heterogeneity.

The branching pattern of the coronary arteries and veins is asymmetric, i.e., many small vessels branch off of a large trunk such that the two daughter vessels at a bifurcation are of unequal diame...
Acceptability to patients of a home hospital

OBJECTIVE: To examine the acceptability to older patients of receiving care in the home for acute medical conditions that require hospital level care by current standards. DESIGN: Interviews with patients during hospitalization regarding their views of a hypothetical “home hospital.” PARTICIPANTS: Patients (n = 87) admitted to a community-based academic medical center with a primary diagnosis of pneumonia, congestive heart failure, or chronic obstructive airway disease, their nurses (n = 111), and resident physicians (67). MEASUREMENTS: A questionnaire was developed to measure several domains of acceptability and expectations for care. RESULTS: A majority of patients agreed that treatment in a home hospital would be more comfortable compared with treatment in a hospital (78.5%), would be less likely to result in an infection (62.5%), and would not be a burden to their family (71.8%). There was less certainty that medical care at home can be as good as in the hospital (56.9%). Nearly three-quarters (72.3%) of patients would choose home hospital if it were available. CONCLUSION: Patients may be ready to accept home hospital as an alternative for acute care. The acceptability of home hospital to acutely ill older patients is a critical factor in the development of this alternative for care and has the potential for improving satisfaction with care, reducing complications, hastening return to function, and, possibly, of lowering costs of care. J Am Geriatr Soc 46:605–609, 1998.
Government Payments and the Distribution of Income in Agriculture

ARM programs in the United States have long had the improvement of farm income as their professed goal. Explicit or implied in this goal has been the desire to adopt those farm policies that improve the income of low income farmers. In fact, Congress and farm organizations continue to use this justification for our farm legislation. However, recent publicity about extremely large payments to some producers and very small payments to others has caused many to question whether our farm programs have been an effective means of maintaining minimum farm income standards. It is the purpose of this paper to analyze the distributive effects of our agricultural programs and examine whether government payments have increased or reduced the inequality in the distribution of income in agriculture over the past few years.'
A planar Mie scattering technique for visualizing supersonic mixing flows

A planar Mie scattering technique is described which allows for the direct visualization of fluid mixing in supersonic flows. The mixed fluid is visualized by laser light sheet scattering from small alcohol droplets which condense as a result of the mixing of a vapor laden subsonic stream with a cold supersonic stream. Issues related to the formation, growth and size of the droplets are addressed. The technique reveals details of the turbulent structure which are masked by the spatial integration of schlieren and shadowgraph methods. Comparative visualizations using the vapor screen method to uniformly mark the high-speed fluid are also shown.
Maximizing hydroaromatics yield using H2S inhibition

Abstract Hydroaromatic compounds are important hydrogen donor species in coal liquefaction solvents. These compounds generally appear as intermediates in series hydrogenation reaction pathways. It is suggested that regulation of H2S concentration provides an additional process variable for maximizing the concentration of these species, due to its inhibiting effect on hydrogenation rates. This effect is verified by high pressure batch hydrogenation experiments for the naphthalene-tetralin-decalin system.
Photo-enhanced catalytic decomposition of isopropanol on V2O5

The effect of UV-visible photo irradiation has been investigated on the decomposition of isopropanol over V2O5. A ∼ 2.5-fold photo-enhancement in the rate of the dehydration (-H2O) reaction was observed under UV-visible photo irradiation compared to thermal heating of the catalyst. The increase in propene yield under photo irradiation is believed to be initiated from photo excitation (photo-reduction) of the V2O5 complex to [-V4+-O−] * thus, increasing surface concentration of V4+ species. The V4+ active surface species is assumed to serve as the center for adsorption of isopropanol. The observed increase in water formation along with the formation of propene suggests that the rate determining step for the dehydration reaction is desorption of water. Selectivity toward the dehydrogenation (-H2) reaction has also been measured to be ∼ 1% under UV-visible photo irradiation as compared to ∼ 15% under thermal heating of the catalyst.
Model for the Ferroelectric Transition in Nonstoichiometric Lithium Niobate and Lithium Tantalate

A model is developed for the ferroelectric-to-paraelectric phase transition in LiNbO3 and LiTaO3. The model is consistent with literature reports of nonstoichiometry, point defect formation, and phase transformation behavior. The model uses lithium Frenkel-defect-based order-disorder as the phase transformation mechanism. The phase transformation (Curie) temperature is predicted to decrease linearly with deviation from stoichiometry in agreement with experimental observations.
Critical photoperiod and daylength threshold differences between northern and southern populations of the butterfly Limenitis archippus

Abstract Laboratory studies show that different photoperiods induce diapause in northern (Vermont) and southern (Maryland) larval strains of the butterfly Limenitis archippus . The northern strain responds to 1 2 hr longer photoperiod thresholds and critical ranges than does the southern one. These responses are correlated with geographic differences in the ambient photoperiod of the two localities. In this facultative diapausing species, third instar larvae construct hibernacula within the basal portions of tubular leaves spun with silk, when daylength approaches either 13·5 hr (Vermont strain) or 13·0 hr (Maryland strain). When reared in total darkness some larvae develop directly to fourth inszar without diapause, although mortality is high. Among both strains different broods exhibit different incidences of diapause. Reciprocal inter-strain hybrids show intermediate diapause responses, suggesting that larval diapause is under the control of multiple genes.
50 Years Ago in CORR: The Use of Plaster of Paris to Fill Defects in Bone Leonard F. Peltier, MD CORR 1961;21:1–31

Bone defects may result from a variety of causes, including bone loss from open fractures, infections, and tumors. According to Bick [1], the filling of defects with various substances, including animal bone, was, at least, vaguely described in Hindu, Egyptian, and Greek sources. Perhaps one of the earliest descriptions in modern times was that by Jobi Meekren, a Dutch surgeon, who, in 1682, attempted to fill the skull defect of a soldier using fragments of a dog’s skull [2]. (Davison and Smith commented, “In those early days of superstition when the Church ruled all it surveyed, Jobi Meekren was forced to remove the implanted bone under the ban of excommunication from the Church which refused to recognize such a monumental work and referred to it as ‘an unchristian’ method of treatment.”) Many others, including Ollier, Duhamel, and Syme experimented with various sorts of grafts to fill defects, but according to Sir Arthur Keith [4], “The modern practice of bone grafting was invented by Macewen in the Infirmary of Glasgow in 1880.” While most authors used autografts (bone from the patients) or allografts (bone from other humans), surgeons attempted to fill defects with other materials quite early on.
Relationship of seed source and developmental stage to the ozone tolerance of acer rubrum seedlings

Abstract Significant variation in tolerance to ozone (75 pphm) was expressed among red maple seedling progenies from four seed sources. Differences in seedling response occurred in extent of injury but not in type of injury. Seedlings from an Alabama source showed the least average foliar injury and least suppression of leaf growth after exposure to ozone in four stages of growth and four stages of leaf development. These Alabama seedlings also exhibited the largest increase in height growth after each of the four fumigations. Foliar injury and suppression of leaf growth was greatest in Pennsylvania and Minnesota seedlings. Despite a high degree of foliar damage, the Pennsylvania progeny showed significant retardation of growth in only one plant-growth stage, when seedlings were youngest. In all sources and in all plant-growth stages, the youngest (
Microgravity particle research on the space station: the Gas-Grain Simulation Facility.

In the gravitational field on earth, the large settling rate of micron-sized particles and the effects of gravity-induced convection prohibit many interesting studies of phenomena such as coagulation, collisions, and mutual interactions of droplets, dust grains and other particles. Examples of exobiology experiments involving these phenomena are the simulation of organic aerosol formation in Titan's atmosphere, studies of the role of comets in prebiotic chemical evolution, and simulations of carbon grain interactions in various astrophysical environments. The Gas-Grain Simulation Facility (GGSF) is a proposed earth-orbital laboratory that will allow present ground-based experimental programs which study processes involving small particles and weak interactions to be extended to a new domain. Physics issues that scientists wishing to propose GGSF experiments must consider are reviewed in this paper. Specifically, coagulation, motion in gases and vacua, and wall deposition of particles in a microgravity environment are discussed.
In search of the perfect steroid

Background The use and continued advancement of steroids are fundamental to the treatment of asthma. Objective To review the development of steroids, specifically inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs), in the treatment of asthma and understand how these agents have been progressively refined to improve therapeutic margins. Methods Peer-reviewed articles, books, and other publications focusing on the use of steroids in asthma were retrieved using MEDLINE searches and other external sources. Results Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and oral corticosteroids (OCSs) were introduced for the treatment of asthma in the 1950s. However, ACTH is no longer used because of allergic potential and variable response, and the potential systemic adverse events associated with OCSs (eg, osteoporosis, cataracts, growth failure, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis suppression) has reduced their use. ICSs were subsequently introduced as safer options to OCSs, with improved therapeutic margins. The efficacy and safety of ICSs depend on pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties (eg, systemic and oral bioavailability, pulmonary deposition, receptor binding, pulmonary residence time, systemic clearance). Manipulation of these properties has led to ICSs with progressively improved therapeutic margins. However, prolonged use of some ICSs at high doses can still be associated with certain systemic and oropharyngeal adverse events. Newer ICSs with optimized pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles may offer further advances with regard to the safety of ICS treatment. Conclusions Asthma therapy and management have improved greatly since the mid-20th century. However, further progress is needed to improve treatment options and help improve therapeutic outcomes for all patients with asthma.
The Plastic Crystal State of Ferrocenecarbaldehyde

Abstract Mosbauer spectroscopy and microscopic observation indicate that the state of ferrocenecarbaldehyde between 43.5°C and 123.5°C is a plastic crystal state and could not be a liquid crystal state. Sudden loss of mossbauer effect and birefringence at the lower transition temperature may be explained in terms of the increased rotational mobility of plastic crystals.
Ultrasound body applications in children

A major goal of imaging is to obtain the correct examination to answer the clinical questions with the lowest possible radiation exposure. While CT examination provides essential information in many cases, other modalities that do not entail ionizing radiation exposure may be appropriate substitutes either as an initial screening study or as an alternative to CT. US has become a valuable imaging tool in children encompassing many different clinical scenarios. This manuscript highlights some of the less well-accepted applications of US as the first imaging study in pediatric patients, especially in the emergency room environment. These include evaluation of suspected appendicitis, abdominal mass, pleural effusion/empyema, thymic abnormality vs. mediastinal mass and extremity soft-tissue mass or vessel patency. Adoption of US imaging as a problem-solving tool for issues such as these requires appropriate allocation of resources to ensure high-quality performance and interpretation of pediatric US studies around the clock.
Rapid determination of reduced and oxidized glutathione levels using a new thiol-masking reagent and the enzymatic recycling method: Application to the rat liver and bile samples

A microtiter plate assay for quantitation of reduced (GSH) and oxidized (GSSG) glutathione in the rat liver tissue and bile is described. The assay is based on the established enzymatic recycling method and a new thiol-masking reagent, 1-methyl-4-vinyl-pyridinium trifluoromethane sulfonate (M4VP). Samples were first processed by homogenization with (liver) or addition of (bile) sulfosalicylic acid. The total glutathione and GSSG were then determined before and after rapid (< or = 2 min) and efficient (100%) masking of the GSH content of the samples with M4VP followed by the enzymatic recycling assay. The percentages of error and coefficient of variation of the assay were within the accepted guidelines, indicating the accuracy and precision of the assay in the range of 6.25-100 pmol GSH per microplate well and 2.17-140 pmol GSSG per well, with lower limit of quantitation of 6.25 and 2.17 pmol per well for GSH and GSSG, respectively. Furthermore, the recoveries of added GSH or GSSG from the liver and bile samples were accurate and precise. The assay was applied to measurement of GSH, GSSG, and GSH:GSSG ratio in the liver and serially collected bile samples in sham-operated and ischemic rat livers, demonstrating a depletion of glutathione and a decrease in the GSH:GSSG ratio as a result of ischemia. The developed assay is rapid, sensitive, accurate, and precise and is suitable for studies of the redox status of liver under physiologic and pathophysiologic conditions.
Synovial localization of tumor necrosis factor in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Tissue localization of tumor necrosis factor (TNF alpha) was examined in synovial tissues from 10 patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and three osteoarthritis controls using both monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies to TNF alpha and immunoperoxidase technique. No prominent staining for TNF alpha was noted in any of the osteoarthritis non-inflammatory synovial samples; however, six out of 10 RA synovial tissues displayed strongly positive tissue distribution of TNF alpha epitopes particularly within synovial lining cells, and interstitial monocyte/macrophage cells within inflammatory infiltrates. The amounts of TNF alpha visualized within synovial lining cells appeared to parallel the extent of inflammatory cell collections within the rheumatoid synovial tissues examined. Similar studies using renal biopsy tissues from seven patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) nephritis (including diffuse proliferative nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, focal glomerulonephritis, and membranous nephritis) showed no tissue localization of TNF alpha. These findings emphasize that a potent lymphokine (TNF alpha), which may be important in the underlying inflammatory process, appears to be localized and perhaps produced by synovial lining cells within active RA synovial tissues.
Investigation of the effects of capacity on asbestos vacuum cleaners

Nine industrial vacuum cleaners, designed for collection of asbestos waste, were tested to determine how the performance was affected when the manufacturer's specified capacity was approached, attained, and exceeded. This determination was assessed by measurement of the airborne asbestos fiber concentration in the vacuum cleaner discharge air and the change in vacuum cleaner suction pressure. Airborne fiber concentrations were found to be far below the present OSHA standard; however, the suction pressure of each vacuum cleaner dropped considerably as the capacity was approached and/or exceeded. All of the units tested except one were able to contain 25% more than their specified capacity without any internal problems, filtering system failure, or total loss of suction pressure.
International Heliophysical Year 2007: A Report from the UN/NASA Workshop Bangalore, India, 27 November–1 December 2006

The IHY Secretariat and the United Nations Basic Space Science Initiative (UNBSSI) assist scientists and engineers from all over the world in participating in the International Heliophysical Year (IHY) 2007. A major thrust of IHY/UNBSSI is to deploy arrays of small, inexpensive instruments such as magnetometers, radio telescopes, GPS receivers, all-sky cameras, etc. around the world to allow global measurements of ionospheric and heliospheric phenomena. The small instrument programme is envisioned as a partnership between instrument providers and instrument hosts in developing nations. The IHY/UNBSSI can facilitate the deployment of several of these networks world-wide. Existing data bases and relevant software tools will be identified to promote space science activities in developing nations. Extensive data on space science have been accumulated by a number of space missions. Similarly, long-term data bases are available from ground-based observations. These data can be utilized in ways different from originally intended for understanding the heliophysical processes. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of IHY/UNBSSI, its achievements, future plans, and outreach to the 192 Member States of the United Nations as recorded in the UN/NASA workshop in India.
Are There Inalienable Rights

In the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights a quite large number of things are said to be ‘human rights’ and though in that Declaration the term ‘inalienable’ is not used to describe the rights in question it has been so used by commentators—at least with respect to some of the rights enumerated. I shall forgo asking the prior question as to whether any such thing as a human right exists and ask simply whether any such thing as an inalienable right exists. My intention will be to show that it does not.
Effect of Millimeter Waves on Cyclophosphamide Induced Suppression of the Immune System

The effect of millimeter electromagnetic waves (MWs) on cyclophosphamide (CPA) induced toxicity to leukocytes, bone marrow cells, and T-cell-mediated immunity was examined. For studying the effect of MWs on CPA induced leukopenia and myelosuppression, BALB/C mice were irradiated for 3 days, 30 min each day, prior to administration of CPA (200 mg/kg). MWs were produced with a Russian made YAV-1 generator. The device produced 42.2 +/- 0.2 GHz modulated wave radiation through a 10 mm x 20 mm rectangular output horn. The animals were irradiated on the nose area. Peak SAR and incident power density were measured as 622 +/- 100 W/kg and 31 +/- 5 mW/cm(2), respectively. For studying the effect of MWs on CPA induced suppression of T-cell mediated immunity, a delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) assay in mouse skin was used. The DTH reaction in mouse skin was induced by topical application of dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) and quantified by measuring the increase in ear thickness and by histological examination. Treatment of animals with CPA significantly (P < 0.05) reduced leukocyte and bone marrow cell population, but MW irradiation did not show any significant protection from the immunosuppressive effects of CPA. Furthermore, MW irradiation did not protect the animals from CPA induced suppression of T-cell mediated immunity.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Osteoporosis in Chronic Renal Disease

Osteoporosis is the most prevalent metabolic bone disease leading to low-trauma (fragility) fractures worldwide. There is no reason why osteoporosis, as defined by different criteria, cannot accompany the derangements in bone metabolism that characterize chronic kidney disease (CKD). In fact, osteoporosis could and should be included in the broad characterization of CKD-mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD), as recently proposed by the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes working group. The pathophysiology leading to osteoporosis or CKD-MBD shares many common yet distinctly different pathways. Both pathways may lead to impairment of bone strength and low-trauma fractures. The challenge for clinical practice is how to discriminate between osteoporosis and CKD-MBD in fracturing patients. There is agreement that in the absence of aberrant biochemical tests suggesting CKD-MBD in stages 1 through 3 CKD, osteoporosis can be diagnosed using the World Health Organization criteria or development of low-trauma fractures. The distinction between osteoporosis and CKD-MBD becomes more difficult in stages 4 and 5 through 5D CKD. In fracturing patients with these levels of severe CKD, careful biochemical assessment of bone turnover markers and, in selected cases, bone biopsy is needed to eliminate CKD-MBD and to diagnose osteoporosis by exclusion. In stages 1 through 3 CKD, the current registered osteoporosis pharmacologic therapies can be used to treat osteoporosis. In stage 4, 5, and 5D these agents can be considered off-label, but only after very careful considerations and only in fracturing patients without CKD-MBD. We need better noninvasive means of discriminating among all these metabolic bone diseases and prospective data to guide us to the use of agents that alter bone remodeling in high-risk patients with more severe CKD.
Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) for the brain: Current status and remaining challenges for developing NeuroSERMs

Multiple issues regarding the efficacy of estrogen action in the brain remain unresolved. These include the timing, formulation and duration of the therapy intervention. Moreover, issues of thrombotic and neoplastic risks must be factored into the design of estrogen alternatives developed to prevent age-associated neurodegenerative disorders, as well as other climacteric symptoms such as hot flush and sleep dysfunction. One strategy to address these issues is to develop molecules that selectively target and activate estrogen mechanisms of action in the brain while avoiding activation of estrogen receptors peripheral to the brain, particularly in reproductive organs. An overview of recent advances in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of estrogen action is discussed in the context of designing an efficacious NeuroSERM that will activate cellular, biochemical and genomic events required for the promotion of memory function and neuronal survival. Pharmacological analyses of estrogen receptor subtypes and the case for a membrane-associated estrogen receptor splice variant in mediating these mechanisms are provided along with a summary of the activation profiles of existing clinically relevant estrogen alternatives or SERMs in neurons. Results of these endeavors have yielded insights into strategies for developing novel molecules with NeuroSERM potential in order to prevent brain related climacteric symptoms and neurodegenerative diseases.
TU-C-BRB-01: A Method to Determine Measured Dose-Volume-Histograms (DVH) in Patient from 3D Dose Measurement in Phantom

Purpose: Three‐dimensional (3D) dosimetry systems are rapidly improving, and provide vastly more data and comprehensive QA than can be achieved with conventional dosimetry systems. New challenges emerge including how best to utilize this data. Here we present a method to transform the measured 3D dose in phantom, back to the planning CT, such that measured patient DVH's can be obtained. The significance is the method enables clinical interpretation of QA, through comparison of planned and measured DVH in patient. Methods: The DLOS/Presage 3D dosimetry system was used to verify the dose delivered for 6 stereotactic, fractionated, base‐of‐ skull radiosurgery treatments. Each plan was recalculated (fluence maps unchanged) and delivered to the RPC H&N IMRT credentialing phantom, containing a cylindrical Presage dosimeter 10cm diameter. The measured and planned dose distributions were compared in phantom. The measured dose‐distributions were then transformed back to the planning CT's, using an algorithm that comprehensively models heterogeneity differences. Measured and planned DVH and dose distributions were compared in patient. Results: Measured dose distributions with 2mm3 isotropic resolution were acquired for all 6 test cases. Excellent agreement was found between the measured and planned dose‐distributions in the phantom. Average 3D gamma passing rate (3%, 3mm criteria) was 95%. When the distributions were transformed back to the planning CT, measured DVHs showed close agreement with the planned DVH for all cases. Differences were observed, however, and will be discussed. The accuracy of the transform algorithm was investigated in simulations. Conclusions: In the event of a delivery error, the uncertainty in the transform algorithm is small (< 1%), significantly less than the magnitude of error to be detected. The DLOS/Presage system performed at a consistently high level, consistent with prior benchmarking studies. The ability to generate measured patient DVH's represents an important advance in treatment verification. NIH R01CA100835
The political role of the European Union in the Arab‐Israel peace process: An Israeli perspective

(1998). The political role of the European Union in the Arab‐Israel peace process: An Israeli perspective. The International Spectator: Vol. 33, No. 4, pp. 77-86.
Measurement of regional blood flow in the golden hamster.

The cheek pouch of the golden hamster (Mesocricatus auratus) has been used extensively in both microcirculatory studies and tissue transplant experimentation (cf. 1). Data on the blood flow to various tissues and particularly the cheek pouch and cremaster muscle would be valuable in the interpretation of many types of experiments, but these data are not available. The purpose of this study was to obtain relative blood flow measurements in the hamster. In addition, we have measured the cardiac output by a simplified indicator dilution method.Methods. Animals were 90–120 g, male golden hamsters obtained from Chickline Animal Supply. Five hamsters were anesthetized with 60 mg/kg pentobarbital, ip. Rectal temperature was measured with a Yellow Springs Instruments telethermometer and was maintained at 38° with an external heat lamp. A carotid artery and femoral vein were cannulated with polyethylene tubing and the cannulae were passed into the aorta and inferior vena cava, respectively.Regional blood flows, as...
Carbon nanotubes – Production and industrial applications

Carbon nanotubes are discussed in this paper from the time of their discovery to present day applications. Specifically the production methods, properties and industrial applications of carbon nanotubes are reviewed. Production methods include classical approaches such as the arc method, chemical vapor deposition, laser ablation, and electric arc discharge along with new methods which are being tested such as through solar energy, plasma and microgravity environments. The electrical and mechanical properties and actual structure of carbon nanotubes are discussed in detail. Both current applications of carbon nanotubes along with potential uses are also elucidated in this review. The data has been compiled from open literature to comment on trends in behavior of the carbon nanotubes.
Panel data estimates of the effects of different types of crime on housing prices

One of the most studied effects of crime is the impact that neighborhood crime has on housing values. A major drawback of these studies is that, although crime is undoubtedly endogenous in property value models because of either simultaneity, omitted variables or measurement error, the vast majority of studies treat crime measures as exogenous independent variables. We exploit a unique nine-year crime panel at the neighborhood level to estimate models that properly address the endogeneity of crime and allow us to overcome other specification errors that have plagued previous studies. Of the seven different types of crime we investigate, only robbery and aggravated assault crimes (per acre) exert a meaningful influence upon neighborhood housing values.
Incorporation of 2-hydroxyl fatty acids by Acinetobacter calcoaceticus RAG-1 to tailor emulsan structure

Abstract Acinetobacter calcoaceticus RAG-1 was cultured on different chain length saturated 2-hydroxyl fatty acid (2-HOFA) carbon sources as follows: C12:0 (2-OH), C14:0 (2-OH), C16:0 (2-OH) and C18:0 (2-OH). These 2-HOFAs were used as either sole carbon sources or cosubstrates with C14:0 (total 1% w/v) to form new emulsans (EMs) having controlled side chain FA structure and, therefore, unique emulsifier characteristics. EM yields and cell dry weights ranged from 0.6 to 1.8 g/1 and 0.9 to 3.9 g/1, respectively, depending on the carbon source(s) and the cultivation conditions. The content of C12:0 (2-OH) EM substituents reached high levels (306 nmol/mg-EM, 64.4 mol% of total FAs) by selectively feeding this FA. Substantial quantities of 2-HOFAs with chain lengths ≥ C14—up to 96 nmol/mg-EM or 15.2 mol% for C16:0 (2-OH)—were also incorporated in EMs by providing the corresponding 2-HOFA carbon source in the medium. By increasing the medium 2-HOFA concentration large increases in EM total FA contents resulted. The EM FA content was as high as 955 nmol/mg-EM or 23 wt% for a culture containing 0.75 g/100 ml C18:0 (2-OH). An important metabolic pathway involved in EM side chain formation from C16:0 (2-OH) and C18:0 (2-OH) involves decarboxylation, oxidation of the alkanol to the corresponding n − 1 FA-CoA intermediate and formation of odd chain length substituent side chain linkages by an EM acyl transferase. Addition of the enzyme alkylating agent iodoacetamide to cultures was used to: (i) enhance the incorporation into EMs of both C12:0 (2-OH) and C16:0 (2-OH) substituents; and (ii) increase by 1.3 to 1.8 fold (by wt.) the total EM FA content. Finally, it was concluded that enhanced emulsification activity of EMs is not necessarily achieved by forming products with relatively high 2- and 3-hydroxydodecanoic acid contents.
Lessons for women's health from the Massachusetts reform: affordability, transitions, and choice.

Abstract Three years into Massachusetts’ health insurance reform, we are beginning to see what that experience portends for women nationally in the wake of legislation similar to the Massachusetts model. Although the Massachusetts reform has been successful in terms of reducing the number of uninsured men and women, interviews with Massachusetts women reveal significant problems that remain to be addressed. In this paper, we offer snapshots of three women whom we interviewed on the cusp of the Massachusetts reform. None of the women had insurance at the time; thus, health care reform represents a significant improvement in their access to care. However, as these snapshots indicate, major challenges remain in terms of affordability, continuity of coverage, and systemic complexities in choosing plans.
Population-based study of l-transposition of the great arteries: possible associations with environmental factors.

BACKGROUND L transposition of the great arteries (l-tga) is an uncommon congenital cardiovascular malformation that occurs from abnormal looping of the primitive cardiac tube. Little is known about risk factors for the development of l-tga. METHODS This study is a case–control study of 36 cases of l-tga compared to 3,495 population-based live born infant controls in the Baltimore Washington Infant Study (1981–1989 births). Extensive personal and occupational exposure data from parental interviews were available for all subjects. A geographic information system was used to identify potential environmental exposures, for example, hazardous waste sites prioritized for cleanup (National Priority List sites). Adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using exact parameter estimates from logistic regression. RESULTS Most infants with l-tga had multiple cardiovascular anomalies, with single ventricle in 47%. Over 75% of all cases of l-tga occur in two regions of contiguous cases. Within these regions, the case control OR of l-tga are 13.4 (95%CI, 4.7–37.8) Both areas are characterized by release of toxic chemicals into air and by hazardous waste sites. Parental exposures to hair dye, smoking and laboratory chemicals are also associated with case status. CONCLUSIONS L-tga, a congenital cardiovascular malformation due to very early abnormalities in embryogenesis, is associated strongly with residency in two small regions of Maryland and District of Columbia (DC), and with other parental personal or occupational exposures. Additional research is needed to identify the components of spatial and other associations that constitute etiologic risk factors. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 67162–167, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Abstract 497: Mitochondria-targeting photosensitizers activable by two-photon absorption

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC Two-photon absorption (TPA) is a non-linear optical process, used to activate photosensitizers in the NIR region (700 - 850 nm) thus affording greater tissue penetration in photodynamic therapy (PDT). Since the efficiency of this process has a quadratic dependence on the light intensity, the photodynamic effects are restricted to a small area around the laser's focal point, thus providing spatial selectivity. Although most clinically approved photosensitizers can be activated by TPA, they generally have very small cross-sections (generally below 10 GM around 800 nm). Thus, light intensities required to activate them could damage normal surrounding tissues. The TPA of photosensitizers can however be improved, without perturbing their ability to generate singlet oxygen, by conjugating them to effective TPA chromophores. These then serve as TPA antennae and upon activation transfer their energy to the photosensitizer which then generates singlet oxygen for PDT. In this study a porphyrin-rhodamine B dyad (TPP-Rh), previously demonstrated to target mitochondria, was evaluated as a two-photon photosensitizer for PDT. TPP-Rh, was synthesized by conjugating a monohydroxy porphyrin photosensitizer (TPP-OH) to rhodamine B (Rh B), an effective TPA chromophore, via a saturated hydrocarbon linker, thus enhancing intramolecular FRET between the dyad components and ultimately the photosensitizer's TPA. To evaluate the efficiency of TPP-Rh as a two-photon photosensitizer we studied both its one and two-photon absorption photophysical properties in comparison to those of its individual components: Rh B and TPP-OH. These included: FRET kinetics, FRET dynamics, and the singlet oxygen generation kinetics. A FRET rate of 1.679 × 1012 s−1 and a 99 % FRET efficiency was calculated for TPP-Rh from its spectral properties suggesting efficient FRET from the TPA moiety (Rh B) to the photosensitizer moiety (TPP). In addition to this, TPP-Rh produced singlet oxygen at comparable rates when excited with both TPA at 800 nm and one photon absorption (OPA) at 650 nm. Thus, this indicates that conjugating photosensitizers to rhodamine B could provide several advantages in PDT: deeper tissue penetration, spatial selectivity and selective photosensitizer accumulation. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 497.
Characterization of rat brain microsomal acyl-coenzyme A ligases: different enzymes for the synthesis of palmitoyl-coenzyme A and lignoceroyl-coenzyme A

Palmitic acid solubilized with Triton WR-1339 was converted to palmitoyl-CoA by microsomal membranes but lignoceric acid solubilized with Triton WR-1339 was not an effective substrate even though the detergent dispersed the same amount of these fatty acids and was also not inhibitory to the enzyme [I. Singh, R. P. Singh, A. Bhushan, and A. K. Singh (1985)Arch. Biochem. Biophys.236, 418–426]. This observation suggested that palmitoyl-CoA and lignoceroyl-CoA may be synthesized by two different enzymes. We have solubilized the acyl-CoA ligase activities for palmitic and lignoceric acid of rat brain microsomal membranes with Triton X-100 and resolved them into three separate peaks (fractions) by hydroxylapatite chromatography. Fraction A (palmitoyl-CoA ligase) had high specific activity for palmitic acid and Fraction C (lignoceroyl-CoA ligase) for lignoceric acid. Specific activity of palmitoyl-CoA ligase for palmitic acid was six times higher than in Fraction C and specific activity of lignoceroyl-CoA ligase for lignoceric acid was four times higher than in Fraction A. At higher concentrations of Triton X-100 (0.5%), lignoceroyl-CoA ligase loses activity whereas palmitoyl-CoA ligase does not. Lignoceroyl-CoA ligase lost 60% of activity at 0.6% Triton X-100. Palmitoyl-CoA ligase (T12of 4.5 min) is more stable at 40 °C than lignoceroyl-CoA ligase (T12of 1.5 min). The pH optimum of palmitoyl-CoA ligase was 7.7 and that of lignoceroyl-CoA ligase was 8.4. Similar to our results with intact membranes, palmitic acid solubilized with Triton WR-1339 was converted to palmitoyl-CoA by palmitoyl-CoA ligase whereas lignoceric acid when solubilized with Triton WR-1339 was not able to act as substrate for lignoceroyl-CoA ligase. Since solubilized enzyme activities for synthesis of palmitoyl-CoA and lignoceroyl-CoA from microsomal membranes can be resolved into different fractions by column chromatography and demonstrate different properties, we suggest that in microsomal membranes palmitoyl-CoA and lignoceroyl-CoA are synthesized by two different enzymes.
Photoperiodic regulation of gametogenesis in the Antarctic sea star Odontaster validus Koehler: Evidence for a circannual rhythm modulated by light

Summary The common Antarctic sea star Odontaster validus spawns in mid-winter, following a long period of gametogenesis. In a 2-year experiment at McMurdo Sound where sea temperature remains at freezing year round, we found that gametogenesis in sea stars kept on photoperiods 6 months out of phase with ambient (constant light in winter, constant dark in summer) had, within a year, switched to 6 months out of phase with stars kept on an ambient photoperiod or collected from the field. Gametogenesis in sea stars kept in constant light or on a 12 h light: 12 h dark photoperiod appeared to be maintained more or less continuously; photoperiods of 12 h or more apparently stimulate gametogenesis. In contrast, gametogenesis in sea stars kept in constant darkness was the same as in sea stars kept on an ambient photoperiod or collected from the field, indicative of an underlying circannual rhythm similar to that known for the NE Pacific sea star Pisaster ochraceus. Such a rhythm could maintain gametogenic synchrony...
Poly(itaconic acid)-modified chitosan coatings for mitigating corrosion of aluminum substrates

Abstract To make a water-insoluble chitosan (CS) biopolymer, the synthetic poly(itaconic acid) (PIA) polymer was added to graft it onto the liner CS chains and to crosslink between the CS chains. The grafting and crosslinking reactions were generated by a strong chemical affinity between the NH2 groups in the CS and the COOH groups in the PIA, leading to the formation of amide bonds. When this polymer was applied as environmentally benign water-based coatings to an aluminum (Al) substrate by a simple dip-withdrawing method, the following three factors played an essential role in mitigating the rate of corrosion of the Al: first was the polymer’s conformation containing hydrophobic amide bonds, together with a minimal amount of hydrophilic unreacted COOH in PIA and NH2 in CS; second was the lesser susceptibility of the coating films to moisture due to the enhanced degree of grafting and crosslinking; and third was the interactions at the interfaces between the grafted CS and the Al substrate, developing the formation of the –COO–Al linkage. The PIA-grafted and -crosslinked CS polymer coating films generated from the proper proportions of PIA to CS included all these factors and displayed low ionic conductivity, thereby imparting a salt-spray resistance of 694 h for coated Al panels.