cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Efficiency of energy delivery systems: I. An economic and energy analysis

Energy-return-on-investment (ERI) analysis is a variation of more traditional cost-benefit analyses, a variation that is particularly important in times of diminishing fuel resources. We present a simple set of procedures for ERI analysis and apply those procedures to central New York State, where there is a proposal for a new 870 MWe coal-fired generating station. We compared the energy and dollar costs of building that facility with the costs of an alternative comprehensive regional program of insulation. The analysis showed that regional insulation was more efficient in conserving energy than the plant was in providing it by at least a factor of 4 in economic terms and by a factor of more than 15 when viewed as energy returned on energy invested.
Characterization of Circle Cliffs oil sands of Utah

Abstract In the continuing characterization studies of Utah oil sands, this article was focused on the Circle Cliffs deposits which occur in the southeastern region of Utah. The bitumen was separated from the oil sand using a toluene extraction method. The extracted bitumen was fractionated using the modified SARA method and its fractional composition was compared to the other bitumens obtained from the Uinta Basin deposits. This comparison indicated that Circle Cliffs bitumen was unique among the Utah oil sand bitumens, particularly with respect to the chemical composition of its resin fraction, but showed resemblance with the Canadian Athabasca bitumen in some features. The effect of resin composition on the bitumen viscosity is discussed. Mineralogical analysis was performed on the solids, which indicated relatively large proportions of carbonate and kaolinite minerals. The undesirable effect of these minerals in the modified hot-water processing of Circle Cliffs oil sands is briefly discussed.
Prevalence and correlates of breast and cervical cancer screening among older women.

Objective To identify and assess differences in cancer screening patterns among women 55–64, 65–74, 75–84, and over 84 years of age. Methods Nationally representative data reported in the 1990 Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Supplement to the National Health Interview Survey of 28,584,574 women were analyzed secondarily. The dependent variables were a knowledge of breast self-examination, ever having had a mammogram, and a Papanicolaou smear within the last 3 years. Independent variables were age and various sociodemographic, health-status, and health-belief measures. Results More than half (58%) of the women had ever had a mammogram, and of these, 91% had had between one and five mammograms. Over a third (35%) of those who had not had a mammogram attributed the omission to a lack of a recommendation by a physician. Almost half (45%) had had a breast examination by a physician within the last year, and 84% knew how to examine their own breasts. Approximately 87% had a Papanicolaou smear within the last 3 years. Age, race, education, and living in a large city were significantly associated with all three screening measures, but prevalent health beliefs were significantly associated only with breastcancer screening. Conclusion Lack of mammogram screening in a substantial number of women, attributed to lack of physician recommendation, decreased screening in the older age groups, and the negative association of all three screening tests with race and residence in a large city suggest that new interventions are needed by health care providers and the public health community to increase older women's use of effective cancer screening techniques.
Failure of the oculomotor neural integrator from a discrete midline lesion between the abducens nuclei in the monkey

Recent anatomical studies indicate that axons of neurons in the vestibular nuclei, projecting to the contralateral abducens nuclei, cross the midline at the abducens level. These axons then give off collaterals to the contralateral vestibular and prepositus nuclei that may be important for the neural integrator that converts eye-velocity to eye-position signals. We disrupted a subset of these commissural projections by making a small midline lesion between the abducens nuclei in a monkey. The vestibulo-ocular reflex and saccades were still present post-lesion, indicating that premotor drive was intact, but the lesion produced severe post-saccadic drift, indicating failure of the neural integrator. We conclude that commissural projections crossing at the abducens level may be important for oculomotor integration.
Incipient balancing selection through adaptive loss of aquaporins in natural Saccharomyces cerevisiae populations.

A major goal in evolutionary biology is to understand how adaptive evolution has influenced natural variation, but identifying loci subject to positive selection has been a challenge. Here we present the adaptive loss of a pair of paralogous genes in specific Saccharomyces cerevisiae subpopulations. We mapped natural variation in freeze-thaw tolerance to two water transporters, AQY1 and AQY2, previously implicated in freeze-thaw survival. However, whereas freeze-thaw–tolerant strains harbor functional aquaporin genes, the set of sensitive strains lost aquaporin function at least 6 independent times. Several genomic signatures at AQY1 and/or AQY2 reveal low variation surrounding these loci within strains of the same haplotype, but high variation between strain groups. This is consistent with recent adaptive loss of aquaporins in subgroups of strains, leading to incipient balancing selection. We show that, although aquaporins are critical for surviving freeze-thaw stress, loss of both genes provides a major fitness advantage on high-sugar substrates common to many strains' natural niche. Strikingly, strains with non-functional alleles have also lost the ancestral requirement for aquaporins during spore formation. Thus, the antagonistic effect of aquaporin function—providing an advantage in freeze-thaw tolerance but a fitness defect for growth in high-sugar environments—contributes to the maintenance of both functional and nonfunctional alleles in S. cerevisiae. This work also shows that gene loss through multiple missense and nonsense mutations, hallmarks of pseudogenization presumed to emerge after loss of constraint, can arise through positive selection.
Results of high-dose thoracic irradiation incorporating beam's eye view display in non-small cell lung cancer: a retrospective multivariate analysis.

Abstract Purpose: To review the University of Michigan clinical experience in nonsmall cell lung cancer using high-dose thoracic irradiation (⩾ 60 Gy) so that a starting dose for our prospective dose-escalation study could be determined. Methods and Materials: Eighty-eight consecutive patients diagnosed with medically inoperable or locally advanced, unresectable nonsmall cell lung cancer were identified who were treated with thoracic irradiation alone to a minimum total dose of 60 Gy (uncorrected for lung density). All patients except four (95%) underwent computed tomography scanning for treatment planning that included beam's eye view display for tumor and critical structure localization. All patients were treated with standard fractionation in a continuous course to uncorrected total doses ranging from 60 to 74 Gy (median, 67.6 Gy). Results: The median follow-up exceeds 24 months for all surviving patients (range, 12 to 78 months). The median survival time was 15 months, and the 2- and 3-year overall actuarial survival rates were 37% and 15%, respectively. Survival was significantly different between stage of disease ( p = .004) and N-stage ( p = .002) by univariate analysis. In a multivariate analysis, stage becomes the only characteristic significantly associated with outcome. The median time to local progression for 86 evaluable patients was 29 months. Stage ( p = .0003), T-stage ( p = .0095) and N-stage ( P = .027) were significantly different with respect to local progression-free survival by univariate analysis. However, only stage was prognostic for local progression-free survival by multivariate analysis. There was no difference between large volume treatment (inclusion of the contralateral hilar and supraclavicular lymph nodes) and small volume treatment (exclusion of these elective nodal sites) with respect to local progression-free survival ( p = .507) or survival ( p = .520). With regard to dose, there was no significant difference between patients who received ⪕ 67.6 Gy and patients who received s 67.6 Gy with respect to local progression-free survival ( p = .094) or survival ( p = .142). Within the Stage III subgroup, local progression-free survival ( p = .018) and survival ( p = .061) were longer favoring the high-dose group of patients. Despite these doses, disease progression within the irradiated field was the predominant first site of treatment failure. Conclusion: This retrospective study has shown that it is feasible to deliver uncorrected tumor doses as high as 70 Gy using standard fractionation in NSCLC with acceptable morbidity. Local control remains a significant problem. These data indicate justification for a starting dose in a prospective radiation dose-escalation study.
Computer aided engineering of automated guided vehicle systems

Abstract Automated Guided Vehicle Systems (AGVS) are becoming more and more the main material handling devices in flexible manufacturing systems. The design of an AGVS network is a complex, iterative process. It requires a sequence of geometrical layout drawings and an analytical and computational evaluations. The ability to analyze the AGVS design directly and interactively from the layout drawing would substantially increase the productivity of the design engineer. A Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) design tool must provide the following three capabilities. First, it must allow the easy, interactive and graphical definition of the system by providing standard drawing symbols and the required operations on those symbols. Second, it must support direct, interactive analysis of the design from within the drafting package. Third, it must provide for the necessary output to interface with off line simulation, analysis and verification programs. The possibility of extending the prominent CAD packages CADAM and AutoCad to perform CAE of AGVS is examined. A prototype of such a CAE tool has been developed based upon the Autocad package and implemented on a microcomputer. Design and implementation issues, as well as future research areas, will be reported on.
Sensory and cooking quality of individually film wrapped potatoes

Newly harvested Russet Burbank potatoes were cured for 3 weeks at 15.5 C. The cured potatoes were individually film wrapped either immediately, or stored at 7.2 C for 12 weeks and then film wrapped. The film wrapped potatoes stored at 20 C were compared with nonwrapped potatoes stored at 7.2 C or 20 C for cooking time and various sensory characteristics. The sensory and cooking characteristics of the film wrapped potatoes stored at 20 C were better than the baking characteristics of nonwrapped potatoes stored at 20 C but not at 7.2 C. Individual film wrapping of potatoes significantly preserved the baking and cooking quality of potatoes during storage at 20 C, 60% RH.
Managed Care And Technology Diffusion: The Case Of MRI

ABSTRACT: A growing body of evidence suggests that managed care can reduce overall health care costs but provides little insight into how this could happen. One possibility is that managed care influences the adoption of new medical technologies. In examining the relationship between health maintenance organization (HMO) activity and market-level availability and use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), we find that high HMO market share is associated with low levels of MRI availability and use. This suggests that managed care may be able to reduce health care costs by influencing the adoption and use of new medical equipment and technologies.
A microtiter plate assay using cellulose acetate filters for measuring cellular [3H]serotonin release.

Abstract An assay system for measuring the release of tritium-labeled serotonin that accompanies cellular degranulation is described. The assay is carried out with [3H]serotonin loaded rat basophilic leukemia (RBL) cells that have been sensitized with IgE, and aliquots of these are combined with dilutions of specific antigen in the wells of a microtiter plate together with appropriate control samples. The released activity in all of the wells is harvested simultaneously and quickly using commercial cellulose acetate filters which are counted following addition of scintillation fluor. In many applications this plate assay is faster and more covenient than the conventional test tube assay, and the results obtained are shown to be comparable. For the plate assay, the effect of cell concentration and some other conditions are shown. In general it is found that greatly improved results can be obtained if the cells are cultured overnight during the [3H]serotonin incorporation. With this assay it is shown that RBL cells also release incorporated 51Cr specifically during degranulation.
Silicon on ferroelectric insulator field effect transistor (SOF-FET) for ultra low power design

This paper presents the concept of a new field effect transistor (FET) based on ferroelectric insulator. The proposed design is named Silicon-on-Ferroelectric Insulator (SOF) FET. The design combines the concepts of negative capacitance in ferroelectric material and silicon-on-insulator (SOI) device. The design proposes that by burying a layer ferroelectric insulator inside bulk silicon substrate an effective negative capacitance (NC) can be achieved. The NC effect can provide internal signal boosting. It is demonstrated that by carefully selecting thickness of the ferroelectric film inside the device the subthreshold swing and the threshold voltage can be lowered. Lower subthreshold swing is a prime requirement for ultra-low-power design.
The relationship of protein synthesis to cell division and oral development in synchronized Tetrahymena pyriformis GL‐C: An analysis employing cycloheximide

The effects of cycloheximide on synchronized Tetrahymena pyriformis strain GL-C were investigated at concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 10 μg/ml. The initial inhibition of protein synthesis was nearly total (>85%) at 1 μg/ml and above, partial (50–80%) at 0.2 to 0.05 μg/ml, and slight (<30%) at 0.02 μg/ml. Eventual recovery of protein synthesis to a rate approaching that of the controls took place at concentrations of 1 μg/ml and less. When the drug was added before a “transition point” at 55 minutes after the end of the synchronizing treatment (EST), cell division was blocked by 10 μg/ml, and delayed at concentrations of 1 μg/ml or less. The duration of delay was related to the degree of initial inhibition, and to the time required for recovery of protein synthesis; it also depended on the time after EST at which the drug was added. At a given concentration, maximum division delay was observed just prior to the “transition point;” this maximum delay was correlated with resorption of differentiating oral primordia, followed by the appearance of new primordia. The lesser delays observed at earlier times were correlated with temporary blockage of development of primordia in the “stomatogenic field” stage. Resumption of oral primordium development was, in both cases, temporally correlated with a substantial recovery of protein synthesis. After the “transition point,” cell division, and completion of oral development, was delayed slightly at the lower concentrations, and more substantially at 1 and 10 μg/ml, with some division-arrest at the latter concentration. Except for the recovery phenomenon, the developmental responses elicited by cycloheximide were similar to those observed earlier with puromycin. The bearing of these findings on the mechanism of synchronization in Tetrahymena is considered in the Discussion.
Methylation-dependent melting polymorphisms in genomic fragments of deoxyribonucleic acid☆☆☆

Abstract Objectives: Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis can detect single base sequence differences in deoxyribonucleic acid and methylation differences in small cloned fragments of deoxyribonucleic acid. We previously detected cell type–specific melting differences by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis in paired leukocyte and sperm cell samples of deoxyribonucleic acid. We proposed that these differences were caused by differential methylation and that blotting strategies using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis might be useful in detecting in vivo variations in methylation patterns. Study Design: Genomic deoxyribonucleic acid from leukocytes and sperm cells of 35 male subjects was analyzed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis after digestion by 4-bp site enzymes and Msp I and its methylation-sensitive isoschizomer Hpa II. Some fragments were amplified by polymerase chain reaction. Results: Cell type–specific melting polymorphisms were detected in all genes from all subjects. Analysis of Msp I/ Hpa II sites demonstrated that differences noted correlated with the methylation state. Cell type–specific differences were absent in fragments amplified by polymerase chain reaction. Conclusions: The denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis blotting technique is a fast and comprehensive method for comparing in vivo methylation differences. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2000;182:785-93.)
Friendship Networks and Achievement Goals: An Examination of Selection and Influence Processes and Variations by Gender

Interactions with friends are a salient part of students’ experience at school. Thus, friends are likely to be an important source of influence on achievement goals. This study investigated processes within early adolescent friendships (selection and influence) with regard to achievement goals (mastery, performance-approach, and performance-avoidance goals) among sixth graders (N = 587, 50 % girls at wave 1, N = 576, 52 % girls at wave 2) followed from fall to spring within one academic year. Students’ gender was examined as a moderator in these processes. Longitudinal social network analysis found that friends were similar to each other in mastery goals and that this similarity was due to both selection and influence effects. Influence but not selection effects were found for performance-approach goals. Influence effects for performance-approach goals were stronger for boys compared to girls in the classroom. Neither selection, nor influence, effects were found in relation to performance-avoidance goals. However, the higher a student was in performance-avoidance goals, the less likely they were to be named as a friend by classmates. Implications for early adolescents’ classroom adjustment are discussed.
Modeling of hyperoxaluric calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis: Experimental induction of hyperoxaluria by hydroxy-L-proline

A number of animal models have been developed to investigate calcium oxalate (CaOx) nephrolithiasis. Ethylene glycol (EG)-induced hyperoxaluria in rats is most common, but is criticized because EG and some of its metabolites are nephrotoxic and EG causes metabolic acidosis. Both oxalate (Ox) and CaOx crystals are also injurious to renal epithelial cells. Thus, it is difficult to distinguish the effects of EG and its metabolites from those induced by Ox and CaOx crystals. This study was performed to investigate hydroxy-L-proline (HLP), a common ingredient of many diets, as a hyperoxaluria-inducing agent. In rats, HLP has been shown to induce CaOx nephrolithiasis in only hypercalciuric conditions. Five percent HLP mixed with chow was given to male Sprague-Dawley rats for 63 days, resulting in hyperoxaluria, CaOx crystalluria, and nephrolithiasis. Crystal deposits were surrounded by ED-1-positive inflammatory cells. Cell injury and death was followed by regeneration, as suggested by an increase in proliferating cell nuclear antigen-positive cells. Both osteopontin (OPN) and CD44 were upregulated. Staining for CD44 and OPN was intense in cells lining the tubules that contained crystals. Along with a rise in urinary Ox and lactate dehydrogenase, there were significant increases in 8-isoprostane and hydrogen peroxide excretion, indicating that the oxidative stress induced cell injury. Thus, HLP-induced hyperoxaluria alone can induce CaOx nephrolithiasis in rats.
Relationship of Bioelectrical Impedance to Pharmacokinetic Parameters of Theophylline in Healthy Males

Bioelectrical impedance is a reliable, safe, non-invasive and valid method of determining body composition, using measures of resistance and reactance by passing a low voltage alternating current through the body. This study investigates relationships between the pharmacokinetics of theophylline and parameters of bioelectrical impedance in 15 non-smoking, healthy, adult male volunteers. After an overnight fast, subjects received 5 mg/kg of aminophylline intravenously over 30 minutes. Blood samples were obtained serially over a period of 12 hours. Bioelectrical impedance measurements were made in triplicate, using a 4-electrode plethysmograph. Sera were assayed in duplicate by enzyme-mediated immunoassay (coefficient of variation less than 5%), and data were fitted to a non-compartmental regression program. An all-subsets multiple-regression technique was employed to arrive at predictive equations for theophylline clearance (CL) and volume of distribution at steady-state (Vss) using age, height, weight and mean bioelectrical impedance parameters. Equations for Vss and CL revealed p-values of less than 0.001 and coefficients of variation of 8.5 and 13.33% respectively. Although the equations display some degree of colinearity they account for 95 and 86.5% of the variability in Vss and CL respectively, and represent an innovative approach to the estimation of pharmacokinetic parameters.
Unimolecular rectification down to 105 K and spectroscopy of hexadecylquinolinium tricyanoquinodimethanide

Abstract We found electrical rectification in a single molecule, γ-hexadecylquinolinium tricyanoquinomethanide, 1 , in which the ground state is zwitterionic: D + -π-A − , while the first excited state is undissociated: D 0 -π-A 0 , between 370 K and 105 K. While the ground state has a high dipole moment (43±8 Debyes), the first excited state has a very low estimated moment, between 3 and 9 Debyes. Spectroscopic measurements (V-UV, FTIR, XPS) confirm this interpretation. The 1974 proposal by Aviram and Ratner [A. Aviram, M.A. Ratner, Chem. Phys. Lett. 29 (1974) 277.] for unimolecular rectification has been confirmed.
Utilization trends of genetic clinics excluding prenatal services in Washington State, 1995-2004.

Purpose: To analyze genetic clinic utilization in Washington State and to explore factors associated with utilization. Methods: Our analysis included data from the 9 of 15 genetic clinics that consistently reported to the Washington State Minimum Data Set between 1995 and 2004. Prenatal genetics services were excluded. We described utilization with yearly counts of patients and analyze patient volume according to age, sex, and residence. Results: The total number of patients at nine genetic clinics in Washington increased from 1804 patients in 1995 to 3536 patients in 2004 with growth increasing at an average 8% each year. Although adults aged 35 years and over comprised 14% of all patients in 1995, they comprised almost 28% in 2004. The number of females aged 35 years and older increased markedly during this time frame. Conclusion: Nine genetic clinics in Washington experienced growth in utilization and changes in the mix of patients served between 1995 and 2004. We suggest further study of how test availability, public awareness of genetics, supply of genetics providers, and changing regulations and insurance policies influence utilization of genetics clinics.
The Rise of Advanced Marginality: Notes on its Nature and Implications

The resurgence of extreme poverty and destitution, ethnoracial divisions (linked to the colonial past) and public violence, and their accumulation in the same distressed urban areas, suggest that the metropolis is the site and fount of novel forms of exclusionary social closure in advanced societies. This paper essays an ideal-typical characterization of this new, rising regime of urban marginality by contrasting it with selected features of urban poverty in the postwar era of Fordist growth. Six distinctive features of advanced marginality are proposed: the growing internal heterogeneity and desocialization of labor, the functional disconnection of neighborhood conditions from macro-economic trends; territorial fixation and stigmatization; spatial alienation and the dissolution of place; the loss of a viable hinterland; and the symbolic fragmentation of marginalized populations. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications of the rise of advanced marginality for social analysis and policy, including the need to break out of the market-and-state paradigm and to sever the link between work and subsistence via the institution of a citizen's wage.
Postoperative intensity-modulated radiotherapy in low-risk endometrial cancers: final results of a Phase I study.

Purpose To determine the maximum tolerated dose of short-course radiotherapy (intensity-modulated radiotherapy technique) to the upper two thirds of the vagina in endometrial cancers with low risk of local recurrence. Patients and Methods A Phase I clinical trial was performed. Eligible patients had low-risk resected primary endometrial adenocarcinomas. Radiotherapy was delivered in 5 fractions over 1 week. The planning target volume was the clinical target volume plus 5 mm. The clinical target volume was defined as the upper two thirds of the vagina as evidenced at CT simulation by a vaginal radio-opaque device. The planning target volume was irradiated by a seven-field intensity-modulated radiotherapy technique, planned by the Plato Sunrise inverse planning system. A first cohort of 6 patients received 25 Gy (5-Gy fractions), and a subsequent cohort received 30 Gy (6-Gy fractions). The Common Toxicity Criteria scale, version 3.0, was used to score toxicity. Results Twelve patients with endometrial cancer were enrolled. Median age was 58 years (range, 49–74 years). Pathologic stage was IB (83.3%) and IC (16.7%). Median tumor size was 30 mm (range, 15–50 mm). All patients completed the prescribed radiotherapy. No patient experienced a dose-limiting toxicity at the first level, and the radiotherapy dose was escalated from 25 to 30 Gy. No patients at the second dose level experienced dose-limiting toxicity. The most common Grade 2 toxicity was gastrointestinal, which was tolerable and manageable. Conclusions The maximum tolerated dose of short-course radiotherapy was 30 Gy at 6 Gy per fraction. On the basis of this result, we are conducting a Phase II study with radiotherapy delivered at 30 Gy.
Ultrafast Cine cardiac MRI in the assessment of left ventricular diastology

Cardiac MRI is the accepted gold standard for the assessment of left ventricular systolic function. However, no standards exist for the MRI assessment of left ventricular diastolic function. We hypothesize that the superior morphologic assessment enabled by ultrafast ECG gated cine TrueFISP imaging will enable assessment of left ventricular diastolic function.
1030-15 Endothelin-1 Modulates Conduit Vessel Compliance as Well as Peripheral Vascular Tone: Implications for Endothelin Mediated Regulation of Blood Pressure

Although the endothelins have well recognized effects on peripheral vascular resistance, their capacity to modulate conduit vessel tone in vivo remains incompletely defined. Therefore, characteristic impedance of the aorta was derived from measurement of central aortic pressure and flow in 6 normotensive rats at baseline and following bolus infusion of endothelin-l, the most potent peripheral vasoconstrictor of the endothelin peptides. Endothelin-l produced a typical biphasic peripheral vascular response with an initial decrease in systemic vascular resistance (svr) (dynes-sec/cm 5 ) from 2.1 × 10 5 ± 0.5 × 10 5 to 0.5 × 10 5 ± 1. × 10 5 followed by a significant (p = 0.05) increase over baseline to 2.6 × 10 5 ± 0.8 × 10 5 . A significant (p = 0.02) change in characteristic impedance of the aorta (dynes-sec/cm 5 ) was observed with an increase over the baseline value of 6.6 × 10 3 ± 2.2 × 10 3 to 8.1 × 10 3 ± 2.9 × 10 3 : which occurred immediately following bolus infusion and during the nadir, n svr, followed by a return towards the baseline value (6.6 × 10 3 ± 2.1 × 10 3 during the peak increase in svr). These in vivo data indicate that significant changes in conduit vessel tone, in addition to peripheral vascular resistance, accompany administration of endothelin-l with a significant decrease in conduit vessel compliance, reflected by increased characteristic impedance, which precedes an increase in svr. Therefore, endothelin-l modulation of systemic blood pressure may be mediated by regulation of conduit vessel compliance as well as peripheral vascular tone.
The Evolution of International Conflict Resolution: From Cold War to Peacebuilding

Shaped by the changing nature of international conflict, the field of international conflict resolution evolved significantly throughout the latter years of the twentieth century and continues to be redefined. The end of the Cold War created space for a major transformation of the international conflict resolution field. This transformation was marked by three trends:(1) an expansion from a focus on superpower negotiating strategies to a wider peacebuilding agenda, (2) an increase in the role of nongovernmental actors as both disputants and third parties in international conflicts, and (3) a growing concern about human security in addition to state security, creating both tensions and opportunities for collaboration between governmental and nongovernmental bodies.This article presents a brief overview of each trend, as well as some concluding questions to frame the field’s further development at this important juncture.
Influences of Surface Chemistry on Dehydrogenation Kinetics of Ammonia Borane in Porous Carbon Scaffold

Ammonia borane (AB) with high gravimetric hydrogen capacity is of great interest for storing hydrogen in solid form which is an important issue in the growing field of hydrogen technology. In this work the effects of surface chemistry on dehydrogenation kinetics of carbon cryogel (CC) – ammonia borane nanocomposites have been studied. Boron-modified, nitrogen-modified, and boron-nitrogen- modified CCs were used as scaffold for AB and dehydrogenation kinetics of CC-ABs was studied by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) at multiple heating rates. The results demonstrated that AB incorporated inside the mesopores of CC modified with nitrogen and boron possesses lower activation energy with enhanced kinetics of dehydrogenation due to catalytic effects as compared to AB in unmodified CC under otherwise the same or similar conditions. In addition, the lowest activation energy was observed for boron-modified CC-AB that could be attributed to the destabilization of AB by surface interactions with B2O3 that may accelerate the dehydrogenation process.
Long-term prognostic significance of ambulatory electrocardiographic findings in apparently healthy subjects ≥60 years of age

To determine the long-term prognostic significance of frequent or complex ectopic beats and ST-segment changes on 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiogram (ECG) in apparently healthy older subjects, 98 volunteers were followed up from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging who were 60 to 85 years old and free of cardiac disease by history, physical examination and maximal treadmill testing at the time of ambulatory ECG between 1978 and 1980. Over a mean follow-up period of 10 years, coronary events developed in 14 subjects: angina pectoris in 7, nonfatal myocardial infarction in 3 and sudden cardiac death in 4. The incidence of coronary events did not differ significantly between subjects who developed the following arrhythmias and those who did not, respectively: greater than or equal to 30 supraventricular ectopic beats in any hour, 18 vs 13%; greater than or equal to 100 supraventricular ectopic beats in 24 hours, 20 vs 12%; paroxysmal atrial tachycardia, 15 vs 14%; greater than or equal to 30 ventricular ectopic complexes (VECs) in any hour, 17 vs 14%; greater than or equal to 100 VECs in 24 hours, 18 vs 14%; or repetitive VECs, 20 vs 13%. The mean 24-hour heart rate (75 +/- 8 vs 72 +/- 9 beats/min) as well as the maximal (116 +/- 20 vs 111 +/- 18 beats/min) and minimal (51 +/- 6 vs 53 +/- 7 beats/min) heart rate also did not differ between the coronary event and non-event groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Multi-terahertz sidewall-etched varactor diodes and their application in submillimetre-wave sampling circuits

Schottky varactor diodes with 4 THz cutoff frequencies were fabricated using 1 μm lithography and selfaligned RIE sidewall etching. These diodes were incorporated into nonlinear transmission line pulse generators that produced 3 V steps with 0.68 ps 10-90% fall time. The lines were measured with integrated sampling circuits that had 515 GHz bandwidth
Factors affecting immunization status of college students in New York City (NYC).

SUMMARY Objectives: Although immunization is an important public health issue, there have been few studies conducted and minimal information gathered concerning the immunization status of NYC college students. In response to this void, the NYC Department of Health's Bureau of Immunization designed and implemented a study to determine the accessibility of immunization information and service. Methods: Three hundred and twenty-one college students were asked to complete an immunization survey designed by the researchers in the immunization clinics of New York City. Results: Significant correlations were found between the accessibility of immunization information and immigration status, years of residence in the U.S.A., primary language, as well as school credit completed. Results also indicated that the accessibility of immunization service correlates significantly with ethnicity, immigration status, primary language, years of residence in the U.S.A., accessibility of immunization information, insurance sta...
Arteriographic management of traumatic arteriocalyceal fistula.

A patient with a direct arterial fistula into a calyx caused by a stab wound was successfully treated by transcatheter Gelfoam occlusion.
Magnetohydrodynamic energy-bypass procedure in a three-dimensional scramjet

A generic configuration is employed to explore the kinematic and dynamic structure of the flowfield in a Mach 8 scramjet with and without magnetohydrodynamic (MHD-) bypass. Particular emphasis is placed on describing the three-dimensional interaction between the fluid and the electromagnetic field in a given plasma environment. Faraday-type operation is considered with coarsely segmented electrodes in a generator and accelerator respectively mounted on either side of a constant-area isolator/combustor element. The numerical procedure adopts a robust high-resolution technique to solve the governing equations, which include the full three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations supplemented with electromagnetic source terms and a Poisson equation for consistency of the electric field with current continuity. Spatially variable combustion and plasma parameters are either specified or phenomenologically derived. Various three-dimensional features such as swept shock-wave boundary layer interactions have a profound impact on operation. Separated regions and vortical structures interface with the current, electric, and ponderomotive force fields to yield complex three-dimensional features that indicate that two-dimensional and inviscid analyses are inappropriate. The MHD generator shows the potential to efficiently slow down flow in the inlet, thus decreasing scramjet inlet length, and to reduce the total temperature of the flow. However, separation causes near-wall secondary eddy currents and local body force reversal, thus limiting the useful length of the generator. Accelerator operation is characterized by more prominent irreversibilities, especially near walls, where electric and body force field gradients are large. Trends in integrated pressure and viscous and magnetic force are summarized.
The solubility of noble gases in crude oil at 25-100°C

Abstract The solubility of the noble gases He, Ne, Ar, Kr and Xe was measured in two typical crude oils at temperatures of 25–100°C. The oil samples were obtained from the Elk Hills oil field located in southern San Joaquin Valley, California. The experimental procedure consisted of placing a known amount of gas with a known volume of crude oil in a stainless steel hydrothermal pressure vessel. The vessel was housed inside an oven and the entire unit rotates providing continuous mixing. The amount of gas dissolved in oil at a measured temperature and partial pressure of gas was used to calculate the solubility constants for these gases. Results show that the solubility of He and Ne in both oils is approximately the same; solubility then increases with atomic mass, with the solubility of Xe at 25°C being two orders of magnitude higher than that of He. The gas solubilities are somewhat higher in the lower density (higher API gravity) oil. The solubility of Ar is approximately constant in the range of temperatures of this study. The solubilities of He and Ne increase, but those of Kr and Xe decrease with increasing temperatures. Solubilities of noble gases in crude oil are significantly higher than their solubilities in water. For example, the solubilities of He and Xe at 25°C in the light oil of this study are, respectively, 3 and 24 times higher than their solubilities in pure water, and they are 15 and 300 times higher than in a brine with a salinity of 350,000 mg/l dissolved solids. These large and variable differences in the solubilities of noble gases in oil and water indicate that, in sedimentary basins with oil, these gases must be partitioned between oil, water and natural gas before they are used to deduce the origin and residence time of these fluids.
Evaluation of Morphologically Unclassified Renal Cell Carcinoma with Electron Microscopy and Novel Renal Markers: Implications for Tumor Reclassification

Despite progress in the classification of renal cell carcinomas (RCC), a subset of these carcinomas remains unclassified (RCC-U). Patients with RCC-U usually present at a late stage and have a poor prognosis. Several studies have attempted to extract new classifications of newly recognized renal carcinomas from the group of RCC-U. However, to date, no studies in the literature have attempted to characterize the RCC-U with unrecognizable cell types beyond the morphologic evaluation on H&E-stained sections. The purpose of this study was to evaluate this group of RCC-U using electron microscopy and novel renal markers. Ten cases of such RCC-U were identified for this study. At the ultrastructural level, they did not show typical morphology that resembled any of the well-studied, recognizable subtypes of RCC. However, they did reveal features of renal tubular epithelial differentiation. The histologic, ultrastructural, and immunophenotypic features indicated that these tumors are poorly differentiated renal epithelial tumors, possibly derived from the proximal nephron, with an immunohistochemical profile similar to high-grade clear cell RCC. It is, therefore, proposed that this group of renal carcinomas be renamed "poorly differentiated renal cell carcinoma, not otherwise specified." The current study showed that PAX-8 and carbonic anhydrase IX are reliable markers for this novel group of renal carcinoma, and that electron microscopy is an important adjunct in the evaluation of new and unusual renal entities.
Aestivation (Summer Diapause) in Hypera postica (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). III. Neuroendocrine and Physiological Adjustments in Postemergent Active and Diapausing Adults

The histology of the neuroendocrine system (protocerebral neurosecretory cells, corpora cardiaca and corpora allata) has been studied using Ewen's aldehyde fuchsin technique in colonies of diapausing and reproducing Hypera postica (Gyllenhal) females with examinations made at 0, 14, and 28 days following emergence. The developmental patterns, i.e., gland volume, and degree of staining were then correlated with the gross physiological functions (reproductive organ length, oxygen consumption, and lipid levels) preparatory to both diapause and reproduction.
Identity Structures: Holons, Boundaries, Hierarchies, and the Formation of the Collaborative Identity:

An individual’s identity and identity processes are important factors in understanding the individual within a system. Drawing on Marcia’s identity theory and Minuchin’s ideas of structural family therapy, in this article, we aim to further the understanding of identity. It puts forth a theory of identity that suggests that identity is not a single entity, but rather it is a structure formed by identity holons. The status of each identity holon (diffused, foreclosed, achieved, or moratorium) creates a boundary around the holon that influences the hierarchy of the identity. The hierarchy of the identity creates the collaborative identity. Further, we discuss the application of this theory in a therapeutic setting.
Special report: the interfacial behavior of biomaterials, 1979.

In this excellent and analytical article, the immediate past President of the Society for Biomaterials reviews some of the most salient aspects of the Biomaterials scientists' work. His observations and comments are significant and crystallize current thought succinctly and with intelligence.—Ed.
Weak-Electromagnetic Decays of Hyperons in a Broken SU ( 3 ) ⊗ SU ( 3 ) Model

The weak (strangeness-changing)---electromagnetic decays of the hyperons of the type $B\ensuremath{\rightarrow}B\ensuremath{\gamma}$ are considered in a broken $\mathrm{SU}(3)\ensuremath{\bigotimes}\mathrm{SU}(3)$ model. Various sets of assumptions regarding the transformation properties of the particles, the breaking, and the Hamiltonian are examined and for each a set of sum rules for the decay amplitudes is obtained.
In Vivo Stoichiometry of Shelterin Components

Human telomeres bind shelterin, the six-subunit protein complex that protects chromosome ends from the DNA damage response and regulates telomere length maintenance by telomerase. We used quantitative immunoblotting to determine the abundance and stoichiometry of the shelterin proteins in the chromatin-bound protein fraction of human cells. The abundance of shelterin components was similar in primary and transformed cells and was not correlated with telomere length. The duplex telomeric DNA binding factors in shelterin, TRF1 and TRF2, were sufficiently abundant to cover all telomeric DNA in cells with short telomeres. The TPP1·POT1 heterodimer was present 50–100 copies/telomere, which is in excess of its single-stranded telomeric DNA binding sites, indicating that some of the TPP1·POT1 in shelterin is not associated with the single-stranded telomeric DNA. TRF2 and Rap1 were present at 1:1 stoichiometry as were TPP1 and POT1. The abundance of TIN2 was sufficient to allow each TRF1 and TRF2 to bind to TIN2. Remarkably, TPP1 and POT1 were ∼10-fold less abundant than their TIN2 partner in shelterin, raising the question of what limits the accumulation of TPP1·POT1 at telomeres. Finally, we report that a 10-fold reduction in TRF2 affects the regulation of telomere length but not the protection of telomeres in tumor cell lines.
Experimental evidence of an x-ray laser.

Abstract A three-stage neodymium:glass laser has been used to produce collimated x-radiation from an aqueous copper(II) sulfate gel. The 1.06-μm Q-switch pulse from the neodymium laser was focused by a cylindrical lens to a horizontal line traversing a microscope slide sandwich that contained a thin film of gel. The emission from the gel was detected as a 0.2-mm spot on shielded, standard x-ray photographic film at distances that varied from 30 to 110 cm from the sandwich. Spot size did not increase with distance, suggesting coherence of the x-rays.
The occipital cortex is hyperexcitable in migraine: experimental evidence.

Objectives.—Threshold for generation of magnetophosphenes has been reported to be lower in migraine. We compared the threshold for eliciting phosphenes by transcranial magnetic stimulation and the ability to visually trigger headache in a select group of individuals with migraine with and without aura to normal controls. Methods.—Transcranial magnetic stimulation was performed using the Cadwell MES-10 stimulator. A circular coil, 9.5 cm in diameter, was applied to the occipital scalp (7 cm above the inion). Stimulator intensity was increased in 10% increments until subjects reported visual phenomena or 100% intensity was reached. Stimulator intensity was then fine-tuned to determine the threshold at which phosphenes were seen. In the same subjects, visual stimulation was given in 3.0 T MRI and if a headache occurred the response was recorded. Results.—Fifteen subjects with migraine were compared to 8 controls. A significant proportion of the migraineurs (86.7%) developed phosphenes compared to the controls (25%) (P=.006). The probability of triggering a headache was also higher in the migraineurs (53%); no headache was triggered in the controls (P=.019). A significant correlation was found between the threshold for phosphenes on transcranial magnetic stimulation and visually triggered headache (P=.002). When only migraine was considered, there was again a significant trend (P=.O84). Conclusions.—There is a difference in threshold for excitability of occipital cortex in migraineurs and controls.The hyperexcitable visual cortex in migraine is predisposed to visually triggered headache.
A matching theorem for graphs

Abstract Let the vertices of an undirected graph be given labels 1, 2, …, n , 1′, 2′, …, n ′ such that each vertex has at least n −1 different labels without both i and i ′ for any i . Then among all paths between a vertex labeled i and a vertex labeled i ′ for any i , the maximum number which are mutually edge disjoint equals the minimum size of an edge cut-set separating all vertices labeled i from all those labeled i ′ for any i .
An improved hybrid particle-element method for hypervelocity impact simulation

An improved hybrid particle-finite element method has been developed for hypervelocity impact simulation. The method combines the general contact-impact capabilities of particle codes with the true Lagrangian kinematics of large strain finite element formulations. Unlike some alternative schemes which couple Lagrangian finite element models with smooth particle hydrodynamics, the present formulation makes no use of slidelines or penalty forces.
Classification of Solutions for a System of Integral Equations

Abstract In this paper, we study positive solutions of the following system of integral equations in R n : with Under the natural integrability conditions u ∈ L p+1(R n ) and v ∈ L q+1(R n ), we prove that all the solutions are radially symmetric and monotonic decreasing about some point. To prove this result, we introduce an integral form of the method of moving planes that is quite different from the traditional method of moving planes for PDEs. We expect to see applications of this new method to many problems.