cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rapid evolution and the convergence of ecological and evolutionary time

Recent studies have documented rates of evolution of ecologically important phenotypes sufficiently fast that they have the potential to impact the outcome of ecological interactions while they are underway. Observations of this type go against accepted wisdom that ecological and evolutionary dynamics occur at very different time scales. While some authors have evaluated the rapidity of a measured evolutionary rate by comparing it to the overall distribution of measured evolutionary rates, we believe that ecologists are mainly interested in rapid evolution because of its potential to impinge on ecological processes. We therefore propose that rapid evolution be defined as a genetic change occurring rapidly enough to have a measurable impact on simultaneous ecological change. Using this definition we propose a framework for decomposing rates of ecological change into components driven by simultaneous evolutionary change and by change in a non-evolutionary factor (e.g. density dependent population dynamics, abiotic environmental change). Evolution is judged to be rapid in this ecological context if its contribution to ecological change is large relative to the contribution of other factors. We provide a worked example of this approach based on a theoretical predator–prey interaction [Abrams, P. & Matsuda, H. (1997). Evolution, 51, 1740], and find that in this system the impact of prey evolution on predator per capita growth rate is 63% that of internal ecological dynamics. We then propose analytical methods for measuring these contributions in field situations, and apply them to two long-term data sets for which suitable ecological and evolutionary data exist. For both data sets relatively high rates of evolutionary change have been found when measured as character change in standard deviations per generation (haldanes). For Darwin's finches evolving in response to fluctuating rainfall [Grant, P.R. & Grant, B.R. (2002). Science, 296, 707], we estimate that evolutionary change has been more rapid than ecological change by a factor of 2.2. For a population of freshwater copepods whose life history evolves in response to fluctuating fish predation [Hairston, N.G. Jr & Dillon, T.A. (1990). Evolution, 44, 1796], we find that evolutionary change has been about one quarter the rate of ecological change – less than in the finch example, but nevertheless substantial. These analyses support the view that in order to understand temporal dynamics in ecological processes it is critical to consider the extent to which the attributes of the system under investigation are simultaneously changing as a result of rapid evolution.
Intrauterine traumatic lesions of the heart

Abstract A case of intrauterine cardiac injury which was produced by a nonpenetrating blow to the maternal abdomen and resulted in the death of the fetus is reported.
Spirituality as a Foundation for Freedom and Creative Imagination in International Business Ethics

Spirituality, in the broad sense, provides a deeper foundation for principles of international business ethics than legalistic, command-based ethics programs. Spiritual-based principles and values are presupposed and endorsed by established legal and ethical principles for international business. Identifying such spiritual-based principles and values requires the exercise of moral imagination and an openness to values embraced by the world's religions. Once identified, a new realm of moral freedom is attained for multinational corporations which may help them move beyond an "ethics for sale" orientation.
Caveolar targeting of glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the electron microscopic techniques used to determine whether a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored protein associates with caveolae. The biochemical association of GPI-anchored proteins with caveolae is characterized. Many GPI-anchored proteins including the folate receptor, Thy-1 antigen, 5’-nucleotidase, alkaline phosphatase, decay-accelerating factor (DAF-1), and prion protein (C) are localized within caveolae. The association of GPI-anchored proteins with caveolae is demonstrated by both electron microscopic and biochemical techniques. Each method provides insight into the interactions of a unique class of proteins with specialized microdomains on the cell surface. GPI-anchored proteins are found associated with caveolae prior to the recognition of GPI anchors on proteins. The protocols of the immunolocalization procedures used to identify the association between GPI-anchored proteins and caveolae are outlined in the chapter. The consistent localization of GPI-anchored proteins in caveolae and association of the proteins with caveolin suggest that the clustering of GPI-anchored proteins in caveolae provide one mechanism for coupling signal transduction pathways with the GPI anchors. Cross-linking of Thy-1 receptors in T cells activates calcium transport and cell proliferation. The integrity of the clusters is dependent on cholesterol, glycolipids, and possibly calcium. Clustering of GPI-anchored proteins involves complex organization of membrane micro-domains.
Preparation and properties of porcine parotid butyrylcholinesterase.

Abstract A butyrylcholinesterase, purified from porcine parotid glands, behaved as a single component in sedimentation velocity and sedimentation equilibrium centrifugation and migrated as a single esterase in starch gel electrophoresis. The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be 368,000. Amino acid analysis showed a high proline content (7.6%) and the presence of two unidentified components. Substrate specificity and inhibitor studies indicated that the enzyme is a butyrylcholinesterase of the type described in porcine serum and colostrum. Over a broad range of acetylcholine concentrations, the enzyme follows MichaelisMenten kinetics. A study of product inhibition indicated choline to be a competitive inhibitor with a Ki of 2.4 x 10-3 m; no inhibition by acetate could be shown. Maximum activity and lowest Km with acetylcholine were observed at pH values 8 to 9. The effect of pH on Vmax suggested that a group at the active site of the enzyme has a pK' of 6.3 to 6.5. Tetramethylammonium ion was a competitive inhibitor, the dissociation constant of which decreased as the pH was increased.
Multiple Scattering of Flexural Waves on Thin Plates

In this paper, the scattering of flexural waves on a thin Kirchhoff plate by an ensemble of through-thickness circular scatterers is formulated by using the concept of the T-matrix in a generalized matrix notation, with a focus on deterministic numerical computations. T-matrices for common types of scatterers, including the void (hole), rigid, and elastic scatterers, are obtained. Wave field properties in the multiple-scattering setting, such as the scattering amplitude, and scattering cross section, as well as properties of the T-matrix due to the energy conservation are discussed. After an extensive validation, numerical examples are used to explore the band gap formation due to different types of scatterers. One of the interesting observations is that a type of inclusion commonly referred to as the “rigid inclusion” in fact represents a clamped boundary that is closer to a riveted confinement than a rigid scatterer; and an array of such scatterers can block the wave transmission at virtually all frequencies.
Adaptive Energy-Efficient Control Allocation for Planar Motion Control of Over-Actuated Electric Ground Vehicles

A hierarchical control structure, consisting of a high-level dynamic sliding mode control (SMC) and a low-level adaptive energy-efficient control allocation (A-EECA) scheme, is presented to track the planar motions of an electric ground vehicle with four in-wheel motors while achieving the optimal energy consumption. By explicitly incorporating the efficiency functions and input constraints of in-wheel motors in the low-level A-EECA design, virtual control signals from the high-level dynamic SMC are distributed to four actuators with an adaptive convergence to the energy-optimal operating points. Taking allocation errors between the virtual control efforts and the real actuation realizations as inputs, the input-to-state stability of the overall feedback system is proved. Both simulation and experimental results in different maneuvers are demonstrated to validate the control design. The high-level vehicle tracking performance, low-level torque distributions, and total energy consumptions in the test maneuvers are compared between the proposed A-EECA and a standard pseudoinverse control allocation without considering the power optimization.
Revisiting Abu Ghraib: Journalists' Sourcing and Framing Patterns:

Drawing on the literature related to indexing and sourcing, this study analyzes portrayals and sourcing patterns of New York Times coverage of Abu Ghraib and invocations of the events during Albert...
Investigation of the calcium-binding site of the oxygen evolving complex of photosystem II using 87Sr ESEEM spectroscopy.

The proximity of the calcium/strontium binding site of the oxygen evolving complex (OEC) of photosystem II (PSII) to the paramagnetic Mn cluster is explored with 87Sr three-pulse electron spin−echo...
Compiling for power with ScalaPipe

In the world of mobile and embedded devices, most of which are battery powered, optimizing computations for low energy is becoming increasingly important. One approach to diminished energy consumption is the use of dedicated hardware logic (rather than general-purpose processors) to execute some portion of the application load. Due to the diversity of applications that one may run on the same device, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) are an attractive target since they can readily be reconfigured to implement different functions and are known to provide significant energy savings in certain domains. Unfortunately, FPGAs are difficult to program, typically requiring expertise in hardware description languages. Here we analyze the potential energy benefits from offloading computations to an FPGA device when starting from a high-level language expression of an application in ScalaPipe [1], which is a domain-specific language embedded in the Scala programming language [2] for creating streaming applications on heterogeneous systems consisting of general-purpose processors and FPGAs. We explore the effect of several synthesis optimizations on improving energy usage without sacrificing application performance, concluding that it is possible to reduce energy consumption significantly for computations even when expressed in a high-level language. Here we investigate total energy consumption, which is a combination of the power use and application run time. All of the optimizations considered improve performance, but some also increase power use, which can be a net loss in energy depending on the application.
Heterogeneity of stimulated dopamine overflow within rat striatum as observed with in vivo voltammetry

Abstract Overflow of dopamine has been measured in the striatum of anesthetized rats with 60-Hz, 300-μA electrical stimulations of the medial forebrain bundle. Electrodes were placed in the region of the caudate-putamen or the nucleus accumbens. The elliptical electrodes were fabricated from carbon fibers and had a major radius of 35 μm. Overflow was detected with fast-scan voltammetry repeated at 100-ms intervals. In both brain regions the detected substance had the voltammetric properties of dopamine. Measurements were made at different vertical electrode positions, varied by 100-μm intervals. Significant differences in stimulated overflow were observed between each position in both brain regions. The dimensions over which overflow was observed compare to that of previous descriptions of the patch and matrix topology of the striatum. When the electrode was moved in 10-μm intervals the variance was considerably less. The observed rate of overflow during stimulation exactly correlated with the maximal amount of dopamine observed during a stimulation. In addition, the overflow rate and the disappearance rate also correlated. This suggests that in both brain regions uptake and release sites are anatomically close to one another. The major difference between overflow curves measured in the two different regions was the appearance of an apparent mass transfer barrier to the electrode in the caudate-putamen.
Evidence that Structural Rearrangements and/or Flexibility during TCR Binding Can Contribute to T Cell Activation

While in many cases the half-life of T cell receptor (TCR) binding to a particular ligand is a good predictor of activation potential, numerous exceptions suggest that other physical parameter(s) must also play a role. Accordingly, we analyzed the thermodynamics of TCR binding to a series of peptide-MHC ligands, three of which are more stimulatory than their stability of binding would predict. Strikingly, we find that during TCR binding these outliers show anomalously large changes in heat capacity, an indicator of conformational change or flexibility in a binding interaction. By combining the values for heat capacity (DeltaCp) and the half-life of TCR binding (t(1/2)), we find that we can accurately predict the degree of T cell stimulation. Structural analysis shows significant changes in the central TCR contact residue of the peptide-MHC, indicating that structural rearrangements within the TCR-peptide-MHC interface can contribute to T cell activation.
The evidence funnel: Highlighting the importance of research literacy in the delivery of evidence informed complementary health care

Summary The intent of this paper is to present a view of evidence informed complementary and alternative health care in which the importance of research literacy is emphasized. To this end, the concept of an evidence funnel is suggested. This funnel helps to demonstrate the crucial role of research literacy in linking a non-hierarchal evidence structure to evidence informed patient care. One of the implications of this perspective is the need for professional programs and schools to plan curricula such that students develop a reasonable understanding of basic research methods. Additionally, students should have sufficient opportunity to evaluate and utilize evidence during, in particular, the clinical component of their education.
Two cheers for behavioral momentum

Behavioral momentum is a useful metaphor reminding us that with constant conditions, ongoing behavior – in the form of response rate – would be expected to remain constant. But despite an impressive array of behavioral experiments, the concept has not yet been applied in a way that would make it useful as a general behavioral law.
Current Concepts in Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids

Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) are synthetic derivatives of testosterone. According to surveys and media reports, the legal and illegal use of these drugs is gaining popularity. Testosterone restores sex drive and boosts muscle mass, making it central to 2 of society's rising preoccupations: perfecting the male body and sustaining the male libido. The anabolic effects of AAS have been questioned for decades, but recent scientific investigation of supraphysiologic doses supports the efficacy of these regimens. Testosterone has potent anabolic effects on the musculoskeletal system, including an increase in lean body mass, a dose-related hypertrophy of muscle fibers, and an increase in muscle strength. For athletes requiring speed and strength and men desiring a cosmetic muscle makeover, illegal steroids are a powerful lure, despite the risk of subjective side effects. Recent clinical studies have discovered novel therapeutic uses for physiologic doses of AAS, without any significant adverse effects in the short term. In the wake of important scientific advances during the past decade, the positive and negative effects of AAS warrant reevaluation. Guidelines for the clinical evaluation of AAS users will be presented for sports medicine practitioners.
A model of the thermal processing of particles in solar nebula shocks: Application to the cooling rates of chondrules

We present a model for the thermal processing of particles in shock waves typical of the solar nebula. This shock model improves on existing models in that the dissociation and recombination of H2 and the evaporation of particles are accounted for in their effects on the mass, momentum and energy fluxes. Also, besides thermal exchange with the gas and gas-drag heating, particles can be heated by absorbing the thermal radiation emitted by other particles. The flow of radiation is calculated using the equations of radiative transfer in a slab geometry. We compute the thermal histories of particles as they encounter and pass through the shock. We apply this shock model to the melting and cooling of chondrules in the solar nebula. We constrain the combinations of shock speed and gas density needed for chondrules to reach melting temperatures, and show that these are consistent with shock waves generated by gravitational instabilities in the protoplanetary disk. After their melting, cooling rates of chondrules in the range 10-1000 K h^(-1) are naturally reproduced by the shock model. Chondrules are kept warm by the reservoir of hot shocked gas, which cools only as fast as the dust grains and chondrules themselves can radiate away the gas's energy. We predict a positive correlation between the concentration of chondrules in a region and the cooling rates of chondrules in that region. This correlation is supported by the unusually high frequency of (rapidly cooled) barred chondrules among compound chondrules, which must have collided preferentially in regions of high chondrule density. We discuss these and other compelling consistencies between the meteoritic record and the shock wave model of chondrule formation.
New optical design of adaptive optics system at Lick Observatory

We present the requirements, design, and resulting new layout for the laser guide star/natural guide star (LGUNGS) adaptive optics (AO) system on the 3-meter Shane telescope at Lick Observatory. This layout transforms our engineering prototype into a stable, reliable, maintainable end-user-oriented system, suitable for use as a facility instrument. Important new features include convenient calibration using proven phase-shifting diffraction interferometer or phase-diversity techniques'; a new wavefront sensor design that uses the science path's f/28.5 parabola; improved field stop mechanics for better Rayleigh- scatter rejection in LGS mode and better guide-star selection NGS mode; high-sensitivity, wide-field acquisition camera; and significant improvements in adjustment motorization and optomechanical stability. Keywords: Adaptive optics, Lick Observatory, laser guide-star, natural guide-star, phase-shifting diffraction interferometer, phase-diversity, optical design, Bravais lens
Cloud cover effects on physical soil temperatures with buried targets

Cloud cover affects direct and diffuse solar radiation and IR downwelling, and the values for these 3 components are calculated using measured meterological data and varying the values of cloud cover and cloud type using algorithms from the literature. The effects of these 3 transient forcing function components on surface, subsurface and target interior temperatures are studied in this work. The cloud cover effects are isolated from the varying multi-day diurnal cycles by repeating the meteorological data for 1 day. Cloud cover is a subgrid variable and hence, is often reported as 0 or 100%. This study includes a comparison of the effects of these two cloud cover values on a single geographical location for 6 days, with each day repeating the meterological conditions of day 1. This work involves using predictions from the Countermine Computational Test Bed (CTB), a 3D finite element model that accounts for coupled heat and moisture transfer in soil and targets.
Genetic manipulation of lysine catabolism in maize kernels.

In plants, lysine catabolism is thought to be controlled by a bifunctional enzyme, lysine ketoglutarate reductase/saccharopine dehydrogenase (LKR/SDH). Lysine is converted to saccharopine, through condensation with α-ketoglutarate, by LKR, and subsequently to glutamate and α-aminoadipate-δ-semialdehyde by SDH. To investigate lysine catabolism in maize kernels, we generated transgenic plants with suppressed LKR/SDH activity in either endosperm or embryo. We found that the suppression of LKR/SDH in endosperm induced an increase in free lysine in developing endosperm, which peaked at 32 days after pollination. At later stages of kernel development, most of the free lysine was found in the embryo along with an elevated level of saccharopine. By combining endosperm LKR/SDH suppression with embryo LKR/SDH suppression through crosses, the saccharopine level in embryo was reduced and resulted in higher lysine accumulation in mature kernels. These results reveal new insights into how free lysine level is regulated and distributed in developing maize kernels and demonstrate the possibility of engineering high lysine corn via the suppression of lysine catabolism.
Evidence for independent actions of vasopressin on renal inner medullary cyclic AMP and prostaglandin E production: relationship of the prostaglandin E response to hormone pressor activity.

Arginine vasopressin (AVP) has been shown to stimulate prostaglandin (PG) production in renal medulla, while PGs have been implicated in the suppression of the antidiuretic activity of AVP. These findings have suggested a local negative feedback system involving PGs in the modulation of the antidiuretic activity of AVP. However, coupling of the antidiuretic activity of AVP to its action to increase medullary PG production is not established. In the present study of rat inner medullary slices, we concurrently examined in the same incubate the relationship between the actions of AVP to increase media immunoreactive PGE (iPGE) and tissue cAMP, the presumed first biochemical step in expression of the antidiuretic activity of the hormone. The synthetic AVP analogue [1, d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)AVP], which selectively blocks the pressor but not the antidiuretic activity of AVP, abolished the action of AVP to increase media iPGE in inner medullary incubates but did not alter AVP induced increases in tissue cAMP in slices from the same incubates. By contrast, the analogue [d(CH2)5Tyr(Et)VAVP], which blocks both the pressor and antidiuretic activity of AVP, inhibited both the cAMP and iPGE responses to AVP. The analogue 1-deamino-8-D-AVP (dD'AVP), which has potent antidiuretic activity but little if any pressor activity, markedly stimulated inner medullary cAMP accumulation without altering media iPGE. These results indicate that the acute actions of AVP to increase inner medullary cAMP and iPGE are separable and independent. The latter effect of AVP appears to be linked to the pressor rather than the antidiuretic activity of the hormone.U
Spinal cord infarction associated with subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Paraplegia is a rare complication of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) [1]. Acute paraparesis is proposed to be due to distortion of pyramidal tracts from hydrocephalus. The delayed occurrence is thought to be related to mass effect from interhemispheric clot or parasagittal ischemic strokes from vasospasm in the anterior cerebral circulation [1]. Spinal imaging in these reports has largely been reported negative. We report the delayed development of flaccid paraplegia from spinal cord stroke in a patient of subarachnoid hemorrhage caused by a ruptured anterior communicating artery aneurysm. This stroke was adjacent to a large collection of blood in the lumbo-sacral subarachnoid space. We discuss the various explanations of these findings including the novel possibility of vasospasm in spinal circulation.
LANGUAGE PRODUCTION IN YOUNGER AND OLDER ADULTS

Only six of 74 linguistic variables studied were affected by age when younger and older subjects were compared. Three of these variables related to pragmatics, two to semantics, and one to syntax. No differences were noted for the parameter of phonology.
Evaluation of fixed- versus variable-modulation treatment modes for charged-particle irradiation of the gastrointestinal tract

The clinical usefulness of variable‐modulation dose delivery of neon ion and proton beams over fixed‐modulation beams is evaluated for several patients with tumors in the gastrointestinal tract by comparing dose distributions, dose volume histograms, and predictions of normal tissue complication probabilities calculated with the two methods. Both techniques provide excellent coverage of the target volume with neon ion and proton beams. The advantage of variable modulation is that less dose is delivered proximal to the target volume. For tumors in the gastrointestinal tract, this implies that less dose is given to the liver, gut, kidneys, and lungs. For the ten patients considered in this study, variable‐modulation reduced the total integral dose by an average of 17% for neon ion beams and by 18% for protons as compared to fixed‐modulation. If the tumor volume is excluded, the reduction in the integral dose to normal tissues ranged from 15% to 32% for neon ions and from 18% to 34% for proton beams. These gains are larger than those anticipated on the basis of an analytic study by Goitein and Chen [Med. Phys. 10, 831–840 (1983)], which predicted integral dose reductions of the order of 10% for protons and 14% for neon ions. They are also larger than those reported in a similar study by Urie and Goitein [Med. Phys. 16, 593–601 (1989)] for proton irradiation of skull‐base tumors. This is probably because the tumors in the GI tract considered in this study were more irregularly shaped than Goitein and Chen’s analytic model assumes. The results of this study also suggest that due to increased sparing of normal tissues, the number of different portal directions required to achieve a satisfactory treatment plan will be reduced for variable‐modulation beam delivery systems. This implies that variable‐modulation treatment plans will be easier to execute than current fixed‐modulation plans.
Observations: The Next Accreditation System: A Perspective

For the 7 Phase I programs, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education's (ACGME) Next Accreditation System (NAS) is here, and for Phase II programs, NAS will go into effect in July 2014. The NAS annual data include current citations, program attrition/changes, scholarly activity, board examination pass rates, elements from the ACGME resident and faculty surveys, residents' clinical experiences based on case log or survey data, and Milestone data. Another area at the institutional level is the results of the Clinical Learning Environment Review (CLER). To facilitate ongoing local improvement, triggers defined by the graduate medical education (GME) committee will need to be established to determine whether a program requires additional attention, similar to an internal review that assesses the program's performance on the common program requirements without a program information form. Another area critical to success will be adequate communication with and education of all local stakeholders, ranging from the chief medical officer to institutional leaders, GME staff, program directors/coordinators, fellows/residents, and others such as nurses. This is particularly true for CLER visits, as site visitors may randomly speak with any stakeholder about such topics as professionalism, transitions of care, supervision, and fatigue education and mitigation. The Milestone evaluations that are part of NAS will also require added support of programs by their central GME office. The GME office should establish a group of people with knowledge about assessment to handle questions and to educate all clinical competency committee members, faculty, and other stakeholders. In the long run, these activities to usher in the NAS will likely improve institutional GME processes in ways that will benefit the quality of residents' education and professional development.
Degradation of Crude Protein in Forages Determined by In Vitro and In Situ Procedures

Abstract Objectives were to determine in selected forages fiber and protein fractions, in vitro and in situ CP degradability, and to compare in vitro methods of estimating rumen CP degradability with the in situ bag technique. Forages analyzed (five samples per treatment except alfalfa hays, which had four) included alfalfa as baled hay, alfalfa ensiled in conventional upright silos, alfalfa ensiled in oxygen-limiting silos, ammonia-treated corn silage, untreated corn silage, and orchardgrass hay. Untreated corn silages had the greatest protease insoluble CP at 48h, indicating protein in corn silage is not degraded well by protease enzyme. In situ CP degradability was greater than 80% for all ensiled forages. Ensiled forages had the greatest estimated A fraction (rapidly degraded in the rumen), alfalfa hays had the greatest B fraction (intermediate rate of degradation), and orchardgrass hays had the greatest C fraction (not degraded in rumen). High correlations between in situ degradability and some in vitro measurements suggest laboratory techniques of estimating CP degradability of forages are possible. For silages, buffer-soluble CP had the greatest correlation (.58) with in situ degradability; for hays, NDIN had the greatest correlation (−.83).
Multiple lines of evidence to identify the sources of fecal pollution at a freshwater beach in Hamilton Harbour, Lake Ontario

Abstract Multiple microbial source-tracking methods were investigated to determine the source of elevated Escherichia coli levels at Bayfront Park Beach in Hamilton Harbour, Lake Ontario. E. coli concentrations were highest in wet foreshore sand (114,000 CFU/g dry sand) and ankle-depth water (177,000 CFU/100 mL), declining rapidly in deeper waters. Many gull and geese droppings were enumerated each week on the foreshore sand within 2 m of the waterline. Both antimicrobial resistance analysis and rep-PCR DNA fingerprinting of E. coli collected at the beach and nearby fecal pollution sources indicated that E. coli in sand and water samples were predominantly from bird droppings rather than from pet droppings or municipal wastewater. Both methods indicated a trend of decreasing bird contamination, and increasing wastewater contamination, moving offshore from the beach. When foreshore sand was treated as a reservoir and secondary source of E. coli, waterborne E. coli were found to be more similar to sand isolates than bird or wastewater isolates out to 150 m offshore. Multiple lines of evidence indicated the importance of bird droppings and foreshore sand as primary and secondary sources of E. coli contamination in beach water at Bayfront Park.
Thermal Stability Studies of Li‐Ion Cells and Components

Thermal stability of fully charged 550 mAh prismatic Li‐ion cells (Sn‐doped carbon) and their components are investigated. Accelerating rate calorimetry (ARC) is used to determine the onset temperature of exothermic chemical reactions that force the cell into thermal runaway. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry analysis are used to determine the thermal stability of the cell's positive electrode (PE) and negative electrode (NE) materials from 35 to 400°C. The cell self‐heating exothermic reactions start at 123°C, and thermal runaway occurs near 167°C. The total exothermic heat generation of the NE and PE materials are 697 and 407 J/g, respectively. Heat generations of the NE and PE materials, washed in diethyl carbonate (DEC) and dried at ≈65°C under vacuum, are significantly lower than unwashed samples. Lithium plating increases the heat generation of the NE material at temperatures near the lithium melting point. Comparison of the heat generation profiles from DSC and ARC tests indicates that thermal runaway of this cell is close to the decomposition temperature range of the unwashed PE material. We conclude that the heat generation from the decomposition of PE material and reaction of that with electrolyte initiates thermal runaway in a Li‐ion cell, under thermally or abusive conditions. © 1999 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.
From principles to programming languages (and back)

While budding linguists have always had the freedom to tinker, the Web has revolutionized linguistic experiments in two key ways. First, the language-neutrality of network abstractions have made it possible for Web-deployed applications to be written in any language at all, allowing new languages to show off their capabilities. Second, the Web has greatly facilitated the dissemination of these experimental languages. As a result, new languages crop up almost daily, lovingly tended by their designers and user communities and vigorously debated on popular forums. This is a far cry from the programming languages world of just over a decade ago. Most of these languages are not designed and developed in formal settings. As a result, they lack many of the tools that this conference’s audience takes for granted: static analyses, type systems, verification engines, and so on. As we know, these tools not only improve usability, their construction serves as a design check: odd spots in the language design usually manifest themselves as difficulties in building or proving properties about the tool. This leads to a virtuous co-development cycle, or at least forces the language designer to justify the inclusion of such difficult elements. A cynic might question why every language experiment deserves these tools. Because many of these languages will never see widespread adoption, they may not be worth a significant investment of formal effort. To this, there are three counter-arguments:
Going beyond access: On-line education in Hawaii and the Pacific Islands

This paper discusses several approaches to Web-based learning, on-line learning and IT instruction that have been implemented at the University of Hawaii, including studio-based learning, techniques for implementing critical evaluation skills when utilizing on-line sources, virtual museum use, the use of metacognitive prompts in on-line instruction and outreach to other Pacific Island communities. The paper also addresses aspects of ICT and on-line instruction and community building in multicultural settings that represent some of the most geographically isolated regions on the planet, with socioeconomic disparities spanning the digital divide. This paper shows how technology can be used to promote higher order thinking, metacognition and critical evaluation skills that encourage students to use ICT in more discriminatory and evaluative ways. The paper also shows that using virtual museums for sharing cultural knowledge and using metacognitive prompts for critical analyses are other ways of enriching knowledge through the use of the Internet. Furthermore, technology can be used for communicating with different populations regardless of income or ethnicity, and the Internet can improve access to higher education for rural populations that would not consider university access a possibility without being provided with the support that technology can give.
A Four-Hour Yeast Bioassay for the Direct Measure of Estrogenic Activity in Wastewater without Sample Extraction, Concentration, or Sterilization

Abstract The assay described here represents an improved yeast bioassay that provides a rapid yet sensitive screening method for EDCs with very little hands-on time and without the need for sample preparation. Traditional receptor-mediated reporter assays in yeast were performed twelve to twenty four hours after ligand addition, used colorimetric substrates, and, in many cases, required high, non-physiological concentrations of ligand. With the advent of new chemiluminescent substrates a ligand-induced signal can be detected within thirty minutes using high picomolar to low nanomolar concentrations of estrogen. As a result of the sensitivity (EC50 for estradiol is ∼ 0.7 nM) and the very short assay time (2–4 h) environmental water samples can typically be assayed directly without sterilization, extraction, and concentration. Thus, these assays represent rapid and sensitive approaches for determining the presence of contaminants in environmental samples. As proof of principle, we directly assayed wastewater influent and effluent taken from a wastewater treatment plant in the El Paso, TX area for the presence of estrogenic activity. The data obtained in the four-hour yeast bioassay directly correlated with GC-mass spectrometry analysis of these same water samples.
Computed tomography of scintillators with muons: Understanding the response to high energy gamma rays

Abstract A procedure is described for determining, for any point within the volume of a scintillating detector, the relative amount of light collected as the result of the deposition of a known amount of energy at that point. The response to muons traversing many well defined paths through the scintillator is combined with Fourier reconstruction techniques of computed tomography to produce three-dimensional images of the nonuniformities in light generation and collection. This information can be combined with a Monte Carlo simulation of energy deposition in electromagnetic showers to accurately predict the resolution for the detection of γ-rays of any energy. This has been applied to two large NaI(Tl) detectors and the calculated resolutions agree with measured spectra over the full range for which data are available, E γ = 6−45 MeV.
TAX SCHEDULE CHANGES AND DISCOUNT BOND PRICES

Research on the impact of marginal tax changes on bondholder wealth focuses on changes along a given tax schedule. In this paper the valuation consequences of changing the tax schedule are analyzed. Although previous researchers show that the price of all discount bonds falls if the marginal ordinary income tax rate increases along a tax schedule, it is found that this result holds only under specific conditions when the tax schedule changes. Various comparative statics are discussed.
Letter by Hammoud et al regarding article "Prevention of high-dose chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity in high-risk patients by angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition"

To the Editor: With great interest we read the article by Cardinale et al,1 who randomized 114 cancer patients with elevated troponin I to either enalapril 20 mg/d or no treatment 1 month after high-dose chemotherapy. The investigators found that patients treated with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) had an impressive reduction in cardiotoxicity (defined as a decline in left ventricular ejection fraction >10% below 50%) compared with those who did not receive treatment. In …
An analysis of the deep social structure preventing the development of a national policy for children and families in the United States

The United States is one of the few economically developed nations without a national policy supporting children and their families. This paper suggests that the United States has a unique national ideology, based on the “Calvinistic Ethic,” which results in opposition to not only social programs for children and families, but to all government supported welfare programs. Such an ethic is not found in European countries. Finally, since the United States does not have a national family policy, millions of children and their families go without health care, lack social services, and suffer from inadequate economic supports.
Correlation of saliva and serum lithium

Abstract Lithium carbonate levels of 90 blood samples and 180 saliva samples from 30 manic-depressive patients receiving lithium-carbonate treatment were measured. The Pearson correlation coefficient was 0.726 (P
Solutions of the Oppenheimer--Volkoff Equations Inside 9/8$^{ths}$ of the Schwarzschild Radius

We refine the Buchdahl 9/8ths stability theorem for stars by describing quantitatively the behavior of solutions to the Oppenheimer–Volkoff equations when the star surface lies inside 9/8ths of the Schwarzschild radius. For such solutions we prove that the density and pressure always have smooth profiles that decrease to zero as the radius r→ 0, and this implies that the gravitational field becomes repulsive near r= 0 whenever the star surface lies within 9/8ths of its Schwarzschild radius.
High de novo synthesis of glycerolipids compared to deacylation-reacylation in rat liver microsomes

Abstract A microsomal system characterized by high flux through the entire de novo pathway from glycerol phosphate to phosphatidylcholine and triacylglycerol has been developed. Optimum synthesis of phosphatidylcholine requires CDPcholine, Mg 2+ , KCl and a palmitoyl-CoA-generating system containing palmitic acid, ATP and CoA. Incorporation of [ 14 C]glycerol phosphate into phosphatidylcholine is greater than its incorporation into triacylglycerol at all levels of added palmitate, but the phosphatidylcholine triacylglycerol synthesis ratio decreases as palmitate is increased. Phosphatidylcholine synthesis from glycerol phosphate is stimulated more by palmitate than by other saturated fatty acids; phosphatidylcholine synthesis increases with increasing unsaturation of the added fatty acids. The ratio of incorporation of [ 3 H]palmitate to [ 14 C]glycerol phosphate was determined for phosphatidic acid, diacylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine and triacylglycerol. This ratio is approximately 2 for all diacylglycerolipids and 3 for triacylglycerol. In our system, incorporation of palmitate into microsomal glycerolipid proceeds primarily by the de novo pathway, with minimal fatty acid recycling via deacylation-reacylation.
Universal conductivity in the boson Hubbard model in a magnetic field.

The universal conductivity at the zero-temperature superconductor-insulator transition of the two-dimensional boson Hubbard model is studied for cases both with and without magnetic field by Monte Carlo simulations of the (2+1)-dimensional classical XY model with disorder represented by random bonds correlated along the imaginary time dimension. The effect of the magnetic field is characterized by the frustration f. From the scaling behavior of the stiffness, we determine the quantum dynamical exponent z, the correlation length exponent \ensuremath{\nu}, and the universal conductivity ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\sigma}}}^{\mathrm{*}}$. For the disorder-free model with f=1/2, we obtain z\ensuremath{\approxeq}1, 1/\ensuremath{\nu}\ensuremath{\approxeq}1.5, and ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\sigma}}}^{\mathrm{*}}$/${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\sigma}}}_{\mathit{Q}}$=0.52\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.03, where ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\sigma}}}_{\mathit{Q}}$ is the quantum conductance. We also study the case with f=1/3, in which we find ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\sigma}}}^{\mathrm{*}}$/${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\sigma}}}_{\mathit{Q}}$=0.83\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.06. The value of ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\sigma}}}^{\mathrm{*}}$ is consistent with a theoretical estimate based on the Gaussian model. For the model with random interactions, we find z=1.07\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.03, \ensuremath{\nu}\ensuremath{\approxeq}1, and ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\sigma}}}^{\mathrm{*}}$/${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\sigma}}}_{\mathit{Q}}$=0.27\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.04 for the case f=0, and z=1.14\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.03, \ensuremath{\nu}\ensuremath{\approxeq}1, and ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\sigma}}}^{\mathrm{*}}$/${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\sigma}}}_{\mathit{Q}}$=0.49\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.04 for the case f=1/2.
The cardiac allograft is going up in smoke: a call to action.

The addictive potential of tobacco is legendary and effortsto cease the habit of smoking fraught with failure. World-wide, tobacco abuse is quickly identiﬁed as one of thebiggest health epidemics, particularly in developing coun-tries (1). In cardiac transplantation, we have somehow ig-nored this issue and remained falsely secure that our ef-forts at close monitoring and generally strict surveillancealgorithms achieve high compliance and inculcate positivelifestyle changes. Alas, we are now seeing the direct evi-dence of the magnitude of the problem of tobacco recidi-vism in cardiac transplantation. Slowly but surely, the dotsarebeingconnected.Earlystudiesbyourgroup(2)andoth-ers(3)offeredinsightintothehighrateoftobaccoexposureearly and late after cardiac transplantation. Large registries(4) suggested that smoking within 6 months of transplan-tation was a marker of poor outcome and this is likely asurrogate for return to posttransplant smoking. In this is-sue of the journal, Botha and colleagues (5) connect thedots even further and convincingly conﬁrm the high ratesof tobacco use following transplantation but also provideevidence of this phenomenon as a risk marker for adverseoutcomes from cardiac allograft vasculopathy and malig-nancy, both leading causes of late allograft attrition (6,7).Importantly,theiranalysissuggeststhattobaccorecidivismreduces median cardiac allograft survival by 4.39 years.They used conservative cut points to deﬁne ‘smokers’ byusing a urine cotinine level of 500 ng/mL and followed pa-tients with multiple ‘detection opportunities’ (a median ofthree per patient). This threshold of deﬁnition is 10-foldhigherthanthatrecommendedbytheSocietyforResearchon Nicotine and Tobacco (8). Thus, it is not surprising thatdespite multiple measurements per patient, these investi-gators achieved rates of tobacco exposure similar to priorstudies that have used single measurements with lowerdetection thresholds to deﬁne tobacco exposure. This iscause for greater alarm since Botha et al. (5) have likelyunderestimated the sum total of tobacco exposure in theirpopulation (whether active or passive). In their study, only38%(145/380)patientscouldbeclassiﬁedas‘tobaccofreeat each time-point measured’ based on a detection thresh-old of a urine cotinine level of
Comparison of proteomic and transcriptomic profiles in the bronchial airway epithelium of current and never smokers.

Doris Duke Charitable Foundation; National Institute of Health/National Cancer Institute (R01CA124640); National Institute of Health/National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (U01ES016035); ATS Fellow Career Development Award
Beneficial Effects of a Diet High in Monounsaturated Fatty Acids on Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease

Current dietary recommendations for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease (CVD) focus on limiting intake of total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol. Implementation of these guidelines is achieved by the substitution of calories from saturated fat with carbohydrate calories and the reduction of foods rich in dietary cholesterol. Adherence to these low-fat, high-carbohydrate diets reduces total serum cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol, thereby reducing risk for CVD. Recent evidence, however, shows that consumption of low-fat, high-carbohydrate diets in weight-maintaining individuals increases triglycerides and reduces HDL-cholesterol. These potentially deleterious changes have led many to question the appropriateness of low-fat, high-carbohydrate diets for CVD risk reduction. An alternative approach is the substitution of calories from saturated fatty acids with calories from monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), which have a neutral effect on plasma cholesterol levels. In this review, results from 18 studies examining effects of low-fat, high-carbohydrate vs. high-MUFA diets on serum lipoproteins are presented. Based on these studies, we conclude that high-MUFA diets are effective for reducing total and LDL-cholesterol and may be expected to elicit more beneficial changes in CVD risk than currently prescribed low-fat, high-carbohydrate diets, especially in patients who do not require weight loss. A listing of high-MUFA foods and practical guidelines for diet planning are presented as an aid to clinicians in the implementation of high-MUFA diets.