cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Quality Improvement Intervention to Decrease Hypothermia in the Delivery Room Using a Checklist.

Introduction Premature babies are at increased risk of hypothermia, core body temperature <97°F. Delivery room environment may contribute and lead to complications. The objective was to reduce hypothermia in babies <32 weeks of gestation in the delivery room to <40% using a checklist and sustain it for 6 months. Methods We created a delivery room checklist in 2012. Chart review established a baseline rate of hypothermia (<97°F). The team analyzed the checklist's effect on hypothermia from 2012 to 2018 and utilized numerous interventions to maintain compliance. Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test analyzed hypothermia and hyperthermia as a balancing measure. All calculations performed in SAS 9.3. Results The checklist reduced hypothermia from a baseline of 50% in 2011 (n = 104) to 33% in 2012 (n = 106). In 2013, the proportion of hypothermia slightly increased to 36% (n = 81). The year 2014 brought larger drift, and proportion of hypothermia increased to 44% (n = 117). In 2015, we reinforced the use of the checklist and proportion of hypothermia improved to 36% (n = 99). Further interventions through 2018 decreased hypothermia further to 14% to achieve statistical significance. Conclusions A checklist is a simple tool that may yield beneficial changes in practice and helped to decrease the proportion of neonatal hypothermia.
A first order phase transition in the threshold θ≥2 contact process on random r-regular graphs and r-trees

Abstract We consider the discrete time threshold- θ contact process on a random r -regular graph. We show that if θ ≥ 2 , r ≥ θ + 2 , ϵ 1 is small and p ≥ p 1 ( ϵ 1 ) , then starting from all vertices occupied the fraction of occupied vertices is ≥ 1 − 2 ϵ 1 up to time exp ( γ 1 ( r ) n ) with high probability. We also show that for p 2 1 there is an ϵ 2 ( p 2 ) > 0 so that if p ≤ p 2 and the initial density is ≤ ϵ 2 ( p 2 ) , then the process dies out in time O ( log n ) . These results imply that the process on the r -tree has a first-order phase transition.
Structure-Aware Stochastic Control for Transmission Scheduling

In this paper, we consider the problem of real-time transmission scheduling over time-varying channels. We first formulate this transmission scheduling problem as a Markov decision process and systematically unravel the structural properties (e.g., concavity in the state-value function and monotonicity in the optimal scheduling policy) exhibited by the optimal solutions. We then propose an online learning algorithm that preserves these structural properties and achieves e-optimal solutions for an arbitrarily small e. The advantages of the proposed online method are given as follows: 1) It does not require a priori knowledge of the traffic arrival and channel statistics, and 2) it adaptively approximates the state-value functions using piecewise linear functions and has low storage and computation complexity. We also extend the proposed low-complexity online learning solution to enable prioritized data transmission. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed method achieves significantly better utility (or delay)-energy tradeoffs compared to existing state-of-the-art online optimization methods.
Landscapes of financial exclusion: Alternative financial service providers and the dual financial service delivery system

This research addresses equity in geographic access to financial services. As financial products and services continue to become more accessible and affordable, many low‐ to moderate‐income Americans remain unbanked and underbanked, relying instead upon informal, alternative financial service providers, including check cashing outlets and payday lenders. While geographic access to affordable financial products and services assists in the successful asset building strategies of economically vulnerable households, concerns that access to financial services is uneven persist. This article uses geographic information systems and spatial binary logistic regression analysis to test the hypothesis that sociodemographic characteristics and mortgage lending variables have a predictive relationship on the presence of financial deserts—census tracts where check cashing outlets are more prevalent than banks—in southeastern Pennsylvania. Results of comparison of means and regression analysis reveal that these tracts are associated with higher than average population density, lower levels of median household income, a higher proportion of Black and Latinx residents, and higher levels of mortgage application denial. This article contributes to the ongoing debate over the emergence of a two‐tiered or dual financial service delivery system, whereby financial products and services are bifurcated based on socioeconomic status and geography.
For Home and Country: World War I Propaganda and the Home Front

Review of: "For Home and Country: World War I Propaganda and the Home Front," by Celia Malone Kingsbury, part of the "Studies in War, Society, and the Military" series.
Our monsters, ourselves: Desire, death and deviance in the Gothic narratives and how they in-form an inquiry of currere

This paper explores the idea that the creation of the monsters’ existence at the hands of Gothic authors, such as Mary Shelley, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Brahm Stoker, serves as fictionalized examples of the inquiry of currere (or “ficto-currere” [McDermott, 2019]), and the exploration of “possibility.” Mary Shelley, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Bram Stoker’s social and personal life experiences have evidently influenced their writings. This auto-ethnographic element of their stories, this self-examination and incorporation of their life experiences, becomes their currere . Through this lens of currere, their stories can tell us a lot about controversial topics that were too taboo to straightforwardly address during the 1800s, when they were written—topics such as mental and physical illnesses or queering sexual identity. The author suggests that this depends not on being rationalized, but on being “poeticized,” as happens through the three examples of speculative fiction examined here. The author extends the dread and desire of the monstrous “afflicted” identities of these authors within their historical contexts toward curriculum. The monstrosity of the desires and the dread for each of the gothic authors examined in this paper is considered from the perspective of currere -as-inquiry.
3D Printed Minerals as Astrobiology Analogs of Hydrothermal Vent Chimneys

Hydrothermal vents, which are highly plausible habitable environments for life and of interest for some origin-of-life scenarios, may exist on icy moons such as Europa or Enceladus in addition to E...
Analyzing Workers' Compensation Claims and Payments Made Using Data from a Large Insurance Provider.

Background: All states in the USA have established Workers’ Compensation (WC) insurance systems/programs. WC systems address key occupational safety and health concerns. This effort uses data from a large insurance provider for the years 2011–2018 to provide estimates for WC payments, stratified by the claim severity, i.e., medical only, and indemnity. Methods: Besides providing descriptive statistics, we used generalized estimating equations to analyze the association between the key injury characteristics (nature, source, and body part injured) and total WC payments made. We also provide the overall cost burden for the former. Results: Out of the total 151,959 closed claims, 83% were medical only. The mean overall WC payment per claim for the claims that resulted in a payment was $1477 (SD: $7221). Adjusted models showed that mean payments vary by claim severity. For example, among medical only claims, the mean payment was the highest for amputations ($3849; CI: $1396, $10,608), and among disability and death related claims, ruptures cost the most ($14,285; $7772, $26,255). With frequencies taken into account, the overall cost burden was however the highest for strains. Conclusions: Workplace interventions should prioritize both the costs of claims on average and the frequency.
Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia and Alternatives to Heparin

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) refers to platelet count reduction that occurs when patients receive heparin therapy, and is a common occurrence in perioperative cardiac surgery patients. This chapter discusses the perioperative considerations regarding thrombocytopenia, including assessing likelihood of occurrence, serological testing, and management options for the patient.
Environmental Friendly Determinants Toward Green Awareness and Its Impact on Advocacy on Using Third Party Logistics Service Providers Based on Generation Y Perspective in Thailand

This research aims to study the environmental friendly factors that impact on the perspective of green awareness and how its awareness impacts on selecting third-party logistics service providers. The sample of the study is generation Y from 11 universities in every region of Thailand; and they use third-party logistics such as Kerry Express, Thai Post, or others. The sample size of respondents is 452 observations. The results of collected data from questionnaires answers were analyzed by using path analysis. In our results, there are 6 determinants impact on green awareness: pollution prevention, energy consumption control, high quality in alternative energy usage, clean energy usage, operating on environmental management standard such as ISO 14000 and reuse and recycle policy. In addition, the green awareness of generation Y impacts on willingness to use, willingness to pay more, and willingness to suggest to the others to use green third-party logistics provider.
Broadening Experiences in Scientific Training (BEST): Do biomedical faculty members want institutional help?

Biomedical graduate students and postdocs are faced with systemic changes to the career landscape and these widespread changes have created a push to seek employment outside the tenure track, bench scientist career pathways. This study explored the role of faculty mentors’ perceptions of these systemic challenges and how it relates to their willingness to seek support from the graduate school at their institution to equip themselves and their trainees with the necessary information about career opportunities. Biomedical faculty members across five campuses in the United States, under the aegis of National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) Broadening Experiences in Scientific Training (BEST), were surveyed. Results of hierarchical multiple regression reveal that faculty employment history and active mentoring, their perceptions of urgency of the problem, and career mentoring and faculty knowledge together explained willingness to endorse that graduate school support was needed to help mitigate these systemic issues. Implications for creating sustainable systemic change by deploying mentoring as a key lever are presented.
The Evaluation of Silicon CCDs for Imaging X-Ray Spectroscopy in the Range 1 to 8 keV

Publisher Summary A number of research groups have been involved in the evaluation and development of CCDs for single-photon X-ray imaging and spectroscopy in the energy range ∼1 to 8 keV—that is, to cover the energy range of present and future X-ray telescopes. Developments for biological research have centered on improved X-ray quantum detection efficiency at energies of 8 keV and greater. The reasons for intensive effort in the development of CCDs for these application areas lie in the several potential factors: (1) high spatial resolution , (2) good spectral resolution for single-photon detection, (3) high quantum-detection efficiency over a broad energy range, (4) low internal background with long-count lifetime and high count-rate capability, and (5) high geometric efficiency with capability of mosaicking to practicably large areas.
Isolation of Microsporum Audouinii from a Dog1

The dermatophyte, Microsporum audouinii, is the most common cause of epidermic tinea capitis of children in this country. Epidemics involving thousands of school children have been reported from all parts of the United States. This fungus is considered by most investigators to be anthropophilic. However, there are recorded in the literature three cases of lower animal infections. In two instances M. audouinii was isolated from dogs (1, 2) and in one case from a monkey (3). That lower animals may be parasitized by this dermatophyte is apparent; however, the paucity of reported cases would indicate that such infections are rare.
The design of pressure vessels subjected to thermal stress—IV: Multilayer vessels

Abstract A theoretical investigation has been made of the design of multilayer cylindrical pressure vessels subjected to combined pressure and steady-state thermal stresses. The criterion used to pick the best design is that the maximum working stresses in the component cylinders are equal; this necessitates that all the cylinders have the same diameter ratio. The number and size of the components required for any given pressure and temperature difference may be determined with the aid of formulae and graphs presented.
Fuzzy and neural control

Fuzzy logic and neural networks provide new methods for designing control systems. Fuzzy logic controllers do not require a complete analytical model of a dynamic system and can provide knowledge-based heuristic controllers for ill-defined and complex systems. Neural networks can be used for learning control. In this chapter, we discuss hybrid methods using fuzzy logic and neural networks which can start with an approximate control knowledge base and refine it through reinforcement learning.
Control of Low-Speed Turbulent Separated Flow Over a Backward-Facing Ramp

The relative performance and flow phenomena associated with several devices for controlling turbulent separated flow were investigated at low speeds. Relative performance of the devices was examined for flow over a curved, backward-facing ramp in a wind tunnel, and the flow phenomena were examined in a water tunnel using dye-flow visualization. Surface static pressure measurements and oil-flow visualization results from the wind tunnel tests indicated that transverse grooves, longitudinal grooves, submerged vortex generators, vortex generator jets (VGJ's), Viets' fluidic flappers, elongated arches at positive angle of attack, and large-eddy breakup devices (LEBU's) at positive angle of attack placed near the baseline separation location reduce flow separation and increase pressure recovery. Spanwise cylinders reduce flow separation but decrease pressure recovery downstream. Riblets, passive porous surfaces, swept grooves, Helmholtz resonators, and arches and LEBU's with angle of attack less than or = 0 degrees had no significant effect in reducing the extent of the separation region. Wall-cooling computations indicated that separation delay on a partially-cooled ramp is nearly the same as on a fully-cooled ramp, while minimizing the frictional drag increase associated with the wall cooling process. Dry-flow visualization tests in the water tunnel indicated that wishbone vortex generators in the forward orientation shed horseshoe vortices; wishbone vortex generators oriented in the reverse direction and doublet vortex generators shed streamwise counterrotating vortices; a spanewise cylinder located near the wall and LEBU's at angle of attack = -10 degrees produced eddies or transverse vortices which rotated with the same sign as the mean vorticity in a turbulent boundary layer; and the most effective VGJ's produced streamwise co-rotating vortices. Comparative wind-tunnel test results indicated that transferring momentum from the outer region of a turbulent boundary layer through the action of embedded streamwise vortices is more effective than by transverse vortices for the separation control application studied herein.
Immobilized Stromal Cell-Derived Factor-1α Triggers Rapid VLA-4 Affinity Increases to Stabilize Lymphocyte Tethers on VCAM-1 and Subsequently Initiate Firm Adhesion

The integrin VLA-4 (alpha(4)beta(1)) mediates tethering and rolling events as well as firm adhesion of leukocytes to VCAM-1. Unlike selectins, VLA-4 integrin-mediated lymphocyte adhesiveness can be modulated by chemokines through intracellular signaling pathways. To investigate the effects of the chemokine stromal cell-derived factor-1alpha (SDF-1alpha) on VLA-4-mediated lymphocyte adhesion, human PBL were flowed over VCAM-1 substrates in a parallel plate flow chamber with surface-immobilized SDF-1alpha, a potent activator of firm adhesion. The initial tethering interactions had a median lifetime of 200 ms, consistent with the half-life of low-affinity VLA-4-VCAM-1 bonds. Immobilized SDF-1alpha acted within the lifetime of a primary tether to stabilize initial tethering interactions, increasing the likelihood a PBL would remain interacting with the surface. As expected, the immobilized SDF-1alpha also increased the ratio of PBL firm adhesion to rolling. An LDV peptide-based small molecule that preferentially binds high-affinity VLA-4 reduced PBL firm adhesion to VCAM-1 by 90%. The reduction in firm adhesion due to blockage of high-affinity VLA-4 was paralleled by a 4-fold increase in the fraction of rolling PBL. Chemokine activation of PBL firm adhesion on VCAM-1 depended on induction of high-affinity VLA-4 rather than recruitment of a pre-existing pool of high-affinity VLA-4 as previously thought.
Modeling shock waves generated by explosive volcanic eruptions

Atmospheric shock waves induced by explosive volcanic eruptions can provide valuable information about eruption characteristics. Shock waves are manifested as pressure-density gradients that can be remotely observed with relatively little noise. Field measurements of expanding shock waves can be directly recorded by pressure transducers or imaged under the proper illumination and atmospheric conditions. In this paper, an open-ended shock tube was used to generate weak shock waves in the laboratory that are representative of explosive volcanic eruptions. They indicate that strong shock wave theory can be used for modeling moderate volcanic eruptions. Based on that finding, we use strong shock theory to estimate the sudden explosive energy released from several explosive eruptions. Our energy calculations are well correlated with total energy estimates derived from plume height or erupted mass.
The Internet at 20: Evolution of a Constitution for Cyberspace

The Internet’s “constitution” is not expressed in a single document. Instead, it comprises the open architecture inherent in the Internet’s technological protocols together with a collection of government policies, legislative enactments, and judicial decisions that seek to protect the basic architectural philosophy, ensure space for entrepreneurial freedom, and guard against the abuse of economic or political power.This Article looks back over the Internet’s first twenty years, highlighting the crucial legal decisions by the executive, legislative, and judicial branches that have led to the Internet’s success, and which now frame its constitution. I participated in many of these decisions and wrote more than a dozen law review articles and reports suggesting directions for public policy and law. This Article uses this foundation to consider the future, focusing on major legal controversies, the resolution of which will define the Internet’s third decade — either strengthening or undermining its constitution.
Psychoactive Medications Increase the Risk of Falls and Fall-related Injuries in Hospitalized Patients With Cirrhosis

Background & Aims Reducing or eliminating falls is a focus of patient safety programs as well as health policy. Falls are tied to hospital reimbursement. However, little is known about the risk of falls among hospitalized patients with cirrhosis or factors that affect risk of falling. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of inpatients with cirrhosis from 2010 to 2013 at a liver transplant center. Our primary aim was to determine the clinical factors associated with falls and fall-related injuries for patients with cirrhosis. Our secondary aim was to describe the rate ratio of falls and fall-related injuries among patients with cirrhosis compared with general medical inpatients. Results During the study period, there were 1749 admissions to the liver service; 55 (3.1%) resulted in falls. Patients who fell were more likely to have received benzodiazepines (50.9% vs 16.7%, P Conclusions Psychoactive medications are associated with an increased adjusted risk of falls and fall-related injuries in hospitalized patients with cirrhosis.
Beneficial Effects of Flavonoids on Neurological Disorders

Flavonoids are polyphenolic compounds found in fruits, vegetables, and beverages derived from plants. Humans consume about 1–2 g of flavonoids daily. Information about the occurrence of more than 5,000 different flavonoids has been reported in the literature. The six major subclasses of flavonoids include the flavones (e.g., apigenin, luteolin), flavonols (quercetin, myricetin), flavanones (naringenin, hesperidin), catechins or flavanols (epicatechin, gallocatechin), anthocyanidins (cyanidin, pelargonidin), and isoflavones (genistein, daidzein) (Fig. 4.1). Minor dietary flavonoids include dihydroflavonols, flavan-3,4-diols, coumarins, chalcones, dihydrochalcones, and aurones (Crozier et al. 2009). The basic structure of flavonoids consists of two benzene rings (A and B) linked through a heterocyclic pyran or pyrone (with a double bond) ring (C) in the middle. The carbon atoms are identified with ordinary numerals for A- and C-rings and “primed numerals” for the B-ring, although a modified number system is used for chalcones (Fig. 4.2). In vivo and in vitro studies indicate that flavonoids produce antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects (Middleton et al. 1998; Havsteen 2002). The antioxidant activity of flavonoids depends on the structure and the substituents of the heterocyclic and B-rings, in particular the presence of an o-di-OH structure on the B-ring, a 2,3-double bond in conjugation with a 4-oxo function, and the additional presence of 3- and 5-OH groups on the heterocyclic ring. Thus, flavanones contain a carbonyl group in the C4 position of the C-ring, flavanols possess a hydroxyl group in the C3 position of the C-ring, flavones have a carbonyl group in the C4 and a double bond between C2 and C3 of C-ring, flavonols contain a carbonyl group in the C4, a double bond between C2 and C3, and also a hydroxyl in the C3 position of the C-ring, anthocyanidins have flavylium cation derivatives, and in isoflavonoids the B-ring is bound to the C3 of the C-ring instead of bound to the C2 (Croft 1998; Gutierrez-Merino et al. 2011). The antioxidant activity of flavonoid depends on the arrangement of functional groups on its core structure. It is suggested that both the configuration and total number of hydroxyl groups substantially influence the mechanism of the antioxidant activity (Heim et al. 2002). The B-ring hydroxyl configuration is the most significant determinant of ROS scavenging activity (Burda and Oleszek 2001), whereas substitution of the rings A and C has little impact on superoxide anion radical scavenging rate constants (Burda and Oleszek 2001; Amic et al. 2007). Most of the flavonoids present in plants are attached to sugars (glycosides), although occasionally they are found as aglycones.
How the human genome can predict response to Hepatitis C therapy

It has long been suspected that host genetic factors influenced treatment outcome of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Three independent genome-wide association studies have recently identified genetic variation in the IL28B gene (coding for IFN-λ3) that determines the outcome of interferon-α-based therapy for patients with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C infection. These discoveries confirm the potential for a pharmacogenomics approach to personalizing anti-HCV treatment.
Psychopathic traits from an RDoC perspective

In this review an RDoC approach is applied to psychopathic traits. Two core neuro-cognitive systems relevant to the emergence of psychopathic traits are considered. These are the response to other individuals’ emotional displays and reinforcement-based decision-making.
GLOBAL CONFLICT AND THE PREACHING TRADITION OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

Abstract African American preaching has unfortunately begun to uncritically accept the social status quo and focus on rewards for living moral private lives. In doing so, this preaching too often disregards global conflicts and tragedies, painting them as the results of God's judgment for immorality. African American preachers are thus increasingly focused on private morals, letting the world-transforming public implications of faith take a back seat. Black religious communities have hence been uninvolved in trying to solve contemporary conflicts, which is especially distressing regarding the volatile situations in the Middle East. Therefore, African American churches need to reclaim, as Martin Luther King, Jr. has said, their prophetic roles and work to care for the entire world.
Extent of γδ T cell involvement in the pneumonia caused by sendai virus

Abstract The prevalence of γδ T cells in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) populations recovered from the respiratory tract of young, adult C57BL/6J mice infected intranasally (i.n.) with Sendai virus has been assessed by FACS-phenotyping, and by probing cytocentrifuge preparations for expression of TCRγ mRNA. The surface γδ TCR + set comprised from 5 to 20% of the inflammatory lymphocytes in sequential samples taken throughout the course of this nonfatal viral pneumonia. The BAL population also contained numerous cells expressing mRNA for Cγ 1/2 and Cγ4; the C-regions were utilized for productive TCR gene rearrangement. Sorting the lymphocytes from the BAL established that >90% of both the TCRγ and TCRβ mRNA partitioned to cells with the appropriate surface TCR phenotype, while + cells in the total inflammatory exudate were phagocytes that engulfed latex particles. Both the frequency and the total numbers of the γδ TCR + and TCRγ mRNA + cells were increased in mice depleted of αβ T cells by in vivo treatment with mAbs to CD4 and CD8. indicating that the CD4 + and CD8 + αβ and CD4 − 8 − γδ T cell subsets may operate independently in this virus disease. The Cγl/2 mRNA phenotype predominated throughout the course of the active infection, with a transition to maximal prevalence of the Cγ4 mRNA + set occurring very late (Day 20) in the resolving inflammatory process. Large numbers of macrophages expressing mRNA (>50%) for a mammalian 65-kDa heat shock protein (hsp65), a possible target for some of the γδ T cells, were present early (Days 5–7) and remained at lower levels ( + macrophages were much less apparent in BAL populations from mice depleted concurrently of the CD4 + and CD8 + T cell subsets, indicating that exposure to Sendai virus alone is not the major factor inducing the transcription of this endogenous gene. These experiments thus establish that γδ T cells are a minority of the infiltrating lymphocytes in Sendai virus pneumonia and provide new insights into the spectrum of hsp65 mRNA and TCRγ mRNA expression during an inflammatory process.
Color of light reflected to leaves modifies nutrient content of carrot roots

Improved yield and nutrient content of food crops are important to both growers and consumers. We hypothesized that color of light reflected from the soil surface to developing leaves of field grown plants could result in modified concentrations of nutrients in edible roots. Carrot (Daucus carota L.) was used as the test plant. The plants were grown in trickle-irrigated field plots that were covered with panels that reflected various combinations of far-red (FR), red (R), and blue light (BL) to the growing leaves. The highest FR to R photon ratio reflected to developing leaves resulted in greatest shoot weight and the lowest root-to-shoot weight ratio. However, an increased quantity of photosynthetic light resulted in greater total weight per plant. Roots from yellow- and white-covered plots had highest concentrations of β-carotene and ascorbic add. Those from yellow- and black-covered plots had highest concentration of phenolics. In general, concentrations were higher in cortex than in xylem tissues. We conclude that color of light reflected from the soil surface to developing leaves can influence yield and chemical composition of edible roots. This discovery suggests that color of light reflected to growing shoots may also influence chemical composition of plant species used as phytonutraceuticals.
Full Text and Figure Display Improves Bioscience Literature Search

When reading bioscience journal articles, many researchers focus attention on the figures and their captions. This observation led to the development of the BioText literature search engine, a freely available Web-based application that allows biologists to search over the contents of Open Access Journals, and see figures from the articles displayed directly in the search results. This article presents a qualitative assessment of this system in the form of a usability study with 20 biologist participants using and commenting on the system. 19 out of 20 participants expressed a desire to use a bioscience literature search engine that displays articles' figures alongside the full text search results. 15 out of 20 participants said they would use a caption search and figure display interface either frequently or sometimes, while 4 said rarely and 1 said undecided. 10 out of 20 participants said they would use a tool for searching the text of tables and their captions either frequently or sometimes, while 7 said they would use it rarely if at all, 2 said they would never use it, and 1 was undecided. This study found evidence, supporting results of an earlier study, that bioscience literature search systems such as PubMed should show figures from articles alongside search results. It also found evidence that full text and captions should be searched along with the article title, metadata, and abstract. Finally, for a subset of users and information needs, allowing for explicit search within captions for figures and tables is a useful function, but it is not entirely clear how to cleanly integrate this within a more general literature search interface. Such a facility supports Open Access publishing efforts, as it requires access to full text of documents and the lifting of restrictions in order to show figures in the search interface.
The origin of high sodium bicarbonate waters in the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains

Abstract Some sodium bicarbonate waters at depth in the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains have the same bicarbonate content as the shallower calcium bicarbonate waters in the same formation and appear to be the result of replacement of calcium by sodium through the action of base-exchange minerals. Others, however, contain several hundred parts per million more of bicarbonate than any of the calcium bicarbonate waters and much more bicarbonate than can be attributed to solution of calcium carbonate through the action of carbon dioxide derived from the air and soil. As the waters in the Potomac group (Cretaceous) are all low in sulphate and as the environmental conditions under which the sediments of the Potomac group were deposited do not indicate that large amounts of sulphate are available for solution, it does not seem probable that carbon dioxide generated by chemical or biochemical breakdown of sulphate is responsible for the high sodium bicarbonate waters in this area. Sulphate as a source of oxygen is not necessary for the generation of carbon dioxide by carbonaceous material. Oxygen is an important constituent of carbonaceous material and carbon dioxide is a characteristic decomposition product of such material—as, for example, peat and lignite. Experimental work showed that distilled water, calcium bicarbonate water, and sodium bicarbonate water, after contact with lignite, calcium carbonate, and permutite (a base-exchange material), had all increased greatly in sodium bicarbonate content and had become similar in chemical character and in mineral content to high sodium bicarbonate waters found in the Coastal Plain. The tests indicated that carbonaceous material can act as a source of carbon dioxide, which, when dissolved in water, enables it to take into solution more calcium carbonate. If base-exchange materials are also present to replace calcium with sodium, a still greater amount of bicarbonate can be held in solution. The presence of carbonaceous material, together with calcium carbonate and base-exchange minerals in a formation is, therefore, sufficient to account for the occurrence in it of high sodium bicarbonate waters.
Single nanoparticle based optical pH probe

This paper describes the development of a nanoscale optical pH probe based upon the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) properties of silica–gold core-shell nanoparticles. In this approach, a thin layer of gold is deposited onto a core of silica to form a metallic nanoshell with surface plasmon modes in the red-to-near-infrared spectral region. The surface of the nanoshell is functionalized with a pH-sensitive SERS reporter molecule, 4-mercaptopyridine (4-MPy). The SERS spectra of 4-MPy is shown to be sensitive to the pH of the surrounding media within the range of 3 to 7. In addition, it is shown that individual silica–gold core-shell nanoparticles yield more reliable SERS spectra than aggregates of core-shell nanoparticles.
Reproof of a theorem on duality without convexity

In [l] a converse duality theorem was presented in which the conventional convexity assumptions were relaxed. However, the given proof was a bit tricky which made the reasoning difficult to follow. In addition, owing to a flaw in the arguments, a part of the theorem remains unproved, as was pointed out in [2]. The purpose of this note is to present a corrected and detailed proof for a slightly more general version of the theorem.
A Cavitation Susceptibility Meter With Optical Cavitation Monitoring—Part One: Design Concepts

This work is concerned with the design of a Cavitation Susceptibility Meter based on the use of a venturi tube for the measurement of the active cavitation nuclei concentration in water samples as a function of the applied tension. The operation of the Cavitation Susceptibility Meter is analyzed and the main considerations leading to the proposed design are illustrated and critically discussed. The results of this analysis indicate that the operational range is mainly limited by nuclei interference, flow separation and saturation (choking), and suggest to develop a Cavitation Susceptibility Meter where; (1) the flow possesses a laminar potential core throughout the venturi throat section in all operational conditions; (b) the pressure at the venturi throat is determined from the upstream pressure and the local flow velocity; (c) the detection of cavitation and the measurement of the flow velocity are carried out optically by means of a Laser Doppler Velocimeter; (d) a custom-made electronic Signal Processor incorporating a frequency counter is used for real time data generation and temporary storage; (e) a computerized system performs the final acquisition and reduction of the data.
Letter: A new consistent chromosomal abnormality in chronic myelogenous leukaemia identified by quinacrine fluorescence and Giemsa staining.

CELLS from nine consecutive patients with chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML) have been analysed with quinacrine fluorescence and various Giemsa staining techniques. The Philadelphia (Ph1) chromosome in all nine patients represents a deletion of the long arm of chromosome 22 (22q−)1,2. An unsuspected abnormality in all cells from the nine patients has been detected with these new staining techniques. It consists of the addition of dully fluorescing material to the end of the long arm of one chromosome 9 (9q+). In Giemsa-stained preparations, this material appears as an additional faint terminal band in one chromosome 9. The amount of additional material is approximately equal to the amount missing from the Ph1 (22q−) chromosome, suggesting that there may be a hitherto undetected translocation between the long arm of 22 and the long arm of 9, producing the 9q+ chromosome.
3T3 cell integration and differentiative potential during limb development in the mouse

In this study we have investigated the ability of embryonic mouse limb cells to induce the differentiation of 3T3 cells both in vivo and in vitro. Using the exo utero surgical technique we introduced labeled 3T3 cells into the embryonic mouse limb and monitored their subsequent development. We found no indication that the normal pattern of tissue differentiation was perturbed; rather we observed that 3T3 cells were closely associated with a variety of limb mesodermal tissues which include muscle, tendon, and ligament. In very rare instances did we observe 3T3 cells associated with cartilage. To further investigate the differentiative potential of 3T3 cells we cocultured labeled 3T3 cells with limb cells under conditions that favored either cartilage or muscle differentiation. The results from these experiments suggest that 3T3 cells avoid regions of chondrogenesis and rarely participate in myotube formation. We conclude that 3T3 cells are not responding to differentiation signals present in the developing limb, but rather are responding to signals involved in growth and tissue morphogenesis.
Energy transfer and molecular switching II. Muscle contraction and enzymatic reactions

Abstract In Part I (Barrett, 1981), the concept of chemical parametric excitation was reviewed and applied to the process of nerve action potential excitation and regeneration. In the present paper, the chemical reactions involved in muscle contraction and the enzymatic reaction are examined and shown to be examples of chemical parametric excitation. It is demonstrated that in a model biochemical scheme for an enzymatic reaction, the enzyme is activated from a state, X , to a state, X ∗ , and in this activated state pumps the reaction parametrically. The concept of enzyme is identified with an excited state or state of disequilibrium permitting a release of energy during the dissipation, X ∗ →X , in the enzymatic reaction, which is powered by the release of energy in the return to the unexcited state X . The demonstration of parametric excitation relations for chemical systems indicates an explanation for the directionality of energy flow and designates an energy pumping role for an enzyme. In muscle contraction, the role of X ∗ is played by actomyosin and Ca 2+ , and the enzymatic reaction is the hydrolysis of ATP. The release of energy caused by this hydrolysis reaction brings about the conformational changes underlying muscle contraction.
Synthesis of amino acyl adenylates using the tert-butoxycarbonyl protecting group.

Alanyl, [14C]-alanyl, phenylalanyl, and methionyl adenylates have been synthesized in high yields and relatively good purities. Elemental analysis1H nmr and ir spectra have been utilized for the characterization of these extremely labile compounds. The present synthesis, which uses readily available N-tert-butoxycarbonyl amino acids, is compared with previous methods.
Response of Spring Wheat to Nitrogen Fertilizers of Different Nitrification Rates

Hydroponic and greenhouse studies have shown that grain yields of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) are maximized when the N supply contains a mixture of NH 4 and NO 3 . Tillers per plant is the yield component most commonly increased by mixed N nutrition in greenhouse studies. The objective of this study was to evaluate, under field conditions, the response of Butte 86' spring wheat to N sources differing greatly in nitrification rate. Nitrogen was applied at 0 or 112 kg N ha -1 ; the N sources were calcium nitrate (CN), urea, ureadicyandiamide (DCD), 0.1-g urea granules, and 0.1-g urea-DCD granules. Six field trials were performed. Topsoil (0-15 cm) analysis of fertilized plots during tillering indicated a wide range of mineral N contents (19-101 mg N kg -1 ) and of NH 4 :NO 3 mole ratios (0.04-2.06). Correlation analyses suggested that tillering was sensitive to the total mineral N supply, but quite insensitive to the NH 4 :NO 3 ratio in the topsoil. Vegetative growth and N uptake were generally lower for CN than for the other N sources. At some locations, more heads per square meter at harvest were observed with the slower-nitrifying N sources. Grain yields were increased by N fertilization, but significant differences between N sources were not generally observed. For both years of the study, the 0.1-g urea-DCD granules gave the highest N uptake efficiency. However, the dramatic responses in growth, tillering, or grain yield routinely observed with mixed N nutrition in hydroponic or greenhouse studies could not be duplicated in the field.
Host Preference and Suitability of Two Aphelinid Parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) for Aphids (Homoptera: Aphididae) on Citrus

Laboratory tests were conducted to estimate the host preference and suitability of the aphelinid parasitoids, Aphelinus spiraecolae Evans & Schauff and Aphelinus gossypii Timberlake, for the melon aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover; the spirea aphid, Aphis spiraecola Patch; and the black citrus aphid, Toxoptera aurantii (Boyer de Fonscolombe). Both parasitoids attacked all 3 host aphids in choice tests, but A. spiraecolae showed a preference for the spirea aphid; whereas Aphelinus gossypii preferred the melon aphid. Results were similar in no-choice tests. Adult emergence rate of A. spiraecolae was substantially higher when the spirea aphid and the black citrus aphid were hosts compared with when the host was the melon aphid. A. spiraecolae female sex ratios were higher when the host was the spirea aphid than with the black citrus aphid or the melon aphid. Aphelinus gossypii adult emergence rates were higher on the melon aphid than on the spirea aphid or the black citrus aphid. Female sex ratios of Aphelinus gossypii were 70.2, 54.5, and 62.3% when reared on the melon aphid, spirea aphid, and the black citrus aphid, respectively, but these differences were not statistically significant. Development times of the aphelinids reared on the 3 aphid hosts were not significantly different. Adult biomass of A. spiraecolae was higher when reared on the spirea aphid (30.3 and 22.2 μg for females and males, respectively) than on the melon aphid (23.1 and 17.9 μg) or the black citrus aphid (28.8 and 22.0 μg). Biomass of Aphelinus gossypii were higher when reared on the melon aphid (33.6 and 22.1 μg for females and males, respectively) and the black citrus aphid (32.6 and 22.3 μg) than on the spirea aphid (27.9 and 18.3 μg). Based on these studies, we conclude that the spirea aphid was a preferred and suitable host for A. spiraecolae, whereas the melon aphid was a preferred host of Aphelinus gossypii under our test conditions. These aphelinids, therefore, may have potential to act in concert as natural enemies of aphids on citrus.
National Tuberculosis Curriculum Consortium (NTCC): Active-Learning Teaching Tools for Your Staff

ISSUE: The public health workforce is projected to decrease by 25% 40% by the year 2010. This shortage of trained workers comes in an era when public health threats including emerging infectious diseases, natural disasters, pandemic influenza, and bioterrorism are greater than ever. With such a drastic workforce shortage on the horizon, it is imperative that new public health personnel are adequately trained not only through traditional educational methods but also through practical real-world experiences found only in the field. This need is exemplified in the infection control arena.
Fast Neuromimetic Object Recognition Using FPGA Outperforms GPU Implementations

Recognition of objects in still images has traditionally been regarded as a difficult computational problem. Although modern automated methods for visual object recognition have achieved steadily increasing recognition accuracy, even the most advanced computational vision approaches are unable to obtain performance equal to that of humans. This has led to the creation of many biologically inspired models of visual object recognition, among them the hierarchical model and X (HMAX) model. HMAX is traditionally known to achieve high accuracy in visual object recognition tasks at the expense of significant computational complexity. Increasing complexity, in turn, increases computation time, reducing the number of images that can be processed per unit time. In this paper we describe how the computationally intensive and biologically inspired HMAX model for visual object recognition can be modified for implementation on a commercial field-programmable aate Array, specifically the Xilinx Virtex 6 ML605 evaluation board with XC6VLX240T FPGA. We show that with minor modifications to the traditional HMAX model we can perform recognition on images of size 128 × 128 pixels at a rate of 190 images per second with a less than 1% loss in recognition accuracy in both binary and multiclass visual object recognition tasks.
Prospects For Monitored Retrievable Storage Of High-Level Nuclear Waste

The Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 authorized the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to evaluate monitored retrievable storage (MRS) as an option to manage spent fuel and high-level radioactive waste. In 1987, the DOE sought Congressional approval for construction of an MRS at a site identified in Tennessee, despite adamant opposition from the State. An amendment in late 1987 nullified DOE's proposal, and established the MRS Commission and the High-Level Nuclear Waste Negotiator, institutions created as a result of the DOE/Tennessee dispute. This article analyzes DOE's siting attempt in Tennessee, the actions of the Commission and Negotiator, and examines the prospects for implementation of nuclear waste policy.
ON NONISOTHERMAL FLOWS OF BINGHAM PLASTICS

A numerical scheme based on the Galerkin's finite element method is used to analyze nonisothermal flows of Bingham plastics. These fluids exhibit yield stresses, below which the material does not flow. This condition is enforced by introducing the bi-viscosity model in which the plug behaviour is approximated by a highly viscous fluid. The bi-viscosity model approaches the ideal Bingham plastic model if the pre-yield viscosity becomes large. This numerical method is applied to solve three problems namely the Graetz-Nusselt, recirculating flow, and sinusoidal channel flow problems for various values of the yield stress. The size of the plug as well as the velocity and temperature fields correspond closely with values available in literature.
Histochemical comparison of vertebrate mast cells.

Mast cells from representative species of each of the five vertebrate classes have been studied histochemically. Histamine was found in reptilian, avian and mammalian species. An N-sulfated mucopolysaccharide was present in all species but the carp. A chymotrypsin-like or a trypsin-like esterase or both was found in the turtle and the several mammalian species examined. The mast cell thus appears to have developed the biological armamentarium associated with the mammalian cells in discrete steps during vertebrate evolution.