cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Windows-Based Top-Down Cracking Design Tool for Florida: Using Energy Ratio Concept

Top-down cracking has been found to be a predominant mode of distresses of asphalt pavements in Florida. Therefore, it is important to accommodate top-down cracking in the design of asphalt mixtures and pavement structures. After a multiyear study on top-down cracking supported by the Florida Department of Transportation, the University of Florida developed a top-down cracking model based on hot-mix asphalt fracture mechanics. This paper presents the implementation of the Florida cracking model into a mechanistic-empirical (M-E) flexible pavement design framework. Based on the energy ratio concept, a new M-E pavement design tool for top-down cracking has been developed. In the Level 3 M-E design, a series of semiempirical models were developed for estimation of time-dependent material properties. With incorporation of the material properties models, the design tool is capable of performing pavement thickness design as well as pavement life prediction for top-down cracking in Florida. The thickness design is optimized for different traffic levels, mixture types, and binder selections, and the optimization is an automated process. This design tool has been packed into Windows-based software, making it convenient to use for pavement design engineers.
An Easy and Well-Ordered Way to Learn: Schooling at Home in Louisa May Alcott’s Eight Cousins and Jack and Jill

Louisa May Alcott’s juvenile fiction is often focused on aspects of children’s lives that were also topics of reform in nineteenth century America. In Jack and Jill and EightCousins, Alcott presents an idealized picture of child-centered learning, building on three central principals: (1) Good teachers are sympathetic and understanding of children; (2) Every child needs to be healthy in order to learn; and (3) Children should be allowed to explore their world through self-directed, active learning. The ideal educational environment that she describes has much in common with the theories of John Dewey that would emerge some years later; using Dewey’s writings can give further insight into Alcott’s fiction. In this article, I argue that Alcott sees the world from the perspective of her young characters, and describes it in a way that simultaneously connects to her young readers and gives adults insight into the child’s world.
Gender Safety: A New Concept for Safer and More Equitable Schools

Despite longstanding efforts towards gender equity and current yet intense focus on school safety, the simple right of boys and girls to an equitable and safe school environment-not to have to negotiate inequity or violence as part of their school day-has yet to be secured. In this article we review the development of "gender equity" and "school safety" as concepts out of which various practices have arisen and argue that these conceptualizations have not proved sufficient to eradicate the problems each targets. We then propose a new approach to this goal of creating and insuring an equitable and safe school environment for girls and boys which sifts out, braids together and builds upon key aspects of gender equity and school safety but is grounded in the articulation of a "missing discourse" of gender within each. Gender safety is built on an acknowledgment of gender as a set of ideologies which are produced, reproduced and sustained within (and beyond) school classrooms and hallways.Wesuggest that a lack of attention to these ideologies is a significant and unrecognized barrier in the arenas of both gender equity and school safety. A key feature of our formulation is the psychosocial significance of gender ideologies in adolescents' daily experiences and in school cultures and climates.
Susceptibility of Rats with Renal Hypertension to Pyelonephritis, and Predisposition of Rats with Chronic Pyelonephritis to Hormonal Hypertension

The principles and procedural details for assay of the biological activity of cardioglob ulin A, B and C are presented. In the Methods section are described the construction of the frog heart cannula, and the technique for can nulating the heart and cauterizing the atria. The principle and methods for assaying car dioglobulin B are described. The use of rat plasma as a source of eardioglobulin A and C in the assay is discussed. The basis for the cardioglohulin C assay is described. The prep aration of cardioglobulin B for use in the assay is described in detail. The procedure used in the cardiogl.obulin C assay is given, with a discussion of certain factors which must be controlled. The assay for cardio globulin A is outlined, and the method for preparing cardioglobulin C for use in the assay is also given. A comparison between cardioglobulin A and C activity in human subjects is made.
Preparation of cis,cis‐, trans,cis‐, cis,trans‐ and trans,trans‐12,15‐octadecadienoic‐9,10‐d2 acids, methyl esters and triglycerides

Methyl cis,cis-, trans,cis-, cis,trans-, and trans,trans-12,15-octadecadienoates-9,10-d2 were prepared by the Wittig Reaction between cis- or trans-3-hexenyltriphenylphosphonium bromide and methyl 12-oxododecanoate-9,10-d2 with butyl lithium in ethyl ether. At room temperature, the Wittig Reaction gave a product mixture with 80-85% cis geometry in the double bond formed. When the reaction was run at −40°C, followed by protonation with methanol and slow warm-up to room temperature, the product mixture had 60-65% trans geometry in the double bond generated. Mixtures of the cis,cis and trans,cis and of the cis,trans and trans,trans isomers were separated by partial silver resin chromatography, and the individual pure fatty esters were converted to the triglycerides through the respective acid chlorides. Melting points and nuclear magnetic resonance chemical shifts are presented.
Effect of urease-induced hyperammonemia on metabolism of guanidino compounds.

Abstract We previously reported that guanidino compounds produced by the catabolism of arginine play an important role in the pathophysiology of acute hyperammonemia. In order to understand the metabolism of guanidino compounds during sustained hyperammonemia, we investigated the effect of intraperitoneal urease injection (800 IU/kg) on the levels of guanidino compounds in blood, liver, kidney, and brain of rats. Control rats received an equal volume of saline. Eight hours following injection, rats were sacrificed and blood and tissues were removed. Ammonia and urea were determined by enzymatic and colorimetric assays, respectively. Guanidino compounds were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Blood and tissue ammonia were significantly increased and urea decreased in urease-treated animals. Blood and kidney arginine levels were significantly decreased although hepatic arginine was increased following urease injection. Elevated hepatic arginine may be due to the rapid conversion of urea to ammonia by urease and the development of a futile urea cycle. Catabolites produced by the transamidination of arginine were significantly decreased in the blood, liver, kidney, and brain of urease-treated rats, whereas acetylation of hepatic arginine to α- N -acetylarginine was increased. Blood and tissue guanidinosuccinic acid levels were not elevated during urease induced hyperammonemia, supporting the hypothesis that urea is a precursor for the synthesis of guanidinosuccinic acid.
Proliferation of thyrotropin releasing hormone receptors in specific brain regions during the development of hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats

The binding of [3H] [3-MeHis2] thyrotropin releasing hormone [( 3H]MeTRH) to brain membranes prepared from 8 week old spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats was determined. [3H]MeTRH bound specifically to rat brain membranes at a single high affinity site. The density (Bmax value) of [3H]MeTRH binding sites was significantly greater (28%) in SHR rats compared to WKY rats. The apparent dissociation constants (Kd values) for the binding of [3H]MeTRH in SHR and WKY rats did not differ. Binding in the various brain regions revealed that the density of [3H]MeTRH was highest in the hypothalamus followed in decreasing order by pons + medulla, midbrain, cortex and striatum. The binding of [3H]MeTRH was approximately 25% greater in cortex, hypothalamus and striatum of SHR rats in comparison to WKY rats. The binding in pons + medulla, midbrain and pituitary of SHR and WKY rats did not differ. To assess the significance of increased binding sites for [3H]MeTRH in some brain regions of SHR rats, the binding studies were carried out during normotensive and hypertensive stages of postnatal age in the two strains. In 3 and 4 week old SHR rats there was neither an increase in blood pressure nor any increase in [3H]MeTRH binding in the hypothalamus and striatum as compared to age matched WKY rats. With the development of elevated blood pressure at 6 weeks, an increase in [3H]MeTRH binding in the hypothalamus and striatum of SHR rats in comparison to the tissues from WKY rats was observed. The results provide, for the first time, evidence for a parallel increase in the density of brain TRH receptors with elevation of blood pressure, and suggest that brain TRH receptors may play an important role in the pathophysiology of hypertension.
Electrocochleography by mathematical modelling.

Abstract The aim of this work is to critically review some of the classical electrocochleographic methods in accordance with the systems theory: 1. (a) in describing, by means of mathematical models, the different parts of the auditory system concerned in the generation of stimulus-evoked signals; and: 2. (b) in comparing the outputs of these models with the measurements of the cochlear potentials. It must be stated clearly that we realise that many of the conclusions drawn could be criticised; it is hoped that future research in the field will be stimulated by this work.
Functional Brain Mapping in Freely Moving Rats During Treadmill Walking

A dilemma in functional neuroimaging is that immobilization of the subject, necessary to avoid movement artifact, extinguishes all but the simplest behaviors. Recently, we developed an implantable ...
HRTS II euv observations of a solar ephemeral region

HRTS II has been used to observe the EUV emission of a small bipolar magnetic feature or ephemeral region, where strong EUV line enhancement exhibits contrasts (measured relative to the quiet sun) which range from 10 to 70. The substantiality of the Lyman-alpha and C II-O V emission, and the absence of any measurable emission in coronal forbidden lines, sets a temperature range for the loop's active part of the order of 16,000-300,000 K. The use of the ratios of allowed lines as temperature diagnostics yields temperatures that are very near ionization equilibrium temperatures, and the use of chromospheric lines to form a wavelength standard yields absolute velocities ranging in magnitude from zero to 12 km/sec for C IV, N IV, and O V. This flow is interpreted as a siphon flow.
A new approach to gain-bandwidth problems

A new idea for treating the broad-band matching of an arbitrary load to a resistive generator leads to a simple technique for the design of a lossless 2-port equalizer. The method is a numerical one, and only utilizes real frequency (e.g., experimental) load impedance data. No model or analytic impedance function for the load is necessary. Nor is the equalizer topology or analytic form of the system transfer function assumed. The arithmetic is well conditioned and the intricacies of gainbandwidth theory are bypassed. An example comparing the method with analytic gain-bandwidth theory is given. Two examples proceeding directly from experimental data are presented. One is the broad banding of a microwave avalanche diode reflection amplifier. The other is the gainbandwidth equalization of a microwave FET amplifier for gain taper and impedance mismatch.
Stimulation of neutrophil leukocyte chemotaxis by a cloned cytolytic enterotoxin of Aeromonas hydrophila

A cytolytic enterotoxin produced by Aeromonas hydrophila, isolate SSU, has been cloned in our laboratory. This enterotoxin lysed rabbit red blood cells, destroyed Chinese hamster ovary cells, caused fluid secretion in rat ligated ileal loops, inhibited the phagocytic function of mouse phagocytes, and was lethal to mice when injected intravenously. In this study, the effect of this cytolytic enterotoxin on the chemotaxis of human leukocytes (cell line RPMI 1788) was examined,. This toxin, at concentrations from 92.5 to 370 ng/ml, significantly stimulated the chemotactic activity of human leukocytes in a dose-dependent fashion. The stimulation of leukocyte chemotaxis elicited by cytolytic enterotoxin was abolished when the toxin was neutralized, heated, or exposed to low pH values. This stimulatory effect also was inhibited by various concentrations of pertussis toxin. These results demonstrated that cytolytic enterotoxin may stimulate increased chemotaxis of human leukocytes, and suggest that human leukocytes may possess cytolytic enterotoxin receptors which may be coupled to pertussis toxin-sensitive G-protein.
Management of recurrent carpal tunnel syndrome with microneurolysis and the hypothenar fat pad flap

A retrospective chart review for the period between 1998 and 2006 was conducted to evaluate microneurolysis combined with a hypothenar fat pad flap (HTFPF) for patients at Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona, who were being treated for recurrent carpal tunnel syndrome. After exclusion of patients with incomplete release of the transverse carpal ligament at the time of the original operation, 28 consecutive patients were identified. Their average age was 68.5 years (range 43–89 years). The average interval between the original carpal tunnel release and reexploration was 82 months (range 5–298 months). The average follow-up was 10.5 months (range 3–48.4 months). The preoperative two-point discrimination tests averaged 7 mm (range 5–12 mm). At surgery, all patients were found to have fibrosis surrounding the median nerve with adherence of the nerve to the radial leaf of the transverse carpal ligament. After surgery, the Tinel sign disappeared in 26 of 28 patients and two-point discrimination improved to an average of 6 mm (range 4–8 mm). Postoperative grip strength averaged 20 kg, compared with 11 kg preoperatively. Pain completely disappeared in 83% of patients (average improvement 93%, range 5–100%). Numbness completely disappeared in 42% of patients (average improvement 82.9%, range 5–100%). Tingling disappeared in 50% of patients (average improvement 84.7%, range 5–100%). No patient reported being worse after reoperation. These results suggest that the combination of microneurolysis and HTFPF can restore median nerve gliding and provide soft-tissue coverage, improving symptoms in patients with recurrent carpal tunnel syndrome.
The Importance of Pro-Inflammatory Signaling in Neonatal Necrotizing Enterocolitis

Despite modern medical advances, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in neonatal intensive care units, affecting 10% of premature neonates born weighing less than 1500 g. Although many advances have been made in the understanding of NEC, the etiology and pathophysiology remain incompletely understood, and treatment is limited to supportive care. In recent years, many studies have evaluated the inflammatory cascade that is central to the disease process, and research is ongoing into strategies to prevent and/or ameliorate neonatal NEC. In this review, we examine the key points in the signaling pathways involved in NEC, and potential strategies for prevention and treatment of this dreaded disease.
A multidimensional social desirability inventory

The hypothesis that the need for social approval may be viewed most adequately as a multidimensional construct consisting of at least partially independent dimensions was evaluated. An inventory was created and tested that measured independently each of four factors identified as operative in previous research in this area. Based on a conception of the importance of attribution and denial as central elements in self-descriptive statements differing in social desirability value, four scales were created measuring the frequency of endorsement of statements comprising each of the following: the attribution of positive traits, the attribution of negative traits, the denial of positive traits, and the denial of negative traits. The inventory was designed also to control for the possible operation of both agreement and acceptance acquiescence. The data obtained provided strong support for the conceptualization delineated and for the inventory constructed.
What CBS Wants: How Groups Can Have (Difficult To Uncover) Beliefs

A travers la conversation quotidienne, le discours journalistique et les etudes de sciences sociales, l'A. mesure la possibilite pour les groupes de formuler des croyances et des desirs collectifs qui permettent d'expliquer les phenomenes sociaux en termes d'etats intentionnels.
Effects of calcium and EMD-53998 on oxygen consumption in isolated canine hearts.

BACKGROUND Most positive inotropic agents increase cardiac contractility by increasing the amount of Ca2+ cycled with each beat. The additional amount of oxygen that is consumed by the heart to cycle this additional Ca2+ is believed to reduce myocardial efficiency. On the other hand, it has been suggested that the agent EMD-53998 increases the Ca2+ sensitivity of the contractile proteins without affecting the intracellular Ca2+ transient in cardiac muscle. Therefore, application of this agent may increase cardiac contractility without decreasing myocardial efficiency. The purpose of the present study was to test this hypothesis. METHODS AND RESULTS We measured myocardial oxygen consumption (MVO2) in six isolated, isovolumically beating blood-perfused canine hearts. The hearts were paced at 120 beats per minute. Contractility was varied in each heart by infusion of either CaCl2 or EMD-53998. With infusion of either agent, MVO2 was a linearly proportional function of contractility. No significant difference between CaCl2 and EMD-53998 could be detected in the interrelation between contractility and MVO2. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that the "calcium-sensitizing agent" EMD-53998 is a potent positive inotropic agent in the isolated, blood-perfused canine heart. However, EMD-53998 does not provide an energetic advantage over currently used positive inotropic agents.
Yields and kinetic energy distributions of sputtered neutral copper clusters

Abstract Neutral copper clusters up to Cu 15 were observed from the sputtering of polycrystalline copper by normally incident 3.6 keV Ar + . This is the first observation of sputtered neutral clusters larger than Cu 5 . The sputtered neutral species were detected by laser post-ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The absolute sputtering yield of Cu 2 was determined to be 0.05 Cu 2 /Ar + . Sputtering yields of the larger clusters relative to the atom were estimated from their postionized concentrations and found to range from 10 −4 for Cu 3 to 10 −9 for Cu 11 . The kinetic energy distributions of Cu, Cu 2 and Cu 3 were also measured. The energ distribution of the atoms agreed very well with the expected distribution from the Sigmund-Thompson model. The maxima in the energy distributions were in the order Cu 3 > Cu 2 > Cu. All three distributions had approximately the same high-energy dependence. Neither the single nor the multiple collision models that have been proposed to describe the cluster energy distributions appear to agree with our measurements.
Dalbavancin safety in the phase 2/3 clinical development program

Dalbavancin (DAL) is a novel, next-generation lipoglycopeptide with a pharmacokinetic profile that allows weekly dosing. The safety of DAL in the treatment of complicated skin and soft tissue infections was demonstrated versus comparators (COMP) in the phase 2/3 clinical development program.
Ultrasensitive prostate specific antigen after prostatectomy reliably identifies patients requiring postoperative radiotherapy.

Purpose: Integrating ultrasensitive prostate specific antigen with surveillance in patients at high risk after radical prostatectomy potentially optimizes treatment by correctly identifying recurrence, promoting an early salvage strategy and minimizing overtreatment. We tested the power of postoperative ultrasensitive prostate specific antigen to identify eventual biochemical failure.Materials and Methods: We identified 247 patients at high risk with a median followup of 44 months who underwent radical prostatectomy from 1991 to 2013. Each patient had extraprostatic extension and/or a positive margin. Surgical technique, initial prostate specific antigen, pathology findings and postoperative prostate specific antigen were analyzed. The ultrasensitive prostate specific antigen assay threshold was 0.01 ng/ml. Conventional biochemical relapse was defined as prostate specific antigen 0.2 ng/ml or greater. Kaplan-Meier and Cox multivariate analyses were done to compare the rates of ultrasensitive prostate spec...
Macroscopically ordered thin films of an organic salt grown by low-pressure organic vapor-phase deposition

Abstract We demonstrate the process of low-pressure organic vapor-phase deposition (LP-OVPD) for the growth of crystalline thin films of the organic charge-transfer salt 4′-dimethylamino-N-methyl-4-stilbazolium tosylate (DAST) on amorphous TiO 2 substrates. LP-OVPD grown films exhibit polycrystallinity with long-range structural ordering limited only by substrate size. Film surface coverage and macroscopic ordering are strongly determined by the preparation of the TiO 2 surface prior to growth. The morphology and ordering of the films are also found to depend on the deposition temperature and the composition of the precursor molecules. These results suggest that LP-OVPD films are of sufficient quality for use in optical waveguide and related photonic devices.
Exposure Assessment in Nail Salons: An Indoor Air Approach

Due to the complexity of the nail salon work environment, traditional approaches to exposure assessment in this context tend to mischaracterize potential hazards as nuisances. For this investigation, a workable “indoor air” approach was devised to characterize potential hazards and ventilation in Boston, Massachusetts area nail salons which are primarily owned and staffed by Vietnamese immigrants. A community-university partnership project recruited salons to participate in a short audit which included carbon dioxide measurements and evaluation of other air quality metrics. Twenty-two salons participated. Seventy-three percent of the salons had spot carbon dioxide measurements in excess of 700 ppm, the level corresponding to a ventilation rate recommended for beauty salons. Fourteen salons (64%) did not have a mechanical ventilation system to provide fresh air and/or exhaust contaminated air. The lack of adequate ventilation is of significant concern because of the presence of potentially hazardous chemicals in salon products and the common self-report of symptoms among nail technicians. Community and worker health may be improved through adoption of recommended ventilation guidelines and reduction in the hazard potential of nail products.
Satisfaction with environmental change: an empirical analysis of attitudes toward air quality by recent interstate migrants

Abstract How (and whether) people perceive environmental change is a question which economists have generally chosen to finesse rather than explore. The three components of attitudes (cognitive, affective, behavioral) are identified and a “satisfaction” metric is used to evaluate the nonbehavioral components for recent in-migrants to Oregon. An interaction model is used to relate changes in satisfaction to changes in air quality and to personal characteristics of the migrants. In general, a valid cognitive dimension exists; changes in satisfaction are in fact consistent with changes in air quality data.
Reduction of postembolization syndrome after ablation of renal angiomyolipoma

Approximately 75% of patients with tuberous sclerosis complex develop renal angiomyolipomas. These hamartomatous lesions distort and damage renal parenchyma and can lead to hemorrhage. To reduce the risk of hemorrhage, transarterial embolization is used to necrose the angiomyolipoma while sparing normal renal tissue. Although an effective renal-sparing procedure, embolization most often is associated with an inflammatory response that causes significant fever and pain that can last for several days despite the use of acetaminophen. Reported cases show that 49 of 55 patients who underwent embolization developed this syndrome. The use of such nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs as aspirin is contraindicated because of their adverse effects on platelet function. To reduce pain and fever associated with postembolization syndrome (PES), we changed our clinical management of patients postembolization to include a tapering dose of prednisone over a 2-week period. Nine patients underwent this pharmacological intervention, and one patient abstained. All patients were monitored for pain and fever. Only two patients treated with steroids developed fever, which was assuaged with acetaminophen, and no patient reported pain. The tapering dose of prednisone was well tolerated, and there were no postprocedure infections. The use of a short-term tapering dose of prednisone appeared to reduce PES compared with the reported literature and improved patient comfort.
A System of Implicit Quantification

The “traditional” method of presenting the subject-matter of symbolic logic involves setting down, first of all, a basis for a propositional calculus—which basis might be a system of natural deduction, an axiom system, or a rule concerning tautologous formulas. The next step, ordinarily, consists of the introduction of quantifiers into the symbol-set of the system, and the stating of axioms or rules for quantification. In this paper I shall propose a system somewhat different from the ordinary; this system has rules for quantification and is, indeed, equivalent to classical quantification theory. It departs from the usual, however, in that it has no primitive quantifiers.
Prolonged diving and recovery in the freshwater turtle, Pseudemys scripta—I. Lung and blood gases, pH, lactate concentrations and “cation” gap☆

Abstract 1. 1. The pattern of changes in lung and blood gases, HCO − 3 and lactate concentrations, and “cation” gap was studied in the freshwater turtle ( Pseudemys scripta elegans ) during a 6-hr diving period and a 15-hr post-diving recovery period at 24 ± 1 (SD)°C. 2. 2. Lung and plasma paO 2 tensions fell progressively during the first hour of diving, reaching values of essentially zero at this time. 3. 3. Lung gas and plasma pa CO 2 rose progressively during 6hr of diving, reaching values in excess of 100 torr during the 6 hr of diving. 4. 4. In the post-diving period p O 2 and p CO 2 values return to normal values within 5 min. 5. 5. Restoration of pH during the post-diving is slow and at 1 hr pH a , is significantly less than control values which are not achieved until 15 hr of post-diving. 6. 6. The sum of (HCO − 3 ) a + (lactate) a rises progressively during the dive, resulting in a peak “cation” gap of 24 m-equiv/1 at 6 hr of diving suggesting that the fall in pH causes a reduction of negative charge on plasma proteins.
Ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxides (USPIOs): a future alternative magnetic resonance (MR) contrast agent for patients at risk for nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF)?

Gadolinium (Gd) based contrast agents (GBCAs) in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are used in daily clinical practice and appear safe in most patients; however, nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) is a recently recognized severe complication associated with GBCAs. It affects primarily patients with renal disease, such as stage 4 or 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD; glomerular filtration rate 2 ), acute kidney injury, or kidney and liver transplant recipients with kidney dysfunction. Contrast-enhanced MRI and computed tomography (CT) scans provide important clinical information and influence patient management. An alternative contrast agent is needed to obtain adequate imaging results while avoiding the risk of NSF in this vulnerable patient group. One potential alternative is ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) nanoparticles, which provide enhancement characteristics similar to GBCAs. We review our experience in approximately 150 patients on the potential benefits of the USPIOs ferumoxtran-10 and ferumoxytol. We focus on central nervous system (CNS) MRI but also review imaging of other vascular beds. Safety studies, including USPIO administration (ferumoxytol) as iron supplement therapy in CKD patients on and not on dialysis, suggest that decreased kidney function does not alter the safety profile. We conclude that for both CNS MR imaging and MR angiography, USPIO agents like ferumoxytol are a viable option for patients at risk for NSF.
The Spirit of the Law: Following the Traces of Genocide in the Law of Abandoned Property

The aim of the article is to explain how the laws and decrees regarding ‘abandoned properties’ from both the Ottoman and Turkish Republican eras were constructed. The central argument is that, even though these laws and regulations were part of the genocidal program of 1915, they cannot totally deny the rights of Armenians relative to these properties.
Test method variability in slow crack growth properties of sealing glasses

The crack growth properties of several sealing glasses were measured by using constant stress rate testing in ~2 and 95 percent RH (relative humidity). Crack growth parameters measured in high humidity are systematically smaller (n and B) than those measured in low humidity, and crack velocities for dry environments are ~100x lower than for wet environments. The crack velocity is very sensitive to small changes in RH at low RH. Biaxial and uniaxial stress states produced similar parameters. Confidence intervals on crack growth parameters that were estimated from propagation of errors solutions were comparable to those from Monte Carlo simulation. Use of scratch-like and indentation flaws produced similar crack growth parameters when residual stresses were considered.
Does enzyme heterozygosity influence developmental rate in rainbow trout

The association between genetic variation at 14 enzyme loci and developmental rate was examined in six strains of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri). The purpose of this study was to test the prediction that heterozygotes develop faster than homozygotes. We also tested whether the enzyme loci could be responsible for such an association or are marking chromosomal segments that influence developmental rate. There is a significant negative association (P less than 0.05) between hatching time and the number of heterozygous loci per fish in one of six strains. Heterozygotes developed faster than homozygotes at 26 out of 43 possible comparisons made at individual loci within strains. Heterozygotes developed significantly faster than homozygotes in eight comparisons, and significantly slower in six comparisons. These results suggest a weak positive association between developmental rate and heterozygosity. Nine loci were polymorphic in more than one strain. At five of these loci the hatching distributions of heterozygotes and homozygotes are significantly different among strains. The direction of the relationship between heterozygosity and developmental rate at individual loci is not consistent among strains. Therefore, our results suggest that the loci surveyed are marking chromosomal segments that influence developmental rate. Linkage disequilibrium between alleles at the isozyme loci and dominant-acting genes that accelerate or retard developmental rate is hypothesised to account for the observed relationship between heterozygosity and developmental rate.
Characteristic analysis of a refractive axicon system for optical trepanning

An annular beam provides a new laser drilling mechanism, which we refer to as optical trepanning. A refractive axicon system has been designed to transform an input Gaussian laser beam into a collimated annular beam. The diffractive effects of the axicon system and a convex lens focusing the collimated annular beam have been studied using the Fresnel diffraction integral. The theoretical diffraction patterns are compared with the patterns measured with a laser-beam analyzer. The results show that the refractive axicon system can produce Gaussian-like annular beams with the capability of easily adjusting the size of the annular beam.
A review of recent research on health effects of human occupational exposure to organic solvents : a critical review

The health impact of workplace solvent exposure remains an issue of substantial interest and concern to occupational health professionals. As a result of research performed in the 1970s and 1980s, policies and programs were developed throughout the world to control excessive exposure to solvents. To an extent, these programs have been responsible for reduction of the occurrence of solvent-associated encephalopathy and other health effects. In this review of research performed since 1985, particular attention is given to issues of reversibility of neurotoxicity following exposure cessation. Furthermore, health effects involving other organ systems, particularly reproductive, renal, and hepatic disorders, are discussed. Future research directions are discussed. Finally, the practical implications of these recent research findings are described with a focus on the management of prevention programs at the work site.
Zur theorie der stationären strom-spannungs-kurven von redox-elektrodenreaktionen in hydrodynamischer voltammetrie III. Laminare keilströmungen

Zusammenfassung Es wird eine Elektrodenanordnung vorgeschlagen, in welcher ein sturnpfer Rotationskorper in laminare Parallelstromung eingetaucht wird und sich ein Teil des Rotationskorpers in der Nahe des Vorderstaupunktes als eine Beobachtungselektrode wirkt. Fur eine solche Elektrode, die in der vorliegenden Arbeit als Staupunktelektrode bezeichnet wird, werden die theoretischen Ausdrucke fur die stationaren Strom-Spannungs-kurven von Redox-EIektrodenreaktionen ohne und mit vorgelagerten homogenen Reaktionen abgeleitet. Es zeigt sich dabei, dass die Verteilung der Stromdichte an der Oberflache der Staupuaktelektrode stets homogen ist und diese Verhaltnisse die genauere Behandlung. des Stofftransportes unter Berucksichtigung der Kinetik, insbesondere fur die Elektrodenreaktionen mit kompliziertem Reaktionsmechanismus, errnoglichen. Zuletzt werden die Bedingungen fur die Ausdehnung
Jarosite dissolution rates and nanoscale mineralogy

Jarosite, (K,Na,H)Fe3(SO4)2(OH)6, commonly occurs as an ephemeral phase in acidic, oxidizing, sulfate and iron-rich environments on Earth. The discovery of jarosite within deposits on Mars provides evidence for oxidizing, acidic fluids in these regions during the time of jarosite deposition. In addition, the preservation of jarosite over billions of years on Mars places constraints on the post-jarosite geochemical environment, including the duration of aqueous diagenesis. Observations of hematite spherules within the same outcrops may further constrain the chemistry of these diagenetic fluids. In this study, the effects of pH and temperature on jarosite initial dissolution rates and iron oxide reaction products were determined in the laboratory at initial pH 1–10 and temperatures from 277 to 323 K. Multivariate linear regression of the rate data shows that the dissolution rate varies with pH and temperature, resulting in Ea = ∼79 kJ/mol. At pH 3.5 increasing aOH- results in increased rates yielding a rate equation of r(molm-2s-1)=10-6.487αH+0.899+10-10.964aOH-0.392 at 296 K. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) reveals patchy jarosite dissolution textures, suggesting that dissolution proceeds through pitting, perhaps initiated in areas containing higher concentrations of H+ substitution or dislocations within the jarosite structure. Iron (hydr)oxide reaction products (determined by TEM and electron diffraction) varied with pH, temperature, and the extent of reaction, but were consistently crystalline, though 3.5 over timescales less than tens to thousands of years.
First Report of Geotrichum candidum as a Pathogen of Sweetpotato Storage Roots from Flooded Fields in North Carolina and Louisiana

In October 1997, samples of diseased sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) roots from storage were submitted for diagnosis to the Plant Disease and Insect Clinic at North Carolina State University. Two organisms were detected from soft rotted roots: Rhizopus stolonifer (Ehrenb.:Fr.) Vuill. (cause of Rhizopus soft rot) and Geotrichum candidum Link. Attempts to duplicate a soft rot by stab-inoculation of sweetpotato roots with a pure culture of G. candidum were unsuccessful. In Louisiana, following heavy rains due to Tropical Storm Frances in 1998, sweetpotato roots exhibiting a cortical tissue collapse at time of harvest were submitted to Louisiana State University for disease identification. Isolations from lesion margins consistently yielded G. candidum. Attempts to reproduce the disease by stab-inoculation produced only a few restricted lesions 5 to 15 mm in diameter. In 1999, rains from hurricanes Dennis, Floyd, and Irene caused extensive flooding in sweetpotato-growing areas of the North Carolina Coastal Plain. Extensive losses occurred in many fields due to a condition known as "souring," and G. candidum was frequently detected sporulating on the surface of soured roots. This provided a clue for reproducing the disease artificially (1). In 2000, the disease was successfully reproduced. Sterile, wood toothpicks were dragged across a pure culture of G. candidum and inserted (1.5 cm deep) into the mid-section of sweetpotato (cv. Beauregard) roots. Roots were submerged in water at room temperature (23°C) for 24 to 48 h. Each of four roots was inoculated four times, and sterile toothpicks were stabbed into the controls. Additional controls consisted of an inoculated root that was not submerged in water, and a root that was not wounded or inoculated but submerged in water. Following submersion, roots were incubated at room temperature for 5 days. The experiment was repeated. Isolations from diseased tissues consistently yielded G. candidum. Symptoms consisted of slightly sunken, circular lesions, typically 15 to 50 mm in diameter. In cross-section, diseased tissue surrounding the wound was darkened, soft (but not watery), and extended 1 to 20 mm on either side of the wound. None of the controls showed signs of decay. These symptoms are consistent with but do not represent the full range of symptoms observed in the field. Souring of sweetpotato is likely the result of a complex of factors including predisposition of roots by water-saturated soil and the pathogenic effects of G. candidum. To our knowledge, this is the first known report of rot caused by G. candidum on sweetpotato in the United States. G. candidum was reported on sweetpotato in India, but no pathogenicity tests were reported (2). References: (1) E. Cohen and J. W. Eckert. Plant Dis. 75:166, 1991. (2) N. C. Mandal and M. K. Dasgupta. Indian J. Mycol. Plant Pathol. 10:31, 1980.
Non-muscle myosin-II-B filament regulation of paracellular resistance in cervical epithelial cells is associated with modulation of the cortical acto-myosin.

Objective:To understand myosin regulation of epithelial permeability.Methods:This was an experimental study, using human cervical epithelial cells CaSki. End points were paracellular permeability (determined in terms of transepithelial electrical resistance); non-muscle myosin-II-B (NMM-II-B) cellular localization; NMM-II-B phosphorylation status; NMM-II-B-actin interaction (determined in vitro by the immunoprecipitation-immunoreactivity method); and NMM-II-B filamentation (determined in vitro using purified NMM-II-B filaments in terms of filaments disassembly/assembly ratios.Results:Treatment of cells with the Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) inhibitor Y-27632 or with the phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid decreased the resistance of the lateral intercellular space (RLIS), and increased phosphorylation of NMM-II-B on threonine and serine residues. Y-27632 induced disorganization of the cortical acto-myosin and decreased co-immunoprecipitation of actin with NMM-II-B. Homodimerization assays using NMM-II-B fil...
Hepatic phosphatidylcholines: evidence for synthesis in the rat by extensive reutilization of endogenous acylglycerides.

Studies were performed to compare the extent of fatty acid incorporation into liver phosphatidylcholines (PCs) by acyl remodeling and by de novo synthesis. To this end, isolated rat livers were first perfused with palmitoleic acid (16:1) and [2-3H]glycerol and then with 17:1 fatty acid and nonradiolabeled glycerol that resulted in the formation of new molecular species of radiolabeled PCs containing 16:1 and 17:1 acyl groups. The specific activities of newly formed molecular species of the de novo precursors of acylglyceride synthesis, phosphatidic acids (PAs) and diglycerides (DGs), and the products of synthesis, PCs and triglycerides (TGs), were measured at periods during both the labeling period of perfusion with 16:1 (first 15 min) and the more prolonged chase period with 17:1 (up to 120 min). At the end of the labeling period, the specific activity of all the 16:1-containing PAs, DGs, and 16:1-16:1-16:1 and 16:1-16:1-18:2 TGs were the same and were much higher than any molecular species that did not contain 16:1. The specific activities of these molecular species are indicative of the specific activity of molecular species synthesized exclusively by de novo synthesis (i.e., by acylation of glycerol 3-phosphate) during the labeling period. In contrast, the specific activity of 16:1-16:1 PC was only 2/3 that of the other 16:1-16:1 glycerides, and the specific activities of the other 16:1-containing PCs were only about 1/3 that of the corresponding 16:1-containing PAs, DGs, and 16:1-16:1 TGs. After the labeling period and during the chase period with perfusion of 17:1 and nonradiolabeled glycerol, the specific activities of major 16:1 PCs exceeded the specific activities of their corresponding PAs and DGs and remained considerably higher than these precursors of de novo synthesis for the duration of perfusions. However, during this period, the specific activities of major 16:1 PCs were less than their corresponding molecular species of TGs. During the chase period, new 17:1 molecular species of PCs were formed that were also radiolabeled. The specific activity of 16:1-17:1 PC, the 17:1 PC with the highest specific activity, always exceeded its corresponding PA and DG precursors. During the chase period, non-16:1 and non-17:1 molecular species of PCs that comprised the bulk of hepatic PCs were also radiolabeled and the specific activities of these molecular species progressively increased during this period.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Treatment with neuraminidase inhibitors for critically ill patients with influenza A(H1N1)pdm09

Background Neuraminidase inhibitor (NAI) antiviral drugs can shorten the duration of uncomplicated influenza when administered early ( Methods We analyzed California surveillance data to characterize the outcomes of patients in intensive care units (ICUs) treated with NAIs for influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 (pH1N1). Demographic and clinical data were abstracted from medical records, using standardized case report forms. Results From 3 April 2009 through 10 August 2010, 1950 pH1N1 cases hospitalized in ICUs were reported. Of 1859 (95%) with information available, 1676 (90%) received NAI treatment, and 183 (10%) did not. The median age was 37 years (range, 1 week-93 years), 1473 (79%) had ≥1 comorbidity, and 492 (26%) died. The median time from symptom onset to starting NAI treatment was 4 days (range, 0-52 days). NAI treatment was associated with survival: 107 of 183 untreated case patients (58%) survived, compared with 1260 of 1676 treated case patients (75%; P ≤ .0001). There was a trend toward improved survival for those treated earliest (P Conclusions NAI treatment of critically ill pH1N1 patients improves survival. While earlier treatment conveyed the most benefit, patients who started treatment up to 5 days after symptom onset also were more likely to survive. Further research is needed about whether starting NAI treatment >5 days after symptom onset may also convey benefit.
Theoretical excitation transfer cross sections for Rydberg Na(n /sup 2/D. -->. n /sup 2/F) transitions from collision with He, Ne, and Ar. [Quantum close coupling, 0. 04 eV]

A molecular approach employing quantum close-coupling calculations has been utilized to calculate the cross sections for the reactions $\mathrm{Na}(n^{2}D)+\mathrm{H}\mathrm{e},\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}\mathrm{N}\mathrm{e},\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}\mathrm{A}\mathrm{r}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\mathrm{Na}(n^{2}F)+\mathrm{H}\mathrm{e},\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}\mathrm{N}\mathrm{e},\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}\mathrm{A}\mathrm{r}$ for $4\ensuremath{\le}n\ensuremath{\le}20$ at a collision energy of 0.04 eV. The calculations employ exact asymptotic coupling matrix elements and the recently measured term splittings for the $\mathrm{Na}(n^{2}D\ensuremath{-}n^{2}F)$ sequence. The cross sections are found to rise rapidly with increasing $n$ to a maximum cross section of the order ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}13}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$ at $n$ values of 7-12. For larger values of $n$, the cross sections decrease with increasing $n$. The magnitude of the maximum cross section is found to roughly correlate to the electron scattering length of the noble-gas perturbing atom. The theoretical calculations compare well with recent experimental measurements of Gallagher, Edelstein, and Hill.
Cell Proliferation in Rat Forestomach Following Oral Administration of Styrene Oxide

A series of range-finding studies was conducted in a limited number of male F344 rats on the relation between cell proliferation and styrene oxide (SO) given as gavage doses in corn oil ranging from 550 to 1500 mg SO/kg. In each study, rats were injected with [3H]thymidine (0.50 mCi/g, ip) at intervals from 1 to 48 hr after dosing with SO. One hour later, stomachs were removed and fixed in formalin. Autoradiograms were prepared and labeling index (LI) was determined as the percentage of epithelial cells with 3H-labeled nuclei. Mean LI increased with a peak at approximately 15 hr after one or nine doses of SO. The increases were multifocal and not restricted to the area near the limiting ridge. The magnitude of the response in LI at 24 hr after dosing tended to decrease with progressive multiple doses (3/week). Dose-related morphologic lesions from SO (particularly submucosal) were multifocal and variable across the forestomach; they appeared unrelated to LI in a given area. In a final study, groups of 10 rats were given a single dose of 0, 20, 50, 125, 250, 500, or 800 mg/kg and LI was determined 15 hr later. Mean LI was dose-related with increases up to 250 mg/kg. A maximum response had apparently been reached and higher doses did not cause any further increase in LI. The degree of involvement of cell proliferation in the tumorigenicity of SO remains uncertain; additional studies are suggested to help in the understanding of such a possible relation.