cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modeling relative permeability effects in gas-condensate reservoirs with a new trapping model

Many gas-condensate wells show a significant decrease in productivity once the pressure falls below the dew point pressure. A widely accepted cause of this decrease in productivity index is the decrease in the gas relative permeability due to a buildup of condensate in the near wellbore region. Predictions of well inflow performance require accurate models for the gas relative permeability. Since these relative permeabilities depend on fluid composition and pressure as well as on condensate and water saturations, a model is essential for both interpretation of laboratory data and for predictive field simulations as illustrated in this article.
The Life and Legacy of Annie Oakley

With a widowed mother and six siblings, Annie Oakley first became a trapper, hunter, and sharpshooter simply to put food on the table. Yet her genius with the gun eventually led to her stardom in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show during the latter half of the nineteenth century. The archetypal western woman, Annie Oakley urged women to take up shooting to procure food, protect themselves, and enjoy healthy exercise, yet she was also the proper Victorian lady, demurely dressed and skeptical about the value of women's suffrage. Glenda Riley presents the first interpretive biography of the complex woman who was Annie Oakley.
Factors underlying regular classroom teachers' attitude toward mainstreaming

Nearly 1000 regular classroom teachers were administered a scale designed to assess attitude toward mainstreaming. To determine the underlying dimensions of teacher attitude, a factor analysis of the intercorrelations of the items was conducted. Five dimensions were isolated that accounted for 52.4% of the variance. They were defined as attitude toward: (a) general philosophy of mainstreaming, (b) classroom behavior of special needs children, (c) perceived ability to teach the special needs child, (d) classroom management with special needs children, and (e) academic and social growth of the special needs child.
Numerical observations on the continuous spectrum of the linearized viscoelastic operator in shear dominated complex flows

Abstract The eigenspectrum of the viscoelastic operator of the upper convected Maxwell (UCM) model in two-dimensional mixed-kinematic flows without internal stagnation points is contained on a line with real part given by –1/ De , where De denotes the Deborah number [9] . We examine the manifestation of this continuous spectrum in numerical simulations of viscoelastic journal bearing and eccentric Dean flows using a pseudo-spectral Chebyshev–Fourier collocation technique. Our numerical results show that for a given set of geometric parameters the maximum imaginary part of the continuous spectrum increases with the largest wavenumber that can be accommodated by the mesh. Hence, increasing azimuthal resolution for a given eccentricity introduces higher wavenumbers leading to an overall convergence that is poorer than that obtained for a coarser mesh. The eigenfunctions exhibit singular behavior in both the wall-normal and azimuthal directions. The locations of these singularities depend on the imaginary part of the eigenvalue.
Solidification in Kilauea Iki lava lake

The crust of Kilauea Iki lava lake currently consists of an upper porous two-phase (water/steam) convection zone 41 m thick and a lower conduction zone 12 m thick extending to the melt. Although the solidification of the crust initially followed the classical square root of time law, the crust has been solidifying at a constant rate of 6.7 X 10−8m/s for the past twelve years. The thickness of the lower zone of the crust also appears to have reached a constant value of 12 m. A moving solidification front solution is developed which shows that the constant solidification rate and constant thickness of the lower crust zone are natural outcomes of a heat balance between the two zones of the crust. Observed temperature profile curvature from borehole temperature measurements in the lake can be explained in terms of the solidification front solution. The solution and temperature profile data can be used to estimate an average in-situ permeability of 0.30 darcy for the upper zone of the crust which agrees well with measured values.
Clinical strategies for expansion of haematopoietic stem cells

Haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) give rise to all blood and immune cells and are used in clinical transplantation protocols to treat a wide variety of diseases. The ability to increase the number of HSCs either in vivo or in vitro would provide new treatment options, but the amplification of HSCs has been difficult to achieve. Recent insights into the mechanisms of HSC self-renewal now make the amplification of HSCs a plausible clinical goal. This article reviews the molecular mechanisms that control HSC numbers and discusses how these can be modulated to increase the number of HSCs. Clinical applications of HSC expansion are then discussed for their potential to address the current limitations of HSC transplantation.
Discrete Euler-Poincaré and Lie-Poisson equations

In this paper, discrete analogues of Euler–Poincare and Lie–Poisson reduction theory are developed for systems on finite dimensional Lie groups G with Lagrangians L : TG → R that are G-invariant. These discrete equations provide ‘reduced’ numerical algorithms which manifestly preserve the symplectic structure. The manifold G x G is used as an approximation of TG, and a discrete Langragian L : G x G → R is constructed in such a way that the G-invariance property is preserved. Reduction by G results in a new ‘variational’ principle for the reduced Lagrangian l : G → R, and provides the discrete Euler–Poincare (DEP) equations. Reconstruction of these equations recovers the discrete Euler–Lagrange equations developed by Marsden et al (Marsden J E, Patrick G and Shkoller S 1998 Commun. Math. Phys. 199 351–395) and Wendlandt and Marsden (Wendlandt J M and Marsden J E 1997 Physica D 106 223–246) which are naturally symplectic-momentum algorithms. Furthermore, the solution of the DEP algorithm immediately leads to a discrete Lie–Poisson (DLP) algorithm. It is shown that when G = SO(n), the DEP and DLP algorithms for a particular choice of the discrete Lagrangian L are equivalent to the Moser–Veselov scheme for the generalized rigid body.
Extremely low frequency fields and cancer: laboratory studies

There is now convincing evidence from a large number of laboratories, that exposure to extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic and electric fields produces biological responses in animals. However, no animal studies clearly demonstrate deleterious effects of ELF fields, although several are suggestive of potential health impacts. A major current emphasis in laboratory research is to determine whether or not the reported epidemiological studies that suggest an association between EMF exposure and risk of cancer are supported in studies using animal models. Several approaches are outlined in the experimental approach to this question. With specific reference to the radiofrequencies (RF) associated with wireless technology, even less research has been carried out than with ELF. Particularly, in regard to research on carcinogenesis and RF exposure in animals, little is known This section addresses laboratory studies in animals exposed to extremely low-power-frequency EMF, the relevance of which, to RF, is unknown. However, the approaches used with ELF may be useful in guiding laboratory research on the issue of RF exposure and cancer. From the perspective of laboratory animal studies, this paper will discuss studies investigating the potential relationship between ELF magnetic and/or electric field exposure and the risk of cancer.
Social inhibitory control in five lemur species.

We tested five lemur species—ring-tailed lemurs, ruffed lemurs, mongoose lemurs, black lemurs, and Coquerel’s sifakas—(N = 52) in an experiment that evaluated skills for inhibitory control in a social context. First, two human experimenters presented identical food rewards; the “generous” experimenter allowed the subject to eat from her hand, whereas the “competitive” experimenter always withheld the reward. Lemurs quickly learned to approach the generous experimenter and avoid the competitive one. In the inhibition test phase, we endowed the competitive experimenter with a more valuable food reward but the competitive experimenter continued to withhold food from the subject. Thus, lemurs were required to inhibit approaching the more desirable reward in favor of the lesser but obtainable reward presented by the generous experimenter. In test trials, lemurs’ tendency to approach the competitive experimenter increased from the reputation phase, demonstrating sensitivity to the experimental manipulation. However, subjects approached the larger reward less frequently in test trials compared with pretest food-preference trials, evidencing some capacity for inhibitory control in this context. Despite differences in sociality and ecology, the five lemur species did not differ in this ability. Although the study did not uncover species differences, this experimental task may provide a useful measure of social inhibition in broader comparative studies.
RETHINKING CRITICAL LITERACY IN THE NEW INFORMATION AGE

This article looks at new information and communication technologies (ICTs) as sites of public pedagogy in that they produce particular forms of knowledge and literacies and reproduce representations that are always mediated through specific social relations. Public pedagogy as a process that constitutes a broader category beyond classroom practices, official curricula, and educational canons, extends to all sectors of human life, including virtual spaces. No longer restricted to traditional sites of learning such as educational or religious sites, public pedagogy produces new forms of knowledge and apprenticeship and new narratives for agency and for naming the world. Virtual spaces as sites of public pedagogy create, in turn, forms of literacy that go against traditional understandings of what constitutes a text. The article also attempts to discuss yet unrealized alternative directions in these virtual spaces, where critical literacy becomes emancipatory and an essential and powerful tool in the projec...
Nonlinear Magnetic Field Analysis of DC Machines, Part I: Theoretical Fundamentals

Improvements in the method of determining the magnetic fields of nonlinear dc machines are introduced in part I of the paper. A modified, successive line overrelaxation technique to satisfy boundary conditions is developed. A novel block relaxation technique, the additive acceleration of convergence, is explained. The improved method also takes care of relative position changes between field and armature. In part II [8] the improved method is applied to a large dc machine. A new computer flux plotting procedure is developed in part III [9].
The Effect of Positive Adolescent Life Skills Training on Long Term Outcomes for High-Risk Teens

This paper reports on long term follow-up data—12 months post intervention—from a clinical trial of an intervention designed to enhance teen resilience by supporting the development of social skills needed to make positive connections and overcome the influence of negative environmental influences. Sixteen adolescents aged 12 to 16 (10 boys and 6 girls) attending an inner city urban secondary school participated in a 32 week intervention study. Subjects were randomly assigned within sex to Teen Club plus Positive Adolescent Life Skills (PALS) or Teen Club intervention groups. The Problem Oriented Screening Instrument for Teenagers (POSIT) was used to measure the dependent variables (problems related to substance use, health, mental health, family relations, peer relations, education status, vocational status, social skills, leisure and recreation, and aggression). The small sample size limited the ability to determine statistical differences between the POSIT subscale scores for PALS plus Teen Club or Teen Club only interventions. Descriptive data suggest mixed results for both interventions and sex groups. Most important were reductions in mental health problems for all boys in both groups and only slightly increased numbers of problems in substance use for PALS boys and girls over time. Other trends by group and sex are reported.
The curved-field reflectron: PSD and CID without scanning, stepping or lifting ☆

Abstract The curved-field reflectron (CFR), developed initially to improve focusing of product ions in a dual reflectron tandem time-of-flight (RTOF/RTOF) mass spectrometer, has been used for several years in single analyzer instruments for the focusing of ions produced by post-source decay (PSD) without stepping the reflectron voltage. More recently, the addition of a collision chamber to a commercial instrument that incorporates the CFR enables both PSD and collision-induced dissociation (CID) mass spectra to be obtained in a tandem instrument without decelerating the primary ions or reaccelerating product ions to accommodate the limited energy bandwidth of the reflectron. In the PSD or laser-induced dissociation (LID) mode, i.e., without a collision gas, nearly complete b- and y-series ions are observed, which is illustrated here in the MS/MS spectra of peptides obtained in the determination of the lysine acetylation sites in a histone acetyl transferase (HAT) protein. Addition of the collision gas produces similar mass spectra, though higher collision gas pressure increases the intensities of lower mass and internal fragments, both of which appear to result from multiple collisions. In addition N-terminal sulfonation of the peptides obtained from tryptic digests produces exclusive y-series ions in the product ion mass.
Effects of multivitamins and low-dose folic acid supplements on flow-mediated vasodilation and plasma homocysteine levels in older adults.

Abstract Background Hyperhomocysteinemia is associated with aging, endothelial dysfunction, and increased risk of coronary heart disease in older adults; however, the effects of homocysteine-lowering therapy on vascular reactivity in older persons are unknown. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of multivitamins (MV) and folic acid (FA) supplements on flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) in older adults. Methods Individuals ≥70 years old with homocysteine levels ≥10 μmol/L were recruited for this 40-week, prospective, single-blinded study. All subjects were treated sequentially, with each of the following daily therapies for 10 weeks: (1) placebo, (2) MV (400 μg FA, 6 mg vitamin B 6 , 25 μg vitamin B 12 ), (3) placebo, then (4) MV + FA (total FA, 1400 μg). FMD, folate intake, and laboratory values were measured at each visit. Investigators were blinded to subject treatment phase when measuring vessel diameters and calculating FMD. Results Twenty subjects (mean ± SEM age, 78.0 ± 1.2 [range, 70 to 88] years, 9 women) completed the MV and 17 completed the MV + FA interventions. FMD was impaired at baseline (2.0% ± 1.2%). During the 40-week study, homocysteine levels decreased by 1.4 ± 0.9 μmol/L ( p trend = 0.034) from a baseline of 12.8 ± 0.6 μmol/L; however, FMD did not change significantly ( p trend = 0.874). FMD did not improve after therapy with MV alone (3.0% ± 0.9% [week 10] vs 2.4% ± 1.1% [week 20], P = .716) or with MV + FA (2.6% ± 0.9% [week 30] vs 1.9% ± 0.7% [week 40], P = .484). Conclusions At doses commonly prescribed in clinical practice, MV and FA supplements did not improve FMD in older adults with hyperhomocysteinemia.
Hierarchical protein folding: Asymmetric unfolding of an insulin analogue lacking the A7-B7 interchain disulfide bridge

The landscape paradigm of protein folding can enable preferred pathways on a funnel-like energy surface. Hierarchical preferences may be manifest as a nonrandom pathway of disulfide pairing. Stepwise stabilization of structural subdomains among on-pathway intermediates is proposed to underlie the disulfide pathway of proinsulin and related molecules. Here, effects of pairwise serine substitution of insulin's exposed interchain disulfide bridge (CysA7−CysB7) are characterized as a model of a late intermediate. Untethering cystine A7−B7 in an engineered monomer causes significantly more marked decreases in the thermodynamic stability and extent of folding than occur on pairwise substitution of internal cystine A6−A11 [Weiss, M. A., Hua, Q. X., Jia, W., Chu, Y. C., Wang, R. Y., and Katsoyannis, P. G. (2000) Biochemistry 39, 15429−15440]. Although substantially disordered and without significant biological activity, the untethered analogue contains a molten subdomain comprising cystine A20−B19 and a native-li...
Can noncontrast helical computed tomography replace intravenous urography for evaluation of patients with acute urinary tract colic

Abstract The objective of this study was to determine whether helical computed tomography (CT) performed without oral or intravenous contrast agents is accurate in the evaluation of patients with suspected acute renal colic. One hundred consecutive patients with suspected renal colic or ureteral colic were referred by our institution’s emergency department for unenhanced helical CT scans. We reviewed the original radiographic report for each patient and recorded the size and location of ureteral calculi and other concurrent urinary tract calculi, if any. We also recorded the presence or absence of hydronephrosis, hydroureter, perinephric edema, and periureteral edema. A total of 49 patients had ureteral calculi, 17 patients had only renal calculi, and 34 patients had no stones. Forty-nine patients had ureteral calculi, and 40 (82%) of these 49 patients had associated CT signs including hydroureter and periureteral edema. Calculi were present in the proximal ureter in 11 patients, the midureter in seven patients, and the distal ureter including ureterovesical junction in 31 patients. Calculi were seen elsewhere in the urinary tract and renal pelvis in 44 patients. Other diagnostic tests and stone passage were used to confirm the CT diagnosis of ureteral stones. The sensitivity and specificity of helical CT in evaluating ureteral calculi were 100% and 94%, respectively. Sixteen extraurinary lesions were detected in 34 patients who had no urinary calculi. Most extraurinary lesions (81%) were deemed the cause of acute flank pain. The room time for CT averaged 26 min, compared to 69 min for intravenous urography (IVU). The charge for CT was $600 compared to $400 for IVU in our institution. Unenhanced helical CT was fast and accurate in determining the cause of colic and proved to be highly accurate for emergency situations.
Tests and analysis of circuit-breaker performance when switching large capacitor banks

THE increased kilowatt burden on generation and transmission equipments — occasioned by the existing national emergency — calls for a reduction in the use of these equipments for generating and transmitting reactive kilovolt-amperes. When operating conditions permit the use of either capacitors or synchronous condensers, the relatively shorter production time of capacitors is making them more and more justifiable as a reactive source in the range of kilovolt-ampere ratings where economics might normally dictate a synchronous condenser.1 At the present time the use of capacitors in banks up to 10,000 kva is being given increased consideration, and several installations having steps in this range have already been made.
Application of the Raman scattering coefficient of water to calculations in marine optics.

The relation between the total Raman scattering coefficient of water (br) and the Raman scattering cross section of liquid water is clarified. Consideration of the experimental configurations used to derive the Raman scattering cross section of water relative to benzene leads to a revised value of br for water. In certain applications in marine optics it is necessary to scale br to effect a change from implicit units of energy to quanta.
COMPLEX DYNAMIC BEHAVIOR IN THE CASE OF CO—NO—O2—H2O REACTION SYSTEM ON Pt/γAl2O3 CATALYST

Abstract Self-sustained, isothermal oscillations in outlet species concentrations were observed under certain steady inlet conditions in the case of the CO—NO—O2—H2O reaction system on Pt/γAl2O3 catalyst in a fixed-bed tubuiar reactor. The oscillations were mostly aperiodic, and for fixed inlet concentrations of the other species, they occurred in a rather narrow window of inlet oxygen concentrations near the stoichiometric point. The amplitude and frequency of these oscillations were affected by temperature and by the inlet concenlrations of CO and NO. Systemalic experiments, conducted to understand the cause of these oscillations, revealed that the catalyst aging procedure and the presence of water vapor induced the complex dynamic behavior observed in the CO—NO—O2—H2O system. The oscillations are explained qualitatively in terms of the competition among the various reactants for adsorption and subsequent reaction on the catalyst surface.
Nucleic acids of Entamoeba histolytica

This review will concentrate on certain aspects of the nucleic acids of Entamoeba histolytica. Utilization and synthesis of purines and pyrimidines will initially be briefly discussed, e.g. salvage vs. de novo pathways, uptake studies and recognition of at least 4 transport loci. Data will be presented which show that the distribution and synthesis of RNA (to a lesser extent DNA) in the nucleus is basically the opposite one finds in other eukaryotes, viz. most RNA (ribosomal?) is synthesized (or accumulates) in the peripheral chromatin (functional equivalent of nucleolus?). The DNA is distributed and synthesized primarily throughout the nucleus. It is usually so dispersed that it will not stain with e.g. the standard Feulgen technique, unless the DNA condenses around the endosome (not a nucleolar equivalent) prior to nuclear division. Isolation of rRNA was difficult due, in part, to potent and difficult to inhibit RNase(s), some of which are apparently intimately bound to ribosomal subunits. The 25S (1.3 kDa), 178 (0.8 kDa) and 58 rRNA were recovered after isolation with a high salt SDS-DEP technique. This is the only procedure which enables us to obtain high yields of 258 rRNA: guanidine or guanidinium which permits isolation of intact functional mRNA results in isolation of small amounts of 28 RNA relative to 178 RNA. The 258 RNA is “nicked” (apparently during nuclear processing) and dissociates readily into 1 78 (0.7 kDa) and 168 (0.6 kDa) species, and a more rigidly bound 5.88 species. A small amount of “unnicked” 258 RNA was recovered with guanidine. Two DNA-dcpendent RNA polymerases (I and II) with a pronounced preference for denatured DNA as template were eluted from DEAE-Sephadex in reverse order of what occurs in other eukaryotes, except Physarum polycephalum. This conclusion was based on salt optima and alpha-amanitin sensitivity studies. Initial characterization of DNA isolated with a procedure capable of isolating > 100-kbp Leishmania DNA showed that undigested DNA migrates as a broad band between markers 6 and 24 kbp. The persistent recovery of such a “band” by us and Perez-Mutul et al. no larger than ca. 24 kbp (with the exception of >48 kbp DNA isolated by Hernandez et al. using an in situ lysis technique which did not include a proteinase) may be due to nicks introduced during isolation; or, perhaps much of the amebal DNA exists in vivo as gene sized fragments. However, preliminary data generated using orthogonal pulse-field agarose gel electrophoresis do suggest that amebal DNA may be in small chromosomes.
Spent fuel transportation risk assessment: transportation accident analysis

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has recently completed an updated Spent Fuel Transportation Risk Assessment, NUREG-2125. This assessment considered four types of accidents that could interfere with routine transportation of spent nuclear fuel: those in which the spent fuel cask is not affected, those in which there is loss of lead gamma shielding, those in which radioactive material is released and those that could result in a criticality event. The probability of a particular type of accident is the product of the probability that the vehicle carrying the spent fuel cask will be in an accident and the conditional probability that the accident will be of a certain type. An accident in which the spent fuel cask is not damaged or affected at all is the most probable: 99·95% of vehicle accidents are less severe than the regulatory hypothetical accident, and most accidents that are more severe than this still do not lead to loss of shielding or release, which occur in fewer than one accident in a b...
The use of rigid eye shields (Fox shields) at the point of injury for ocular trauma in Afghanistan.

BACKGROUND: Unlike hemorrhagic injuries in which direct pressure is indicated, any pressure placed on the eye after penetrating trauma can significantly worsen the injury by expulsing intraocular contents. The accepted first response measure for obvious or suspected penetrating ocular injury is placement of a rigid shield that vaults the eye so as to prevent accidental iatrogenic aggravation during transport to the ophthalmologist. Patching and placing intervening gauze between the shield and the eye are both contraindicated. Anecdotally, compliance with these recommendations is poor in the military and civilian communities alike; however, published studies documenting compliance are uniformly lacking. This study was undertaken to provide such an evaluation. METHODS: In this retrospective observational study, the Department of Defense Trauma Registry was reviewed to identify eye injuries in Afghanistan from 2010 to 2012 and to examine compliance with eye shield recommendations. One hundred fifty-seven records of eye casualties were identified and categorized according to diagnostic codes, noting use of a shield. A subset of 30 records was further analyzed for compliance with other core treatment measures specified by the operant Clinical Practice Guideline. Because comparative studies do not exist, simple statistical analysis was performed. RESULTS: Overall, 39% of eye injuries received a shield at the point of injury (61% failure), ranging from 0% to 50% between diagnostic subgroups. Subset analysis revealed that only 4.2% of injuries were successfully mitigated at the point of injury (95.8% failure). CONCLUSION: In one of the few studies documenting the use of eye shields after ocular trauma, anecdotal reports of poor, inadequate, or incorrect compliance with basic recommendations were substantiated. Several factors may account for these findings. Corrective efforts should include enhanced educational emphasis and increased shield availability. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Epidemiologic study, level IV. Therapeutic study, level IV. Language: en
CURRENT OUTCOMES FOLLOWING HEART TRANSPLANTATION

Survival after cardiac transplantation has improved progressively since its inception over 35 years ago, with current 1 year survival approaching 90% and 7 year survival approaching 75%. In view of continued severe donor shortages, allocation must balance the survival benefit margin for recipients with terminal heart failure (higher risk for death with multiple co-morbidities and refractory low output state) and the charge to maximize graft survival. Continued improvement in short and longer-term survival will depend on an understanding of the early and late risk factors after cardiac transplantation and the development of methods and treatments to neutralize them. Specific risk factors vary for the specific causes of mortality, which include primarily early graft failure, infection, and rejection during the first post transplant year; and allograft vasculopathy and malignancy in later years. Evolving trends in risk profiles and survival indicate that patients undergoing cardiac transplantation have experienced a gradual increase in risk profile over the past decade, and have improved survival. Patient-specific risk profiling will play an increasing role in the allocation of transplantation and other emerging therapies for patients with advanced heart failure.
Brief paper: A decoupled inversion-based iterative control approach to multi-axis precision positioning: 3D nanopositioning example

System inversion provides a nature avenue to utilize the priori knowledge of system dynamics in iterative learning control, resulting in rapid convergence and exact tracking (for nonminimum-phase systems). The benefits of system inversion, however, are not fully exploited in the time-domain ILC approach due to the lack of uncertainty quantification. This critical limit was alleviated in the frequency-domain formulated inversion-based iterative control (IIC) techniques. The existing IIC techniques, however, are for single-input-single-output (SISO) systems only, and the time-domain properties of the IIC techniques are unclear. The contributions of the proposed multi-axis inversion-based iterative control (MAIIC) approach are twofold: First, the IIC technique is extended from SISO systems to multi-input-multi-output systems and is easy to implement in practice. The iterative control law is optimized by using the quantification of the system uncertainty. Secondly, the time-domain properties of the MAIIC law are discussed. The proposed MAIIC technique is illustrated through 3D nanopositioning experiments using piezoelectric actuators. The experimental results clearly demonstrated that by using the proposed technique, precision tracking in all 3D axes can be achieved in the presence of a pronounced cross-axis dynamics coupling effect.
Self-diffusion coefficients of cholesteric/nematic systems with dynamic mass transport method

Abstract Dynamic approach to mass transport study in cholesteric/nematic systems by the optical method provides the evaluation of the self-diffusion coefficients of both solute and solvent. These values are obtained by extrapolating to the C = 0 and C = 1 limits from the scaling law found between the diffusion coefficient and the concentration gradient. The numerical values of the local concentrations are obtained from the pitch values in both homogeneous and homeotropic boundary conditions.
Histochemical demonstration and localization of sialoproteins in the glomerulus

Abstract Histochemical demonstration of sialic acid in the glomerulus was achieved on human, beef, mouse, rabbit, and guinea pig kidneys. Sections of the kidneys were stained with colloidal iron and alcian blue for light microscopy and with colloidal iron for electron microscopy. Neuraminidase treatment of the sections, prior to staining, prevented the blue deposits with both colloidal iron and alcian blue. This provided evidence that these stains depend on the presence of sialic acid. The sialic acid-dependent iron deposits were localized at the glomerular cell membranes with preponderance in the epithelial cell membrane. The basement membrane proper was completely free of sialic acid. Several of the tubular epithelial cell membranes and the endothelial cell membranes also contained this amino sugar. A quantitative analysis revealed similar amounts of sialic acid in all portions of the kidney, but three times more in the glomeruli. Like neuraminidase, trypsin also removed sialic acid but bound to protein.
Interrelation between K, J and crack-tip-opening displacement for compact tension specimens

Abstract An investigation has been carried out to determine the interrelation between the stress intensity factor K, the J integral and the crack-tip-opening displacement δ for compact tension specimens. The investigation also examines the influence of specimen size (the thickness and width) on the constraint factors m in the K-δ relationship (as given by eqn. (1)) and m 1 in the J-δ relationship (as given by eqn. (2)). Compact tension specimens prepared from aircraft quality AISI 4340 steel which had been heat treated to a yield strength level of 1000 MPa were used. The investigation demonstrates that the K-δ relationship is essentially parabolic (δ being proportional to K 2 ). The specimen width has no significant influence on m. In contrast, m increases as the thickness increases. The specimen thickness was found to have no apparent influence on m 1 ; however, m 1 decreases as the width increases.
Application of mathematical morphology to the study of microstructural characteristics of metal matrix composites

In the process of manufacturing silicon carbide reinforced aluminum metal matrix composites silicon carbide particles are mixed with aluminum powder and subjected to an extrusion process. The orientation of the silicon carbide particles in the resulting composite should be random for the stiffness of the material to be the same in the three orthogonal directions. Secondary electron images show that the orientation of the particles follow some pattern rather than being random. To determine stiffness it becomes necessary to study nondestructively the rnicrostructure characteristics such as the distribution of size orientation length and aspect ratio of the silicon carbide particles. In silicon carbide particles it was found that many of the silicon carbide particles appear connected. A new procedure has been developed that aims at separating these connected particles thereby making it possible to characterize the rnicrostructure. This procedure is an extension of the cluster fast segmentation algorithm (CFS) a morphological algorithm that can break the connectivity among particles that overlap. Seeds are generated for every individual particle it can identify. CFS fails when there is no constriction at the region of connection of the particles. Certain properties of the skeleton can then be used to generate markers for as many particles as possible. After partitioning is completed the markers are grown back using morphological rules.© (1990) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
UN peacekeeping in civil wars, and Does peacekeeping work? Shaping belligerents' choices after civil war

UN peacekeeping in civil wars, by Lise Morje Howard. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2008, 416 pp. US$34 (paperback), ISBN 978-0-521-70767-1 Does peacekeeping work? Shaping belligerents' cho...
Association of a new chromosomal deletion [del(1)(q32q42)] with diaphragmatic hernia: assignment of a human ferritin gene

A newborn male with a large diaphragmatic hernia presented in severe respiratory distress. Additional features included a paucity of subcutaneous tissue, mild facial dysmorphism, webbing of the neck, genital hypoplasia, and flexion contractures of the fingers. His karyotype showed a previously unreported de novo interstitial deletion of the long arm of chromosome 1 [46,XY,del(1)(pter----q32.3::q42.3----qter)]. Regional mapping of five human genes that have been provisionally assigned to chromosome 1 was performed by restriction analysis of genomic DNA from this patient. Glucocerebrosidase, H4 histone, renin, and alpha-spectrin genes mapped outside the deleted region, whereas an H subunit of the ferritin gene mapped to 1q32----q42. These results indicate the utility of chromosomal deletions in gene mapping, and the importance of karyotype analysis in newborns with diaphragmatic hernias.
Dynamic bandwidth allocation based on online traffic prediction for real-time MPEG-4 video streams

The distinct characteristics of variable bit rate (VBR) video traffic and its quality of service (QoS) constraints have posed a unique challenge on network resource allocation and management for future integrated networks. Dynamic bandwidth allocation attempts to adaptively allocate resources to capture the burstiness of VBR video traffic, and therefore could potentially increase network utilization substantially while still satisfying the desired QoS requirements. We focus on prediction-based dynamic bandwidth allocation. In this context, the multiresolution learning neural-network-based traffic predictor is rigorously examined. A well-known-heuristic based approach RED-VBR scheme is used as a baseline for performance evaluation. Simulations using real-world MPEG-4 VBR video traces are conducted, and a comprehensive performance metrics is presented. In addition, a new concept of renegotiation control is introduced and a novel renegotiation control algorithm based on binary exponential backoff (BEB) is proposed to efficiently reduce renegotiation frequency.
Cis-trans isomerization of an α,α-difluoroolefin catalyzed by bromine

Abstract The cis-trans isomerization of 1 by Br2 in CCl4 is described. A bridged bromonium cation α to CF2 is destabilized resulting in a carbocation bromide ion pair at the β-carbon capable of free rotation and loss of bromine to form 2 . A CF2 group appears to be more effective in promoting isomerization than aryl in the case of stilbenes.
Carbon cycling by cellulose-fermenting nitrogen-fixing bacteria

Abstract The most abundant organic materials on Earth are plant polysaccharides such as cellulose and hemicelluloses. Inasmuch as vast quantities of these polymers are present in anaerobic environments (e.g., in soils and sediments), anaerobic microorganisms that ferment plant polysaccharides play a central role in carbon cycling on the planet as a source of CO 2 and, indirectly, of CH 4 . Cellulose-fermenting bacteria from soil and pond sediment were isolated in a medium (incubated in N 2 ) which lacked a source of combined nitrogen. The isolates had the ability to utilize atmospheric N 2 as the nitrogen source for cell growth. Nitrogenase (the enzyme which catalyzes the reduction of N 2 to ammonia) was demonstrated by means of the acetylene reduction test in these isolates and in several previously described anaerobic cellulolytic bacteria isolated from various natural environments. Thus, cellulose-fermenting bacteria that fix N 2 may be widespread and may play a role in nitrogen cycling as well as in carbon cycling on a global scale. Knowledge of the physiology and ecology of these organisms is crucial to detailing the mechanisms producing local sources and sinks of atmospheric gases, interpreting data obtained using space-based sensors, and understanding the effects of atmospheric warming on fermentations as major sources of CO 2 and CH 4 .
Comparing Clinical Practice With Guideline Recommendations for the Treatment of Depression in Geriatric Patients: Findings From the APA Practice Research Network

Objective The authors describe treatments provided for depressed geriatric patients (age 65+) treated by psychiatrists in the American Psychiatric Association's (APA) Practice Research Network (PRN) and compare treatments with recommended guidelines for treating late-life depression. Methods Detailed demographics, diagnoses, service utilization, and treatment information were collected on relevant patients treated by psychiatrists participating in the APA's PRN during 1997, sample-weighted to produce nationally representative estimates. Treatment data were qualitatively compared with existing depression treatment guidelines from the APA and the Expert Consensus Guideline Series on pharmacotherapy of depressive disorders in older patients. Results Of patients treated by psychiatrists in the PRN (N = 152), just over 41% had a diagnosable depressive disorder, and, of those with depression, nearly 84% had major depression. Over 90% received a psychotropic medication, and over 75% received an antidepressant. Treatment intensity, as measured by visit frequency and duration of treatment, were more intense than typically found in primary care. Most patients received a combination of medication management and psychotherapy. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors were the most frequently prescribed antidepressant, although they were less frequently prescribed than in primary care and other national surveys. Just over 11% received a tertiary amine antidepressant, and nearly 43% received benzodiazepines, this frequency being inconsistent with existing guidelines. Conclusion Depressed geriatric patients treated by psychiatrists in APA's PRN receive active treatments largely consistent with existing guidelines, which generally resulted in favorable patient outcomes.
Overexpression of transforming growth factor–β1 correlates with increased synthesis of nitric oxide synthase in varicose veins

Introduction Transforming growth factor-β 1 (TGF-β 1 ) is known to maintain a balance between apoptosis and cellular dysfunction and therefore may have a pivotal role in vessel remodeling during pathogenesis of vascular disorders. We previously demonstrated that inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mediates signal transduction in vascular wall during the development of varicose veins. Currently, we investigated the expression and correlation of TGF-β 1 , iNOS, monocyte/macrophage infiltration, and loss of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), in a series of normal and varicose vein specimens. Methods Twenty varicose vein specimens were retrieved from 20 patients undergoing lower-extremity varicose vein excision, and 27 normal greater saphenous vein segments (controls) were obtained from 27 patients undergoing infrainguinal arterial bypass surgery. Principal risk factors (diabetes mellitus, hypertension, tobacco abuse) were also compared. Varicose vein segments were separated into tortuous and nontortuous regions based on their macroscopic and microscopic morphology. VSMC actin, CD68 + monocytes/macrophages, iNOS, and TGF-β 1 , were examined by immunohistochemistry, immunoblotting, and real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Results According to the CEAP classification for chronic lower extremity venous disease, most of the patients were in class 2 for clinical signs of the disease (n = 11). Mean ages were 53.6 ± 4.7 years for the varicose vein group and 56.5 ± 4.4 years for the controls. The gender distribution was same in both groups. Immunoreactivity to TGF-β 1 and iNOS was significantly different in the tortuous regions of the varicose veins compared with nontortuous regions (P 1 (P + monocytes/macrophages was observed in the varicose vein walls compared with normal veins. Conclusions This is the first evidence of TGF-β 1 , as well as iNOS, being differentially upregulated in nontortuous and tortuous segments of varicose veins. The increased expression of TGF-β 1 and presence of macrophages, correlating with overproduction of iNOS, may be associated with varicosity development and deserves further study. Clinical relevance The pathogenesis of varicose veins, the most common manifestation of chronic venous disease, is debatable. Elucidation of mechanisms involved in the disease process is the first step to improved therapeutic modulations. Towards this goal, the relationship between NO production and TGF-β 1 in the molecular pathophysiology of chronic venous disease was investigated. The data identify for the first time, an important role for TGF-b1—iNOS—monocyte/macrophage signaling in the etiology of varicosities. Furthermore, we determine if there are any significant differences within the varicose vein group itself based on regional differences, by classifying the varicose tissues into tortuous and non-tortuous segments.
Vinylsilane mediated regiospecific cyclopentenone annulation of ketones

Abstract The development of a new cyclopentenone annulation sequence of general scope which involves Friedel-Crafts acylation of a vinylsilane with an α,β-unsaturated acid chloride followed by Nazarov cyclization is reported.
“KLICing” there and back again: Portfolio selection using the empirical likelihood divergence and Hellinger distance

Abstract Stutzer (2000, 2003) proposes the decay-rate maximizing portfolio selection rule wherein the investor selects the asset mix that maximizes the rate at which the probability of shortfall decays to zero. A close examination of this rule reveals that it ranks portfolios by computing the divergence, in the Kullback–Leibler sense, between the unweighted portfolio return distribution and a tilted distribution meaned at the predetermined target or benchmark rate of return selected by or imposed upon the investor. This result implies, in the IID case, that Stutzer's rules can be written as a benchmark constrained Kullback–Leibler-based optimization problem with an endogenous utility interpretation. Here we expand on this idea by introducing two closely related portfolio selection rules based on the empirical likelihood divergence and the Hellinger–Matusita distance. The first of these is the reversed Kullback–Leibler divergence and the second is proportional to the average of the two divergences. The theoretical and in-sample properties of the new criteria suggest them to be competitive with and in some cases better than existing methods, especially in terms of skewness preference.
Absence of robust ischemic preconditioning by five 1-minute total umbilical cord occlusions in fetal sheep

OBJECTIVE: To determine to what extent a series of five 1-minute total umbilical cord occlusions, intended to induce ischemic preconditioning (IP), affects the physiologic responses to a 10-minute total umbilical cord occlusion (damaging insult [DI]) 1 hour later and provides cardio- and neuroprotection. METHODS: In 14 chronically catheterized late gestation fetal sheep (127-131 days' gestation), we performed a 10-minute total umbilical cord occlusion (DI), preceded by a series of five 1-minute total cord occlusions with 2-minute intervals (5CO, n = 7) or sham occlusions (n = 7) 1 hour prior to DI. RESULTS: The 5CO induced a reduction in the arterial partial pressure of oxygen (Po(2)) from 21 +/-1 to 14 +/-3 Torr, arterial O(2) content from 6.9 +/- 0.4 to 3.1 +/- 0.7 vol%, and increases in the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (Pco(2)) from 46 +/- 2 to 58 +/- 3 Torr, and [H(+)] from 43 +/- 1 to 54 +/- 2 nM. 5CO reduced fetal heart rate from 178 +/- 6 to 151 +/- 6 beats per minute (bpm), and increased arterial pressure from 45 +/- 1 to 57 +/- 2 mmHg, cerebral blood flow (CBF) from 100 +/- 3 to 129 +/- 10%, and cerebral heat production (H(brain)) from 25 +/- 2 to 29 +/- 1% degrees C. The responses to DI were not significantly different between the groups without and with 5CO; values for Po(2) were 5.6 +/- 1.5 and 5.8 +/- 1.9 Torr, O(2) content 0.6 +/- 0.1 and 0.8 +/- 0.1 vol%, lactate 10.7 +/- 0.7 and 10.8 +/- 0.7 mM, fetal heart rate 97 +/- 5 and 87 +/- 8 bpm, mean arterial pressure 22 +/- 3 and 21 +/- 2 mmHg, CBF 50 +/- 10 and 36 +/- 5%, and H(brain) 7.0 +/- 1.4 and 5.9 +/- 1.1% degrees C, respectively, except for Pco(2) (126 +/- 4 and 112 +/- 2 Torr) and [H(+)] (126 +/- 3 and 114 +/- 3 nM). Histologic proof of cardio- or neuroprotection by 5CO could not be obtained because five fetuses died before they were to be killed at day 3 after the experiment; two fetuses in the 5CO group demonstrated major histologic damage of myocardium and brain. CONCLUSION: In the late gestation fetal sheep, a series of five 1-minute total umbilical cord occlusions did not result in major changes in physiologic responses to a hypoxic-ischemic DI 1 hour later. In addition, the procedure did not result in robust cardio- and neuroprotection, in contrast to IP reported in adults.
Influence of media on endomycorrhizal infection and growth response of severinia buxifolia

Rooted cuttings ofSeverinia buxifolia were inoculated with the vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungusGlomus intraradices or provided an inoculum filtrate (non-VAM plants) and grown in one of seven media combinations of fired montmorillonite clay (FMC) and Canadian peatmoss (CP) at ratios of 100%, 80%, 67%, 50%, 33%, 20%, or 0% FMC. Mycorrhizal infection increased with higher proportions of FMC, but the growth of both VAM and non-VAM plants was reduced with increased FMC amendment. The growth benefit (top and root fresh-dry weights) conferred by mycorrhizal infection was greater at higher levels of FMC in the media. Improved phosphorus uptake by inoculated severinia plants appeared at least partially responsible for increased growth compared to non-VAM plants under conditions of high soluble salts and pH associated with high FMC composition.