cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thermal Degradation of Cellulose in Alkali

Thermochemical liquefaction involves conversion of biomass at high temperatures and pressures to liquid products. These reactions occur in an aqueous or organic carrier liquid, often in the presence of other reactants and a catalyst. A wide range of lignocellulosic feedstocks are possible, and reactions are relatively rapid.
Polymer Material Characterization by Acoustic Force Microscopy

Acoustic force microscopy has been used for the measurement of the nanomechanical response in a number of materials and applications in materials science and engineering. The use of acoustic techniques to study polymeric materials has only recently drawn interest from the technique. Here, a review of recent accomplishments in the use of acoustic techniques to measure polymer nanomechanical properties will be discussed and the measurements of polymer fibers and bulk materials will be presented.
Use of aquatic lethality tests to estimate safe toxicant concentrations for initial ecological risk assessments

This article presents an approach which allows the body of comparative toxicity data to be used in initial ecological risk assessments to extrapolate from an acute test with an indicator species to an estimate of the no-effect concentration in the environment. The fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) acute value was selected as the reference value since this ecotoxicity endpoint has the largest data base for comparative toxicity comparisons. Comparative toxicity endpoints for fish and invertebrates were collected from various sources. When data for all ecotoxicity endpoints are plotted for all chemicals, this plot can be analyzed statistically using regression analysis to calculate an equation defining the upper 95 percentile prediction limit. The upper 95% prediction limit uses the reference test (fathead 96-h acute value) to calculate a concentration that would be safe for 95% of the species and chemicals, assuming that enough comparative toxicological data (especially chronic endpoints) are included in the data set.
Operant and respondent behavior.

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews two forms of learning that may underlie the conceptualization and treatment of psychopathology: respondent and operant behavior. Respondent behaviors are elicited by stimuli and apparently occur automatically in the presence of these stimuli. They are elicited by antecedent stimuli and are relatively insensitive to their consequences. Respondent behaviors serve an adaptive role for the organism by regulating its physiology or otherwise contributing to the safety of the organism. There are four variations of respondent conditioning, differing from each other in terms of the timing of the presentation of the neutral stimulus (NS) and the unconditioned stimulus (US): delay conditioning, trace conditioning, simultaneous conditioning, and backward conditioning. Operant behavior is defined as the “behavior that acts on the environment to produce an immediate consequence and, in turn, is strengthened by that consequence.” An operant response is not elicited by an antecedent stimulus; rather, operant conditioning relies on the reinforcing or punishing effects of a consequence to strengthen or weaken operant behavior. Operant behavior is sensitive to contingencies. It is controlled by many variables, including the schedule of reinforcement, the response effort required, the density of reinforcement available for the operant class of interest compared to other operant classes, and deprivation of the reinforcer that maintains the operant behavior.
Positional equity and equal sacrifice: design principles for an EU-wide income tax?

The prospect – or, in the UK at least, the spectre – of an EU income tax occasion ally looms, both in the popular press and also in the European Parliament. To whit, consider the old headline “Now Britain faces single European tax system: France and Germany spearhead plan to control revenue and social security” in The Inde pendent newspaper of 16th January 1997, and the article, 9 years on, entitled “Now EU wants a £510 income tax” in The Daily Express newspaper of December 31st 2006, which was prompted, no doubt, by the opinion expressed at a recent EU sum mit by M. Jose Maria Gil–Robles, President of the European Parliament, that “the direct taxation of the people would more closely involve individual citizens with the European government.”
A FASE Specification of FP

The purpose of this paper is to describe the FASE system of executable specifications of data types via a specification of Backus's FP language. We illustrate the ability to execute specifications as well as our more recent efforts to incorporate formal proofs into the system.
Implementing a Massive Transfusion Protocol in Labor and Delivery

Poster Presentation Purpose for the Program Nurses in the labor and delivery unit at Baylor University Medical Center recognized a need to guide staff during a massive hemorrhage. Postpartum hemorrhages continue to be a leading cause of maternal death in the United States. Staff felt that developing an interdisciplinary protocol and standardized education would help foster timely communication that leads to improved patient outcomes. Proposed Change To develop an obstetric (OB)‐specific massive transfusion protocol (MTP) by utilizing current evidence‐based practice transfusion recommendations. Our hospital has had a MTP for many years. As a result of working in conjunction with the blood bank and the OB anesthesia unit, we also defined the nurse's roles in caring for patients during massive hemorrhages and transfusions. This tool serves as a guide for nursing staff. By activating this MTP, we ensure that all appropriate parties are aware of the emergent situation. Implementation, Outcomes, and Evaluation We assessed the knowledge base of our staff before creating our education plan. The results from that the assessment suggested we focus on the definition of massive hemorrhage. Furthermore, the results indicated what labs to anticipate, which resources to utilize, and what the role of the nurse should be during a massive hemorrhage. Education focused on these key components in addition to the new obstetric MTP. To reiterate the components addressed through education and to focus on the nurses' roles, all nursing staff were required to complete a simulation drill with the focus on massive hemorrhage and implementation of the protocol. The protocol was placed in all the delivery rooms, the operating room (OR), the recovery room, and the hemorrhage cart for quick reference. Implications for Nursing Practice Having a MTP in place for the labor and delivery staff allows for rapid and organized response in what can be a hectic emergency. Standardizing protocols and clearly defining responsibilities helped to outline steps for the interdisciplinary team to provide optimal treatment and effective communication.
Plant Abiotic Stress

1. Eco-physiological adaptations to limited water environments. Andrew J. Wood, Department of Plant Biology, University of Southern Illinois, USA. 2. Plant cuticle function as a barrier to water loss. S. Mark Goodwin and Matthew A. Jenks, Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA. 3. Plant adaptive responses to salinity stress. Miguel A. Botella and Abel Rosado, Depart. Biologia Molecular y Bioquimica, Universidad de Malaga, Spain and Ray A. Bressan and Paul M. Hasegawa, Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA. 4. The CBF cold-response pathway. Sarah Fowler, Daniel Cook and Michael F. Thomashow, MSU-DOE Plant Research Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA. 5. Plant responses to high temperature. Jane Larkindale, Michael Mishkind and Elizabeth Vierling, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, University of Arizona, Tucson, USA. 6. Adaptive responses in plants to non-optimal soil pH. V. Ramirez-Rodriguez, J. Lopez-Bucio and Luis Herrera-Estrella, Departamento de Ingenieria Genetica de Plantas, Centro de Investigacion y Estudios Avanzados de Instituto Politecnico Nacional, Guanajuato, Mexico. 7. Plant responses to herbicides. William E. Dyer and Stephen C. Weller, Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA. 8. Integration of abiotic stress signalling pathways. Manu Agarwal and Jian-Kang Zhu, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, University of Arizona, Tucson, USA. 9. Genomic analysis of stress response. Motoaki Seki, Junko Ishida, Maiko Nakajima et al, Plant Mutation Exploration Team, Plant Functional Genomics Research Group, RIKEN Genomic Sciences Center (GSC), RIKEN Yokohama Institute, Japan. References. Index
Reproductive success increases with local density of conspecifics in a desert mustard (Lesquerella fendleri).

We investigated the effects of plant density on reproduction for an insect-pollinated desert mustard ( Lesquerella fendleri (Brassicaceae)). Individual reproductive success, as measured by seeds per fruit, propor- tion of flowers setting fruit, and total seed production, increased with the density of conspecifics within 1 m. However, including the density of conspecifics at greater distances (1-3 m) did not significantly increase the amount of variation in reproductive success explained by the regression model. This implies that processes oc- curring on a scale of 1 m or less have important effects on reproduction. Total seed production also was greater for high-density plants than for otherwise similar plants with a low-density of conspecifics. We argue that increased pollinator visitation is the most likely cause of this facilitation and that investigations of the ef- fects of rarity on reproductive success should directly consider density along with more commonly used at- tributes such as population size and fragmentation.
Self-structured confabulation network for fast anomaly detection and reasoning

Inference models such as the confabulation network are particularly useful in anomaly detection applications because they allow introspection to the decision process. However, building such network model always requires expert knowledge. In this paper, we present a self-structuring technique that learns the structure of a confabulation network from unlabeled data. Without any assumption of the distribution of data, we leverage the mutual information between features to learn a succinct network configuration, and enable fast incremental learning to refine the knowledge bases from continuous data streams. Compared to several existing anomaly detection methods, the proposed approach provides higher detection performance and excellent reasoning capability. We also exploit the massive parallelism that is inherent to the inference model and accelerate the detection process using GPUs. Experimental results show significant speedups and the potential to be applied to real-time applications with high-volume data streams.
Human immunodeficiency virus has similar effects on brain volumetrics and cognition in males and females

Most studies that have examined neuropsychological impairments associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have focused on males, yet females represent one of the largest groups of newly infected patients. Further, few studies have examined neuropsychological performance and neuroimaging outcomes among females compared to males in the modern era of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART). The present study investigated neuropsychological performance and brain volumetrics among HIV+ males (n = 93) and females (n = 44) on stable HAART compared to HIV seronegative (HIV-) males (n = 42) and females (n = 49). Results revealed a significant effect of HIV on neuropsychological performance and neuroimaging measures. An effect of gender, independent of HIV status, was also observed for neuroimaging measures but not neuropsychological performance. Additionally, no significant differences in neuropsychological performance or brain volumetrics were seen between HIV+ males and females. No significant interaction was observed between HIV and gender on either neuropsychological or neuroimaging indices. Our results suggest that both HIV+ males and females treated with HAART experience similar outcomes in terms of brain integrity.
Three-dimensional CT volumetry predicts outcome of laparoscopic splenectomy for splenomegaly: retrospective clinical study.

Background The aim of this study was to determine the predictive value of the preoperative three-dimensional reconstructed volume (3D volumetry) for outcomes of laparoscopic splenectomy. The impact of splenomegaly on the feasibility of laparoscopic splenectomy is still debated. We hypothesized that splenic volumetry may accurately estimate splenic volume preoperatively and be used by surgeons to select patients for laparoscopic splenectomy.
Sympathetic nerve function and DOCA-NaCl induced hypertension.

Abstract Repeated treatment with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-HD) failed to influence the onset or maintenance of DOCA-NaCl induced hypertension in rats or to produce a sustained hypotension in normotensive rats. The DOCA-NaCl induced decrease in serum potassium and increase in urinary excretion and skeletal muscle water content were also unaffected by 6-HD. Measurements of adrenergic cardiovascular reactivity demonstrated a severe deficiency of sympathetic nerve function as a result of the 6-HD treatment. These results indicate that sympathetic postganglionic nerve function is not necessary for the pathogenesis or maintenance of DOCA-NaCl induced hypertension.
HEND: A DATABASE FOR HIGH-ENERGY NUCLEAR DATA

We propose to develop a high-energy heavy-ion experimental database and make it accessible to the scientific community through an on-line interface. The database will be searchable and cross-indexed with relevant publications, including published detector descriptions. It should eventually contain all published data from older heavy-ion programs such as the Bevalac, AGS, SPS and FNAL fixed-target programs, as well as published data from current programs at RHIC and new facilities at GSI (FAIR), KEK/Tsukuba and the LHC collider. This data includes all proton-proton, proton-nucleus to nucleus-nucleus collisions as well as other relevant systems and all measured observables. Such a database would have tremendous scientific payoff as it makes systematic studies easier and allows simpler benchmarking of theoretical models to a broad range of experiments. To enhance the utility of the database, we propose periodic data evaluations and topical reviews. These reviews would provide an alternative and impartial mechanism to resolve discrepancies between published data from rival experiments and between theory and experiment. Since this database will be a community resource, it requires the high-energy nuclear physics community's financial and manpower support.
Disruptive effects of prior information on tachistoscopic recognition.

Smith, Haviland, Reder, Brownell, and Adams (1976) found tachistoscopic letter recognition to be disrupted by advance information about possible letter alternatives. An association of “before-disruption” with a bias to respond “same” in same-different judgment led Smith et al. to conclude that incidental mask features corresponding to a precued letter were erroneously incorporated into the target letter decision. Experiments 1 and 2 in the present study failed to replicate the before-disruption effect under conditions similar to those of Smith et al., although precuing produced a strong bias to respond “same.” Similarity between “same” and “different” alternatives was manipulated in Experiment 3 by selecting letter pairs differing in one critical feature (P-R, O-Q, C-G, F-E) for one group of subjects, and re-pairing the same letters (P-G, O-E, C-R, F-Q) for another group. Contrary to Smith et el., precuing interacted significantly with pair similarity, such that before-disruption occurred only with similar alternatives. In contrast, precuing produced equivalent “same-bias” in both groups. The dependence of before-disruption on pair similarity was extended to two-alternative forced-choice recognition in Experiment 4. Together with inconsistencies in the Smith et al. data and more detailed analysis of present recognition errors, the results suggest (1) the before-disruption and same-bias effects of precuing are mediated by separate mechanisms, and (2) before-disruption reflects loss of target letter information rather than direct incorporation of extraneous mask features.
Polarization Of Reflected Sunlight As Measured From A High-Altitude Balloon

A high altitude balloon carrying four optical instruments was flown on March 17, 1976, from Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. A modified spacecraft scanning radiometer (NIMBUS /EARTH RADIATION BUDGET EXPERIMENT) measured the linear polarization properties of reflected sunlight in broad intervals of the visible and near-infrared spectrum. The instrument scanned from horizon to horizon in the principal plane of the sun as the balloon ascended to float altitude of 37 km. The instrument and its calibration will be described. Plots of the intensity, plane and degree of linear polarization will be used with coincident photographs to examine the effects of the earth's surface and atmosphere on polarization.© (1977) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
An interdisciplinary online certificate and masters program in agroforestry

Over the past two decades, the American education system has experienced profound challenges due to long-term and sustained declines in federal and state funding, coupled with rapid and innovative progress in the development of advanced educational technologies. Concurrently, employers are increasing their expectations and outputs from their employees and as a result, working professionals are seeking affordable opportunities to upgrade their skills for career advancement while maintaining full time job responsibilities. Responding to these challenges, both public and private educational institutions have developed innovative online courses and curricula creating fully accredited undergraduate and graduate degree programs often at lower cost than in campus-based degree programs. These courses and programs enable working professionals and other non-traditional learners to realize their aspirations for advanced training, and breach the traditional barrier for those disadvantaged by limited time or distance. Agroforestry, the intentional mixing of trees with crop and/or animal production systems to create economic, environmental, and social benefits, is gaining recognition as an integral component of multifunctional working landscapes. While gradually gaining attention, widespread agroforestry illiteracy remains and the need for a cadre of well trained professionals is essential to support its continued growth. Short courses and workshops are helpful, but professionals and landowners alike across the U.S., Canada and overseas are seeking more comprehensive graduate degree or certificate programs. A web-based, asynchronous M.S. degree and/or a graduate Certificate will help to fill this void. Presently, there are no comparable comprehensive graduate programs in agroforestry elsewhere in the U.S. To meet the current and future needs of the agroforestry profession, The Center for Agroforestry at the University of Missouri has created an online graduate certificate and master’s degree program in agroforestry. Initial student evaluation data reveals that online agroforestry courses compare favorably with face-to-face courses. This program will serve as a model for other institutions interested in developing online programs in agroforestry and related disciplines.
Experimental Results for Light-Induced Boiling in Water-Based Graphite Nanoparticle Suspensions

One relatively simple subset of nanotechnology is nanofluids, obtained by the addition of nanoparticles to a conventional base fluid. The promise of nanofluids stems from the fact that at relatively small particle loading (typically <1% by volume) significant enhancement in thermal transport may be possible [1–3]. Since there are a wide variety of nanoparticle materials to choose from, nanofluidic systems can be tuned to fit a number of applications. This research focuses on direct thermal collection of light energy using highly absorptive nanofluids. Experimental tests are conducted using a 0.1% by volume graphite/water (30nm nominal particle diameter) nanofluid exposed to a 130 mW, 532 nm, continuous laser. A lens is placed between the laser and the fluid to achieve a high-energy flux (∼ 490 Wcm−2 ). Since initially over 99.9% of the light is absorbed in a path length of 0.1 mm, the irradiated portion of the base fluid collects enough energy to vaporize. Heuristic methods of analysis demonstrate this situation incorporates several interesting modes of heat transfer and fluid mechanics. These experiments also reveal the possibility for novel solar collectors in which the working fluid directly absorbs energy and undergoes phase change in a single step.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Laser annealing of gold nanoparticles thin film using photothermal effect

The low temperature annealing process of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) thin film was developed in this research. Photothermal effect of metal nanoparticles was used to locally anneal AuNPs thin film rather than thermal annealing, since that could absorb specific wavelength of light and then convert light energy into heat. Owing to surface plasmon resonance (SPR), AuNPs have a strong optical absorption at 520nm. A continuous Ar laser (wavelength: 514nm) was irradiated locally to AuNPs thin film. After laser annealing, the resistivity of AuNPs thin film is as low as that of thermal annealing AuNPs thin film (1.68x10^-^7@Wm) and the resistivity of AuNPs thin film would decrease with laser power. Then, the laser annealing of AuNPs thin film provides a method to realize the metallization in large-area, flexible electronics on polymer substrates.
The role of visual and acoustic coding in retrieval from very short-term memory

Several studies have implicated acoustic processing in short-term memory despite stimuli being visual. It is commonly assumed that very short-term memory (VSTM) for visual stimuli, in contrast, operates entirely in the modality of input. The present study tested this assumption by investigating whether an acoustic code is used in VSTM. An experiment required subjects to detect whether a critical letter was present or absent in a brief display of 16 letters. Latency and accuracy of detection were not affected by acoustic similarity but were affected by visual similarity between the critical letter and the other letters of the display. Thus, the results support the assumption that retrieval from very short-term memory (visual) does not involve acoustic information.
Relative influence of selected cloud types and amounts on human energy budgets and skin temperatures.

The combination of two deterministic and previously validated models of solar attenuation and outdoor human energy budgets and skin temperatures made possible the systematic examination of the effects of different cloud types and amounts on a person standing on an unobstructed plain. The results implied that the consequent relationships might be universal for most (summer) climates and latitudes. Relative rates were defined here as fractions of energy budget item rates under clear, cloudless conditions and high solar elevations. The resultant skin temperature deviations were very conservative when exposed to drastically changing cloud and thermal regimes.
Urologic Diagnoses Among Infants Hospitalized for Urinary Tract Infection

Objectives To determine the prevalence of urologic disease among infants hospitalized for urinary tract infections (UTIs) at our institution. The prevalence of urologic anomalies among infants ( Methods We retrospectively examined the records of all infants hospitalized for UTI at our institution, a free-standing children's hospital in the United States, for a 10-year period. Race, sex, and subsequent urologic diagnosis (using codes from the 9 th edition of the International Classification of Diseases [ICD-9] were tabulated. Individual charts were reviewed to confirm documentation and workup of UTI. Results We identified 914 infants hospitalized at our institution from January 1996 to December 2007, with an ICD-9-coded diagnosis of UTI. Of these 914 infants, 258 were subsequently given a urologic diagnosis. However, only 130 of these patients had well-documented UTI (14.2% of 914 children). Of this cohort, 55.4% were boys. The most common diagnoses were hydronephrosis (37.7%), vesicoureteral reflux (69.2%), and obstructive uropathy (23.1%). Conclusions Our data have indicated that ≥14% of all infants hospitalized for UTI have urologic anomalies. Vesicoureteral reflux, obstructive uropathy, and hydronephrosis are common diagnoses. We therefore conclude that infants admitted with a diagnosis of UTI should undergo screening for anatomic abnormalities.
Predictive and Prognostic Genetic Markers in Colorectal Cancer

TNM staging remains the most widely applied and clinically useful prognostic marker for colorectal cancer. However, on-going clinical investigations of genes involved in carcinogenesis, profiling of metabolic pathways to determine a tumor's response to chemotherapy, and the evolution of new technology for the simultaneous evaluation of thousands of potential genetic markers promise to improve our ability as surgeons to provide accurate prognoses for individual patients. We review well-known prognostic and predictive genetic markers in colorectal cancer, with emphasis on the use of genomics for determining patient outcome following surgical resection.
Concentrations and profiles of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans in soils from Korea.

Soil samples were collected from Changwon and Masan Cities, Korea, and analyzed for polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDDs/DFs). Nearly all tetra- through octachlorinated PCDDs/DFs including the 17 2,3,7,8-substituted PCDDs/DFs were detected in all samples. Total concentrations of PCDDs/DFs and of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (TeCDD) equivalents (TEQs) in soils ranged from 35 to 121 400 pg/g, dry weight, and from 0.2 to 3720 pg of I-TEQ/g, respectively. On the basis of guidelines for TEQ concentrations established in Germany and the United States, 9 of 23 soil samples (39% of the total samples analyzed) could not be expected to pose human health hazards. The rest of 61% of soils need measures such as investigations of source identification, soil decontamination, and/or soil removal. Total concentrations of PCDDs/DFs were greater at or near four industrial sites, which are concerned with the steel industry, petrochemical-related industry, and industrial waste incineration, ...
Might Turing Have Won a Turing Award

A provocative tale highlights Alan Turing's special ability to provide clarity to complex computing issues.
Trust networks in multi-robot communities

It has been shown that it can be beneficial for robots, which share a common workspace but do not share common goals, to work together and help each other complete their tasks. However, current systems designed to facilitate such actions can be manipulated by dishonest robots seeking to maximize their own benefit. The successful implementation of a system that protects against such activity could benefit groups of robots working near each other, even if the robots are deployed by different and possibly competing organizations. To address this issue, this paper develops and analyzes a distributed trust estimation framework that allows robots to estimate the trustworthiness of other robots in the community and to use this information to determine whether they should cooperate with the same robots. This framework is applied to a specific multi-robot exploration problem, involving the determination of cell types in a discretized workspace. Results show that a team of robots can explore more quickly when other trustworthy robots are present, without sacrificing performance when untrustworthy robots are also present.
Model of the circulation of DDT on earth

Abstract A model is developed to predict the global distribution and accumulation of DDT. The model considers the land, atmosphere, shallow sea and aquatic plankton as reservoirs for DDT. Reasonable values for the rates of transfer between reservoirs and rates of chemical and biological degradation of DDT are estimated. The parameters of the model were systematically varied in an attempt to determine the parameters of most critical importance to the predicted results. Two hypothetical alternative rates of future DDT usage are considered. These are (1) continued constant rate of DDT usage at 1970 level and (2) zero rate of DDT usage after 1970. The time required to return to equilibrium after the termination of DDT usage cannot be precisely determined, but lies somewhere between about 25 and 110 yr. Most of the decrease in the concentration levels of DDT, however, occurs in the early years. It appears that the concentration of DDT in marine life is already near its equilibrium value and should not increase significantly in the future. The rates of degradation of DDT, the amount of DDT which enters the atmosphere, the rates of transfer between the deep and shallow seas and the rates of direct absorption of DDT by phytoplankton and zooplankton are critical factors in a model of DDT circulation and distribution. Research emphasis should be concentrated in these areas.
Riding the Currents of Colonialism: Adouma Canoe Workers and French Rule in Gabon, c. 1890–1920

Western technological innovations such as steamers and railways were often relied upon by Colonial rule in Africa. However, Adouma canoe workers in the French colony of Gabon demonstrate how pre-colonial transportation methods could survive into the twentieth century. Adouma canoe workers were the most skilled navigators in Gabon before the arrival of French expeditions in the 1880s. French authorities and concessionary companies, confronted by the shallow and rocky Ogooue River, preferred to rely on Adouma canoes rather than building costly roads or use steamers. Adouma workers used their monopoly over transport on the upper Ogooue to enrich themselves and retain their autonomy. Adouma canoe workers formed a partnership with these companies to transport passengers and merchandise, while most Gabonese suffered during the early decades of French rule. Thus, even though they did not radically alter previous forms of travel, Adouma communities used their transportation skills to overcome the challenges of French conquest.
The ubiquitin‐proteasome system in Alzheimer's disease

Accumulation of proteins is a recurring event in many neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD).Evidence has suggested that protein accumulation may result from a dysfunction in the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS). Indeed, there is clear genetic and biochemical evidence of an involvement of the ubiquitin proteasome system in AD. This review summarizes the data supporting an involvement of the UPS in the pathogenesis of AD, focusing on the data showing the relationship between Aβ and tau, the two hallmark lesions of AD, and the UPS.
Blood-borne donor mast cell precursors migrate to mast cell-rich brain regions in the adult mouse

Abstract Mast cells are hematopoietic immune cells located throughout the body, including within the brain. Reconstitution of mast cell deficient Kit W-sh/W-sh mice has proven valuable in determining peripheral mast cell function. Here we study the brain mast cell population using a novel method of blood transfusion for reconstitution. We show that blood transfusion results in mast cells of donor origin in the WT mouse, including in the brain where they are restricted to regions bearing host mast cells. In contrast, in Kit W-sh/W-sh mice, transfusion results in mast cells in the pinna of the ear, but not the brain.
Two-sample technique for determining the influence of soil organic matter on copper concentration

Abstract A sample grid was established 9.5 km northwest of Ladysmith, Wisconsin, to provide information on the potential significance of organic matter on the concentration of Cu in a grey-brown podzolic soil. Two samples were taken from each of 130 sample locations within the grid. One sample was collected from near the bottom of the zone of obvious organic enrichment in the soil, and the other was taken a short distance below the organic zone. Data from individual sample holes were transformed to maximize the potential influence of organic matter on Cu enrichment. By combining the data from the entire grid, it was possible to derive empirical populations representing the variability of weight percent organic matter and Cu concentration within individual sample holes. By further combining these populations, graphically, it is possible to delineate regions of interest that may be used to identify organic influences on Cu concentration within sample holes. The study suggests that in similar sampling situations, organic contents up to 5% dry weight do not greatly influence Cu concentrations within the soil profile. To some degree, the combined influence of differences in clay content and content of hydrous iron and manganese oxides between sample levels within individual holes can also be demonstrated.
Survey of commercial milk samples for aflatoxin M.

Abstract A survey of milk samples was undertaken to determine if commercially available milks in the United States were contaminated with aflatoxin M. Among the samples were bottled whole milks, dried skimmilks, and canned evaporated milks. Bulk whole milk samples and some samples collected directly from the farm were also surveyed. No aflatoxin M was detected in any of the milk samples.
Spectroscopy of the cyano radical in an aqueous environment.

The effect of bulk water on the B 2Σ+ ← X 2Σ+ and A 2Π ← X 2Σ+ electronic transitions of the cyano radical is investigated. First, the cyano radical−water dimer is characterized to understand the nature of the interactions and parametrize molecular mechanics (MM) potentials. The carbon atom, which hosts the unpaired electron, is found to have a Lennard-Jones radius smaller than typical force fields values. Classical molecular dynamics (MD) is then used to sample water configurations around the radical, employing two sets of MM parameters for the cyano radical and water. Subsequently, vertical excitation energies are calculated using time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) and equation-of-motion coupled-cluster with single and double substitutions (EOM-CCSD). The effect of water is modeled by point charges used in the MD simulations. It is found that both bands blue-shift with respect to their gas phase position; the magnitude of the shift is only weakly dependent on the method and the MM paramet...
Assessment of Hot Gas Clean-Up Systems and Turbine Erosion/Corrosion Problems in Pfbc Combined Cycle Systems

Alternative methods of producing electricity from coal while maintaining acceptable environmental standards are currently being examined in detail. One such method involves the fluidized bed combustion of coal at elevated pressure, using an acceptor in the fluidized bed to remove the sulfur. Steam is raised using heat exchangers within and above the bed, and the hot combustion gases are expanded through a gas turbine. A serious limitation on this system is the ability to reduce the particulate loading in the combustion gases to a level at which a gas turbine having acceptable life can be constructed. The turbine may be either a new design or a modification of a currently available engine, and palliatives include lowering the turbine inlet temperature, lowering the gas velocity through the turbine, and “hardening” the turbine by the selection of appropriate materials or claddings for the vanes and blades. In this paper, the various degradation processes are considered, with emphasis on erosion, and the probable limits of particulate loading in the gas stream are estimated. These estimates are discussed in relation to existing hot gas particulate removal systems, and directions for further study are suggested.
SCALING LENGTHS OF ELEMENTAL METALS

The average interstitial electron densities {ital n} of the elemental alkali, noble, and transition metals were computed as a function of the lattice spacing using a scalar-relativistic total-energy band-structure code. The calculations showed that the average interstitial electron density varied exponentially as exp({minus}a/L{sub D}), where {ital a} measures the lattice spacing in terms of the equivalent Wigner-Seitz radius. In principle, the value of L{sub D} could be considered to be a new characteristic length for the metals{emdash}a density length scale. However, we found that L{sub D} is very nearly proportional to the energy length scale L{sub E} that enters into the definition of the universal bonding energy relations, i.e., L{sub E}{approximately}0.85L{sub D}. Two consequences of this approximate equality are described. First, the normalized cohesive energy can be usefully approximated by a universal function of the normalized interstitial density. Second, the bulk moduli of the elemental metals can be approximately determined from the Wigner-Seitz radius, the bonding valence, and the density length scale. {copyright} {ital 1998} {ital The American Physical Society}
The effects of intraventricular injection of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) on prolactin and gonadotropin release in conscious female rats.

Summary Various doses of GABA or 0.9% NaCl in a volume of 2 μl were injected into the 3rd ventricle in conscious, free-moving rats and the effect on LH and prolactin release evaluated by measurements of plasma levels by immunoassay. Both in ovariectomized (OVX) and in ovariectomized estrogen-progesterone pretreated (OEP) rats GABA elevated plasma LH at doses of 4 and 8 μ M. GABA had opposite effects on plasma prolactin depending on the dose in both types of rats with a suppression of prolactin release obtained with low doses of 0.1 μ M in both OVX and OEP rats and of 2 μ M in OEP rats and with an elevation in plasma prolactin induced by higher doses of 4 or 8 μ M in both types of rats. These effects were mediated centrally since peripheral injection of the 4 μ M dose of GABA had no effect on either LH or prolactin. Injection of the GABA blocker, bicuculline at doses of 1 or 2 μ M had no consistent significant effect on plasma LH or prolactin in OVX rats. Both doses of bicuculline blocked the stimulatory effect of a 4 μ M dose of GABA on LH but the higher dose was required to block the effect of this dose of GABA on prolactin. The results are interpreted to mean that GABA can stimulate release of LHRH from the hypothalamus and that at low doses it can inhibit prolactin release probably by a hypothalamic action. This effect is reversed at high doses to produce stimulation of prolactin release which is also probably mediated by the hypothalamus.
Collisional energy transfer between Ca(4p 1P1−4p 3PJ) and quenching of Ca(4p 3PJ) and Ca(4p 1D2) induced by xenon

Abstract Collisional energy transfer between the 4p 1P1−4p 3PJ levels and quenching of the 4p 3PJ and 4p 1D2 metastable calcium levels by xenon were studied. An energy transfer cross section of 1.19±0.10 A2 was measured. Quenching cross section of the metastable triplet was found to be less than 10−7 A2. Collisional-induced intersystem crossing from the 4p 1P1 level to the 4p 3DJ level followed by radiative decay to the 4p 3PJ level is found to be the dominant energy transfer pathway.
The Design of Variable Antidive Vehicle Suspension Systems

Variable antidive suspension characteristics represent an excellent design compromise between 100 percent dive compensation and ride harshness. This paper develops a simple suspension modification which permits wide flexibility in the choice of variable antidive to be used by a vehicle designer. A sample suspension design is presented for which variable antidive characteristics are developed. /HSRI/
Gender schematicity and preference for gender-typed products

Two experiments demonstrated that subjects preferred products described in terms congruent with their self-perceived schema for masculinity or femininity. In Experiment 1, male subjects were classified as highly masculine or not so masculine on the basis of their self-ratings. Those who were highly masculine preferred a product described in very masculine terms and those who were not so masculine preferred a product described in feminine terms. In Experiment 2, female subjects were classified as highly feminine or not so feminine on the basis of self-ratings. Highly feminine subjects liked a product best when it was described in highly feminine terms, next most when it was described as having both masculine and feminine attributes, and least when it was depicted as totally masculine. Subjects who saw themselves as less feminine showed the opposite pattern of preference. These effects did not appear to be mediated by differential processing of schema-consistent information.
Ocular and Systemic Findings in the Aarskog (Facial-digital-genital) Syndrome

The Aarskog (facial-digital-genital) syndrome is an X-linked disorder in which short stature is accompanied by hypertelorism, digital anomalies, and shawl scrotum. Except for hypertelorism and blepharoptosis, ophthalmic abnormalities have been rarely noted in this condition. We examined four patients who had Aarskog syndrome and unilaterally or bilaterally decreased vision on initial examination. Three family members had V-pattern esotropia, latent nystagmus, inferior oblique overaction, and amblyopia. A fourth patient had bilateral blepharoptosis and severe astigmatism. Other ocular features included hyperopia, anisometropia, deficient ocular elevation, blue sclerae, and posterior embryotoxon. These findings underscore the need for ophthalmic examination in asymptomatic patients with Aarskog syndrome to rule out treatable causes of visual loss.
Establishment of Potentially Cariogenic Streptococci in an Experimental Human Plaque. I: Streptococcus mutans:

Streptococcus mutans (Streptomycin resistant) was seeded to enamel slabs in the Intraoral Cariogenicity Test (ICT). After seven days in vivo, S. mutans comprised 58% of the total streptococci in the seeded plaque, compared to approximately 1% for the non-seeded control plaque. Seeding S. mutans to the ICT resulted in a change in the proportion of total streptococci in plaques, but no difference in ICT caries compared to control slabs was recorded.
Thought-stopping treatment of anxiety attacks due to seizure-related obsessive ruminations

Abstract A 24-yr-old woman with a 3-yr history of seizure-related obsessive ruminations that provoked anxiety attacks was treated by a thought-stopping procedure. The anxiety attacks were eliminated after 3 weeks of thought-stopping at home, and at no stage recurred during a 6-month follow-up.
Intraoperative anaphylaxis to bacitracin during pacemaker change and laser lead extraction.

Background Bacitracin is widely used in operating rooms to soak implants, irrigate compound fractures, and apply to surgical incisions. However, bacitracin is a known sensitizer and causes not only allergic contact dermatitis but also anaphylaxis. Objective To describe a 72-year-old woman with anaphylaxis after irrigation and packing of an infected pacemaker pocket with a bacitracin solution. Methods Skin prick testing to bacitracin and latex; serum tryptase, serum histamine, serum IgE to latex, and serial cardiac enzyme measurements; blood cultures, transthoracic echocardiograms, and venograms were performed to characterize the reaction. Results Six hours after the anaphylactic event, the patient had an elevated serum tryptase level of 49 ng/mL (reference range, 2–10 ng/mL), which normalized the next morning. She had immediate-type skin prick test reactions to full-strength bacitracin ointment (500 U/g) and bacitracin solution (150 U/mL). Serum IgE level to latex was undetectable, and results of skin testing to latex were negative. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first case report of anaphylaxis to bacitracin during pacemaker surgery. This case illustrates that intraoperative anaphylaxis to bacitracin can be life-threatening.
Factors that determine the optimum dose for sub-20nm resist systems: DUV, EUV, and e-beam options

As EUV and e-beam direct write (EBDW) technologies move closer to insertion into pilot production, questions regarding cost effectiveness take on increasing importance. One of the most critical questions is determining the optimum dose which balances the requirements for cost-effective throughput vs. imaging performance. To date most of the dose requirements have been dictated by the hardware side of the industry. The exposure tool manufacturers have a vested interest in specifying the fastest resists possible in order to maximize the throughput even if it comes at the expense of optimum resist performance. This is especially true for both EUV and EBDW where source power is severely limited. We will explore the cost-benefit tradeoffs which drive the equipment side of the industry, and show how these considerations lead to the current throughput and dose requirements for volume production tools. We will then show how the resulting low doses may lead to shot noise problems and a resulting penalty in resist performance. By comparison to the history of 248 nm DUV resist development we will illustrate how setting unrealistic initial targets for resist dose may lead to unacceptable tradeoffs in resist performance and subsequently long delays in the development of production worthy resists.
Viral hepatitis B infection risk in flexible fiberoptic endoscopy

Upper gastrointestinal examination with flexible fiberoptic endoscopes (FFE) is a beneficial procedure, but among potential risks is the transmission of type B viral hepatitis. The devices are mechanically complex, extremely fragile, and difficult to clean and disinfect. In an effort to determine the efficiency of routine cleaning in removing hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) from FFE surfaces, a swab-rinse/radioimmunoassay test was used. Four HBsAg-positive hospital patients underwent endoscopy, and the FFE was sampled before and after routine cleaning with an iodophorisopropyl alcohol solution. In the laboratory, in vivo and in vitro contamination and cleaning studies were conducted. Sampling before and after cleaning showed that the procedure was effective in removing blood and HBsAg from FFE surfaces but not from surfaces of accessory instruments. Using postmortem gastrointestinal tissues and aspirates, we demonstrated a substance which inhibited the immunologic detection of HBsAg. Our data do not demonstrate the absolute safety of FFE with regard to hepatitis B transmission but do suggest basic guidelines that may minimize the risk.
Longitudinal predictors of addictions treatment utilization in treatment-naïve adults with alcohol use disorders

Background Despite the substantial prevalence of alcohol use disorders (AUDs), prior research indicates that most people with AUDs never utilize either formal or informal treatment services. Several prior studies have examined the characteristics of individuals with AUDs who receive treatment; however, limited longitudinal data are available on the predictors of receiving AUD services in treatment-naive individuals with AUDs.