cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abl Family Kinases and Cbl Cooperate with the Nck Adaptor to Modulate Xenopus Development

We previously showed that overexpression of the Nck Src homology (SH) 2/SH3 adaptor in Xenopus embryos induced developmental defects including anterior truncation and mesoderm ventralization. Mutagenic analysis indicated that this was due to relocalization of endogenous proteins that bind the first two SH3 domains of Nck. We therefore screened a Xenopus expression library with Nck SH3 domains to identify Nck-interacting proteins, and evaluated candidate binding proteins for a potential role in Nck-induced anterior truncation/ventralization. Of 39 binding proteins analyzed, only the Abl-related kinase Arg and the Cbl proto-oncogene product bound preferentially to the first two SH3 domains in tandem compared with the individual domains, consistent with a role in the developmental phenotype. High level overexpression of c-Abl or Arg alone induced anterior truncation, as did lower levels of an activated form of Abl; Cbl alone had no effect. In a sensitized system where subthreshold amounts of a ventralizing Nck mutant were expressed, co-expression of the combination of Abl or Arg and Cbl at modest levels strongly potentiated anterior truncation, while Arg, Abl, or Cbl alone were without effect. These results suggest a role for both Cbl and Abl family kinases in patterning the Xenopus embryo.
Feasibility of off-grid residential power

Major emphasis is placed in today's technological society of being “green.” Being energy efficient and using renewable resources are strongly encouraged in many different aspects of life. One way environmentalists tout of being able to save the planet is through the use of solar panels or wind turbines to power one's home. Many renewable energy companies boast of being able to take one's household off the power grid or lower one's power bill by utilizing their respective renewable energy devices. This paper will explore the feasibility of these claims and determine whether it is actually economically or aesthetically possible to take one's home off the power grid and utilize a personal energy source. The areas being explored will range from wind turbines, solar panels, personal capacitor banks, solar water heaters, etc. A determination will be made at the end of the paper of whether an average family in Pensacola could indeed live off the power grid.
Experimenting with end-correction and the speed of sound

What follows is an alternative to the standard tuning fork and quarter-wave tube speed of sound experiment. Rather than adjusting the water level in a glass or plastic tube to vary the length of an air column, a set of resonance tubes of different lengths is used. The experiment still demonstrates the principles of standing waves in air columns and can also be used to study end-correction as well as determining the speed of sound in air.
In vitro assessment of the intra luminal phase of gliadin digestion in coeliac disease: γ-glutamyl transpeptidase-like activity in saliva

Abstract γ-Glutamyl transpeptidase (GGTP) is an enzyme of potential relevance to the digestion of dietary gliadin, and hence of possible importance in the development of coeliac disease (CD). We have confirmed that human saliva has GGTP-like activity. Comparison of this activity between treated CD patients in long-term remission, age- and sex-matched normal control subjects, and unaffected relatives of CD patients did not show statistically significant differences. Although our results have not demonstrated a primary abnormality of this particular enzyme activity in CD, the intraluminal phase of gliadin processing is potentially important in the aetiology and pathogenesis of CD and thus deserves further study.
Application of Hopf bifurcation theory to rotor-bearing systems with consideration of turbulent effects

This paper shows that the steady state and the dynamic characteristics of a rotor-bearing system with turbulent effects can be conveniently evaluated by applying the Hopf bifurcation theory to the equations of motion of a rigid rotor symmetrically supported by two identical fluid-film journal bearings. Results are presented for stiffness and damping coefficients and stability characteristics of a journal bearing, which take turbulence into consideration.
Descriptive methods for evaluation of state-based intervention programs.

In this article, the authors discuss program evaluation of intervention studies when the outcome of interest is collected routinely at equally spaced intervals of time. They illustrate concepts using data from the American Stop Smoking Intervention Study, where the outcome is state per capita tobacco consumption. States differ widely in mean tobacco consumption, and these differences should be accounted for in the analysis. A large difference in the variance of the intervention effect maybe obtained depending on whether the variation in the between-state effects are considered. The confidence limits obtained by ignoring between-state effects are too optimistic in many cases.
Rapid micro-isolation of mammalian oxymyoglobin for biophysical studies.

Abstract A rapid, single-step procedure is described for the isolation of mammalian oxymyoglobin for physical studies. The procedure employs a high-capacity, reusable, Hg-resin through which the myoglobin is filtered. The mammalian myoglobins for which sequences have been reported lack reactive cysteine. The column binds hemoglobin and other sulfhydryl-containing proteins, and retards othe proteins. The procedure requires less than twenty minutes for the isolation of oxymyoglobin from homogenized muscle tissue. Virtually no metmyoglobin is formed. The yields are 2–3 times greater than by other methods. The procedure can easily be scaled down for isolation of myoglobin from a few milligrams of muscle. Identical rate constants for oxygen association, dissociation, and CO association were measured by laser photolysis for beef heart myoglobin prepared by this procedure and that of Yamazaki et al. (Yamazaki, I., Yokota, K. and Shikama, K. (1964) J. Biol. Chem. 239, 4151). Gel electrophoresis indicates that the preparation is at least 95% pure.
Body mass, estrogen levels, and hot flashes in midlife women

Objective This study was undertaken to determine whether body mass index (BMI) is associated with hot flashes and whether the mechanism by which BMI increases the risk of hot flashes is by lowering estrogen levels. Study design A case-control study was conducted among midlife women to examine risk factors for hot flashes. Cases were women who reported experiencing hot flashes (n=353). Controls were women who reported never experiencing hot flashes (n=258). Each participant completed a questionnaire and provided a blood sample for estrogen measurement. Results Compared with normal weight women, very obese women had significantly higher odds of hot flashes. The odds ratios remained elevated although attenuated when the hormone variables were added to the model. Conclusion These results indicate that very obese women are at increased risk for hot flashes compared with normal weight women. Estrogen levels may partly explain this relationship; however, other mechanisms appear to be involved as well.
Visualization of energetics and conformations from molecular computer simulations

Abstract The quantity of data generated from molecular dynamics simulations and energy minimizations of macromolecules is overwhelming. It is an arduous task to extract the relevant and interesting information from the numerous coordinate sets produced. To help solve this problem, the authors have developed a method to aid the visualization of the relevant information from the simulations. This approach combines animation of the results on a high performance graphics device, such as the PS300, with colour-coded atoms based on changes in energy or conformation. The method will be illustrated using as examples: the molecular mechanics minimization of a nonapeptide, the molecular dynamics simulation of the protein myoglobin, including the analysis of the motion of helices during a 300ps trajectory, and changes in sugar puckering that occur during the molecular dynamics simulation of a DNA oligomer. The method is also applicable for analysing energy components and conformational properties of a fixed conformation.
Did you put it on the wiki?: information sharing through wikis in interdisciplinary design collaboration

Interdisciplinary design is challenging, in large measure, because of the difficulty in communicating and coordinating across disciplines. Team members from different disciplines may view and solve the same problem from different perspectives, with their own unique method and language, which may create barriers to information sharing. Wikis, in particular, have gained popularity as a collaborative tool and have been claimed to support collaboration and information sharing. Despite the increasing use of wikis in design projects, there has been little research attention to how wikis are actually used by design teams. This paper describes a field study of two interdisciplinary design teams, seeking to discover how wikis support information sharing in software development projects. The study provides empirical evidence on the use of wikis in interdisciplinary design work, which will be used to develop guidelines on the effective use of wikis to support interdisciplinary design collaboration.
Understanding Core-Collapse Supernovae

Our understanding of core-collapse supernovae continues to improve as better microphysics is included in increasingly realistic neutrino-radiationhydrodynamic simulations. Recent multi-dimensional models with spectral neutrino transport, which slowly develop successful explosions for a range of progenitors between 12 and 25 solar mass, have motivated changes in our understanding of the neutrino reheating mechanism. In a similar fashion, improvements in nuclear physics, most notably explorations of weak interactions on nuclei and the nuclear equation of state, continue to refine our understanding of how supernovae explode. Recent progresses on both the macroscopic and microscopic effects that affect core-collapse supernovae are discussed.
Renal and hepatic toxicity of N-arylsuccinimides in Fischer 344 rats.

The role of aromaticity in the nephrotoxic potential of N-arylsuccinimides was studied in male Fischer 344 rats. Rats were administered a single intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of an N-arylsuccinimide derivative (0.4 or 1.0 mmol/kg) or sesame oil (2.5 ml/kg), and the renal function monitored at 24 and 48 h. The parent compound in this series, N-phenylsuccinimide (NPS), had previously been shown to induce only minimal renal effects, having no effect on urine volume, blood urea nitrogen concentration, kidney weight, p-aminohippurate accumulation or renal morphology. Only an increase in tetraethylammonium uptake has been observed following NPS administration to rats. These effects were not enhanced by reducing aromaticity (N-cyclohexylsuccinimide (NCS)). Compounds with increased aromaticity N-(1-naphthyl)succinimide (NNS), N-(1-anthracenyl)succinimide (1-NAS) and N-(9-anthracenyl)succinimide (9-NAS) — also only weakly affected renal function. However, NNS (1.0 mmol/kg) and, to a lesser degree, 9-NAS (1.0 mmol/kg) proved to be hepatotoxins. Liver damage was most pronounced near central vein regions of the lobule and least evident around periportal sites. Damaged liver tissue exhibited unusually large deposits of connective tissue and hypertrophied hepatocytes with numerous vacuoles in their cytoplasm. Therefore, derivatives of NPS with increased or decreased aromaticity relative to the parent compound do not exhibit the ability to induce moderate or marked nephrotoxicity. However, increasing aromaticity did produce the derivatives NNS and 9-NAS, which are hepatotoxins. These compounds represent the first members in this series of compounds to induce acute hepatotoxicity.
Controlled Cervical Laceration Injury in Mice

Use of genetically modified mice enhances our understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying several neurological disorders such as a spinal cord injury (SCI). Freehand manual control used to produce a laceration model of SCI creates inconsistent injuries often associated with a crush or contusion component and, therefore, a novel technique was developed. Our model of cervical laceration SCI has resolved inherent difficulties with the freehand method by incorporating 1) cervical vertebral stabilization by vertebral facet fixation, 2) enhanced spinal cord exposure, and 3) creation of a reproducible laceration of the spinal cord using an oscillating blade with an accuracy of ±0.01 mm in depth without associated contusion. Compared to the standard methods of creating a SCI laceration such as freehand use of a scalpel or scissors, our method has produced a consistent lesion. This method is useful for studies on axonal regeneration of corticospinal, rubrospinal, and dorsal ascending tracts.
Emotional Control and Instructional Effectiveness: Maximizing a Timeout

This article provides recommendations for best practices for basketball coaches to maximize the instructional effectiveness of a timeout during competition. Practical applications are derived from research findings linking emotional intelligence to effective coaching behaviors. Additionally, recommendations are based on the implications of the inverted-U hypothesis of arousal and performance. Basketball coaches are encouraged to consider the effects of arousal on performance and to develop a timeout routine consisting of three distinct phases. Roles and responsibilities are outlined for each of the three phases. Practical examples and diagrams are provided to model the delivery of key instructional points. Timeouts are a prized opportunity that basketball coaches can maximize by implementing a consistent routine to regulate levels of arousal enabling players to process instructional feedback to support peak performance.
Quantum entanglement in an oscillating macroscopic mirror

In this paper, we revisit the problem of quantum entanglement in an oscillating macroscopic mirror previously studied by Marshall et al. consisting of a modified Michelson interferometer where one of the mirrors is free to oscillate about its center of mass. A photon incident upon the oscillating mirror becomes entangled with the mirror, driving the mirror into a superposition of quantum states. Once the photon and mirror decouple, the mirror returns to its initial state. The purpose of our investigations was to optimize the parameter regime, taking into consideration the current state of technology and the demands imposed by the need to maintain a stable environment in the presence of thermal noise. Optimization should not demand ultra-low temperatures and this is reflected in our results. Our results also show that if the separation between states is maintained at 10-14 m, the mirror size is reduced, making it easier to induce superposition in the mirror. The critical nature of mirror reflectivity and its connection to cavity decay rate was also revealed by our investigations. The results obtained through our investigations could be useful in quantum error correction, where decoherence negatively affects the results of computations performed by quantum computers. Finally, we note that we are only concerned with an isolated system, where no losses to the external environment occur and any decoherence that occurs within the system remains internal to the system; that is, any mention of decoherence refers specifically to recoverable decoherence.
Quantitative analysis of male responses released by female sex pheromone in Periplaneta Americana

Abstract Serial dilutions of purified female extracts of sex pheromone were analysed for their activity in releasing courting behaviour in males. Running activity and courting displays by males increased with the higher concentrations of sex pheromone. Males responded to sex pheromone in three distinct levels: arousal, running and courting displays. Individual male responses to equal dilutions were variable in that certain males had higher thresholds and required higher concentrations to initiate similar responses. Each level, respectively, was initiated by increasing concentrations of sex pheromone. When exposed to the highest concentration, there was a minimal temporal response time prior to the terminal courting displays. Secondarily purified extracts, as low as 4·5×10−14 g, elicited a response from males.
A statistical study of the relation of Pi 2 and plasma flows in the tail

[1] In this paper, we examine some of the statistical properties of Pi 2 pulsations and their relation to plasma flow bursts in the tail. These statistics are based on a set of 462 expansion onsets identified by the AL index and Pi 2 pulsations. The most probable number of Pi 2 bursts per substorm is 2, but some substorms have as many as 6. The first Pi 2 burst corresponds to the expansion onset about 58% of the time, but 28% of the time, there is a pseudo-breakup prior to the main onset. When there are multiple Pi 2 bursts per substorm, the time between bursts ranges from 5 to 50 min with 20 min as the mean separation. Multiple Pi 2 bursts are more probable in the expansion and recovery phase than in the growth phase. We have selected a subset of 48 events for which International Sun Earth Explorer 2 (ISEE-2) was in the region of expected x-line formation at the time of onset. Plasma flows were observed in 32 of these events. In this subset, 26 events appear to be bursty bulk flows (BBFs), while the remaining 7 events were probably ion streaming in the plasma sheet boundary layer. Thus about one half (26/48) of all Pi 2 events observed when ISEE-2 was in the region of x-line formation could be associated with BBFs inside the plasma sheet. An examination of the time separation between BBFs reveals a repetitive distribution which is similar to that between Pi 2 bursts. The slight discrepancy between these two distributions may be due to the localization of the plasma flows which causes some BBFs to be missed, and to the definition of BBFs which does not allow an event shorter than 10 min. The frequent association of BBF and Pi 2 and their similar distributions of time separation suggest that they are causally related. If so, the observed properties of Pi 2 pulsations suggest that most substorms are made up of a sequence of transient reconnection events.
Political Instability and Growth: The Central African Republic

This paper provides empirical evidence that the propensity for political instability in the Central African Republic (C.A.R.) has been increased by low tax revenues and deteriorations in the terms of trade. The direct effect of political instability on economic growth is not statistically significant, once account is taken of domestic investment, and economic growth in neighboring countries. The policy implications are: (i) mobilization of domestic revenues to pay public employees` salaries and provide basic social services would lower the probability of coups; (ii) economic diversification would reduce the propensity for adverse terms of trade shocks to fuel coups; and (iii) neighboring countries` efforts to resolve conflicts and achieve sustained growth would be beneficial for the C.A.R.`s economic performance.
INVESTIGATION OF ACID DEPOSITION EFFECTS ON SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN RED SPRUCE (Picea rubens) BY DETERMINATION OF CALCIUM, MAGNESIUM, AND ALUMINUM IN FOLIAGE AND SURROUNDING SOIL USING ICP-OES

Red spruce (Picea rubens) are conifers found at high elevations (above 1370 m) sites in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. A decline of red spruce forests in the Southern Appalachian Mountains caused by atmospheric acid deposition has been reported since the 1970s. Acid deposition leaches essential nutrients (calcium and magnesium) out of the soil and increases the availability of toxic metals (aluminum) to plants. Acid deposition effects on red spruce forests were investigated by determining aluminum, calcium, and magnesium in foliage and surrounding soils using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). There was some correlation in nutrient or toxic metal concentrations found in the foliage or surrounding soils of red spruce trees with respect to elevation and geography of red spruce forests located in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. The majority of the results indicated that foliar nutrient or toxic metal concentrations from red spruce trees did not correlate with soil me...
Model for testing various CO sensor technologies performance within a tunnel ventilation system

This document presents the CO concentration simulator design. It may be used to study the performance of sensors with ventilation and traffic control systems. The model is general enough to be used with one way or two way tunnel networks. Sensor locations and performance can be varied and the resulting changes in driver exposure can be measured.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Impaired metabolism of methylphenobarbital after a combined drug overdose: treatment by resin hemoperfusion.

AbstractA 38-yr-old woman who by history ingested 13 g methylphenobarbital, alcohol, and 6 g acetaminophen became comatose slowly over 4 d. Acute hepatic injury appeared to impair the oxidative N-demethylation of methylphenobarbital to its product, phenobarbital. On the eighth day after ingestion she was treated because of protracted coma with Amberlite XAD-4 resin hemoperfusion. Hemoperfusion, which removed 0.83 g methylphenobarbital and 2.10 g phenobarbital, led to transient clinical improvement. When supportive patient management fails to produce a satisfactory clinical course in a methylphenobarbital-intoxicated patient, hemoperfusion could be a useful adjunct to therapy.
A Generalization of the Frank-Wolfe Theorem.

The Frank—Wolfe theorem states that a quadratic function, bounded below on a nonempty polyhedral convex set, attains its infimum there. This paper gives sufficient conditions under which a function either attains its infimum on a nonempty polyhedral convex set or is unbounded below on some halfline of that set. Quadratic functions are shown to satisfy these sufficient conditions.
Rock Finishing and Response to Salt Fog Atmosphere

Seven silicate rocks used as ornamental stones and having different surface finishing were submitted to salt fog atmospheres in order to compare different susceptibilities to alteration. Polished, honed, hammered and flamed finishing types were tested. Rocks come from Portugal, Brazil and Angola and are widely commercialized. Samples covered quartz rich rocks, silica saturated and undersaturated rocks, mono and plurimineralic rocks, coarse and fine grained rocks. Mineral composition, texture and open porosity showed to be important parameters which determine mass loss among samples, but the finishing type was very effective within samples. Mass loss and porosity increase are higher on hammered samples, contrasted with the lowest loss values on polished samples. The effect of surface hydrophobicity and roughness on the samples having polished finishing was also analysed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and water contact angle (WCA), indicating that texture and mineral diversity influence the hydrophobic character of the rock surfaces.
Earning More and Getting Less: Why Successful Wives Can’t Buy Equality ‐ Edited by Veronica Jaris Tichemor

Earning More and Getting Less: Why Successful Wives Can't Buy Equality. Veronica Jaris Tichemor. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press. 2005. 218 pp. ISBN 0-8135-3679-0. $22.95. (paper) Tichenor's book focuses on couples in which the wives outearn their husbands. Studying this group of couples, she convincingly argues, makes a contribution because such couples "sit at a crossroad of competing cultural imperatives," allowing her to investigate the link between gender and power. Her research included interviews with 30 married couples, mostly made up of wives who surpassed their husbands in income or occupational status. She included eight comparison couples in which both spouses were employed and for whom the intracouple income and occupational status were more normative, with men's exceeding or equal to women's. For most of the couples she studied, women earned at least 50% more income than their husbands, and they surpassed their husbands' occupational status. Recognizing the complexity of defining couples, however, Tichenor included couples with no status difference but high-income difference favoring wives, and couples with wives who had jobs of higher status yet minimal income difference compared to their husbands. I believe that this variability in the income and occupational status of couples was helpful to the analysis presented. It would have been even more illuminative if she had been consistently clear for which couple types she was drawing conclusions. I also wanted information about ages of children in the families, though it seemed all families had quite young children. Her project included detailed interviews with both spouses and questionnaires from couples. The interviews are described as being in depth and the interview guide and questionnaire are included as appendices in the book, which is helpful for the scholarly reader. Though the focus was on power and decision making, the interview included information about domestic labor and child care, conflict resolution, larger relationship dynamics and satisfaction, and work. Tichenor's deep qualitative interview approach allows her findings to reveal, for example, dilemmas about couples' social network involvement, showing some couples' discomfort with socializing with the coworkers of the higher status wives. Tichenor analyzed the information she obtained with care. The narratives and the quotes included in the book build a nuanced argument. The detailed narratives included in the book put flesh and emotion on the major claims Tichenor makes concerning gender, power, and the hidden but pervasive nature of gendered power. Each chapter is organized according to an area of Tichenor's inquiry, and relevant literature in that area is included before the findings. …
The integration of Dow's fire and explosion index (F&EI) into process design and optimization to achieve inherently safer design

Abstract For the processing industries, it is critically to have an economically optimum and inherently safer design and operation. The basic concept is to achieve the best design based on technical and business performance criteria while performing within acceptable safety levels. Commonly, safety is examined and incorporated typically as an after-thought to design. Therefore, systematic and structured procedure for integrating safety into process design and optimization that is compatible with currently available optimization and safety analysis methodology must be available. The objective of this paper is to develop a systematic procedure for the incorporation of safety into the conceptual design and optimization stage. We propose the inclusion of the Dow fire and explosion index (F&EI) as the safety metric in the design and optimization framework by incorporating F&EI within the design and optimization framework. We first develop the F&EI computer program to calculate the F&EI value and to generate the mathematical expression of F&EI as a function of material inventory and operating pressure. The proposed procedure is applied to a case study involving reaction and separation. Then, the design and optimization of the system are compared for the cases with and without safety as the optimization constraint. The final result is the optimum economic and inherently safer design for the reactor and distillation column system.
Sensory nerves impair sympathetic reinnervation and recovery of smooth muscle function.

Abstract Neuronal populations projecting to a common target may compete for neurotrophic substances. To determine if competition impairs target reinnervation, we examined the effect of capsaicin-induced sensory denervation on sympathetic nerve ingrowth to the sympathectomized rat superior tarsal smooth muscle. In tarsal muscles with intact sympathetic innervation, capsaicin injection on Day 2 reduced numbers of perimuscular CGRP-ir sensory nerves by 68% at 3–4 months; however, it did not alter dopamine-β-hydroxylase-ir nerve density, response to nerve stimulation, or tarsal muscle adrenoceptor-mediated contraction. Tarsal muscles denervated by ipsilateral superior cervical ganglionectomy on Postnatal Day 4 were partially reinnervated by fibers from the contralateral ganglion, as noted in previous studies. Sensory denervation by capsaicin improved sympathetic reinnervation, as evidenced by a 174% increase in numbers of DBH-ir nerves and a 62% increase in neurally mediated smooth muscle contraction evoked by electrical stimulation of the contralateral pathway relative to reinnervated muscles of vehicle-injected rats; smooth muscle function was also influenced, as indicated by a decrease toward normal in adrenoceptor sensitivity. Tarsal muscles denervated at 30 days were not reinnervated in either vehicle-injected or capsaicin-treated rats, indicating that sensory denervation does not extend the developmental window during which contralateral reinnervation can occur. Both the vehicle-injected and capsaicin-treated preparations with sustained juvenile sympathectomy showed sensory hyperinnervation as adults; thus, a chronic reduction in competition from sympathetics is a sufficiently powerful stimulus to overcome the decreased nerve density induced by neonatal capsaicin treatment. We conclude that sensory nerves limit the extent of sympathetic reinnervation and functional recovery that can occur following neonatal sympathetic denervation.
Vibrational relaxation of ozone by para and normal hydrogen

Abstract The relaxation of O 3 (001) by p - and n -H 2 was measured over the temperature range 167–424 K. n -H 2 quenched ozone more efficiently, with the difference between rate constants increasing with temperature. These observations are explained by a near-resonant V—R process, in agreement with the Sharma—Brau theory.
Scoping Analyses of Parameterized Cool-Down Transients Associated With Reactor Shutdown

The current regulations, as set forth by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), to insure that light-water nuclear reactor pressure vessels (RPVs) maintain their structural integrity when subjected to planned startup (heat-up) and shutdown (cool-down) transients are specified in Appendix G to 10 CFR Part 50, which incorporates by reference Appendix G to Section XI of the ASME Code. The technical basis for these regulations contains many aspects that are now broadly recognized by the technical community as being unnecessarily conservative. During the past decade, the NRC conducted the interdisciplinary Pressurized Thermal Shock (PTS) Re-evaluation Project that established a technical basis to support a risk-informed revision to current PTS regulations (10CFR Part 50.61). Once the results of the PTS reevaluation are incorporated into a revision of the 10 CFR 50 guidance on PTS, it is anticipated that the regulatory requirements for the fracture toughness of the RPV required to withstand a PTS event (accidental loading) will in some cases be less restrictive than the current requirements of Appendix G to 10 CFR Part 50, which apply to normal operating conditions. This logical inconsistency occurs because the new PTS guidelines will be based on realistic models and inputs whereas existing Appendix G requirements contain known and substantial conservatisms. Consequently, a goal of current NRC research is to derive a technical basis for a risk-informed revision to the current requirements of Appendix G to 10 CFR Part 50 in a manner that is consistent with that used to develop the risk-informed revision to the PTS regulations. Scoping probabilistic fracture mechanics (PFM) analyses have been performed for several hundred parameterized cool-down transients to (1) obtain insights regarding the interaction of operating temperature and pressure parameters on the conditional probability of crack initiation and vessel failure and (2) determine the limits on the permissible combinations of operating temperature and pressure within which the reactor may be brought into or out of an operational condition that remains below the acceptance criteria adopted for PTS of 1 × 10−6 failed RPVs per reactor operating year. This paper discusses the modeling assumptions, results, and implications of these scoping analyses.
Electrodeposition of hydroxyapatite onto nanotubular TiO2 for implant applications

Titanium and its alloys are being used in many orthopedic and bioimplant applications. In order to render these materials bioactive and to enhance osteointegration, the surfaces are coated with hydroxyapatite (HAp). Adhesion of bone cell to the implant surface, bond strength and durability of the implants are highly dependent upon the characteristics of the Ti substrate and the methods utilized in the hydroxyapatite coating process. In this paper we have reported an innovative method of preparation of a nanotubular titania surface and subsequent electrodeposition of hydroxyapatite nanocrystalline coating. Growth of the hydroxyapatite onto the nanotubular titania surface was accomplished by a pulsed electrodeposition process. Prior to the electrodeposition, the nanotubular titania surface was subjected to an alkaline treatment, which provided a template for nucleation of the hydroxyapatite inside the nanotubes. This process resulted in a vertical growth of the hydroxyapatite crystals and increased the bond strength of the coating. Bond strength was further improved by annealing the hydroxyapatite coated nanoporous titania in an argon atmosphere.
Continuous, low-dose oral exposure to sodium chlorate reduces fecal generic Escherichia coli in sheep feces without inducing clinical chlorate toxicosis.

Our objectives were to determine an effective, yet safe, daily dose of sodium chlorate for reducing fecal shedding of generic Escherichia coli in mature ewes. In a completely randomized experimental design, 25 Targhee ewes (age ∼ 18 mo; BW = 62.5 ± 7.3 kg, mean ± SD) were assigned randomly to 1 of 5 sodium chlorate treatments, which were administered in the drinking water for 5 consecutive days. Treatments were control group (no sodium chlorate) and 4 targeted levels of daily sodium chlorate intake: 30, 60, 90, and 120 mg · kg(-1) BW · d(-1) for 5 d. Individual ewe ad libitum intake of water (with treatments) was measured daily, and BW was measured at the beginning of and 15 and 51 d after the 5-d treatment period. Serum chlorate, whole blood methemoglobin and packed-cell volume (PCV), and fecal generic E. coli and general Enterobacteriaceae coliforms were measured from corresponding samples collected at the end of the 5-d treatment period. Average daily intakes of sodium chlorate from drinking water treatments were 95%, 91%, 90%, and 83% of the target treatment intakes of 30, 60, 90, and 120 mg · kg(-1) BW · d(-1), respectively. Daily sodium chlorate intake remained constant for all treatment groups except for ewes offered 120 mg NaClO3 · kg(-1) BW · d(-1), which decreased (quadratic; P = 0.04) over the course of the 5-d treatment period. This decrease in sodium chlorate intake indicated that the 120-mg NaClO3 level may have induced either toxicity and/or an aversion to the drinking water treatment. Serum chlorate concentrations increased (quadratic; P 0.27). Ewes consuming approximately 55 mg NaClO3 · kg(-1) BW · d(-1) or more (i.e., ewes offered 60, 90, and 120 mg) had a >1.4 log unit reduction in fecal E. coli and Enterobacteriaceae coliforms compared with control ewes. We suggest that for a short-term, 5-d dosing strategy, 55 to 81 mg NaClO3 · kg(-1) BW · d(-1) is an effective, yet safe, daily oral dose range for mature ewes to achieve a 97% to 99% reduction in fecal shedding of generic E. coli.
XENON ISOTOPES IN TELLUROBISMUTHITE, BOLIDEN, SWEDEN.

Abstract The isotopic composition of xenon is reported in four different samples of tellurobismuthite, Boliden, Sweden, of varying tellurium content. It is observed that excess 129 Xe, 130 Xe and 131 Xe, vary proportionately to the tellurium content of the sample. From the excess 130 Xe measurement, the half-life for double beta decay of 130 Te is calculated to be 2·51 × 10 21 yr. From the observed excess of 128 Xe in the most tellurium rich sample, the half-life for the double beta decay of 128 Te is estimated to be greater than 2·7 × 10 23 yr. It is shown that solar neutrino induced reactions on 128 Te and 130 Te do not contribute significantly to the observed excesses of 128 Xe and 130 Xe. The isotopic composition of xenon in a pyrite sample from the Boliden mine and in two samples of the cesium-rich mineral, pollucite, are used to examine previous hypotheses for the origin of excess 129 Xe and 131 Xe in tellurium ores. It is shown that these two xenon isotopes are produced in situ by nuclear reactions on tellurium.
Glucocorticoid preservation of motor nerve function during early degeneration

In cats, an intensive short-term triamcinolone regimen prior to section of the soleus motor nerve significantly reduced the excitability loss that otherwise would have occurred over a 48-hour period in its axons and terminals. The triamcinolone effect was manifested chiefly by striking preservation and enhancement of the capacity of soleus motoneurons to generate posttetanic repetition (PTR). This triamcinolone effect was also reflected by the greatly augmented posttetanic potentiation (PTP) obligatory to the neurogenic PTR. These principal effects were supported by an improvement in the capacity of the 48-hour denervated system to maintain repetitive transmission and to recover from high-frequency nerve stimulation. Overall, these results indicate that glucocorticoids can preserve excitability in degenerating motoneurons by a direct action. These findings provide a new basis for understanding clinical improvements that may be seen with intensive glucocorticoid therapy in certain neurological disorders.
Effects of viscoelasticity and time-dependent plasticity on nanoindentation measurements of human cortical bone

The viscoelastic and time-dependent plastic effects on the nanoindentation measurement of osteonal lamella in a human cortical bone were investigated. The elastic modulus of osteonal lamella obtained from the quasi-static technique was strongly affected by the indentation rate and time-dependent plasticity. The effects of time-dependent plasticity can be diminished by multiple loading-unloading cycles and a long holding period at maximal load. After minimizing the contribution of time-dependent plasticity to unloading data, it was surprisingly found that the elastic modulus was proportional to indentation strain rate raised to the 0.06 power, which is similar to conventional test results.
Policing in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia: understanding the role of sectarian history and politics

This article examines the historical and political legacy of police–Shi'a relations in the Eastern Province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Shi'a form a significant minority population in the Kingdom. The group is oppressed socially, politically and economically by the Sunni, Wahhabi ruling class of the Kingdom, and this has shaped Saudi Arabian police strategies and tactics. Shi'a are nearly unrepresented among the leadership, rank and file of the national police, which have investigated many serious crimes allegedly attributed to members of this population, including numerous terrorist attacks since the 1990s. Using a variety of sources, as well as media accounts, this article is a case study, arguing from a critical perspective that understanding Sunni–Shi'a sectarian politics is fundamental to ascertaining the nature of the relationship between the public and the police in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. This article emphasises that cultural notions of order and order maintenance, which involve ...
A Novel High Throughput Immunomagnetic Cell Sorting System for Potential Clinical Scale Depletion of T Cells for Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation

Objective To develop an immunomagnetic cell separation system for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantations, which can achieve a high level of T-cell depletion (at least 4.0 log 10 ), high level of recovery of hematopoietic stem cells (>90%), with a high throughput (>10 6 cells/second). Methods Peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) from buffy coats were spiked with CD34-expressing cells (KG1a) to mimic a leukaphoresis product containing stimulated HSCs. T cells were labeled with anti-CD3 + Dynabeads and separated in a quadrupole magnetic cell sorter (QMS). The performance of the system with respect to T-cell depletion and recovery of non–T cells and spiked KG1a was determined using four-color, flow cytometry analysis, with the aid of Trucount cell-concentration calibration beads. Limiting dilution assays were also performed to quantify the log 10 depletion of clonable T cells. Results While the general performance of the QMS system is governed by proven theoretical principles, significant system variability exist, not all of which can be explained by our current understanding. Consequently, a factorial design was employed, guided by JMP software, to optimize the labeling conditions and operation of the QMS focused on maximizing the depletion of T cell, and recovery of unlabeled cells including KG1a cells. From these studies, an optimized, no wash, immunomagnetic labeling protocol and optimized QMS operating conditions were developed. For an average initial cell concentration of 1.7 × 10 8 total cells, an average 3.96 ± 0.33 log 10 depletion (range, 3.53–4.34) of CD3 + CD45 + cells with a mean 99.43% ± 4.23% recovery of CD34 + CD45 + cells (range, 94.38–104.90%) was achieved at a sorting speed of 10 6 cells/s (n = 6). Limiting dilution assays on the T-cell depleted fractions, which gave a log 10 depletion of 3.51 for the clonable T cells. Conclusion We suggest that this system will provide superior performance with respect to T-cell depletion and CD34 + recovery for clinical allogeneic bone marrow transplants. Ongoing studies, on a clinical scale, are being conducted to demonstrate this claim.
Effect of Hypophysectomy on Electrolyte Excretion in Dogs with Ascites Produced by Thoracic Inferior Vena Cava Constriction

Following complete or nearly complete hypophysectomy in dogs with thoracic inferior vena cava constriction, a striking increase in sodium (Na) excretion occurred concomitant with a fall in femoral venous pressure. The previously high venous pressure and renal Na retention were restored by administration of thyrotropin (TSH), growth hormone injection or further constriction of the thoracic inferior vena cava, but adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) was without effect on these functions. The data indicate that pituitary hormones influence the accumulation of ascitic fluid by contributing to the maintenance of an adequate level of venous hypertension.
DISASTERS AND LONG‐TERM RECOVERY POLICY: A FOCUS ON HOUSING AND FAMILIES

Long-term recovery is a policy issue which is receiving increased attention in the disaster research literature. Here the problems of housing snd family recovery are considered. While present programs exist to address housing and family recovery, the prevailing emphasis upon rapid return to the status quoante tends to obscure the problems of victim mental health, equitable d is tribution of recovery funds, and social-psychological dimension of housing placement.
Automatic Calibration and Predictive Uncertainty Analysis of a Semidistributed Watershed Model

Semidistributed models are commonly calibrated manually, but software for automatic calibration is now available. We present a two-stage routine for automatic calibration of the semidistributed watershed model Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) that finds the best values for the model parameters, preserves spatial variability in essential parameters, and leads to a measure of the model prediction uncertainty. In the first stage, a modified global Shuffled Complex Evolution (SCE-UA) method was employed to find the “best” values for the lumped model parameters. In the second stage, the spatial variability of the original model parameters was restored and a local search method (a variant of Levenberg–Marquart method) was used to find a more distributed set of parameters using the results of the previous stage as starting values. A method called “regularization” was adopted to prevent the parameters from taking extreme values. In addition, we applied a nonlinear calibration-constrained method to develop confidence intervals for annual and 7-d average flow predictions. We calibrated stream flow in the Etowah River measured at Canton, GA (a watershed area of 1580 km 2 ) for the years 1983 to 1992 and used the years 1993 to 2001 for validation. The Parameter Estimator (PEST) software was used to conduct the two-stage automatic calibration and prediction uncertainty analysis. Calibration for daily and monthly flow produced a very good fit to the measured data. Nash-Sutcliffe coefficients for daily and monthly flow over the calibration period were 0.60 and 0.86, respectively. They were 0.61 and 0.87, respectively, for the validation period. The nonlinear prediction uncertainty analysis worked well for long-term (annual) flow in that our prediction confidence intervals included or were very near to the observed flow for most years. It did not work well for short-term (7-d average) flows in that the prediction confidence intervals did not include the observed flow, especially for low and high flow conditions.
Surfactant-Enhanced Remediation of a Trichloroethene-Contaminated Aquifer. 2. Transport of TCE

Field studies were conducted under an induced gradient in a trichloroethene (TCE)-contaminated aquifer at Picatinny Arsenal, NJ, to study (a) the rate-limited desorption of TCE from aquifer sediments to water and (b) the effect of a surfactant (Triton X-100) on the desorption and transport of TCE. Clean water was injected into the contaminated aquifer for 206 day. Triton X-100 was added for a 36-day period (days 36−71 from the start of clean water injection). The effect of Triton X-100 on the desorption and transport of TCE in the field was examined by observing the concentrations of these two solutes in four monitoring wells 3−9 m from the injection wells. These data show a small but discernible increase in the TCE concentration in two of the wells corresponding approximately to the time when surfactant reaches the wells; in the other two monitoring wells, the increase in TCE concentration is negligible. A solute transport model that assumes local sorption equilibrium and used a laboratory-derived distri...