cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lack of Hepatotoxicity with Naltrexone Treatment

Naltrexone, a specific opiate receptor antagonist, is used clinically in the treatment of heroin addiction and more recently, for the treatment of dyskinesia associated with Huntington's disease (HD). Naltrexone may act as a potential hepatotoxin, as reflected in the elevation of transaminase levels. However, one study concluded that, for a brief treatment period of 12 weeks, there is no contraindication to naltrexone treatment based solely on increased hepatic enzyme values. This study monitored liver transaminase levels, in ten HD patients receiving daily doses, between 50 mg/day and 300 mg/day, of naltrexone for periods of 10 to 36 months. Serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (SGOT) and serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) levels were obtained before treatment and at intervals of 1 to 4 months during treatment. Only one of the ten patients treated with naltrexone had increased levels of both SGOT and SGPT, whereas one other patient showed elevated levels of SGPT. These elevations, which initially appeared dose related decreased to normal limits with continued treatment. Because many of the patients were receiving other medications, a combination of drugs with naltrexone may contribute to the increased transaminase levels seen in two of the patients. In summary, chronic administration of naltrexone in doses up to 300 mg/day for periods up to 36 months does not significantly change hepatic function, as measured by SGOT and SGPT levels.
Molecular-Level Thermodynamic Switch Controls Chemical Equilibrium in Sequence-Specific Hydrophobic Interaction of 35 Dipeptide Pairs

Abstract Applying the Planck-Benzinger methodology, the sequence-specific hydrophobic interactions of 35 dipeptide pairs were examined over a temperature range of 273–333K, based on data reported by Nemethy and Scheraga in 1962. The hydrophobic interaction in these sequence-specific dipeptide pairs is highly similar in its thermodynamic behavior to that of other biological systems. The results imply that the negative Gibbs free energy change minimum at a well-defined stable temperature, 〈 T s 〉, where the bound unavailable energy, T Δ S o =0, has its origin in the sequence-specific hydrophobic interactions, are highly dependent on details of molecular structure. Each case confirms the existence of a thermodynamic molecular switch wherein a change of sign in Δ Cp o ( T ) reaction (change in specific heat capacity of reaction at constant pressure) leads to true negative minimum in the Gibbs free energy change of reaction, Δ G o ( T ) reaction , and hence a maximum in the related equilibrium constant, K eq . Indeed, all interacting biological systems examined to date by Chun using the Planck-Benzinger methodology have shown such a thermodynamic switch at the molecular level, suggesting its existence may be universal.
Human melatonin during continuous magnetic field exposure

This report describes the third in a series of double-blind, laboratory-based studies that were aimed at determining the effects of nocturnal exposure to power frequency magnetic fields on blood levels of melatonin in human volunteers. Our two earlier studies evaluated effects on melatonin of intermittent exposure to 60 Hz circularly polarized magnetic fields at 10 and 200 mG. No overall effects on melatonin levels were found. In the present study, men were exposed continuously rather than intermittently through the night to the same 200 mG magnetic field condition that was used previously; again, no overall effects on melatonin levels were found. We conclude that the intermittent and continuous exposure conditions used in our laboratory to date are not effective in altering nocturnal blood levels of melatonin in human volunteers.
Induction by Toxic-Shock-Syndrome Toxin-1 of a Circulating Tumor Necrosis Factor-Like Substance in Rabbits and of Immunoreactive Tumor Necrosis Factor and Interleukin-1 from Human Mononuclear Cells

A shock-like syndrome was induced in rabbits by administering toxic-shock-syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1); tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-like activity was detected in sera of rabbits 3.5 h after injection, as measured by cytotoxic effects on the tumorigenic L929 murine fibroblast cell line. Appearance of this activity in sera coincided with onset of significant shock-related hemodynamic changes. TSST-1 stimulated release of TNF-like material from rabbit mononuclear cells in culture. Human mononuclear cells also secreted a cytotoxic substance shown to be TNF by radioimmunoassay. Maximal TNF secretion was higher in human mononuclear cells stimulated with TSST-1 than in those stimulated with bacterial lipopolysaccharide. Lipopolysaccharide, however, was a more potent inducer of interleukin-1 alpha and interleukin-1 beta from the same cells than was TSST-1. Because TNF and interleukin-1 act synergistically during induction of a shock-like state, these results suggest that part of the TSST-1-induced shock is due to production of interleukin-1 and TNF.
The Majorana Search for Neutrinoless Double-Beta Decay

The Majorana experiment[ nucl-ex/0311013 ] is a proposed 76 Ge-based search for neutrinoless double-beta (0 νββ ) decay and dark matter (DM). It will use segmented, enriched germanium detectors in a close-pack configuration. With 500 kg of germanium, Majorana would be expected to reach a sensitivity to the 0 νββ decay half-life of 10 27 years, corresponding to a neutrino mass near the atmospheric mass scale. Current development efforts are presented, along with performance expectations and background reduction methods. Additionally, the status of the related detectors SEGA (Segmented Enriched Germanium Assembly) and MEGA[Kazkaz, K., Aalseth, C.E., Hossbach, T.W., Gehman, V.M., Kephart, J.D., Miley, H.S., IEEE Trans. Nuc. Sci. 51 (2004) 1029] (Multi-Element Gamma Assay) are presented. Current simulation efforts will be presented in a parallel poster by Reyco Henning.
INTERPRETING LEAST SQUARES WITHOUT SAMPLING ASSUMPTIONS

Least squares fitting is perhaps the most commonly used tool of statisticians. Under sampling assumptions, statistical inference makes possible the estimation of population parameters and their confidence intervals and also the testing of hypotheses. In this paper the properties of least squares fitting is examined without sampling assumptions. It is shown that some of the output (e.g. standard errors, t, F, and p statistics) from standard regression programs can be interpreted as (approximate) measures of goodness-of-fit of a model to the observed data. The interpretation is also applicable in weighted least squares situations such as robust regression.
High Rydberg States of an Atom in a Strong Magnetic Field

Classical trajectories and semiclassical eigenvalues are calculated for an atomic Rydberg state in a magnetic field. Perturbation theory describes a classical trajectory as a Kepler ellipse which rocks, tilts, and flips in space as orbital parameters evolve slowly in time. Exact numerical calculations verify the accuracy of perturbation theory for $n\ensuremath{\simeq}30$, $Bl~6$ T. Action variables are calculated from perturbation theory and from exact trajectories, and semiclassical eigenvalues obtained by quantization of the action. Good agreement is found with observations.
Gender differences in electrophysiological gene expression in failing and non-failing human hearts.

The increasing availability of human cardiac tissues for study are critically important in increasing our understanding of the impact of gender, age, and other parameters, such as medications and cardiac disease, on arrhythmia susceptibility. In this study, we aimed to compare the mRNA expression of 89 ion channel subunits, calcium handling proteins, and transcription factors important in cardiac conduction and arrhythmogenesis in the left atria (LA) and ventricles (LV) of failing and nonfailing human hearts of both genders. Total RNA samples, prepared from failing male (n = 9) and female (n = 7), and from nonfailing male (n = 9) and female (n = 9) hearts, were probed using custom-designed Taqman gene arrays. Analyses were performed to explore the relationships between gender, failure state, and chamber expression. Hierarchical cluster analysis revealed chamber specific expression patterns, but failed to identify disease- or gender-dependent clustering. Gender-specific analysis showed lower expression levels in transcripts encoding for Kv4.3, KChIP2, Kv1.5, and Kir3.1 in the failing female as compared with the male LA. Analysis of LV transcripts, however, did not reveal significant differences based on gender. Overall, our data highlight the differential expression and transcriptional remodeling of ion channel subunits in the human heart as a function of gender and cardiac disease. Furthermore, the availability of such data sets will allow for the development of disease-, gender-, and, most importantly, patient-specific cardiac models, with the ability to utilize such information as mRNA expression to predict cardiac phenotype.
Cell proliferation in rat liver: Nucleic acid ratios and thymidine uptake as related to dose of a toxicant, mesidine

Abstract Analytical data for deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), ribonucleic acid (RNA), total nitrogen (N), and dry weight of the livers of rats fed 2,4,6-trimethylaniline (mesidine) are presented. DNA increased, reflecting the increase in cell population. The RNA : DNA and N : DNA ratios decreased, as did dry weight per unit weight of tissue, reflecting the lower proportion of cytoplasmic material to nuclear material. The increase in cellular population was ascribed principally to new bile duct formation. There was a dose response to the toxicant, as indicated by the extent of deviations from normal for analytical data, gross pathology, and microscopic pathology. Increased cell proliferation in liver after 1 week of mesidine administration was reflected in an increased incorporation of thymidine-2- 14 C into liver DNA, which suggests the usefulness of thymidine incorporation studies in detecting early toxic response where liver regeneration occurs.
2D critical wetting: revisited

Abstract Following a brief review of the issues associated with critical wetting phenomena in the presence of short-range forces, we calculate the effective exponent describing the liberation of an elastic interface in Burkhardt's continuum solid-on-solid (SOS) model of 2D critical wetting. We find that although the approach to asymptopia is highly nonuniversal, the generic behavior is interpolation between the mean-field value of zero for T « a T w to the scaling value of unity as one approaches the transition temperature Tw.
Iodide transfer at four cerebrospinal fluid sites in the dog: Evidence for spinal iodide carrier transport

Abstract In the adult dog under pentobarbital, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was sampled from the lateral ventricle and from the cisternal, lumbar, and parasagittal subarachnoid spaces. The choroid plexuses of the lateral ventricle were also excised. Values of the net iodide uptake in these samples were compared at 2 hr after an intraperitoneal injection consisting of 2.0 mc Na 131 I combined with doses of Na 127 I varying from 1.0 to 800 mg/kg. Similar samples were analyzed from dogs whose lumbar subarachnoid space had been isolated from intracranial carriers by thoracic transection or epidural ligation. In another series of dogs, the effect of saturating levels of Na 127 I in the spinal subarachnoid space isolated from intracranial carriers was tested by continuous thoracolumbar perfusion with artificial CSF containing Na 131 I and Na 127 I. The existence of a spinal iodide carrier system was suggested by the small net uptake of iodide in normal lumbar CSF, and by the progressive rise in this uptake as saturating doses of Na 127 I were added to the blood. The similar behavior of lumbar CSF iodide uptake after isolation of the spinal subarachnoid space implicated an extracranial mechanism. That this mechanism was a carrier transport system was strongly supported by the finding, during perfusion of the isolated thoracolumbar subarachnoid space, of decreased clearance of iodide from perfused artificial CSF when saturating levels of Na 127 I were added to the perfusion fluid. The site of action of the spinal iodide carrier system is unknown, but certain restrictions upon the anatomical possibilities are noted.
Unsulfated and sulfated neurosteroids differentially modulate the binding characteristics of various radioligands of GABAA receptors following chronic ethanol administration

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) inhibited the binding of [3H]flunitrazepam (2 nM), [3H]muscimol (5 nM) and 4 nM [35S]t-butylbicyclophosphorothionate [35S]TBPS in the rat cerebellum as well as cerebral cortex. DHEAS-induced inhibition of binding of these radioligands (62% to 100%) was more pronounced as compared to that in the case of DHEA (5% to 31%). DHEAS, unlike DHEA, inhibited [3H]flunitrazepam binding significantly to a lesser extent in the cerebellum of ethanol-dependent rats as compared to the control group (, p<0.005). However, DHEA, unlike DHEAS, inhibited [35S]TBPS binding to a greater extent in the ethanol-dependent rat cerebellum as compared to the control group (, p<0.005). Furthermore, DHEA was more potent in inhibiting [35S]TBPS binding in the cerebellum (IC50:55±5 vs. 74±7 μM, p<0.05) and cerebral cortex ( μM, p<0.05) of ethanol-dependent rats as compared to the control group. These observations indicate that unsulfated and sulfated androstane-steroids modulate the GABAA receptors in the control as well as the ethanol-dependent rats differentially, and also suggest that the androstane-steroid binding sites associated with the GABAA receptors play an important role during ethanol dependence.
Mechanisms of angioplasty in hemodialysis fistula stenoses evaluated by intravascular ultrasound.

Mechanisms of angioplasty in hemodialysis fistula stenoses evaluated by intravascular ultrasound. Quantification of luminal dimensions and the mechanisms by which angioplasty (PTA) corrects non-atheroma venous fistula stenoses have been poorly studied. In 38 consecutive percutaneous balloon angioplasties of hemodialysis fistula stenoses, catheter-based, mechanically-rotated intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) images were obtained along with cineangiography. Images from 24 brachial vein, 11 central vein, 2 graft anastomoses, and 1 brachial artery were quantitatively and qualitatively evaluated. Semiautomated quantitative angiographic stenosis was 64 ± 13% pre-PTA and reduced to 36 ± 19% post-PTA(P
Flexibility and negative affect : Examining the associations of explanatory flexibility and coping flexibility to each other and to depression and anxiety

Recent research on vulnerabilities to depression and anxiety has begun to de-emphasize cognitive content in favor of the responsiveness of the individual to variations in situational context in arriving at explanations of events (explanatory flexibility) or attempts to cope with negative events (coping flexibility). The present study integrates these promising avenues of conceptualization by assessing the respective contributions of explanatory and coping flexibility to current levels of depression and anxiety symptoms. Results of structural equation modeling support a model of partial mediation in which both explanatory flexibility and coping flexibility independently contribute to the prediction of latent negative affect, with coping flexibility partially mediating the influence of explanatory flexibility.
Description of a New Genus and Species of Fossil Rodent from Australia

A new genus and species of late Pleistocene rodent is described from a cave deposit in eastern Australia. The description is based on an unusually well-preserved holotype and five paratypes belonging to the murid subfamily Pseudomyinae. This material represents a taxon intermediate between the extant genera Pseudomys and Leporillus ; comments are made on the phylogenetic implications of this discovery.
Evaluating the scalability and performance of 3D stacked reconfigurable nanophotonic interconnects

As we integrate hundreds of cores in the future, energy-efficiency and scalability of Network-on-Chips (NoCs) has become a critical challenge. In order to achieve higher performance-per-Watt than traditional metallic interconnects, researchers are exploring alternate energy-effident emerging technology solutions. In this paper, we propose to combine two emerging technologies, namely 3D stacking and nanophotonics that can deliver high on-chip bandwidth and low energy/bit to achieve a high-throughput, reconfigurable and scalable NoC for many-core systems. Our simulation results indicate that the execution time can be reduced up to 25% and energy consumption reduced by 23% for Splash-2, PARSEC, SPEC CPU2006 and synthetic benchmarks for 64-core and 256-core versions.
BIOAVAILABILITY OF SEDIMENT OIL RESIDUES FOUR YEARS FOLLOWING THE MARTINEZ SPILL

ABSTRACT Transplanted bivalves were used as sentinel organisms to assess bioavailability of San Joaquin Valley (SJV) crude oil residues in impacted sediments four years following the 1988 Shell Martinez Refinery spill in Suisun Bay, California. Sediments, bivalves exposed for three months, and control (unexposed) bivalves were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) for poly nuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The study documented a range of weathering stages, and a range of mixtures of SJV crude oil with another petrogenic source, pyrogenic PAHs, and diagenic alkyl PAHs in Peyton Slough intertidal sediments four years following the spill. Less-weathered SJV oil residues remaining in the estuarine sediments were more bioavailable than the intermediate or advanced weathered residues, and more bioavailable than the pyrogenic PAHs that comprise the background PAHs in the Suisun Bay sediments.
Debris/Ice/Tps Assessment and Integrated Photographic Analysis of Shuttle Mission Sts-104

The Debris Team has developed and implemented measures to control damage from debris in the Shuttle operational environment and to make the control measures a part of routine launch flows. These measures include engineering surveillance during vehicle processing and closeout operations, facility and flight hardware inspections before and after launch, and photographic analysis of mission events. Photographic analyses of mission imagery from launch, on-orbit, and landing provide significant data in verifying proper operation of systems and evaluating anomalies. In addition to the Kennedy Space Center Photo/Video Analysis, reports from Johnson Space Center and Marshall Space Flight Center are also included in this document to provide an integrated assessment of the mission.
Physiological and biochemical effects of bradykinin and lys-bradykinin in pituitary cells

Abstract The presence of kallikrein activity, bradykinin (BK) and lys-bradykinin (LBK) in the pituitary gland suggests a possible physiological role of kinins therein. We demonstrated that BK and LBK increased prolactin (PRL), but not growth hormone release, from rat anterior pituitary cells cultured in vitro. Such stimulatory effect on PRL secretion appears to involve B2-type BK receptors, as suggested by the antagonizing effect of B6572 (a B2-type BK receptor antagonist) on PRL release. The BK-induced increase in PRL release is associated with an enhanced [3H]arachidonate (AA) efflux, an elevated cytosolic free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i), and increased inositol phosphate (InsPx) production. Bradykinin and LBK stimulated [3H]AA liberation, [Ca2+]i elevation and PRL release at lower concentrations than those necessary to stimulate InsPx production. Therefore, AA release and [Ca2+]i elevation may be more important to PRL release than is InsPx production. Dopamine (DA) inhibited BK- or LBK-stimulated PRL release and slightly attenuated the stimulated [Ca2+]i response, but had no effect on stimulated [3H]AA efflux and InsPx generation. This study suggests that BK and LBK may have either an autocrine or a paracrine role in regulating PRL secretion, and are subject to modulation by DA.
Price Differences in almost Competitive Markets

I. Introduction, 189.—II. Equilibria in models without learning—the case of knowledge, 191.—III. Equilibrium in models with learning, 196.—IV. Empirically observed distributions of prices quoted by different sellers, 204.—V. Qualifications, implications, and conclusions, 205.
How do we compare hundreds of bacterial genomes

The genomic revolution is fully upon us in 2006 and the pace of discovery is set to accelerate with the emergence of ultra-high-throughput sequencing technologies. Our complete genome collection of bacteria and archaea continues to grow in number and diversity, as genome sequencing is applied to an array of new problems, from the characterization of the pan-genome to the detection of mutation after experimentation and the exploration of microbial communities in unprecedented detail. The benefits of large-scale comparative genomic analyses are driving the community to think about how to manage our public collections of genomes in novel ways.
Nitrate removal and DO levels in batch wetland mesocosms: Cattail (Typha spp.) versus bulrush (Scirpus spp.)

Abstract Nitrate removal rates and dissolved oxygen (DO) levels were evaluated in small batch-mode wetland mesocosms with two different plant species, cattail (Typha spp.) and bulrush (Scirpus spp.), and associated mineral-dominated sediment collected from a mature treatment wetland. Nitrate loss in both cattail and bulrush mesocosms was first-order in nature. First-order volumetric rate constants (kV) were 0.30 d−1 for cattail and 0.21 d−1 for bulrush and rates of nitrate loss were significantly different between plant treatments (p 15 mg N/L). Areal removal rates were on average 25% higher in cattail versus bulrush mesocosms. DO in mesocosm water was significantly higher in bulrush versus cattail (p
Differential NMDA receptor-dependent calcium loading and mitochondrial dysfunction in CA1 vs. CA3 hippocampal neurons.

Abstract Hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons are selectively vulnerable to ischemia, while adjacent CA3 neurons are relatively resistant. Although glutamate receptor-mediated mitochondrial Ca2+ overload and dysfunction is a major component of ischemia-induced neuronal death, no direct relationship between selective neuronal vulnerability and mitochondrial dysfunction has been demonstrated in intact brain preparations. Here, we show that in organotypic slice cultures NMDA induces much larger Ca2+ elevations in vulnerable CA1 neurons than in resistant CA3. Consequently, CA1 mitochondria exhibit stronger calcium accumulation, more extensive swelling and damage, stronger depolarization of their membrane potential, and a significant increase in ROS generation. NMDA-induced Ca2+ and ROS elevations were abolished in Ca2+-free medium or by NMDAR antagonists, but not by zinc chelation. We conclude that Ca2+ overload-dependent mitochondrial dysfunction is a determining factor in the selective vulnerability of CA1 neurons.
1769 THE EFFECT OF FUROSEMIDE ON COMPLIANCE (CDYN) IN ACUTE AND CHRONIC PULMONARY FAILURE

Furosemide was effective in improving Cdyn in a group of pre-term infants suffering from respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) during the first week of life, but had no effect on another group with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) studied at a later age. Eight infants (BW 1530+/−500g, GA 32+/−2wks) with RDS were studies at 2+/−1 day of age, and eight (BW 840+/−390g, GA 29+/−3 wks) with BPD at 35+/−25 days. Cdyn and PO2 were measured immediately prior to the intravenous infusion of furosemide 1mg/kg and again 20 minutes post infusion. Eight infants (BW 1570+/−520g, GA 32+/−2wks) served as RDS controls, evaluated on day 3+/−2 without furosemide. The results are noted below: The rise in Cdyn in the RDS group was significantly greater than the responses in both control and BPD infants. In this group of infants furosemide was effective in improving compliance in infants with respiratory failure in the early course of RDS but was ineffective in the later complication of BPD.
Evaluating Changes in Florida's Legislative Process: Innovative Rules and Conservative Norms

During the past decade many state legislatures have undergone reform in an attempt to become more efficient, open, representative and fair, but relatively little research has been done to evaluate these changes. When Republicans took control of the Florida House in 1997, they reorganized the legislature, changed many formal rules, and fostered a new informal norm related to passing laws. The major stated goal of the new formal rules is to “flatten the pyramid of power” and allow all “good ideas” to be heard while fostering a conservative norm. To evaluate the rule changes, a survey of Florida House members concerning rule satisfaction is analyzed, regressions of bill passage rates for 1995 and 1997 are compared, and several other rule effects are examined. Overall the rules receive support although rule satisfaction is lower among Democrats and liberals. The major goal is realized to some degree when comparing the determinants of individual legislative passage rates. Analysis also suggests that a conservative norm is established, the end-of-session logjam is reduced, and legislative trains are derailed.
The Performance of the Mantel‐Haenszel Procedure Across Samples and Matching Criteria

This study examined the reliability of the Mantel-Haenszel indexes across different samples of test takers as well as across sample sizes and investigated whether these indexes are robust to item context effects. Mathematics data from the Second International Mathematics Study (SIMS; 1985) for U.S. eighth-grade students were analyzed. The results suggest that the MH D-DIF is robust to item context effects. However, larger sample sizes than those used in this investigation (N = 141-167 for the focal group) may be necessary to obtain stable estimates from the Mantel-Haenszel procedure.
6.4.1 Value Engineering: A Systematic Team Approach for Strategic Planning

The Value Engineering (VE) Methodology is an effective tool for business or strategic planning. While there are many viable strategic planning processes, the “Balanced Scorecard” approach (formally developed by Robert Kaplan, PhD, and David Norton, PhD), is highlighted here using VE and function analysis to develop strategy maps and scorecards. As part of the VE Methodology, Functional Analysis System Technique (FAST) diagramming offers an integrated approach and structure to strategy map development by formulating a cause and effect relationship and establishing the “how” and “why” behind the strategy map. By holistically utilizing the VE Job Plan, one is able to move from strategic thinking all the way through to measurement and execution of a strategy.
Domain decomposition techniques for the parallel solution of nonsymmetric systems of elliptic boundary value problems

Abstract Parallel block-preconditioned domain-decomposed Krylov methods for sparse linear systems are described and illustrated on large two-dimensional model problems and Jacobian matrices from different stages of a nonlinear multicomponent problem in chemically reacting flows. The main motivation of the work is to examine the practicality of parallelization, under the domain decomposition paradigm, of the solution of systems of equations typical of implicit finite difference applications from fluid dynamics. Such systems presently lie beyond the realm of most of the theory for domain-decomposed symmetric or nonsymmetric scalar operators. We describe techniques depending formally only on the sparsity structure of the linear operator and thus of broad applicability. Results of tests run on an Encore Multimax with up to 16 processors demonstrate their utility in the coarse-granularity parallelization of hydrocodes: parallel efficiencies in the 40 to 100 percent range are available on the largest number of processors employed over a mix of problems, relative to a serial approach employing the same iterative technique (GMRES) and preconditioner (ILU) on a single domain. These efficiencies are already competitive with results from undecomposed parallel implementations of ILU-preconditioned GMRES on the same multiprocessor, and many avenues for their improvement remain unexplored.
State of Pd on H-ZSM-5 and other acidic supports during the selective reduction of NO by CH4 studied by EXAFS/XANES

Abstract The selective reduction of NO by methane has been studied on a series of Pd catalysts. When supported on non-acidic materials, palladium is totally unselective for the conversion of NO and very active for the combustion of methane. By contrast, lowloading Pd catalysts supported on acidic (protonic) materials (H-ZSM-5, H-Mordenite, sulfated zirconia) exhibit much higher selectivity. X-ray absorption studies (XANES and EXAFS) were conducted on several Pd catalysts before and after the reduction of NO in the presence of oxygen. These studies have demonstrated that, upon exposure to the reaction mixture (CH 4 + NO + O 2 ), Pd gets oxidized. The morphology of the oxidized Pd species strongly depends on the metal loading and the acidity of the support. On low Pd loading catalysts over acidic supports, the metallic Pd particles, initially present, are rapidly transformed in Pd 2+ ions by the reaction mixture. By contrast, on the non-acidic materials, the Pd particles are transformed into PdO clusters. These clusters have high catalytic activity for the methane combustion, resulting in low SCR selectivities.
Metabolic studies of postischemic acute renal failure in the rat

Postischemic acute renal failure was induced by 1 hr of clamping of the renal vasculature. Adenine nucleotide (ATP, ADP, AMP) and lactate (Lac) levels were measured after 0, 0.25, 1, 6, 24, and 48 hr of reflow to determine the time necessary for recovery to control levels. After 1 hr of ischemia with no reflow, [ATP] was 18% and [Lac] was 10-fold control levels. Control levels were restored after 24 hr of reflow. Variable ischemic times (5, 15, 30, 60, 90, and 120 min) followed by (1) no reflow or (2) 24 hr of reflow were also studied. [ATP] decreased to 25 and 13% of controls after 5 and 120 min of ischemia, respectively, and [Lac] increased to 5- and 13-fold controls after 5 and 120 min. Five to ninety minutes of ischemia followed by 24 hr of reflow resulted in a trend toward restoration of ATP and Lac levels; whereas, 120 min of ischemia followed by 24 hr of reflow resulted in death. The results indicate that: (1) In vivo ischemia results in a drastic and rapid shift in the ATP-ADP-AMP equilibrium; (2) the absolute concentration of ATP is not a reliable criterion of cell viability, but the ability to resynthesize ATP may be determinant in the reversibility of the lesion; (3) 1 hr of ischemia is reversible with respect to restoration of [ATP] and [Lac], but 24 hr of reflow are needed for restoration; and (4) ischemia for 90 min results in a metabolic derangement which is partially reversible in that metabolite levels are partially restored after 24 hr of reflow. However, 90 min of vascular clamping is not functionally reversible since the majority of animals exhibit severe azotemia and do not survive.
The Incidence of End-Stage Renal Disease Is Increasing Faster than the Prevalence of Chronic Renal Insufficiency

Growth in incident end-stage renal disease (ESRD) outpaced growth in prevalent chronic renal insufficiency, demonstrating that the ESRD epidemic in the United States is not merely due to more cases...
Imaging and manipulation of gold nanorods with an atomic force microscope

Designed fabrication of nanostructures requires progress on a number of fronts in research and development. The ability to synthesize, deposit, and position nanometer scale materials is important for the development of this technology. We report here on studies of deposition and manipulation of electrochemically prepared, micelle-capped Au nanorods deposited on silicon dioxide (SiO2) surfaces. A thiol-terminated silane (3-mercaptopropylmethyldimethoxysilane, MPMDMS) was used as an active interface for gold nanorod assembly. A scanning force microscope (SFM) was used to image and manipulate individual Au nanorods. It was found that mechanical movement of the rods depends on the location of the pushing point along the rod.
Comparison of simple turbulent heating estimates for lifting entry vehicles

cf = skin-friction coefficient, 2ru,/prwi FC,FRX,FR8 = multipliers that transform the skin friction, length Reynolds number and momentum thickness Reynolds number, respectively, from the compressible to incompressible flow h = enthalpy qw = wall heat flux Rex = Reynolds number, piuix/m St = Stanton number, qw/piUi(haw — hw) u = velocity x = length from leading edge a. = angle of attack p = density // = viscosity TW = wall shear 6 = momentum thickness cr = Prandtl number
Energy budget and high-gain strategies for voltage-constrained electrostatic harvesters

Wireless micro-sensors and similar technologies must derive their energy from micro-scale sources (e.g., thin-film Li Ions, etc.) to function in volume-constrained environments like the human body. Unfortunately, confining the source to small spaces limits the total energy available to such an extent that operational life is often impractically short. Ambient energy offers an alternate and virtually boundless source, except small volumes restrain harvesting power. Voltage-constrained electrostatic CMOS harvesters, for example, draw energy from the work done against the mechanical plates of a MEMS variable capacitor at relatively slow rates, producing low output power. This paper discusses how much energy is available in such a system before and after harvesting and offers energy-conservation schemes for increasing its net energy gain (i.e., power output) during all operational phases.
Full 16 channel OTDM-WDM conversion using a temporal optical Fourier processor

We experimentally demonstrate and analyze through simulation an OTDM→WDM serial to parallel converter that fully extracts all 1610-Gb/s WDM channels from a 160-Gb/s OTDM data stream in a single device using an optical Fourier processor. The device operates by dispersing a pump pulse across all OTDM channels and using the nonlinear optical process of four-wave mixing (FWM) to parallelize all channels simultaneously. The requisite temporal overlap of adjacent pump pulses gives rise to crosstalk from a non-degenerate FWM process. Decreasing the temporal overlap of the pump pulses, reduces this source of crosstalk but also decreases the channel power and spectral isolation at the edge of the generated WDM spectrum leading to increased crosstalk from adjacent channels in this region. We find that a balance between adjacent channel crosstalk and non-degenerate FWM crosstalk through optimization of the pump overlap is critical to ideal operation of the device.
Balloon-borne planetary atmospheric sounder tested in the terrestrial environment

Abstract A prototype high altitude balloon payload dedicated to measuring wind characteristics, pressure and temperature in terrestrial atmospheric environments was developed as part of a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Workforce Development Educational Grant. The WindSat as it became known was one of 15 conceptual projects suggested by various NASA agencies with this specific concept suggested by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). The WindSat project was designed, built, and tested by the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS) Space Grant program to determine the feasibility of obtaining atmospheric weather in the upper and lower atmosphere for entry, descent, and landing of planetary missions. In the first phase of the project described in this paper, the payload was designed for and tested in the terrestrial environment of Earth. The prototype is similar to a radiosonde in function; however, the prototype logs data at a frequency of 1 Hz to determine relative gusts and also records values on both ascent and descent through the atmosphere. Some preliminary results from the first two test flights of WindSat are given in this paper.
Isolation and characterization of polymorphic microsatellite markers from the spotted eagle ray (Aetobatus narinari)

Ten polymorphic microsatellites were isolated from the spotted eagle ray using an enrichment protocol. Primers were designed and tested on 30 individual samples collected in eastern Gulf of Mexico waters off Sarasota, FL. The number of alleles for these loci ranged from 2 to 19 and observed heterozygosities ranged from 0.345 to 0.966. All loci conformed to Hardy–Weinberg and linkage equilibrium. These markers are the first published microsatellites from A. narinari and will be valuable to studies investigating the population structure and conservation genetics of this near threatened species.
Analysis of Two-Phase Flow in Cryogenic Damper Seals—Part II: Model Validation and Predictions

Cryogenic fluid damper seals operating close to the liquid-vapor region (near the critical point or slightly sub-cooled) are likely to develop a two-phase flow region which affects the seal performance and reliability. An all-liquid, liquid-vapor, and all-vapor, i.e., a continuous vaporization bulk flow model for prediction of the seal dynamic forced response is given in Part I. The numerical method of solution of the flow equations is detailed here. Computed predictions for static seal characteristics, leakage and axial pressure drop, correlate well with existing measurements for a gaseous nitrogen seal and a liquid nitrogen seal with two-phase at the seal exit plane. The effects of two-phase flow regimes on the dynamic force coefficients and stability of an oxygen damper seal are discussed. Fluid compressibility effects, particularly for mixtures with low mass content of vapor, are of utmost importance. Under these conditions, an increase on seal direct stiffness and reduction of whirl frequency ratio are shown to occur.
Hormone action at the membrane level. V. Binding of (+/-)-[3H]isoproterenol to intact chicken erythrocytes and erythrocyte ghosts.

Abstract The binding of ( ± )-[7-3H]isoproterenol to intac chicken erythrocytes has been investigated by a rapid centrifugation technique. The binding is displaceable by a one thousand-fold excess of cold isoproterenol and consists of two fractions, only one of which is inhibitable by the beta antagonist (−)-propranolol. The total displaceable binding to intact cells amounts to 80 or 127 molecules per cell at a( ± )-isoproterenol concentration of 0.4 μM depending on the method employed to analyze the binding. Under similar conditions, the total displaceable binding to isolated membrane ghosts is 12 600 molecules per cell. The propranolol-inhibitable binding to intact cell reaches saturation within 5 min at 4 °C and gives by Scatchard analysis a maximum binding of 108 molecules per cell and with a K D of 0.4 μM. 50% inhibition of binding is obtained with 0.3 μM unlabeled (−)-isoproterenol as compared to 20 μM unlabeled (−)-isoproterenol. The binding of isoproterenol thus shows a marked stereospecific preference for the (−)-isomer.
OUTCOME STUDIES OF NEONATAL ENTEROVIRUS INFECTION

Enterovirus infection is prevalent in infants ≤ 28 days of age during the summer and fall months and is a common cause of hospital admission. The long-term outcome is unknown although previous studies have indicated possible neurologic residua in infants suffering enterovirus meningitis in the first year of life. During the summer and fall of 1981, we prospectively followed 668 normal newborns in Rochester, NY. In the first month of life 12.8% had a culture-proven enterovirus infection. 21% of infected infants were hospitalized; 79% were asymptomatic. In 1983, at approx. 18 mos. of age, 71/75 neonatally infected infants and their matched controls underwent physical, audiologic, speech and language and developmental examination. Controls were non-neonatally infected infants from the original cohort matched for week of birth, sex, race, socioeconomic status and residence. The study and control groups did not differ on any variable of perinatal course or interim medical course from age 1 to 18 mos. Infected infants compared to uninfected matched controls showed mean delays in development - 0.7 mos (p=.032), receptive language - 1.8 mos (p=.005), and expressive language - 1.4 mos (p=.025), not accounted for by difference in age at testing, audiologic abnormality or clinical severity of the neonatal infection. We conclude that enterovirus infection occurring in the first month of life, even if asymptomatic, may result in developmental and language delays.
Catabolism of I131 labelled bovine gamma globulin in immune and non-immune rabbits.

Conclusions1. The catabolism of I∗BGG in immune rabbits is much more rapid than in non-immune rabbits, especially within the first 6 hours. 2. Only specific antibody is necessary for the rapid immune catabolism, as indicated by the identical rates of I∗BGG catabolism in actively and passively immunized rabbits.
A 1.5-V 3.2 Gb/s/pin Graphic DDR4 SDRAM With Dual-Clock System, Four-Phase Input Strobing, and Low-Jitter Fully Analog DLL

Three circuit techniques for a 1.5 V, 512 Mb graphic DDR4 (GDDR4) SDRAM using a 90-nm DRAM process have been developed. First, a dual-clock system increases clocking accuracy and expands internal timing margins for harmonious core operation regardless of external clock frequency. Second, a four-phase data input strobe scheme helps to increase the input data valid window. Third, a fully analog delay-locked loop which provides a stable I/O clock and has 31.67 ps peak-to-peak jitter characteristics is designed. On the basis of these circuit techniques, the data rate is 3.2 Gbps/pin, which corresponds to 12.8 Gbps in times32 GDDR4-based I/O. Also, a multidivided architecture consisting of four independent 128 Mb core arrays is designed to reduce power line and output noise.
The Role Of Costs In Comparative Effectiveness Research

The major expansion of federal comparative effectiveness research launched in 2009 held the potential to supply the information needed to help slow health spending growth while improving the outcomes of care. However, when Congress passed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act one year later, it limited the role of cost analysis in the work sponsored by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute. Despite this restriction, cost-effectiveness analysis meets important needs and is likely to play a larger role in the future. Under the terms of the Affordable Care Act, the institute can avoid commissioning cost-effectiveness analyses and still provide information bearing on the use and costs of health care interventions. This information will enable others to investigate the comparative value of these interventions. We argue that doing so is necessary to decision makers who are attempting to raise the quality of care while reining in health spending.
Structural, chemical, and electrochemical characteristics of LaSr2Fe2CrO9-δ-based solid oxide fuel cell anodes

Abstract Solid oxide fuel cells with LaSr 2 Fe 2 CrO 9-δ –Gd 0.1 Ce 0.9 O 2-δ composite anodes were tested in H 2 , H 2 S-contaminated H 2 , and CH 4 fuels as well as under redox cycling conditions. The La 0.9 Sr 0.1 Ga 0.8 Mg 0.2 O 3-δ electrolyte supported cells had La 0.4 Ce 0.6 O 2-δ barrier layers to prevent cation diffusion between LaSr 2 Fe 2 CrO 9-δ and La 0.9 Sr 0.1 Ga 0.8 Mg 0.2 O 3-δ . After an initial break-in where the performance improved slightly, the cells were stable in humidified H 2 with a power density > 0.4 W cm − 2 and an anode polarization resistance as low as 0.22 Ω cm 2 . Anode polarization resistance showed little or no change after 15 redox cycles at 800 °C. Cell performance was stable with 22 ppm H 2 S, with only a slight performance decrease relative to pure H 2 , but higher H 2 S concentrations caused continuous degradation. Also, the performance in humidified CH 4 fuel was quite low.
Coronary Artery Disease and Cancer Mortality in a Cohort of Workers Exposed to Vinyl Chloride, Carbon Disulfide, Rotating Shift Work, and o-Toluidine at a Chemical Manufacturing Plant

Background We updated through 2007 the mortality experience of 1,874 workers employed at a New York State chemical manufacturing plant between 1946 and 2006. Methods Reassessed exposures to vinyl chloride, carbon disulfide, and shift work and categories of o-toluidine exposure were based on year, department and job title. Standardized mortality ratios (SMR) compared mortality to that of the US population. Internal comparisons used directly standardized rate ratios. Results Hepatobiliary cancer mortality was elevated among workers ever exposed to vinyl chloride (SMR = 3.80, 95% confidence interval 1.89–6.80); directly standardized rates increased with increasing vinyl chloride exposure duration. No increase in non-Hodgkin lymphoma mortality was observed with vinyl chloride and shift work exposures. Internal comparisons showed increased coronary artery disease mortality among long-term workers exposed to carbon disulfide and shift work for 4 years or more. Conclusions Excess coronary artery disease mortality confirms earlier results; further investigation is needed to understand risk factors. Am. J. Ind. Med. 57:398–411, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
How to Tell a Common Cause: Generalizations of the Conjunctive Fork Criterion

For much of his career Wesley Salmon has defended Reichenbach’s principle of the common cause, and in particular he has endorsed and developed Reichenbach’s statistical characterization of common causes in terms of conjunctive forks: common causes screen off joint effects from each other — that is, given the common cause, the correlation between joint effects that have no direct causal influence on each other will disappear. But in his recent work on causal processes, Salmon has given up this view.1 He now maintains that where there is a common cause there will be either a conjunctive fork or an interactive fork. This is a considerable weakening of his position, for the implication does not go the other way around. So long as interactive forks are characterized purely statistically, it is not the case that any factor which produces either a conjunctive or an interactive fork will be a common cause. Interaction needs some more robust, non-statistical characterization, and this is just what Salmon tries to provide in his work on causal processes.
A pseudo-spectral multiscale method: Interfacial conditions and coarse grid equations

In this paper, we propose a pseudo-spectral multiscale method for simulating complex systems with more than one spatial scale. Using a spectral decomposition, we split the displacement into its mean and fluctuation parts. Under the assumption of localized nonlinear fluctuations, we separate the domain into an MD (Molecular Dynamics) subdomain and an MC (MacrosCopic) subdomain. An interfacial condition is proposed across the two scales, in terms of a time history treatment. In the special case of a linear system, this is the first exact interfacial condition for multiscale computations. Meanwhile, we design coarse grid equations using a matching differential operator approach. The coarse grid discretization is of spectral accuracy. We do not use a handshaking region in this method. Instead, we define a coarse grid over the whole domain and reassign the coarse grid displacement in the MD subdomain with an average of the MD solution. To reduce the computational cost, we compute the dynamics of the coarse grid displacement and relate it to the mean displacement. Our method is therefore called a pseudo-spectral multiscale method. It allows one to reach high resolution by balancing the accuracy at the coarse grid with that at the interface. Numerical experiments in one- and two-space dimensions are presented to demonstrate the accuracy and the robustness of the method.