cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
USE OF CRITICAL SURFACE TENSION OF WETTING IN THE BENEFICIATION OF OIL SHALES

The concept of critical surface tension of wetting of solids which has been described in the beneficiation of coal and sulfide minerals, has now been extended to oil shale beneficiation. It was found that the critical surface tension of wetting of shale particles depends on the degree of liberation of kerogen and relates to the oil content of size fractions. In a novel approach to flotation upgrading of oil shale, the liquid-vapor interfacial tension was controlled by organic solutes in contrast to using conventional reagents employed in the froth flotation minerals. Thus, a model based on the wetting energy of surface components of hydrophobic or hydrophilic nature of the solid-liquid interface of suspended particles was developed, elucidating the flotation-non-flotation behavior of particles.
Charge Transport in Magnetic Semiconductor p-n Heterojunctions

Previously, the p-n-p bipolar magnetic junction transistor was demonstrated using a magnetic semiconductor InMnAs as the collector. A current gain $\beta _{\text {dc}}$ as high as 20 of the transistor is observed at 300 K. A negative magnetoamplification of −150% is obtained when the applied magnetic field is 8 T. In order to assess the gain mechanism for such transistors, we measured the minority carrier lifetime in a p-n InMnAs/InAs heterojunction diode. A minority carrier lifetime of 320 ns was obtained at room temperature. For the p-n-p MJT, a decrease in the emitter injection efficiency with the magnetic field is observed for the various base currents, which is attributed to the positive magnetoresistance of the p-type InMnAs. The emitter injection efficiency decreases with the magnetic field leading to the observed negative magnetic amplification.
The Theory of Extended and Expanding Atmospheres

(A) The possibilities and the difficulties of a theoretical study of extended atmospheres in binaries are briefly discussed.
Managing Stress in Occupational Settings

The intent here is to present a representative, though not exhaustive, review of some recent empirical and theoretical literature on stress and the management of stress in occupational settings. The paper begins with a synopsis of the financial cost to the employer of unchecked excessive levels of employee stress. The next section reviews some examples of empirically‐based research supporting the clinical and cost effectiveness of current Occupational Stress Management (OSM) programmes. This is followed by a discussion of recent evidence showing that the “traditional” (corporate) approach to OSM is incomplete and insufficient. Towards the end of the article, an idealised, comprehensive, biopsychosocioecological transactional model of OSM is outlined. Finally, methodological limitations of traditional OSM programmes are discussed, and it is suggested that future studies might consider utilising a multilevel‐multimethod “triangulation” measurement approach.
High-Velocity Clouds Merging with the Milky Way

HI observations with the Green Bank Telescope have now given us two clear examples of high-velocity HI clouds which are encountering the Milky Way disk and losing matter to it: Complex H, passing through the plane of the Milky Way in the far outer Galaxy, and Smith’s Cloud, just entering the disk in the inner Galaxy. These clouds may give unique insights into the ongoing formation of the Milky Way, its chemical history, and the nature of the high-velocity cloud phenomenon.
The role of arthroscopy in the evaluation and management of the problematic total knee arthroplasty

In the vast majority of cases, the cause of the failed total knee replacement can be obtained with a thorough history and physical examination, review of plain films, and the selective use of nuclear medicine procedures. When a clear cause of the problem cannot be determined, however, arthroscopy may be the next diagnostic step. Arthroscopic intervention may also be used to successfully treat some complications, such as soft-tissue impingement, persistent hemarthrosis, polyethylene wear, patellar maltracking, and infection, when performed on carefully selected patients. The specific indications for the use of arthroscopy in the evaluation and management of the problematic total knee replacement will be reviewed.
A Medical School Prematriculation Program for Rural Students: Staying Connected With Place, Cultivating a Special Connection With People

Problem:Rural medical students who attend urban medical schools experience urban disruption that may make it less likely that they will return to rural practice. Most prematriculation programs focus on academic preparation and are in urban areas, potentially adding to urban disruption. Most initial learning experiences concerning communication with patients are also in urban areas. Intervention: Fifty-nine rural preclinical students completed a 3-week summer rural prematriculation program from 2009 to 2014. The focus was on learning a holistic approach to interviewing patients and experiential learning based in a rural practice. Group reflection sessions focused on understanding health beliefs, psychosocial details of the patient's life, and the importance of the sense of place. Measures included student reports, program evaluations, and a pre- and post- 10-item opinion survey focused on the students' perceived importance of traditional biomedical and psychosocial knowledge. Context: The program was based...
Nicotine replacement therapy, tobacco products, and electronic cigarettes in pharmacies in St. Louis, Missouri

Abstract Objectives To compare availability of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), tobacco products, and electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) in pharmacies in St. Louis, MO. Design Cross-sectional study, on-site store audits of 322 pharmacies. Setting St. Louis, MO. Participants 242 eligible community pharmacies located in the study area. Intervention Pharmacies were visited by trained research assistants who conducted a 5- to 10-minute store audit using a paper-based data collection tool. Main outcome measures Availability, accessibility, and pricing of NRT as a function of neighborhood poverty rate and proportion of black residents as well as availability of tobacco products and e-cigarettes. Results NRT availability decreased as neighborhood poverty rate increased ( P = 0.02). Availability without pharmacy personnel assistance also decreased with increasing poverty rate (r = −0.19; 95% CI=−0.06, −0.31) and higher percentage of black residents (r = −0.18; 95% CI=−0.06, −0.31). Prices were lower in neighborhoods with higher poverty rates ( P = 0.02) and a higher percentage of black residents ( P = 0.03). E-cigarettes were available in 43% of pharmacies, and their availability and price did not differ by poverty rate or percentage of black residents. Conclusion Low access to NRT might perpetuate smoking disparities in disadvantaged and racially diverse neighborhoods. Study data support policies to ensure equal NRT access to reduce disparities.
One-Dimensional Dynamics in a Multicomponent Chemical Reaction

Experiments on the Belousov-Zhabotinskii reaction in a stirred flow reactor reveal behavior that is strikingly similar to that generated by one-dimensional maps with a single extremum. In particular, a period-doubling sequence is observed that leads to a regime containing both chaotic and periodic states. Within the experimental resolution the ordering of the periodic states is in accord with the theory of one-dimensional maps.
Bioterrorism Surveillance and Privacy: Intersection of HIPAA, the Common Rule, and Public Health Law

The threat of bioterrorism in the wake of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks cannot be ignored. Syndromic surveillance, the practice of electronically monitoring and reporting real-time medical data to proactively identify unusual disease patterns, highlights the conflict between safeguarding public health while protecting individual privacy.Both the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and the Common Rule (which promulgates protections for individuals in federally sponsored medical research programs) safeguard individuals. Public health law protects the entire populace; uneven state-level implementation lacks adequate privacy protections.We propose 3 models for a nationwide bioterrorism surveillance review process: a nationally coordinated systems approach to using protected health information, creating public health information privacy boards, expanding institutional review boards, or some combination of these.
Detection of residual quadrupolar interaction in the human breast in vivo using sodium-23 multiple quantum spectroscopy.

Sodium multiple quantum (MQ) spectroscopy of the human breast in vivo was performed. Double quantum (DQ) filtered spectra were used to demonstrate the existence of a non-vanishing (residual) quadrupolar interaction in the tissue. Triple quantum (TQ) filtered spectra were used to measure the two time constants associated with the biexponential transverse relaxation times of sodium in biological tissues. The two time constants were found to be 0.64 and 26.57 msec. The potential applications of this finding are discussed. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 1999;9:391–394. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
SU‐D‐134‐02: Selection of Magnification and Focal Spot Size for Optimizing GMTF for Object Specific Spatial Frequencies

Purpose: To find the optimum geometric magnification (Mopt) for a specific range of spatial frequencies in the object plane by taking the focal spot blur into account for three different detectors. Methods: The generalized modulation transfer functions (GMTFs) (which gives spatial resolution referenced to the object plane) were calculated for a range of magnifications for two focal spots (small [0.3 mm] and medium [0.5 mm]) for three different detectors, namely the micro‐angiographic fluoroscope (MAF), the solid‐state x‐ray image intensifier (SSXII) and a flat‐panel detector (FPD). The magnification factor (Mopt) corresponding to the maximum GMTF value for a particular frequency was determined as a function of frequency in the range of (1–2.5) cycles/mm for the FPD and (1– 6) cycles/mm for the other two detectors. Results: The Mopt decreases from 2 to 1.6 for the FPD and from 2 to 1.2 for both the MAF and the SSXII for the small focal spot in the mid‐frequency range of (1–2.6) cycles/mm while it decreases from 1.2 to 1.1 for both the FPD and the SSXII and from 1.2 to 1.0 for the MAF for the medium focal spot for the same frequency range. For high frequencies (above 2.6 cycles/mm), the Mopt decreases for both the MAF and the SSXII from 1.2 to 1.1 and from 1.1 to 1.0 in the case of small and medium focal spot, respectively. Conclusion: The value of optimum magnification is different in a particular range of frequencies for a given combination of detector and focal spot. For the small focal spot and mid‐frequencies, the Mopt drops sharply for high resolution detectors (MAF and SSXII) compared to the low resolution FPD, while it did not change much for the medium focal spot or for high spatial frequencies for the high resolution detectors. NIH Grant 2R01EB002873
Strategies for advancing cancer nanomedicine.

Cancer nanomedicines approved so far minimize toxicity, but their efficacy is often limited by physiological barriers posed by the tumour microenvironment. Here, we discuss how these barriers can be overcome through innovative nanomedicine design and through creative manipulation of the tumour microenvironment.
Source of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon in roadway and stormwater system maintenance residues

Soil and sediments adjacent to roadways often contain elevated concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The sources of these PAH compounds include atmospheric deposition from automobile emissions and abraded bituminous asphalt particles from paved roads. Research was conducted to evaluate the relative contribution of each source on PAH concentrations in roadway-impacted soil and sediments by examining size fractionation and associated PAH content in roadway and stormwater system residuals. Analysis of five fractions ( 425 μm) of roadway and storm system residuals yielded varied results among the samples. The total PAH concentrations in the fractions ranged from 45 to 24,800 μg/kg with PAHs being most often encountered in the fine ( 425 μm size fractions were 1070–21,100, 609–24,800, 185–22,500, 110–16,900, and 45–7730 μg/kg, respectively. The highest concentration of individual PAH detected in the size fractions was benzo(g,h,i)perylene (6050 μg/kg) in one catch basin sediment sample. Although abraded asphalt particles from roadways were likely a source of PAHs in the coarse fractions, the predominance of PAH in the fine or median coarse size fractions suggests that other pathways such as atmospheric deposition from vehicle emissions are the major contributor. Additionally, calculated ratios between selected PAH analogs with molecular masses 178, 202, 228 and 276 also support the inference that atmospheric deposition from combustion is a major source of PAHs.
Special Power Considerations for Distributed Control Systems

Power systems for large-scale distributed control systems as used in process control applications require special consideration. Experience with uninterruptible power supplies for distributed control systems is discussed. Specific problems associated with power requirements are analyzed. Recommendations are presented that deal with these special requirements.
Orientation control of KNbO3 thin films deposited by laser ablation on MgO (100) using SrTiO3 transition layers

Abstract Epitaxial thin films of KNbO3 were deposited on MgO (100) single crystal substrates using pulsed laser ablation, with a SrTiO3 transition layer in between. Their stoichiometry was controlled by repeated cycles of alternate pulsing of KNbO3 and KNO3 targets. The SrTiO3 transition layers were used to control the orientation of the KNbO3 film. Using two different deposition temperatures, SrTiO3 films were grown with two different growth planes, namely, (110) and (100). For (100) oriented SrTiO3 films, the orientation relationship between various layers was (110) or (001) KNbO3 // (100) SrTiO3 // (100) MgO. For (110) oriented SrTiO3 films, the orientation relationships were (020) or (200) KNbO3 // (110) SrTiO3 // (100) MgO. Measurement of the capacitance of the KNbO3 frlms during heating revealed a transition from the orthorhombic to tetragonal phase near 235±2 °C and tetragonal to cubic phase near 430±2 °C.
The Hf isotopic composition of ferromanganese nodules and crusts and hydrothermal manganese deposits: Implications for seawater Hf

Abstract We present Hf and Pb isotopic data, and chemical compositions of the outermost layers of marine ferromanganese deposits of different types (hydrogenous and hydrothermal) with a worldwide distribution. The Hf isotopic compositions display a broad range and refine previously reported regional differences as follows: Atlantic Ocean ɛHf = −4to+2, Indian Ocean ɛHf = +2to+4, Pacific Ocean ɛHf = +3to+10. The most radiogenic Hf isotopic compositions in the Pacific samples are for hydrothermal manganese deposits that also have low 207Pb204Pb, demonstrating that this signature reflects a contribution from hydrothermal venting of Hf leached from oceanic volcanic rocks rather than from riverine inputs, volcanic ash, or eolian dust. Hafnium concentrations in the deposits increase from 20 ppb to 20 ppm with decreasing ɛHf, The Hf and Pb isotopic compositions for ferromanganese crusts define an apparent mixing trend between literature values of average continental crust and MORB. The range in ɛHf for ferromanganese crusts is narrower than it is for 206Pb204Pb compared to the differences in isotopic composition of the sources of Hf and Pb. This is consistent with Hf having a longer residence time than Pb. The concentration of Hf in ferromanganese crusts has been found to co-vary with growth rate, and inversely correlates with Hf isotopic compositions. Hf isotope ratios may be used to determine not only the source of Hf, but possibly the source of Fe and Mn. Measurements of ɛHf and Hf concentrations in nodule tops, bottoms and associated sediments show that the ɛHf of nodules is sensitive to sedimentary oxic and sub-oxic diagenetic processes and thus most nodules may not reliably reflect the isotopic composition of Hf in seawater.
Echocardiographic Criteria in the Diagnosis of Idiopathic Hypertrophic Subaortic Stenosis

Echocardiography has proven to be a useful technique in the diagnosis and assessment of therapy in idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis (IHSS). Asymmetric septal hypertrophy has been described as the pathognomonic anatomic marker of the disease. A characteristic systolic anterior motion of the anterior mitral valve leaflet has been detected in the presence of hemodynamically significant subaortic left ventricular outflow obstruction. An echocardiographic quantification of the outflow gradient (the obstruction index) has been derived previously. Four patients were studied by ultrasound at the time of cardiac catheterization. All four demonstrated systolic anterior motion of the anterior mitral leaflet in the absence of a resting gradient. In three of the four, the calculated obstruction index predicted hemodynamically significant resting gradients. All four patients were shown to have labile gradients with provocative maneuvers. A fifth patient with abnormal systolic anterior motion demonstrated a close correlation between the obstruction index and resting gradient; however, symmetric hypertrophy of the septum and left ventricular posterior wall was detected by ultrasound. Therefore, the abnormal mitral valve pattern may be seen in the absence of a resting gradient and symmetric left ventricular hypertrophy may exist in the presence of IHSS.
Applicability of the triphenyl tetrazolium chloride reduction viability assay to the measurement of oxidative damage to cucumber cotyledons by bisulfite

Abstract The measurement of triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) reduction and potential indicators of oxidative damage were used to examine the effect of bisulfite on cucumber ( Cucumis sativus L. cv. Poinsett) cotyledon disks (7 mm). Regardless of light conditions, bisulfite at concentrations above 1 mM decreased the ability of the cotyledon tissue to reduce TTC before any measurable indication of lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation or loss of pigment content. After bisulfite (5 mM) treatment, subsequent incubations of the cotyledon disks in the light and in the absence of bisulfite resulted in a further loss in TTC-reducing ability and caused lipid peroxidation and degradation of pigments. Bisulfate had no significant effect on TTC reduction, lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation and pigment content. Bisulfite and bisulfate altered the total cellular sulfhydryl content of the cucumber cotyledon disks. Paclobutrazol partially protected the cotyledon disks from bisulfite-induced oxidative damage. These results are consistent with those obtained with whole plants fumigated with sulfur dioxide and demonstrate the utility of the TTC assay in assessing bisulfite-induced plant damage.
Ground-state rotational constants of Ar+3 by rotational depletion coherence spectroscopy

Abstract Rotational depletion coherence spectroscopy permits the determination of ground-state rotational constants of photodissociable ions from orientation recurrences observed for the remaining ions after substantial depletion by a linearly polarized ps pulse of light at wavelengths absorbed by the ions. The method is complementary to ordinary rotational coherence spectroscopy. It has been tested on the 40 Ar + 3 and 36 Ar + 3 ions, whose rotational constants are (9.0±0.2)×10 8 s −1 and (10.0±0.2)× 8 s −1 , respectively.
Correlating pre-operative vitamin D status with post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia.

ABSTRACT Objective: To examine the relationship between pre-operative vitamin D status and post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia. Methods: Retrospective study examining 264 total and completion thyroidectomies conducted between 2007 and 2011. Subjects included had a recorded 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) level within 21 days prior to or 1 day following surgery, did not have a primary parathyroid gland disorder, and were not taking 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (calcitriol) prior to surgery. Some subjects were repleted with vitamin D pre-operatively if a low 25(OH)D level (typically below 20 ng/mL) was identified. Pre-operative 25(OH)D, concurrent neck dissection, integrity of parathyroid glands, final pathology, postoperative parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcium nadir and repletion, and length of stay were examined. Results: The mean pre-operative 25(OH)D for all subjects was 25 ng/mL, and the overall rate of post-operative hypocalcemia was 37.5%. Lower pre-operative 25(OH)D did not predict postoperative hypocalcemia ...
Intelligent Control of a Fuel Cell Power Plant

Fuel cells will become more attractive to mainstream electricity users as they improve in capability and decrease in cost. Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell (MCFC) stack dynamic model was developed to analyze a spectrum of dynamic responses, and a simplified process flow diagram of a fuel cell power plant is presented. The neural network (NN) computing architectures suggest that they may be good candidates for implementing real-time controllers for complicated, nonlinear dynamic systems. A new concept of intelligent setpoint reference governor (I-SRG) using heuristic algorithm will be developed to find the optimal setpoints based on system constraints and performance objectives.
The Composition of Fluoride Solutions

Aqueous fluoride solutions underpin much of silicon processing because they are used to strip oxide layers and for cleaning. Depending on their composition and reaction conditions they can be used to create either flat, hydrogen-terminated surfaces or nanocrystalline porous silicon. Nonetheless, confusion reigns regarding the identity and quantity of different solution species as a function of the formal concentration of HF and other additives. The literature is critically surveyed, data and results are reanalyzed, and analytical expressions are derived that allow for the calculation of solution species activities. Above 0.1 mol dm - 3 , fluoride solutions are highly nonideal. It is shown that the main constituents of acidic fluoride solutions are H + , F - , HF, HF - 2 , and H 2 F - 3 in the range of 0-2 mol kg - 1 and even as high as 6 mol kg - 1 . In these concentration ranges the derived analytical expressions exhibit excellent and approximate agreement with experimental data, respectively. The nature of the HF species that exists in solution, whether it exists as a contact ion pair or as a solvated molecule, remains in doubt.
The relationship between mothers’ eating restraint and their children’s attitudes and behaviors

Dieting practices and beliefs of fourth-grade children and their mothers were studied. The children’s self-esteem, locus of control, and eating restraint were also assessed. Fifty children and their mothers were administered an eating restraint scale. The children were also administered self-esteem and locus of control scales. Although the children’s eating restraint, self-esteem, and locus of control were not related, the mothers’ eating restraint was found to be positively related to their daughters’ eating restraint and internality scores. No relationship was found between the mothers’ eating restraint and their sons’ eating restraint and internality scores. The results are discussed in terms of same-sex identification processes.
Religious Dissent, Women's Rights, and the Hamburger Hochschule fuer das weibliche Geschlecht in mid-nineteenth-century Germany

The German women's movement, like so much else that was progressive in modern German history, had its origins during the decade culminating in the revolution of 1848. An important and neglected source of German feminism may be found in the radical separatist congregations which appeared in both the Roman Catholic and the Protestant communions during those years. Historical interest in early German feminism has centered almost exclusively on Louise Otto-Peters, partly because of her extraordinary contribution and partly because her personal involvement gives continuity to the women's movement, linking the activities of the 1840s with the founding of the Allgemeiner Deutscher Frauenverein in 1865, the association which signals the birth of the modern campaign for women's rights in Germany. Religious radicalism on the other hand was stifled in all of its organized manifestations during the reaction of the 1850s. Little survived to remind future feminists of its seminal importance to their cause. Yet Louise Otto-Peters herself felt that the nonconforming religious movement offered the single most important manifestation of female emancipation in pre-revolutionary Germany.1
Borders, centers, and margins: critical landscapes for migrant health.

Nurses in North America have a distinguished history of involvement in immigrant health due to the immigrant character of this region. The Western Hemisphere is a region composed of recent migrants from nearly every corner of the globe. Complicated economic, environmental, and social dynamics contribute to these various migration patterns and commensurate health-related issues—physical, psychological, and spiritual. Nurses attuned to health issues of newer immigrants' lives use newfound knowledge to shape the care they provide, and political advocacy. This article updates our understandings of migration, utilizing critical perspectives to analyze contemporary dynamics of migration and respective health issues.
A fracture mechanics approach to high temperature fatigue crack growth in Udimet 700

Abstract Crack growth behavior under high temperature fatigue in Udimet 700 has been analyzed using both linear and non-linear elastic fracture mechanics concepts. It is shown that crack growth data for various loads in a compact tension specimen correlate well with the stress intensity factor, even at temperatures as high as 850°C. Using these results, a self consistent procedure has been developed for the determination of the J- integral parameter under load-controlled fatigue and is shown to be compatible with data based on the stress intensity factor. The spread in the crack growth data is smaller in terms of J- integral as compared to stress intensity or crack opening displacement parameters. Also based on a detailed fractographic analysis, it is suggested that the micromechanism of crack growth in Stages I and II is the environmentally assisted cleavage process, whereas in Stage III creep assisted crack growth processes are superimposed on the cleavage mode of crack growth. Effects of stress and temperature on the fatigue crack growth behavior of the Udimet alloy are discussed in detail.
Avian arterial chemoreceptor responses to steps of CO2 and O2.

Abstract The responses of avian arterial chemoreceptor preparations to 44-sec steps of inspired CO2 and O2 were quantified. Anesthetized ducks were unidirectionally ventilated, arterial pH was recorded with a fast responding indwelling electrode, and neural activity was recorded from 28 preparations consisting of dissected filaments of the vagus nerve (23 single-fibered, 5 few-fibered). We analyzed responses using cycle-triggered stimulus histograms of neural discharge, cross correlation analysis, and analysis of variance. Average responses of the chemoreceptor preparations to PaCO2 steps from 24 ± 1 to 38 ± 1 Torr were larger (per 56 ± 2 Torr. Average responses to CO2 steps usually appeared more rate sensitive when measured during arterial hypoxia than during arterial normoxia. These characteristics are very much like those reported for mammalian arterial chemoreceptors, except that responses of avian chemoreceptor preparations to repetitive CO2 steps were highly variable according to statistical analysis.
Effect of bacteria on healing of superficial wounds.

Abstract The healing of superficial wounds is a process that normally follows an uneventful course in which the surface of the wound is re-epithelialized, the epidermis regenerates, and epidrmal-dermal interactions are re-established. At times colonization by pathogenic bacteria, particularly Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes , results in proliferation of organisms followed by a host reaction consisting of an influx of polymorphonuclear leukocytes that interferes with the healing process. This host inflammatory response is essential for prevention of deeper tissue invasion; the inflammation generated interferes with the wound healing process. Little information exists on the prevalence of colonization and infection of superficial wounds in various socioeconomic populations except for studies on infections with Group A streptococci. Taplin et al. 1 have demonstrated that a higher prevalence of infection with Group A streptococci exists in poor socioeconomic groups and that higher rates of infection exist in hot, steamy environments than in cool climates.
Role of the renin-angiotensin system in cardiovascular disease

Cardiovascular disease has a long natural history that begins pathophysiologically with endothelial dysfunction resulting in impaired bioactivity of nitric oxide [1] (Fig. 1). The progression of disease in the artery wall and in the left ventricular myocardium may be associated with elevated blood pressure and is characterized by structural changes in the arteries, especially those perfusing the myocardium, brain, kidneys and the lower extremities [2]. This atherosclerotic process, especially if accompanied by hypertension, also causes progressive structural changes in the left ventricle that may result in heart failure, arrhythmias and sudden death [3]. Aging and atherosclerosis produce similar vascular and cardiac changes with small and large artery wall thickening and loss of ventricular myocytes [4, 5]. Plaque formation, rupture and clot formation are unique to the atherosclerotic process and account for most myocardial infarctions and strokes [6].
The influence of histocompatibility and transplant site on parathyroid allograft survival.

Abstract Despite the finding that even weakly histo-incompatible parathyroids were usually rejected promptly in transplant sites of rich lymphatic vascularity, parathyroid allografts did seem to enjoy a significant advantage in longevity over skin and heart transplanted across the same barriers in our laboratory [1, 2], sustaining the impression that parathyroid tissue is immunologically privileged. The influence of histocompatibility and transplant site on parathyroid allograft survival was studied in inbred rats. Ag-B compatible grafts survived longer than Ag-B incompatible ones in all transplant sites. However when care was taken to place parathyroid allografts in transplant sites having rich lymphatic drainage, prolongation of survival was minimal and rejection took place within 23 days in almost every instance. In other transplant sites sharing the characteristic of absent or abnormal lymphatic drainage (skin islands, muscle, and possibly testicle), prolonged parathyroid survival was seen in a high percentage of animals. The possibility is advanced that previous reports of inconsistencies in parathyroid allograft survival may be explained on the basis of variation in the lymphatic revascularization of the individual glands in different transplant sites.
A Comparison between Mechanisms of Multi-Alternative Perceptual Decision Making: Ability to Explain Human Behavior, Predictions for Neurophysiology, and Relationship with Decision Theory

While there seems to be relatively wide agreement about perceptual decision making relying on integration-to-threshold mechanisms, proposed models differ in a variety of details. This study compares a range of mechanisms for multi-alternative perceptual decision making, including integration with and without leakage, feedforward and feedback inhibition for mediating the competition between integrators, as well as linear and non-linear mechanisms for combining signals across alternatives. It is shown that a number of mechanisms make very similar predictions for the decision behavior and are therefore able to explain previously published data from a multi-alternative perceptual decision task. However, it is also demonstrated that the mechanisms differ in their internal dynamics and therefore make different predictions for neuorphysiological experiments. The study further addresses the relationship of these mechanisms with decision theory and statistical testing and analyzes their optimality.
Final Results from the Crack Initiation and Arrest of Irradiated Steel Materials Project on Fracture Mechanical Assessments of Pre-Irradiated RPV Steels Used in German PWR

Pre-irradiated original reactor pressure vessel (RPV) materials covering all four German pressurized water reactors (PWR) construction lines were tested in the Crack Initiation and Arrest of Irradiated Steel Materials program to create a database of fracture toughness and arrest values for neutron fluences beyond the end of life range. The new database comprises data from both unirradiated and irradiated RPV base and weld materials generated by tensile, Charpy-V impact, fracture toughness KJc, and crack arrest KIa tests. The test matrix consists of materials with optimized chemical composition and with high Copper or high Nickel content, respectively. Based on the generated and already existing data the RTNDT and the RTT0 (Master Curve) concepts are applied with specific view on reference temperatures, transition temperature shifts, and on possible correlations between the criteria used in both concepts. In this context the consequences of some influencing factors like type and chemical composition of the RPV steel, its manufacturing conditions, and the specimen type and size on the reference temperatures are discussed. Moreover, the test results are assessed with respect to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) code and German Nuclear Safety Standards Commission safety standards. The crack arrest characteristics for these typical RPV materials are also determined in a twofold way by testing Compact Crack Arrest specimens and by evaluation of instrumented Charpy-V impact test data. The available results made a good point that crack arrest is a reliable phenomenon that doubtless exists. It is also shown that the obtained KIa data can be enveloped by applying the ASME KIc lower bound curve indexed by different reference temperatures. Finally, the results show that the used RPV materials are well designed in terms of material behavior under irradiated conditions and that optimized manufacture specifications are of great benefit particularly after long operation times.
Effects of soil type, rainfall, straw mulch, and fertilizer on semi-arid vegetation establishment, growth and diversity

Abstract Revegetation in arid and semi-arid environments often involves strategies to augment soil properties to promote plant establishment and growth while ameliorating the effects of variable rainfall. A southern Arizona USA greenhouse experiment evaluated the impact of rainfall, common amendments, and three soil types on grassland revegetation. Based on rainfall data from a nearby semi-arid site, three irrigation levels were used to simulate the rainfall of a dry (275 mm), average (320 mm), and wet (555 mm) year. The three amendments were bare soil, straw (4.5 Mg/ha with a tackifier), and straw plus slow-release fertilizer (7–2–3 NPK, 3.4 Mg/ha). Three field-collected soil types were used: a very gravely sand, a very gravelly loamy sand, and a gravelly sandy loam. Four seed mixes were used as a blocking factor. There was a significant interaction between amendment and soil type, soil type and rainfall scenario, as well as amendment and rainfall scenario. Straw alone or with fertilizer increased aboveground biomass (72–177% increase) on the gravelly sandy loam, and very gravelly loamy sand soils but decreased biomass on the very gravely sand (13% and 54%). Straw with fertilizer did not change species richness and diversity significantly, but it resulted in a greater than 50% decline in establishment for all soil types. Straw alone significantly increased the aboveground biomass only in low (205%) and average rainfall scenarios (40%), but not when rainfall was high (11%). The specific site conditions ultimately determine which practices will result in successful revegetation.
PLEA BARGAINING AS A GAME: AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS OF NEGOTIATED SENTENCING DECISIONS

Current studies of courtroom decisionmaking emphasize contextual variation and the interaction of large numbers of variables In explaining decision outcomes. However, theory suggests that courtroom decisions may be dominated by simple “rules of thumb” that allow decisionmakers to cope with scarcity of time and resources. Following this approach, a parslmonious model of plea bargaining as a two-person game is developed and hypotheses are derived. Data on negotiated sentences for burglary and robbery in three California counties serve to test the hypotheses. The findings confirm that prior criminal history is the dominant factor in determining the severity of negotiated sentences and that defendents with more extensive prior records have less incentive to plea bargalh. Identlfication of this decision rule for negotiated sentences contradlcts arguments for limiting plea bargaining that assume negotiations result in sentencing leniency across the board.
Interleukin-1α induction of tensile weakening associated with collagen degradation in bovine articular cartilage

Objective To determine whether interleukin-1α (IL-1α) induces tensile weakening of articular cartilage that is concomitant with the loss of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) or the subsequent degradation of the collagen network. Methods Explants of young adult bovine cartilage obtained from the superficial (including the articular surface), middle, and deep layers were cultured with or without IL-1α for 1 week or 3 weeks. Then, portions of the explants were analyzed for their tensile properties (ramp modulus, strength, and failure strain); other portions of explants and spent culture medium were analyzed for the amount of GAG and the amount of cleaved, denatured, and total collagen. Results The effect of IL-1α treatment on cartilage tensile properties and content was dependent on the duration of culture and the depth of the explant from the articular surface. The tensile strength and failure strain of IL-1α–treated samples from the superficial and middle layers were lower after 3 weeks of culture, but not after 1 week of culture. However, by 1 week of culture, IL-1α had already induced release of the majority of tissue GAGs into the medium, without detectable loss or degradation of collagen. In contrast, after 3 weeks of culture, IL-1α induced significant collagen degradation, as indicated by the amount of total, cleaved, or denatured collagen in the medium or in explants from the superficial and middle layers. Conclusion IL-1α–induced degradation of cartilage results in tensile weakening that occurs subsequent to the depletion of GAG and concomitant with the degradation of the collagen network.
Stochastic analysis of genetic feedback circuit controlling HIV cell-fate decision

After infecting a CD4+ T cell, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) can either replicate and kill the cell or enter latency, a dormant state of the virus where viral gene-expression is turned OFF. Experimental work has shown that a genetic positive feedback circuit under the control of a key HIV regulatory protein, Tat, critically influences this cell fate decision between viral replication and latency. Here, we build and analyze a stochastic model of this genetic feedback circuit. Interestingly, although the deterministic model of this circuit lacks bistability, the stochastic model can exhibit bimodal distributions of Tat levels. The modes of this bimodal distribution correspond to an ON (high Tat level) and OFF (low Tat level) state of the circuit and can be interpreted as different fates of the infected cell. For the proposed stochastic model, we find regions of the parameter space where this genetic feedback circuit exhibits unimodal and bimodal distributions of Tat levels. Our analysis predicts that in physiologically relevant parameter regimes the Tat feedback circuit will exhibit bimodality, consistent with experimental observations. In summary, results presented here provide important insights into the functioning of this essential HIV feedback circuit and shows how circuit parameters can be perturbed to bias the viral cell fate decision at the single-cell level.
An Improved Closed-Loop Heat Extraction Method From Geothermal Resources

Disposal of produced water and induced earthquakes are two major issues that have endangered development of the geothermal energy as a renewable source of energy. To avoid these problems, circulation of a low-boiling working fluid in a closed loop has been proposed; however; since the major mechanism in this method for heat extraction is conduction rather than convection and additionally the heat conduction is limited to the wellbore surface. To overcome this shortcoming, the formation can be fractured with high conductivity material (for instance, silicon carbide ceramic proppants or cements with silane and silica fume as admixtures) to artificially increase the contact area between the “working fluid” and the reservoir. Our calculations show that fracturing increases the contact area by thousand times, additionally, the fracturing materials reinforce and stressed the formation, which reduce the risk of seismic activity due to temperature or pressure changes of the system during the production.
Distractor similarity effects in tests of discrimination recognition and distractor-free recognition

Following the presentation of a list of high- and low-frequency words, recognition was tested by means of a distractor-free test, a recognition-discrimination test with similar distractors, and a recognition-discrimination test with dissimilar distractors. Correct recognition scores were lowest for subjects taking the distractor-free test and highest for those taking the distractor-discrimination test with dissimilar distractors. False recognition scores were lowest for dissimilar low-frequency words. The results support the thesis that distractors confound measures of recognition. The authors recommend that measures of pure recognition should be limited to distractor-free tests.
Electrochemical Reduction of 4-benzoyl-N-(4-substituted Benzyl)pyridinium Cations: Substitution Effects and Linear Free Energy Relationships

Abstract In analogy to 4-(p-substituted benzoyl)-N-methylpyridinium cations (1-Xs), the title species (2-Xs, X=OCH3, CH3, H, Br, COCH3, NO2) undergo two reversible, well-separated (ΔE1/2≥650 mV) one-electron reductions. The effect of substitution on the E1/2s of 2-Xs is much weaker than the effect of the same substituents on 1-Xs: the Hammett ρ-values are 0.80 and 0.93 for the first- and second-electron reduction of 2-Xs vs. 2.3 and 3.3 for the same reductions of 1-Xs, respectively. The difference has been attributed to the different polarizability of π- vs. σ-electrons, and to the fact that in 1-Xs the electronic properties of the substituents are transmitted through the π-system, while in 2-Xs there is a CH2 spacer. From a practical standpoint, these results suggest that the 4-benzoylpyridinium system can be used as an almost continuously tunable redox couple, whose redox potential can be course-tuned via p-benzoyl substitution and fine-tuned via p-benzyl substitution. Importantly, the nitro group of 2-NO2 undergoes reduction before the second-electron reduction of the 4-benzoylpyridinium system. Introducing the recently derived substituent constant of the NO2− group ( σ p- NO 2 − − & z.rad; =−0.97) yields an excellent correlation for the third-electron reduction of 2-NO2 (corresponding to the reduction of the carbonyl group) with the second-electron reduction of the other 2-Xs, and confirms the electron-donating properties of NO2− .
Rapid Response to Pimozide in Treatment Resistant Delusional Disorder

AbstractDelusional disorder (OD) is a chronic psychotic illness characterized by nonbizzare delusions. It differs from schizophrenia in its pattern of symptoms and epidemiology. Delusional disorder now encompasses a related syndrome referred to as monosymtomatic hypochondriacal psychosis (MHP). This syndrome is well defined, has nonbizarre delusions as its core feature, and resonds to pimozide (Orap) treatment. Basel on these observations, some authors have speculated that pimozide may be an effective treatment for delusional disorder. This report describes two cases of delusional disorder in which a rapid response to low-dose imozide was noted. The findings are discussed in terms of imozide's unique pharmacological profile and its efficacy in syndromes with nonbizarre delusions.
Free creatine available to the creatine phosphate energy shuttle in isolated rat atria

To measure the actual percentage of intracellular free creatine participating in the process of energy transport, the incorporation of [1-14C]creatine into the "free" creatine and phosphocreatine (PCr) pools in spontaneously beating isolated rat atria, under various conditions, was examined. The atria were subjected to three consecutive periods, control, anoxia, and postanoxic recovery, in medium containing tracers of [1-14C]creatine. The tissue content and specific activity of creatine and PCr were determined at the end of each period. The higher specific activity found for tissue PCr (1.87 times) than creatine, independent of the percentage of total intracellular creatine that was present as free creatine, provides evidence for the existence of two separate pools of free creatine. Analysis of the data shows that in the normal oxygenated state approximately equal to 9% of the total intracellular creatine is actually free to participate in the process of energy transport (shuttle pool). About 36% of the total creatine is bound to unknown intracellular components and the rest exists as PCr. The creatine that was taken up and the creatine that was released from the breakdown of PCr have much greater access to the site of phosphorylation than the rest of the intracellular creatine. A sharp increase in the specific activity of residual PCr on prolongation of anoxic time was also observed. This provides evidence for a nonhomogeneous pool of PCr, for the most recently formed (radioactive) PCr appeared to be hydrolyzed last.
Corrections to the Born-Oppenheimer approximation for a harmonic oscillator.

We derive simple expressions for the energy corrections to the Born-Oppenheimer approximation valid for a harmonic oscillator. We apply these corrections to the electronic and rotational ground state of ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}^{+}$ and show that the diabatic energy corrections are linearly dependent on the vibrational quantum numbers as seen in recent variational calculations [D. A. Kohl and E. J. Shipsey, J. Chem. Phys. 84, 2707 (1986)].
Practical database searching

Abstract Sequence comparisons need to be performed as carefully as wet-lab procedures, in terms of both experimental design and interpretation. The basic requirements of database searching, the factors that can affect the search results and, finally, how to interpret the results are discussed.