cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analysis of the effects of the antiserum to the nerve growth factor in adult mice.

Abstract The effect of the nerve growth factor antiserum (NGF-AS) on adult mice has been studied at morphological and biochemical levels. A 5-day treatment of 3-month-old mice results in a marked volume reduction of sympathetic chain ganglia. This decrease in volume appears to be due in part to cell death, but to a major extent to atrophy of residual neurons. A severe impairment of the sympathetic function also obtains, as indicated by a marked decrease of catecholamine uptake and content in peripheral organs. A few weeks after the end of treatment, a gradual and progressive recovery of the sympathetic function ensues, and the nerve cells regain their normal appearance. These results are described in connection with the problem of the site of action of NGF antibodies in immature and in fully differentiated sympathetic neurons.
Four Decades of Systems Science Teaching and Research in the USA at Portland State University

Systems science is defined in general fashion, and a brief background is provided that lists some of the systems science-related societies, conferences, journals, research institutes, and educational programs. The Systems Science Graduate Program at Portland State University in Portland, OR, USA, is described in detail, including its history, curriculum, students, faculty, and degrees granted. Dissertation topics are summarized via word diagrams created from dissertation titles over the years. MS degrees, student placement, and undergraduate courses are also mentioned, and future plans for the program are described including its support for sustainability education.
The explicit analysis of consecutive pseudo-first-order reactions: Application to kinetics of thiolysis of dithiasuccinoyl (Dts) amino acids

Abstract An explicit set of general methods for the experimental determination of the rates k1 and k2 of consecutive pseudo-first-order reactions is described and discussed. These rely on the direct simultaneous analytical quantitation of the starting material, intermediate, and product of the reaction, and thus differ from present techniques based on measurement of coreactant consumption or coproduct appearance. The quantity k env = k 1 k 2 (k 1 + k 2 ) is shown to define a good “envelope” approximation to product formation according to the simple law 100% [1 − exp(−kenvt)]. The theory of envelopes is useful for comparing overall rates of reactions with widely differing values of κ = k 2 k 1 . The kinetic pattern of thiolysis of dithiasuccinoyl amino acids to carbamoyl disulfide intermediates to product free amino acids is analyzed and shown to agree quantitatively with theory.
Cold Thermal Storage and Cryogenic Heat Engines for Energy Storage Applications

A theoretical analysis is presented of heat engines that use the atmosphere as a hot reservoir and a cryogenic medium as a cold reservoir. These “cryogenic” heat engines can be used as zero emission power sources and are found to have unexpectedly large specific work (work per unit mass of the cold reservoir) values when gases of low atomic mass are used as the cryogenic medium.
Radiology report turnaround time: Effect on resident education

Rationale and Objectives To compare resident workload from Emergency Department (ED) studies before and after the implementation of a required 1-hour report turnaround time (TAT) and to assess resident and faculty perception of TAT on resident education. Materials and Methods Resident study volume will be compared for 3 years before and 1 year after the implementation of a required 1-hour TAT. Changes to resident workload will be compared among the different radiology divisions (body, muscuolskeletal (MSK), chest, and neuro), as well as during different shifts (daytime and overnight). Residents and faculty at two Midwest institutions, both of which have a required report TAT, will be invited to participate in an online survey to query the perceived effect on resident education by implementation of this requirement. A P < .05 was considered statistically significant. Results A significant decrease in resident involvement in ED studies was noted in the MSK, chest, and neuro sections with average involvement of the 3 years before the 1-hour TAT of 89%, 88%, and 82%, respectively, which decreased to 66%, 68%, and 51% after the 1-hour TAT requirement (P < .05). The resident involvement in ED studies only mildly decreased in the body section from an average before the 1-hour TAT of 87% to 80% after the 1-hour TAT requirement (P < .1). There was an overall significant decrease in resident ED study involvement during the daytime (P = .01) but not after hours during resident call (P = .1). Seventy percent of residents (43 of 61) and 55% of faculty (63 of 114) responded to our surveys. Overall, residents felt their education from ED studies during the daytime and overnight were good. However, residents who were present both before and after the implementation of a required TAT felt their education had been significantly negatively affected. Faculty surveyed thought that the required TAT negatively affected their ability to teach and decreased the quality of resident education. Conclusions Residents are exposed to fewer ED studies after the implementation of a required 1-hour TAT. Overall, the current residents do not feel this decreased exposure to Emergency room studies affects their education. However, residents in training before and after this requirement feel their education has been significantly affected. Faculty perceives that the required TAT negatively affects their ability to teach, as well as the quality of resident education.
The Role of High Visual Realism in Reducing Potential Risk Taking in Simulated Environments

Virtual environments (VEs) are developed to invoke feelings of presence in the digitally created representations, which leads to people perceiving and enacting actions as they would in corresponding real world environments. Even though significant strides have been made in enhancing the level of realism of virtual systems, there is still a long way to go toward a system that could provide full immersive experiences. Furthermore, the development cycle of a high realism system can be time consuming and costly. On the theoretical side, this desire of achieving the feeling of presence is not always consistent with the body of literature on grounded cognition, where the environment is known to significantly impact the user’s perception and action. Nevertheless, many studies have shown that people reported the feeling of presence even though the VEs they interacted with were far from realistic representations of the actual environments. This raised a question as to what dimensions of the environments are essential in triggering the feelings of presence. Instead of taking the approach where a fairly immersive system is used and a particular variable is investigated to ascertain its effects on the feelings of presence, the approach used in the current work investigated whether people reduce the potential injury to an avatar by starting out with a low to medium visual realism environment and scaling up to a higher visual realism. The results in the current study suggest that compared to enacting actions in the real world with one’s own body, people are more likely to bring injury to an avatar. This indicates that high visual realism may not be the essential ingredient in invoking the feelings of presence that regulate risk taking behaviors. The limitation and the next step of this research are discussed.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
How to use prostate-specific antigen.

Abstract Objective . To determine if prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is the most effective analyte for diagnosing, staging, and monitoring prostatic carcinoma. Methods . This article reviews what PSA is and how it can be used to detect clinically significant carcinomas as well as its application in managing patients after radical prostatectomy, radiation therapy, and androgen deprivation therapy. Results . PSA screening results in increased detection of localized disease. In individual patients a serum PSA level is not a good indicator of pathologic stage; however, a serum PSA level of greater than 10 ng/mL is associated with a higher incidence of extracapsular disease. Asymptomatic patients with newly diagnosed untreated prostate cancer and a serum PSA level less than 10 ng/mL do not need to undergo staging radionuclide bone scan. Elevated serum PSA is generally the first indicator of “persistent disease” after radical prostatectomy and radiation therapy. In androgen deprivation the PSA nadir is an important indicator of response to therapy. Conclusions . PSA is the most accurate tumor marker in oncology. This analyte can be successfully used to diagnose, stage, and monitor prostatic carcinoma.
Application of immobilized titanium dioxide photocatalysts for the degradation of creatinine and phenol, model organic contaminants found in NASA's spacecrafts wastewater streams

In this project, immobilized titanium dioxide photocatalysis was utilized as a post-treatment technology for the destruction of model organic contaminants found in wastewater streams produced on-board during space exploration. Phenol, a known human carcinogen, and creatinine, a human metabolite found in urine, were the compounds tested in this study. Phenol and creatinine have cyclic structures consisting of six and five member rings, respectively. In addition, creatinine is a methyl guanidine derivative, with almost 40% (w/w) nitrogen. The degradation and carbon mineralization efficiencies of the target contaminants were investigated at different initial concentrations. Their photocatalytic degradation appears to follow pseudo-first-order reaction with phenol giving higher organic carbon reduction rates than creatinine. The presence and position of the functional groups of creatinine (amine, imine and peptide bond) are primarily responsible for the significantly slower mineralization. The degradation of creatinine was also tested at different pHo values. Statistical analysis showed that there is an effect of pH on the treatment of creatinine. Besides the carbon mineralization, the extent of nitrogen mineralization and the mass balance of nitrogen were conducted for three pH values (pHo 3.0, 6.2 and 11.0). Overall, the transformation of nitrogen was low, and the total maximum conversion (<20%) occurred at basic conditions.
From family to society: The role of parenting behaviors in promoting youth civic engagement

SYNOPSIS Objective . The authors explored the relation between adolescent reports of parental warmth and monitoring and the development of youth civic engagement. Design . Longitudinal data were collected from 759 14- and 15-year-olds and their parents in the 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development. Results . Two-group latent variable models indicated that perceived parental monitoring predicted future civic engagement among males, whereas perceived parental warmth predicted future civic engagement among females. Adolescent reports of parenting did not predict change in civic engagement. Conclusion . Adolescent reports of parenting contribute to youth civic engagement.
A note on three-dimensional scattering and diffraction by a hemispherical canyon–I: Vertically incident plane P-wave

Abstract The three-dimensional scattering by a hemi-spherical canyon in an elastic half-space subjected to seismic plane and spherical waves has long been a challenging boundary-value problem. It has been studied by earthquake engineers and strong-motion seismologists to understand the amplification effects caused by surface topography. The scattered and diffracted waves will, in all cases, consist of both longitudinal (P-) and shear (S-) shear waves. Together, at the half-space surface, these waves are not orthogonal over the infinite plane boundary of the half-space. Thus, to simultaneously satisfy both zero normal and shear stresses on the plane boundary numerical approximation of the geometry and/or wave functions were required, or in some cases, relaxed (disregarded). This paper re-examines this boundary-value problem from the applied mathematics point of view, and aims to redefine the proper form of the orthogonal spherical-wave functions for both the longitudinal and shear waves, so that they can together simultaneously satisfy the zero-stress boundary conditions at the half-space surface. With the zero-stress boundary conditions satisfied at the half-space surface, the most difficult part of the problem will be solved, and the remaining boundary conditions at the finite canyon surface will be easy to satisfy.
Damage effects of high energy electrons on metals

Abstract In this paper, we present results obtained both experimentally, using in-situ electrical resistivity measurements in the high voltage electron microscope, and theoretically, using molecular dynamics computer simulations. These data give a detailed picture of the mechanisms of atomic displacement in Cu and make it possible to quantitatively predict the production rate of point defects given the incident electron beam energy and direction relative to the crystalline axes. Damage effects are found to be important at energies as low as 100–400 keV. We also review the work that has been carried out on other metals and the effect of temperature on the damage production process.
Identification, Cloning, and Sequencing of a cDNA Coding for Rat -Glutamyl Hydrolase

Abstract Purified -glutamyl hydrolase secreted from rat H35 hepatoma cells has been characterized as a diffuse band of 55 kDa on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis that is converted to bands of 35 and 33 kDa after enzymatic removal of N-linked carbohydrate. Polyclonal antibodies against 55-kDa -glutamyl hydrolase captured the enzyme activity and recognized the glycosylated and both deglycosylated forms of -glutamyl hydrolase. A complete cDNA sequence of -glutamyl hydrolase was obtained using degenerate oligonucleotides derived from peptide sequences, screening of a rat hepatoma cDNA library, and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Based upon the deduced amino acid sequence the peptide component of -glutamyl hydrolase had a molecular weight of 33,400. The results of amino acid analysis of the purified protein agreed with the deduced amino acid sequence in which there are seven potential asparagine-containing glycosylation sites.
Effective Load Management Planning—A Case Study

ABSTRACT Load management programs have become increasingly valuable in recent times as a result of electricity deregulation and volatile energy prices. The ability to manage loads by load reduction or load shifting quickly and effectively with minimal interference to a company's operations can be very valuable to the energy user. This article discusses a general approach and methodology toward effective load management planning and presents a case study of a load management plan developed by a large aerospace equipment manufacturing company. In order to take advantage of electricity deregulation and volatile energy prices, it is essential to develop load management plans for individual facilities that can be implemented and tested periodically, much like other emergency response programs. This article discusses the methodology and analysis that is required to develop a program for most facilities. Topics that are addressed in the article include load identification and prioritization, rate and tariff appl...
Relationship between the Desire for Anonymity and Responses to a Questionnaire on Satisfaction with University

The responses of 363 students who supplied their names on a survey of attitude toward the university were compared to those of 61 respondents who chose to remain anonymous. Multivariate analysis of variance yielded no significant difference between the responses of the two groups.
Low 25-hydroxyvitamin D does not affect insulin sensitivity in obesity after bariatric surgery.

Objective: A positive correlation between levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and insulin sensitivity has been shown in healthy subjects. We aimed to test the hypothesis that concentration of 25(OH)D influences insulin sensitivity in obesity before and after weight loss. Research Methods and Procedures: We investigated the relation between serum 25(OH)D and insulin sensitivity (estimated by euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp) in 116 obese women (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2) evaluated before and 5 and 10 years after biliopancreatic diversion (BPD). Body composition was estimated by the isotope dilution method. Results: Prevalence of hypovitaminosis D was 76% in the obese status and 91% and 89% at 5 and 10 years after BPD, respectively, despite ergocalciferol supplementation. 25(OH)D concentration decreased from 39.2 ± 22.3 in obesity (p = 0.0001) to 27.4 ± 16.4 and 25.1 ± 13.9 nM 5 and 10 years after BPD, respectively. Whole-body glucose uptake increased from 24.27 ± 4.44 at the baseline to 57.29 ± 11.56 and 57.71 ± 8.41 μmol/kgfat free mass per minute 5 and 10 years after BPD, respectively (p = 0.0001). Predictor of 25(OH)D was fat mass (R2 = 0.26, p = 0.0001 in obesity; R2 = 0.20, p = 0.02 after BPD). Parathormone correlated with fat mass (R2 = 0.19; p = 0.0001) and BMI (R2 = 0.053; p = 0.01) and inversely with M value (R2 = 0.16; p = 0.0001), but only in obese subjects. Discussion: A high prevalence of hypovitaminosis D was observed in morbid obesity both before and after BPD. Low 25(OH)D did not necessarily imply increased insulin resistance after BPD, a condition where, probably, more powerful determinants of insulin sensitivity overcome the low circulating 25(OH)D levels. However, the present data cannot exclude some kind of influence of vitamin D status on glucose and insulin metabolism.
Multi-frequency wideband RF filters using high electromechanical coupling laterally vibrating lithium niobate MEMS resonators

This paper reports on the first implementation of monolithically integrated wideband RF filters using Lithium Niobate (LN) based high electromechanical coupling (kt2) MEMS resonators. MEMS-based RF filters operating at 500 and 750 MHz have been demonstrated on the same chip and shown a fractional bandwidth (FBW) of 2% and 3.9%, respectively - the highest demonstrated to date by laterally vibrating resonators (LVRs). The insertions loss (IL) of the 750 MHz filters is as low as 4 dB. The demonstration of these wideband filters is made possible by the design and fabrication of a two-port LN resonator topology that has lithographically defined center frequencies and exhibits kt2 as high as 10% and Q of 500 in air.
Synthesis and application of quantum dots FRET-based protease sensors.

Preparation of FRET-based quantum dots as protease sensorsRGDC peptide molecules are bound to the surface of CdSe/ZnS quantum dots. The peptide molecules are then labeled with rhodamine dye molecules. The emission color of the quantum dots change from green to orange due to fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between the quantum dots and the bound rhodamine molecules. Cleavage of the peptide by selective proteases releases the rhodamine molecules from the quantum dots surface, which results in decreasing FRET efficiency between the quantum dots and the rhodamine molecules. The emission color of the quantum dots changes back to green.
The Paradoxical Rationalization of Modern Adoption

This article explores the campaign, during the first half of the twentieth century, to reform adoption law and rationalize adoption practice in the United States through a trinity of professional management, scientific validation, and expanded public bureaucracy. Making adoption modern entailed establishing a new paradigm, kinship by design, and then distancing that paradigm from modes of family formation that relied on commerce, sentiment, intuition, accident, or simply common sense. Advocates of this new paradigm were social welfare, human science, and public policy professionals located in the U.S. Children's Bureau, the Child Welfare League of America, and elsewhere. They faced stubborn resistance from the public and succeeded only partially in subjecting adoption to new forms of practical authority, such as agency regulation and legal standardization. Yet their moral vision of family-making--an operation so systematic and saturated in knowledge that risks would be minimized and outcomes improved--helped to move childhood and kinship into the public sphere, pry a significant measure of power away from parents, and transfer decisions previously considered beyond the legitimate reach of state power to representatives of government and allied helping professions. Kinship by design also popularized child adoption and increased its cultural visibility.
Regional variation in brain capillary density and vascular response to ischemia.

Differences in brain neuroarchitecture have been extensively studied and recent results demonstrated that regional differences in the physiological properties of glial cells are equally common. Relatively little is known on the topographic differences in vascular supply, distribution and density of brain capillaries in different CNS regions. We developed a simple method consisting of intravascular injection of fluorescent dyes coupled to immunocytochemical techniques that allows for simultaneous observation of glia-neuronal-vascular interactions in immersion-fixed brain specimens from small rodents. This technique permits quantitative evaluation of regional differences in glial/neuronal distribution and the study of their relationship to vascular densities. Variations of this technique also allow the detection of abnormal microvasculature (i.e. 'leaky' vessels), a useful feature for studies of blood-brain barrier function in health and disease. By use of quantitative confocal microscopy, the three-dimensional geometry of cortical and hippocampal structures revealed remarkable differences in vascularization between cortical gray/white matter junction, and hippocampal formation (CA1 and CA3 regions). Significant differences were also observed within the same investigative region: CA1 was characterized by low capillary density compared to neighboring CA3. Following an ischemic insult, CA1 vessels had more extensive blood-brain barrier leakage than CA3 vessels. We conclude that in addition to neuronal and glial heterogeneity, cortical structures are also endowed with region-specific vascular patterns characterized by distinct pathophysiological responses.
Novel Inhibitors of the Gardos Channel for the Treatment of Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a hereditary condition characterized by deformation of red blood cells (RBCs). This phenomenon is due to the presence of abnormal hemoglobin that polymerizes upon deoxygenation. This effect is exacerbated when dehydrated RBCs experience a loss of both water and potassium salts. One critical pathway for the regulation of potassium efflux from RBCs is the Gardos channel, a calcium-activated potassium channel. This paper describes the synthesis and biological evaluation of a series of potent inhibitors of the Gardos channel. The goal was to identify compounds that were potent and selective inhibitors of the channel but had improved pharmacokinetic properties compared to 1, Clotrimazole. Several triarylamides such as 10 and 21 were potent inhibitors of the Gardos channel (IC50 of <10 nM) and active in a mouse model of SCD. Compound 21 (ICA-17043) was advanced into phase 3 clinical trials for SCD.
Induction of breast cancer by nitrosomethylurea in rats of the Buffalo strain: frequent association with thyroid disease.

Rats of the inbred Buffalo strain spontaneously develop a significant incidence (′9%) of thyroid disease, defined by elevated relative thyroid weight (RTW) and histological thyroiditis. We have previously found this thyroid disease to be accompanied by varying degrees of thyroid failure. In addition, Buffalo rats are highly susceptible to the induction of metastasizing breast cancer by N-nitrosomethylurea (NMU). The purpose of the present investigation was to determine whether NMU-induced breast carcinogenesis was associated with changes in the incidence or nature of thyroid-pituitary abnormalities in the treated animals compared to those in vehicleinjected or untreated controls. Female Buffalo rats, 50-55 days old, were given a single ip injection of NMU (10 mg/100 g). All of the treated rats developed breast cancer. Fifty percent (15 of 30) showed greatly elevated RTW, averaging 5 times the RTW of vehicle-injected controls. Moreover, histological changes analogous to those of human Hashimoto's roiditis ...
How to convert bad stress into good

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to develop three approaches that managers should use to channel formerly negative stressors and anxieties into productively motivated behaviors. When managers deal more deftly with naturally arising and anxiety-inducing stress, they and their subordinates should perform more effectively simply because their levels of motivation will increase. Design/methodology/approach – The conceptual discussion is grounded in ideas and principals adopted and/or adapted from ancient and contemporary Western and social scientific bodies of thought. Findings – This deductive essay demonstrates how the conscious choice to manage through paradox as bad stressors arrive offers managers actual tools through which they could convert the threatening stresses into challenging – and motivating – anxieties. Originality/value – Managers often seek to eliminate – or choose to consciously ignore – anxiety. Either behavior, of course, is unreasonable. The sense of realism that emerges from the ...
Computer controlled voltage clamp experiments.

A small digital computer (a Digital Equip. Corp. LINC-8) has been interfaced to voltage clamp control circuitry and a buffer memory in order for it to both control experiments and provide fast and flexible data acquisition. The experiments are designed and run from the computer graphic terminal in a conversational language, offering the experimenter programmed control over input voltage-time patterns and the rate of data sampling. Because many records are usually required and biological preparations tend to deteriorate with time, automated experiment control and faster data acquisition and storage provides more dependable data than manual methods. Subsequent analysis is much more convenient when the data has been stored along with parameters values and labels in a standard format on a digital bulk storage device such as a magnetic tape or disk.
An Evaluation of non-parametric relative risk estimators for disease maps

Abstract In geographical epidemiology it is often required to produce a map of the risk of disease over a study region, a disease map. This paper reviews a variety of approaches to produce disease maps when individual address locations are observed. These methods vary from kernel based smoothing approaches, e.g. Nadaraya–Watson, local linear and GAMs, to Bayesian partition models. The kernel-based methods have the advantage of speed, but the partition model has the advantage of being able to adapt to local features (i.e. clustering) of the surface. Another advantage of the kernel-based methodology is that the local linear model has a built in edge correction. A simulation study designed to assess the benefits of relative merits of each approach for relative risk estimation is described.
SU‐FF‐T‐317: New Tools and Methodology for Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) Simulation Using 4DCT

Purpose: To describe a new 4DCT SBRT simulation protocol and implement new virtual simulation tools to assess the impact of 4DCT simulation in the presence of abdominal compression Methods and Materials: Under a pre‐4DCT SBRT simulation protocol, targets were derived from 2 separate helical CT acquisitions interspaced by patient repositioning to capture snapshots of the respiratory cycle and setup errors. 4DCT SBRT simulations are performed under forced shallow breathing with patients immobilized within a commercially available bodyframe with abdominal compression. Cine CTimages were retrospectively gated to produce 4DCT datasets. The datasets were subsequently transferred to a virtual simulation workstation. The software allows for the manipulation of 3‐D datasets of the individual phases of the breathing cycle, mean intensity projections and PET scans all within one interface. Image data from 4 patients was acquired and analyzed to quantify the residual internal tumor motion in the presence of the compression device. For 2 of the 4 patients, new multimodality virtual simulation tools were used to draw planning target volumes utilizing 4D and multimodality data. Results: Mean residual internal tumor motion was measured to be 1.4mm±0.3mm, 0.85mm±0.51mm and 2.83mm±2.12mm in the lateral, anterior‐posterior and cranial‐caudal directions. A plot of GTV center‐of‐mass trajectories suggests a phase shift. A volume comparison of the pre‐and post‐4DCT methods of determining planning target volumes demonstrated that for 2 patients, the pre‐4DCT derived target volumes were larger but generally agreed with the 4DCT phase data spatially.Conclusions: Combining abdominal compression with 4DCT is feasible as a means of explicitly accounting for temporal variations in target position with patient‐specific respiratory motion margins. Based on this initial data, explicit inclusion of 4DCT measured target motion in the SBRT treatment planning process was chosen as the preferred method of motion‐management in our clinic over gated delivery approaches for most patients.
Variations of size and distribution in suspensions of sonicated phospholipid bilayers.

Summary Agarose gel partition chromatography conditions are reported which allow the separation of a range of unilaminar particles from a sonicated suspension of phosphatidyl choline. Column fractionation, radiolabeling, NMR and electron microscopy show that the unilaminar population is heterogeneous in size. The distribution is unimodal, but somewhat asymmetrical, with a broader range to larger particle diameters. The distribution is estimated to encompass vesicles differing in radius by at least 100 A. It is also shown that populations enriched in vesicles of a chosen size range may be prepared by column fractionation methods. These results are reconciled with the previous literature on vesicle size distributions.
Pathologic alterations in early life stages of lake trout, Salvelinus namaycush, exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo- p-dioxin as

Fertilized lake trout eggs exposed to vehicle or graded concentrations of [3H]-2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo- p-dioxin (TCDD) in water for 48 h accumulated 0, < 15, 40, or 400 ppt (parts per trillion) [3H]-TCDD. The exposed eggs were then transferred to flowing [3H]-TCDD free water where they remained throughout early development. Lake trout embryos developed normally in all groups until one week prior to hatch. At this time retrobulbar, meningeal and subcutaneous hemorrhages were evident in many embryos and sac fry that were derived from eggs containing 400 ppt [3H]-TCDD. High mortality prior to or during hatching accompanied these lesions. All sac fry which survived hatching in the 400 ppt TCDD group developed severe subcutaneous edema, with cessation of blood circulation in the yolk sac and body. Necrosis of the retina, brain, and spinal cord occurred in morbid embryos and sac fry. All sac fry in the 400 ppt TCDD group showed arrested development from the time of hatching and all died prior to swim-up. One percent of sac fry in the vehicle control and < 15 ppt TCDD groups, and 2% in the 40 ppt TCDD group, exhibited blue-sac disease, an edematous syndrome identical grossly and nearly identical microscopically to that observed in the 400 ppt TCDD group. Thus, the cardiovascular system appears to be the initial tissue affected in both the TCDD toxicity syndrome and in blue-sac disease of developing lake trout. Lesions in other organs including brain, retina and liver develop as a result of circulatory derangements, anemia and hypoxia.
Efficiency of Bangladesh stock market: evidence from monthly index and individual firm data

Using monthly data for market index and 46 actively traded individual firms from January 1991 through May 2003, we examine the efficiency of stock market of an emerging market. We employ a battery of tests including variance ratio tests to examine the efficiency issue of Bangladesh stock market. Portfolio results suggest that the DSE is weak-form efficient, but the individual firm returns suggest that DSE is weak-form inefficient. We suggest that individual firm returns are influenced by nonsynchronous trading and firm-specific and market micro-structure effects.
Acute Illness Utilization Patterns Before and After Telemedicine in Childcare for Inner-City Children: A Cohort Study

The ready access provided by telemedicine benefits families and society but might increase total healthcare utilization with uncertain implications for costs. The objective of this study was to ass...
Pathology of a double viral infection of Trichoplusia ni

Abstract Pathological studies of the double infection of Trichoplusia ni with a nucleopolyhedrosis virus and a cytoplasmic-granulosis virus, revealed that neither virus exhibited a synergistic or interference effect upon the other when inoculated simultaneously. There was no change in the tissues that were infected or in the sequence of infection, compared to each disease individually. The two viruses were found in adjacent cells but never in the same cell. When polyhedra were injected 120 hr after treatment with the granulosis capsules, polyhedrosis did not occur in any of the tissues normally invaded.
A survey of technology-driven capacity limits for free-space laser communications

There are a number of options for modulation formats in optical fiber and free-space lasercom systems. There are a seemingly even greater number of options for receiver architectures. Although essentially all of these possibilities and combinations have been analyzed in journal publications, conferences, and textbooks, it seems to the author that much of this information has not been compiled in such a way that the community can easily appreciate relationships between performance and related costs of these many options. In this brief overview, then, we will compare the power and bandwidth efficiencies of coded and uncoded systems using some of the most commonly used formats and receivers. We will also examine some of the more recent results in quantum-optimum receivers in the same context.
Cloning and sequence analysis of caprine N-acetylglucosamine 6-sulfatase cDNA

Abstract Mucopolysaccharidosis BID results from the deficiency of N -acetylglucosamine 6-sulfatase activity. A Nubian goat with this lysosomal storage disease has been identified. As a first step in developing this animal model for testing treatment methods, we cloned and sequenced the capfne N -acetylglucosamine 6-sulfatase cDNA coding region. Overall there is 88% nucleotide homology between the goat and human sequence and 94% homology of the deduced amino acid sequence. The human and two ruminant species differ by the presence of an imperfect trinucleotide (CCG) repeat in the ruminant signal sequence.
Influence of Boiler Combustion Adjustment on NOx Emission and Boiler Efficiency

A tangentially fired boiler with twin furnace is tested to analyze the effect of such factors as primary air velocity,air distribution mode, over fired air,oxygen content on NOx and boiler efficiency during boiler combustion adjustment,providing reference for boiler operation optimization and reducing NOx emissions.
Innovative Sampling Plans for Estimating Transit Passenger-Kilometers

Estimating passenger-kilometers or passenger-miles to meet National Transit Database requirements usually involves costly sampling. Three innovative sampling plans are described that have been developed to reduce sampling requirements. The first method, which proved to be very effective when total boardings is known, uses a small number of ride checks (ons and offs by stop) on each route. Average trip length is estimated as a combined ratio estimator from a stratified sample. The second method was applied where the boardings total is not known. It uses both a sample of ride checks and another sample (needed for another purpose) that measures only boardings. A "mixed estimator" is derived that optimally combines two separate estimators: a simple mean from the ride check sample and an average trip length from the ride check sample multiplied by average boardings from the other sample. This second method proved effective for a single light-rail line but only marginally effective for a large bus system with w...
A Multiphysics Model for Evaluating Electrokinetic Remediation of Nuclear Waste-Contaminated Soils

With the widespread use of nuclear power, soil contamination by nuclear waste is causing increasing concerns around the world. Traditional technologies for soil remediation, such as geomelting, have limited uses due to high cost of energy. More sustainable solutions such as electrokinetic remediation using low direct current, within this context, are gaining more popularity for cleaning up contaminated soils. In this paper, a mathematical model was developed to evaluate the technique of electrokinetic remediation as a potential strategy for removing nuclear waste from variably saturated soils. Multiple species-driven mechanisms were coupled in one governing partial differential equation of high nonlinearity, which was then solved using the finite element method (FEM). The binding effect between transporting species and soil matrix was taken into account in the FEM model based on Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The numerical model was validated experimentally and then applied to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of electrokinetically removing a typical radioactive species from nuclear waste, uranium dioxide ions (UO2 2+). According to the predicted results, a soil sample at the dimensions of 10 cm in width and 10 cm in depth can be cleaned 12 h by applying a level of 8-V direct electric potential between two panel electrodes.
On the Possibility of Using UV Spectroscopy as a Measure of the Low-Barrier Hydrogen Bond

In many enzyme-catalyzed biochemical pathways, a short, strong hydrogen bond between an enzyme and substrate is an important structural feature. These bonds are termed low-barrier hydrogen bonds. In this paper, we show that UV spectra can be used as an experimental technique to determine if a system contains a low-barrier hydrogen bond (LBHB). We simulate, using the time-dependent view of UV spectroscopy, several different UV spectra: absorption, photodissociation, and emission, on systems containing a low-barrier hydrogen bond. We find several distinguishing spectral features in these UV spectra for systems that possess a LBHB.
Reliability of quantification measures of actinic keratosis

Summary Background Enumerating actinic keratoses (AKs) is highly variable but important to standardize as new therapies are emerging. Objectives To assess the reliability of four different methods used to quantify AKs and to investigate whether a consensus meeting affects the reliability. Methods This was a single-blinded study of 12 experienced dermatologist raters counting AKs on the face and ears of nine subjects before and after a consensus meeting. Raters were recruited from investigators of a multicentre Veterans Affairs cooperative study. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) among raters for pre- and post-consensus evaluations was the primary outcome measure. Results Of the four assessment methods, the ‘total count’ method had the greatest ICC for both pre- (0·18, P = 0·04) and post-consensus (0·66, P = < 0·0001) assessments. Total count was also the only pre-consensus ICC for which the null hypothesis of no association among assessments was rejected. Conclusions Total AK count appears to be the most reliable measure of quantifying AKs on the face and ears. Educational consensus discussion prior to assessment improves reliability of this measure.
The Structure of Long-Range Planning Groups

A survey of 28 companies in 4 industrial settings suggests that, while remaining relatively small and at the upper levels of the organizational hierarchy, long-range planning groups have undergone ...
Thermochemistry of the R−O2 Bond in Alkyl and Chloroalkyl Peroxy Radicals

Earlier experimental results on the kinetics of relaxation to equilibrium in R + O2 ⇄ RO2 reactions (R = CH3, C2H5, i-C3H7, t-C4H9, CH2Cl, CHCl2, and CCl3) are reanalyzed using an improved kinetic mechanism which accounts for further reactions of the RO2 adduct. Reaction enthalpy ΔH°298(R + O2 ⇄ RO2) values are obtained from the third-law treatment of the temperature dependencies of the equilibrium constants KP(T) resulting from the reinterpretation of the original kinetic data. The R−O2 bond strengths for alkyl and chloroalkyl radicals (R = ·C(CH3)iCljHk, i + j + k = 3) can be represented by a linear function of the numbers of C−C (NC-C) and C−Cl (NC-Cl) bonds at the C atom forming the C−O bond: −ΔH°298(R + O2 ⇄ RO2) = HCH3 + hC-CNC-C + hC-ClNC-Cl (HCH3 = 139.9, hC-C = 5.7, hC-Cl = −16.1 kJ mol-1). The values of ΔH°298(R + O2 ⇄ RO2) are used to calculate the enthalpies of formation for the RO2 peroxy radicals and ROOH hydroperoxides.
Self-Assembled Monolayers on Engineering Metals: Structure, Derivatization, and Utility

A methodology for the formation and derivatization of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of alkyl phosphonic acids on common engineering metals such as steel, stainless steel, aluminum, copper, and brass is described. This methodology is shown to be a versatile route for surface modification of such substrates. α,ω-Metal bisphosphonate SAMs are shown to be receptive to complexation by organic acids and acid-containing polymers such as fluoropolymers and ethylene-co-methacrylic acid. This latter attribute is exploited in the construction of polymer/SAM/metal interfaces of surprising durability. The durability of the interface is a strong function of the SAM chain length.
Mathematical study of two controlled converter-type utility interface for harmonic attenuation

Diode rectifiers are very popular in industry from a few kW to a few hundreds of kW. Two methods based on controlled converter-type utility interface are possible for harmonic-pollution problems caused by the diode rectifiers: one replacing the diode rectifier with a PWM rectifier and the other connecting an active power filter to the diode rectifier. Despite numerous publications for the two converters, the features and evaluations between them have not been clearly explained. This paper, in detail, presents theoretical analyses and systematic comparisons of the two converters, from the point of view of converter kVA ratings, dc bus voltage requirements, switch ratings, and reactive component designs.
Disorder enhancement of quasiparticle lifetimes in superconductors

We calculate the quasiparticle lifetime due to Coulomb interactions in a disordered superconductor in perturbation theory with respect to the screened Coulomb interaction. We find a diffusion enhancement of the relaxation rate similar to the normal metal case. The temperature dependence of the lifetime is found to be the same as in a clean superconductor. The relation of these results to experiment and ways to improve the theory are discussed.
Modifying effect of 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole on phenobarbital-induced changes in rat liver.

Abstract On each of two successive days, male rats received ip injections of a mixture of phenobarbital and aminotriazole in isotonic saline. Controls included rats given phenobarbital in saline and rats given only saline. Forty-eight hours after the second treatment, phenobarbital prepared animals showed a marked decrease in zoxazolamine paralysis time, in comparison with the saline controls. The phenobarbital-aminotriazole treated animals displayed a less impressive, but still significant, decrease in paralysis time. At the same interval, hepatic microsomal cytochrome P450 was markedly elevated in phenobarbital injected rats, whereas animals given the phenobarbital-aminotriazole mixture exhibited only a slight increment of this cytochrome above the control level. In contrast, both phenobarbital and phenobarbital-aminotriazole treated rats displayed substantial and equivalent increases in liver weight and hepatocellular smooth-surfaced membranes. Identical animals from each treatment category were then challenged with a single dose of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Phenobarbital pretreated rats showed marked enhancement of CCl4 hepatotoxicity, with massive or submassive hepatic necrosis and a 54% death rate. Animals pretreated with the phenobarbital-aminotriazole mixture, however, had a hepatotoxic reaction comparable to that of the saline controls. Both responded to CCl4 with a limited centrilobular necrosis and a 12.5% death rate. It was concluded that the difference in hepatotoxic response could not be understood in terms of the structural alterations induced by the drugs. It was considered more likely that this difference was related to variations in hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes at the time of CCl4 challenge.
Hypoxia-induced metabolic and antioxidant enzymatic activities in the estuarine fish Leiostomus xanthurus

Abstract The Tar-Pamlico River basin in North Carolina is regularly the site of summertime fish kills. One possible cause of fish kills is hypoxia-induced metabolic stress. To examine hypoxia-induced stress at both the organismal and enzymatic levels, we exposed the common estuarine fish Leiostomus xanthurus Lacepede (spot) to various oxygen tensions (10% saturation, 0.8 mg/l; 25%, 2.0 mg/l; 50%, 4.0 mg/l; 100%, 8.0 mg/l). After 12 h of exposure, samples of gill, liver, and muscle tissue were extracted and subsequently analyzed for metabolic (citrate synthase [CS] and lactate dehydrogenase [LDH]) and antioxidant (catalase [CAT] and superoxide dismutase [SOD]) enzyme activity as well as protein content. There was a significant increase in lactate dehydrogenase activity, an indicator of anaerobic metabolism, in the 10% treatment in gill tissue, while there was no significant change in citrate synthase activity, an indicator of aerobic metabolism. Antioxidant enzymes were shown to operate independently of one another, with significant increases in superoxide dismutase activity in gill and muscle tissue under 10% saturation but no significant change in catalase activity across oxygen treatments. In several cases, we also noted that interindividual variation of enzyme activities within oxygen treatments was in excess of the variation in means between treatments. Hypoxia appears to trigger superoxide dismustase activity in spot, but each individual's response seems to be highly variable, perhaps due to prior exposure to hypoxia.
Experimental Response of Piles in Sand under Compound Motion

This paper describes a fundamental experimental study on the vertical, horizontal, and rocking dynamic behavior of single pile foundations in granular soils. Aimed at generating an extensive experimental database with sufficient parametric variations to clarify a number of issues, multiple series of canonical small-strain forced-vibration centrifuge tests were performed on two model piles using the technique of random vibration and impact loading. Correlated well with vertical- and horizontal-centric dynamic tests within the experimental program, a novel hybrid-mode test method by means of eccentric excitation is validated and employed for the characterization of the foundation responses in general planar motion. A large set of experimental data for different length scales were generated and synthesized in the frequency domain in the form of directional force-response transfer functions. By virtue of the physical measurements, the validity and limitations of two fundamental elastodynamic pile solutions pertaining to the physical dynamic soil-foundation problem are also evaluated.
Motivating or stigmatizing? Public perceptions of weight-related language used by health providers.

Motivating or stigmatizing? Public perceptions of weight-related language used by health providers