cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Regulation of the stability of human β interferon mRNA in poly(I)·poly(C)-induced diploid fibroblasts: Anchorage independence of the shutoff mechanism

Abstract Exposure of diploid human fibroblast (FS-4) monolayer cultures to poly(I)·poly(C) leads to production of β interferons within the first hour, the rate of production peaks approximately 3 hr after induction and is rapidly shut off by 6–8 hr. The rapid shutoff of interferon production is blocked if the induction is carried out in the presence of 5,6-dichloro-1-β- d -ribofuranosylbenzimidazole (DRB, 40 μM). The rapid and selective inactivation of interferon mRNA that occurs during the shutoff phase in monolayer cultures is anchorage independent and can be preserved in short-term (3–4 hr) suspension cultures prepared from cell monolayers in the shutoff phase. Such inactivation of interferon mRNA is not observed in DRB-containing suspension cultures derived from induced, DRB-treated cell monolayers. Washing of detached, shutoff phase FS-4 cells with buffers lacking Ca2+ blocks interferon mRNA inactivation while washing these cells with buffers containing 1 mM Ca2+ preserves the shutoff mechanism. Optimal interferon mRNA turn-over requires both active cellular RNA and protein synthesis and incubation at 37°. These data suggest that the selective inactivation of human fibroblast interferon mRNA during the shutoff phase is an active cellular function which does not require the attachment of cells to a solid substrate.
Quantification and deconvolution of asymmetric LC-MS peaks using the bi-Gaussian mixture model and statistical model selection.

Background Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) is one of the major techniques for the quantification of metabolites in complex biological samples. Peak modeling is one of the key components in LC-MS data pre-processing.
Effects of Anticoccidial and Growth Promoting Agents on Intestinal Motility in Broilers

Abstract Six anticoccidial agents and two growth promoting agents were tested for effects on intestinal passage time in broiler-type chickens. No significant differences were found with experimental birds in floor-pen trials or in individual cages with respect to passage time of a fluorescent pigment administered in the feed or in gelatin capsules. No alteration in the motility or inducement of stasis was found through use of amprolium + ethopabate, clopidol, monensin, buquinolate, zoalene, decoquinate, bacitracin or roxarsone. These results do not substantiate the hypothesis that outbreaks of necrotic enteritis are induced by stasis following use of these products.
Proteasome-associated proteins: regulation of a proteolytic machine

The proteasome is a compartmentalized, ATP-dependent protease composed of more than 30 subunits that recognizes and degrades polyubiquitinated substrates. Despite its physiological importance, many aspects of the proteasome's structural organization and regulation remain poorly understood. In addition to the proteins that form the proteasome holocomplex, there is increasing evidence that proteasomal function is affected by a wide variety of associating proteins. A group of ubiquitin-binding proteins assist in delivery of substrates to the proteasome, whereas proteasome-associated ubiquitin ligases and deubiquitinating enzymes may alter the dynamics of ubiquitin chains already associated with the proteasome. Some proteins appear to influence the overall stability of the complex, and still others have the capacity to activate or inhibit the hydrolytic activity of the core particle. The increasing number of interacting proteins identified suggests that proteasomes, as they exist in the cell, are larger and more diverse in composition than previously assumed. Thus, the study of proteasome-associated proteins will lead to new perspectives on the dynamics of this uniquely complex proteolytic machine.
Participatory Methods for Water Resources Planning

The Water Framework Directive institutionalises participatory processes in river basin planning across the European Union. This paper reports on three case studies from southern Europe where conflicts over water exist. In each a different method for participation was experimentally employed: scenario workshops, mediated modelling, and social multicriteria evaluation. Scenario workshops and mediated modelling proved well suited to the early stages of a planning process (problem solving and identification of goals and alternatives) and to be good at educating participants and supporting capacity building. Their performance was less satisfactory with respect to resolving long-standing conflicts and achieving consensus. In comparison, social multicriteria evaluation was better able to address the evaluation of alternatives, reveal trade-offs, and aid convergence between divergent stakeholders' views, but it relied more heavily on experts and allowed less participation and deliberation in goal-setting than the other two methods. These results show complementarities amongst methods which imply that hybrid or combined approaches would be best for aiding the water planning process. They also reveal problems confronting the use of participatory approaches and constraints which prevent theoretical promise from being converted into practical results.
iv) Pelvic fractures and genitourinary injuries

Summary The association between pelvic fractures and genitourinary injuries, particularly bladder ruptures and posterior urethral tears, is well known. Sexual dysfunction (erectile dysfunction and dyspareunia) is also becoming a well-recognised frequent sequela of pelvic fractures. The management of combined genitourinary injuries and pelvic fractures is controversial, as there is evidence that the acute management of urethral tears may have a profound effect on future sexual function and continence. Currently, a trend exists toward more aggressive treatment of the bony injuries, genitourinary injuries, and sexual dysfunction with the hope of improving overall long-term functional outcomes.
Self-esteem and causal attributions for success and failure in children

In a comparison of causal attributions following success and failure in hypothetical social, athletic, and academic situations, high self-esteem grade school children were more likely than low self-esteem children to attribute their success to “ability” and their failure to either “lack of effort” or “bad luck.” Low self-esteem children, on the other hand, attributed their success more often than high self-esteem children to “good luck” (and in social situations to “effort” and “task ease” as well) and their failure to “lack of ability.” Whereas prior studies that focused only on the internal-external dimension found that low and high self-esteem children differed in their attributional style to success but not to failure, the present study found that when distinctions between behavioral and characterological attributions (stability and globality dimensions) were included, the two groups differed significantly in response to both success and failure. Although perhaps not generalizable beyond the present attribution measure, the most pronounced attribution differences between low and high self-esteem children were observed in the social domain, the least in the academic domain, with athletics falling in between. Finally, it was found that sex and age (within the limited fourth- to sixth-grade range examined in the present study) did not alter the overriding difference in attributional style between low and high self-esteem children.
On the hybrid-mixed formulation of C 0 curved beam elements

Abstract Two C 0 curved beam elements based on the hybrid-mixed formulation are studied in the form of membrane-shear locking, mesh convergence, and stress predictions. At the element level, both the displacement and stress fields are approximated separately. The stress parameters are then eliminated from the stationary condition of the Hellinger-Reissner variational principle so that the standard stiffness equations are obtained. The stress functions are chosen from two important considerations: (i) kinematic deformation modes must be avoided, and (ii) the constraint index counting of the element, when applied to limiting cases, must be equal to or greater than one. Based on these considerations, two curved beam elements are derived by including the effect of shear deformation and with linear and quadratic displacement fields. The elements are found to be lock-free for thin-walled beams. Several numerical examples are given to demonstrate the performance of the two curved elements.
Aspects of Total Variation Regularized L1 Function Approximation

The total variation--based image denoising model of Rudin, Osher, and Fatemi [Phys. D, 60, (1992), pp. 259--268] has been generalized and modified in many ways in the literature; one of these modifications is to use the L1 -norm as the fidelity term. We study the interesting consequences of this modification, especially from the point of view of geometric properties of its solutions. It turns out to have interesting new implications for data-driven scale selection and multiscale image decomposition.
Improving access for Latino immigrants: evaluation of language training adapted to the needs of health professionals.

The number of Latinos in North Carolina grew by almost 400% between 1990 and 2000. The rapid change in demographics in this state and other southeastern states has caught healthcare providers unprepared. Lack of ability to communicate with Latino patients may result in errors in diagnosis or reduced compliance with recommended treatments. The Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) Standards, published in 2001, mandate culturally and linguistically appropriate services for persons with limited English proficiency. This paper describes an innovative strategy to promote Spanish and culture-learning skills of healthcare providers and presents results of the evaluation conducted to determine its impact on access to quality care. The evaluation used a 360° case study design, at 1-year follow-up. Use of Spanish language health-related materials is key to the training's success. The authors make recommendations for replication of the integrated language and culture-training model in other new settlement areas, especially those in the southeast of the United States.
Structural correlations of activity of Clostridium acetobutylicum ATCC 824 butyrate kinase isozymes

The Clostridium acetobutylicum genome encodes two butyrate kinases. The gene for butyrate kinase I (BKI) is adjacent to the gene for phosphotransbutyrylase and this operon serves a major role in butyrate formation. A second butyrate kinase gene encodes an enzyme (BKII) that exhibits a much higher Km for butyrate and has a more rigid specificity than BKI. We used site specific mutagenesis and protein structural tools to explore the basis of the unique properties of BKII. Several BKII mutants were created and the enzymatic properties were compared considering structural features of other kinase family members. Alignment of the amino acid sequences for the acetate, propionate, and butyrate kinases from both Archaea and Bacteria domains revealed absolute conservation at two critical arginine and two critical histidine residues. High similarity was observed at two glutamate residues. Replacements of residues H155, H183, R215, and E334 resulted in undetectable kinase activity suggesting that these residues are essential. A polar or positively charged residue is required in position 332 and a positively charged residue is required at position 150. The amino acid sequences of both BKI and BKII were homology modeled with the three-dimensional structure of acetate kinase from Methanosarcina thermophila. This is the first structural description of an n-butyrate kinase.
Targeted Drug Delivery to Endothelial Adhesion Molecules

Endothelial cells represent important targets for therapeutic and diagnostic interventions in many cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurological, inflammatory, and metabolic diseases. Targeted delivery of drugs (especially potent and labile biotherapeutics that require specific subcellular addressing) and imaging probes to endothelium holds promise to improve management of these maladies. In order to achieve this goal, drug cargoes or their carriers including liposomes and polymeric nanoparticles are chemically conjugated or fused using recombinant techniques with affinity ligands of endothelial surface molecules. Cell adhesion molecules, constitutively expressed on the endothelial surface and exposed on the surface of pathologically altered endothelium—selectins, VCAM-1, PECAM-1, and ICAM-1—represent good determinants for such a delivery. In particular, PECAM-1 and ICAM-1 meet criteria of accessibility, safety, and relevance to the (patho)physiological context of treatment of inflammation, ischemia, and thrombosis and offer a unique combination of targeting options including surface anchoring as well as intra- and transcellular targeting, modulated by parameters of the design of drug delivery system and local biological factors including flow and endothelial phenotype. This review includes analysis of these factors and examples of targeting selected classes of therapeutics showing promising results in animal studies, supporting translational potential of these interventions.
The natural vocalizations of non-human primates

Recent field experiments indicate that the natural vocalizations of free-ranging primates are highly complex and share some rudimentary features with human language. Monkeys use a number of acoustically different vocalizations that provide others with information about objects and events in the world around them. In some cases subtle acoustic discrimination is involved, and one laboratory study has shown that macaques have a right-ear advantage in perceiving their own species' calls. The complexity of non-human primate vocalizations reflects the complex social structure of primate groups, and field experiments indicate that individuals make complex classifications of each other according to group membership, kinship and dominance rank.
Fuzzy logic based force-feedback for obstacle collision avoidance of robot manipulators

Robot remote teleoperation enables users to perform complex tasks in hostile or inaccessible environments, without physical presence. However, minimizing collisions with obstacles while maintaining accuracy and speed of task is important. While visual and auditory inputs to the user aid in accurate control, to achieve the required speed and accuracy, tactile and kinesthetic force-feedback information can be used. This paper presents a dynamic real-time fuzzy logic based force-feedback control for obstacle avoidance in a remotely operated robot manipulator. The presented method utilizes absolute position of the robot manipulator to calculate the distance vector to known obstacles. A fuzzy controller utilizes the distance vectors and the velocities of the components in the manipulator to generate force feedback in each axis. Furthermore, the paper presents an interactive graphical user interface that enables users to add or remove obstacles in the environment dynamically. The presented method was implemented on a simple 3-DOF robot manipulator. The presented method was compared to a situation without force feedback. Test results show significantly improved speed and consistency in completing a task when the presented force feedback method is used.
Modelling of muonium charge cycles in n-type silicon

Abstract Muonium transition rates are modelled for n-type Si based on parameters obtained from previous RF-μSR studies. We identify several different Mu charge cycles and the temperature region over which each dominates as the main source of longitudinal-field μSR relaxation. A new three-state −/0 cycle is established as most important at the highest temperatures and a modification of the rate expression for activated capture is proposed to reconcile apparent discrepancies between relaxation data and the existing model of Mu dynamics.
Synthesis of concurrent systems with many similar processes

Methods for synthesizing concurrent programs from temporal logic specifications based on the use of a decision procedure for testing temporal satisfiability have been proposed by Emerson and Clarke and by Manna and Wolper. An important advantage of these synthesis methods is that they obviate the need to manually compose a program and manually construct a proof of its correctness. One only has to formulate a precise problem specification; the synthesis method then mechanically constructs a correct solution. A serious drawback of these methods in practice, however, is that they suffer from the state explosion problem. To synthesize a concurrent system consisting of K sequential processes, each having N states in its local transition diagram, requires construction of the global product-machine having about NK global states in general. This exponential growth in K makes it infeasible to synthesize systems composed of more than 2 or 3 processes. In this article, we show how to synthesize concurrent systems consisting of many (i.e., a finite but arbitrarily large number K of) similar sequential processes. Our approach avoids construction of the global product-machine for K processes; instead, it constructs a two-process product-machine for a single pair of generic sequential processes. The method is uniform in K, providing a simple template that can be instantiated for each process to yield a solution for any fixed K. The method is also illustrated on synchronization problems from the literature.
Tissue dependence of retinoic acid metabolism in vivo

Metabolites formed in vivo from [3H]retinoic acid dosed intrajugularly to vitamin A-deficient rats and to vitamin A-deficient rats supplemented orally with unlabeled retinoic acid were investigated. Extracts of liver, small intestinal mucosa, kidney, testes and serum were separated into charged and uncharged fractions by DEAE-Sephadex. This allowed the direct application of 20–40% of the combined charged extracts from up to six organs to be loaded onto a high-performance liquid chromatography column. The large aliquot size plus the use of relatively high specific activity [3H]retinoic acid resulted in detection of nanomolar metabolite quantities. The substantial resolution achieved with the high-performance liquid chromatography gradient system aided in demonstrating the complexity, extent and variations of retinoic acid metabolism in vivo. The metabolic profiles changed with retinoic acid pretreatment, time after dose and tissue source. Some 3H-labeled metabolites were predominant in vitamin A-deficient animals; others appeared to be predominant in the retinoic acid-supplemented animals. The gross effect of retinoic acid supplementation was to both accelerate retinoic acid metabolism and cause an accumulation of more polar metabolites. It appears that retinoic acid metabolism in vivo is a complex process that occurs through multiple metabolites, which are, at least partially, tissue-specific.
Effects of β-adrenergic blockers on glutamate-induced calcium signals in adult mouse retinal ganglion cells

Abstract Betaxolol, a selective β 1 -adrenoceptor antagonist, is an antiglaucoma drug commonly used to lower the intraocular pressure (IOP) in treatment of glaucoma. Recent evidence has also shown that it attenuates ligand- and voltage-gated currents in retinal ganglion cells, which may lead to reduction of intracellular calcium and prevention of glutamate-induced ganglion cell damage in glaucoma. In the present study, we examined the effectiveness of betaxolol and other β-adrenergic blockers on glutamate-induced calcium signals. Dissociated adult mouse retinal ganglion cells were immuno-labeled with antibody CD90.2 and loaded with Fura-2AM. Calcium signals were recorded with optical recording techniques. Low doses of glutamate cause an increase in intracellular calcium that may result in pathological changes in ganglion cells. The action of glutamate could be reversibly suppressed by β-adrenergic blockers and the order of inhibitory potency is ( s )(−)-propranolol>betaxolol≫timolol, with average IC 50 of 78.05, 235.7 and 2167.05, μM, respectively. Betaxolol compressed the dose–response curve of glutamate. The EC 50 of glutamate was shifted from 6.19 to 23.53 μM, indicating that betaxolol acts as a non-competitive inhibitor of glutamate response in retinal ganglion cells. Our data are consistent with previous reports that betaxolol and other β-adrenergic blockers may exert its neuroprotective action by suppression of glutamate-induced intracellular calcium increase in retinal ganglion cells.
A preliminary simulated annealing for resilience supply chains

Most of the products imported from Mexico to U.S. can be classified as perishable. The United States Trade Representative has reported that the overall importations from Mexico to U.S. were equivalent to $16.4 billion during 2012. Due to the geographical location of both countries most of the transportation of products across the U.S. - Mexico border is road modal transportation. The inspection of trucks at the border entry points can take a long and unpredictable time. For perishable products, these inspections have a very important effect on their shelf life once they arrive to their destination. This paper presents a novel model that combines a metaheuristic with a simulation. The proposed method was coded in Matlab®. This model helps in the selection of the amount of product that will be sent through each of the available routes. Random length of disruptive inspection time and availability of servers at the entry points are very important for the Supply Chain (SC) that includes the transportation system of perishables from Mexico to U.S. The proposed Simulation-based Optimization Model (SimOpt) minimizes transportation time and transportation cost of agricultural products traded across the U.S. - Mexico border to build a resilient supply chain. This SimOpt model considers realistic continuous probability distributions for the inspection time. This variability also accounts for the availability of inspection servers and lanes in the points of entry. The solution procedure finds solutions for a weighted (time and freight cost) objective function. The results of a case study are presented.
Adsorbate effect on conductance quantization in metallic nanowires

of the setup using an environmental chamber ~Molecular Imaging Co.! into which various species are introduced for adsorption. We have chosen three species, ethanol, pyridine, and 4-hydroxyl thiophenol ~4 HTP! in this study because their adsorption strengths vary from weak physisorption (,k BT;0.025 eV) to intermediate adsorption ~;0.5 eV! and to very strong chemisorption ~; 2e V !. We compare the results with those in N 2 . In order to maximize the chance of observing the adsorbate effect, we used saturated vapor in each of the cases. From the vapor concentrations, the average rate for molecules to directly collide with the narrowest portion of a nanowire is greater than 10 8 /sec. The lifetime of the nanowire is in the order of many ms, during which the mol
Fossil snail shells tell story about Tibetan Plateau

Ancient and modern snail shells have given scientists a unique look at the evolution of the Tibetan Plateau, confirming that parts of the plateau have actually lost elevation over time, despite its immense height. A new paper detailing the research was published on 29 August in the Geological Society of America Bulletin (doi:10.1130/B31000.1).
Callus induction by 2 chloroethyl phosphonic acid on cultured cotton ovules

The response of cultured cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) ovules to the ethylene releasing growth regulator, (2-chloroethyl) phosphonic acid (ethephon), was measured. Control ovules grown on a complete liquid medium without hormones continued the differentiation normal for cotton, although at a slower rate than in vivo. When ethephon was added to the medium, normal organ and fiber development was inhibited but callus was induced from the micropylar end of the ovule. The callus was extremely friable and produced many free cells in the culture medium. Dry weight of the callused ovules increased over 4-fold and total cell number increased 56% over the controls. Apparently ethylene released from the ethephon stimulated both cell division and cell expansion in forming the callus.
Olfaction and olfactory epithelium in mice treated with zinc gluconate.

OBJECTIVE We assessed whether a nasal spray containing zinc gluconate (ZG) compromises the integrity of olfactory epithelium and olfactory function. METHODS Axonal transport of horseradish peroxidase from olfactory epithelium to the olfactory bulb was studied in 2- to 21-day survival mice given intranasal injections of 2, 8, or 50 microL of ZG (approximately 4, 15, and 94 times the equivalent recommended human dose). Other similarly treated mice were tested using precision olfactometry to detect and discriminate odors. RESULTS Anatomic changes were graded as a function of dose and survival time. Two microliter injections had no discernable effect. while the 50 microL volume produced substantial deafferentation of input to the olfactory bulb in short-survival cases. Nearly complete restitution of input occurred within 3 weeks. At each volume and survival time, zinc sulfate (ZS) had a greater effect. Behaviorally, 2 microL and 8 microL ZG-treated mice and those given multiple injections of 2 microL ZG performed as well as controls, whereas those given 50 microL were hyposmic but not anosmic. ZS-treated mice performed more poorly, and those injected with 50 microL were anosmic for the first 8 to 10 test days. CONCLUSIONS A massive dose of a ZG nasal spray did cause a transient disruption of the olfactory epithelium and compromised olfaction. More moderate volumes, even those far in excess of a recommended dose, were largely without effect on odor detection and discrimination tasks. These outcomes fail to support the claims from recent clinical case reports that use of a ZG-containing nasal spray can produce anosmia.
A comparison of the VHI, VHI-10, and V-RQOL for measuring the effect of botox therapy in adductor spasmodic dysphonia.

Summary Background Although disease-specific quality-of-life (QOL) instruments are an invaluable outcome measure in spasmodic dysphonia, there is no consensus on which QOL instrument should be used. Objective To determine the responsiveness of the Voice Handicap Index (VHI), Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10), and Voice-Related Quality of Life (V-RQOL) to the treatment effect of botulinum toxin (Botox) in adductor spasmodic dysphonia (ADSD). Setting Stanford University Voice and Swallowing Center. Design Prospective case series (level of evidence = 4). Methods Consecutive ADSD patients with a stable Botox dose-response relationship were recruited prospectively. VHI, VHI-10, and V-RQOL scores were obtained pretreatment and during the middle third of the posttreatment injection cycle. Results Thrity-seven patients completed the follow-up. The average total Botox dose was 0.88 units. The average follow-up time after injection was 7.84 weeks. The pretreatment QOL scores reflected the burden of the disease. All the three instruments were highly correlated in subscale and total scores. After treatment, all three instruments showed significant improvement. Conclusion The VHI, VHI-10, and V-RQOL all reflected the morbidity associated with ADSD and were significantly responsive to the effect of Botox therapy. The choice of instrument should be based on physician preference.
Molecular screening of the glucokinase gene in familial type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus.

The glucokinase locus has been implicated by linkage studies in several Caucasian pedigrees with early onset, autosomal dominant diabetes, and mutations have been identified in a large number of these pedigrees. Although mutations have been reported in some pedigrees with late onset Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus, linkage studies of typical familial Type 2 diabetes did not suggest a major role for this locus. Nonetheless, linkage studies were consistent with the hypothesis that mutations of the glucokinase gene were responsible for the pathogenesis of Type 2 diabetes in a minority of pedigrees or one gene in a polygenic disorder. To systematically address this hypothesis, we examined 60 diabetic members of 18 pedigrees ascertained for two or more Type 2 diabetic siblings and eight unrelated diabetic spouses. Initially, the coding regions from each of the 11 glucokinase exons were examined by the sensitive technique of single strand conformation polymorphism analysis to screen for single nucleotide substitutions. Subsequently, we also sequenced each exon from an affected member of the single pedigree in which a glucokinase allele was most likely to segregate with diabetes. Single strand conformation polymorphism analysis detected only three variants, none of which altered the amino acid sequence. No coding or splice site mutations were detected. Likewise, no additional mutations were detected upon direct sequence analysis. However, additional screening of promoter and 3′ untranslated regions detected a variant pattern in the untranslated region of exon 10 which appeared to segregate with diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance in one pedigree. Sequence analysis demonstrated the deletion of a cytosine in exon 10 at position 906, but this deletion was not associated with Type 2 diabetes among unrelated spouses, was not linked to diabetes, and was not associated with significant elevations of fasting glucose or insulin among non-diabetic pedigree members. Similarly, two common variants in the islet promoter did not segregate with diabetes. We conclude that among typical familial Type 2 diabetes in a population representative of Northern European Caucasians, glucokinase mutations are an unlikely cause of diabetes.
Synthesis and formulation of several epinephrine salts as an aerosol dosage form

Abstract A satisfactory method for the preparation of various salts of epinephrine such as the maleate, malate, and fumarate was developed. Following the synthesis of these salts, a study of the partition coefficient of these salts in higher molecu1ephrine bitartrate in these same vehicles. The solubility of these new salts in chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, and fluorinated hydrocarbons was then determined. Several systems incorporating these new salts were prepared and subjected to a preliminary stability study. The partition coefficient of epinephrine maleate determined between octyl alcohol-water and hexadecyl alcohol-water was found to be higher than the value for epinephrine bitartrate, malate, and fumarate. The solubility of epinephrine maleate and fumarate in four propellants (dichlorodifluoromethane, dichlorotetrafluoroethane, monochlorodifluoroethane, and difluoroethane) was found to be slightly higher than the epinephrine bitartrate and malate. As expected, difluoroethane dissolved the highest amount of epinephrine salts as compared to the other propellants studied. Epinephrine maleate and bitartrate were found to have greater stability than the epinephrine malate and fumarate compounds on the basis of the preliminary stability study.
Role of wall friction in fluidization and standpipe flow

Abstract Fluidization–defluidization experiments have been carried out in beds of three different diameters, using XL glass beads and air as the fluidizing medium. The variation of pressure drop and bed height manifested a hysteretic behavior, which was more pronounced in smaller tubes. Analysis of the results using a one-dimensional model proposed by Jackson revealed that the observed effect of tube diameter may be attributed to wall friction. From this analysis, we extracted a quantitative estimate of the variation of the compressive yield stress of an assembly of particles as a function of particle volume fraction. The standpipe performance data reported by Srivastava et al. [Powder Technol. 100 (1998) 173.] for these glass beads were analyzed on the basis of the estimated compressive yield strength. It was found that the support provided by the standpipe wall could be estimated quantitatively from the standpipe holdup data and the compressive yield strength determined separately from our fluidization–defluidization experiments.
Adsorption of dissolved natural organic matter by modified activated carbons

Abstract Adsorption of dissolved natural organic matter (DOM) by virgin and modified granular activated carbons (GACs) was studied. DOM samples were obtained from two water treatment plants before (i.e., raw water) and after coagulation/flocculation/sedimentation processes (i.e., treated water). A granular activated carbon (GAC) was modified by high temperature helium or ammonia treatment, or iron impregnation followed by high temperature ammonia treatment. Two activated carbon fibers (ACFs) were also used, with no modification, to examine the effect of carbon porosity on DOM adsorption. Size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and specific ultraviolet absorbance (SUVA254) were employed to characterize the DOMs before and after adsorption. Iron-impregnated (HDFe) and ammonia-treated (HDN) activated carbons showed significantly higher DOM uptakes than the virgin GAC. The enhanced DOM uptake by HDFe was due to the presence of iron species on the carbon surface. The higher uptake of HDN was attributed to the enlarged carbon pores and basic surface created during ammonia treatment. The SEC and SUVA254 results showed no specific selectivity in the removal of different DOM components as a result of carbon modification. The removal of DOM from both raw and treated waters was negligible by ACF10, having 96% of its surface area in pores smaller than 1 nm. Small molecular weight (MW) DOM components were preferentially removed by ACF20H, having 33% of its surface area in 1–3 nm pores. DOM components with MWs larger than 1600, 2000, and 2700 Da of Charleston raw, Charleston-treated, and Spartanburg-treated waters, respectively, were excluded from the pores of ACF20H. In contrast to carbon fibers, DOM components from entire MW range were removed from waters by virgin and modified GACs.
Effects of genotype and environment on glutenin polymers and breadmaking quality

ABSTRACT Six genotypes of hard red spring (HRS) wheat were grown at seven environments in North Dakota during 1998. Effects of genotype and environment on glutenin polymeric proteins and dough mixing and baking properties were examined. Genotype, environment, and genotype-by-environment interaction all significantly affected protein and dough mixing properties. However, different protein and quality measurements showed differences for relative influences of genotype and environment. Total flour protein content and SDS-soluble glutenin content were influenced more by environmental than genetic factors, while SDS-insoluble glutenin content was controlled more by genetic than environmental factors. Significant genotypic and environmental effects were found for the size distribution of SDS-soluble glutenins and between SDS-soluble and SDS-insoluble glutenins as well as % SDS-insoluble glutenins. With increased flour protein content, the proportions of monomeric proteins and SDS-insoluble glutenin polymers app...
Central projections of the pineal complex in the silver lamprey Ichthyomyzon unicuspis

The central projections of the pineal complex of the silver lamprey Ichthyomyzon unicuspis were studied by injection of horseradish peroxidase. The pineal tract courses caudally along the left side of the habenular commissure, and a few fibers penetrate the brain through the caudalmost portion of this commissure. Most of the fibers, however, continue caudally and enter the brain through the posterior commissure. The pineal tract projects bilaterally to the subcomissural organ, the superficial and periventricular pretectum, the posterior tubercular nucleus, the dorsal and ventral thalamus, the dorsal hypothalamus, the optic tectum, the torus semicircularis, the midbrain tegmentum, and the oculomotor nucleus. A few fibers decussate in the tubercular commissure, but the course of these decussate fibers could not be followed owing to the bilateral nature of the projections. No retrogradely labeled cells were found in the brain. With the exception of the projections to the optic tectum and torus semicircularis, the pineal projections in the silver lamprey are similar to those reported in other anamniote vertebrates.
Watching nanoparticles grow: the mechanism and kinetics for the formation of TiO2-supported platinum nanoparticles.

The formation of supported Pt nanoparticles during the reduction of Pt4+ on TiO2 under H2 (4% in He) gas flow has been monitored using a differential approach to time-resolved pair distribution function (PDF) analysis of high-energy X-ray scattering data. The reduction of Pt4+ species was found to follow pseudo-zero-order reaction kinetics, with an activation energy of 0.52 eV. Reaction data obtained at constant temperature (100, 150, and 200 °C) and during heating (0−200 °C) indicate that the growth of nanoparticles from the reduce Pt0 species depends strongly on temperature and proceeds more rapidly upon heating.
Special Section Guest Editorial: Compressive Sensing for Imaging

Compressive sensing (CS) is an emerging field of research with far-reaching impact on a variety of applications. For signals admitting sparse representations, CS permits collection of a significantly reduced number of measurements than required by the Shannon-Nyquist sampling theorem and provides efficient superresolution signal reconstruction. In essence, CS provides means for reducing data volume and efficient sensor deployment without a degradation in system performance. Such capabilities are highly desirable for a range of civil and military applications.
The impact of ability group placement decisions on the equality of educational opportunity in desegregated elementary schools

The academic placement decisions of school personnel in desegregated elementary schools is assessed. Placement decisions involving labeling, classifying, and differential assignment policies are often related to the student's racial background. Students are often misclassified and misplaced because of inappropriate evaluation procedures and arbitrary decisions made by school personnel. Such assignment policies have led to high levels of classroom and program resegregation once districts and school buildings have been desegregated. Differential placement, often referred to as ability grouping, must be discontinued as it is currently practiced. Low teacher expectations, differential curricula, and low student achievement are often associated with differential placement decisions in desegregated elementary schools.
NOx and SOx emissions from fossil fuels: A global distribution

Abstract This paper presents a global database of annual NOx and SOx emissions from fossil fuel combustion at a 1° resolution. The annual emissions estimates were based on fuel consumption for individual countries and are distributed according to human population within each country. There is a large spatial variability in the distribution of these emissions with over 90% of each gas being emitted in the Northern Hemisphere. It is expected that the estimates of NOx and SOx emissions will be useful for global and regional chemical transport simulations. The database is available from the author for this purpose.
A new high-brightness electron injector for free electron lasers driven by RF linacs

Abstract A free electron laser oscillator, driven by an RF linac, requires a train of electron bunches delivered to an undulator. The brightness requirement exceeds that from a conventional linac with rf bunchers. The demonstrated high brightness of laser-illuminated photoemitters indicates that the conventional buncher system might be eliminated entirely, thereby avoiding the usual large loss of brightness that occurs in bunchers. A photoemitter with a current density of about 200 A/cm 2 is placed on an end wall of an rf cavity to accelerate a 60 ps bunch of electrons to 1 MeV as rapidly as possible. Preliminary experimental work, simulation calculations, and discussions on emittance measurement techniques and positive ion motion in the rf gun are presented.
A STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF THE UTILIZATION EFFECTIVENESS OF A PERT PROGRAM

This article is based on the belief that students should learn the computational aspects of decision science techniques outside the classroom, thus freeing the instructor from this task and enabling him to devote more class time to focusing on the theoretical and/or application-oriented elements which will take students further in their learning experience. An experiment was designed to determine the learning value of one way of achieving this, namely the use of a Learning Center where students learned individually using a programmed instruction learning machine. The research involved both graduates and undergraduates learning the fundamentals of PERT—some with the learning machine approach while others were involved in more conventional pedagogies. Surprising success was discovered relative to both the approach and the quality of the PERT program used, with far-reaching implications regarding futuristic approaches to decision science education.
Nature of the motor element in electrokinetic shape changes of cochlear outer hair cells

IT is the prevailing notion that cochlear outer hair cells function as mechanical effectors as well as sensory receptors1–3. Electrically induced changes in the shape of mammalian outer hair cells4,5, studied in vitro, are commonly assumed to represent an aspect of their effector process that may occur in vivo. The nature of the motile process is obscure, even though none of the established cellular motors can be involved6. Although it is known that the motile response is under voltage control7, it is uncertain whether the stimulus is a drop in the voltage along the long axis of the cell or variation in the transmembrane potential. We have now performed experiments with cells partitioned in differing degrees between two chambers. Applied voltage stimulates the cell membrane segments in opposite polarity to an amount dependent on the partitioning. The findings show, in accordance with previous suggestions6–8, that the driving stimulus is a local transmembrane voltage drop and that the cellular motor consists of many independent elements, distributed along the cell membrane and its associated cortical structures. We further show that the primary action of the motor elements is along the longitudinal dimension of the cell without necessarily involving changes in intracellular hydrostatic pressure. This establishes the outer hair cell motor as unique among mechanisms that control cell shape9.
The wanderings of Jia Zhangke: pre-hodological space and aimless youths in Xiao Wu and Unknown Pleasures

This article examines the pre-hodological space Jia Zhangke creates in his films, such as Xiao Wu (1997) and Unknown Pleasures (2002), illustrating the connection between the formal construction of filmic space and economic reform in China. Gilles Deleuze defines pre-hodological space as the space before action, drawing from Kurt Lewin's Principles of Topological Psychology (1936) and Gilbert Simondon on the concept of individuation. Exploring Jia's films through these originary texts, the author elaborates a psychopolitics based on the connection between the production of subjects and the growth of globalized capitalist economies in China.
Does Increased Equity Ownership Lead to More Strategically Involved Boards

According to Jay Lorsch, boards will be increasingly expected to exercise more leadership, even strategic leadership, in the running of a firm. In order to align directors to the best interest of the firm, directors are increasingly required to purchase the equity of the companies on whose board they serve, and in the majority of cases, the minimum shareholding is 1000 shares. The rationale for this is that the directors will take the perspective of real owners of the company, partly based on a study by the National Association of Corporate Directors in 1995. Using behavioral economics, this paper makes some counterintuitive predictions about how involved boards are likely to react to an offer for a hostile takeover. By studying their reactions, the paper inductively analyzes the use of equity ownership as an incentive mechanism.
Helper factors derived from autologous mixed lymphocyte cultures

Abstract When human peripheral blood T lymphocytes were cultured with irradiated autologous trinitrophenyl modified autologous cells, cytotoxic cells were generated against the latter, provided that an additional stimulatory signal was also introduced into the cultures. Experiments carried out in this paper showed that this stimulus could be provided by the autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction derived by adding to the cultures autologous non-T mononuclear cells or autologous lymphoblastoid cell line cells. Cell-free supernatants obtained from such autologous mixed lymphocyte cultures were also effective. In addition, autologous mixed lymphocyte culture supernatants induced the generation of antibody producing cells from monocyte-depleted peripheral blood mononuclear cells. However, in contrast to the cytotoxic response, this effector function could be induced to a significant degree in the absence of antigen. Quantitation of the percentage of plasma cells formed/cultured was the best indicator of this polyclonal activation. These experiments indicate that helper factors are produced in autologous mixed lymphocyte cultures which can provide a signal to induce the development of cytotoxic and antibody-producing cells.
Human cells have a limited set of tRNA anticodon loop substrates of the tRNA isopentenyltransferase TRIT1 tumor suppressor

Human TRIT1 is a tRNA isopentenyltransferase (IPTase) homologue of Escherichia coli MiaA, Saccharomyces cerevisiae Mod5, Schizosaccharomyces pombe Tit1, and Caenorhabditis elegans GRO-1 that adds isopentenyl groups to adenosine 37 (i6A37) of substrate tRNAs. Prior studies indicate that i6A37 increases translation fidelity and efficiency in codon-specific ways. TRIT1 is a tumor suppressor whose mutant alleles are associated with cancer progression. We report the systematic identification of i6A37-containing tRNAs in a higher eukaryote, performed using small interfering RNA knockdown and other methods to examine TRIT1 activity in HeLa cells. Although several potential substrates contained the IPTase recognition sequence A36A37A38 in the anticodon loop, only tRNA(Ser)AGA, tRNA(Ser)CGA, tRNA(Ser)UGA, and selenocysteine tRNA with UCA (tRNA([Ser]Sec)UCA) contained i6A37. This subset is a significantly more restricted than that for two distant yeasts (S. cerevisiae and S. pombe), the only other organisms comprehensively examined. Unlike the fully i6A37-modified tRNAs for Ser, tRNA([Ser]Sec)UCA is partially (∼40%) modified. Exogenous selenium and other treatments that decreased the i6A37 content of tRNA([Ser]Sec)UCA led to increased levels of the tRNA([Ser]Sec)UCA. Of the human mitochondrion (mt)-encoded tRNAs with A36A37A38, only mt tRNAs tRNA(Ser)UGA and tRNA(Trp)UCA contained detectable i6A37. Moreover, while tRNA(Ser) levels were unaffected by TRIT1 knockdown, the tRNA([Ser]Sec)UCA level was increased and the mt tRNA(Ser)UGA level was decreased, suggesting that TRIT1 may control the levels of some tRNAs as well as their specific activity.