cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intercapsular Cataract Extraction with Intraocular Lens Implantation in Diabetes Mellitus

A retrospective evaluation of intercapsular cataract extraction with ‘in the capsular bag' Intraocular lens implantation (IOL) was carried out on 45 eyes of 34 diabetics and 200 non-diabetic eyes. This demonstrated no statistically significant difference in operative or postoperative complications ( P >0.4). A postoperative corrected visual acuity of 6/12 or better was achieved in 80% of the operated diabetic eyes and 87% of the non-diabetic eyes. When eyes with preexisting diseases responsible for reducing vision were excluded, postoperative corrected visual acuity of 6/12 or better was seen in 92% of the diabetic eyes compared to 94% in non-diabetic eyes. These differences were not significant ( P >0.2 and >0.7 respectively). Postoperative visualization of the fundus and retinal photocoagulation with Argon laser could be carried out through the intraocular lens without any significant problem. There was no deterioration in the diabetic retinopathy status after the surgery. Diabetes mellitus per se does not adversely affect the results of cataract-IOL surgery.
Phenotypic Evolution in the Fossil Record: Numerical Experiments

Abstract Stratophenetic data document phenotypic changes in a fossil lineage and play a vital role in reconciling contemporary microevolution with long‐term paleontological patterns. However, stratophenetic series represent multiscale geological and biological interactions, defying simple analysis and interpretation. A numerical model is presented that simulates stratophenetic series in shallow marine siliciclastic deposits. The model is driven by predictions of water depth, substrate properties, and sedimentation rate from a high‐resolution sedimentary basin fill model. Species abundance is modeled as a probability density peaked with respect to environmental preferences. The Price equation is used to model phenotypic evolution based on phenotype‐fitness covariance and drift. Preservation is a Poisson process controlled by population size, preservation probability, and sedimentation. Numerical experiments are used to investigate (1) the effects of sampling and depositional architecture on observed patter...
Mechanisms Linking Stressful Life Events and Mental Health Problems in a Prospective, Community-Based Sample of Adolescents

Purpose Stressful life events represent potent risk factors for the development of internalizing symptoms among adolescents. However the mechanisms linking stress to adolescent psychopathology remain inadequately understood. This study examined the role of emotion dysregulation as a mechanism linking stress to changes in internalizing symptoms among adolescents.
"Suitable Care of the African When Afflicted With Insanity": Race, Madness, and Social Order in Comparative Perspective

This article examines the historical parallels and convergences between ideas of racial difference in the Anglo-American psychiatric community and concrete practices of inmate management in mental institutions in the postemancipation United States and colonial sub-Saharan Africa. It maps the theories and rhetoric of racial hierarchy that characterized psychiatrists' thought regarding the etiology of mental illness among people of African descent and the specific pathologies to which they were subject. Taking a closer look at Saint Elizabeths Hospital, a federal mental institution in Washington, D.C., the article explores the ways in which these theories of racial hierarchy translated into the actual management of black bodies. It ultimately argues that in order to fully comprehend the role of race in the history of the asylum in the United States, historians need to familiarize themselves with the history and historiography of colonial psychiatry.
A New Species of Nodonota (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) with a Review of the United States Species

The genus Nodonota in America north of Mexico is reviewed. A key to the 8 recognized species is presented. Nodonota margaretae n. sp. is described. Neotypes are designated for Nodonota convexa (Say) and for Nodonota puncticollis (Say). Lectotypes are designated for N. cylpealis Horn, N. basalis (Jacoby), and Gastroidea aenea Melsh (= N. puncticollis Say). Brachypnoea Gistel, 1848 is considered a nomen oblitum.
CO Adsorption Behavior of Cu/SiO2, Co/SiO2, and CuCo/SiO2 Catalysts Studied by in Situ DRIFTS

The mode of CO adsorption is an important factor in directing the selectivity of CO hydrogenation toward methanol, hydrocarbons, or higher alcohols. Here, we report results on three catalysts: Cu/SiO2, Co/SiO2, and CuCo/SiO2. Infrared spectroscopic studies on Cu/SiO2 and CuCo/SiO2 show similar CO adsorption behavior on copper sites, in terms of adsorption frequency and stability, regardless of the presence or absence of cobalt. The CO species adsorbing on copper is not thermally stable at typical CO hydrogenation reaction temperatures. For CO to adsorb on cobalt sites on either Co/SiO2or CuCo/SiO2, temperatures above ambient are required. In general, linearly adsorbed CO binds more strongly to the cobalt sites of CuCo/SiO2 than of Co/SiO2. Thus, on CuCo/SiO2, CO is more likely to dissociate at the same sites where it linearly adsorbs, leading to increased probability of CO insertion and ethanol formation. A second type of site on Co/SiO2 is responsible for direct CO dissociation, leading to high activity ...
Memory retrieval and discrimination learning

Abstract A better reinforcement schedule may be associated with one exteroceptive stimulus (S+) than with another exteroceptive stimulus (S−). While all theories agree that performance in such discrimination tasks is affected by the reinforcement schedules associated with the exteroceptive S+ and S− cues, some theories suggest that performance is also affected by the reinforcement schedule associated with interoceptive reward produced cues. The two experiments reported here were concerned with identifying the conditions under which the interoceptive cues produced by nonreward come to affect performance. According to one hypothesis, such cues will acquire control over approach responding if animals make an approach response in their presence, but not otherwise. According to the memory hypothesis, the memory of nonreinforcement will become a signal for reinforcement, thus invigorating performance, if it is retrieved on a rewarded trial. In two experiments, two groups made strong approach responses to the nonreinforced cues on S− trials, but the memory of nonreward was better retrieved on a subsequent rewarded trial in one group than in the other. Subsequently, both groups were extinguished. The extinction findings support the memory view.
Pulmonary development in the fetal lamb: Morphometric study of the alveolar phase

The alveolar stage of intra-uterine lung development was analyzed morphometrically in 18 fetal lambs at 112, 124, 142, or 148 (term) days of gestation. The right lungs were fixed at uniform distending pressure and the tissue embedded in Epon for light microscopy. Over the whole period, right lung volume (VL) increased more rapidly than body weight to reach a mean value of 185 cm3 at term. The increase in VL was greatest between 112 and 124 days gestation. Throughout the period of study the distal lung consisted of alveolar-like air-spaces lined by walls with a single capillary system. Despite this mature morphology, further differentiation took place as established by two independent measurements. First, interalveolar wall thickness decreased from 4.12 ± .03 μm at 112 days to 2.55 ± .02 μm at term. Secondly, alveolar surface area increased at a greater rate than lung volume (as VL 1.06), suggesting a moderate increase in surface complexity, but not a subdivision of existing air-spaces. This latter finding was supported by numerical density values which remained fairly constant. We conclude that throughout this period active growth involves the addition of alveolar units of basically similar size. This is a similar process to the one noted previously in postpneumonectomy compensatory growth.
Surrealism, Ethnography, and the Animal-Human

In the first “Manifesto of Surrealism” from 1924, Andre Breton described himself and his companions in the newly formed group as having transformed themselves, “dans nos œuvres les sourds receptacl...
Territorial behavior of the black and yellow rockfish and gopher rockfish (Scorpaenidae, Sebastes)

Tagged black-and-yellow rockfish Sebastes chrysomelas and gopher rockfish S. carnatus were observed in situ for 1 yr at 3 study sites off California, USA in order to determine the nature of their home ranges and territories. Three basic patterns of space use were identified: (1) a shelter hole located within a larger area of activity (in which the fish presumably fed, since its size increased with size of fish and decreased with prey density); (2) discontinuous home ranges, in which the shelter holes and feeding areas were separte; and (3) dispersed home ranges with little or no exclusive area. Fish in the first category were regarded as territorial, since their home ranges were defended and relatively exclusive. Because individuals did not patrol borders, however, territories often overlapped at their peripheries. In addition, some territory holders appeared to tolerate the sheltering of other fish within their territories, as long as these intruders left the territory during periods of activity. Some fish with discontinuous home ranges (“commuters”) may have been territorial, but others may have been forced to occupy suboptimal feeding areas. Fish in the third category (“floaters”) were regarded as nonterritorial; their activities were apparently limited to areas where they could escape the aggression of territory holders. The varying patterns appeared to develop through defense and accommodation during the turnover of individuals, with each fish securing shelter and feeding areas as these became available.
Interpatient Variability in Dexmedetomidine Response: A Survey of the Literature

Fifty-five thousand patients are cared for in the intensive care unit (ICU) daily with sedation utilized to reduce anxiety and agitation while optimizing comfort. The Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) released updated guidelines for management of pain, agitation, and delirium in the ICU and recommended nonbenzodiazepines, such as dexmedetomidine and propofol, as first line sedation agents. Dexmedetomidine, an alpha-2 agonist, offers many benefits yet its use is mired by the inability to consistently achieve sedation goals. Three hypotheses including patient traits/characteristics, pharmacokinetics in critically ill patients, and clinically relevant genetic polymorphisms that could affect dexmedetomidine response are presented. Studies in patient traits have yielded conflicting results regarding the role of race yet suggest that dexmedetomidine may produce more consistent results in less critically ill patients and with home antidepressant use. Pharmacokinetics of critically ill patients are reported as similar to healthy individuals yet wide, unexplained interpatient variability in dexmedetomidine serum levels exist. Genetic polymorphisms in both metabolism and receptor response have been evaluated in few studies, and the results remain inconclusive. To fully understand the role of dexmedetomidine, it is vital to further evaluate what prompts such marked interpatient variability in critically ill patients.
Organizational Competence as a Predictor of Long Run Survival and Growth

The subjective evaluation of an organization's effectiveness (or competence) by its top executives was found to be an excellent predictor of the subsequent survival and growth of the organization. ...
Reconstruction for large cheek defects

Cheek defects can be repaired with skin grafts, local flaps, locoregional flaps such as the deep-plane cervicofacial rotation-advancement flap, or distant flaps. Skin grafts usually provide poor color and texture match and are rarely used. Local flaps are the best choice when the defect is not too large and local tissue is available. The deep-plane cervicofacial rotation advancement flap is an excellent choice for moderate-to-large defects that are too large for local flaps but require only external skin. When the defect is through-and-through, a distant flap is usually required. In such cases, the radial forearm and rectus abdominis free flaps can usually provide acceptable results.
Digestive mechanics and gluttonous feeding in the feather star Oligometra serripinna (Echinodermata: Crinoidea)

The movement and digestion of food in the gut ofOligometra serripinna (Carpenter) were studied at Lizard Island (14°38′42″S; 145°27′10″E) in the austral winter of 1986. Feather stars in the laboratory were fed a brief, small meal of brine shrimp nauplii and killed at increasing time intervals thereafter. Histological reconstructions showed that the ingested nauplii progressed along the digestive tract surprisingly quickly. Some nauplii were found in the mid and hind intestine in only 30 min, and all of the nauplii had reached the hind intestine and rectum in 1 h. Digestion of the nauplii had started at 1 h, and only a few fragments of naupliar exoskeleton remained in the hind intestine and rectum 5 h after the start of feeding. Videotape analysis showed that no fecal pellets were released during this experiment. In the natural environment ofO. serripinna, ingested particles may similarly be transported quickly to the hind part of the gut and digested there — when feather stars were fixed in the field, most of the gut contents were found in the hind intestine and rectum.O. serripinna, which efficiently rejects inert particles before they are ingested, usually defecates infrequently (probably not more than once over a span of many hours) and differs from some other feather stars that ingest numerous inert particles and defecate much more frequently. When specimens ofO. serripinna were fed continuously on brine shrimp nauplii,Artemia sp. (San Francisco strain), in the laboratory, the feather stars fed gluttonously, packing their guts with several hundred nauplii in 1 to 2 h. Thereafter, superfluous feeding began (i.e., further ingestions appeared to force undigested nauplii, some of them still living, out of the anus). These observations suggest thatO. serripinna usually feeds at relatively modest rates in its natural habitat, but can feed gluttonously to take advantage of infrequent patches of highly concentrated, nutritious particles (e.g. copepod swarms, migrating demersal zooplankton, and invertebrate gametes from mass spawnings). It is likely that such patches of nutritious particles are usually small enough to drift out of reach of the feather stars before gluttonous feeding proceeds to superfluous feeding. Opportunities for superfluous feeding in nature are probably very infrequent (e.g. ingestion of coral gametes and embryos after a mass spawning), and the feather stars evidently have no behavior that stops further ingestions after the gut becomes filled to capacity.
The cosmological deceleration parameter estimated from the angular-size/redshift relation for compact radio sources

IN cosmological models based on the standard Friedmann–Robertson–Walker geometry, the apparent flux density or angular size of standard candles or standard rods varies with redshift in a way that depends on the deceleration parameter q0. (Open universes have q0 0.5.) At low redshift, however, observational errors are much greater than the differences in q0 expected for different cosmological models, while at high redshift observational uncertainties, particularly at optical wavelengths, and apparent systematic evolutionary changes in sources obscure the expected geometrical effects. Here I show that measurements by very-long-baseline interferometry (VLBI) of compact radio sources associated with active galaxies and quasars may be largely free of evolutionary effects even at substantial redshifts. The relation between angular size and redshift for a sample of these sources indicates a value of q0 close to 0.5, corresponding to cosmological density near the critical value.
Slavery: Annual Bibliographical Supplement (2002)

(2003). Slavery: Annual Bibliographical Supplement (2002) Slavery & Abolition: Vol. 24, No. 3, pp. 145-240.
Proton Magnetic resonance observations of hydrogen exchange rates and secondary structure in algal ferredoxin.

Summary Exchange rates for the slowly exchangeable amide protons of algal ferredoxin have been determined by proton magnetic resonance analysis using fully deuterated protein. The data can be interpreted in terms of a secondary protein structure consisting of helix and pleated sheet.
Abstract 1081: The role of calcium in relationship of microtubule stabilization, mitotic arrest, and apoptosis induced by Taxol in breast cancer cells

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC Background: Our previous study showed that Taxol, an important anticancer agent for breast cancer, directly releases calcium from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), promoting subsequent apoptosis in breast cancer cells. Taxol also stabilizes microtubules, causing mitotic arrest. The relationship between these events and apoptosis remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the connection between calcium regulation, mitotic arrest and apoptosis induced by Taxol treatment. Objective & Specific Aims: To accomplish this, we (1) Visualized the microtubule changes induced by Taxol at different dosages after different exposure times, (2) Quantified the cell cycle arrest induced by Taxol at different dosages after different exposure times, (3) Analyzed whether agents that interfere with intracellular calcium fluxes affect microtubule stabilization, mitotic arrest and apoptosis during Taxol treatment. Study Method: Breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-468, MDA-MB-231, MCF-7 were treated with two Taxol dosages (∼10−7M and ∼10−6M). Microtubule changes were detected using immunocytochemistry. Cell cycle analysis was detected using flow cytometry. Cells were pretreated with the cytosolic calcium chelator BAPTA-AM and the ER calcium inhibitor 2-APB to interfere with the calcium changes induced by Taxol. This allowed us to determine whether Taxol-induced mitotic arrest was calcium dependent. Free cytosolic calcium changes were measured by Fluo-AM calcium dye, and ER calcium changes were specifically measured by the advanced calcium cameleon D1ER. Results & Relevance: Our data showed that microtubule stabilization and mitotic arrest were observed (6h) before significant apoptosis occurred at 12h exposure. Pretreatment of calcium agents inhibited both mitotic arrest and apoptosis induced by Taxol. High (∼10−6M) dosage Taxol induced calcium-promoting mitotic arrest, whereas low (∼10−7M) dosage Taxol did not. A similar pattern was also observed in our previous apoptosis analysis, indicating calcium, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis are tightly associated with each other and need further investigation. In summary, our results suggest elucidating the role of calcium is essential to understand the process through which the widely used anticancer agent Taxol induces mitotic arrest and apoptosis. It will provide new insights into the action of Taxol and aid in the development of more effective breast cancer therapies. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1081.
Magnesium ions are required by Bacillus subtilis ribonuclease P RNA for both binding and cleaving precursor tRNAAsp.

The multiple roles Mg2+ plays in ribozyme-catalyzed reactions in stabilizing RNA structure, enhancing the affinity of bound substrates, and increasing catalysis are delineated for the RNA component of ribonuclease P (RNase P RNA) by a combination of steady-state kinetics, transient kinetics, and equilibrium binding measurements. Divalent metal ions cooperatively increase the affinity of Bacillus subtilis RNase P RNA for B. subtilis tRNAAsp more than 103-fold, consistent with at least two additional magnesium ions binding to the RNase P RNA·tRNA complex. Monovalent cations also decrease KDtRNA and reduce, but do not eliminate, the dependence on magnesium ions, demonstrating that nonspecific electrostatic shielding is not sufficient to explain the requirement for high salt. Both di- and monovalent cations promote the high affinity of tRNA by forming contacts in the binary complex that reduce the dissociation rate constant for tRNA. Additionally, the hyperbolic dependence of the hydrolytic rate constant on t...
ICAT Inhibits β-Catenin Binding to Tcf/Lef-Family Transcription Factors and the General Coactivator p300 Using Independent Structural Modules

In the canonical Wnt signaling pathway, beta-catenin activates target genes through its interactions with Tcf/Lef-family transcription factors and additional transcriptional coactivators. The crystal structure of ICAT, an inhibitor of beta-catenin-mediated transcription, bound to the armadillo repeat domain of beta-catenin, has been determined. ICAT contains an N-terminal helilical domain that binds to repeats 11 and 12 of beta-catenin, and an extended C-terminal region that binds to repeats 5-10 in a manner similar to that of Tcfs and other beta-catenin ligands. Full-length ICAT dissociates complexes of beta-catenin, Lef-1, and the transcriptional coactivator p300, whereas the helical domain alone selectively blocks binding to p300. The C-terminal armadillo repeats of beta-catenin may be an attractive target for compounds designed to disrupt aberrant beta-catenin-mediated transcription associated with various cancers.
A diagnostic for heteroscedasticity based on the spearman rank correlation

Abstract Consider a regression situation in which one wants to understand whether variability of the response is related to a scalar predictor z; the latter could be the predicted value. A diagnostic for heteroscedasticity is the score test (Cook and Weisberg, 1983), which is equivalent to computing the Pearson correlation between the squared residuals from a preliminary fit to the data and the predictor z. As such, the score test is highly nonrobust, both to outlying residuals, which are squared, and leverage points in z. Carroll and Ruppert (1988, pp. 98–99) propose that instead of using the Pearson correlation, one could use the Spearman correlation because it is no more difficult to compute in practice and is intuitively robust. We study this test theoretically, obtaining its limit distribution and influence function.
Accelerating Greenberg's metho̧d for the computation of knapsack functions

Abstract Greenberg [4] described an interesting procedure based on dynamic programming for generating the knapsack function Φ ( s ) = max{ cx : ax ⩽ s , x ⩾ 0, integer} for all arguments s ⩽ b , where c , a , and x are vectors with nonnegative integer components and b is a positive integer. The principle search effort can be associated with finding the minimum of a string D of k elements. It is shown here that a rank ordering of the components of a yields sequences D such that a search for the minimum in D over the first m elements is sufficient. In general, m is smaller than k and the calculation of Φ is accelerated. Extensions of the basic procedure to the case where the components of x have upper-bounds is also described.
Exotic fluids in the exosphere: When Hades meets Apollo

The interaction of magmatic volatiles with lakes and shallow groundwater systems results in some of the most exotic fluids found at the Earth's surface. Geologic environments where such fluids occur and the chemical and physical processes responsible for their formation were the subject of a multidisciplinary Chapman Conference titled“Crater Lakes, Terrestrial Degassing and Hyperacid Fluids in the Environment,” held from September 4 to 9, 1996, at Crater Lake, Ore.
Fabry disease in the era of enzyme replacement therapy: a renal perspective.

Fabry disease, the second most prevalent lysosomal storage disorder after Gaucher disease, is caused by mutations of the gene encoding the lysosomal hydrolase, α-galactosidase A. The enzymatic defect is inherited in an X-linked recessive fashion and leads to systemic glycosphingolipid deposition, resulting in profound dysfunction of neurological, renal, cardiac, and cerebrovascular systems. Although symptoms typically appear in childhood in hemizygous males and some heterozygous females, the diagnosis is often delayed or unrecognized, owing to variable presentations and low incidence. The initial phase begins in childhood or adolescence and is characterized by neuropathic pain, angiokeratomas, and ocular deposits. The later phase is distinguished by progressive cardiac, cerebral, and renal involvement, leading to multi-organ dysfunction and death. Recently published clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy of enzyme replacement therapy in decreasing neuropathic pain and substrate deposition in target organs. Pediatricians have a key role to play in making the diagnosis, so that therapy can be initiated before irreversible tissue injury develops. Further research is required to determine optimal dosing protocols for treatment and to establish whether therapy can retard the progression of organ dysfunction, or even prevent these complications altogether.
Barriers that Influence Eating Behaviors in Adolescents

Adolescence is a time of rapid growth and development with biologic, psychological, and emotional changes occurring simultaneously. We conducted a critical review of the literature to analyze key topics in the study of adolescents' eating behaviors and to identify barriers to healthy eating experienced by adolescents. The literature documents that nutritional deficits and poor eating established during adolescence have long-term health, growth, and developmental consequences. Gaps in the literature are identified and recommendations for future studies are proposed.
Institutional solutions to market failure on the landscape scale

Abstract This paper offers an ecologically-based view of land and land value, building upon the multiproduct nature of ecosystems and upon landscape ecology. The paper questions the ability of markets to create optimal landscapes, even when traditional methods of internalizing externalities are applied, and concludes that attempting a complete valuation of ecosystems is quixotic. Achieving sustainable landscapes requires both sufficient ecological knowledge and institutions capable of overcoming landscape-scale market failure. Accordingly, the paper examines forms of public and private ownership in the United States to assess how well particular institutional conditions might facilitate ecological adaptation there.
Changes in pulmonary calpain activity following treatment of mice with butylated hydroxytoluene

Abstract The antioxidant, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), causes lung toxicity in mice followed by regenerative repair, and can also modulate the development of carcinogen-induced lung adenomas. We are investigating changes in pulmonary biochemistry following BHT treatment in order to understand the mechanisms of BHT-induced pulmonary regenerative repair. BHT administration lowered cytosolic Ca 2+ -activated neutral protease (calpain) activity, increased the activity of the endogenous calpain inhibitor, calpastatin, increased the extent of photoincorporation of 8- N 3 -[ 32 P]cAMP into a M r 37,000 proteolytic product derived from cAMP-dependent protein kinase regulatory (R) subunits, and increased membrane-associated protease activity. All of these changes were dependent on the BHT dosage; the altered proteolytic activities occurred at a dose lower than that which caused observable lung toxicity as assessed by the lung weight/body weight ratio. Decreased cytosolic calpain activity was detectable within 1 day after BHT administration, was lowest at 4–7 days, and had not returned to control levels by Day 21, a time when normal lung morphology had been regained. The decrease in calpain activity cannot fully be accounted for by increased calpastatin activity; upon separation of these proteins by DEAE chromatography, the amount of calpain activity from BHT-treated mice remained lower than the corresponding peak from control mice. Increased photolabeling of the M r 37,000 protein began at 1 day and continued to increase up to 4 days after BHT. All of the cytosolic changes preceded the increased particulate proteolytic activity by 1–2 days. R-subunits which have dissociated from their catalytic subunits are more susceptible to degradation by calpain, but BHT treatment did not enhance subunit dissociation as determined by the elution profile of 8- N 3 [ 32 P]cAMP-labeled R-subunits following DEAE chromatography. A large percentage of the particulate protease activity was inhibited by calpastatin, leupeptin, and E-64, all of which are known to inhibit calpain activity; this suggested that calpain accounted for most of this activity. Changes in the activities of proteases which catalyze limited proteolysis reactions may play an important role in the repair of acute lung injury.
Recovery of infectious nucleic acid from tobacco mosaic virus inactivated by antibody.

ALTHOUGH the combination of antibody with tobacco mosaic virus is reversible1, it does not necessarily follow that dissociating the antibody restores infectivity. Inactivation could be permanent despite the reversibility of the antibody - virus reaction. Several reports have indicated, however, that antibody inactivation of tobacco mosaic virus is not entirely irreversible.
Tandem balloon dilatation for childhood achalasia

Background. There are no previous reports of tandem balloon dilatation in childhood achalasia. Objective. To report the treatment of four cases of paediatric achalasia using tandem balloon dilatation of the lower oesophageal sphincter. A review of the literature since 1986 was undertaken to compare outcomes of balloon dilatation and surgery. Materials and methods. A retrospective review of the patients diagnosed with this condition and treated at our institution over the past 6 years: all four patients were treated by balloon dilatation of the lower oesophageal sphincter using two or three balloons in tandem. The definition of technical success was demonstration of a waist at 1–1.5 atmospheres of inflation pressure followed by abolition of the waist at higher pressures. Where this was unable to be achieved using a single balloon, two or three balloons in tandem were used. Results. No patient required oesophagomyotomy, and symptomatic control has been good to excellent in three of four patients. No significant side effects were encountered. Conclusions. Balloon dilatation and surgery have similar success rates in paediatric achalasia. Because of the low morbidity associated with balloon dilatation, the procedure should be considered as first line treatment of this condition. If the lower oesophageal sphincter is stretched insufficiently using a single balloon, tandem balloon dilatation should be utilised.
Development of Laser, Detector, and Receiver Systems for an Atmospheric CO 2 Lidar Profiling System

A ground-based Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL) is being developed with the capability to measure range-resolved and column amounts of atmospheric CO2. This system is also capable of providing high-resolution aerosol profiles and cloud distributions. It is being developed as part of the NASA Earth Science Technology Office's Instrument Incubator Program. This three year program involves the design, development, evaluation, and fielding of a ground-based CO2 profiling system. At the end of a three-year development this instrument is expected to be capable of making measurements in the lower troposphere and boundary layer where the sources and sinks of CO2 are located. It will be a valuable tool in the validation of NASA Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO) measurements of column CO2 and suitable for deployment in the North American Carbon Program (NACP) regional intensive field campaigns. The system can also be used as a test-bed for the evaluation of lidar technologies for space- application. This DIAL system leverages 2-mum laser technology developed under a number of NASA programs to develop new solid-state laser technology that provides high pulse energy, tunable, wavelength-stabilized, and double-pulsed lasers that are operable over pre-selected temperature insensitive strong CO2 absorption lines suitable for profiling of lower tropospheric CO2. It also incorporates new high quantum efficiency, high gain, and relatively low noise phototransistors, and a new receiver/signal processor system to achieve high precision DIAL measurements. Atmospheric tests of the laser have been conducted by operating it locked to the CO2 absorption line center, with off-set locking in the side-line mode, and in the off-line position. The reference laser is locked to center of absorption line within 390 kHz. This improves the level of stabilization by factor of 10 compared to earlier configuration. The detector has been characterized in the laboratory and by conducting atmospheric tests at The National Center of Atmospheric Research (NCAR), Boulder, Colorado. The receiver uses an F2.2 all aluminum 40 cm diameter telescope and the system is designed to focus light onto a 200 mum size detector. Subsystem level integration and testing has been completed in the second year. System level testing is planned in the third year along with validation in the late spring of 2008 that involves comparisons with ground-based and aircraft in situ CO2 sensors.
Effect of prior coronary restenosis on the risk of subsequent restenosis after stent placement or directional atherectomy

Abstract Lesions that have developed restenosis after a prior intervention may be more likely to develop restenosis after subsequent percutaneous interventions. To determine if this is an independent effect, the clinical characteristics and immediate angiographic outcomes of 179 prior restenosis lesions were compared with those of 254 primary lesions after stenting or directional atherectomy. Six-month angiographic follow-up was obtained for 79% of successfully treated lesions. Univariable and muttivariable logistic regression was used to determine how binary restenosis (defined as $ -50% diameter stenosis at follow-up) was influenced by postprocedure luminal diameter, left anterior descending artery location, diabetes mellitus, as well as prior restenosis. At 6-month follow-up, prior restenosis lesions had a significantly smaller late diameter (1.77 vs 2.18 mm, p
Rigid polyurethane and kenaf core composite foams

Rigid PU foams are valuable in many construction applications. Kenaf is a bast fiber plant where the surface stem skin provides bast fibers whose strength-to-weight ratio competes with glass fiber. The higher volume product of the kenaf core is an under-investigated area in composite applications. The naturally porous structure of kenaf-core provides a novel reinforcement particle. In this work, foams of rigid polyurethane with 5, 10, and 15% kenaf-core were formed. To date efforts at using it as a reinforcement have proven largely unsuccessful. This was mirrored in this effort when free expansion of the foam was utilized. However, introducing constraint during foaming resulted in reinforcement. The environmental scanning electron microscopy is used in conjunction with in-situ microCT compression to capture the change in void fractions before and after deformation. The results show that free foaming resulted in poor reinforcement while a constrained expansion on the foam increased the reinforcement potential of the kenaf core. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 55:132–144, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers
Chemical state of segregants at Al2O3/alloy interfaces studied using μXPS

Abstract The adherence of an oxide layer that forms on alloy surfaces as a result of high temperature oxidation often depends on the composition and structure of the oxide/alloy interface. This work follows previous Auger studies on two Al 2 O 3 /alloy interfaces after removal of the external alumna layer in vacuum. An attempt was made to use micro X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to examine the chemical state of impurities and solutes that segregated to the interface during oxidation and cooling. Both alloys were iron-based: FeCrAl and FeAl. It was found that on the FeCrAl, S was saturated along with Cr and C co-segregation, forming a multi-layer structure with enriched chromium sulfide at the oxide side and chromium carbide at the alloy side. On the FeAl, segregated sulfur only partially covered the interface, but was also present as a sulfide. The different interfacial chemistry between these two systems demonstrated the complexity that can exist under the dynamic oxidation conditions.
A new method for collection of nitrate from fresh water and the analysis of nitrogen and oxygen isotope ratios

Abstract A new method for concentrating nitrate from fresh waters for δ15N and δ18O analysis has been developed and field-tested for four years. The benefits of the method are: (1) elimination of the need to transport large volumes of water to the laboratory for processing; (2) elimination of the need for hazardous preservatives; and (3) the ability to concentrate nitrate from fresh waters. Nitrate is collected by, passing the water-sample through pre-filled, disposable, anion exchanging resin columns in the field. The columns are subsequently transported to the laboratory where the nitrate is extracted, converted to AgNO3 and analyzed for its isotope composition. Nitrate is eluted from the anion exchange columns with 15 ml of 3 M HCl. The nitrate-bearing acid eluant is neutralized with Ag2O, filtered to remove the AgCl precipitate, then freeze-dried to obtain solid AgNO3, which is then combusted to N2 in sealed quartz tubes for δ15N analysis. For δ18O analysis, aliquots of the neutralized eluant are processed further to remove non-nitrate oxygen-bearing anions and dissolved organic matter. Barium chloride is added to precipitate sulfate and phosphate; the solution is then filtered, passed through a cation exchange column to remove excess Ba2+, re-neutralized with Ag2O, filtered, agitated with activated carbon to remove dissolved organic matter and freeze-dried. The resulting AgNO3 is combusted with graphite in a closed tube to produce CO2, which is cryogenically purified and analyzed for its oxygen isotope composition. The 1σ analytical precisions for δ15N and δ18O are ±0.05‰ and ±0.5‰, respectively, for solutions of KNO3 standard processed through the entire column procedure. High concentrations of anions in solution can interfere with nitrate adsorption on the anion exchange resins, which may result in isotope fractionation of nitrogen and oxygen (fractionation experiments were conducted for nitrogen only; however, fractionation for oxygen is expected). Chloride, sulfate, and potassium biphthalate, an organic acid proxy for dissolved organic material, added to KNO3 standard solutions caused no significant nitrogen fractionation for chloride concentrations below about 200 mg/l (5.6 meq/l) for 1000 ml samples, sulfate concentrations up to 2000 mg/l (41.7 meq/l) in 100 ml samples, and Potassium biphthalate for concentrations up to 200 mg/l carbon in 100 ml samples. Samples archived on the columns for up to two years show minimal nitrogen isotope fractionation.
Thermal cycle modeling of electrothermal microactuators

Abstract A methodology for computing the transient heating (charging) and cooling (discharging) time for a serially connected electro thermo (E-T) microbeams actuator were analytically approximated from fundamental characteristics including input voltage, material and geometry. Specifically, this paper presents closed form solutions for folded and bend beam MEMS actuators. The E-T heating time was obtained from the simplified transient heat conduction equations using a trial solution method combined with the Laplace domain based on polynomial shape function, while the cooling response of thermal actuator is derived from steady state temperature distribution. The proposed approximate methods are utilized in illustrative examples and validated by Finite Difference Approximation (FDA), and Finite Element Modeling (FEM).
Differential responses of S100A2 to oxidative stress and increased intracellular calcium in normal, immortalized, and malignant human keratinocytes

S100A2 is a calmodulin-like, p53-inducible, homodimeric protein that is readily oxidized in keratinocytes subjected to oxidative stress. Here we compare the redox status and subcellular distribution of S100A2 in normal human keratinocytes, immortalized keratinocytes (HaCaT), and malignant keratinocytes (A431) as a function of oxidative stress and intracellular Ca2+ levels. Normal human keratinocytes displayed strong nuclear and moderate cytoplasmic S100A2 immunoreactivity. HaCaT and A431 cells, which lack normal p53, expressed S100A2 in similar patterns but in 4- to 8-fold lower amounts. H2O2 treatment of normal human keratinocytes caused a reduction of nuclear S100A2 staining accompanied by an increase in cytoplasmic S100A2 staining, with a delayed time course (0.5–1 h) relative to S100A2 oxidative crosslinking (15 min). This phenomenon, consistent with translocation of S100A2 from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, could also be induced in normal human keratinocytes by increasing intracellular Ca2+ levels with the ionophore A23187. Sulfhydryl reducing agents blocked these changes, whether induced by H2O2 or increased intracellular Ca2+ levels. A temporal correlation was identified between S100A2 translocation at 1 h and loss of cell viability at 24 h after H2O2 treatment. A431 and HaCaT cells were strongly resistant to H2O2-induced S100A2 crosslinking, S100A2 translocation, and cell death. Increased intracellular Ca2+ levels caused prominent translocation of S100A2 in normal human keratinocytes and HaCaT, but not in A431 cells. These results identify S100A2 oxidation and translocation as markers for early cellular responses to oxidative stress, which are markedly attenuated in immortalized and malignant keratinocytes.
Use of Ozone in a Water Reuse System for Salmonids

Abstract A water reuse system is described in which ozone is used in addition to biological filters to remove toxic metabolic wastes from the water. The system functions at a higher rate of efficiency than has been reported for other reuse systems and supports excellent growth of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri).
On quotients of Hom-functors and representations of finite general linear groups, I

Abstract This is a second article on quotients of Hom-functors and their applications to the representation theory of finite general linear groups in a nondescribing characteristic. After some general results on quotients of Hom-functors and their connection to the Harish–Chandra theory these constructions are used to obtain a full classification of the l-modular irreducible representations of GL n ( q ) for some prime power q which is not divisible by the prime l and to explain some facts on their Harish–Chandra series and decomposition numbers.
Transformation experiments with murine lymphoblastic cells (L5178Y) grown in culture.

Abstract Experiments are described which were designed to accomplish the transformation of murine leukemic L5178Y cells from the “wild” state of amethopterin-sensitivity to drug-resistant forms by incubation in culture with DNA from resistant lines; evidence of such transformation could not be detected. The conditions governing the method of assay are considered. The cells do not form an extracellular DNase and possess only rather weak intracellular DNase activity; the latter has an acid pH optimum. The uptake by L5178Y cells of tritium-labeled DNA, derived from L5178Y cells grown in the presence of 3 H-thymidine, has been studied.
Effects of Magnetic Fields on the Mutual Annihilation of Triplet Excitons in Anthracene Crystals

Detailed measurements of the magnetic field dependence of the rate of mutual annihilation of triplet excitons in anthracene crystals at room temperature are presented. The field dependence consists of an increase at low fields, with a maximum at ca. 350 Oe, followed by a decrease at higher fields to less than the zero-field annihilation rate. For most field directions, a second maximum occurs at ca. 600 Oe. The amplitude of the field dependence is highly anisotropic. For fields g2000 Oe, resonances in the annihilation rate are found at +76\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} and -17\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} with respect to the $a$ axis for fields in the $\mathrm{ac}$ plane and at \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}23.5\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} with respect to the $b$ axis in the $\mathrm{ab}$ plane. For fields 500 Oe, a second set of resonances occurs at directions bisecting the high-field resonances and at intermediate fields the two sets coexist. These results are discussed in terms of a density-matrix description of the spin states of the interacting triplet pair and of the annihilation process. The field dependence is accounted for on the basis of the field dependence of the pair spin states together with the postulate that annihilation is spin-allowed. The observed resonances result from level crossings among the pair spin states. All of the structure in the field dependence and anisotropy data is satisfactorily reproduced by calculations based on the model, although complete quantitative agreement is not achieved.
Artin's Conjecture on Average for Composite Moduli

Let a be an integer ≠−1 and not a square. Let Pa(x) be the number of primes up to x for which a is a primitive root. Goldfeld and Stephens proved that the average value of Pa(x) is about a constant multiple of x/ln x. Carmichael extended the definition of primitive roots to that of primitive λ-roots for composite moduli n, which are integers with the maximal order modulo n. Let Na(x) be the number of natural numbers up to x for which a is a primitive λ-root. In this paper we will prove that the average value of Na(x) oscillates. That is, limx→∞ 1/x2 ∑1⩽a⩽x Na(x)>0 and limx→∞ 1/x2 ∑1⩽a⩽x Na(x)=0.
The role of Li-ion battery electrolyte reactivity in performance decline and self-discharge

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to report on the reactivity of PF 5 and EC/linear carbonates to understand the thermal and electrochemical decomposition reactions of LiPF 6 in carbonate solvents and how these reactions lead to the formation of products that impact the performance of lithium-ion batteries. The behavior of other salts such as LiBF 4 and LiTFSI are also examined. Solid LiPF 6 is in equilibrium with solid LiF and PF 5 gas. In the bulk electrolyte, the equilibrium can move toward products as PF 5 reacts with the solvents. The Lewis acid property of the PF 5 induces a ring-opening polymerization of the EC that is present in the electrolyte and can lead to PEO-like polymers. The polymerization is endothermic until 170 °C and is driven by CO 2 evolution. Above this temperature the polymerization becomes exothermic and leads to a violent decomposition. The PEO-like polymers also react with the PF 5 to yield further products that may be soluble in the electrolyte or participate in solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation in real cells. GPC analysis of the heated electrolytes indicates the presence of material with M w up to 5000. More details on the polymerization reactions and further reactions with PF 5 are reported. Transesterification and polymer products are observed in the electrolytes of cycled and aged Li-ion cells. Formation of polymer materials which are further cross-linked by reaction with acidic species leads to degradation of the transport properties of the electrolyte in the composite electrodes with the accompanying loss of power and energy density. Generation of CO 2 in lithium-ion cells leads to saturation of the electrolyte and cessation of the polymerization reaction. However, CO 2 is easily reduced at the anode to oxalate, carbonate and CO. The carbonate contributes to the SEI layer while the oxalate is sufficiently soluble to reach the cathode to be re-oxidized to CO 2 thus resulting in a shuttle mechanism that explains reversible self-discharge. Irreversible reduction of CO 2 to carbonate and CO partially accounts for irreversible self-discharge.