cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Knapsack allocation of multiple resources in benefit-cost analysis by way of the analytic hierarchy process

Benefit-cost analysis has traditionally required monetary measures of benefits and costs of candidate projects. This paper demonstrates that priorities of both tangible and intangible attributes can be used in a benefit-cost setting to address the long standing problem of allocating multiple resources to projects. Although it is widely accepted that proper structuring of analytic hierarchies can achieve aggregation of a number of small projects so that their cumulative benefits are comparable to that of a large project, it frequently happens in budgetary allocation that large sums of money are allocated to a project whose intangible benefits are stretched out over much larger time horizons than other urgent projects with short term benefits. Here, the two hierarchies used to set priorities on benefits and on costs need to consider different time horizons. The Analytic Hierarchy Process and knapsack optimization are used to formulate problems in which a number of projects might be implemented by judicious distribution of resources available. For many applications, one seeks to maximize a function of net benefit, subject only to the constraints imposed by resource limitations. In others, benefit to cost ratios of projects obtained from two separate hierarchies are used. Our knapsack or recursive knapsack formulation is a complex combinatorial problem that would require approximate heuristic methods for its solution. Several realistic variants of the knapsack problem are illustrated. The computational tractability of practical knapsack problems is discussed. This paper contributes to our ability to make strategic allocation decision-where the diversity of benefits and costs demands inclusive measurement, and where optimal resource allocation is demanded by the importance of the decisions.
Hydrochloric Fractions in Hedley Fractionation May Contain Inorganic and Organic Phosphates

Accurately characterizing phosphorus (P) forms is a prerequisite to developing effective remediation strategies to minimize the adverse environmental impact of agricultural expansion. Modified or unmodified Hedley sequential fractionation procedures have been widely used for characterizing P forms in soil, animal manure, and biosolids. Hydrochloric acid (HCl) fractions in these procedures have often been assumed to contain no organic P. As a result, many researchers for the last two decades have measured concentrations of inorganic P in HCl fractions without measuring organic P. In this study, we measured colorimetrically concentrations of inorganic P in untreated (control) HCl fractions after 3-phytase incubation or oxidative autoclaving of these fractions. Phosphorus concentrations in some samples were also determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy. The increases in measured P concentrations, compared with the controls, were attributed to organic P in these fractions. Data for 15 soil and eight manure samples indicated that, although HCl fractions of some samples contained negligible amounts of organic P, others contained significant amounts of organic P. The concentrations of organic P were greater than inorganic P in one soil sample and two manure samples. We recommend that organic P in HCl fractions be measured experimentally to determine whether the HCl fraction contains inorganic and organic P. Identification of possible organic P species contained in HCl fractions of the Hedley sequential fractionation schemes would provide more accurate and comprehensive knowledge of the fates and interchanges of P forms in soil and animal manure under various environmental conditions.
Organic/inorganic hybrid composites from cubic silsesquioxanes. Epoxy resins of octa(dimethylsiloxyethylcyclohexylepoxide) silsesquioxane

Standard research protocols were developed to explore the use of octahedral silsesquioxane (cube) organic/inorganic nanocomposites as model systems for determining nanostructure−processing−property relationships to demonstrate that nanoscale structural manipulation of the organic component can significantly change macroscale physical properties. Comparison of octaglycidyldimethylsiloxyoctasilsesquioxane [(glycidyl-Me2SiOSiO1.5)8] (OG)/diaminodiphenylmethane (DDM) and octa(ethylcyclohexylepoxide)dimethylsiloxy silsesquioxane (OC)/DDM nanocomposite resins provide the first demonstration that well-defined nanostructures can be formed wherein linear organic tethers of known structure join only two cube vertices. HF dissolution of cubes followed by GPC analysis demonstrates that only linear tethers form in OC/DDM. TEM studies suggest that these nanocomposites are homogeneous at the nanometer scale, thus supporting the chemical analysis studies. The physical properties of these nanocomposites were then systemat...
Gender, Stress and Violence in the Adult Relationships of a Sample of College Students

Research is reviewed on violence among married and unmarried students. A survey of 308 undergraduates was conducted to explore the relationships between gender, stress and subjective rates of violence experienced as an adult and experienced and observed in childhood. To measure violence, ten behaviours were rated on five-point scales (labelled `never' to `very often'). Over 74 percent of the sample reported having expressed violence and 62 percent having received violence at some time in an adult relationship. Eliminating symbolic (threatened) violence, the frequencies were 52 and 62 percent, respectively. Single respondents not in a relationship, those in a relationship and married students were examined separately. Females were more likely to report both expressed and received violence across most groups. The correlation between expressed and received violence was also higher for females. Multiple regression analyses indicated different predictor variables across the groups and genders, but abuse receiv...
Characterization of rat brain kynurenine aminotransferases I and II

The endogenous neuroprotectant kynurenic acid (KYNA) is produced by irreversible transamination of L-kynurenine (KYN). In the brain, two distinct kynurenine aminotransferases (KAT I and KAT II) are responsible for the formation of KYNA. The present experiments were designed to examine the respective roles of the two KATs in the normal rat brain. To this end, the two enzymes were partially purified, and their characteristics were examined. KAT I (identical with glutamine transaminase K) had an optimal pH of 9.5, preferred pyruvate as a cosubstrate and was potently inhibited by glutamine. KAT II (identical with L-alpha-aminoadipate transaminase) had a neutral optimal pH, showed no preference for pyruvate, and was essentially insensitive to inhibition by glutamine. KAT II was selectively inhibited by quisqualic acid (IC50: 520 microM). The endogenous substrate 3-hydroxykynurenine had an approximately 10-fold preference for KAT II. The distinct properties of the two enzymes made it possible to measure brain KAT I and KAT II in parallel by using dialyzed tissue homogenate (to remove interfering endogenous amino acids). Under these conditions, both enzymes presented essentially the same apparent Km values as the partially purified enzymes. In lesioned, neurondepleted brain tissue and in brain regions other than the cerebellum, KYNA derived primarily from KAT II at physiologic pH. In summary, the present study describes a simple methodology for the simultaneous determination of the two KYNA-producing enzymes in small rat brain tissue samples and provides baseline values for future work in experimentally challenged animals.
Primeval corrections to the CMB anisotropies

We show that deviations of the quantum state of the inflaton from the thermal vacuum of inflation may leave an imprint in the CMB anisotropies. The quantum dynamics of the inflaton in such a state produces corrections to the inflationary fluctuations, which may be observable. Because these effects originate from IR physics below the Planck scale, they will dominate over any trans-Planckian imprints in any theory which obeys decoupling. Inflation sweeps away these initial deviations and forces its quantum state closer to the thermal vacuum. We view this as the quantum version of the cosmic no-hair theorem. Such imprints in the CMB may be a useful, independent test of the duration of inflation, or of significant features in the inflaton potential about 60 e-folds before inflation ended, instead of an unlikely discovery of the signatures of quantum gravity. The absence of any such substructure would suggest that inflation lasted uninterrupted much longer than ${\cal O}(100)$ e-folds.
Minnesota’s Early Experience with Medical Home Implementation: Viewpoints from the Front Lines

BACKGROUND Evidence is evolving about the impact of patient-centered medical homes (PCMHs) on important outcomes in primary care. Minnesota has developed its own PCMH certification process, envisioned as an all-payer initiative with an emphasis on patient-centeredness, which may add unique experiences and outcomes to the national discussion.
Using a comprehensive taxonomy of diagnoses to describe the practice of pediatric nurse practitioners: Findings of a field study☆

The goal of this study was to develop and field test a classification of diagnoses for use by pediatric nurse practitioners. A secondary goal was to describe the clinical practice of pediatric nurse practitioners in a way using a classification that integrates medical, nursing, and developmental diagnoses. Six pediatric nurse practitioners were oriented to the system, established interrater reliability, and then used the system to record their diagnoses for 240 consecutive patients each. The pediatric nurse practitioners used more than 3000 diagnoses with 1450 cases. Their scope of practice included 1% developmental problems, 72% pediatric diseases, which included 51% illnesses and 21% disease prevention and screening, and 27% daily living problems. Pediatric nurse practitioner coders evaluated the system in positive terms. Issues related to the use of a taxonomy such as this one for practicing clinicians were discussed.
New trellis codes based on lattices and cosets

A new technique is proposed for constructing trellis codes. which provides an alternative to Ungerboeck's method of "set partitioning." The new codes use a signal constellation consisting of points from an n -dimensional lattice \Lambda , with an equal number of points from each coset of a sublattice \Lambda ' . One part of the input stream drives a generalized convolutional code whose outputs are cosets of \Lambda ' , while the other part selects points from these cosets. Several of the new codes are better than those previously known.
Diffie-Hellman key distribution in wireless multi-way relay networks

Diffie-Hellman protocol is a classical secret key exchange protocol for secure communications. This paper considers the extension of the original two-party Diffie-Hellman protocol to multi-party key distribution in wireless multi-way relay networks where multiple users can only communicate with one another through a single relay. Two efficient key exchange protocols are proposed. A performance comparison with existing methods adapted to the relay networks shows the enhanced efficiency and the originality of the proposed protocols designed specifically for the multi-way relay networks.
Queer Intersubjectivity: Doing and Undoing Masculinity in Women's Studies

This article uses autobiographical anecdotes to explore the attitudes, decisions, and experience of straight men in Women’s and Gender Studies (WGS) and from this perspective to reflect on the complexities and challenges of queering masculinity for them. In an attempt to focus on the intimate moments of lived gender embodiment, but also to frame a queer ethics grounded in something more tangible that a utopian call for identity disavowal, the article appeals to Jessica Benjamin’s notion of intersubjectivity to enhance the analytical and practical reach of queer theory.
Alone with Each Other: Conceptions of Discussion in One College Classroom Community.

Abstract We examined 1st-year college students' conceptions of a good discussion and whether activities designed to encourage the conversation-like discussions found in adult book clubs affected those conceptions. This article presents stories of four students that illustrate a variety of changes in the students' conceptions, analyzing them along three dimensions: (a) group versus leader, (b) process versus product, and (c) development versus display. Using Pratt's (1987) notion of a “linguistics of contact,” we critique our original views on what constitutes a mature conception of discussion and shed light on the recent debate in literacy studies over “community” in classrooms.
Lack of cardiovascular tolerance during intravenous cocaine infusions in human volunteers

Acute tolerance to the cardiovascular effects of cocaine has been hypothesized from experiments in which the plasma concentrations of cocaine were rapidly changing. We studied the cardiovascular responses of 8 male human subjects for 4 hours following intravenous bolus doses of cocaine, and compared these to responses in the same subjects after intravenous bolus doses of cocaine followed by continuous intravenous infusions of cocaine designed to maintain steady state plasma levels of cocaine. We found little evidence of tolerance to the tachycardia and hypertensive effects of cocaine during a four hour exposure. Lack of tolerance to the cardiovascular effects of cocaine may be a factor in some types of cocaine related toxicity among cocaine abusers.
An Elimination Procedure for Solving the Geometric Design of Spatial 3R Manipulators

In this paper, the geometric design problem of serial-link robot manipulators with three revolute (R) joints when three precision points are specified is solved using an algebraic elimination method for the first time. Three spatial positions and orientations are defined and the dimensions of the geometric parameters of the 3R manipulator are computed so that the manipulator will be able to place its end-effector at these three prespecified locations. In this problem, six of the design parameters are set as free choices and their values are selected arbitrarily. For the specific case studied in this paper, a 12 deg single variable polynomial is calculated that has eight roots that are the design solutions and the other four roots are extraneous solutions.
Improving Outcomes for Patients With Hormone Receptor–Positive Breast Cancer: Back to the Drawing Board

JNCI | Editorials 159 Biomarker studies with negative results can be just as important to publish as those with positive results if the study had sufficient power to exclude a positive interaction because clinging to a longfavored but incorrect hypothesis in the face of negative evidence impedes scientific and clinical progress. The study by Viale et al. ( 1 ) in this issue of the Journal is a case in point. The investigators studied tumor tissue samples accrued from two large randomized trials that compared endocrine therapy vs cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil (CMF) chemotherapy followed by endocrine therapy among breast cancer patients with node-negative hormone receptor – positive disease (International Breast Cancer Study Group Trials VIII and IX). In contrast to their expectations, Viale et al. ( 1 ) found that tumor Ki-67 labeling index (a measure of the percentage of tumors cells that express the cell proliferation antigen Ki-67 and are therefore in an active phase of the cell cycle) provided information on prognosis but did not predict which patients would benefit from adding CMF to endocrine therapy. This result is striking because it indicates that patients with aggressive node-negative, hormone receptor – positive breast tumors that have a high growth fraction — the patients most in need of additional therapy — obtain no extra benefit from the addition of CMF to their endocrine regimen when compared with patients with lower risk disease. At the most basic level, this study supports the long-held position of the American Society of Clinical Oncology Tumor Markers Expert Panel that measurements of the cell cycle (ie, S phase fraction or Ki-67 labeling index) should not be used for chemotherapy decision making ( 2 ). When compared with the positive results obtained by Paik et al. ( 3 ) with the 21-gene recurrence score assay, which was able to identify a group of high-risk, nodenegative, hormone receptor – positive patients who differentially ex perienced benefit from CMF, the results reported by Viale et al. ( 1 )
Flavor characteristics of forage- and grain-fed beef as influenced by phospholipid and fatty acid compositional differences

Neutral lipid (NL) and phospholipid (PL) fractions and their corresponding fatty acid (FA) profiles from the L. dorsi of Angus-Hereford heifers (n=27) were compared as a function of forage grazing (FG) and time in the feedlot after grazing (DIF) on pasture. There were no differences in total PL content or FA composition of the individual PL as influenced by initial FG. As DIF increased, there was an increase in PL concentration and significant changes in the FA composition of the total PL and several of the individual PL fractions, separated by high performance liquid chromatography. Total PL content and FA content of the individual PL were significantly correlated with differences in the flavor characteristics of ground beef which were determined by a descriptive panel.
Knowledge in humans and other animals

What is the proper subject matter of epistemology? On one traditional view, it is, inter alia, our concept of knowledge, and the work of epistemology begins with an analysis of that concept. This view of epistemology's subject matter has much to recommend it, and it is very widely held, not only by many traditional epistemologists, but by some naturalists as well.l In this paper, however, I explore an alternative view. I suggest that the subject matter of epistemology is not our concept of knowledge, but knowledge itself. I suggest that knowledge should be viewed as a natural phenomenon and that it should be investigated in just the way in which we investigate other natural phenomena. Indeed, I suggest that we should view knowledge as a natural kind.2 Now I recognize that many will see this last suggestion as utterly absurd. Some, of course, are unsympathetic with the very idea of natural kinds. But even among those who are perfectly comfortable with the idea that there are real kinds in nature, many find the idea that knowledge should be one of those kinds to be particularly implausible. Are we to believe that knowledge, like water, has some sort of microstructure which makes it what it is? And if we reject the idea that there is a microstructure to knowledge as we should, of course then what is there in the world to determine the boundaries of the kind? It is the apparent absurdity of such questions which makes even those who are hostile to social constructivist accounts of almost anything sympathetic with the idea that knowledge itself might be a social construct. Knowledge certainly does not seem to be at all like any of the paradigmatic examples of natural kinds.3 Nevertheless, I will argue that the view that knowledge is a natural kind has
Down-regulation of the human norepinephrine transporter in intact 293-hNET cells exposed to desipramine.

The effects of continuous exposure of cultured cells expressing the human norepinephrine transporter (hNET) to the hNET inhibitor desipramine on hNET expression and function were studied. Exposure of HEK-293 cells transfected stably with the hNET cDNA (293-hNET cells) to desipramine for 3 days reduced the specific binding of [ 3 H]nisoxetine in membrane homogenates in a concentration-dependent manner. The magnitude of the reductions in [ 3 H]nisoxetine binding to hNET was dependent on the length of time of the exposure to desipramine, reaching 77% after a 21-day exposure. The reduction of [ 3 H]nisoxetine binding returned to control levels within 72 h after a 3-day exposure to desipramine. Reductions in [ 3 H]nisoxetine binding to hNET were accompanied by time-dependent and exposure concentration-dependent reductions in hNET protein levels as determined by western blotting. Similar to binding, hNET protein levels returned to control levels 72 h after cessation of desipramine exposure. Northern blotting indicated that exposure of 293-hNET cells to desipramine did not significantly alter hNET mRNA levels. Uptake of [ 3 H]norepinephrine by 293-hNET cells was markedly reduced after a 3-day exposure to desipramine. However, desipramine exposure had no effect on uptake of [ 3 H]glutamate or [ 3 H]-alanine. The present findings imply that down-regulation of the hNET in 293-hNET cells induced by desipramine results from a selective reduction in hNET protein levels, presumably a consequence of either a reduction in the translation of hNET mRNA or from an enhanced degradation of hNET protein.
The F-BAR domain of SRGP-1 facilitates cell–cell adhesion during C. elegans morphogenesis

Robust cell–cell adhesion is critical for tissue integrity and morphogenesis, yet little is known about the molecular mechanisms controlling cell–cell junction architecture and strength. We discovered that SRGP-1 is a novel component of cell–cell junctions in Caenorhabditis elegans, localizing via its F-BAR (Bin1, Amphiphysin, and RVS167) domain and a flanking 200–amino acid sequence. SRGP-1 activity promotes an increase in membrane dynamics at nascent cell–cell contacts and the rapid formation of new junctions; in addition, srgp-1 loss of function is lethal in embryos with compromised cadherin–catenin complexes. Conversely, excess SRGP-1 activity leads to outward bending and projections of junctions. The C-terminal half of SRGP-1 interacts with the N-terminal F-BAR domain and negatively regulates its activity. Significantly, in vivo structure–function analysis establishes a role for the F-BAR domain in promoting rapid and robust cell adhesion during embryonic closure events, independent of the Rho guanosine triphosphatase–activating protein domain. These studies establish a new role for this conserved protein family in modulating cell–cell adhesion.
A qualitative and quantative study of monocytes in patients with malignant solid tumors

Monocytes from 21 patients with cancer of the lung and cancer of the prostate were studied prior to treatment. The absolute circulating monocyte count, serum lysozyme levels and monocyte IgG surface receptors were normal at all stages of the disease. Monocyte chemotaxis was defective in 45% of the patients. Serum chemotatic factor inactivator(s) that inhibit chemotaxis of normal monocytes were detected in 90% of the patients. In two of four patients the chemotactic factor(s) disappeared following surgical removal of localized tumors. The results of the chemotaxis studies may explain the data of defective delayed hypersensitivity reactions frequently seen in patients with malignancies. The defective chemotaxis and the presence of chemotatic factor inactivator(s) may interfere with the ability of monocytes to accumulate as macrophages in tumor sites.
Can drinking water standards be reliably derived from industrial TLVs

Abstract The accuracy of TLV derived drinking water standards is evaluated. When using the identical TLV conversion methodology which Stokinger and Woodward (1) used in deriving the standard for barium in drinking water, standards for arsenic, cadmium, chromium and lead offer 6, 200, 60 and 10 times less protection than the present drinking water standards, respectively. However, using the same methodology, the TLV derived drinking water standard for fluoride offers greater protection than the present standard by a factor of approximately 2. Thus, the use of the TLV conversion factor should be viewed as one of many lines of potential evidence which should be reviewed in the standard derivation process — but it should not, if at all possible, be considered alone — as in the case of barium.
Continuous fluorometric assay of phospholipase A2 with pyrene-labeled lecithin as a substrate.

Abstract 1,2-Bis[4-(1-pyreno)butanoyl]-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine was synthesized as a fluorogenic substrate for phospholipase A2. It has a critical micellar concentration of 7.3 μ m and gives only excimer fluorescent emission at 480 nm in aqueous micellar dispersion. When hydrolyzed by phospholipase A2, the products give only monomer emission which is monitored best at 382 and 400 nm. Conditions were developed for an assay for phospholipase A2 using this substrate. The assay was sensitive to as little as 8 ng of pure porcine pancreatic phospholipase A2.
SC—MEH—MO calculations on lanthanide systems. II. Sm(Cp*)+, Sm(Cp*)2+, and the [Sm(Cp*)] 48+ tetrameter

SC–MEH–MO calculations with quasi-relativistic STOS, electron repulsion correlation, and configuration interaction (QR–SCMEH–RCCI) have been extended from the Sm(Cp*)2 results initially reported to the ions Sm(Cp*)+, Sm(Cp*)2+, and the unique tetrameter [Sm(Cp*)]. The latter was synthesized and its structure characterized, with the Sm atoms bridged by N2H, N2H, and NH3 groups. The initial calculations have omitted the bridging lipnds, so as to test the possibility of Sm–Sm bonding since the distances are some 3.55 A (about 0.05 A shorter than in Sm metal). © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Systematic Review: Charged-Particle Radiation Therapy for Cancer

Charged-particle radiation therapy is an alternative mode of radiation delivery for patients with cancer. This review found that published evidence about the benefits and harms of this therapy were...
Fever Response in Old and Young Mice After Injection of Interleukin

In an attempt to determine why certain elderly humans show a blunted febrile response to infection, a mouse model was developed. Interleukin 1 (IL1), previously called endogenous pyrogen (EP), the predominantly macrophage-derived mediator of fever, was obtained from supernatants that were generated by stimulating macrophages obtained from young and old mice. The dose versus febrile response curves were generated by injecting crude or partially purified supernatants that contained IL1 into the tail veins of young and old mice. Old mice responded with less fever than young mice to both crude and partially purified supernatants, suggesting that one mechanism for the blunted fever response observed with aging may be an altered response to EP.
Abdominal pain in the ED: a 35 year retrospective

Abstract Objective Research published in 1972 and 1993 has detailed the demographics, diagnoses, and diagnostic test utilization of adult patients presenting with nontraumatic abdominal pain to the emergency department (ED) at the University of Virginia Hospital. This is an update of those studies, designed to examine the present state of diagnosis and management of abdominal pain, as well as to look at trends during the 35-year span of the investigations. Methods One thousand consecutive adult patients presenting in the year 2007 with abdominal pain as their chief complaint were included in the analysis. Demographic data, discharge diagnosis, disposition, ED length of stay, charges, and diagnostic test utilization information were gathered and analyzed using electronic databases. Results These patients represented 6.5% of the total ED census. Sixty-five percent were female, 24.7% hospitalized, and 21% diagnosed with undifferentiated abdominal pain. Relative to 1993, there were more patients receiving specific diagnoses, (79% versus 75%) and a higher rate of hospitalization (24.7% versus 18.3%). Use of diagnostic testing has markedly increased in frequency, most notably computed tomography and ultrasound, which have risen 6-fold. One of these imaging modalities is now used in 42% of patient encounters. Visit times were longer and patient charges higher. There were 2 cases of missed surgical disease in 2007 compared with 1 in 1993 and 8 in 1972. Conclusion Over the past 35 years, ED management of atraumatic abdominal pain has become time, money, and resource intense. Widespread use of sophisticated imaging has had a small impact on diagnostic specificity but has not produced lower admission rates or fewer cases of missed surgical illness.
Determination of serum and plasma uridine levels in mice, rats, and humans by high-pressure liquid chromatography.

Abstract Serum and plasma uridine levels in mice, rats, and humans were conveniently measured by reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography. Human serum levels were in the range of 1.9 to 8.4 nmol/ml, rat serum levels ranged from 3.7 to 9.4 nmol/ml, and mouse serum levels measured 8.0 to 11.8 nmol/ml. Levels of uridine were the same in human plasma and serum; however, plasma from mice and rats was somewhat lower than serum in uridine content ranging from 1.7 to 4.1 nmol/ml in rats and 1.5 to 4.7 nmol/ml in mice. There was some variation in the individual human serum and rat plasma uridine levels throughout the day, but the values were within the normal range, and the variations had no set pattern. Withholding food for 16–24 h had no observable effect on serum uridine levels in mice and humans or on rat plasma levels. These results suggest that uridine levels are regulated and are not a direct reflection of dietary intake of uridine.
Diverse effects of triamcinolone on the ocular response to circulating endotoxin

The ocular response to circulating bacterial endotoxin (E coli 055:B5, 100 microgram/kg) can be either significantly reduced or made more servere by pretreatment with the synthetic glucocorticoid triamcinolone. A single injection (25 mg/kg) 3 hr prior to endotoxin sharply curtails the response. Daily injections for 3 days preceding endotoxin produces an enhanced response. With this regimen, an enhanced alteration in ocular vascular permeability is produced 4 hr following endotoxin if 5 mg of triamcinolone is injected daily; if larger quantities of steroid are employed (25 mg), there is a slight reduction in ocular vascular permeability, but an enhanced intravascular fibrin accumulation in ocular blood vessels as well as in capillaries of renal glomeruli (generalised Shwartzman reaction). Once the enhancement of the ocular response to endotoxin has been established by prior treatment with steroids, additional triamcinolone given 2--3 hr before endotoxin is no longer effective in protecting against ocular or renal changes. These divergent effects of steroid could be produced by either subcutaneous or intra-orbital injection, and the response was equal in both eyes following intra-orbital injection, suggesting that steroids probably do not exert their effects locally in this situation. Although different mechanisms of action of corticosteroids may be responsible for these diverse effects, it is suggested that a loss of responsiveness to steroids may be important in their ability to enhance the effects of endotoxinemia.
Deficiency of immune interferon production by leukocytes of normal newborns

Abstract The maturity of the newborn's immune system was assessed by measuring proliferative responses and interferon production of isolated mononuclear cells from cord blood ( N = 19), newborns 1 to 7 days of age ( N = 19), and adult controls ( N = 18). Ficoll-Hypaque-separated mononuclear cells were stimulated with phytohemagglutinin (PHA), allogeneic leukocytes in a mixed leukocyte culture (MLC), or Newcastle disease virus (NDV), pulsed with thymidine after 3 to 7 days in culture, and thymidine incorporation into DNA measured and used to calculate a proliferative index. The supernatants were h-arvested at optimal times for assay of classical and immune interferon (IF) production. IF was assessed by a microtiter assay using human diploid cells after encephalomyocarditis virus challenge. The proliferative responses of cord and newborn cells were equivalent or greater than those of adult controls. PHA-induced immune IF was produced in only 1 of 19 cord bloods and 3 of 19 newborns, whereas immune IF was produced in all adults (225 ± 2 units). No IF was produced in MLC in newborns, cords, or adults. NDV-induced classical IF was produced in normal amounts by newborn (373 ± 2IU), cord (457 ± 2IU), and adult cells (170 ± 3IU). These results indicate an abnormality of cellular immunity in newborns not detected by T-cell numbers or proliferative responses and parallels similar defects in T-cell-mediated cytotoxicity, another specialized T-cell function. These results suggest a possible mechanism for viral infection in newborns with concomitant bacterial infections and in patients undergoing graft-versus-host reactions.
Selectin Inhibitors and Their Proposed Role in Ischemia and Reperfusion

The selectin family of cellular adhesion molecules plays an important role in the cellular infiltration and molecular signaling associated with ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). Selectins are essential in the recruitment and infiltration of leukocytes to sites of inflammation, and consequently, selectin blockade represents an important area of current research in the potential alleviation of the cell-mediated injury associated with I/R. Previously, treatments targeted at only a single selectin have proven ineffective, due to compensation by uninhibited cell-adhesion molecules. However, pan-selectin antagonists—those inhibitors capable of blocking the actions of all three selectins—have demonstrated great potential in blocking the initial events in the leukocyte-endothelium adhesion cascade. A number of therapeutics have been developed, with the most promising results demonstrated by a class of non-oligosaccharide, small-molecule selectin antagonists. TB-1269 and OC-229 are two of the most promising of inhibitor...
A mixed method for unsteady flow problems

A mixed method using both the finite element technique and the finite difference method is developed for the solution of unsteady flow problems. The method is based on choosing an interpolation function which is dependent only on the time domain. The resulting local Galerkin finite element equations are obtained and assembled into a global form. The spatial derivatives of a variable at the nodes are replaced by a spatial operator (finite difference operator). The discretized nonlinear algebraic system is solved by an iterative scheme. The method is used to obtain the solution for the one-dimensional Burger's equation (model problem). The agreement of the results with other numerical and analytical solutions is quite good for cases in which the viscous effects are small (v≥0,1). The effects induced by changes in the step sizes are discussed. A quantitative comparison of the computing time is made of the related numerical techniques.
Quantification of Jasmonic Acid, Methyl Jasmonate, and Salicylic Acid in Plants by Capillary Liquid Chromatography Electrospray Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Abstract Jasmonic acid, methyl jasmonate, and salicylic acid have been reported to occur in plants and are thought to be essential for the regulation of systemic defense responses. This work describes a method for the quantitation in plant tissue of these regulators by reverse-phase capillary liquid chromatography interfaced to an electrospray tandem mass spectrometer. Inclusion during sample preparation of hydrogenated and/or deuterated internal standards corresponding to analogs of the regulators compensated for sample loss and permitted quantitation using the multiple reaction monitoring mode of the mass spectrometer. The free acids were analyzed in a negative-ion mode, whereas methyl jasmonate was analyzed in a positive-ion mode. Using these procedures an extract of fresh hybrid poplar leaves was found to contain per gram of leaf tissue 2.6 μg of jasmonic acid, 1.3 μg of methyl jasmonate, and 31.0 μg of salicylic acid. The techniques used should be applicable to other plant materials.
Characterization of Cytosolic Estrogen Sulfotransferase from RL95-2 Endometrial Cancer Cells*

Estrogen sulfoconjugation previously was reported in normal endometrium and in RL95-2 cells, a cell line derived from a human endometrial cancer maintained in continuous in vitro culture. In the present study the estrogen sulfurylation activity in the cytosolic fraction of RL95-2 cells was characterized using [3H]estrone as substrate. Estrone sulfate was separated from unreacted estrone by thin layer chromatography. Activity was proportional to cytosol concentration, with a pH optimum at pH 8. There was marked temperature dependence between 24 and 40 C. The apparent Km for estrone conjugation was 3.6 nM, with a maximum velocity of 135 fmol/micrograms DNA . h. No complex kinetic behavior was found at estrone concentrations up to 1 microM. The apparent Km for the cosubstrate 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate was 0.6 microM. Inhibition experiments demonstrated that the sulfurylating activity studied under these conditions was specific for estrogens. Only estradiol and estriol, in addition to estrone itself, inhibited conjugation to any significant degree. Dehydroepiandrosterone had only 1% the inhibitory activity of estrone. Other androgens, corticoids, progestins, phenols, nonsteroidal estrogens and antiestrogens, and bile acids had no significant effects on the sulfurylation of estrone. An estrogen-sulfoconjugating activity with the characteristics of estrogen sulfotransferase (EST) was demonstrated in RL95-2 cells. The Km of EST for estrone in the RL95-2 cells closely approximated the value reported for the enzyme in normal endometrium. The affinity of EST for estrogens is within the range of the Kd of estrogen receptor and of the physiological concentrations of estrogens reported in the endometrium, suggesting that EST could serve as a regulator of intracellular estrogen levels.
Heat treatment, structure and properties of the corrosion‐resistant martensitic precipitation hardenable steel X5 CrNiMoCuNb 145 (14–5PH)

The parameters solution temperature, intermediate treatment and cooling rate (from high temperature and after tempering) were examined by statistical multiple factor analysis. Tempering temperature (200 to 650°C) and duration (4 to 64 h) were graded exhaustively.
Measurement of impact toughness of eutectic SnPb and SnAgCu solder joints in ball grid array by mini-impact tester

The most frequent cause of failure for wireless, handheld, and portable consumer electronic products is an accidental drop to the ground. The impact may cause interfacial fracture of ball-grid-array solder joints. Existing metrology, such as ball shear and ball pull tests, cannot characterize the impact-induced high speed fracture failure. In this study, a mini-impact tester was utilized to measure the impact toughness and to characterize the impact reliability of both eutectic SnPb and SnAgCu solder joints. The annealing effect at 150 °C on the impact toughness was investigated, and the fractured surfaces were examined. The impact toughness of SnAgCu solder joints with the plating of electroless Ni/immersion Au (ENIG) became worse after annealing, decreasing from 10 or 11 mJ to 7 mJ. On the other hand, an improvement of the impact toughness of eutectic SnPb solder joints with ENIG was recorded after annealing, increasing from 6 or 10 to 15 mJ. Annealing has softened the bulk SnPb solder so that more plastic deformation can occur to absorb the impact energy.
Can a physically active lifestyle prevent type 2 diabetes

Recent clinical trials demonstrated that physical activity plays an important role in type 2 diabetes prevention. Their activity goals resembled public health recommendations: 150 min weekly of moderate intensity physical activity (brisk walking). The flexibility of this goal will make it easier to adopt by individuals of all ages and backgrounds and has the potential for being maintained over time.
The Privatization of College Housing: Poverty, Affordability, and the U.S. Public University

Much of the research on housing policy over the past generation has focused on its relationship to affordability and the spatial demography of poverty. Here, I focus on a particular sector of the market that has largely gone unnoticed in the academic literature: college housing. I examine the relationships among college undergraduates residing off-campus, poverty rates, and housing cost and affordability measures. Using first-difference models of tract-level data from 2000 to 2008, I find robust, positive associations between off-campus populations and poverty rates, and more modest but still visible relations to housing outcomes. The results suggest that demographers should pay attention to the presence of college students in urban areas, and also hold implications for policy related to grant provisioning and housing.
Monolayer Guanine and Adenine on Graphite in NaCl Solution: A Comparative STM and AFM Study

Nucleation, growth, and molecular packing structures of monolayer guanine and adenine on graphite have been studied in NaCl aqueous solution (containing guanine and adenine) using both STM and AFM. Guanine and adenine condense into monolayer films on graphite spontaneously. The films dissolve at low substrate potentials, starting either from step edges or by developing pits in the films, and they grow back at high potentials. Both the nuclei in the growth and the pits in the dissolution processes tend to be line shaped, which suggests anisotropic line tensions for the monolayer islands. High resolution AFM images show that guanine molecules pack into a rectangular lattice, on the basis of which a hydrogen bonded network model is proposed
The arthropod predators of ant-mimetic and aposematic prey: a serological analysis

. 1 ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay) was used to identify the arthropod predators of two common herbivores of a desert lupine: the aposematic plant bug Lopidea nigridea and the ant-mimetic plant bug Coquillettia insignis. 2 Despite the fact that the prey are closely related, the two antisera were sufficiently specific to distinguish between the antigen against which they were formed and the antigen of the other species: both antisera were 3 times as reactive against their homologous antigen as they were against their heterologous antigen. 3 In tests on gut contents of field-collected predators, ELISA results were generally consistent with laboratory no-choice data for the five most common arthropod species on lupine: there was a strong correlation between attack rates for each predator-prey pair as measured in the laboratory, and per cent positive reactions in ELISA as measured using field-collected predators. In particular, L.nigridea antiserum was shown to be significantly less reactive against the crab spider Xysticus montanensis when compared to C.insignis antiserum, paralleling results of laboratory no-choice experiments. 4 The usefulness of serological analysis as a tool for arthropod trophic link identification is discussed.
Effects of Dry-Season N Input on the Productivity and N Storage of Mediterranean-Type Shrublands

Anthropogenic nitrogen (N) deposition is a globally important source of N that is expected to increase with population growth. In southern California, N input from dry deposition accumulates on vegetation and soil surfaces of chaparral and coastal sage scrub (CSS) ecosystems during the summer and fall and becomes available as a pulse following winter rainfall. Presumably, N input will act to stimulate the productivity and N storage of these Mediterranean-type, semi-arid shrublands because these ecosystems are thought to be N limited. To assess whether dry-season N inputs alter ecosystem productivity and N storage, a field experiment was conducted over a 4-year period where plots were exposed to either ambient N deposition (control) or ambient + 50 kgN ha−1 y−1 (added N) that was added as NH4NO3 during the fall dry-season of each year. Plots exposed to added N had significantly higher accumulation of NH4 and NO3 on ion exchange resins that was due in part to direct fertilization and N mineralization, and the increase in N availability lead to a significant increase in NO3 leaching in chaparral but not CSS. Nitrogen addition also lead to an increase in litter and tissue N concentration and a decline in the C:N ratio, but failed to alter the ecosystem productivity and N storage of the chaparral and CSS shrublands over the 4-year study period. The reasons for the lack of a treatment response are unknown; however, it is possible that these semi-arid shrublands are not N limited, cannot respond rapidly enough to capture the ephemeral N pulse, are limited by other nutrients, or the N response is dependent on the amount and/or distribution of rainfall. These results have important implications for understanding the potential effects of anthropogenic N deposition on the C and N cycling and storage of Mediterranean-type, semi-arid shrublands.
Acute ethanol potentiates the clock-speed enhancing effects of nicotine on timing and temporal memory.

Background: Acute ethanol administration potentiates some of the behavioral effects of nico-tine, although the extent of this effect is unknown. The present investigation assessed the abilityof ethanol to potentiate nicotine’s effect on the overestimation of multisecond durations as aresult of an increase in the speed of an internal clock.Methods: Adult male rats were exposed to the acute effects of ethanol (0.0, 0.5, 1.5, and3.0 g⁄kg; IG) which was given 10 minutes prior to the administration of nicotine (0.0, 0.3, 0.6,and 1.0 mg⁄kg; IP). The effects of these combined treatments on timing and temporal memorywere assessed using 18- and 36-second peak-interval procedures with separate visual⁄spatial cuesfor responding.Results: When administered alone, ethanol had no consistent effect on peak time, butdecreased peak rate, and increased peak spread as a function of dose. In contrast, nicotine aloneshifted the peak times of the response distributions leftward in a proportional manner as a func-tion of dose. When administered after pretreatment with ethanol, nicotine’s effect on the horizon-tal placement of the peak functions was potentiated.Conclusions: The observation that ethanol pretreatment potentiates the clock-speed enhancingeffects of subsequently administered nicotine is discussed in terms of the role of a7-nicotinic acetyl-choline receptors and dopamine–glutamate interactions in cortico-striatal circuits thought tosubserve interval timing.Key Words: Interval Timing, Time Perception, Temporal Control, Operant Conditioning,Alcohol, Nicotine–Dopamine Interactions.
It’s all about location, location, location: Children’s memory for the “where” of personally experienced events

Episodic memory is defined as the ability to recall specific past events located in a particular time and place. Over the preschool and into the school years, there are clear developmental changes in memory for when events took place. In contrast, little is known about developmental changes in memory for where events were experienced. In the current research, we tested 4-, 6-, and 8-year-old children's memories for specific laboratory events, each of which was experienced in a unique location. We also tested the children's memories for the conjunction of the events and their locations. Age-related differences were observed in all three types of memory (event, location, and conjunction of event and location), with the most pronounced differences being in memory for conjunctions of events and their locations. The results have implications for our understanding of the development of episodic memory, including suggestions of protracted development of the ability to contextualize events in their spatial locations.