cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Percutaneous coronary excimer laser-assisted balloon angioplasty: Initial clinical and quantitative angiographic results in 50 patients☆

Abstract The initial clinical experience and quantitative angiographic results of percutaneous coronary excimer laser-assisted balloon angioplasty are described for 55 lesions in 50 patients. With use of a xenon chloride (308 nm) excimer laser generator and 1.5 to 1.75 mm catheters, excimer laser angioplasty was attempted at 135 ns pulse width, 25 to 40 Hz repetition rate, 2 to 5 s laser delivery lime and 30 to 60 mj/mm2energy fluence. Laser success (>20% reduction in absolute percent diameter stenosis) was achieved in 41 (75%) of 55 lesions, with 100% subsequent balloon angioplasty success ( By quantitative digital caliper technique, the percent diameter stenosis (mean ± SE) was reduced from 81 ± 1 % to 50 ± 3% after excimer laser angioplasty (p There were no perforations, need for emergency bypass surgery or deaths. The overall incidence of abrupt closure (3.6%), dissection (1.8%), embolization (1.8%), filling defect (6%), myecardial infarction (5.5%), side branch occlusion (3.6%) or spasm (3.6%) was infrequent and more related to subsequent balloon angioplasty than to the laser procedure. In the early follow-up period (range 1 to 10 months, mean 7), 36 (72%) of the 50 patients remained asymptomatic; symptoms recurred in 14 patients (28%) in relation to abrupt closure in the first 24 h in 2 patients (3.6%), late closure in the first week in 2 patients (3.6%) and restenosis in 10 patients (20%). Thus, percutaneous coronary excimer laser angioplasty appears to be a feasible and safe procedure in selected patients. At present, the procedure is undergoing significant development, including modification of the delivery catheters and operating techniques. The impact of this technology on the angioplasty restenosis rate awaits further follow-up analysis.
In-plane postbuckling of rings subjected to a constant-directional pressure load

The results obtained in this communication characterize the initial postbifurcation behavior of thin elastic rings subjected to a constant-directional and normal uniform external pressure. They complement the calculated postcritical values presented by Budiansky and Sills in previous publications.
The prevalence of the 65-kilodalton isoform of glutamic acid decarboxylase autoantibodies by glucose tolerance status in elderly patients from the cardiovascular health study.

Context: Autoantibodies (AA) to glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD65), a determinant of risk for autoimmune diabetes, have been found in up to 10% of patients with type 2 diabetes. In older adults, this marker may also serve as a determinant of risk for autoimmune diabetes and enhance diabetes classification. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between GAD65AA and glucose tolerance status, current diabetes treatment, and clinical measures in older adults. Design: GAD65AA were measured at baseline in 3318 participants from the Cardiovascular Health Study, a cohort study of 5888 individuals 65 or older. Setting: The population-based cohort was recruited from four U.S. sites. Patients: Patients included all Cardiovascular Health Study participants with known diabetes, newly diagnosed diabetes, impaired fasting glucose, impaired glucose tolerance, and a sample of normal glucose-tolerant participants. Main Outcome Measures: GAD65AA, body mass index, fasting glucose and insulin...
Usual Source of Health Care Among Hispanic Children: The Implications of Immigration

Deep inequities continue to exist in the access to and sources of care across racial and ethnic groups in the United States. This research examines differences in the regular source of usual health care for children among Hispanic subgroups of the United States. The immigration status of the mother -- including nativity, duration in the United States, and citizenship status -- as well as sociodemographic factors are considered as significant influences on the type of regular sources of care. Using the National Health Interview Survey from 1999 to 2001, multinomial logistic regression models are estimated to compare Mexican American and other Hispanic children with non-Hispanic whites and blacks. Both Mexican Americans and other Hispanics were more likely to report the use of clinic or the emergency room over private doctor's office as their regular source of health care compared with non-Hispanic whites. Together, the impact of the mother's nativity, duration, and citizenship status explains much of the differentials in the sources of care among Mexican American and other Hispanic children compared with non-Hispanic whites.
Spongivory on Caribbean reefs releases corals from competition with sponges

Competition for space is an important process on tropical coral reefs. Few studies have examined the role sponges play in community structure despite the fact that many sponges are competitively superior to reef-building corals in space acquisition. Surveys conducted throughout the Florida Keys indicated that Chondrilla nucula was involved in about 30% of all coral-sponge interactions; this sponge has also been observed in 40–50% of coral-sponge interactions on other Caribbean reefs. C. nucula is also the top prey item of the Hawksbill turtle, and among the preferred prey of several spongivorous fish. I examined how predation influenced sponge competitive abilities (particularly those of C. nucula), and whether this type of indirect effect had important consequences for community dynamics in the Florida Keys. Exclusion of sponge predators (primarily angelfish) resulted in increased sponge overgrowth, with a subsequent greater loss of coral cover, compared to uncaged pairwise interactions. When caged, the corals Dichocoenia stokesii and Siderastrea sideraea lost significantly greater surface area and number of polyps to the sponge C. nucula compared to uncaged interactions. For caged interactions involving the sponge Ectyoplasia ferox, there was a trend for greater loss of S. sideraea surface area and polyps compared to uncaged interactions. Predation had a greater affect on C. nucula than on any of the other sponges examined. Predator exclusion experiments performed with naturally occurring coral-sponge interactions demonstrated a significant decrease in total coral cover compared to uncaged controls. It is proposed that indirect effects arising from spongivory (especially consumption of C. nucula) may have large community consequences. Species diversity on Caribbean reefs may be maintained, at least in part, by spongivores.
Low-temperature avalanche multiplication in the collector-base junction of advanced n-p-n transistors

The collector-base junction avalanche in advanced n-p-n transistors in the temperature range of 293 to 83 K is described. The multiplication factor is shown to increase exponentially with decreasing temperature. The dependence decreases with increased collector doping concentration and, for the same device, with increased reverse bias. At a fixed collector bias, it is roughly constant at low current density, but varies with I/sub c/ at high-level injection due to space-charge modulation. Measurements at low temperatures excluded self-heating in the devices, and it was possible to study high-level injection effects at collector current densities higher than 10 mA/ mu m/sup 2/. Extensive computer simulations were performed to study the effects of the field and carrier distributions. It was observed that, at very high current densities, when the injected carrier density in the collector junction exceeds 1*10/sup 17/ cm/sup -3/, there is an anomalous drop in the avalanche multiplication rate that conventional device simulators fail to predict. The latter is attributed to electron-electron scattering that retards impact ionization by quickly redistributing the excess energy through interparticle collisions. >
The beautiful ‘other’: a critical examination of ‘western’ representations of Afghan feminine corporeal modernity

This paper examines corporeal modernity as part of the larger ‘savior and liberation’ trope produced for Afghan women by US-led military, political and economic intervention post-9/11. This savior trope has been identified as a co-optation of women's rights discourses and activism (Hunt 2002), a misguided approach to security through gendered scripts of masculine aggressive protection and female submission (Young 2003; Dowler 2002), and as yet another example in a long history of gendered tropes devised by colonial and imperial powers to save Muslim women (Abu Lughod 2002). This study adds to existing feminist critiques of US intervention in Afghanistan by examining the Beauty Academy of Kabul and the participation of Miss Afghanistan in the 2003 Miss Earth Pageant as particular lenses through which the economic and corporeal ‘liberation’ of Afghan women was presented in the US. This economic approach occurs at the site and scale of the body in order to (re)define corporeal modernity through corporate dri...
Detection and monitoring of cardiotoxicity—what does modern cardiology offer?

With new anticancer therapies, many patients can have a long life expectancy. Treatment-related comorbidities become an issue for cancer survivors. Cardiac toxicity remains an important side effect of anticancer therapies. Myocardial dysfunction can become apparent early or long after end of therapy and may be irreversible. Detection of cardiac injury is crucial since it may facilitate early therapeutic measures. Traditionally, chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity has been detected by measuring changes in left ventricular ejection fraction. This parameter is, however, insensitive to subtle changes in myocardial function as they occur in early cardiotoxicity. This review will discuss conventional and modern cardiologic approaches of assessing myocardial function. It will focus on Doppler myocardial imaging, a method which allows to sensitively measure myocardial function parameters like myocardial velocity, deformation (strain), or deformation rate (strain rate) and which has been shown to reliably detect early abnormalities in both regional and global myocardial function in an early stage.Other newer echocardiographic function estimators are based on automated border detection algorithms and ultrasonic integrated backscatter analysis. A further technique to be discussed is dobutamine stress echocardiography. The use of new biomarkers like B-type natriuretic peptide and troponin and less often used imaging techniques like magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography will also be mentioned.
Localized multibunch modes in accelerators

This paper will explore the possibility of the formation of localized modes in the coupled transverse oscillations of bunches in an accelerator. Such modes are characterized by a large amplitude excitation of one of the bunches, with little or no excitation of the other bunches. They are very similar to intrinsic localized modes predicted to appear in lattice excitations of anharmonic condensed matter systems. The existence of the phenomenon in accelerators requires long-range coupling between the bunches, and quartic terms in the effective potential experienced by the bunches. The discussion in this paper considers the specific cases of a long-range coupling due to the resistive wall impedance, and nonlinearities in the transverse force caused by octupoles. The general equations for the localized mode frequencies and amplitudes are derived. The equations are applied to the specific cases of 9 and 21 equally spaced, equally populated bunches in the Cornell electron storage ring. For both cases, with the currently available octupole strength, and with currents of 8 mA per bunch, localized modes with amplitudes of about 2 mm, and with frequency shifts of $50--100\mathrm{s}{}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ relative to the linear coupled-bunch mode frequencies, may be possible.
EFFECTS OF UV RADIATION ON A CHLOROPHYTE ALGA (SCENEDESMUS SP.) ISOLATED FROM THE FUMAROLE FIELDS OF MT. EREBUS, ANTARCTICA1

Acclimation to UV radiation (UVR) was examined in a unicellular chlorophyte isolated from fumarole fields adjacent to Mt. Erebus, Antarctica. Long-term exposure to UVR (14 days) initially reduced the efficiency of photosynthetic energy conversion measured as the dark adapted quantum yield of PSII fluorescence (F v /F m ) when compared with cultures not exposed to UVR. However, the UVR exposed cultures recovered to pre-UVR exposure levels of photosynthetic efficiency by the end of the experimental period. Additionally, neither growth rates nor cell size were significantly affected by exposure to UVR. In contrast, the maximum rate of carbon fixation on a chl a basis was significantly reduced at the end of the experiment and was accompanied by a significant decrease in chl a concentrations. These results suggest a transient effect of UVR on primary photochemistry consistent with damage to PSII, possibly at the Dl protein, with more chronic effects on carbon fixation that did affect maximum photosynthetic capacity. Ultrastructural and molecular (18s rDNA) data show that this isolate from the fumoral fields of Mt. Erebus, Antarctica is a member of the genus Scenedesmus.
Tan macule on a toddler’s arm

Departments of Pediatrics and Dermatology, The Unif Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. urces: None. f interest: None declared. ence to: John Browning, MD, The University of Texas cience Center at San Antonio Pediatrics/Dermatology, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr, MSC 7808, San Antonio, TX 78229. E-mail: JohnBrowningMD@yahoo.com. J Am Acad Dermatol 2011;65:e35. 0190-9622/$36.00 a 2010 by the American Academy of Dermatology, Inc. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2010.08.017
Humanitarian Intervention, Altruism, and the Limits of Casuistry

This essay argues that the ethics of humanitarian intervention cannot be readily subsumed by the ethics of just war without due attention to matters of political and moral motivation. In the modern era, a just war draws directly from self-benefitting motives in wars of self-defense, or indirectly in wars that enforce international law or promote the global common good. Humanitarian interventions, in contrast, are intuitively admirable insofar as they are other-regarding. That difference poses a challenge to the casuistry of humanitarian intervention because it makes it difficult to reason by analogy from the case of war to the case of humanitarian intervention. The author develops this point in dialogue with Michael Walzer, the U.S. Catholic bishops, and President Clinton. He concludes by showing how a casuistry of intervention is possible, developing a motivational rationale that draws on the Golden Rule.
Power, regionalism and tourism policy in Bhutan

Abstract This paper uses power relationship frameworks and regionalism concepts to understand two political aspects of Bhutan’s low-volume, high-yield tourism policy. The number of tourists to Bhutan has been controlled not by an annual visa quota, but by a daily minimum tariff, a required guided tour, certain spatial restrictions, and the general perception of inconvenience associated with the process of getting a visa. The controlled tourism policy, however, is limited only to western tourists, who represent only a quarter of arrivals. Although Bhutan has been able to minimize the environmental and cultural impacts of western tourists through its low-volume, high-yield tourism policy, this is more related to power and regional politics than simply a quest for sustainable tourism.
Comparative Exercise-Cardiorespiratory Performance of Normal Men in the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Decades of Life

The circulatory and respiratory responses to five levels of treadmill exercise were recorded for 75 normal males divided equally in the age groups 20 to 29, 30 to 39, and 40 to 49 years. Parameters studied included heart rate, cardiac output, stroke volume, intra-arterial blood pressure, minute ventilatory volume, oxygen uptake, and carbon dioxide elimination. Values for peripheral vascular resistance, left ventricular work, and stroke work indices were calculated. Intergroup and intragroup differences were analyzed by modified covariance technique using oxygen uptake per square meter of body surface area as the concomitant variable reflecting a specific midrange work level. Significant differences were observed between groups in cardiac output, stroke volume, systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressure as well as pressure-related variables with regard to absolute values and trend over the exercise spectrum. The results indicate that normal untrained males in the fourth and fifth decades of life...
RADIOIMMUNOASSAY OF MAMMALIAN TYPE C VIRAL PROTEINS : III. DETECTION OF VIRAL ANTIGEN IN NORMAL MURINE CELLS AND TISSUES

A radioimmunoassay specific for a murine leukemia virus structural protein, the gs antigen, detects an antigenic reactivity in normal murine cells in culture and natural tissues. The assay was shown to measure an antigen that is highly related to the virion protein as shown by absorption tests, immunoadsorbent chromatography, and by analysis of linearized dose-response curves. These findings combined with the finding of viral-specific RNA indicate that portions of the viral genome are being expressed with a much greater frequency than previously appreciated.
1010-121 Is a Dobutamine Infusion a Legitimate Alternative to Exercise?

The purpose of this study is to compare left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and regional wall motion (RWM) during exercise to LVEF and RWM during dobutamine infusion in the same pts. Ten pts (8 males, 2 females, mean age 56.9 ± 11.1), with known or suspected coronary disease, who had abnormal symptom-limited upright bicycle exercise first-pass radionuc1ide angiograms (FPRNA), had dobutamine FPRNA within 3 months of the exercise study and prior to any intervention or interim cardiac event. Dobutamine was given incrementally up to 40 μ g/kg/min. Atropine was given to increase heart rate as needed. FPRNA was performed by injecting 25 mCi of Tc-99m-sestamibi at the peak dobutamine dose. HR × SBP LVEF EDV ESV RWMA REF Exercise 33,100 ± 4,882 61 ± 6.2 182 ± 56 76 ± 32 10 ± 10 46 ± 6.8 Dobutamine 24,669 ± 5,571 72 ± 5.5 135 ± 44 43 ± 20 3 ± 10 67 ± 8.8 * * ** ** *** * EDV = end diastolic volume, ESV = end systolic volume, RWMA = regional wall motion abnormality, REF = regional ejection fraction of abnormal segments, SBP = systolic blood pressure, HR = heart rate * p = l 0.0001 (Ttest) ** p = 0.05(T test) *** p = 0.005 (chi-square) Exercise and dobutamine regional and global LV function are not comparable diagnostically or prognostically. Dobutamine LV function is not a surrogate for exercise LV function.
Predictions of transonic separated flow with an eddy-viscosity/Reynolds-shear-stress closure model

In previous work, a new turbulence-closure model was specifically developed for two-dimensional turbulent boundary layers subjected to strong, adverse-pressure gradients and the attendant separation. This closure model was shown to perform well, but the inverse, boundary-layer calculations used in evaluating the model were not truly predictive since the mass-flux parameter distribution obtained from the experimental data had to be specified. The objective of this study was to evaluate this closure model for a series of strong, transonic, inviscid-viscous interactions with varying degrees of separation using a fully predictive calculation method based on the Reynolds-averaged, Navier-Stokes equations. Calculated results are compared with experimental results and are shown to be in excellent agreement, even for the interactions with massive separation. This closure model has the very favorable property of requiring little more computational effort than equilibrium, algebraic models.
Quasi-particles and effective mean field in strongly interacting matter

Abstract We introduce a quasi-particle model of strongly interacting quark-gluon matter and explore the possible connection to an effective field theoretical description consisting of a scalar σ field by introducing a dynamically generated mass, M ( σ ) , and a self-consistently determined interaction term, B ( σ ) . We display a possible connection between the two types of effective description, using the Friedberg-Lee model.
Effects of morphine on hippocampal cells recorded in vitro.

Abstract Intracellular recordings from CA1 pyramidal cells were obtained in the in vitro hippocampal slice preparation before and after the application of morphine sulfate. Two distinct effects were observed following addition of morphine (1.0 mM) to the bathing media, or application to individual slices through pressure ejection via large tipped pipettes. Within 3–10 min following morphine application CA1 cell membrane potentials began to depolarize (5–10 mV) toward firing threshold. Spontaneous discharge rates were increased and nonactive cells became active. Rhythmic firing at a rate of 5–8 Hz was observed for 30–40 min following drug application. The spontaneous rhythmic firing could be partially reversed by the addition of naloxone (0.1 mM) to the bathing media. The second effect of morphine was to potentiate the development of epileptiform discharges in CA1 cells in response to low frequency orthodromic synaptic stimulation. The findings indicate that morphine alters the excitability of hippocampal pyramidal cells and such changes are likely to be mediated by opiate specific alterations in membrane conductance and/or tonic inhibitory synaptic inputs.
The effects of chlorpromazine on psychomotor stimulant self-administration in the Rhesus monkey

The effects of acute and chronic chlorpromazine treatment on psychomotor stimulant self-administration behavior in the Rhesus monkey were determined. Chlorpromazine treatment significantly increased the frequency of self-administration of cocaine, pipradrol, phenmetrazine, d-amphetamine and methylphenidate. The basis of this effect was thought to either be due to an antagonism of the reinforcing effect of these compounds or an antagonism of those actions of the psychomotor stimulants which may function in limiting their self-administration.
Potential for cumulative inbreeding and its effects upon survival in captive groups of non-human primates

The effect of population structure of six captive groups of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) upon level of inbreeding and resulting survival of offspring is estimated and found to be substantial. Breeding colony management policies designed to minimize inbreeding and its deleterious effects are discussed and compared for their efficiency. It is concluded that the most efficient policy involves the rotation of groups of adult males among several breeding groups every few years.
Occupation of low-affinity cholecystokinin (CCK) receptors by CCK activates signal transduction and stimulates amylase secretion in pancreatic acinar cells

Based on the effects of monensin on binding of 125I-CCK-8 and its lack of effect on CCK-8-stimulated amylase secretion we previously proposed that pancreatic acinar cells possess three classes of CCK receptors: high-affinity receptors, low-affinity receptors and very low-affinity receptors [1]. In the present study we treated pancreatic acini with carbachol to induce a complete loss of high-affinity CCK receptors and then examined the action of CCK-8 on inositol trisphosphate IP3(1,4,5), cytosolic calcium and amylase secretion in an effort to confirm and extend our previous hypothesis. We found that first incubating pancreatic acini with 10 mM carbachol decreased binding of 125I-CCK-8 measured during a second incubation by causing a complete loss of high-affinity CCK receptors with no change in the low-affinity CCK receptors. Carbachol treatment of acini, however, did not alter the action of CCK-8 on IP3(1,4,5), cytosolic calcium or amylase secretion or the action of CCK-JMV-180 on amylase secretion or on the supramaximal inhibition of amylase secretion caused by CCK-8. The present findings support our previous hypothesis that pancreatic acinar cells possess three classes of CCK receptors and suggest that high-affinity CCK receptors do not mediate the action of CCK-8 on enzyme secretion, that low-affinity CCK receptors may mediate the action of CCK on cytosolic calcium that does not involve IP3(1,4,5) and produce the upstroke of the dose-response curve for CCK-8-stimulated amylase secretion and that very low-affinity CCK receptors mediate the actions of CCK on IP3(1,4,5) and cytosolic calcium and produce the downstroke of the dose-response curve for CCK-8-stimulated amylase secretion. Moreover, CCK-JMV-180 is a full agonist for stimulating amylase secretion by acting at low-affinity CCK receptors and is an antagonist at very low-affinity CCK receptors.
A systematic literature review of remanufacturing scheduling

This article systematically organises and reviews peer-reviewed journals up to July 2011 to access progress in the scheduling of remanufacturing operations. The simple (infinite capacity, no part commonality, and deterministic parameters), single product remanufacturing scheduling problem is solved using reverse material requirements planning. Material requirements planning and performance-based objectives of the 1990s were replaced by cost-based integer programming models that can achieve solutions to size-restricted problems. Product deterioration is identified as an additional complexity and methodologies are discussed that address this important issue. The synthesis of the literature reveals the importance of buffer inventories in addressing remanufacturing uncertainty, the advantages of ‘simpler’ disassembly release mechanisms and due date scheduling rules, and the improved performance of Kanban over ‘push’ scheduling and flexible Kanban over traditional Kanban. The most recent trend is the developme...
Critical layer thickness of strained-layer InGaAs/GaAs multiple quantum wells determined by double-crystal x-ray diffraction

Double-crystal x-ray diffraction (DCXD) is shown to reveal the onset of relaxation in strained-layer InGaAs/GaAs multiple quantum well (MQW) structures. The MQW structures contain 10 nm thick In0.16Ga0.84As quantum wells and 55 nm thick GaAs barrier layers. As the number of periods in the structure was increased from to 3 to 15, the x-ray rocking curves were characterized by increasing distortion of superlattice interference fringes, broadening of superlattice peaks, and reduction in peak intensity. The x-ray diffraction data are correlated with an asymmetric crosshatched surface pattern as observed under Nomarski contrast microscopy. By using DCXD and Nomarski microscopy, the onset of strain relaxation in InGaAs/GaAs MQW structures was established for samples with various GaAs barrier layer thicknesses. For MQW structures in which the thickness of the barrier layers is the same or greater than that of the strained quantum wells, the critical layer thickness can be calculated according to the Matthews and Blakeslee force-balance model with dislocation formation by the single-kink mechanism.
Silver-promoted conversion of cyclopropene to allylic products

Abstract Cyclopropene 1, passed in a He stream through a gas chromatography column containing firebrick impregnated with a saturated solution of AgNO3 in glycerol, reacted to give acrolein 6 (6%) and allyl nitrate 7 (20%). The products were identified by GC, MS, IR, and 1H NMR. A mechanism is proposed to explain the reactions.
A mild case of Friedreich ataxia: lymphocyte and sural nerve analysis for GAA repeat length reveals somatic mosaicism.

Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) is an autosomal recessive, neurodegenerative disease, characterized by progressive gait and limb ataxia, dysarthria, lower-limb areflexia, Babinski sign, loss of position and vibration senses, cardiomyopathy, and carbohydrate intolerance. It is the most common inherited ataxia, and is associated with a GAA triplet repeat expansion in the first intron of the X25 gene on the long arm of chromosome 9. We present a case whose clinical diagnosis was initially confounded by the mildness of the ataxic phenotype and a family history of multiple sclerosis. Evaluation of the X25 gene revealed that the patient was homozygous for the GAA triplet repeat expansion, pathognomonic of FRDA. Investigation of her sural nerve biopsy revealed a significantly smaller expansion size, constituting the first direct demonstration of somatic mosaicism involving the nervous system in FRDA. We speculate that a similar contraction in pathologically affected tissues could be the molecular basis for the mildness of the ataxia. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Muscle Nerve 21:390–393, 1998.
Interference of sucrose with the fluorometric assay of tryptophan

Sucrose has been found to decrease the fluorescence observed during the standard fluorometric assay of tryptophan. The quenching is enhanced with increasing concentrations of sucrose. This phenomenon is not due to a metal contaminant in the sucrose, nor to a direct interaction of the sugar with the fluorophore, norharman, which results from the oxidation of a tryptophanformaldehyde complex by FeCl3. Sucrose and other keto-sugars reduce the Fe3+ ions in the standard reaction mixture to Fe2+ and thereby decrease the amount of FeCl3 available for oxidizing the tryptophan complex to norharman. The increase in the amount of ferrous ions produced in the reaction mixture is directly proportional to the degree of quenching of fluorescence that is observed. Aldoses, on the other hand, do not significantly reduce the Fe3+ ions to Fe2+, nor do they diminish the fluorescence yield of the reaction. Since the concentrations of sucrose that lead to this interference are in the range of those often used to prepare tissue samples, it is important that appropriate corrections be applied to ensure accurate measurements of tryptophan in biological fluids.
An efficient method of measuring impedances of fluid machinery manifolds

Abstract Knowledge of the acoustical impedances is required to understand the fluid oscillations in the manifolds of positive displacement machinery. This paper presents an impedance measurement method which puts emphasis on the lower frequencies. The technique is based on providing a known volume velocity excitation to the manifold through an electrodynamic, shaker driven, oscillating piston. Harmonic, random and transient excitations have been utilized. Digital data acquisition and processing techniques are used to acquire piston displacement and acoustic pressure signals for input and transfer impedances. The proposed method is direct and efficient. It is applied to the measurement of the acoustical impedances of a two-cylinder refrigeration compressor discharge system. Various aspects of the measurement procedures are discussed along with the recommendations.
Effect of the Keck telescope`s segmented primary on the performance on the Keck adaptive optics system

The 349 degree of freedom Keck adaptive optics system will be mapped on to the 36 segment Keck primary mirror. Each telescope segment is independently controlled in piston and tilt by an active control system and each segment also has its own set of aberrations. This presents a unique set of problems for the Keck adaptive optics system, not encountered with continuous primaries. To a certain extent the low order segment aberrations, beginning with focus, can be corrected statically by the adaptive optic system. However, the discontinuous surface at the segment edges present special problems in sensing and correcting wavefront with laser guide stars or natural guide stars.
On Advanced Computing With Words Using the Generalized Extension Principle for Type-1 Fuzzy Sets

In this paper, we propose and demonstrate an effective methodology for implementing the generalized extension principle to solve Advanced Computing with Words (ACWW) problems. Such problems involve implicit assignments of linguistic truth, probability, and possibility. To begin, we establish the vocabularies of the words involved in the problems, and then collect data from subjects about the words after which fuzzy set models for the words are obtained by using the Interval Approach (IA) or the Enhanced Interval Approach (EIA). Next, the solutions of the ACWW problems, which involve the fuzzy set models of the words, are formulated using the Generalized Extension Principle. Because the solutions to those problems involve complicated functional optimization problems that cannot be solved analytically, we then develop a numerical method for their solution. Finally, the resulting fuzzy set solutions are decoded into natural language words using Jaccard's similarity measure. We explain how ACWW problems can solve some potential prototype engineering problems and connect the methodology of this paper with Perceptual Computing.
Discrimination between carbohydrates by the fowl.

Abstract THE factors that contribute to a bird's selection or rejection of food is a subject for conjecture. Shape, color, texture and many other factors have been proposed. Engelmann (1958) has been the most prolific contributor in this field of study. Recently Kare et al. (1957) reported on the basis of large numbers of animals, some phases of the sense of taste in the fowl. Specifically their conclusions were (1) the fowl has a sense of taste; (2) their response to flavors is not parallel to that of humans; (3) this sense of taste is not a rudimentary faculty, rather it is relatively acute. This last conclusion was based on the ability of the fowl to be grossly offended by solutions man would describe as extremely dilute. Man's taste responses have been classified into four modalities namely sweet, sour, bitter and salty. Sugars, sucrose in particular, are commonly employed in studies …
Dynamic Compaction of Soft Compressible Porous Materials: Experiments on Air-Solid Phase Interaction

An experiment has been designed to examine the generation of dynamic lift forces during compaction of soft highly compressible fibrous materials in a piston/cylinder apparatus. Novel experimental techniques have been developed to simultaneously measure and separate out the dynamic forces acting on the compressing piston by the air and solid phases respectively. The measurements clearly demonstrate that the excess pore pressure builds up inside the porous material and reaches its maximum before there is any significant rise in the solid phase force. The air pressure subsequently decays due to air venting into the ambient environment at the edges of the testing apparatus as the solid phase force rapidly rises. We also examine the internal stresses and strains within the solid phase that develop as a result of friction forces along the sidewalls of the cylinder and show that these lead to important hysteresis effects when the loads on the piston are gradually removed. The experiments are performed on a polyester material with a trace of silk which has recently been proposed for a soft porous track wherein a high speed train is supported by large a planing surface or ski that rides within a confined channel in which this venting is substantially reduced or eliminated, Mirbod et al (2008). Introduction Whereas the flow inside porous media and the mechanical behavior of the solid phase of porous materials have been extensively studied in the past, relatively little attention has been paid to highly compressible soft porous materials because these materials are traditionally thought to be structurally fragile and support little weight unless highly compressed. In the past such materials were largely used in pillows. This view was dramatically changed as a result of the theoretical investigation by Feng and Weinbaum (2000), hereafter referred to as FW email address: andre@ccny.cuny.edu
Encouraging participation in computer science with CONNECT

Although professional networking is vital to career building, college-age students may not have acquired sufficient skills to network effectively. Several conferences, such as the Grace Hopper Celebration (GHC) of Women in Computing and the Richard Tapia Celebration of Diversity in Computing, now exist to counteract feelings of isolation and encourage participation of women and minorities in computer science. To enable conference attendees to take full advantage of the potential for mentoring at these events, we have developed CONNECT (Creating Open Networks aNd Expanding Connections with Technology), a technology-based system that helps conference attendees meet and exchange information. This paper reports the results of deploying the CONNECT system at the GHC conference on two different years. Although the results were generally positive, with about 75% of the survey respondents indicating they were either satisfied or very satisfied with the support provided by CONNECT, there were also a number of suggestions for improvement. We review these results and provide a list of guidelines for creating an effective tool to encourage conference attendees, especially college students, to network and form communities.
A reexamination of body build stereotypes

Abstract Using semantic differential and discriminant analysis techniques, the study sought to determine (a) the existence of body build stereotypes, (b) the extent of identification with these stereotypes, and (c) the effect of identification upon the child's self-evaluation. The subjects were 406 children in Grades four to eight from a midwestern community. All subjects were white and had predominantly middle-class backgrounds. Subjects completed the Piers-Harris Children's Self Concept Scale, semantic differential ratings of the Global self-concept, and the body build concepts of “SKINNY GIRL,” “FAT GIRL,” “SKINNY BOY,” and “FAT BOY,” and the situationally specific self-concepts of “MYSELF IN THE CLASSROOM,” “MYSELF AT LUNCH/RECESS,” and “MYSELF WHEN LOOKING IN A MIRROR,” Measures of weight and height were obtained using a standard weighing scale and wall chart. Fat child and skinny child stereotypes were found to be invariant across age and sex groups and did not appear to be gender specific. Actual fatness was found to be generally related to identification with the body build stereotypes, but not strongly so. Low self-esteem was a concomitant of identification with the fat child stereotype. The majority of children identified with the average child in all settings.
Genetic Variability in the Florida Manatee (Trichechus manatus)

Tissue was obtained from 59 manatee ( Trichechus manatus ) carcasses salvaged from 20 counties in Florida. Allozyme phenotypes at 24 structural loci were determined by gel electrophoresis. Averages for the proportion of polymorphic loci and mean heterozygosity were 0.300 (range, 0.167–0.417) and 0.050 (range, 0.028–0.063), respectively. These estimates are equivalent to or higher than those generally reported for other species of marine mammals and do not support the hypothesis that body size and heterozygosity in mammals are related inversely. Among-region gene diversity accounted for only 4% of the total diversity. High rates of gene flow probably account for genetic homogeneity across regions. An F -statistic analysis revealed a general tendency toward excess homozygosity within regions. Management efforts to prevent future reductions in population size that would erode existing genic diversity should continue.
Caging Carbon Dioxide

A transition to a portfolio of renewable energy, nuclear power, and biofuels may yet mitigate the perceived calamities of global climate change. In the meantime, the global abundance of accessible, inexpensive coal, combined with incessant pressure for economic growth among developed and developing nations, will ensure that present-day investments in fossil energy are not casually abandoned. Many more gigatons of carbon dioxide are thus slated for discharge into the atmosphere in the coming decades. Given this reality, technology advancements that address global climate change through carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) are equally important as innovations that spur the adoption of wind power, photovoltaics, and other generation assets with small carbon footprints. On page 650 of this issue, Vaidhyanathan et al. ( 1 ) report theoretical and experimental studies that impart a better understanding of a chemical interaction that appears central to improving CCS technology—the interaction of carbon dioxide with amine functional groups.
Targeted pharmaceutical nanocarriers for cancer therapy and imaging

The use of various pharmaceutical nanocarriers has become one of the most important areas of nanomedicine. Ideally, such carriers should be specifically delivered (targeted) to the pathological area to provide the maximum therapeutic efficacy. Among the many potential targets for such nanocarriers, tumors have been most often investigated. This review attempts to summarize currently available information regarding targeted pharmaceutical nanocarriers for cancer therapy and imaging. Certain issues related to some popular pharmaceutical nanocarriers, such as liposomes and polymeric micelles, are addressed, as are different ways to target tumors via specific ligands and via the stimuli sensitivity of the carriers. The importance of intracellular targeting of drug- and DNA-loaded pharmaceutical nanocarriers is specifically discussed, including intracellular delivery with cell-penetrating peptides.
Natural cytotoxicity in AKR/J mice during adjuvant induced amyloidogenesis

Abstract The induction of amyloidosis in AKR mice has previously been shown to be associated with a decrease in the incidence of spontaneous thymic leukemia (P. Ebbesen, Brit. J. Cancer 29 , 76, 1974). Amyloid induction with azocasein depresses the activity of the natural killer (NK) cell, a cell believed to be important in the protection against the development of malignancy. In the present studies, therefore, we examined the response of the NK cell to the induction of amyloidosis in AKR mice. Rapid and long-term depression of NK cell activity against YAC-1 tumor cells was noted following intraperitoneal administration of complete Freund's adjuvant enriched with Mycobacterium butyricum . Mixing studies suggested that active suppression did not account for the observed decrease in NK cell activity. Although some NK cell activity was noted in ascitic fluid, redirection was not felt to account for the rapid and dramatic reduction in splenic NK cell activity. Furthermore, serum from adjuvant-treated but not control mice was found to significantly inhibit NK cell activity in vitro . These studies therefore suggested a role for a serum factor in the depression of this activity. The apparent paradox of decreased NK cell activity in a setting of diminished leukemogenesis is considered in relation to previous studies describing impaired T-cell functioning after the induction of amloidosis.
Improving gold phytoextraction in desert willow (Chilopsis linearis) using thiourea: a spectroscopic investigation

Environmental context. The conventional methods used for the extraction of gold from mine tailings and runoff are costly and often require harsh chemical treatment. Using plants to extract gold is more environmentally friendly and economically feasible. Plants are especially appealing because they can uptake low levels of gold and accumulate them in their tissues, whereas conventional methods are less effective at extracting gold at low levels. Thiourea has been proposed as an alternative gold chelator that could help in gold phytomining. It is less toxic than cyanide, which is the chemical commonly used to dissolve gold from mine ores. Abstract. Phytomining, the use of plants to recover noble metals, is developing as a feasible option to extract gold from mine tailings. In this study, thiourea (TU) was used to increase gold availability and to enhance gold accumulation by the desert plant Chilopsis linearis. Seedlings of C. linearis were grown in a hydroponic solution containing 25 μM Au and TU at 25, 50, 100, 200, and 400 μM. After two weeks of growth, the concentration of Au, micro- and macronutrients was determined using inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopy. In addition, X-ray absorption spectroscopy was used to determine the oxidation state and the coordination of the Au atom within the plant tissues. The effect of TU on plant growth was determined as well. The results of the present study demonstrated that TU at 25 μM was able to increase the Au uptake by C. linearis plants grown in hydroponics without any toxic effect. However, the translocation to stem and leaves was better at 100 and 200 μM of TU, respectively. The addition of TU to hydroponic solutions did not affect the uptake of Ca, Mg, P, and K. However, TU induced an increase in uptake of S, Fe, Cu, and Zn and a decrease in Mn uptake. When Au was chelated with TU, the plant transformed 64% of the Au–TU complex to Au(0) and the other 36% remained in the ionic form.
Clinical risk management at the Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital

Abstract The Bambino Gesu Children's Hospital (OPBG), on the path of continuous improvement of quality (for the Managed Care Query Application [MCQA]), resulting in Joint Commission International Accreditation for excellence in MC Clinical Management Quality Assurance, has developed a Program for Corporate MCQA with a section devoted to clinical risk and its management. The principles guiding the OPBG in its management of conscious and shared risk are that safety needs to be put first, and that correcting the organisational system is much more important and effective than punishing individuals. The aims of the programme are to encourage the development of a culture of safety with the adoption of safe practices, and to improve the level of paediatric patient safety. The areas of initiative for improving patient safety were: training; procedures to improve management in patient safety; the reporting of adverse events; root cause analysis; and the 5 Million Lives campaign. The data collected allow us to assess the degree of adherence to recommended behaviour in order to reduce the number of adverse events occurring at the hospital. The most effective strategy to improve patient safety must combine coordinated actions and the systematic development of a true culture of safety.
Forming of aluminum alloys at elevated temperatures – Part 1: Material characterization

Abstract A temperature-dependent anisotropic material model for use in a coupled thermo-mechanical finite element analysis of the forming of aluminum sheets was developed. The anisotropic properties of the aluminum alloy sheet AA3003-H111 were characterized for a range of temperatures 25–260 °C (77–500 °F) and for different strain rates. Material hardening parameters (flow rule) and plastic anisotropy parameters (R0, R45 and R90) were calculated using standard ASTM uniaxial tensile tests. From this experimental data, the anisotropy coefficients for the Barlat YLD96 yield function [Barlat, F., Maeda, Y., Chung, K., Yanagawa, M., Brem, J.C., Hayashida, Y., Lege, D.J., Matsui, K., Murtha, S.J., Hattori, S., Becker, R.C., Makosey, S., 1997a. Yield function development for aluminum alloy sheets. J. Mech. Phys. Solids 45 (11/12), 1727–1763] in the plane stress condition were calculated for several elevated temperatures. Curve fitting was used to calculate the anisotropy coefficients of Barlat’s YLD96 model and the hardening parameters as a function of temperature. An analytical study of the accuracy and usability of this curve fitting technique is presented through the calculation of plastic anisotropy R-parameters and yield function plots at different temperatures.
Chromatographic determination of metal chelates of 2,6-diacetylpyridine bis(N-methylenepyridiniohydrazone)

Abstract Metal ions were determined chromatographically as their metal chelates after complexation with 2,6-diacetylpyridine bis(N-methylenepyridiniohydrazone). At a pH of 7 it was possible to separate and determine eight metal complexes, in a single run, under gradient conditions on a polyestyrene-divinylbenzene polymer-based column. Possible separation of rare earth complexes and ion-pairing behavior were also investigated. Linear calibration ranges and detection limits are presented for the metal complexes of Sn(II), Ti(IV), Mn(II), Co(II), Cd(II), Sb(III), Cu(II), Ni(II) and U(VI). Interferences due to the presence of other metal ions in solution were also investigated.